Chapter 322
The martial world was in an uproar over the impending duel between Bu Eun-seol and the Heavenly Sword.
A Rising Talent representing the Demonic Path clashing with the disciple of the Righteous Faction's greatest swordsman?
There hadn't been a match this thrilling in the martial world for over a decade.
The area near Mount Taejeong was already packed with countless martial artists and merchants setting up stalls, forming a sea of people.
Even retired masters who had long left the martial world were flocking to Seok Gwang-pyeong just to witness this battle.
In preparation for the grand duel, the Demon Hall had opened the Spirit Medicine Vault for Bu Eun-seol, providing him with various forms of support.
But the Heavenly Sword?
He had spat insulting words at the Inspection Hall's leader and stormed out of the Martial Alliance on his own two feet.
Because of that, not only was he receiving no support whatsoever, but even his master, the Sword Sovereign, had refused to step forward on his behalf.
—After all that disgraceful behavior, it's no wonder the Martial Alliance isn't lifting a finger for him.
—Exactly. Even his own master, the Sword Sovereign, won't intervene.
—Most people are just going to see how badly he loses.
Normally, a duel like this would be a matter of pride between the Demonic and Righteous Paths.
But the Heavenly Sword was preparing for this battle alone, without even a single cheer of support, let alone any backing.
Even if a Martial Alliance warrior were to fight some third-rate expert from the Unorthodox Faction, they wouldn't be treated like this.
—He brought this on himself.
Everyone clicked their tongues in disapproval.
The Heavenly Sword had made too many mistakes. Especially turning a blind eye to civilians—and worse, exploiting them. That was unforgivable.
Because of that, not a single soul was rooting for him. Even those from the Righteous Faction were ignoring him...
This duel was as good as lost before it had even begun.
But then, another problem arose just before the match.
Seok Gwang-pyeong was so packed with people that there was barely room to stand, to the point where the duel itself might be disrupted.
So this time, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward first and conveyed his intentions to the Martial Alliance.
—How about we divide the outside spectators into the Demonic and Righteous Paths, limiting each side to three hundred people?
Then he added one more thing.
—If we also allow the Demon Hall and the Martial Alliance's high command to observe regardless of the lottery, there should be no complaints.
If too many people gathered, accidents could happen, and unexpected incidents might occur during the duel.
The Martial Alliance couldn't hide their bewilderment.
They had already been humiliated multiple times because of the Heavenly Sword's actions, so they had cut off all interest in this duel and turned a blind eye.
And yet, here was the Heir of the Demon Hall, stepping forward out of concern for the safety of martial artists?
—Truly... worthy of the Demon Hall's successor.
Once this rumor spread, the martial world once again sang Bu Eun-seol's praises.
In the end, the Martial Alliance immediately dispatched people to work with the Demon Hall and devise a way to control the crowd at Seok Gwang-pyeong.
Not only had Bu Eun-seol laid out his reasoning point by point in a respectful proposal... but if they refused and something disgraceful happened?
The blame would fall squarely on the Martial Alliance.
—Under the joint supervision of our Alliance and the Demon Hall, we will fairly select three hundred observers from each side by lottery!
The martial artists were disappointed, but they couldn't raise any objections.
If tens of thousands of people flooded Seok Gwang-pyeong as things were, the duel might not even take place.
The Martial Alliance and the Demon Hall each held lotteries to select their three hundred spectators.
—Spectator certificates going for a hundred thousand taels! Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime duel between top masters of the orthodox and unorthodox factions!
But then, something absurd happened.
Some of those lucky enough to win the lottery began reselling their certificates at outrageous prices.
—Hand over your spectator certificate!
What's more, a few masters from the Unorthodox and Black Paths attacked those rumored to have certificates and stole them.
As incidents like these kept happening, the Demon Hall and the Martial Alliance finally issued a stern warning.
—We will reissue the spectator certificates through a new lottery. Each will bear an exact signature, and resale or theft is strictly prohibited.
Anyone who violates this will face the combined wrath of both the Righteous and Demonic Paths!
In the end, the lottery was held again, and a new three hundred from each side were selected.
As the day of the epoch-making duel drew near, the Demon Hall and the Martial Alliance began strictly monitoring Seok Gwang-pyeong.
They couldn't risk an unfortunate incident caused by someone sneaking in.
After all these twists and turns, the night of the duel finally arrived.
Tap. Tap.
Under the bright moonlight, the first to arrive was Bu Eun-seol.
He wore a dark gray martial uniform, the Ice Soul Sword sheathed at his waist.
—Ooh...
Gasps of admiration rose from the martial artists as they watched Bu Eun-seol come to a stop at the center of Seok Gwang-pyeong.
Bathed in moonlight, his appearance was nothing short of divine—as if a celestial being had descended to earth.
Despite his fame that shook the martial world, he had always moved through the rivers and lakes in secrecy, so his face was not widely known.
—He's far more imposing than I'd heard.
Even some of the masters couldn't help but murmur in awe.
Having ascended to the Seat of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, he had rarely displayed his martial prowess publicly.
Among some martial artists, there were still whispers that Bu Eun-seol's abilities had been exaggerated.
Perhaps because, even after becoming the Demon Hall's heir, he had shown more of his strategic brilliance than overwhelming martial might.
But now, witnessing his aura firsthand, many masters could tell—his true strength was more than enough to claim his place among the Four Gods and Seven Kings.
Tap. Tap.
Then, about seven or eight minutes later, a giant of a man ascended Seok Gwang-pyeong.
A faint smile lingered at the corners of his lips as his large eyes gleamed.
At first glance, he appeared like an innocent young man, but a strange madness swirled within his pupils.
This was none other than the Heavenly Sword.
Though his presence was formidable, none among the martial artists present gasped in awe.
Instead, murmurs like "He really does seem as odd as the rumors say..." were all that could be heard.
It was a pitifully meager reception for someone who had once shaken the murim under the name Righteous Golden Divine Eye—a rising grandmaster of the new generation.
"Heh heh heh."
Despite sensing the atmosphere, the Heavenly Sword only laughed louder.
"Shall we begin?"
His glinting eyes flashed as he spoke.
Shhhhk—!
Bu Eun-seol immediately drew the Ice Soul Sword.
The moment their gazes tangled in midair, sparks flew.
No words were needed.
Whoosh!
A frigid chill rose from the Ice Soul Sword, reflecting the moonlight, and a bone-piercing wind swept outward in all directions.
"That's a fine blade."
The Heavenly Sword spoke with a grin.
"Your other sword from last time looked impressive too. Do you wield multiple swords?"
His tone was almost friendly, as if deliberately showing he had time to spare.
"Well, a little chat won't hurt, right? One of us will be dead soon anyway."
"This Lord," Bu Eun-seol replied coldly, raising the Ice Soul Sword,
"does not converse with the dead."
For an instant, flames flickered in the Heavenly Sword's maddened eyes.
"Good."
Clank!
The Heavenly Sword drew a massive greatsword from his back—then split it into two, gripping one in each hand.
"Then I'll entertain you with Myriad Forms One Style from the start."
Myriad Forms One Style.
A sword form created by the Sword Sovereign in his later years, it not only encompassed all righteous sword techniques but also transformed completely in power and execution depending on the wielder's enlightenment, Internal Power, and weapon.
The Heavenly Sword intended to wield this technique at its peak—using his twin greatswords and amplifying its might with his Divine Power.
Thwip!
The greatsword in his left hand thrust toward Bu Eun-seol's throat while the right one carved a crescent through the air, aiming to bisect his torso diagonally.
Yet the distance was too wide—the strike never reached Bu Eun-seol.
This was merely the Starting Stance of Myriad Forms One Style.
The Heavenly Sword was putting on the decorum of a righteous martial artist, maintaining appearances before the crowd.
'Still playing mind games, I see.'
Bu Eun-seol's lips curled slightly as he observed the Heavenly Sword's Starting Stance.
This was not a man who would bother with formalities like a Starting Stance in a life-or-death fight.
No—he was conscious of the spectators.
And as if to prove it, the Heavenly Sword's eyes burned not just with madness but with an overwhelming obsession for survival.
'As expected...'
Bu Eun-seol understood once more.
The Heavenly Sword was a ravenous madman—and the derangement lurking beneath his surface was simply another name for arrogance.
Shink!
Bu Eun-seol's Ice Soul Sword shot forward like lightning, piercing straight for the Heavenly Sword's throat.
For an instant, the heavens and earth seemed to halt—all movement frozen.
The motion resembled the opening stance of Meteor Chasing Moon, yet the shifting sword momentum was impossible to grasp.
No matter how he dodged or guarded, that wicked blade felt destined to skewer the Heavenly Sword's neck.
—The Martial Soul Lord's swordsmanship is this profound?!
Gasps erupted from the martial artists atop Seok Gwang-pyeong.
With this single stroke, Bu Eun-seol had transformed a basic sword stroke, midway through the move, into a technique powerful enough to shake heaven and earth.
It was as if he had conjured Heaven and Earth Creation from a void of pure chaos.
In this one move, Bu Eun-seol declared his martial prowess had ascended to the Extreme Heaven Realm.
Clang!
Flames burst from the Ice Soul Sword—its blade formless, wreathed in glacial energy—as the Heavenly Sword suddenly struck its tip.
Whoosh—
The Heavenly Sword grimaced and retreated a step.
Though Bu Eun-seol's Internal Energy surpassed his, the Heavenly Sword possessed Innate Divine Strength.
His monstrous physical power and recovery compensated for the gap in cultivation.
"An unusual sword," the Heavenly Sword mused, smiling leisurely.
"But the spectators must be disappointed. They won't easily follow the shifts in your techniques."
True to its name, the Ice Soul Sword not only radiated a chilling aura but also blurred like mist under moonlight, obscuring its sword trajectory and martial forms—rendering them unpredictable.
"You've put some thought into this!"
With a brief shout, the Heavenly Sword unleashed Myriad Forms One Style again.
Swish!
A single slash through the air split into thirty-two streaks of Sword Qi, coiling around Bu Eun-seol's body.
He had infused the technique with the essence of Whirlwind Sword, embedding thirty-two sword strokes within a single gust of wind before releasing them all at once.
Clang-clang-clang—!
The Ice Soul Sword and the twin greatswords collided dozens of times, ringing with clear metallic sounds.
Sparks erupted with each clash, and the distance between the two gradually closed.
Skreeeech!
Finally, their weapons hovered inches from each other's faces.
"Magnificent. You're truly magnificent."
The Heavenly Sword stared at Bu Eun-seol with exhilarated eyes.
Even as the Heavenly Sword poured out all his Internal Power and lifelong Divine Strength, Bu Eun-seol remained unmoved—cold as ice.
To the Heavenly Sword, the sight of such a peerless rival was intoxicating.
"Entertain me a little longer!"
With a bizarre twist, the Heavenly Sword swung the greatsword in his left hand.
The blade condensed to an extreme degree, tearing through Bu Eun-seol's entire body like a chaotic sword unleashed at point-blank range.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
As swords collided in rapid succession, a cacophony of metallic sounds reverberated through the air.
The Heavenly Sword's Myriad Forms One Style not only transcended the limitations of any weapon but also allowed him to unleash every conceivable sword technique at will.
Boom! Boom!
Bu Eun-seol swiftly countered with consecutive strikes of the Fist Demon's Initial Manifestation from his left hand, forcing the Heavenly Sword back.
Screech—
As the Heavenly Sword was pushed back three steps, Bu Eun-seol immediately followed up with the Ice Soul Sword, pouring forth the Formless Heavenly Flow.
Crash! Crash!
This time, with each clash of their blades, the very earth trembled beneath them.
Bu Eun-seol was employing the Heavy Sword Art, probing for gaps in the Heavenly Sword's defenses.
Despite the immense internal energy required to wield the Heavy Sword, Bu Eun-seol's expression remained utterly calm—he showed no sign of pouring out his full power.
"Your internal energy is truly monstrous!"
Overwhelming force was, in fact, the Heavenly Sword's preferred method of combat.
Yet when Bu Eun-seol turned the tables and pressed him with sheer strength, the Heavenly Sword was so exhilarated that he could barely contain his drooling excitement.
"Good—no, perfect!"
The Heavenly Sword's momentum sharpened further as he realized Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess exceeded even his wildest expectations.
Since learning swordsmanship from his master, the Sword Sovereign, he had never needed to go all-out against anyone else.
But now, faced with Bu Eun-seol's relentless pressure, he was practically giddy with delight.
"Now I'll get serious!"
The Heavenly Sword unraveled the Myriad Forms One Style into the Scattering Sword.
In an instant, his massive greatsword split into hundreds of shadowy blades, spreading like the thousand arms of a wrathful Buddha.
Swish! Swish-swish-swish!
Astonishingly, even as he unleashed hundreds of sword auras, the Sound of Breaking Air they produced was inconsistent—some spiraled like whirlwinds, while others spread like nets.
The Sword Sovereign's techniques were called One Style, but that was merely a name.
In truth, they allowed the wielder to unleash endless variations of swordplay without restriction.
Clang! Crash!
The Ice Soul Sword and the greatsword collided midair, ringing out like shattering steel.
Normally, high-level masters rarely engaged in rapid, consecutive weapon clashes.
But these two were exchanging lethal techniques at point-blank range, resulting in this relentless storm of steel.
A true Dragon and Tiger Matchup.
Even after a hundred exchanges, neither showed any sign of gaining the upper hand—their battle remained perfectly balanced.
Slash! Slash!
Yet the tide turned abruptly.
As they entered the chaotic melee of extreme close-quarters combat, the Heavenly Sword's greatsword condensed further, piercing through Bu Eun-seol's Sword Curtain.
The Practical Sword Study of Langya Pavilion was a sword style that evolved against its opponent.
But the Myriad Forms One Style was already a perfected sword form, acknowledged even by the Righteous Faction.
The Formless Heavenly Flow simply hadn't evolved quickly enough to counter it in the heat of battle.
Ultimately, the Heavenly Sword's techniques were overwhelming Bu Eun-seol's own.
Flash!
Yet Bu Eun-seol had been waiting for this moment.
The instant the Heavenly Sword breached his defenses, he released a short burst of sword light upward.
Simultaneously, the Ice Soul Sword curved at an unavoidable angle, driving straight for the Heavenly Sword's throat.
The eighth form of the Formless Heavenly Flow—Lament by the River—a counterattack that analyzed every stroke of the enemy's blade to deliver an unavoidable strike.
"Hurk—!"
But something unbelievable happened.
As the Ice Soul Sword thrust toward his throat, the Heavenly Sword suddenly spun his body with violent force, generating a massive Sword Curtain.
The Life-Saving Ultimate Technique of the Myriad Forms One Style—Spinning Sword Returning Heaven—had been unleashed.
CLANG—!
With a metallic roar that shook heaven and earth, the Heavenly Sword's twin greatswords clamped down on the Ice Soul Sword like chopsticks, halting even Bu Eun-seol's ultimate counterattack.
"Hahaha!"
The Heavenly Sword bared his teeth in a wild grin.
"What now? You must've been banking on that."
Shiiing!
Pushing Bu Eun-seol back, the Heavenly Sword's eyes gleamed with razor-sharp killing intent.
"What else will you show me?"
Huuuum...
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol drew upon his internal energy.
A dark heat haze began rising from his entire body.
Crackle—!
At the same time, tendrils of black True Qi spilled out like spiderwebs, filling the gaps between sword strokes as they coiled into the Heavenly Sword's body.
—Ooooh!
—Is that the signature technique of the Demon Hall's successor?!
Gasps erupted from the watching martial artists.
Materializing True Qi with internal energy was nothing extraordinary.
But to manipulate it so freely—even shaping it with the will of one's Spirit and Mind into something akin to a living creature?
Such martial arts and combat methods were unprecedented in the Murim—an entirely new realm of technique.
'Heh heh heh. Finally showing his trump cards, huh?'
The Heavenly Sword was so exhilarated he could dance.
From their previous duel, he knew this technique was Bu Eun-seol's ultimate move, fueled by his monstrous internal energy.
The fact that he was unveiling it now, so early in their battle?
It could only mean one thing—Bu Eun-seol was declaring his intent to kill.
'Well... or perhaps he just has even more to show me. Not that it matters.'
The Heavenly Sword's eyes curved into crescent moons.
'After all, this fight isn't about victory or defeat.'
Bu Eun-seol's wisdom undoubtedly surpassed his own.
Though the Heavenly Sword held the advantage in pure swordsmanship, he had already accepted that a complete victory was impossible.
Yet his lips curled into a triumphant smirk.
'Heh heh heh. No matter how clever you are, you'd never guess this.'
A knowing smile played at the corners of his mouth.
A madman had his own way of fighting.
From the very beginning, the Heavenly Sword had never intended to win this battle.