The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign – Chapter 439

Bu Eunseol shook his head.

Of course, it was possible that the Demon Emperor was an heir of Black Star.

But the likelihood was slim.

If the Demon Emperor were truly a Black Star heir?

He would never have passed down Wishful True Binding to Bu Eunseol, who had faced countless enemies across the martial world. Doing so would be tantamount to announcing to the entire martial world that he was a Black Star heir.

Wishful True Binding was a unique method that fused energy with the mind, allowing free transformation of its form. If it were based on Black Star’s martial arts, its origins would have already been uncovered by numerous orthodox and demonic masters.

‘Perhaps the Demon Emperor fought someone using Star-Gathering Demonic Energy and was inspired to create a similar technique. Or maybe he stumbled upon a secret manual left by Black Star.’

“I won’t ask you to believe me. I have my own circumstances.” Bu Eunseol sighed and shook his head. “But I, too, lost a precious family member to the Three Realms. How could I possibly be allied with them?”

His eyes were filled with deep anguish and loneliness.

“Believe me or not, it doesn’t matter. Think what you will.”

Seeing his expression, Nae Bihon shouted in confusion.

“Don’t mock me. Are you saying what you used wasn’t Star-Gathering Demonic Energy?”

‘I need to make this clear.’

Bu Eunseol looked at Nae Bihon and summoned his inner energy.

“Watch closely.”

Zing.

As he unleashed Wishful True Binding, webs of energy spread out behind him in all directions.

They transformed into the shapes of swords or blades, then into a massive shield.

For a moment, Nae Bihon’s eyes grew ambiguous.

He realized that the technique Bu Eunseol was using was very similar to Star-Gathering Demonic Energy but also slightly different.

“If you want, I can demonstrate it hundreds of times. Is this really Star-Gathering Demonic Energy?”

Unable to respond definitively, Nae Bihon deflected.

“If you’re not a Emissary of the Three Realms, what about the orthodox techniques? Why have you mastered orthodox techniques as well?”

Bu Eunseol replied calmly.

“It wasn’t my intention. It just happened.”

“…”

“That’s all I’ll say. As I said, believe what you want.”

At Bu Eunseol’s explanation, a strange light flickered in Nae Bihon’s eyes.

Those who deceive try to explain and convince at length.

But those who are sincere keep their explanations brief.

“I… lost my beloved wife and child to the Three Realms.” Nae Bihon gritted his teeth as he spoke. “I won’t be fooled by you lot anymore! I won’t fall for your vile tricks again!”

The Thunder God lost his reason once more, charging at Bu Eunseol with Thunder Divine Energy.

But to Bu Eunseol, who could freely wield Yeolha Great True Energy, the power of Thunder Divine Energy no longer worked.

Boom!

Struck by Bu Eunseol’s punch, Nae Bihon collapsed to the ground in a pitiful state.

“Die!” Yet he screamed again, pouring out Thunder Divine Energy.

‘Hmm.’ Seeing Nae Bihon charge like a madman consumed by insanity, Bu Eunseol hesitated.

He was clearly gripped by madness, his mind unstable.

Yet he wasn’t a villain, but someone who had lost his family to the Three Realms.

Bu Eunseol had no desire to kill him.

‘No choice.’

He raised Yeolha Great True Energy to over sixty percent and unleashed the Seven Fist Demon Forms.

Hiss! Hum!

From his right hand surged Yeolha Sacred Aura, infused with Supreme Fire Ring Aura.

He aimed to inflict severe pain to knock Nae Bihon unconscious briefly.

Boom! Boom!

Nae Bihon was struck by Bu Eunseol’s fists and sent flying.

But he neither fainted nor gave up.

Even as blood burst from his body and cracks formed in his arm and leg bones, he tenaciously charged again and again.

Crash!

Finally, struck repeatedly by the Self-Oblivion Shatter, Nae Bihon let out a groan.

“Ugh.”

He dropped to one knee.

Since Bu Eunseol hadn’t infused much inner energy beyond Yeolha Great True Energy, Nae Bihon’s injuries weren’t life-threatening.

But with Thunder Divine Energy rendered useless and being helplessly beaten, Nae Bihon seemed to suffer immense mental shock, his mouth agape.

Had he ever been beaten like this in his life?

The Four Gods.

A name akin to an untouchable sanctuary.

Who could have imagined that someone existed against whom the most domineering power among the Four Gods, Thunder Divine Energy, was ineffective?

“Hwana, my Hwana…”

He trembled with unfocused eyes, muttering.

“They injected all sorts of drugs into you because you were born with pure Thunder Divine Energy, and in the end, they opened your head and extracted your spinal cord…”

Watching Nae Bihon mutter like a madman, Bu Eunseol understood why he was rumored to be insane.

His son was likely born with exceptional power, kidnapped by the Three Realms, and subjected to cruel experiments.

Unable to bear the shock, he had abandoned everything and roamed the martial world alone, hunting the Three Realms.

“Phew.” Bu Eunseol let out a deep sigh.

His grandfather had also been blinded and had his arm severed by a master suspected to be from the Three Realms.

His back was riddled with hidden weapons coated in vicious poison.

He no longer wanted to strike someone who shared his pain.

“Go back.” As Bu Eunseol turned, the Thunder God summoned Thunder Divine Energy again.

Crackle.

“How can I leave a Three Realms fiend be!”

“A Three Realms fiend.” Bu Eunseol’s eyes glinted.

The Martial Alliance had sent an investigation team to hunt him down, likely infiltrated by the Three Realms.

And Nae Bihon was consumed by madness, wasn’t he?

“Do you really want to kill Three Realms members?”

“What?”

“Soon, Three Realms masters disguised as Martial Alliance members will arrive in this area. If you want to kill, kill them.”

Flutter.

A faint sound of air splitting came from afar.

It was so subtle that only masters like Bu Eunseol or the Thunder God could detect it.

“Hmph. I see.” Madness flickered in Nae Bihon’s eyes again. “That movement technique is the sound of Flying Stream Bullet, often used by Three Realms members.”

‘If he knows their techniques, he must have killed quite a few.’

Bu Eunseol nodded, finally understanding.

The reason Nae Bihon pursued Soyo was because her stealth and movement skills, nearly imperceptible even to him, closely resembled those used by Three Realms Emissaries. Moreover, a Three Realms Emissary had been repelled by Bu Eunseol’s strategy and was returning from Yeolha Holy Palace toward Yunnan, overlapping with Soyo’s path.

Crackle.

Powerful Thunder Divine Energy spread from Nae Bihon’s body, now radiating killing intent.

Zzt. Zzt!

White lightning enveloped him, instantly healing the cracked bones in his legs and arms.

In less than half a moment, he fully recovered from the internal and external injuries inflicted by Bu Eunseol.

‘A monster.’

Bu Eunseol shook his head as he watched.

‘Like an heir of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars.’

The Four Gods were indeed extraordinary.

Thunder Divine Energy, a mysterious power passed down through generations, possessed abilities far beyond the scope of martial arts scriptures, akin to the techniques of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars’ heirs.

‘How many masters could fight to the death with Nae Bihon, who can recover so quickly?’

If Bu Eunseol hadn’t learned Yeolha Great True Energy? The outcome of their battle would have been unimaginable.

‘Thank you, Holy Saint.’

Bu Eunseol felt newfound gratitude toward Yeolha Holy Saint. Without the Yeolha Great True Energy, he might have been defeated by the Thunder God or forced into a humiliating retreat.

Crackle.

But Nae Bihon, fully restored by Thunder Divine Energy, had an odd expression.

Like a newborn child on its first outing, he blinked and looked around.

“Brother Thunder, are you alright?”

“Huh?” Nae Bihon looked at Bu Eunseol with clear eyes. “What do you mean?”

‘I see.’

Quickly assessing Nae Bihon’s state, Bu Eunseol asked again.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Who are you?”

“I just told you the whereabouts of Three Realms members.” 

After a moment of thought, Nae Bihon muttered with unfocused eyes. 

“So, you’re… the good guy who told me where the Three Realms are.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Nae Bihon’s madness was more severe than Bu Eunseol had anticipated. It seemed his mind wavered each time he pushed Thunder Divine Energy to its limits.

“Right, Brother Thunder. Don’t forget my face if you see me later.”

“Brother?”

“Yes. Don’t you and I share a common enemy?”

“Did we?” Nae Bihon’s eyes grew increasingly vacant.

With no choice, Bu Eunseol pointed toward the faint sound of air splitting and shouted.

“Go kill those vile Three Realms rats first!”

“Three Realms… Three Realms!” Nae Bihon trembled, then roared like thunder. “I’ll kill them all in one strike!”

Consumed by madness, he unleashed his movement technique and shot toward the approaching group.

“Hmm.” Watching this, Bu Eunseol let out a deep sigh.

Seeing Nae Bihon, driven mad by vengeance and mentally unstable, weighed heavily on his heart.

“His appearance was a stroke of luck for me.”

The Three Realms couldn’t be unaware that the Thunder God was hunting them in his madness.

Given his knowledge of their techniques, he had likely been fighting Three Realms members in secret all this time, without revealing himself to the martial world.

So, even if he suddenly appeared and killed Three Realms members entrenched in the Martial Alliance, it wouldn’t be surprising.

‘Why haven’t rumors of the Thunder God’s actions spread?’

After a moment of thought, Bu Eunseol nodded. ‘The Three Realms must have deliberately suppressed the rumors.’

They likely spread only the story that the Thunder God was a madman wandering the martial world. In reality, he was indeed consumed by madness, roaming the martial world and targeting Three Realms members.

‘I’ll bring you all down.’

Recalling Nae Bihon’s voice, filled with desperate resentment, Bu Eunseol clenched his fist.

‘Every last one of you.’

Flutter.

Another faint sound of air splitting rang out.

“You’re not a bad person.” With a low voice, a small shadow descended from the air.

It was Soyo.

She had been lingering near Bu Eunseol, pretending to flee.

“Why didn’t you leave?”

“You were going to win.” She said this, but if Bu Eunseol had seemed likely to lose, she would have joined the fight.

She was prepared to risk her life for him at any moment.

“Don’t do that again.” Bu Eunseol spoke sternly. “When it’s dangerous, you must escape. That’s an order.”

“Understood.” But Soyo’s large eyes remained unwavering.

Her expression declared she would never abandon Bu Eunseol in danger.

“Soyo, in an emergency, one of us must survive to report to the Death Spirit Corps. That’s why a deputy leader is needed. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” He warned her again, but her expression didn’t change.

‘Troublesome.’ Bu Eunseol rubbed his forehead.

He hadn’t chosen Soyo as deputy leader to have a subordinate sacrifice herself for him. But Soyo, Seo Jinha, and others were willing to risk their lives to protect him.

For their sake, Bu Eunseol had to become stronger.

Strong enough to ensure their safety in any situation.

So they wouldn’t have to risk their lives.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.” Soyo vanished into the air again.

Bu Eunseol watched her, then slowly turned.

Now, he had to return to the Martial Alliance… and take another step upward.

***

The Martial Alliance was in an uproar.

Yeolha Holy Palace.

That reclusive faction, long entrenched in Namman, had suddenly requested an alliance with the Martial Alliance.

“State your conditions. We intend to form an alliance with the Martial Alliance.”

Jeok Mumi, the new palace lord, had reportedly found the legendary secret cave and obtained the martial arts and divine artifacts of Yeolha Holy Saint.

With them, she created a thousand-strong armed force capable of wielding Yeolha Sacred Aura.

Having built a faction capable of dominating not only Namman but also the outer regions, the Yeolha Holy Palace lord had suddenly demanded an unconditional alliance with the Martial Alliance?

“It’s because of Leader Seon.”

In the letter’s postscript, Jeok Mumi revealed the reason.

The alliance with the Martial Alliance was due to Seon Woojin, who had helped her defeat the rebels plotting to overthrow Yeolha Holy Palace and recover the divine artifacts.

The Martial Alliance had no choice.

Seon Woojin, the elite leader.

His rank had to be raised by one level without question.

If any disagreement arose regarding the alliance with Yeolha Holy Palace, he would need to be at least a second-grade leader to step forward.

Inside the Martial Alliance, Ascendant Martial Hall, in the main conference room. A middle-aged man with a sturdy build and a lean man in white robes sat facing each other, sipping tea.

It was Yuk Jangcheon and Bu Eunseol.

“I can’t believe it.” Yuk Jangcheon gaped, eyes wide. “What in the world happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“Even just opening the door for an alliance with Yeolha Holy Palace would have been commendable, but to achieve the alliance outright?”

Bu Eunseol replied calmly. “By luck, when I arrived at Yeolha Holy Palace, I discovered that Palace Lord Hwa Jeong was in contact with external forces.”

Bu Eunseol calmly recounted the prearranged story.

Before entering Yeolha Holy Palace, he had coincidentally discovered those colluding with other forces.

Following their trail led him to Palace Lord Hwa Jeong.

“They say they found the divine artifact thanks to you?”

“Upon learning all this, Palace Lord Hwa Jeong lured me to a secret cave in Yeolha Holy Palace to secretly kill me.”

“Why a secret cave?”

“To avoid conflict with the alliance, they deliberately led me to a trap-laden place to make it seem like I perished on my own.”

Bu Eunseol vividly explained how he found the Fire Ring Divine Flute.

Though not an eloquent speaker, his calm recounting of the tense situation had Yuk Jangcheon gripping his hands with excitement.

“I see.” Having heard everything, Yuk Jangcheon smiled warmly. “The letter’s contents were verified by the corps leader as well… though it’s hard to believe.”

He patted Bu Eunseol’s shoulder.

“You worked hard.”

“I only did my duty.”

“Approval has come to promote you to second-grade leader. Securing an alliance with Yeolha Holy Palace immediately, no less.” With a proud smile, he continued. “Tomorrow, the appointment ceremony will be held at Star Guard Pavilion. It’s a matter of affiliation, after all. Since the corps leader is away, the deputy leader will handle the formal appointment.”

“Understood.”

“But… have you decided on your affiliation?” Clearing his throat, Yuk Jangcheon got to the point.

“Now that you’re a second-grade leader, you can join either this corps or the Star Guard Division.”

As he spoke, his expression darkened.

Even as a second-grade leader, the difference between joining the Star Guard Division and the Ascendant Martial Hall was vast.

Moreover, corps leaders could independently mobilize their units for just causes and held personnel authority over all ranks below faction leader.

The bigger issue was that the Star Guard Division leader viewed Seon Woojin very favorably.

If he joined the Star Guard Division?

Unlike the Ascendant Martial Hall, he could rise quickly and stably in rank.

“Don’t worry.” Seeing through Yuk Jangcheon’s concerns, Bu Eunseol spoke in a calm but firm voice. “Haven’t you looked after me and entrusted me with missions all this time? Without you, I wouldn’t have achieved these merits.”

In truth, Yuk Jangcheon had only ensured a fair selection process when choosing leaders. But Bu Eunseol had already resolved to elevate Yuk Jangcheon to Martial Spring Corps leader.

To do so, he needed to curry favor and gradually build the image of a reliable confidant.

“Haha, I knew I didn’t misjudge you.” Yuk Jangcheon laughed heartily, wrapping an arm around Bu Eunseol’s shoulder, clearly pleased.

In his position, finding a capable confidant was no easy task.

Most talented individuals were already tied to influential connections and affiliated with the seven great corps.

Bu Eunseol was a prodigy comparable to them.

Moreover, as an elite leader of the special operations unit, now rising to second-grade leader, he could take on various high-stakes missions. Acquiring such a talent significantly increased Yuk Jangcheon’s chances of becoming Martial Spring Corps leader.

A subordinate’s merits were his own, after all.

“I’ll make sure you never regret this choice.” Yuk Jangcheon thumped his chest, speaking with conviction. “This corps leader won’t stay idle forever.”

“I’ll devote myself fully.” At Bu Eunseol’s words, Yuk Jangcheon nodded with a warm smile.

“Good. Then we’ll meet at Star Guard Pavilion tomorrow.”

As Bu Eunseol left, the door behind Yuk Jangcheon’s study opened.

A beautiful woman in white robes walked out slowly.

It was Yuk Cheongah, the leader of Lotus Hall and Yuk Jangcheon’s only daughter.

“Quite surprising.” She approached Yuk Jangcheon and spoke in a low voice. “To forgo the solid backing of the Star Guard Division and choose this corps.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Especially since the Star Guard Division leader unusually favors Young Hero Seon. He couldn’t be unaware of that…”

“He’s confident.” 

Cutting her off, Yuk Jangcheon smiled faintly.

“Confident he can make me the Martial Spring Corps leader.”

“Him?”

“He may have a gentle face, but he’s brimming with ambition. If he weren’t, he wouldn’t have chosen me.”

As an ambitious man himself, Yuk Jangcheon saw through Bu Eunseol’s intentions.

He knew Bu Eunseol wanted a higher, more secure position and greater power.

Of course, those were to gain the authority to thoroughly investigate the seven corps leaders and the Three Realms.

“If any missions come up that can earn merits, assign them to the elite leader first.” Yuk Jangcheon said with a smile. “So he can quickly rise to a position where he can attend the general assembly.”

“Yes.” As Yuk Cheongah bowed, Yuk Jangcheon gave an unprecedented faint smile.

“I look forward to the expression Deputy Leader Seo will make tomorrow.”