Chapter 1115
First love is the purest and most intense experience that visits everyone at least once in their lives.
Yet, more often than not, that love remains an unfulfilled, bittersweet memory.
Like a sudden guest arriving during the most awkward and unstable period of one's life.
Back then, everything was new—clumsy and unfamiliar.
In the end, first love and failure.
Though they may be called by different names, they share the same fate.
'Dal-ri.'
Bu Eun-seol recalled her face.
Though it never came to fruition.
The memories with her remained as tiny points of light in a corner of his heart.
Even if he were to die and turn to ashes.
That small light would never fade.
In the end, before returning to his daily life, Bu Eun-seol visited the Secluded Valley of Mount Unrim once more.
"Why is it that the harder I try to forget, the more impossible it becomes?"
This was not a dilemma unique to him—it was a question all Philosophers throughout history had faced.
Rustle-rustle.
Not even eight minutes after arriving at the Secluded Valley.
A strange Sound of Breaking Air echoed, and a massive shadow descended from the distant sky.
'Could it be—'
Bu Eun-seol's face lit up with hope.
Truthfully, when he climbed Mount Unrim this time.
He had deliberately left traces of his presence—just in case.
If Dal-ri was a woman affiliated with a hostile faction? She must have an intelligence network as formidable as the Death Soul Squad.
There was a chance she might come looking for him.
Whoosh.
His eyes, brimming with anticipation, scanned the distant sky—only for disappointment to flicker across his face when the shadow landed before him.
The figure who appeared before him.
Wasn't this the man who had once attacked him alongside the Buddhist Venerable, only to be defeated?
Though he still carried the great saber, his gaze and aura had changed drastically.
"It's been a while."
The man greeted him warmly.
"I've been searching for you for a long time, but tracking you down wasn't easy."
Then, he clasped his hands together.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I am Jeong Myeong."
It was a dharma name that clashed with his sharp eyes and murderous aura.
From the looks of it, the Buddhist Venerable had raised him as a lay disciple.
Bu Eun-seol didn't even spare him a glance, as if he held no interest whatsoever.
"I heard it was you who killed the Golden Vajra Demon Ancestor. Is that correct?"
When Bu Eun-seol nodded, the man spoke again.
"Then hand it over."
"Hand over what?"
"The Nine Heavens Radiant Cloud Pearl."
Bu Eun-seol frowned.
"I don't have such a thing."
"I didn't expect you to surrender it willingly."
Jeong Myeong drew the great saber from his back.
"You should think carefully before your head rolls."
Despite the man's bloodthirsty demeanor, Bu Eun-seol only sighed.
"Leave. You are no match for me."
"That may have been true in the past. But not anymore."
Whoosh.
As he swung the great saber in a full arc through the air, his eyes grew even more sinister, and a strange radiance flickered.
Not only that—two martial artists revealed themselves behind him.
"So you've cleared all the gates, it seems."
In the past, he had claimed to have only passed some of the ten gates, boasting that if he cleared them all, he could defeat Bu Eun-seol.
Given how confidently he announced his name now and even brought backup.
It was clear he had not only cleared all the gates but had also devised a way to deal with Bu Eun-seol.
"Or perhaps you've developed a new martial art."
"Of course."
"It seems you'll need their help."
"Naturally."
Jeong Myeong replied shamelessly.
"Since things have come to this, let's settle this in one strike without wasting time."
Srrring.
At the same time, the figures behind him also drew their great sabers.
In the past, Bu Eun-seol would have been intensely curious about the martial arts of those raised by the Buddhist Venerable.
And he would have been extremely wary.
A defeated man who returned with gritted teeth would surely bring something formidable.
But right now, Bu Eun-seol's attention was fixated elsewhere, leaving him utterly indifferent to them.
Thus, he remained still as his opponents encircled him—and that carelessness soon became a fatal mistake.
Whoooosh.
In an instant, a surge of True Qi, blazing like flames, erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body, and the surrounding space began to distort.
Though they had drawn their swords, they weren't executing any sword techniques.
Instead, they maintained their encirclement, thrusting their great sabers forward to unleash a bizarre force.
Grrrrr.
That force caused the conflicting energies within Bu Eun-seol's body to clash violently.
Causing a fierce blaze of True Qi to erupt.
"Martial Soul Lord. I've heard that you harbor numerous incompatible energies within your body."
Jeong Myeong smiled meaningfully as he continued.
"Yet your body hasn't exploded because you've suppressed and harmonized them in some way to maintain balance, correct?"
Whoooosh.
Wreathed in the flames of True Qi, Bu Eun-seol couldn't respond.
The conflicting energies within him bound his limbs as if tightly shackled, rendering even a single finger immobile.
"Then, by drastically amplifying just one specific energy, that balance should collapse in an instant."
The energy Jeong Myeong and his comrades poured forth wasn't vicious or cruel.
Rather, it carried the warmth of boundless compassion.
Though it shared the same origin as the Tendon Transformation and Marrow Cleansing Sutra, it had evolved into a purer form—
The Tathagata True Qi.
Huuuum.
That immense True Qi continuously dispersed and accumulated within Bu Eun-seol's Eight Extraordinary Meridians.
The purity of its nature meant that even the Reverse Polarity True Qi, which claimed to encompass all things, couldn't assimilate it.
"Hng."
Bu Eun-seol let out a low groan.
As the Tathagata True Qi—the very essence of Shaolin's secret internal martial arts—was forcibly injected, the conflicting energies disrupted his equilibrium.
The problem was that there was no way to expel or purge the surging True Qi flooding into him.
'So my information has been fully exposed, then.'
Until now, the depths of Bu Eun-seol's martial arts and internal energy had been shrouded in secrecy, granting him an advantage against formidable foes.
But as he traveled the martial world, felling countless enemies, his martial foundation had inevitably been laid bare.
They had studied him relentlessly, probing his weaknesses, and finally devised a flawless method to bring him down.
'They're using the same tactic I employed to defeat the Black Divine Heavenly Lord.'
The human body inherently accepts anything beneficial without resistance.
At the time, the Black Divine Heavenly Lord had been linked to the crows, granting him near-immortal regenerative abilities.
After much deliberation, Bu Eun-seol had countered by flooding his body with the Heavenly Light Endless Art—a power that was beneficial yet severed the connection with the crows, ultimately defeating him.
Now, Jeong Myeong was using a similar method to crush Bu Eun-seol.
Crackle—!
As the influx of True Qi intensified, Bu Eun-seol's skin began splitting like a tortoise shell.
Their method of infusion was cunning—there was no visible way to block it.
'They even identified that the root of my internal energy is Shaolin's.'
The foundation of Bu Eun-seol's internal energy was the Tendon Transformation Sutra, which his grandfather had dismissed as a mere breathing technique.
Because of this, the unfamiliar Tathagata True Qi pouring in through the great saber seeped deep into his body without allowing any resistance.
'At this point, I have no choice but to force unification.'
Now engulfed in white flames of True Qi, Bu Eun-seol desperately tried to convert the surging Tathagata True Qi into Reverse Polarity True Qi.
But the more he struggled, the more his meridians tore apart, and his body rapidly succumbed to paralysis.
"The end is in sight now."
Jeong Myeong chuckled darkly.
"You've mingled too many disparate forces—it's only natural you can't withstand the purest True Qi in the world."
A spark flared in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
'This is the Buddhist Venerable's doing.'
Only three people knew the nature of Bu Eun-seol's True Qi circulation: the Human Demon Ak Mu-ryeong, Deputy Pavilion Master Dan Cheong—and the Buddhist Venerable.
They had crossed paths before, and even then, the Buddhist Venerable had already discerned the workings of his energy.
Which meant he had long prepared this method to dismantle him.
'Then the only option left is the power of the Saint Among Poisons.'
Crack—!
Bu Eun-seol mustered his last ounce of strength to unleash poison—but it was futile.
With his internal energies clashing and his equilibrium shattered, even the Saint Among Poisons' power couldn't be activated.
"Impressive. To endure this long..."
The flames of True Qi erupting from the internal conflict were intense enough to melt meridians in an instant.
Yet Bu Eun-seol had withstood it for nearly a quarter of an hour.
"A monster remains a monster, I suppose."
Jeong Myeong raised the great saber.
Since Bu Eun-seol couldn't move anyway, there was no need to delay—he would sever his head in one stroke.
"You rode fate's favor well, but your journey ends here."
Just as Jeong Myeong swung the blade—
Whoosh—!
A strange sound of tearing air echoed from the distant sky.
Then, Veiled Women clad in silver descended like fluttering petals, landing gracefully.
Ssssh—!
With a flick of their sleeves, they scattered the Tathagata True Qi pouring from Jeong Myeong and his companions in an instant.
Oooom—!
Simultaneously, an inexplicable force blasted Jeong Myeong and his group ten paces back.
Shuuuu—
With the influx of Tathagata True Qi cut off, the clashing energies subsided, and Bu Eun-seol's boiling blood gradually stabilized.
Crrrrack—!
Bu Eun-seol forcefully expelled the stagnant energy in one explosive burst.
The Three Divine Powers naturally surged forth, crashing down around Jeong Myeong and his allies.
Kooooom—!
The ground within a radius of dozens of yards swirled and shattered like a whirlwind.
Zzzt—!
Yet remnants of the Tathagata True Qi still lingered—flames of True Qi crackled across Bu Eun-seol's body.
—Is this the power a human can unleash...?
Whoosh—!
Jeong Myeong and his two companions, frozen in shock, snapped back to their senses and fled in panic.
Not only had Bu Eun-seol regained his strength in an instant—
But the martial prowess of these mysterious veiled women was beyond comprehension. Retreat was the only option.
'To think they were the Buddhist Venerable's disciples...'
Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply as he watched Jeong Myeong vanish into the distance.
The Buddhist Venerable could no longer be called a noble monk of the Buddhist Order—he had become an old monster.
And those he raised bore no trace of Righteous Grandeur.
'But I can't call this method cowardly.'
Hadn't Bu Eun-seol himself studied scars left on corpses to devise counters against his enemies' martial arts?
It was only natural for his foes to research him in turn.
Fwoosh—!
With another sound of tearing air, the Veiled Women who had shielded Bu Eun-seol vanished into the distant sky.
"Wait—!"
He tried to pursue, but they had disappeared without a trace.
What they had employed was not a martial movement technique, but rather the power of a mysterious supernatural ability.
"Just who were those women?"
Throughout his travels in the martial world, he had encountered all manner of factions.
Yet he had never heard of a female sect that wore such uniquely silver martial uniforms and wielded bizarre supernatural powers.
"I must regain my focus."
Having been so distracted by Dal-ri lately,
he had carelessly exposed his movements to enemies who had discerned his fatal weakness, leading to this ambush.
The most urgent matter now was to regain his composure and—
"First, I must compensate for the flaws in my martial arts."
Now that he knew a method had been perfected to systematically dismantle his hybridized power,
if he continued roaming the martial world as he was, he could suffer a fatal wound and perish at any moment.
He had to eliminate this vulnerability as soon as possible.
Upon returning to Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol entered seclusion—but from the start, there had been no answer.
How had he managed to hybridize so many different powers until now?
He couldn't even clearly identify the reason it had been possible in the first place.
Hadn't even Ak Mu-ryeong—the most versed in the martial arts of the various sects in the world—failed to unravel its principles,
concluding only, "The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade must have made it that way, I suppose?"
And yet, did Bu Eun-seol truly believe he could suddenly decipher the logic behind his hybridized power just by researching it for a few days?
"If only I could find a place like the Land of the Ultimate Void..."
The Land of the Ultimate Void was not only a place where overwhelming pressure rained down—pressure even a tempered warrior could not endure—
but also where an energy that disrupted the integrity of one's spirit and mind spread.
"The pressure there would forcibly suppress the scattered forces within me, acting like a blacksmith's hammer to temper the hybridized power."
If the powers that normally maintained a precarious balance were forcibly compressed by the external pressure of the Land of the Ultimate Void—
wouldn't he be able to discern, to some extent, the nature, compatibility,
and principles of collision between the forces within his body?
"Moreover, there is also the force that oppresses the spirit and mind..."
Inside the Land of the Ultimate Void, an energy existed that shattered human control, reducing one's spirit and mind to their worst state.
In such an extreme situation, where one's mind was shaken and control over power weakened—
wouldn't it paradoxically allow him to perceive the inherent characteristics of each power within him even more clearly?
"I must overcome this state of collision and master the method of controlling these powers."
Bu Eun-seol clenched his fist.
There was no way he would find the answer by idling in the training room like this.
In the end, he returned to his office.
Knock, knock, knock.
At that moment, Yu Un-ryong entered, rapping on the door.
He had rushed over as soon as he heard Bu Eun-seol had ended his seclusion.
"What brings you here?"
"Well..."
Yu Un-ryong scratched his head in confusion.
"The Land of the Ultimate Void has been discovered."
"The Land of the Ultimate Void?"
"Correct. To be precise, it's not so much a discovery as... a tip, I suppose."
"What do you mean?"
Yu Un-ryong tilted his head and continued.
"Someone provided information that in two days, the Land of the Ultimate Void will manifest in the Nameless Valley, where the Mysterious Gate once stood."
"Who?"
"That's the thing—we don't know."
The Land of the Ultimate Void was akin to a treasure trove for those who stood among the ranks of superlative martial experts.
Since it naturally manifested and then vanished, it was known to be impossible to locate unless one could perfectly read the heavenly signs.
So who could have possibly provided such information?
"Then it's unreliable intel. There's no need to pay it any mind."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Yu Un-ryong shook his head.
"Not necessarily."
"Why not?"
"Because countless martial experts have already flocked there."
As he spoke, Yu Un-ryong's gaze lost focus.
"Given how covertly they're moving, the likelihood of it being true is high."
Then he added,
"And you're the only one who can reach the Nameless Valley in time."
If the gate to the Land of the Ultimate Void would open in two days,
then within the Death Shadow War Unit, Bu Eun-seol was the only one whose lightness study was advanced enough to arrive in time.
"How coincidental."
If this wasn't mere chance,
then the informant not only knew that Bu Eun-seol desperately needed to enter the Land of the Ultimate Void—
but was also fully aware of the level of his lightness study and exactly how fast he could move.
"Right. There's a high chance it's a trap."
Yu Un-ryong's expression darkened.
"Even if it isn't, the Abyssal Forces will undoubtedly be lying in wait there. There's no way you'd escape alone."
He let out a deep sigh.
"But of all places, the Land of the Ultimate Void... You can't not go, can you?"
"Indeed."
A single day of training in the Land of the Ultimate Void yielded results surpassing a month's worth of cultivation.
Moreover, given Jeong Myeong's attack—
No, given his desperate need to find a way to prevent enemies from disrupting the hybridized energies within him—
he absolutely could not let this opportunity slip by.
"Then at least go in disguise."
"Unnecessary. Since they're deliberately luring me, wearing a disguise would only risk exposing that I possess the Darkness Secret Arts."
"I see."
Realizing Bu Eun-seol had already made up his mind to go, Yu Un-ryong spoke with grave seriousness.
"Given how blatantly this information was thrown at us, it's possible Pa-myeong is scheming something again."
"That may well be the case."
No one in the martial world would offer such valuable information without ulterior motives.
This was undoubtedly someone's scheme—yet Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to go.
"I'll be back soon."
Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile.
That was all he could say to Yu Un-ryong at this moment.
The Nameless Valley was once a secluded ravine where the Hyunhyeon Sect, specializing in the Art of Spells, had settled.
It was also a place where the polished cinnabar used for talismans lay scattered across the ground like fallen leaves.
Originally, Bu Eun-seol had planned to infiltrate quietly,
observe the situation closely, and then enter once the Land of the Ultimate Void opened.
But the moment he stepped into the valley, he realized that hope was futile.
Zzzt—zzzt—
The raging storm of wind and thunder energy within instantly unraveled his Concealment Art.
'Confirmed.'
Places where the Land of the Ultimate Void manifested were always saturated with overwhelming natural energy.
Given how the entire ravine brimmed with the tempestuous force of wind and thunder, the information about its opening was undoubtedly true.
Whoooosh—
As he pushed through the storm and stepped inside, a vast clearing stretched before him, flanked by towering cliffs that seemed to pierce the heavens.
'Something feels off.'
He approached the cliff face and pressed his palm against it—but sensed nothing unusual.
Yet at that very moment—
Sssssssss—
A strange rustling echoed from all directions before countless figures emerged into view.
The Nameless Valley was already swarming with forces, all of whom had been lying in wait, their presence perfectly concealed.
"Tch."
A short, irritated sigh escaped him.
Because among them were familiar faces.
Martial Masters clad in the uniforms of the government office—likely elites from the Imperial Palace.
There were also envoys from the Three Realms, as well as masked figures from the Same Heart Society.
And standing among them was Jeong Myeong—the disciple of the Buddhist Venerable who had attacked Bu Eun-seol before.
'A third party orchestrated this.'
Only now did Bu Eun-seol understand.
The Same Heart Society had allied with factions of the Three Realms, so it was no surprise that elites from both sides had gathered.
But the fact that even agents of the Imperial Palace had appeared meant that the location of the Land of the Ultimate Void had been leaked to multiple factions.
Perhaps someone had deliberately spread the information, intending to pit these forces against each other—or to weaken them collectively.
"Did the Demon Hall obtain this information as well?"
Jeong Myeong recognized Bu Eun-seol and greeted him with a murderous smile.
"Martial Soul Lord. You've walked straight into hell with your own feet."
That was no idle threat.
Bu Eun-seol still hadn't devised a way to counter the Tathagata True Qi that disrupted his internal energy balance.
And with the forces of the Imperial Palace and the Same Heart Society lying in ambush here, even he couldn't take them all on alone.
"Fine. So be it."
Yet Bu Eun-seol did not flee. Instead, he drew the Mourning Soul Sword.
He had come here fully aware it might be a trap.
'If I don't resolve this, I won't be able to walk freely in the Martial World again.'
The Buddhist Venerable had lived for centuries.
His depth of understanding in martial arts undoubtedly surpassed Bu Eun-seol's own—perhaps even beyond imagination.
What if the Buddhist Venerable himself unleashed the Tathagata True Qi, rather than just Jeong Myeong?
He could lose his life in an instant, without even a chance to resist.
'That's why I must enter the Land of the Ultimate Void this time.'
No matter what it took, he had to enter the realm manifesting here.
Otherwise, survival in the Martial World would become impossible.
Sssssk—
The gathered martial artists began encircling him, tightening their formation.
They were baring their fangs, openly declaring their intent to eliminate him first.
Shhhling—
As the Mourning Soul Sword left its sheath, a chilling killing intent radiated outward.
Even dealing with Jeong Myeong's Tathagata True Qi alone was already a struggle—
yet now he was surrounded by elites from the Three Realms and the Same Heart Society, trapped before an impenetrable cliff...
'But—'
Bu Eun-seol could sense it.
Someone else had orchestrated this. Whoever had lured him here hadn't done so just to pit him against these people.
Fwoooosh—!
Jeong Myeong knew Bu Eun-seol's swordplay was as swift as lightning, so he immediately unleashed the Tathagata True Qi.
Splurt—!
But then, something astonishing happened.
Blood suddenly erupted from the throat of one of the encircling fighters.
Hiiiiisss—
At the same time, white steam rose from Bu Eun-seol's body.
Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, as if he were enduring excruciating pain.
"You've trained in the method of severing your own meridians."
Jeong Myeong saw through it—Bu Eun-seol had deliberately cut off all his energy flow to block the Tathagata True Qi.
As proof, despite executing just a single sword strike,
Bu Eun-seol was already drenched in sweat, as if he had sprinted for hours.
"Impressive. To unleash such a Quick Sword Form with nothing but martial principles—no energy at all."
Jeong Myeong glanced around and smirked darkly.
"If you can defeat all the masters here in that state, I'll gladly cut off my own head and hand it to you."
None of those present were weaker than Jeong Myeong in martial arts.
Some among them could even wield Supernatural Powers.
No matter how profound Bu Eun-seol's martial arts and swordsmanship were,
without any energy, facing so many elites at once was impossible.
"Attack him together—now!"
At Jeong Myeong's shout, the encircling fighters all gathered their power.
They intended to overwhelm him in a single, coordinated assault.
Oooooom—
Just as the masters surrounding Bu Eun-seol were about to unleash their full strength—
Fwoooosh—!
A dazzling flood of silver figures suddenly poured into the Nameless Valley from the entrance.
Crash—!
Simultaneously, the formation of those preparing to attack Bu Eun-seol collapsed into chaos.
"Who are they?!"
The crowd's eyes widened in shock.
This area had been completely sealed off by the Three Realms and the Same Heart Society—unless one was a master of considerable skill, one couldn't enter.
So how had so many people broken through at once?
'Those who helped me before...'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed in recognition.
Those silver figures—
They were none other than the masked women who had once aided him.