Chapter 500
"I shall make one final request. There is a way."
"You mean Young Hero Seol?"
"Indeed. However, it may take some time, so wait below with Brother Noe."
Dae Gu-hwi, sensing the unusual aura emanating from Bu Eun-seol's body, nodded.
"Understood."
"Don't worry; go ahead."
Contrary to Bu Eun-seol's burning heart, Noe Bi-hon spoke as if this were all for the best.
"I'll be spending my time training in martial arts with this one."
He seemed deeply satisfied just being able to spend time with Dae Gu-hwi.
Watching the two descend, Bu Eun-seol turned away.
Crunch.
Immediately, his original appearance returned.
'Even if they belong to the same Grim Reaper faction, what reason could there be to not even open the door?'
He had never intended to visit the Divine Beast Palace in his true identity if he could help it.
Following Gongson Dan-a's advice, he had hoped to receive a portion of the Water Essence Divine Qi to stabilize his body.
But Sa Cheong-ha treated Noe Bi-hon like an enemy.
If he were to step forward now as the Martial Soul Lord? Securing the Water Essence Divine Qi might become impossible.
'Is there no other choice?'
According to Gongson Dan-a, to fully recover his body and freely wield martial arts, he needed the power of the Grim Reaper.
Especially since the Water Essence Divine Qi was linked to the Glacier Thousand Streams Art, an Extreme Yin Secret Art—it was absolutely necessary.
But what if conflict arose while trying to bring Noe Bi-hon into All Swords Land?
Far from obtaining the Water Essence Divine Qi, he might even make an enemy of the Divine Beast Palace.
'Still, Brother Noe's recovery is more important.'
Even if it meant abandoning one of the keys to restoring his own body—the Water Spirit Energy—
Bu Eun-seol resolved to meet the Divine Beast Palace Lord without hesitation, in his identity as the Martial Soul Lord.
Step. Step.
Without faltering, Bu Eun-seol ascended the stairs leading to the Divine Beast Palace.
Then, a disciple of the Divine Beast Palace, wearing a blue mask, blocked his path.
"How may I assist you?"
"Martial Soul Lord."
Bu Eun-seol unleashed a terrifying aura, radiating blood light.
"Inform the Palace Lord that Bu Eun-seol, heir of the Demon Hall, requests an audience."
Immediately, he displayed the Twin Dragons Contesting the Pearl Token, symbolizing his authority as the Martial Soul Lord.
The disciple, flustered, hurried inside.
Creak.
Before long, the firmly shut gates of the Divine Beast Palace swung open.
Trees cast shadows, but men are known by their names.
The gates that had remained closed even to the Thunder God now opened wide at the mere mention of Bu Eun-seol's name.
No matter how prestigious the Divine Beast Palace was, it could not disregard the successor of the Demon Hall—a figure who wielded immense influence in the Murim.
"Please follow me."
Guided inside, Bu Eun-seol beheld the palace's mystical interior.
Unlike typical sects, beautiful gardens and blooming plants adorned every corner, with clear springs flowing throughout.
Since the Divine Beast Palace used water as its weapon, they had created small, ever-flowing streams within its walls.
"This way."
The disciple led Bu Eun-seol to the most splendid hall within the palace.
Inside, a dazzling beaded curtain hung at the center, and behind it, the shadow of a figure wearing an ornate hat was visible.
Though their face couldn't be seen, the shadow alone exuded solemnity and grandeur.
It was none other than Sa Cheong-ha, the deputy palace master of the Divine Beast Palace.
Bu Eun-seol immediately clasped his hands in greeting.
"Disciple of Langya Pavilion, Bu Eun-seol, pays his respects to the Deputy Palace Master."
Out of respect for the Divine Beast Palace—and to facilitate smooth negotiations—Bu Eun-seol lowered his status, introducing himself as a mere disciple of Langya Pavilion.
"Hmm."
A low, icy sigh came from behind the curtain.
"Our paths have never crossed, and we share no bonds. What brings you here unannounced?"
The voice was sharp, carrying an unmistakable edge of irritation.
Clearly displeased by the sudden visit, Sa Cheong-ha's tone dripped with displeasure.
"I am aware that arriving uninvited disrupts the Deputy Palace Master's peace, but... I come on urgent business and had no choice but to seek an audience."
For the heir of the Demon Hall, his words were exceedingly polite and respectful.
Perhaps softened by his courtesy, Sa Cheong-ha nodded slightly.
"Very well. What is it?"
"I wish to briefly visit All Swords Land within the Divine Beast Palace."
"All Swords Land?"
"Correct."
"Do you seek to refine a new martial art?"
All Swords Land was a place where lightning frequently struck, saturating the area with thunder energy and purple lightning energy.
Thus, for martial arts like Thunderclap Palm or Wind-Thunder Palm, it was an ideal place to rapidly advance one's True Realm.
Sa Cheong-ha likely assumed Bu Eun-seol wished to train in such techniques.
"Not for myself—it is to restore my sworn brother's martial arts."
"To restore your sworn brother's martial arts? Wait, don't tell me this sworn brother is—"
"Indeed. Noe Bi-hon—Brother Noe—is my sworn brother."
Whoosh.
In an instant, a frigid wind burst from behind the curtain.
Simultaneously, an icy voice, cold enough to scatter frost, spoke.
"I shall pretend I did not hear those words just now."
"Deputy Palace Master."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with utmost courtesy.
"Without reaching All Swords Land, there is no way to restore his martial arts. I beseech you to grant me this favor—"
"Though our paths differ, had you come to cultivate martial arts, I might have permitted you entry to All Swords Land."
"..."
"No—even if you were one of the most wicked villains under heaven, I would grant you access. But Noe Bi-hon? That man alone shall never pass through. Do you understand my meaning?"
Sa Cheong-ha's voice carried a resentment cold enough to freeze the heavens.
It was clear this hatred stemmed from some personal grievance between them.
"Deputy Palace Master. My purpose in restoring Noe Elder Brother's martial arts is not for personal reasons."
Bu Eun-seol maintained his respectful tone.
"It is because only with his martial arts restored can he perform righteous deeds."
"What nonsense is this?"
"Noe Elder Brother was attacked by a ruthless enemy, losing not only his martial arts but also his memories. That man is a villain who brings chaos to the world, and to track his movements—"
"He lost his memories?"
Sa Cheong-ha reacted not to the gravity of the matter but to the revelation that Noe Bi-hon had lost his memories.
"So that's why you had the audacity to come here... That's why you shamelessly sought me out."
Her voice, low and humming like an icy whisper, was thick with frozen resentment.
Hearing it, Bu Eun-seol grasped the situation to some extent.
'A matter between a man and a woman, then.'
Most likely, there had been some affair of the heart between Noe Bi-hon and Sa Cheong-ha, and it had left her seething with hatred.
'Still, there's no helping it.'
Under normal circumstances, he would never involve himself in matters of romance.
But Bu Eun-seol owed Noe Bi-hon a debt—and he needed to capture the Heir of the Blade Emperor.
To do so, he had to persuade the Deputy Palace Master, who oversaw all affairs of the Divine Water Palace.
"Deputy Palace Master."
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together.
"I do not know what history lies between you and Noe Elder Brother, but for the sake of Murim... Could you not set aside personal feelings for now?"
"You speak too lightly."
Sa Cheong-ha's voice was like a cascade of ice.
"Does the Heir of the Demon Hall fancy himself the Supreme Martial Lord? By what right do you dictate how others should handle their affairs?"
"Then what must I do to change your mind?"
Bu Eun-seol responded with patience and courtesy.
Without her permission, entry to All Swords Land was impossible.
"Noe Bi-hon. If he kneels before me and begs for forgiveness."
Her voice was frigid.
"And if he can endure three strikes from me—then I will grant you access to All Swords Land."
"Very well."
Bu Eun-seol agreed readily.
"However, since Noe Elder Brother has lost his martial arts, I shall endure those three strikes in his stead."
"You?"
After a brief pause, she nodded indifferently.
"That is not a bad proposal either."
Her voice dripped with bitter resentment.
"If you are crippled, Noe Bi-hon's heart will surely be shattered as well."
From her tone, it was clear she intended to use this agreement as an excuse to grievously injure Bu Eun-seol.
"If you fear the consequences, you may still withdraw now, Martial Soul Lord."
Sa Cheong-ha spoke with deadly seriousness.
"A promise is a promise. Even if other sects bear witness, I will show no mercy in this matter."
She was declaring her intent to either kill Bu Eun-seol or leave him severely wounded under the guise of this wager.
Yet Bu Eun-seol's expression remained calm, utterly devoid of fear.
"That won't be necessary."
He extended a finger and drew it downward across the floor.
Skritch! Skritch!
Thin, precise characters were carved into the solid blue stone slab—a handwritten oath swearing that even if he died from these three strikes, he would bear no resentment.
"Good."
Sa Cheong-ha turned within the curtain.
"Escort the Martial Soul Lord to the Divine Water Pavilion!"
The Divine Water Pavilion.
It was a garden at the heart of the Divine Water Palace.
At its center stood a massive sculpture—a miniature replica of the spiraling Divine Water Palace itself.
Surrounding it were ornate decorations shaped like vibrant, blooming flowers, and a stream of water flowed down the sculpture's spiral curves.
It was in this serene and beautiful setting that Sa Cheong-ha intended to unleash her three deadly strikes.
"Are you prepared?"
At that moment, a middle-aged woman in blue robes stepped forward to face Bu Eun-seol.
Her face was obscured by a veil of Heavenly Silkworm Silk, but her sharp eyes and furrowed brow were clearly visible.
Moreover, her pupils shimmered with a pale-white killing intent—proof that this was no mere game.
"Begin whenever you wish."
Bu Eun-seol did not even raise his Internal Power.
He had mastered Master Unhindered's True Body Supreme Art, Deflect Flowers and Receive Jade, allowing him to effortlessly redirect any external force.
Of course, since this was Seon-u Jin's True Void Secret Art, he would need to adapt it like a demonic supreme art.
"First Strike!"
Without hesitation, she unleashed a palm strike toward his chest.
There was no mercy in this blow—only blinding speed and lethal precision.
Thud.
Bu Eun-seol stood firm as the strike landed squarely on his chest.
Splash!
Though it was a bare-handed strike, a spray of damp water erupted from the point of impact.
She had used the water droplets to transmit her palm energy.
Whoosh!
But as the droplets splattered in all directions, the razor-sharp palm energy merely grazed past Bu Eun-seol's body.
He had applied the subtle principles of Deflect Flowers and Receive Jade to redirect the fierce palm energy away from himself.
"As expected, your martial arts are extraordinary."
Sa Cheong-ha offered praise, but her voice was as cold as ice.
Techniques like Deflect Flowers and Receive Jade existed in nearly every sect—the only difference lay in the level of mastery.
This compliment was nothing more than a forced exclamation meant to lull Bu Eun-seol into lowering his guard.
"Second... strike!"
She thrust out her right hand once more.
But this time, no palm energy flew toward him.
Hmm...
Instead, a low, vibrating hum resonated from Bu Eun-seol's chest.
'So that's her trick.'
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol realized Sa Cheong-ha's scheme.
The water droplets that had clung to his body when she struck earlier—
They had been deliberately scattered so she could launch an unavoidable, direct transmission of palm energy.
BOOM!
With a deafening explosion, the droplets embedded in his chest transformed into massive iron hammers, slamming into him.
Tsssk—
The impact sent Bu Eun-seol reeling about fifteen meters back.
The droplets adhered to his body trembled violently, their sharp energy burrowing into his meridians.
If he failed to disperse this force completely? His chest would cave in instantly, inflicting severe internal injuries.
Whirrr—
Bu Eun-seol spun fiercely in place, attempting to fling off the palm energy clinging to his chest in a single motion, using the principles of Deflect Flowers and Receive Jade.
But Sa Cheong-ha, as if anticipating this very move, unleashed a relentless barrage of sticky palm energy.
No matter how fast he spun, there was no way to shake off the transmission.
Fwoosh!
Yet at that moment, a strange heat erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body, incinerating the invasive energy of the water droplets.
He had resorted to Hot River Great Essence True Qi, instantly burning away the moisture seeping into his body.
'This is reckless.'
Unlike Glacier Thousand Streams Art, every use of Hot River Great Essence True Qi left his qi vessels unsettled and his head spinning.
"Impressive."
Sa Cheong-ha showed no surprise, even as Bu Eun-seol neutralized the transmitted force.
The palm energy she had unleashed thus far hadn't even amounted to one-third of her full strength.
"If you can withstand the final strike, Noe Bi-hon... I'll let you witness him kneeling before you."
Rumble—
The Divine Water Palace trembled as enormous torrents of water surged from all directions, converging above Sa Cheong-ha's head.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of transparent, dragon-shaped water pillars erupted from her body.
This was Nature Like Rushing Water, one of the Divine Water Palace's supreme arts, manifesting hundreds of concentrated palm strikes.
'This... is excessive.'
Bu Eun-seol gritted his teeth as he stared at the hundreds of water pillars towering into the sky.
Nature Like Rushing Water exploited the enemy's inability to counterattack, continuously gathering force through water transmission before delivering an overwhelming assault.
To call this a single martial form was nothing short of absurd.
If he took this head-on, he would be struck by hundreds of concentrated palm energies simultaneously.
No matter how formidable his martial arts were, there wasn't a single person in the world who could endure hundreds of the Divine Water Palace's most devastating palm strikes.
"If you're afraid, you may surrender now."
Sa Cheong-ha's voice was icy.
"I have no desire to make an enemy of the Demon Hall."
"Not a chance."
Bu Eun-seol replied flatly.
"Proceed."
"Very well!"
KABOOM!
An explosive force erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body, his true qi radiating outward as he drew upon his full internal power to withstand Nature Like Rushing Water's strike.
'This is the only way!'
Splaaash—
The torrential strike of Nature Like Rushing Water engulfed him.
It was as if hundreds of tiny, transparent dragons coiled around his body, burrowing inward.
"You'll be crippled now."
Sa Cheong-ha remained utterly composed, even after reducing the Heir of the Demon Hall to a cripple in a single move.
They had agreed on three strikes—and she had honored that promise.
With the vow Bu Eun-seol himself had inscribed using Finger Wind, even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor would have no grounds for complaint.
"...Hm?"
But something was wrong.
The hundreds of palm energies that should have ravaged his body remained suspended in midair, still solidified.
No—
"Wait."
Only then did Sa Cheong-ha realize her palm energy wasn't just frozen in place—it had been completely frozen solid.
"...This ice art—!"
Bu Eun-seol had used an unfathomable ice technique to instantly freeze Nature Like Rushing Water's strike.
'It worked.'
Bu Eun-seol exhaled inwardly in relief.
Of course, he could have blocked the attack using Hot River Great Essence True Qi as well.
But according to the natural order of martial affinities, fire could not overcome water in this situation.
To neutralize the Water Spirit Energy with Hot River Great Essence True Qi, he would need to expend at least twice the internal energy Sa Cheong-ha had used.
Even if he succeeded in vaporizing the palm energy, the loss would still be too great.
Instead, Bu Eun-seol had employed Glacier Thousand Streams Art—a technique of similar affinity—to freeze it all in an instant.
"It's over."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, a blue light flickered in Sa Cheong-ha's pupils.
"What do you mean, 'over'?"
"We agreed I would endure three strikes. I have."
"That's right. Three martial forms."
A venomous light flickered in Sa Cheong-ha's eyes.
"But wasn't the last of those three forms interrupted before it could fully unfold?"
Clang!
As Sa Cheong-ha channeled her Internal Power, the palm energy of Nature Like Rushing Water shattered the ice and returned to liquid form.
Water could become ice, and ice could just as easily return to water.
Splaaash!
Hundreds of razor-sharp water spirit energies transformed into transparent hands, latching onto Bu Eun-seol's vital acupoints.
The moment she realized not only was his Internal Power formidable, but he also wielded the Extreme Yin Art, she completely altered her strategy.
Water Essence Divine Qi.
The supreme power of the Divine Water Palace—when mastered to its limit, it could condense even a flowing river into a mere handful of water.
Sa Cheong-ha shattered the frozen martial forms of Nature Like Rushing Water once more, then drove palm energy shaped like transparent hands into Bu Eun-seol's body, forcibly injecting the Water Essence Divine Qi in a single surge.
Whoooosh!
The Water Essence Divine Qi, hailed as the most mystical force in Murim, poured into him.
At the same time, white steam billowed from Bu Eun-seol's body.
Sa Cheong-ha was using the power of the Water Essence Divine Qi to forcibly evaporate every drop of moisture from his body.
Since I've already laid hands on him, I might as well kill him outright—no room for future repercussions.
Hiiisss!
But then, something strange happened.
Instead of suffering, Bu Eun-seol felt an odd tranquility, as though floating in water.
'This is strange.'
If the Water Essence Divine Qi had truly agitated the moisture in his body, he should have died instantly from dehydration.
Yet, rather than losing moisture, his body seemed to be expelling turbid qi instead.
—If you obtain all the Divine Spirit Energies, you'll be able to harmonize the forces within your body.
Suddenly, Gongson Dan-a's words echoed in his mind.
—And if, by fate, the Palace Master ever infuses you with Water Essence Divine Qi... you'll be able to fully control the Extreme Yin Qi.
At the time, Bu Eun-seol had dismissed the possibility.
Why would the Divine Beast Palace Lord ever infuse the heir of the Demonic Path with something like Water Essence Divine Qi? He hadn't even planned on visiting the Divine Beast Palace.
Yet fate had led him here regardless.
And now, Sa Cheong-ha was pouring all her strength into injecting him with Water Essence Divine Qi—solely to kill him.
But instead, it was healing his body, which had been burdened with Extreme Yin Qi.
—"Because it does not store, it never loses."
The Taoist cultivation secret Gongson Dan-a had imparted to him circled endlessly in his mind.
Unlike the Internal Energy Methods scattered throughout Murim, this secret did not store any energy within the body.
'Why store water or cold energy when you can simply draw upon them when needed?'
With this realization, Bu Eun-seol began absorbing the vast influx of Water Essence Divine Qi.
Water existed everywhere in the world—why hoard it when you could simply summon it when necessary?
'The Glacier Thousand Streams Art is the same.'
Bu Eun-seol had been storing Extreme Yin Qi within his body, an act only possible for those who had practiced only Ice Art and reached its pinnacle—figures like the Glacier Great Emperor.
But for him, who carried multiple conflicting energies within his body, harboring such Extreme Yin Qi had been poisonous.
'Only store what you need, when you need it.'
Closing his eyes, Bu Eun-seol naturally accepted the Water Essence Divine Qi Sa Cheong-ha was violently forcing into him.
Ice and water were fundamentally the same.
If he could wield Water Essence Divine Qi...
Then he could use the Glacier Thousand Streams Art freely, without needing to store Extreme Yin Qi within himself.
Shooo... Shuuuu...
The incoming Water Essence Divine Qi did not evaporate his bodily fluids—instead, it continuously dispersed, expelling the Extreme Yin Qi that had been corroding his body.
At the same time, the energy began saturating his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, storing itself there.
He felt as though he had become an immortal, floating weightlessly among the clouds.
Meanwhile, Sa Cheong-ha grew increasingly bewildered.
'What is happening?!'
His body should have been completely desiccated by now—so why did he look so refreshed instead?
'That's Extreme Yin Qi!'
Only then did she realize—she wasn't evaporating his bodily fluids.
She was expelling the Extreme Yin Qi that could freeze a man to the bone.
'He practices Ice Arts, so it's not strange for him to harbor Extreme Yin Qi. But why...?'
Why was the Extreme Yin Qi being expelled instead of his moisture?
This was a phenomenon even a Grandmaster of Martial Arts wouldn't be able to comprehend.
Who could possibly guess that Bu Eun-seol's body housed a chaotic fusion of Orthodox, Unorthodox, Demonic, and Buddhist Arts?
Who would believe that the Heir of the Demon Hall had mastered a Quanzhen Sect secret—a fusion of the Five Animal Frolics and Taoist cultivation—that allowed him to absorb Water Essence Divine Qi?
Even if Bu Eun-seol had explained it in detail, Sa Cheong-ha wouldn't have believed him.
'This insolent brat is enduring the Water Essence Divine Qi?!'
Unaware of the truth, she bit her lip.
Had she stopped infusing the energy now, Bu Eun-seol might have fused the Glacier Thousand Streams Art with the water spirit energy, but he wouldn't have been able to harm her.
But her pride refused to accept defeat.
Driven by sheer stubbornness, she even tapped into her Primordial Essence True Qi, pouring an even greater torrent of Water Essence Divine Qi into him.
Hiiiiisss!
In response, Extreme Yin Qi gushed out of Bu Eun-seol's body even faster, and the Water Essence Divine Qi flooding his Eight Extraordinary Meridians swelled like a tidal wave.
The amount she was losing surpassed half of what she had painstakingly accumulated over her lifetime.
Ziiing... Ziiing...
Bu Eun-seol's body began to glow with a translucent light.
At last, he had fully assimilated one of the Four Divine Spirit Energies into his being.