Chapter 1033
Bu Eun-seol had returned to the Demon Hall and was working in his office as usual.
His serene demeanor made it hard to believe he was the one who had reduced the Fire Rain Sword Sect and the Extinction Palace to ruins.
The fall of the Fire Rain Sword Sect and the Extinction Palace.
And the emergence of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors.
All of this had been foreseen, and he had already concluded discussions with the Lords.
In the past, Jeok Bung had warned never to underestimate the true power of the Demonic Path Ten Gates.
Bu Eun-seol hadn't taken those words lightly and had continuously investigated the forces behind the Demonic Path Ten Gates.
Through his efforts, he had confirmed that the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, who claimed to be the origin of the Demonic Path, were not merely a baseless legend.
Since the Demonic Path Ten Gates united to form the Demon Hall, tracing their roots hadn't been difficult.
The Seven Great Demon Ancestors.
They were the origin of the Central Plains Demon Path.
The very roots that had given rise to seven of the Demonic Path Ten Gates.
Unlike the True Demon, who was called a pure demon, they were what could truly be called the Demonic Path.
Demon Hall, Hidden Demon Pavilion. Grand Conference Room.
As soon as rumors spread of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors' emergence, Bu Eun-seol convened the Lord's Meeting.
"Finally, the slimy backers of the Seven Demonic Sects have crawled out of hiding."
Yu Un-ryong spoke in a clear, ringing voice.
The Death Shadow War Unit had already known that the legendary Seven Great Demon Ancestors were real.
They had even anticipated their appearance the moment the Fire Rain Sword Sect and the Extinction Palace were sealed.
"The Fire Rain Sword Sect isn't just another sect—it's the First Gate of the Demonic Path."
Yu Un-ryong wore a grave expression.
"In other words, it represents the Seven Demonic Sects and has been voicing the will of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors lurking in the shadows."
'Now I understand why Lady Man-wol kept urging me to grow stronger.'
As Bu Eun-seol sat quietly at the center of the conference room listening, Man-wol's face suddenly flashed through his mind.
"So, everything will be decided in this era, it seems."
Myo Cheon-u interjected with a bitter expression.
"Meanwhile, the Three Realms, the Three Clans, the True Demon and his followers still haven't openly revealed themselves in Murim."
"The Seven Great Demon Ancestors are different in nature."
Yu Un-ryong replied.
"Rumors say they were the ones who originally created the Demonic Path Murim and are the very source of Demonic Path Martial Arts."
"If such beings have appeared..."
At that moment, Jo Nam-cheon let out a sigh.
"Then a peaceful Murim can no longer exist."
Knock, knock.
Just then, the sound of knocking echoed, followed by Wi Cheon-gyeong's voice.
"Lord."
He stepped inside with an expression graver than ever.
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor has summoned you."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"Continue without me. I'll return shortly."
The moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
Until now, he had never been able to discern the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's true intentions.
Despite being the Number One of the Demonic Path, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had neither revered the Demonic Path nor proclaimed dominance over the Demonic Martial World.
That had always been a mystery.
Why hadn't this man, who sought to reign over everything, shown a clear stance?
What exactly was he preparing for?
But with the emergence of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors—
Now, he would finally get a clear answer.
Holy Demon Pavilion.
For the first time in a while, Bu Eun-seol received treatment befitting his status as the Martial Soul Lord within the Holy Demon Pavilion.
He was guided to the archive within the pavilion—a place only the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's closest confidants were permitted to enter.
When Bu Eun-seol stepped into the archive, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was reading a book.
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had observed many sides of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor up close.
He had seen him drinking tea, watering the fields, or erupting in fury.
He had even witnessed him looking as relaxed and unassuming as an ordinary old man.
But he had never imagined seeing him standing in an archive, absorbed in a book.
"You've come."
Yet here the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was, reading without the slightest hesitation in Bu Eun-seol's presence.
"Hall Master."
For the first time, Bu Eun-seol addressed him with the title "Hall Master" and bowed.
Ever since setting out to seal the Extinction Palace and the Fire Rain Sword Sect—
Bu Eun-seol had stopped viewing the Demonic Heavenly Emperor as an object of reverence.
After this matter concluded, he intended to either take the seat as the master of the Demon Hall or leave it behind entirely.
"Sit."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor showed no particular objection to the title and gestured for him to take a seat.
Just moments ago, there had been no tea on the table in front of the archive.
But as he motioned with his hand, a table materialized, steam rising from the freshly poured tea.
'Has he entered a new realm in this short time?'
Bu Eun-seol forcibly suppressed his astonishment.
When the Demonic Heavenly Emperor gestured—
The table, teacups, and tea had transcended "space" itself, moving from another location to this one.
Having already witnessed Wi Ji-mua wield such Harmonization at the Fire Rain Sword Sect—
The sudden appearance of the tea set wasn't entirely shocking.
However, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had summoned the table, chairs, teacups, tea leaves, and water from entirely separate locations—and then boiled them together.
This was a divine skill that far surpassed Wi Ji-mua's methods.
No wonder I couldn't help but set such a goal.
Even in the eyes of Bu Eun-seol, who had constantly clashed with the strongest martial artists of the era—
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor had transcended the limits of martial arts, reaching a level beyond comprehension.
And the decision to not merely catch up to the realms of the strong, but to render them ordinary—
That, too, had only come after meeting the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
"You're already well aware, but there are figures and factions in the martial world who remain hidden," the Demonic Heavenly Emperor said with a faint smile.
"They call them the Abyssal Forces, don't they?"
Surprisingly, he even knew the term Bu Eun-seol used to refer to the factions lurking in the shadows of the martial world.
"That's correct."
When Bu Eun-seol answered indifferently, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor continued.
"But from their perspective, the current factions of the martial world are nothing but insignificant shadows."
It was a statement shocking enough to leave an ordinary martial artist momentarily dazed.
It implied that the Abyssal Forces were the true body of the martial world, while the factions exposed to the light were merely a fraction.
Yet, this time too, Bu Eun-seol was not particularly surprised.
He had already made similar predictions and had even broached the subject with Wi Ji-mua.
"I've always found it strange," he said.
Since the Demonic Heavenly Emperor surely knew he had already guessed as much, there was no need to feign ignorance.
"Organizations and factions that remain hidden shouldn't be able to exist in so many different forms."
The current martial world had far too many secret societies and Abyssal Forces.
At this scale, they should have been meticulously recorded in martial history.
Yet the fact that most martial artists remained unaware of them was fundamentally illogical.
"Each and every one of them was bound by Restrictive Seals."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor rose from his seat, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed out the window.
"And now, one by one, those seals are being undone."
After staring out the window for a while, he turned his head to look at Bu Eun-seol.
"All thanks to someone stirring up the martial world."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's words carried three meanings.
First—that the one breaking their Restrictive Seals was Bu Eun-seol.
Second—that the seals had been made to break that way.
And third—that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor himself had long wished for the seals to be undone.
Otherwise, a man who weighed every word with care, layering multiple meanings into each phrase—
Would never have casually said "thanks to."
"I see."
Had it been before, he would have been greatly startled—
Thinking he still hadn't escaped the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's grasp.
But now was different.
He, too, knew the full truth—and this situation itself was the intended outcome.
"Hohoho."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor seemed to have discerned that as well, smiling faintly.
"So our opinions align."
"Whether they are the true body of the martial world or mere branches, I simply believed they should all be brought into the light."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor spoke with his hands still clasped behind his back.
"Soon, the Three Attendants will appear, and the Baekri Clan's name will rise in the martial world. When that happens, even sects that never openly revealed themselves will gradually surface."
Pausing briefly, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor looked at Bu Eun-seol and asked:
"How much do you know of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors?"
"I know them as the origin of the Demonic Path."
According to legends passed down through generations—
The very existence of the Demonic Path, the birth of its martial arts—all were attributed to the Seven Great Demon Ancestors.
In other words, they could be called the Founders of demonic practitioners.
Among the Demonic Path Ten Gates—
Excluding Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying, created for the needs of the Demon Hall, and Fleeting Moment Boat, selected to absorb vast financial resources—
And Langya Pavilion, which joined the Demonic Path Ten Gates belatedly—
The remaining seven demonic sects could truly be said to carry the lineage of orthodox demonic arts.
Thus, the Seven Great Demon Ancestors were the roots of the seven demonic sects, while the Demon Hall was a mechanism to unite the Demonic Path Ten Gates.
That was why the master of the Demon Hall had always emerged from the Demonic Path Ten Gates, ruling the Demonic Path as its Number One.
But with the rise of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, that tradition had been broken.
"The Seven Great Demon Ancestors were beings who opposed the primordial demon—no, the True Demon, the embodiment of evil. They claimed the True Demon was no demon at all, and that they themselves were the true demons... or so the historical records state."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's voice resonated calmly through the chamber.
"But all of that is mere wordplay."
Bu Eun-seol's expression flickered with surprise.
Were the legends of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, known until now, all nonsense?
"However... the truth must be uncovered for yourself."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor continued, his gaze drifting into the air.
"There is only one thing I can tell you. Originally, the concept of 'Demon' could not be divided into two."
"......"
"The fact that a pure demon—the True Demon—exists, yet another demonic lineage, the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, emerged in the martial world..."
He murmured softly.
"Means that, by the Laws of nature, their power was inevitably split."
A "Demon" is one.
"In other words, after the True Demon, a new demon called the Seven Great Demon Ancestors was born."
This meant that the power of the True Demon, which had once possessed the entirety of demonic might, had now split into two branches.
Had this been before, Bu Eun-seol would have thought, Is such a thing even possible?
But after experiencing the arrangements of ancient sects like the Ancient Sword Forest, the Divine Maiden Palace, and the Snow Fragrance Gate—lineages that had either been passed down through the ages or whose Founders had foreseen the distant future—
the existence of such laws no longer struck him as particularly surprising.
"Then the True Demon would naturally have suppressed and dealt with the Seven Great Demon Ancestors first."
"Indeed. That would have been the logical place to start."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor spoke softly, like a grandfather telling an old tale to his grandson.
"Let me explain why such a thing never came to pass."
Noticing the flicker in Bu Eun-seol's gaze, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor shook his head.
"The affairs of other factions are a matter for another time."
"Am I that transparent?"
"From your perspective, it would be the most natural assumption."
The reason the Demonic Heavenly Emperor could so easily pierce the hearts of others was simple—
he always considered things from their standpoint.
—Is he planning to reveal everything about the Abyssal Forces now?
This was the first time the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had spoken of the Baekri Clan and the True Demon.
And he must have wondered—
whether Bu Eun-seol himself had sworn to the Covenant, or if he had broken free from it.
Perhaps this very moment was meant to confirm whether Bu Eun-seol was bound by the Covenant or had escaped it.
After all, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, too, must have been subject to the Covenant long ago—
either still bound by it, or having already broken free.
"As you well know, the emergence of the Sacred Realm sanctified the conflict between the Baekri Clan and the True Demon... Under the name of the Covenant, no one was permitted to interfere or intervene in that battle."
Bu Eun-seol showed no particular reaction to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's calm words.
Given his actions up to now, it wouldn't have been difficult to guess that he had once been bound by the Covenant.
Depending on how his body reacted to these words now—
the Demonic Heavenly Emperor could instantly discern whether Bu Eun-seol remained bound by the Covenant or had broken free.
"Then—"
Just as Bu Eun-seol was about to continue—
Kwoong.
A bizarre sensation washed over him.
It felt like a faint tremor, or perhaps an ominous premonition passing through the air.
Creeeak.
Then came the sound of a door opening.
This was the innermost sanctum of the Holy Demon Pavilion—a place where no one could open the door without the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's permission.
So who could possibly enter so brazenly, without even a word of warning?
"Perfect timing."
Rather than surprised, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor looked as though he had been waiting.
His expression remained indifferent as he watched the door swing open.
Ssssshh.
Even as the door opened, no figure could be seen.
Yet both the Demonic Heavenly Emperor and Bu Eun-seol immediately sensed it—
their gazes tracking something invisible, something transparent, walking steadily into the room.
Thud.
What suddenly appeared was not a person, but a large cloth bundle.
Judging by the bloodstains soaking through, it was obvious what lay inside.
"Lately, severed heads seem to be arriving rather frequently."
As the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's low voice echoed, a pale mist began rising from the ground near the entrance—
gradually coalescing into a figure clad in pristine white martial robes.
From shoes to robes to face mask, everything was dyed pure white, and bandages wrapped tightly around every inch of exposed skin.
A slow, rippling current of qi emanated from its body, giving the impression of facing a specter from a nightmare.
"Sent by the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor?"
At the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's words, the white-clad figure's faint eyes glimmered behind its mask.
"Indeed."
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor—
one of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, considered the origin of the Demonic Path.
This was the subordinate of a being known as the "Demon of Greed for Life," a figure who carried forward the history of the Demonic Path.
"Nahu, the Heavenly Scripture."
The Heavenly Scripture was typically a keeper of forbidden texts and ancient records, a scholar who preserved and studied knowledge within secretive organizations.
Even if the Seven Great Demon Ancestors were considered the great lineages of the Demonic Path—
how dare a mere underling of the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor speak so arrogantly to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, the very Sky of the Demonic Path?
"We failed to properly oversee the White Horse Monastery, tarnishing the prestige of the Demon Ancestor. As such, we have beheaded those responsible."
Nahu spoke in a low voice.
"And the Demon Ancestor inquired—how could the authority of the Seven Demonic Sects be allowed to fall so disgracefully under your governance?"
There was a saying: A man is known by his name, a tree by its shade.
Had this been any other time, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor would have shattered Nahu's skull before he could utter a second word.
But whether out of deference to the authority of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors or something else, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had yet to lift a hand.
Rather, he was smiling broadly.
"The Seven Demonic Sects, you say."
Those words implied he did not acknowledge the Demonic Path Ten Gates.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor watched Bu Eun-seol with amusement.
"Then it seems my successor must step forward."
The Seven Great Demon Ancestors refused to recognize the Demonic Path Ten Gates and were disregarding the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's authority.
That was why he was telling Bu Eun-seol to act—because he was the Heir of the Demon Hall, the next Hall Master.
'Does he intend to seize control of the Seven Demonic Sects the moment he appears?'
Erasing his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol opened his mouth.
"According to the teachings passed down through generations, the Seven Great Demon Ancestors are said to be the very foundation of the Demonic Path itself."
Then, he continued calmly.
"So why do you refuse to acknowledge the Demonic Path Ten Gates, which represent the current authority of the Demonic Path?"
"Who are you?"
Given that they had dared to storm into the Holy Demon Pavilion, there was no way they wouldn't know Bu Eun-seol, the Heir of the Demon Hall.
Despite Nahu's deliberately insolent pretense of ignorance, Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together with utmost courtesy.
"I am Bu Eun-seol, a disciple of Langya Pavilion and the successor of this Hall."
"A successor... I see."
For an instant, a blinding white light flickered in Nahu's eyes beneath his mask.
"Hall Master Sado."
Nahu addressed the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
"Though it is commendable that this brat coincidentally broke our sect's Restrictive Seal... he has consistently undermined the prestige of the Demonic Path, weakening the power of the Demon Sects."
His expression was one of utter arrogance.
"I demand that his position as Heir of the Demon Hall be revoked."
"I must decline."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor replied indifferently.
"Even if all the leaders of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors were to come and kowtow before me, that would never happen."
Nahu's eyes flashed.
"That man will soon be dead. He sits at the very top of every faction's kill list."
"That sounds entertaining."
"Is there truly a need to take such a risk?"
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor offered a faint smile.
"Wasn't that position made for taking risks?"
Realizing the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's resolve was unshakable, Nahu's expression hardened.
"So, in the end, this rootless brat from Langya Pavilion has caused trouble after all."
In that instant, the light in Bu Eun-seol's eyes changed.
Originally, he had held at least a shred of respect for the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, considering them the foundation and progenitors of the Demonic Path.
But the moment Nahu insulted Langya Pavilion, that sentiment vanished entirely.
"For the supposed foundation of the Demonic Path to be so narrow-minded..."
Bu Eun-seol muttered in disappointment, his voice low.
"No wonder his underling is just as petty."
Nahu's face instantly froze over.
"What did you just say?"
"Are your ears useless?"
Bu Eun-seol stared coldly at Nahu.
"I said that if the master is petty, so too is his dog."
The Seven Great Demon Ancestors were, by definition, the very foundation of the Demonic Path.
Even the Hall Master of the Demon Hall was beneath their notice—so how dare some green brat, not even affiliated with the Seven Demonic Sects, speak so recklessly?
Rumble.
Before anyone realized it, Nahu was emitting a blinding white aura not just from his eyes, but from his entire body.
With his face tightly wrapped in white bandages and his eyes dyed pure white, the attendant looked like nothing short of a Death God from a nightmare.
"Do you think you can handle this?"
"Handle?"
A frigid chill seeped from Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"You think a mere dog can handle this Lord?"
"What did you—?"
Bu Eun-seol curled his lips.
"I've heard that among the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor—the one who created whip techniques—holds the lowest rank. Tell me, is that order determined by the breadth of one's mind?"
Nahu stood dumbfounded, as though unable to believe what he was witnessing.
How dare this upstart Heir of the Demon Hall insult a Demon Ancestor to his face?
"So the Langya Pavilion, a sect that barely crawled its way out of obscurity seven hundred years ago, has finally produced a madman."
"I'm glad you recognize that this Lord is mad."
A bloody light flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"Bring me the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor."
"What?"
"I have no interest in speaking with a dog who lacks even the authority to bark."
Bu Eun-seol looked down at Nahu.
"A lowly snake that slithers in the dirt could never comprehend the existence of a human."
Nahu's face twisted grotesquely.
Bu Eun-seol's attitude—
It defied every principle and convention Nahu had ever known.
"Hall Master Sado!"
Flustered, Nahu turned to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
"This situation right now—!"
But he couldn't finish.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor was watching the two of them with the rapt attention of someone enjoying a thrilling Beijing Opera performance.
"Have we finished talking? Where are you looking?"
With Bu Eun-seol's low murmur—
Slap!
In an instant, Nahu's left cheek flushed red.
Clutching his stinging face, he stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
At first, when the brat slowly raised his hand, he thought it was just a threat.
Even as the hand approached his face, he still couldn't believe it.
He was certain it would end differently.
But the next moment, Nahu's vision darkened abruptly, and all sensation vanished entirely.
'Beast Path...!'
Nahu gritted his teeth.
Bu Eun-seol had utilized the pinnacle of the Beast Path techniques—
The Sensory Shattering Art and False Form Soul Stealing—
Disrupting Nahu's senses for a single instant and, in that moment of confusion, striking his cheek.