Chapter 75
The day of the Martial Refinement Tournament finals.
The area around the martial arts stage was an absolute sea of people. Not only did martial artists who had been attending the tournament all along fill the spectator seats, but figures from both the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions—who had remained unseen until now—streamed in one after another.
They were curious to see who would become the owner of the Spiritual Subtlety Divine Sword, said to cleave even souls, but more than anything, they had come to witness the extraordinary individual who had reached the finals.
Bu Eun-seol.
A young man who had never once made his presence known until now. This unknown rookie had defeated renowned masters in consecutive matches while employing a variety of sword techniques.
Not only that, but the fact that these sword techniques were not part of his signature secret arts had begun drawing the attention of the martial world.
—Just what is his True Power?
The answer to that would surely be revealed in this final match.
Because his opponent was none other than Yang Myeong, a master of the Hell Blood Citadel.
—No matter how profound his internal energy may be, he won't be able to avoid revealing his signature secret arts against Yang Myeong!
The martial artists were eagerly anticipating it.
Not Bu Eun-seol's victory, but rather how Yang Myeong would deal with him—and when exactly Bu Eun-seol would unveil his signature secret arts.
"Let the finals begin now!"
At Cho Mun-cheon's shout, an enormous cheer erupted from the spectator stands.
At last, the finals of the Martial Refinement Tournament—the moment that would satisfy the martial world's burning curiosity—had begun.
Thud. Thud.
As Bu Eun-seol ascended the steps leading to the martial arts stage,
"Bu Eun-seol, the Young Hero Bu, who appeared like a comet and achieved consecutive victories against numerous masters to reach the finals!"
Perhaps because it was the finals, Cho Mun-cheon gave a lengthy introduction, something he hadn't done before.
Whoosh.
Then, from the opposite side, a figure soared onto the stage with a movement technique as light as clouds.
It was none other than Yang Myeong, Hall Leader of the Blood Ghost Faction.
"The Poison Hand Flying Demon, whose fame resounds throughout the Guizhou region—Yang Myeong, the Great Hero Yang!"
As if his conscience pricked him, Cho Mun-cheon introduced Yang Myeong while conveniently omitting his title as Hall Leader of the Hell Blood Citadel.
"Hmph."
Yang Myeong's eyes flashed as he observed Bu Eun-seol standing tall with an indifferent expression.
"Your stance is good."
Though he knew Bu Eun-seol was the Ten Demonic Heir from Langya Pavilion, he feigned ignorance as he spoke.
"You seem like the disciple of a renowned master. Do your best."
It was an unspoken rule among the Demonic Path Ten Gates not to encroach upon one another.
If it were revealed that Bu Eun-seol was a disciple of Langya Pavilion, Yang Myeong wouldn't be able to fight him. Thus, he intended to kill him without exposing his identity, pretending not to know.
"Then begin!"
Clang!
With the resounding strike of a large gong, Cho Mun-cheon hastily scrambled backward.
Yang Myeong's signature technique was the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger.
This finger technique was powerful enough to leave marks even on steel, and above all, the technique itself contained poison.
Linger too close, and one would find themselves poisoned without even realizing it.
"Make the first move."
Yang Myeong flicked his fingers with an arrogant expression.
"If this Hall Leader lifts a finger, you won't get a single chance to attack."
Bu Eun-seol had already experienced the terror of the Hell Blood Citadel's poison techniques firsthand on Hell Island.
The moment Yang Myeong finished speaking, he drew his longsword and immediately thrust at his throat.
Clang!
But the fast sword strike merely sparked off and was deflected.
Yang Myeong had extended a single finger and flicked away the pouring sword strikes.
"Pathetic."
Bu Eun-seol did not respond to Yang Myeong's provocation and instead swung his sword again.
Swish, swish—
The deflected sword strikes transformed midair, falling like snowflakes slowly over Yang Myeong's head.
"Heavy Sword Art this time?"
Yang Myeong snorted as he watched the slow descent of the sword shadows.
"You deliberately slowed it down to make me block it. Fine."
Slowly curling his middle finger, he then flicked it outward.
Ping!
With a deafening Sound of Breaking Air, the Finger Wind unleashed from his middle finger collided with Bu Eun-seol's heavy sword strikes.
Boom! Boom!
As the heavy sword strikes and Finger Wind clashed, explosive bursts like cracking leather erupted.
Yang Myeong stood at ease, dismantling each heavy sword strike—imbued with hundreds of pounds of force—with nothing but a single finger.
Boom!
After dispelling the last strike, Yang Myeong curled his lips at Bu Eun-seol.
"Done with your little tricks?"
Bu Eun-seol lowered his stance, sword still in hand.
Yang Myeong was a master on an entirely different level from anyone he had faced before. The slightest lapse in focus, and lightning-fast strikes would rain down.
"Arrogant brat."
Yang Myeong bared his fangs in a grin as he watched Bu Eun-seol, who had remained silent all this while.
"Let me show you why they call me the Poison Hand Flying Demon."
Whoosh!
Yang Myeong's figure blurred—then, in an instant, he was standing just thirty feet in front of Bu Eun-seol.
Hiss—
At the same time, black fog began seeping from his fingers, and his nails darkened to an inky black.
He was preparing to unleash his supreme martial art—the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger.
"Take this!"
Shriek!
With a sound like the cry of a viper, three black streaks shot toward the major acupoint on Bu Eun-seol's chest.
Clang!
As he deflected the Finger Wind with his sword, the blade of his longsword glowed red-hot.
"Where are you looking?"
Suddenly appearing behind him, Yang Myeong swung his blackened hand.
Snap!
But the reflexes Bu Eun-seol had honed through the Way of the Beast were equally unfathomable.
Dodging Yang Myeong's knife-hand strike like lightning, Bu Eun-seol leapt up like a carp and began scattering sword techniques.
It was the defensive opening stance of the Fire Rain Sword Sect—Mystery Upon Mystery.
"Hmph."
Finding no openings in the meticulous sword strokes of Mystery Upon Mystery, Yang Myeong this time darkened all five fingernails.
"Soul-Chasing Five Claws!"
Swiish—!
Five black streaks arced through the air, raining down on Bu Eun-seol's arms, legs, and chest.
This time, rather than deflecting the Finger Wind, he swiftly employed footwork to evade. If he blocked, Yang Myeong would exploit the opening with his ghostly movement technique to strike from behind or the side.
Sssssss—
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol shifted his position thirty-two times with Swift Shadowless, evading every Finger Wind as he swung his sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Blade and fingers collided in rapid succession.
Bu Eun-seol's sword techniques were swift, but Yangmyeong's Finger Art, freely manipulating all five fingers, was even faster.
"Did you think close combat would change anything?"
As Yangmyeong unleashed a flurry of finger techniques, Bu Eun-seol found himself gradually pushed back in their initial exchange.
'I can't use Sword Pinnacle Stance.'
Bu Eun-seol's specialty was the Heavenly Domination Sword Pinnacle Stance, which redirected an opponent's attacks and force.
But Yangmyeong's Finger Wind was far lighter and more elusive than any weapon, rendering the principles of Sword Pinnacle Stance ineffective.
Thud!
Bu Eun-seol, pouring his Internal Energy into a forceful push, managed to shove Yangmyeong back before retreating with a furrowed brow.
They had only exchanged a dozen or so moves, yet sweat already beaded on his forehead, his expression grim.
"Hohoho. So you're finally starting to struggle."
Yangmyeong didn't pursue him, merely watching with leisurely amusement.
"Even an ox would collapse after breathing in this much poison."
The Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger contained such extreme toxicity that the air within thirty feet was saturated with venom.
Bu Eun-seol had deflected multiple close-range Finger Winds—it would be stranger if he weren't poisoned by now.
Sssk—
Yet suddenly, Bu Eun-seol extended his left hand.
From his blackened ring finger, dark droplets of liquid fell one by one.
Qi Poison Gathering.
A supreme Internal Power technique that expelled venom by channeling powerful True Qi through the body's Qi Vessels and concentrating it into a single point.
"Qi Poison Gathering, hm? Your Internal Energy is impressive."
Yangmyeong nodded in what seemed like admiration.
"But Qi Poison Gathering has a fatal flaw!"
Piiing!
Without warning, he unleashed seven streams of Finger Wind from both arms. The attacks were not only blindingly fast but curved at unavoidable angles.
Yangmyeong could wield Finger Wind not just with his right hand—but his left as well.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Bu Eun-seol deflected them, but unlike before, he was forced to retreat a step.
Yangmyeong smirked at the sight.
"Qi Poison Gathering rapidly depletes Internal Energy."
Tilting his head, he slowly raised both hands.
"If what you just showed was the extent of your reserves... then you're already dead."
Sssssss—
All ten of Yangmyeong's fingernails darkened to pitch black.
He was preparing to unleash the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger at twelve-tenths strength, exerting every ounce of his power.
Sssssk—
Bu Eun-seol raised his longsword, drawing upon the Way of the Beast at full strength.
Deflecting seven streams of Finger Wind had already been precarious. If three more were added, the speed and unpredictability would surpass imagination.
Chiiik!
With a sound like fire igniting, ten streaks of Finger Wind shot forth.
Whirrrrr—
The attacks didn't travel straight—they twisted in wide arcs, tracing serpentine paths.
Each of the ten streams moved at different speeds and angles, laced with Extreme Poison.
The range spanned nearly ten jang, making it impossible to evade without leaving the Martial Arts Stage. The only option was to block them with sheer power and skill.
Taaak!
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol kicked off the stage, leaping high into the air.
"Hmph. Futile."
Yangmyeong scoffed, flicking his fingers—and the black streams of Finger Wind curved upward, chasing Bu Eun-seol into the sky.
Yangmyeong's Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger didn't just fire condensed energy—it could move like extended threads, bending at will.
—What?!
Gasps erupted from the audience.
Bu Eun-seol's body hung midair, unable to dodge the pursuing attacks. He was moments away from being skewered like a kebab.
Srrrring!
Then—a metallic resonance rang out from behind his back.
He had drawn the assassin's sword he had kept sheathed until now.
"Haaap!"
With a sharp cry, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Mystery Upon Mystery stance of the Fire Rain Sword with his left hand—while his right executed Sa-u's Practical Combat Sword Art, a technique he had internalized while training in the Way of the Beast.
Sssssss—
As he wielded two entirely different sword forms simultaneously, a faint barrier seemed to form around him.
Thunk! Thunk!
Finger Wind clashed against sword strokes, sending eerie reverberations through the air.
Bu Eun-seol had perfectly blocked the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger midair—with two different sword techniques at once.
—Whaaaaaa!
Cheers erupted from the stands.
Among the martial world's Masters, some could perform the wonders of Dual Hand Mutual Combat—dividing their focus to execute separate techniques.
But it was exceedingly rare to see someone like Bu Eun-seol, who could flawlessly execute two entirely different sword forms at the same time.
Chuuuk.
Landing unharmed, Bu Eun-seol glanced at his assassin's sword.
Blocking the Poison Demon Soul-Chasing Finger had chipped the blade and left cracks running through it.
Tuk.
As he tossed the sword aside, Yangmyeong raised an eyebrow.
"You've learned quite the hodgepodge of skills."
A cold smile played on his lips as he pointed at Bu Eun-seol's longsword.
"No matter how many brilliant sword techniques you've mastered, you'll never defeat this Hall Leader."
Confident, Yangmyeong gathered his Internal Energy.
"Shall we end this now?"
Black fog began to rise, slowly enveloping his body.
—Poison Technique!
As the dark mist spread across the Martial Arts Stage, some martial artists in the audience screamed and scrambled away.
The Poison Arts of the Hell Blood Citadel's masters were not only terrifying—they were nearly impossible to cure.
Crrrrrack.
Strange bone-cracking sounds echoed from within the black fog.
When the mist finally dissipated, the crowd erupted in murmurs.
—What in the world is that...?
Emerging from the haze, Yangmyeong had transformed into a giant—his entire body now covered in dark, ashen-gray skin.
—It's the Poison-Strengthened Body Art!
Someone in the spectator stands shouted as they stared at Yangmyeong, now transformed into a hulking figure.