Chapter 1103: The Martial Soul Assembly, Absolute Domain
Within that deadly region, Bu Eun-seol, Han Sang-ja, and Gongson Dan-gyeong had gathered to put their heads together.
—"Someone of Chu-so's caliber wouldn't recklessly abduct children from all walks of life while bearing the risk of total annihilation."
Upon learning that the Jungson Clan had used wandering troupes to kidnap not just vagrants but children from every social stratum—even the sons and daughters of high-ranking officials—Bu Eun-seol sensed something amiss.
If such deeds came to light?
No matter how formidable their military might or how many factions they had connections with,
they could never sweep this under the rug so easily.
—"Then there must be some form of brainwashing at play."
Bu Eun-seol had discerned Chu-so's scheme and prepared countermeasures to dismantle it.
In all the world, only two people were capable of such a feat:
Han Sang-ja, whose intellect could rival the Heavenly Mechanism Star's,
and Gongson Dan-gyeong, who understood the Heavenly Mechanism Star's temperament and abilities inside out.
"It was just as you predicted, Lord."
Gongson Dan-gyeong, having met the abducted children to assess their condition and complete her investigation, spoke up.
"I found traces of the Mind Seizing Great Art at work. However... I can't even begin to guess what kind of secret technique was layered on top of it."
Her eyes darkened as she continued.
"What's even more despairing is that the targets are children."
"Is it difficult to undo?"
"Because children are constantly growing."
Gongson Dan-gyeong calmly elaborated.
"Just as their bodies grow taller, their Spirit and Mind undergo shifts and transformations. In the end, the Heavenly Mechanism Star must have devised a technique that adapts to any environment and its changes."
That explanation alone was enough to reveal
just how extraordinary the Mind Seizing Secret Art the Heavenly Mechanism Star had birthed truly was.
"It's likely the Four Thoughts Soul Shackle—an extinct forbidden art of the Martial World."
At that moment, Han Sang-ja interjected.
"If that's the technique used, then even children—whose Spirit and Mind are in constant flux—could have their souls imprisoned."
"Is there a way to break it?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Han Sang-ja shook his head in what seemed like shame.
"As of now, none whatsoever."
Chu-so appeared young but was in fact quite old, and he had spent decades studying lost ancient secret arts.
But Han Sang-ja had only begun his research a few years prior.
Bridging the gap between himself and the Heavenly Mechanism Star in such a short time was an almost impossible task.
"He must have been certain we couldn't break the Mind Seizing Secret Art, which is why he discarded the Jungson Clan without hesitation."
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow.
"We can't keep these children imprisoned forever, turning a blind eye to their desperate parents."
Just then, Gongson Dan-gyeong, who had been lost in deep thought, suddenly brightened.
"It's not certain, but there might be one way."
"What is it?"
"Hwasu—no, Yang Seol-rin."
She spoke in a low voice.
"Chu-so brainwashed her, then released her to slowly manipulate the Yangseol Clan."
"Hmm."
"But I've heard she's recently regained her clarity of mind and has been striving to recover her lost memories."
This wasn't something Gongson Dan-gyeong had investigated herself—she had learned it through intelligence shared by the Death Soul Squad.
"Are you saying there's someone who woke up despite being brainwashed directly by the Heavenly Mechanism Star?"
At Han Sang-ja's question, Gongson Dan-gyeong nodded.
"Yes. Though not perfectly."
"Then the Clear Heart Pill might hold the key."
In the past, Bu Eun-seol had sensed something unusual about Yang Seol-rin's condition and given her the Clear Heart Pill.
Perhaps it was thanks to that she had regained her senses.
"If such a person exists, she'll undoubtedly help us break the secret art."
A hopeful smile, tinged with excitement, crossed Han Sang-ja's face.
"We're bound to find a clue to shatter the Four Thoughts Soul Shackle."
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he turned to Bu Eun-seol.
"But is there a way to summon her here?"
The Yangseol Clan's territory was even more enigmatic than the Jungson Clan's, and its true location remained unknown.
How could they possibly call for her?
"Well."
Bu Eun-seol scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"There is a way."
Once Bu Eun-seol set the Death Soul Squad into motion,
it didn't take long before Yang Seol-rin arrived at the secluded residence he had prepared.
—The Martial Soul Lord is desperately searching for the Young Clan Head of the Yangseol Clan, one of the legendary Three Clans.
This was the information discreetly spread through the Death Soul Squad's vast intelligence network across the Martial World.
That was all it took.
Yang Seol-rin immediately pinpointed Bu Eun-seol's location and came to him.
She was the head of the Yangseol Clan's intelligence apparatus, which spanned the entire Martial World—
and someone who missed Bu Eun-seol dearly, longing to see him every day.
The moment she received the news, she rushed into the Martial World as if she had been waiting for this very chance.
—You needed help?
Standing in the inner quarters of the Death Shadow War Unit, Yang Seol-rin alternated her gaze between Bu Eun-seol and Han Sang-ja beside him.
Gongson Dan-gyeong wasn't present.
Not only did she lack deep knowledge of the Mind Seizing Secret Art,
but she also had no desire to provoke Yang Seol-rin unnecessarily.
After all, the woman still hadn't fully recovered her memories.
—Very well.
To everyone's surprise, Yang Seol-rin agreed with unexpected ease.
—After all, it's both about saving the children and about your affairs.
Afterward, Yang Seol-rin spent three nights in deep conversation with Han Sang-ja.
Though he still fell short of Chu-so's level, Han Sang-ja possessed extraordinary wisdom from having pored over countless secret texts and ancient records of the Sage Forest.
Through their discussions, he quickly began piecing together a way to break the imprint of Evil Thoughts left by Chu-so.
And finally, he reached a conclusion.
"......It was love."
In the sealed chamber of the Absolute Domain within the Martial Soul Society, Han Sang-ja declared firmly before Bu Eun-seol and Gongson Dan-gyeong.
"The Clear Heart Pearl that the Lord bestowed merely served to finalize the already shattered Mind Seizing Secret Art."
He looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"The reason the Evil Thoughts Imprint broke was due to a profound shift in the heart's state—in other words......"
He stole a glance at Gongson Dan-gyeong before continuing.
"It was after she fell in love with the Lord that cracks began forming in the Great Art."
By nature, the Spirit and Mind is soft, flexible, and brimming with infinite potential.
Chu-so's Mind Seizing Secret Art, the Evil Thoughts Imprint, was—
A cruel technique that twisted and warped those supple meridians of the Spirit and Mind, forcing them to obey only a single implanted command.
It was akin to forcibly contorting the Eight Extraordinary Meridians to create a deformed body that existed solely for the sake of a specific martial art.
The Heart Meridian, where emotions and the energy of selfhood should flow, froze solid, while the implanted Evil Thoughts became the sole ruler of the Spiritual Terrace (the mind)—
Outwardly, the victim might appear unharmed, but in truth, they were in a state of Qi Deviation.
"Especially from the moment she secured a promise to fulfill three requests from the Lord......"
As Han Sang-ja began delving into personal matters, Bu Eun-seol swiftly cut him off.
"Brother Han. Are you certain you haven't misjudged?"
"Not in the slightest."
When Bu Eun-seol subtly winked one eye in warning, Han Sang-ja furrowed his brow.
"My Lord, is your eye bothering you?"
"No, not at all."
With a resigned expression, Bu Eun-seol gestured for him to continue.
"Every time Yang Seol-rin spoke of the Lord, every time she harbored that burning affection in her heart, a storm of energy—as if the heavens and earth were being remade—raged within her Spiritual Terrace."
The Spiritual Terrace under the dominion of the Mind Seizing Secret Art was—
Like barren land buried beneath eternal ice.
And love was akin to the sun, melting that frozen earth.
The moment the seed of affection sprouted—
Deep within the Spiritual Terrace, the Mystic Gate—which governed pleasure and reward—swung open,
And a warm, life-filled energy cascaded forth like a waterfall.
"The emotion of love is not merely a shift in the heart's state. It shakes all twelve regions of the Spiritual Terrace simultaneously, reorganizing every Heart Meridian—reward, motivation, bonds with others—like a Heaven-Shattering Divine Art, if you will."
He spread his hands.
"Ultimately, as the Spirit and Mind transformed under the influence of this new emotion... the prison forcibly erected by the Evil Thoughts Imprint lost its power and crumbled from within."
Despite the grand and elaborate explanation, Gongson Dan-gyeong nodded as if she understood perfectly.
"In short, only a profound emotional shift—like love—can fracture a Spirit and Mind hardened by the Evil Thoughts Imprint Technique?"
"Precisely."
To put it simply, the way to break the Evil Thoughts Imprint was—
To make the victim feel a new emotion, like love, shocking the Spirit and Mind into clarity.
"Would this work on the children as well?"
At Gongson Dan-gyeong's question, Han Sang-ja nodded.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be love. Any new emotion they've never felt before would suffice."
"But Yang Seol-rin broke free through love, didn't she?"
"No. As I've been saying, it's about the new emotion softening the rigid Spirit and Mind and creating fissures in the Evil Thoughts Imprint—"
"Yang Seol-rin used love."
Han Sang-ja shut his mouth.
Only then did he notice the icy chill that had frozen over the eyes of Gongson Dan-gyeong, who usually wore a gentle expression.
'She isn't asking a question.'
Beads of sweat formed thickly on Han Sang-ja's forehead.
She was picking a fight.
'She's been uncomfortable with me going on and on about love and affection.'
"W-Well, now that we've found our lead—"
Han Sang-ja hastily rose to his feet.
"I'll go devise an arcane method to make them feel new emotions and break the Evil Thoughts Imprint."
He bowed and made a swift exit.
"Come to think of it..."
Bu Eun-seol also stood up awkwardly.
"Our sect possesses the Phantom Restoration, said to be the highest scripture of the Mind Seizing Secret Art... I should personally assist Brother Han with it."
Muttering in an exaggerated tone, he tried to leave—only for Gongson Dan-gyeong to block his path.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm going to assist Brother Han."
"You really..."
Gongson Dan-gyeong let out a resigned sigh of reproach.
"Do you need to embrace every beautiful woman in the world before you can rest easy?"
"What nonsense is that?"
"She hasn't even fully recovered her past memories yet. What in the world did you say to her...?"
She continued with an incredulous expression.
"...that made her, still unwell, harbor such deep affection?"
"That's a misunderstanding."
Bu Eun-seol stated firmly.
"I only ever interacted with Lady Yang Seol on official matters. I never once engaged in private conversation."
"Then what's this about three requests?"
"That too was an official matter for the sake of Greater Righteousness..."
"Official or not, you must restrain yourself from colliding with women in the first place!"
For a long while, Gongson Dan-gyeong continued her scolding until Bu Eun-seol's stiff neck and straight back had hunched over in defeat.
Han Sang-ja finally devised the secret art to shatter the Thought Imprint.
Memories are not fixed like martial manuals shelved in an archive.
Every time a person recalls a past memory, they refine and reinterpret it anew according to their current state of mind and the flow of their qi.
In the Mind Seizing Secret Art, this is called the "forging of memories."
And the Thought Imprint was a sinister technique that blocked this forging process, hardening specific memories and emotions as unyielding as steel.
―To make them feel an overwhelming emotion incomparable to any previous experience, forcing wide open the tightly sealed gates of the spirit platform.
Attempting to forcibly expel the evil qi or persuade them through logic—
—was no different from trying to break down a firmly shut fortress gate from the outside. A crude and inferior method.
Bu Eun-seol and Han Sang-ja instead created an opportunity to ignite a spark of entirely new emotion within the deepest recesses of the child's heart—where no one had ever reached before.
Each in their own way.
―The spirit and mind take different forms, just like human faces.
It could be love, the fiery passion of sworn brotherhood,
or the pure exhilaration of achieving something great.
Han Sang-ja, through the ancient Mind Seizing Secret Art—
Bu Eun-seol, through the profound method of Phantom Restoration—
Each sought out the warmest spring breeze suited to the child's temperament and breathed it into their frozen spirit platform.
―Children possess richer imaginations than adults, with an immense capacity for wonder and awe toward the mysterious and fantastical.
Han Sang-ja bestowed upon them overwhelming marvels and joy beyond a child's imagination—riding dragons through the clouds, wandering forests where candy fruits bloomed—
—pouring pure delight into their hearts.
Bu Eun-seol, through Phantom Restoration,
carefully connected his own clear and robust spirit and mind to the children.
Not just emotions like joy, sorrow, curiosity, or surprise—
but even the searing rage and boundless loneliness they had never been able to feel before, calmly transmitting them all.
Like restoring sound to someone who had long been unable to hear.
―Success.
Stimulated by the vivid emotional waves transmitted from outside, the children were finally able to break free from the prison of the Thought Imprint.
This was only possible because a grandmaster who had achieved peerless martial arts at a young age and the greatest genius ever born from Sage Forest had joined forces.
Had the two not worked together?
Even Chu-so had declared it impossible to break, yet the Thought Imprint crumbled with astonishing speed—something that would never have happened otherwise.
―"With this method, can we free all those whose spirits were eroded by Chu-so?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked this, Han Sang-ja shook his head.
―"Not quite."
If it were the Heavenly Mechanism Star, even now—and from now on—
he would be advancing and altering everything, hour by hour.
With a confident expression, he continued.
―"But I will find a way, just as I did now."
As Chu-so evolves, so too does Han Sang-ja.
Perhaps his potential even surpasses Chu-so's.
Before long, he will surely close the gap of time that has separated them thus far.
―"Take all the children back."
Once the Great Art was fully undone, all the abducted children returned to their rightful places.
Had they simply sent the children back as they were?
They would have had to track each one down to undo the Great Art, and the parents might not have even permitted such a process in the first place.
But because they had anticipated this situation in advance, they were able to finish far sooner than expected.
Yet Bu Eun-seol did not yet realize—
That by completely dismantling Chu-so's scheme,
he had drawn the blade of Pa-myeong, one of the Three Attendants, toward himself.
Chu-so slipped beyond the boundaries of the Phantom Mirror and moved in secrecy for a long while.
During his journey, he heard that all the Thought Imprints of the children abducted through the Jungson Clan had been shattered—
But he was not surprised.
Martial Soul Lord.
He was no longer someone to debate whether to kill or spare.
For the sake of the Grand Design—for all future plans—
He had become a man who must die.
"Ah, I didn't want to go..."
With a sigh, Chu-so arrived at a secret location not found on any map.
It was a mystical entrance that could transport one to a location separated from the world—just like the Land of the Ultimate Void—through an ancient and enigmatic formation study.
Chu-so let a single drop of his blood fall onto the altar.
In an instant, all grass, trees, and insects within a radius of several li around the altar withered away, their life force drained in the blink of an eye.
Simultaneously, a massive surge of life energy rippled outward, and before Chu-so's eyes, a small entrance materialized.
Stepping inside, he found himself in a hidden valley where a lake seethed with overwhelming demonic energy.
The moon in the sky remained unblemished, yet its reflection on the water's surface began to stain crimson, rising upside-down as if bleeding.
It radiated nothing short of divine majesty, ominous dread, and overwhelming power.
Especially if one were to witness the lake's surface—the moon drowning in blood?
No matter how courageous the person, they would inevitably feel an incomprehensible terror, a premonition of calamity.
Yet Chu-so merely clasped his hands behind his back and leisurely gazed up at the sky.
As if waiting for something.
The scenery of the lake, now shrouded in pitch-black darkness, resembled a viscous, inky abyss.
Not a single breeze stirred, as though everything around had frozen in stillness—
Sssssss—
Then, a sinister sound shattered the silence, as if something enormous had opened its eyes from the depths of the water.
Soon, the center of the lake began to bubble violently, and a foul, metallic stench filled the air as a dark crimson light seeped upward.
Huuuuuu—
It was as though vengeful spirits had tangled together, swirling in a vortex.
And at its core, a dissonant distortion tore through space itself.
Kwaaaaaa!
A sudden pillar of water erupted, transforming into a whirlpool of death, like black ink spilled into the abyss.
Giiiiiiing—
The center of the whirlpool slowly split open, and grotesque masses of flesh and tangled veins writhed, taking shape.
Flicker.
Then, at last, a massive eye opened within it.
Its pitch-black pupil was an absolute void, an abyss that permitted not even the faintest starlight to exist.
Chu-so bowed deeply toward the eye with utmost reverence.
"Elder Pa-myeong."
Pa-myeong.
One of the Three Attendants, and the very being with whom Chu-so had formed a cooperative alliance, had finally appeared.
"This lowly one has words to deliver. Though I know I am stealing your invaluable time, I sought an audience with your esteemed presence."
His tone was impeccably respectful.
Yet his expression was so exaggerated and deliberate that it almost felt like mockery.
The eye stared down at Chu-so for a long moment before—
[All your plans have gone awry, I see.]
A voice, not quite human, resonated with a deep, reverberating timbre.
[I was under the impression you had invested considerable effort into them.]
"That is correct."
Despite his solemn expression and grave tone, Chu-so's eyes seemed to be laughing somewhere within.
The single eye observed him before letting out a derisive snort.
[As expected of a manufactured being.]
A manufactured pawn.
To Chu-so, those words were an unbearable insult.
Yet he only smiled brighter.
"Isn't that precisely why I dare attempt to forge the Chain of Reincarnation?"
Chu-so, grinning slyly, continued.
"Since I am a manufactured being, I suppose I excel at manufacturing other things as well."
Though his posture was submissive, his eyes and tone carried a clear message:
—You and I are allies.
He was saying this even to Pa-myeong, one of the Three Attendants.
"It was truly difficult to obtain, but..."
Chu-so reached into his robes and produced a single orb.
Within it, countless points of light shimmered as though containing an entire cosmos.
The Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud Pearl.
A treasure unrivaled in the martial world, capable of reading memories imprinted in blood or inheriting the accumulated karma of a bloodline.
One of the nine orbs now rested in Chu-so's palm.
[To think you would hand me the Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud Pearl, something you once valued more than life itself.]
"What could possibly be more important than life?"
Chu-so's eyes curved into crescents.
"I was merely concerned whether your esteemed self could offer a trade worthy of the Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud Pearl."
[You want me to kill the Martial Soul Lord.]
"Is it within your capabilities?"
Chu-so feigned a worried expression.
"Your wounds have yet to fully heal, and you bear the weighty responsibility of leading the merchant company... It shames me to even make such a request."
He appeared composed, but he was cornered.
As if seeing through him, the single eye narrowed mockingly.
And it was an undeniable truth.
This failure had cut deep.
The Jungson Clan had been a carefully cultivated piece on the board, meant to be utilized to the very end, no matter the cost.
Yet because of the Martial Soul Lord, not a single one of their intended purposes had come to fruition—lost in vain.
"Indeed."
Chu-so readily admitted.
"He has ruined every single one of my plans thus far. He defies the Heavenly Mechanism, and in wisdom, martial arts—there is no aspect in which he is lacking."
Chu-so smiled as he gazed at the massive eye Pa-myeong had manifested.
"Just like the legendary Seven Fingers Demonic Blade whom no one could ever lay a hand on."
Krrrr.
The enormous single eye stared down at Chu-so for a long while.
Was it because of the mention of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade?
Or was it contemplating whether to kill this insolent Chu-so or not?
Within that pupil, countless emotions swirled violently—and the most prominent among them was killing intent.
Giiing.
The killing intent soon faded.
Chu-so was far too valuable to kill outright.
Without his cooperation, not only would creating the Chain of Reincarnation be impossible, but even restoring Pa-myeong's body—damaged from the failure of the Great Art—would be difficult.
"Just as a precaution, let me say this."
Chu-so spoke then.
"You won't be able to kill him unless you appear in your true body."
[Unless the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade returns alive.]
An icy voice resonated from the single eye.
[That will never happen.]
Sssrrrr.
The enormous eye slowly began to sink back into the lake.
At the same time, the lake—no, the entire gorge—vanished without a trace.
From the very beginning, the entire gorge had been a space created by Pa-myeong's power.
"Good."
Chu-so smiled in satisfaction as he watched even the orb he had been holding disappear.
"A shame, but what can you do?"
He shook his head.
"To move a figure of that caliber, one must pay the price."
Before he knew it, the sky, which had been dyed in strange colors, began to regain its original hue.
"...It'll be over soon."
From what he knew, Pa-myeong had been relentlessly tracking the Martial Soul Lord's movements.
Now that he had even been handed the Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud Pearl, there was no need to drag things out—he would go to kill him in one swift strike.
Jinan, Golden Orchid Manor.
In the vast courtyard of the Golden Orchid Manor in Jinan,
a massive canopy, large enough to blot out the sky, had been stretched overhead.
Beneath it, over a hundred long tables stretched endlessly, forming a magnificent sight.
The rich aroma of oil and the fragrant scent of liquor wafting from beyond the eastern gate were enough to stop passersby in their tracks.
At the center of the courtyard, several cauldrons as large as houses hung, ceaselessly billowing steam.
Inside them, thick broths bubbled fiercely, while on the iron grills beside them, whole roasted pigs dripped with golden fat as they crisped to perfection.
Freshly steamed white dumplings puffed fragrant clouds from bamboo steamers, and sweetfish, freshly caught from the clear river, roasted to a golden brown over charcoal flames.
The dishes laid out on each table were extravagantly lavish.
On rough earthenware plates were platters of wild greens, meats marinated in spices, and hearty egg soups brimming with rare mushrooms.
Jars filled to the brim with clear grain wine exuded a mellow fragrance, awaiting the guests.
Though the attendees were dressed in humble attire,
their faces were alight with joy and gratitude for the rare taste of abundance.
—Hahahaha!
Laughter rang out ceaselessly from all directions.
The reason for this unusual liveliness?
A certain philanthropist, moved by the Golden Orchid Manor's benevolence, had sponsored a grand feast lasting three days and nights.
—All who are hungry, wronged, or without shelter, come forth!
Those who heard the news flocked to the Golden Orchid Manor.
Children bit into steamed buns with oil-smeared hands, their cheeks bulging, while elders warmed their stiff bodies with hot broth, nodding repeatedly in contentment.
In one corner, a one-armed man—once an escort chief—held court among young listeners, regaling them with tales of past exploits.
Each story was met with uproarious laughter.
As the sun set and massive bonfires blazed to life across the courtyard, the festivities reached their peak.
A man, thoroughly drunk, rose to his feet and began singing a soulful tune, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Soon, someone took up a fiddle, its melancholic yet powerful melody resonating through the night sky.
"Hahahaha."
Meanwhile, a separate area had been prepared for distinguished guests—members of the Upper Realm and martial circles—to drink in private.
Bu Bok-un, lord of the Golden Orchid Manor, had aided many in need, forging deep connections with people from all walks of life.
Upon hearing of the feast, they had come bearing gifts, both to honor him and to maintain appearances.
Bu Bok-un welcomed them throughout the night.
Naturally robust in stamina, and further enhanced by the Opening of the Fine Meridians, he could drink dozens of pounds of liquor without ever getting drunk.
But...
Bu Bok-un gazed at the distant sky.
The one person he truly wished to see had not come.
It had been so long that he had cautiously inquired about his well-being through his intelligence network, but no answer had returned.
Though the man had recently given birth to twins,
he refrained from reaching out further, assuming the man must be busy.
"My lord."
A servant cautiously approached Bu Bok-un, who had been entertaining honored guests all night, and whispered in his ear.
His eyes flashed, and he immediately stumbled toward the East Gate.
There stood a man in plain gray robes.
Unremarkable in every way—
yet Bu Bok-un knew at once that this was the sworn brother he had longed to see.
For no one else in the world carried such an aura of loneliness, desolation, and solitude.
Ssshh.
When their eyes met,
the man's face rippled like water, revealing beneath it a peerlessly handsome yet shadowed figure—
none other than Bu Eun-seol.