Chapter 1164
―Ooooooh!
As if sensing danger, the ancient dragon's colors abruptly began to darken into pitch black.
At the same time, from its maw, a surge of Soul-Demon Magic Energy—the polar opposite of Manifestation Art Energy—began to bloom.
'That is—'
The White-clad Woman wore a devastated expression.
'How can someone from the main family wield that power?'
Her mind was in chaos, as though it had been wiped utterly blank.
Whoooosh—!
Then, the ancient dragon began pouring black energy toward the Five-Colored Dragon.
Gradually, the radiant glow of the Five-Colored Dragon started to dim.
'It's not enough.'
The Creation Sun and Moon existed in various forms, and its degree of seizing causality in advance varied depending on its quantity.
The Creation Sun and Moon once stored in Ratna City had filled a hemispherical vessel, allowing it to manifest an omniscient power that defied the laws of nature.
But the amount contained within the black orb given to Bu Eun-seol was minuscule.
At best, it could only seize causality for a brief moment—merely a temporary surge of power in emergencies.
Due to its limited quantity—enough only to open the gates of Ten Thousand Dragons Cave—it could not overcome the Soul-Demon Magic Energy wielded by their enemies.
Its power was gradually fading.
'Then...'
As the White-clad Woman rose once more—
Zzzzzzt—!
Responding to her fierce will, Manifestation Art Energy erupted from her entire body again.
'Forgive me.'
A light of resolve flashed in her eyes.
She was about to unleash a forbidden technique of the Baekri Clan—
A secret method that transferred the primordial spirit's power, rooted in one's life force, to another.
Crack—!
As she poured out her energy, her skin split like parched earth.
Bu Eun-seol's latent potential was as vast and deep as the ocean, instantly devouring the primordial spirit's power she transmitted.
Rumble—!
In an instant, a dazzling light exploded from the Five-Colored Dragon's body.
The White-clad Woman's life force had stimulated the power slumbering within Bu Eun-seol's body—
And the Creation Sun and Moon inside the orb began reacting violently once more.
―KAAAH!
Finally assuming the perfect form of the Five-Colored Dragon, Bu Eun-seol unleashed a roar that shook the very fabric of space.
The ancient dragon instinctively recoiled, sensing an irresistible apex predator—
SHWAK—!
But the moment the Five-Colored Dragon's eyes flashed, one of the ancient dragon's wings was torn off like paper.
―Ooooh!
In a final, desperate struggle, the ancient dragon spewed another massive orb of energy—
WHOOSH—!
But the Five-Colored Dragon opened its maw and swallowed it whole in one gulp.
Then, standing in a majestic stance, its eyes flashed once more—
RIIIP—!
This time, the ancient dragon's colossal body began to tear apart piece by piece.
Unable to endure, the ancient dragon flapped its wings with all its might and opened its maw wide.
If it couldn't win, it would at least rip its enemy apart and inflict a fatal wound.
FWOOSH—!
But before it could act, a radiant brilliance poured from the Five-Colored Dragon's mouth—
Instantly annihilating the ancient dragon's form.
CRASH—!
Three masked men tumbled gracelessly from the air and slammed onto the ground.
RUMBLE—
The ceiling collapsed, massive boulders raining down as deep fissures spiderwebbed across the altar's surface.
The evil power that had sustained Ten Thousand Dragons Cave had vanished—
And now, the cavern itself was crumbling.
WHOOSH—
Before long, the radiant Five-Colored Dragon reverted to Bu Eun-seol's boyish form.
"How... could a bloodline of the main family wield Soul-Demon Magic Energy...?"
The White-clad Woman, collapsed in exhaustion, shouted at the masked men in a voice laced with fury.
"Did he betray the main family and sell his soul to the Demon Palace?!"
Instead of answering, the masked men stretched out their hands as though wringing out their last remnants of power.
CRACKLE—
A torrent of ink-black energy surged toward the White-clad Woman—
FWOOM—!
Instinctively, Bu Eun-seol moved like lightning, intercepting the attack.
What happened next was unexpected.
CRREEAK—
Exposed to the Soul-Demon Magic Energy, his body began to grow—
Reverting not to So-dong's form, but to his true appearance.
Within Bu Eun-seol's body, Manifestation Art Energy and Soul-Demon Magic Energy had once coexisted in perfect balance.
But the Chain of Reincarnation had disrupted that equilibrium, leaving only a trace of Manifestation Art Energy behind.
Now, after the White-clad Woman had infused him with a surge of primordial spirit's Manifestation Art Energy—
And another wave of Soul-Demon Magic Energy had poured into him—
His body's balance was finally restored, allowing him to return to his original form.
CRACK—
In contrast, the masked men's skin split like a dried-up desert—
"Uuuaaagh!"
They screamed in agony, their faces twisted in pain.
Bu Eun-seol had begun absorbing all of their Soul-Demon Magic Energy.
"Aaaah—!"
Their bodies grotesquely contorted as they shrieked—
WHOOSH—
Until finally, they disintegrated into dust, scattering into the wind.
Zzzzt—
A soft glow emanated from Bu Eun-seol's body.
At last, he had returned to his complete state.
Thud.
Meanwhile, the White-clad Woman had lost consciousness and collapsed.
Huum—
He reached out toward her, her skin cracked and her life force nearly depleted.
A swirling storm of golden light and azure energy surged forth, gradually being absorbed into her body.
As he unleashed the Prajna Great Power—the pinnacle of the martial world's Life-Saving Method—
He was returning the primordial spirit's power she had given him, restoring her body.
Yet this was not something he did consciously, fully aware of the situation.
Rather, it was the power of his grandfather—the power of the Heavenly Might Star inherent in Baekri Geom-ha—
Slowly taking root within him.
But he was not yet aware of it.
Whoooosh—
Bu Eun-seol's internal energy was truly boundless.
Once the White-clad Woman's life force was restored, he levitated her in midair, continuously infusing her with the Prajna Great Power until her stamina fully recovered.
Flicker—
The moment her eyes fluttered open, Bu Eun-seol withdrew his hand.
The man who had been maintaining the appearance of a peerlessly handsome figure with snow-white hair tinged with a mysterious golden hue—
Whoosh.
Before he knew it, his hair had turned black again, and a reddish hue began appearing in his eyes.
Just like before, he had completely sealed away both the Manifestation Art Energy and Soul-Demon Magic Energy within his body.
"How...?"
The White-clad Woman wore an expression of utter incomprehension as she observed Bu Eun-seol's transformed appearance.
It was already astonishing enough that a boy with the visage of a youth had instantly matured into an adult.
But how could he possibly wield techniques that only the direct bloodline of the main family should be capable of?
"Are you truly a direct descendant of the main family?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Mythical Manifestation. Heavenly Dragon Descent."
The White-clad Woman spoke as if astonished.
"You just used techniques that only the legitimate heirs of the main family can perform."
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned awkward.
It had merely been the Heavenly Might Star's authority arbitrarily gathering and unleashing all that power.
Until moments ago, he had been in a near-unconscious state, completely unaware of techniques like Mythical Manifestation or Heavenly Dragon Descent.
"And not just any Heavenly Dragon Descent—one imbued with countless radiant lights."
When unleashing Mythical Manifestation and Heavenly Dragon Descent, typically only two or three alternating streams of light would manifest.
Yet he had transformed into a dragon wreathed in dazzling, multicolored radiance—a phenomenon never before recorded in the entire history of the Baekri Clan.
"Among the younger generation, only a few Elders and the Young Clan Head can wield the Mythical Manifestation technique."
"The Baekri Clan's Young Clan Head, you mean?"
"Baekri Geom-ha."
The White-clad Woman's words struck like a thunderbolt.
"He's the only one among the younger generation who can properly manifest Mythical Manifestation."
Bu Eun-seol felt dizzy.
The Baekri Clan has a Baekri Geom-ha?
What in the world does that even mean?
—A fake is playing the role of the real one.
Suddenly, the words spoken long ago by the old man from the Sacred Realm resurfaced in his mind, causing sparks to flare in his pupils.
'Is that what he meant?'
It made no sense whatsoever.
Because the members of the Baekri Clan would undoubtedly be well aware of the Blood Calamity at Saha Manor.
No—they were likely directly involved in the Blood Calamity itself.
So how could a figure named Baekri Geom-ha exist unscathed within the Baekri Clan?
'Does that mean they knowingly elevated an imposter?'
It was possible.
Given the inevitable complications that would arise from marrying the Saintess of the True Demon Family...
The fact that they lived secluded in Saha Manor without involving themselves in the affairs of the Martial World could only mean they had severed ties with the Baekri Clan.
"Just who are you?"
The White-clad Woman's voice carried both astonishment and a hint of coldness.
"Why did you approach me in the form of a child?"
"I..."
Bu Eun-seol clutched his forehead in confusion.
Then his eyes met hers.
Her gaze was as clear and untarnished as morning dew untouched by the world—utterly devoid of deceit, coexisting with childlike innocence.
After a moment of hesitation, Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and answered honestly.
"I am Baekri Geom-ha."
Silence lingered.
The White-clad Woman, who had been momentarily dazed, suddenly shook her head with a disappointed expression.
"So... it's like that after all."
"What do you mean by that?"
Though Bu Eun-seol pressed the question, the woman maintained her disappointed expression without offering a reply.
"Young Lady."
Unable to conceal his frustration and bewilderment, Bu Eun-seol let out a heavy sigh.
"I am absolutely not a bad person."
Despite his earnest plea, she remained silent.
'Wandering the Martial World without even knowing my own origins... and now I'm being treated as an imposter too?'
Grief and sorrow surged within him.
Only fragments of lost memories drifted hazily through his mind. The heavens seemed to be toying mercilessly with his fate.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol steadied himself.
'What does it matter whether I'm from the Baekri Clan or not?'
"It's fine if you don't believe me."
He squared his shoulders and spoke resolutely.
"I'm just my grandfather's grandson. I have no desire to be part of the Baekri Clan's bloodline anyway."
Confronted with the boundless loneliness and desolation in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, the White-clad Woman hesitated.
'He used Mythical Manifestation.'
The divine energy and techniques that had flowed from his body moments ago were things only a true descendant of the main family could possibly wield.
After a long pause, she finally spoke slowly.
"There have been many. In the past."
"What do you—"
The White-clad Woman looked directly at him and sighed.
"People who claimed to be Baekri Geom-ha."
For an instant, Bu Eun-seol's pupils lost focus.
He had assumed there were simply imposters pretending to be Baekri Geom-ha.
But countless individuals had claimed that identity over the years?
"How is that possible?"
"After the Blood Calamity at Saha Manor, all traces of the Young Clan Head vanished completely."
The White-clad Woman explained calmly.
"Ever since then, people claiming to be Baekri Geom-ha have been knocking on the main family's doors endlessly."
Shocking revelations spilled from her lips one after another.
"Some were discovered among wandering beggars. Others, recognized for their extraordinary talents, became disciples of renowned martial masters. Most claimed to have lost their memories."
Bu Eun-seol frowned in disbelief.
"But to be acknowledged as part of the Baekri Clan's bloodline... wouldn't they need the appropriate physique and power to match?"
Claiming to be Baekri Geom-ha should have been virtually impossible.
The Baekri Clan would surely know about his lineage as the hybrid descendant of Baekri Mu-ha and Saintess Sa Ah.
At the very least, they would require proof—like coexisting Manifestation Art Energy and Soul-Demon Magic Energy, or perfect mastery of one of the two.
"There were."
The White-clad Woman spoke again.
"Every single one of them harbored both Manifestation Art Energy and Soul-Demon Magic Energy within their bodies."
Then she added:
"Even the circumstances of their discoveries were layers upon layers of coincidence. So much so that no one could possibly suspect deliberate orchestration."
Upon hearing those words, Bu Eun-seol finally realized one crucial fact.
'So it's possible to artificially implant both powers.'
In the current Martial World, there existed Secret Arts that allowed one to temporarily acquire Manifestation Art Energy or Soul-Demon Magic Energy.
Not long ago, Chu-so had taken in orphans and created individuals who could wield Manifestation Art Energy by using their life force as a basis.
There was also the Saint—a figure who had forcibly coexisted both powers within the Baekri Clan's members.
And above all, the son of Baekri Mu-ha, whose true abilities and power remained shrouded in mystery.
Imitating Baekri Geom-ha... wasn't as difficult as it seemed.
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned vacant.
Only now did he understand why she had been so astonished when he displayed the secret techniques exclusive to the Baekri Clan's true lineage—and why she refused to believe him.
"In the end, countless factions have been fabricating Baekri Geom-has, disguising them as coincidences... and manipulating Baekri branch-family members scattered across the Martial World to bring these imposters back to the main family. Is that it?"
The White-clad Woman let out a deep sigh.
"Exactly. And because of that, the main family has spent nearly a decade tormented by endless waves of fake Baekri Geom-has."
According to her explanation, ever since the Blood Calamity of Saha Manor,
the Martial World had seen an unrelenting stream of counterfeit Baekri Geom-has, each employing increasingly sophisticated methods.
The situation grew so dire that the Baekri Clan was forced to establish an entire organization dedicated solely to identifying and eliminating these imposters.
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol swallowed hard, unable to find the right words.
"So even if I were to go to the Baekri Clan now, they wouldn't believe I'm Baekri Geom-ha."
"It's not that they wouldn't believe you... You'd be executed on the spot."
"Because there's already a Baekri Geom-ha who's been officially recognized?"
At the faint trace of scorn in Bu Eun-seol's tone, the White-clad Woman sighed again.
"Correct."
"And how, exactly, did he prove himself to be the real one?"
Her expression darkened as she shook her head.
"I don't know the details myself. Only that the main family fully acknowledged him."
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
Truthfully, he had never felt any sense of belonging to the Baekri Clan, nor had he ever desired to be recognized as their bloodline and become their Young Clan Head.
But the idea that someone had impersonated him—
that another had taken his place as the son of his father and mother—
was utterly unbearable.
"I'll prove it."
His voice was resolute.
"Take me to the Baekri Clan."
"Impossible."
She shook her head again.
"Even after the Young Clan Head was officially recognized, imposters continued infiltrating the main family through the same methods."
Bu Eun-seol fell silent.
As long as a recognized Baekri Geom-ha held the position of Young Clan Head,
questioning his legitimacy or raising objections would only brand him a traitor—
ensuring his immediate execution.
"A meticulous scheme."
He now understood just how calculated and terrifying the plan behind these counterfeit Baekri Geom-has truly was.
The orchestrators had deliberately flooded the Baekri Clan with imposters, fostering endless suspicion.
Then, just as the clan grew weary of fakes, they introduced someone who appeared flawless—
a "real" Baekri Geom-ha.
And even after securing recognition, they continued releasing more imposters.
So that even if the true Baekri Geom-ha appeared,
no one would dare question the legitimacy of the one already in place.
"The real one can never be acknowledged now."
He had to admit it.
The moment he challenged the legitimacy of the current Baekri Geom-ha, he would be killed.
"But I won't let the imposter remain. I will set things right."
Bu Eun-seol smiled bitterly.
"Though I suppose you still believe I'm a fake."
"No."
Her response surprised him.
"I believe you."
His eyes widened.
After everything she had said about the Baekri Clan's situation—she still trusted him?
"If I didn't believe you, I wouldn't have told you any of this."
"But by your own logic, I must be a fake. For all you know, I could be scheming to kill you."
His tone was skeptical.
"I might have hired those three masked men myself."
"That's impossible."
The White-clad Woman grimaced as if swallowing poison, then forced a faint smile.
"Because the one behind this incident at Ten Thousand Dragons Cave... was him."
Her gaze grew distant, lost in thought, before she finally spoke in a low voice.
"Less than a cycle had passed, yet he insisted the ritual at Ten Thousand Dragons Cave was necessary... and he was the one who orchestrated this entire operation."
This was unexpected.
The fake Baekri Geom-ha had been the mastermind behind the attempt on her life?
"Why would the imposter want you dead?"
Her gentle, composed nature wasn't the kind to inspire grudges.
She offered a lonely smile before answering quietly.
"Because I'm the only one who could threaten him at any moment."
After Baekri Geom-ha's disappearance,
the White-clad Woman had built a succession framework with the support of the Baekri Clan's elders.
But when news arrived that the son of Baekri Mu-ha had returned,
she willingly surrendered all her influence and backing to him.
Thanks to her, the fake Baekri Geom-ha gradually consolidated power,
eventually solidifying his position as Young Clan Head.
But if she ever changed her mind?
She could overturn the entire power structure in an instant.
To the imposter, she was a threat—one he needed to eliminate.
"With me gone, he can maintain a stable succession without any uncertainties."
"I don't understand."
After hearing everything, Bu Eun-seol wore a strange expression.
"If the long-lost Young Clan Head had truly returned, shouldn't he have naturally garnered support on his own? Why did things turn out this way?"
"If Father Baekri Mu-ha had been the legitimate heir with the firm support of the Baekri Clan..."
"Then naturally, Baekri Geom-ha wouldn't have needed her assistance either."
"Baekri Mu-ha was indeed the main family's trueborn heir, one who inherited the Primordial Dragon's power... but he was also a traitor."
"A traitor?"
"Yes. They say he gravely damaged the clan's foundation..."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened at this unexpected revelation.
His father... had been a traitor to the Baekri Clan?