Chapter 498
Chapter 498
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 498
Chapter Title: The Architect of Illusions
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“You mean… at your age, you’ve reached the State of Infinity?”
Song Baek-do’s voice trembled.
He was under the impression that Bu Eun-seol had seen through his very soul.
“I have not.”
“Then how do you know of Hyeokryeon Eung?”
“Hyeokryeon Eung. He tried to kill me using the Soul-Beckoning Secret Art.”
When Song Baek-do looked perplexed, Bu Eun-seol quickly explained the situation.
“…So you were lucky enough to save your life by jumping off a cliff.”
After hearing the whole story, Song Baek-do tilted his head.
“But why would you think this old man taught Hyeokryeon Eung? I did not use the Soul-Beckoning Secret Art.”
“At the time, Hyeokryeon Eung claimed that Sa Ok-cheong, known as the King of Illusions, was his disciple who had learned the Mind-Controlling Arts from him. But no matter the Three Realms, it was hard to believe that two renowned figures of the same era were master and disciple.”
“Hmm.”
“Thinking back on it later, I realized Hyeokryeon Eung had lied to me, and that there must have been someone else who taught the Mind-Controlling Secret Arts to them both.”
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
“Moreover, the capabilities of the King of Illusions' Soul-Beckoning Secret Art and Hyeokryeon Eung's were vastly different. As if one had been newly improved.”
Bu Eun-seol spoke with conviction.
“And upon seeing the ‘harmony’ laid out at the Ghost Valley Gate, I began to suspect that you, Valley Master, might be the one who taught Hyeokryeon Eung.”
Song Baek-do looked as if he couldn’t understand.
“You observed that harmony?”
“I did.”
“You truly have reached the State of Infinity.”
To be able to sense and appreciate the harmony of the Ghost Valley Gate meant you were at a level where no Mind-Controlling Secret Art could affect you.
And only a master in the State of Infinity can build such a spiritual barrier.
“I have not. I have merely achieved a Spiritual Aperture Breakthrough, which allows me to create a spiritual barrier.”
“A Spiritual Aperture Breakthrough? If you've achieved that, why do you say you haven't reached the State of Infinity?”
“Because only my internal energy has reached an abnormally high level.”
“What?”
Song Baek-do muttered, unable to comprehend.
“To reach that level with internal energy alone would require at least four hundred years' worth of it.”
“It’s a little… over five hundred years.”
Song Baek-do froze, his expression one of utter shock.
Only then did he realize that the young man before him had achieved an unfathomable level of martial prowess.
*Gulp.*
Swallowing hard, Song Baek-do asked with a look of disbelief.
“Tell me exactly. What is it you want from this old man?”
“As I said, the Black Leaf Stone.”
Bu Eun-seol stared intently at Song Baek-do and said.
“Of course, since you have been a part of the Three Realms, it would be even better if you could tell me everything you know about them.”
Song Baek-do fell into a thoughtful silence.
One thing was certain: the young man before him was genuinely opposing the Three Realms. He could feel that not a single word was a lie.
“What do you know about the Three Realms?”
“That they control the entire martial world, that they are divided into the Infinite Realm and the Azure River Realm, and that there are beings called Messengers who deliver orders. I know nothing beyond that.”
“Hmm.”
“I have no idea why or when they came into being, why they are called the Three Realms, or what their purpose is.”
“Hmm.”
Song Baek-do fell silent again.
Then, after taking a deep breath, he slowly began to speak.
“This old man was once Do Song-baek, who led the Heaven-Controlling Sect.”
Song Baek-do.
His true identity was Do Song-baek, the Master of the Heaven-Controlling Sect, who was said to have reached the pinnacle of the Mind-Controlling Secret Arts in the past.
“You are…”
This time, it was Bu Eun-seol who couldn’t hide his surprise.
The Master of the Heaven-Controlling Sect, who was said to have reached the apex of the Mind-Controlling Secret Arts thirty years before the King of Illusions appeared in the martial world.
He was leading the Valley of Forgotten Souls in such a hale state?
“To be precise, this old man did not teach Hyeokryeon Eung.”
Song Baek-do, no, Do Song-baek continued in a low voice.
“Hyeokryeon Eung had already achieved a great deal in the Mind-Controlling Arts on his own. He came to me and proposed that we study the Mind-Controlling Secret Arts together, claiming that if we joined forces, we could reach the absolute zenith of the art.”
“I see.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded faintly.
The reason Hyeokryeon Eung possessed such impossibly advanced Mind-Controlling Arts…
It was because he had studied them with a brilliant figure like Do Song-baek.
“But it was all my delusion. The Mind-Controlling Arts we created together… instead destroyed people’s minds and threw the martial world into chaos.”
“What exactly is the Infinite Realm’s purpose in doing such things?”
“According to Hyeokryeon Eung, the Infinite Realm’s purpose is to save the martial world from its path to ruin.”
“Ruin?”
“He said ruin in the literal sense. That everything would be destroyed, leaving nothing behind.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes flashed.
The word ‘ruin’ felt uncannily similar to the ‘end of all things’ that the Law-Seeker Moryun had prophesied in the past.
“He said the Infinite Realm would save the martial world?”
“He did.”
Bu Eun-seol asked with a look of confusion.
“Then what does the Azure River Realm do?”
“I only followed Hyeokryeon Eung into the Infinite Realm to study the Mind-Controlling Secret Arts; I do not know much about the other two Realms. However.”
Do Song-baek said.
“As far as this old man knows, the highest-ranking figures in the Infinite Realm are the Supreme Emperor and the Heavenly Venerable. All plans are decided by them. It is likely the same for the Azure River Realm.”
“Are they the Realm Lords?”
“That, I do not know. Whether there is someone of higher rank above them… even this old man does not know for certain.”
After taking a deep breath, Do Song-baek began to explain in detail what he knew.
“The Infinite Realm has the General Rank, who only follow orders, and above them are the Messengers who command them. A Messenger can freely utilize the Infinite Realm’s forces and information network.”
He paused for a moment before continuing with a sigh.
“And above the Messengers is the Special Divine Rank.”
“The Special Divine Rank…”
“Indeed. The Special Divine Rank members gather their opinions and convey them to the Heavenly Venerable and the Supreme Emperor, and the Infinite Realm operates according to their decisions.”
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes widened at the unexpected information.
He had thought the Three Realms were perfectly parallel, decentralized organizations in opposition to one another.
But in reality, the Infinite Realm had a top-level leadership, with a clear chain of command and control.
It was a vertical organization, no different from any other sect.
“So the Special Divine Rank not only commands the Messengers but also serves to convey opinions to the Heavenly Venerable and the Supreme Emperor.”
“Precisely.”
“In that case, Hyeokryeon Eung was…”
“That’s right. Among the Special Divine Rank, Hyeokryeon Eung held a very high position, that of the Law-Demon Superior.”
“The Law-Demon Superior.”
“And…”
Do Song-baek continued in a low voice.
“What the Infinite Realm feared most was not the Azure River Realm, but the third, unrevealed Realm. According to Hyeokryeon Eung, the moment they made their move… everything would be over.”
He took a deep breath and said with a sigh.
“This is everything this old man knows about the Infinite Realm.”
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath himself.
Here, in the Valley of Forgotten Souls, which he had entered by chance, he had finally learned from Do Song-baek the structure and system of the Three Realms that he had been so curious about.
‘And the Infinite Realm is trying to save the martial world from ruin.’
Until now, the Infinite Realm had not only created Incarnates and the Soulless but had also committed all sorts of atrocities in the martial world.
And yet, they claimed to be saving it from ruin?
But what was even stranger was his intuition that Hyeokryeon Eung hadn’t simply been lying.
“This must be fate as well.”
Just then, Do Song-baek spoke again.
“The reason this old man created the Valley of Forgotten Souls was to atone for the mistakes I made while a part of the Three Realms. Because of that, countless people were controlled by them, and many more died.”
Do Song-baek had joined the Three Realms through Hyeokryeon Eung.
And though he had created powerful Mind-Controlling Arts, they had ultimately become a tool for the Infinite Realm to manipulate the martial world.
Realizing too late that everything had gone wrong, Do Song-baek had left the Three Realms and had been living his life helping others.
“There is no need for a longer story. For this old man, it is all in the past.”
*Shhk.*
Do Song-baek pulled a stone emitting a blue light from his robes.
It was the Black Leaf Stone.
“Take it. And there is no need to return it.”
Do Song-baek said in an earnest voice.
“Everyone in the Valley of Forgotten Souls lives having forgotten their painful memories. Including this old man.”
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand.
In the name of studying the Mind-Controlling Secret Arts, Do Song-baek, along with Hyeokryeon Eung, must have committed unspeakable acts.
And by helping others who writhed in agony… he was trying to forget his own past mistakes and torment.
“If one can forget, it is best to forget.”
Placing the stone in Bu Eun-seol’s hand, Do Song-baek turned away weakly.
He looked just like another resident of the Valley of Forgotten Souls, writhing in pain, unable to forget his agonizing memories.
‘Hmm.’
A strange feeling washed over Bu Eun-seol.
In this world, there were people who grew through hardship and adversity, and there were those who only wished to forget their pain.
Do Song-baek was a man who had reached the pinnacle of the Mind-Controlling Secret Arts. And yet, unable to control his agonizing emotions, he simply wished for his long suffering to end.
“However, you will have to persuade your companions yourself.”
At that moment, Do Song-baek paused his steps and muttered.
“They have already tasted peace of mind…”
“I understand.”
Bu Eun-seol wasn’t particularly worried.
Noe Bi-hon had to avenge his son, and Dae Gu-hwi had to earn the recognition of the Beast Palace Lord to resolve the grudge of his tragically deceased mother.
Neither of them would ever settle for the peace that oblivion offered.
*Rumble.*
Just then, a loud explosion was followed by a tremor that shook the entire Valley of Forgotten Souls.
“Elder!”
Simultaneously, a man came running breathlessly to Do Song-baek.
“Elder, we have a huge problem.”
“What is it?”
“Someone is using explosives to destroy the valley’s mechanisms and force their way in.”
“Explosives?”
The color drained from Do Song-baek’s face.
To break through the Ghost Gate Pass and force entry into the Valley of Forgotten Souls, one would need tens of thousands of catties of gunpowder at the very least.
And the only ones who would use such an amount of explosives without a second thought were the Three Realms.
‘Did they track Brother Noe’s movements?’
Sensing that they were from the Three Realms, Bu Eun-seol said to Do Song-baek.
“Valley Master, I believe it is because of my sworn brother.”
“Your sworn brother?”
“Yes. My sworn brother has long been an enemy of the Infinite Realm, and he was recently injured in a fight with someone who uses the Blade Emperor’s techniques.”
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“We were careful to erase our tracks… but it seems they found out he was trying to recover his strength and have come to interfere.”
But the reaction was strange.
Do Song-baek shook his head as if that wasn’t it, and said to the man.
“First, evacuate everyone in the valley to Moon Mist Cave. There, we should be able to…”
*CRASH! KABOOM!*
But the explosions were already shaking the inside of the valley.
They had stormed in without giving any time to prepare.
—Aaargh!
Faint screams began to erupt from all sides.
It seemed that masters from the Three Realms had already entered the Valley of Forgotten Souls and were committing indiscriminate slaughter.
“Do not worry. I will handle it.”
Just as Bu Eun-seol was about to draw upon his internal energy with a grave expression,
“It’s alright.”
Do Song-baek placed a light hand on Bu Eun-seol’s shoulder.
“You should not get involved.”
*Freeze.*
At the same moment, Bu Eun-seol’s body stiffened.
Do Song-baek had used neither a pressure point technique nor a mind-controlling art, but a grand technique like the Pulse-Controlling Punishment Art, which paralyzed every nerve in the body.
It was so natural and devoid of hostility that Bu Eun-seol had been unable to avoid it.
“What are you doing?”
“They have not come for your sworn brother, but for this old man.”
As Bu Eun-seol wore a bewildered expression, Do Song-baek said.
“I knew they had been searching this area for some time. I thought it would be fine since there had been no problems until now, but in the end… it has come to this.”
—Aaargh!
Hearing another scream, Song Baek-do shook his head and spoke quickly.
“If I had wanted blood, this Valley Master would never have established the Valley of Forgotten Souls.”
“Valley Master.”
“What they want is this old man’s life. If I give them that, everything will be resolved.”
“Do you really think so?”
Do Song-baek showed a smile of complete resignation.
“They are simply afraid of this old man’s Mind-Controlling Arts. There cannot be two people with the same ability.”
With those words, he rushed away in the direction of the rampant screams.
“You are wrong.”
Watching Do Song-baek depart, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“The Three Realms do not stop their slaughter just because they have achieved their goal. Because they must never let their true identity be revealed.”
*Whoosh.*
At the same time, a five-colored radiance erupted from his body.
Do Song-baek, knowing Bu Eun-seol’s internal energy exceeded five hundred years, had used a strange Pulse-Controlling Punishment Art that could never be broken with internal energy alone.
But Bu Eun-seol was not just strong in internal energy.
*Sizzle.*
Simultaneously, Bu Eun-seol’s body began to emit heat, freezing and thawing repeatedly.
He was alternating between extreme yin and extreme yang energies, attempting to nullify the power Do Song-baek had poured into his body.
*Crack.*
As he alternated between the two energies, his stiffened body slowly began to move.
‘Faster.’
Bu Eun-seol poured out his internal energy with all his might.
If he didn't deal with them quickly, not only the people of the Valley of Forgotten Souls, but also Noe Bi-hon and Dae Gu-hwi would be in danger.
***
“Why.”
Dae Gu-hwi, who had been tilling a field, trembled.
Since coming here, he had forgotten all his painful memories and was enjoying an unprecedented peace.
But suddenly, strange people had poured in, setting the beautiful Valley of Forgotten Souls ablaze.
Not only that, they were brutally slaughtering the innocent people who had served him delicious meals, who had worked alongside him, sweating under the sun.
The people who had told him stories that soothed his heart.
The falling blood formed a pond, and the piled corpses created a hill.
At the gruesome sight, Dae Gu-hwi felt a rage he had never known before.
“Uuuu… Aaaaaah!”
A massive roar shook the Valley of Forgotten Souls.
At the same time, Dae Gu-hwi’s body grew so large it tore his clothes, and his eyes glowed with a red light.
*Swish!*
He became a streak of light, darting through the Valley of Forgotten Souls.
Each time Dae Gu-hwi moved so fast his form was a blur, fountains of blood erupted from the assassins’ bodies.
Witnessing a hellish scene after finding peace and solace…
The barrier in his mind shattered in an instant, and the Beastly Power that had been sealed by his mother’s death was unleashed at once.
—Kuhung!
Every time Dae Gu-hwi’s roar echoed, the assassins fell like autumn leaves.
The Beastly Martial Arts of the Beast Palace unleashed movements and power that transcended human limits.
Furthermore, because he attacked instinctively like an animal, his first moves were unpredictable.
It was a style that displayed even greater power in a one-versus-many battle.
[Was there a beast from the Beast Palace mixed in here too?]
Just then, a low voice spoke as a dark shadow appeared.
A man wearing a mysterious mask. It was a Messenger of the Three Realms.
“Kahak!”
Spotting the Messenger, Dae Gu-hwi bared his sharp fangs and charged at him.
Though it looked like a clumsy charge, it was an attack that anticipated all of the Messenger’s evasive maneuvers and counterattacks.
*Boom!*
A sudden explosion rang out.
At the same moment, Dae Gu-hwi was sent flying over a hundred feet, as if struck by an invisible iron hammer.
“Kaat!”
But he sprang back up as if he had never been knocked down and charged at the Messenger again.
A body with its Beastly Power unleashed becomes as hard as if one had trained in Body Fortification Arts.
[Hmph.]
The Messenger snorted and pointed a finger.
*Flash!*
A sharp gleam of light shot out, and then,
“Kak!”
Blood spurted from Dae Gu-hwi’s shoulder.
A finger wind, so fast it was invisible, had been unleashed like a blade, piercing through Dae Gu-hwi’s iron-hard body in a single blow.
*Tremble, tremble.*
Moreover, that finger wind contained a strange power, and Dae Gu-hwi couldn't move his body, as if his pressure points had been sealed.
“A root that could cause future trouble must be pulled out immediately.”
The Messenger walked steadily toward the fallen Dae Gu-hwi.
“Do not harm him!”
Just then, a lanky middle-aged man, who stood seven feet tall, blocked the Messenger’s path.
It was Noe Bi-hon.
The Messenger stared at Noe Bi-hon’s face for a while, a strange expression on his own.
He looked as if he had seen him somewhere before but couldn't recall where.
[You are…]
The Messenger blinked his eyes behind the mask.
[Who are you?]
It was understandable. The Thunder God was always shrouded in Thunder Spirit Ki, his eyes tinged with madness.
But the Noe Bi-hon before him now, with the Thunder Spirit Ki and madness gone, had clear, lucid eyes… making him completely unrecognizable.
“You don’t need to know. Get lost.”
The Messenger frowned and flicked his finger in an instant.
A sharp finger wind shot toward Noe Bi-hon’s brow.
Or rather, it should have.
Noe Bi-hon had lost his memories, but not the combat instincts ingrained in his body.
Knowing the Messenger’s finger wind was aimed at his brow, the moment the Messenger extended his hand, he immediately ducked and moved, throwing a punch.
*BOOM!*
Dust and dirt flew in all directions with the explosion.
Simultaneously, Noe Bi-hon, the one who had attacked, was sent flying fifty feet away.
He had thrown a punch, but it failed to break through the Messenger’s protective qi, and he was thrown back instead.
[Just a small fry.]
Just as the Messenger was about to strike again,
*Step, step.*
An old man in white robes, looking like a celestial being, walked before the Messenger.
It was Do Song-baek.
“Oh, dear.”
Looking at the惨状, Do Song-baek wore a look of utter despair.
The people staying in the valley had writhed in pain and agony their entire lives before finally finding peace of mind and living happily.
And now, these pitiful souls who were just about to lead happy lives were being brutally slaughtered?
[It has been a long time.]
The Messenger’s eyes curved into crescents behind his mask.
[I was about to wear out my iron shoes looking for you. Who would have thought you’d be holed up in this deep valley in Yunnan, a place we had investigated long ago.]
The Messengers of the Three Realms rarely spoke more than necessary to avoid revealing their identities.
But with Do Song-baek, he seemed to feel no need to hide his identity, chattering away.
[Go ahead, try to run away again. I’ll find you within a month this time.]
“I will not run.”
Do Song-baek walked calmly up to the Messenger and said.
“These people have nothing to do with this old man. Do not attack them any further.”
[…]
The Messenger stared at him for a moment, then lightly raised his right hand.
At his signal, the assassins attacking the people of the Valley of Forgotten Souls all stopped at once.
[Very well. Then there is no need to waste any more time.]
The Messenger looked at Do Song-baek, his eyes curving into crescents.
And in an utterly sinister voice, he said.
[Take your own life, cleanly. Then we will depart quietly.]