Chapter 710
When one reaches the pinnacle of Hidden Weapon Arts, not only can they freely control hidden weapons as if using Sword Control by Mind,
but they can also alter the techniques and subtleties embedded within already-launched hidden weapons.
It is said to be the supreme secret of hidden weapon techniques—the very zenith.
That is none other than the Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation.
Paaah!
The hidden weapons Tang Pae unleashed through the Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation
continuously shifted into countless hidden weapon techniques scattered throughout the martial world,
each of them refined to the absolute extreme.
'To have honed hidden weapon techniques to this degree...'
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Swallowing his astonishment, Bu Eun-seol
used the Returning Energy Foundation to repeatedly deflect the hidden weapons.
Rather than immediately defeating Tang Pae, he sought a way to awaken him.
But that was a mistake.
Swish! Shuooou!
The hidden weapons pouring down from the void had, before he knew it, transformed into an intangible form that could no longer be repelled.
And at some point, Bu Eun-seol realized he had fallen into an endless prison of cascading hidden weapons.
'This method...'
The hidden weapons Tang Pae unleashed through the Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation
were maintained in form by True Qi, using a principle strikingly similar to the Willful True Binding.
Thus, the moment he tried to slash them away,
the hidden weapons, now composed of True Qi, reverted to an intangible state.
With indestructible hidden weapons endlessly circling his body...
It was no different from being trapped in an infinite hell of relentless pursuit.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Before he knew it, the rapidly moving hidden weapons coalesced into a razor-sharp storm, encasing Bu Eun-seol's body.
Splat! Splat! Splat!
Within the storm, droplets of blood sprayed incessantly from Bu Eun-seol's body.
'This can't be all.'
Tang Pae, as the Family Head of the Tang Clan, had looked down on the martial world, and now his personality was split in two.
He could wield hidden weapon techniques more stably and masterfully than anyone.
Moreover, he hadn't even begun to use the famed Eight Great Secret Arts of the Tang Clan.
'If I don't break this technique quickly, he'll unleash something else.'
An endless rotation of hidden weapons.
An ordinary martial artist would have already lost their life to this single move.
But Bu Eun-seol possessed the Way of the Beast and the martial arts of Langya Pavilion.
He had also mastered the supreme Martial Arts Inner Formulas of the Martial Emperor and the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, the pinnacle of both orthodox and unorthodox paths.
Within him flowed the power of Orthodox, Unorthodox, Demonic, and Buddhist Arts, as well as the Two Spirit Energies.
No matter how formidable the Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation was, it posed little threat to him.
Shoooaaak!
Dark True Qi spread from Bu Eun-seol's back, forming dozens of blades.
Swish-shatter!
Simultaneously, the blades began spinning at high speed, deflecting the hidden weapons.
Like Tang Pae's hidden weapons,
they were all blades forged from True Qi, imbued with the principles of Half Up Half Down and Move Heaven Exchange Force.
Because of this, he could shatter Tang Pae's True Qi-forged hidden weapons as if they were ordinary ones.
'I've learned something.'
Until now, the Willful True Binding had been used for force against force—
unleashing overwhelming attacks backed by immense Internal Energy.
But after witnessing Tang Pae's hidden weapon techniques, he immediately drew inspiration, embedding martial principles into each blade.
'No.'
Tang Pae, watching this, widened his eyes in shock.
The reason his Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation had become the grand synthesis of hidden weapon arts
was because he had embedded martial principles into each and every hidden weapon.
To achieve such a technique, Tang Pae had spent over a decade in relentless effort.
Yet Bu Eun-seol, upon seeing it,
was instantly replicating it—wasn't he?
Shwaaak!
With a crisp slicing sound, Bu Eun-seol finally shattered Tang Pae's Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation completely using the Willful True Binding.
Clatter!
Metal fragments scattered in all directions.
They weren't all materialized from True Qi—real hidden weapons had been mixed in as well.
"Use the Eight Great Secret Arts,"
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
"With ordinary hidden weapon techniques, you'll never defeat me."
For a moment, Tang Pae's expression twisted strangely.
His face flushed red and then pale,
as if he were both furious and suppressing shame.
Only then did Bu Eun-seol sense something amiss and asked again,
"Don't tell me... the technique you just used was one of the Eight Great Secret Arts?"
Tang Pae bit his lip.
It wasn't just one of the Eight Great Secret Arts.
The Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation he had unleashed was, in fact, the supreme Ultimate Art among the Tang Clan's Eight Great Secret Arts—
one that even incorporated the Rotating Heaven and Earth Formula.
But because Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess had grown so immensely,
even this technique, which stood at the peak of the Tang Clan's Eight Great Secret Arts, no longer felt like a particularly remarkable Ultimate Art.
'The Tang Clan's martial arts have stagnated.'
Only now did Bu Eun-seol realize the Tang Clan's fundamental problem.
The martial arts of the current era had continuously evolved, undergoing refinement to achieve dazzling progress.
Even the descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars had ceaselessly improved their martial arts.
Hadn't So Ok-rim, descendant of the Star Emperor, said that unless one perfected the refined martial arts, they wouldn't be sent into the martial world?
Yet the Tang Clan's martial arts still hadn't surpassed those of their Founder, Tang Cheon-gun, from centuries ago.
Crack.
Suddenly, the sound of bones shifting echoed from Tang Pae's body.
Thud.
At the same time, his skin color changed once more.
Tang Pae's once bear-like stature suddenly withered away, his face becoming as gaunt as a skull.
"See? I told you it wouldn't work."
A completely different voice flowed from Tang Pae's lips.
"The Tang Clan's Eight Great Secret Arts are already outdated techniques."
The transformed Tang Pae shook his head vigorously.
"It's only because no outstanding figure has emerged since Tang Cheon-gun that they're still treated as some grand technique."
The altered Tang Pae sneered at his own clan's state.
"Originally, the Eight Great Secret Arts should have been continuously refined."
"Who are you?"
"I am Tang Pae."
Then, narrowing his eyes, he spoke calmly.
"And I am also Geum Cheon-gun."
The One-Armed Divine Sword, Geum Cheon-gun.
Sharing a name with the Tang Clan's founder, Tang Cheon-gun, he had been a master of poison arts and an exceptional swordsman over a century ago.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened in shock.
Because Geum Cheon-gun had not been a heinous villain.
The Azure River Realm was said to merge evil and virtuous individuals to create peerless martial artists.
But how could they have fused Tang Pae's personality with Geum Cheon-gun's?
"You're not a villain—why were you captured by the Azure River Realm?"
"A villain?"
"I heard the Azure River Realm only employs such grand rituals to control evil individuals."
"Hahaha."
Tang Pae—no, Geum Cheon-gun—let out a hoarse laugh.
"You're naive."
"..."
"Do you think the Azure River Realm would openly reveal its secrets to others?"
Geum Cheon-gun's voice dripped with mockery.
"Of course, in the beginning, they might have made efforts to control villains. But organizations wielding immense power... inevitably corrupt."
"Are you saying the Azure River Realm has fallen?"
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow.
Did that mean the Azure River Realm was originally righteous, only to degenerate later?
"That's likely the case."
Geum Cheon-gun answered readily.
"Anything left stagnant for too long rots. Just like the Martial Alliance."
His tone and gaze suggested deep-seated resentment toward the Martial Alliance.
But Bu Eun-seol wasn't focused on Geum Cheon-gun's expression.
'The Three Realms.'
He had never believed the Three Realms were created to disrupt the Murim's order.
Or to slaughter innocent people for experiments.
Yet Geum Cheon-gun claimed they had simply rotted from prolonged existence.
"Not all factions decay just because they've endured for long."
The Three Realms must have had a reason to rot.
But Geum Cheon-gun didn't seem to know what it was.
"Perhaps the Azure River Realm, like the Infinite Realm, is endlessly pursuing power—that could be why."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Geum Cheon-gun avoided answering with a nod.
"Who knows?"
Geum Cheon-gun's response wasn't what mattered.
The Infinite Realm was bad enough, but the Return to Unity Realm had stolen his grandfather's corpse.
And the Azure River Realm had extended its claws not only to A-yeon but also to Baek Mu-seong and Tang Pae.
He didn't know if their targets were chosen randomly, but from Bu Eun-seol's perspective, they had harmed those he cherished.
He could no longer forgive the Azure River Realm.
"I know you're the successor of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, Bu Jan-yang."
Geum Cheon-gun spoke decisively.
"Use his saber techniques. I'll break them instantly."
In that moment, Bu Eun-seol understood.
The Azure River Realm's sudden scheme had a purpose.
'The Bloody Tears Seven Forms.'
In the past, the Three Realms had deceived the Nameless Old Man, who stood in for his grandfather, and stolen five of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
And when he went to destroy a Return to Unity Realm stronghold under the guise of Seon-u Jin,
he encountered Baek Mu-seong wearing a bizarre mask—who wielded the Bloody Tears Seven Forms more skillfully than Bu Eun-seol himself.
'They must want the remaining two forms.'
Each stance of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms was peerless, but only by mastering all seven could one unleash its true essence.
The Three Realms knew Bu Eun-seol had perfected the technique.
Clearly, they intended to steal the remaining two forms naturally through his fight with Tang Pae.
'Was it Baek-Elder Brother's order? Or the Azure River Realm's?'
Baek Mu-seong, now leader of the Heavenly Martial Brigade, must hold considerable status even within the Azure River Realm.
To challenge for the Alliance Leader's seat,
he might have manipulated the Azure River Realm's members to obtain the remaining Blood Tear Forms.
Or perhaps the Azure River Realm orchestrated this voluntarily for their newly appointed leader.
'But...'
If they wanted the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, there were plenty of other methods. Why go through the trouble of using Tang Pae?
"I'm not interested."
"What?"
"Do you think I'll obediently display my techniques just because you ordered me to?"
At Bu Eun-seol's unexpected response, Geum Cheon-gun sighed as if resigned.
"Do you know why Tang Pae sent you a challenge?"
When Bu Eun-seol remained silent, the corners of his lips curled up.
"Defeating the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade—that was Tang Pae's lifelong wish."
"What do you mean?"
Geum Cheon-gun narrowed his crescent-moon eyes as he explained.
"Thirty years ago, in his youth, Tang Pae encountered the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade. He witnessed him battle ten elders of the Martial Alliance."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
The elders of the Martial Alliance were all figures who had once shaken the martial world with their immense fame and unparalleled achievements—not to mention that their martial prowess and Internal Power had grown even deeper since their prime.
And yet, a whole group of them had swarmed in to fight his grandfather?
"At the time, Tang Pae was a prodigy who had set the martial world abuzz. It was believed that if he became the Tang Clan's Family Head, he would reign supreme under heaven."
It was somewhat grotesque to see Geum Cheon-gun, wearing Tang Pae's appearance, recounting Tang Pae's past.
But Bu Eun-seol listened silently.
"However, when the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade beheaded all ten elders in a single stroke, Tang Pae felt both awe and terror. And from that moment, his life's goal changed."
Schwak!
With the sound of blood splattering in all directions,
the ten elders who had encircled Bu Jan-yang collapsed in an instant—headless corpses.
The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.
A peerless swordsman who had plunged the martial world into terror.
In just a single martial form,
the heads of the ten elders, who had represented the Righteous Path, were severed in one stroke.
Tang Pae, who had coincidentally witnessed it, felt his pupils grow hollow.
Until then, he had believed that mastering the Tang Clan's Eight Great Secret Arts would make him a supreme Master capable of ruling the world.
But at that moment, he realized—
Even if he perfected the Eight Great Secret Arts, he could never become a Master like that.
No, he wouldn't even come close to touching the hem of such power.
From that day on, Tang Pae became obsessed with martial arts.
Not even the Tang Clan's Eight Great Secret Arts satisfied him anymore.
All he could think about was how to recreate that single flash of light—
the brilliance with which the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade had beheaded ten men in an instant.
As he devoted himself to researching and refining martial arts, before he knew it, Tang Pae had become a Family Head Candidate.
Eventually, he eliminated all his jealous siblings, leaving only Tang Seong, who had followed him loyally, and ascended to the position of Family Head.
Yet even then, he never stopped researching martial arts.
Because he had vowed that before he died, he would recreate that light.
Because if he could perfect it, the Tang Clan's martial studies would advance to unprecedented heights.
But perhaps it was because he had immersed himself for too long?
In the process of fusing the Eight Great Secret Arts and refining the Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation, he contracted an incurable affliction.
His Internal Power plummeted drastically.
Eventually, the energy in his body deteriorated completely, leaving him unable to move.
'Is this how I end?'
But then, before the bedridden Tang Pae appeared a Special Divine Rank of the Azure River Realm—
the Lotus Merchant.
[There is a way to fulfill your aspiration.]
The Lotus Merchant was well aware that Tang Pae had spent years researching martial arts.
Not only did he offer to heal Tang Pae's withered body and fuse it with a new personality to cure his illness—
he also promised to elevate his martial arts in an instant.
"To burn again..."
Tang Pae found the name Bu Yeon ("Rekindling") deeply appealing.
Of course, that didn't mean he could blindly accept the Lotus Merchant's proposal.
Why would the Azure River Realm show such favor to a complete stranger?
[We are merely curious. Whether the martial studies you've perfected can truly surpass the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's saber techniques.]
Only then did Tang Pae realize—
Not only had the Azure River Realm infiltrated the Tang Clan deeply,
they had also been stealing records of his research all this time.
But he had no time for anger.
If he didn't rise now, his lifelong research would come to nothing.
Only by completing his research could the Tang Clan advance.
'That child... is the successor of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.'
Once he perfected his martial arts, the Azure River Realm revealed another shocking truth.
Bu Eun-seol, the Heir of the Demon Hall.
He was the perfect inheritor of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's legacy.
The Lotus Merchant ordered Tang Pae to use his perfected martial arts against Bu Eun-seol.
—Wasn't that your aspiration all along?
Only then did Tang Pae suddenly realize—
His sudden affliction, the Tang Clan's past provocation by the Three Poison Sects...
All of it had been the Azure River Realm's scheme.
"What does the Azure River Realm gain from all this?"
To Tang Pae's question, the Lotus Merchant replied:
[Martial Soul Lord Bu Eun-seol. He has mastered the Bloody Tears Seven Forms in their entirety, yet he refuses to use them to their full potential.]
"[……]"
[Whether he's saving them as a trump card or simply restraining himself after mastering diverse martial arts, I cannot say.]
"So you plan to steal his techniques."
[Not steal—think of it as serving the greater good of the martial world.]
The Azure River Realm seemed to genuinely believe their schemes were noble.
[You don't have much life left anyway. Wouldn't it be nice to fulfill the aspiration you've held all this time?]
He had already seen through Tang Pae's situation completely.
Under normal circumstances, Tang Pae would have chosen death over becoming their puppet.
"Fine."
But in the end, Tang Pae had no choice but to accept.
Not because of his lifelong aspiration.
But because with the little life he had left,
there was something he had to do.
After hearing everything from Geumcheon-gun, Bu Eun-seol clenched his fists tightly.
At last, Bu Eun-seol understood why the Azure River Realm had used Tang Pae.
They must have assumed that to fulfill Tang Pae's lifelong aspiration, he would surely wield the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
'But Azure River Realm, your calculations have missed the mark.'
He knew Tang Pae well.
Ever since witnessing the saber arts of his grandfather, the Greatest Saber Artist of the Age.
It was true that Tang Pae had spent long years striving to create martial arts worthy of comparison.
But Tang Pae had not accepted the Lotus Merchant's proposal out of competitive pride toward his grandfather.
It was all because of... Tang Gon.
'The Family Head.'
Suppressing his heavy heart, Bu Eun-seol asked:
"Did he complete his martial arts?"
"He did."
In response to Bu Eun-seol's question, Geumcheon-gun answered confidently.
"But he didn't unleash it immediately. Tang Pae, I mean."
In short, Tang Pae had completed his martial arts—
Yet instead of using it against Bu Eun-seol, he had only employed the Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation.
"Why is that?"
"The Tang Clan never forgets grudges. But we remember kindness even more fiercely."
Geumcheon-gun voiced admiring praise before shaking his head.
"That's why this old man stepped in instead. There's an easier way to draw out the Bloody Tears Seven Forms."
Geumcheon-gun tilted his head slightly and clenched his fist.
Crrk.
His skin emitted a crackling sound, and soon a circular metallic gleam flashed from his left hand.
The radiance flowing within his body also began gathering in his left palm.
'A Black Divine Artifact.'
It seemed the Azure River Realm, too, was conducting research—
Similar to the Ancient Sword Forest's—on weaponizing the human body.
'If so...'
The Azure River Realm must have joined hands with the Neither-Human-Nor-Beast and their ilk, presumed descendants of the Demonic Cult.
And their ultimate goal...
Perhaps, like the Ancient Sword Forest, they sought to complete a Black Divine Artifact using human bodies.
Flash!
The light coalescing on the metal in Geumcheon-gun's hand suddenly pierced toward Bu Eun-seol.
A killing ray—requiring no motion whatsoever.
Sssk!
Bu Eun-seol dodged swiftly, but the light grazed him.
White smoke rose from his seared skin as a needle-sharp energy burrowed into his meridians.
Hmm.
He immediately tried to burn it away with Reverse Polarity True Qi.
But the energy was so vicious that even five centuries of Internal Power couldn't purge it instantly.
Flash!
Another beam poured forth in that moment.
Bu Eun-seol instantly deployed Swift Shadowless to evade.
Whoosh.
Simultaneously, he attempted to unleash the Transcendent Meteor Chasing Moon Form toward Geumcheon-gun.
But the killing rays streaming from Geumcheon-gun's hand could be fired freely in any direction.
Thus, no matter where or how Bu Eun-seol attacked, Geumcheon-gun could counter instantly—faster than any Fast Sword technique.
Flash!
In the end, bombarded by the light,
Bu Eun-seol abandoned the Meteor Chasing Moon Form and spun midair to dodge.
'An unusual Black Divine Artifact.'
Bu Eun-seol studied the gleaming metal in Geumcheon-gun's palm.
Black Divine Artifacts possessed power that transcended the boundaries of martial arts.
Moreover, by fusing it with the body like this, the weapon became an extension of the wielder—
Eliminating the constraints of a mere tool, allowing swifter and more natural exertion of power.
Flash!
Another beam shot forth as Geumcheon-gun seized an unavoidable instant.
Zzzing!
Bu Eun-seol immediately dispersed black True Qi in all directions to block the light.
The Willful True Binding.
Tssk!
Yet the barrier only held for the briefest moment.
The light pierced through the wall of True Qi in an instant, grazing Bu Eun-seol's shoulder.
'Then—'
Bu Eun-seol summoned his Two Spirit Energies, channeling them into the Ink Soul Sword.
If the Ink Soul Sword truly was a God-Slaying Weapon,
He could shatter that light-spewing Black Divine Artifact in one strike—without resorting to the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
"Whether he's saving it as a trump card, or if it's because he's mastered diverse martial arts—who knows?"
Suddenly, the Lotus Merchant's words to Geumcheon-gun flashed through his mind.
Perhaps the Azure River Realm sought not just the Bloody Tears Seven Forms through Tang Pae—
But also to confirm the nature of Bu Eun-seol's signature martial art.
'They might have installed observation devices here, or hidden spies to monitor this battle.'
The Azure River Realm had seen through even Tang Pae's research—unknown to Tang Gon himself.
If their influence had permeated the Tang Clan long ago,
Planting observation tools or hiding agents here wouldn't be difficult.
'I mustn't blindly rely on the Ink Soul Sword and Two Spirit Energies just because an enemy wields a Black Divine Artifact.'
Truthfully, with the Ink Soul Sword alone,
Bu Eun-seol could destroy any Black Divine Artifact an opponent might wield.
But what if he grew dependent on it? Without the sword, he might find himself helpless against such weapons.
Humans, after all, grow accustomed to repeated patterns.
'Very well.'
As Bu Eun-seol withdrew the Two Spirit Energies, streaks of light erupted from his pupils.
'Watch closely and learn what my ultimate secret art truly is.'
Zzzt. Crackle.
His irises turned bright yellow before igniting into hellish yellow flames.
The Langya Mind's Eye.
Through this supreme secret art of Langya Pavilion—capable of unraveling all Principles of Martial Arts in an instant—
He would dismantle Geumcheon-gun and his killing rays.