Chapter 326
Upon returning to the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol began preparations to enter closed-door training once more.
However, the first task he had considered—tracking down the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's whereabouts—was handed over to the Kill-Seeking Unit and Yu Un-ryong.
It had been over thirty years since his disappearance, and even the Secret Shadow Pavilion, the foremost intelligence organization of the demonic path, had been unable to confirm whether he was alive or dead.
Moreover, those who had crossed paths with the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade in the past were, of all people, members of the Righteous Faction—individuals who had reached the very pinnacle of martial arts.
No matter how exceptional Bu Eun-seol's intellect was...
It was simply impossible to uncover the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's traces and secrets in such a short time, when even the combined might of the entire demonic path had failed to do so.
'Obsessing over something that cannot be resolved immediately is nothing but a waste of time.'
Bu Eun-seol resolved to tackle the problems before him one by one.
The first thing he did was formalize the Move Heaven Exchange Force, which he had grasped during his duel with the Heavenly Sword, into a martial doctrine.
To ensure that the martial principles he had intuitively understood in actual combat could be reused at any time, it was essential to articulate them into a structured doctrine.
Relying solely on instinct and sensation without theoretical foundation had its limits.
He also continued his research into the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
Originally, the Bloody Tears Seven Forms was a saber technique.
Using it as a sword technique inherently diminished its original power.
Yet, it would also be strange to suddenly wield a great saber while having achieved Sword-Hand Unity with the Ink Sword.
Furthermore, without knowing the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's true identity, openly using his esoteric saber techniques was out of the question...
Thus, Bu Eun-seol repeatedly refined his research to adapt it into a sword technique.
'And then there's the Ice Soul Sword...'
Merely clashing against the Sword Sovereign's swordplay—performed with a mere tree branch—had caused cracks to form along the blade of the Ice Soul Sword.
Yet, Bu Eun-seol had no intention of discarding this sword. For some reason, it felt perfectly suited to his hand.
'If I send it to Master Cheol, it should be fine.'
Wang Geol's epithet was Master Cheol.
His metallurgy skills were among the finest in the martial world, capable of handling any metal with effortless mastery.
After sending the sword to Sword Brow Mountain, a reply arrived from Wang Geol not long after.
―To repair this sword, you must first obtain North Sea Black Iron, meaning the restoration process will take well over a year.
Moreover, this sword exudes an energy of profound yin. Unless you practice martial arts aligned with yin energy, it would be best not to carry it on your person.
As Bu Eun-seol read further down the letter, he couldn't conceal his surprise.
An unexpected statement was written at the end.
―It's possible this sword is not a demonic sword, but one forged by the Baekri Clan three hundred years ago.
They sometimes blended North Sea Black Iron with metals like Kunwu Metal and Dark Gold, creating weapons with mysterious functions.
The Baekri Clan.
A mysterious family that had taken root in the martial world for generations.
Each of them possessed the ability to divine Heaven's Will and held esoteric knowledge. It was said they used this knowledge to craft weapons imbued with unique functions.
Yet, three hundred years ago, they vanished as if evaporated into thin air—along with their manor, belongings, and even the utensils they once used.
The truth behind this bizarre incident was never uncovered. Now, their name only surfaced when grandfathers told their grandsons entertaining tales of the martial world.
But for the Ice Soul Sword to possibly be not a demonic sword, but a sword forged by the Baekri Clan—who had disappeared down to their very last dependent and chopstick?
Master Cheol was not only the foremost authority in the martial world on appraising the authenticity and value of divine weapons and ancient weapons scattered throughout the land, but also one of the greatest blacksmiths of the era.
His words could not be dismissed lightly.
'Baekri Mu-ha.'
Suddenly, the name Bu Eun-seol had heard from Baek Jeon-cheon, the head of the Myriad Learning Society, surfaced in his mind.
A mysterious figure who had been called the Murim's Number One Mystery over thirty years ago. Could he, too, have been a member of the Baekri Clan?
'Just because someone bears the surname Baekri doesn't mean they are a descendant of the Baekri Clan.'
Shaking his head, Bu Eun-seol set the letter aside.
There would be time for idle speculation later. Right now, there was far too much to do.
After completing all his miscellaneous tasks, Bu Eun-seol prepared to enter closed-door training to refine his martial arts in earnest.
But that plan was ultimately interrupted.
Screeeech—
Just as he was about to close the door to the training room, a man in scholarly attire hurried toward him from a distance.
It was Yu Un-ryong.
"Bu Eun-seol."
His gaze was sharp, but the eyes behind it were filled with composure and the light of wisdom.
'I barely recognize him.'
In the past, he had the typical appearance of a rebellious troublemaker, with a personality that was straightforward and quick to anger.
But once he was given a position that matched his talents, his innate qualities as a strategist emerged.
Not only had his personality become composed and wise, but even his appearance seemed to have transformed.
"I've finally found it."
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
Had they already uncovered all the information regarding the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's whereabouts in such a short time?
But Yu Un-ryong continued with a bright expression.
"The Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace."
Bu Eun-seol had long been searching for a sect that possessed a mental cultivation method capable of fully restoring Seo Jin-ha's body, whose dantian had been destroyed.
That sect was none other than the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace, said to possess the most exceptional internal energy secrets in Tibet (Haeseo).
―Countless sects beyond the frontier open the upper dantian to refine their internal energy, but fundamentally, the only method capable of reaching Three Origins Three Harmonies and Primordial Spirit Emergence is the Myriad Transformations Dharma Wheel, the secret of the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace.
Back when Bu Eun-seol was learning the Reverse Extremity Heart Method atop Iron Palm Peak, Blood Vajra had explained to him the unique characteristics of the internal energy secrets of various sects across the land.
"And the secret to perfectly opening the Upper Dantian lies in the Myriad Transformations Dharma Wheel of the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace in Tibet."
—The astonishing thing about the Myriad Transformations Dharma Wheel is that, unlike other mental cultivation methods, it never fails when opening the Upper Dantian.
Because Seo Jin-ha had trained in Poison Art, conventional methods couldn't fully restore his Internal Power.
Bu Eun-seol had mobilized the intelligence division under Yu Un-ryong's command to tirelessly search for the location of the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace.
"You were really lucky," Yu Un-ryong said, taking a deep breath.
"Finding a sect that doesn't reveal itself to the world is an incredibly difficult task."
Bu Eun-seol wore a bitter smile.
That remark was likely a veiled reference to Wicked Incense, whom he had been relentlessly pursuing.
"I've written the details here."
Yu Un-ryong pulled out an envelope and a small bundle from his sleeve.
"I figured you'd be in a hurry."
Restoring Seo Jin-ha's Internal Power was something Bu Eun-seol had longed for all this time.
If he heard this news, Yu Un-ryong had sensed that Bu Eun-seol would set aside all other matters and prioritize this immediately.
"You've done well."
As Bu Eun-seol took the envelope and bundle and immediately turned to leave, Yu Un-ryong spoke with a worried expression.
"Are you going alone with him?"
When Bu Eun-seol nodded, Yu Un-ryong said firmly,
"Absolutely not."
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had roamed the Murim alone, facing countless crises he shouldn't have had to endure.
Moreover, not long ago, hadn't the Sword Sovereign himself appeared under the pretense of avenging the Heavenly Sword?
Bu Eun-seol was now the Heir of the Demon Hall and a commander responsible for many subordinates. He couldn't possibly travel without an escort.
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol made a reluctant expression.
Yu Un-ryong and Myo Cheon-u were his adjutants.
If those closest to him, assisting him daily, opposed his decision, he had to respect their opinion.
And it was precisely because of Bu Eun-seol's way of handling things that not just Yu Un-ryong, but all his subordinates, remained fiercely loyal to him.
"If you really hate the idea, at least take some Unit Members from the Kill-Seeking Unit."
The Kill-Seeking Unit rarely revealed themselves, making them the most suitable for escorting Bu Eun-seol.
"Un-ryong. Let the two of them go."
Then, from behind, a man in dark blue martial robes sauntered over—Myo Cheon-u.
"For this matter, it's better if they go alone."
Myo Cheon-u grinned as he spoke.
"Personally, I'd like to go too, but... well, I'll yield this time."
"Myo Cheon-u. This isn't something to take lightly."
Yu Un-ryong's temper flared at Myo Cheon-u's playful tone.
"This isn't just about Seo Jin-ha—it's an extremely important matter for him as well."
"I know. That's why I also know you rushed this."
"What do you know?"
When Yu Un-ryong snapped back, Myo Cheon-u replied with utmost seriousness.
「You were trying to give him Demon Leave, weren't you?」
At Myo Cheon-u's Voice Transmission, Yu Un-ryong fell silent.
Lately, far too much had happened to Bu Eun-seol. Yeong Mun-ho, whom he had painstakingly found, had died, and he had fought a life-or-death battle against the Heavenly Sword.
Though martial artists lived with swords at their throats, Bu Eun-seol's path had been marked by blood.
And beyond that, a mountain of unresolved matters still loomed ahead.
Yu Un-ryong had wanted to give Bu Eun-seol even a brief respite from that overwhelming situation.
「And knowing that, you'd send him alone with Seo Jin-ha?」
When Yu Un-ryong sent his own Voice Transmission, Myo Cheon-u nodded.
「If he has to worry about the safety of the Unit Members while traveling that long distance, he'll only grow more exhausted.」
Yu Un-ryong closed his mouth.
Upon reflection, it made sense.
Even if an escort team followed in secret, they wouldn't escape Bu Eun-seol's awareness.
If he had to expend energy worrying about his guards too, his mind and body would only wear down further.
'Will he really be alright?'
Truthfully, Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess wasn't something to worry about.
No matter what danger he faced, escaping with his life was always possible.
What Yu Un-ryong was truly concerned about was Seo Jin-ha.
If a crisis befell him—now that most of his Internal Power had been lost—Bu Eun-seol would face complications as well.
"Hmm."
Yu Un-ryong exhaled deeply and met Bu Eun-seol's gaze.
Those ever-still eyes.
They not only looked upon the world with cold derision but also, like an enlightened monk, held no attachment to anything.
Not even his own life.
'So that's how it is.'
Finally, Yu Un-ryong understood Myo Cheon-u's intent.
Bu Eun-seol paid no heed to his own safety, but those around him, while pretending indifference, watched over him with meticulous care.
If they truly wanted to grant him Demon Leave, they had to let him go alone with Seo Jin-ha—even if it meant accepting some risk.
「Seo Jin-ha is an emotionally expressive guy. He'll be a source of rest for Bu Eun-seol.」
Myo Cheon-u grinned at Yu Un-ryong.
If Bu Eun-seol wandered with Seo Jin-ha and saw more of the world... he might come to realize that the Murim wasn't such a desolate and lonely place after all.
Then that time would not be wasted.
"Fine."
Yu Un-ryong took a deep breath and nodded.
"Just make sure the Kill-Seeking Unit erases your tracks."
Even as he said this, still uneasy, he furrowed his brow and added,
"But at least disguise yourselves. That alone will prevent unnecessary conflicts."
"You nag like a mother-in-law."
Myo Cheon-u chided him and nudged Bu Eun-seol's shoulder.
"Go on, quickly. Give my regards to Seo Jin-ha too."
"Very well."
Uncharacteristically, Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile and stepped out of the quarters.
He had sensed the Voice Transmission passing between them—but he didn't know what had been said.
Yet he could sense from their gazes alone just how deeply these two men cared for and worried about him.
The two men galloped across the plains on their steeds.
To the left rode a pale-faced man with long hair parted in two braids, while to the right was a man clad in gray martial robes astride his horse.
They were none other than Seo Jin-ha and Bu Eun-seol.
'His body has mostly recovered.'
Bu Eun-seol glanced sideways at Seo Jin-ha and gave a slight nod.
Having trained at Langya Pavilion, Seo Jin-ha's body was now fully healed.
Langya Pavilion gambled with lives, advancing martial arts through real combat.
Because of this, they were more versed in human physiology than any other sect on the Demonic Path, possessing numerous secret methods for treating injuries.
His once-stiff tendons now moved smoothly, and his body brimmed with vitality.
Only his complexion remained slightly pale—not from illness, but from having learned the foundations of the Way of the Beast in a pitch-black cavern.
'Master Cheol accepted my suggestion after all.'
Bu Eun-seol had proposed a new method for Langya Pavilion disciples to master the Way of the Beast.
Instead of instantly blinding trainees by striking the Tear-Receiving acupoint to heighten their bodily senses to the extreme, they would now hone the basics of the Way of the Beast in a lightless chamber.
—The reason the Way of the Beast is so difficult to master is that it strips away vision, humanity's most dominant sense, all at once.
Bu Eun-seol had devised this alternative method—training in darkness rather than complete blindness—and passed it on to Langya Pavilion.
And during his recovery, Seo Jin-ha had undergone this very training.
—Huff. Huff.
Just then, the horses began breathing heavily, as if exhausted.
"Whoa."
Bu Eun-seol and Seo Jin-ha reined in their mounts near a towering tree and took a brief rest.
"But is it really necessary to learn an internal energy method from Beyond the Frontier?"
When Bu Eun-seol had come to Langya Pavilion and announced they were heading to Tibet, Seo Jin-ha hadn't been surprised.
If it was Bu Eun-seol, he would surely keep his promise to restore his internal energy.
But as they neared Tibet, a question arose in his mind.
At Langya Pavilion, he had trained under many masters, learning a variety of martial arts.
Thanks to that, he now knew the martial world held far more diverse mental cultivation methods than he'd ever imagined.
Especially the Pavilion Lord, Ak Mu-ryeong, who possessed such mysterious power that legends spoke of him even restoring the internal energy of Blood Vajra—a former high monk of Heavenly Dragon Temple whose dantian had once been completely destroyed.
"If your dantian can be restored, I'd rather not learn some foreign method."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head at Seo Jin-ha's question.
"I'm not restoring my dantian."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I'm not learning an internal energy method from Beyond the Frontier—I'm going to open my upper dantian."
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
"Even if my dantian were restored, it would take at least ten years of grueling training to rebuild my former internal power."
"Well... I suppose that's true."
"But internal energy methods that utilize the upper dantian don't accumulate power in the dantian—they generate true qi within the body instantly."
Bu Eun-seol recalled the blue-eyed masked man he had met with Yu Hwaryeong in the Underground Castle.
Though his internal energy had been amplified by the Human Blossoms, he had unlocked his upper dantian at a young age, wielding formidable power.
"If someone who once possessed immense power through their lower dantian opens their upper dantian, they can recover all their former strength in an instant. Not only that—they can cultivate even greater internal energy."
"Then why don't martial artists of the Central Plains open their upper dantian?"
"How many warriors would willingly discard a lifetime's worth of accumulated power?"
Bu Eun-seol spoke matter-of-factly.
"And if they fail while attempting to open their upper dantian after discarding their power, everything is lost."
His expression turned grave.
"That's why we're going Beyond the Frontier. There, a method exists to ensure the upper dantian is opened without failure."
After resting, the two mounted their horses and rode on.
They switched steeds or carriages whenever possible, resorting to Lightness Skill when none were available.
Having rebuilt his body through Langya Pavilion's training, Seo Jin-ha could now perform Lightness Skill to some degree with Bu Eun-seol's assistance.
Before long, they arrived in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
"Are you going to keep using a disguise?"
Upon entering the city, Bu Eun-seol activated the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art, transforming into the wandering martial artist Seol-so.
But for some reason, Seo Jin-ha wasn't pleased.
The face that had once been as open as a river was gone, replaced by a bland, ordinary visage topped with a topknot.
"Call me Seol-so. I'm in disguise."
"Mmm, fine."
Seo Jin-ha shrugged and clicked his tongue.
"Still, this is nice. I've always wanted to see this place at least once."
Gazing at the vast landscape, he broke into a grin.
"We're going to the Potala Palace, right?"
"No."
"Huh?"
Seo Jin-ha blinked in surprise.
"Didn't we come here to learn the Potala Palace's internal energy secrets?"
The Potala Palace was renowned not only for the Esoteric School Great Hand Seal but also for its internal energy method utilizing the upper dantian.
When Bu Eun-seol said they were going to Tibet to open his upper dantian, Seo Jin-ha had naturally assumed they were heading to the Potala Palace.
That's why he hadn't questioned it until now.
"Then why did we come to this barren land?"
"Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace."
Bu Eun-seol replied flatly.
"We must obtain their secret mental cultivation method."
"What? Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace?"
Seo Jin-ha couldn't hide his disbelief.
The Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace was a mysterious Tibetan sect that had never revealed itself to the world—no one had ever confirmed its true location.
Yet its fame persisted due to their extraordinary martial legends.
From time to time, they would send very young boys and girls into the martial world to seek disciples.
And yet, it was said that even those children's martial prowess could utterly overwhelm seasoned masters of the martial world.
If they were to reach adulthood and master the pinnacle of their arts, their strength would be unimaginable.
"How on earth did you find it?"
"'Cloud Sea' can also refer to the sea of clouds spread beneath a mountain peak when viewed from above."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
"So I ordered Yu Un-ryong to investigate every mountain in Tibet where one could see clouds spread like an ocean."
"What?"
Seo Jin-ha couldn't hide his bewildered expression.
Tibet was filled with countless towering mountains where one could gaze down upon clouds. And with just that clue, he intended to find the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace?
"There was no other way."
Bu Eun-seol had spared no expense—both manpower and gold—to restore Seo Jin-ha's internal power.
"So you're saying the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace is here?"
"The Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace is near South Tree Forest."
"Huh? Then why did we come here?"
"To enter, we must first retrieve the Great Vow Mirror from Guangyang Temple, which isn't far from Potala Palace. They say it's necessary to pierce through that sea of clouds."
The Great Vow Mirror was a treasure of Guangyang Temple—a mirror that, when infused with internal power, emitted a light imbued with evil-breaking energy.
Seo Jin-ha's mouth fell open again.
"You're going to take Guangyang Temple's treasure? How?"
"I've thought it all through."
Bu Eun-seol was not only brilliant in strategy but also meticulous in accounting for every possible contingency.
So far, not a single one of his plans had ever failed.
"But..."
Seo Jin-ha realized there was a critical flaw in this plan.
"Even if you get the Great Vow Mirror, what sect would ever teach their internal energy secrets to an outsider?"
A sect's internal energy method was, in essence, the sect itself.
For that reason, the highest-tier internal energy methods were only passed down to disciples who were not only exceptionally talented but also fiercely loyal.
And yet, an outsider with no ties to them wanted to learn it?
"They will teach you."
But once again, Bu Eun-seol spoke with confidence.
"Without fail."
"Hmm."
Seo Jin-ha didn't press further.
Having come this far, he had no choice but to trust him.
Before they knew it, the two had reached the heart of the marketplace. Just then, they spotted a large, bustling guest inn.
Inside, merchants in unique attire and all manner of figures had gathered.
The moment they stepped in, every gaze in the inn locked onto Seo Jin-ha.
Unlike Bu Eun-seol, who had disguised himself as an ordinary man, Seo Jin-ha's striking appearance and the noble aura radiating from him stood out.
Though Bu Eun-seol had reached the state of Return to Plainness, and Seo Jin-ha currently had almost no actual internal power...
To any onlooker, they appeared to be nothing more than young masters from a prestigious family, ignorant of martial arts.
"Young Master, this way."
Fortunately, one table remained empty, and the two settled in.
"Do you have good wine?"
At Seo Jin-ha's question, the waiter bowed his head.
"Our establishment sells house-brewed Green Fruit Wine."
Hearing this, Bu Eun-seol recalled the Green Fruit Wine Guyang Cheong-jeong of the Wind-Shooting Sword Sect had once given him.
'It was quite a decent drink.'
Just as Bu Eun-seol was about to order, Seo Jin-ha spoke first.
"Then five bottles of Green Fruit Wine. Three of your most confident dishes. Ah, and one plain noodles."
"Apologies, but our establishment only serves pork noodles, plain noodles, and barley bread..."
"Then one pork noodles and one plain noodles."
"I'm fine with just the wine."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Seo Jin-ha grinned.
"I'll eat both. That plain noodles you were eating back then looked delicious."
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol let out an involuntary chuckle.
Back then, the first meal he had after surviving Hell Island had been plain noodles.
And the first person he had spoken to was Seo Jin-ha.
Now, Seo Jin-ha was trying to eat plain noodles just like Bu Eun-seol had, remembering that time.
'It's been a while since I've seen him smile.'
Seo Jin-ha had sensed it too.
That Bu Eun-seol lived in a world of his own making—bleak and desolate.
But the world was worth living in, and stepping out like this to enjoy good food lifted one's spirits.
Seo Jin-ha wished for Bu Eun-seol to feel even a little of that simple happiness.
And to see the world a little differently.
Clack.
Just then, the waiter swiftly set down a wine jug.
Bu Eun-seol, in good spirits, immediately downed a cup of Green Fruit Wine.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's nothing."
Bu Eun-seol set down his cup with a bitter smile.
Only after tasting this Green Fruit Wine did he realize—what Guyang Cheong-jeong had given him was no ordinary brew.
'I was too naive.'
The wine he had just gulped tasted like aged vinegar, forcing him to grimace with every sip.
As Bu Eun-seol shook his head and reached to refill his cup—
"Please, stop this."
"Hehehe. The more you resist, the cuter you get."
A woman's voice and a lecherous laugh suddenly echoed from the corner of the inn.
Looking closely, a middle-aged man who had been seated near the entrance had suddenly approached a woman by the window and was harassing her.
On his back, he carried a massive circular blade resembling a saw, and his Supreme Yang Acupoint bulged prominently.
'Twin Blood Wheels?'
Bu Eun-seol and Seo Jin-ha's eyes flashed simultaneously.
In an instant, they recognized him—a master of odd weapons from the Great Desert, infamous for his terrifying reputation.
A lecher who had raped and murdered countless women and slaughtered the many martial artists who pursued him, earning him a place on the martial world's most wanted list.
The Twin Blood Wheels—Maeng Muk-geuk.
The other patrons, too, seemed to recognize him, falling silent and sealing their lips.
His martial arts had reached such a formidable level that even the previous generation masters of most sects wouldn't stand a chance against him.
But why would someone who operated in the Great Desert come all the way here to throw a tantrum?