Chapter 341
Whoosh!
As Bu Eun-seol extended his left hand, a torrent of pure white cold energy poured forth, instantly beginning to freeze the charging martial artists solid.
Whoosh! Whooooosh!
Bu Eun-seol, hovering mid-air, didn't stop—he continued relentlessly unleashing waves of frigid energy upon them.
He had converted all of his Reverse Polarity True Qi into the Glacier Thousand Streams Art, channeling it into the freezing onslaught.
The sheer power of it was akin to a colossal glacier crashing down from the heavens.
—How is this possible?!
The disciples of the North Sea Ice Palace watching the scene gaped in disbelief.
—How can an outsider unleash the Cold Ice Palm Force, a technique exclusive to our palace?!
They had no idea that Bu Eun-seol had mastered the martial arts of the Glacier Great Emperor.
Instead, they mistakenly believed he was wielding the ultimate form of the Cold Ice Palm Force—something only the palace lord, who had absorbed the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal, should be capable of.
Whoosh! Whooooosh!
But soon, the disciples realized something was terribly wrong.
The Glacier Thousand Streams Art erupting from Bu Eun-seol's left hand was being executed with an internal energy equivalent to six cycles of cultivation.
In an instant, the enemies spread across dozens of yards were frozen solid—proof that this was no ordinary Cold Ice Palm Force.
Rumble—!
As Bu Eun-seol flash-froze the group clad in protective clothing, they toppled to the ground like blocks of ice.
The Glacier Thousand Streams Art of the Glacier Great Emperor.
When this supreme Extreme Yin Art—capable of freezing the very sky—merged with Bu Eun-seol's terrifying internal power, the result was an unimaginable, overwhelming force.
Thud. Thud.
With the armored foes collapsing in an instant, another group emerged from behind them, wielding peculiar blades.
But then—
Zzzziiing.
Bu Eun-seol sensed an eerie gaze fixed upon him from dozens of yards away.
Turning his head, he spotted a lone figure standing imposingly atop the roof of a distant pavilion.
The man wore a distinctive mask that reflected light, and within its slits burned eyes that flickered like flames.
Those eyes were so vivid and bright that they remained clearly visible even from such a distance.
'A descendant of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars.'
Bu Eun-seol instinctively knew.
This masked man was the descendant of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars who had orchestrated this entire situation.
"Yu Un-ryong! Hold them off!"
With a sharp command, Bu Eun-seol immediately activated his movement technique, darting toward the rooftop where the masked man stood.
Swish!
The moment he moved, the masked figure atop the roof immediately fled, streaking toward the outskirts of the North Sea Ice Palace.
Zzzzt—! Kwa-rurung!
Two streaks of lightning split the sky as Bu Eun-seol pursued the masked man.
The masked man's movement technique was as swift as a lightning flash—yet it was strangely monotonous.
Rather than trying to shake off Bu Eun-seol, he seemed content to simply race in a straight line toward the distant snow-capped mountains.
Tap.
Finally, upon reaching the cliffs of the snow-covered peak, the masked man halted and stood firm.
"You followed well."
Just as Bu Eun-seol had expected, the masked man had deliberately lured him here.
Even his earlier gaze from the pavilion had likely been a ploy to draw him out.
Shhhhk.
As Bu Eun-seol silently unsheathed the Ink Sword, the masked man chuckled.
"Always so confident, aren't you?"
His voice was dark and sinister, though he didn't sound particularly old.
"But I know all your tricks."
Shhhhk.
The masked man, too, drew a massive blade from his waist.
It was an unusual sword, its surface covered in fine, scale-like protrusions.
"Shall we begin?"
Fwoooosh.
As the masked man channeled his internal power into the blade, the sword began to glow a fierce red.
Upon closer inspection, the scale-like protrusions on the blade were vibrating intensely.
Infused with internal energy, they writhed like living scales, generating violent friction that superheated the sword.
"This is the Fire Spirit Blade," the masked man murmured, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the blazing weapon.
"An Ancient Treasure Blade even older than the Spirit Divine Sword you possess."
Bu Eun-seol had no intention of indulging his chatter.
Flash!
In an instant, he unleashed the Meteor Chasing Moon, a streak of sharp light slicing toward the masked man's throat.
Clang—!
The Ink Sword clashed against the Fire Spirit Blade.
And in that moment—shockingly—Bu Eun-seol was forced back a step.
'This...'
Unable to hide his surprise, Bu Eun-seol's eyebrows arched sharply.
"Always so proud of your internal power, weren't you?"
The masked man laughed lowly.
"But the Flame Emperor's Qi of my lineage burns away all external forces in an instant. No matter what they are—no matter how strong."
'So he's a descendant of the Flame Emperor.'
Four hundred years ago, the Flame Emperor had wielded the Flame Emperor Power—a martial art capable of melting iron and incinerating everything in its path.
That power could even reduce surging internal energy to scattered ashes.
'Indeed, the martial arts of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars are unique. They follow a completely different path from the supreme techniques of the current murim.'
Despite hearing of that terrifying power, a faint smile curled at the corner of Bu Eun-seol's lips.
The Flame Emperor's Qi, capable of incinerating all external forces and even internal energy in an instant. Precisely because of this, Bu Eun-seol felt an even greater thrill facing this formidable new power.
Whoosh!
In one swift motion, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the palm force imbued with lingering cold energy from his left hand.
He had executed the Cold Ice Palm Force through the Glacier Thousand Streams Art.
"Seems weaker than before, doesn't it?"
Yet, the overwhelming cold energy he had displayed earlier at the Ice Crystal Pavilion failed to manifest.
Bu Eun-seol had only been learning this internal power for four days.
Moreover, having exhausted his internal energy severely while dealing with the martial artists who had stormed the pavilion, it seemed the Glacier Thousand Streams Art couldn't exhibit its full strength.
Hiss!
The Masked Man swung the Fire Spirit Blade, instantly dissolving the Cold Ice Palm Force Bu Eun-seol had unleashed.
"The martial arts of the North Sea Ice Palace may indeed be the polar opposite of our lineage's arts... but this is pitiful."
Yet, anticipating the counterattack, Bu Eun-seol closed the distance in a flash.
Gleam!
Having narrowed the gap, he unleashed the Formless Heavenly Flow.
Simultaneously, sharp strands of true qi spread like spiderwebs behind his back—he had activated the Willful True Binding in an instant.
Hiss!
But something astonishing happened.
The Flame Emperor True Qi pouring from the Masked Man's Fire Spirit Blade instantly dissolved even the Willful True Binding, which could cleave through anything.
Swish!
Unfazed, Bu Eun-seol deployed the Shark Fist with his left hand.
He intended to pierce through the Flame Emperor's Qi with the Thirteenfold Qi Induction and tear the Masked Man apart.
"So this is your trick."
As the Masked Man wildly swung the Fire Spirit Blade, the force of the Thirteenfold Qi Induction vanished like mist in an instant.
Halt.
The moment Bu Eun-seol stopped moving, the Masked Man narrowed his eyes.
"I know you possess tremendous internal power—and that you wield diverse martial arts built upon it."
This was startling.
The Masked Man was aware of both the Willful True Binding and the Thirteenfold Qi Induction, Bu Eun-seol's two signature techniques.
"Show me more tricks! It doesn't matter—our Flame Emperor Power burns everything to ashes!"
Whoosh!
Swinging the Fire Spirit Blade, he unleashed dozens of fiery streaks toward Bu Eun-seol.
This was a power surpassing even sword techniques, the Willful True Binding, or the Thirteenfold Qi Induction—an overwhelming force that could shatter the heavens themselves.
Fascinating.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed as he watched the Fire Spirit Blade's flames surge toward him, threatening to consume his body.
The martial arts of the Flame Emperor.
That terrifying Blazing Shadow Power incinerated not only internal true qi but also the pinnacle martial techniques of both orthodox and unorthodox paths.
Even the counterattacks of his enemies were obliterated in an instant.
So he hasn't just observed my duel with the Heavenly Sword.
Moreover, the Masked Man had already analyzed Bu Eun-seol's martial arts and methods beforehand.
It was clear he hadn't merely witnessed the battle with the Heavenly Sword—he must have meticulously studied every trace of Bu Eun-seol's martial techniques left behind in his wake.
I can use that to my advantage.
Realizing his opponent had researched his martial arts, Bu Eun-seol immediately thought of several ways to counter the Masked Man.
And he chose the fastest method.
Click.
When Bu Eun-seol suddenly sheathed his sword, the Masked Man smirked coldly.
"Giving up already?"
"Just one question."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"Do you possess a Gratitude Coin?"
"So you're seeking the Divine Calculator."
The Masked Man chuckled.
"A single coin won't change anything. At best, you'll only hear one answer."
At this unexpected reply, Bu Eun-seol's eyebrow twitched.
"So you know what I'm searching for."
"Tch, no need to overthink it. After today, you'll be nothing more than a cold corpse."
"Quite the talker."
Bu Eun-seol flicked his fingers dismissively.
"Come at me. Let's finish this."
"Arrogant fool."
The Masked Man snorted coldly and raised his internal power.
"I'll erase even the traces of your existence from this world."
Whoosh!
A sickly yellow flame erupted from the Masked Man's entire body.
It burned fiercer and more vividly than ordinary fire, its hue deepening with the intensity of his internal power.
"Fascinating. Why don't those flames burn your clothes?"
Bu Eun-seol's casual question earned a derisive snort from the Masked Man.
"Die."
Swish!
That single sword stroke contained the overwhelming Flame Emperor Power, capable of annihilating any counterattack.
No matter how formidable Bu Eun-seol's martial arts were, no matter what power he unleashed—there was no blocking it, no retaliating against it.
That was what the Masked Man believed.
Click.
Yet, in Bu Eun-seol's right hand, a short dagger had appeared without warning.
Drawing the pitch-black dagger like a fragment of darkness, a dazzling array of light points suddenly bloomed between him and the Masked Man.
The unique blade art of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang.
The first stance of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms—Life is a Sojourn, Death is a Return—had been unleashed.
"Impossible!"
But something astonishing happened.
The Masked Man seemed to have perfectly grasped even the Bloody Tears Seven Forms. Before the points of light could fully bloom, he fearlessly closed the distance like lightning, piercing through Bu Eun-seol's defenses.
It was the ultimate dismantling technique—a complete counter to the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
Swoosh!
Just as the razor-sharp edge of the Fire Spirit Blade smoothly cut toward Bu Eun-seol's chest—
Crack!
A pale mist erupted from Bu Eun-seol's torso.
Despite the Fire Spirit Blade's power, which could annihilate anything it touched, only his clothing melted away.
He remained standing, unharmed.
Glacier Thousand Streams Art.
Not only did it unleash overwhelming Cold Ice True Qi, but it also froze the user's body as hard as the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal... allowing them to withstand even the fiercest attacks.
Tap.
A single point of light, released from Bu Eun-seol's Journey, pierced through the Masked Man's throat.
Thud.
The Fire Spirit Blade slipped from his grip and clattered to the ground.
"You... how did you... master the Glacier Great Emperor's martial arts—?"
Splurt!
In that instant, blood gushed from the Masked Man's neck before his head toppled from his shoulders.
The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
This saber technique was truly the art of a demon. Once unleashed, no one could escape death.
"It's like wielding death itself as a blade."
That was the raw emotion Bu Eun-seol felt every time he executed this technique.
This was no mere saber art—it was as if death itself had been forged into a weapon... one that, after slaying the enemy, returned to be sealed within his body once more.
"Your arrogance in believing you had deciphered all my martial arts was your fatal mistake."
Bu Eun-seol muttered as he approached the fallen Masked Man.
He had already deduced that his opponent had meticulously studied every trace of martial arts he had displayed thus far.
Which meant he would have only prepared a counter for the first form of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms—Life Returns to Death.
But there was no way he could have known Bu Eun-seol had mastered the Glacier Thousand Streams Art from the North Sea Ice Palace.
Using that advantage, Bu Eun-seol had activated the Great Spirit Ice Body, a defensive technique from the Glacier Thousand Streams Art, to block the Fire Spirit Blade's strike—while still executing the Bloody Tears Seven Forms flawlessly.
Had this man been even slightly more cautious, had he not let his guard down...
Bu Eun-seol would never have achieved such a swift and decisive victory.
'Thankfully, I only had to expend Cold Ice True Qi with the Glacier Thousand Streams Art—without revealing the full extent of my mastery.'
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol stepped closer to the corpse.
Swish.
The mask fell away, revealing the face of a young man not much older than himself.
"Young... and strong."
He had to admit it.
The descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars were as formidable as he was.
And if that was true... then those standing above them would be even stronger.
"I won't leave any more clues behind."
Hiss—!
Bu Eun-seol extended his left hand, unleashing a surge of frigid energy.
The human body was composed mostly of water.
When flesh freezes rapidly, the expanding ice crystals rupture cells, tearing apart skin and organs from within.
It was the same principle as freezing a firm fruit—only for it to turn mushy upon thawing.
But to the eyes of martial artists, it would simply appear as a bizarre, unexplainable wound...
Meaning that, from now on, he could use the Glacier Thousand Streams Art without leaving behind any trace of his techniques.
Swoosh.
Just then, a gray shadow descended from the sky—Yu Un-ryong had arrived.
"You finished him."
"What about the Palace Lord and So Ok-rim?"
"They've already breached the area and are cleaning up. Her martial arts... truly are extraordinary."
Yu Un-ryong shook his head as if exhausted.
"If not for her, we wouldn't have been able to protect the Young Clan Heads at all."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
So Ok-rim's martial prowess was nothing short of the Star Emperor's reincarnation. Among the younger generation, no one could withstand even a single strike from her.
"If someone asked me to name the next 'Number One Woman in the World'... in the past, I would have said the successor of the Sword Pavilion."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head with a strange expression.
"But now, I'd name So Ok-rim. Her skills don't just surpass the Sword Pavilion's successor—they're on the level of challenging the 'Number One of the Righteous Path.'"
"Agreed."
Yu Un-ryong shrugged, then glanced at the fallen Masked Man.
"So this one was a descendant of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars."
"Yes."
After studying the young face, Yu Un-ryong shook his head again.
"He wasn't their leader."
"I suppose so."
"Hmm."
A bitter wind swept past as Yu Un-ryong took a deep breath.
Just as So Ok-rim had warned, the Eight Emperors and Three Stars had deeply entrenched themselves, planting spies in every faction.
Which meant the Death Shadow War Unit—and Bu Eun-seol himself—would face countless trials ahead.
"Well, you can't expect to be full after the first bite."
Yu Un-ryong turned with a bright laugh.
"At the very least, we've knocked the arrogance out of those old bastards this time."
Then, gazing toward the direction of the North Sea Ice Palace, he declared firmly:
"Let's go back. It's time to tidy things up!"
If you want to be someone's strength, it's best to wear a bright expression. And simply staying by their side is enough.
Yu Un-ryong made this silent vow to himself.
No matter what trials may come, he would remain by Bu Eun-seol's side and help him.
Having executed the traitors and expelled the external forces, the North Sea Ice Palace slowly began reorganizing its internal affairs.
The Dong Clan's forces had already been completely subdued, and Dong Yu-gak had taken his own life.
Yet his crimes were far too great for one man to bear alone.
In the end, the North Sea Ice Palace disbanded the Dong Clan and banished them from the North Sea. The clan's forces and assets were cleanly divided and absorbed by five other clans.
Using the Violet Essence Pill he always carried and his Reverse Polarity True Qi, Bu Eun-seol treated Bing Han-pung's illness—caused by internal fire deviation—and healed Han Ja-uk's frozen blood meridians.
The Glacier Thousand Streams Art was the foundational Mind-Training Formula of the North Sea Ice Palace.
Since Bu Eun-seol had mastered it, he could perfectly discern the flow of their True Qi and thoroughly heal them both.
At the Grand Martial Training Ground of the North Sea Ice Palace,
Bing Han-pung stood atop the platform.
Having fully recovered his former Internal Power, his aura had reached a level capable of freezing heaven and earth.
Below him stood tens of thousands of disciples from the North Sea Ice Palace.
They had gathered both to express their gratitude to Bu Eun-seol before his departure and to formalize the peaceful alliance between the North Sea Ice Palace and the Demon Hall.
"Thank you."
Bing Han-pung approached Bu Eun-seol before the alliance ceremony and clasped his hands.
Though what Bing Han-pung had granted was merely a simple alliance,
Bu Eun-seol had not only saved the collapsing North Sea Ice Palace from crisis but also spared the lives of its future successors.
Moreover, he had generously used his Reverse Polarity True Qi to fully restore both Bing Han-pung's illness and Han Ja-uk's injuries.
"How can I ever repay this debt?"
"You, Palace Lord, also unreservedly taught me the Glacier Thousand Streams Art."
"That was..."
Bing Han-pung's expression turned bitter as he spoke almost in a whisper.
"To be honest, that was personal greed."
"Greed...?"
"In the past, this palace lord once fought a master of the Central Plains' Demonic Path and lost. It was because I had failed to master the Glacier Thousand Streams Art."
Bing Han-pung's gaze deepened endlessly, as if retracing the past.
"And before leaving, he left strange words. He said that only by finding a disciple who could master the Glacier Thousand Streams Art would the North Sea Ice Palace survive the Great Blood Calamity in the future."
"The Great Blood Calamity... you say?"
"Indeed. Even I thought it was an abrupt remark, but considering his mysterious martial prowess and actions, I couldn't simply dismiss it."
Bu Eun-seol's pupils deepened just like Bing Han-pung's.
"Who exactly was he?"
"The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, Bu Jan-yang. The Deputy Hall Lord of the Demon Hall to which you belong."
"The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade."
Bu Eun-seol couldn't conceal his surprise.
The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, Bu Jan-yang.
Had he sought out and dueled masters not only in the Central Plains but also from Beyond the Frontier?
"Why is such a fact unknown in the Murim?"
"He came to this palace alone. And left quietly afterward... so aside from this palace lord, no one knows of this."
"What does the Great Blood Calamity signify?"
"This palace lord has pondered it for a long time, yet I could not discern it. Only those words remained branded in my mind like a Fire Brand... and I ceaselessly searched for a disciple who could master the Glacier Thousand Streams Art."
'So that's why he entrusted the North Sea Ice Palace to me.'
Only now did Bu Eun-seol understand why Bing Han-pung, who had taught him the Glacier Thousand Streams Art, had spoken those words at the time.
"But now that I think about it, the Great Blood Calamity might refer to the rebellion instigated by our palace's traitors."
Had Bu Eun-seol not appeared, the North Sea Ice Palace would have been drenched in blood due to the traitorous Dong Clan forces and the descendants of the Blood Emperor.
"You are the benefactor who prevented this palace's Blood Calamity."
'Is that truly what the Blood Calamity meant?'
Yet Bu Eun-seol felt doubt.
It was hard to believe that a figure as great as the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade would refer to a mere rebellion as the Great Blood Calamity.
"I merely... repaid the debt I owed you, Palace Lord."
Erasing his rising thoughts, Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly, but Bing Han-pung shook his head.
"How can imparting a single martial art compare to saving this collapsing palace?"
"It is the same."
Bu Eun-seol smiled plainly.
"Because I was only repaying a debt."
After gazing at Bu Eun-seol for a moment, Bing Han-pung suddenly bowed his head.
Then, with utmost solemnity, he clasped his hands together.
"Grandmaster of the Demonic Path, Bu Eun-seol. As long as you exist, this palace shall forever stand by your side."
And in a loud, dignified voice, he declared:
"And this palace lord shall be your close friend in any circumstance, sharing your sorrows and hardships!"
Whoosh.
Bu Eun-seol likewise bowed deeply in respectful acknowledgment.
"I shall never betray the Palace Lord's benevolence."
—Waaaaah!
A thunderous cheer erupted from the disciples below the platform.
Bu Eun-seol, Heir of the Demon Hall.
He had reunited the North Sea Ice Palace, fractured by external forces.
Not only that, he had healed the Palace Lord and Han Ja-uk, and risked his life to protect the young clan heads who would lead the palace in the future.
He had become the North Sea Ice Palace's benefactor—and its eternal friend.