Chapter 340
'He's genuinely injured!'
The Dong Clan Head was a man of deep suspicion.
Had Bu Eun-seol's injuries shown even the slightest hint of being feigned, he would never have revealed himself.
But the wound near Bu Eun-seol's chest was bleeding fresh blood, and his complexion had turned deathly pale.
Not only was it clearly a critical sword wound, but judging by his pallor... he had undoubtedly been struck by Bing Han-pung's Cold Ice Five Thunder Palm.
'Heh heh heh.'
Suppressing the urge to dance with joy, Dong Yu-gak approached Bu Eun-seol.
Thud. Thud.
As he drew near with deliberate steps, Bu Eun-seol—who had been curled up—struggled to open his eyes.
"You—!"
The moment Dong Yu-gak revealed himself, Bu Eun-seol jolted in shock, forcing himself upright with great effort.
But there was no escape.
The only possible route was scaling that sheer cliff face in the distance... and unless he could sprout wings and fly, fleeing was impossible.
"Surrender quietly."
At Dong Yu-gak's words,
Shing—
Bu Eun-seol drew the Ink Sword.
But having lost too much blood, his gaze was unfocused, and his breathing came in short, ragged gasps.
"Did you truly believe you could face this Family Head in such a state?"
Dong Yu-gak stared intently at Bu Eun-seol before suddenly unleashing the Snow Yin Palm, a supreme art of the North Sea Dong Clan.
To confirm whether Bu Eun-seol's injuries were genuine, he struck from a distance rather than closing in.
Whoosh—!
A wave of palm energy, carrying a cold so intense it could freeze the very sky, surged forth. Bu Eun-seol barely managed to evade.
Shiver—
Yet unable to fully escape its range, his body trembled faintly.
'It's real!'
The fact that he shivered under the Snow Yin Palm's chill...
That was a physiological reaction impossible to fake—irrefutable proof that he lacked the internal power to resist the cold.
"Hahaha!"
Finally shedding all doubt, Dong Yu-gak closed the distance and unleashed his full palm energy.
Crash! Whooosh—!
Bu Eun-seol desperately dodged the relentless, freezing Snow Yin Palm strikes before laboriously countering with his swordplay.
His sword strokes were razor-sharp, but without proper internal energy, their force was lacking.
'But this, too, could be a trap.'
Dong Yu-gak was not just cautious—he was deeply paranoid.
Suspecting Bu Eun-seol might still have a lethal technique in reserve, he prepared another stratagem.
"Fall!"
Seizing his chance, Dong Yu-gak launched a massive surge of palm energy toward Bu Eun-seol's crown.
Snap—!
Bu Eun-seol twisted aside at the last moment, poised to counterattack—
Hummm!
—only for Dong Yu-gak to abruptly channel his internal energy through both palms, pressing down on Bu Eun-seol from above.
Now certain of his opponent's severe internal injuries, he opted to crush him safely through sheer internal power rather than risk close combat.
'I'll burst your bloodline wide open!'
With a triumphant smirk, Dong Yu-gak poured forth his full strength.
Bu Eun-seol's face grew even paler. As the Extreme Yin Qi invaded his body, his bloodline froze further.
'So this is the Heir of the Demon Hall. His internal energy is formidable.'
To Dong Yu-gak's shock, even with his bloodline freezing over, Bu Eun-seol effortlessly withstood the full force of his three sixty-year cycles of internal energy.
'And this is him injured?'
A chill ran down Dong Yu-gak's spine.
Had Bu Eun-seol been unharmed, he would've been an impossible opponent.
'Why aren't they coming?!'
Despite the considerable time that had passed, none of the subordinates who should've pursued him had appeared.
Worse, even wounded, this bastard was stubbornly matching his three sixty-year cycles of internal energy!
At this rate, even if he subdued Bu Eun-seol, he'd suffer severe internal injuries himself.
'No choice.'
He couldn't wait indefinitely.
Resolving himself, Dong Yu-gak activated a secret mental cultivation method.
Vwoom—!
Instantly, half his skin began tingeing blue.
While the martial world had techniques like the Dual Hand Mutual Combat, which allowed divided focus, no secret art existed to split internal energy methods into two.
But what if one possessed a method capable of wielding both Yin-Yang Qi?
For a brief moment, two distinct types of true qi could be unleashed simultaneously.
Fzzzt—!
Dong Yu-gak covertly gathered energy into his left palm and thrust it forward.
Tiny blue lightning bolts instantly engulfed Bu Eun-seol's body.
Crackle—!
In that same breath, his entire form flash-froze into a solid block of ice.
The Extreme Yin Ice Art—a technique that could encase a person in ice with a single strike. This was the Cold Ice Five Thunder Palm, a palm energy only the North Sea Ice Palace's lord could wield.
"Heh heh... HAHAHA!"
Dong Yu-gak roared with laughter.
With Bu Eun-seol captured, the next palace lord would hail from the Dong Clan.
And thus, the world he had longed for would finally unfold before him.
"Let's dispose of this bastard quickly."
What if the other Family Heads or subordinates following behind discovered traces of the Cold Ice Five Thunder Palm?
They'd immediately realize he was the one who ambushed Han Ja-uk.
"Farewell."
Dong Yu-gak raised his Snow Yin Palm, glaring at Bu Eun-seol.
He intended to shatter the frozen body in a single strike.
"So it was true."
At that moment, a cold voice echoed from atop the cliff.
"Who's there?!"
Startled, Dong Yu-gak jerked his head upward—
Whoosh—THUD.
A middle-aged man clad in white robes descended slowly from the air.
It was none other than the North Sea Ice Palace Lord, Bing Han-pung—who should have been bedridden.
"Palace Lord, how—?"
Just as Dong Yu-gak opened his mouth—
Swish—THUD.
Four more shadows emerged behind Bing Han-pung.
The Family Heads of the four clans under the North Sea Ice Palace—excluding the Bing Clan.
"You too...?"
Dong Yu-gak's eyes narrowed.
This was impossible.
How could the Family Heads, who had been pursuing alongside him, have arrived here ahead of time?
"The pursuit itself was a trap from the beginning."
Han U-sang glared at Dong Yu-gak with eyes brimming with hatred.
Not only had this man crippled his son, but he had also been the one sowing discord within the North Sea Ice Palace for years.
"You all pretended to chase in different directions, but in truth, you were gathering here. We knew you'd follow his trail to this place."
Dong Yu-gak's face stiffened in an instant.
In other words—both the attempted assassination of Bing Han-pung and Bu Eun-seol's escape had been staged?
"But this makes no sense."
Bing Han-pung's injuries were anything but fake.
And above all—Bu Eun-seol, the Heir of the Demon Hall, was currently frozen solid by the Cold Ice Five Thunder Palm, wasn't he?
How could this possibly be called a scheme?
"You sacrificed the Demon Hall's heir just to catch me? Did you want the Ice Palace to be annihilated by the Demon Hall?!"
As Dong Yu-gak shouted in disbelief, Han U-sang smirked.
"Did you truly believe you were the only one who could wield Yin-Yang Qi?"
The moment those words fell—
CRACK!
A faint fissure spread across the ice encasing Bu Eun-seol—
BOOM—CRASHHHH!
With an explosive sound, the thick ice covering his body shattered completely.
HISSSS!
At the same time, white steam billowed violently from Bu Eun-seol's body.
He was channeling Extreme Yang True Qi to instantly melt the ice and restore his frozen meridians.
FLASH!
When Bu Eun-seol reopened his eyes, the Extreme Counter-Blood Radiance burning in his pupils blazed like the sun.
"You—you weren't injured at all?!"
Bu Eun-seol shook his head at Dong Yu-gak's outburst.
"You saw it yourself."
"Lies! Then how—?!"
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol raised both hands.
HISSS!
In his left palm, scorching Extreme Yang True Qi gathered—
SHHHH!
While in his right, Cold Ice True Qi condensed.
The Reverse Extreme Inner Method was a cultivation art that encompassed both Yin and Yang energies—the essence of Great Nature.
After mastering the Ice Art taught by Bing Han-pung, he could now perfectly separate and wield both the ice-cold Extreme Yin True Qi and Reverse Polarity True Qi.
"As long as one side's ember remains lit, I can instantly melt Cold Ice True Qi and recover even from severe internal injuries."
This was why Bu Eun-seol had trained in the North Sea Ice Palace's martial arts—and the second trap laid to capture him.
"Dong Yu-gak!"
Before Bu Eun-seol could finish, Han U-sang stepped forward, his voice hoarse with fury.
"Though the six clans of the North Sea may not always be harmonious, we have stood united for generations! How could you commit such cruelty?!"
"Cruelty?"
A seething grudge erupted in Dong Yu-gak's eyes.
"Don't spout nonsense! I should have been Palace Lord long ago! Bing Han-pung only took the throne by sheer luck!"
"What did you say?!"
"And then your wretched son dared to clamor for succession—so I had no choice but to cripple him!"
"Dong Yu-gak. Have you lost your mind?"
"Lost my mind?!"
Dong Yu-gak snarled in resentment.
"Bing Han-pung beheaded the Northern Heavenly Demon Palace Lord while I was the one who crushed their First Battle Group! That victory secured his position as Palace Lord!"
Back then, the North Sea Ice Palace had been locked in an all-out war with the Northern Heavenly Demon Palace—a battle for survival.
The six Family Heads vying for succession had all contributed greatly.
Bing Han-pung of the Bing Clan slew the Northern Heavenly Demon Palace Lord.
Dong Yu-gak of the Dong Clan annihilated the First Battle Group—paving the way for their decisive victory.
Bing Han-pung and Dong Yu-gak.
Both men had rendered great service, yet the position of palace lord naturally went to Bing Han-pung.
Because he had single-handedly engaged the Northern Heavenly Demon Palace Lord in combat and severed his head.
Moreover, treating Bing Han-pung's severe internal injuries required the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal. In other words, his ascension to palace lord was practically fated.
"To hand him the palace lord's seat just because he was injured!"
Dong Yu-gak trembled as he shouted.
"How could such a thing be tolerated?"
"Wasn't that only natural?"
Unable to stand by any longer, Seol Se-geuk, the Family Head of the Seol Clan, raised his voice.
"Clan Head Dong. Did you truly annihilate the First Battle Group alone? Wasn't it only possible because our Seol Clan guarded your rear?"
"So what?"
"'So what'? Palace Lord Bing engaged the Northern Heavenly Demon Palace Lord in single combat and beheaded him, didn't he?"
"Enough of your nonsense!"
Dong Yu-gak snarled, his voice thick with malice.
"It was I—and my Dong Clan—who single-handedly eradicated the First Battle Group of the Northern Heavenly Demon Palace! That is why our Ice Palace achieved victory! My contribution was greater!"
Then he pointed a finger at Bing Han-pung.
"But Bing Han-pung—that treacherous bastard—only took advantage of the opening I created by wiping out the First Battle Group to behead the Northern Heavenly Demon Palace Lord!"
The five Family Heads exchanged bewildered glances as they watched Dong Yu-gak's desperate outburst.
Dong Yu-gak.
He had nurtured his grudge for so long that even his memories of the past had become distorted.
"Clan Head Dong. It's time to let go of that resentment."
Bing Han-pung spoke in a weary voice.
"Everything is over now."
"Heh-heh-heh. Over, you say?"
Just when they expected Dong Yu-gak to bow his head in anguish, he suddenly bared a sinister grin.
"Bing Han-pung, did I truly seem so careless?"
"..."
"Did you think capturing me alone would unravel this long-laid plan?"
Then, without warning, he drew a signal flare from his robes.
Piiik!
As the flare streaked across the sky, staining the pale heavens crimson, the gathered warriors tensed with foreboding.
"External forces have already infiltrated the main estate."
"What did you say?"
Han U-sang's face twisted in alarm as Dong Yu-gak's grin widened.
"Even if nothing else, capturing the Young Clan Heads of the five families alone would make for excellent hostages, wouldn't it?"
The Family Heads' eyes widened in unison.
They themselves were already aged. The future of the North Sea Ice Palace now rested on the shoulders of their Young Clan Heads.
But if outside forces took those heirs hostage?
Even if they possessed the martial might to annihilate the invaders, resistance would be impossible.
"Dong Yu-gak! Have you no shame as a member of the North Sea's clans?"
At Baek Jin-yu's furious cry, Dong Yu-gak let out a derisive chuckle.
"Baek Jin-yu. Do you have the right to say such things?"
"What?"
"You, who manipulated a broken palace lord to your advantage all this time—who even conspired with outside forces to swallow the Ice Palace whole? And now you dare invoke the honor of the North Sea's clans?"
Baek Jin-yu's face flushed scarlet in an instant.
"Silence! Where is your proof?"
"Hmph. It matters not. The Ice Palace will soon be mine."
Turning back to Bing Han-pung, he declared:
"Bing Han-pung. If you surrender the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal now, I will spare the Young Clan Heads."
"There's no need to listen to this man's words."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward, his voice calm.
"They will be safe."
"How?"
"Anticipating such a scenario, I had the Young Clan Heads evacuated to the Ice Crystal Pavilion and arranged for their protection."
Dong Yu-gak had long been scheming to overthrow the North Sea Ice Palace—he must have planted collaborators within its ranks.
The forces of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars were undoubtedly among them, and they would surely attempt to take the five Young Clan Heads hostage.
"In that case—"
"With Un-ryong and her there, they should hold out for a while."
With those final words, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Ultimate Speed Shadowless technique in a single motion.
Whoosh!
His figure traced a cross-shaped sign in the distant sky before vanishing.
"Let's go!"
Bing Han-pung, too, soared into the air after him.
Swish!
The two streaked across the sky with their movement techniques, heading straight for the North Sea Ice Palace.
Swish—!
Bing Han-pung employed the Ice Palace's supreme movement art—the Glacier Flash Lightning Shadow.
Yet even so, he could not catch up to Bu Eun-seol's rapidly receding figure.
"Let's go together!"
When Bing Han-pung called out, unable to keep pace, Bu Eun-seol turned his head and shouted back:
"Your Lordship must rally the Family Heads and lead the troops to repel the invading forces at the palace! There's no need to follow me!"
"Understood!"
KWAOOOOM!
By then, Bu Eun-seol had already arrived inside the North Sea Ice Palace.
CLANG! CLANG!
As expected, the palace gates were wide open, and martial artists clad in shimmering crimson robes were swiftly pouring in.
The faction that had been hiding within the Dong Clan had coordinated with external forces to breach the gates.
The number of invading martial artists was around a thousand—a negligible figure compared to the North Sea Ice Palace's forces.
However, their martial arts were exceptionally formidable, and with the Dong Clan's forces aiding them from within, the remaining five clans' masters were thrown into disarray.
"All five clans except the Dong Clan—listen!"
Bing Han-pung, who had followed Bu Eun-seol inside, bellowed.
"The Eom and Seol Clans, block the invading forces from advancing further into the palace! The remaining three clans, suppress the Dong Clan's traitorous forces who have colluded with outsiders!"
The palace lord's stern command finally spurred the disciples of the North Sea Ice Palace into swift, disciplined action.
Especially now that it was revealed that the enemies wreaking havoc inside were from the Dong Clan, the remaining clans' forces moved systematically to subdue them.
"Yu Un-ryong!"
Bu Eun-seol spotted Yu Un-ryong and So Ok-rim locked in fierce combat in front of the Ice Crystal Pavilion, where the palace lord resided.
In truth, Yu Un-ryong had been the first to sense the betrayal.
While Bu Eun-seol had been occupied with other matters, he had kept a close watch on the Dong Clan's movements, gathering intelligence from numerous disciples.
He had already uncovered that the Dong Clan was assembling external forces within the palace and had relayed this to Bu Eun-seol.
"Bu Eun-seol! We need to deal with these bastards first!"
Yu Un-ryong pointed at the martial artists pushing their way into the Ice Crystal Pavilion.
"Step aside!"
Hearing this, Bu Eun-seol drew his sword and plunged into the midst of the two hundred martial artists.
CLANG!
But when the Ink Sword struck their bodies, a dull thud rang out alongside sparks.
As it turned out, they were wearing unique protective garments capable of deflecting divine blades beneath their robes.
'They outfitted this many people with armor that can block divine swords?'
Bu Eun-seol's brows shot up.
The martial artists swarming the Ice Crystal Pavilion numbered at least two hundred.
Not only were they all highly skilled, but they were also clad head-to-toe in these peculiar protective garments.
'No wonder they were struggling.'
So Ok-rim and Yu Un-ryong could have easily handled five hundred ordinary troops.
But against martial artists clad in armor impervious to weapons, employing an unusual tactic, they had been forced into a difficult fight.
"Not a chance!"
As the enemy's offensive intensified, Yu Un-ryong altered his Ten-Joint Staff technique.
WHOOSH!
The staff, now whipping through the air like a flail, sought out the gaps in their armor, striking pressure points with precision.
"Tch! These little shits are pissing me off!"
So Ok-rim also shifted tactics, unleashing the Mountain-Splitting Strike against the armored foes.
BOOM! BOOM!
With eerie reverberations, her fist energy penetrated their protective garments, striking their internal organs directly.
"Deploy the Force-Severing Turtle-Repelling Formation!"
As Yu Un-ryong and So Ok-rim's techniques grew more refined, the martial artists hunched together, pressing shoulder-to-shoulder.
Channeling their internal power, they withstood the barrage of attacks, inching step by step toward the Ice Crystal Pavilion.
Their movement resembled that of a massive tortoise creeping forward sluggishly.
"Ugh! They're pulling out all the tricks!"
So Ok-rim unleashed her fist techniques, but whether due to the formation's influence—
or because they had mastered martial arts like the Iron Cloth Stance—her attacks no longer had any effect.
"Fine!"
Enraged, she stretched her arms toward the sky and earth, summoning her internal power.
She was unleashing the most devastating annihilation fist technique in the world—Galaxy Severance.
KWAHAAAAA!
When the colossal fist energy finally crashed down, the divine blade-deflecting armor shattered into fragments—
and the twenty martial artists charging forward were blown apart, their remains scattering in all directions.
"That's it?"
So Ok-rim's eyes widened in disbelief.
The Galaxy Severance, a technique said to pulverize even Mount Tai, had only taken out twenty of them?
But she had overlooked one thing—these enemies were far from mere foot soldiers.
Not only were they clad in protective garments, but they had also mastered external martial arts to fortify their bodies and were employing a bizarre formation that rebounded force.
And yet, she had still reduced twenty of them to scattered pieces—proof that her fist technique had reached a level unrivaled in the martial world.
THUD. THUD.
Despite Yu Un-ryong and So Ok-rim's relentless assaults, the enemies advanced step by step, turtle-like in their persistence.
"Damn it!"
Both the Galaxy Severance and Yu Un-ryong's Ten-Joint Staff techniques consumed vast amounts of internal power.
If these foes were willing to throw their lives away, they might eventually breach the Ice Crystal Pavilion.
TAP.
Then, Bu Eun-seol stepped in front of the martial artists storming toward the pavilion.
As he violently drew upon his internal power, his hair began turning white.
CRACKLE.
Simultaneously, his entire body became enveloped in a glacial aura.
He was summoning the ultimate martial art of the Glacier Great Emperor—the Glacier Thousand Streams Art.