Bu Eunseol cleared his thoughts and answered calmly. “How many places would dare ignore the legendary Three Families?”
The black-clothed man asked in a sharp, piercing voice, “It’s a little strange that a single remark made you think of the main family.”
“The Yangseol Family roams the martial world freely, so it stands to reason the Jungson Family wouldn’t simply sit idle either.”
“Something still feels off.”
A sharp glint flashed across the black-clothed man’s eyes as he muttered under his breath.
Then, as though a sudden idea had struck him, he stretched his lips wide into a grin.
At a glance it appeared friendly, but Bu Eunseol instantly recognized it for what it was—a smile brimming with murderous intent.
In response, Bu Eunseol also wore a faint smile.
“Silencing a witness through murder. A fine method.”
Under the identity of Seon Woojin, he had always preferred dialogue over brute force and maintained the dignity and courtesy expected of a Martial Alliance Captain but this forest was isolated from the outside world by mysterious arts. There was no need to force himself to uphold unnecessary decorum.
‘Even with his inner energy diminished and movements slowed, he still shows such confidence… Which means he has hidden strength.’
Murderous aura began seeping steadily from the black-clothed man’s body.
“Quite usable. A body honed in martial arts since childhood.”
The man gazed at the lines of Bu Eunseol’s form as though appraising a work of art.
“You’ll make a fine toy.”
Swish!
The moment those words left his mouth, a gigantic veil descended behind Bu Eunseol.
There had been no preparatory movement or warning aura, leaving even Bu Eunseol helpless against it.
Bzzz.
The instant the veil enveloped him, Bu Eunseol nearly lost consciousness.
It carried no poison, nor did it constrict his throat.
It felt almost like the power of the Illusion Upon Illusion.
An unknown, mysterious force was pushing his mind into an endlessly deep, distant abyss.
Had he been an ordinary martial artist, a single move would have rendered him unconscious, trapped in an irreversible state.
Bzzz.
But Bu Eunseol had reached the realm of Spirit Regulation Harmony. No external force could inflict harm upon his spirit. As his consciousness sank endlessly under the mysterious power contained within the veil…
Flash!
A pure white light burst from his eyes, and in an instant he returned to normal.
Whoosh!
Ultra-high-temperature flames suddenly erupted from Bu Eunseol’s body, still covered by the veil.
He had instantly drawn upon his Thunder Spirit Energy and the Ban-Geuk Method to incinerate the veil enveloping him.
“So this is the legendary technique of the Jungson Family—merely a soul-seizing art to rob consciousness, followed by draping a veil over the victim.”
Bu Eunseol, having burned away the veil in a flash, wore a mocking smile. The black-clothed man’s eyes widened in shock.
“You burned the Celestial Star-Capturing Dragon Garment?”
He shouted as though only now realizing something.
“You… you’re one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars too!”
Joy and ecstasy mingled in his trembling voice.
“Hahaha! Seon Woojin—you were one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars!”
The black-clothed man laughed boisterously, clearly delighted.
“Of course. Without being one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, no one could reach such martial prowess at so young an age!”
‘So it was him.’
From the man’s words, Bu Eunseol deduced one crucial fact.
The way he had manipulated the masked figures like living puppets, and the mysterious veil that had just enveloped him—these were not ordinary martial arts or dark arts, but the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
Just as the Earth-Kill Star had once used corpses to create his own domain and wield sorcery, this black-clothed man also possessed a bizarre power.
“If you’re one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, then my plans for your body must change.”
The laughing man scanned Bu Eunseol up and down as though eyeing delicious prey.
“I’ve been reduced to doing nothing but menial tasks because I never obtained proper power.”
He slowly extended both hands.
White light began pouring from his palms.
“Once I claim your power, I too can become a true member of the Jungson Family.”
It was a shocking statement. A man of such skill was not yet an official member of the Jungson Family?
But the surprise was fleeting. Bu Eunseol’s eyes glinted as a strange sneer formed on his lips.
“Now I understand why you were stuck with odd jobs.”
“What did you say?”
“With a mouth as loose as yours, it’s no wonder you couldn’t escape the life of a servant.”
In that instant the black-clothed man’s pupils dilated as though about to tear, and thick veins bulged across his entire body.
Enraged, he prepared to unleash his ultimate technique with full force.
Flash!
At that very moment, crimson light exploded from Bu Eunseol’s Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
When humans grow angry, blood circulation quickens and strength floods the body.
Power may increase, but movement slows.
Bu Eunseol had deliberately provoked the man’s rage to create an opening for his Meteor Chasing the Moon Form.
Slash!
The black-clothed man dodged swiftly, yet his throat was already half-severed.
Still, no blood flowed.
“Too… slow.” Clutching his throat, the man wore a cruel smile. “This entire forest is covered by my Fire-Burning Divine Ground—a trap designed specifically to capture One Hundred and Eight Stars.”
“What?”
Flash!
Suddenly, pure white light surged from the ground.
Since the light had erupted across the entire forest, Bu Eunseol had no time to evade and was fully exposed.
“Hahaha!”
Seeing Bu Eunseol enveloped in the light, the man smiled with ecstatic joy.
“Now I can finally obtain the true power of a One Hundred and Eight Stars.”
Crunch.
The man tightly gripped his severed throat with his fist.
With the sound of bones grinding, the cut flesh reattached like mud.
“No helping it.”
He sighed while looking at his ruined throat.
“Capturing one Hundred and Eight Star means this much damage is worth enduring.”
Yet something was strange.
The power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars absorbed through the Fire-Burning Divine Ground should have flowed into the crystalline jade at his chest.
But there was still no sign of it.
Step… step…
Then, a shadow slowly emerged from the pure white radiance.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“How…”
The black-clothed man’s eyes widened as though about to split.
“How can a One Hundred and Eight Stars stand unharmed inside the Fire-Burning Divine Ground?”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
Bu Eunseol frowned at the specks of light still gathering around his body.
“I thought you were merely unleashing a technique that emits light.”
“You… you’re saying you’re not a One Hundred and Eight Stars?”
The man could not believe it.
“Impossible! How could someone who isn’t one burn the Celestial Star-Capturing Dragon Garment?”
“…”
“Why is the Bone and Marrow Crushing Force function not activating!”
The Fire-Burning Divine Ground’s abilities were Bone and Marrow Crushing Force—instantly draining and stealing the blood, bone, and inner power of a One Hundred and Eight Stars.
“Draining and absorbing vital blood…”
Listening to the man, Bu Eunseol finally realized something.
‘The ones capturing One Hundred and Eight Stars weren’t the Yangseol Family, but the Jungson Family.’
In the past, the Earth-Kill Star had claimed the Yangseol Family desired the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars and conducted experiments for that purpose.
But in reality, it was not the Yangseol Family—it was the Jungson Family carrying out such deeds.
“How…”
The man muttered with unfocused eyes.
“How could someone who isn’t a One Hundred and Eight Stars burn the Celestial Star-Capturing Dragon Garment? How did you break through the Fire-Burning Divine Ground’s sorcery…”
He possessed the heaven-granted power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars—yet performed feats only they should be capable of, while showing no trace of their energy.
“Then I’ll just kill you. Turn you into a corpse and use it that way.”
After muttering incessantly, the man glared at Bu Eunseol with bloodshot eyes.
Crunch.
As he once again gathered his full power, his skin gradually turned dark and mottled.
Only then did Bu Eunseol realize the black-clothed man’s body was also that of a long-dead corpse.
Like the Heavenly Venerable in the past, this man too had preserved his flesh through a strange great method.
Flash!
At that moment, Bu Eunseol’s Silent Tiger Soul Sword pierced straight through the man’s heart.
“Too slow.”
Even with his heart split in two, the man laughed viciously without concern.
“Heh heh heh.”
By then his skin had turned completely black.
“A man already dead cannot die twice.” Revealing white teeth, he grinned. “Now I will kill you and use your corpse!”
With a thunderous shout, the man unleashed a torrent of dark energy toward Bu Eunseol.
Bu Eunseol repeatedly fired sword qi, striking vital points, throat, and heart, yet the man’s life did not end.
“Is that all?”
As the man burst into sinister laughter, Bu Eunseol sighed.
“Already a dead man.”
Clack.
With a sigh, he sheathed the Silent Tiger Soul Sword once more.
“I’ll see whether both your body and spirit have truly reached the realm of death.”
“Kaaah!”
The man roared and charged at Bu Eunseol.
Shing.
The Silent Soul Sword emerged again, and black sword rings spread around Bu Eunseol’s body.
He had unleashed the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
Even the sky bathed in gentle sunlight darkened, and all the rising sword rings were sucked into the black-clothed man’s flesh.
Freeze.
The man halted.
His body could no longer move.
All he could do was roll his eyes to look down at himself.
Then infinite emptiness and endless fear flooded his mind.
The sword rings pouring from that pitch-black sword were inflicting death not only on his body but on his very soul.
“Ah…”
A low groan escaped him.
After emptiness and fear passed, sorrow and pain arrived. Then boundless stillness and perfect tranquility washed over him.
That was death itself.
“Was life merely a process leading to death?”
The black-clothed man muttered softly, then—
Thud.
With eyes wide open, he perished.
His body, drained of all life force, stood motionless, and his soul had reached infinite darkness.
Watching the scene, Bu Eunseol closed his eyes.
Whenever he used the Seven Blood Tear Forms, he felt himself increasingly resonating with his grandfather’s longing for peace and eternal rest through death.
Bzzz.
As the black-clothed man’s breath completely ceased, a faint spatial distortion that had been invisible until now revealed itself.
It was the life gate of the Fire-Burning Divine Ground the man had set up in the forest.
“He was blocking it like a gatekeeper to prevent anyone from entering.”
Only now understanding the man’s intent, Bu Eunseol let out a deep sigh.
In the end, like the Yangseol Family, the Jungson Family was also conducting secret activities in the martial world. Their goal was likely, as the Earth-Kill Star had said, to research or absorb the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars for some purpose.
That meant they were no different from the Three Realms, willing to commit any atrocity to gain power.
“Something is happening here.”
A figure from the Jungson Family would not suddenly appear in this place and deploy strange sorcery without reason.
Clearly, something was taking place here.
“The Martial Venerable must know.”
A terrifying figure like the Martial Venerable would never send him here without knowing who was present and what situation was unfolding.
“What exactly does he want?”
With the mere title of the Martial World’s Greatest Sage, he could already manipulate countless martial artists.
With the position of Martial Alliance Lord, he could accomplish anything.
Yet why was he making Bu Eunseol do this?
Did he have some other purpose?
‘It will become clear eventually.’
Bu Eunseol’s goal was revenge.
Whatever the Martial Venerable’s hidden motives, uncovering them could wait.
“I truly don’t know what is happening here.”
Muttering lowly, Bu Eunseol stepped through the life gate.
He intended to discover why the black-clothed man had deployed sorcery here and blocked outsiders.
“How bizarre.”
Entering inside, Bu Eunseol sighed.
The interior was an ordinary forest—just like the one he had seen from the moment he entered Seoryeong Mountain until now.
‘It’s similar to the dark arts used at Majeon.’
Back then, the infiltrator at Majeon had used dark arts to seemingly divide the same space into two. Now too, though clearly in the same forest, mysterious power had split it into two separate spaces.
“That means they might be using dark arts as well.”
Step… step…
Bu Eunseol’s eyes grew solemn as he walked cautiously.
The grass on the ground was faintly bent. It was the trace of a large group using qinggong to rush forward.
“Someone is being pursued.”
Bu Eunseol immediately followed the trail at full speed.
After some time, he finally caught sight of the large group moving ahead.
Watching from afar, Bu Eunseol doubted his own eyes.
Over fifty masked figures were swiftly leaving the forest with movement arts that seemed to tread upon clouds.
They were covered in wounds, their martial robes soaked through with blood.
Judging by the amount of blood staining their robes, they appeared to have just fought a massive battle against hundreds—perhaps thousands—of troops.
But what shocked Bu Eunseol was the masked figures running at the rear.
They carried a large palanquin, and upon it sat a beautiful young woman.
It was Manwol, the girl he had met when dealing with the Ghost Children.
‘What are they doing?’
Manwol’s body on the palanquin was tightly bound with red threads, and numerous treasures containing destructive energy surrounded it.
Had yellow talismans been stuck around as well, Bu Eunseol might have mistaken her for a jiangshi being transported.
‘They defeated a large enemy force and captured her?’
Judging by the masked figures’ condition and Manwol’s expression, they were clearly not allies.
Most likely, these warriors had crushed the large force on Manwol’s side and abducted her.
‘I’ll follow them.’
Bu Eunseol used Swift Beyond Shadow to pursue them stealthily.
Whoosh.
The masked figures continued running swiftly while carrying the palanquin with Manwol aboard.
‘She must have suffered greatly.’
Manwol, seated on the palanquin, had grown much thinner since he last saw her, her complexion extremely pale. She appeared to have suffered internal injuries and traveled by carriage for days.
‘Kidnapping a young girl without hesitation.’
Anger flared in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
In the end, the Jungson Family, like the Three Realms, committed atrocities without remorse for their goals.
‘I will definitely locate the Jungson Family’s main base.’
Bu Eunseol intended not only to rescue Manwol but also to find the Jungson Family’s headquarters or stronghold.
Yet something was odd.
The masked figures were not heading out of Seoryeong Mountain but deeper into it.
‘Just how far in are they going?’
Whoosh.
As they ventured endlessly deeper into the forest, a wide clearing suddenly appeared before them.
At the center of the clearing stood a large pitch-black box.
‘A coffin?’
Watching from afar, Bu Eunseol frowned.
The pitch-black box resembled a coffin.
The ink-black coffin appeared made of metal and exuded a sinister aura.
Thump.
The group halted their qinggong, lifted the tightly bound Manwol, and seated her directly facing the coffin.
Then the fifty-plus masked figures formed a circular formation centered on Manwol and the coffin.
Murmur… murmur…
They formed strange hand seals and began chanting. It sounded sometimes like esoteric sect mantras, sometimes like martial mnemonics.
Then a strange phenomena began.
The ink coffin started shaking, and Manwol, seated before it, twisted in pain.
A closer inspection revealed the red threads binding her digging into her flesh, drawing blood.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
What exactly was inside that black coffin?
Why were the Jungson Family members chanting bizarre incantations to torment Manwol?
Were they perhaps planning to sacrifice her life to revive someone dead?
Drip… drip…
Crimson blood flowed from Manwol’s bound body, her face growing even paler.
At the same time, the coffin’s shaking intensified.
If left alone, Manwol would surely die.
‘I cannot stand by and watch her die.’
Flash! Boom!
From his hiding place, Bu Eunseol instantly drew the Silent Tiger Soul Sword and unleashed sword qi.
His movement was smooth, yet the sword qi faster than lightning.
Bzzz.
But something astonishing happened.
Though the masked figures remained motionless in their circular formation, they completely repelled all of Bu Eunseol’s sword qi.
Boom!
But Bu Eunseol’s target had not been the masked figures—he had aimed to rescue Manwol.
Using the moment they deflected his qi, he dashed straight toward Manwol at the center.
Sizzle.
But as he approached her, a strange repulsive force created a hemispherical barrier.
‘It’s the same.’
The barrier displayed the same repulsive force as the mysterious arts spread throughout the forest.
Bu Eunseol immediately channeled his Thunder Spirit Energy and continuously poured it into the dome.
Sizzle! Boooom!
Breaking through in an instant, he landed beside Manwol at the center.
Swish!
Cutting the red threads binding her, she collapsed forward.
“Stay with me.”
As Bu Eunseol tried to support the unconscious girl, strange pressure began pouring in from all directions.
The masked figures in their circular formation were unleashing bizarre power.
‘They were waiting for this.’
Whirr.
Five-colored radiance flowed from Bu Eunseol’s body.
From the moment they easily deflected his sword qi, he had anticipated they could unleash an unbreakable pressure.
He planned to reverse that pressure, draw upon the power of Harmony, and sweep them away in one strike.
Whirrrr.
As their pressure intensified, the radiance from Bu Eunseol grew denser.
Bzzz.
Finally, the Great Prajna Power flowed forth, perfectly aligning all power within his body.
‘Now.’
Just as Bu Eunseol prepared to unleash harmony upon the masked figures—
Clang―!
A loud metallic ring suddenly resounded behind him.
Turning his head, he saw the lid of the pitch-black coffin flying high into the sky.
Thump!
The lid crashed back to the ground with a heavy thud, vibrating.
The metal lid appeared over a foot thick.
While Bu Eunseol stared in confusion, swish!
Crimson lines suddenly began forming a large circle above the open lid.
‘Danger!’
Sensing the power and threat within those crimson lines, Bu Eunseol instantly scooped up Manwol and leaped into the air.
Unfortunately, the masked figures forming the circle could not evade as swiftly as he.
Thud… thud…
As the crimson lines completed one full circle, the heads of the standing warriors fell to the ground in unison.
Rumble… rumble…
The open coffin began moving slightly, then—
Gush!
Blood surged from within, and a gigantic monstrosity revealed itself.
The monster, revealing a muscular upper body, looked around as thick blood overflowed from the coffin.
When its milky-white eyes met Bu Eunseol’s gaze, it suddenly curled its lips.
Gush.
Rising fully from the massive coffin, the sky seemed dyed blood-red.
It stood over eight feet tall, its skin grayish, hairless, its unfocused milky eyes vacant.
It resembled an evil spirit risen from a grave.
Step… step…
As the monster approached, inner energy instinctively surged through Bu Eunseol’s body.
The mere pressure of its advance was enough to put him on edge.
Hiss…
With each step, the blood clinging to its body turned to mist and absorbed into its skin.
“Blood… Emperor?”
Seeing this, Bu Eunseol’s heart sank.
A supreme master who consumed blood whenever he used martial arts, absorbing it not only by drinking but through his very skin.
The absolute grandmaster who, four hundred years ago, had appeared like a comet and single-handedly raised the level of martial arts in the world as one of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars.
The Blood Emperor had returned.
