Chapter 1079
The conference room of the Soulless Pavilion's main hall.
Yu Hwa-ryeong, once a disciple of the Thousand Swords Society and now the chief steward of the Soulless Pavilion, was secretly reporting to Bu Eun-seol.
"Only the final step remains."
After explaining the intricate battle formation diagrams spread across the table for some time, he pointed to the center and said,
"Once the Society Head enters here and completes the synchronization, the domain will be perfected."
"You've worked hard."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with an apologetic expression.
"Rewards feel a bit inadequate—is there anything you desire? Speak freely."
Yu Hwa-ryeong, who had overseen numerous plans under Bu Eun-seol's orders, had endured so much hardship that wrinkles had formed around his eyes despite his middle-aged years.
"I ask not as the chief steward, but as a friend."
Before being the chief steward of the Soulless Pavilion, Yu Hwa-ryeong had been a comrade and friend who had accompanied Bu Eun-seol since his first steps into the Martial World.
Though the Thousand Swords Society he once belonged to had vanished into obscurity, and its vast accumulated wealth had been absorbed by the Soulless Pavilion,
Bu Eun-seol had always been prepared to help Yu Hwa-ryeong rebuild the Thousand Swords Society if he so wished.
However, since Yu Hwa-ryeong had never shown any such inclination, Bu Eun-seol had been waiting for the right moment to broach the subject.
"As a friend..."
Yu Hwa-ryeong murmured softly, then shook his head upon understanding Bu Eun-seol's meaning.
"The Thousand Swords Society faded naturally, unable to keep pace with the dazzling advancements of the Martial World's martial arts."
Shaking his head, he continued,
"The grand undertakings the Society Head is pursuing are all for the safety of the Martial World."
He smiled faintly as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"If the ancestors of the Thousand Swords Society knew their accumulated wealth was being used for righteous causes, they would be laughing heartily in the afterlife."
"What righteous causes? It's just a struggle to survive the hands of wicked men."
Embarrassed, Bu Eun-seol shifted the topic.
"Then let's go inside for a look."
"Society Head, may I ask one thing?"
"Speak."
"You are certain to achieve your grand ambition... so why go to the trouble of creating such a space?"
For a long time, Yu Hwa-ryeong had been secretly constructing a hidden space within the Soulless Pavilion under Bu Eun-seol's orders.
The Absolute Domain Project.
Using all the martial arts, knowledge, formation studies, and spellcraft Bu Eun-seol had acquired thus far,
they were creating a multi-layered seal and a battle formation that could endlessly reshape itself—one that surpassed all existing forces in the Martial World and defied physical defenses.
―In the Martial World, the most perfect way to distinguish people is through their energy fluctuations.
The Servants of the True Demon had always integrated these fluctuations into martial arts, formations, or spellcraft.
Even in the Immortal Valley, Blood God Heaven's former stronghold, they had been used in formations to distinguish friend from foe.
―First, let's adapt the Mind's Eye Mirror.
We'll create a formation that only those with matching spiritual fluctuations can enter.
The most proficient in the Mind's Eye Mirror was Yu Un-ryong, who had discovered and studied the Essentials of Strange Mechanisms.
Bu Eun-seol had tasked Yu Un-ryong and the masters of the Death Shadow War Unit with constructing the first gate of the Absolute Domain within the Soulless Pavilion.
―Next, we must devise a formation study that can resist any force once inside.
This time, Bu Eun-seol sought Gongson Dan-gyeong's assistance.
All formations in the world can be rendered unbreakable through overlapping.
But the Martial World also has brilliant strategists who can dismantle any formation given enough time, as well as rare artifacts capable of nullifying formations outright.
In other words, no matter how a formation is constructed, it will eventually be breached.
―What if the formation could adapt like a living organism, changing in response to the enemy's formation-breaking techniques?
Simply put, a formation is an arrangement capable of altering all the qi and flows in the world,
operating in an extremely complex manner to repel intruders.
And to dismantle a formation,
one must identify where the energy begins, how it flows, and where it converges—
then locate and destroy its source.
In short, to break a formation, one must find and strike its core or nexus—the point that governs the entire formation.
―We must create a formation study that analyzes people, terrain, weather, surrounding objects... everything, and alters the flow of energy accordingly.
Bu Eun-seol made this request to Gongson Dan-gyeong.
After much deliberation, she shook her head.
―It's possible to devise a formation that can analyze its environment and the enemies within it, then adjust its arrangement accordingly.
But... such changes must ultimately be directed by a person. A formation that can transform itself cannot exist.
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly at her words.
―A formation that can adapt to its environment and alter its arrangement is sufficient.
―Huh?
―The remaining problem can be solved by someone else.
Han Sang-ja.
For this, Bu Eun-seol sought the help of Han Sang-ja—a man as brilliant as the Heavenly Mechanism Star.
―Truly, the Lord has ideas beyond what others could ever imagine.
Han Sang-ja did not hold back his admiration upon hearing Bu Eun-seol's plan.
Throughout history, countless geniuses of formations had emerged in the Martial World, and wondrous battle formations had been devised.
But no one had ever conceived of a formation that could transform itself in response to external influences.
―To complete such a formation would require not only the combined efforts of supreme masters from both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths,
but also the labor of individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their respective fields—along with an astronomical sum of money.
Seeing Bu Eun-seol's calm expression, Han Sang-ja sighed, realizing he had spoken unnecessarily.
―Of course, the Lord must have already calculated that all such resources are within reach—which is why you summoned me.
And he nodded readily.
—"I'll give it a try. This seems like it would benefit me as well... and besides, it looks like quite an amusing endeavor."
Though his words were breezy, the process was anything but easy.
To complete such a barrier formation, just as he had said, an astronomical sum of money and exceptional manpower were required.
For the first time, Bu Eun-seol utilized the legacy of the Thousand Swords Society that Yu Hwa-ryeong possessed, the financial power of the Seonhwa Merchant House that Seon-u Jin controlled,
and even the treasures he had discovered during his travels through the martial world.
Moreover, to test its functionality—
he mobilized the Death Shadow War Unit, the Absolute Peak Unit, the Martial Soul Society, and even Heuk-pyo from Beyond the Frontier along with his Wanderer Unit.
—"It's done."
At last, a battle formation capable of transforming and evolving on its own in response to external forces had been created.
—"Now, the only thing left..."
The Lord must enter the Absolute Domain and synchronize his consciousness at its core.
Having completed everything, Han Sang-ja abruptly left the Martial Soul Society
and delivered his final words to Yu Hwa-ryeong, who was overseeing the Absolute Domain project.
—"Only then will it synchronize with the Lord's consciousness and energy fluctuations, ensuring that none who oppose his will can enter..."
Thus, the most meticulous and spiritually agile battle formation in the world would be born.
Yu Hwa-ryeong, having finished his recollection, took a deep breath.
"Is there truly a reason worth investing such vast wealth and manpower?"
"Even if the martial world were to collapse, there are things that must be protected."
For the sake of those who must be safeguarded, no matter what may come to pass—
the Absolute Domain project, a flawless defensive measure, had been initiated deep within the heart of the Martial Soul Society.
And now, only the final step of that plan remained.
Knock knock.
Just then, the sound of rapping on the conference room door was accompanied by the voice of Dam Yu-yeon, the strategist.
—"Society Leader. May I enter?"
—"Come in."
As the door opened, Dam Yu-yeon stepped inside, accompanied by a man of somewhat gaunt but imposing stature.
None other than Vice Chief Tae Mu-ryong of the Absolute Peak Unit.
—"Great Chief."
As Tae Mu-ryong bowed respectfully,
—"Vice Chief."
Bu Eun-seol regarded him with surprise.
—"What brings you here so suddenly?"
Tae Mu-ryong, alongside Seo Jin-ha, who was playing the role of Seon-u Jin, was a pivotal figure leading the Absolute Peak Unit—the Azure Heaven Alliance's special Information Warfare Unit.
Thus, unless something extraordinary occurred, he would not leave the Azure Heaven Alliance's headquarters.
Yet here he was, having rushed to the Martial Soul Society where Bu Eun-seol resided without prior notice.
—"The matter is urgent, and I had no choice but to seek you out, Great Chief."
Then, from his sleeve, he retrieved a single letter.
—"What is this?"
—"A letter addressed to the Lord."
Tae Mu-ryong's expression was graver than ever.
—"It flew in from a fishing village in Jiangxi."
—"A fishing village."
—"Indeed."
Tae Mu-ryong spoke with utmost gravity.
—"Through a method so bizarre and astonishing that no intelligence organization could have devised it..."
He continued,
—"A series of coincidences, one after another, ensured it reached the Lord."
For an untraceable letter to be delivered to an intelligence organization was unthinkable.
Moreover, a letter addressed to Bu Eun-seol
falling into the hands of the Absolute Peak Unit could never be mere coincidence.
—"When we investigated the origin of this letter, I had no choice but to bring it to you personally."
Tae Mu-ryong had begun tracing how this letter had come into the Absolute Peak Unit's possession—
and soon uncovered an unbelievable sequence of events.
—"First, this envelope..."
He began his explanation.
The envelope was made of oiled silk, a sturdy fabric impervious to water, inscribed with strange medicinal ink.
Only after being soaked in water and then exposed to scorching sunlight would it reveal its crimson-red characters.
The envelope first surfaced
at the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang.
A diner, having finished his meal, accidentally dropped it beneath his chair, and a waiter clearing the table picked it up.
Since the silk envelope looked exactly like the kind used for promissory notes issued by banks,
the waiter, after a quick glance around, swiftly tucked it deep into his sleeve.
But his luck ended there.
As the waiter finished his shift, someone brushed past his shoulder—none other than a pickpocket.
In the blink of an eye, the waiter's sleeve was lighter, and the envelope was already in the thief's grasp.
When the triumphant thief opened it, his face twisted in fury.
There was nothing inside.
Cursing, he flung it into the river,
but the oiled silk prevented it from sinking, leaving it bobbing on the surface.
Then, downstream, a mother bird searching for food—her fledglings' hungry cries behind her—
spotted something unusually glinting on the water.
Mistaking it for a shiny trinket for her young, she snatched it up with her long beak and soared to her nest atop a sheer cliff.
Disappointed to find it inedible, the fledglings turned away, and the envelope was soon pushed aside.
Thus, left defenseless under the blazing sun,
it happened that a member of the Absolute Peak Unit, searching for a messenger hawk during training,
finally spotted the exhausted bird on the cliffside nest.
Just as he sighed in relief,
he noticed the messenger hawk pecking insistently at the silk envelope in the nest.
At that very moment, under the sunlight, faint red characters began shimmering like heat haze across its surface.
Curious, the unit member picked up the letter—and his pupils trembled violently.
Because on the envelope's surface were written the words: "To the Honorable Martial Soul Lord."
In the end, the Peak Realm Member delivered it to Tae Mu-ryong, and after Tae Mu-ryong and dozens of elite unit members investigated, deduced, and traced its path—
They arrived at a truth so unbelievable it was nearly impossible to accept.
—This is no mere coincidence.
Sensing something deeper, Tae Mu-ryong personally brought the letter to Bu Eun-seol.
"...That's how it happened."
Tae Mu-ryong wore a grave expression.
"In other words, the sender of this letter knows all three—that you are the Great Leader, the Martial Soul Society Leader, and the Martial Soul Lord."
No one should know that Bu Eun-seol holds all three of these identities.
If anyone could, it would only be Great Master Wooden Buddha, who can read all the secrets of heaven.
So how could this have happened?
No.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed as he recalled something.
There's one more person.
Calmly, he turned the envelope over.
There, written in elegant calligraphy, were these words:
—At dusk six days from now, my senior sister will visit the Martial Soul Society in a carriage. Prepare to receive her in secret.
And at the letter's end was written: "Respectfully, Man-wol."
As expected.
Just as he had guessed, the sender was Man-wol.
Her abilities rival those of Great Master Wooden Buddha.
Bu Eun-seol couldn't suppress his astonishment.
Man-wol had always appeared sporadically—less to predict events than to offer aid or advice in moments of crisis before swiftly vanishing.
But if everything Tae Mu-ryong had uncovered was true, and it was all due to Man-wol's foresight—
Then she possessed a power no less than Great Master Wooden Buddha's.
The ability to see the future with perfect clarity.
"It seems this is indeed a letter from the Man-wol I know."
"Ah."
Tae Mu-ryong let out a sigh of relief.
"So it was her."
Tae Mu-ryong, too, was well acquainted with Man-wol, who had occasionally aided Bu Eun-seol.
"That's truly fortunate."
Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile before turning back to Yu Hwa-ryeong.
"Let us prepare to receive her senior sister in secret."
At the hour when shadows lengthened.
Clack, clack.
A large freight carriage slowly entered through the Martial Soul Society's western gate.
Since the Wanderers' Market was located within the Society's grounds, cargo wagons constantly came and went in an unbroken stream.
Thus, even as this particular carriage rolled in, it drew no attention.
The carriage immediately headed toward the East Goods Yard, where cargo was unloaded.
"Heave-ho!"
The yard was crowded with laborers unloading heavy shipments.
Within the Martial Soul Society, where the Wanderers' Market thrived, goods like blacksmithing materials and food supplies flowed in endlessly.
And all such goods had to pass inspection by the East Goods Yard personnel before being allowed further inside.
"Hnngh—heave, hnngh—heave!"
The porters were all skilled martial artists, so no matter how heavy the loads, they moved them effortlessly.
But the freight carriage that had entered the East Goods Yard did not stop to unload—instead, it pressed deeper inward.
Before long, it arrived at a large warehouse tucked in the yard's corner, and without delay, the coachman stepped inside.
"Welcome."
From within the warehouse, Yu Hwa-ryeong, the Martial Soul Society's chief steward, approached and gave a light bow.
"Please follow me."
He guided the coachman further in.
Rumble.
After passing through a series of hidden mechanisms, they arrived at a vast secret chamber.
There, a man in formal robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
Bu Eun-seol.
"You are—"
Upon seeing the coachman's face, Bu Eun-seol offered a peculiar greeting.
"It's been a while."
Whoosh.
The coachman's drab clothing suddenly transformed—burning away like flame, replaced by a flowing crimson robe.
And in the next moment, the figure shifted into that of a sharp-eyed woman.
"That's right."
The woman in red pressed her palms together toward Bu Eun-seol.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Jeong-yeong, a Secret Sentinel of the Baekri Side Family."
A Secret Sentinel.
Given that her role involved covert protection, it seemed she had been guarding Man-wol in secret all this time.
"So it was you, Lady Jeong."
Bu Eun-seol returned the courtesy.
"I haven't forgotten the help you once offered me."
She had tried to aid him when he first fell into the Mindscape.
Bu Eun-seol had not forgotten and now expressed his gratitude.
"Think nothing of it."
Jeong-yeong spoke calmly.
"You must have been startled by the sudden letter, but..."
She gestured toward the carriage.
"Please ensure the item we've brought today is stored in a secure location."
Bu Eun-seol turned toward the carriage.
There, a transparent crystal coffin had been prepared.
The coffin's surface was not mere ice—it bore an unfathomable milky-white hue, and beneath its translucent exterior, blue vein-like patterns bloomed like frost flowers.
It created the illusion that the coffin itself was alive, breathing.
The seam where lid met body was flawlessly aligned, without the slightest gap.
At each of the coffin's four corners and the center of its lid, dragons ascending to heaven and phoenixes taking flight were exquisitely carved in relief.
These divine beasts reflected a soft iridescence from every angle—
Each scale, each feather rendered with such delicacy that they seemed ready to burst from the ice and take wing at any moment.
Far more meticulously crafted than even the coffin that had once enshrined Jeong Cheon-je's fake corpse—
This was a Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Coffin.
"Just why have you brought this?"
Bu Eun-seol had been itching to ask.
He had heard from the Old Man of the Sanctuary that Man-wol was likely connected to the Baekri Clan.
And now, this woman, Jeong-yeong, had declared herself a member of the Baekri Side Family.
Then he had at least hoped to learn something about the structure or location of the Baekri Clan.
But suddenly, a coffin?
"The Lord said you would know the reason."
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol realized.
'She knows I've created an Absolute Domain.'
Most likely, Man-wol believed that the Absolute Domain he had forged would be the most suitable place to store this coffin.
"Is Lady Man-wol well?"
"Yes."
Though she answered, Jeong-yeong's expression was far from pleasant.
It seemed her circumstances were not favorable.
"Has something unfortunate happened? Though my abilities are lacking, I may still be of some help."
"No, nothing like that."
Jeong-yeong shook her head.
"Thank you for granting this sudden request."
"Think nothing of it."
If there had been someone inside the coffin, it would have been disastrous.
Fortunately, she had said it was empty—so at least that was a relief.
"Then, how long should I keep it for you?"
"She said you'll know that soon enough as well."
Bu Eun-seol didn't understand but nodded regardless.
"Very well."
"May I step inside for a moment?"
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned troubled.
"It's still incomplete..."
"It's fine. I just want to see what kind of place it is—just for a moment."
Jeong-yeong's expression was as if she were gazing at the grave where she would one day be buried.
Though he couldn't make sense of this situation, he had no choice but to nod.
"Very well."
In the end, Bu Eun-seol carefully guided her to the location within the Absolute Domain where the coffin would be stored.
However, since the synchronization was not yet complete, the mechanisms and battle formations remained inactive.
"It's a bit desolate, but quiet and nice."
After surveying the interior of the Absolute Domain, Jeong-yeong offered a dry smile.
"I've seen enough. Then, I'll take my leave."
"Wait—what exactly is happening?"
When Bu Eun-seol stopped her, Jeong-yeong shook her head again.
"Don't worry. You'll know everything soon."
So far, Man-wol had foreseen everything—and her words had never been wrong.
Which meant, just as she had said—
Soon, he would understand the full picture.
"Can I at least ask about the situation with the Baekri Clan?"
Bu Eun-seol spoke frankly.
"Lady Man-wol must already know my circumstances."
"Even I don't know everything that child has planned."
Jeong-yeong's expression was bleak.
"But don't forget—all of this is for your sake."
Bu Eun-seol had nothing more to say and simply nodded.
"Understood."
Then he bowed slightly.
"Take care."
Jeong-yeong nodded and slowly turned away.
As she left, Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low voice.
"Soyo."
His expression was graver than ever.
"Follow her. Find out where Lady Man-wol is—or at least the location of the Baekri Side Family."
Even if Man-wol had the ability to foresee the future, he couldn't keep acting solely at her command forever.
Equal footing in information—
Only that would allow him to stand on equal ground, to negotiate with anyone.
[Understood.]
With that short reply, Soyo's shadow vanished once more into the void.
Bu Eun-seol turned his gaze back to the coffin and drew upon his internal energy.
With a resonant hum, the Crystal Coffin floated into the air.
"So she even knew the timing of my meeting with the Martial Soul Society."
Man-wol had sent the coffin precisely when he had entered the Martial Soul Society.
This level of foresight was no less formidable than Wooden Buddha's abilities.
"Regardless, there's no time."
To complete the Formation Study, he had to enter that place one last time and synchronize everything.
And that process would take considerable time.
According to Han Sang-ja, at least two to three days.
"I'll have to do it as quickly as possible."
Hovering...
With the coffin suspended in midair by his internal energy, Bu Eun-seol slowly stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold of the Absolute Domain, the scenery of the real world vanished in an instant.
The noise and light of the world disappeared, and his consciousness began to sink into an unfathomable abyss.
His physical shell melted away, leaving only pure awareness standing before the gate.
Hummmmm...
What had been created within the Absolute Domain was a wavelength eerily similar to the human Spirit and Mind.
That wavelength had first attuned itself to Bu Eun-seol.
As the faint vibrations, like the song of a soul, spread outward, the void rippled like gentle waves—
And in an instant, swallowed him whole.
An endless cosmos unfolded in all directions.
And the glittering points within it were all vessels of human emotion.
Beneath his feet, a river of joy flowed like a galactic stream.
Nebulas woven from sorrow's light, or blazing fury. Comets frozen in icy anguish.
'Not bad.'
Bu Eun-seol pressed forward, step by relentless step.
When he finally reached the center, his very existence began to seep into the fabric of the space.
This was no longer just a domain.
Creak...
It was a place that perfectly mirrored his body and mind—becoming a living, breathing extension of his self.
Thud. Thud.
At last, the Absolute Domain began to breathe in time with the beating of his heart.
With every breath he took, the cosmos-shaped domain contracted and expanded softly, as if breathing in tandem.
—Clang! Shing!
Suddenly, without thinking, he recalled a past battle.
The distant echoes of clashing swords and spears reverberated faintly—before a crimson flash erupted in a far corner.
Wherever his thoughts and gaze lingered... a new world was being born.
Conversely, when he envisioned a moment of peace—
Whoosh...
The surroundings transformed into a river of stars, and translucent petals bloomed, swirling around him, releasing the fragrant scent of memories.
His thoughts were the seeds.
And this Absolute Domain was the garden where they bloomed.
Embracing everything he was, it grew alongside him.
"The form of my existence has taken shape here as a battle formation."
Bu Eun-seol nodded his head with a satisfied expression.
What if an intruder were to enter this place?
They would have to fight against this Battle Formation—an entity that endlessly evolves, just like Bu Eun-seol's consciousness.
In other words, the Absolute Domain was a manifestation molded from his Spirit and Mind, a presence akin to his very doppelgänger.