Chapter 925
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow.
'But the Absolute Boundary can't be detected through extrasensory perception alone.'
Though Myeong-un's martial prowess hadn't yet reached a stable realm,
not only had he detected the Absolute Boundary, but he'd precisely located its fractured section and entered?
'I see.'
After deep contemplation, he soon realized the reason.
'It was due to the sensation of controlling puppets.'
Myeong-un was born with exceptional senses, and for a long time, he had manipulated puppets connected by threads so fine they were nearly invisible.
Through repeatedly handling these imperceptibly thin strings, honing his dexterity and tactile sensitivity to extreme precision, his sensory nerves had developed to their utmost limit—as if he'd mastered the Way of the Beast.
Eventually, he could detect the subtlest movements even without his fingertips touching the threads.
Like a spider sensing prey through vibrations in its web, he could read space itself through the tremors of the strings and the flow of air.
This was an ability strikingly similar to Bu Eun-seol's own senses, honed through the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
"So when I entered that place..."
Myeong-un wiped away cold sweat as he recalled the events.
"...a monstrous being with terrifying strength tried to kill me. It was clad in what seemed like metallic armor, making inhuman noises, and my words couldn't reach it."
Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo exchanged glances.
The being Myeong-un described—
Wasn't its appearance and behavior identical to the oddity Heuk-pyo had encountered Beyond the Frontier?
"After a desperate struggle, I barely escaped with my life... but as I was leaving, I heard screams and the sound of something collapsing from deeper inside."
Myeong-un's expression darkened.
"I suspected that those within that bizarre gap... might be the lackeys of the Abyssal Forces you spoke of, Lord. That's why I contacted you."
Heuk-pyo, who had been silently listening, nodded gravely at Bu Eun-seol.
The situation was identical, and the strength of the metal oddities was comparable.
"Lord. We should investigate."
As Heuk-pyo spoke, Myeong-un stepped forward.
"I'll guide you."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Sect Leader, you should remain here. And for now, take your disciples and relocate elsewhere—"
"Even if my martial arts are lacking, I am still the leader of the Mount Heng Sect."
Myeong-un spoke firmly.
"This trouble arose within my sect, and I intended to resolve it with our own strength... but I contacted you, Lord, because I thought this information might be of use."
Recognizing Myeong-un's unwavering resolve, Bu Eun-seol nodded with a resigned expression.
"Very well."
With that, Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath, his expression graver than ever.
The metal oddities from Beyond the Frontier wouldn't have suddenly appeared at the Southern Peak of the Central Plains without reason.
Which meant they weren't just Beyond the Frontier—they had established Absolute Boundaries in strongholds throughout the Central Plains, plotting something.
Moonlight shattered across the sky, illuminating the world in its glow.
Bu Eun-seol, Heuk-pyo, and Myeong-un headed toward the Demonic Region's platform.
Where massive boulders had once stood scattered across the platform,
now lay rocks cleanly sliced like tofu, their smooth surfaces glinting under the moonlight.
Around them were countless fragments of stone, and some boulders bore distinct, razor-sharp marks from sword strikes.
"Are these the boulders you destroyed, Sect Leader Myeong?"
Heuk-pyo, who had been closely examining the shattered remnants, let out an admiring exclamation.
"You've already grasped the essence of the Mount Heng Sect's Sword Studies."
Having followed Bu Eun-seol and learned to read the traces left on corpses,
and having refined that experience into knowledge through his wandering life,
Heuk-pyo instantly recognized just how exceptional Myeong-un's swordsmanship was—and how extraordinary his talent.
"Is that so?"
Myeong-un brightened at Heuk-pyo's praise, smiling happily.
"To receive such compliments from the Great Hero leaves me at a loss for words."
"However, your power control is so refined that it slightly diminishes the might of your Sword Studies."
At Heuk-pyo's follow-up remark, Myeong-un's face fell again.
"O-Oh, is that so?"
"Of course, precision is better than roughness, but the Mount Heng Sect's sword techniques, passed down through generations..."
Myeong-un perked up his ears, listening intently to Heuk-pyo's explanation.
Bu Eun-seol stood silently, observing the two.
Their interaction reminded him of his own past with Heuk-pyo.
'He's better than I was.'
Heuk-pyo's current explanation and analysis
were far more effective than anything Bu Eun-seol could have offered Myeong-un.
Compared to the Martial Soul Lord of the Demonic Path,
who erased all traces of his movements
while eliminating the powerful lurking in the Abyss,
the Wandering King—whose deeds were clear
and who operated openly—would naturally seem far more impressive to Myeong-un.
"My apologies."
Noticing Bu Eun-seol's pointed gaze, Heuk-pyo scratched his head sheepishly.
"I'm still far from perfect myself, yet here I am, presumptuously lecturing Sect Leader Myeong."
"Not at all. That was an excellent interpretation."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"However, the orthodox sword techniques prioritize formality over freedom. The Demonic Path Martial Arts, in contrast, tend to view rigid traditions as outdated."
"I see."
Heuk-pyo let out an enlightened sigh.
"So the orthodox sects interpret 'form' differently from the Demonic Path. Even that is considered part of a sect's unique identity."
"Exactly so."
Heuk-pyo, now invigorated, eagerly began explaining the principles of martial arts to Myeong-un again.
"Sect Leader. Until now, I too had several questions about my dagger techniques, but after hearing the Lord's words, some things have become clear to me."
He broke off a tree branch and started drawing diagrams on the ground.
"Perhaps this could also greatly help in advancing the Mount Heng Sect's Sword Studies."
Then, crouching down for quite some time, he explained the intricacies of martial arts theory.
'This should resolve well.'
Without even considering searching for the Absolute Boundary within the Demon Mirror Platform.
Watching the two sitting closely together discussing martial arts, Bu Eun-seol found himself smiling unconsciously.
—So that was the method.
Earlier, after hearing Heuk-pyo's grumbling, Bu Eun-seol had recalled one way he could rapidly improve.
—But for that to work, the right bond must be formed.
That method was none other than Heuk-pyo "teaching someone."
In the past, Bu Eun-seol himself had taught Heuk-pyo, and as a result, his martial arts had advanced significantly.
Hadn't Hyeok So-jin also experienced a great leap in his martial arts when he taught me and the Lady of a Hundred Flowers from the Fleeting Moment Boat?
Teaching someone was an excellent opportunity to review what one had learned so far.
It was a way to systematically organize one's knowledge and experience.
And thanks to the mishap at Mount Heng, this situation had unfolded naturally without Bu Eun-seol needing to intervene.
'These two will become fine rivals in the future, pillars supporting the Murim.'
"Forgive me."
At that moment, Myeong-un, who had been listening to Heuk-pyo's explanation, suddenly looked at Bu Eun-seol with an embarrassed expression.
Only now had he realized that Bu Eun-seol had been silently waiting all this time while he received martial instruction.
"Senior Heuk-pyo was explaining so kindly that I lost track of the situation for a moment."
"Not at all. Take your time—there's no rush. If you have any questions, you may ask Heuk-pyo anytime."
"Thank you!"
Bu Eun-seol led the two deeper into the Demon Mirror Platform at a leisurely pace.
The spot where the boulder had been was now mostly leveled into a wide, flat space by Myeong-un, and it seemed it wouldn't be long before it could serve as a training ground.
The fact that he had cleared so much rock with the Mount Heng Sword Art, which prioritized precision, meant only one thing:
He had trained his sword techniques with relentless effort, day after day, without a single break.
When Bu Eun-seol faintly nodded in admiration, Heuk-pyo, noticing the gesture, smiled proudly as if Myeong-un were his own disciple.
After walking for a while, they reached the cliffside at the far end of the Demon Mirror Platform, where a large gaping hole came into view.
It looked like the gaping maw of some dark, monstrous creature.
As they slowly stepped inside, an eerie sensation spread through them.
The interior didn't seem like a naturally formed cave—the ceiling soared high, and not a single ray of light reached it.
The walls bore patterns resembling the folds of limestone formed over millennia, yet they somehow seemed slightly artificial.
Far deeper in the cave, a faint glimmer of light flickered, as if signaling an exit.
"It's blocked."
But as they approached the light, they could go no further.
It felt as though an invisible wall was barring their way.
"It really is the Absolute Boundary."
"Could it be the Three Realms?"
At Heuk-pyo's question, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"The Three Realms don't use Absolute Boundaries. It's more likely the Three Clans—or perhaps the Abyssal Forces."
Though Heuk-pyo lived the life of a rogue martial artist, risking his life Beyond the Frontier, he personally kept himself informed about the Central Plains, purchasing intelligence at great cost.
And above all, thanks to Bu Eun-seol, he had an accurate grasp of the current state of the Murim.
"But what are the Three Realms or the Absolute Boundary?"
However, Myeong-un, who had only just begun cultivating martial arts while rebuilding the Mount Heng Sect into a rising faction, knew nothing about the martial world's hidden forces or intelligence.
"Knowing this now would only hinder your management of the Mount Heng Sect."
Heuk-pyo tactfully evaded the question.
If Myeong-un learned about the martial world's Abyss now, it would do him no good.
No—if he lived as an ordinary martial artist, it would be better if he never knew at all.
"I see."
But Myeong-un's eyes sparkled as he clenched his fists.
"From now on, I should pay as much attention to the martial world's affairs as I do to martial training."
'Well, a prodigy like him was never meant to live an ordinary life.'
Heuk-pyo nodded and said,
"Once this matter is settled, I'll give you a general explanation. Later, when the Mount Heng Sect has established itself, running an intelligence network wouldn't be a bad idea."
"Yes."
Whoosh.
While the two conversed, Bu Eun-seol spread his Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, carefully examining the Absolute Boundary.
Soon, he detected the fractured section that Myeong-un had sensed earlier.
'This wasn't natural.'
At first, he had thought the boulder's destruction had caused the cliffside to collapse, tearing part of the Absolute Boundary.
But now, through the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, the state of the boundary felt as though someone had forcibly ripped it apart with tremendous force.
"Someone deliberately broke it."
"An intruder, you mean?"
At Heuk-pyo's question, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"We'll know once we go inside."
Ziiing.
As they stepped in, they found themselves in a space filled with auspicious mist.
The white mist was highly artificial—and familiar to Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
'The Ancient Sword Forest?'
It closely resembled the mist he had seen at the entrance of the Ancient Sword Forest in the past.
'So it wasn't the Three Clans' Absolute Boundary after all.'
Kiiii—.
But strange, eerie noises began echoing from all directions.
At the same time, shadows with gleaming single eyes slowly began stepping forward.
Their silver forms rippled like liquid metal, their towering frames standing over seven feet tall. Their faces were completely concealed by masks, and every visible limb—arms, legs—was encased in metal.
They looked less like humans and more like weapons forged from raw steel.
"Is that them?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Heuk-pyo nodded grimly.
"Yes. They look exactly like the oddities I saw before."
Even to Bu Eun-seol's eyes, these were not human.
No doubt they were some faction's secretly cultivated troops—creatures that could only be described as demonic beings.
Clank, clank.
The metal monster, its lone eye gleaming, slowly advanced toward Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo.
Light flickered across their metallic, shimmering armor, and even the shape of their masked eyes pulsed with an eerie glow.
"Move."
At Bu Eun-seol's command, the two split apart left and right.
Hiss—
In that instant, the ground where they had stood blackened, smoke curling upward.
"This..."
Bu Eun-seol's expression stiffened.
The metal monster had unleashed no martial technique, emitted no detectable presence—yet it wielded power that defied the very boundaries of martial arts.
'An attack this untraceable... Ordinary martial artists would die without even knowing what hit them.'
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Every time the monster's eye flashed,
an intangible, heat-laced slash—imperceptible to normal senses—rained down upon them.
'An invisible blade strike, carrying searing heat.'
With his extrasensory perception unfurled, Bu Eun-seol instantly grasped the nature of the attack.
'Heuk-pyo and Myeong-un won't be able to detect it properly yet.'
Their extrasensory abilities still fell short of his. Left like this, they'd lose their lives before even comprehending the situation.
'Only one way.'
BOOM!
Bu Eun-seol summoned the full might of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi within him.
Then, he channeled that energy into the two men's Life Gate Acupoints.
Flash!
For a brief moment, a blue light flickered in Heuk-pyo and Myeong-un's pupils.
By amplifying their reflexes through the divine energy, he had granted them temporary heightened perception.
Hiss—
Now, like Bu Eun-seol, they could sense the metal monster's attacks.
"How did you—?"
As Heuk-pyo gasped in shock, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"I amplified your senses temporarily with the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi. But holding it for too long..."
Before he could finish—
"Haaah!"
Myeong-un unsheathed his sword and charged at the metal monster.
His movements were swift as lightning, but madness swirled in his eyes.
His body, not yet physically mature when infused with the divine energy, had instead been overtaken by the wind energy—triggering a madness affliction.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Sparks flew endlessly as Myeong-un's Mount Heng Sword Art struck the monster's body.
Yet, as if unfazed, the metal monster continued unleashing invisible slashes without pause.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Myeong-un barely dodged, but his skin tore open, drenching him in blood.
"Hng..."
A guttural, unfamiliar growl escaped his lips—one that had never belonged to the Myeong-un they knew.
By nature, he was gentle, serene, the kind who avoided even arguments.
But now, with the divine energy fueling his madness,
the killing intent and ferocity he had always lacked as a martial artist surged forth uncontrollably.
"KAAH!"
With a beast-like roar, Myeong-un unleashed the Mount Heng Sword Art once more.
The essence of the style was to suppress cunning with simplicity, to dominate change with adaptability.
Yet now, flooded with the raging divine energy, his madness erupted—
twisting the art into something grotesque, where confusion crushed serenity and fullness annihilated emptiness.
Crackle, crackle—
And yet, despite it all, Myeong-un's presence was nothing short of majestic.
Cloaked in flames of true qi, his sword aura poured forth like a storm—
as if he were wielding the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, its dark sword qi enveloping him like armor in the Limitless Astral Energy stance.
"Lord."
Heuk-pyo spoke, his expression burning with fervor.
"Infuse me with the divine energy too—just like Myeong-un!"
Bu Eun-seol nodded, gathering the energy—
Swish! Swish! Swish!
—when suddenly, Myeong-un's swordplay shifted into something solemn and profound.
No matter how much the madness dominated his body, the Mount Heng Sword Art—honed through grueling training—naturally reasserted itself.
Hiss! Shatter!
Yet the madness had only deepened. Vomit dripped from Myeong-un's lips, and something darker stained his robes below.
Still, his teeth remained clenched, his eyes rolled back white—as he continued executing the refined, dignified sword forms with unbroken precision.
The sight was so grotesque
that even Bu Eun-seol, who rarely batted an eye at anything, couldn't help but stare slack-jawed.
'So that's how it was.'
Finally, he understood.
Why the lords of the Wind God Palace had accepted the humiliating proposal to offer their power to the Wind Person.
Better to die than this.
Who would want to wield martial arts with their eyes rolled back, pissing and shitting themselves?
Doing so would force them into retirement from murim that very day.
"Lord."
At that moment, Heuk-pyo spoke with grave determination.
"I'd rather die fighting than retreat."
Nod.
As Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod, Heuk-pyo gripped his twin daggers with both hands and charged toward the Metal Monster.
Yet for some reason, he deliberately widened the distance between himself and Myeong-un while maintaining the offensive.
'So this is why the Wind God Palace Lords never infused their disciples with Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.'
The Wind & Cloud Divine Qi drove even the Wind Gods themselves to madness. It was a power that could never be safely imparted to ordinary people.
Flicker.
The moment Bu Eun-seol withdrew the infused divine energy, Myeong-un's eyes instantly cleared of their frenzied haze.
CRACK!
Bu Eun-seol, now channeling the divine energy once more, poured its full force into the Metal Monster, slowing its movements to a crawl.
'If I make its actions even slower... the two of them should be able to adapt soon.'
Truthfully, the Metal Monster's martial arts alone weren't particularly formidable.
But Heuk-pyo and Myeong-un—
They had almost no experience facing an enemy wielding a supernatural power that couldn't be countered with martial intuition alone.
That was why they were struggling so desperately against undetectable slashes raining down upon them.
'If they don't adapt, they'll die.'
To an ordinary martial artist, this battle would seem like a death sentence.
But from the perspective of a disciple of Langya Pavilion—
Fighting an enemy this powerful was a rare and invaluable opportunity, one that couldn't be bought even with gold.
"Heuk-pyo, I'll slow its movements further. Coordinate with Myeong-un."
WHOOSH!
Recalling the method he had used against the Heavenly Killing Star, Bu Eun-seol unleashed an even more potent surge of Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
Wrapping the enemy's limbs in a tempest, he slowed its movements—
Unfurling the profound principles of Wind Binding the Foe and Seizing the Gale to Subdue the Enemy.
Shiiik— Shiiik!
As violently rotating, transparent winds coiled around the Metal Monster's limbs, even the speed of its invisible slashes became visibly sluggish.
"HYAAH!"
Heuk-pyo, who had already donned a face mask to block the noxious fumes and stench, let out a fierce cry as he swung his daggers.
Shiik! Shiik!
Transformed into a streak of black lightning, Heuk-pyo sliced through the Metal Monster's pressure points. Myeong-un's eyes flashed as he shouted—
"I'll block its attacks!"
Taking a deep breath, Myeong-un unleashed the full might of the Mount Heng Sword Art.
His opening stance was flawless—
And through the sensations transmitted from his blade to his fingertips, he predicted the enemy's movements before they even occurred.
Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!
The two of them split apart and converged in rapid succession, targeting the weak points along the Metal Monster's flanks.
The sound of blades scraping against metal rang in their ears, but the creature's tough hide resisted deep cuts.
"Hold on just a little longer, Sect Leader Myeong!"
Heuk-pyo shot upward, slicing through the air.
Whirrrr!
Spinning like a top, he lashed out with his dagger as fluidly as a living serpent—
Piercing precisely between the joints of the Metal Monster's limbs.
Zzziiing!
A crimson energy seeped from the Metal Monster's body.
At the same time, Bu Eun-seol felt a faint vibration at his waist.
'This is—'
Looking down, he saw a mysterious emblem forming on the scabbard of his Ink Soul Sword.
Only now did Bu Eun-seol realize what kind of power the Metal Monster was wielding—and why its attacks had been so undetectable.
'A Black Divine Artifact.'
The Metal Monster was using one of the martial world's most formidable weapons—a Black Divine Artifact.
Zzziiing!
The emblem on the scabbard darkened further.
In response, the Metal Monster's movements accelerated, and once again, Heuk-pyo and Myeong-un lost track of its attacks.
"Heuk-pyo, it's using a Black Divine Artifact."
Heuk-pyo let out a startled noise.
The reason he couldn't decipher the Metal Monster's techniques—
Was because it was wielding the transcendent power of a Black Divine Artifact from the very beginning.
"And not just any Black Divine Artifact. It's pouring out a force as overwhelming as the One Hundred and Eight Stars—within a fixed domain."
"A domain..."
Heuk-pyo's eyes flashed.
"Sect Leader Myeong! I'll bait its attacks—you destroy the hidden weapon inside its body!"
Myeong-un didn't know what a Black Divine Artifact was.
But he understood the instruction to destroy a hidden weapon perfectly.
"Understood."
As Heuk-pyo deliberately rushed forward, weaving an erratic footwork pattern to confuse the Metal Monster, Myeong-un seized the opening to close the distance.
Yet nothing resembling a weapon was visible on the creature's metallic, gleaming body.
'No—there it is.'
Myeong-un spotted a faintly glowing bracelet pattern flickering near the Metal Monster's left wrist—moving too fast for the naked eye to track.
Each time the creature unleashed its bizarre power, the bracelet pulsed with light. It had to be the hidden weapon.
Swish!
Myeong-un executed the Mount Heng Sword Art's ultimate technique—
Turning Dragon Glances Back at Ancestor—
And unleashed two needle-thin strands of razor-sharp Sword Qi.
Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!
Then, mimicking Bu Eun-seol's Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin—
He manipulated the Sword Qi like threads, guiding them with his fingers as if wielding an invisible blade.
"HYAAH!"
The instant he found an opening, Myeong-un crossed the two strands of Sword Qi—
And sliced through the bracelet on the Metal Monster's left wrist.
His slender Mount Heng Sword could even shatter the massive boulders of the Demon Realm.
Though the Sword Qi was thin—
Its destructive power surpassed even the full-force Sword Aura of an ordinary swordsman.
CRACK!
The moment the two strands of Sword Qi made contact—
A strange metallic sound rang out as the bracelet embedded in the Metal Monster's forearm shattered instantly.
Thud.
Simultaneously, the Metal Monster's movements froze completely.
With the Black Divine Artifact destroyed, it had ceased all function.
"We did it!"
Just as Myeong-un turned around with a triumphant shout—
"Sect Leader Myeong, danger!"
At that moment, Heuk-pyo dashed forward at blinding speed, crossing his daggers in an X-shape to shield Myeong-un.
BOOM!
In the end, with an earth-shaking explosion—
The Slash, carrying force enough to distort space itself, sent Heuk-pyo's body flying over thirty yards away.