Chapter 510
'What is this?'
Bu Eun-seol's Sword Strokes poured forth in such rapid succession that they seemed to merge into a single mass, leaving Paeng Ryun utterly bewildered as he frantically swung his Black Blood Demon Saber.
Yet Bu Eun-seol's Sword Strokes surpassed even the speed of Paeng Ryun's Wild Gale Swift Blade.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
His pride wounded, Paeng Ryun didn't even attempt to dodge the relentless barrage of Bu Eun-seol's Sword Strokes. Instead, he met them head-on, leveraging the ultimate swiftness of Wild Gale Swift Blade's most refined principles.
But Bu Eun-seol's sword, wreathed in violet Thunder Essence Divine Qi, was even faster.
Slash!
The madly swinging blade ultimately grazed Paeng Ryun's cheek, leaving behind a shallow scratch.
"You bastard!"
Kwa-rung!
Enraged, Paeng Ryun doubled his Internal Power and began unleashing the true essence of the Dark-Blood Blade Art.
Kwaaaah!
With a sound like a waterfall crashing down from nowhere, an immense surge of Blade Qi cascaded over Bu Eun-seol's head.
Its range was three or four times wider than even the Blade Stance of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms that the Southern Heaven Great Hero, Gwan Hae-geum, had once carved into the frozen lakeshore.
'If I want to expand the range, water-based energy would be ideal.'
The moment inspiration flashed through Bu Eun-seol's mind, the Ice Soul Sword once again took on a deep blue hue.
He had merged the Glacier Thousand Streams Art with Water Essence Divine Qi.
Shwaaak!
Simultaneously, he executed the sixth technique of the Formless Heavenly Flow—Unchanging Defense—to repel the intangible energy akin to Poison Art.
Whoosh—thud-thud-thud!
Hundreds of Ice Crystals then poured naturally from the Sword Strokes Bu Eun-seol extended.
The Glacier Thousand Streams Art, fused with Water Essence Divine Qi, had completely transformed the nature of Unchanging Defense's foundational movements, reinforcing them in an entirely new form.
Boom! Boom!
But then, something strange happened.
Instead of dispelling the Ice Crystals Bu Eun-seol had created with Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi, Paeng Ryun was shattering them directly with his Black Blood Demon Saber.
'By all rights, True Qi Martial Arts like Water Essence Divine Qi and the Glacier Thousand Streams Art should vanish instantly upon contact with Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi.'
A peculiar realization flickered in Bu Eun-seol's mind.
'So that's how it is.'
He understood now—the power that Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi could nullify was limited to a single attribute at a time.
When he had yielded three techniques earlier, Paeng Ryun had only been countering one force at once, making it easy to dispel.
But now, with Extreme Yin martial arts and Water Essence Divine Qi overlapping and combining into two distinct forces, Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi could no longer erase them simultaneously.
'So Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi isn't an invincible secret after all. In that case—'
Whoosh!
This time, Bu Eun-seol combined Hot River Great Essence True Qi with Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
In an instant, the Ice Soul Sword became wreathed in violet Thunder Qi and flames.
"Haaap!"
With a clear shout, Bu Eun-seol unleashed Meteor Chasing Moon.
Rumble—crackle!
Instead of sharp points of light raining down, Sword Qi accompanied by lightning and flames poured forth like bullets.
"Hmph! Getting cocky just because Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi doesn't work on you."
Paeng Ryun scoffed and immediately deflected the Sword Qi of Meteor Chasing Moon.
Then, something bizarre occurred.
The moment the Black Blood Demon Saber made contact with the Sword Qi, a tremendous explosion erupted.
Kwaaaaang!
As the pale smoke cleared, Paeng Ryun's hair was singed and curling, white steam rising from it.
Though he had dispelled the Sword Qi with Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi and his blade technique, he hadn't been able to block the spreading flames.
"What kind of sword technique is this?"
When Paeng Ryun opened his mouth, white smoke generated by Thunder Essence Divine Qi billowed out from between his lips.
Seeing this, Bu Eun-seol found it difficult to suppress his laughter.
"Is blowing smoke from your mouth also part of the Blade Emperor's martial arts?"
"You... truly have a death wish."
Until now, he had been cornering Bu Eun-seol solely to force him to unleash the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
But only now did he realize—
That pale-faced bastard had been using that very pressure to buy time, continuously evolving and transforming his martial arts.
"If you don't unleash the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, I'll kill you right now."
"Fine. If you blow white smoke from your mouth three more times like this, I'll teach you all of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms."
Paeng Ryun's white eyebrows twitched.
Was this bastard telling him to endure three more clashes with Meteor Chasing Moon infused with Thunder Essence Divine Qi?
"Enough nonsense!"
Kwa-rung!
As the enraged Paeng Ryun drew upon his Internal Power, a deafening roar accompanied the surge of overwhelming energy.
"Die!"
At that moment, the high ceiling of the Grand Hall collapsed. No—thinking the ceiling had collapsed was a mistake.
Countless black Blade Qi rained down over Bu Eun-seol's head like falling stars.
Yet Bu Eun-seol didn't evade. Instead, he unleashed the foundational techniques of the Formless Heavenly Flow in a frenzied, unbroken stream.
Into Meteor Chasing Moon and Waning Moon Morning Star, he poured Thunder Essence Divine Qi and Hot River Great Essence True Qi. Into Caged Bird Longing for Clouds and Water-Surface Unseen Form, he channeled Glacier Thousand Streams Art and Water Essence Divine Qi.
Zzzzt—whoosh! Rumble! Kwa-kwang!
In an instant, the fourth and fifth forms of the Dark-Blood Blade Art—Dark Fragrance Without Blood and Dark Radiance Piercing Shadow—which had dyed the ceiling black, were completely obliterated.
'T-This sword technique...!'
For the first time in his eighty years of life, Paeng Ryun couldn't conceal his bewilderment.
Even without Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi, the Dark-Blood Blade Art was supposed to be an invincible blade study.
Because there was no way to oppose or dismantle it—no matter the method.
But before his eyes, this brat was alternating and layering unheard-of forces—
And like a madman, he was pouring them forth, annihilating the sword energy of the Black Blood Demon Saber, wasn't he?
'I absolutely must not panic.'
Paeng Ryun was a seasoned veteran who had faced countless strong opponents.
To seize victory against an enemy—
He knew full well that he must never show signs of panic or lose his momentum.
"What a jumbled mess of forms!"
Even as Paeng Ryun sneered, Bu Eun-seol paid no heed and continued unleashing attacks shaped like spiderwebs.
"Hmph!"
Paeng Ryun scoffed and slashed through the Willful True Binding.
After all, the Black Blood Demon Saber, imbued with Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi, could extinguish all True Qi Martial Arts—
Crack! Kak-kak!
But despite pouring out his blade energy, all that resulted was the sound of friction and sparks—the Willful True Binding remained intact.
Bu Eun-seol had reinforced its durability by infusing it with the viscous Water Essence Divine Qi.
"You bastard!"
Paeng Ryun had no choice but to double his Internal Power to barely sever the net of Willful True Binding.
Yet Bu Eun-seol relentlessly unfolded more, draping him in a web of True Qi.
Swish! Swish!
Originally, Willful True Binding had been a near-single-use technique for Bu Eun-seol.
Even with his profound Internal Energy, repeatedly unleashing it would have placed immense strain on his body.
But now, having gained five centuries' worth of Internal Energy and even the Two Spirit Energies—
He could unleash it continuously without the slightest burden.
He cast it like a net, sometimes shaping it into hundreds of hidden weapons,
Other times forging it into a longsword to clash against Paeng Ryun's blade energy.
"Huff... Huff..."
Paeng Ryun, who had been swinging the Black Blood Demon Saber like a madman, finally let out ragged breaths.
Until now, he had never needed to expend such vast Internal Power in battle.
With Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi, he could effortlessly nullify all True Qi Martial Arts and drain his opponent's fighting spirit and energy—
Victory had always come easily.
But now, Bu Eun-seol was layering and pouring out multiple formidable energies at once,
Forcing him to expend tremendous Internal Power just to keep up.
"Fine!"
Black True Qi surged violently from Paeng Ryun's body.
Grrrl—Zzzzzzt!
At the same time, a second Black Blood Demon Saber extended from his left hand.
With two arms, he could manifest two sabers.
Swish!
As he swung both blades, the stubborn Willful True Binding dissipated like mist.
He hadn't merely doubled the number of sabers—he had also layered the power of Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi, just like Bu Eun-seol.
"Did you really think you were the only one who could layer power?"
The Blade Emperor—
Four hundred years ago, that great Grandmaster had recognized the flaw of Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi—that it could only nullify one force at a time—
And had devised a secret method to compensate by layering its power.
"Martial principles dictate that three forces cannot be layered... So your trick ends here."
It was true.
Bu Eun-seol's Reverse Extreme Inner Method naturally allowed him to layer two energies—Yin-Yang Dual Qi—without any special martial secret.
But that was the limit.
To unleash more than two different forces simultaneously—
That was closer to Harmonization, a state requiring full alignment of the body's power.
"Now, I'll carve you up for real!"
Paeng Ryun's bloodshot eyes locked onto Bu Eun-seol as he unleashed the Dark-Blood Blade Art.
Whoosh!
Blade forms unlike anything he had shown before poured forth.
Martial Arts may seem diverse and original at a glance—
But from the broader perspective of Martial Studies, most techniques share common principles and never stray from the Natural Order.
Yet the Eight Emperors and Three Stars were different.
Their Martial Arts possessed power and functionality that transcended the limits of ordinary Martial Arts—
Their forms were bizarre, vicious, and ruthless.
Moreover, Paeng Ryun had trained systematically in blade techniques since childhood, mastering the Righteous Faction'sFive Tigers Gate Breaking Blade to Grand Perfection.
Decades of battle experience, accumulated while roaming the Martial World, only sharpened his edge.
By all rights, Bu Eun-seol should never have been able to keep up.
Zzzzt! Krrrrrumble! Swish!
As the two Masters clashed head-on, deafening roars shook the Great Hall, and waves of True Qi exploded outward.
"Kgh—!"
Bu Eun-seol groaned.
Even amplified by the Two Spirit Energies and the dual supreme arts of Extreme Yin and Extreme Yang, in pure Martial Arts terms—
The Formless Heavenly Flow could not match the Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi.
Especially since the Formless Heavenly Flow was a culmination of Langya Pavilion'sSword Studies—a sword art meant to evolve through battle against strong foes.
Against the already perfected Dark-Blood Blade Art, it stood no chance.
Sssk! Swish!
Wounds began multiplying across Bu Eun-seol's body.
Paeng Ryun had abandoned any thought of seizing the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
In this short battle, Bu Eun-seol had grown terrifyingly fast, advancing his Martial Arts with each exchange.
If this dragged on, there was no telling what might happen.
"I'll kill you right now!"
And that resolve was reflected in the blade techniques he unleashed.
"It's starting to show."
Impatience. Fear.
A brilliant light spread through Bu Eun-seol's pupils as he swung the Ice Soul Sword, drenched in blood.
He had sensed the energy of a flaw in Paeng Ryun's blade technique.
"Finally, it's cracked."
Until now, Paeng Ryun had executed his blade art flawlessly, with no gaps.
This was not just due to the excellence of his technique, but also because his spirit and mind had been as solid and unyielding as stone.
But as Bu Eun-seol fought, his martial arts advanced at a terrifying pace.
Once Paeng Ryun glimpsed the depths of his boundless potential and extraordinary martial talent—
Fear and impatience took root in the deepest corners of his heart.
And as his spirit and mind wavered, the once-perfect blade techniques began to falter.
And finally—
The flaws in Paeng Ryun's techniques became visible to Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Clang! Shriek! Crack-crack-crack!
Bu Eun-seol and Paeng Ryun continued their relentless exchange of close-quarters strikes.
Truthfully, even if Bu Eun-seol had amplified the power of his Formless Heavenly Flow in this short time, he still shouldn't have been able to contend with the Dark-Blood Blade Art.
But now that a flaw had appeared in Paeng Ryun's spirit and mind, Bu Eun-seol could fight him on equal footing.
Boom!
Then, Paeng Ryun unleashed the thirtieth form of the Dark-Blood Blade Art—"Conceal the Blade's Light and Bide Time"—piercing into Bu Eun-seol's side.
It was a bizarre move, blending blade technique with a leg strike.
Bu Eun-seol barely managed to block it, but with a boom, the force of the kick sent him skidding back 50 feet.
Hiss—
Gritting his teeth, Bu Eun-seol steadied himself and took a deep breath.
"I'm not losing yet. Is this the limit?"
As he regulated his breathing, he assessed the battle.
Through this fight with Paeng Ryun, he had examined his martial arts, learned to layer his Two Spirit Energies, and discovered how to amplify their power.
Because of that, he had managed to create a flaw in Paeng Ryun's spirit and mind, bringing them to this point of equal exchange—
But he still hadn't found a way to completely shatter that overwhelming, mysterious blade art and claim victory.
"All that's left are the Bloody Tears Seven Forms and Thirteenfold Qi Induction."
But both martial arts had their problems.
In actual combat, he had only ever demonstrated up to the fourth form of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
The final three forms—he had never once executed them.
The reason he hadn't pushed the Bloody Tears Seven Forms to its limits wasn't just to avoid giving Paeng Ryun any insight—
Against a master like Paeng Ryun, a clumsy attack would mean instant decapitation.
The same went for Thirteenfold Qi Induction.
Among all the martial arts Bu Eun-seol had learned, he had used this one the least. His proficiency was still lacking.
To use an unpolished technique against a formidable enemy like Paeng Ryun was no different from suicide.
Just as Bu Eun-seol hesitated—
"Got you!"
Paeng Ryun, having spotted an opening, roared in triumph and unleashed his full power.
Whoooosh—!
A strange Sound of Breaking Air, like a downpour of heavy rain, filled the air as Bu Eun-seol's vision darkened.
Black blade energy surged from all directions.
It was the thirty-first form of the Dark-Blood Blade Art—"Black Wind White Rain", the pinnacle strike.
"I can't dodge this."
Even while facing the worst possible opponent in Paeng Ryun, Bu Eun-seol had unraveled and analyzed countless thoughts.
It had been an attempt to advance his martial arts mid-battle—
But in doing so, he had also split his focus, unable to concentrate fully.
At this life-or-death moment, time seemed to freeze.
And in Bu Eun-seol's mind, faint memories surfaced.
"I guess I just can't do it."
Young Bu Eun-seol puffed out his cheeks, his expression gloomy as he hung his head.
He had read countless medical texts brought by his grandfather until they were tattered, listened endlessly to methods of determining cause of death, and mastered them.
But whenever he cleaned or restored corpses to their original state—
Sometimes, he would damage or ruin the bodies of the deceased.
At the very least, he could manage with bodies that had clearly visible wounds or were relatively intact.
But with those that were decayed or severely mutilated—no matter how careful he was, they would easily fall apart.
"Seol-a. You tend to hold too many things in your head, trying to understand everything through thought alone."
Grandfather Bu Jan-yang stroked his beloved grandson's head with affection as he spoke gently.
"That's a trait of the intelligent, but there are some things that can never be grasped or measured by the mind."
Young Bu Eun-seol pouted and grumbled.
"Then how am I supposed to learn those things?"
"You don't need to learn them. Because you already know them, already see them, already act upon them."
Bu Jan-yang gazed at him with eyes full of wisdom.
"All people breathe, feel, think, and move as they live. But they don't consciously measure those natural actions with their minds."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"I don't understand."
Bu Jan-yang explained patiently.
"If you wish to explore or refine things that cannot be understood by the mind, then you must wipe the dust from the mirror of your heart."
Bu Jan-yang smiled, revealing his white teeth.
"A person's heart gathers dust without end, you see."
And he gave Bu Eun-seol this advice:
"Only observe the act of cleansing corpses naturally—without judging or interpreting it in your mind."
He told the boy simply to feel whatever arose within his heart.
Young Bu Eun-seol couldn't comprehend it at all, but he obeyed Bu Jan-yang's instructions.
He watched, listened, and observed naturally—without analyzing anything in his mind.
Then something astonishing happened.
The things that had been impossible no matter how hard he tried. The corpses that had crumbled and broken beyond repair no matter how carefully he handled them.
Not only could he now prepare them flawlessly for burial—
he could restore them perfectly to their living appearances.
Just as the old man had said, Bu Eun-seol already knew.
He had already mastered all of Bu Jan-yang's knowledge and skilled hands.
But because he kept analyzing and studying everything in his mind...
he had been unable to do it.
Brilliant light cascaded over Bu Eun-seol's body as he emerged from the memory.
Paeng Ryun's saber energy had already reached his face—an unavoidable situation now.
—"The human heart gathers dust ceaselessly, you see."
His grandfather's voice shook his mind once more.
Bu Eun-seol had already memorized the complete Blade Essence of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms—
what could be called the pinnacle of blade studies in Murim.
He had observed Gwan Hae-geum and the Nameless Old Man's lifelong refinement of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms right before his eyes.
And he had inherited Bu Jan-yang's temperament, wisdom, and even his insight.
Bu Eun-seol was practically a clone of Bu Jan-yang—
someone who could unleash the perfected Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
'I already know.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes lost focus.
Having attained profound enlightenment from the memory of his grandfather, he instead fell into the State of Selflessness.
Whoooosh—!
In that instant, the saber energy Paeng Ryun unleashed swallowed Bu Eun-seol whole.
Simultaneously, the storm of black blade energy swirled chaotically around him as if trying to strip the flesh from his bones.
Flash—!
Then a single streak of crimson light shot straight upward.
Plink. Plink.
At the same time, the sound of falling droplets resonated through the Grand Hall before scarlet mist spread out and extinguished the Black Wind White Rain saber energy.
Sssss—
As the mist cleared, Bu Eun-seol's figure slowly came into view—head bowed, still radiating that crimson energy.
"How—?"
Paeng Ryun's eyes bulged.
How was this bastard standing unharmed after being engulfed by Black Wind White Rain?
And that technique just now—
wasn't it the first form of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, Life Is Temporary Death Is Return?
Crackle.
But then, fissures spread across the Black Blood Demon Saber in Paeng Ryun's grip before—
Sssss—
it dissolved like a wisp of fog.
Death.
The Bloody Tears Seven Forms' complete mastery over the realm of death had utterly annihilated the Black Blood Demon Saber.
"How...?"
Paeng Ryun's eyes widened further.
This wasn't the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's saber art as he knew it.
The Blade Essence he understood could never manifest such an ability.
"Then that Bloody Tears Seven Forms is a fake."
The Life Is Temporary Death Is Return he knew possessed no such power.
Which meant Bu Eun-seol had learned the true Bloody Tears Seven Forms—one unknown to him.
'Grandfather.'
Emerging from the State of Selflessness, Bu Eun-seol saw not Paeng Ryun—but his grandfather's face.
Bu Jan-yang.
The assassin forged by the Absolute Demon Saber's plan, who became a legend of the Demonic Path, had imparted endless knowledge and enlightenment to Bu Eun-seol.
And when Bu Eun-seol realized he was the old man's incarnation—
he finally grasped the genuine first form of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms—
the true technique of Life Is Temporary Death Is Return—
and could execute it instantly.
'So that's why.'
Why Bu Jan-yang had generously taught the Bloody Tears Seven Forms—a path to the Supreme Demon Path—to countless people.
Because its Blade Essence was merely a means to enlightenment.
The true Bloody Tears Seven Forms could only be wielded by Bu Jan-yang himself.
"You learned a different Bloody Tears Seven Forms?"
Click.
Instead of answering Paeng Ryun's shout, Bu Eun-seol sheathed the Ice Soul Sword again.
"Let's end this now."
"Heh... kehkeh. Hahahaha!"
Paeng Ryun suddenly laughed uproariously.
"Good. Very good. Now I can finally cross blades with the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade."
Paeng Ryun had poured all his blade studies into this fight. All that remained was the thirty-second form—
Blade Heart's Ultimate Demon.
And this couldn't be called a mere technique—
it contained the complete Essence of Saber Arts inherited from the Blade Emperor.
If Bu Eun-seol had mastered the Bloody Tears Seven Forms?
Then he could finally fulfill his lifelong wish—
to truly battle the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.
Shhhk—
Paeng Ryun drew the sword at his waist.
Normally, Paeng Clan warriors used straight-backed sabers—
three feet long and over a foot wide.
But the blade in his hand was a curved saber, rounded like the moon.
After mastering the Blade Emperor's martial arts, he had abandoned even the Paeng Clan's swords.
"I'll make sure you regret nothing."
As Paeng Ryun channeled his full Internal Power, the Grand Hall began trembling.
His body forcibly circulating Dark Blood Blade Emperor Qi to execute Blade Heart's Ultimate Demon—
he looked like the Blade Emperor himself resurrected after four hundred years.
'I already know.'
Bu Eun-seol had already clashed against thirty-one of the Dark-Blood Blade Art's thirty-two forms.
So he could somewhat predict Paeng Ryun's final technique.
Langya Mind's Eye.
The ultimate insight said to open only upon reaching the highest realm of Langya Pavilion's martial methods—
an eye that could absorb others' martial arts at a glance or foresee their next technique—
was finally showing signs of awakening in Bu Eun-seol.