After leaving the Divine Water Palace, Bu Eunseol immediately descended to the foot of the mountain where Noebihon and Dae Gu-hwi were staying.
“You’ve changed your face again.”
Noebihon stroked his chin as he looked at Bu Eunseol’s original face.
“My younger brother has quite a few identities, doesn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Each must have its own story, so I won’t ask why. But.”
Noebihon wore a look of incomprehension.
“Can you not show this brother of yours your real face?”
Bu Eunseol had no choice but to briefly explain his situation.
He explained that it was inconvenient to roam the Martial World with his original identity, so he had created several others.
And that this was his original appearance.
However, he did not reveal his identity as the Successor of the Demon Palace.
After all, once Noebihon regained his power, he would lose all memory of this time.
There was no need to go into every little detail.
“And the Palace Mistress of the Divine Water Palace has given her permission.”
“So easily? The Vice Palace Mistress was so furious.”
“Fortunately, she did me the favor.”
“Hah.”
Noebihon snorted.
No matter how great a figure Bu Eunseol was, she would not have changed her mind with just a few words.
Besides, seeing his clothes torn in various places, he must have gone through a considerable ordeal.
“Brother.”
Noebihon said in a low voice.
“Come to think of it, I don’t know your real name.”
“Whatever my name is, whatever my identity is, am I not still your brother?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Noebihon looked at Bu Eunseol with profound eyes.
“But if that is your real face, shouldn’t you also tell me your real identity and name?”
Noebihon wasn’t asking out of mere curiosity.
He wanted to remember the face and name of the benefactor who had done so much for him.
At that, Dae Gu-hwi, who had been sitting idly, perked up his ears.
He was extremely curious about the true identity of Bu Eunseol, whom he had thought was the rogue Seolso all this time.
“My name is Bu Eunseol.”
Bu Eunseol said frankly after taking a deep breath.
“The Martial Soul Lord?”
Dae Gu-hwi, who had been listening quietly, ran over.
“Are you saying Young Hero Seol is the Successor of the Demon Palace, the Martial Soul Lord?”
Bu Eunseol’s fame had spread beyond the Central Plains to the outside regions, so Dae Gu-hwi recognized him at once.
“Martial Soul Lord?”
But Noebihon blinked and asked again.
Having lost his memories, he knew nothing of the Martial World's genealogies.
But from Dae Gu-hwi's reaction, he could guess it was an extremely high station.
“I see.”
Noebihon smiled faintly.
“Even if I regain my memories, I will not forget your name, brother.”
Gratitude and resentment.
Those who lived in the Martial World could never escape this cycle.
Even Noebihon, who had lost his memory, remembered that instinct.
‘It’s alright if you forget.
No, you will forget.’
Bu Eunseol held back those words.
The moment he regained his power, Noebihon’s meridians of the brain would be healed, and he would forget all his memories up to now.
Yogeomji.
This was a wide plain spread out behind the Silver River Range, where the Divine Water Palace was located.
The area around Yogeomji was always shrouded in rain clouds, and the atmosphere was unstable.
Strong winds, the terrain, a hot and humid climate… a combination of various factors made it a place where lightning struck frequently.
Dae Gu-hwi took out the Divine Spirit Staff he was holding and offered it to Noebihon.
“Hero Noe. I pray for your success.”
Noebihon smiled and patted the head of the worried-looking Dae Gu-hwi.
“Don’t worry.”
Bu Eunseol also took out the Mystic Leaf Stone and offered it to him.
“Brother Noe. Be careful.”
Nod.
Noebihon nodded and walked towards the center of Yogeomji.
Already, the surroundings were growing dark, and lightning was striking in some places.
Now, if he planted the Divine Spirit Staff, held it high, and received the Lightning Spirit Qi through the Mystic Leaf Stone… he would surely regain his Lightning Spirit Qi.
Flash!
Lightning constantly struck down on Yogeomji.
It felt as if just getting close would make one’s body explode.
Though the hair on his entire body stood on end, Noebihon walked towards Yogeomji with natural steps, unafraid.
It was as if he instinctively knew where to stand to obtain the Lightning Spirit Qi in a single moment.
Halt.
Stopping in place, Noebihon unfurled the Divine Spirit Staff.
And he raised that arm high.
Rumble.
As if it had been waiting, thunder began to roll across the sky.
It seemed as if the sky was gathering its strength to pour lightning down on Noebihon.
“Hero Bu. Something doesn’t feel right.”
Dae Gu-hwi’s eyes glinted with unease.
Born with a Beast's Body, he could sense danger faster than anyone.
“Doesn’t it seem like all the lightning that was falling across Yogeomji is gathering above Hero Noe’s head?”
Rumble.
Just as he said, the falling lightning had all stopped, and a light was forming in the black sky above Noebihon’s head.
The problem was that the bolts of lightning showed no sign of falling, instead flickering continuously as if gathering energy.
The entire world grew dark as if the time of annihilation had come, but Noebihon stood tall, unfazed.
‘Oh no.’
After a long moment of thought, Bu Eunseol finally realized what had gone wrong.
‘The Needle King was mistaken.’
There was only one reason to use the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mystic Leaf Stone.
It was to draw Lightning Spirit Qi from a place where lightning did not strike.
But Yogeomji was a place where dozens of lightning bolts struck every hour.
There was no need for the Divine Spirit Staff, which attracted all lightning; he only needed to have brought the Mystic Leaf Stone.
But Jongri Sahyeon had only heard tales from the past, which was why he had mentioned both the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mystic Leaf Stone.
‘Elder Needle King only heard about the characteristics of Yogeomji through rumors.’
As Bu Eunseol had predicted, Jongri Sahyeon had only heard that lightning frequently occurred in Yogeomji.
He had never imagined it was a place where dozens of lightning bolts struck every hour.
What if those lightning bolts gathered in the sky were to pour down on Noebihon at once?
No matter how much of a Body of the Lightning Spirit Noebihon had, he wouldn’t be able to handle that energy.
His body would explode, unable to withstand the immense Lightning Spirit Qi.
“Brother Noe!”
Bu Eunseol immediately used his movement technique to approach Noebihon.
Flash!
At that moment, a light that illuminated the entire world poured down.
When the light faded, lightning began to strike the Divine Spirit Staff held by Noebihon without end.
Flash! Flash!
It wasn’t a one-time event; it was falling continuously.
And the lightning that entered through the Divine Spirit Staff passed through the Mystic Leaf Stone Noebihon was holding and was being endlessly injected into his body.
Flash! Flash!
As the pure white lightning struck continuously, a white energy began to pour from Noebihon’s eyes as well.
The Lightning Spirit Qi had reawakened in his body.
Flash! Flash!
But the lightning still fell on the Divine Spirit Staff, flashing on and off.
Drip.
Blood flowed from Noebihon’s mouth, and his body began to swell like a balloon.
His body couldn’t endure the unbearable amount of Lightning Spirit Qi being injected into it.
“Brother Noe!”
As Bu Eunseol approached, a hemispherical form of pure white Lightning Spirit Qi formed around Noebihon, three zhang wide.
The powerful Lightning Qi pouring from his body had spread out like a massive protective aura, blocking Bu Eunseol’s approach.
Woong!
Bu Eunseol immediately created a massive blade with the Yeoui-jin-gyeol and began to slice through the Lightning Spirit Qi that had become a round barrier.
Zzzzzzt!
But white flames erupted, and the blade made from the Yeoui-jin-gyeol was instantly destroyed.
The power of the Yeoui-jin-gyeol could not break through the wall of that powerful Lightning Qi.
Shing!
Drawing the Ice Soul Sword, Bu Eunseol formed a Sword Aura.
But the Lightning Qi surrounding Noebihon’s body contained a magnetic-like suction force, and a whirlwind accompanied by lightning was pouring out.
No matter how much Sword Aura he poured out, he couldn’t break through that wall.
‘There’s no time!’
Bu Eunseol grew desperate.
If he left Noebihon like this, he would lose his life.
Woong!
Bu Eunseol spread his arms, unleashing his true energy.
At that, a five-colored brilliance spread across his entire body, forming a round aura.
Just as he had blocked the rock in the underground city of Mount Nine Bends, he had aligned all the power within his body and unleashed ‘Harmonization’.
Zzzzzzt.
The five-colored aura instantly broke through the wall of Lightning Spirit Qi surrounding Noebihon’s body.
Walking through the sparking flames, Bu Eunseol could finally see Noebihon, who was holding the Divine Spirit Staff.
He then poured palm force into the Divine Spirit Staff Noebihon was holding, intending to send it flying.
But as Bu Eunseol extended his arm,
Zzzzzzt!
A powerful energy was suddenly injected into his meridians through his arm.
It was the pure Lightning Spirit Qi that was passing through the Mystic Leaf Stone and being injected into Noebihon’s body.
“Kuh.”
As the Lightning Spirit Qi entered his body, the aura created by ‘Harmonization’ instantly vanished.
At the same time, Bu Eunseol’s arm became stuck to Noebihon’s body.
Zzzzzzt.
As the Lightning Spirit Qi was continuously injected, Bu Eunseol’s body also began to slowly swell.
“Hero Noe! Hero Bu!”
Dae Gu-hwi, watching from a distance, stomped his feet in frustration.
If he left the two of them like that, their bodies would explode.
“Ugh…”
After much deliberation, Dae Gu-hwi began to draw out his Beast's Power.
“Arghhhh!”
Finally, his muscles swelled, his clothes tore, and his Beast's Power burst forth.
Crack.
Crouching low like an animal, he ran like a mad beast towards the center.
Fortunately, since Bu Eunseol had removed the wall of Lightning Spirit Qi, he could easily reach Noebihon’s side.
“I will help you—!”
But as he came within three zhang, his body was instantly lifted into the air and stuck to Noebihon’s body.
Zzzzzzt!
In the end, the two of them were stuck on either side of Noebihon, absorbing the Lightning Spirit Qi in the same manner.
“Ugh. Arghhh.”
As the Lightning Spirit Qi poured into his body, Dae Gu-hwi screamed in agony.
Noebihon, who possessed the Body of the Lightning Spirit, and Bu Eunseol, who possessed the power of both the Righteous and Demonic Factions, were somehow enduring the force.
But Dae Gu-hwi, who had no such power, quickly reached the limit of what his body could endure.
“Gu… hwi!”
Fortunately, with Dae Gu-hwi also stuck, Bu Eunseol and Noebihon were able to regain some of their senses.
The two of them tried to move their bodies, but no matter how they struggled, they couldn’t lift a single foot.
‘At this rate, we’ll all die.’
Even in the agony of the Lightning Spirit Qi invading his body, Bu Eunseol continuously circulated his Reverse Extreme Energy.
Then, following the circulation of his internal energy, the Lightning Spirit Qi also began to move in accordance.
—If you obtain the power of all Four Divine Beings…
At that moment, he recalled the Daoist secret that Gongson Dan-ah had taught him.
It was less of an internal cultivation method and more of a secret of embracing two different powers.
That was how he was able to neutralize the Extreme Yin Energy of the Ice River Heavenly Flow Verse, which could damage the meridians, through the power of the Water Spirit Qi.
‘If they have similar properties… they can be fused.’
The Lightning Spirit Qi was very similar to the Blazing Great True Vital Energy.
Then, couldn't the energy of the pouring lightning be fused with the Blazing Great True Vital Energy and dispersed? That was the thought that came to him.
‘This is a gamble.’
Although Bu Eunseol had a profound knowledge of martial arts,
he didn't know much about mind cultivation secrets that controlled the energy within the body, or created and destroyed energy.
Therefore, he couldn’t predict what kind of result such an attempt would bring.
‘I’ll do it!’
As Dae Gu-hwi’s body was about to burst, Bu Eunseol immediately drew out his Blazing Great True Vital Energy.
Woooong!
As he drew out the Blazing Great True Vital Energy, a pain as if his meridians were burning spread, and his vital energy began to twist.
But without stopping, he began to fuse the Blazing Great True Vital Energy circulating within his body with the Lightning Spirit Qi being injected from outside.
Crack.
At that moment, veins popped out all over Bu Eunseol’s body like snakes.
Fwoosh! Fwooosh!
Simultaneously, the Fiery Sun Sacred Qi and Supreme Wheel Flame Energy contained within the Blazing Great True Vital Energy spread out in all directions.
Normally, the heat and power would have melted Noebihon and Dae Gu-hwi’s bodies or burned their internal organs.
But both of them were in a state where powerful Lightning Spirit Qi was being injected into their bodies, so they were not affected by the power of the Blazing Great True Vital Energy.
‘They are indeed similar in nature.’
Having gained confidence, Bu Eunseol used the profound principle of harmonizing two arts to fuse the Blazing Great True Vital Energy with the pouring Lightning Spirit Qi.
Just like the Ice River Heavenly Flow Verse.
The Blazing Great True Vital Energy was an energy that could not be held in the body unless one had a Sacred Fire Physique like the Fiery Sun Sacred Ancestor and had trained in Extreme Yang Martial Arts their entire life.
The reason Bu Eunseol, with his ordinary body, was fine even while holding such energy was because
the opposing power of the Ice River Heavenly Flow Verse and a formidable internal energy of five hundred years were protecting his body.
But when the balance of the two powers was broken, it eventually led to damage to his vital energy, and he was barely able to calm it down with the help of Ak Muryeong.
Then, after obtaining Gongson Dan-ah’s verses and the Water Spirit Qi, he was able to perfectly control the power of the Ice River Heavenly Flow Verse.
And now, through the Lightning Spirit Qi, he was able to store the energy of the Blazing Great True Vital Energy in his body in a stable form.
Zzzzzzt.
As he combined the Lightning Spirit Qi with the Blazing Great True Vital Energy in his body using the profound principle of harmonizing two arts, purple lightning began to flicker all over his body.
It was a new Lightning Spirit Qi created by combining with the Blazing Great True Vital Energy.
Standing tall, shrouded in purple lightning, he looked like the Lightning God from the heavens who had descended to earth.
At the same time, Bu Eunseol felt a heat near his Baihui Point, and brief memories began to enter his mind.
It was dawn, when even the chirping insects were fast asleep.
In a bed under a window where the moonlight gently fell, the young Bu Eunseol was sleeping soundly.
—Now, the only one I can entrust my sword to is you, my brother.
A smile crept onto the sleeping young Bu Eunseol’s lips.
It was his father’s gentle and low voice, a voice he loved to hear no matter how many times he heard it.
—If you abandon your power… and even this sword, how will you be able to face them?
Then, a deep, low voice came from the opposite side.
—The Three Realms can no longer protect you.
Flash!
Awakening from the recollection, a flash sparked in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
‘What does this mean?’
Bu Eunseol’s heart pounded.
As the intense Lightning Spirit Qi passed through his meridians of the brain, a memory of the past had surfaced again.
And it was… proof that his father was related to the Three Realms.
‘My father was a figure from the Three Realms?’
Amidst the confusion, Bu Eunseol mulled over the memory that had just surfaced.
‘And what does he mean by facing ‘them’? Who are ‘they’ referring to?’
“Ughhh.”
At that moment, a loud groan erupted from Noebihon and Dae Gu-hwi.
The two of them had not only passed their limits but their faces had turned the color of a corpse.
‘First, I’ll use this power to stabilize their bodies.’
Woong!
Bu Eunseol began to pour the Blazing Great True Vital Energy, combined with the Lightning Spirit Qi, into Noebihon’s body.
Swoosh.
Then, the wildly raging Lightning Spirit Qi stabilized, and the swollen bodies of the two began to slowly return to their original forms.
Zzzzt!
But powerful Lightning Spirit Qi was still being poured through the Divine Spirit Staff.
‘I’ll endure it!’
He couldn’t move a finger, but he could resist the pouring Lightning Spirit Qi with his Blazing Great True Vital Energy.
Furthermore, thanks to Bu Eunseol, Noebihon was able to stably disperse the power of the Lightning Spirit Qi throughout his Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
Melt.
At that moment, the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mystic Leaf Stone that Noebihon was holding began to melt like taffy.
Having received too much Lightning Spirit Qi, they couldn't withstand the force and melted away.
As the endlessly pouring Lightning Spirit Qi also disappeared,
Thud.
Dae Gu-hwi, unable to handle the Lightning Spirit Qi stored in his body, fainted on the spot.
Zzzzzzt.
On the contrary, a white light spread from Noebihon’s eyes, and his body floated into the air.
Flash!
Finally, when he opened his eyes,
Zzzzzzzzt!
A pure white lightning, the Heavenly Lightning Annihilation, spread out in all directions.
At last, Noebihon had been completely resurrected as the Lightning God.
Thump.
As Noebihon lightly descended from the air, a tremendous shockwave of internal energy swirled from his body, and his eyes were full of dignity.
“Brother Noe. Are you awake?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Noebihon’s eyes glinted.
“Brother Noe?”
The gentle aura he had always had was gone, and only a solemn and sharp aura rose from his entire body.
Just as Jongri Sahyeon had said, the power of the Lightning Spirit Qi had healed the wound on his meridians of the brain.
It seemed that, as a result, all his memories up to now had disappeared.
“Who are you?”
Although Bu Eunseol had his original face, he couldn't help but use a fake name.
“I am called Seolso. You, Brother Noe, were defeated by the descendant of the Saber Sovereign, and lost your power due to his saber energy.”
“I was defeated?”
“That is correct.”
Noebihon looked at the scenery of Yogeomji, where lightning was striking, with unfamiliar eyes.
“Then.”
“That’s right. To restore your power, we obtained the Divine Spirit Staff and Mystic Leaf Stone from the Beast Palace and came here.”
Only then did Noebihon notice the melted remains of the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mystic Leaf Stone at his feet.
Most of them had evaporated due to the extreme heat, and what remained were two bead-shaped metal fragments.
“Hmm.”
As if possessed, Noebihon put them in his bosom.
“Brother Noe. Do you remember the last time you fought the descendant of the Saber Sovereign?”
Instantly, a light as if white lightning was continuously striking spread from Noebihon’s eyes.
“That bastard. He killed my family!”
Zzzzt.
An energy incomparably stronger than before flowed from Noebihon’s body.
Having absorbed so much Lightning Spirit Qi, his power had become even greater than before.
“I will kill him right now!”
“Wait.”
As Noebihon was about to leave, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Who is the descendant of the Saber Sovereign?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I must find him as well.”
Bu Eunseol said confidently.
Noebihon wouldn’t remember him anyway.
In that case, he had to get an answer from him, even if it meant bringing up their journey together so far.
“Isn’t that why I have gone through all this trouble with you, Brother Noe?”
Zzzzt.
At that moment, a white lightning shot out from Dae Gu-hwi’s body, and he began to tremble violently.
Unlike Bu Eunseol, he had been unable to stably disperse the Lightning Spirit Qi through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and a problem had occurred.
“He has taken the Lightning Spirit Qi into his body, but he is dying because he cannot control it.”
Noebihon looked at Bu Eunseol and spoke coldly.
“I admit I owe you a certain debt. So, decide.”
He pointed at Dae Gu-hwi and said.
“Will you save that child? Or do you want to know the identity of that devil-like old man?”
Bu Eunseol spoke as if it was absurd.
“That child rushed in to save your life, Brother Noe. And you’re telling me to choose between his life and that?”
“You talk too much. If you don’t choose, I will leave.”
Having regained his strength, Noebihon’s gentle expression was gone, and he only exuded the cold and sharp aura of a martial arts grandmaster.
‘This is all something I must bear.’
He had never expected Noebihon to be favorable towards him once he regained his strength and lost all his memories.
“Very well. Then please save his life.”
“Good.”
Noebihon immediately reached out his hand to Dae Gu-hwi’s Mingmen Point.
Zzzzzzt!
Then, a pure Lightning Spirit Qi was injected into Dae Gu-hwi’s body, and his body floated into the air.
Psh! Pshhh!
Simultaneously, Noebihon shot out over a hundred streams of finger wind in an instant.
Then, the face of Dae Gu-hwi, who had been trembling in agony while floating in the air, instantly became peaceful.
“Circulate the Lightning Spirit Qi according to the way I guide you.”
Noebihon’s voice held a power that could not be defied.
Even in his dazed state, Dae Gu-hwi operated the Lightning Spirit Qi according to Noebihon’s instructions.
Zzzzt.
Then, faint lightning formed in Dae Gu-hwi’s eyes as he circulated his energy.
With Noebihon’s help, he had stably stored the Lightning Spirit Qi within his body.
Body of the Lightning Spirit.
Dae Gu-hwi had transformed from an ordinary body into a Body of the Lightning Spirit, just like Noebihon, by absorbing the Lightning Spirit Qi.
“Thank you, Hero Noe!”
As the awakened Dae Gu-hwi politely cupped his hands,
“There is no need for thanks.”
Noebihon said, not to Dae Gu-hwi, but to Bu Eunseol.
“There is no longer any debt between you and me. Do you acknowledge this?”
“Brother Noe.”
“I am not your Brother Noe.”
Having regained his strength, Noebihon showed no signs of madness, unlike in the past.
Having poured out so much of that powerful Lightning Spirit Qi, his madness had been completely cured.
As if to prove it, he showed the solemn and dignified air of a grandmaster, and a clear energy flowed from his eyes.
But unfortunately, he did not remember his time with Bu Eunseol.
“You can’t give me information about the descendant of the Saber Sovereign?”
“There is nothing to tell. That is my personal affair.”
Zzzzzzt.
Noebihon used the Lightning Spirit Qi to float into the air.
Shrouded in lightning, his eyes dyed white, he looked down at Bu Eunseol and said coldly.
“Do not bother me any longer. If you follow me, I will consider you an enemy.”
Crash!
Leaving those words behind, Noebihon disappeared into the distant sky with a sound of thunder.
Rumble! Ruuumble!
His lightness skill, with all his power restored, was truly like a flash of lightning.
He cut through the air like a thunderbolt striking down in an instant.
Kwawooo!
Recalling the sight of him fighting the monstrous old man who used the Saber Sovereign's saber technique,
the one who had sealed his Lightning Spirit Qi, an indescribable killing intent flowed from Noebihon’s eyes.
“Wash your neck and wait. I will tear you to pieces soon enough.”
Leaving Yogeomji, he ran and ran without stopping, finally arriving at a grand manor a little away from the capital of Hebei.
That place was none other than the Hebei Paeng Clan.