As Bu Eunseol arrived before the Sacred Demon Hall, a massive gate, three jang tall, opened of its own accord.
Kuwoong.
The heavy iron gate groaned, its friction echoing like the low growl of a beast.
Bu Eunseol, gazing entranced at the pitch-black darkness within, slowly stepped inside. The grand interior, towering over ten jang high, came into view.
The floor was paved with stones that shimmered with a faint blue glow, and rounded pillars stood here and there, supporting the vast structure. The ceiling was studded with Seven-Colored Night Pearls, illuminating the hall with a radiant glow.
At the far end of the great hall stood a lofty altar, atop which a solitary shadow loomed. Despite the soft light cast by the Seven-Colored Night Pearls, an eerie darkness lingered over the altar.
And there, standing within that darkness, was the shadow. Its form felt like a projection of Bu Eunseol himself, standing resolute in the depths of an abyss.
The deep shadows obscured its face, but Bu Eunseol knew the figure’s identity in an instant.
The Heavenly Demon Emperor, Sado Muryeong.
The greatest master of the demonic path in this era, the lord of Majeon who divided the martial world with the Martial Alliance.
That great titan stood before him.
‘Is the Heavenly Demon Emperor alone?’ Bu Eunseol thought, a hint of doubt stirring within him.
He had imagined that upon entering the Sacred Demon Hall, the Heavenly Demon Emperor would be seated upon a grand throne, gazing down imperiously. Below, the heads of all the key figures and leaders of the organizations under his command would surely be bowed in reverence.
But contrary to his expectations, the Heavenly Demon Emperor stood alone, filling the vast hall with his presence.
“Disciple of Nangyang Pavilion…” a voice rumbled.
Bu Eunseol lowered his head, preparing to pay his respects to the Heavenly Demon Emperor. But as the word “disciple” left his lips, his voice faltered, unable to continue.
“Bu Eunseol…” he tried again.
As he spoke, a flash of white teeth gleamed from the shadow of the Heavenly Demon Emperor.
“Not bad,” the voice remarked.
What did he mean by “not bad”? Bu Eunseol opened his mouth to speak again, but the Heavenly Demon Emperor turned.
“Follow me,” he commanded.
It was an order that could not be defied.
Thud, thud.
Like one entranced, Bu Eunseol ascended the altar and followed the shadow of the Heavenly Demon Emperor out of the great hall. After passing through a long corridor, the western gate of the Sacred Demon Hall came into view. Stepping outside, an unexpected sight unfolded before him.
‘A garden?’ he thought in astonishment. To his surprise, beyond the western gate of the Sacred Demon Hall lay a cultivated field.
At its center stood a small pavilion, perfectly positioned to enjoy the scenery.
Swish.
The Heavenly Demon Emperor , who had been gazing up at the sunlight, slowly turned to face Bu Eunseol. At last, Bu Eunseol could see the Heavenly Demon Emperor fully revealed under the sunlight.
“…!” Meeting his gaze, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
A strange resonance stirred within his chest. The Heavenly Demon Emperor he had imagined was an absolute being, cold and unyielding, with the indomitable spirit of a mountain.
But the figure revealed under the sun, the greatest master of the demonic path, appeared… like an ordinary old man one might find in any village.
“Disciple of Nangyang Pavilion…” the voice spoke again.
Snapping to his senses, Bu Eunseol hurriedly bowed and paid his respects.
“Bu Eunseol greets the Heavenly Demon Emperor,” he said formally.
He raised his head to look at the Heavenly Demon Emperor once more.
Thud.
Another strange resonance echoed in his chest. Moments ago, the figure before him had seemed like an ordinary old man. But now, standing before Bu Eunseol was a monster in human guise—no, an unknowable, enigmatic entity.
‘Am I hallucinating?’ he wondered. Blinking several times, the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s form seemed to shift into countless shapes.
At times, he appeared as an ordinary old man; at others, an absolute being who could overwhelm all. Then, a sagely figure exuding an ethereal aura appeared, only to transform, upon another blink, into the supreme leader of all the demons of the world.
Gulp.
A surge of blood welled up from deep within Bu Eunseol’s gut, rising to his throat. Merely meeting the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s gaze had inflicted a deep internal injury.
‘This… isn’t an injury caused by force or inner energy,’ he realized. Biting his lip to hold onto his fading consciousness, Bu Eunseol thought, ‘I must fortify my spirit. If I don’t, I’ll suffer irreparable damage.’
Focusing his mind to dispel the intrusive thoughts, he steadied himself.
“Heh heh heh,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor chuckled softly. “Not only is your inner energy impressive, but your spiritual cultivation is remarkable as well.”
His gaze swept lightly over Bu Eunseol’s body. It was a mere glance, yet it felt as though his body and mind had been completely laid bare, every corner exposed.
‘This is the Infinite Realm…’ Bu Eunseol thought.
The Infinite Realm, said to transcend the Heavenly Realm and reach the limits of martial arts. The Heavenly Demon Emperor was known to stand at its threshold.
That realm was far beyond anything Bu Eunseol could comprehend. ‘If one reaches the Infinite Realm, can they encompass all things in the world?’ he wondered.
From the Heavenly Demon Emperor who ruled the demonic world to the humble aura of a rustic villager— the being before him seemed to embody every facet of humanity, possessing all that a human could achieve.
‘If I reach the sixth or even the seventh level of the Ban-geuk Method… could I exude such presence?’ Bu Eunseol mused. The Heavenly Demon Emperor, observing Bu Eunseol lost in thought, spoke.
“It seems you’ve realized something by looking at me.”
“Yes,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“And what is that?”
“That reaching the Infinite Realm allows one to embrace both phenomena and truth.”
“Heh heh heh,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor chuckled, but shook his head. “That is merely the realm I have achieved, not a phenomenon defined by the Infinite Realm.”
“…”
“Foolish warriors divide martial arts into realms and bind themselves to them. If you aim to stand above all, you must not climb the steps created by others.”
“Steps created by others…” Bu Eunseol echoed.
“Exactly,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor said, a glint of lightning flashing in his eyes. “You must shatter everything created by others—even the boundaries and teachings written in the supreme martial arts manuals.”
At that moment, Bu Eunseol felt his hair stand on end.
‘Has he seen into my very heart?’ he thought. The Heavenly Demon Emperor had even grasped the doubts about martial arts that Bu Eunseol held deep within.
Thump, thump.
His heart began to race uncontrollably.
The Heavenly Demon Emperor.
In Bu Eunseol’s eyes, he was no longer human. He felt closer to an indefinable, transcendent being. That was why the ruler of the demonic path was called the Heavenly Demon Emperor , not merely Sado Muryeong.
“But you are impressive,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor said, looking at Bu Eunseol with unconcealed admiration. “To glimpse, even faintly, my realm at your age—that is no small feat.”
He muttered to himself, “Ak Muryeong… he must be feeling a bit bitter.”
Ak Muryeong.
That was the name of the Nangyang Pavilion Lord. But why would the Pavilion Lord feel bitter?
Unable to immediately grasp the meaning, Bu Eunseol pondered the words. ‘That’s right. They say he entered seclusion with the Heavenly Demon Emperor,’ he recalled.
According to Dan Cheong, the Heavenly Demon Emperor and the Nangyang Pavilion Lord had sparred, and both supreme masters had entered seclusion to recover from their injuries.
Yet while the Nangyang Pavilion Lord had not yet emerged, the Heavenly Demon Emperor had already completed his seclusion.
This proved that the Nangyang Pavilion Lord’s martial arts had not yet surpassed the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s.
‘But why would that make the Pavilion Lord feel bitter?’ Bu Eunseol wondered. As his eyes wavered, the Heavenly Demon Emperor spoke as if to resolve his curiosity.
“If he weren’t in seclusion, he would never have sent a disciple of Nangyang Pavilion as a candidate for my successor.”
The Heavenly Demon Emperor smiled, revealing teeth as delicate as a beauty’s.
“He is, after all, my only true rival.” At last, Bu Eunseol understood.
Regardless of the process, the Heavenly Demon Emperor had effectively brought his rival’s disciple into Majeon through his authority. From the Heavenly Demon Emperor ’s perspective, this must bring a sense of satisfaction.
“I’ve heard all about your journey to the main hall. As expected of a Nangyang Pavilion disciple—reckless and bold,” he said.
Though his words were critical, his tone carried a hint of praise.
“Since returning to the Sacred Demon Hall after my seclusion, I’ve personally met the successors of the Ten Demonic Sects and the prodigies recommended by the Elder Council,” he continued, his gaze fixed on Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“And among them, you are by far the most unique.” Letting out a deep sigh, he murmured as if to himself, “A successor candidate with no interest in being a successor…”
Bu Eunseol was startled but kept his composure and cautiously asked, “How did you know?”
“Those who stand before me all show intense desires—success, status, power. But you… you’re like an ascetic monk, craving nothing,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor said, a faint, ethereal smile on his lips. “You don’t even want to be my successor. So why did you come to the main hall?”
“To challenge a new destiny,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“A new destiny,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor repeated, a strange smile playing on his lips.
It was as if he had seen through Bu Eunseol’s true desire—not for status, but to become limitlessly stronger.
“Perhaps you are the prodigy I’ve been seeking,” he said.
“I don’t understand,” Bu Eunseol replied.
“Look,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor said, gesturing to the vast expanse of Majeon behind the Sacred Demon Hall. “This immense place is a coalition bound not by master and disciple, but by the pursuit of power. And a place where desires intertwine is inevitably doomed to rot.”
He spoke calmly.
“Knowing this, I initiated the Ten Demonic Warriors plan.” Bu Eunseol remained silent.
The Ten Demonic Warriors plan was created to produce pawns for the struggle between the demonic and righteous factions.
In other words, mere expendable pieces.
“Heh heh heh. Were you dissatisfied with that?” the Heavenly Demon Emperor asked. “Human life is much like that. It seems we move by our own will, but in truth, are we not all pawns manipulated by fate?”
Bu Eunseol had no need to express his thoughts. As if reading his mind, the Heavenly Demon Emperor saw through him completely.
“I became the Lord of Majeon to defy fate. But looking back, perhaps that too was fate,” he murmured cryptically before continuing.
“I’ll ask again. Do you wish to succeed me and lead the main hall?” After a deep breath, Bu Eunseol bowed.
“Yes,” he said.
“But as you are now, you lack the qualifications to be my successor.” The unexpected words made Bu Eunseol’s eyes widen.
“You are the successor of Nangyang Pavilion, the weakest among the Ten Demonic Sects. Moreover, you’re on poor terms with White Horse Temple and Hell’s Blood Fortress.”
The Heavenly Demon Emperor stared at him intently.
“The position of Majeon’s lord requires the ability to unite all Ten Demonic Sects.”
It was an obvious truth.
The Ten Demonic Sects were the pillars upholding the demonic path and the core forces of Majeon. Without their support, the position of successor was unattainable.
“Do you know why I summoned you to the main hall despite this?” he asked.
After a moment’s thought, Bu Eunseol answered respectfully, “If we set aside such qualifications… I believe you called me to personally assess my potential as a successor.”
“Correct. Uniting the Ten Demonic Sects is a matter that can be addressed later. First, I wanted to evaluate your character,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor said.
“…”
“If you had come leading Nangyang Pavilion’s forces or shown any sign of avoiding your enemies, I would not have allowed you into the main hall.”
He smiled faintly.
“But even in a disadvantageous situation, you didn’t shy away from your enemies and displayed a spirit that could shake the heavens. That is a vital quality for leading the million demonic warriors.”
He continued calmly, “Without such a spirit, no matter how skilled in martial arts, one cannot become the successor of the main hall.” His tone softened, almost as if speaking to a grandchild. “Thus… I will give you the opportunity to become a candidate for my successor.”
“Thank you,” Bu Eunseol said.
“There’s no need for thanks. Without any foundation, the path to gaining power as a successor will be far more arduous and fraught with hardship than for others.” Gazing at Bu Eunseol, he spoke again. “Do you know what you must do now?”
Having experienced the succession struggle of the Sichuan Tang Clan alongside Tang Gon, Bu Eunseol knew well that to become a successor of any faction, the support of existing powers was paramount.
“I must gather forces to support me as a successor,” he said.
“Correct. To do so, you must first seek out the sects among the Ten Demonic Sects that are uninvolved in the matter of succession.”
“Are you referring to Heaven and Earth Severing Sect?” Bu Eunseol asked.
Heaven and Earth Severing Sect.
It was a place where great demonic masters who once shook heaven and earth resided in seclusion.
Their unique demonic martial arts were preserved there, and in exchange, their remaining years were guaranteed in Heaven and Earth Severing Sect. Thus, it was a place where those who could not become sect elders or had no heirs had little choice but to go.
“Correct. Heaven and Earth Severing Sect is where demonic masters spend their later years, and though it is one of the Ten Demonic Sects, it refrains from active involvement in the martial world,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor said.
He added, “Likewise, the Affectionate Blossom Sect is also uninvolved in the matter of succession. It is a women’s sect, after all.”
Affectionate Blossom Sect.
It was a renowned sect of great demonic arts, such as the Soul-Subduing Technique, Sound Arts, and Yin-Yang Harmonization. However, as a women’s sect, it restricted its martial activities and manipulated the martial world from the shadows. Thus, it held the status of one of the Ten Demonic Sects within Majeon’s fold.
“Heaven and Earth Severing Sect and Affectionate Blossom Sect. Though they are part of the Ten Demonic Sects, they remain neutral. You must gain their support,” the Heavenly Demon Emperor said solemnly. “The matter of succession will be discussed afterward.”
No demonic warrior would dare defy the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s solemn command. Bu Eunseol immediately bowed, clasping his hands.
“I understand,” he said.
“Go,” came the curt dismissal.
Bu Eunseol bowed deeply, then turned respectfully and left the garden, exiting the Sacred Demon Hall.
“Hmm.” The Heavenly Demon Emperor’s eyes narrowed as he watched Bu Eunseol’s retreating figure. “A natural-born demonic warrior with immense killing intent… yet he also possesses the spirit of a righteous hero,” he mused.
A glimmer of intrigue shone in his eyes.
“Indeed… how fascinating.”
It was the gaze of a human, not the grand master who ruled the demonic path.
