Chapter 1230
"Does not the karma of the strong become history, while only the karma of the weak is condemned as sin?"
Demonic energy seeped out from Bu Eun-seol's body.
"The Three Poisons are your weapons of protection. Fill your belly with greed, and cut down your enemies with wrath. Is an armed demon not better than a disarmed Buddha?"
Though it resembled the enlightenment of the Buddhist Order,
a dark sermon laced with destruction and lust for domination flowed from his lips.
Sssssss—
The deeper Bu Eun-seol's voice sank, the faster the remnants of Soul-Demon Magic Energy in the man's body surged toward his left arm, as if being drawn in.
"Bu Eun-seol."
So Ok-rim sensed something amiss when his eyes darkened and a swirling black energy erupted from his left arm.
"What's wrong?"
"Heh heh heh heh."
Then, the man—whose flesh had begun falling apart piece by piece—suddenly bowed his head toward Bu Eun-seol with a smile of ecstasy.
"Behold! At last, He has arrived!"
"Bu Eun-seol!"
A sense of foreboding gripped So Ok-rim as she cupped his face.
"Look at me."
For an instant, a pair of beautiful eyes reflected in Bu Eun-seol's pupils—like a noble lotus blooming from filthy mud.
"We are one."
Rosy lips pressed against his, sealing his breath.
Using the Sacred Flower Secret Manual's teachings, she channeled all her power into him in an instant.
BOOM!
A pitch-black radiance erupted from Bu Eun-seol's back, shooting into the sky.
At the same time, the darkness staining his eyes gradually receded, returning to normal.
"Ok-rim."
"Are you alright?"
The man, witnessing this, roared as if in agony.
"You damned fool! How dare you—!"
PFFT!
In that moment, the man's body instantly evaporated—no, vanished without a trace.
As though all evidence of his existence had been completely erased.
Bu Eun-seol had extended his left hand and unleashed the power of the Sacred Flower Secret Manual once more.
'I must not wield this power carelessly.'
His expression darkened as he stared at his left hand.
The combined power of the Sacred Flower Secret Manual and So Ok-rim's strength was far too immense and destructive—impossible to fully control.
"Are you okay?"
Squeeze.
Though worried for him, So Ok-rim didn't forget to nestle herself snugly into his embrace.
"Just now... something felt off."
"Did it? I..."
Bu Eun-seol clutched his forehead, brows furrowing. It felt like a memory was about to surface, yet nothing came to mind.
"I think I lost consciousness for a moment."
"That bastard must have pulled something when he died."
So Ok-rim scowled, jabbing a finger toward where the man had disappeared.
"That disgusting wretch inherited the True Demon's Secret Arts and tried to manipulate women. Pathetic, utterly pathetic!"
"Perhaps only those burdened with such resentment could master it."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"To dominate a woman's Spirit and Mind without lifting a finger is no simple feat."
"Is that so?"
So Ok-rim grinned, playfully thumping his shoulder.
"Well, it's a relief. Everything worked out just as you predicted."
Bu Eun-seol had devised a way to break the man's secret arts by combining So Ok-rim's power with the Sacred Flower Secret Manual.
Through the Death Soul Squad, he tracked her down and laid out his entire plan.
That was why she had come all this way to deliver a fabricated message about the Death Shadow War Unit being in danger.
"But... will it really be alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"Won't the Empress Dowager come after you again?"
So Ok-rim smirked slyly.
"Won't you have to keep guarding that precious Young Palace Lord at all times?"
When Bu Eun-seol had asked for her help,
she hadn't agreed outright—instead, she grilled him for every detail of what had happened.
"From the start, the Empress Dowager intended to use this technique to ensnare me. If women died, her enemies would weaken. If not, she'd use it as leverage against me."
"Hmm."
"But now that the True Demon's Secret Arts have been shattered... she won't dare try such tricks again."
"I see."
So Ok-rim shrugged.
"Normally, now that the Mind Seizing Secret Art has been broken, the Young Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace should regain her memories... but it was such a vicious technique, I'm still worried."
"It doesn't matter."
"Huh?"
"There's plenty of time."
If Yeon So-ha no longer remembered him?
Then he would take the time to meet her again and rebuild their memories.
This excuse would let him visit the Divine Maiden Palace often... Now, he could deepen his bond with Yeon So-ha and create countless new memories.
"Well, I did help, even if it wasn't to prolong things."
Puffing out her cheeks, she pouted.
"Just don't go smiling tenderly while thinking of other women in front of me."
"My apologies."
"I'll accept that."
She gazed at the distant sky as she spoke.
"Now that it's resolved, I'll be going."
"Take care on your way."
"Nothing else?"
"What do you mean?"
"How dull."
So Ok-rim wrapped her arms tightly around Bu Eun-seol in an embrace.
After so much contact through the Sacred Flower Secret Manual, the touch of their skin had become more natural than with anyone else.
"From now on, things like this will probably keep pouring in endlessly. Don't struggle alone—reach out anytime. Understood?"
She always worried about Bu Eun-seol as if he were a child left by the water's edge.
Stronger than anyone, yet endlessly vulnerable when it came to matters of the heart.
Enemies would inevitably exploit that weakness relentlessly—that was what So Ok-rim feared most.
"Understood. Thank you."
Though he was always the one who had to protect others.
Hearing her say this warmed his heart and, at the same time, made him feel reassured.
"See you later."
So Ok-rim waved her hand and left first.
Though he was usually the one to bid farewell to women first, she always turned her back and departed before he could.
"Her cheerful and straightforward nature—something no other woman in the world possesses—is both her charm and her greatest strength."
A faint smile touched Bu Eun-seol's lips as he murmured softly.
Throb.
His left arm tingled slightly, but he dismissed it as merely the aftereffects of channeling the Sacred Flower Secret Manual.
The Empress Dowager was furious.
No matter how much he was considered the strongest among the younger generation, how could he have shattered even the True Demon's Secret Arts?
"Martial Soul Lord... It seems he, too, must be dealt with as soon as possible."
Truthfully, among those who needed to be eliminated in the martial world, Bu Eun-seol had not been the highest priority.
But after repeated failures, her perspective had shifted.
"I cannot repeat the same mistake."
In the past, she had misjudged someone's capabilities, and the price for provoking him had been the collapse of a plan she had spent over a decade meticulously crafting.
Now that it was clear Bu Eun-seol was not someone who could be easily killed, she had to completely revise her strategy for dealing with him.
"To eliminate someone like the Martial Soul Lord, one must first thoroughly expose the very foundation beneath him."
A skilled assassin prepares dozens, even hundreds of times for a single strike.
And to dispose of a major figure in the martial world? Far greater preparations were necessary.
With vast resources, manpower, extensive investigation, and meticulous planning—only then could he be dismantled, step by step.
"How exactly did he break the True Law Transmitter's secret technique?"
Her eyes narrowed.
The True Demon Palace's technique, which instantly bound a woman's Spirit and Mind, was inextricably linked to the caster's own Spirit and Mind.
To kill him, the technique had to be broken first.
Yet how could a technique that had never once been shattered before now be undone?
"First, I must scrutinize the state of his Spirit and Mind, then prepare to dismantle his reputation."
Honor could not be bought by any means, and once cracked, it could never be restored.
She intended to unearth the weaknesses lurking within Bu Eun-seol's Spirit and Mind and brand him with a disgrace so deep he would never raise his head again.
Demon Hall, Hidden Demon Pavilion.
Having resolved all matters concerning Yeon So-ha and Princess Hui-jeong, Bu Eun-seol was handling various tasks in his office with a light heart.
But then, Yu Un-ryong suddenly rushed in.
"As expected, a guest has arrived from the Imperial Palace."
His eyes flashed as he spoke in a low voice.
"It's the Empress Dowager's most trusted eunuch."
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol rose from his seat.
The Empress Dowager was not one to sheathe her blade so easily.
His battle with her was only just beginning.
Creak.
As he entered the Hidden Demon Pavilion's conference hall, an elderly man dressed in plain robes—yet exuding an air of nobility—bowed respectfully to Bu Eun-seol. His voice was thin but deliberate.
"This humble servant is Eunuch Jo of Cining Palace, serving Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
He bent at the waist with a deference that carried authority.
"Her Majesty has issued an edict for the prospective son-in-law."
The eunuch carefully unrolled the decree and read it aloud in a clear voice.
"On this Lantern Festival, the palace is aglow with splendor, yet it is a pity We cannot enjoy it with Our future son-in-law. Though it is not yet time for the wedding, and thus improper to hold an audience, We wish to exchange a word of blessing and share a bowl of sweet glutinous-rice dumplings. As this is no grand banquet, come freely to the Imperial Flower Garden."
The eunuch neatly rolled the decree back up, placed it gently on the table, and added lightly,
"As the prospective son-in-law has yet to formally greet the elders of the imperial family... Her Majesty has arranged a small gathering in the inner palace to mark this Lantern Festival."
The old eunuch took a step closer to Bu Eun-seol and spoke in an ingratiating voice.
"Since this is no grand ceremonial banquet, please attend comfortably to acquaint yourself with imperial etiquette and pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager and the other elders."
For Bu Eun-seol, this was an order he could not refuse.
As both the commander of the Dragon Scale Guard and a candidate for imperial son-in-law, paying respects to the elders of the royal family was a matter of proper decorum—and refusing would only reflect poorly on the Emperor.
Yet the eunuch fidgeted nervously, as if afraid Bu Eun-seol might decline regardless.
"Since Her Majesty has gone to such lengths, how could I, as the prospective son-in-law, possibly refuse?"
Bu Eun-seol studied the eunuch with a subtle gaze.
"Inform Her Majesty that I have understood her wishes and shall arrive at the appointed time."
Once the eunuch departed, the conference room door opened again, and Yu Un-ryong entered slowly.
"I can understand the Emperor's feelings, in a way."
Having overheard everything, Yu Un-ryong let out a sigh.
"Truly relentless and persistent."
"It was inevitable anyway."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he recalled the Empress Dowager's visage.
"This isn't an attack—it's the final test."
"You've slipped through every unexpected trap so far unharmed, so now she must be testing your abilities directly."
"Exactly."
Yu Un-ryong exhaled deeply.
"In the end, she's acknowledged that you're no easy opponent—but a formidable enemy."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
As long as the Empress Dowager commanded the True Demon Palace's masters, she was someone he would have to defeat regardless.
He had been waiting for the moment she would summon him to the imperial palace.
"I've been waiting for this invitation."
A flash of light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes as he murmured lowly.
"Through this, I'll finally see how the Empress Dowager intends to execute her Grand Design—and determine how to bring her down."
"Hmm."
Yu Un-ryong wore a troubled expression.
"The path back from the imperial palace... will be a road of blood."
He shook his head with another deep sigh.
"With so much still left to do, now we must also contend with the palace's shadow games."
His bitter expression deepened before he spoke again.
"Regardless, be careful. The Empress Dowager is an enemy on an entirely different level from any we've faced so far."
"I know."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
"I'll be back."
Bu Eun-seol boarded a carriage bound for the imperial palace.
As the carriage passed through the gates, endless red walls stretched out on either side.
The majesty of the imperial palace was unlike anything found among the sects of the martial world.
It was a visceral reminder of how overwhelming the symbol of human authority could truly be.
The carriage halted before the Meridian Gate.
"Bu Eun-seol, candidate for imperial son-in-law, enters by summons of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
At the coachman's words, an Embroidered Uniform Guard officer inspected the summons, then bowed upon seeing Bu Eun-seol inside the carriage.
"Please proceed inside. A eunuch will guide you."
Beyond the Meridian Gate lay a vast plaza. The morning sun glinted off the Golden Water Bridge leading to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Beneath the bridge, the Inner Golden River flowed clear and still.
'This isn't the Garden of Harmonious Pleasure.'
Bu Eun-seol mentally mapped the palace's layout.
Official banquets were held in the outer court's halls, while private gatherings took place in the inner court's gardens.
Yet the guiding eunuch was leading him not toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony—but in the direction of the Qianqing Palace.
"Wait."
When Bu Eun-seol stopped, the eunuch turned back.
The man, who appeared to be in his fifties, had deep wrinkles carved into his face.
"I was told the banquet would be held in the Garden of Harmonious Pleasure."
"Her Majesty wishes to receive you first."
"First?"
"Is it not proper etiquette for the prospective son-in-law to pay respects to the elders of the imperial family? She has ordered you to have an audience before the banquet."
There was nothing outwardly suspicious about the words.
Yet a chill ran down Bu Eun-seol's spine.
The old eunuch's gaze was unnervingly calm—as if he were merely following a predetermined script.
'This must be her last chance.'
After this, she would no longer be able to summon Bu Eun-seol privately into the imperial palace.
It seemed the Empress Dowager intended to scrutinize him down to his very bones this time.
"Very well. Lead the way."
"This way."
The old eunuch passed the Qianqing Palace, heading deeper inside.
High walls stretched on either side, and a sparsely lantern-lit corridor appeared.
No palace maids or eunuchs were in sight. Despite being deep within the imperial palace, it was eerily devoid of people.
'An obvious trap, then.'
Bu Eun-seol stepped inside without hesitation.
Even if a battle broke out here, it wouldn't matter. The one who would face consequences was the Empress Dowager herself.
Abruptly—
Yet the Old Eunuch stopped at the entrance of a long corridor.
The end of the passage was not visible.
White porcelain jars lined the walls on either side, and beaded curtains hung from the ceiling, their faint tinkling echoing softly.
It was a beautiful space—yet at the same time, an eerie one.
"You may proceed this way."
The Old Eunuch's voice remained deferential, but there was something sinister beneath it.
"Understood."
Bu Eun-seol stepped forward slowly, entering the corridor.
And in an instant, the scenery of the long passageway completely transformed.
'A Mindscape.'
The Empress Dowager was attempting to pierce him with another Mindscape, seeking to gauge him once more.
'This is different from the ones before.'
Once aware of a Mindscape, one could exert some degree of control over it.
But this time, the only phenomenon that occurred was time itself slowing arbitrarily.
'A new realm beyond the Sixth Layer.'
There was no doubt—this was a high-tier Mindscape, the Seventh Layer, something he had never experienced before.
'No, this is a good opportunity.'
The Empress Dowager had officially summoned him to the Imperial Palace. Meaning, this was not an attempt to kill him—but to test him.
There was no need to forcibly break through with the power of the Void Extreme Realm or exhaust himself trying to shatter the barrier.
Thud. Thud.
Bu Eun-seol walked forward with light steps, as if savoring this new Mindscape he had encountered for the first time.
Whoosh—
A gust of wind swept through, and the surroundings shifted once more.
The sky darkened into an abyssal ink-black, and only a single, impossibly vast road stretched endlessly ahead.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes were like the undisturbed surface of a still lake.
After walking about ten jang, the surroundings abruptly blazed with blinding light—the heavens and earth igniting in crimson flames.
The road gradually narrowed until it became a tight path barely wide enough for a single person.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
At some point, the narrow path had transformed into a scorching tunnel, its walls glowing red-hot.
With every step on the searing ground—
Sssss—
To his surprise, his shoes—and then the soles of his feet—melted away with a hiss.
"A perfect replication of reality, yet without the original strength..."
He had long since reached the state of Impervious to Water and Fire, of course.
And having mastered the Hot River Great Essence True Qi, he could freely wield Extreme Yang Qi—yet his feet were melting away as if it were nothing?
"Hm."
Though it was merely the soles of his feet dissolving, the pain was as if his entire body were being torn apart.
For someone with weaker mental fortitude, the agony would have been enough to make them faint on the spot.
'If one could deploy a Mindscape like this at will, they could conquer the world.'
Given that she had lured him to a specific location within the Imperial Palace—
To unfold a Mindscape of this level—
It likely required extensive time, preparation, and a place suffused with a particular energy.
'A weakness of high-tier Mindscapes, then.'
Ssss—
With every step, his flesh melted away, exposing bone—
Yet he paid it no mind, walking forward with detached calm.
How long had he walked?
The blazing tunnel vanished, replaced by a breathtaking landscape of blooming flowers.
Trickle, trickle—
At the end of the path, crystal-clear water flowed, and before it stood a grand pavilion.
On the table inside, mountains of delicacies—so fragrant that merely smelling them made one's mouth water—were piled high.
And in that instant—
A hunger unlike anything he had ever felt before clawed at him.
Grrrrowl—
Bu Eun-seol's face rapidly withered as he stared at the feast.
If he remained standing here for even seven and a half minutes—
He would surely starve to death.
'A single bowl of noodles was always enough.'
The moment longing for food arose—
More than the unbearable hunger, he missed the peaceful days that would never return.
And just as he was about to stride past the pavilion—
Abruptly—
He abruptly stopped.
"So that's how it is."
Realizing something, Bu Eun-seol drew Ink Soul Sword.
Flash—!
With a single, razor-sharp slash, the pavilion split cleanly in two.
Crash—!
As the structure collapsed, Bu Eun-seol's emaciated face gradually regained its color.
Whoosh—
When the dust settled, where the pavilion had stood, eerie talismans were planted—
And the lavish feast had transformed into a sacrificial altar, rotten meat scattered with white powder.
"So this kind of Mindscape exists."
Had he dismissed it as an illusion and rushed past? He would have lost himself in the depths of the Mindscape.
And if a pavilion laden with delicacies suddenly appeared, plunging him into ravenous hunger—
Anyone would have assumed it was an illusion and ignored it.
This was a terrifying trap, exploiting the very vulnerabilities of the Mindscape.
"Truly, a Mindscape that transcends Mindscapes."
If one mistook the illusion for reality and acted—death.
Conversely, if one dismissed reality as illusion and did nothing—death.
This was the Seventh Layer Mindscape.