Chapter 994
The Yellow-Robed Agents momentarily halted their attacks, seemingly startled.
[...Matters of the Martial World cannot be resolved by internal energy alone.]
Regaining their composure almost immediately, they—
[Hahp!]
—let out short shouts and instantly encircled Bu Eun-seol in a tight formation before unleashing their fist techniques once more.
Six streams of fist energy multiplied into thirty-six fist shadows, raining down like a storm.
Kwoong.
Yet Bu Eun-seol remained unmoved, blocking their attacks solely with his Protective Astral Energy.
[Why isn't he counterattacking?]
Even as the Yellow-Robed Agents questioned him, Bu Eun-seol stood silently with his hands clasped behind his back.
He had already observed their martial arts on the island where Wooden Buddha was hiding.
The moment he countered their fist energy directly—
He had deduced that he would only sustain severe injuries from their power, which pursued the utmost limit of naturalness.
That was why he chose not to resist and instead let their attacks flow past him.
[Using rat-like tactics, I see.]
Realizing Bu Eun-seol's strategy, the Yellow-Robed Agents—
Pat!
—suddenly split into two groups. Three of them unleashed their fist techniques again, while the other three attempted to breach the mountain cabin.
But the moment the six moved separately, their seamless naturalness shattered, revealing gaps in their defense.
Bu Eun-seol immediately executed the Heavenly Hand Empty Wave to block the three Yellow-Robed Agents trying to enter the cabin.
Kwoong.
Yet the moment his fist technique was unleashed, a resonant bell-like sound echoed, and his own body trembled violently.
Not only had the unleashed Heavenly Hand Empty Wave reversed direction toward him—
The very nature of the fist energy had completely transformed, shifting into the same wave-like form they used.
[No attack you use will work.]
The Yellow-Robed Agents sneered as they watched Bu Eun-seol's body vibrate like a struck bell under the waves.
[Whether you use fist techniques or draw your sword, that power will only shake your own body.]
Bu Eun-seol was someone who could unravel the principles of martial arts even in his sleep.
Witnessing the Yellow-Robed Agents' mystical fist techniques—
His curiosity was piqued, and excitement stirred within him.
"Then, I won't hold back."
Shing.
Drawing the Ink Soul Sword, Bu Eun-seol immediately unleashed the Waning Moon Morning Star.
The moment a massive cross-shaped sword energy poured down upon the Yellow-Robed Agents—
Shoook.
—the sword energy vanished in an instant, replaced by an equally sharp and lethal force that transformed into a colossal wave.
Thwoong.
Once again, Bu Eun-seol's body resonated like a temple bell.
The razor-sharp sword energy of the Waning Moon Morning Star, capable of cleaving mountains—
Had instantly morphed into an invisible wave and rebounded onto his own body.
Swish! Shrrrriik!
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol mixed the Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder with the Dragon-Slaying Demon Sword Form and unleashed them upon the Yellow-Robed Agents.
He had judged that these two sword forms, accompanied by the ultra-fine and razor-sharp sword energy of the Ultra Fast Killing Sword, would be impossible to convert into waves.
Thwoong. Kwawoong.
But the result was the same.
Even sword energy as thin and sharp as a strand of hair—
Once again transformed into a world-shaking wave and returned to strike his body.
"I see."
Having witnessed a power that resembled not martial arts but a mystical phenomenon, Bu Eun-seol finally grasped the true nature and martial origins of the Yellow-Robed Agents.
"Imperial Palace martial arts. So you're the hounds of the Government Office."
The Yellow-Robed Agents weren't reflecting his power back at him.
They were instantly nullifying the internal force embedded in his martial techniques and generating an equivalent wave of energy in its place.
"Only the Imperial Palace's martial arts can not only erase internal energy but also reshape it like this."
As the Yellow-Robed Agents stood in silent defiance, Bu Eun-seol's expression hardened.
The reason they were pursuing Sama Gwang—
Could it be related to the Blood Calamity of the Saha Manor and the Imperial Palace?
"Why are you targeting him? Has he committed high treason or something?"
The Yellow-Robed Agents said nothing, only glaring at Bu Eun-seol.
Then, suddenly—
Zzurrrk.
Their bodies turned transparent, and with a pat—
The six scattered in all directions, charging toward the mountain cabin as if breaking formation.
Having assessed that Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess was higher than expected—
They seemed intent on ignoring him and killing Sama Gwang first.
Shing.
At that moment, the Ink Soul Sword left its scabbard with a sword resonance that shook heaven and earth.
Sssssaaaaa.
Simultaneously, mist began to rise in all directions, and the figures of the Yellow-Robed Agents attempting to breach the cabin became perfectly visible.
Ninth Form of the Formless Heavenly Flow: Misty Waves of Rivers and Lakes.
The mist-like sword energy, which returned all things to their natural state—
Had shattered their Concealment Secret Art in an instant.
Hwiririk.
Because the sword energy of Misty Waves of Rivers and Lakes contained Natural Qi, the Yellow-Robed Agents could no longer convert it into waves as they had before.
Pat!
Forced to retreat again—
Pewpewpewpew!
A chaotic storm of razor-sharp sword energy rained down like a tempest of wind and heavy rain.
The Fourth Form of the Formless Heavenly Flow: Caged Bird Longing for Clouds—its ability to freely move launched sword energy now on display.
Hummm.
As the condensed internal energy-infused sword energy poured down—
The Yellow-Robed Agents once again attempted to redirect the attacks using Imperial Palace martial arts, converting them into shockwaves.
But that was their fatal mistake.
What they faced were not sword strikes formed from Internal Energy, but blade winds forged through Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
By the time the agents realized this, it was already too late to evade.
Pah-pah-pah-papt!
Razor-sharp sword energy pierced their vital points.
With no means to escape, they deployed Horizontal Training Martial Arts—such as the Iron Cloth Stance—to harden their bodies and minimize the damage.
However, the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi contained the profound principles of Wind Pierces All Gaps and Wind Slips Through the Finest Cracks, said to penetrate anything.
Drip-drip-drip...
Unable to block the divine energy's force, blood trickled from their ears and nostrils.
Only their exceptionally high Internal Energy levels prevented their bodies from rupturing entirely.
[……]
The Yellow-Robed Agents' eyes flashed with realization.
They had just grasped two things:
First, Bu Eun-seol's martial arts were not merely unique—they were something else entirely.
Second, the Imperial Palace's Secret Arts, considered the pinnacle of all martial disciplines scattered across Murim, were utterly ineffective against him.
[No choice.]
The six agents opened their mouths in unison.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, their bodies aligned in a single row.
Though it seemed like mere positioning, divine light spilled from their pupils, and an eerie wind began swirling around them.
Thud.
The moment they took a synchronized step forward—
BOOM!
The ground beneath Bu Eun-seol's feet instantly sank by a full foot, crushed by an overwhelming pressure that flattened everything within about thirty feet around him in a perfect circle.
'Limitless Power?'
Astonishingly, the six agents had combined their strength to unleash a force that transcended martial principles and human limits—the legendary Limitless Power.
Tzzt-tzzt-tzzt!
Bu Eun-seol immediately activated Swift Shadowless, attempting to escape the range of their crushing force.
BOOM!
But it was futile.
Another tremor shook the earth, violently jolting his body.
Unlike conventional martial arts, which operate within fixed ranges, their Limitless Power exerted absolute dominion over their perceived enemy and the surrounding space itself—inescapable and all-encompassing.
'If I can't evade...'
Worse, the attacks were undetectable until they struck.
'I'll break through.'
Gathering his Internal Power, Bu Eun-seol lunged toward the agents' flank.
'...!'
But something bizarre happened.
Though they had been facing forward in a straight line, the instant he shifted to their side, they had somehow—without visibly moving—realigned so that his charge now met their front.
'Is this also Limitless Power?'
They hadn't turned.
They had warped reality itself, using transcendent force to twist the direction of his assault into their own frontal axis.
BOOM! BOOM!
Invisible, undetectable waves of crushing pressure began raining down on Bu Eun-seol like a storm.
'I must disrupt their formation.'
If each agent were a Master capable of wielding Limitless Power individually, they wouldn't need to maintain formation.
The fact that they clung to alignment was proof—they could only manifest this transcendent force by combining their strength.
Tzzzt!
With his Extrasensory Perception heightened to its peak, Bu Eun-seol unleashed about a hundred and eighty sword energies in a single breath, aiming to sever the centipede-like chain of Yellow-Robed Agents.
Hiss-hiss-chi-chik!
Yet even as his sword energy split the space between them, only sparks flew—
THWOOONG!
A monstrous Counterforce repelled his strike, sending even his mountain-splitting sword recoiling.
Unifying their bodies into one should have exposed their weaknesses—but the agents had already sealed every flaw.
Hiss-hiss-hiss! BOOM!
Bu Eun-seol and the line of agents clashed endlessly, their movements reduced to streaks of black and gold light.
Though his swordplay was exquisitely precise, not a single strike wasted—
The six agents shrugged off his razor-sharp attacks as effortlessly as if they had become Vajra Bronze Men.
'This will take time to recover from.'
After sustaining the assault, Bu Eun-seol's eyes suddenly sharpened.
He had sensed a surge of True Qi erupting from the manor.
Sama Gwang had once been renowned as Jiangnan's Greatest Sword.
Though he hadn't practiced martial arts in over twenty years, that skill hadn't simply vanished.
Now, having regained his martial prowess, he was unleashing a colossal Shockwave into the heavens.
'Good.'
The reason Bu Eun-seol had held back—not once employing his full strength or Internal Energy—
Was to buy time, ensuring Sama Gwang and Su-wol remained protected as they completed their Qi Circulation within the mountain cabin.
[Since your Qi Circulation is complete, take Miss Su-wol and retreat.]
Finally confirming Sama Gwang's full recovery, Bu Eun-seol sent the message via Thousand-Li Voice Transmission.
["The mountain cabin will collapse soon."]
["I'll fight alongside you."]
As Sama Gwang's voice transmission reached him, Bu Eun-seol let out a snort through his nose.
["Unnecessary. If you're truly curious, just watch from a distance."]
Bu Eun-seol's voice carried a palpable thrill.
The martial arts of the Yellow-Robed Agents were truly, genuinely extraordinary—far from something that could be easily overcome.
And the appearance of such formidable enemies—
They never brought him fear or dread, only exhilaration.
The stronger the foe, the stronger he would become.
Pat!
Just then, a white light rose above the mountain cabin.
Sama Gwang had withdrawn, taking Su-wol with him.
In that instant, a brilliant light flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"Now, I'll crush you all... and dig out the mastermind behind this."
KWAOOOONG!
With a tremor that shook the heavens, a massive Sword Qi, over a hundred feet in length, erupted from the Ink Soul Sword.
He had been suppressing his full power until now—all to protect the two inside the cabin.
"Let me return this to you."
FWOOOOSH!
The colossal Sword Qi transformed into a gigantic cross-shaped slash, pouring relentlessly toward the Yellow-Robed Agents.
KWANG! KWANG!
With Bu Eun-seol finally unleashing his full strength, the earth quaked as if the sky itself were being torn apart.
He poured forth the Transcendent Formless Heavenly Flow Form at full power.
The Yellow-Robed Agents, no longer able to move as nimbly as before, continuously shifted their defensive positions.
Yet, not a single wound appeared on them, and their formation remained unbroken.
FWOOOSH!
Then, mist surged once more from Bu Eun-seol's body.
The Ninth Form of the Formless Heavenly Flow—
The first stance of the Nature Sword, which naturally reversed all artificial force, spread toward them.
SWISH! SWISH!
As the River Waves Spreading Across the Lake technique expanded, the Yellow-Robed Agents leaped into the sky, moving as if dancing mid-air like a small dragon.
KOOONG! KOOONG!
Meanwhile, an imperceptible wave of overwhelming pressure continued bearing down on Bu Eun-seol.
Not only did its force persist long after being unleashed, but even a glancing blow sent chunks of his Internal Energy flying.
Unless he completely disengaged and fled, defeat was inevitable.
Drip, drip.
Unable to fully dispel the crushing pressure, Bu Eun-seol's clothes and flesh tore in multiple places.
Yet, his eyes blazed with an even fiercer light.
The more wounded he became, the more his Fighting Spirit surged—his mind spinning rapidly as he analyzed his enemies.
'I have to sever space itself.'
At last, he understood.
The reason their formation remained unbreakable—
They weren't merely standing close together.
They had separated space itself.
—That's why Bu Jan-yang first severed the Lord of Heaven's space.
In the past, the Martial God Heaven Lord had—
Split the space around his body like an Absolute Boundary, ensuring Bu Eun-seol's attacks never reached him.
And the Yellow-Robed Agents' technique was similar.
SCREEEEEECH!
With a howl that shook the heavens, a dark Sword Qi erupted from the Ink Soul Sword.
In an instant, the air around the mountain cabin evaporated, and even the mountain's flora seemed to hold its breath.
The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang's supreme demonic blade—
The Bloody Tears Seven Forms, an ultra-demonic sword art that delivered Death impartially to all living things, unfolded.
["The Bloody Tears Seven Forms!"]
The Yellow-Robed Agents, rather than panicking, scattered in all directions as if they had been waiting for this.
Zzzzt! Zzzzt! ZING!
Simultaneously, they unleashed their pressure in rapid, repeated bursts.
They were suppressing the Sword Qi of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms by unleashing their Limitless Power at maximum capacity.
SCREEE!
The tactic worked—the Sword Qi from the Ink Soul Sword couldn't spread properly.
Like grabbing the leg of a bird trying to soar with all its might—
They had preemptively seized control of space, cutting off his power.
'So the Imperial Palace has studied a Dismantling Technique for the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.'
HISSSS!
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol closed the distance, pushing through the waves of pressure.
ZZZTT!
Before he knew it, violet lightning crackled across his body.
Thunder Essence Divine Qi.
He charged forward, suffusing his body with the purest and most violent force of nature.
'Fuse it with the Thunder Essence Divine Qi!'
No one had taught him this—it was pure instinct, a conviction that surged from within.
If he could embed the Thunder Essence Divine Qi into the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, he could break through their suppression.
FLASH!
As he unleashed the technique again—
HOOOOOOOON! HEEEEEEENG!
This time, the howl that erupted was no mere cry—
It was a wail of anguish, a shriek of despair, a low, ghastly moan that seemed to tear at the ears.
KWAOOOONG!
Simultaneously, the dark Sword Qi, infused with Thunder Essence Divine Qi, coiled around their bodies in an instant.
ZZZT! ZZZT!
The Yellow-Robed Agents swiftly pivoted, unleashing their Limitless Power head-on to defend against the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
Swish!
Yet again, the massive blade energy transformed into six whips, coiling around their bodies.
The Bloody Tears Seven Forms, infused with Thunder Essence Divine Qi,
could now freely manipulate the trajectory of the blade energy in midair, just like the Caged Bird Longing for Clouds technique.
Because of this, it struck their vital acupoints from angles that were impossible to evade or block.
Pah!
At that moment, a spray of violet blood scattered through the air—
Thud!
—before the Yellow-Robed Agents kicked off the ground and vanished in an instant.
Having realized they couldn't possibly defend against the Bloody Tears Seven Forms,
they deliberately sacrificed their arms and legs rather than dodge the coiling sword qi,
creating an opening to flee.
"Hah... hah..."
Bu Eun-seol gasped for breath.
Truthfully, the Yellow-Robed Agents' martial prowess was formidable—their skills so advanced
that even if he used True Void, it would have taken over a hundred exchanges to decide the match.
Yet, with the Bloody Tears Seven Forms imbued with Thunder Essence Divine Qi, he had subdued them in an instant.
"A fusion technique..."
Only now did he understand.
Like the Formless Heavenly Flow, the Bloody Tears Seven Forms
could adapt to any martial art, fuse with any power.
"Even if you obtain the Blade Essence, you won't be able to wield it."
Those were the words of his grandfather, who had left the Blade Essence behind in the Martial God Heaven Lord's domain.
He had been certain that no master, no matter how skilled, could properly execute the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
Because not only did the Blade Essence and Spirit and Mind have to align, but one also needed the ability to mix and fuse multiple powers.
And the only one who possessed such a talent was his grandfather.
"That's why I could use it."
Like Bu Jan-yang,
despite having an ordinary physical body, Bu Eun-seol could blend any kind of power.
That was why, just like his grandfather, he could fuse various martial arts and energies into the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, unleashing terrifying might.
"Hah..."
Exhaling a ragged breath, Bu Eun-seol muttered under his voice,
"Grandfather was fighting the entire martial world."
The Bloody Tears Seven Forms could counter the Baekri Clan, the True Demon, even the martial arts of the Imperial Palace.
Which meant—
in the end, his grandfather had been standing alone against the entire martial world.
"Why did Grandfather leave the martial world without hesitation?"
Just from this saber technique alone,
it was clear that his grandfather had been a Peerless Saber Master, one of the most formidable figures in martial history, shaking every faction in the martial world.
So why had he retired without a second thought?
Whoosh!
At that moment, the Sound of Breaking Air echoed from somewhere, and a figure in resplendent monk's robes came sprinting from the distance.
It was Hye-ga, the young monk of the Three Pure Realms.
Thud!
The moment he landed, his condition was wretched.
His entire body was lacerated with sharp sword wounds, and a steady stream of crimson blood flowed from his thigh.
Alternating his gaze between the ruined mountain cabin and Bu Eun-seol, he asked,
"Are you alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"You were attacked by the Imperial Palace's masters because of me, weren't you?"
With that single remark, Bu Eun-seol pieced everything together.
'They weren't chasing Sama Gwang—they were after Hye-ga.'
Hye-ga's Internal Energy Method was highly unique, emitting an unusual fragrance.
And since Su-wol had been infused with his Internal Energy, she carried the same scent...
The Yellow-Robed Agents must have mistaken the mountain cabin for Hye-ga's hiding place and attacked.
"I'm sorry. I forgot that I had infused her with my energy."
Hye-ga had been surrounded by the Imperial Palace's masters, locked in fierce combat.
During their exchange,
he realized they were tracking him through the scent of his Internal Energy Method.
In that instant, he remembered Su-wol, whom he had infused with his energy.
If that was the case, then Su-wol could also be mistaken for a target and killed.
Belatedly grasping this,
he fought like a madman to break free and immediately raced here.
"Stop the bleeding first."
Originally, Bu Eun-seol had intended to scold Hye-ga harshly for his recklessness.
But seeing how, driven by sheer will to save Su-wol, he had disregarded his grievously wounded leg
and pushed his Lightness Skill to the limit to rush here—he couldn't bring himself to reprimand him.
"Ah."
Only now did Hye-ga glance down at his mangled leg and quickly pressed on his acupoints to stop the bleeding.
But his muscles had been torn to shreds. It would take at least two months to fully recover.
"Do you have a grudge against the Imperial Palace?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Hye-ga bowed his head with an extremely sheepish expression.
"It... sort of happened."
"'Sort of happened'?"
"On my way into the Central Plains... I came across fields that were poisoning people's minds and bodies, so I burned them all down."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes blinked repeatedly.
"Opium?"
"Yes! You know of it?"
Hye-ga said proudly,
"There was an enormous opium field, so I set it all on fire."
Bu Eun-seol's mouth fell open.
Opium was primarily managed by the Imperial Household and high-ranking officials.
And he had burned it all?
"All... of it?"
"Yes. Every last bit."
Hye-ga beamed brightly.
"But then I found out those opium fields were managed by the Empress Dowager."
Bu Eun-seol nearly let out a disbelieving laugh.
Opium was generally a major financial resource for high-ranking officials.
And yet, he had just happened to target the fields of the Empress Dowager—
not only the most powerful figure in the Imperial Palace, but also one who had conspired with multiple martial factions.
The terrifying Empress Dowager, who could "make even birds fall from the sky"—
and he had provoked her opium fields?
No wonder the Imperial Palace's masters had chased him down with murderous fury. It was only natural.