Chapter 1080
Ssshhhk.
On the third day, Bu Eun-seol finally emerged from the space of the Absolute Domain.
It was a success.
The Absolute Domain perfectly mimicked Bu Eun-seol's energy fluctuations, adapting and transforming itself in response to any attack.
And if someone dared to defy his will?
No matter how formidable their martial arts or strength, they wouldn't even be able to step inside.
"Squad Leader."
As he stepped out, Yu Hwa-ryeong stood waiting with a grave expression.
"Vice Chief So has sent an emergency signal."
All members of the Death Soul Squad were engaged in life-risking operations to gather intelligence.
For this reason, Bu Eun-seol had provided every member with a bamboo tube capable of sending emergency signals.
These signals would then be relayed to every branch scattered across the Central Plains and to the sects loyal to Bu Eun-seol—
Ensuring immediate reinforcements could be dispatched.
"So-yo."
Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened.
So-yo's movement technique was on par with his own.
If she had been driven to such urgency, it could only mean an overwhelming master—or an entire faction—had appeared.
"It's Solitary Bamboo Pass on Jeokha Mountain."
"Understood."
KRA-BOOM!
A brilliant light erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body, and in an instant, his figure split through the distant sky.
KURRRRLUNG!
As he unleashed the Heavenly Light Endless Art, a massive shockwave surged ahead of him.
If he were to dash forward at this speed while skimming the ground, the sheer force would uproot trees and demolish buildings.
So instead, he propelled himself skyward with the Land-Flying Technique.
KWA-UUUU!
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had pushed his Lightness Art to its limits—but never before had he maximized the Land-Flying Technique like this.
Hwiiiiing.
With his internal energy and the Heavenly Light Endless Art amplified to their peak, his entire body radiated like a blazing star.
It was as if a brilliant meteor were streaking across the midday sky.
As he relentlessly accelerated—
KWANG! KWANG!
A sharp shockwave formed before him, generating extreme heat.
At this rate, his clothes would melt away in an instant.
WUUNG!
In that moment, a transparent energy enveloped his entire body.
By shaping his fierce qi into a streamlined form, he eliminated the very source of air friction and heat generation.
'I should start wearing robes made of Heavenly Silkworm Silk from now on.'
Even with the protective qi, the edges of his sleeves and pant legs were nearly torn to shreds.
His vision had already narrowed to a single point ahead.
The periphery stretched into elongated streaks of light and blurred masses of color.
The speed was so extreme—
That even the scenery directly in front of him warped and distorted, as if seen through heat haze.
'I need to adapt.'
Clenching his teeth, Bu Eun-seol expanded his extrasensory perception to its limit.
There was no telling when another urgent situation like this would arise—forcing him to push the Land-Flying Technique to its maximum again.
KWA-UUUU!
With his superhuman senses and vision heightened, he locked onto the direction of Jeokha Mountain and surged forward.
The ridgeline of Solitary Bamboo Pass stretched like an ocean of verdant bamboo.
Towering stalks stood straight as spears, dense enough to blot out the sky, forming an endless emerald curtain.
Whenever the wind blew, the rustling of bamboo leaves echoed with a crisp chill.
Deep within the heart of Solitary Bamboo Pass's forest—
Where even sunlight lost its way in the shadows, a massive cliff stood like a screen.
Covered in moss and thick vines as proof of its age, a colossal cave yawned open like a maw of pitch-black darkness.
From within the abyss-like cavern, an eerie cold seeped out—distinct from the refreshing coolness of the bamboo forest.
At its entrance stood an enormous door carved with ancient patterns.
The door's metallic sheen and sheer mass made it seem impossible to break through by human strength alone.
Koo-ung, koo-ung.
A mysterious energy pulsed from the cave.
Like a heartbeat, it spread across the entire land of Solitary Bamboo Pass, casting a faint glow upon the earth.
This energy flowed like an invisible, colossal river—imbuing the entire pass with an uncanny vitality.
Because of it, the soil had turned into a rich, dark crimson, and the rock surfaces gleamed with a subtle luster.
Even the bamboo forest shimmered with a clarity like polished jade, each stalk radiating a pure, verdant hue.
"......."
Near the cave stood Jeong-yeong of the Baekri Side Family and the warriors under her command.
They stood firm, gripping swords that gleamed with a moonlight-like chill.
Their faces were pale, their clothes stained with blood.
Though their appearances were somewhat disheveled, their expressions remained resolute as they glared ahead.
And surrounding them—
Were hundreds of armed forces, enough to fill the entire bamboo forest.
They stood uniformly with their eyes closed like blind men, each cradling a razor-sharp treasured sword against their chests.
Though their heights and builds differed, their faces were all wrapped in tattered cloth, and their postures were eerily similar—
as if a single person had multiplied through some shadow-cloning technique.
Neither-Human-Nor-Beast.
The one who had ceaselessly studied martial artists' bodies to pave the way for the True Demon's descent.
The leader of the Eight Heavenly Servants, who bestowed upon his followers the unique power of the Mindscape as a Domain through ancient forbidden arts.
The forces he commanded had now revealed themselves upon Jeokha Mountain.
Thud. Thud.
Then, from amidst the ranks of Neither-Human-Nor-Beast's troops, a shadow darker than night emerged.
Screeeech—
For an instant, it felt as though all the surrounding light was being sucked into her.
Her robes, woven from what seemed like a piece of the abyss itself—black as the deepest night—were embroidered with silver threads forming intersecting crescent moons.
Perhaps because of that embroidery, with every step she took,
it looked as though silver moons were being swallowed by the darkness, painting a surreal illusion.
Her snow-white skin, high-bridged nose, and cherry-red lips made for an undeniably beautiful face,
but her crimson eyes, tinged as if with a drop of congealed blood,
gave her the eerie presence of a monster rather than a human.
Naria.
The same woman who had once met Chu-so now stood before them, leading Neither-Human-Nor-Beast's forces.
"Elder Sister."
The woman in black, Naria, pursed her red lips into a perfect circle and smiled at Jeong-yeong.
"It's been a while."
Jeong-yeong, who had been glaring at her with icy eyes, spat out coldly:
"I have no memory of ever having a wicked witch like you as my junior sister."
"Now, now, don't be like that. When you think about it, ours was no ordinary bond."
"Yes, it was no ordinary bond."
Flames of fury poured from Jeong-yeong's eyes.
"Yet you joined hands with Neither-Human-Nor-Beast and launched a vicious attack, injuring our clan's disciples?"
"That couldn't be helped."
Naria shrugged.
"I only came to meet Man-wol, but they immediately tried to stop me, didn't they?"
"Man-wol is in seclusion, unwell. She cannot meet anyone."
"I know."
Naria's smile deepened.
"Because she's locked in a desperate struggle after losing all of the Star God's power."
"How do you—"
Jeong-yeong's blank expression sharpened in an instant.
"Don't tell me—you?"
"Correct."
She grinned, a wicked curve to her lips.
"I've finally reclaimed the power Man-wol stole from me."
"You—!"
"How noisy."
Naria's face remained perfectly innocent.
"Is it so wrong for me to take back what was mine?"
"You were never worthy of the Saint God's power to begin with."
Jeong-yeong's voice was glacial.
"But Man-wol, even after obtaining it, endured agonizing pain to maintain her Divine Power and used it only for righteousness."
"You're leaving out the important part."
Naria tilted her head, lips still curved in that round, mocking smile.
"Did you think I wouldn't know? That she defied the Baekri Clan's orders to help some irrelevant man and has been hunted ever since?"
"She's still better than you—who offered the Star God to those filthy creatures just to gain power."
"Haa."
In an instant, Naria's pupils narrowed into slits, and a blood-red Killing Intent radiated from her.
"Elder Sister, have you forgotten that the mouth is the root of all misfortune?"
"Call them off now. Or I'll cut you down where you stand."
"If you could still wield your Manifestation Art Energy, I'd have to flee so fast my shoes would catch fire."
Naria's voice dripped with cold amusement.
"But you've exhausted it all protecting Man-wol... So what exactly do you plan to do?"
Jeong-yeong's eyes widened.
That was something no one in the world should have known—something only Man-wol and she herself were aware of.
Yet Naria knew...
"So you've found the Creation Sun and Moon after all."
The Creation Sun and Moon.
Alongside the Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud, it was hailed as the greatest treasure of the mortal world.
It was also an artifact the True Demon, cycling through reincarnations, had relentlessly sought to perfectly inherit the knowledge of his past lives.
But having reached a point where even the memories of rebirth were unnecessary, he had stopped searching for it long ago.
Its whereabouts had since faded into myth.
Yet, as a mystical treasure capable of bringing forward future outcomes—so much so that it was called the "Seizing of Causality"—
for mortals bound by finite lifespans, it was a treasure beyond valuation.
"You came here to pay the price for stealing Man-wol's power."
"Correct."
Naria's eyes curved into crescents of delight.
"And since you know that, you must also know you can't stop me?"
Jeong-yeong gritted her teeth.
By wielding the Creation Sun and Moon, one could instantly obtain power that would otherwise only be attainable in the distant future.
But a price must always be paid—and in doing so, the power of Future Sight is triggered.
Naria had used the Creation Sun and Moon to fully restore her Divine Power, and through the power of Future Sight, she had instantly located Man-wol's hiding place.
And now, she intended to kill her to settle that debt.
"Wasn't Elder Sister originally from the Baekri Main Family? I hope you won't throw your life away for those Side Family bastards born with the filthy Saint's bloodline."
"Shut your mouth!"
Jeong-yeong's voice was solemn.
"You will never pass through here."
"How unfortunate."
Naria clicked her tongue.
"If only you'd abandon things like loyalty and honor for just a moment, you might have lived."
Click.
The moment she nodded, the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts surrounding them began marching forward once more.
They were not only immensely skilled in martial arts—each and every one of them could wield the Mindscape.
The disciples of the Secret Peak Faction had already suffered wounds from just a single assault.
What would happen if they launched a full-scale attack?
In the end, annihilation would be inevitable.
"Since Man-wol can't use precognition, does that mean she can't escape?"
Naria's smile was icy.
"Or is it that without Manifestation Art Energy, she's completely powerless?"
"Ten Thousand Souls Crimson Body, Blood Ignition Great Transformation!"
At Jeong-yeong's shout, the martial artists of the Secret Peak Faction began forming a circular formation around her.
Rumble, rumble—
A crimson mist began rising from their bodies, and—
Whoooosh—
In an instant, their figures vanished, and Jeong-yeong at the center began transforming into a towering giant wreathed in flames.
Transcending the limits of the Combined Attack Arts commonly seen in the murim, they had completely fused flesh and Spirit and Mind—
Unleashing the forbidden technique of the Baekri Side Family, the birth of the Fire Soul Giant.
Fwoooosh—
As the six-zhang-tall Fire Soul Giant took form, the surrounding bamboo forests began melting away in an instant.
Sssssss—
The Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts, seemingly devoid of any fear, charged forward at full speed, swords clutched tightly.
Their specialty was the Mindscape—in other words, the Phase.
But now, it seemed they didn't even need to use it, boldly rushing in without hesitation.
Fwoooosh!
A single strike from the Fire Soul Giant turned over a dozen Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts into flames, reducing them to ash in an instant.
Yet, undaunted—
They clung relentlessly to the Fire Soul Giant, not with sword strikes, but by hurling their very bodies at it.
Crackle, crackle—
Was this suicide?
Like moths to a flame, the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts burned endlessly.
But before long, something strange began to happen.
The flames of the Fire Soul Giant gradually dimmed, and its massive form began shrinking.
Fwip!
The endlessly shrinking Fire Soul Giant finally reverted to the forms of Jeong-yeong and her disciples.
"How—"
Jeong-yeong couldn't hide her disbelief as she shouted.
"Are they really deploying Human Sacrifice without hesitation?!"
Unlike the scattered Arts of Spells found throughout the murim, the techniques of the Baekri Clan were unbreakable—
Their power far surpassed any existing framework or system.
Naria, who knew this well—
Had forced the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts into suicide through life-draining acts like Human Sacrifice,
Nullifying their technique entirely.
"A wounded beast is fiercer, and a cornered rat will bite a cat. How else could we possibly hunt a lioness?"
Naria, watching the scene, let out a dry chuckle.
"Using a hundred Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts to block the Lioness's technique—now that's what I call a profitable trade."
Then she barked a short command.
"Hurry up and wipe them out!"
Thud-thud-thud—
The Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts charged once more.
Without a shred of fear or hesitation, they unleashed a storm of sword energy.
Jeong-yeong and her warriors blocked with all their might, but they were outnumbered.
"Aaaagh!"
Several disciples fell, grievously wounded.
"Haaap!"
Unable to stand by, Jeong-yeong took the front line and erected a massive sword barrier.
But this tactic drained her Internal Energy and stamina in an instant.
Moreover, the sword strikes of the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts carried enough force to topple even Mount Tai.
Even if they held out for a while, in the end, only Death awaited them.
"Ugh—"
Jeong-yeong gritted her teeth.
The relentless assault of the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts had already begun breaking the sword barrier in less than half a ke (7.2 minutes).
Step, step—
As the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts, gripping razor-sharp swords, slowly advanced—
Swish!
A black streak cut through the sky—
Shiiing!
A shadow suddenly descended, slashing through the charging Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts.
The figure, having eliminated the enemies at blinding speed, landed smoothly beside Jeong-yeong.
The woman wore an assassin's outfit that shimmered with an eerie luster.
Though petite, her eyes sparkled conspicuously even from a distance.
It was Soyao.
[Reinforcements will arrive soon.]
Standing beside Jeong-yeong, Soyao sent a voice transmission.
[Just hold on a little longer.]
"Who are you?"
[I serve under the Martial Soul Lord.]
Soyao asked again with a grave expression.
[Is Lady Man-wol inside?]
A nod.
Jeong-yeong gave a pained nod.
"She's a master with an extraordinary movement technique."
At that moment, Naria observed Soyao and nodded.
"As expected, my older brother is thoroughly prepared."
Chu-so was not someone who foresaw the future—he was a man who prepared countermeasures for every possible scenario, ensuring he could respond no matter the situation.
Just like now.
As Naria raised her hand—
Clank.
A metallic mechanical sound suddenly echoed around the bamboo forest, and steel threads—thin enough to be nearly invisible yet tougher than steel—began spreading like spiderwebs in all directions.
Swish, swish, swish!
In an instant, countless threads crisscrossed through the bamboo grove, even stretching a hand's breadth above the ground.
This was a "tool" Chu-so had prepared in advance.
The razor-sharp threads formed an invisible net, simultaneously shielding Naria and the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts while disrupting the footing of any enemy with swift movement techniques.
Anticipating interference from those with agile movement techniques, Chu-so had prepared this unique weapon and formation to neutralize high-speed movement.
"Wipe them out!"
At Naria's command, the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts regrouped and charged again.
Fwip!
Drawing a dagger, Soyao moved at blinding speed to strike once more—
Thud!
But each time she inadvertently stepped on the threads, her posture and strength twisted slightly, gradually slowing her movement technique.
Slash, slash, slash!
As the battle raged on, hundreds of wounds bloomed across Soyao's body.
The Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts maintained their specialized formation, unaffected by the threads, while Soyao's movements grew slower and slower... Eventually, her specialty was sealed, leaving her unable to counter them.
"Hah... hah..."
At last, Soyao halted her movement technique and landed back on the ground.
Meanwhile, five of the secret expedition members led by Jeong-yeong had already lost their lives.
"It doesn't matter who comes."
Naria smiled coldly.
"Man-wol. If you don't release the battle formation and come out, all of them will die."
But there was still no response from the cave.
"Hmph."
As Naria raised her hand with a frigid smile—
Step, step.
The Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts advanced slowly, one step at a time.
Jeong-yeong and the warriors were already at their limit, and Soyao, too, had suffered critical injuries all over.
There was no way out.
Just as the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts were about to behead Jeong-yeong and the warriors—
Rumble.
A low vibration emanated from the cave.
"Come in."
At the same time, a clear, low voice rang out—Man-wol's voice.
"Man-wol."
Naria took a deep breath.
"At last... the end is in sight."
Her expression was filled with deep emotion.
"It's been such a long time."
She was of the True Demon's bloodline.
Born under the same fate as Man-wol, a Saintess—yet, cruelly, all her power had been stolen by Man-wol.
Because of that, she had lived as a shadow rather than a Saintess, wandering in search of the Creation Sun and Moon to reclaim her strength.
After countless trials, she had recovered a fragment of the Creation Sun and Moon, fully restoring the Saint God's power.
Now, all that remained was to offer Man-wol as a sacrifice in return.
Kwa-rung!
At that moment, a violet bolt of lightning struck from the distant sky, and a man shrouded in divine energy appeared in an instant.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
Zzzzt—
But something strange happened.
The energy flowing from the cave where Man-wol resided began mingling with the mystical energy enveloping Solitary Bamboo Pass, spreading outward.
It continuously drew out the Thunder Essence Divine Qi circulating within Bu Eun-seol's body.
As a result, not only his appearance—
But even the shape of his body was completely obscured by violet flames.
'This is Lady Man-wol's intention.'
Bu Eun-seol looked down at himself.
The mystical energy from the cave had perfectly concealed his appearance.
He realized this was Man-wol's doing.
Drip, drip.
Meanwhile, Jeong-yeong spat blood from her mouth.
Her face was deathly pale, as if she had suffered severe internal injuries, and the remaining disciples staggered as though their last breaths were slipping away.
In contrast, the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts stood in solemn formation, their eyes indifferent.
[She doesn't seem to be one of the Servants of the True Demon, yet she commands the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts...]
Soyao sent another voice transmission.
[She's after Lady Man-wol inside the cave.]
"How fascinating."
Naria stared intently at Bu Eun-seol.
"Not only can you conceal your entire body in light... but even my eyes can't see through it."
She had already regained all of the Saint God's power, granting her the ability to perceive everything.
Yet she couldn't see the face of someone merely hidden by light?
"Well, the future is already set, anyway."
Naria smiled confidently.
The future sight shown by the Creation Sun and Moon had no trace of someone like him... but it didn't matter.
A mere trivial variable couldn't overturn the inevitable.