Chapter 331
Chapter 331
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 331
Chapter Title: The Golden Bridge
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It was the demonic path.
If regret was inevitable, if a part of him would always ache… then he would choose the swiftest path to his goal: the path of vengeance.
*Woong!*
A powerful vibration emanated from the black-clothed figure’s body as it began to attack the white-clothed one.
For a time, the white-clothed figure resisted fiercely, but because Bu Eun-seol had chosen the demonic path, its infinite power was now concentrated in the black-clothed figure.
Eventually, the white-clothed figure began to be covered in blood.
‘Grandfather.’
As he saw the pained movements of the attacked white-clothed figure, the benevolent face of Bu Jan-yang, who had died a wretched death, suddenly came to mind.
Bu Jan-yang, who had taught him the principles of the world and the beauty of nature.
He had desperately wished for Bu Eun-seol to melt his cold personality, become a kind and gentle person, and help many people.
He had also wished for him to be happy for a long, long time.
He would never have wanted him to choose the demonic path, to become a great demon consumed by revenge.
“Ugh…”
A groan escaped Bu Eun-seol’s lips as he gazed at the Heart-Guiding Wall.
As he felt the anguish, his spirit returned to a neutral state.
The white-clothed figure regained its strength and began to fight back against the black-clothed one.
The battle continued endlessly, with neither side gaining the upper hand.
*Twitch.*
As the fight raged on, Bu Eun-seol’s blood vessels dilated, and the color of his left and right eyes changed.
His pained expression became placid once more.
But his eyes were unfocused.
In the end, unable to definitively choose one path, he was locked in a ceaseless struggle…
He had finally fallen into an inner demon so deep that he could not turn back.
*Grrrng.*
Just then, the iron gate opened, and a white shadow stepped inside.
It was the Palace Lord, Hwa-mi.
She looked at the low-crouching Bu Eun-seol and let out a great sigh.
“To think this man’s martial arts were so formidable.”
Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s eyes were filled with fear.
Through a secret mechanism, she had confirmed that Bu Eun-seol had maintained a clear mind within the Heart-Guiding Wall for four days.
What if time continued to pass like this?
Did it not seem like he would truly shatter the Heart-Guiding Wall?
In the end, she couldn't wait any longer and had forcibly opened the gate’s wall.
“That can never be allowed to happen.”
A sinister light gleamed in the eyes of Palace Lord Hwa-mi, who had the appearance of a young girl.
In truth, she never wanted the Heart-Guiding Wall to be broken. What if the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace was exposed to the outside world?
She had realized that it would ultimately meet a miserable end due to invasion by external forces.
“Countless spiritual herbs grow around our palace. We, who have eaten them since childhood, have maintained this child-like appearance.”
The secret of the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace.
It wasn't that their internal energy was so profound that they aged like immortals…
It was because they ate the mysterious spiritual herbs that bloomed in this area that they maintained their youthful appearances.
“Our founder knew that if this fact became known, our palace would eventually be annihilated.”
Palace Lord Hwa-mi said, looking down at the staggering Bu Eun-seol, who was lost to his inner demon.
“That is why she installed the unbreakable Heart-Guiding Wall, to suppress the hearts of the disciples who wished to go out into the world.”
Did the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace have such circumstances?
This was a secret history completely unknown to the martial world.
Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s tone, which had been like a young girl’s, gradually changed to that of an old woman.
“Therefore, you must absolutely not break this wall.”
Taking a deep breath, Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s eyes widened.
In truth, Bu Eun-seol had already fallen to his inner demon and lost his soul.
But in her eyes, it appeared as though Bu Eun-seol was steadfastly enduring the trial of the Heart-Guiding Wall and chanting its incantations.
“My apologies.”
*Jiiing!*
Her index finger began to glow with the color of a dark sunset.
She was unleashing the ultimate technique of the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace, the Cinnabar Cloud Finger.
*Flash!*
A sunset-colored lightning bolt shot from her fingertip, turning the entire world red. And that lightning bolt instantly passed through Bu Eun-seol’s vital points.
No, it should have passed through.
*Thung!*
But as the finger wind touched his body, Bu Eun-seol’s entire form shimmered with a golden light, deflecting the Cinnabar Cloud Finger.
It was as if he had circulated the Indestructible Diamond Body of Shaolin.
‘He was conscious?’
Greatly startled, Palace Lord Hwa-mi faltered.
But something was strange.
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes were unfocused, and a bizarre wave of energy swirled around his body.
Looking closely, it didn't seem like he was chanting incantations to counter the energy of the Heart-Guiding Wall, but rather that his soul had departed somewhere.
‘Did he fall to an inner demon? That can’t be.’
Feeling puzzled, she shot another finger wind.
*Flash!*
But Bu Eun-seol’s body once again shone with a majestic golden light, deflecting the attack.
She looked at him as if he were a bizarre monster.
How could he, while standing so powerlessly, unleash such a mighty energy art unconsciously?
*Flash! Flash!*
She fired the Cinnabar Cloud Finger in succession.
But each time, Bu Eun-seol’s body glowed with golden light, and the finger wind was deflected.
“He’s not deflecting the finger wind.”
As she fired the nineteenth blast, Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s eyes widened.
It wasn’t that Bu Eun-seol was deflecting the attack, but that the brilliant radiance shining from his body and the mysterious energy spreading out from him…
She realized it had changed the very nature of her finger wind.
***
Lost to his inner demon, Bu Eun-seol couldn't lift a single finger.
His spirit, torn in two, was attacking itself. And that battle had reached a point where even Bu Eun-seol himself could not stop it.
Because he couldn't clearly choose anything.
Revenge, and also these warm memories and feelings his grandfather had given him. He couldn't discard a single one.
In the end, the two halves of his spirit were fighting until Bu Eun-seol’s mind collapsed.
But then, something completely unexpected happened.
An intense finger wind from the outside penetrated his body.
*Woong!*
The mysterious energy slumbering in his meridians was stimulated and began to activate.
It was the essence of the supreme Shaolin technique, injected into his meridians from his past battle with Mun Dae-seonsaeng.
It was the power of the Prajna Great Ability.
*Jiiing!*
As the Prajna Great Ability, which could freely change any power, spread throughout his body, a miracle occurred.
An incomparably high and pure energy changed its properties and seeped into Bu Eun-seol’s spirit… it began to form a bridge between the demonic and righteous paths.
The Prajna Great Ability.
This mysterious, ultimate Buddhist technique not only restored Bu Eun-seol’s shattered spirit.
It also created a sturdy, golden bridge, allowing him to travel comfortably between the demonic and righteous paths.
“How can this be!”
Flustered, Palace Lord Hwa-mi flicked all ten of her fingers in succession, unleashing a torrent of Cinnabar Cloud Finger attacks.
Each time, it further stimulated the Prajna Great Ability circulating through Bu Eun-seol's meridians, rapidly sealing his inner demon.
*Woooong!*
As the power of the Prajna Great Ability reached its peak, a formidable amount of internal energy erupted from Bu Eun-seol’s body.
*Rumble…*
The stone chamber began to shake as if an earthquake had struck, and the floor started to rise.
*Crack.*
Suddenly, cracks appeared on Bu Eun-seol’s skin, and a faint light leaked out from within.
His spirit and internal energy, which had lingered between the demonic and righteous paths, and the Prajna Great Ability dispersed in his meridians, all fused together, triggering another metamorphosis.
*Whoosh.*
Millions of light particles rose into the air from beneath Bu Eun-seol’s feet.
He had finally broken through the limits of the fifth stage of the Ban-geuk-sim-gong, a level that even the Blood Diamond had not reached.
*Woong, woong, woong.*
With a low hum, the majestic points of light that had formed all over his body slowly faded, and Bu Eun-seol slowly opened his eyes.
“……”
The first thing he saw was his own face reflected in glass.
Bu Eun-seol’s face, his disguise gone, had changed into a form even more chillingly beautiful than before.
And his spirit was so tranquil it felt as if he were looking down upon the world from a dizzyingly high sky.
The trial of the Heart-Guiding Wall, which shatters the human spirit, had instead turned a calamity into a blessing.
However, having just awakened from his inner demon, he still felt as if he were dreaming.
He didn't even feel that his internal energy had increased.
‘A disguise?’
Palace Lord Hwa-mi, standing behind him, saw Bu Eun-seol’s face, the disguise art broken, and her eyes widened.
Just then,
“A monstrosity like this must be eliminated.”
Bu Eun-seol, who had been staring at the Heart-Guiding Wall, flicked his finger.
*Sparkle!*
A black-tinged true energy and a golden-tinged true energy swirled like a whirlwind, passing through the Heart-Guiding Wall.
He had unconsciously unleashed the intersecting powers of both the righteous and unorthodox paths.
“No!”
At that moment, Palace Lord Hwa-mi moved to block the Heart-Guiding Wall, shouting.
“The Heart-Guiding Wall must not be broken!”
But the whirlwind of true energy had already passed through the wall.
“……”
However, there was no reaction.
Even with that formidable power, he had not been able to break the Heart-Guiding Wall.
“Th-Thank goodness.”
Just as Palace Lord Hwa-mi slumped down, bowing her head and clutching her chest in relief,
*Rumble…*
Dozens of people began to enter through the open iron gate.
It was the Grand Palace Lord A-min and Seo Jin-ha, who had felt the earth-shaking vibrations and realized something was wrong.
And with them were So Ok-rim and the many other disciples of the Jade Spirit Palace.
“His face has changed!”
Just as So Ok-rim pointed at Bu Eun-seol’s face, his disguise now broken, and opened her mouth,
*Crack.*
A fissure began to form on the transparent Heart-Guiding Wall.
*CRUUUUMBLE.*
With a deafening roar, it began to collapse.
In the end, the powerful finger wind containing the energies of both the righteous and unorthodox paths had destroyed the Heart-Guiding Wall.
For a moment, a deathly silence fell upon the chamber.
“The Heart-Guiding Wall…”
A disciple spoke up.
“The palace’s restriction is finally broken!”
The disciples of the Jade Spirit Palace cheered, throwing their hands in the air.
“We can finally go out into the world now!”
“No!”
At that moment, Palace Lord Hwa-mi let out a sharp cry.
And she let out a completely incomprehensible shout.
“Even if the Heart-Guiding Wall has crumbled, this palace must never reveal itself to the world!”
At her cry, a disciple stepped forward and cupped his hands.
“But, Palace Lord. Our founder’s will stated that if the Heart-Guiding Wall was broken, our palace could enter the world…”
“That Heart-Guiding Wall was made to keep us from going out! It was never meant to be broken in the first place!”
At Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s cry, the Grand Palace Lord, A-min, stepped forward with a pained expression.
“Palace Lord, the Heart-Guiding Wall has already been broken.”
“Don’t you know what will happen if our palace goes outside?”
She said in a loud voice.
“If our palace becomes known to the world, the spiritual herbs scattered around it, and the spiritual pills and treasures accumulated over generations, will all be plundered by outsiders.”
“Palace Lord.”
“You know how greedy the people of the Central Plains are, don't you? They will snatch away the secret to maintaining our youth in an instant.”
“That’s not true. Haven’t I always told you?”
A-min said with a regretful expression.
“No one wishes to grow old… but there are also very few who would want to remain in the form of a young child like this forever.”
When the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace accepts disciples, they travel the world and bring back talented children.
And they feed them the spiritual herbs from Mount Gorap from an early age. That is why all the disciples of the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace can maintain their youthful appearance.
But it was unlikely that people from the Central Plains would eat the spiritual herbs here from childhood just to maintain their youth, and…
There would be almost no one who would want to live their entire life in the underdeveloped form of a child as they did.
“Even so, the fact that our palace will be invaded remains unchanged.”
Palace Lord Hwa-mi said with a solemn expression.
“Our palace has never revealed itself to the world. No matter how great our martial prowess may be, we cannot stop the hordes of robbers that will come.”
At her words, some disciples nodded their heads, as if persuaded.
In a way, the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace was like a helpless orphan carrying many treasures.
Even if they were robbed, there was no one who would help a sect that had been cut off from the world for so long.
“That will not happen.”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward and spoke.
“Even if the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace reveals itself to the world, it will not be invaded by any power.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s confident words, Palace Lord Hwa-mi wore a dumbfounded expression.
“How can you guarantee that?”
“Because I, the Spirit Lord of the Demonic Cult, am saying it.”
“What did you say?”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s complexion changed drastically.
This handsome young man before her, who had hidden his identity, was the Spirit Lord of Martial Soul, the legitimate successor to Nang-ya-gak of the fearsome Ten Demonic Sects… and the one chosen as the next master of the Demonic Cult?
“Are you the successor to the Demonic Cult?”
Even for the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace, which lived with its back to the world, they had heard of the fame of the Spirit Lord of Martial Soul, Bu Eun-seol, who had made his name known throughout the lands several times.
“That is correct.”
As Bu Eun-seol calmly acknowledged it, Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s brow furrowed.
“Even if that is so, by what means would you prevent an invasion?”
“You can form an alliance with my pavilion.”
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“Currently, a flood of young, new-generation masters are flocking to my pavilion. And by interacting with various sects, we are expanding our martial might and influence.”
Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji, Mu-ha-su-yu-jeong, and Nang-ya-gak.
Weren’t these three sects, which had been mere names among the Ten Demonic Sects, now wielding the greatest influence among them?
“If you form an alliance with my pavilion, no sect will dare to look down on the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace. And…”
A faint smile graced Bu Eun-seol’s lips.
“As long as I am here, you will also receive the support of my cult.”
In that instant, the hearts of all the disciples of the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace began to pound.
An exchange with Nang-ya-gak and an alliance with the Demonic Cult.
If what Bu Eun-seol said came true… no sect would dare to touch the Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace.
“I cannot accept such conditions.”
But Palace Lord Hwa-mi spoke coldly.
“The support of Nang-ya-gak and the Demonic Cult. To obtain that, we would eventually have to give up everything our palace possesses.”
Even a small, dark faction, upon joining a coalition, naturally pays protection fees.
To be incorporated into the Demonic Cult would mean offering up everything they had.
“Man-hwa-beop-ryun.”
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“You simply need to pass that on to Seo Jin-ha.”
Palace Lord Hwa-mi couldn't hide her bewilderment.
“Just by passing on our palace’s secret internal energy art, you would do all that?”
“However, if you are incorporated into the Demonic Cult, you will have to provide about a tenth of the spiritual herbs and pills cultivated here.”
“A tenth?”
Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s mouth fell open.
Receiving the protection of the Demonic Cult in exchange for only a tenth of their spiritual herbs was practically a giveaway.
“But won’t a tenth become two-tenths, and then snowball from there?”
At that, Bu Eun-seol spoke with a solemn expression.
“That will absolutely not happen. Furthermore, no one from the Demonic Cult or my pavilion, including myself, will covet what is in the Jade Spirit Palace.”
“How can I believe that?”
“When we form the alliance with the Cult, we will stipulate in writing and publicly announce that the conditions will never change.”
Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s eyes widened as if she couldn't believe it.
Bu Eun-seol’s conditions were so exceptional that they were hard to believe.
*Ssk.*
Palace Lord Hwa-mi, who had been deep in thought, suddenly bowed deeply to Bu Eun-seol, lowering her head.
“Our founder prophesied that the one who breaks the restriction of the Heart-Guiding Wall will bring a thousand years of prosperity to our palace.”
She spoke respectfully with her head bowed.
“Please protect the peace of our palace. That is all I wish for.”
At that, Bu Eun-seol also bowed deeply, cupping his hands.
“Do not worry. The promise will surely be kept.”
As Bu Eun-seol also bowed respectfully to show his courtesy, Palace Lord Hwa-mi was overjoyed.
Those of the demonic path all pursued hegemony. Moreover, someone in Bu Eun-seol’s position would naturally be arrogant.
But by returning the bow, Bu Eun-seol had acknowledged that they were on equal footing.
‘As the prophecy foretold, he will surely bring peace and a thousand years of prosperity to our palace.’
Palace Lord Hwa-mi’s heart swelled.
The Cloud Sea Jade Spirit Palace, which had to fear the outside world and live in hiding, was no more.