Chapter 332
Chapter 332
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 332
Chapter Title: Dual Agent
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The dantian is also called the Sea of Qi.
This is because it is the place where the body's qi gathers and the storehouse where it accumulates.
However, having learned the Ten Thousand Transformations Dharma Wheel from the Palace Master Hwa Mi, Seo Jin-ha was able to slowly generate true qi in his body not through his lower dantian, but through his upper dantian.
Furthermore, having been taught the supreme internal art of the Unhae-byeokryeong Palace, the Crimson Mist Spirit Severing Art, he became able to accumulate immense true qi using his upper dantian.
“Hoo.”
After half a shichen of cultivation, Seo Jin-ha slowly opened his eyes, expelling the turbid energy from his body.
A divine light glinted within them, just as it had when he possessed immense power.
*Drip. Drip.*
Black liquid dripped from his fingertips after he finished his cultivation.
Whenever he finished cultivating, he would use his Toxin-Gathering Art to gradually expel the remnants of the poisons injected into him in the past.
Although they posed no immediate problem, poison was still poison.
Unless one reached the state of a Poison Saint's Body, the poison absorbed into the body could cause trouble at any time.
“Remarkable. To think you’ve mastered the Ten Thousand Transformations Dharma Wheel and the Crimson Mist Spirit Severing Art in just half a month.”
Palace Master Hwa Mi, who had been instructing him in the internal art from the side, nodded in admiration of Seo Jin-ha's exceptional talent.
“There is nothing more for me to teach you now.”
“It is all thanks to the Palace Master’s guidance and care.”
While Seo Jin-ha focused on his training, the busiest person was Bu Eun-seol.
He immediately sent word to the Nang-ya-gak, requesting that talented young disciples be stationed at the Unhae-byeokryeong Palace.
Not only that, but he was also steadily making preparations to formally incorporate the Unhae-byeokryeong Palace into the Demonic Cult's sphere of influence.
When this news spread, the Demonic Cult was filled with astonishment.
—I heard the Muhon-ryeongju brought that mysterious sect from the Western Regions, the one that never showed itself, into the Demonic Cult?
—They say it’s home to incredible spiritual herbs and elixirs.
—Thanks to that, the Medicine King Hall will be able to resume production of the Soul-Subduing Divine Pill, which they had stopped making…
Amidst this situation where everything seemed to be resolving well, there was one person with a grave expression.
It was So Ok-rim.
‘To think that guy was the Muhon-ryeongju.’
Bu Eun-seol was the successor to the Demonic Cult and the legitimate heir to the Nang-ya-gak. How could he also be the successor to the Martial Emperor?
‘In that case…’
Having been cooped up in her quarters the entire time, she emerged, having seemingly made a decision.
The Unhae-byeokryeong Palace. The Small Training Ground.
Having finished all his pressing tasks, Bu Eun-seol was at the small training ground with Seo Jin-ha, their heads together as they studied the secrets of internal energy.
Bu Eun-seol would have to leave this place soon.
However, Seo Jin-ha had decided to stay at the Unhae-byeokryeong Palace for over a year to master the art and achieve great progress.
Rather than waste time with a superficial understanding, he intended to recover his power as quickly as possible here to be of help to Bu Eun-seol.
And before leaving, Bu Eun-seol was meticulously checking Seo Jin-ha’s internal energy circulation to ensure there were no side effects from opening his upper dantian.
“By the way.”
Seo Jin-ha, who had been discussing the secrets of internal energy with Bu Eun-seol, suddenly spoke.
“You shattered the Wall of the Mind’s Core, which the Palace Master mentioned, in a single move. Does that mean… you’ve also reached the Wuji Realm?”
Seo Jin-ha’s face was slightly flushed.
It was a thought that made his heart pound.
In the history of the martial world, there had never been a master who reached the Wuji Realm in their early twenties. If so, wouldn't Bu Eun-seol soon become an unparalleled grandmaster of martial arts, far surpassing the Twin Heavenly Emperors of the Righteous and Demonic Factions?
“How could that be?”
Bu Eun-seol calmly shook his head.
“As I’ve said before, the state of the Wuji Realm manifests as a phenomenon. It’s not something you reach just by doing this or that.”
“A phenomenon…”
“That’s right. It’s not as clear-cut as the Geukcheon Realm.”
Seeing Seo Jin-ha’s uncomprehending expression, Bu Eun-seol explained patiently.
“When you reach the Geukcheon Realm through enlightenment, you can use your body’s potential to its absolute limit and perceive time in far smaller increments than ordinary martial artists.”
“Mm. That’s true.”
“But the masters of the Wuji Realm I have seen had nothing that could be described as a level of martial skill. Rather, they each possessed different abilities, and their very existence created a phenomenon.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes deepened as if he were searching his memories.
“The Demonic Heavenly Emperor stood on the boundary of the Absolute Demarcation. Because of that, the moment you faced him, you would feel an uncontrollable chaos or lose your sense of self and fall into erratic thinking.”
He then said in a low voice.
“Perhaps… that’s why the Demonic Heavenly Emperor named himself Mumyeong, Ignorance. Life seems eternal, but it changes in an instant, vanishes in an instant…”
Seo Jin-ha swallowed hard.
Bu Eun-seol’s words were profound, containing a certain esoteric quality.
Thus, he could not understand them at once, nor could he unravel their meaning on his own.
“Of course, whether it’s the demonic path or the righteous path, the goal of placing humanity on the same level as the cosmos and transcending existence and non-existence, life and death, is likely the same.”
Only then did Seo Jin-ha realize one thing.
Why Bu Eun-seol’s martial realm was advancing so rapidly.
‘He wasn’t just training his martial arts.’
He wasn't merely training diligently in martial arts... like a great monk well-versed in the path of Zen, he was exploring matters beyond life and death.
“And as for the phenomenon I witnessed when I saw the Master of this Pavilion, known as the Human Demon…”
“Ah, no.”
Seo Jin-ha waved his hand.
“You don’t have to tell me any more of that story.”
The masters of the Wuji Realm that Bu Eun-seol spoke of were surely transcendent beings who had shed the conventional framework of humanity.
And in Seo Jin-ha’s eyes, Bu Eun-seol, who observed and fathomed these mysterious masters, felt no different from them.
“So, in any case, you haven’t reached the Wuji Realm, is that it?”
When Seo Jin-ha summarized it concisely, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“Correct. To be precise about my realm, I have only just set foot in the Geukcheon Realm.”
He then said with a sigh.
“I can’t divide time into finer increments than even the Chim-wang, who is at the mid-level of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, let alone the Tan-wang or the Chong-gyo-ryeong.”
But in truth, Bu Eun-seol was not properly aware of his own abilities.
He had simultaneously learned the supreme martial arts of both the righteous and demonic paths, possessed immense internal energy, and had outstanding combat senses and comprehension.
Furthermore, by observing and understanding everything outside of himself, and by unifying the void and the Way like a great monk seeking enlightenment…
He was exhibiting power several times greater than his actual martial realm.
“Then how on earth did you break the Wall of the Mind’s Core?”
Seo Jin-ha tilted his head and asked.
“The Palace Master said you had to reach the Wuji Realm to break it, right? Was that a lie?”
“It wasn’t a lie. The gateway of the Wall of the Mind’s Core certainly exerted power similar to an attack from a master of the Wuji Realm.”
“Then I’m right, aren’t I? If you can block that, doesn’t that mean you’ve reached the Wuji Realm?”
Bu Eun-seol gave a bitter smile.
Even before he had simultaneously learned the supreme internal arts of both paths, his spirit had always been divided in two.
Therefore, even if one side collapsed, it was easily restored.
Moreover, his body housed two essences of Shaolin's ultimate arts: the Great Prajna Power and the Muscle-Tendon Changing Scripture.
The combination of the Ban-geuk-sim-gong, the number one internal art of the demonic path, and the mystical energy of the Shaolin arts had produced the current phenomenon… but it was difficult to explain this in detail to Seo Jin-ha.
“Blocking and unleashing are two entirely different things. It’s just that my spirit is a little different from others, so I was able to defend against it to some extent.”
After his vague explanation, Seo Jin-ha, unable to let go of the possibility, asked again.
“You shattered the Wall of the Mind’s Core. Couldn’t that in itself be a phenomenon of reaching the Wuji Realm?”
“That was merely an opportunity for my fractured internal art and energy to fuse due to a fortuitous event at that gateway, resulting in a great increase in my power.”
Bu Eun-seol looked into Seo Jin-ha’s eyes and shrugged.
“Simply put, I broke the Wall of the Mind’s Core with brute force.”
For a moment, Seo Jin-ha couldn't hide his shocked expression.
Bu Eun-seol’s power was already a step above the world-shaking Cheonsal-daeju. But now it had increased ‘greatly’ again?
“Your power increased again? By how much?”
“A little over six jiazi.”
*Thump.*
Seo Jin-ha was so surprised his eyes nearly popped out.
“Six jiazi?”
“That’s right.”
Seo Jin-ha’s jaw dropped.
Bu Eun-seol was the type to downplay his skills by a notch or two. Judging by that, his internal energy was likely close to four hundred years' worth.
“In all the world, who at your age has ever accumulated such power?”
“Power isn’t the only measure of martial prowess, is it? Though… I suppose I won’t be at a disadvantage because of my internal energy.”
Seo Jin-ha was so dumbfounded he was on the verge of letting out a hollow laugh.
With four hundred years' worth of internal energy, he would never be pushed back in a contest of power even against the masters who held the world in their palms.
Yet Bu Eun-seol thought of it as merely not being at a disadvantage.
“As you say, martial prowess is separate from internal energy. However…”
Just as Seo Jin-ha was about to continue.
*Step, step.*
Around noon, as sunlight poured down, So Ok-rim appeared at the small training ground where Bu Eun-seol and Seo Jin-ha were.
She immediately went to Bu Eun-seol and linked her arm with his.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
Contrary to her confident voice, her gaze couldn't stay fixed on Bu Eun-seol and was constantly wavering.
‘Damn. He’s devastatingly handsome.’
Seo Jin-ha, standing next to him, was by no means a plain-looking man.
But the sight of Bu Eun-seol standing there with his long eyebrows drooping under the sunlight, his gaze deep and profound… it shook the soul, like admiring the mysterious harmony of mother nature itself.
“What is there to talk about?”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes, looking at So Ok-rim, sparkled like sunlight reflected on a river.
As if not to be outdone, she widened her eyes and flared her nostrils.
“Something serious.”
Noticing that So Ok-rim’s eyes were colored with complex emotions, Bu Eun-seol spoke to Seo Jin-ha.
“Let’s continue the rest in a bit.”
Then he turned his body and said.
“Speak.”
“Here?”
“Is there any reason we can’t?”
“Fine.”
So Ok-rim, arms crossed, spoke with an exceedingly grave expression.
“How can the successor of the Martial Emperor be a disciple of the Demonic Cult?”
“I feel no need to explain.”
“You’ll have to.”
So Ok-rim, clenching and unclenching her fists, said with a fierce look.
“Because if you can’t explain properly, I might have to kill you.”
A sharp aura rose from her entire body, and a fierce, cutting light radiated from her eyes.
*Woooong.*
As So Ok-rim drew upon her power, the colors of the sky and earth changed, as if rain were about to fall.
If she were to strike, it was clear that her move would be faster and more threatening than a bolt of lightning from the heavens.
“Are you serious?”
A red glint spread from Bu Eun-seol’s eyes as well.
Now that she had drawn upon her power, he had no intention of going easy on her, even if her attitude was a joke or a prank.
“Wait.”
As a touch-and-go situation unfolded, Seo Jin-ha, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward.
“Lady So. You have to explain what’s going on for him to be able to answer, don’t you think?”
No matter what, So Ok-rim had consistently helped him and Bu Eun-seol.
Besides, he knew Bu Eun-seol’s personality all too well.
If someone tried to intimidate him with force, he was not the type to bat an eye, even if his opponent were the Demonic Heavenly Emperor or the Righteous Heavenly Emperor.
‘Her martial arts are too strong.’
So Ok-rim’s skills were outstanding, to the point that even Bu Eun-seol would not take them lightly.
Moreover, since neither of them had a yielding personality, a simple argument could lead to a situation of mutual destruction.
“Fine.”
So Ok-rim opened her mouth as if she had no choice.
“Someone who has learned the supreme martial art of the demonic path wouldn’t risk destroying everything to learn the martial art of the Martial Emperor.”
The supreme martial arts of both the righteous and demonic paths inevitably included internal arts that enhanced their power.
The problem was that the internal arts of the two paths could not be mixed.
If one were to learn both supreme internal arts at the same time, the probability of their martial arts regressing would only increase.
“Just because others can’t do it doesn’t mean he can’t, does it?”
Seo Jin-ha calmly shook his head.
“He is the greatest prodigy of the demonic path. Whether he learns the martial arts of both paths or not, what concern is it of yours?”
“It is my concern. Because there is only one type of person who learns the supreme martial arts of both the righteous and demonic paths simultaneously.”
“And what is that?”
At Seo Jin-ha’s question, a pure white flame flickered in So Ok-rim’s eyes.
“A dual agent.”
So Ok-rim spoke solemnly to Bu Eun-seol.
“Only dual agents would risk the regression of their martial arts and the fracturing of their spirit to learn the supreme internal arts of both paths.”
Seo Jin-ha was dumbfounded.
“He is the legitimate heir to the Nang-ya-gak and the successor to the Demonic Cult. What would he have to gain from being a spy?”
“You really don’t know anything.”
So Ok-rim said coldly.
“Dual agents all hold high positions. Just because he’s the successor to the Demonic Cult doesn’t mean he can’t be a spy.”
“A spy?”
At that moment, the look in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes, which had been radiating killing intent, changed.
He was intrigued by So Ok-rim’s words.
“Even if this Lord were a spy, why are you the one questioning it?”
“Because one of the reasons I came to the martial world is to deal with the spies rooted in both the righteous and demonic paths.”
“Deal with spies? What do you mean?”
This time, it was Seo Jin-ha who asked. So Ok-rim sighed for a moment before speaking.
“For four hundred years, there has been a group that has manipulated the forces of the righteous and demonic paths to their liking and seized control of the martial world. And…”
She stared intently at Bu Eun-seol and said in a low voice.
“That group includes descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Sages. Their leader is likely one of them as well.”
At this unexpected revelation, Bu Eun-seol’s eyebrows shot up.
According to the records left in the Martial Emperor's chronicle, the Martial Emperor, Seop Mu-heun, was forced to leave the martial world after being framed as a dual agent by a shadowy organization.
But to think that the ones who orchestrated it were among the Eight Emperors and Three Sages?
“How could that be?”
At that moment, Seo Jin-ha shook his head and spoke.
“I heard that at the time, the Eight Emperors and Three Sages transcended the righteous and demonic factions and bestowed much guidance upon the people of the martial world.”
The martial arts of four hundred years ago were at their peak, not inferior even when compared to the present.
Furthermore, many outstanding scholars were produced, making it a golden age for the development of martial arts.
In particular, the Eight Emperors and Three Sages were all grandmasters of peerless martial arts who had attained enlightenment on their own, and it was said they roamed the Jianghu and generously passed on their teachings to martial artists they formed connections with.
To think a shadowy figure of the martial world was among such people?
“What’s the big deal about teaching some martial arts? When they have the whole martial world in the palm of their hand anyway?”
“There’s a flaw in your words.”
Bu Eun-seol interjected sharply.
“Even if everything you say is true, the Sage Emperor was considered to be of an intermediate level among the Eight Emperors and Three Sages.”
Bu Eun-seol looked at So Ok-rim with suspicious eyes.
“Yet a descendant of the Sage Emperor claims to be dealing with the descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Sages who have seized control of the martial world? With what power, exactly?”
Despite the piercingly sharp question, So Ok-rim just smirked.
“The Art of Severing the Galaxy that I use is a martial art that my ancestor improved again in his later years. To deal with them.”
Tilting her head, she continued.
“That’s why he left a will that we should never enter the Jianghu until we have perfected the family’s martial art. Because if we couldn’t perfect the improved Art of Severing the Galaxy, we wouldn’t be able to stand against the bastards rooted in the Jianghu.”
“Are you saying your ancestor’s will was to deal with the leader among the descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Sages who is throwing the Jianghu into chaos?”
Bu Eun-seol said coolly.
“Even if they are the shadowy figures of the martial world, what’s so wrong with that? The only one who suffered an injustice was the Martial Emperor.”
“You truly know nothing.”
So Ok-rim let out a deep sigh and hesitated for a moment before answering.
Then, meeting the sharp gazes of Bu Eun-seol and Seo Jin-ha, she spoke as if she had no choice.
“They are using that power to commit evil deeds. They capture people to make spiritual herbs or create strange things like soulless puppets.”
Hearing her answer, Bu Eun-seol and Seo Jin-ha looked at each other.
Did this mean that the Inhwa and soulless puppets they had seen so far were all created by some of the descendants of the Eight Emperors and Three Sages?
“Hmph, looks like you know.”
So Ok-rim smirked and said.
“Is that explanation enough for you now?”
Bu Eun-seol said nonchalantly.
“The shadowy figures who rule the martial world are merely kidnapping people and cultivating Inhwa?”
“Of course not. The history of them cultivating Inhwa isn’t even that long.”
“Then what is their purpose?”
“That, I don’t know either. However,”
So Ok-rim crossed her arms and said gravely.
“All the cruel and bloody calamities written in history up until now were their doing.”