Chapter 728
[Seon-u Jin.]
A voice like an eerie resonance struck Bu Eun-seol's mind directly.
[Today, you will die.]
Bu Eun-seol couldn't comprehend it.
Under the identity of Seon-u Jin, he had never opposed the Three Realms, nor had there been any notable conflict.
So why would a figure like the Supreme Emperor personally carry out an assassination?
Could it be that Baekri Mu-jo was a member of the Infinite Realm, and the Supreme Emperor had been sent to protect him?
"Impressive. To envelop oneself in an overwhelming surge of True Qi and manifest a phantom-like form—astonishing."
Though his thoughts raced, Bu Eun-seol maintained an expression of exaggerated surprise.
Seon-u Jin was supposed to know of the Three Realms but not be deeply versed in their workings.
Moreover, since he wasn't currently acting as Bu Eun-seol, this should be his first encounter with the Supreme Emperor.
He needed to react accordingly.
"I am Seon-u Jin, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau under the Martial Alliance."
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together confidently, exuding the bearing of a sky unmarred by clouds.
"Judging by your presence, you seem to be a revered figure of Murim. Might I ask your name?"
It was the flawless demeanor of a rising pillar of the Martial Alliance, a Grandmaster of the new generation unyielding in presence.
The Supreme Emperor stared intently at Bu Eun-seol's composed face before nodding slowly.
[Indeed. A prodigy worthy of standing toe-to-toe with the Sword Demon.]
"And you are?"
[That is none of your concern.]
The frigid reply made Bu Eun-seol frown slightly.
In the past, even when the Supreme Emperor had come to kill him, his tone and demeanor had been consistently magnanimous and relaxed.
But now, the Supreme Emperor's voice was as cold and ruthless as an assassin sent on a kill order.
"I believe you just declared your intent to kill me. Am I correct?"
The Supreme Emperor nodded without hesitation.
[Correct.]
"If I must die, I'd like to know why."
As Bu Eun-seol posed the question boldly, a pair of sharp eyes materialized within the Supreme Emperor's pale, floating shadow.
[You're slightly different from what I've heard.]
The Supreme Emperor wore a puzzled expression as he scrutinized Bu Eun-seol's gaze.
"From what you've heard?"
Bu Eun-seol tilted his head.
"You don't even know me properly. Why do you wish to kill me?"
The Supreme Emperor glared at him silently before slowly parting his lips.
[If you wish to hear the reason, I shall oblige.]
His voice was utterly icy.
[If you are capable of rivaling the Sword Demon, you will become a significant obstacle in the future. Your existence hinders this realm's Grand Endeavor.]
"Grand Endeavor, you say."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
It was an excuse worse than not hearing one at all.
Still, it was unclear whether the Supreme Emperor's appearance was connected to Baekri Mu-jo or merely an unfortunate coincidence of timing.
'A figure of the Supreme Emperor's stature would never stoop to being Baekri Mu-jo's subordinate.'
Erasing his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"Very well. Then let us cross blades."
The moment the last syllable left his lips, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Iron Lightning Eighteen Palms of the Brilliant Sun Gate in rapid succession.
In the past, the Supreme Emperor's strength had been so overwhelming that Bu Eun-seol had been forced to resort to the Bloody Tears Seven Forms with the Resolution of Mutual Destruction.
Of course, he had since achieved another leap in power—but now, he was bound by Seon-u Jin's identity.
Unable to use his true martial arts, he had to strike first.
Swish!
From Bu Eun-seol's arms, six razor-sharp streams of force erupted as he unleashed all eighteen palms in succession—
—only to suddenly twist them toward the Supreme Emperor's body.
He had executed the subtle artistry of the Thirteenfold Qi Induction.
Whoosh!
But then, something astonishing happened.
Just as Bu Eun-seol seemed to pour forth the Thirteenfold Qi Induction, he abruptly activated the Qi-Piercing Ascent and bolted away at breakneck speed.
[How terrifying. Swift in judgment as well.]
The Supreme Emperor watched Bu Eun-seol flee without hesitation, then narrowed his eyes.
At a young age, rising to a high position—no matter how humble one's nature—
arrogance inevitably seeped into the unconscious.
Yet despite holding a Seat among the Four Gods and Seven Kings, despite bearing heavy responsibilities within the Martial Alliance,
and despite having recently fought the Sword Demon to a standstill—
he had not overestimated his strength and chose to flee immediately.
Rumble...
Bu Eun-seol's figure was already leaving the area faster than even the Lightning Flash technique.
But at that very moment—
Bwoooom!
A strange, trumpet-like sound reverberated from the distant sky, and suddenly, eerie light began erupting within a thirty-zhang radius.
Kwaaaah!
Yet Bu Eun-seol's Movement Technique, though ordinary, was swift as lightning.
Before the bizarre light could ensnare him, he had already slipped out of its range.
Flash!
Then, a radiant glow flickered in the distant sky before shooting straight toward Bu Eun-seol's fleeing path.
'Sword Qi?'
How peculiar.
Until now, the Supreme Emperor had wielded only esoteric, ritual-like powers.
But now, he was demonstrating the profound principles of martial arts, firing a massive Sword Qi straight at Bu Eun-seol's face.
'Does he, like the Pavilion Lord, instantly grasp an opponent's Martial Arts True Scripture and adapt his tactics accordingly?'
Pat!
Thoughts are long, but action is swift.
As Bu Eun-seol landed and twisted mid-air to evade the Sword Qi—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Dozens of Sword Qi blades the Supreme Emperor had already prepared hung suspended in the air, blocking all escape routes like a waiting net.
[Fleeing is pointless. Just die quietly.]
Fwooosh!
The dozens of Sword Qi hovering in the void surged toward Bu Eun-seol's body in an instant.
Swiish! Swiish!
At that moment, razor-sharp currents of force whirled around Bu Eun-seol's body, erasing the incoming Sword Qi one by one.
He had unleashed the Thirteenfold Qi Induction once more.
Boom!
But suddenly, a deafening explosion erupted as a Shockwave of True Qi rippled outward in all directions.
Mixed among the Supreme Emperor's Sword Qi were blades imbued with the subtle principle of Shattering.
'He's strong.'
Bu Eun-seol swallowed dryly.
The Supreme Emperor not only wielded sword qi as if it were a living creature, but also employed techniques akin to the Ten-Finger Spirit-Returning Rotation—the pinnacle of hidden hand techniques.
He had separately imbued each strand of sword qi with the principles of martial arts.
Of course, Bu Eun-seol could also execute such a feat, but doing so required an intense posture and a brief moment of preparation.
Yet the Supreme Emperor unleashed these techniques in rapid succession without so much as a visible movement.
'On top of that, the compatibility is terrible.'
While Bu Eun-seol had to rely on fist and leg techniques to manifest his internal energy through the Thirteenfold Qi Induction,
the Supreme Emperor flitted about like a specter, freely firing sword qi.
This meant the Supreme Emperor's opening strikes would always be a step ahead.
SHWAK!
In that same breath, the Supreme Emperor conjured thousands of razor-sharp sword qi strands, fanning out like the ribs of an open folding fan.
Those sword qi, tinged with a sickly yellow glow,
undoubtedly carried enough force to shake heaven and earth with even the slightest graze.
WHOOSH!
At that moment, an inky-black sword qi erupted from Bu Eun-seol's Ink Soul Sword, spreading in an instant.
With no way to block the incoming assault, he immediately shifted into a variation of the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan stance—unleashing the Heavenly Immortal Beyond the Heavens technique.
"HAAAP!"
As Bu Eun-seol roared and drew his sword, a dazzling radiance burst from its tip, scattering outward with a SWISH!
The expanding rings of light, like concentric circles, began annihilating the thousands of sword qi strands.
[How sloppily learned.]
But then—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion resounded, and Bu Eun-seol was sent flying more than a hundred feet away in an instant.
"Tch."
Regaining his stance immediately, Bu Eun-seol spat out a pebble-sized clot of blood.
The Supreme Emperor's sword technique—Seamless as a Heavenly Robe—had effortlessly overwhelmed the Heavenly Immortal Beyond the Heavens in a single stroke.
[You're quite the troublemaker, aren't you?]
The Supreme Emperor let out an admiring murmur.
[To think you blocked the Demon-Sinking Heaven-Spreading Art with that haphazardly patched-together Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan stance.]
Bu Eun-seol was stunned—twice over.
First, because the Supreme Emperor spoke as if he had seen the complete secret manual of Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan.
Second, because the Supreme Emperor had just wielded a sword technique recorded in the Demon-Sinking Heaven-Spreading Scripture—
a text authored by the Eternal Blood Demon, the former sect leader of the Black Spirit Sect.
Of course, it wasn't surprising that the Supreme Emperor, a high-ranking figure of the Infinite Realm, had mastered a long-lost demonic sword art.
The real problem was that the Eternal Blood Demon was known to have inherited the lineage of the Demonic Cult.
"A descendant of the Demonic Cult, I see. Given that you've mastered their sword techniques..."
Bu Eun-seol muttered, feigning ignorance of the Supreme Emperor's identity.
In response, a pair of sharp eyes materialized from the shadows surrounding the Supreme Emperor.
[Hmm.]
The Supreme Emperor slowly extended his right hand, wreathed in light.
[Enough chatter. Now, die.]
From his palm, a needle-thin sword gradually took shape.
Simultaneously, an explosive burst of light erupted before Bu Eun-seol's eyes—
and countless needle-like sword qi rained down upon him.
Shattered into fragments by the sunlight,
it was impossible to discern which were real sword qi and which were mere illusions.
This was the Sharp Light Explosive Current Form—
a legendary orthodox sword technique attributed to Jin Hong-ja, rivaling even the Demon-Sinking Heaven-Spreading Art.
'I can't dodge this.'
Bu Eun-seol had prepared for another Demon-Sinking Heaven-Spreading Art—
only to be caught off guard.
The needle-like sword qi was already at his nose.
Too late to deploy Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan.
Too late to activate the Thirteenfold Qi Induction.
At that moment, a yellow light erupted from Bu Eun-seol's pupils—
and time slowed to a crawl, as if the world itself had frozen.
Facing death, the Langya Mind's Eye had activated on its own.
'The Supreme Emperor's martial arts have reached an unfathomable realm.'
As Bu Eun-seol braced for the onslaught of the Sharp Light Explosive Current Form, he realized just how high the Supreme Emperor's prowess had climbed.
The earlier Demon-Sinking Heaven-Spreading Art—
had been nothing more than a trap, a preparatory move to weigh down his reflexes and legs,
ensuring he could never evade this follow-up strike.
'The Thirteenfold Qi Induction won't block this.'
As Bu Eun-seol watched the dazzling cascade of light, a strange realization flashed through his mind.
And time slowed even further.
His martial prowess, having broken through the Extreme Heaven Realm—
combined with the Langya Mind's Eye, which could instantly penetrate any martial technique—
allowed his mind to process information dozens of times faster than an ordinary person's.
His perception of time stretched endlessly.
'How would the Martial Emperor have handled this strike?'
The Supreme Emperor's Sharp Light Explosive Current Form had been refined to the Entering Divinity realm—
seizing the perfect moment, transforming it into an Ultra Fast Killing Sword that could not be dodged.
Yet despite inheriting the Martial Emperor's supreme techniques—the very arts the Three Realms so feared—
Bu Eun-seol found himself absurdly outmatched by the Supreme Emperor's flawless fusion of orthodox and unorthodox martial arts.
'Must I face this head-on?'
In that instant, the foundational doctrine of the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment—the core of the Thirteenfold Qi Induction—resurfaced in his mind.
'The pinnacle of martial arts... is it not a return to nothingness?'
The Martial Emperor had pioneered a martial art that fused orthodox techniques to unleash razor-sharp internal energy.
But Bu Eun-seol had always wondered—
Why, despite his five centuries of cultivation, did the Thirteenfold Qi Induction not increase to thirteen streams?
Could it be that the Thirteenfold Qi Induction was never about thirteen separate energies—but something else entirely?
PSSHT!
In that same breath, hundreds of needle-like sword qi pierced Bu Eun-seol's body.
PA-PA-PA-PA!
Impaled by the Sharp Light Explosive Current Form, Bu Eun-seol was pushed back about two hundred feet, his body drenched in blood.
[Hoho.]
The Supreme Emperor let out a low chuckle.
Struck by the Sharp Light Explosive Current Form, even if this Seon-u Jin had somehow cultivated the Vajra Indestructibility Divine Art—
There was absolutely no room for hoping for a miracle.
[...!]
But as the Supreme Emperor observed Bu Eun-seol's condition, a strange, pupil-like shape formed within his shadow.
Despite being struck head-on by the Sharp Light Explosive Current Form, there wasn't a single fatal wound on his body?
[What went wrong?]
Though his thoughts were lengthy, his actions were swift as lightning.
Flash!
The Supreme Emperor unleashed the Sharp Light Explosive Current Form upon Bu Eun-seol once more.
Pah-pah-pah!
Hundreds of needle-like points of light pierced through Bu Eun-seol's body again.
No—they passed right through him.
Swish—swish!
With an eerie sound of wind, Bu Eun-seol's figure blurred momentarily, as if the sword qi had simply flowed past him.
Thirteenfold Qi Induction.
One of the profound mysteries within the Martial Emperor's supreme martial art wasn't merely about unleashing powerful force.
In moments of peril, it also contained a secret technique—creating a powerful vortex-like current throughout the body to perfectly deflect an enemy's attacks.
[Phew.]
The Supreme Emperor instantly grasped the situation and gave a slow nod.
[So that is the Martial Emperor's martial art.]
How fascinating.
When Bu Eun-seol had first used the Thirteenfold Qi Induction to block his attacks, the Supreme Emperor had remained silent.
But now, witnessing the technique refined through sudden enlightenment, he questioned whether this was truly the Martial Emperor's martial art.
In other words, to the Supreme Emperor's eyes, the Thirteenfold Qi Induction Bu Eun-seol had displayed until now—
Had not been the true Thirteenfold Qi Induction, but merely the basic form of some martial art.
'I see.'
Bu Eun-seol's pupils shimmered with radiant light as he attained this realization.
In truth, the power of the Thirteenfold Qi Induction hadn't changed.
Only by applying one of the principles from the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment, creating a fierce whirlwind-like current—
Had it transformed into an extraordinary martial art capable of deflecting any technique.
'The same martial art can produce vastly different effects depending on how it's used.'
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had employed the Thirteenfold Qi Induction—
As nothing more than an offensive tool, bundling together various orthodox techniques into a single overwhelming force to cleave through everything.
But the true function of the Thirteenfold Qi Induction was not like that.
Unbound by form, it was a martial art of infinite transformations—freely adaptable based on the wielder's individuality and enlightenment.
'It's fortunate I'm a disciple of Langya Pavilion.'
This profound state—where one could instantly grasp the essence of martial arts—
Was not limited to understanding an enemy's techniques.
It also allowed Bu Eun-seol to refine and improve his own martial arts.
[Hoh.]
The Supreme Emperor let out an admiring sigh.
In this brief span of time, he sensed that Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess had grown even more profound.
[So my attacks have granted you insight, it seems.]
A sharp glint flickered in his eyes as he exhaled in contemplation.
[Then I shall ensure you no longer have the luxury of such enlightenment.]
KWAANG!
In an instant, an explosive radiance—bright as the sun—burst forth repeatedly from the Supreme Emperor's hands.
He began unleashing an unrelenting barrage of attacks, each one too overwhelming for Bu Eun-seol to block.
Clang!
Just as the orthodox Shadowless Diamond Sword rained down—
Swish-swish-swish!
The Black Path's Crimson Sunset Flowless Sword followed in rapid succession.
But Bu Eun-seol no longer attempted to shatter or directly counter the Supreme Emperor's dazzling sword techniques.
'As Seon-u Jin, victory is impossible anyway.'
Bu Eun-seol's true martial arts belonged to the Demonic Path, each one lethally potent.
But Seon-u Jin's martial arts were primarily defensive, lacking any technique capable of felling an opponent of this caliber.
Thus, he relied on the Thirteenfold Qi Induction to guard his vital points while maneuvering solely with movement techniques.
[What a rat-like way of fighting.]
As Bu Eun-seol widened the distance, focusing solely on evasion, the Supreme Emperor sneered and pursued relentlessly.
With a unique sword technique that unleashed sword qi like living creatures—
He systematically sealed off all escape routes, confining Bu Eun-seol within a radius of three thousand feet.
It was as if he had trapped Bu Eun-seol within a battle formation woven from sword qi.
'I can endure this.'
Yet Bu Eun-seol treated the sword qi-filled space as his own front yard, moving through it with familiarity.
Against a martial master of this level—
Who was determined to evade at all costs, chasing him down while attacking was anything but easy.
Swish! Whizz!
Perhaps out of frustration, the Supreme Emperor's sword techniques grew sharper and more agile.
But in response, Bu Eun-seol's movements accelerated as well.
His movement technique wasn't fast, but it allowed him to change direction freely midair.
Though he narrowly avoided being skewered by razor-sharp sword forms, the Thirteenfold Qi Induction ensured he evaded fatal blows.
Abruptly—
The Supreme Emperor halted and glared at Bu Eun-seol.
[...To think you were hiding such martial arts.]
Had he employed this refined version of the Thirteenfold Qi Induction during his battle with the Sword Demon—
He would never have suffered such grievous injuries.
[Hmm.]
And this was a situation that completely defied the Supreme Emperor's calculations.
To capture this slippery Seon-u Jin, he would have to resort to his signature martial art.
—Kill him now? Or retreat?
If the martial arts displayed so far were Seon-u Jin's limits, then he could kill him instantly with his signature martial art.
But what if this wasn't his full strength...?
Flash.
The Supreme Emperor formed gleaming, translucent eyes—
And stared intently at Bu Eun-seol's heaving body.
It was the legendary observation method—Inner Observation.
The depleted state of his internal energy, the wounds on his body, the trembling fingertips, the gaze steeled for death—
All of it was instantly laid bare.
[Was this everything...?]
He couldn't be certain if Bu Eun-seol was hiding other martial arts, but at the very least, he had exhausted all his physical strength.
[Good.]
The Supreme Emperor extended his left hand.
A white current of qi spread from his palm, gradually enveloping Bu Eun-seol's body.
["If you can block this, then this Supreme Emperor shall quietly withdraw."]
After much deliberation, he settled on a new Choice.
He would wield the Annihilation Sword Studies—a technique capable of killing that bastard without even needing to unleash his signature martial art.