Chapter 927
Nod.
Bu Eun-seol suddenly looked up at the empty sky and gave a slight nod.
As if signaling to a companion hidden somewhere.
Whoosh—
In that instant, countless wood fragments and pebbles shot upward before spreading outward around Bu Eun-seol and the armored man—forming transparent barriers and chains.
Life-and-Death Combat Formation.
The pinnacle of Langya Pavilion's Formation Study, designed for duels to the death.
Now unfolding in the form of the Gongson Clan's Sealing Formation Art: "Ghost Chains Binding the Solitary Exile."
Shwip—
Then, a black shadow descended from the air and landed beside Bu Eun-seol.
It was Heuk-pyo.
"I've set up the formation as you instructed."
Before entering the Ancient Sword Forest, Bu Eun-seol had sensed a terrifying enemy lurking within.
But the forest was mostly filled with towering trees and plants, with almost no loose stones.
Even for someone like Bu Eun-seol, the probability of instantly deploying the Life-and-Death Combat Formation when needed was slim.
After much deliberation, to ensure he wouldn't lose track of the formidable foe within the forest—
And to prevent his identity as a Langya Pavilion disciple from being exposed—
He had Heuk-pyo conceal himself in advance, preparing to unleash a formation that fused the Life-and-Death Combat Formation with the Gongson Clan's sealing arts.
Huum—
Finally, the formation was perfectly activated.
"Watch the fight closely."
"Understood."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Heuk-pyo nodded and retreated beyond the range of their clash.
Crack—
Just then, the armored man seemed to release his power.
The ground beneath him split apart, and with an enormous shockwave, the surrounding trees and boulders shattered.
Simultaneously, blade-like thorns sprouted from his back, quickly forming into a single greatsword, now glowing red-hot.
Shhhhk—
Drawing the greatsword, the armored man pointed it at Bu Eun-seol—as if daring him to strike first.
But Bu Eun-seol merely crossed his arms, staring back with an arrogant gaze.
Flash!
In response, a cold glint surged from the eyes hidden behind the armored man's mask.
Whoosh!
And then, he began swinging his greatsword.
As the crimson blade tore through the air, the earth split open, and condensed qi fragments scattered like hidden weapons.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
With each swing, a thunderous sound of breaking air reverberated, and a whirlwind of sword qi surged toward Bu Eun-seol.
"Ugh..."
From a distance, Heuk-pyo winced in pain.
Despite the armored man merely standing in place and swinging his sword,
The overwhelming shockwaves struck his organs like a physical blow.
Yet Bu Eun-seol seemed entirely unaffected.
Without even drawing the Ink Soul Sword, he calmly evaded the attacks with an indifferent expression.
Zzziiing—
A strange ripple spread from the armored man's body as he swung his sword—
CRACK!
—and with a thunderous roar, a sword qi in the shape of a colossal dragon descended upon Bu Eun-seol.
This was an abrupt strike, its range too vast to evade.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Bu Eun-seol lightly leaped into the air, leaving behind numerous afterimages in his wake.
He had pushed the Body-Locomotion Martial Art, Swift Shadowless, to its utmost limit—allowing him to shift his position ninety-nine times in a single step.
ROOOAR!
The dragon-like sword qi passed straight through Bu Eun-seol's body.
Wheeeek—!
But then, the sword qi sharply curved and swallowed Bu Eun-seol from behind.
No matter how fast his movement technique or how profound his footwork, this was an unavoidable attack—
The Spiraling Secret Art, a hidden reversal technique.
Shling—
Finally, Bu Eun-seol drew the Ink Soul Sword.
Fwip!
At the same time, an utterly unremarkable trajectory traced through the air.
It was the opening stance of "Sweeping a Thousand Armies"—a martial form so basic that even third-rate martial artists would never use it in real combat.
Fwshhh!
Yet when Bu Eun-seol executed it, the strike erupted with a radiance like the Milky Way pouring down.
CRASH!
In that instant, the dragon-shaped sword qi shattered like glass, vanishing without a trace.
"A Black Divine Artifact, then."
Bu Eun-seol muttered under his breath.
He had discerned that the colossal dragon-shaped sword qi wasn't a martial art—
But a power emanating from the greatsword itself.
Crreeak—
The armored man's eyes behind the mask grew even more sinister.
Whoosh! Hwoooom!
Suddenly, the greatsword in his hand began spinning at blinding speed, generating hundreds of sword qi around him.
He had fully unleashed the power of the Black Divine Artifact—
A force far surpassing the limits of human martial arts.
KWAARRRGH!
Before Bu Eun-seol's eyes, a crimson tide of sword qi spread out, dyeing the world red.
Each strand carried enough force to topple Mount Tai, and now hundreds—no, thousands—of them rained down.
No martial art could block such an onslaught.
Even if he dodged, Heuk-pyo behind him would inevitably be swept away.
Flash!
But then, a brilliant light erupted as hundreds of mysterious emblems materialized before Bu Eun-seol.
A God-Slaying Weapon, capable of destroying Black Divine Artifacts.
The mystical power of the Ink Soul Sword had naturally manifested.
KWAH!
The cascading sword qi vanished as if washed away.
With a single stroke, Bu Eun-seol had annihilated every last shred of it.
"..."
The armored man's eyes flickered rapidly, his expression one of utter disbelief.
The power of a Black Divine Artifact could never be blocked by ordinary martial arts.
Even with Limitless Power, neutralizing it was nearly impossible without the right affinity.
Yet this man had split the Black Divine Artifact's power as effortlessly as slicing tofu—
With nothing but a single sword.
"So that mask was also a Black Divine Artifact."
Bu Eun-seol tilted his head slightly.
"Seeing how your eyes keep shifting, you must be quite the talkative one... That's why you couldn't speak, isn't it?"
As the armored man's gaze grew even more venomous, Bu Eun-seol let out a soft chuckle.
"Does that mean you can't wield your power without the mask?"
Flicker!
In an instant, violent flames erupted from the depths of the armored man's pupils.
Ssshhhk—
Then, slowly, he began lifting the iron mask covering his face.
Crreeak—
As the mask peeled away from his flesh, sticky strands of torn skin stretched and snapped, releasing a sickening, viscous sound.
The iron mask wasn't something worn—it had been fused directly into his flesh.
Sizzle—
When the mask fully detached, bloody pus oozed out, revealing the decayed, mangled skin that had been pressed beneath it.
Where flesh had been ripped away, blackened necrotic tissue and grotesque, mottled scabs twisted together into a horrifying visage.
"Quite the opposite."
The moment he spoke aloud, the melted skin where his lips should have been twitched, exposing yellowed teeth between the gaps.
The sight of the man unmasked.
It was as if a sinner, enduring the torment of hellfire, had crawled his way into the human world.
"It was a tool to restrain this Hyogam's power."
A Hyogam typically referred to an intelligence officer overseeing a faction's information network.
Moreover, if it was restraining his power, it was highly probable he wasn't an ordinary martial artist—but one who had undergone some mysterious Great Art.
Yet what surprised Bu Eun-seol wasn't that—but the fact that this armored man held the position of Hyogam within the Same Heart Society.
"For someone as young as you to hold the rank of Hyogam... That means each organization under the Same Heart Society operates its own intelligence network separately."
"Impressive."
With just that one offhand remark, Bu Eun-seol had deduced a wealth of information.
The man's half-melted eyelids twitched slightly as he spoke.
"How did you know I was young?"
His face wasn't just grotesque—it was outright repulsive.
The melted flesh made it impossible to gauge his age.
But more than Bu Eun-seol's knowledge of the Same Heart Society, what intrigued him was how the youth had so confidently declared him young.
"If an older man had suffered that level of damage, his bones would be exposed, and his skin would have fully necrotized."
Bu Eun-seol explained casually.
"But some flesh still remains."
"Were you from the medical world?"
The man tilted his head.
"So the Bullet King's so-called 'disciple,' known as a mere ronin, not only crawled his way into the Ancient Sword Forest..."
"..."
"But also knows of our Society..."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
Seol-so, the wandering swordsman, wasn't a particularly famous figure—yet this man had instantly recognized him despite his altered appearance.
That alone was proof.
The Same Heart Society, which had remained hidden until now, had been covertly active in the martial world—and wielded considerable influence.
Bu Eun-seol exhaled sharply, still staring into the armored man's eyes.
"I also know the Same Heart Society is a hodgepodge of factions opposing the Baekri Clan and the True Demon's forces."
"That's not the kind of information a mere disciple of the Bullet King should know."
The armored man's gaze darkened.
"Does that mean the rumors are true? That the Bullet King has been concealing immense power and backing all along—and that's how he became the Azure Heaven Alliance's leader?"
Just as Bu Eun-seol had anticipated.
This armored man was extremely talkative.
And that was an advantage. It meant he could extract unexpected information without even trying.
'Good. Let the Same Heart Society misunderstand Bukgung Ryeong.'
In truth, it wasn't just the Same Heart Society—many factions in the murim believed the Bullet King had been hiding his true capabilities all along, secretly building a hidden force for some grand purpose.
Otherwise, how else could he have united countless factions and noble clans in such a short time to establish the Azure Heaven Alliance?
'That way, they won't dare move recklessly against him.'
Leaders of newly formed alliances were constant targets of assassination.
At this stage, cutting off the head was often enough to collapse the entire faction.
Yet the Bullet King remained unharmed as the Azure Heaven Alliance's leader—because they assumed he had some deeper, hidden strength, making them hesitate.
"Who knows?"
"Are you denying it?"
Bu Eun-seol deliberately wore an enigmatic expression as he shook his head.
"Think whatever you like."
Bukgung Ryeong would face countless trials as the Azure Heaven Alliance's leader moving forward.
If the Same Heart Society—and other Abyssal Forces—believed he had greater power and plans than he'd revealed, all the better.
"Just like how you're hiding that you're actually from the Ancient Sword Forest, despite being part of the Same Heart Society now."
For the briefest moment, a flicker of something unreadable passed through the armored man's eyes.
Only then did he realize—Bu Eun-seol hadn't obtained this information beforehand.
He had been fishing for it in their conversation, or perhaps reading his physiological reactions.
"Do I look like some cursed wraith, buried alive across the Central Plains, unable to even age and die?"
"Then how else could you command the Ancient Sword Forest's demonic beings?"
"No idea."
"Then at least tell me your name."
Bu Eun-seol smirked.
"So I can carve it on your tombstone."
Unable to endure the provocation, the armored man grinned back.
"Heh. You're quite the persistent one."
Despite his words, he answered in a low voice.
"Wonpung."
The armored man—Wonpung—spoke softly.
"I don't know how you got in here."
The armored man paused briefly before raising his hand—
Rumble. Whoosh.
Shadows burst forth from the ground. Countless Metal Monsters, the same ones Bu Eun-seol had dealt with earlier, had been buried here all along.
"These buried here are several times stronger than the Omnipotent Beings you disposed of at the entrance."
Wonpung let out a low chuckle.
"Because these are Black Divine Artifacts capable of thought."
"So you stole Ancient Sword Forest's research and became the Same Heart Society's lackey?"
"You've heard quite a bit, but amusingly, all of it wrong."
Wonpung replied indifferently.
"After all, the Ancient Sword Forest itself is part of our organization."
Though the words were cryptic, Bu Eun-seol could deduce several pieces of information from them.
'Just as some factions of the Three Realms are part of the Same Heart Society... a portion of the Ancient Sword Forest's forces must have either joined them or been absorbed, their power seized.'
"Well, I've talked too much."
Wonpung spoke flatly.
"Don't worry. Those Omnipotent Beings were meant to clean up the stragglers at Hoean Peak."
"You mean the Mount Heng Sect."
"They've stubbornly held their ground right where the Ancient Sword Forest settled, maintaining their lineage for quite some time. But now, it's time to wipe them out completely."
Bu Eun-seol was slightly surprised.
That meant this Ancient Sword Forest had been rooted in Southern Peak since the days when the Mount Heng Sect flourished in prestige.
Wonpung, a member of the Same Heart Society, had seized everything here and now intended to eliminate both Myeong-un and the Mount Heng Sect after Myeong-un and the Mount Heng Sect sensed the Ancient Sword Forest's presence.
'So Myeong-un's intuition was correct.'
Myeong-un had sensed that this incident would determine the Mount Heng Sect's survival, which was why he had contacted the Death Soul Squad.
And that had been an exceptionally brilliant decision.
"Now, let's get serious."
A mysterious light flickered in Wonpung's skull-like eyes.
Bzzzt!
Once again, a low Sword Resonance hummed from Bu Eun-seol's Ink Soul Sword.
"Kehehehe."
Seeing this, Wonpung smirked sinisterly, as if he had grasped the entire situation.
"I see. So you possess a Black Divine Artifact as well."
It wasn't an unreasonable assumption.
God-Slaying Weapons like the Ink Soul Sword had never existed in Murim to begin with—nor were they known to.
"Wherever you picked it up from—"
A sinister light flashed in Wonpung's eyes.
"—I'll show you what a real Black Divine Artifact is."
Swish!
As Wonpung swung his greatsword once more, countless Sword Auras materialized in the air, coiling around Bu Eun-seol's body.
But they were mere illusions, not reality.
Sssk!
Bu Eun-seol effortlessly saw through the illusions and retaliated with the Transcendent Meteor Chasing Moon Form, slashing at Wonpung's body.
Yet, just like with the Metal Monsters before, only sparks flew—no real damage was dealt.
"Black Divine Artifacts enhance the user's physical body."
Flash!
This time, a lightning-like sword strike pierced toward Bu Eun-seol's vital point on his chest.
Tchk!
Bu Eun-seol attempted to evade and counter in one swift motion—
Thud!
But his physical reaction was suddenly slower than usual, allowing the strike to graze his chest.
"And they can control the enemy's movements..."
Swish-swish-swish!
Wonpung spun his greatsword in a wide arc, cleaving through the air.
Boom!
As Bu Eun-seol's body slowed under the Black Divine Artifact's influence, he immediately channeled Thunder Essence Divine Qi to break free from its range.
Slash-slash-slash!
Having dodged the attacks, Bu Eun-seol unleashed over 180 Sword Qi strikes from his Ink Soul Sword.
He deployed the Sword Laughs at Xuanyuan stance to prevent Wonpung from evading with the Black Divine Artifact's power.
Schk! Thud!
But before he could fully execute the Sword Strokes, his Martial Forms were interrupted—Wonpung's slash had struck his shoulder.
The reason evasion was impossible?
Because his Sword Qi ignored distance, landing directly on Bu Eun-seol's body.
"It can slice or fold space, just like the Absolute Boundary."
The endless chatter made Bu Eun-seol's ears feel as though they were bleeding.
Yet, the words that spilled out were so shocking he couldn't help but listen.
Wonpung was utilizing every single ability of the Black Divine Artifacts that Bu Eun-seol had encountered so far—
The power to restrict an enemy's movements, like the one possessed by the Mount Hua Sect's Elder.
The Absolute Boundary effect of the ring wielded by the person who had disguised himself as a first-generation disciple of the Mount Wudang Sect...
He was employing every last one of their functions.
Drip.
Blood trickled from his shoulder.
Thanks to his thick Body-Protecting Profound Energy, his bones weren't split, but the deep slash had cut down to the muscle.
Still, Bu Eun-seol regarded Wonpung with an indifferent expression and asked:
"Must be impressive, staying alive while recklessly wielding a Black Divine Artifact's power like that."
Black Divine Artifacts were not omnipotent.
Though they could unleash power beyond human limits, overuse would cause the mind and body to collapse beyond endurance.
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had witnessed with his own eyes how users of Black Divine Artifacts self-destructed after recklessly abusing their power.
But Wonpung wasn't just ignoring the restrictions—he was employing multiple functions of the Black Divine Artifact simultaneously.
"Because what they had were all just failed imitations."
Wonpung squared his shoulders and laughed boldly.
"Only I possess the perfect Black Divine Artifact."
Zzzzzt.
But then, a mysterious light began to spread from Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Its hue and sensation were eerily similar to the Eye Glow occasionally emitted by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
"So you don't own the Black Divine Artifact."
"What did you say?"
"So you are..."
Bu Eun-seol withdrew his gaze, his face filled with pity.
"The completed work of Ancient Sword Forest's research—their attempt to forge a human into a Black Divine Artifact."
A violent tremor ran through Wonpung's body.
His most guarded secret, the one he would have torn out his own throat to keep hidden, had been exposed—and by the very enemy he wanted to tear apart and kill immediately.
"Nonsense!"
A roar of fury erupted from Wonpung as a storm-like gale surged around him.
"How dare you, a mere insect, treat this venerable one as some kind of object!"
"You too?"
"Shut your mouth!"
BOOM!
As Wonpung unleashed his power once more, a blazing crimson radiance erupted from his back. Cloaked in a maddened red aura, he launched a relentless assault toward Bu Eun-seol.
CRASH! BOOM!
With each swing of his massive sword, the earth quaked, and explosions like detonating gunpowder tore through the air. Yet Bu Eun-seol did not meet him head-on—instead, he deliberately circled around him, weaving through the chaos.
"You turned your body into a lump of metal, and this is all you can do?"
Bu Eun-seol deliberately laced his words with scorn, prodding at Wonpung's pride.
"Disappointing. To think the Ancient Sword Forest's human Black Divine Artifact is utterly useless."
"Stop scurrying around like a rat!"
Zzzing—
Wonpung activated the Black Divine Artifact's power, attempting to slow Bu Eun-seol's movements.
CRACK!
But when Bu Eun-seol fully unleashed his Thunder Essence Divine Qi, even the artifact's power couldn't restrain him.
"Raaah!"
Enraged, Wonpung charged with all his might. Yet the more furious he grew, the wilder his sword strikes became—his Sword Trajectories warped and erratic.
Bu Eun-seol could have easily exploited those momentary openings to counter, but instead, he simply glided out of range with ease.
"You bastard!"
Every slash of Wonpung's blade sent shockwaves ripping through the air, splitting the ground and hurling boulders skyward. Though they occasionally clashed in close combat, none of Wonpung's attacks could land a meaningful blow anymore.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, Wonpung halted his assault.
Only now did he realize—Bu Eun-seol hadn't even unleashed his True Void. He had been deliberately provoking him all along.
"Fine."
Gritting his teeth, he forcibly calmed the rage boiling inside him.
"I'll admit I underestimated you."
"Are you just going to leave that Omnipotent Being standing there idly?"
Bu Eun-seol, arms crossed, gestured toward the motionless Metal Monster—the Omnipotent Being—waiting in the distance.
—You can't handle me alone. Call for reinforcements.
Understanding the taunt in that gaze, Wonpung spat out his words like venom.
"I'll tear that mouth of yours apart first."
Clank. Clank.
He began stripping off the dark armor encasing his body.
Thud. Thud.
With each piece discarded, the crimson energy radiating from him grew denser. His muscles swelled grotesquely, and his entire presence transformed.
"Just like the mask."
Wonpung let out a hollow laugh.
"This armor wasn't for protection—it was a seal. To suppress the Black Divine Artifact's rampage inside my body."
Rumble...
His words held truth.
Once fully unshackled, the earth trembled beneath him, and the very sky seemed to warp under the pressure of his aura.
"Ah, so this is your true strength."
Bu Eun-seol nodded slowly as he observed the overwhelming energy surging from Wonpung's body.
"You were already formidable to begin with."
The fact that he had become a human Black Divine Artifact in the first place meant he had once reached extraordinary martial heights.
"With this level of skill at such a young age, someone offering you a Covenant should have come."
Wonpung's unleashed power now surpassed even the Extreme Heaven Realm.
Even if he hadn't yet stabilized at the Martial Extreme Realm, this level of strength should surely have been offered a Covenant.
"Does the Covenant not acknowledge power gained through a Black Divine Artifact? Or do they simply not approach the strong within the Same Heart Society?"
When Bu Eun-seol had first encountered Wonpung, he had wondered:
Just how strong was the man who annihilated the Ancient Sword Forest? What rank did he hold within the Same Heart Society?
But what truly intrigued him was this:
Even the Same Heart Society—founded on opposing the Baekri Clan and the True Demon's forces—did Sacred Realm figures make Covenants to balance that conflict?
If the Society housed so many powerhouses, they could have shattered the ancient equilibrium long ago.
That was why Bu Eun-seol had deliberately refrained from killing Wonpung quickly—he had provoked him to gauge his true strength and uncover clues about the Covenant.
"If they can mass-produce human Black Divine Artifacts without restriction, and if the artifact's power exempts them from the Covenant... then the Same Heart Society could have crushed the Baekri Clan and the True Demon in an instant."
There had to be limitations. Reasons.
Otherwise, the Baekri Clan and the True Demon would have been irrelevant long ago.
The Same Heart Society would already rule the martial world.
"The Grim Reaper can answer those questions for you!"
Wonpung's fist shot forward, filling Bu Eun-seol's vision with a blinding flash.
KABOOM!
Was it too fast to evade?
Bu Eun-seol crossed his arms, shielding his face.
Zzzing—
In that split second, a white energy spread from his pupils—unnoticed by Wonpung.
Skree—
Simultaneously, Bu Eun-seol was forced back about ten feet.
The fact that a casual strike had pushed him back even that much was proof—Wonpung had reached a level where he could at least trigger Limitless Equal Enlightenment.
"How cruel."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed as he analyzed the terrifying force resonating through his arms.
"So it's your life force, after all."
In truth, he had deliberately kept the Heavenly Robe Mind Art active.
The moment Wonpung's strike landed, Bu Eun-seol had deliberately taken the blow to gauge the depths of his martial power.
"After all, you don't have long to live anyway—that's why you could become a human Black Divine Weapon... and why you didn't need a Covenant."
Wonpung's overwhelming strength—
And the reason he, as a human Black Divine Weapon, could wield that power freely—
Was because he had chosen a terminally ill existence, pouring out his innate life force in a short, concentrated burst.