Chapter 703
"The next match will resume in two hours!"
At Paeng Jong-heon's declaration, Bu Eun-seol swallowed a restorative pill before silently returning to his seat to wait.
'This is the endgame now.'
Only his duel with Baek Mu-seong remained.
The critical point was that he absolutely must not win.
He had to deliver a performance worthy of the Secret Intelligence Bureau Chief's standing—then lose.
'This won't be easy.'
As Seon-u Jin, he needed to fight at a level that would satisfy the Martial Alliance's senior members.
And that depended entirely on how far Baek Mu-seong's martial prowess had progressed, and what techniques he would employ.
'Will he go all out? Or does he have another plan?'
What if Baek Mu-seong had no intention of ascending to lead the Martial Heaven Unit either?
This duel would become exceedingly difficult.
"The duel will now resume!"
After two hours passed, Paeng Jong-heon's booming voice once again echoed across the Martial Arts Stage.
"Hall Leader Baek, Commander Seon-u. Step forward."
Two figures reappeared on the stage.
Both wore identical white garments.
However, Baek Mu-seong's robes bore the ornate embroidery symbolizing his status as a Hall Leader.
Though they held equivalent rank, Bu Eun-seol still maintained his position as a Peak Leader.
—Ooh.
The crowd gasped as the two faced each other.
Baek Mu-seong resembled a white dragon soaring through the heavens made manifest in human form—his imposing physique paired with striking, handsome features.
In contrast, Seon-u Jin's appearance was plain and composed, yet his entire body exuded qi that flowed like a river unleashed.
Both had astonished the world at a young age.
Both stood shoulder-to-shoulder as young Grandmasters, their strengths now indistinguishable.
Truly, no one could predict the outcome of this battle.
"Begin!"
At Paeng Jong-heon's command, Bu Eun-seol and Baek Mu-seong stepped toward each other and clasped their hands in salute.
"Hall Leader Baek."
"Commander Seon-u."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze was tangled with complexity.
In contrast, Baek Mu-seong's pupils burned like pure flame—nothing but fighting spirit blazing within.
He had already swept away all remnants of emotion, focusing solely on the duel.
'I see.'
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
His task now wasn't to gauge Baek Mu-seong's emotions.
It was to prove martial prowess worthy of recognition as the Secret Intelligence Bureau Chief.
"Haa."
As Bu Eun-seol exhaled a turbid breath, his eyes too emptied of emotion.
Baek Mu-seong had endured hardship to recover and returned triumphantly to the Martial Alliance.
Moreover, having likely joined the Three Realms, his martial power would have reached terrifying heights.
This was no opponent to be taken lightly.
"I'll take the first move."
When Bu Eun-seol drew his sword, Baek Mu-seong extended a hand.
"Whenever you're ready."
His expression was utterly composed.
He had already reached the realm of Transcending the Ordinary and Entering Sainthood—a true Grandmaster of the new generation.
Shwaaak!
Bu Eun-seol's drawn sword split the air as razor-sharp sword qi shot vertically toward Baek Mu-seong.
Outwardly, it seemed a simple burst of sword energy, but this was merely the opening move to close the distance.
Shuuk.
Bu Eun-seol surged into close range, condensing his blade's edge to unleash a storm of attacks.
A variation of the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms—every instant carried the momentum of a single decisive strike.
Moreover, saturated with internal energy, even a glancing hit from this sword qi would sear through meridians like wildfire.
Paaang!
In that instant, strands of Baek Mu-seong's hair whipped upward.
Having seemingly drawn his internal power beyond Eighth-Star Attainment, thick veins bulged at his temples and forehead.
Swish!
As he swung his greatsword, mist-like currents filled the stage, shockwaves of internal energy radiating outward.
Flash! Clang-clang-clang!
Amid the swirling currents, bursts of light and sharp metallic clashes erupted in rapid succession.
The two were clashing ferociously at point-blank range.
Whooosh.
When the energy suffusing the stage finally dissipated, the combatants became visible again.
Both Bu Eun-seol and Baek Mu-seong stood exactly as they had before the exchange.
The watching martial artists couldn't tell who had gained the upper hand—who had suffered loss.
—What just happened?
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as most spectators blinked in confusion.
Then Baek Mu-seong's lips curled into a threadlike smile.
Pat!
Simultaneously, crimson blood began dripping from Bu Eun-seol's shoulder.
The victor of this exchange was Baek Mu-seong.
At an extremely close range, he skillfully defended against the barrage of razor-sharp attacks before cleanly slicing through Bu Eun-seol's shoulder with a keen Sword Qi.
Fortunately, thanks to the thick layer of Body Protection True Qi, Bu Eun-seol's arm didn't fall off, but a deep sword wound remained.
'So Brother Baek's martial arts have advanced to this degree.'
Bu Eun-seol inwardly let out a sigh of admiration.
Even with the same sword technique, its power varies drastically depending on the wielder.
Bu Eun-seol's sword techniques were of such a high level that even when executing the Three Calamities Sword Art, finding an opening was no easy feat.
Moreover, the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms was a sword form specialized for defense.
Yet Baek Mu-seong had pinpointed a weakness in an instant and wounded him?
'I'll make sure to lose spectacularly.'
As Baek Mu-seong displayed his exceptional swordplay, Bu Eun-seol instead curled his lips into a faint smile.
His defeat was inevitable—he merely needed to put on a duel impressive enough to satisfy the senior members of the alliance.
Now was the perfect time to reveal a few of Seon-u Jin's martial techniques and lose in a dazzling fashion.
Goooong—
When Bu Eun-seol extended his index finger, a faint glow shimmered before a fierce gale began to howl.
Thunk!
With a flick of his finger, a compressed bullet of air shot toward Baek Mu-seong's face like a cannonball.
Bang!
Baek Mu-seong immediately blocked the Finger Wind with his greatsword.
A metallic clang resounded as storm-like winds exploded outward, forcing him five full steps back.
"Hmm."
Baek Mu-seong examined the mark left on his greatsword and nodded.
"The Bullet King's Inner Energy Bullet Art."
In truth, it wasn't the real Inner Energy Bullet Art—Bu Eun-seol had merely mimicked it using his immense internal energy.
But outwardly, it was indistinguishable from the Bullet King's technique, and its power was nearly identical.
Thunk! Thunk!
Without using stones, Bu Eun-seol continuously flicked compressed air with his left hand.
Simultaneously, with his right hand, he unleashed a rapid succession of the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms and the sword strokes from the Flawless Sword Manual he had grasped at the Pratyekabuddha Hall.
The moment he wielded both the Inner Energy Bullet Art and sword techniques, their combined force seemed capable of splitting the earth and tearing down the heavens.
Not only that, but his offense and defense were in perfect harmony, leaving Baek Mu-seong unable to counterattack easily.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Unfazed, Baek Mu-seong swung his greatsword like a windmill, shielding his body.
Each time the blade carved through the air, its trajectory transformed into hundreds of streaks of lightning flame, accompanied by continuous thunderous roars.
Crack!
When Bu Eun-seol failed to break through Baek Mu-seong's defense, he withdrew the Inner Energy Bullet Art and closed the distance again.
Seizing the opportunity, Baek Mu-seong narrowed the gap as well, condensing the range of his greatsword.
A fierce offense against a fierce offense.
Such a head-on clash was a tactic most martial artists avoided whenever possible.
When two warriors poured all their martial techniques into close-quarters combat with their full strength, the likelihood of both being injured was high.
Clang! Clang!
Every time their weapons clashed, the metallic reverberations were akin to deafening explosions.
The Martial Arts Stage trembled as if on the verge of collapse, and the shockwaves of True Qi surged skyward like a storm.
But something was strange.
The swordplay of the two men, who had been exchanging blows like madmen, was growing heavier, their movements slowing—wasn't it?
From a distance, it almost looked like they were leisurely sparring.
—Their swordplay is extraordinary!
Yet the senior members of the Martial Alliance couldn't help but marvel at the sight.
Their movements weren't just fast—
They had entered a realm of speed so high that the eye could no longer follow.
But the rate at which they unleashed their sword strokes had surpassed the threshold of human perception...
To ordinary martial artists, it instead appeared as though they were wielding their swords with effortless ease.
Clang!
With another explosive clang, Bu Eun-seol was forced two steps back.
Both Baek Mu-seong and Bu Eun-seol were utilizing three centuries' worth of Internal Power.
But compared to the silent sword, Baek Mu-seong's greatsword was far heavier and more massive.
The sheer weight of the weapon meant Bu Eun-seol suffered slight disadvantages in their clashes.
Sssk—
As Bu Eun-seol staggered back, Baek Mu-seong didn't miss his chance.
Like a gust of wind sweeping fallen leaves, he swung his greatsword, pressing down on Bu Eun-seol's lower stance.
'This kind of sword stroke...?'
Even as he defended, Bu Eun-seol felt a flicker of doubt.
A sword stroke specializing in targeting the lower body like this didn't exist in the orthodox factions—it was a technique of the Heterodox Path.
No matter how much he had prepared by implying that he had studied the Wind and Cloud Sword Manual, which recorded diverse sword techniques...
To employ such tactics without hesitation?
Swish!
At that moment, Baek Mu-seong once again found an opening in Bu Eun-seol's defense and thrust toward his throat in an instant.
Swish!
Bu Eun-seol didn't evade. Instead, he spun the Ink Soul Sword at blinding speed, precisely striking the tip of Baek Mu-seong's greatsword.
Zzzzing!
A shockwave like lightning erupted in all directions, and the greatsword's edge—which had been splitting the heavens—bent like a bow.
A greatsword was heavy and devastating, but its agility fell slightly short compared to a standard longsword.
Bu Eun-seol had deliberately exposed an opening, seizing control of the sword's trajectory first.
Then, using the sheer force of his counter, he aimed to shatter the very tip of the incoming greatsword.
Crack!
The greatsword's edge finally splintered.
Realizing that his weapon would be completely destroyed if this continued, Baek Mu-seong halted his attack like lightning and retreated thirty feet in an instant.
—...
A silence as thick as death settled over the Martial Arts Stage.
The battle between the two was like a clash between dragon and tiger—their skills so evenly matched that superiority was impossible to determine.
Every unfolding exchange teetered on the razor's edge, leaving the watching martial artists unable to even breathe, their palms slick with sweat.
Those with weaker martial arts stood frozen in tension, their bodies stiff, unable to blink as they stared fixedly at the stage.
'Still not enough, it seems.'
Though the fierce battle raged on, the eyes of the Murim Alliance's elite, watching from the tent, remained indifferent.
Could it be that even a battle of this caliber failed to satisfy them?
'They want me to show my true hand.'
Bu Eun-seol's gaze turned icy.
'The Martial Emperor's martial arts.'
Seon-u Jin was supposed to have inherited the Martial Emperor's legacy. Naturally, they expected him to wield the Martial Emperor's techniques—both to claim leadership of the Heavenly Martial Brigade and to defeat Baek Mu-seong.
'Baek-Elder Brother will ultimately unveil the Divine Sword Sect's sword studies.'
Baek Mu-seong couldn't use the Bloody Tears Seven Forms here, much less the secret martial arts he had learned in the Three Realms.
When he had returned to the Murim Alliance, he had deliberately carried a greatsword and claimed to have inherited the Divine Sword Sect's legacy.
That meant his ultimate move here would inevitably be the Divine Sword Sect's sword studies.
'But I have no intention of revealing everything here.'
Even if he ascended to the position of Secret Intelligence Bureau Chief,
until the Murim Alliance's authority was perfectly divided into three factions, he would have to continue moving between the Demon Hall and the Murim Alliance,
handling various matters in a cycle of routine.
And in that process, it was inevitable that he would clash with formidable enemies—like the hidden masters of the Three Realms who had infiltrated the Murim Alliance.
There was absolutely no way he would casually reveal the Martial Emperor's martial arts in a place like this.
'Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan.'
Then, the greatest martial art Seon-u Jin could display was the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan forms.
With this, he could both conclude his battle with Baek Mu-seong and satisfy the Murim Alliance's elite.
Swish!
In that moment, Baek Mu-seong's greatsword once again carved a sharp brilliance through the air.
Simultaneously, hundreds of streaks of sword qi cascaded toward Bu Eun-seol's face.
He had layered multiple martial forms into a single sword strike, unleashing them all at once.
And the meaning behind it was clear:
—I'm getting bored. It's time to show me your signature martial art.
Baek Mu-seong was saying exactly that.
But Bu Eun-seol refused to take the bait, deflecting the attack with the Ink Soul Sword.
From the very beginning, Bu Eun-seol had never achieved victory by relying solely on superior martial prowess or skill.
In every battle, he refined his martial might in the moment, absorbing his opponent's ingenuity or striking unpredictably to seize victory.
'I can't use my own martial arts, but I can still use my own tactics.'
Like a tortoise, Bu Eun-seol calmly endured Baek Mu-seong's attacks, deliberately provoking his patience.
'Baek-Elder Brother isn't the type to reveal his signature martial art first.'
He had always been prideful, but after joining the Three Realms,
his gaze had turned as cold as a winter gale, and he had grown arrogant and unrestrained.
There was no way such a man would reveal his final trump card before Bu Eun-seol had even used his signature martial art.
'Go on, show me what you're really after, Baek-Elder Brother.'
A flash of light flickered through Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
'Do you truly want the position of leader? Or do you have another hidden motive?'
It was unlikely, but—
what if Baek Mu-seong wasn't aiming for leadership at all? What if he was colluding with the Three Realms to secure a different position?
That was why Bu Eun-seol needed to determine whether Baek Mu-seong sought victory in this battle—
or if he had another scheme entirely.
"This is nothing but tedious stalling."
As their clash surpassed a hundred exchanges, Baek Mu-seong finally let out an irritated voice.
"Did you really think you could become leader just by dragging this out?"
After exchanging hundreds of blows, both fighters had reached the peak of their fighting spirit and momentum.
Now, all that remained was to pour out their greatest martial techniques and determine the victor.
But when Bu Eun-seol deliberately avoided that decisive clash, Baek Mu-seong finally lost his patience.
'Got him.'
In the end, Baek Mu-seong truly desired the position of leader.
If so, there was no need to drag out this prolonged battle any further.
"Very well."
Whoosh!
Bu Eun-seol retreated briefly, then drew upon the maximum internal energy known to be possessed by Seon-u Jin—approximately three hundred and fifty years' worth.
"Let's bring this to an end!"
BOOM!
A shockwave erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body, surging toward the heavens.
Groooowl—
In response, Baek Mu-seong seemed to have also drawn upon his full power, as a hazy heat mirage rose from his entire body.
Clank. Gripping his greatsword with both hands, he took a stance as if ready to thrust at any moment.
It resembled the sword techniques of Japan.
Thud!
Bu Eun-seol leaped into the air.
Over the past three days, he had not only planned a duel that would send Yuk Jang-cheon plummeting into the abyss—
He had also devised a way to lose to Baek Mu-seong while still earning recognition from the senior members of the alliance.
And the result of that was what he was unleashing now.
A sword stroke that poured forth the essence of orthodox swordplay, utilizing the one hundred and eighty variations of the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan style.
The Heavenly Immortal Beyond the Heavens.
Ziiing—
A mysterious radiance flowed from the Ink Soul Sword, and an endless stream of sword qi manifested around him.
"HAAAH!"
As Bu Eun-seol roared, the sword qi surged forth—each strand like a living creature, embodying its own distinct martial principle.
—Ahh.
The martial artists observing the duel gaped in awe.
How could a human unleash so many sword qi in a single move?
How could each one be executed at different speeds and angles?
'Rest easy, Brother Baek.'
Bu Eun-seol allowed himself a faint inner smile.
Truthfully, the Heavenly Immortal Beyond the Heavens he had unleashed was incapable of defeating a formidable opponent like Baek Mu-seong.
Because this sword stroke was incomplete.
The sword qi pouring forth were not all directed at the enemy—
They scattered wildly on their own.
'Hm?'
But then Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
Though he had deliberately crafted this as an unfinished stance—
When executed in actual combat, his body and spirit merged into perfect unity under extreme focus...
And now, all the sword qi were surging toward Baek Mu-seong.
'Oh no!'
Bu Eun-seol had made two mistakes.
First, he had failed to realize just how much his swordsmanship had improved.
Second, he evolved in battle, instinctively refining his martial arts as he fought.
After exchanging hundreds of blows with Baek Mu-seong and analyzing his movements and martial characteristics—
Without realizing it, he had unconsciously completed the unfinished Beyond-Heaven Sword Form and unleashed it flawlessly upon Baek Mu-seong.
KWAOOOOO—!
Baek Mu-seong's pupils flashed with divine light as he watched the meteor shower of sword qi descending upon him.
SWISH!
At the same time, his body transformed into a streak of light, shooting toward Bu Eun-seol midair.
FWOOOSH!
The moment his body—now a flash of light—made contact with Bu Eun-seol—
It exploded like a firework, filling the world with razor-sharp brilliance.
—Is that the kind of martial arts a human can perform?!
The spectators gasped in astonishment.
Bu Eun-seol, raining down hundreds of meteor-like sword qi from the sky.
Baek Mu-seong, turning into a single streak of light and piercing through them in an instant.
The martial arts they displayed—
Looked like nothing short of a battle between gods from myth.
FWOOOOOM!
When the two collided, hundreds of shards of light scattered across the heavens.
Thud.
At the same time, Bu Eun-seol and Baek Mu-seong landed.
A long silence followed.
Splurt!
Then, blood burst from Baek Mu-seong's shoulder.
Clatter. Clang.
At the same time, half of his greatsword's blade fell to the ground, severed.
Even with his final stance, he had failed to completely block Bu Eun-seol's Heavenly Immortal Beyond the Heavens.
'This is bad.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened as he saw the defeat written across Baek Mu-seong's face.
If he won like this...
Not only would his agreement with the Martial Venerable fall apart—he would have to take the position of Heavenly Martial Brigade leader.
'Even after holding back my might and internal power, the stance itself was overwhelmingly powerful.'
"Huff... Huff..."
Baek Mu-seong's body was drenched in blood.
Moreover, likely due to the internal energy infused in the sword qi, thin trails of blood were visible at the corners of his mouth.
'It's over.'
The focus in Bu Eun-seol's eyes faded.
If he became the Heavenly Martial Brigade leader, his movements would be restricted. He'd have to frequently meet with the Martial Alliance's senior members and focus on administrative duties.
Besides, this wasn't the Demon Hall—he couldn't keep Seo Jin-ha by his side as a permanent shadow within the alliance.
At this point, he had no choice but to leave the Martial Alliance.