The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign – Chapter 699

Supreme Pavilion, Conference Hall.

Bu Eunseol summoned all the operatives and personally examined each of their bodies.

Surprisingly, however, there were no signs of any poison, nor could he detect any gu.

‘The Martial Venerable is not the type of person who would ever speak nonsense.’

He raised the Void Heart Command, but the result was the same.

“Captain. Is something wrong?” Seeing Bu Eunseol examine their pulses with an extremely grave expression, Tae Muryong spoke up. “Please don’t try to handle it alone. Tell us what’s going on.”

Bu Eunseol forced a smile.

“I just wanted to check on the condition of the operatives’ bodies—to see if any of you were ill.”

“Thanks to the internal cultivation method you personally transmitted to us, haven’t we all become immune to ordinary sickness altogether?”

To strengthen the operatives’ internal energy, Bu Eunseol had performed the Opening Crown Great Method, accepting a decline in his own cultivation, and had taught them a new internal cultivation technique based on the health-preservation secrets from the Muscle-Changing Sutra.

As a result, every operative had instantly gained more than one full cycle (60 years) of internal energy.

Their constitutions had been transformed into ones where minor ailments could no longer take hold.

“I also wanted to confirm that your true qi circulation is flowing smoothly.”

As he gave the vague excuse, Bu Eunseol’s eyes suddenly sparkled. He had found the clue in his own words.

‘He said that unless one dissects the body, the gu cannot be found…’

But Bu Eunseol possessed a secret art that allowed him to peer deeply into the operatives’ bodies.

More precisely—the Heavenly Emperor’s Heavenly Mirror Heart Sutra.

Ziiing.

When he raised the Heavenly Mirror Heart Sutra, white haze flowed from Bu Eunseol’s eyes.

In an instant, he was able to examine every detail of their true qi circulation.

‘Three Corpse Worms…’

Bu Eunseol sensed a subtle stagnation in the flow of true qi near the point where it passed from the okchim acupoint to the baekhoe acupoint.

That meant the gu had been implanted in the brain.

In the martial world, the only gu known to devour a person’s brain was the Three Corpse Worm—the signature poison of the long-vanished Skull Poison Sect.

‘There is still no known method to completely detoxify it.’

Bu Eunseol’s eyes darkened.

The Three Corpse Worm could not be perfectly removed; only medicines existed to delay its flare-ups.

Moreover, depending on how the worm was manufactured, the antidote formula would differ.

Even if he learned the antidote recipe from the Martial Venerable, he would have to consume the antidote for the rest of his life.

‘So he truly intends to use any means necessary.’

Crack.

A sound of cracking bones came from Bu Eunseol’s clenched fist.

If the Martial Venerable had fed the poison to him personally, he could have accepted it calmly.

But secretly poisoning the operatives—something he could never forgive.

‘I will remove it.’

Flames ignited in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.

He was determined to find a way to extract these Three Corpse Worms.

“Captain.”

At that moment, Tae Muryong spoke.

“Someone has poisoned us, haven’t they?”

As the vice-captain of the Supreme Corps’s Intelligence Battalion and Bu Eunseol’s most trusted confidant, Tae Muryong could read his captain’s heart just from his expression.

“Yes.” Bu Eunseol calmly explained. “Gu insects have been implanted in your bodies.”

“Who would dare—”

“The Martial Venerable.”

Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.

Then he explained everything—from the fact that the Martial Venerable was acting in the role of the Heavenly Emperor, to all the conversations that had taken place between them so far.

Even after hearing such shocking truths, the operatives showed no sign of surprise.

Having gone through countless crises alongside Bu Eunseol and suffered one outrageous backstabbing after another, they would not be shocked even if they learned that the Martial Venerable was the greatest villain under heaven rather than the Heavenly Emperor.

“This is actually good news. It has nothing to do with you, Captain, right?”

At that moment, Tae Muryong smiled brightly.

“Moreover, you’ve been designated as the next Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division!”

Murmur, murmur.

The operatives grew excited and began talking among themselves.

Even though a brain-devouring gu had been implanted in them, they showed no fear whatsoever.

Instead, they were simply delighted that Bu Eunseol himself had not been poisoned—and that he had been designated as Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division.

“Captain, don’t worry. We’re fine.” 

At that moment, Jeong Jongdo spoke up.

“With your ability, Captain, you will definitely find a way to remove these Three Corpse Worms.”

Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.

The operatives were absolutely loyal and would not hesitate even to give their lives.

‘Finding a way to detoxify the Three Corpse Worms from the operatives won’t be that difficult.’

What Bu Eunseol was truly worried about was not the method of removal.

The Martial Venerable.

A man whose might had been overshadowed only by the dual prestige of the Heavenly and Demonic Twin Emperors—he was the strongest among the Three Demons and Three Venerables.

He could never be dealt with lightly.

“Yes.”

Bu Eunseol spoke confidently.

“Removing the Three Corpse Worms won’t be difficult, but from now on we must be even more cautious.”

His expression was a mixture of complex emotions.

“Soon, the forces that have been lurking within the Martial Alliance will begin to reveal themselves one by one.”

Yet even so, the operatives’ eyes did not waver.

No matter what trials awaited them, as long as they were with Bu Eunseol, they were certain they could overcome anything.

***

—The final test to select the Martial Heaven Commander will now begin.

Finally, the Martial Alliance Leader—the Divine Peerless One, the Heavenly Emperor—emerged from seclusion and returned to the forefront.

He immediately proclaimed the final test to select the Martial Heaven Commander.

—I will grant the position of Commander to the candidate who perfectly restores the silver shield of the Martial Heaven Corps.

But the test he proposed was somewhat absurd.

He would bestow the title of Martial Heaven Commander upon whoever could perfectly restore the silver shield of the Martial Heaven Corps.

The silver shields currently used by the Martial Heaven Corps were made of extremely precious kun jade.  This was because the original secret method of forging silver shields—by melting and combining various metals—had been lost in the middle of history.

The Martial Alliance had commissioned the so-called Divine Craftsman of the current era, Cheol-su, to recreate it, but even he had failed.

Thus, they had resorted to crafting new, sturdy silver shields using expensive and precious kun jade.

And now he wanted to select the Martial Heaven Commander based on who could recreate that plaque?

—Are we going to choose a blacksmith as the Martial Heaven Commander?

When the Alliance Leader proposed such an outrageous test, all the senior figures in the Alliance immediately rolled up their sleeves and vehemently opposed it.

They were already overflowing with resentment after he had repeatedly gone into seclusion while dumping all the work onto Vice-Alliance Leader Buk Ri-seung and now he was proposing an even more ridiculous method to choose the Martial Heaven Commander?

—Alliance Leader, this decision is unacceptable.

Especially since most of the elders had already decided to push Yuk Jangcheon into the position of Martial Heaven Commander, they had no choice but to oppose this decision even more fiercely.

Though Yuk Jangcheon had many connections, none of them included anyone exceptionally skilled in craftsmanship.

—Wouldn’t it be better to decide through martial combat instead?

Led by Vice-Alliance Leader Buk Ri-seung, the senior figures of the Martial Alliance strongly voiced their opinion to the Alliance Leader.

—In any case, all the candidates have already proven they possess the ability to become Commander, haven’t they? Just select through martial combat.

Under the relentless pressure of the elders, the Alliance Leader reluctantly agreed.

—Since the Alliance Leader has approved, the final test will be held in three days at the main Alliance’s Grand Martial Arena.

Once Buk Ri-seung officially announced it, the atmosphere within the Martial Alliance immediately grew heated.

At last, the date for the martial contest to decide the Martial Heaven Commander had been set.

Silver Moon Pavilion, Gongsun Dankyung’s Office.

“The Elder has used a very wise method.” Gongsun Dankyung smiled as she gazed at Bu Eunseol. “No matter what method was originally proposed, the elders of the Martial Alliance would have found fault with the Alliance Leader’s opinion anyway.”

Even if the Martial Venerable had suggested deciding through martial combat from the beginning, they would have claimed it was unfair and somehow twisted the test to favor Yuk Jangcheon.

But by preemptively issuing the absurd order to restore the silver shield, the Martial Venerable had provoked the elders into demanding a martial contest instead.

Moreover, since the test was being held exactly as they had requested, even if an unexpected result occurred, they would have no grounds to complain.

“But it’s unexpected.” Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes sparkled. “I never imagined that before the test even began, Captain Seon would request a private audience with this Chief Inspector.”

She had already guessed that some sort of agreement existed between Bu Eunseol and the Martial Venerable.

But she did not ask about it.

She knew very well that even if she asked, Bu Eunseol would not give her a straight answer.

If she did, the trust they had built so far would be shaken.

Knowing this, Bu Eunseol had come to her to offer an explanation.

“I should give a report, shouldn’t I?”

“Is that so?”

Having grasped Bu Eunseol’s intention, Gongsun Dankyung gave a slight smile.

Fortunately, their trust had not been broken.

He too valued the trust between them, which was why he had requested a private meeting to come and explain.

“You seem to have changed quite a lot, Captain Seon.”

For a moment, Gongsun Dankyung’s gaze subtly shifted.

Only now did she realize that even though she was saying something rather pointless, she was smiling.

‘Has he really changed?’

At first, she had simply intended to use Seon Woojin as a tool to achieve her revenge.

His martial prowess was far greater than rumored, and his wisdom and insight were unmatched.

But after working together on various missions… little by little, she had begun to open her heart to him.

The certainty that this man would never betray her or stab her in the back…

A completely unfamiliar emotion she had never felt before.

“That’s not something you should have to say, Captain Seon.” Feeling as though her heart had been seen through, Gongsun Dankyung deliberately made her expression cold. “To say such things to this Chief Inspector. Are you now going to ignore rank and position as well?”

“If my words were insolent, I apologize.”

Bu Eunseol calmly clasped his hands together.

“I simply felt that it is time for the Chief Inspector to view the greater picture with even colder clarity.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have decided not to ascend to the position of Martial Heaven Commander.”

In an instant, Gongsun Dankyung’s expression changed.

“What do you mean by that?”

“The Martial Venerable ordered me to lose in the final martial contest.”

A shocking statement.

Seon Woojin had believed in the promise that he would be made Martial Heaven Commander and had carried out one perilous mission after another.

Yet now, at this point, that promise was being discarded like trash?

“Then you must have received some other compensation.”

True to her sharp mind, she immediately grasped the situation and spoke.

“The Elder must have met with you privately for that very reason as well.”

“Correct.”

“Let me hear it.”

“Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division.”

Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.

“He promised to raise me to that position.”

Gongsun Dankyung gave a faint nod.

In truth, the authority of the Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division—practically equivalent to Chief Inspector—was comparable to that of a Commander.

Moreover, since it allowed one to carry out missions independently and roam the martial world freely, there was no position with greater freedom.

“But that alone is not enough.”

Gongsun Dankyung rose from her seat and said,

“While it is a position that can exert immense influence over the entire martial world, within the Martial Alliance itself, it holds no real power.”

“Correct.”

Bu Eunseol spoke leisurely.

“That is why I demanded the authority to conduct internal audits.”

“Internal audit authority?”

“Yes. And he said he would issue the Clear Heart Token.”

“Clear Heart Token…”

Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes sparkled.

The Clear Heart Token was a surveillance edict used within the Martial Alliance to capture rebellious factions colluding with external forces.

To grant it together with the position of Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division? That was an absurdly immense amount of authority.

After a brief silence, Gongsun Dankyung asked,

“Then you too must have paid a corresponding price.”

“According to the Martial Venerable’s investigation, the force rooted within this Alliance is the Returning to One Realm. And…”

Bu Eunseol revealed everything—except for the Martial Venerable’s dual identity and information directly related to himself.

He explained that the death of the Heavenly Emperor was connected to the Returning to One Realm, and that the Martial Venerable was preparing to seize control of the Martial Alliance from within in order to strike them down.

“…From the time I rose to the rank of Second-Grade Captain, the Martial Venerable recognized my talent. He has been using me as the person who would shake up this Alliance and weaken the forces of the Three Realms…”

Through perilous missions, the Martial Venerable had strengthened Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess.

Ultimately, he intended to nurture him into a figure capable of bringing fresh winds into the Martial Alliance—and use him as a tool to weaken the Returning to One Realm.

“You left out one thing.”

“What is it?”

“The safety measure.” A strange light flickered in Gongsun Dankyung’s large eyes. “The Elder is not the type of person who would ever share power without installing a safety measure.”

The Martial Venerable was a man who did not even reveal himself to Gongsun Dankyung.

Yet if he were to grant such immense authority to Seon Woojin, installing a safety measure was only natural.

‘I can’t fool her.’

With a wry smile, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.

“The lives of the operatives.”

“The Supreme Corps members?”

“Yes.”

Bu Eunseol’s expression was a tangle of various emotions.

“He said he had already implanted gu in the operatives.”

“Gu…”

Gongsun Dankyung let out a soft snort.

For the great Martial Venerable to use gu insects—something only the worst villains in the world would employ—and to use it on the warriors of this Alliance, no less.

‘But…’

On the other hand, she could somewhat understand.

The Martial Venerable was leading the Martial Alliance while concealing the death of the Heavenly Emperor, surrounded by shadowy forces.

If he did not handle everything with ruthless precision, he could be killed at any moment.

Though it was somewhat cruel, since he was granting such immense power… a safety measure was only to be expected.

“I can somewhat understand Elder the Martial Venerable’s position.”

If Gongsun Dankyung were in his place, she would have done the same.

If she raised a subordinate to a position where they could one day point a blade at her own neck?

Naturally, she would have to put a leash on them.

“It’s also a leash that has been very precisely tailored to Captain Seon’s personality.”

Gongsun Dankyung too had already seen through the fact that Bu Eunseol cherished the Supreme Corps members like family.

In the end, though Bu Eunseol himself may not have realized it, the man named Seon Woojin had subtly revealed a weakness—his affection.

“I do not blame you for that.” Suppressing his emotions, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “However, I intend to carry out my own plans without being swayed by Elder Martial Venerable. That is why I came to ask for the Chief Inspector’s opinion.”

“Your own plans…”

Gongsun Dankyung’s expression turned serious.

Until now, Bu Eunseol had never spoken of his own goals.

But now she could finally glimpse what he truly desired.

“Let me hear it.”

“When the time comes for me to fully establish myself as Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division, I intend to create a new power structure within the Martial Alliance—together with you, Chief Inspector.”

Completely unexpected words burst forth, causing Gongsun Dankyung’s eyes to widen.

“A new faction?”

“Yes.” Bu Eunseol calmly explained. “This Alliance is covered in personal connections and factions. Power is concentrated in the hands of the elders and a few senior figures. I want to change that structure… and create a Martial Alliance that operates purely on merit, without reliance on backing or connections.”

He added one more sentence.

“Of course, this plan is also a way to draw out the Returning to One Realm that lurks within this Alliance.”

“Hmm.”

“But… Elder Martial Venerable will absolutely never agree to such a plan.”

After thinking deeply for a moment, Gongsun Dankyung spoke.

“In short, Captain Seon intends to rally the support of the younger generation to stand against the existing senior figures.”

“Correct.” Bu Eunseol nodded. “There are many people in this Alliance who possess outstanding ability yet have never been given the opportunity to shine because they lack connections.”

He spoke firmly.

“I want this Alliance to become a place where such people can fully display their talents.”

Gongsun Dankyung looked stunned.

Originally, Seon Woojin had been someone who pursued only one goal.

He had never harbored any ambition to change the power structure of the Martial Alliance or rise even higher.

Why had he suddenly begun to think this way?

‘So that’s how it is.’

Gongsun Dankyung intuited it.

Seon Woojin had formed some kind of relationship with the Martial Venerable—and he harbored another purpose that even she did not know.

Under normal circumstances, she would have questioned him thoroughly and demanded explanations until she was satisfied.

But she swallowed her questions.

She knew that even if she asked, she would not receive a truthful answer.

Moreover, she had promised not to suspect him to his face.

No matter what ulterior motives he might have, she did not wish to show him distrust.

“Not bad.” Gongsun Dankyung nodded. “I agree with the idea of creating a new faction in order to build an Alliance free from personal connections and favoritism.”

‘She is keeping her promise.’

Having read Gongsun Dankyung’s true thoughts, Bu Eunseol smiled inwardly.

He too had not fully trusted her.

Yet she kept her words like gold.

And a person with such character… would at the very least never stab someone in the back.

Trust.

At last, a very small seed of trust had sprouted between the two of them.

“Let’s talk about the details later. After all, it will take quite some time before you can firmly establish yourself as Master of the Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division.”

Moreover, she showed him the greatest consideration she could offer.

“The martial contest is starting soon, isn’t it? Shouldn’t you start preparing your body and mind from now on?”

She set aside the complicated situation for the moment and sincerely hoped that Bu Eunseol would focus on the contest and win.

“Especially—while others may vary—the martial arts of the Heavenly Forest Lord will not be easy.”

Gongsun Dankyung looked at him with worry.

“The reason Elder Martial Venerable accepted a martial contest was probably because he predicted that the Heavenly Forest Lord would win all the way to the end, overturning the expectations of the elders.”

“On the contrary, I think the Heavenly Forest Lord is a throwaway piece.”

Bu Eunseol shook his head.

“They probably intend to push either Hall Leader Yuk or Captain Baek into the position.”

In truth, the person he was most wary of was Yuk Jangcheon.

Through his battle with the Fist King Seok Chi-haeng, Bu Eunseol had gauged Yuk Jangcheon’s level.

Seok Chi-haeng—who had long ago retired from sparring and served as the gatekeeper of the Ancient Sword Forest—possessed strength that far exceeded Bu Eunseol’s expectations.

If that was the case, then how strong was Yuk Jangcheon, who had been secretly honing his martial arts with ambition all this time?

His level would be on an entirely different scale compared to Seok Chi-haeng.

“Well… that could be possible.” Gongsun Dankyung shook her head and smiled. “In any case, all Captain Seon has to do is avoid winning the final victory.”

That smile was one of trust.

Bu Eunseol gave a faint smile as well and clasped his hands.

“I will definitely produce a good result.”

“Do your best.”

“Understood. Then—”

Bu Eunseol clasped his hands once more and turned away.

Leaving the Silver Moon Pavilion, he gazed at the distant sky.

‘The martial contest will bring a complete upheaval.’

If his prediction was correct, this martial contest would produce a result that overturned everyone’s expectations. Bu Eunseol too would have to readjust his martial prowess once more to match Seon Woojin’s capabilities.

‘And…’ 

Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed. 

‘After this martial contest ends, Yuk Jangcheon will never again be able to set foot in the Martial Alliance.’

To plunge Yuk Jangcheon into the abyss—to create such an outcome—simply winning the contest would not be enough.

Just as he had once provoked Yuk Cheongah, he would have to use the long-cherished resentments and grudges that Yuk Jangcheon had never been able to resolve, and expose the dark, sinister depths of his heart for all the world to see.

—We will now begin the martial contest!

Three days had passed.

At last, the final test to select the Martial Heaven Commander had begun.