Chapter 453
—Let the Phoenix Tournament commence!
At last, the Phoenix Tournament had begun.
At the center of the Martial Alliance, before the Grand Martial Training Ground, stood temporarily erected structures and a massive labyrinth.
Before them, the elite second-grade corps selected from each department stood in formation.
Meanwhile, the high spectator seats of the Grand Martial Training Ground were densely packed with martial artists of the Martial Alliance who had gathered to witness the Phoenix Tournament.
Opposite the training ground, a high podium had been erected, upon which stood a beautiful woman clad in white garments, her posture rigid as she gazed down at the scene below.
Murmur, murmur.
The unprecedented sight of such a young and beautiful Chief Strategist had the countless martial artists in the Grand Martial Training Ground buzzing incessantly.
—So that beauty is the newly appointed Gongson Dan-gyeong, Chief Strategist Gongson!
As the former head of Daerim Garden, she had rarely engaged in external activities beyond administrative duties.
Because of this, few within the alliance had ever seen her face.
Yet now that she had revealed herself, her youthful and stunning appearance was so striking that one might mistake her for Gongson Dan-a, one of the Three Beauties Under Heaven!
—I thought the Flower of Eloquence, Gongson Dan-a, had visited our alliance.
—She looks to be in her twenties, but they say she's well past thirty.
Just as the figures in the training ground were whispering among themselves, the high-ranking officials of the Martial Alliance gathered around the podium in small groups, exchanging words with Gongson Dan-gyeong.
They were likely offering their congratulations.
However, Jo Cheon-wang, who had stepped down as leader of the Martial Heaven Unit, was nowhere to be seen, and neither the Alliance Leader nor the Vice Alliance Leader were in attendance.
Especially the Alliance Leader, Shin Do-mu-bi—he rarely made appearances at ordinary events or ceremonies.
Jeong Cheon-je.
With a name like that, he had declared that his duty as the Number One of the Righteous Path was to grow stronger.
Thus, he devoted every possible moment to enhancing his martial arts rather than wasting time on ceremonies or events.
—What the hell is that?
Meanwhile, the corps participating in the Phoenix Tournament were all frowning as they stared at one particular spot.
There, standing in formation, was a group of unfamiliar faces—members of the Peak Squad.
The corps participating in the Phoenix Tournament were exclusively those that had achieved great merit or demonstrated exceptional skill within the Martial Alliance.
Yet here was the newly formed Peak Squad, standing dumbly in their midst?
—I heard they've accomplished a lot recently, but this is going too far.
—Do they think the Phoenix Tournament is some kind of joke? Countless corps train bitterly just to win this competition!
Even among the high-ranking officials on the podium, murmurs arose.
—I heard it's a newly established Information Warfare Unit. To participate in the Phoenix Tournament? Isn't that reckless?
Murmur, murmur.
The unprecedented situation had the Grand Martial Training Ground abuzz with incessant chatter.
But Bu Eun-seol and the other unit members stood in formation with expressionless faces.
—The first contest, the Battle Formation Assault and Defense Trial, will now begin!
Yong Myeong, the lord of the Dragon Coil Hall overseeing the tournament's proceedings, announced loudly.
—The called corps, step forward! Blue Heaven Corps and Divine Beast Corps!
At his command, the two corps standing in formation stepped onto the training ground.
The Battle Formation Assault and Defense Trial was a contest where each corps deployed their most confident battle formation, then attempted to breach the other's.
Through this trial, the training quality, unity, cooperation, and the commander's leadership could all be evaluated.
The first called corps would take the offensive—so the Divine Beast Corps attacked while the Blue Heaven Corps defended.
The Blue Heaven Corps used the Heaven and Earth Shadowless Formation, an adaptation of the Heaven and Earth Formation inherited from the Martial Alliance, and the Divine Beast Corps ultimately failed to breach it.
—We must hold the line at all costs!
When the roles reversed, the Divine Beast Corps deployed the Flying Heaven Golden Thread Formation to defend against the Blue Heaven Corps' assault.
But the Blue Heaven Corps' commander skillfully directed his members, pinpointing the weaknesses in the Flying Heaven Golden Thread Formation and tearing through it in an instant.
—Blue Heaven Corps, victory!
At Yong Myeong's declaration, the Divine Beast Corps lowered their heads and exited the training ground.
The Phoenix Tournament consisted of three contests, and elimination after a single loss meant the end.
With no second chances, every corps fought with all their might.
Under Yong Myeong's direction, fierce clashes between corps continued relentlessly.
Most victories went to the long-established second-grade corps, the veterans who had held their positions for years.
—The final match: Thunderclap Corps and Peak Squad, step forward!
Hearing this, the surrounding corps and observing martial artists stifled their laughter.
—They'll be eliminated in one go.
The Thunderclap Corps was renowned even among second-grade corps for its mastery of Mechanism Formations.
Especially its commander, Cheon Tae-seong—the only son of Cheon Tae-gwang, a legendary master of battle formations in the martial world.
And yet, the Peak Squad, which had only just been promoted to second-grade and was known as an Information Warfare Unit, stood before them.
The idea that they could defeat the Thunderclap Corps in the Battle Formation Assault and Defense Trial was utterly laughable.
"There's no need to be nervous."
Bu Eun-seol, standing on the Grand Martial Training Ground, spoke calmly to his unit members.
"Just follow the methods we've trained with."
Then he turned to Tae Mu-ryong and Jeong Jong-do.
"Divide the unit members into two groups and form the Shaking Heaven Twin Pole Formation. I'll direct the defensive maneuvers from the outside."
"The Shaking Heaven Twin Pole Formation... you mean?"
Tae Mu-ryong wore a puzzled expression.
That was a battle formation specialized for offense, not defense.
"They're underestimating us. That's why, rather than searching for gaps in their formation, they'll try to overwhelm us with sheer force."
Bu Eun-seol smiled as he spoke.
"We must become the sharp blade that withstands their pressure. Of course, I'll keep adjusting the formation as needed."
Then, sweeping his gaze over the unit members, he spoke with conviction.
"This battle will prove that all our training wasn't in vain. Can you do it?"
—We obey your command!
The unit members clasped their hands together and shouted in unison before beginning to deploy the Shaking Heaven Twin Pole Formation.
Seeing them align flawlessly, without a single misstep in their positioning and defensive stance,
'They must have trained quite well.'
Thunderclap Corps Commander Cheon Tae-seong nodded slightly.
But soon, a sneer crept onto his face.
'Unfortunately, neither skill nor unity can be forged in such a short time.'
He could tell at a glance that this Seon-u Jin was no ordinary figure.
But the Peak Squad members were all newly recruited martial artists. Even if they had trained, the period was far too brief.
Meanwhile, the Thunderclap Corps had held their position as a second-grade unit for five solid years—there was no way these newcomers could stand against them.
—Begin!
At Yong Myeong's shout, Cheon Tae-seong rallied his unit and spoke in a low voice.
"There's a gap in their northeast flank. Focus your assault there and break through."
With a thunderous battle cry, the Thunderclap Corps members surged toward the opening in the northeast.
But something was strange.
The Peak Squad' formation, which should have crumbled instantly, held firm, and the unit members' expressions didn't waver in the slightest.
'What in the world...?'
Cheon Tae-seong, who was directing the formation from the outside, widened his eyes in shock.
'How can new recruits have such solid Internal Energy?'
Despite this being their first Phoenix Tournament, the Peak Squad members showed no signs of tension, executing their formation flawlessly.
Not only that, every single one of them possessed such stable Internal Energy that even significant impacts couldn't shake their stance.
"Uraah!"
The Thunderclap Corps members had aimed perfectly for the gap, yet they couldn't break through the Peak Squad' unyielding formation.
—They're not even budging?!
The Thunderclap Corps members were just as bewildered.
Despite pushing into the perceived weak point with full force, they couldn't penetrate the Peak Squad' formation at all.
"..."
In the end, even after pushing for a quarter of an hour, the Thunderclap Corps failed to break their opponents' formation.
—Switch to defense!
At Yong Myeong's command, the Thunderclap Corps withdrew in confusion.
"They must have drilled formation training extensively. But there's no need to worry."
Cheon Tae-seong reassured his flustered unit with a firm voice.
"Even if they hold their ground, they won't break our formation. We'll win this in a battle of endurance."
He raised his voice.
"Deploy the Vajra Thousand-Nine Formation!"
Cheon Tae-seong chose the sturdiest defensive formation the Thunderclap Corps possessed—the Vajra Thousand-Nine Formation.
Nineteen unit members swiftly arranged themselves in a circular formation, with Cheon Tae-seong directing the maneuvers from within.
"Open formation!"
At his command, the members began moving in intricate patterns.
The Vajra Thousand-Nine Formation had the unique ability to redirect external force in a circular motion, much like the principles of Taiji Fist.
Unless someone wielded a lethal weapon with the intent to kill, no ordinary force could shatter this formation.
"Breaking a formation is far easier than defending one."
Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low voice.
"There's no such thing as a perfect formation. They're created by humans, each with different physiques and personalities."
Bu Eun-seol had long faced countless formations alone and had honed techniques to dismantle them.
"Follow my commands precisely and adjust instantly."
—Begin!
At Yong Myeong's shout, Bu Eun-seol immediately took charge.
"Two steps northeast. Three steps southwest."
Though the Vajra Thousand-Nine Formation was nearly flawless, Bu Eun-seol, through the Way of the Beast, instantly pinpointed its vulnerabilities.
"Wait there a moment. Now, three steps northeast again."
The unit members moved like precision machinery, without the slightest deviation.
This was possible because they trusted Bu Eun-seol completely.
Moving as one, they shifted flawlessly with each command.
With every adjustment, tiny cracks formed in the Thunderclap Corps' unyielding formation, and its structure gradually weakened.
—What the hell is happening?!
Cheon Tae-seong and the Thunderclap Corps members were on the verge of losing their minds.
They had executed the formation flawlessly, without a single misstep, moving precisely in sync with the formation's flow.
So why did gaps keep appearing whenever the Peak Squad members advanced?
—Ugh... I can't hold on any longer!
As the Peak Squad members relentlessly exploited one weakness after another,
Shudder, shudder.
The Vajra Thousand-Nine Formation, which should have maintained a perfect circular shape, began to warp and distort—
Crash!
Until finally, the entire formation collapsed.
—Victory to the Peak Realm Corps!
At Yong Myeong's declaration, the Peak Squad members embraced each other and roared in triumph.
—Woooh!
Even Jeong Jong-do, who was usually tight-lipped and reserved, clenched his fists and let out a fierce cry.
They had trained relentlessly, following Bu Eun-seol's instructions without a single day of rest.
But doubts had crept in from time to time.
Was all this really necessary?
Did they need to push themselves this hard?
Would their training even pay off?
Those questions had lingered, especially since their leader, Bu Eun-seol, had often been absent.
But today, in this battle of formations, they found their answer—far sooner than they expected.
—Our training wasn't in vain!
The members shouted in their hearts as one.
—Thanks to our training, we've grown even stronger!
"Surprisingly skilled."
From the viewing platform, Gongson Dan-gyeong, the chief strategist, smiled faintly as she glanced at Yuk Jang-cheon.
"I heard they were only recently established, yet their abilities are quite impressive."
"Well, that's—"
Yuk Jang-cheon was about to respond modestly when Jong Gu-ryeong, the head of the Flying Dragon Hall seated beside him, swiftly cut in.
"They've only won a single match. Whether they're truly skilled remains to be seen."
Jong Gu-ryeong, who also coveted the position of Heavenly Martial Brigade leader, was effectively Yuk Jang-cheon's rival.
Moreover, the Thunderclap Corps was under his command, so this loss had wounded his pride.
"I suppose you're right."
Gongson Dan-gyeong nodded indifferently just as—
Rumble—
A flood of people began entering the massive structure and maze set up on the training grounds.
They were all martial artists from the Martial Alliance's Strategy Pavilion—experts in formation techniques.
—The second trial begins now!
Yong Myeong's voice boomed across the field.
—The called-upon corps shall enter the Evil-Breaking Pass at the front of the training grounds!
The Evil-Breaking Pass was a colossal building and maze constructed within the Grand Martial Training Grounds, filled with various formations commonly used by the Demonic Path.
Inside, martial artists from the Strategy Pavilion had laid out powerful formations—
The very same ones favored by the demonic factions.
And to prevent any underhanded tricks or the use of precious artifacts to dismantle the formations, first-class Sword Unit Commanders were stationed throughout to monitor the proceedings.
—The two corps that break through the fastest will advance to the final round!
Yong Myeong's voice rang out once more.
—White Heaven Corps, begin!
At his command, Dokgo Seung, the leader of the White Heaven Corps, clasped his hands together and led his members into the Evil-Breaking Pass.
For a long while, there was no sign of them—until, after just over half an hour, they emerged from the opposite gate.
—White Heaven Corps: Half an hour!
Yong Myeong then turned his gaze to Bu Eun-seol and the Peak Realm Corps before shouting—
—Next, Peak Realm Corps! Enter!
Bu Eun-seol and his corps stepped forward, clasping their hands in salute toward the high-ranking officials on the platform before marching into the Evil-Breaking Pass.
What awaited them inside, however, was unexpected.
Contrary to the building's exterior, they found themselves in a vast forest—
And a disorienting fragrance began spreading in all directions.
At the same time, martial artists clad in black robes moved erratically, weaving a formation.
'Well... this is almost embarrassing.'
Bu Eun-seol couldn't help but smirk inwardly upon recognizing the formation.
The formations set up in the Evil-Breaking Pass were none other than those of the White Horse Monastery and Hell Blood Citadel—
The very same ones he had been dismantling ever since he entered the Martial World.
"Corps Leader, I know a bit about formation-breaking arts."
Jeong Jong-do stepped forward, but Bu Eun-seol raised a hand to stop him, a faint smile on his lips.
"No need."
"Huh?"
"I'll take the lead. Don't look anywhere else—just keep your eyes on the back of the person in front of you and follow. That's all you need to do."
"What kind of—"
"These formations are the same ones I've been dealing with while working for the merchant group—belonging to the Demonic Path Ten Gates."
Jeong Jong-do's mouth fell open.
"R-Really?"
"No time to waste. Follow me. I'll lead the way."
Step, step.
Bu Eun-seol strode into the formation as casually as if he were taking a stroll.
The stunned corps members immediately fell in line behind him.
Swish! Swish-swish!
The first formation they encountered was the Poison Hand Formation of the Hell Blood Citadel.
It was the very same formation that Ok Gi-ryung, leader of the Blood Hand Hall, had used when Bu Eun-seol first went to receive his successor candidacy.
Though the first-class Sword Unit Members weren't using the true Blood Shadow Poison Hand, the noxious toxins they deployed were more than enough to disorient the senses.
"The Martial Alliance has studied demonic battle formations quite thoroughly."
Though they hadn't unleashed the Blood Shadow Poison Hand, the Poison Hand Formation unfolding before his eyes was so precise and intricate that one could easily believe it had been deployed by the elite fighters of the Blood Hand Hall themselves.
"Is it that person from the Martial Alliance?"
Bu Eun-seol recalled rumors he had heard during his time as the Ten Demonic Heir, back when he had fought against the Great Righteous Experts.
It was said that within the Martial Alliance, there existed not only orthodox martial artists but also a mysterious master so deeply versed in the martial arts of the Demonic Path that they could even teach techniques to dismantle them.
"Otherwise, there's no way they could teach the Shadow Demon Steps—a technique only Hell Blood Citadel's elites can use—to this level of proficiency."
Though his thoughts were lengthy, his movements were swift.
Bu Eun-seol instantly pierced through the weak point of the Poison Hand Formation.
In an instant, the tightly woven battle formation began to crumble.
Had this been a real battle, the Hell Blood Citadel's masters would have unleashed the Blood Shadow Poison Hand, but since this was merely a test, the formation was dismantled as it stood.
After that, Bu Eun-seol faced the White Horse Five Poisons Formation, deployed by Eum Wi, the master of Hyeonok Hall at White Horse Monastery.
And finally, the Black Kill Descending Lock Formation, unleashed by Yang Myeong, the leader of the Blood Ghost Hall.
Screech—
Once all the formations had been shattered, the gates of the Evil-Breaking Pass swung open.
Stepping outside, Bu Eun-seol was met with the sight of a vast training ground, now eerily silent.
"Peak Squad—a quarter-hour!"
At Yong Myeong's shout, not only the waiting unit members but even the high command's eyes widened as if they might tear from sheer shock.
A quarter-hour?
Such a thing couldn't happen unless the mechanisms had been improperly installed, could it?
Murmur, murmur—
For a moment, chaos erupted across the training grounds and the viewing platform.
As the situation grew increasingly serious, Yong Myeong entered the Evil-Breaking Pass and summoned the Sword Unit Commanders inside.
Together with the high command on the platform, they listened to how the Peak Squad had dismantled the formations.
After a long explanation, the high command's jaws dropped.
The method the Peak Squad—no, Seon-u Jin—had used to dismantle the formations was something even the Martial Alliance had never discovered before.
Because it was an absurdly simple yet flawlessly precise method of striking at the weak points.
Ultimately, even after the Sword Unit Commanders' explanations, the high command remained unconvinced and called Bu Eun-seol up to the platform.
"Where did you learn such a method of dismantling formations?"
"I didn't learn it—I figured it out myself."
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together and answered respectfully to Yong Myeong's question.
"While traveling Beyond the Pass, the ones who extorted the most money from honest merchant groups were the Hell Blood Citadel's forces in the Guizhou region and the White Horse Monastery stationed near Jade Gate Pass."
"You fought them?"
"How could I? I paid them hefty sums every year to pass through safely."
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
"But merchant groups who couldn't afford the payments would secretly hire wandering fighters to slip past them. And sometimes, they'd be discovered and slaughtered."
"Hmm."
"And the wandering fighters who survived such encounters would sell information about their enemies' tactics and formation operations—at exorbitant prices—in the Wanderers' Market."
Yong Myeong nodded.
What the wanderers sold wasn't just themselves.
The information and knowledge they gathered while drifting, even their own martial techniques and hand skills—anything that could be turned into money, they sold without hesitation.
"But that alone doesn't explain it."
Jong Gu-ryeong, the head of the Flying Dragon Hall, who had been listening quietly, furrowed his brow.
"The methods to dismantle the formations used by the Demonic Path Ten Gates—revealed in the Wanderers' Market? I've never heard such rumors before."
"Of course they weren't publicly revealed. I merely conducted my own research based on the materials I obtained from the wanderers."
Bu Eun-seol pulled out a thin booklet from his sleeve.
Inside were chaotic sketches of the Demonic Path Ten Gates' formation operations, densely annotated with dismantling techniques and notes.
Though not perfect, it was detailed enough to grasp the workings of the demonic formations.
From the moment Bu Eun-seol had received the order to participate in the Phoenix Tournament, he had prepared for all possible scenarios, thoroughly investigating every test that had appeared so far.
And since formations were a recurring element, he had prepared more than enough materials to justify dismantling them with suspicious speed—just in case.
"What is this?"
"Something I researched in my spare time."
Gongson Dan-gyeong examined the diagrams Bu Eun-seol handed over before nodding.
"Quite the diligent one, aren't you? And talented in formations too."
As she meticulously flipped through the booklet, she continued.
"It seems you've been researching for at least two or three years. Exclusively on demonic formations."
Was it just his imagination?
Her voice seemed to carry a particular emphasis on the word "demonic."
"The ones attacking merchant groups don't use orthodox techniques or formations, after all."
Whoosh—
Then, a pair of beautiful eyes locked onto Bu Eun-seol's face.
Instinctively, he averted his gaze.
They were eyes unlike any he had ever seen—unfamiliar yet profoundly deep.
And the moment their eyes met—
A silence, like being submerged in deep water, washed over him... and at the same time, an illusion unfolded before him—a single streak of light piercing through the darkness.
'Dangerous.'
Bu Eun-seol's instincts screamed a warning.
Gongson Dan-gyeong's eyes—they seemed to suck in his very soul. There was undoubtedly a mysterious power dwelling within them.
If that power was unstoppable—then Bu Eun-seol's true identity would be exposed right here, right now.