Chapter 1176
The martial world was plunged into chaos.
During the Martial Alliance's inauguration ceremony, a massive uproar had erupted.
An unthinkable incident had occurred—the Martial Soul Lord had infiltrated the Pratyekabuddha Hall and attempted to assassinate the Alliance Chief.
But the real problem came afterward.
As it turned out, the Martial Soul Lord had deliberately caused the disturbance after discerning that Jeong Cheon-je was an imposter.
And then, he had summoned the real Jeong Cheon-je.
The two Jeong Cheon-jes subsequently clashed, and what the imposter—who had been posing as the Alliance Chief all along—unleashed was a demonic technique imbued with Demonic Energy, something that would make any righteous martial artist shudder.
—The Martial Alliance Chief was a fake?
Jeong Cheon-je Shin Do-mu-bi, the spiritual pillar of the orthodox faction, who had repeatedly entered seclusion while managing the Martial Alliance—
In truth, he was the Martial Venerable, who had ambushed his sworn younger brother and turned him into a madman?
Even more horrifying was the fact that the Martial Venerable, whom righteous martial artists had revered, was actually an evil Great Demon.
—It must be a baseless rumor.
When these rumors first spread, most martial artists scoffed in disbelief.
That the Martial Venerable—the most respected elder of the orthodox faction—had ambushed Shin Do-mu-bi, the Grand Master hailed as the very heavens of the righteous path, who had saved his life, and had been playing the role of the Martial Alliance Chief all along?
Even if someone claimed it was a ridiculous dream, no one would believe it.
But the rumors eventually turned out to be true.
No—even if they wanted to deny it, they couldn't.
Because the martial artists from both orthodox and unorthodox factions who had attended the Alliance Chief's inauguration ceremony had witnessed the scene with their own wide-open eyes.
This nightmare-like rumor was, in fact, what had truly unfolded during the ceremony.
Since Baek Mu-seong had become the next Alliance Chief,
he needed to swiftly bring order to the uncontrollable chaos spreading through the Martial Alliance and resolve the crisis—but...
The Martial Alliance was already fractured.
—Then doesn't that mean the legitimacy of the current Alliance Chief, Baek Mu-seong, has also been compromised?
Half of the senior members voiced their refusal to recognize Baek Mu-seong as the Alliance Chief.
After all, the next Alliance Chief, Baek Mu-seong, had essentially received his endorsement from the fake Chief—the Martial Venerable.
—Unit Chief Baek has achieved countless merits as the leader of the Martial Heaven Unit and has proven his strength through martial duels!
Even if the Chief who endorsed him was fake, the selection process itself was legitimate!
The remaining senior members argued thus, but—
—Who can guarantee that Unit Chief Baek didn't conspire with that wicked Martial Venerable to orchestrate this situation?
Of course, the claim that Baek Mu-seong had colluded with the Martial Venerable was far-fetched.
But the logic that an endorsement from a fake was itself fake was something the senior members of the Alliance could easily sympathize with.
—Unit Chief Baek's merits are known by the heavens and the earth! The martial duel process was also conducted fairly, without a single shred of doubt!
Even if the Chief was fake, Unit Chief Baek's strength and achievements cannot be rendered false!
—What nonsense! That's precisely why his legitimacy has been tainted by the fake Chief!
The senior members were split in half, their confrontation tense, and the division only deepened.
—Let us begin the Grand Council.
As the uncontrollable situation persisted, Baek Mu-seong finally stepped forward.
He intended to resolve the division by convening a Grand Council, where all senior members would gather.
Martial Alliance, Heaven and Earth Pavilion. The Grand Conference Hall.
Massive pillars supporting the ceiling were intricately carved with dragons soaring through clouds, and inside, a heavy rosewood table stood.
At the Seat of Honor sat a man with impeccable posture—none other than the newly appointed Alliance Chief, Baek Mu-seong.
His pristine white silk robes blended seamlessly with his pale, almost ghostly skin.
Beneath his long, sweeping eyelashes, his dark pupils gleamed with a quiet, unfathomable wisdom.
Even in silence, with his hands neatly placed on the table, his presence alone dominated the assembly—
Yet surrounding him, like an unyielding fortress wall, sat most of the Martial Alliance's elders and senior members, their lips twisted in faint smirks.
Faces deeply lined with the marks of time, wrinkled like dried jujubes, or rugged with long scars earned on the battlefield—
Though the senior members' appearances varied, their sharp gazes toward Baek Mu-seong were all the same.
Their shrewd eyes brimmed with suspicion, wariness, and an obstinacy that would not easily bend.
Some elders sat with arms crossed, unmoving, while others cleared their throats dryly, stirring the tense air.
As the heavy silence, laced with the scent of agarwood, filled the conference hall—
Ahem.
One of the elders cleared his throat.
It was a signal to hurry the meeting along.
Yet Baek Mu-seong remained silent, gazing steadily at the assembled elders as if he hadn't heard a thing.
The tension between the young alliance leader and the aged elders crackled like gunpowder on the verge of explosion—until,
"We shall strike the Demon Hall."
An utterly shocking declaration spilled from Baek Mu-seong's lips.
"The Martial Venerable assassinated the former alliance leader and usurped his position—because the Demonic Path stood behind him."
Every elder furrowed their brows.
The Demon Hall was behind this tragic betrayal between sworn brothers?
—So this is the move they're making.
For generations, whenever a major incident occurred within the Righteous Faction, the blame was conveniently shifted onto the Demonic Path.
There were even cases where the orthodox sects staged their own schemes and pinned them on the demonic forces.
So Baek Mu-seong suddenly attributing everything to the Demonic Path wasn't all that strange.
No—in a way, it was the only choice he had.
"However, provoking the Demon Hall at a time like this does not seem wise."
Deputy Alliance Leader Bukri Seung spoke cautiously.
"Wasn't the Martial Soul Lord the very one who exposed the fake alliance leader incident?"
"Because it was orchestrated by the Demon Hall."
Baek Mu-seong's voice was calm.
"The Martial Venerable's corruption and the theft of the alliance leader's seat—it was all the Demonic Path's scheme. Naturally, their Head Leader would know the truth."
"The Martial Soul Lord is not even thirty yet."
Bukri Seung sighed.
"Are you suggesting he seduced the Martial Venerable from boyhood to orchestrate this?"
"I said the Demonic Path was behind this, not the Martial Soul Lord."
"If the Demonic Path was responsible, why would the Martial Soul Lord expose the fake alliance leader?"
Bukri Seung spoke evenly.
"If he had known in advance, he could have used that knowledge to devise countless schemes to collapse our alliance."
"Who can fathom the mind of the Demonic Path's Head Leader? Perhaps he sought our trust to enact another scheme."
Baek Mu-seong stared directly at Bukri Seung.
"Deputy Leader, you seem to speak only in defense of the Martial Soul Lord. Do you share some connection with him?"
Bukri Seung shut his mouth. The look in Baek Mu-seong's eyes made it clear—if he spoke further, he'd be branded a spy of the Demonic Path.
'Wrong.'
Bukri Seung closed his eyes.
Baek Mu-seong believed the Martial Soul Lord had ruined his ascension ceremony and harbored extreme rivalry toward him.
Further counsel would be pointless.
"Impossible."
At that moment, Baek Jang-song, one of the Martial Alliance's Twelve Elders, spoke with a grave expression.
"The Demonic Path Ten Gates may not be as formidable as before, but the Demonic Path's momentum is stronger than ever. The Demon Hall has the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—the foremost martial artist of this era—and beneath the Martial Soul Lord, warriors skilled in battle and strategy gather like clouds."
His eyes flashed as he locked gazes with Baek Mu-seong.
"I understand your intent to restore order—but how do you propose to breach that fortress?"
Diverting internal chaos by pointing to an external enemy was a tactic as old as time.
But declaring war on the Demon Hall now would be like dousing a fire with oil.
"He's right. We shouldn't turn our arrows toward the Demon Hall this time."
"We'd only be scratching at a scab and inviting infection."
As Baek Jang-song finished speaking, the elders nodded and murmured among themselves.
Watching them silently, Baek Mu-seong finally spoke—
"I will invoke the Phoenix Decree..."
His voice was low but solemn.
"...and establish the Phoenix Lord."
The clamor in the hall died instantly.
—The Phoenix Decree?
The Phoenix Decree was an absolute, exceptional order that allowed the Martial Alliance Leader to transfer full authority to another in times of crisis.
The problem? Baek Mu-seong had yet to be fully recognized as the rightful leader.
And now he intended to invoke the decree—handing the Alliance's full authority to an outsider?
—Preposterous!
Naturally, the elders erupted in furious opposition, veins bulging in their necks as they raised their voices.
Thud. Thud.
But then—footsteps echoed.
The darkness behind the massive jade throne where Baek Mu-seong sat rippled.
And from it, a figure emerged without a sound.
The elders froze mid-protest, swallowing their breaths.
The shadow that appeared was an elderly monk, exuding an elegant aura like that of a serene orchid.
His hair and beard were white as fresh snow—yet his eyes burned with the vigor of youth.
The senior members cried out in voices trembling with awe and reverence.
—"Buddhist Venerable?"
He was none other than the living legend of the orthodox faction—Buddhist Venerable.
But for the Buddhist Venerable to become the master of the Phoenix Decree—what in the world was happening?
The elders could only stare wide-eyed, speechless as they gazed at the Venerable.
Buddhist Venerable Hong-hyeon—a legendary monk of the orthodox path before whom even the leaders of the unorthodox factions and the Demonic Path would bow their heads.
And now, he was the Phoenix Lord of the Martial Alliance?
"You must be greatly surprised," said the Venerable.
Despite being over two hundred years old, his vigor showed no signs of fading.
In a voice soft yet impossible to defy, he declared:
"This old monk has accepted the position of Phoenix Lord at the earnest request of Alliance Leader Baek, to quell the chaos within the Martial Alliance and lay the foundation for the orthodox martial world's next thousand years..."
He continued in a low tone.
"Though a long period of preparation will be necessary, once all arrangements are made, I intend to strike the Demon Hall in accordance with the Alliance Leader's will."
"But to attack the Demon Hall—"
"Of course, not immediately. This crooked old monk cannot defeat the vigorous Hall Master Sado in his prime right away."
The Venerable's jest softened the tension in the hall.
Yet, was this not a declaration that he would one day overthrow the Demonic Heavenly Emperor?
"If any among you oppose this decision or have objections, do not hesitate to speak."
With a serene smile, the Venerable extended his hand.
"If such is your will, I shall return it to you right here."
Resting on his palm was a crimson jade token, radiating a warm energy.
At its center, a golden phoenix soared into the heavens amidst flames, intricately carved with breathtaking detail.
The Phoenix Decree itself.
The elders wore expressions of astonishment.
With the decree already in his possession, none could dispute his authority as Phoenix Lord.
Yet he was willing to relinquish it at any moment?
—Was the Buddhist Venerable not the Holy Monk who led the orthodox path?
The elders exchanged glances and nodded. The Martial Alliance was fractured, and Baek Mu-seong lacked the virtue to mend it.
With the Venerable stepping forward to resolve the crisis, there was no reason to deny his authority.
"If the Holy Monk has made this decision, we must naturally follow," said Baek Jang-song, one of the Twelve Elders.
The assembly nodded in agreement.
"For the Holy Monk to assume the role of Phoenix Lord is a great blessing upon our alliance."
A faint smile touched Baek Mu-seong's lips.
By acknowledging the Phoenix Decree he had invoked, any disputes over the legitimacy of his leadership were now silenced.
"Then this old monk shall proceed with the matter."
Whoosh.
The assembly rose and bowed deeply to the Venerable.
Thus, for the first time in the Martial Alliance's history—
A Phoenix Lord, wielding authority beyond even the Alliance Leader, was born.
The news of the Venerable's ascension sent shockwaves through the martial world.
Recluses who had remained hidden or mingled unnoticed among ordinary folk began emerging one by one.
Leaders of secretive sects, eccentric masters who had abandoned the secular world, heroes long thought dead—
Hearing that the Venerable had stepped forward to lead the Martial Alliance, they gathered beneath his towering presence, uniting to restore the orthodox faction's former glory.
—The Martial Alliance will reclaim its past majesty.
The orthodox martial artists inwardly cheered.
Since the division between the orthodox and unorthodox paths, the Martial Alliance had driven back the shadows of darkness and demonic influence.
Now, with the Holy Monk—the Venerable who had long guided the orthodox world—finally taking center stage...
Like a phoenix soaring to usher in an era of peace, the Martial Alliance would rise again.
Hidden Demon Pavilion, Grand Conference Hall, Demon Hall.
As news spread of Baek Mu-seong's vow to strike the Demon Hall—and of the Buddhist Venerable's ascension as Phoenix Lord through the Phoenix Decree—
Bu Eun-seol immediately convened a Lord's Meeting.
"This is utterly incomprehensible," one of the lords muttered.
The gathered leaders sensed something deeply unnatural unfolding.
"Buddhist Venerable Hong-hyeon and Baek Mu-seong are practically sworn enemies. How could Baek Mu-seong possibly hand the Phoenix Decree to the Venerable?"
Wi Cheon-gyeong shook his head in disbelief.
The Venerable had all but abandoned Baek Mu-seong, who was expected to defect to the Azure River Realm.
Yet now, he had surrendered the decree to the Venerable?
"Even if this method could swiftly reunite the fractured Martial Alliance, isn't it tantamount to relinquishing the Alliance Leader position he fought so desperately to obtain?"
"There are three possible explanations," Yu Un-ryong said, taking a deep breath.
"The first possibility is that Buddhist Venerable is the leader of the Azure River Realm and sought the position of Phoenix Lord from the beginning."
If the mastermind who had been manipulating Baek Mu-seong all along was none other than Buddhist Venerable, and if he had been aiming for the seat of Phoenix Lord—
Then such a scenario could indeed make sense.
"Buddhist Venerable is the leader of the Azure River Realm..."
Hearing this, Myo Cheon-u nodded slowly.
"That could very well be the case."
The other squad leaders also nodded in agreement.
According to Bu Eun-seol's investigations, Buddhist Venerable was not what he seemed—he had long since fallen, becoming a Demon Monk.
After committing countless atrocities behind the scenes, it was entirely possible he had been absorbed into the Three Realms and even risen to the position of its leader.
"The second possibility is that Baek Mu-seong, finding himself at a dead end, surrendered to Buddhist Venerable. Rather than watch the alliance crumble in disgrace without his leadership being recognized, he chose to maintain his position this way."
Again, the squad leaders nodded.
Most martial artists had already speculated that Baek Mu-seong, unable to secure his position as alliance leader, had resorted to this desperate measure as a last resort.
"And the third?"
When Myo Cheon-u asked, Yu Un-ryong answered.
"That Baek Mu-seong planned this from the very beginning—to gradually seize control of the Martial Alliance."
"What do you mean?"
"The Martial Alliance is, in essence, a gathering of Abyssal Forces. The fact that someone like him could rise to the position of alliance leader in the first place... suggests he was their puppet."
Yu Un-ryong's eyes flashed.
"Baek Mu-seong deliberately drew in Buddhist Venerable, a man of immense influence and power, to escape their grasp."
Myo Cheon-u stroked his chin, considering Yu Un-ryong's reasoning.
"Is that even possible?"
"Buddhist Venerable has been setting up shadow agents and advancing various schemes all this time. But the results haven't been favorable. In that situation, if Baek Mu-seong voluntarily handed over the Phoenix Decree... he wouldn't have been able to refuse."
Yu Un-ryong spoke with conviction.
"The position of Phoenix Lord is one that allows a man to accomplish many things. Knowing full well what it entailed, he willingly became Baek Mu-seong's shield."
"That may be so, but the price is too steep."
Won Se-mun, who had been silently listening, shook his head.
"Everyone knows Baek Mu-seong's declaration of attacking the Demon Hall was nothing more than a self-defeating move to stabilize the Martial Alliance."
After making such a declaration, Baek Mu-seong had then elevated Buddhist Venerable to Phoenix Lord—meaning all responsibility would ultimately fall on Buddhist Venerable.
"Well, it's a position worth the risk, so he must have accepted it."
Myo Cheon-u shrugged.
"Buddhist Venerable, for his part, became the Phoenix Lord... He can now use the pretext of managing the Martial Alliance to pursue his own schemes. Neither side loses."
"But what's strange is the Demon Heavenly Emperor's reaction."
At that moment, No Trace of the Death Soul Squad spoke up.
"Despite the Martial Alliance's actions, the Demonic Governance Council hasn't been convened, and there's been no notable response."
Since the Martial Alliance had formally declared their intent to attack the Demon Hall, the Demon Hall should have begun preparing for battle.
Yet the Demonic Heavenly Emperor remained secluded, as if dismissing the matter entirely.
"Is that the dignity of the world's foremost martial artist?"
Myo Cheon-u shook his head.
"Because the chances of them actually attacking are nonexistent."
Then Jo Nam-cheon interjected.
"Or perhaps he trusts in the Supreme Cult Commander."
Lately, Yeop Hyo-cheon had been keeping to himself unless absolutely necessary, but he was the Demon Hall's greatest strategist.
Not a single battle under his command had ever ended in defeat.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening quietly, shook his head.
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor knows."
"Knows what?"
"Buddhist Venerable and Baek Mu-seong's true intentions."
He explained calmly.
"The Great Orthodox-Unorthodox War has always erupted when one side holds overwhelming power."
His gaze swept over those present.
"The fact that they made such a declaration, even though everyone knows they won't actually attack the Demon Hall... means something else is at play."
"So they're scheming something else entirely."
No Trace picked up on his meaning.
"And the Demonic Heavenly Emperor is aware of it, hence his silence."
"Precisely."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"From now on, we too must uncover their schemes. Otherwise, we may face an irreversible situation."
The squad leaders all nodded with grave expressions.
Buddhist Venerable and Baek Mu-seong.
These two pillars of the Righteous Faction, long revered and admired by many, had in truth committed unspeakable atrocities.
Now that they had stepped out of the shadows and begun acting openly... their schemes had to be exposed and thwarted.
Was Heaven itself aiding the Martial Alliance?
Not even half a month had passed since Baek Mu-seong's declaration of war against the Demon Hall when the first news arrived—a messenger falcon from the north.
Its black feathers stained with blood, it barely managed to drop a bloodstained letter at the Martial Alliance's headquarters before collapsing dead.
Soon after, urgent reports poured in from Tibet, the Southern Barbarian Region, and the Eastern Sea.
As if by some prearranged signal, the Forces from Beyond the Frontier—long lying in wait at the borders of the Central Plains—suddenly bared their fangs in unison.