Chapter 409
Chapter 409
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 409
Chapter Title: A Trap for the Sun
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“Lord In…”
Bu Eun-seol gently took the hands of the deceased In-guk.
Though their time together had been brief, he had felt a faint affection for the warmth In-guk had shown him during his time with the Beggars' Sect.
“May you rest in peace.”
Bu Eun-seol carefully lifted In-guk’s body.
Though a disciple of the Beggars' Sect, he had been an upright man who knew how to help others.
Now that he had shed his mortal coil and left this world of suffering, he deserved to rest in peace.
“He was a man who strove to uphold the duties of a beggar; a grand tomb would only feel like a burden to him.”
After respectfully burying In-guk, Bu Eun-seol examined the bodies of the vagrants piled up in the clearing.
The corpses had been sprinkled with Fire Essence Stones and burned, leaving only skeletons barely holding their shape.
Suddenly, a strange light glinted from between the charred bones and flesh.
‘What is that?’
*Vwoom!*
As Bu Eun-seol used his telekinesis, a half-burned object floated before his eyes.
The sphere-like object not only emitted a soft glow, but an orange light flickered within it, as if containing a flame.
It looked like a tiny, burning candle had been carved inside a small bead.
‘An Artificial Inner Core?’
A glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
Wasn’t this bead, taken from the vagrants' bodies, the same demonic creation the Three Realms had been producing all this time—an Artificial Inner Core?
“No, this is a completely different core.”
The cores discovered until now had a blood-red luster.
But this Artificial Inner Core, extracted from the vagrants' corpses, was tinged with an orange hue, as if it held a flame.
“So this was the goal.”
An inexplicable heat emanated from the core.
“They were improving the inner cores.”
He didn’t know what method they used, but this newly discovered Artificial Inner Core was different from the previous ones.
Like the inner core of a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp, it possessed a nature of extreme yang.
“Was stealing the Fire Essence Stones to create this?”
The culprit seemed to have used the Fire Essence Stones and some other method to burn human bodies and manufacture inner cores imbued with extreme yang energy.
“There must be something more to it.”
Simply burning a vagrant injected with a Demonic Embryo wouldn’t produce a fire-attribute inner core.
That meant… there had to be some secret technique involved.
“Someone other than the Three Realms.”
The Three Realms always prioritized secrecy above all else.
If they had wanted to experiment, they wouldn't have needed to raid the Martial Alliance’s warehouse, nor would they have made the mistake of drawing public attention with such an act.
“I don’t know their purpose, but…”
Originally, he had planned to complete the investigation into the Fire Essence Stones and return to the Martial Alliance.
But now, his thoughts had changed.
“I will catch them.”
A blood-red light burned in Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
If he stopped here, another vagrant could be killed at any moment.
That was not the outcome In-guk, who had risked his life to protect the vagrants, would have wanted.
Bu Eun-seol would hunt down the killer of the vagrants to the very end.
The intelligence organizations of the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions had similar structures, yet they differed in their methods.
The demonic intelligence organizations collected all raw information.
Then, within the organization, they would sift through dubious rumors and unconfirmed reports to refine and extract the necessary intelligence.
However, the Orthodox Faction’s intelligence organizations generally had their agents refine the information immediately upon acquisition before passing it up the chain of command.
Therefore, in terms of accuracy, the Orthodox Faction’s intelligence was superior. But in terms of scope and speed, the Demonic Faction had the edge.
Bu Eun-seol currently had access not only to the Demonic Faction's intelligence network but also to the Apex Unit, an intelligence organization belonging to the Martial Alliance.
Although the grade of information the Apex Unit could handle was low, by collating and analyzing information flowing from both factions…
Bu Eun-seol was able to find the information he wanted faster than any single intelligence organization could.
“Gwang-yang-ja… you say.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at the report delivered by the Soul Reapers.
The culprit who had stolen the Fire Essence Stones and burned the vagrants to death.
He was none other than Gwang-yang-ja, an elder of the Scorching Sun Palace.
“Why would an elder of the Scorching Sun Palace do such a thing?”
The Scorching Sun Palace.
A sect of ambiguous alignment located in the southern lands, it was also known as the Sun Palace for its use of martial arts that harnessed powerful extreme yang energy.
An elder from such a place, Gwang-yang-ja, was the culprit behind the theft of the Fire Essence Stones and the murder of the vagrants.
“Then the Fire Wheel Crystal must have been the secret to creating the fire-attribute inner cores.”
The Fire Wheel Crystal.
The greatest treasure of the Scorching Sun Palace, a bead said to contain the purest fire energy in the world.
According to the Soul Reapers’ intelligence, Gwang-yang-ja was being pursued by the masters of the Scorching Sun Palace because he had stolen the Fire Wheel Crystal and fled.
If so, the creation of the fire-attribute inner cores imbued with extreme yang power must be closely related to the theft of the Fire Wheel Crystal.
“So that’s why he couldn't be found in either the Orthodox or Unorthodox territories.”
An elder of a sect from the remote outer lands had secretly come to the Central Plains to stir up trouble, so no intelligence organization had been able to detect him.
Now, he knew who the culprit was and what he wanted.
“It’s time for the final chapter.”
Bu Eun-seol intended to complete the mission given by the Martial Alliance and, at the same time, console the spirits of the unjustly killed vagrants.
“I’ve been tailed by the wrong person.”
Having left the village, Gwang-yang-ja was moving at full speed.
The moment he saw Bu Eun-seol throw the dagger, he instantly guessed that all his actions had been exposed and that the Martial Alliance had sent a pursuer.
But he was confident he would never be caught.
An elder of a sect was bound to be well-versed in the workings of any alliance.
‘They wouldn’t deploy a large force for something like this.’
No matter how much the Martial Alliance championed martial justice…
They wouldn’t mobilize a massive force over a mere theft of Fire Essence Stones or the unjust deaths of some vagrants.
Face, justification, and prestige.
The people of the Orthodox Faction valued those three things above all else.
Just because a Martial Alliance branch’s warehouse was robbed, just because a large number of vagrants were killed…
They would never deploy a huge force.
Doing so would publicly reveal the humiliating fact that a branch’s armory had been plundered, and they would be criticized for their lax management of the branch.
“In a case like this, I should aim for a long game.”
Without even taking the time to cover his tracks, Gwang-yang-ja headed straight for Dragon's Cry Mountain.
Dragon's Cry Mountain was situated between the Demonic Cult's branch and the Martial Alliance's branch.
In other words, it was a place where a large force from the Martial Alliance could never enter, and even the pursuers from the Scorching Sun Palace would hesitate to approach…
He intended to hide on the border where the forces of both factions fiercely clashed and hold out for a long time.
“He is indeed as cunning as an old fox.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded when he received the report that Gwang-yang-ja had hidden in Dragon's Cry Mountain.
Martial arts masters were different from ordinary people.
They were incomparably agile compared to wild animals, and their stamina and mental fortitude were beyond those of common folk.
If a master like him were to hide in the mountains, a large force would be needed to conduct a thorough search.
However, deploying a large force to search a mountain on the boundary line where two factions were in a standoff was nearly impossible.
Gwang-yang-ja had chosen the optimal location to evade the Martial Alliance's persistent pursuit.
“His calculation must be that the Martial Alliance wouldn’t risk a clash with the Demonic Cult just to catch a thief who stole some Fire Essence Stones.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
“And since the forces of the Scorching Sun Palace can’t approach recklessly either, it’s killing two birds with one stone.”
A smile touched his lips as the corners of his mouth curled.
“But he’s been too clever. Far too clever.”
*Scribble, scribble.*
Bu Eun-seol took out his ink and wrote a letter in the Demonic Cult's secret script, then discreetly passed it to a member of the Soul Reapers to be delivered immediately to Yu Un-ryong.
“It’s over now.”
Gazing at the distant sky, Bu Eun-seol launched himself into the air.
His destination was the Demonic Cult's Taiyuan branch, located at Dragon's Cry Mountain.
***
An immediate state of emergency was declared at the Taiyuan branch.
—Emergency training begins today!
Grand Lord Sang-hak of the Demonic Cult, who had been secretly touring the various branches throughout the land, had reportedly made a surprise visit.
And upon seeing the indolent warriors of the Taiyuan branch, he had let out a thunderous roar.
—This Taiyuan branch is located right next to a Martial Alliance branch. And yet, you’ve become so complacent in this peaceful atmosphere that you’ve completely let down your guard!
The Taiyuan branch leader’s face turned deathly pale.
Grand Lord Sang-hak of the Hall of Four Shadows was the closest aide to the fearsome successor of the Demonic Cult, the Lord of the Martial Soul. A single word from him, and it would only be a matter of time before his head rolled.
—I-I will rectify it at once!
As the branch leader prostrated himself and trembled, Grand Lord Sang-hak gave him a stern command.
—Assemble near Dragon's Cry Mountain and begin a training exercise that will display the might of our cult. Make it known that we are the ones who dominate this area. If you fail to show proper prowess, I will have your head!
The branch leader clutched his trembling chest and grabbed his weapon.
He then armed all the warriors of the Taiyuan branch and dispatched them to Dragon's Cry Mountain.
They looked as if they were about to conquer the entire Taiyuan region at any moment.
—What are those bastards up to?
The Martial Alliance's Taiyuan branch, which had been observing the scene, saw red.
—They’ve got some nerve. How dare they conduct training exercises in the Dragon's Cry Mountain area, right under our branch's nose?
The two branches facing Dragon's Cry Mountain had tacitly treated the area as a buffer zone, with neither side crossing over.
But now that the Demonic Cult's branch was pushing right up to Dragon's Cry Mountain under the pretext of an emergency drill, the Martial Alliance could not stand idly by.
—Let’s show them the might of our Alliance!
In the end, the Martial Alliance's Taiyuan branch also dispatched its entire force. They surrounded the opposite side of Dragon's Cry Mountain, where the Demonic Cult had entered.
It was a resolute declaration that war would break out immediately if they took even one step further.
—Cross this line, and it’s war!
As the members of the Martial Alliance and the Demonic Cult branch faced off, a tense, murderous aura enveloped Dragon's Cry Mountain, creating a watertight cordon.
At that, Gwang-yang-ja, who was hiding on the mountain, began to panic.
‘What in the world is happening!’
Seeing the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance tightly surround Dragon's Cry Mountain, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
‘Did both factions really mobilize over the death of some vagrants?’
The unexpected situation threw Gwang-yang-ja into a state of utter panic.
He had deliberately used vagrants to create the inner cores for one reason only.
He knew all too well that even if they died in droves, the sects of the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions wouldn’t care much about mere vagrants.
But that assumption had been completely wrong.
Not only the Martial Alliance but also the Demonic Cult had come forward to surround Dragon's Cry Mountain.
‘Even if a traitor who committed high treason were here, the alliances of both factions wouldn’t go this far.’
As the standoff continued endlessly, Gwang-yang-ja knew he had to make a decision.
If a search began while he was surrounded by the masters of both factions, what then? He would be caught instantly, like a cornered rat.
And in the worst-case scenario, the masters from the Scorching Sun Palace might take this opportunity to arrive.
‘Whatever else happens, I absolutely cannot be captured by people from my own palace.’
He tightly gripped the Fire Wheel Crystal in his hand.
With this and the Demonic Embryos, he could create as many extreme yang inner cores as he wanted.
And if he could just create a few more cores… he could finally create the Crimson Sword Troupe of the Scorching Sky that he dreamed of.
He could not stop here.
“There is still a way.”
Fortunately, the two forces had only surrounded the front and back of Dragon's Cry Mountain. They had not yet begun to enter in earnest.
This meant that if he moved toward the weaker flanks of the cordon before they started their search, he could surely escape.
Just as Gwang-yang-ja finally made his decision and was about to move,
*Stop.*
A sharp realization flashed through his mind. He had suddenly recalled something.
“It’s a trap.”
If they had already formed such a watertight cordon…
There would be no need to drag things out; they could simply start searching the mountain immediately.
The fact that they were holding their positions after forming the cordon meant one thing.
They were anticipating that he, unable to bear the pressure, would break cover and try to breach the weaker part of the encirclement. It was a ploy to lure him there.
‘Heh heh heh. A young, hot-blooded man would have fallen for this trap instantly.’
A cold smile formed on Gwang-yang-ja’s lips.
‘They’ve set a trap that preys on the anxiety of the hunted. There must be a brilliant strategist among them. But it’s no use.’
He had survived countless crises and trials to get this far in his seventy years of life.
At his age, he would not make a hasty judgment that would ruin everything.
‘Even if they do search, I just have to find a way to escape.’
In that case, there was only one thing to do now.
He had to find a place on Dragon's Cry Mountain where he could hold out for a long time.
‘This place should be good.’
After scouring various parts of Dragon's Cry Mountain for a while, Gwang-yang-ja found a perfect spot.
It was a naturally formed cave near a cliff, with a majestic river flowing far below.
“I can hold out here for quite a long time… and if the worst happens, I can just jump into that river.”
Just as Gwang-yang-ja, having found the cave, let out a sigh of relief and smiled,
“I knew you’d come here.”
A man in white robes slowly walked out from within the cave.
His frame was very slender, and his features were so gentle that he looked like a scholar who couldn't even harm an insect.
It was Bu Eun-seol, disguised as Seon Woo-jin.
“You’re…”
Gwang-yang-ja’s eyes widened as he recognized him at a glance as the man who had thrown the dagger during his fight with the beggar in the village.
“Did you set up that encirclement just to lure me here?”
“Otherwise, how could I find a rat hiding in this vast Dragon's Cry Mountain?”
Finally understanding everything, Gwang-yang-ja’s jaw dropped.
He now realized that deploying the forces of both factions below to create a dense cordon was all a scheme to lure him to this very cave.
After all, this was the only place on the vast mountain where one could hide for a long period and escape in the worst-case scenario.
‘But this man is alone.’
Confirming there were no allies nearby, Gwang-yang-ja thrust out both his palms.
“Get lost!”
There was no need for talk.
He had to get past this man quickly and flee elsewhere. If he wasted any more time, he would be completely trapped.
*Fwoosh!*
With a burst of white steam, a scorching heat wave washed over Bu Eun-seol’s body.
‘This is the extreme yang art of the Scorching Sun Palace.’
Every move of the Scorching Sun Palace’s martial arts contained immense extreme yang power and heat.
The overwhelming heat confused the senses, making it impossible to tell from which direction the palm strike was coming.
“Interesting.”
Bu Eun-seol immediately extended his left hand to meet Gwang-yang-ja’s palm strike.
*Boom!*
With an explosive sound, Gwang-yang-ja was pushed back three steps.
But Bu Eun-seol stood firm like a celestial god.
“For a young man, you have cultivated formidable power.”
Gwang-yang-ja was surprised by the level of Bu Eun-seol’s internal energy, but a sinister smile still graced his lips.
“But you’ve made a mistake. My palace’s Traceless Palm of the Scorching River melts the meridians regardless of one’s internal energy level and…”
But he couldn’t finish his sentence.
The man who should have had his meridians melted and all the moisture in his body evaporated was standing there perfectly fine.
Moreover, a sharp, needle-like pain was radiating from his own right hand, where extreme yang energy should have been circulating.
‘What is this?’
Looking down at his palm, Gwang-yang-ja suddenly realized that the mucus in his nostrils had frozen solid.
When he glanced at his feet, the healthy grass was coated in a white frost, as if frozen solid.
“You’re from the Northern Sea Ice Palace!”
Only then did Gwang-yang-ja realize that Bu Eun-seol had not only neutralized the power of his Traceless Palm of the Scorching River with a powerful ice art…
But the immense extreme yin energy released when their palms met had frozen his body and his surroundings.
“I’ll melt away your pathetic ice art in an instant!”
Enraged, Gwang-yang-ja instantly drew upon his internal energy.
‘What a formidable extreme yang art.’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes narrowed.
Just by raising his power, the surrounding air grew hot, and every breath he took felt like it would melt his lungs.
“Die!”
As Gwang-yang-ja threw another palm strike, a light as brilliant as the sun burst from his palm.
He had unleashed an intense extreme yang power that seemed capable of turning the entire world into a ball of fire.
*Whoosh.*
As Bu Eun-seol calmly extended his left hand, a white and blue light emerged, and a chilling cold swept through the air.
*Sizzle!*
When the Glacial River Art and the Traceless Palm of the Scorching River collided, white steam instantly spread in all directions.
Gwang-yang-ja was a man who had practiced the Traceless Palm of the Scorching River for a long time.
The subtlety of his palm technique and the freedom of its execution surpassed Bu Eun-seol’s Glacial River Art.
“Ugh.”
Despite that, the result was Gwang-yang-ja’s defeat.
His entire body was covered in a thin layer of ice as he staggered back five steps with a pained groan.
Although Bu Eun-seol had only recently learned ice arts, his internal energy was equivalent to over four hundred years of cultivation.
The gap in their power was so immense that the subtlety of the Traceless Palm of the Scorching River was completely nullified and stopped in its tracks.
“Fine!”
Gwang-yang-ja let out a scream-like roar, pulled an orange inner core from his robes, and tossed it into his mouth.
It was the extreme yang inner core he had created by burning vagrants using the Fire Wheel Crystal and Demonic Embryos.
*Fwoosh!*
As soon as he swallowed the core, an incredible heat erupted from Gwang-yang-ja’s entire body.
*Thrust.*
He pushed his palms forward, and with immense pressure, a point of light as bright as the sun began to form.
*Zzzzzzt.*
The flame that formed in his palms swirled in a unique state, neither gas nor solid.
*Vwoooom.*
Finally, it became a sphere as hot as the sun, then began to morph and shift, taking the shape of a sword.
One of the ultimate secret arts of the Scorching Sun Palace, the Plasma Sword of the Scorching River, had been created.