At the unexpected sight, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
“Her appearance…”
Originally, Ahwan’s face had been densely covered with blotchy spots, as if she had been afflicted by a heavenly curse.
Except for her eyes and teeth, there had been almost no unblemished area.
Yet now she had become a mysterious and beautiful beauty comparable to the Three Great Beauties of the World.
Moreover, she had grown taller by a full span. If her clothes and hairstyle had not remained the same, Bu Eunseol would have mistaken her for someone else entirely and thought Ahwan had disappeared.
“Ahwan.”
Because of the aftermath of creating the sword membrane, her clothes were torn in several places, and with her sudden increase in height, Ahwan was exposing smooth skin across much of her body.
Bu Eunseol removed his outer robe and draped it over her.
“Soyo and…”
It was already astonishing that her appearance had recovered in an instant, but the changed face strangely resembled Soyo quite closely.
‘Soyo is not of Han descent either.’
If that was the case, could the orphan Soyo actually have been a descendant of the Yona tribe?
‘Surely the two of them are not blood sisters.’
Soyo was still with the previous generation’s great female expert, Snowflower Enchanting Swallow, also known as Ji Shuryeon, who had gone mad after losing her daughter.
She had repeatedly expressed her intention to return, but Bu Eunseol had ordered her that the time was not yet right and that she should train her martial arts further.
‘For Soyo, staying there is probably happier.’
The martial world were heartless, and the current atmosphere of the martial world was extremely harsh and bizarre. Bu Eunseol could only hope that Soyo would continue living comfortably with Ji Shuryeon without returning to Majeon.
‘What on earth is inside here?’
Ending his thoughts, he carefully examined the door inside the evaporated pond.
The smooth metal door was as sleek and transparent as a bronze mirror, to the point where his face was clearly reflected.
“Young Master.”
At that moment, Ahwan, who had regained consciousness, looked around and discovered the evaporated Illusion Pond. Her mouth fell open.
“What in the world happened?”
“The Illusion Pond was a kind of trial,” Bu Eunseol explained calmly. “It did not mean a deity demanded you as a sacrifice… It possessed the power to actually manifest the situation that the person trying to enter feared the most.”
After listening to the explanation for a long time, Ahwan suddenly lowered her head with an embarrassed face. She had remembered how he had held her protectively in his arms with a steadfast expression.
“You were hiding your true appearance, Young Master.”
Ahwan, now looking at Bu Eunseol who had restored his original appearance, lowered her head. Having lived as a guide, she had met all kinds of people. Among them were those renowned as peerless handsome men, but she had never even heard rumors of anyone this handsome.
“There were circumstances, so I hid it.”
“I see. You’ve changed so much that I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“The same goes for you.”
“Huh?”
“Look.”
Bu Eunseol pointed at the entrance of the Illusion Pond, which was as smooth as a mirror.
Ahwan stared at her own reflected face with a dazed expression.
Her long hair, carrying a faint fragrance, flowed down like soft silk with every step. Her skin, as if bathed in golden sunlight, was gentle, and her jet-black, clear eyes were dyed with a captivating hue. Below them, her high nose bridge was elegantly sculpted, and her red lips were plump like pomegranate seeds, full of vitality.
“The curse has been lifted!”
Although Ahwan’s appearance had changed into that of a refined young lady, her speech and behavior still carried a playful, childlike quality.
“Then you should be able to use your power as well.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Ahwan let out a small “Ah” and looked down at her two palms.
A divine light flowed from her body and soon turned into mysterious waves that spread in all directions.
“My power…”
Excited, Ahwan flapped her arms for a long time, creating waves of light.
The power she used was similar to Crystal Divine Energy, yet even more powerfully materialized.
If one had to describe it, it was like combining the evil-breaking power of Crystal Divine Energy with Wishful True Binding.
“It really feels like a legend is coming true.”
“A legend?”
“They said that when the Wind Cloud Young Master arrives, the sacred objects would be recovered and the Four Holy Clans would regain their glory.”
“We’ll have to see about that.”
“Huh?”
“We still haven’t found the sacred objects.”
Bu Eunseol pointed at the metal door and said,
“Let us check what is inside there.”
Bu Eunseol slowly approached the door hidden inside the Illusion Pond.
However, the door did not open, and there was no handle to open it.
Rumble.
But the moment Ahwan drew closer, the glass-like door slowly began to open as if it had been waiting for her.
“It seems only people of the Four Holy Clans can enter.”
Nodding, Bu Eunseol entered first, and Ahwan followed behind him.
Beyond the wide-open door, a landscape resembling an ancient temple unfolded.
The grand outer walls of the temple, reminiscent of a heavenly palace, were made of white-dyed stone, and mysterious patterns engraved on the surface glowed faintly when touched by light.
The patterns seemed almost alive, changing shape according to the light. Looking at them gave one an inexplicable sense of reverence.
Moreover, around this vast temple, there were hundreds of times more sandalwood trees planted than in the forest of Samana Valley.
Their size and quality were so superior that it was like having countless golden trees planted there.
“It looks like the sacred objects are over there.”
Ahwan pointed at the temple, paying no attention to the sandalwood forest.
The temple doors were made of bronze.
They stood over six zhang tall, and their surfaces were intricately carved with sculptures symbolizing the myths of Cheonchuk.
When they opened the doors and entered, the interior was covered by a ceiling that evoked a starry night sky.
Countless jewels embedded in the ceiling brightly illuminated the darkness where no light entered.
“There’s something here!”
At the center of the temple stood an altar with two sacred objects enshrined upon it.
“Are these the sacred objects of the Four Holy Clans?”
Bu Eunseol stared at the objects on the altar for a long time.
The first was a blue mirror engraved with a human pupil.
As he gazed into the mirror for a while, he suddenly felt as if he had transcended time and space, and faint images of the past and future seemed to flicker within it.
“It looks like the Heavenly Realm Mirror, the treasure of the Bayura tribe.”
“I thought it would be related to wind since they are called the Wind Tribe.”
“Ah, that’s because it only reacts to those of the Bayura tribe…”
Ahwan, who had been standing beside him and looking at the mirror, opened her mouth wide.
“It is reacting to you, Young Master.”
“Reacting?”
“Look.”
A transparent current was flowing from Bu Eunseol’s body.
However, it was manifesting so naturally, like breathing, that he had not even noticed it himself.
‘Their natures are the same.’
His heart pounded.
The power inherent in the sacred objects of the Four Holy Clans was the pure form of the Four Divine Energies that existed in the Central Plains.
At that moment, Ahwan looked at the large stone placed beside it.
“This is…”
It looked like a living heart turned to stone.
The stone emitted a vivid resonance, as if the heart of an earth spirit dwelling in the land had been extracted.
“This seems to be the Heart of the Earth, the sacred object of the Vimala tribe.”
Ahwan spoke with a strange expression.
“But I don’t see the remaining one.”
Bu Eunseol picked up the Heart of the Earth.
However, it did not react.
“What is the remaining sacred object?”
“It is the Sun Orb, the treasure of the Surya tribe.”
“A orb, huh.”
Except for the Yona tribe, who could use power from birth but were cursed and thus unable to use it, it was said that the other tribes could only use their power if they possessed their sacred objects.
In other words, there should be three sacred objects, yet only two were present on the altar here.
“Does that mean it might not be a sacred object?”
“In truth, I only know the names. I don’t know much about the sacred objects themselves.”
Because Ahwan was a descendant of the Yona tribe, speaking about the lost sacred objects of the Four Holy Clans was strictly taboo.
Therefore, she had only vaguely heard their names and forms through overheard conversations.
“Hmm.”
Bu Eunseol also stared at them for a long time, but he could not tell whether these were the sacred objects that Anan Geuk, the chief of the Bayura tribe, so desperately sought.
“Wait a moment.”
After pondering for a while, Ahwan waved her hand and created a transparent hand.
When she brought it close to the Heart of the Earth,
Jiiing.
A low vibration occurred, and a faint light flickered repeatedly like stars.
“It seems this is indeed a sacred object as well.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
Judging by the divine light, these appeared to be the sacred objects the Four Holy Clans had been desperately searching for.
“Could one be lost? Or was it stolen?”
“If it was stolen, there would be no need to leave the other two behind.”
Bu Eunseol unfolded the Void Heart Command and examined the surroundings.
However, he could not obtain any useful information.
“If these really are the sacred objects and there should originally be three…”
While looking at the sacred objects, Bu Eunseol picked up the Heavenly Realm Mirror and shone it on the Heart of the Earth.
Crack.
The large stone split open, revealing a smaller yellow-tinted Heart of the Earth inside, along with a red orb that sparkled with mysterious light. The Heavenly Realm Mirror was blue, the Heart of the Earth was yellow, and the Sun Orb was red.
When the three sacred objects were gathered together like this, it looked as if mysterious colored spirits were living inside them.
Jiiing.
And when the three sacred objects came together, they emitted an intense wave with a resonance as if they were alive.
At a glance, these were clearly the three sacred objects the Four Holy Clans had been desperately seeking.
“It seems correct.”
Bu Eunseol let out a sigh.
Although he had not found the boundary realm mentioned by the sage, he had, after endless hardship, found all three sacred objects that could restore the power of the Four Holy Clans.
Crackle.
When he touched the Sun Orb, which burned like red flowers, pure white lightning flashed.
‘This is Thunder Spirit Energy.’
However, the yellow-tinted Heart of the Earth showed no reaction even when touched.
‘This Heart of the Earth must correspond to the missing Earth Divine Energy.’
He was certain.
The sacred objects of the Four Holy Clans definitely contained the power of the Four Divine Energies.
‘In that case, there cannot be only three sacred objects.’
“Does the Yona tribe not have a sacred object?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Ahwan hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully.
“In truth, our tribe also once enshrined a sacred object. It was called the ‘Whisper of the Stars.’”
“Whisper of the Stars.”
“Yes. But it is said to have disappeared five hundred years ago.”
“Five hundred years ago?”
“It is said that an unidentified person from the Central Plains took it. However, it is only oral tradition…”
Ahwan continued calmly.
“Since we can use our abilities without any hindrance even without the sacred object, we did not bother to pursue its whereabouts.”
‘Five hundred years ago matches exactly with the time when the lineage of Earth Divine Energy was cut off.’
He could sense it instinctively.
Someone from the Central Plains had intentionally severed the lineage of Earth Divine Energy.
‘Was it truly the doing of the True Demon after all?’
But he could not find the answer right now.
‘In any case, if I find the Yona tribe’s sacred object, I will be able to obtain Earth Divine Energy.’
Until now, he had not even had a single clue to obtain Earth Divine Energy.
But if he could find the Yona tribe’s sacred object, the Whisper of the Stars, he would be able to complete the Four Divine Energies.
The Yona tribe’s sacred object would surely correspond to Crystal Divine Energy and possess the property of embracing all things.
Only then would he be able to draw power from the Heart of the Earth.
“If you wish to obtain the power of the sacred objects… how about receiving power injected from the Vimala tribe?”
Surprisingly, Ahwan had seen through Bu Eunseol’s inner thoughts. It was probably because she had seen him use Thunder Spirit Energy and Wind-Cloud Divine Qi.
“Power injected by others is not pure.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
“Moreover, this time I have perfectly united the Three Divine Energies. If it is not pure power, it will only mix in impure energy.”
“I see.”
“In any case, we have gained a clue. That is enough.”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
The sacred object called the Whisper of the Stars was surely somewhere in the Central Plains.
While traveling the martial world, he would eventually encounter it one day. This journey to Cheonchuk had not been in vain.
***
Bu Eunseol, who had once again disguised himself, returned to Samana Valley to return all three sacred objects found in the Illusion Pond.
Ahwan had not only recovered her appearance by breaking the curse, but had also become able to use the power of the Yona tribe, which was very similar to Crystal Divine Energy.
In addition, Bu Eunseol had passed on a teaching adapted from part of the mental formulas of the Martial Emperor’s Tranquil Awakening.
She could now freely transform and release a powerful transparent hand.
Using that transparent hand, she could run as fast as if she were using qinggong, even without having learned it.
When the two finally arrived at Samana Valley, they entered the temple where Anan Geuk was.
Anan Geuk was so shocked that he nearly fainted when the Yona tribe girl who had accompanied Bu Eunseol returned as a beautiful woman.
Then, when Bu Eunseol handed him the three orbs each containing mysterious light, he could not contain his emotion and prostrated himself in a deep bow.
“The prophecy has come true, Wind Cloud Young Master.”
“I merely recovered the sacred objects.”
The Divine Priestess had said that the Wind Cloud Young Master would recover not only the sacred objects but also the glory of the Four Holy Clans.
However, now that the Eight Tyrants of Cheonchuk already dominated Cheonchuk, it was virtually impossible for the Four Holy Clans to regain their past glory.
Yet Anan Geuk had now come to believe even that legend.
“Not only did you find our tribe’s sacred object, but you also broke the curse of the Yona tribe… The prophecy has already been realized.”
At those words, Bu Eunseol glanced at Ahwan and said,
“For the prophecy to be fulfilled, shouldn’t the Yona tribe now also become one of the Four Holy Clans and overcome difficulties together?”
Anan Geuk nodded with a deeply moved expression.
“If the Wind Cloud Young Master says so, then we shall naturally follow.”
Anan Geuk immediately ordered the tribespeople to announce the Yona tribe’s return to the ranks of the Four Holy Clans.
Upon hearing the news, the Yona tribe people who had been wandering around the periphery of the Napsageukseong began to gather once again in this deep valley where the Four Holy Clans once lived.
The sacred objects possessed infinite and mysterious power and would restore the long-blocked power of the Four Holy Clans.
―Let us forget old grudges and unite our strength together as in the past!
When Ahwan, a member of the Yona tribe, not only recovered the sacred objects together with the Wind Cloud Young Master but also displayed mysterious power, the other tribes nodded and accepted the Yona tribe back as one of their own.
All the people of the Four Holy Clans gathered together and held a joyful festival for three days.
Bu Eunseol pretended to participate moderately in the festival, then quietly left Samana Valley deep in the night.
The promised date with the Demon Emperor had already passed, and he had not even been able to contact his subordinates yet.
‘There is no helping it.’
Bu Eunseol let out a sigh.
By now, they were probably greatly worried and searching everywhere for any trace of him.
He could not even send news through the information network.
If he secretly contacted the Death Shadow Corps, all his movements might be exposed.
‘Still, it was not entirely bad.’
While helping with the matters of the Four Holy Clans this time, he had not only obtained the true Crystal Divine Energy but also gained the opportunity and realization to unite the Three Divine Energies.
That alone made the journey worthwhile.
‘Unless I obtain all Four Divine Energies, I won’t be able to receive the Demon Emperor’s Life-and-Death Single Palm Decree.’
Although his martial prowess had improved somewhat, when thinking of the Demon Emperor’s skill, receiving a palm strike with his bare body was still a distant goal.
Unless he perfectly obtained the Four Divine Energies, he should not even dream of walking away unscathed from the Demon Emperor’s hand.
“Are you leaving?”
When Bu Eunseol exited Samana Valley, a beautiful woman in white clothes was standing in front of him.
It was Ahwan, who had completely recovered her body by breaking the curse and fully regained her power.
“Ahwan.”
“I thought you would leave quietly, so I was waiting. I was afraid I might not sense you leaving with my ability.”
She bowed deeply.
“Thank you. For risking your life to protect me.”
The playful, mischievous girl had disappeared. Now she displayed a calm aura and elegant bearing worthy of being called a saintess of the Yona tribe.
“We simply helped each other.”
“There is something I could not tell you, Young Master.”
Ahwan spoke carefully.
“Among the conditions of the place you are looking for, there was one location I did not mention.”
When Bu Eunseol showed a surprised expression, Ahwan lowered her head and said,
“That place is far too dangerous and absolutely unreachable… so I deliberately hid it.”
“Where exactly is that place?”
“It is near the Napgi Lake in Nagara City, ruled by the Poison King among the Eight Tyrants of Cheonchuk—the Ajanta Caves.”
Poison King, Garama.
One of the Eight Tyrants of Cheonchuk, he was the Poison Saint of Cheonchuk who ruled Nagara City.
His poison was said to be a profound heart poison that differed from the poison arts of the Central Plains.
The poison itself possessed will, and it was said that anyone approaching him with impure thoughts would be instantly poisoned. Therefore, those with impure thoughts toward him did not even enter Nagara City itself.
Of course, the abilities of such poison were clearly exaggerated, but it was an undeniable fact that he was a supreme expert who had established a great and unique school of poison.
“Nagara City is not part of the Napsageukseong, is it?”
The sage had clearly said that the boundary realm was in the Napsageukseong.
Moreover, Bu Eunseol had specifically asked Ahwan to find locations within the Napsageukseong that met his desired conditions.
Then why was Ahwan mentioning Nagara City, where the Poison King resided?
“No. It was part of the Napsageukseong. Until recently.”
Ahwan continued.
“But not long ago, the Elephant King yielded that area to the Poison King. He did so as refreshingly as if cutting off a boil.”
“The Elephant King yielded his sphere of influence?”
“In truth, it could hardly be called a yield. The Poison King had already occupied that place for quite a long time.”
Ahwan continued her explanation.
“Even though it was clearly part of the Napsageukseong region, the Poison King had stationed his subordinates there for a long time, and the Elephant King turned a blind eye to it.”
“…”
“And recently, the Elephant King completely gave up on that area. Now the Napgi Lake region has become part of Nagara City instead of Napsageukseong.”
In short, the Poison King had been plotting something for a long time in the Ajanta Caves within the Napsageukseong ruled by the Elephant King.
When the Elephant King recently abandoned the area entirely, the Poison King incorporated it into his own sphere of influence.
“When exactly was that?”
“It was less than a month ago.”
A flash of light passed through Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
If it had happened less than a month ago, then of course the sage would have referred to that place as the Napsageukseong.
Finally…
He had found the place where the True Demon’s secret, spoken of by the sage, was hidden.
