Chapter 502
After leaving the Divine Beast Palace, Bu Eun-seol immediately descended to the foothills where Noe Bi-hon and Dae Gu-hwi were staying.
"You've changed your face again."
Noe Bi-hon stroked his chin as he observed Bu Eun-seol's original face.
"Young brother seems to have quite a number of identities. Isn't that so?"
"That is correct."
"Everyone has their own circumstances, so I won't pry into your reasons. However—"
Noe Bi-hon made an unreadable expression.
"—can't you show this foolish elder brother your real face?"
Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to briefly explain his situation.
That it was inconvenient to roam the martial world under his original identity, so he had created multiple personas.
And that this was indeed his true appearance.
However, he deliberately avoided mentioning his status as the Heir of the Demon Hall.
After all, once Noe Bi-hon regained his strength, he would lose all memories of this time.
There was no need to explain every trivial detail.
"Moreover, the Divine Beast Palace Lord has granted permission."
"So easily? When the Deputy Palace Lord was throwing such a fit?"
"Fortunately, he showed some consideration for this younger brother's dignity."
"Hoh."
Noe Bi-hon snorted through his nose.
No matter how remarkable Bu Eun-seol might be, it was unlikely the Palace Lord would change his mind over a single conversation.
Furthermore, judging by the torn sections of his clothing, he must have endured considerable hardship.
"Young brother."
Noe Bi-hon spoke in a low voice.
"Come to think of it, I don't know your real name."
"Whatever my name or status may be, does that change the fact that I'm your younger brother?"
"Right, of course."
Noe Bi-hon gazed at Bu Eun-seol with profound eyes.
"But if that's your true face, shouldn't you also tell me your real identity and name?"
Noe Bi-hon wasn't asking out of mere curiosity.
He wanted to remember the face and name of the benefactor who had worked so hard for him.
At this, Dae Gu-hwi—who had been sitting blankly—pricked up his ears.
He was intensely curious about the true identity of Bu Eun-seol, whom he had believed until now to be the wandering martial artist Seol-so.
"My name is Bu Eun-seol."
After taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol answered honestly.
"Martial Soul Lord?"
Dae Gu-hwi, who had been listening quietly, scurried over in excitement.
"Young Hero Seol is the successor of the Demon Hall? The Martial Soul Lord?"
Bu Eun-seol's fame had spread beyond the Central Plains Martial World to the Beyond the Frontier regions, so Dae Gu-hwi recognized him immediately.
"Martial Soul Lord?"
But Noe Bi-hon blinked and asked again.
Having lost his memories, he wasn't familiar with the hierarchy of the martial world.
Still, from Dae Gu-hwi's reaction, he could guess it was an extremely prestigious position.
"I see."
Noe Bi-hon smiled faintly.
"Even if I regain my memories, I'll make sure not to forget your name."
Favors and grudges.
Those who walk the martial world can never escape these debts.
Even Noe Bi-hon, who had lost his memories, still retained that instinct.
'You don't have to remember. No—you won't remember.'
Bu Eun-seol swallowed those words.
After all, the moment Noe Bi-hon regained his strength, his damaged meridians would heal, and he would forget everything that had happened until now.
All Swords Land.
This was the vast plain stretching behind Silver River Ridge where the Divine Beast Palace stood.
The area around All Swords Land was perpetually shrouded in rain clouds, with unstable atmospheric conditions.
Strong winds, terrain, hot and humid climate—multiple overlapping factors made it a place where lightning frequently struck.
Dae Gu-hwi drew out the Divine Spirit Staff he had been carrying and handed it to Noe Bi-hon.
"Great Hero Noe. I sincerely hope you succeed."
Noe Bi-hon smiled and patted Dae Gu-hwi's head, which was full of worry.
"Don't fret."
Bu Eun-seol also took out the Mysterious Leaf Stone and offered it to him.
"Brother Noe. Be careful."
Nod.
Noe Bi-hon nodded and walked toward the center of All Swords Land.
Already, the surroundings were darkening, with lightning striking in places.
Now, if he planted the Divine Spirit Staff, raised it high, and absorbed the Thunderbolt Qi through the Mysterious Leaf Stone... he would undoubtedly regain his Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
Flash!
Lightning continuously struck across All Swords Land.
Just approaching it felt like one's body might explode from the energy.
Though every hair on his body stood on end, Noe Bi-hon walked toward All Swords Land with fearless, natural steps—as if he instinctively knew exactly where to stand to receive the Thunderbolt Qi in a single burst.
Firmly.
Taking his position, Noe Bi-hon unfolded and raised the Divine Spirit Staff.
Then, as if waiting for this moment, thunder began to rumble across the sky.
It looked as though the heavens were gathering strength to pour lightning down upon Noe Bi-hon.
"Great Hero Bu. Something feels off."
Dae Gu-hwi's eyes widened uneasily.
Born with a Beast Body, he could instinctively sense danger faster than anyone.
"Doesn't it seem like all the lightning that was striking across All Swords Land is now gathering above Great Hero Noe's head?"
Rumble.
True to his words, the previously scattered lightning ceased, and light condensed in the black sky directly above Noe Bi-hon.
The problem was that the lightning showed no sign of striking down—instead, it kept flashing repeatedly, as if gathering energy.
The entire world darkened as though the time of World's End had come, yet Noe Bi-hon stood unwavering.
'Ah.'
After pondering for a while, Bu Eun-seol finally realized what was wrong.
'The Needle King was mistaken.'
There was only one reason for using the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mysterious Leaf Stone.
It was to draw Thunderbolt Qi from a place where lightning did not strike.
But All Swords Land was a place where dozens of lightning bolts struck every hour.
There was no need for the Divine Spirit Staff, which forcibly attracted all lightning—just the Mysterious Leaf Stone would have sufficed.
However, Jongri Sa-hyeon had heard only rumors from the past and thus mentioned both the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mysterious Leaf Stone.
'The Needle King only knew of All Swords Land through hearsay.'
As Bu Eun-seol had guessed, Jongri Sa-hyeon had only heard that lightning frequently struck All Swords Land.
He had never imagined that dozens of bolts would rain down every hour like this.
And if those gathered lightning bolts were to strike Noe Bi-hon all at once?
Even with his Thunder Spirit Physique, Noe Bi-hon wouldn't be able to withstand that energy.
His body would explode, unable to endure the overwhelming Thunderbolt Qi.
"Brother Noe!"
Bu Eun-seol immediately activated his Movement Technique and rushed toward Noe Bi-hon.
Flash!
At that moment, a blinding white light flooded the world.
When the light faded, lightning began striking incessantly at the Divine Spirit Staff in Noe Bi-hon's grasp.
Flash! Flash!
This wasn't a one-time occurrence—the bolts kept falling without pause.
And the lightning channeled through the Divine Spirit Staff was continuously injected into Noe Bi-hon's body via the Mysterious Leaf Stone he held.
Flash! Flash!
As the pure white lightning continued to strike, a white energy began pouring from Noe Bi-hon's pupils.
His Thunder Essence Divine Qi had awakened once more.
Flash! Flash!
Yet the lightning still flickered relentlessly, striking the Divine Spirit Staff without end.
Drip.
Blood trickled from Noe Bi-hon's mouth, and his body began swelling like a balloon.
His flesh couldn't endure the unmanageable influx of Thunderbolt Qi.
"Brother Noe!"
As Bu Eun-seol drew closer, a hemispherical barrier of pure white Thunderbolt Qi formed around Noe Bi-hon's roughly thirty-foot radius.
The overwhelming Thunder Qi radiating from his body expanded like a massive Protective Astral Energy, blocking Bu Eun-seol's approach.
Vwoom!
Bu Eun-seol immediately shaped his Willful True Binding into a massive blade, attempting to cleave through the dome of Thunderbolt Qi.
Zzzzt!
But white flames erupted, instantly disintegrating the blade formed from his Willful True Binding.
That technique alone couldn't breach this barrier of Thunder Qi.
Shing!
Drawing the Ice Soul Sword, Bu Eun-seol unleashed Sword Aura.
However, the Thunder Qi enveloping Noe Bi-hon contained a magnetic suction force, accompanied by a whirlwind of lightning.
No matter how much Sword Aura he poured forth, he couldn't break through that wall.
'There's no time!'
Bu Eun-seol grew frantic.
If left unchecked, Noe Bi-hon would lose his life right here.
Vwoom!
Spreading his True Qi, Bu Eun-seol stretched out both arms.
A five-colored radiance spread across his entire body, forming a spherical Gang Qi barrier.
Just as he had once blocked falling rocks in the Underground Castle beneath Nine-Bend Mountain, he aligned all the latent forces within his body—unleashing Harmonization.
Zzzzt!
The Gang Qi, now dyed in five colors, pierced through the wall of Thunderbolt Qi surrounding Noe Bi-hon in an instant.
Sparks flying at his steps, Bu Eun-seol finally saw Noe Bi-hon gripping the Divine Spirit Staff.
He attempted to blast it away by channeling Palm Energy into the staff.
But the moment he reached out—
Zzzzt!
A tremendous surge of energy suddenly flooded into his meridians through his arm.
It was pure Thunderbolt Qi, being injected into Noe Bi-hon's body via the Mysterious Leaf Stone.
"Ghk—!"
As the Thunderbolt Qi invaded his body, the Gang Qi formed by Harmonization vanished in an instant.
At the same time, Bu Eun-seol's arm became stuck to Noe Bi-hon's body.
Zzzzt!
With the continuous influx of Thunderbolt Qi, Bu Eun-seol's body also began to swell.
"Great Hero Noe! Great Hero Bu!"
From a distance, Dae Gu-hwi stomped his feet in agitation.
If left like this, both of them would explode.
"Ugh..."
After a moment of hesitation, Dae Gu-hwi began drawing upon his Beast Force.
"RAAAAH!"
His muscles bulged, his clothes tore, and Beast Force erupted from his body.
Crack.
Crouching like a beast, he charged toward the center like a maddened animal.
Fortunately, since Bu Eun-seol had already broken through the barrier of Thunderbolt Qi, Dae Gu-hwi could easily reach Noe Bi-hon's side.
"I'll help y—!"
But the moment he stepped within thirty feet, his body was suddenly lifted into the air—sticking to Noe Bi-hon's side.
Zzzzt!
Now, both Bu Eun-seol and Dae Gu-hwi were attached to Noe Bi-hon, absorbing Thunderbolt Qi alongside him.
"Ugh— AAAAAH!"
As the Thunderbolt Qi flooded his body, Dae Gu-hwi screamed in agony.
Noe Bi-hon, with his Thunder Spirit Physique, and Bu Eun-seol, with his Orthodox-Unorthodox-Demonic-Buddhist Arts, could barely endure the energy—
But Dae Gu-hwi, who lacked any such power, reached his body's limit almost instantly.
"Gu—hwi!"
The only saving grace was that with Dae Gu-hwi now attached, both Bu Eun-seol and Noe Bi-hon regained some semblance of awareness.
They struggled desperately to move, but no matter how hard they fought, they couldn't break free.
'At this rate, we'll all die.'
Even as the Thunderbolt Qi ravaged his body, Bu Eun-seol continued circulating Reverse Polarity True Qi through his meridians.
As he circulated his Internal Power, the Thunder Essence Divine Qi began to move in tandem with it.
—If I could fully harness the power of the Four Divine Energies...
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol recalled the secret technique Gongson Dan-a had taught him—a principle closer to the Harmonization of Two Powers than to any conventional Internal Energy Method. It was a way to reconcile opposing forces.
That was how he had been able to neutralize the Extreme Yin Qi of the Glacier Thousand Streams Art, which could have damaged his bloodline, by using the Water Essence Divine Qi.
'If they share similar properties... they can be harmonized.'
The Thunder Essence Divine Qi bore a striking resemblance to the Hot River Great Essence True Qi.
Which meant—Could the surging lightning energy be dispersed by fusing it with the Hot River Great Essence True Qi?
'This is a gamble.'
Though Bu Eun-seol possessed exceptional insight into martial arts, his knowledge of esoteric techniques—those that manipulated, generated, or extinguished energy—was limited.
There was no way to predict the outcome of such an attempt.
'I'll do it!'
The moment Dae Gu-hwi's body seemed on the verge of bursting, Bu Eun-seol immediately drew up the Hot River Great Essence True Qi.
Oooom—!
As he summoned the Hot River Great Essence True Qi, his blood vessels burned as if set aflame, and his qi pathways twisted in agony.
Yet he didn't stop. He began merging the Hot River Great Essence True Qi circulating within him with the Thunderbolt Qi being forced into him from outside.
Crackle—
In that instant, veins bulged across his entire body like coiling serpents.
Whoosh—! Hwaaaak—!
Simultaneously, the Blazing Flame Sacred Qi and Ultimate Fire Wheel Energy contained within the Hot River Great Essence True Qi erupted outward.
Under normal circumstances, Noe Bi-hon and Dae Gu-hwi's bodies would have melted, their organs incinerated by the heat and force.
But both were already saturated with the Thunder Essence Divine Qi, shielding them from the effects of the Hot River Great Essence True Qi.
'Just as I thought—their natures are similar.'
Confident now, Bu Eun-seol employed the principle of Harmonization of Two Powers to fuse the Hot River Great Essence True Qi with the cascading Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
Just as he had done with the Glacier Thousand Streams Art.
The Hot River Great Essence True Qi was an energy that only those with the Sacred Fire Body—like the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable—or those who had spent a lifetime mastering Extreme Yang Martial Arts could endure.
The sole reason Bu Eun-seol, with his ordinary physique, had survived carrying such energy was due to the opposing force of the Glacier Thousand Streams Art and the five centuries' worth of profound Internal Power protecting his body.
But when the balance between the two forces had shattered, it had damaged his qi and blood—until Ak Mu-ryeong had barely managed to stabilize him.
Later, after learning Gongson Dan-a's teachings and obtaining the Water Essence Divine Qi, he had gained perfect control over the Glacier Thousand Streams Art.
And now, through the Thunder Essence Divine Qi, he could safely store the Hot River Great Essence True Qi within his body.
Zzzzt—!
As he merged the Thunderbolt Qi with his Hot River Great Essence True Qi using the principle of Harmonization of Two Powers, violet lightning crackled across his entire body.
This was a new form of Thunder Essence Divine Qi—born from the fusion of the Hot River Great Essence True Qi and Thunderbolt Qi.
Standing tall, wreathed in violet lightning, he looked like the Thunder God himself descending from the heavens.
At the same time, his Hundred Meetings Acupoint burned, and fragmented memories surged into his mind.
—A quiet dawn, when even the insects had fallen silent.
Moonlight spilled gently over the windowsill, beneath which a young Bu Eun-seol lay fast asleep on a bed.
—"At this point, the only one I can entrust my sword to... is you, Elder Brother."
The sleeping child's lips curled into a faint smile.
It was a voice he could listen to hundreds of times—warm, deep, and fatherly.
—"If I abandon my strength... and even this sword, how will I oppose them?"
A gruff, low voice answered from across the room.
—"The Three Realms can no longer protect you."
Flash—!
Bu Eun-seol snapped out of the vision, his eyes blazing.
'What the hell does that mean?'
His heart pounded violently.
As the Thunder Essence Divine Qi surged through his meridians, another memory surfaced—one that confirmed his father's connection to the Three Realms.
'Was Father... a member of the Three Realms?'
Even in his confusion, he turned the memory over in his mind.
'And what did he mean by "oppose them"? Who is "them"?'
"Uuugh..."
A deep groan tore from Noe Bi-hon and Dae Gu-hwi's lips.
Their faces had turned corpse-pale, far beyond their limits.
'First, I need to stabilize them with this energy.'
Ooom—!
Bu Eun-seol poured the fused Thunder Essence Divine Qi and Hot River Great Essence True Qi into Noe Bi-hon's body.
Whoosh—
The rampaging Thunder Essence Divine Qi gradually calmed, and their swollen bodies began returning to normal.
Zzzzt—!
But the Divine Spirit Staff continued unleashing overwhelming Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
'Hold on!'
Though he couldn't move a finger, he could resist the torrent of Thunder Essence Divine Qi with the Hot River Great Essence True Qi.
Moreover, thanks to Bu Eun-seol, Noe Bi-hon was now steadily dispersing the Thunder Essence Divine Qi through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
Glop... glop...
Then, the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mysterious Leaf Stone in Noe Bi-hon's grip began melting like taffy.
Unable to withstand the sheer volume of Thunderbolt Qi being absorbed, they liquefied.
As the endless downpour of Thunderbolt Qi finally ceased—
Thud.
Dae Gu-hwi, unable to endure the stored Thunder Essence Divine Qi in his body, collapsed unconscious.
Zzzzt—!
In contrast, Noe Bi-hon's pupils flooded with white light as his body levitated into the air.
Flash—!
The moment his eyes snapped open—
ZZZZT—!
A blinding white lightning—the Divine Thunder Annihilation—spread outward in all directions.
At last, Noe Bi-hon had been reborn as the perfect Thunder God once more.
Thud.
As Noe Bi-hon descended gracefully from mid-air, an overwhelming shockwave of internal energy surged around him, and his eyes brimmed with majesty.
"Brother Thunder. Have you regained your senses?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Noe Bi-hon's eyes flashed.
"Brother Thunder?"
The gentle aura he had maintained until now had vanished entirely, replaced by a solemn, razor-sharp intensity.
Just as Jongri Sa-hyeon had said, the power of the Thunder Essence Divine Qi had healed the wounds in his lightning meridians.
But in doing so, it seemed all his recent memories had been erased.
"Who are you?"
Though Bu Eun-seol was showing his true face, he had no choice but to use his alias.
"I am Seol-so. Brother Thunder, you were defeated by the Heir of the Blade Emperor, and his sword qi robbed you of your strength."
"I was defeated?"
"Yes."
Noe Bi-hon stared at the lightning-scorched landscape of All Swords Land with unfamiliar eyes.
"Then—"
"Correct. To restore your power, we obtained the Divine Spirit Staff from the Beast Palace and the Mysterious Leaf Stone before coming here."
Only then did Noe Bi-hon notice the melted remnants of the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mysterious Leaf Stone beneath his feet.
They had been vaporized by extreme heat, leaving behind nothing but two metallic fragments in the shape of orbs.
"Hmm."
As if entranced, Noe Bi-hon tucked them into his robes.
"Brother Thunder. Do you remember your last battle with the Heir of the Blade Emperor?"
In an instant, white lightning crackled endlessly in Noe Bi-hon's eyes.
"That bastard. That bastard killed my family!"
Zzzt—!
An energy far more powerful than before erupted from his body.
Having absorbed an excessive amount of Thunderbolt Qi, his strength had grown even greater than in the past.
"I'll slaughter him immediately!"
"Wait."
As Noe Bi-hon moved to leave, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"Who is the Heir of the Blade Emperor?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I must find him as well."
Bu Eun-seol answered firmly.
Noe Bi-hon no longer remembered him.
In that case, he had to extract an answer—even if it meant reminding him of their journey thus far.
"Wasn't that the reason I endured this hardship alongside you, Brother Thunder?"
Zzzt—!
At that moment, white lightning surged from Dae Gu-hwi's body, and he began trembling violently.
Unlike Bu Eun-seol, he had failed to properly disperse the Thunder Essence Divine Qi through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, leading to disaster.
"He carries the Thunder Essence Divine Qi in his body, yet cannot control it. He will die."
Noe Bi-hon's voice was cold as he stared at Bu Eun-seol.
"I acknowledge that I owe you a debt. So decide."
He pointed at Dae Gu-hwi.
"Will you save that child? Or do you wish to know the identity of that demonic old man?"
Bu Eun-seol scoffed.
"That child threw himself into danger to save your life, Brother Thunder. And now you ask me to choose between his life and information?"
"You talk too much. If you refuse to choose, I will leave."
The newly empowered Noe Bi-hon bore no trace of his former gentleness—only the cold, ruthless aura of an unyielding martial grandmaster.
'This is all my burden to bear.'
Bu Eun-seol had never expected Noe Bi-hon to remain friendly after regaining his strength and losing his memories.
"Very well. Then save his life."
"Good."
Noe Bi-hon immediately reached for Dae Gu-hwi's Life Gate Acupoint.
Zzzzt—!
Pure Thunder Essence Divine Qi poured into Dae Gu-hwi's body, lifting him into mid-air.
Fwoosh! Fssshhh—!
At the same time, Noe Bi-hon unleashed over a hundred Finger Winds in an instant.
Immediately, Dae Gu-hwi's face, which had been contorted in pain, relaxed.
"Circulate the Thunder Essence Divine Qi as I guide you."
Noe Bi-hon's voice carried an undeniable authority.
Even in his dazed state, Dae Gu-hwi obeyed, manipulating the energy as instructed.
Zzzt—
Faint lightning flickered in his eyes as he performed the inner training.
Thanks to Noe Bi-hon's intervention, he had stabilized the Thunder Essence Divine Qi within his body.
Thunder Spirit Physique.
From an ordinary body, Dae Gu-hwi had absorbed the Thunderbolt Qi and awakened the same Thunder Spirit Physique as Noe Bi-hon.
"Thank you, Great Hero Thunder!"
As the awakened Dae Gu-hwi clasped his hands in reverence,
"There is no need for gratitude."
Noe Bi-hon spoke not to him, but to Bu Eun-seol.
"Now, there is no debt between you and me. Do you acknowledge this?"
"Brother Thunder."
"I am not your Brother Thunder."
Unlike before, the newly empowered Noe Bi-hon showed no signs of madness.
The endless torrent of Thunderbolt Qi had completely cured even his insanity.
As if to prove it, he now carried the dignified bearing of a martial grandmaster, his eyes clear and serene.
But tragically, he remembered nothing of his time with Bu Eun-seol.
"You refuse to share any information about the Heir of the Blade Emperor?"
"There is nothing to share. That is my personal affair."
Zzzt—!
Noe Bi-hon ascended into the sky using the Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
Wreathed in lightning, his eyes glowing white, he gazed down at Bu Eun-seol and spoke coldly.
"Do not trouble me further. If you follow me, I will consider you an enemy."
KWA-RUNG!
With that final warning, Noe Bi-hon vanished into the distant heavens in a thunderous flash.
KOO-RUNG! KOO-RU-RUNG!
His fully restored Light Body Technique was nothing short of Lightning Flash—
Cutting through the sky like a bolt of lightning, swift as a falling flame.
KWA-OOOO—!
As he recalled the battle against that Strange Old Man—
The one who had sealed his Thunder Essence Divine Qi, the one who wielded the Blade Emperor's saber technique—
An indescribable killing intent surged from Noe Bi-hon's eyes.
"Wash your neck and wait. I'll soon tear you apart and kill you."
After leaving All Swords Land and running endlessly without pause, the place he finally arrived at was a large manor slightly removed from Chengdu in Hebei.
That place was none other than the Hebei Paeng Clan.