Chapter 1058
"Assassins."
The Martial Alliance escorts frowned upon spotting the men in black and spoke to Yu Un-ryong.
"Don't mind them. Keep moving as you are."
Then they split their forces—half continued to guard the carriage driven by Yu Un-ryong, while the other half broke away from the procession to deal with the assassins.
But that wasn't the end of it.
Whoosh—
From the direction the carriage was heading, another forty or so assassins abruptly surged forward.
Whizz-whizz-whizz!
The assassins began raining down concealed weapons.
The Martial Alliance warriors escorting the carriage deflected the projectiles, but their numbers were overwhelming.
Thud-thud-thud!
Eventually, countless concealed weapons began embedding themselves into the carriage.
"Hmm."
As Yu Un-ryong, seated in the driver's seat, scowled—
Zzzzing—
A circular barrier unfurled around the carriage.
He had channeled his internal energy to envelop the entire carriage in protective astral energy.
Ting-ting-ting!
Protective astral energy merely reduced the impact of martial techniques imbued with true qi—it didn't create an actual, solid wall.
However, Yu Un-ryong's level of internal power was anything but ordinary, and his barrier was sturdy enough to deflect the barrage of concealed weapons.
Boom-boom-crash!
Before they knew it, the assassins had begun mixing in explosives with considerable destructive power among their thrown weapons.
Finally, as the explosions dissipated the protective astral energy—
Thwack-thwack-thwack!
Countless concealed weapons clung to the carriage and the horses' armor like porcupine quills.
"We should stop the carriage and deal with this."
At Yu Un-ryong's shout, Bu Eun-seol, seated inside, shook his head.
"Leave it. They're deliberately trying to provoke us."
"Provoke?"
"Unless they've brought elite troops or unleashed ancient secret arts like the Mind's Eye Mirror, they know full well they can't stop us."
Now that he mentioned it, it made sense.
There was no way they'd send just a few dozen assassins to eliminate the Martial Soul Lord, whose martial reputation shook the world.
"Yet they still sent assassins and rained down explosives... They want me to personally slaughter them and stain my hands with blood."
Bu Eun-seol's low voice continued.
"We're currently on our way, invited to celebrate the auspicious day of the next Martial Alliance Leader's ascension. Moreover, I bear the epithet 'Righteous Man within the Demonic Path'..."
Gazing leisurely out the window, he spoke calmly.
"But if I arrive drenched in blood before the eyes of all the gathered members of the Martial Alliance, what do you think the martial artists will say?"
Yu Un-ryong nodded.
To a martial artist, an epithet was as good as their face.
Bu Eun-seol had consistently performed righteous deeds, and the image of him as a chivalrous demonic path practitioner had become firmly entrenched in the minds of martial artists.
However, since he rarely appeared in public, few had verified the truth of his reputation.
But if he attended the celebration of the next Martial Alliance Leader's selection drenched in blood?
Not only would his prestige plummet, but the favorable perception martial artists had held of him—the very symbol of chivalry—would shatter in an instant.
"How despicable."
"There's nothing despicable about it."
Bu Eun-seol snorted and channeled his internal energy.
"From their perspective, they wouldn't want to miss such a golden opportunity."
Whoosh—
Suddenly, the carriage Yu Un-ryong was driving began rising into the sky as a whole.
Using terrifying internal energy, Bu Eun-seol had lifted the carriage into the air.
Swoosh!
The assassins immediately began leaping after the ascending carriage.
But the carriage climbed higher and higher at an impossible speed.
A hundred zhang, two hundred zhang—finally, at three hundred zhang, they began plummeting back to the ground one by one.
No matter how skilled their martial arts were, none could perform the Land-Flying Technique to that extent.
"Incredible."
As the carriage soared through the sky, Yu Un-ryong, seated in the driver's spot, gaped.
With internal energy surpassing six jia, one could use the Land-Flying Technique to fly through the air.
But even then, one couldn't soar endlessly like a bird—flight time was limited to roughly a quarter of an hour.
To fly any longer, one had to land and then ascend again.
Yet Bu Eun-seol, without so much as lifting a finger, was making the heavy Eight Horse Carriage float through the sky as if it were weightless.
Such depth of internal power was unprecedented in the history of the martial world.
"Do you plan to fly all the way to the Martial Alliance like this?"
The moment he spoke, he regretted it.
Bu Eun-seol was currently exerting his full internal energy—he wouldn't be able to answer.
"I can't."
Contrary to his expectations, a calm reply came.
"If I fly the carriage all the way to the Martial Alliance's vicinity, even if they knew Hall Master Sado was aboard, they'd attack immediately."
Yu Un-ryong gulped.
It wasn't fear of the Martial Alliance's retaliation.
The terrifying internal energy radiating from Bu Eun-seol was simply beyond comprehension.
The martial world had many who wielded supernatural powers, but even they had clear limits to their abilities.
But Bu Eun-seol—
It was as if he had no limits, constantly breaking through barriers and reaching new heights.
Whoooosh—
Finally, as they entered the southern region where the Martial Alliance was located, Bu Eun-seol gradually lowered the floating carriage back to the ground.
"Hyah!"
The moment the carriage touched down, Yu Un-ryong tightened the reins and accelerated again.
With the sound of wheels cutting through the road, the carriage raced forward.
After driving for a while, Yu Un-ryong—
Stared wide-eyed at the sight in the distance.
'That is...'
Before the Heavenly Righteous Gate leading to the Martial Alliance, a massive market had been set up in the open square.
Countless martial artists had flocked to the Martial Alliance to celebrate the selection of the next Alliance Leader.
That was why all sorts of stalls and street vendors had sprung up near the Heavenly Righteous Gate.
From North Sea's icefish and Southern Barbarian spices to Western Regions' silk and India's luminous pearls—all accompanied by the clamor of lively haggling.
The mouthwatering aroma of street food filled the air.
But that wasn't what had startled Yu Un-ryong.
It was the countless martial artists lining both sides of the wide road cutting through the marketplace.
'They're blocking the road to force him out of the carriage.'
Those obstructing the wide path through the market were a mix of Righteous Faction and Unorthodox Faction members.
All of them despised the Martial Soul Lord and had come to witness Bu Eun-seol—invited by the Martial Alliance and attending alone—arrive in pitiful disgrace.
Click, click.
The black long-distance carriage Bu Eun-seol rode in bristled with countless hidden weapons like a porcupine,
with only the Demon Hall's emblem—the banner of Two Dragons Contesting a Pearl—fluttering intact.
—Heh heh heh.
Their eyes brimmed with nothing but sneering mockery.
Snicker, snicker.
At the sight of the wretched carriage, the martial artists curled their lips upward.
—Ah, the exalted lord of the realm has arrived!
—Truly, the grandeur of the Great Sect Leader is beyond compare! What a sight to behold!
—Hahahaha!
They deliberately raised their voices to jeer at Bu Eun-seol.
The Heir of the Demon Hall, who had monopolized the Ten Thousand Li Treasure Ship and earned the hatred of both Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths—
was now approaching the Martial Alliance in such a shabby, miserable state?
As the carriage slowly advanced,
Sssssk—
the martial artists blatantly began blocking the road.
'The Martial Alliance is playing dirty.'
A chilling aura seeped from Yu Un-ryong's entire body.
No matter how brazen they were,
there was no way these fools had the guts to pick a fight with the Martial Soul Lord, whose might shook the world.
Undoubtedly, they had been hired by the Martial Alliance to wait here at the Heavenly Righteous Gate,
block the carriage, and force Bu Eun-seol to step out and walk the rest of the way to the Martial Alliance.
If he had to walk there under the gaze of the crowd,
the prestige he had built up until now would crumble to dust.
"Move aside!"
Yu Un-ryong roared with a thunderous Lion's Roar, channeling his internal energy—but the crowd merely giggled, not even sparing him a glance.
'These bastards...?'
Flames flickered in Yu Un-ryong's pupils.
If they were determined to block the path, Bu Eun-seol would have no choice but to step out.
He couldn't just slaughter them all for something as petty as obstructing the road.
'I should've insisted on bringing the Death Shadow War Unit's warriors.'
Originally, Yu Un-ryong had wanted to take all of the Death Shadow War Unit's fighters as escorts.
But half of them were intelligence operatives who couldn't be exposed,
and the remaining hundred and fifty warriors would only undermine the Martial Soul Lord's dignity.
"Whoa, whoa."
In the end, Yu Un-ryong had to halt the carriage.
'Fine.'
Fire blazed in his eyes.
'Even if the heavens themselves call me a demon, I'll slaughter every last one of you!'
A murderous blue aura erupted from Yu Un-ryong's body.
Rather than let Bu Eun-seol enter the Martial Alliance in disgrace... he would butcher them all—
even if it meant becoming an Enemy of the Murim himself.
Piiiiii!
But at that moment—
A streak of light shot into the sky, trailing a long tail before—
BOOOOOOM!
—exploding into a dazzling firework that painted the heavens in the shape of the Demon Hall's emblem: the Two Dragons Contesting a Pearl.
—"Receive the Martial Soul Lord!"
With an earth-shaking roar—
RUMBLE—!
Suddenly, the marketplace erupted into motion.
Customers lingering in the market, merchant caravans lying in wait,
even the vendors at their stalls—all surged forward at once.
Silk merchants flung their unfolded fabrics into the air, the colorful silks vanishing—
only to reappear as pitch-black banners of the Demon Hall, fluttering in the wind.
Wooden crates filled with medicinal herbs shattered under a single kick—revealing not herbs but finely honed weapons.
When the lids of wine barrels on merchant wagons were lifted, out came not liquor but massive drums and horns.
BOOM! BOOMBOOMBOOM! BWOOOOO—!
Instead of the loud calls to clear the way, the earth trembled under the thunder of war drums,
and the piercing blare of horns resonated past the Heavenly Righteous Gate, reaching even the Martial Alliance.
Disguised as commoners, the warriors of Langya Pavilion tore off their shabby clothes, revealing their formidable physiques.
The elderly herb vendors, actually masters of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sect, straightened their backs and reclaimed the dignity of Great Demons.
Meanwhile, the beauties of Fleeting Moment Boat swiftly lined up in perfect ranks on either side of Bu Eun-seol's path before kneeling in unison as if of one body.
THUD. THUD.
As thousands of martial artists moved as one,
the peaceful marketplace transformed in an instant into a grand ceremonial procession—a display of the Demonic Path's might.
And then—
From the disguised merchant caravan,
Hyeok So-jin, the young master of Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sect, stepped forward and bowed deeply before Bu Eun-seol, clearing the way.
"Lord, we shall escort you to the Martial Alliance."
Silence fell over the gathered warlords blocking the road.
—They disguised the masters of the Demonic Path Ten Gates as merchants to uphold the Martial Soul Lord's prestige!
The martial artists couldn't hide their shock.
To deceive the Martial Alliance's eyes and ears completely,
to ensure Bu Eun-seol's dignity remained unblemished—
the masters of the Demonic Path Ten Gates had willingly dressed in humble attire and waited here for days, just for him.
Shiver, shiver.
The martial artists who had been sneering at Bu Eun-seol just moments ago now couldn't even bring themselves to look at them, bowing their heads instead.
Bu Eun-seol never killed innocent martial artists. But the gathered masters of the Demonic Path Ten Gates were different.
If even slightly provoked, they'd start by gouging out eyeballs.
Whoosh.
In the end, the martial artists had no choice but to stand with their heads deeply bowed, their bodies almost prostrate as if greeting an emperor's procession.
Rumble rumble—
At that moment, the earth shook as dozens of mounted martial artists came galloping forward.
They were the warriors of the Hospitality Pavilion, responsible for receiving distinguished guests arriving at the Martial Alliance for this event.
"The Martial Soul Lord has arrived?"
Originally, they had planned to make a grand entrance.
Their superiors had said the Martial Soul Lord would come here alone with only his close aide,
and that the path at the Heavenly Righteous Gate would be blocked by countless orthodox and unorthodox martial artists.
But when they rushed to greet the Martial Soul Lord's arrival,
fireworks were exploding in the sky, and countless martial artists stood in solemn formation watching his procession—wasn't this the opposite of what they'd expected?
Click clack.
The travel carriage was approaching head-on.
Originally, the Hospitality Pavilion's warriors were supposed to remain mounted while the Martial Soul Lord walked on foot—
a humiliating spectacle they had intended to create.
But now...
'Damn it.'
They had no choice but to strictly escort the Martial Soul Lord's carriage in accordance with this majestic ceremony.
"I am Jin Woo-ryang, leader of the Hospitality Pavilion."
As Jin Woo-ryang stepped forward to offer formal greetings,
"What splendid hospitality."
Hyeok So-jin, who had been leading Bu Eun-seol's procession at the front, spoke coldly to him.
"Is it the Martial Alliance's custom to receive honored guests while mounted, looking down upon them?"
Jin Woo-ryang bit his lip.
The Martial Soul Lord was seated in his carriage.
He had intended to offer a perfunctory bow and simply escort the carriage to avoid diminishing its dignity.
But with Hyeok So-jin—a man of high status as the young master of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sect—standing at the front like a guide,
he had no choice but to dismount.
"Of course not."
Forcing a smile, Jin Woo-ryang dismounted and bowed.
"We welcome you to the Martial Alliance..."
He had intended to offer a mere formal greeting.
But at that moment, a violet radiance surged from the depths of Hyeok So-jin's pupils.
Meeting that light, Jin Woo-ryang felt every hair on his body stand on end as an instinctive sense of danger flooded from the deepest parts of his being.
Hesitating—
Just as he unconsciously tried to step back,
Crack.
The ground beneath his feet began splitting apart as if alive.
Simultaneously, a cold metallic energy rose from the earth, its murderous intent tightening around his throat like a noose.
Divine-Rending Demonic Qi.
The True Qi Martial Arts of the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sect—renowned as the supreme Demonic Path Auxiliary Arts in the martial world—spread like an overwhelming force.
"If you do not offer proper courtesy from this moment onward... you will die."
The Martial Alliance had started this anyway.
They had meticulously plotted to humiliate Bu Eun-seol,
intentionally stationing countless warlords who held grudges against the Martial Soul Lord before the Heavenly Righteous Gate.
Even if Hyeok So-jin beheaded Jin Woo-ryang for failing to show proper respect,
the Martial Alliance would have nothing to say in response.
"Jin Woo-ryang, leader of the Hospitality Pavilion."
Realizing this, Jin Woo-ryang prostrated himself in a deep bow.
"On behalf of the Martial Alliance, I humbly receive the Martial Soul Lord."
As Jin Woo-ryang knelt, the warriors of the Hospitality Pavilion also hastily dismounted and dropped to their knees.
"Hmph."
Hyeok So-jin, who had been looking down at the kneeling Hospitality Pavilion leader,
"My Lord."
turned toward Bu Eun-seol's carriage with a smirk and bowed respectfully.
"Since the Martial Alliance's servants have come to greet us, this younger brother shall now take his leave."
At those words, Yu Un-ryong, seated in the coachman's position, felt a surge of emotion rising in his chest.
Hyeok So-jin.
As Bu Eun-seol's sworn younger brother, he had guessed that Bu would attend the Martial Alliance's invitation alone.
Thus, he personally persuaded Langya Pavilion and Fleeting Moment Boat,
infiltrating forces disguised as merchants and peddlers into the market district—right under the Martial Alliance's nose.
Of course, this wasn't something the three demonic sects could have accomplished alone.
He had secretly borrowed the strength of all factions supporting Bu Eun-seol—
legendary forces from beyond the frontier like the North Sea Ice Palace and Southern Barbarian Beast Palace,
as well as the Thunderclap Gate, Bloodflame Blade Family, and Azure Heaven Alliance—to make this operation a success.
"Mmm."
Bu Eun-seol's low voice flowed from inside the carriage.
"You've done well."
Hyeok So-jin had voluntarily dressed in humble attire and acted as a merchant leader to establish Bu Eun-seol's majesty.
Understanding the depth of his intent,
Bu Eun-seol deliberately remained in the carriage, responding with a voice full of dignity.
"Then."
Seeing that Bu Eun-seol acknowledged his efforts,
Hyeok So-jin smiled in satisfaction and bowed deeply.
Then, leading the masters of the three demonic sects, he quietly withdrew from the southern bank.
Creeeak.
The gates of the Martial Alliance swung wide open for the carriage to pass through.
The traveling carriage bearing the Demon Hall's flag advanced majestically inside.
The Hospitality Pavilion warriors formed a strict escort around it, preventing even the Martial Alliance's own martial artists from approaching within three zhang.
Moreover, it seemed they intended to proceed directly to the Heaven and Earth Pavilion—where the Alliance Leader resided—without disembarking, continuously heading toward the Inner Court.
At this point, the ceremonial treatment was practically no different from welcoming the Deputy Hall Lord of the Demon Hall.
'They changed their plans.'
Yu Un-ryong's eyes flashed from the coachman's seat.
Even if Jin Woo-ryang was the Hospitality Pavilion leader, he didn't have the authority to permit a carriage directly into the Heaven and Earth Pavilion.
Clearly, the Martial Alliance's leadership—having received reports of the situation near the Heavenly Righteous Gate—
must have altered their plans and ordered Bu Eun-seol to be received with solemn reverence.
Clack-clack.
But something was strange.
Jin Woo-ryang wasn't heading toward the Heaven and Earth Pavilion, where the procession of congratulatory envoys stretched out in full display. Instead, they were moving toward the Martial Alliance's western gate.
After traveling for a while, a dense bamboo grove came into view.
This was the same bamboo forest where, back when Bu Eun-seol had served as a Peak Leader,
a grand new hall for the Peak Leaders had been erected at great expense.