An unexpected result emerged.
The first test to select the next Commander.
It was to perfectly recreate the Silver Shield Tower Formation of the Martial Heaven Corps.
The one who had passed it flawlessly was none other than Seon Woojin.
‘This can’t be.’
Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes widened in shock.
The formation Yuk Jangcheon had demonstrated was so perfect that people would have believed it if someone said that he was actually the previous Commander, Jo Cheonwang, returned in person.
Yet Baek Museong and Seon Woojin—these two young men—had gone a step further, unveiling new formations that evolved the existing Silver Shield Tower Formation.
Baek Museong had presented a version that maximized the previously lacking offensive power.
Seon Woojin, on the other hand, had refined the ultimate principle of firmness—the profound essence of resilience—allowing the formation to maintain itself for a certain period even if the silver shields were destroyed.
Clap, clap, clap.
When all the demonstrations ended, Buk Ri-seong clapped his hands and nodded approvingly.
“Indeed!” He smiled with utmost satisfaction and said, “Everyone performed admirably. Even if Commander Jo returned, he likely could not have deployed formations of this caliber.”
At Buk Ri-seong’s praise, Yuk Jangcheon’s expression darkened.
Saying that even Jo Cheonwang could not have done it was, in the end, praise reserved solely for the newly evolved Silver Shield Tower Formations.
“It seems we cannot hastily select the next Commander in a short time.”
Buk Ri-seong stroked his chin and nodded.
“You’ve all worked hard. Let us meet again for the next test.”
Smiling contentedly, Buk Ri-seong left the grand training grounds with the senior elders.
As Yuk Jangcheon stood there dazed, Baek Museong looked at Seon Woojin and grinned.
“As expected, you are my true rival.”
It was both praise for Bu Eunseol and mockery toward Yuk Jangcheon.
“Brother Baek…”
As Bu Eunseol tried to open the conversation, Baek Museong waved his hand.
“Let’s talk later.”
With a smile still on his face, he added, “After all, someone might think this competition wasn’t fair.”
His gaze was fixed on Yuk Jangcheon.
Baek Museong had spoken to Bu Eunseol purely to ridicule Yuk Jangcheon.
“Then.”
After flashing a smile at Yuk Jangcheon, Baek Museong calmly turned away.
He was clearly avoiding Bu Eunseol.
‘Brother Baek.’ Bu Eunseol stared at him with a bewildered expression. ‘What on earth are you thinking?’
It was an established fact that Baek Museong belonged to the Three Realms.
Without their tacit approval, he could never have presented the fake head of Hyeok Ryeon-eung.
Yet the reason why a disciple of the Buddha Venerable had joined the Three Realms—and what his true purpose was—remained unknown.
And since he had joined them… he had become an enemy with whom Bu Eunseol could no longer coexist.
“Hmph.”
A snort rang out.
Turning his head, Bu Eunseol saw Yuk Jangcheon sneering at him.
“They say you shouldn’t raise a black-haired beast, but who knew it would be a jackal that bites its master.”
He was genuinely furious with Bu Eunseol.
He had tested Bu Eunseol’s loyalty countless times, trusted him again and again, yet in the end, he had been struck from an unexpected direction and had his throat bitten.
“Hall Leader Yuk.”
Bu Eunseol bowed deeply with utmost courtesy.
“How could I ever dare to bite the Hall Leader’s throat?”
“What?”
“I merely do as I am told.”
Yuk Jangcheon laughed toward the sky as if he found it absurd.
“Still playing with that three-inch tongue. So you’re saying Chief Inspector Gongsun ordered you to become a candidate for Commander?”
“Yes.”
At Bu Eunseol’s calm reply, Yuk Jangcheon nearly let out a hollow laugh.
“Are you still mocking this Hall Leader?”
“It is the truth, Elder.” Bu Eunseol clasped his hands with the utmost seriousness. “I cannot explain the details, but I have circumstances that force me to follow whatever the Chief Inspector commands, Hall Leader.”
Yuk Jangcheon’s eyes flashed.
In the past, he would have asked why upon hearing such words.
But now he knew for certain.
That man was toying with him, dancing on the palm of his hand.
“No more words are needed.”
“Hall Leader.”
“We’ll see.”
As Yuk Jangcheon coldly turned away, a faint smile touched Bu Eunseol’s lips.
‘I will slowly, gradually break you down.’
When someone learns they have been betrayed, seeing ingratitude firsthand would ignite extreme rage.
But that very rage could lead to regaining composure.
What people truly cannot endure is someone who outwardly shows no sign of betrayal… yet steadily, relentlessly erodes them from within.
‘So for now, enjoy your pleasant dream.’
Yuk Jangcheon still did not doubt that he would become the next Commander.
He had worked tirelessly toward that goal for so long, and now he finally stood on that lofty step.
But it was nothing more than an illusion crafted by Bu Eunseol.
What Yuk Jangcheon had climbed was not a staircase—it was a bubble destined to melt away.
Soon, he would fall from a dizzying height, plummeting into an irreparable abyss.
***
Four hundred years ago, the sudden appearance of the Eight Emperors and Three Saints had elevated martial arts in the martial world overnight.
Though unknown to the martial world, it was an arrangement orchestrated by the combined power of the Three Realms.
Yet even then, each realm pursued different banners and diametrically opposed beliefs.
Because of that division, an unforeseen expert emerged among the Eight Emperors and Three Saints.
It was the Martial Emperor.
He was the first to discern the existence of the Three Realms.
He realized that his entire life had been a puppet show—that every martial art he had mastered and every trial he had endured in the martial world had been orchestrated by the Three Realms.
Devastated by the shock, he temporarily withdrew from the martial world.
Eventually, he broke free from the martial arts granted by the Three Realms, created an incomparable mental art called Martial Emperor Tranquil Awakening, and upon that foundation devised the peerless secret art known as the Thirteen Guiding Energies.
Returning to the world, the Martial Emperor began opposing the Three Realms that had toyed with his fate.
As a result, five supreme experts who were pillars of the Clear River Realm and Infinite Realm at the time were slain.
The Pure Dharma Temple, then the main stronghold of the Clear River Realm, collapsed.
The fractured Three Realms once again united their will.
In the end, the Martial Emperor was forced to leave the martial world under false accusations.
By mobilizing all their power, the Three Realms could destroy the reputation, achievements, and life of the era’s foremost righteous master in a single stroke.
Four hundred years after the Martial Emperor’s death, figures from the Three Realms gathered once more to discuss matters.
The reason was Bu Eunseol.
He had discovered the main stronghold of the Infinite Realm and without lifting a finger, he had defeated even the Heavenly Deity, who possessed the demonic art that could drive enemies to death.
Flash!
Dozens of lightning bolts flashed across the sky in succession, followed by an explosive roar that seemed ready to unleash calamity and chaos upon the world.
It shook the entire earth as if the universe itself were exploding and being reborn.
Anyone hearing that sound, no matter how bold, would have their mind go blank and lose normal thought.
Fortunately, no living creature existed within hundreds of li of this place.
It was a mystical space severed from the world—one could not enter without knowing the way.
Much like the forest where the Wood Buddha, disciple of the Dharma Seeker Moryun, resided.
Keeeee—
As the heaven-shaking roar echoed, a ferocious gale swept through.
Within that boundless space, three shadows revealed themselves.
They stood unmoving amid the ceaseless explosions and winds, as if their human essence had perfectly fused with nature.
[Setting aside the internal strife of our realm.] The revealed crimson shadow spoke first. [We absolutely cannot tolerate an outsider pointing a blade at our realm.]
Then the azure shadow opened its mouth.
[The collapse of the Infinite Realm was foreseeable. Hadn’t they openly exposed themselves to the martial world all along?] The azure shadow continued. [They trusted too much in holding key figures from each realm as hostages. In the end, they fell without even using the forces they had planted.]
The crimson shadow responded.
[That man was fated to die anyway.]
The crimson shadow looked toward the black shadow opposite.
But the black shadow remained silent.
[It seems the Realm Lord is still absent.]
At the azure shadow’s words, the black shadow spoke in a low voice.
[Our realm is merely here to listen. To see what conclusion is reached.]
[Then it is decided—Bu Eunseol will be eliminated.]
For a name to be spoken here was equivalent to having it inscribed in King Yama’s ledger.
[No, first let us meet Sado Muryeong.]
The azure shadow interjected.
[If he decides to interfere in earnest, things will become far more complicated.]
Silence fell once more.
Were they truly expressing agreement through silence?
After an excruciatingly long pause, the azure shadow spoke again.
[Then we shall do that and decide the next step.]
At the azure shadow’s words, the crimson and black shadows vanished instantly.
As the sun set deep into the sky, an elderly man in gray robes sat by the riverbank with a fishing rod.
He was thin, small in stature, and of ordinary appearance.
From afar, he seemed less a person and more a part of the natural scenery along the river.
Step, step.
Footsteps approached the riverbank.
It was an elderly man in blue robes, his snow-white hair neatly combed back.
He too carried a fishing rod and a small basket, as if he had come to fish.
“Are they biting well?”
At the blue-robed elder’s question, the gray-robed elder replied calmly, eyes still fixed on the river.
“There isn’t a single fish here.”
“Huh.” The blue-robed elder looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Why fish in a place with no fish?”
“Because I caught something far bigger instead.”
“What would that be?”
The gray-robed elder answered in an utterly serene voice.
“The boss that moves the Clear River Realm.”
The blue-robed elder’s expression turned subtle. “You knew I was coming.”
It was a shocking reply.
Did that mean this blue-robed elder of immortal bearing was the Realm Lord of the Clear River Realm—one of the three powers dividing the martial world?
“If I didn’t even know that, I’d have to throw away the title of Demon Emperor.”
The gray-robed elder.
He was the master of Majeon, the supreme figure governing the demonic path.
The Demon Emperor, Sado Muryeong.
“I saw you once on Hae Nam Island over ten years ago. Isn’t that right?” A mysterious gleam flashed in the Demon Emperor’s eyes. “Is it fun moving the Clear River Realm?”
“Heh heh heh. Saying I move the Clear River Realm is too heavy a burden.”
The blue-robed elder shook his head with a faint smile.
“I am merely someone who does as he is told.”
As if recalling old memories, his eyes narrowed.
“You seem to remember clearly the day we met.”
“How could I forget?”
The Demon Emperor murmured softly, gazing at the distant sky.
“It was the day I discovered the third person to exceed my expectations.”
“Heh heh heh.”
The blue-robed elder smiled faintly.
“As expected of the one called the sky of the demonic path.”
At the praise, the Demon Emperor’s interest waned and he turned his gaze back to the river.
The blue-robed elder naturally cast his own fishing rod.
Silence continued for a long while.
The two stared only at their rods, as if obsessed with fishing.
They were figures who dominated the martial world and a single word from them could sway its fate.
Yet even in this meeting, they wasted precious time in endless silence.
Eventually, as the sun set and night darkened, stars appeared in the sky.
Finally, the blue-robed elder spoke.
“I’m afraid we cannot let that child live.”
His voice was far more solemn than before.
“I mean Bu Eunseol.”
He was conveying the will of the Clear River Realm to the Demon Emperor, treating Bu Eunseol’s death as a foregone conclusion.
But an astonishing reply came from the Demon Emperor.
“Impossible.”
Having reeled in his rod, the Demon Emperor repeated,
“Do not touch that child.”
“Are you saying you will sacrifice yourself?”
“Sacrifice?”
The Demon Emperor snorted as if hearing a strange new word.
“It surely wasn’t decided just because he struck Heavenly Blessing Medicine Forest.”
As he gathered his rod and empty basket, he continued, “I truly don’t understand what you’re afraid of.”
“Heh heh heh. You always have to counter everything.”
The blue-robed elder smiled faintly.
As if the Demon Emperor would never sacrifice himself for anyone…
And as if a figure of the Clear River Realm could ever fear someone.
“With that single sentence, you could have died just now.”
“Heh heh heh.”
The Demon Emperor instead grinned.
“You should have said that ten years ago.”
“Hmm, back then it was an unavoidable decision.”
As the blue-robed elder sighed, the Demon Emperor said, “It’s not too late even now—try it.”
“It’s difficult at the moment.” The blue-robed elder spoke honestly. “Even then, you were too strong. If I had resolved to kill you, I believe half the Three Realms would have collapsed.”
A curious statement.
Though a figure of the Clear River Realm, he did not call it “our realm” but spoke of the Three Realms as if they were another force.
“Such a thing cannot happen twice.”
“Do you think the child has reached into the abyss?”
“Even when you say something irrelevant… you somehow see through my inner thoughts.”
At the Demon Emperor’s reply, the blue-robed elder shrugged, showing slight admiration.
“Destruction of Nature. That was the first Ultimate Reversal Force you created, wasn’t it?”
The power that Bu Eunseol had called “phenomenon,” produced by masters of the Limitless Realm.
Its formal name was Ultimate Reversal Force.
And the blue-robed elder knew the Demon Emperor’s martial history in detail.
“Yes. There was that reason too.”
Nodding, the blue-robed elder said, “But what truly matters is that the child seems to have inherited the purified martial essence of the Seven-Finger Demon Blade. And… he possesses far too many treasures.”
He looked at the Demon Emperor and flashed a thin smile.
“Don’t they say in the martial world that possessing treasures is a sin?”
“You’re saying at great length that you fear his potential.”
Bzzz.
Suddenly, two ghostly lanterns formed in the blue-robed elder’s hitherto gentle eyes.
From an immortal-like appearance, he seemed transformed into an evil spirit ruling the greatest demons of the world.
“Oh dear, careful. You must be careful.”
The blue-robed elder regained his gentle smile.
“I nearly cut the throat of the greatest prize in the demonic path by mistake.”
He spoke as if the Demon Emperor’s neck—the supreme demonic figure’s—were corn he could pluck at any time.
Despite the provocation, the Demon Emperor snorted and replied, “I guarantee that child will rampage endlessly to avenge the Seven-Finger Demon Blade. In any case, the blade will turn toward the Three Realms.”
“That too is a problem.”
The blue-robed elder said,
“This is a time when the power of the Three Realms must absolutely not waver.”
“You should be grateful instead.”
The Demon Emperor turned to stare at the blue-robed elder.
“The Infinite Realm was exposed as much as it could be. This incident has instead cut away the rotten parts of the Three Realms.”
“No matter how exposed it was, collapsing a part of the Three Realms—does that even make sense?”
The blue-robed elder shook his head.
“It’s not fear; I judge him as a dangerous person. His mere existence is a danger. That is the conclusion of the Three Realms.”
“In the end, you fear he will reach the deep, deep abyss, learn everything… and ultimately open it.”
The Demon Emperor’s eyes shone mysteriously.
“The gate to where they are.”
The blue-robed elder shuddered.
First, he realized the Demon Emperor’s Ultimate Reversal Force had subtly invaded his spirit.
Second, because a word that must never be spoken had been uttered.
“Think whatever you like.”
Blue energy surged around the blue-robed elder’s body.
He was expelling the invading Ultimate Reversal Force from his spirit.
“The conclusion has already been reached.”
“Do as you please.”
A strand of light glimmered from the Demon Emperor’s body, illuminating the night sky.
“I will ensure that for about three hundred years, the force called the Three Realms cannot emerge in the martial world.”
A deathly silence fell.
Only a single flash of light had emanated from the Demon Emperor’s body.
Yet every sound from the riverbank—the water, insects, wind—all natural noises ceased in an instant.
“I regret what happened ten years ago.”
The blue-robed elder gazed at the Demon Emperor and smiled faintly.
“I should have defied opposition and killed you back then.”
“You wouldn’t have succeeded.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“You’d have been flickering red and blue lights again, fiddling with your abacus. In what millennium can you ever succeed?”
“Heh heh heh.” The blue-robed elder suddenly clutched his stomach and burst out, “Hahaha!”
His laughter shook the heavens.
“You’re right. That’s the problem with the Three Realms.”
Stopping abruptly, he continued, “When something demands immediate action, they only think of tearing each other’s hair out.”
“Thanks to that, I survived well.”
The Demon Emperor said calmly.
“While you made good use of me.”
“Heh heh heh. To think you knew that far— I have nothing to say.”
The blue-robed elder nodded.
Seeing the Demon Emperor’s ability surpass his expectations, yielding this time was proper.
“Fine. Then let us do this.”
He gazed at the stars in the distant sky and said,
“I will send the Supreme Emperor.”
Taking a deep breath, he continued,
“We’ll leave it to his judgment. How about it?”
“You mean to reveal part of the truth and divert attention elsewhere.” Mysterious brilliance flashed in the Demon Emperor’s deep eyes. “To deal with them instead of the Infinite Realm, while buying time.”
“He might kill him immediately. He is a merciless man.”
“That’s why.”
“We leave it to the Supreme Emperor’s judgment. If the child survives his hand, I will personally lift the extermination order just this once.”
Narrowing his eyes, the Demon Emperor nodded.
“That sounds interesting.”
“Good.”
The blue-robed elder nodded at the Demon Emperor.
“I hope you achieve your wish as well.”
Whoosh.
With those words, his figure vanished.
Not by sudden movement, nor by ascending to heaven or burrowing into earth.
He simply dissolved into nature and disappeared in an instant.
“Hmph.”
The Demon Emperor coldly smiled toward where the blue-robed elder had stood.
“Your end is gradually coming into view.”
The Demon Emperor reeled in his rod and slowly turned.
His body too scattered like starlight and vanished somewhere in an instant.
