Blood Hand (Hyeolsu) was a rank given to the executives of the Nameless Blood Cult.
Their martial strength varied depending on their role, but typically a Blood Hand was a Peak Realm master.
***
And Joo-rip was one of the Blood Hands trusted by the Heavenly King.
During his prime, he boasted the strength of the late Peak Realm.
That was why he was entrusted with the important mission of retrieving the Flame Emperor’s legacy.
But this time, he failed to use his power properly, not living up to his reputation.
“Hahahaha! The great Nameless Blood Cult’s reputation is nothing special. They said the continent trembled, but it seems that’s not necessary!”
“Kugh…!”
As Baek Woon-ho laughed heartily and fired an Air-shattering Palm, Joo-rip bit his lip while blocking it.
*’Damn it! No matter how infamous our cult is, there’s no way I can compare to that bastard!’*
A spy disguised as an external cult member had ambushed him and reduced him to a near-death state.
Moreover, the Flame Emperor’s legacy was about to fall into the hands of an enemy who had come from the continent.
He had suggested they join hands and secure the legacy first, but the bastard wouldn’t listen.
The space grew hotter from the heat of the palm techniques the guy fired.
Joo-rip’s breath was choked by the intense heat, and he scowled.
*’There was a record of our cult struggling against the Flame Emperor’s heat in the past… it feels exactly like that.’*
Even that explosive personality had similar aspects.
If time passed like this, it was clear that Joo-rip would be the first to fall.
He had to decide the outcome before that.
“There’s no choice. The magic circle isn’t properly complete yet, so it will drain my lifespan. But even disregarding that, I will kill you here.”
***Thump!***
Joo-rip stomped the ground fiercely.
From where he struck, a magic circle emerged across the surrounding land.
“Secret Art: Forbidden Blood Suppression Release.”
At the same time, a gigantic power flowed into Joo-rip.
It was the power with which the Nameless Blood Cult had nearly conquered the continent.
The technique that absorbed the blood of living beings and the earth’s energy, converting it into power, was activated.
“So you weren’t just sitting around focusing on breaking the seal? You had another magic circle laid down.”
Baek Woon-ho’s eyes flashed as he watched the magic circle begin to operate.
“Good. I’ve always wanted to experience the terrifying techniques of the Blood Cult.”
In terms of power, he too had mastered the Flame Emperor’s Hybrid, which was second to none.
The combination of the perfected Heavenly Net Flame Hand and the mana hybrid derived from the Flame Emperor created compressed flame energy.
Drops of fire dripped like magma from his palm, and when they touched the ground, they sizzled and sank deep.
“Die!”
“Wahahahaha!”
***Kwaaaang!***
The cavern shook as if it would collapse from the enormous explosion.
When the dust storm settled and vision cleared, surprisingly, it was Baek Woon-ho who had taken the hit.
“NO.”
Baek Woon-ho retreated, rebounding backward, his left hand covered in blood.
What shocked him even more was Joo-rip.
“You blocked my attack enhanced by the Forbidden Blood Technique? That strike momentarily unleashed the power of the Transcendental Realm!”
Although it wasn’t properly completed and the amplification rate wasn’t high, the Forbidden Blood Technique allowed him to unleash power beyond his realm.
That was what made the continent tremble in fear.
Baek Woon-ho’s lips trembled.
“So this is why you’re a continental threat. An absurd technique.”
He too had learned the Flame Emperor’s techniques and could output greater power than martial artists of the same level, so he didn’t think he would lose to anyone.
Still, this was quite shocking.
*’If these bastards revive, it’ll be a big problem.’*
Baek Woon-ho’s expression grew serious.
In its heyday, the Nameless Blood Cult had laid out that Forbidden Blood Technique all across the northern continent, making them practically invincible in their territory.
Peak Realm fighters wielded Transcendental Realm power; Transcendental Realm fighters wielded even more.
At the pinnacle, the Nameless Blood Cult Leader displayed martial prowess that made one wonder if he was the greatest of all time.
They had slowly expanded the domain of the Forbidden Blood Technique toward the central continent, and in truth, if not for the Flame Emperor, they would not have been stopped.
And now, seeing the Forbidden Blood Technique firsthand, Baek Woon-ho felt that the continent’s worries were not unfounded.
“Yeah. You might have survived one blow, but let’s see how many more you can take.”
Joo-rip grabbed his side, where blood was streaming out, and clenched his fist again.
A massive energy concentrated in his hand.
Baek Woon-ho also drew upon the Heavenly Net Flame Hand again, ready to respond, but his expression wasn’t good.
*’I can’t endure many blows.’*
He couldn’t keep facing attacks of that power.
Joo-rip didn’t seem to be in normal condition either, so it would become a battle of who collapsed first.
*’Unless Lee Tae-sung comes out and helps…’*
He glanced at the wall where the seal had been broken.
Lee Tae-sung, who had entered that place earlier, was quiet—probably gathering the Flame Emperor’s legacy.
But the question was how much help he would be if he came out.
*’He’s not at a level to get involved in a fight of this caliber.’*
Baek Woon-ho had only seen Lee Tae-sung briefly, so he hadn’t noticed that he had reached the Peak Realm.
Thus, even if he obtained a fortuitous encounter, Baek Woon-ho hoped he would find a way to survive on his own rather than join the fight.
*’Even if he got a fortuitous encounter, it’s hard to get stronger right away. It might be better for him to think about escaping inside…’*
Just as Baek Woon-ho was thinking that, Lee Tae-sung walked out from inside the broken wall.
***Clomp, clomp.***
Seeing him walk out so blatantly, Baek Woon-ho frowned, and Joo-rip wondered what that bastard was doing.
“What is it, you thief?”
“I’m not a thief. The rightful owner simply came to claim it.”
“Hah! Do you know how long I’ve stayed here to get what’s inside? Ridiculous talk.”
“No matter what you say, it has fallen into the hands of the rightful owner.”
“Yeah. You got something decent inside and now you’re overflowing with confidence? If you had turned and run without looking back, you might have survived. Blame your arrogance.”
Joo-rip slightly turned his body, ready to face both Baek Woon-ho and Lee Tae-sung simultaneously.
Seeing that, Lee Tae-sung drew his sword.
***Wooong!***
Flame energy rippled and rose along the blade.
Baek Woon-ho was shocked to see him clearly generating Sword Qi.
“Peak Realm?”
He had clearly been a talented colleague, but how long had it been since he’d last seen him?
He had stepped into the Peak Realm?
No matter how hard one worked, if talent and luck weren’t present, the wall of the Peak Realm could be a barrier one might never cross in a lifetime.
Yet, how much time had passed for him to surpass it?
*’Even if he is the Flame Emperor’s legitimate successor… no, maybe one has to be at this level to become the successor?’*
Baek Woon-ho had never felt lacking in talent anywhere, but he saw a great wall in Lee Tae-sung.
And then, Lee Tae-sung looked at Baek Woon-ho.
“Sir Baek Woon-ho. I will show you what I obtained inside. This is something even you can learn.”
What the Flame Emperor had left was divided into items for his legitimate successor and items for the subordinates the successor would bring along.
And what was in this ruin was common to both.
***Whoosh!***
The flame that had risen from Lee Tae-sung’s sword soon engulfed his entire body.
A huge flame rose and flowed over him, forming the shape of a lotus near the back of his head.
At the same time, all the flames around Lee Tae-sung turned pitch black.
Black Lotus Divine Art (Heukryeon Singong).
This was the Flame Emperor’s legacy that Lee Tae-sung had obtained inside the ruin.
Long ago, to gain even greater destructive power for his flames, the Flame Emperor had obtained the legacy of a demonic cult that had perished thousands of years ago and combined it with his own Hybrid.
By adding the destructive power of demonic arts to his flames, he sought a more powerful path of domination.
***Crackle!***
*’What is that?’*
Seeing the black flames, Joo-rip felt a chill.
He could use Transcendental Realm strikes with the Forbidden Blood Technique, but somehow he felt that he should not face those flames.
***Whoosh!***
Black Lotus Flame Tide Wave Sword.
Lee Tae-sung swung his sword, and a wave of black flames shot toward Joo-rip.
“Out of the question!”
Joo-rip dismissed his feeling as unnecessary worry and drew upon his power.
The legacy might be strong, but nothing could compare to this power that had grown by grinding life force and earth’s energy!
With that thought, he thrust his fist.
***Kwaaaaang!***
The Black Lotus Flame wave and Joo-rip’s strike first seemed evenly matched, but as time passed, Joo-rip’s attack was consumed by the flames.
The energy itself burned and faded away.
“Kyaaaaaaaah!”
Joo-rip was engulfed in the black flames and let out a terrible scream.
—
“Is that the legacy you just obtained inside?”
Baek Woon-ho approached Lee Tae-sung and asked.
Having once clashed with Joo-rip, he knew best how strong the bastard was when enhanced by the secret art.
If that was the case, how amazing were the black flames that had defeated him?
He had traveled the world to obtain something like this.
There had been many hardships and dangers, but it felt like those efforts were melting away like snow.
“I will teach you the oral formula, Sir Baek Woon-ho, when this situation is resolved. However, it is a bit risky.”
“Great power always comes with risk. That’s fine. Since I can’t meet the Flame Emperor now, I plan to master everything he left behind.”
“Ah. If you wish, I could even let you meet the Flame Emperor for a moment.”
“…What?”
Baek Woon-ho flinched in surprise.
“It seems you’re not joking.”
“Yes.”
He could tell just by his expression.
Lee Tae-sung was serious.
In fact, he intended to use the Ascendant Summoning Skill to let Baek Woon-ho briefly meet the Flame Emperor.
Baek Woon-ho deserved that much.
Baek Woon-ho seemed to ponder for a moment.
“No, it’s fine.”
He shook his head.
The legacy he left was wonderful, and he personally deeply respected him, but he didn’t want to meet him directly.
“I heard he was a scoundrel without equal. Seeing him in person might disappoint me. Before my respect for him shatters to pieces, I want to keep it only in my heart.”
“……”
Lee Tae-sung silently prayed to the Flame Emperor in his heart.
He never expected even Baek Woon-ho to be like this.
No wonder the master hadn’t been able to come down to the Lower Realm even once after his Ascension.