Chapter 397
Chapter 397
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 397
Chapter Title: The Diviner's Identity
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It was the best possible question to ask with a single Token of Gratitude.
Silence fell before the Diviner's voice flowed from within the wall.
[One of the Seven Grand Masters of the Martial Alliance.]
The Diviner paused for a moment before continuing.
[However, I cannot specify which one. Because... the Sword Sage Bu Jan-yang personally erased the traces, preventing anyone from finding the culprit.]
The Diviner's voice was filled with conviction.
[It was as if he did not want anyone to avenge him.]
There were certainly traces of the culprit's martial arts left on his grandfather's body.
His eyes had been gouged out, his arms severed... and he had been showered with hidden weapons coated in a deadly poison.
So what traces had been erased?
[What the Sword Sage Bu Jan-yang erased was the very evidence that the culprit had been there at all.]
The Diviner answered calmly, as if reading Bu Eun-seol's mind.
[Swordsmen who have trained their entire lives and reached the pinnacle of their art can freely use both righteous and demonic sword techniques. It is quite difficult to identify someone based solely on the wounds left on a corpse.]
A spark flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
The Diviner knew for certain about his grandfather. And… even who he himself was.
Otherwise, he could never have given such an answer.
'In that case, the Diviner is…'
Bu Eun-seol's heart began to pound.
What did it mean for him to know about him and his grandfather? There were only two possibilities.
He was either the culprit who had been observing them for a long time… or he was someone who had known his grandfather for years.
*Thump, thump, thump.*
Bu Eun-seol suppressed the wild beating of his heart, reining in his emotions.
'I must be patient.'
He had learned composure from the likes of Jo Cheon-wang.
The composure to speak leisurely even in the presence of an enemy. It was an absolutely necessary quality when facing a superior foe.
—How do you know about the Sword Sage Bu Jan-yang?
Bu Eun-seol wanted to shatter the wall and scream the question right now.
But he maintained a terrifying composure and said nothing.
He had only one Token of Gratitude.
What if he got excited now and demanded answers? He might not even get the information the Diviner already knew.
"Are you saying that even after investigating the whereabouts of the Seven Grand Masters at the time, there were no clues to identify the culprit?"
[That is correct. They likely fabricated everything perfectly.]
Even if the culprit's martial arts had reached the pinnacle, allowing him to conceal all techniques and movements, the fact remained that he had left behind a cruel and wicked sword intent.
Besides, hadn't the man used a musk-based hidden weapon that even demonic practitioners abhorred?
And yet the culprit was one of the Seven Grand Masters of the Martial Alliance?
"With no evidence, why do you claim the culprit is one of the Seven Grand Masters?"
[There are two reasons.]
The Diviner replied calmly.
[First, the order to kill the Sword Sage Bu Jan-yang was delivered from a secret organization formed within the Martial Alliance.]
"A secret organization within the Martial Alliance..."
[Indeed. The very faction you just thought of. It is them.]
The Diviner was referring to the Three Realms.
Bu Eun-seol was doubly surprised by that answer.
That a secret organization of the Three Realms was lurking within the Martial Alliance.
And that the Diviner had the ability to intercept that organization's directives.
'But…'
Bu Eun-seol couldn't take his words at face value.
His grandfather, Bu Jan-yang, was a supreme master who had cultivated the finest orthodox techniques and Shaolin's ultimate internal energy, yet showed no trace of any martial art.
That was why Bu Eun-seol had always thought his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang, was the invincible blademaster, the Seven-Fingered Demonic Blade.
Was it even plausible for someone of a Grand Master's caliber to kill his grandfather?
"Wouldn't it be more likely that they manipulated one of the Three Honored Ones or the Martial Alliance Lord?"
The Diviner, having grasped the meaning behind Bu Eun-seol's words, spoke.
[The Martial Alliance is a far more powerful and terrifying place... than you think.]
A strange resonance filled the Diviner's voice as it flowed from the wall.
[The reason the righteous faction maintains its superiority despite the unprecedented prosperity of the demonic path is because of its hidden power. And that power includes the Seven Grand Masters, who lie in wait without revealing their true nature.]
"So that's the second reason."
The Diviner answered Bu Eun-seol's words crisply.
[Precisely.]
Within the Martial Alliance, the only ones who could have trained their swordsmanship to the pinnacle were the Righteous Heavenly Emperor, the Three Honored Ones, or the Seven Grand Masters, who were said to rival the Four Gods and Seven Kings.
And the Diviner was predicting that the one who killed his grandfather was one of these Seven Grand Masters.
'Hmm.'
A peculiar thought suddenly crossed Bu Eun-seol's mind.
He intuitively felt that the Diviner was not giving him all the information he possessed.
"I paid with a Token of Gratitude. Yet I am not receiving a definitive answer."
[Originally, one Token of Gratitude merits one answer. But since I cannot pinpoint the exact culprit, I am providing you with related information as an exceptional service.]
The Diviner's voice grew colder.
It sounded like a warning that if he was provoked, he would stop answering altogether.
'The Seven Grand Masters...'
Of course, there was no way to know if this was the truth.
But what if the Diviner's words were true?
Then the identity of the culprit he had been searching for, wearing out his iron shoes, had been narrowed down in an instant.
'But this isn't everything.'
He had to extract as much information from the Diviner as possible.
Because the Diviner had said this:
—The Token of Gratitude I was to give you never existed in this world to begin with.
That meant he never intended to meet him in the first place.
From now on, he might not be able to obtain another Token of Gratitude, and even if he did, the Diviner would likely not show himself.
Therefore, he had to draw out the maximum amount of information during this meeting.
"Very well. Then I will not ask."
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
"Instead, tell me everything you know."
It was a very wise statement that pierced the Diviner's intentions.
If the Diviner was deliberately limiting and selecting the information he provided, then the Diviner must also want something from him.
Otherwise, there would have been no reason to lure him to Shaolin.
'Perhaps he intends to control me.'
[Indeed.]
The Diviner let out a sound of admiration, as if he had seen right through Bu Eun-seol's thoughts.
[Then I shall tell you everything I know.]
And in a low voice, he continued.
[As you know, any sect or alliance is rife with spies, or agents who collude with outside forces. The Martial Alliance is no exception.]
Bu Eun-seol listened intently, his lips pressed firmly together.
[They manipulated the martial sects to their liking. When they were formed, or who their true leader is, has not been revealed, but...]
The Diviner's voice, which rose to a sharp pitch before lowering again, was like the wail of a ghost.
[They are called the Three Heavens, or the Three Realms, as they are said to have divided the heavens, or the world, to rule over it.]
These were facts he had already learned from the blue-eyed man.
But Bu Eun-seol kept his mouth shut and listened to the Diviner.
[And each time they revealed themselves to the world, they used different names. The power that is currently leading the martial world's factions is the First Heaven, also known as the Boundless Realm.]
"..."
[As you know, the spies of the Three Realms are planted in every righteous and demonic sect, and they do not know each other.]
The Diviner's words continued.
[They know nothing beyond the messengers who give them their orders.]
The reason the Boundless Realm's true nature had not yet been revealed.
They operated their spies like a network of cells, completely severing the links so that the upper echelons could never be reached.
[But there is a catch here. The Boundless Realm is not the only one that has revealed itself to the martial world.]
The Diviner's voice continued.
[In other words, it is still unknown whether the death of the Sword Sage Bu Jan-yang was ordered by the Boundless Realm or by one of the other Realms.]
A glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes upon hearing those words.
The Diviner.
He was either closely related to the Three Realms or was a member of it.
The intelligence network of the Three Realms was superior even to that of the Shadowless Pavilion, the Demonic Cult's top intelligence organization.
No matter how capable the Diviner was, he couldn't have detected these facts without knowing the structure of the Three Realms.
[What is certain, however, is that the Three Realms have extended their reach into the Martial Alliance, and the death of the Sword Sage Bu Jan-yang... was decided by the forces of the Three Realms lurking within the Martial Alliance.]
The Diviner's voice gradually faded.
[And the one who could be swayed by them to carry out such an order is likely one of the Seven Grand Masters. This is all the information I possess regarding the death of the Sword Sage Bu Jan-yang.]
After hearing all of the Diviner's words, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
In the end, what he had asserted was that the Three Realms were involved in his grandfather's death.
The claim that the culprit was one of the Seven Grand Masters was, after all, only a guess.
'Is this what he wanted?'
If his predictions were all correct.
For Bu Eun-seol to identify the exact culprit, he would have to investigate not only the Seven Grand Masters but also the organization that had made its nest in the Martial Alliance.
In other words, the Diviner wanted Bu Eun-seol to thoroughly dig into the Martial Alliance.
"Very well. I have heard you."
Bu Eun-seol stood before the transparent wall and cupped his hands.
*Whooosh!*
But it was not a gesture of respect.
A red vortex swirled around Bu Eun-seol's fists as he raised his energy to its peak.
The Fourth Form of the Seven Demonic Fists. The most destructive martial art one could perform with bare hands, a fist art of annihilation.
He was preparing to unleash the Heavenly Beast's Destructive Art.
"Hah!"
A powerful shout, unlike any before, erupted from Bu Eun-seol's lips.
He poured all of his formidable internal energy, equivalent to four hundred years of cultivation, and struck the transparent wall.
*Kwoong!*
In that moment, a tremor shook the world.
*Woooong!*
But the opaque wall only emitted a low hum.
It remained unscathed even by the full force of his Heavenly Beast's Destructive Art.
'A wall made of true energy?'
Only after striking the opaque wall did Bu Eun-seol realize that it wasn't a real wall... but a mass formed by materializing immense true energy.
'The State of Infinity.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
Having mastered the True Art of Wishful Essence, Bu Eun-seol could also freely materialize true energy.
But to create such a thick wall using true energy would require twice his current internal energy.
At least eight hundred years of cultivation was needed.
Moreover, the wall was completely black and later turned opaque according to the Diviner's voice.
In other words, the Diviner had freely created a wall with either black or opaque properties. It was akin to creating a substance that did not exist in this world.
It was impossible for a human to gain eight hundred years of cultivation, nor did they have the ability to create new matter.
In short, that was not a wall of true energy... but a 'phenomenon' created by the Diviner.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes shot open.
The Diviner not only far surpassed Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess but was also capable of creating 'phenomena'.
He was a master who had reached the State of Infinity.
[Impressive.]
At that moment, the Diviner's voice rang out.
[To have accumulated such power at your age. And to have mastered the mind arts of both the righteous and demonic paths simultaneously.]
Admiration was laced in that strange voice.
[I like you. Indeed, I was not wrong about you.]
He had only struck the wall once.
Yet the Diviner had thoroughly analyzed not only Bu Eun-seol's level of internal energy but also the mind arts he was practicing.
[This is... truly a shame.]
The Diviner hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
[I will make you a special offer.]
And then he said something unexpected.
[Soon, the Martial Alliance will hold a Tournament of Rising Stars, inviting outstanding young martial artists. They plan to select a new Third-Rank Brigade Leader through a martial contest.]
"..."
[They have already picked a suitable candidate, so it's all just for show... but you should be more than capable of shattering their little scheme, shouldn't you?]
*Click.*
Simultaneously, the money box on the table had been replaced by a small wooden box.
[Open it.]
When Bu Eun-seol opened the box, he found a silver token and two books inside.
"What is this?"
[A token to prove you are the heir to the Seonhwa Merchant Guild and the manual for the martial arts he uses. The other is a book containing his personal history.]
The Diviner's voice continued.
[It is an identity that was created a long time ago, so no one will be able to find any flaws. And with this identity... you will certainly receive an invitation from the Martial Alliance.]
Surprisingly, the Diviner was giving Bu Eun-seol an opportunity to establish a foothold in the Martial Alliance and investigate them.
[If you win the martial contest in this Tournament of Rising Stars and become the leader of the newly established brigade, you will be able to raise your status by handling various missions... and perhaps even find the one who carried out the mission to kill the Sword Sage Bu Jan-yang.]
"I only came here to ask one question with a Token of Gratitude."
Bu Eun-seol asked, his expression uncomprehending.
"Why are you going this far?"
He stared at the opaque wall with cold eyes and continued.
"Do you wish to manipulate me according to your will?"
[Not at all.]
The Diviner said in a low voice.
[Let's just say it is because I have taken a liking to you.]
*Woooong.*
The opaque wall from which the Diviner's voice emanated began to lose its luster.
[The choice is yours.]
*Woooooong.*
With a low vibration, the opaque wall began to blur.
At the same time, a very small door appeared. It seemed to be a secret passage leading out of Shaolin.
All this time, the Diviner had been creating a strange phenomenon in an open passage and conversing with Bu Eun-seol.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol wore a hollow expression, as if he had realized something.
"Now I know the Diviner's identity."
As he stared at the now empty passage where the Diviner had been, a sharp glint shone in his eyes.
"If you wanted me to mistake you for some unknown eccentric of the martial world, you should never have said that I had mastered the mind arts of both the righteous and demonic paths."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and muttered.
"The Righteous Heavenly Emperor, Shin Do-mu-bi."
A burning heat rose in his eyes.
"So, the Diviner was another identity of the Martial Alliance Lord."
It was not a suspicion, but a conclusion close to certainty.
The Diviner had been hiding freely in Shaolin, a fortress considered impregnable.
And he had freely manipulated a secret facility that not even Shaolin disciples could enter.
Not only that, but he had also set up various gates through the secret facility to test Bu Eun-seol.
Furthermore, he was a master of the State of Infinity who had created a unique 'phenomenon' that surpassed Bu Eun-seol's imagination.
And he was someone who had a detailed grasp of the Martial Alliance's situation and had provided a perfect identity to easily enter the Alliance.
The only person who fit all these conditions... was the Martial Alliance Lord, the Righteous Heavenly Emperor, Shin Do-mu-bi, was it not?
"The phenomenon of creating a wall with true energy must have been a way to deliberately downplay his power. If he had revealed his true strength, his identity as the Righteous Heavenly Emperor would have been exposed at once."
Although the phenomenon of creating the wall was unique, it couldn't be judged as the work of a master who had perfectly entered the State of Infinity.
But to have grasped that he had mastered both righteous and demonic mind arts just by seeing his single punch?
The Heavenly Will Mind Art.
Wasn't that something impossible without having mastered Shin Do-mu-bi's unique art, which allowed him to synchronize with an opponent's internal energy with just a light touch?
"When the Heavenly Will Mind Art reaches its peak, one can even synchronize through the flow of true energy's fluctuations..."
In the end, the Diviner had unconsciously revealed that he was the Righteous Heavenly Emperor, one of the Twin Heavenly Emperors of Righteousness and Demonic Arts.
"Whether the Diviner is the Martial Alliance Lord or not is unimportant."
Bu Eun-seol looked down at the token and manual in the wooden box.
"If what he said is true, then the enemy who killed my grandfather is within the Martial Alliance."
Another question arose here.
If the Diviner was the Martial Alliance Lord, Shin Do-mu-bi...
Was he unable to identify the spies of the Three Realms? Or did he know everything but chose not to tell him the full truth?
"I'll find out when I go to the Martial Alliance."
Bu Eun-seol reached for the token in the wooden box.
"With this identity, I can proudly establish myself in the Martial Alliance."
He was the heir who would become the next master of the Demonic Cult.
Normally, he should never use a dual identity to join the Martial Alliance.
But Bu Eun-seol had no hesitation.
The reason he had come to the martial world was to find the culprit and take revenge.
He had no intention of becoming the sky of the demonic path in the first place.
