Chapter 1257
The distant rising sun bathed the mountains and rivers in golden light.
On a high hill overlooking winding ridges and valleys, nestled among the grass swaying in the wind, stood a modest burial mound.
"So this is where the old master rests."
"That's right. He passed away three years ago."
Gwak Mu-su spoke as he gazed at the grave.
"And the task I entrusted to you was also something my late uncle had passed on to me."
"I thought as much."
Bu Eun-seol had pieced together some of the circumstances while resolving the two matters.
"Those men had both committed grave wrongs against the Mad Doctor and were punished for it."
Gwak Mu-su smiled bitterly.
"After losing the lover he cherished, my uncle was consumed by madness. But as his time drew near, his mind gradually cleared..."
He sighed and shook his head.
"My uncle came to deeply regret that those two had suffered punishments far harsher than their crimes deserved."
The Mad Doctor had never intended for their torment to last so long.
But after losing his beloved, his mind had fractured, and he spent his days drowning in alcohol and medicine.
Thus, the Poison Lightning Daoist and Muksung had endured decades of excruciating punishment while he remained lost in his grief.
"Even in that state, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor used his mind-controlling abilities to occasionally assign tasks to my uncle."
Bu Eun-seol nodded in understanding.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor possessed the power of Demonic Eye Mind Control.
It would have allowed him to communicate with—and command—even the Mad Doctor in his madness.
"However, I had yet to fully master the Complete Poison Scripture... and lacked the skill to undo the Ten Thousand Torments Heart Curse cast upon the Poison Lightning Daoist or release Muksung from the Laughter Acupoint."
Gwak Mu-su shook his head again.
"Even as I honed my medical arts, I was burdened by guilt over failing to fulfill my uncle's dying wish..."
"Then it seems I arrived at just the right time."
"Yes, indeed."
He smiled faintly.
"Fortunately, I've now mastered the Complete Poison Scripture and can treat your friend."
The Complete Poison Scripture was the culmination of the Mad Doctor's lifelong medical knowledge, containing techniques far surpassing contemporary medicine—such as the Flesh-Opening Secret Method.
To master it, one had to repeatedly cut into the flesh of suffering patients and handle their organs.
That was why he had spent all this time treating afflicted animals without pause.
"So that's why the Hall Master Sado said the Mad Doctor was in the Thousand Blessings Medicine Forest."
Bu Eun-seol finally understood the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's claim that the Mad Doctor resided there.
Gwak Mu-su had been practicing those forbidden techniques by healing sick animals, just as the Thousand Blessings Medicine Forest had done in the past.
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor told you where to find me?"
"That's correct."
As if recalling something, Bu Eun-seol cautiously asked,
"Hall Master Sado and the Mad Doctor must have shared a close bond. I wonder why you didn't ask him for this favor."
Had they simply asked the Demonic Heavenly Emperor,
he could have lifted the Poison Lightning Daoist and Muksung's punishments in an instant. So why hadn't they?
"A close bond?"
Gwak Mu-su, who had been staring at the distant sky, uttered shocking words.
"My uncle hated that man—the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—until the day he died."
It was an unexpected revelation.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor had been the only one capable of commanding the Mad Doctor in his madness.
Though that was due to his Demonic Eye Mind Control, Bu Eun-seol had assumed they shared some measure of mutual respect.
Yet they had been enemies?
"My uncle believed that falling into madness, failing to save his beloved—all of it was because of that man."
Gwak Mu-su's voice carried the anguish of a grief buried deep for years.
"May I ask for the full story?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, he fell silent for a moment, gazing at the distant sky as if recalling the past.
Under the cold moonlight that cast shadows over his gaunt face,
he began to recount a hidden tale—one known to no one else.
The Mad Doctor had loved his beloved deeply and had exhausted every means to cure her Forbidden Divine Pulse.
—Impossible with the medicine of this era.
But there was no known cure at all.
Upon realizing this, the Mad Doctor immersed himself in ancient medical texts.
Then, by chance, he discovered a method to treat the Forbidden Divine Pulse in a book supposedly left behind by the legendary Saint Physician.
—It won't be easy.
To realize this cure, however, he would need to uncover countless rare Spirit Medicines yet unknown to the world.
He would even have to master finger techniques and hand arts so advanced that even grandmasters of Martial Arts would struggle to learn them.
Yet the Mad Doctor refused to give up.
He tracked down each Spirit Medicine recorded in the text and devoted himself to martial training without a shred of doubt.
As time passed,
he finally completed the medicine and administered it to his beloved—only for it to prove utterly useless.
Because the prescription had been a fraud.
The medical text wasn't even written by the Saint Physician—it was a clever forgery, meticulously crafted to mimic his work.
In the end, his beloved passed away,
—Uuuaaagh!
and the Mad Doctor, who had lived solely to save her and believed he had found the cure in time,
could no longer suppress his despair and anguish. He succumbed to madness.
It was a staggering tale.
He hadn't lost his mind simply because he failed to save his beloved—but because he had wasted precious time deceived by a counterfeit text?
"My uncle wasn't completely insane—his mind flickered in and out. During his lucid moments, he continued studying medicine and investigating the matter... until he discovered the truth. That the book had been forged by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor."
After hearing the entire story, Bu Eun-seol found it impossible to comprehend.
"Why would Hall Master Sado do such a thing?"
"Because he believed it would further advance my master's medical skills."
It was said that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had spoken these words to the Mad Doctor when he confronted him.
—You blindly clung to the medical secrets of past generations—wasn't that why there was no progress?
At those words, the Mad Doctor could no longer protest.
Not out of fear of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's martial prowess, but because the words were true.
—If you hadn't given up and found a way on your own...
If he hadn't sought the medical texts and instead fought tooth and nail to develop a new treatment...
In the end, he might have discovered a way to save his beloved.
But in his desperation to save her even a single day sooner, he had grown impatient.
And so, he had relied on medical texts authored by ancient physicians whose skills were said to surpass his own.
"Though the Demonic Heavenly Emperor claims he did it to nurture talent... in the end, he ruined my uncle's life."
'To impose trials in pursuit of advancing medical knowledge...'
Bu Eun-seol found the thought bizarre.
Hadn't the Demonic Heavenly Emperor done the same to him—subjecting him to trials to force his growth?
Could it be that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was also responsible for his grandfather's death?
'No, the killer was someone else.'
His grandfather had undoubtedly been slain by a member of the Eighteen Radiant Souls.
Above all, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was a man of immense pride, with unwavering confidence in the martial arts he had achieved through his own efforts.
Even if he knew the martial arts of the Eighteen Radiant Souls, he would never resort to such Demonic Sword Arts.
"You're the next Hall Master of the Demon Hall, yet you don't walk the same path as the Demonic Heavenly Emperor."
At Gwak Mu-su's words, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"To be frank, Hall Master Sado is my greatest enemy. One with whom coexistence is impossible."
"Hmm."
Gwak Mu-su fell silent for a moment, lost in thought, before speaking cryptically.
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor appeared like a comet in his youth. And though he became the Hall Master of the Demon Hall..."
Pausing briefly, he sighed before continuing.
"My uncle believed that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's entire rise was fabricated—that the world had been deceived."
"You mean his past is entirely false?"
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's biography was well-known in the martial world, witnessed by countless individuals.
"That, I cannot say for certain. However..."
Gwak Mu-su spoke gravely.
"He appeared in the martial world far too naturally, and without incident, was endorsed by the Demonic Path Ten Gates to become the Hall Master. Yet for someone of his arrogant temperament, one would expect him to have long since crushed the Demonic Path Ten Gates beneath his heel."
Now that he mentioned it, the observation made sense.
Even during the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had not been free from the pressure of the Demonic Path Ten Gates and had faced opposition from the Elders' Hall.
Of course, it could be argued that his restraint stemmed from his personality—one that valued both justification and practical gains over brute force.
But considering how Bu Eun-seol had since weakened the Demonic Path Ten Gates and reinstated Jeok Bung, the Elders' Hall Master...
The idea that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had silently endured their infighting made no sense at all.
"That... I cannot say for certain either."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply.
Even he, who had accomplished feats once deemed impossible, found the Demonic Heavenly Emperor to be an enigma—utterly incomprehensible.
"I'll treat your friend."
Gwak Mu-su extended a letter.
"You should visit this place in the meantime."
He delivered astonishing news.
"If fortune favors you, you may uncover one of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's secrets there."
"One of his secrets?"
"My uncle left it behind."
Gwak Mu-su's gaze deepened.
'He said that one day, I too would become a renowned physician, forming ties with countless martial artists... and if among them was someone who could rival the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, I was to pass this on.'
At last, Bu Eun-seol understood.
In his final moments, the Mad Doctor—having regained his clarity—realized that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had ruined his life.
And so, he had tasked Gwak Mu-su with finding someone who could bring him down.
"Do you trust me? I was sent here by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor himself."
Gwak Mu-su smiled.
"If you are someone who humbled himself before my uncle's nephew out of gratitude for his kindness... then even if you were a spy planted by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, I would have trusted you."
Hadn't it been said that one must always remain humble and courteous?
Bu Eun-seol had not forgotten the Mad Doctor's kindness and had lowered himself before his nephew... That unwavering integrity and humility had moved Gwak Mu-su's heart.
"Thank you."
Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply.
With Gwak Mu-su's medical skills, Seok U-haeng's rotting body would be perfectly restored.
An opportunity like this would not come again so easily.
'For the first time, I've obtained a lead to unravel the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.'
Now, he would uncover the secrets the Demonic Heavenly Emperor held.
Returning Crane Ridge.
After confirming the location mentioned in the letter—where the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's secret was said to be hidden—Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
'A coincidence?'
It was none other than Huang Prefecture—less than three hundred li from Peaceful Burial House.
To a master like the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, three hundred li was practically right under his nose.
Yet his secrets were hidden in Huang Prefecture?
KRA-BOOM!
Bu Eun-seol immediately set off for Returning Crane Ridge.
'Did he deliberately place something near where my grandfather lived?'
Had he been ignorant of the circumstances, his blood would have boiled with fury.
But knowing that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had been watching not only his grandfather but even himself since childhood...
The revelation did not shock him as much as it might have.
Kwa-woong!
By the time he arrived at Returning Crane Ridge, Bu Eun-seol's expression hardened.
He sensed the presence of mysterious Absolute Boundaries—ones he had been unable to detect in the past.
'No... Of course.'
Once before, he had returned here carrying his grandfather's sword, Journey.
But back then, he hadn't possessed the ability to sense Absolute Boundaries at all. Even if he had climbed this place, he would have discovered nothing.
'A unique Absolute Boundary.'
He could feel it all at once.
Layered upon this place was a unique Formation Study and Absolute Boundary unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
Whooosh—
In an instant, millions of lights began gathering toward the Ink Soul Sword.
Just in case, instead of piercing through the Absolute Boundary with the power of the Void Extreme Realm, he unfolded Harmonization, attempting to enter from within.
Flash! Flash!
As the light—dyeing the entire world white—spread out in rapid succession—
Ssshhhk—
A massive hole, like a cave, formed near the cliff face.
The entrance, previously concealed by the Absolute Boundary, was revealed in an instant.
'An Absolute Boundary that can be breached even with Harmonization...'
Bu Eun-seol, who had been wearing a cautious expression, slowly stepped inside.
Then, as if he had entered another world, the scenery around him seemed to slow the very flow of time itself.
'It feels similar to when I first entered the Ancient Sword Forest.'
Carefully advancing inward, a mystical landscape soon unfolded before him.
Strange trees—ones that would never grow in the Central Plains—soared as if piercing the heavens, their leaves shimmering with a faint gloss.
Among them bloomed rare and exotic flowers he had never seen before in his life.
'There's a tower here too.'
Far in the distance stood a four-story tower.
Its structure and proportions were astonishingly similar to the one he had seen in the Ancient Sword Forest.
Clank.
When he opened the tower's door, a heavy sound echoed as the interior scenery revealed itself.
A dark floor, pillars emitting a crimson-black light, and sharp-edged decorations were arranged chaotically, while the air itself felt thick and oppressive.
It was a space that wouldn't be an exaggeration to call the dwelling of a Demon King from the Netherworld.
Yet, amidst the grotesqueness, an indescribable majesty permeated the air, making even the act of breathing feel cautious.
Clunk.
Then, footsteps echoed from deep within the tower.
Thud. Thud.
Simultaneously, a massive shadow, wreathed in a heat haze, slowly strode forward.
A towering figure, easily over seven feet tall, gripped an even longer spear in one hand.
The spear's tip scraped against the floor, emitting a low metallic sound, and with each movement, the weight of this space pressed down.
Sshhh—
Bu Eun-seol drew the Ink Soul Sword.
If this man was a Master whom the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had entrusted with guarding the Secret Vault, his skill needed no explanation.
Engaging in a careless probing attack would be foolish.
Zzzzing—
The moment he activated the power of the Void Extreme Realm, the surroundings blurred like a watercolor painting washed thin.
At the same time, the crimson haze rising from the spearman's body vanished.
As the Domain of World and Realm Annihilation spread—
Just like Bu Eun-seol, the man was now reduced to a mere martial artist with only 120 Years of internal energy.
Clack.
Yet, the spearman approached Bu Eun-seol without fear.
He was immensely tall, and his exposed limbs were wrapped in muscles as dense as twisted steel.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed as he observed the structure of those muscles.
'He has trained in the Spear of Swiftness.'
The essence of swiftness in all weapons originated from spear techniques, which fundamentally rely on thrusting.
Though spear techniques include blocking, deflecting, striking, slashing, and spinning—
In truth, they are all merely means to deliver a swift thrust, the core of spear arts.
Masters of the spear devoted themselves to striking before their opponents could, ultimately perfecting the Spear of Swiftness technique.
By perfectly gauging distance—
Reading the flow of an enemy's movements and transferring their weight in an instant—it became the foundation for techniques like the Swift Sword and Swift Blade, capable of piercing through foes in a single strike.
'Dangerous.'
Maintaining a cautious stance, Bu Eun-seol refrained from rashly initiating an attack.
Though the Spear of Swiftness could be unleashed simultaneously with an enemy's strike, like a Mutual Destruction tactic—
Its reach always exceeded that of an opponent's weapon, making it an overwhelming and lethal offense.
Tzzzt—
Then, thick veins bulged on the man's forearm as his spear shaft trembled faintly.
The Spear of Swiftness.
Just as Bu Eun-seol had anticipated—
This man was preparing to unleash a technique that ensured his strike would land before his opponent's, in a single decisive blow.
'One strike.'
Bu Eun-seol's gaze sharpened as he scrutinized the man's movements.
The man was pouring every ounce of his strength into the spear's tip.
As if he had trained his entire life to deliver this single, perfect thrust.
'Then—'
Clack.
Sheathing the Ink Soul Sword, Bu Eun-seol slowly shifted his stance.
As if deliberately exposing an opening—inviting the man to execute his Spear of Swiftness flawlessly.
Flash!
In that instant, a streak of light erupted as the man's spear shot forth.
Thwip— THUD!
A spray of blood shot up a full chi high—
Simultaneously, a severed head rolled across the floor.
The rolling head came to a stop at Bu Eun-seol's feet.
The head that had fallen belonged to the spearman.
"As I thought, you trained in nothing but the Spear of Swiftness."
With a single glance—
Bu Eun-seol had discerned that the man had devoted his entire life to mastering only this single, lethal technique—one that guaranteed death in a single strike—and that his sole target was the opponent's Heavenly Prominence Acupoint.
Meaning, once Bu Eun-seol grasped these two pieces of information—the man's method and his target—
No matter how fast the man's Spear of Swiftness was, he could never defeat Bu Eun-seol.
"Had I not reached the Void Extreme Realm, this would have been a difficult fight."
Bu Eun-seol had learned from Wi Ji-mua the technique of momentarily shifting space.
Thus, as the Spear of Swiftness unfolded, he slightly twisted the angles around his body—
And with Meteor Chasing Moon, he severed the man's head.
Above all, the reason he could subdue the man so effortlessly was due to the activation of the Domain of World and Realm Annihilation.
Within the Domain, all the power the man had concentrated was reduced to a level no different from that of an ordinary martial artist.
Given equal conditions—
Between a man who had devoted his entire life to mastering just a single technique—
And Bu Eun-seol, who had shattered existing frameworks and pioneered new realms of Martial Arts—
The latter was undeniably stronger.