Chapter 1052
Thud. Thud.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor approached with leisurely steps, his gaze utterly composed, as though he were merely out for a stroll.
Yet the Taoist of Emptiness stood frozen, as if struck by lightning from a clear sky, seized by uncontrollable tremors.
This was a terror that transcended reason—primal fear.
The absolute helplessness of prey standing before a predator.
'He must have encountered the Demonic Heavenly Emperor before.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed to slits as he observed the Taoist of Emptiness.
For one of the Ten Great Immortals—wielding both the Demonic Path and the power of Grand Perfection—to fear the Demonic Heavenly Emperor to such an extent...
Something must have happened between them in the past.
"The so-called Ten Great Immortals are also targets to be eliminated. Once you meet them, you'll understand the truth of it."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor had once assured Bu Eun-seol.
"If you doubt me, report to me immediately upon discovering any trace of the Ten Great Immortals."
With the Taoist of Emptiness's appearance, Bu Eun-seol realized that the Seven Great Demon Ancestors and the Ten Great Immortals shared some kind of connection.
Moreover, even if they captured the Taoist of Emptiness, the chances of extracting useful information were slim.
—This is a perfect opportunity to gauge Hall Master Sado's intentions.
Bu Eun-seol had used a messenger hawk to inform the Demonic Heavenly Emperor of the Taoist's movements.
And now, he had summoned him to dissect the truth firsthand.
"As expected, you've come to save the Demon Ancestor."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor spoke while staring at the Taoist of Emptiness.
"Though usually, you cower like a rat in hiding."
"Sado Mu-myeong."
As if mustering his courage, the Taoist of Emptiness channeled his Internal Power.
A blue light flickered in his pupils.
"You've grown bold, it seems."
The Ten Great Immortals, inheritors of the orthodox martial arts' origins, possessed Immortal Qi—the very pinnacle that countered all Demonic Path Martial Arts.
Strictly speaking, even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor himself—
No master of the Demonic Path should have any reason to fear them.
"Did you think this humble Taoist remained unchanged?"
Huum.
The Taoist of Emptiness summoned his Pure Spirit Immortal Qi.
Merely cloaking himself in it rendered him impervious to any demonic technique.
As if to prove it, the moment the Pure Spirit Immortal Qi surged forth, the mysterious glow in the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's eyes vanished instantly.
"You call yourself the Demonic Heavenly Emperor as if you've become heaven itself—"
His words were cut short.
Crack.
The Pure Spirit Immortal Qi, which should have flowed unimpeded, was abruptly blocked—and spiderweb-like fissures began spreading across his skin.
"How—?!"
"As expected of the lowest-ranked among them—a particularly defective reject."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor snorted.
"Then again, that explains why you'd foolishly embody the law of emptiness."
Crrrk.
Cracks spread across the Taoist of Emptiness's right arm before it crumbled into dust, scattering in the wind.
Nature Shattering.
With that terrifying Limitless Power, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had completely deciphered the properties of the Pure Spirit Immortal Qi—
And instantly reversed its flow, shattering the Taoist's arm.
"Ghk—!"
More than pain, it was sheer rage and despair that wracked the Taoist of Emptiness.
To break the foundational power of the orthodox path without even lifting a finger—
Just how far had the martial world's techniques advanced?
"You had the nerve to boast."
A clear, translucent blue energy erupted from the Taoist's body like a fountain.
Hwiiiish—!
Like the first rays of dawn purging a turbid world—or the crystalline purity of a mountain spring—
A wave of pure, overwhelming force cascaded toward the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
The Pure Spirit Immortal Qi was the culmination of his lifelong training—an energy that vanquished all evil.
Even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor shouldn't have been able to withstand it. No—he couldn't have.
"Hmph."
For a fleeting moment, a faint, ruthlessly cold smile curled at the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's lips.
It was the mocking grin of a Demon King, casting despair upon all living things.
Sssssk.
The Pure Spirit Immortal Qi that touched the Demonic Heavenly Emperor vanished like morning dew before raging black flames.
Whooosh.
Simultaneously, an eerie energy enveloped the Taoist of Emptiness.
This was no mere force—it was Absolute Void, erasing existence itself.
Crrrk.
The Taoist of Emptiness stood frozen, mouth agape, like a statue.
Thud-thud-thud.
In the next instant, his remaining limbs turned to dust and disappeared.
Thump.
Without even a scream, the Taoist of Emptiness collapsed.
Even the severed stumps of his arms and legs had healed over seamlessly, as if they had never existed.
"Now you may learn the truth."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor snorted as he glanced at Bu Eun-seol.
"As promised, you will kill the Seven Great Demon Ancestors."
Bu Eun-seol always kept his word.
Yet strangely, by saying "as promised," the Demonic Heavenly Emperor seemed to be extracting another oath from him.
"Of course."
As Bu Eun-seol answered—
Swish.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor gazed down at the limbless Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor and the Taoist of Emptiness before slowly turning away.
Fwoosh.
His body turned translucent, vanishing in an instant.
—I've shown you as well.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor had instantly discerned Bu Eun-seol's intent.
To walk the same path, even minimal trust was necessary.
Bu Eun-seol had proven it by tracking down the Seven Great Demon Ancestors and destroying the Ten Thousand Li Treasure Ship.
And the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had responded to Bu Eun-seol's summons, confirming it for him.
'Something unimaginable in the past.'
In the martial world, there was no one who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
To even think of summoning him as a test was close to impossible.
Yet the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had willingly appeared.
Meaning—Bu Eun-seol's existence was absolutely necessary.
'Is it that he can't kill them himself?'
Considering the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's temperament?
There was no way he would simply sever the Taoist of Emptiness' limbs and then withdraw.
Most likely, there was a reason he couldn't kill the Seven Great Demon Ancestors and the Ten Great Immortals.
And because of that, he had clearly chosen to join hands with Bu Eun-seol.
"Ugh..."
Just then, the Taoist of Emptiness, his limbs severed, let out a groan.
Splurt!
At the same time, blood began to seep from the perfectly sealed wounds.
The severed surfaces hadn't healed flawlessly after all.
'The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's martial arts are incomplete.'
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
If the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's martial prowess had reached a state of absolute perfection, no blood would have flowed from the wounds.
In other words, he had not yet attained divine mastery—he was still in the process of refining his techniques.
"Ughhh..."
The Taoist of Emptiness groaned again, as if in agony.
'A freak, perhaps, but not necessarily an evil man.'
Unlike the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor, the Taoist of Emptiness had not sown chaos among the people nor committed wicked deeds.
Yet here he was, suffering in such a wretched state—it was impossible not to feel pity.
"Why in the world would you try to save a villain like him?"
Bu Eun-seol pressed on the Taoist's acupoints, then tore a strip of cloth to wrap around his severed limbs.
To ease his pain, he gently channeled True Qi into the Crooked Pond acupoint on the forearm, the Shoulder Well acupoint on the shoulder, and the Crooked Spring acupoint behind the knee.
"Do you really think this will make him talk?"
Bu Eun-seol scoffed at the Taoist's words.
"You're too agitated. Be silent."
"What did you say?"
"What would killing a mad Taoist accomplish?"
Bu Eun-seol glanced down at the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor.
"I only intended to strike down this Demon Ancestor that has thrown the martial world into chaos."
After a brief silence, the Taoist of Emptiness spoke with a devastated expression.
"If you kill him, this old Taoist must also take his own life."
"Suicide? Why?"
"Are you truly ignorant enough to ask?"
"I am."
The Taoist of Emptiness sighed deeply.
Given how boldly he had summoned the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, he had assumed Bu Eun-seol was a disciple of one of the great villains of the world.
Yet not only did Bu Eun-seol's eyes shine with righteous light, but his entire being exuded an aura of unclouded dignity.
'Ah... I see.'
At last, the Taoist of Emptiness understood what kind of man Bu Eun-seol was.
After hesitating for a long moment, he spoke calmly.
"If the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor is an existence that distorts the world with the power of greed, then this old man is one who can suppress that greed."
His unfocused gaze drifted as he continued.
"If only the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor—the wielder of greed—were to die, most people would be left feeling nothing but utter emptiness."
Bu Eun-seol found the claim absurd.
"So... the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor embodies greed, and you, old Taoist, embody desirelessness —as if you were gods?"
Even a three-year-old would scoff at such a tale.
If these two truly were godlike beings governing greed and desirelessness—
There was no way they would have been defeated by Bu Eun-seol and fled, let alone the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
"Not gods. Merely powers passed down through generations."
The Taoist of Emptiness smiled bitterly.
"We are simply inheritors of these forces, bound by what is called the Laws."
Laws.
A word Bu Eun-seol had heard time and again—
From the mouths of the Abyssal Forces in the past, and now from the Taoist of Emptiness.
"But these Laws only apply to the powerless in the martial world."
"......"
"If they were absolute Laws decreed by gods, then commoners—and even you—would have inevitably succumbed to that greed."
The Taoist of Emptiness explained patiently.
"Yet those affected by the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor's power are only martial artists who have not tempered their spirit and mind."
'Now that I think about it...'
The warriors of the Death Shadow War Unit, the leaders of the Murim Association and the Azure Heaven Alliance, Tang Gon, Jegal Seo-un...
All of them, having refined their spirit and mind, had remained utterly composed even when the Ten Thousand Li Treasure Ship appeared.
"Are you saying it's the power of a Supernatural Ability?"
"Something like that."
"Then who created these Laws?"
The Taoist of Emptiness answered in a low voice.
"Soon enough, you will know everything."
Drip.
Blood trickled from the Taoist's lips.
He had used his remaining strength to sever his own heart meridian—ending his life.
"Why?"
"You said you would kill the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor."
The Taoist of Emptiness smiled weakly.
"If he dies and only this old Taoist remains, the world will plunge into chaos once more. There was no other choice."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's words.
The Seven Great Demon Ancestors and the Ten Great Immortals were opposing forces—like the principles of yin and yang—
Yet they coexisted, maintaining a delicate balance.
"But there are seven Demon Ancestors and ten Immortals, no?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, the Taoist of Emptiness gazed faintly at the fallen Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor.
"When near death, anyone can manifest abilities akin to divine power."
The Taoist of Emptiness spoke to Bu Eun-seol as if giving final instructions.
"Make sure to eliminate the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor. Then everything will resolve itself as it should."
Those were his last words in this life.
Without even the chance to close his eyes, the Taoist of Emptiness breathed his last.
Upon realizing that Bu Eun-seol was determined to kill the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor, he had chosen to end his own life without hesitation—to restore the balance.
"So this is the so-called 'Law' they kept mentioning?"
Several figures, including the Heavenly Secret Star Chu-so, had repeatedly spoken of the "Law."
Now it was clear that even the Seven Great Demon Ancestors and the Ten Great Immortals were bound by unseen Laws that Bu Eun-seol did not yet understand.
'So he wasn't truly an evil being after all.'
Bu Eun-seol silently mourned the death of the Taoist of Emptiness, whose life had ended as emptily as his name suggested.
"May you rest in peace."
Then he gently closed the man's eyes.
He did not prepare the body for burial or cremate it. Most Taoist figures preferred wind burial, after all.
Rising to his feet, Bu Eun-seol approached the fallen Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor.
Though his severed limbs left his face as pale as wax, his eyes still gleamed sharply.
"Keep your promise."
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor spoke to Bu Eun-seol.
"I've kept mine with you."
In truth, Bu Eun-seol had not simply discovered this place and brought the Demonic Heavenly Emperor here in one swift move.
He had already confirmed that the Taoist of Emptiness was hiding in this secluded valley with the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor, replenishing his depleted immortal energy.
And he had been searching for a way inside.
—If the Demonic Heavenly Emperor comes, the truth he uncovers will be nothing more than fragments. Fragments that will only deepen the chaos.
After much deliberation, Bu Eun-seol had decided to raise his Heavenly Light Endless Art and infiltrate the valley in secret before the Demonic Heavenly Emperor arrived.
He had then stealthily approached the limbless Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor.
—At this rate, you'll remain here for decades, limbless, trapped in this valley.
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor had been startled by Bu Eun-seol's voice transmission.
No matter how deep the Taoist of Emptiness was in his State of Circulatory Meditation, how had this young man slipped past his senses?
—What do you want?
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor responded swiftly.
She had realized that, compared to this young man, she was nothing more than a frog in a well.
—The truth.
Bu Eun-seol answered calmly.
—I will soon summon the Demonic Heavenly Emperor here. He promised to reveal the truth if I found the Ten Great Immortals.
—Then why not just call him now?
—The truth he shows is always mixed with chaos. Or worse—just fragments of it.
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor's eyes gleamed.
The Heir of the Demon Hall not only referred to the Demon Hall's ruler as "him" without hesitation, but his voice also carried unmistakable hostility?
—I refuse.
—It doesn't matter. If I meet my end at the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's hands, so be it.
Bu Eun-seol added coldly.
—But don't expect a peaceful death.
I'll make sure you taste every agony and torment this world has to offer before you die.
Just as he turned to leave—
—Wait.
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor hastily sent another transmission.
—Fine. I'll tell you the truth.
—Speak.
—But first, take me to the Secret Vault. And place my head atop the tower of eyeballs.
It seemed the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor had accepted her inevitable fate.
Her eyes burned with intensity as she transmitted her final demand.
—Then I can breathe my last while dreaming an eternal, blissful dream.
—Is that even possible?
—A single moment there would feel like sixty years within the Illusion Substance.
Her voice brimmed with confidence.
—This is the greatness of the origin you all speak of.
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor intended to use the accumulated Illusion Substance in the Secret Vault to live out her final moments in a world of her own making—even if it was only a fleeting dream in reality.
For within the Illusion Substance, time stretched long enough to live a lifetime of joy.
—Fine.
Hearing the straightforward answer, the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor nodded.
—You're a man of your word.
—How do you know?
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor replied.
—The substances that flow from the brain differ when one speaks truth versus lies.
Then, in a low voice, he continued.
—If you take my head to the Blood Cave where the tower stands, I'll tell you everything then.
Snapping out of the memory, Bu Eun-seol lifted the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor's mutilated body.
Though limbless, the man was still very much alive.
"Let's go."
Whoosh.
Without another word, Bu Eun-seol activated his movement technique, instantly transporting them to the Secret Vault the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor had prepared.
Though the place was now in ruins, the thick aura of Illusion Substance still lingered.
"You keep your promises well."
As they entered the chamber where the towering structure of stacked eyeballs stood, the pale-faced Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor suddenly opened her eyes wide.
"Place my head atop the tower."
Bu Eun-seol wordlessly lifted the head and placed it at the very peak.
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor nodded in satisfaction.
"You truly have honor."
"Speak quickly."
"Go to Phoenix Valley and seek out the Scarlet Flame Immortal. She will tell you the full truth of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors and the Ten Great Immortals."
"Scarlet Flame Immortal."
"Indeed. As for how to enter Phoenix Valley..."
A deep furrow formed between Bu Eun-seol's brows as he listened for a long while.
The method to enter Phoenix Valley—a place that shouldn't even exist in this world—was as mysterious as it was unfathomable.
Scarlet Flame Immortal was one of the Ten Great Immortals.
Yet how could the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor know the location of Phoenix Valley, and why were they so certain that he could hear all the truths from her?
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
"Knowing that much means the Demon Ancestors and the Immortals have some form of exchange, doesn't it?"
The Taoist of Emptiness had sensed the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor's danger and immediately rushed here.
Which meant there was either an intimate connection between the Demon Ancestors and the Immortals, or some unseen force was at work between them.
"That is none of your concern."
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor's voice lowered, as if sensing the Illusion Substance pouring in from all directions.
"Now go. This sect must now embark on a long, long dream."
"Very well."
Bu Eun-seol met the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor's gaze.
"Pleasant dreams."
By now, his irises had already been dyed a sickly yellow.
Phantom Restoration.
The secret technique of the Human Demon, Ak Mu-ryeong, unfolded within his eyes.
"What are you—"
"You slaughtered the innocent, and now you think you'll die peacefully in a pleasant dream?"
The light spilling from Bu Eun-seol's pupils grew even more intense.
"Spend the rest of your existence writhing in hellish torment, repenting until you die."
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor had killed and experimented on countless people.
And so, through Phantom Restoration, Bu Eun-seol would plunge her into a nightmare indistinguishable from hell itself.
"I kept my promise to bring your head before the Blood Cave."
"Ugh—Aaaaah!"
A harrowing scream erupted from the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor's severed head atop the tower.
She would draw her last breath within half a ke (~7.5 minutes).
But within the dream conjured by the Illusion Substance, decades would pass.
She would suffer in hellish agony before finally perishing.
"Hall Master Sado."
Bu Eun-seol, having emerged from the Secret Vault, gazed at the distant sky.
"From now on, hiding anything will be pointless."
He knew full well that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor did not merely desire the destruction of the Orthodox and Unorthodox Martial World.
He had already pierced through the deepest secrets of the current martial world.
In that case, the first step was to confirm what exactly he sought.
Only then could he uncover the clues to unravel the truths the man was hiding.
Whoooosh—
A quarter-hour later, the Ten Thousand Li Treasure Ship hovering above the mountain vanished completely.
The Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor had breathed her last.
"......!"
But something was strange.
His vision blurred momentarily, and he felt as though he were wandering through a dense fog.
It was like waking from a deep slumber.
'Was I tired?'
Pressing a hand to his forehead, he took a deep breath. Then, with a burst of Movement Technique, he vanished into the distant sky.
The moment he stepped into Phoenix Valley, the clamor of the world seemed to fade into an indistinct distance.
Millennia-old ancient trees formed a towering canopy, their branches interlacing like a vaulted dome.
Sunlight fractured through the gaps, scattering like golden dust, casting a luminous glow upon the ground.
Beneath his feet, crimson flowers bloomed as if nourished by fallen drops of blood, their intoxicating fragrance saturating the air.
The stream cutting through the valley was as clear and transparent as morning dew, and the multicolored fish darting beneath its surface were vivid in every motion.
Phoenix Valley.
A mystical enclave unknown to the martial world.
Yet by following the method revealed by the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor, he had truly entered this hidden Secluded Valley.
The occasional call of mystical birds purified the mind with tranquil serenity.
Maple trees, their leaves resembling phoenix feathers, blazed in hues of red and gold, setting the entire valley aflame with breathtaking splendor.
'Phoenix Valley.'
Few in the world even knew such a place existed.
And even if one stumbled upon it by chance, entering was nearly impossible.
Because the gateway to Phoenix Valley itself was impassable unless one could freely wield the Land-Flying Technique without restraint.
Sheer cliffs and fathomless gorges, bewildering mists and jungles teeming with venomous insects barred the way in layers.
And even if one managed to enter, they would have to traverse winding precipices that twisted like writhing dragons.
The problem was—a single misstep would send them plummeting into a thousand-foot abyss with no hope of survival.
Ancient battle formations lay dormant, shrouding the path in living mist that dulled all sense of direction.
Thus, even if one entered by accident—
They would either fall to their deaths or be doomed to wander forever.
"This is Phoenix Valley."
The moment he fully stepped inside, a strange resonance stirred within his mind.
It was as though strange immortal energy filled the air, repelling the wicked from even approaching.
Crunch. Crunch.
Bu Eun-seol inhaled deeply, drawing in that energy.
His nature was neither righteous nor evil.
Thus, while the immortal energy granted him no boon, neither could it harm him.
Ssssshh—
But suddenly, women clad in robes of every color descended from the sky like falling petals.
'Fascinating.'
Normally, disciples of a single sect wore uniforms of unified design and color.
Yet these women descending from above were as varied as a rainbow, each wearing entirely different attire.
Whoosh.
A dozen women landed soundlessly, blocking his path in an instant.
They all wore veils, but their skin was as pale as snow, their eyebrows strikingly dark.
And their eyes—filled with nothing but hostility—burned into him.
"My apologies for the intrusion."
Bu Eun-seol bowed respectfully.
"I am Bu Eun-seol, a disciple of Langya Pavilion. I have come to pay my respects to the immortal lady."