Chapter 885
"Hah... hahaha."
Only then did Nak Gu-cheon truly realize just how extraordinary Bu Eun-seol's martial arts had become—and how pathetically inadequate his own skills were in comparison.
"This one... had no right to even think of avenging myself against Bu Jan-yang."
Clang!
With a devastated expression, he poured his internal power into his beloved sword and shattered it.
If Bu Eun-seol had truly wished it?
He could have slaughtered every last person present.
Yet he had endured their insults to the very end and extended his finger instead...
Now, Nak Gu-cheon was drowning in both shame and helplessness.
"I'll take my leave. And I will never step foot in the Martial World again."
His face a portrait of utter defeat, he gazed at the distant sky for a moment before turning away without hesitation and walking out of the abandoned manor.
He was a descendant of the Great Sage Sect, a hero of Murim.
Because he understood both shame and the Righteous Path, he chose not to cling stubbornly to his grudge and left with dignity.
'So he truly was one of Grandfather's victims.'
As Nak Gu-cheon departed in dejection—
"Martial Soul Lord."
Wan-an Su-wol bit her lip before speaking in a low voice.
"You truly have inherited the blood of that demonic grandfather of yours."
Shhk.
Then, without warning, she severed her own little finger in a single stroke.
Thud.
She tossed the bleeding, severed finger at Bu Eun-seol's feet.
"O gods... why have you granted such monstrous power to a devil like him?"
She had known full well how skilled Nak Gu-cheon was.
If even he couldn't cut Bu Eun-seol with the New Moon Sword, then she wouldn't be able to so much as scratch him with her nails. And so... she abandoned her revenge.
Clang.
She snapped the dagger she had used to cut her finger, turned, and left.
In the end, out of the five, two had given up their vengeance.
Which meant those two were definitely not in league with any outside forces—nor were they their pawns.
"You showed them the gap in strength and made them abandon their revenge."
The masked Taoist fixed Bu Eun-seol with a sharp gaze.
"You weren't relying on the Underworld Jade Blood Aura. Instead, you used your terrifying internal energy and martial arts mastery to mimic external arts."
Bu Eun-seol's eyebrow twitched slightly.
Just as the man had said, through internal energy cultivated over ten cycles and the Langya Mind's Eye—
He had completely nullified the force behind his opponents' strikes, ensuring the blade only grazed the surface of his finger.
It was a divine technique bordering on the miraculous.
And yet, the masked Taoist—
Had astonishingly discerned the intricacies of Bu Eun-seol's martial arts in an instant and called him out on it.
"Why didn't you tell them that?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, the masked Taoist replied in a low voice,
"They were the descendants of fools who overestimated themselves and rushed to their deaths challenging Bu Jan-yang. That's all."
His voice grew colder as he continued,
"But we... are the descendants of those whose clans and factions were annihilated by Bu Jan-yang for no reason at all. Our vengeance is of an entirely different caliber from theirs."
'So the remaining people are all true victims of Grandfather's actions.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
Not that it mattered.
If there was a debt to be paid, it had to be paid.
He had only wanted to investigate Grandfather's deeds one more time.
Shing.
The masked Taoist drew a massive longsword from his waist.
"No matter how formidable your martial prowess may be, I will never abandon my vengeance."
The blade he unsheathed was ancient yet radiant, its surface shimmering with a mysterious light.
Even at a glance, it was clearly a sword of immense power.
"With this Ju Que Sword... I will sever your finger."
The Ju Que Sword.
Was it not a legendary divine blade spoken of in the same breath as the Fishgut Sword?
And judging by the masked man's qi, his skill was nothing short of terrifying.
Cutting off a mere finger should have been effortless.
"I'll ask once more. Will you still extend your hand?"
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol indifferently held out his finger.
"I didn't use martial arts to spare my finger—I used them to keep Grandfather's name untarnished."
He believed that only those with sufficient strength and standing had the right to seek vengeance against his grandfather.
In other words, he wouldn't let his finger be taken by someone utterly worthless.
Only those who possessed the strength to challenge Bu Jan-yang had the right to cut his finger.
And Nak Gu-cheon and Wan-an Su-wol—
Had understood that intent, swallowed their indignation, and withdrawn on their own.
"I see. That, too, is a fair argument."
As the masked Taoist gathered his internal energy, a bone-chilling coldness radiated from the Ju Que Sword.
"Then let this qualified poor Taoist claim your finger!"
Flash!
Light filled the heavens and earth as the masked Taoist unleashed his sword technique with everything he had.
He was certain.
Even if Bu Eun-seol were the greatest under heaven, with the Ju Que Sword and this technique—he would sever that finger.
Clang!
But then, something astonishing happened.
The Ju Que Sword, swung with all the masked man's might, was blocked—by what appeared to be nothing more than an old iron sword?
Bu Eun-seol had drawn his Mourning Soul Sword like lightning and parried the strike.
"Heh heh heh."
The masked man pointed at Bu Eun-seol with his finger and let out a grating laugh.
"Hahahaha!"
After roaring with laughter for a long while, he finally looked at Bu Eun-seol and spoke coldly.
"You were flapping your mouth like you were something special. But in the end, you were just afraid of losing a single finger, weren't you?"
But something was strange.
Bu Eun-seol's expression wasn't one of shame.
A bloody light flickered in his pupils, and waves of True Qi surged visibly from his entire body, dense enough to be seen with the naked eye.
"A Daoist of the Mystic Path... wielding a fragment of the True Demon?"
Bu Eun-seol had sensed it.
Within the energy the masked Daoist had unleashed while swinging his Reversal Sword—
There was the unmistakable presence of a Demon-Sealing Fragment.
Had he not encountered those male and female assassins sent by the Same Heart Society at the guest inn earlier?
He would never have been able to detect it.
In that sense, Dong Wol-hyeon's attack had actually been a great help to Bu Eun-seol.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
The masked Daoist shouted in bewilderment.
"This humble Daoist knows nothing of any Demon-Sealing Fragments!"
"You claim not to know of the True-Demon Fragment, yet you babble about Demon-Sealing Fragments so fluently."
The Daoist immediately clamped his mouth shut.
Because the True-Demon Fragment was also called the Demon-Sealing Fragment, he had carelessly let the words slip without realizing the implication.
"Don't tell me... you have one too?"
The Daoist frowned in suspicion.
"But why can't I sense any energy from you, even though you're using Internal Power?"
"What's the point of dragging this out?"
At that moment, Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong stepped forward, releasing her Internal Power.
Crrrk.
With the sound of cracking bones, her face began to slowly transform.
No longer plump and round, it suddenly sharpened into a triangular shape—like that of a viper.
This was not the result of any martial art or grand ritual, but the power of a transcendent supernatural ability that altered even the physical body.
"So that's it."
Bu Eun-seol finally understood.
Why his grandfather had sought out hidden sects and clans—only to annihilate them.
Why he had acted as though hunting down specific individuals.
'Was he slaughtering every last person who possessed a Demon-Sealing Fragment?'
Even Yu Un-ryong, who had investigated his grandfather's past, had been unable to comprehend this part.
Just who had he been trying to kill?
Why had he gone so far as to dig up sects and clans that had remained hidden from the martial world?
Now, the answer was clear.
'But... why?'
His grandfather had been invincible even without a Demon-Sealing Fragment.
So why, until the very moment of his retirement, had he been hunting down and killing those who possessed them?
Could it be... that he had sought to obtain the True Demon's power for himself, to prevent its resurrection?
"The reason your sects and families were annihilated... was because they possessed Demon-Sealing Fragments."
"So what? What does that matter now?"
Maeng So spoke up in a sharp voice.
"In the end, wasn't Bu Jan-yang also coveting power? Didn't he seek the Demon-Sealing Fragments for himself?"
When those who possessed the fragments killed one another, they absorbed the energy.
Even if his grandfather hadn't originally had a fragment, the process of eliminating them would have allowed him to absorb a significant portion.
Sshhk!
At that moment, something razor-sharp shot toward Bu Eun-seol's forehead with a piercing sound.
Taking advantage of his deep contemplation, Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong had instantly unleashed a Finger Wind.
KWA-BOOM!
Instinctively dodging, the attack struck a massive boulder behind him, detonating with an earth-shaking blast.
"What a shame."
The nun, her face now viper-like, flicked out a thin tongue.
Thanks to the Demon-Sealing Fragment, she had gained a unique ability—
The power to unleash an endless barrage of Inner Energy Bullet Arts.
"No matter how great your martial arts may be, they're useless against us."
At her words, Maeng So stepped forward.
"Let's finish him together."
Crrrk.
Bone-cracking sounds echoed from his body as a strange luster spread across his skin—
As if molten black iron had been poured over him.
"DIE!"
FWOOOSH!
Maeng So lunged at Bu Eun-seol without hesitation.
But as he charged, his speed increased exponentially—until, in the blink of an eye, he became a streak of black light.
The Demon-Sealing Fragment had granted him monstrous leg strength, allowing him to move at speeds beyond human limits.
SHWIIIIING!
Accelerating to blinding velocity, Maeng So transformed into a single streak of light—
Yet Bu Eun-seol instantly tracked his movement and slashed at his legs.
Hssss!
Only sparks flew. Not even a scratch marred his skin.
'This is the power of the Demon-Sealing Fragment.'
Just as Han Sang-ja had said, those who possessed the fragments gained bizarre abilities.
KWA-RUMBLE!
Meanwhile, Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong continuously fired cannonball-like shockwaves from a distance—
While Maeng So, now a streak of black light, coiled around Bu Eun-seol like a serpent.
The barrage of attacks was so fast, there wasn't even time to take a breath.
And as their assault continued—
The flow of the Three Divine Powers within his body had been disrupted, making it impossible to maintain Harmonization.
'Is this also an ability contained within the Demon-Sealing Fragment?'
The assassin from the Same Heart Society he had fought before hadn't possessed such an ability.
Not only did the Demon-Sealing Fragments grant different abilities depending on the person, but the attributes of those abilities also carried distinct essences and characteristics—or perhaps they reflected the inclinations and intentions of the wielder.
Crunch.
Suddenly, a bizarre sound reverberated, and Bu Eun-seol's legs, which had been moving at high speed, sank deep into the ground.
Turning his head, he saw the masked Taoist grinning at him while forming an eerie hand seal.
"Once caught in this power, you can't move."
Snap.
Bu Eun-seol doubled his Internal Power and instantly tore free from the earth.
But in doing so, he took deep wounds from Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong's Finger Wind and Maeng So's sword.
A battle between Masters is decided in an instant.
Even something as simple as slowing movement speed could turn the tide.
Bu Eun-seol swiftly deployed his Movement Technique, but unseen, viscous hands kept stretching from the ground to seize his legs.
As a result, his injuries only multiplied.
Had it not been for his thick Body Protection True Qi and the Way of the Beast's acute senses, it wouldn't have been mere wounds—his head or limbs would have been severed.
'This isn't an improvised coordinated attack.'
These three had likely known each other for a long time and had trained this Combined Attack Art using the Demon-Sealing Fragments.
Otherwise, three martial artists whose skills weren't particularly outstanding wouldn't have been able to execute such a Seamless as a Heavenly Robe joint assault on the fly.
'They belong to the same faction.'
If they weren't fighting despite all possessing Demon-Sealing Fragments, then they were undoubtedly part of the same organization.
Swish! Slash!
Another long wound split open across Bu Eun-seol's shoulder as the sharp Sound of Breaking Air rang out.
The Finger Wind unleashed by Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong rivaled the might of the Bullet King's full-powered Inner Energy Bullet Art, freely arcing through the air while also possessing the ability to block evasive movements.
Maeng So, now a streak of black, was so fast that keeping up with his movements was nearly impossible, and every time an opening appeared, he thrust his longsword toward vital points.
Worse, whenever Bu Eun-seol attempted a counterattack, the masked Taoist's power would seize his legs, disrupting his rhythm or halting his movements entirely.
A strange thought flashed through his mind.
'Then, is the Sanctuary also using Demon-Sealing Fragments like them?'
Even in this life-or-death battle, Bu Eun-seol's mind spun like lightning.
The masked Taoist aside, neither Maeng So nor Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong had reached the Transcendence Realm in martial prowess.
Yet with just a single Demon-Sealing Fragment, they were displaying overwhelming power capable of threatening him.
And the Sanctuary's Executioner—
It had transformed ordinary civilians into martial Masters wielding formidable Internal Energy and Poison Art in an instant.
There was no way such miraculous power existed in multiple forms.
Perhaps even the Sanctuary's Executioner... had used a Demon-Sealing Fragment to manifest that Divine Authority.
BOOM!
Had he let his thoughts wander too far?
Bu Eun-seol took a direct hit from Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong's Finger Wind and was sent crashing into a boulder about thirty feet away.
"Now you're starting to see Death, aren't you?"
Just as Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong began to smirk—
RUMBLE—
The boulder crumbled amid a cloud of dust, revealing Bu Eun-seol standing tall, his Ink Soul Sword sheathed.
Despite taking that powerful Finger Wind head-on, his expression remained utterly serene.
"Still putting on a composed front?"
At her mocking words, Bu Eun-seol replied flatly,
"Yes. I suppose I'll stop holding back now."
Shhhhk—
He twisted the Ink Soul Sword free.
Screeeeech—
An eerie, ghostly wail rang out as a terrifying energy radiated from the blade, now dyed pitch-black.
A Saber Technique that annihilated not just living beings but their very essence—
The Bloody Tears Seven Forms had been unleashed.
"It's the Bloody Tears Seven Forms!"
At the masked Taoist's cry, the three swiftly encircled Bu Eun-seol in a triangular formation, pouring out their power simultaneously.
Astonishingly, they had prepared for this—they had not only anticipated him using the Bloody Tears Seven Forms but had also devised a countermeasure.
BOOOOM!
As their combined power surged, the air trembled, and the black Sword Qi pouring from Bu Eun-seol's blade began to dissipate.
With just one move, they had completely erased the first form of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, Life Returns to Death, the technique he had been most confident in.
Whoosh!
Yet the Saber Technique transformed midair once more.
BOOOOM!
Darkness exploded, and black waves cascaded in all directions.
The fourth form, Death Without Closing the Eyes, the technique with the widest range of destruction, had been activated.
Hiss—
As the black tide engulfed them, the skeletal outlines of the three fighters were briefly exposed.
The Sword Qi of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, meant to deliver death, passed through their bodies as if slicing through them.
But then, something unbelievable happened.
"Heh heh heh..."
The three merely laughed, completely unharmed, and resumed their assault without pause.
"Did you truly believe the Bloody Tears Seven Forms were invincible?"
Swish!
Maeng So sneered as he conjured another black streak.
Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong continued unleashing fierce Finger Winds akin to Inner Energy Bullet Art, while the masked Taoist relentlessly bound Bu Eun-seol's feet with his power.
'They can withstand the sword energy of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms?'
Bu Eun-seol couldn't believe it.
The Bloody Tears Seven Forms was a peerless saber technique capable of delivering death to all things.
Until now, not a single person had ever endured its might.
So how could these three remain unharmed even after being exposed to its energy?
BANG!
Bu Eun-seol unleashed his internal energy at full force once more.
A shockwave of energy surged to the heavens, and spiderweb-like fissures split the ground beneath his feet.
SCREEEECH!
The sword energy of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms let out a ghostly wail once again.
Yet, each time, the three opponents maintained their stances, pouring out torrents of fierce energy—effortlessly enduring the saber technique's power.
'So this is the power of the True Demon... the Demon-Sealing Fragment.'
Those who possessed the Demon-Sealing Fragments wielded strength that transcended the principles of martial arts, just like the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
And with that power, they were neutralizing the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
'No... I must be missing something.'
There must have been countless masters in the past who held Demon-Sealing Fragments.
If all of them could block the Bloody Tears Seven Forms so easily—
—then his grandfather could never have been invincible.
'In that case...'
He wouldn't even need Harmonization. A mere release of the poison within his body would be enough to neutralize them effortlessly.
But he could never accept that they could so casually defend against his grandfather's martial doctrine.
SCREEE!
From the silent black sword tracing an arc through the air, he conjured a relentless storm of black saber energy.
Yet they either blocked it outright or simply endured the strikes unscathed.
Drip... drip...
Before he knew it, Bu Eun-seol's body had become drenched in blood.
Was his stubbornness something even death couldn't break?
He could easily overpower them with the power of the Sage Among Poisons or Harmonization—so why did he keep insisting on the Bloody Tears Seven Forms?
"Now, die!"
The masked Taoist's shout caused Bu Eun-seol's feet to sink deeper into the earth.
Seizing the moment, Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong and Maeng So began pouring down fatal attacks upon him.
Hiss... hiss...
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol's silent black sword began weaving a thin, blue Sword Curtain.
With his legs immobilized, he deployed the Scattering Sword's subtlety—creating an impenetrable barrier, tighter than a single drop of water could slip through.
SCREEEEE—
At that moment, smoke began rising from the silent black sword as the blade itself started glowing red-hot.
The sheer force and vibrations of their attacks were superheating the sword.
"I see the end now!"
Seeing Bu Eun-seol forced entirely on the defensive, the three laughed in triumph, moving with all their might to deliver the finishing blow.
Maeng So spun rapidly, conjuring thousands of black streaks that circled Bu Eun-seol, trapped in place.
Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong seized complete control of the attack angles, relentlessly hammering the Sword Curtain to prevent any gaps in their assault.
The masked Taoist exerted tremendous force to ensure Bu Eun-seol couldn't move an inch, anchoring his legs in place.
BOOM! BOOM!
Meanwhile, the Finger Winds unleashed by Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong began piercing through the Sword Curtain.
With each grazing strike, Bu Eun-seol's skin split open, and a sickening energy seeped into his mind.
Seizing the brief openings, Bu Eun-seol landed successive strikes of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms upon all three—
—yet they shrugged it off effortlessly, as if they were undying.
"Hahahaha!"
Having perfectly countered the Bloody Tears Seven Forms and pushed Bu Eun-seol to his limit, they erupted in mad laughter of victory.
"So even you have your limits!"
At Maeng So's shout, Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong smiled faintly.
"Don't kill him. Capture him alive. That way, we can extract far more power from him."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been silently listening, nodded slightly.
"So that's how it is."
The truth was, Bu Eun-seol had deliberately taken a defensive stance while using the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
Not just because their power was formidable—but to confirm exactly which faction they belonged to.
To determine what attributes their Demon-Sealing Fragments possessed.
'The Same Heart Society again.'
The only faction that desired his body so desperately was the Same Heart Society.
'And their power... it controls space itself.'
The Demon-Sealing Fragments didn't just grant immense strength—
—they also allowed the wielder to dominate a certain area of space.
Almost like the Domain of the 108 Stars.
'In the end, the Demon-Sealing Fragments forcibly create something akin to the One Hundred and Eight Stars.'
'Could it be...?'
A thought flashed through Bu Eun-seol's mind.
'The Boundary-Prosperity Jade.'
The Ghost King's Valley had been mass-producing artificial Boundary-Prosperity Jades.
And the jades had a mystical function—they could temporarily contain the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
'Demon-Sealing Fragments... the One Hundred and Eight Stars.'
The power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars had a specific domain.
If his deduction was correct—
—then the Demon-Sealing Fragments could artificially implant a power similar to the Domain of the 108 Stars within a person's body.
"You may call yourself Bu Jan-yang's grandson," the masked Taoist said, his eyes gleaming with malice,
"but you don't even possess a tenth of his skill."
"Hahahaha!"
"Hehehehe!"
Maeng So and Elder Nun Hyeon-jeong burst into uproarious laughter.
Unaware that the razor-sharp blade of the Grim Reaper—
—was already pressed against their throats.