Chapter 435
"When one knows insufficiency, one does not seek to fill it to the brim... Amidst precariousness, the true Hot River Great Essence True Qi shall bloom."
'Why is this divine martial scripture here?'
As Bu Eun-seol read the scripture carved into the wall, he found himself unable to comprehend it.
Given that the highest Secret Arts of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace were inscribed here, the mummy before him was most likely the remains of the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable.
The Blazing Flame Holy Venerable, who was said to have passed away peacefully and been enshrined with reverence within the Founders' Hall of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace... Why had he become a mummy seated in meditation?
Why had he left his divine martial scripture in this place?
"A sinner who brought ruin upon the murim... leaves behind his true divine Secret Arts—the Hot River Great Essence True Qi—to a successor who shall one day become the murim's salvation."
At the end of the scripture, there was an inscription left by the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable himself.
"This Venerable, driven by the desire to reach the pinnacle of the Extreme Yang Arts, committed an unforgivable sin."
He had joined hands with the Three Realms and systematically eliminated those who opposed them.
(Omitted)...
"In the end, this Venerable obtained the Blazing Flame Sacred Qi and the Ultimate Fire Wheel Energy, yet came to realize that the strength of our palace would only continue to diminish because of it."
"Moreover, we were doomed never to produce outstanding disciples again... This, one might say, was our own doing."
'The Three Realms existed even in the era of the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable?'
Bu Eun-seol's pupils dilated as he read the words carved into the stone wall.
He had believed the Three Realms originated four hundred years ago, around the time the Eight Emperors and Three Stars emerged.
Yet the Three Realms had already existed during the time of the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable, a figure from five hundred years ago?
"So the Eight Emperors and Three Stars were not the origin."
This meant that while the Eight Emperors and Three Stars might have been key figures within the Three Realms, they were not its founders.
"Fortunately, the Three Realms broke their oath to emerge in sequence and were instead locked in endless strife. Had it not been so, not only this Venerable but the very lineage of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace would have been severed long ago... (Omitted)."
According to the inscriptions on the stone wall,
the Three Realms were factions that upheld different banners, taking turns to reveal themselves to the world in a set order.
But for forces wielding such overwhelming power, maintaining that order was impossible.
Thus, conflict was inevitable—and ironically, it was precisely because of this discord that the murim had not collapsed and instead endured.
"So that's how it was."
Bu Eun-seol nodded slowly as he continued reading.
He had long wondered why the Three Realms, despite possessing the power to dominate the world, never stepped forward openly.
A king may die, but the shadows manipulating the king never perish.
The Three Realms ruled the world precisely because they remained unseen...
And because they sought to rule the world for ages to come, they chose never to reveal themselves.
Looking back through history, those who stepped into the forefront—whether factions or individuals—were inevitably destroyed.
But the shadowy forces lurking behind the scenes always survived.
"So they stayed hidden, using martial artists as pawns and reveling in the battles."
Reflecting on it, the Three Realms had never truly stepped forward themselves.
They had only ever manipulated others—using factions to incite conflict.
And even peerless grandmasters like the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable had made the wrong choices,
ultimately meeting disgraceful and lonely ends.
"Hmm."
Having grasped the full truth, Bu Eun-seol suddenly turned his gaze to the shattered remains of the Fire Wheel Divine Flute.
"I can't just make another long staff like that again."
If he could take the Fire Wheel Divine Flute, the sacred relic of the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable, he could oust the Blazing Flame Palace Lord without a major confrontation.
But now that it was broken... force was the only option left.
As he shook his head, his eyes abruptly returned to the scripture carved into the stone wall.
His gaze lingered on two phrases: "Palm-Scorching River" and "Divine Workshop of Creation."
"Don't tell me..."
Bu Eun-seol began rapidly reading through the scripture of the Hot River Great Essence True Qi.
The Hot River Great Essence True Qi was a secret method for freely wielding the Extreme Yang Qi stored within the body—known as the Blazing Flame Sacred Qi.
Its martial principles aligned closely with those of the Glacier Thousand Streams Art and the Willful True Binding.
Thus, Bu Eun-seol was able to comprehend the scripture immediately.
Ziiing.
As he channeled the Hot River Great Essence True Qi, faint smoke began to rise from his hand.
Whoosh!
A flute-shaped staff, glowing red-hot, took form.
It was none other than the Fire Wheel Divine Flute.
"So this is what the Fire Wheel Divine Flute truly was."
The flute was merely a symbolic form representing the Fire Wheel Divine Flute.
The true essence of the Fire Wheel Divine Flute was the Blazing Flame Sacred Qi contained within.
"Indeed... With such a sacred relic, there can be no room for doubt."
The Fire Wheel Divine Flute, manifested through the Hot River Great Essence True Qi—a technique only the Palace Lord could master—
was undeniably the supreme sacred relic of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace.
"I cannot allow the Blazing Flame Palace Lord to obtain this scripture."
Bu Eun-seol channeled his Internal Power and wiped his hand across the wall. The carved letters vanished without a trace.
Then, he bowed deeply once more before the remains of the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable.
"Rest assured."
As he straightened, he spoke while looking upon the remains of the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable.
"I shall return the Hot River Great Essence True Qi and the Blazing Flame Sacred Qi to a disciple who will safeguard the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace."
Pshhh—
As if acknowledging that his final duty had been fulfilled, the remains of the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable crumbled into sand, scattering in all directions.
Rumble...
At the same time, a low vibration began to resonate through the stone chamber.
Then, the stone chamber where the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable had been began crumbling—rocks and sand pouring from all directions until the place vanished without a trace.
As if he had finally attained liberation, reassured that a successor had appeared to safeguard the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace.
"May you rest in eternal peace."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been watching the scene, clasped his hands together once more toward the vanished stone chamber.
As if nothing had happened, he returned to the Grand Hall where Hwa-jeong was staying.
"You've returned safely."
Hwa-jeong, forgetting all decorum, descended from the hall and seized Bu Eun-seol's hands.
"You have no idea how worried I was when you suddenly disappeared."
Her face brimmed with boundless joy as she spoke.
"What in the world happened?"
"There was a trap."
"A trap?"
"Indeed. It seems a final safeguard had been installed to filter out intruders who were not true disciples of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace."
Bu Eun-seol answered with perfect nonchalance.
"It was a sealed trap, but fortunately, there was a small mouse hole. I escaped through it."
"I see. What a relief."
A radiant smile, unlike any before, graced Hwa-jeong's lips.
But that joy was likely not because Bu Eun-seol had returned alive—but because the Fire Wheel Divine Flute could now be reclaimed.
"Then, did you find the Fire Wheel Divine Flute?"
"When I fell into the trap, the flute vanished as well. It must be stored somewhere within the Secret Palace."
"Somewhere in the Secret Palace... That's fortunate."
Though her voice was moved, disappointment filled Hwa-jeong's eyes.
She had already ordered her disciples to comb every inch of the Secret Palace, yet they had found no trace of the flute.
"I thought something had gone wrong, so I immediately reported it to the Martial Alliance."
Hwa-jeong forced a smile, her expression shifting.
Upon seeing the scorched marks, she had assumed Bu Eun-seol had been incinerated on the spot.
She had even reported his death to the Martial Alliance. Now that he had returned unharmed, she needed to correct the record swiftly.
"No need. I'll handle the report myself when I return."
Bu Eun-seol waved it off with indifference.
"Since the Secret Palace is open, I should take my leave now."
As he turned without hesitation, Hwa-jeong reached out.
"You risked your life to open the Secret Palace. How can I simply let you go?"
She stepped closer, her voice softening.
"From now on, our palace will form friendly relations with the Martial Alliance. For that to happen, shouldn't you stay a little longer to discuss the details?"
Hwa-jeong clasped his hands with a friendly smile.
At that moment, her eyes widened, a strange light flickering within them.
She had detected the faintest trace of Blazing Flame Sacred Qi flowing naturally from Bu Eun-seol's right hand.
A presence so subtle only a true master of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace could sense it.
'He lied.'
In an instant, Hwa-jeong's pupils narrowed like crescent moons.
'Even better.'
If Blazing Flame Sacred Qi had entered Bu Eun-seol's body, didn't that mean he had hidden the Fire Wheel Divine Flute somewhere?
Her smile widened as she spoke.
"And when that happens, Commander Seon-u may rise to a high-ranking position within the Martial Alliance as well."
'She noticed.'
Bu Eun-seol had never intended to leave the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace in the first place.
That was why he had deliberately let a wisp of Blazing Flame Sacred Qi leak—unleashing the Great Stillness Heat River True Qi just enough to be sensed.
Let her schemes play out to the end.
Only then would those lurking behind her reveal themselves.
"Very well. Then I'll stay a little longer."
His easy agreement prompted her to murmur in a silken voice,
"Then tonight, let us discuss these matters once more—just the two of us."
That evening.
After resting in his quarters, Bu Eun-seol entered Zhurong Palace, where Hwa-jeong resided.
But the attendant guided him not to a reception hall—but to a tightly sealed secret chamber.
Inside stood a table, furnishings, and even a small bed.
Likely a private retreat where Hwa-jeong rested between duties, sipping tea or taking brief naps.
On the table lay a modest drinking set—but only two chairs.
'She never intended to form an alliance.'
For a sect to join an organization like the Martial Alliance, extensive negotiations among its leadership were necessary.
Countless matters required coordination, meaning internal consensus had to be reached first.
No matter how absolute Hwa-jeong's authority was, they were still in the early stages of negotiation.
Yet here she was, setting out drinks for a private talk.
There was no way she had already unified her council's opinions.
No—she had invited Bu Eun-seol for another scheme entirely.
"You've arrived."
As Bu Eun-seol stepped inside, Hwa-jeong greeted him with a faint smile.
Gesturing to the drinking set, she said,
"Shall we talk over a drink?"
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol downed the poured wine.
Immediately, a scorching heat surged from his stomach, clouding his mind.
Clearly, it was laced with aphrodisiacs and the Soul-Dulling Drug.
'Trying to catch two rabbits at once.'
Bu Eun-seol knew well that Hwa-jeong was a pawn of the Three Realms.
Curious about her methods for stealing the flute, he deliberately resisted neither the aphrodisiac nor the drug.
Ting.
Yet as the aphrodisiac and Soul-Dulling Drug seeped into his system, a single thread of scorching heat spontaneously rose from Bu Eun-seol's dantian.
This was not his own internal energy—it was the combined force of the Blazing Flame Sacred Qi contained within the Fire Wheel Divine Flute and the Supreme Fire Wheel Qi left behind by the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable.
Sssss—
Pure, solar heat, blazing like the sun itself, instantly incinerated the invasive energies of the aphrodisiac and the Soul-Dulling Drug.
'I must properly refine the Hot River Great Essence True Qi to control this phenomenon.'
Bu Eun-seol suppressed a bitter smile.
Because he had not yet mastered the Hot River Great Essence True Qi's principles, the immense Extreme Yang Force lying dormant in his body had reacted on its own.
If he failed to control this while posing as Seon-u Jin, his true identity would be exposed.
Just like now.
"How fascinating."
Hwa-jeong, watching him closely, narrowed her crescent-moon eyes.
"To think the Martial Alliance's Commander would use our palace's martial arts..."
She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Should I congratulate you on this fortuitous encounter?"
When Bu Eun-seol remained silent, she leaned in and whispered,
"Where is the Fire Wheel Divine Flute?"
Pulling her chair closer, she murmured in a voice laced with an eerie, bewitching power.
"Don't worry. I'll promise to make peace with the Martial Alliance."
Her words carried an unnatural, almost hypnotic weight.
"Since you've obtained the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable's martial arts, you may stay in our palace if you wish. I can grant you authority and status far beyond what the Martial Alliance's Commander position offers."
When Bu Eun-seol still did not answer, she leaned even closer, her breath brushing his ear as she whispered,
"Now... where did you hide the Fire Wheel Divine Flute?"
"I've never seen such a thing."
"Is that so?"
Hwa-jeong sighed, feigning disappointment, then shook her head.
"How unfortunate."
Seeing that persuasion would not work, she moved to her second method.
Rip—!
Suddenly, she tore one side of her collar and cried out in a loud, dramatic voice.
"How could the Martial Alliance's Commander commit such an unspeakable act?!"
Snap! Snap! Snap!
Before Bu Eun-seol could react, she struck his Dumb Point and Demon Blood Point in rapid succession, paralyzing him completely.
Thud.
As he collapsed like a log, she swiftly searched his body.
But aside from a throwing knife and a few antidote pills, there was no trace of the Fire Wheel Divine Flute.
"Guards! Seize this man and throw him into the prison at once!"
Rumble—
In an instant, the warriors stationed nearby flooded in.
Crack!
Meanwhile, Hwa-jeong sealed his Qi Sea Acupoint, suppressing his internal energy, then shouted in feigned fury.
"A mere Third-grade Commander of the Martial Alliance dares to play such tricks on this palace's master? We will uncover the mastermind behind this!"
"Yes, my lady!"
As the guards roared in response, Hwa-jeong allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.
By framing Bu Eun-seol as a lecher, she could legally imprison him—and then extract the Fire Wheel Divine Flute's location through interrogation.
The Blazing Flame Sacred Palace's prison was buried deep underground.
After descending an endless flight of stone steps, a damp, moldy stench filled the air, revealing a dark, cavernous dungeon.
Along the passage, cells were carved into the stone walls, blocked by stone walls.
The guard unlocked the last cell and roughly shoved Bu Eun-seol inside.
Crash!
With his acupoints still sealed, Bu Eun-seol collapsed onto the cold floor. The guard shut the iron door with a chilling finality.
Clang.
Left in the pitch-black cell, Bu Eun-seol lay motionless, eyes closed.
'Now it begins.'
He made no attempt to break free from his sealed acupoints, instead feigning helplessness.
Though the cell was dark, his sharp eyes could still make out the cracked, peeling walls surrounding him.
A small ventilation hole in the opposite corner was barely large enough for a rat to squeeze through.
'So this is their plan.'
His gaze, cold and still, fixed on the darkness.
'The Messenger of the Three Realms will come soon.'
He had anticipated this.
By framing him and throwing him into this underground prison, Hwa-jeong had created the perfect opportunity for the Three Realms' agents to act.
Here, in this isolated dungeon, they wouldn't need to hide their identities. They could torture him openly, extracting the Fire Wheel Divine Flute's location without restraint.
'They'll ensure Hwa-jeong maintains her position as palace master.'
The title of Blazing Flame Sacred Palace's master carried immense authority—enough to manipulate events from the shadows.
The Three Realms would never allow her to reveal her true colors. She was too valuable a pawn.
'In the end, the decision is mine.'
He exhaled silently.
If he waited for the Messenger of the Three Realms to arrive...
As a mere Third-grade Commander, Seon-u Jin would be easily subdued.
Bu Eun-seol could seize the moment, overpower the messenger, and uncover which faction of the Three Realms was behind this—and why they wanted the Fire Wheel Divine Flute.
But if he failed to subdue the messenger instantly?
Seon-u Jin's identity would be exposed, and all his efforts so far would be for nothing.
'I can't risk the Seon-u Jin identity.'
Clank.
Just then, the prison door creaked open.
A woman in crimson robes stepped inside—none other than the Young Palace Mistress, Jeok Mu-mi.
She had arrived before the Messenger of the Three Realms.
Flick.
By shooting Finger Wind, she released his Dumb Point.
"Do you believe me now?"
Before he could answer, she spoke again, her voice urgent.
"She not only harmed my father—she's colluding with outside forces to destroy this palace."
"There's one thing I don't understand."
Bu Eun-seol finally spoke.
"Why did the Radiant Yang Adept cruelly kill vagrants to create internal cores?"
"The Radiant Yang Adept was a loyal retainer. He only stole the Demon Seed to create artificial inner cores... because he had no choice but to build forces to oppose her."
Jeok Mu-mi calmly explained how the Radiant Yang Adept had been swayed by Palace Mistress Hwa-jeong, and why he had stolen both the Demon Seed and the Fire Wheel Crystal before fleeing.
"I see."
After listening to the full explanation, Bu Eun-seol nodded slowly.
The Radiant Yang Adept had committed atrocities—killing vagrants to harvest their cores. Had this been Jeok Mu-mi's order?
Bu Eun-seol would have considered her no different from Hwa-jeong.
If one indiscriminately took lives for personal gain, they were no better than the Three Realms.
But fortunately, this had been the Radiant Yang Adept's independent decision, and Jeok Mu-mi seemed to possess the right temperament.
"Shall I give you the Fire Wheel Divine Flute?"
In the end, rather than unraveling the Three Realms' conspiracy, he decided to hand the flute to Jeok Mu-mi... to drive out Palace Mistress Hwa-jeong and restore order to the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace.
That alone would achieve the Martial Alliance's goal of making peace with the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace.
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Jeok Mu-mi's eyes widened.
"You've found it?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Inside my body."
"What do you—"
Crack.
Bu Eun-seol unsealed his own acupoints and rose to his feet.
Zzzing.
As he extended his right palm, a scorching heat surged forth, and a crimson flute took shape before them.
The Fire Wheel Divine Flute—the crystallized essence of Extreme Yang Martial Arts, manifested through Blazing Flame Sacred Qi.
"How did you—?"
"While searching for the flute under the palace mistress's orders, this power... unintentionally became stored within me."
"Inside your body...?"
"Correct."
"You're telling me you've been harboring Blazing Flame Sacred Qi within your body? Impossible."
She shook her head in disbelief.
"Blazing Flame Sacred Qi is an energy only those who have reached the pinnacle of Extreme Yang studies—like our Founder, the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable—can contain. How could you—?"
"I don't fully understand the reason myself."
Bu Eun-seol retracted the flute as he spoke.
"However, according to the secrets of the Hot River Great Essence True Qi, there is a method to transfer this energy to another."
"You've mastered the Hot River Great Essence True Qi?"
"It was in a hidden stone chamber within the secret cave. Since the chamber collapsed, I had no choice but to memorize the techniques to pass them on to you."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with confidence.
"Even if Palace Mistress Hwa-jeong has conspired with external forces, her current status as palace mistress remains. She would never dare defy the sacred relic of the Blazing Flame Holy Venerable."
Jeok Mu-mi took a deep breath.
The Fire Wheel Divine Flute was the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace's greatest long-cherished wish—their most sacred relic.
No palace mistress, no matter how powerful, could defy its authority.
Now that they had finally found it, Jeok Mu-mi could overthrow Hwa-jeong... and restore the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace to its former glory.
"Thank you."
Suddenly, Jeok Mu-mi knelt before Bu Eun-seol.
"An ordinary martial artist would never have considered returning the power of Blazing Flame Sacred Qi."
The Hot River Great Essence True Qi, unleashed through this energy, represented the highest pinnacle of Extreme Yang studies. Mastering it would elevate one to a supreme master capable of dominating the world.
Yet this young man before her showed not the slightest greed for such power.
Instead, he was promising to transfer it back to her.
"I will never forget this kindness in my lifetime. From this day forth, our palace shall forever be your companion, Young Hero Seon-u."
"There's no need for you to become my companion."
Bu Eun-seol rubbed his nose as he spoke.
"I only ask that once the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace stabilizes, you form an alliance with our alliance."
Understanding his meaning, Jeok Mu-mi smiled faintly.
"Understood. Since you've saved our palace, it's only natural we propose peace with the Martial Alliance."
"In that case, before Hwa-jeong arrives, I should quickly transfer this energy to you."
"No need to rush."
Jeok Mu-mi chuckled at Bu Eun-seol's words.
"She won't send a master to torture you until after tomorrow morning's meeting. This is her tactic—keeping you imprisoned for a day to maximize your fear."
"Then tomorrow's meeting will mark the birth of a new palace mistress."
"Do you think she'll relinquish her position willingly?"
Bu Eun-seol smiled.
"Of course. She wouldn't dare deny the authority of the Fire Wheel Divine Flute before the assembled elders of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace."
"In fact, she'll pretend to step down obediently. Because she'll still need to retrieve the flute."
"You think she'll attempt to steal it?"
"Without a doubt."
"That's impossible."
"It's very possible."
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned grave.
"Because the faction backing her holds enough influence to sway the entire martial world."
"What do you mean by that?"
Bu Eun-seol—now fully aware of his identity as Seon-u Jin—hesitated briefly.
Under normal circumstances, a mere third-grade commander of the Martial Alliance wouldn't possess intelligence on the Three Realms.
'Well, it's not like she'll remain loyal to the Martial Alliance anyway.'
"To be honest, this is highly classified intelligence obtained through my personal information network... something even high-ranking figures in our alliance are unaware of—"
Leaving himself an escape route, Bu Eun-seol briefly explained the Three Realms.
After hearing everything, Jeok Mu-mi let out a dry laugh.
"If such a faction truly exists, even with our combined strength, resistance would be impossible, no?"
"The fortunate thing is, the Three Realms never operate openly."
Bu Eun-seol displayed his strategic brilliance without reservation.
"Moreover, they wouldn't easily discard such a valuable piece as the palace mistress of the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace. Ultimately, they'll seek the simplest method to reclaim her position."
He then began explaining his carefully devised plans one by one.
As she listened silently, Jeok Mu-mi's pupils gradually widened.