Chapter 962
"Ughhh..."
Ban Nipa groaned as his face rapidly withered into a skeletal visage.
The blazing-hot internal energy strands that had infiltrated his body—the Ultimate Fire Wheel Energy—were melting his meridians and turning his organs into a viscous sludge.
"Die!"
Gathering his remaining strength, Ban Nipa attempted to unleash a final desperate strike.
But the moment he channeled his internal energy, the scorching heat piercing through his body surged violently to the crown of his head.
"Gkk—kuhhh!"
As the Ultimate Fire Wheel Energy penetrated even his Hundred Meetings Acupoint, he felt as though his brain were being set ablaze.
"Hhh—save me...!"
In the end, Ban Nipa clasped his hands together and wailed at Bu Eun-seol.
He was someone who could endure any torture technique with a smile—
A master of the Cold Heart Art and the Mind Guarding Method from the Bright Heart Scripture.
Yet he had never once imagined that such excruciating torment could exist.
"P-please...!"
Even as Ban Nipa knelt and begged, Bu Eun-seol's voice remained frigid.
"In my entire life, I have never spared a vile man who sought to defile a woman."
Whoooosh—!
At the same time, crimson flames erupted from Ban Nipa's seven apertures.
The Ultimate Fire Wheel Energy, derived from the Great Stillness Heat River True Qi, had completely liquefied his innards.
Shuuuu...
White smoke billowed from Ban Nipa's eyes as his corpse collapsed into a skeletal husk.
"Young Master... How in the world—?"
"Wait a moment."
Bu Eun-seol removed his outer robe and draped it over A-wan.
"Let me deal with these bastards first, then we'll talk."
BOOM!
Leaping into the air with the Qi Ride to the Heavens, Bu Eun-seol's pupils blazed with a chilling killing intent.
In the Murim, battles over treasures were commonplace.
Thus, he hadn't necessarily considered the Iron Elephant Sect's attempt to seize the sacred artifact of the Four Sacred Tribes as inherently heinous.
Even their fear of retaliation—bringing a massive force to annihilate everything in one fell swoop—was, from a martial artist's perspective, somewhat understandable.
If the Four Sacred Tribes had regained their full power.
But now, having only just recovered their sacred artifact, they were practically defenseless—no different from ordinary civilians.
Yet the Iron Elephant King had led an army to slaughter them mercilessly, all for the sake of easily taking what they possessed.
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, such an act was utterly unforgivable.
"Iron Elephant King... It seems coexistence was never an option between us."
Whoooosh—
A tri-colored radiance began spreading from his body.
Heavenly Light Endless Art.
He was invoking the secret technique that unified the Three Divine Powers.
Flash—!
A streak of light slashed across the earth—
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Bu Eun-seol, now transformed into a streak of white light, began darting at blinding speed through the battlefield.
Slash! Slash! Slash! SLASH!
At the same time, the heads of the Iron Elephant Sect's masters, who had been pushing into Samana Valley, began soaring into the sky.
When the Heavenly Light Endless Art was invoked—
His movement technique became more than three times faster than usual.
The Iron Elephant Sect had mobilized around ten thousand troops.
But with such an enormous force entangled in chaotic melee combat against the warriors of the Four Sacred Tribes, distinguishing friend from foe was nearly impossible...
This made it impractical to unleash a True Qi Martial Arts technique capable of scorching an area hundreds of feet across in an instant.
Instead, Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to move at hyper-speed, personally beheading each enemy soldier one by one.
Boom! Slash! Slash!
Every time the streak of white light flashed through the fierce battlefield, the heads of the Iron Elephant Sect's masters were sent flying without fail.
'I have to cut them down quickly.'
Even if he eliminated the troops that had breached the defensive line, reinforcements were waiting in the rear.
More importantly, after exhausting a tremendous amount of energy to arrive in just under a day—a journey that should have taken three—
He was already fatigued to the point where even his boundless Three Divine Powers were nearing depletion. He had to end this as swiftly as possible.
Shiiiiing—!
In the span of fifteen minutes—
Bu Eun-seol, now an invisible streak of light, had already cut down more than half of the Iron Elephant Sect's forces surging into Samana Valley.
—What... What in the world is happening?!
The Iron Elephant Sect's masters, having lost over half their forces in an instant, faltered in shock.
Large-scale battles were, in essence, battles of momentum.
When countless combatants clashed simultaneously, the side with higher morale inevitably held the advantage.
—D-deploy the boundary formation!
And then, the Iron Elephant Sect made another critical mistake.
In large-scale battles between martial factions, it was essential to preemptively deploy a boundary formation capable of restraining superlative martial experts.
Otherwise, a single powerful warrior could—
Annihilate an entire army.
But because they had assumed the Four Sacred Tribes had no such warriors, they had neglected to prepare a formation in advance.
BANG! BANG-BANG-BANG!
In that brief moment, accompanied by explosive sounds, the heads of the Iron Elephant Sect's masters soared endlessly into the sky.
In the time it would take to sip a cup of tea, Bu Eun-seol had annihilated half of the massive army.
The survivors were utterly panic-stricken.
They staggered back in disarray, retreating without end.
BOOM.
Then, from somewhere, a colossal tremor shook the very earth, reverberating in all directions.
The sky abruptly darkened—
CRASH!
A deafening explosion rocked heaven and earth, sending plumes of dust billowing outward.
WHOOSH—
As the dust swirled upward, every gaze on the battlefield snapped toward its source.
Through the haze, a sight was revealed—
A towering armored giant, large enough to blot out the sky, was thrusting a palm strike toward Bu Eun-seol.
And Bu Eun-seol's fist was precisely locked against the giant's massive palm.
"Your movement technique is quite swift."
A giant of a man, standing eight feet tall, wearing a helmet reminiscent of an elephant and clad in black armor.
He was the commander leading the Iron Elephant Sect's forces—
Sang Do-yu-mong, son of the Iron Elephant King, Sang Do-gang-cheon.
Having witnessed Bu Eun-seol reduce Ban Nipa, the White Elephant Pavilion Leader, to a handful of bloody ash—and then slaughter half of his troops in an instant—he had unfurled his movement technique like a black stormcloud sweeping across the sky.
In a single breath, he had closed the distance and launched a precise palm strike at Bu Eun-seol, who had been moving too fast to pin down.
And Bu Eun-seol, in turn, halted his motion—
Unleashing a fist technique to meet Sang Do-yu-mong's palm energy head-on.
CRACK—CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!
From the point where fist and palm collided, a shockwave capable of shaking heaven and earth rippled outward in concentric circles.
RUMBLE—
Those nearby were caught in the violent shockwave, tumbling helplessly across the ground.
"Who the hell are you?"
Sang Do-yu-mong's eyes flashed behind his mask as Bu Eun-seol effortlessly blocked his strike.
"None of your concern."
With that curt reply, Bu Eun-seol flicked his left fist lightly.
In that instant, a gale capable of tearing the world apart surged forth—razor-sharp fist energy carving straight toward Sang Do-yu-mong's face.
The third form of the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon—Forgetful Shattering Together—had been unleashed.
THUD.
Sang Do-yu-mong twisted his neck aside just in time, but the sharp fist energy still grazed his helmet.
CLINK.
As the elephant-shaped helmet was knocked off—
The face of Sang Do-yu-mong was revealed: a man in his thirties, with bulging eyes and a hooked nose.
"You dare—!"
Baring his fangs, Sang Do-yu-mong clenched his fist.
He had inherited the Iron Elephant King's legacy flawlessly, reaching a martial attainment that rivaled his father's in his prime.
And yet, some nameless, insignificant wretch—
Not only had he slaughtered half of the Iron Elephant Sect's elite ten-thousand-man army, but he had also laid hands on his face?!
"Take your troops and return to your father, Sang Do-gang-cheon."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was icy.
"Tell him I will soon come to demand retribution for the crime of slaughtering innocents to steal treasure."
"Hahahaha!"
Sang Do-yu-mong burst into disbelieving laughter.
"A rat who won't even reveal his identity dares to speak of demanding retribution? From whom?!"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
If he revealed his true identity now—
His past actions might become known throughout the Central Plains Martial World.
Right now, he was in India, having defied the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's order to uncover the Saint's identity and return within a month.
His movements absolutely could not be exposed.
Nor could he reveal himself as the Martial Soul Lord, nor use the identity of Seon-u Jin, who had been suspected of being the same person...
'It seems the time has come to use this identity.'
He had been waiting for the right moment to unveil a new persona to the world.
A figure who wielded great power and influence in the Central Plains Martial World—yet whose true nature remained shrouded in mystery.
The identity of the Martial Soul Society Leader—Seol-so.
"I am the Martial Soul Society Leader."
"The Martial Soul Society Leader?"
Sang Do-yu-mong frowned, deep in thought for a moment.
"That coalition from the Central Plains?"
"Correct."
Bu Eun-seol's expression was solemn.
"Now that you know, disappear. Consider this the final mercy I grant you."
"You're a real comedian!"
BOOM!
Sang Do-yu-mong unleashed the full force of his body.
His armor shattered, revealing an enormous, muscle-bound physique beneath.
Having mastered the Eight Elephant Art to the Fifth Layer,
His skin shimmered with an eerie glow, and the silhouette of an elephant seemed to loom behind him.
"What does it matter if you're the Martial Soul Society Leader?"
"Final warning."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was colder than winter wind.
"It's not because I find you endearing that I'm sparing you—it's because I don't want to hear accusations of an adult bullying a child."
"Wh-what?"
"If you wish to avenge today's humiliation, bring your father. This Society Leader does not dirty his hands with brats like you."
The title of Martial Soul Society Leader placed him as the head of a major alliance, a status and authority no less than that of the Iron Elephant King.
His intention now was to make Sang Do-yu-mong retreat willingly, avoiding unnecessary bloodshed.
"Do you truly think so little of me just because you've built some minor faction in the Central Plains?"
Sang Do-yu-mong's expression turned icy as he shouted.
"Even if you were the Supreme Martial Lord himself, this is Nashik City! Do you really believe you can escape?"
"Words are wasted on you."
"Likewise. I'll rip your head off and burn every last one of those Four Sacred Tribe descendants to ash!"
Further conversation was meaningless.
Bu Eun-seol exhaled softly and began circulating his Internal Energy.
Had he been a Righteous Faction figure, he might have shown some courtesy—perhaps conceding three moves out of consideration for status.
But Bu Eun-seol was a disciple of Langya Pavilion.
Moreover, he had never considered himself part of the martial world to begin with.
KWAANG!
Without hesitation, he unleashed the Fourth Form of the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon—
Heavenly Hand Empty Wave, a fist technique unrivaled in sheer destructive force.
Even during his days as the Ten Demonic Heir, deploying this form could topple an entire pavilion in an instant.
And now, his martial prowess and Internal Energy were incomparable to that time.
GOOOOOH—!
A crimson dragon-shaped energy, as if ready to dye the world in blood, roared forth.
The fist aura, swift as a flash, passed through Sang Do-yu-mong's body like an illusion.
"Huhuhu..."
Sang Do-yu-mong, who had braced himself for impact, looked down at his unharmed body and burst into a grating laugh.
"All that arrogance, and you unleash nothing but a phantom's strike?"
The Eight Elephant Art, reputed to rival even the Underworld Jade Blood Aura, the pinnacle of external arts in the Central Plains.
Even Bu Eun-seol's full-powered strike had failed to shatter Sang Do-yu-mong's body.
"True, I didn't break you."
Bu Eun-seol turned away indifferently.
"But that changes nothing about taking your life."
"What do you—?"
SSSIIII—
White mist began rising from Sang Do-yu-mong's standing figure.
His body bore no wounds.
But what Bu Eun-seol had embedded in the Heavenly Hand Empty Wave was an extreme yin art rivaling the searing heat of Hot River Great Essence True Qi—
It was the Glacier Thousand Streams Art, layered atop his strike, an extreme yin technique capable of freezing anything solid.
CRACKLE—
Frost spread instantly. White vapor seeped from Sang Do-yu-mong's mouth.
His organs had already frozen in an instant—only the structure of his flesh remained intact, barely sustained by the Eight Elephant Art.
"To think... a single move from you..."
CRUNCH!
With desperate effort, he forced his Internal Power to surge, shattering the thin ice encasing him enough to move.
Staring at his own body, Sang Do-yu-mong wore an expression of disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
"Fifth Layer? No—you're only at the Fourth."
Bu Eun-seol clicked his tongue.
"You neglected your martial training."
Sang Do-yu-mong bit his lip.
Within Nashik City, he had lived as a prince.
No one dared oppose him. No one could touch him.
And so, he had grown lax in honing his martial arts.
Only reaching the Fourth Layer of the Eight Elephant Art—the so-called "Indestructible Realm"—
A mere single layer above Ban Nipa, the White Elephant Pavilion Master whom Bu Eun-seol had killed earlier.
"How... did you know?"
"Had you truly reached the Fifth Layer, the moment our strikes clashed, the counterforce would have rebounded."
The Eight Elephant Art was renowned as India's supreme external art—
Not only did it forge a body like Vajra Indestructibility, but it could perfectly reflect an enemy's attacks.
When Bu Eun-seol had exchanged blows earlier, he had already realized—
Sang Do-yu-mong hadn't even touched the threshold of the Fifth Layer.
That was why he had urged him to retreat.
From the perspective of Bu Eun-seol, a Grandmaster of the Central Plains martial world—
This truly was nothing more than an adult bullying a child.
"The Iron Elephant King wouldn't fail to recognize his own son's level."
Bu Eun-seol sighed.
"A father who failed to teach his son properly."
Sang Do-yu-mong gnashed his teeth.
"It doesn't matter. You'll never leave Nashik City alive."
Tuk. Tuk.
White shards of ice fell from the corners of his eyes.
The cold energy spreading from within could no longer be suppressed—his body was freezing over again.
His gaze flickered between Bu Eun-seol and A-wan beside him as he spat out his final words:
"The Sect Leader... will surely avenge me."
Those were Sang Do-yu-mong's last words.
His face twisted with rage—
Crackle.
In an instant, he had turned into a massive block of ice.
Unable to expel the glacial qi of the Glacier Thousand Streams Art that had invaded his body... he had frozen to death on the spot.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
The retreating warriors of the Iron Elephant Sect halted in their tracks.
Half their forces had been annihilated.
Not only Ban Nipa, who could be considered their deputy commander, but even their leader, Sang Do-yu-mong, was dead.
There was no one left to give the order to retreat.
Clang.
In the end, they dropped their weapons and knelt.
With a terrifying Master like him present,
no matter how far they ran, they would only be mice before a cat.
"Young Master, you must return to the Central Plains at once."
Just then, A-wan approached Bu Eun-seol and spoke.
"You killed his son. The Iron Elephant King will chase you to the ends of the earth."
"It doesn't matter."
"What?"
"Because I will go to him first."
A solemn light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"If I don't eliminate him, the Four Sacred Tribes will have no place left to stand in India."
It was an obvious truth.
The Iron Elephant King would never forgive the Four Sacred Tribes for allying with the one who killed his son.
"You would take such a risk... for our sake?"
"Did I not ignore your warnings and provoke the Iron Elephant King's forces in the first place?"
But that was merely an excuse.
The Iron Elephant King had coveted the Four Sacred Tribes' Sacred Artifact from the start.
Even without Bu Eun-seol, he would have struck them down eventually.
"I have never once forgiven those who harm the common people."
"The innocent...?"
A-wan couldn't comprehend it.
In India, there were almost no Superlative Martial Experts who cared for the weak or the common people.
They believed that being born weak was the result of evil karma from past lives.
"The strong have no need to consider the weak. It is only natural for the weak to serve the strong."
"Do all of the Four Sacred Tribes think this way?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, A-wan shook her head.
"Not originally. But ever since the rise of the Eight Overlords of India, this mindset has spread to everyone."
In the land of India, which had suffered endless invasions from foreign powers,
the law of the jungle—the annihilation of the powerless—had taken root like a natural Law.
And with the dawn of the era of the Eight Overlords,
this brutal ideology had spread uncontrollably, eroding even the consciousness of the people.
Instead of the virtue of the strong protecting the weak,
oppressing and exploiting the weak had become the accepted "order."
"The people of the Central Plains are not like that."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"That is also my belief."
Just then, the chieftains of the Four Sacred Tribes came stumbling toward them in a frenzy.
"Wind Cloud Prince!"
Seeing that Bu Eun-seol had returned to save them,
they could not contain their awe and gratitude, dropping to their knees in deep bows.
"How did you manage to return to us?"
"On my way to Naganaseong, I happened to hear that the Iron Elephant Sect was attacking the Four Sacred Tribes."
But Anan-geuk, the chief of the Vayura Tribe, who arrived late, sighed as he gazed at the frozen corpse of Sang Do-yu-mong.
"We have only delayed our destruction."
His expression was one of resignation.
"With the Iron Elephant King's son dead, our tribe will inevitably be wiped out."
Then A-wan spoke up.
"The Prince said he would soon defeat the Iron Elephant King to save us."
Anan-geuk's eyes widened.
"What?"
"It is a debt I must settle regardless."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was steady.
"A man like him would hunt me down whether I remained in India or returned to the Central Plains."
Anan-geuk and the other tribal elders wore expressions of disbelief.
They still did not know who Bu Eun-seol truly was.
"The Iron Elephant King will have realized by now that I have reached the Supreme Origin Realm."
Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low, composed voice to the murmuring tribespeople.
"He knows that not even tens of thousands of soldiers can stop me. So he will undoubtedly come for me himself. But in the process, innocent lives—and the Four Sacred Tribes—may be caught in the crossfire. That is why I will go to him first."
Anan-geuk countered,
"But if you leave, won't the Iron Elephant King seize the opportunity to strike here again?"
"That won't happen."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head firmly.
"Those who have much to lose do not act recklessly. Until he knows exactly who his enemy is... he will not move rashly."
Then he added,
"It will all be over in a matter of days. There is no need to worry."
"A matter of days? What do you mean by—"
In that instant, a blazing crimson light, as if capable of overwhelming the world itself, flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"I do not mean that I will go to him soon. I mean that I will take this very road—right now—to sever Sang Do-gang-cheon's head from his shoulders."
The Iron Elephant King's wrath, having lost his son, would be directed not only at the Four Sacred Tribes but at Bu Eun-seol himself.
To prevent the endless cycle of blood calling for more blood,
he had resolved to march straight to the Iron Elephant Sect and behead Sang Do-gang-cheon—now.