Chapter 237
The characters were carved as if etched by a sword—thin and razor-sharp—while the calligraphy itself resembled a dragon soaring through the heavens or a phoenix dancing mid-flight.
What was even more astonishing was that the two characters, which normally couldn't be written in a single stroke, had been carved in one go.
"The Martial Emperor... Are they referring to one of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars from four hundred years ago?"
The Eight Emperors and Three Stars.
Four centuries ago, the murim had been dominated by eleven superlative martial experts.
Among them, the Martial Emperor, Seop Mu-heun, possessed a particularly unique history.
Originally, he had been a staunch orthodox faction member who tolerated no evil, but in his later years, it was revealed that he had been a double spy who had infiltrated both the orthodox and unorthodox paths.
Who could have imagined that the man once hailed as the next Number One of the Righteous Path had been an informant, deftly passing intelligence between both factions?
Shocked by this revelation, the murim's intelligence organizations at the time investigated him with full force.
And it was uncovered that he had skillfully exploited information from both sides to ignite factional conflicts among the orthodox and unorthodox sects.
In the end, he was pursued by sects from both paths and was said to have vanished without a trace.
"Then... does that mean this is the Martial Emperor's Secret Vault?"
—The current state of the murim is irreversible. I have left my insights within this vault... Those fated shall inevitably find them.
In his final years, as he was hunted by the forces of both paths, the Martial Emperor announced that he had left behind his insights in a secret location, along with words proclaiming his innocence.
Then, he flung himself from the Ten-Thousand-Zhang Cliff, ascending to immortality in a flash of transcendence.
Yet who would have guessed that his vault had been hidden in this nameless, secluded valley deep in the mountains?
Thud. Thud.
As if entranced, Bu Eun-seol stepped toward the iron gate.
Then, as though it had been waiting for him, the door swung open on its own.
Groooan.
Beyond the door stretched a long, pitch-black darkness. Bu Eun-seol gazed into that void before stepping inside without hesitation.
Clank.
A faint metallic sound echoed from somewhere, and the darkness shrouding the interior gradually brightened.
Before he knew it, the ceiling was densely embedded with seven-colored luminous pearls, casting a soft glow downward.
'There are mechanisms installed.'
Bu Eun-seol advanced cautiously, one step at a time.
The passage was lined not just with iron plates on the floor but also on the walls and ceiling. And the faint friction of hidden mechanisms scattered throughout...
If even the entrance was this elaborate, the true scale of the Martial Emperor's Secret Vault must have been unimaginably vast.
Thud. Thud.
He walked for a long while, yet no particularly threatening mechanisms or traps revealed themselves.
'Strange. Why aren't the mechanisms activating?'
Every section of the passage he had traversed so far had emitted the sound of metal grinding.
Even the iron plates on the floor were embedded with silver reflecting stones, as if a boundary formation had been laid down.
Yet despite walking for over a quarter of an hour, neither the mechanisms nor the formations had activated even once.
'Unless they serve another purpose.'
Pushing aside his deepening suspicions, he pressed forward.
After walking for about a quarter of an hour, he finally spotted a door that seemed to lead somewhere else.
Screeeech!
Just as he approached the door, an eerie noise—like something gouging out eardrums—faintly echoed from behind him.
Screeeech! Screeeech! Groooowl!
Listening closely, he realized it was a metallic sound, as though immense force was being hammered into thick slabs of iron.
The eerie noise grew faster and faster until, finally, a low vibration accompanied the sound of a massive iron block collapsing.
'The Bullet King... He's here.'
The Bullet King, Bukgung Ryeong, must have been tracking his trail and was now attempting to force his way into the sealed vault by breaking through its iron gate.
BOOOOM!
A deafening crash resounded in all directions as what sounded like a massive iron block was shattered.
—Where have you hidden yourself?!
Bukgung Ryeong's furious shout was followed by the sound of air being sliced apart.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
But something was strange.
The moment Bukgung Ryeong broke through the iron gate and entered, a series of low vibrations began reverberating through the previously tranquil passage.
Zzzzzzt. Clank.
At the same time, an unsettling mechanical noise started blatantly echoing around them.
'The mechanisms.'
Bu Eun-seol immediately sensed that the vault's mechanisms had been triggered.
'Could it be... they've identified him as an intruder?'
Normally, such vaults only permitted entry to those who had been chosen.
Bu Eun-seol didn't know if he had been chosen, but the gate had opened on its own, allowing him to enter the vault unharmed.
Yet the moment the Bullet King forced his way in by destroying the gate, the mechanisms installed within activated.
Clankclankclank!
Amid the screech of grinding metal, glittering stones suddenly jutted out from the spaces between the seven-colored luminous pearls.
Flash!
The moment those stones emitted light simultaneously, an overwhelming pressure forced Bu Eun-seol's back to arch like a drawn bow.
'Repelling Field Stones?'
Struggling to lift his head, Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his bewilderment.
The transparent stones protruding from the ceiling were none other than the Repelling Field Stones installed at the entrance of the Fleeting Moment Boat.
BANG!
With an explosive burst of true qi, a fierce gale erupted from Bu Eun-seol's entire body.
He was channeling his internal energy to resist the crushing pressure bearing down on him.
'Ghk—!'
But the force pouring from the Repelling Field Stones in the ceiling was incomparably stronger than the Heavenly King Water from the Limitless Heaven Water Gate.
'Is it a difference in quantity?'
A single Repelling Field Stone was powerful enough to effortlessly confine Heavenly King Water—a substance where a single bowlful weighed more than an iron block the size of a house—within a single space.
But with the Repelling Field Stones densely embedded across the ceiling, the pressure they exerted was at a level that could instantly crush even a Vajra Bronze Man.
Oooom—
As the light pouring from the Repelling Field Stones embedded in the ceiling intensified, Bu Eun-seol felt as though heaven and earth had split apart, spinning wildly around him.
Even Bu Eun-seol, whose internal energy far surpassed the level of four Cycles, could not easily resist the pressure of the densely packed Repelling Field Stones.
"So this is where you were!"
BOOM!
At that moment, a white figure appeared at the end of the corridor with a thunderous explosion.
It was Bukgung Ryeong, who had broken through the iron gate and entered the Martial Emperor's archives.
"Did you flee only this far?"
Dashing toward Bu Eun-seol with movement technique swift as lightning, the Bullet King—
Grrrr—
—was forced to halt his movement technique the moment he drew near Bu Eun-seol, bending at the waist under the overwhelming pressure of the Repelling Field Stones.
"Ghk!"
A startled cry escaped Bukgung Ryeong's lips.
But he immediately channeled his internal energy, straightening his back with effort.
Creeaak—
His internal power seemed to surpass Bu Eun-seol's, allowing him to stiffen his posture in an instant.
Yet that was all.
Under the crushing pressure of the Repelling Field Stones, he couldn't take a single step forward, standing frozen like a statue.
Huuuummm—
As Bukgung Ryeong entered the passageway, the Repelling Field Stones responded as if they had been waiting, unleashing even greater pressure.
"Repelling Field Stones?"
Recognizing the stones embedded in the ceiling, Bukgung Ryeong gritted his teeth.
"They embedded this many stones worth over ten million gold?"
At a glance, there had to be over a hundred.
Unless they shattered the stones or deactivated the mechanism, they would remain trapped here, unable to move forward or retreat.
"Fine."
Creeaak—
Forcing his right hand above his head, Bukgung Ryeong's body erupted with visible surges of True Qi.
He was drawing out his full combat power, channeling his immense internal energy to its limits.
"HYAAAH!"
With a fierce battle cry, he unleashed his Inner Energy Bullet Art at full strength.
KWA-BOOM!
The violent burst of energy pierced through the pressure like an awl, finally striking the ceiling.
Ping!
But all he had managed to destroy was a single Repelling Field Stone.
"Just... one?"
Staring at the shattered fragments on the floor, Bukgung Ryeong fired another Inner Energy Bullet Art.
Ping! Ping-ping!
Yet each time, only one stone shattered, with no noticeable reduction in the oppressive force bearing down on them.
"Ugh..."
By the fourth blast, a groan escaped his lips.
Piercing through the Repelling Field Stones' pressure to unleash his technique consumed an enormous amount of True Qi.
Even for someone of Bukgung Ryeong's martial prowess, repeatedly executing such a technique was pushing his limits.
"Huuuuhp!"
Still, he refused to give up, firing yet another Inner Energy Bullet Art.
But again, only one or two stones broke.
'Repelling Field Stones amplify their power when facing each other. So then...'
"Huuuuhp!"
Thinking quickly, Bukgung Ryeong this time used the Internal Force Layering Method to direct his Inner Energy Bullet Art downward, blasting the floor beneath them.
Oooom—
Only a deep vibration echoed in response.
'Nothing there.'
His expression darkened.
From the feedback in his hands, there was nothing beneath the floor.
If Repelling Field Stones required opposing pairs to function, how were the ones on the ceiling exerting pressure alone?
'Grrr...'
His back ached from the strain.
Having expended so much True Qi, the pressure now felt even heavier.
"To think I'd be forced to bend my back by mere mechanical traps..."
Even he, the Bullet King who once commanded the world, was helpless against such a bizarre and terrifying trap.
But something was strange.
That damned brat, positioned far away, was crouched leisurely on the floor without any visible struggle.
'Has he already given up?'
Just as Bukgung Ryeong frowned at Bu Eun-seol—
THUDD!
A tremendous tremor shook the iron-plated floor.
Bu Eun-seol, both hands pressed against the ground, was vibrating the floor with his immense internal energy.
"What a ridiculous stunt."
Bukgung Ryeong's face twisted in disbelief.
"There's nothing beneath the iron plates but solid ground. Can't you sense that with your feet?"
If there had been any space below, even if it were filled with more than ten feet of solid iron, the pressure from the Repelling Field Stones would have warped it.
"Or do you lack the power to strike upward, so you resort to hitting the floor?"
Whether he mocked or not, Bu Eun-seol remained focused, vibrating the floor once more.
THUDD!
Then, something miraculous happened.
Ping!
One of the Repelling Field Stones embedded in the ceiling suddenly fell to the ground.
THUDD! Tink!
When Bu Eun-seol struck the floor again, another stone dropped.
'I see!'
Finally understanding Bu Eun-seol's plan, Bukgung Ryeong's eyes sharpened.
This passage wasn't just made of iron plates on the floor—the walls and ceiling were entirely reinforced with steel.
And since the ceiling was originally flat... it must have been designed to protrude via a mechanical trigger.
'It doesn't matter if there are stones below or not.'
Unable to strike the ceiling directly, Bu Eun-seol was delivering indirect shocks through the floor to disrupt the mechanism above.
"That's a method worth trying."
Bukgung Ryeong, too, placed his hand on the floor and began channeling his formidable Internal Energy.
BOOM!
A vibration incomparably stronger than Bu Eun-seol's rippled through the walls and shook the ceiling.
As befitting the man called the Bullet King, his mastery in techniques that vibrated or repelled objects with sheer Internal Power was nothing short of legendary.
Ting! Clank!
More Repelling Field Stones either clattered to the ground or retracted back into their holes.
"It's working."
Confirming that several stones had withdrawn, Bukgung Ryeong struck the floor again with even greater force.
BOOM! BOOOOM!
As both he and Bu Eun-seol hammered the ground in succession—
CLANK!
—a loud mechanical clang echoed, and most of the Repelling Field Stones vanished as if sucked back into their hidden compartments.
"Huff... huff..."
With the pressure finally gone, Bukgung Ryeong gasped for breath.
Despite having weathered countless crises in his lifetime, he had never before expended his Internal Energy to the point of nearly tearing his dantian.
"Just where the hell is this place?"
Bu Eun-seol found the old man's outburst absurd.
"You broke through an iron gate and barged in without even knowing where you were?"
"Hmph. I only saw traces of you entering."
Despite his sage-like appearance, the Bullet King seemed anything but cautious—impatient, even.
"Rare indeed."
"Rare?"
"To be so hot-tempered and reckless at an age when your beard should've turned white."
"You dare insult this old man?"
As Bukgung Ryeong's Killing Intent flared, Bu Eun-seol replied coldly,
"Which is why you fired your Inner Energy Bullet Art at me without even verifying if I was the rapist."
"That... was my mistake."
"And if I'd died? Would you have apologized to my corpse?"
No matter how impulsive he was, Bukgung Ryeong was still a Master of the Righteous Faction. Left speechless, he coughed loudly.
"Ahem."
Then, swiftly changing the subject—
"We should recover our Internal Energy quickly."
With traps like this at the very entrance, who knew what horrors lay beyond this corridor?
He needed to replenish his strength in case of further dangers.
"Haa..."
Just then, Bu Eun-seol rose unsteadily to his feet and staggered forward.
"Hah! Trying to run because you fear me?"
Bukgung Ryeong smirked as he watched.
"Useless. No matter how fast you flee, I'll catch you in an instant."
Pfft.
Turning his head, Bu Eun-seol let out a derisive chuckle.
"Not just blind and deaf, but slow-witted too."
"What did you say?!"
Flames of fury blazed in Bukgung Ryeong's eyes.
For decades, he had roamed the Murim, commanding nothing but awe and reverence from the younger generation.
When had anyone ever dared insult him to his face like this?
"You've got guts, brat."
Rising to his full height, Bukgung Ryeong's voice turned icy.
"You think you can keep mouthing off just because of my earlier blunder—"
But his words cut off.
Bu Eun-seol had already turned and strode down the passageway without so much as a backward glance.
"You little—!"
Though Bukgung Ryeong was fundamentally good-natured, he showed no mercy to evildoers.
And wasn't this bastard a man of the Demonic Path who had slain the Beggar King, an elder of the Righteous Faction?
"Don't you dare run!"
The moment he gave chase—
CLANK!
—a metallic screech echoed behind him as the Repelling Field Stones began glowing once more.
'That bastard...!'
Only then did Bukgung Ryeong realize something.
Earlier, they had merely forced the ceiling's mechanism to reverse through brute vibration.
But there was no telling when it might reactivate. Rather than recovering his energy, escaping this place immediately was the priority.
Bu Eun-seol smirked as he watched Bukgung Ryeong stumble out of the corridor in a panic.
His expression seemed to say, "No need to thank me."
"Hmph, don't flatter yourself. I was about to leave anyway."
Once again, the old man had missed his chance to attack, his Killing Intent dissipating uselessly.
With a scoff, Bukgung Ryeong closed the distance between them.
"Regardless, you'd better be prepared."
"Quiet."
Bu Eun-seol suddenly halted, his expression grave as he strained his ears.
After a moment of deep contemplation, he stared intently at the ceiling, pressed his ear to the floor, and cautiously scanned their surroundings.
His movements were so deliberate that Bukgung Ryeong could only stand there, dumbfounded.
"What now?"
The instant the words left his mouth, he regretted them.
Wasn't this admission that he was inferior to a mere youngster?
'It's because he's too damn composed...'
Even a Master of the Extreme Heaven Realm like himself had been helpless against the earlier trap using the Repelling Field Stone.
Yet Bu Eun-seol had remained utterly calm and effortlessly devised a solution.
Unconsciously, Bukgung Ryeong had begun depending on him.
"The sound of something rolling... and splitting left and right."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he studied the steel-plated floor.
"Meaning the path divides."
Rumble...
No sooner had he spoken than the floor trembled—and in the distance, the corridor split into two separate paths.