Suddenly, a strange thought flashed through Bu Eunseol’s mind.
‘In that case, could it be that he possesses the ability to change not only his outer appearance but even his inner memories or characteristics?’
In the past, he would have dismissed it as an absurd hypothesis.
But after gaining the mysterious power to instantly change his body and appearance with mere thought, he could sense that such an assumption was not merely vague imagination.
Bu Eunseol suddenly thought of the Martial Venerable.
‘Then, did the Martial Venerable also obtain such a power?’
In the past, the Martial Venerable had shown no fear at all when Bu Eunseol threatened to reveal to the entire world that he was using disguise. Perhaps it was because he too had obtained this kind of power that he could display such bold behavior.
‘It might actually be only natural.’
Unlike its outward appearance, the Martial Alliance is a place where abyssal forces passed down through generations are entrenched.
To brazenly act as the Martial Alliance Leader while disguised in such a demonic den…
It must be possible only because he possesses that level of power.
‘There are still mysterious powers and martial arts scattered throughout the martial world that I do not know about.’
The forces of the Sacred Domain can turn ordinary civilians into puppets in an instant.
They use the absurd power called the Absolute Boundary, which separates spaces.
And the Hundred and Eight Stars wield powers in the realm of monsters and demons—supernatural abilities that can truly be called sorcery.
In the end, the current martial world was in an abnormal state where forces and experts possessing unknown powers, each with their own objectives, were constantly emerging.
The era in which the ideologies of the righteous and evil factions divided the martial world and they fought bloody battles with martial arts and weapons now felt almost romantic by comparison.
‘From my perspective, it has instead become a blessing in disguise.’
No matter the reason, he had now mastered a disguise technique that no one could detect.
This power would be of immense help in his future actions.
‘Moreover…’
Through Hwa Mugi’s appearance this time, Bu Eunseol had realized an unexpected major secret.
‘There may be an enormous power latent inside me that I am not even aware of.’
He had already reached the realm of a great master.
He could even alter the martial arts and techniques passed down through generations according to his will.
Yet there was power inherent in him that he could not discover?
‘Perhaps it is because it is not the power of martial arts.’
An ordinary martial artist would have rejoiced, but Bu Eunseol instead shook his head.
‘If it is a power that I cannot perceive or explain… it would be better to think that it does not exist.’
Martial arts is a process of moving from imperfection to perfection, and its completion also means reaching a stable realm.
‘In fierce battles, even the smallest gap or mistake can determine life and death.’
There was no need to abandon the solid martial foundation he had built so far and desperately seek a power he could not explain.
Having organized his thoughts this way, Bu Eunseol turned his body without any lingering attachment.
***
Majeon, underground secret room of the Solitary Light Pavilion.
In a secret room that only those who had learned the Black Secret arts could enter, a masked man stood tall, covered in wounds all over his body.
Swirling.
As black mist slowly spread across his entire body,
Crack.
Thin gaps appeared beneath his fingernails, and fingers began to slide out along those gaps.
Soon, like removing an old glove, his skin began to flip and peel off. Finally, the skin of his entire body, including his face, peeled away in an instant.
Now in his raw red form, he picked up another person’s skin from the coffin beside him.
He carefully wrapped the skin—soft and cold like wet silk—around his body starting from his toes. The skin quickly adhered and became one with him.
Swirling.
Black mist rose once again, and from within it, the face of a neat and elegant old man with neatly combed hair slowly emerged.
It was none other than Yeop Hyocheon, who had been pretending to be Hwa Mugi.
Splat.
The discarded Hwa Mugi skin hung in tatters.
It had ultimately been damaged by the powerful sword energy Bu Eunseol had unleashed at the end.
Whoosh.
Using the Void Grasping Hand technique, he tossed the Hwa Mugi skin back to its original spot. Black light rose from his eyes.
Chiiik.
In an instant, the Hwa Mugi skin began to melt away.
The Black Secret arts possessed various functions.
Among them was the power to naturally imitate a person’s habits, behavior, posture, and other things engraved in the human body by using their skin.
Even though he could perfectly change his appearance and body with the Black Secret arts, the reason he had deliberately worn Hwa Mugi’s skin again to meet Bu Eunseol was because he had killed the real Hwa Mugi so long ago that he had needed to absorb the habits and behaviors engraved in the body once more through the skin.
“This cannot be possible.”
Staring into empty space, he muttered with an expression of complete incomprehension.
“Don’t tell me he saw through everything and set a trap using the Boundary Prosperity Jade.”
While returning to Majeon, Yeop Hyocheon had already realized that the energy he had absorbed from Bu Eunseol’s body was the power of the Hundred and Eight Stars—moreover, the one-time-use power contained within the Boundary Prosperity Jades.
Had Bu Eunseol predicted in advance that he would try to absorb the Heavenly-Mandate Star’s power?
Had he deliberately come to the Hongsa Gorge carrying countless Hundred and Eight Stars’ powers within the Boundary Prosperity Jade and made the Sacred Heaven Jade absorb them?
“No, that is impossible.”
Such prediction would be impossible even for the Heavenly Mechanism Star.
‘Moreover, how?’
Even if one were born as one of the Hundred and Eight Stars, absorbing that many Hundred and Eight Stars’ powers into the body through the Boundary Prosperity Jade was impossible.
Moreover, he was not even one of the Hundred and Eight Stars, so how could such a thing be possible?
‘Could it be that everything I have done until now was because I absorbed the power of those Boundary Prosperity Jades?’
After thinking for a long time, a light flashed in Yeop Hyocheon’s eyes.
‘The reason he displayed mysterious power in moments of crisis until now—was because he obtained numerous Boundary Prosperity Jades and used that power each time?’
Of course, that was possible.
But he knew Bu Eunseol’s personality well.
If he were the type of person who would resort to such tricks, he could never have reached such an outstanding martial realm.
“In the end, heaven does not permit me to gain power.”
A flash of anger and bitter resentment rose in Yeop Hyocheon’s eyes.
What angered him even more was that, perhaps because he had used the Sacred Heaven Jade, the Black Secret arts he had accumulated in his body had been reduced to a mere fraction.
At this rate, he would no longer be able to perform the secret art of imitating the habits and movements of the living by using human skin.
Crack.
Unable to control his strength, the marble floor instantly turned to powder.
Tremble.
Yeop Hyocheon’s face, which had always maintained composure, was now horribly twisted, and the tips of his fingers were shaking violently.
“I have suppressed myself and lived for decades just for this moment!”
The reason he had been able to remain hidden for decades, the reason he had been able to handle the dirty work for the Demon Emperor, was all for the sake of obtaining the power of the Limitless Heaven and the Absolute Cloud Blade—the Heavenly-Mandate Star, which could even destroy the will of heaven that Bu Zhanyang possessed and transcend the path of fate.
But fate had not permitted it.
Instead, he had lost roughly one-third of the Black Secret arts he had cultivated for decades.
“Why does heaven not give me a chance!”
Yeop Hyocheon raged.
His talent was the greatest of all time.
However, the martial world was not a place where one could reach greatness through talent alone. One absolutely needed the power bestowed only upon those chosen by heaven.
If he could only obtain that power, he could ascend to the greatest realm of all time.
So why was heaven so cruel only to him?
Twinkle.
Then, suddenly, one fact came to mind.
If Bu Eunseol had absorbed that many Hundred and Eight Stars’ powers, it meant he had not simply inherited the Heavenly-Mandate Star’s power.
“Then…”
Recalling something, Yeop Hyocheon’s expression turned fearful.
“Did Baekri Muha and Saya… ultimately succeed in that?”
Only then did he realize why the Demon Emperor seemed to suppress Bu Eunseol while secretly protecting him.
“Sado Muryeong. Are you truly trying to bring in the Demonic Sects of the Seven Demonic Sects?”
It was a strange statement.
What currently supported Majeon was the Ten Great Demonic Sects. Yet why was he speaking of the Seven Demonic Sects?
“Then there is still a way.”
Having grasped the entire situation, Yeop Hyocheon relaxed his hardened face and wore a sinister smile.
“Let’s wait a little longer.”
He had somehow survived countless crises until now.
This kind of crisis was nothing.
He would definitely turn this incident into another blessing in disguise.
***
Upon returning to Majeon, Bu Eunseol activated the intelligence network of the Death Spirit Corps to find the person who had left a letter in his office and lured him to the Hongsa Gorge.
The prime suspect was the Chief Instructor Yeop Hyocheon.
However, despite continued investigation, no clues could be found.
It was only natural.
If Yeop Hyocheon were the kind of person who could be caught by such an investigation, all his secrets would have been exposed to the Demon Emperor long ago.
Yet Bu Eunseol did not give up and continued sending intelligence agents to investigate without pause.
It had always been that way.
If he did not give up and kept investigating persistently, a clue would always emerge.
It had been so until now, and it would be so in the future.
“Rather, that old man Jeok Bung’s movements are suspicious.”
Those were the words of Yoo Unryong, who had come to the office.
While directing the Death Spirit Corps’s intelligence network inside Majeon to investigate Yeop Hyocheon, they had obtained unexpected information.
They had detected the secret activities of the Elder Hall Lord, Blood Demon Jeok Bung.
“That old man has been continuously meeting and actively interacting with the leaders of the remaining Ten Great Demonic Sects, excluding the Nangyang Pavilion, the Affectionate Blossom Sect, the Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, and the Hell’s Blood Fortress.”
Yoo Unryong continued, “The Ten Great Demonic Sects, which had been restraining their external activities and lying low, have also begun moving actively recently and are expanding their spheres of influence.”
“Hmm.”
“Perhaps the agenda raised in the recent Demon Council to assign one direct unit under the Elder Hall is also related to this.”
Recently, a rather odd agenda had been proposed in the Demon Council.
It was to assign one direct unit under the direct control of the Elder Hall.
Naturally, the matter had been put on hold because the Demon Emperor was in secluded training and the Chief Instructor did not have such authority.
“They might be trying to use the statute that allows the operation of a direct unit if over half of the Ten Demonic Sect leaders approve, even without the Demon Emperor’s permission.”
At Yoo Unryong’s words, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“If that were the case, they would have coordinated with the Ten Demonic Sect leaders before raising the agenda.”
At that moment, Wi Cheongyeong’s voice was heard.
“Martial Soul Command Lord, it is Wi Cheongyeong.”
“Come in.”
Wi Cheongyeong entered, bowed, and handed Bu Eunseol a letter.
“It is a letter from the Elder Hall Lord.”
“Elder Hall Lord?”
Yoo Unryong shook his head with a sigh.
“Speak of the devil and he shall appear. That man isn’t even a gentleman.”
Bu Eunseol opened the letter Wi Cheongyeong had handed him. Sharp handwriting left a short phrase.
―Only by severing all bonds can one ascend to the summit.
“To ascend to the top, one must sever all ties…”
Bu Eunseol handed the letter to Yoo Unryong so he could read it as well and fell into deep thought.
After his disciple Sim Wol caused a major incident, Jeok Bung had taken responsibility and quietly secluded himself in a small manor in Hangzhou.
However, to alleviate the pressure from the Demon Emperor, Bu Eunseol had pushed for Jeok Bung’s return.
He had also greatly strengthened the authority of the Elder Hall.
But upon his return, Jeok Bung was no longer satisfied with the position of Elder Hall Lord.
The moment he returned at Bu Eunseol’s request, he must have decided to complete his own demonic path.
In the end, he had secretly expanded his own forces and was now preparing in earnest to become the master of Majeon by operating a direct unit.
‘In that case.’
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed.
There were only two reasons for sending this letter.
It was either to convey an intention to recruit him or to declare a hostile relationship.
“It seems the Elder Hall Lord is sincere.”
Yoo Unryong, who had read the letter Bu Eunseol handed over, shook his head.
“It looks like he intends to suppress the Demon Emperor not through martial prowess but through other means.”
He shrugged and continued,
“If he wanted to become the number one of the demonic path through force and seize Majeon in his grasp… there would have been no need to build close ties with the Ten Demonic Sects leaders or to send you such a letter.”
“He must have realized it after personally witnessing the confrontation with the Sword Sovereign.”
Bu Eunseol nodded and stared into empty space as he spoke.
“No matter how much one trains martial arts until death, one can never catch up to the Demon Emperor.”
Jeok Bung had already passed a hundred years of age and had reached a stable Limitless Realm.
However, the Demon Emperor had already transcended the boundaries of the Limitless Realm and reached an indefinable level.
At his rate of progress, even if Jeok Bung trained until he died of old age, he would never catch up.
It seemed Jeok Bung had realized this and decided to achieve his demonic world through another method.
“Anyway, let’s go meet him.”
Bu Eunseol stood up.
“It might be the last time I can meet him with a smile.”
Jeok Bung had decided to establish his own demonic world.
That meant the delicate balance of forces within Majeon, which had been barely maintained, would once again be shaken.
The probability that they would no longer be able to coexist had become very high.
***
When Bu Eunseol went to the Elder Hall, he was drinking tea with Jeok Bung with only a single table between them.
Unlike in the past, Jeok Bung’s aura had changed greatly. His atmosphere had become so gentle that the title Blood Demon now seemed unfitting, and only profound depth lingered in his eyes.
He had abandoned his domineering power like the Heaven-Breaking Rift Energy and was training in a completely different type of martial art.
It was a reckless challenge that someone who had reached the position of the Three Demons could not easily attempt.
Yet he had ultimately succeeded.
Sip.
However, Bu Eunseol did not particularly praise Jeok Bung’s martial prowess and simply drank his tea calmly.
After all, the time for exchanging pleasantries had already passed.
“Do not underestimate the hidden strength of the Ten Great Demonic Sects.”
Jeok Bung opened the conversation calmly and steadily.
“They selected their successors rather complacently. But with your appearance, they all came to their senses and replaced their successors.”
“I am well aware.”
He already knew, through the successor of the Extinction Palace, Shin Do-unhwi, just how miserable the fate of those pushed out of the successor competition could be.
“The sect leaders are the same.” Jeok Bung continued, “They trained with desperate resolve and have returned to the front lines. Their current martial prowess is now on a level that cannot even be compared to the past.”
He could agree with those words as well.
The Ten Great Demonic Sects were the strongest factions possessing the highest martial arts of the demonic path.
Since someone like Jeok Bung had described them as ‘having become stronger’… their martial prowess must far exceed expectations.
‘And the reason that is possible is probably thanks to help from external forces.’
Martial prowess does not increase simply through training.
Innate talent is also not something that can be changed through effort.
The reason the Heavenly Mechanism Star could reach into the Extinction Palace was by exploiting exactly that blind spot.
Even the Hwa Wu Sword Sect had been infiltrated by external forces.
Perhaps the remaining Ten Great Demonic Sects had also given up on producing purely their own successors.
“You are probably thinking this.”
Jeok Bung raised the corner of his mouth as if he had read Bu Eunseol’s inner thoughts.
“That the Ten Great Demonic Sects have come to their senses and are growing stronger through external forces.”
“Is that not the case?”
“No.”
Jeok Bung spoke with utmost seriousness.
“What this old Hall Lord means is that the Ten Great Demonic Sects you know are not the real ones.”
It felt as if a cold wind was blowing directly at Bu Eunseol.
It was a new perspective he had never considered before and information of enormous scale he had never imagined.
‘The Ten Great Demonic Sects I know… are not the real Ten Great Demonic Sects.’
Thanks to this information, Bu Eunseol would later destroy the Hwa Wu Sword Sect without hesitation and completely change the peaceful landscape of the martial world.
But that was a story for a little later.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“There are two reasons.”
To Bu Eunseol’s question, Jeok Bung spoke calmly.
“The first is because I do not wish for you to die quickly.”
―From now on, if you touch the Ten Great Demonic Sects, you will probably die.
That was what Jeok Bung was saying.
“And the second is…”
Jeok Bung took a sip of tea and continued,
“I no longer wish for the power of this hall and the demonic path to weaken any further. Do you understand what I mean?”
―Since all of it will eventually become mine anyway, do not touch Majeon or the demonic path forces any longer.
That was what Jeok Bung was saying.
“The Ten Great Demonic Sects are pillars of not only this hall but the entire demonic path. How could I dare to break their prestige?”
Bu Eunseol continued with a natural expression.
“I only hope that the Hall Lord will judge wisely and mediate well so that no more conflicts arise among demonic path members.”
Jeok Bung nodded as if satisfied with the answer.
“Of course. However…”
A cold voice flowed from his mouth, which had been wearing a calm smile.
“I am only worried that, despite this old Hall Lord’s hard efforts, the result may not be good.”
―Even if things go wrong, do not blame me.
It felt as if Jeok Bung’s inner thoughts were clearly ringing in Bu Eunseol’s ears.
“You seem to have become much more generous and gentle, Hall Lord.”
“Wasn’t it thanks to your help that this old Hall Lord was able to return so quickly?”
Jeok Bung made a strange expression.
“However, in times like these, handling things according to one’s temper will achieve nothing…”
He stared straight into Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“So I am trying to proceed while considering and embracing as many things as possible.”
Jeok Bung showed a benevolent smile that did not suit him.
“Just like you.”
There was a hidden meaning in his words.
Only then did Bu Eunseol clearly understand the reason Jeok Bung had sent that letter.
―It seems I must completely sever my ties with you to rise higher.
Starting today, Jeok Bung intended to completely sever his relationship with him and turn perfectly into an enemy.
He might have already joined hands with the forces lurking behind the Ten Demonic Sects leaders.
“I see.”
But Bu Eunseol did not look disappointed and shook his head.
“If the Hall Lord is considering so many things, I think he will instead look upon me even more favorably.”
“Huhuhu.”
Jeok Bung smiled.
“If you were to become a true demonic path member, that might be possible.”
He too now knew.
That the reason Bu Eunseol had risked his life to enter the strong martial world was not to rise to an infinitely high position or to become a great master who would rule the martial world. That from the beginning, he did not belong to the demonic path or the righteous faction—he was not even a martial artist of the martial world at all.
“The last thing this old Hall Lord will say to you is this.”
Jeok Bung smiled once more.
“You are already operating a tremendous intelligence network, so you must have grasped everything… but do not ever block this old Hall Lord’s path.”
For some reason, that smile seemed to carry a faint smell of blood.
The Blood Demon was the Blood Demon.
He was a great demon of the demonic path with whom coexistence was impossible.
“Of course.”
Bu Eunseol bowed politely.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Just as he was about to turn his body,
“Ah, and one more thing…”
A benevolent smile still hung on Jeok Bung’s lips.
“You are probably trying to become the next Sect Leader for various purposes.”
“…”
“But you will never become the next Sect Leader.”
Jeok Bung set down his teacup and spoke.
“Because this old Hall Lord will absolutely not allow it.”
“I have always thought the same.”
Bu Eunseol also smiled, revealing his white teeth.
“But after hearing the Hall Lord’s words, I now feel I must definitely ascend to the Sect Leader position.”
For a moment, Jeok Bung’s smile froze coldly.
No matter how great Bu Eunseol’s martial prowess had become, it was still far from reaching his own level.
Yet he dared to provoke him to his face like this?
Whoooong.
In Jeok Bung’s eyes rose killing intent thicker and more viscous than blood.
He had changed his mind and intended to strike Bu Eunseol immediately.
