Chapter 397
It was the best possible question that could be asked with a single Gratitude Coin.
Silence flowed, and from within the wall, the Divine Calculator's voice emerged.
[One of the Seven Great Leaders of the Martial Alliance.]
After pausing briefly, the Divine Calculator continued.
[However, I cannot specify which one. Because... they personally erased all traces to ensure Undertaker Bu Jan-yang would never find the murderer.]
The Divine Calculator's voice carried absolute conviction.
[As if they didn't want anyone to take revenge for them.]
There had undoubtedly been traces of martial arts left by the murderer on Grandfather's body.
Gouged-out eyes, severed arms... and cruel hidden weapons laced with vicious poison.
But what did he mean by "erased all traces"?
[When I say Undertaker Bu Jan-yang erased them, I mean the very evidence that the murderer had ever come.]
The Divine Calculator answered calmly, as if piercing straight through Bu Eun-seol's innermost thoughts.
[Those who have honed their swords their entire lives and reached the Summit of Mastery can freely wield both Orthodox and Unorthodox Sword Arts. It would be quite difficult to identify them based solely on the scars left on a corpse.]
For an instant, flames flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
The Divine Calculator clearly knew about Grandfather. And... even who he was.
Otherwise, such an answer would have been impossible.
'Then the Divine Calculator...'
Bu Eun-seol's heart began to pound violently.
Someone who knew about him—and about Grandfather? There were only two possibilities.
Either the murderer, who had been observing them for a long time... or someone who had known Grandfather since long ago.
Thud. Thud.
Bu Eun-seol suppressed his wildly thrashing heart—his emotions.
'I must endure.'
He had learned composure from Jo Cheon-wang.
The calmness to speak leisurely even in the presence of one's enemy. It was an absolutely essential quality when facing an opponent superior to oneself.
—How do you know about Undertaker Bu Jan-yang?
Bu Eun-seol wanted to shatter that wall right now and shout those words.
But he remained terrifyingly composed, saying nothing.
There was only one Gratitude Coin.
If he lost control now and pressed for answers? He might not even obtain the information the Divine Calculator possessed.
"Even after investigating the Seven Great Leaders' movements at the time, there was no conclusive evidence pointing to the murderer."
[Indeed. Most likely, they covered their tracks perfectly.]
Even if the murderer's martial arts had reached the Summit of Mastery, concealing all techniques and variations... the cruel and vicious Sword Intent left behind was an undeniable fact.
Moreover, hadn't they used Wicked Incense's hidden weapons—tools so vile even the Demonic Path shuddered at them?
And yet, the murderer was one of the Seven Great Leaders of the Martial Alliance?
"Without a single shred of proof, how can you claim one of the Seven Great Leaders is the murderer?"
[There are two reasons.]
The Divine Calculator answered impassively.
[First, the order to kill Undertaker Bu Jan-yang was issued from a secret organization within the Martial Alliance.]
"If you mean a secret organization within the Martial Alliance..."
[Correct. The very faction you just thought of. It is them.]
The Divine Calculator was referring to the Three Realms.
That answer shocked Bu Eun-seol twice over.
That the Three Realms' secret organization lurked within the Martial Alliance.
And that the Divine Calculator possessed the ability to intercept their orders.
'But...'
Bu Eun-seol couldn't take those words at face value.
Grandfather Bu Jan-yang had mastered the highest Orthodox arts and Shaolin's supreme Internal Energy, yet he was a peerless expert who left no traces of his techniques.
That was why Bu Eun-seol had always believed Grandfather Bu Jan-yang to be none other than the Invincible Saber Master—the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade himself.
So how could a mere Seven Great Leader have possibly slaughtered Grandfather?
"Wouldn't it be more plausible that the Three Venerables or the Martial Alliance Leader orchestrated it?"
The Divine Calculator, having grasped Bu Eun-seol's implication, replied.
[The Martial Alliance is far stronger... and far more terrifying than you imagine.]
The Divine Calculator's voice carried an eerie resonance.
[Despite the unprecedented prosperity of the Demonic Path, the Righteous Faction maintains its dominance because of hidden forces. And among those forces are the Seven Great Leaders, who remain concealed, biding their time.]
"That's the second reason, then."
The Divine Calculator answered plainly to Bu Eun-seol's words.
[Precisely.]
Within the Martial Alliance, only the Heavenly Sovereign, the Three Venerables, or the Seven Great Leaders—said to rival the Four Gods and Seven Kings—could hone their swords to the Summit of Mastery.
And the Divine Calculator was predicting that the murderer who killed Grandfather was one of them.
Suddenly, a strange thought flashed through Bu Eun-seol's mind.
He instinctively sensed that the Divine Calculator wasn't revealing everything he knew.
"I paid with a Gratitude Coin. Yet I still haven't received a definitive answer."
[Originally, a Gratitude Coin buys but a single answer. However, since I cannot pinpoint the exact murderer, I am exceptionally providing related information.]
The Divine Calculator's voice grew increasingly cold.
It sounded like a warning—that any provocation would end the conversation.
'One of the Seven Great Leaders...'
Of course, there was no way to know if this was the truth.
But if the Divine Calculator's words were true?
Bu Eun-seol had, in an instant, narrowed down the identity of the murderer he had searched for until his iron shoes wore thin.
'But this isn't everything.'
He had to extract as much information as possible from the Divine Calculator.
Because the Divine Calculator had said this:
Those words meant the Divine Calculator had never intended to meet him at all.
From now on, the chances were high that Bu Eun-seol would neither obtain another Gratitude Coin nor, even if he did, ever see the Divine Calculator reveal himself again.
That was precisely why he needed to extract every possible piece of information from this encounter.
"Very well. Then I won't ask further."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"Instead, tell me everything you know."
It was an astute demand—one that pierced straight through the Divine Calculator's defenses.
If the Divine Calculator was deliberately limiting or filtering the information he provided, then he must want something from Bu Eun-seol in return.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have lured him all the way to Shaolin.
'Perhaps he's trying to manipulate me.'
[Indeed.]
The Divine Calculator let out an admiring sigh, as if he had seen straight through Bu Eun-seol's thoughts.
[Then I shall tell you everything I know.]
His voice lowered as he continued.
[As you're aware, every faction or alliance is teeming with spies—agents planted by external forces. And the Martial Alliance is no exception.]
Bu Eun-seol clenched his jaw and listened intently.
[They've manipulated martial factions at will. Though when they were formed, or who their true leader is, remains unknown...]
The Divine Calculator's voice rose and fell like the wailing of a ghost.
[They are divided into three realms—three heavens, if you will—that rule over the world. Hence, they are called the Three Heavens or the Three Realms.]
This was nothing new; Bu Eun-seol had already learned as much from the blue-eyed man.
Still, he remained silent, absorbing every word.
[Each time they reveal themselves to the world, they take on a different name. And the faction currently pulling the strings of the martial world is the Infinite Realm—also known as the First Heaven.]
[As you might suspect, the Three Realms have spies embedded in every orthodox and unorthodox faction, and even these spies don't know each other.]
The Divine Calculator's explanation continued.
[They know nothing beyond the envoys who relay orders to them.]
This was why the Infinite Realm's true nature had never been uncovered.
They operated like a cell organization—ensuring no spy could ever trace the chain of command back to its source. The links were deliberately severed.
[But here lies the trap. The Infinite Realm isn't the only faction that has revealed itself in the martial world.]
The Divine Calculator's voice grew heavier.
[In other words, we still don't know whether Undertaker Bu Jan-yang's death was ordered by the Infinite Realm... or by another faction within the Three Realms.]
A flash of understanding crossed Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
The Divine Calculator.
There was a high probability he was either deeply connected to the Three Realms—or a member himself.
The Three Realms' intelligence network surpassed even the Demon Hall's finest, the Secret Shadow Pavilion.
No matter how knowledgeable the Divine Calculator was, he couldn't have uncovered these facts without understanding the Three Realms' structure.
[The only certainty is that the Three Realms have extended their reach into the Martial Alliance, and Undertaker Bu Jan-yang's death... was decided by their forces lurking within it.]
The Divine Calculator's voice gradually faded.
[And the one most likely to have been recruited to carry out such an order... is one of the Seven Great Leaders. This is the extent of what I know regarding Undertaker Bu Jan-yang's death.]
Having heard everything, Bu Eun-seol gave a slow nod.
In the end, the Divine Calculator had confirmed one thing: the Three Realms were involved in his grandfather's death.
The notion that the murderer was one of the Seven Great Battle Corps Leaders remained mere speculation.
'Is this what you wanted?'
If his assumptions were correct...
For Bu Eun-seol to pinpoint the exact killer, he would have to investigate not just the Seven Great Leaders—but the entire organization nested within the Martial Alliance.
In other words, the Divine Calculator wanted Bu Eun-seol to tear the Martial Alliance apart from the inside.
"Good. I've heard enough."
Bu Eun-seol stood before the translucent wall and clasped his hands together.
Hwi-ing!
But this was no gesture of courtesy.
A crimson whirlwind raged around his fists as he channeled his Internal Power to its absolute peak.
Fist Demon Seven Forms, Fourth Style: Heavenly Hand Empty Wave.
The most devastating bare-handed martial art—a fist technique of annihilation.
"HAAAP!"
An unprecedented battle cry erupted from Bu Eun-seol's lips.
He poured every drop of his four-hundred-year-deep Internal Energy into a single strike—slamming it against the translucent wall.
KOOOONG!
The impact sent tremors through heaven and earth.
WOOONG—
But the opaque wall merely hummed with a low vibration.
Not a single crack formed, even under the full might of the Heavenly Hand Empty Wave.
'A wall made of True Qi?'
Only after striking it did Bu Eun-seol realize—this wasn't a real wall.
It was a solidified mass of unfathomably dense True Qi.
'Martial Extreme Realm...'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
Though he had mastered the Wish-Fulfilling Qi Formula, allowing him to shape True Qi freely, creating a barrier this thick would require twice his current Internal Energy—at least eight hundred years' worth.
Moreover, the wall had initially been pitch-black before shifting to opacity at the Divine Calculator's will.
Meaning the Divine Calculator could freely alter its properties—creating something that defied the natural order.
For a human, accumulating eight hundred years of Internal Power was already impossible.
But creating new matter?
That was beyond human capability.
That was no mere wall of True Qi... It was a 'phenomenon' conjured by the Divine Calculator.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
Not only did the Divine Calculator's martial prowess far surpass his own, but he was also capable of manifesting 'phenomena'—a Master who had reached the Martial Extreme Realm.
[Impressive.]
Just then, the Divine Calculator's voice echoed.
[To have accumulated such Internal Power at your age... And to have mastered the Mind-Training Formulas of both the Righteous and Demonic Paths simultaneously.]
His eerie voice carried a note of admiration.
[I like you. Truly, I did not misjudge you.]
All Bu Eun-seol had done was strike the wall once.
Yet the Divine Calculator had not only gauged the depth of his Internal Energy but had also dissected every last detail of the martial techniques he had cultivated.
[This... is truly a shame.]
The Divine Calculator hesitated briefly before speaking again.
[I shall make you a special proposition.]
And then came an unexpected offer.
[Soon, the Martial Alliance will hold a Distinguished Talent Assembly, inviting only the most outstanding young martial artists. Through a tournament, they plan to select the new commander of a third-tier corps.]
[Originally, they had already handpicked a few suitable candidates... It's a farce, of course, but someone like you could easily dismantle their little scheme.]
Click.
At the same time, the money pouch on the table had transformed into a small wooden box.
[Open it.]
When Bu Eun-seol lifted the lid, he found a silver Command Plaque and two booklets inside.
"What is this?"
[A plaque proving your identity as the successor of the Seonhwa Merchant House, along with their secret martial arts manual. The other contains detailed records of the heir's personal history.]
The Divine Calculator's voice continued.
[This identity was prepared long ago—flawless, impossible for anyone to disprove. And with this status... you will undoubtedly receive an invitation from the Martial Alliance.]
Astonishingly, the Divine Calculator was offering Bu Eun-seol a chance to infiltrate the Martial Alliance and expose them from within.
[If you win the tournament and become the commander of the newly formed corps, you can rise through the ranks by completing missions... Perhaps you might even uncover the one responsible for the assassination of Undertaker Bu Jan-yang.]
"I came here only to ask one question with the Gratitude Coin."
Bu Eun-seol frowned in confusion.
"Why go to such lengths?"
His cold eyes fixed on the translucent wall as he continued.
"Do you intend to manipulate me as you please?"
[Far from it.]
The Divine Calculator's voice lowered.
[I simply took a liking to you.]
Huuuum.
The translucent wall, through which the Divine Calculator's voice had been emanating, began to lose its glow.
[The choice is yours.]
Vvvrrrm.
A low vibration filled the air as the wall gradually blurred.
At the same time, a small door became visible—likely a secret passage leading out of Shaolin.
All this time, the Divine Calculator had been conversing with Bu Eun-seol by manifesting strange phenomena in what was originally an open corridor.
"So that's how it is."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply, his expression hollow with realization.
"Now I understand the Divine Calculator's true identity."
As he stared at the now-empty corridor, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"If you wanted me to mistake you for some hidden Eccentric Master, you should never have revealed that I've mastered the Mind-Training Formulas of both paths."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and muttered under his breath.
"Jeong Cheon-je, Shin Do-mu-bi."
A scorching heat rose in his pupils.
"Was the Divine Calculator just another alias of the Martial Alliance Leader?"
It was less a suspicion and more a near-certain conclusion.
The Divine Calculator had hidden himself freely within Shaolin—a fortress considered Impervious.
He had manipulated secret mechanisms that even Shaolin disciples couldn't access.
Not only that, but he had also used these mechanisms to create multiple Gates to test Bu Eun-seol.
Moreover, he was a Martial Extreme Realm Master capable of manifesting 'phenomena' beyond ordinary comprehension.
And he possessed detailed knowledge of the Martial Alliance's affairs—even providing Bu Eun-seol with a flawless identity to infiltrate them.
The only person who fit all these conditions... was none other than the Martial Alliance Leader himself—Jeong Cheon-je, Shin Do-mu-bi.
"That wall of True Qi was just a deliberate understatement of your power, wasn't it? If you had revealed your true strength, your identity as Jeong Cheon-je would've been exposed instantly."
Though the phenomenon of creating a wall was unique, it wasn't enough to confirm him as a perfected Martial Extreme Realm Master.
But deducing that Bu Eun-seol had mastered the Mind-Training Formulas of both paths just from a single strike?
Heavenly Robe Mind Art.
Without mastering Shin Do-mu-bi's secret technique—one that allowed synchronization with an opponent's Internal Energy Method through mere contact—such a feat would be impossible.
"At the Extreme Realm, the Heavenly Robe Mind Art can synchronize with the flow of True Qi vibrations...
In the end, the Divine Calculator had unconsciously revealed himself as Jeong Cheon-je, one of the Twin Heaven Emperors."
"Whether the Divine Calculator is the Martial Alliance Leader or not doesn't matter."
Bu Eun-seol looked down at the Command Plaque and secret manual inside the box.
"If what he said is true, then the one who killed Grandfather is within the Martial Alliance."
Yet another question arose.
If the Divine Calculator truly was Shin Do-mu-bi, the Martial Alliance Leader...
Could he really be unaware of the Three Realms' spies? Or did he know everything and simply withhold the truth?
"I'll find out once I enter the Martial Alliance."
Bu Eun-seol reached for the Command Plaque inside the box.
"With this identity, I can openly establish myself within the Martial Alliance."
He was the future successor of the Demon Hall.
Under normal circumstances, using a double identity to infiltrate the Martial Alliance would be unthinkable.
But Bu Eun-seol felt no hesitation.
His sole purpose in entering the martial world was to hunt down the murderer and exact vengeance.
After all, he had no intention of becoming the so-called Sky of the Demonic Path.