Chapter 483
When Dam-jeung saw Bu Eun-seol kneeling with the book clutched tightly in his arms, he let out a deep sigh.
Bu Jan-yang.
He had once been renowned as a peerless swordsman of the Demonic Path, yet in the end, he vanished without a trace, leaving behind only mysteries.
And so, concealing his identity, he quietly left the martial world and lived as an undertaker.
Then one day, he was brutally murdered by an unknown assailant—yet he left behind one legacy in the martial world.
That legacy was none other than Bu Eun-seol.
A technique that neither the Renowned Heroes of the righteous faction nor the Great Demons of the Demonic Path could wield—one that only he could master completely.
He had left behind his own duplicate, one capable of unleashing the peerless sword art, the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
"Fate is truly unknowable."
What he had thought was merely a fleeting encounter...
The young prodigy who had risked his life honing his martial arts in the caves of the Stillness Ground had become a peerless swordsman whose name shook the martial world.
And that very man had later sent his successor back to Blood Shaolin.
"Like birds that flock together at dawn only to scatter when morning comes—people meet and part, walk together, yet in the end, each must journey to the next world alone."
Dam-jeung pressed his palms together as he spoke.
"This foolish monk burned himself in the flames of wrath... but I pray you do not walk such a path."
Though a disciple of the Buddhist Order, for decades, Dam-jeung had been consumed by vengeance, pursuing the murderer.
In the end, he was no guardian deity protecting Shaolin—merely a lingering ghost of Blood Shaolin, forced to live on, unable to die alongside his fallen brothers.
And so, he wished only that Bu Eun-seol would not tread the same path he had.
Creak.
As he pressed the edge of the table, the wall of the meditation chamber slid open, revealing a narrow passageway.
Likely a secret tunnel that would allow him to slip out of Shaolin unnoticed.
"You may take that sutra with you," Dam-jeung said.
"After all, it was something this monk had kept separately."
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together and bowed deeply toward Dam-jeung.
"Then..."
This was a memento—one that could wash away the sorrow and grief of the tender-hearted undertaker who had been unable to keep even a single belonging of his grandfather's in life.
A faint smile touched Dam-jeung's lips as he watched Bu Eun-seol depart.
For he had sensed, in the mere act of receiving that young man's bow, that Shaolin would one day overcome a great crisis because of it.
That young grandmaster would never live indebted to anyone.
For the first time since becoming the abbot of Blood Shaolin, Dam-jeung could pride himself on having made the finest decision.
Rumble.
As Bu Eun-seol stepped out through the underground passage, the door closed behind him on its own.
Dam-jeung stared blankly at the sight.
Then, as if struck by a thought, he let out a sigh.
"Let there be no clash between them, I pray."
Shaolin had nurtured a young grandmaster who could stand as his equal.
And he was not one who would ever tolerate a figure of the Demonic Path running rampant through the martial world... Suddenly, the future weighed heavily on his mind.
Upon returning to the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol did not head to the Death Shadow War Unit—instead, he went straight to the Holy Demon Pavilion.
Ever since becoming the Martial Soul Lord, all his movements and duties were to be reported solely to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
But the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had been in secluded training all this time, so whether he entered the hall or took any action...
There was no need to report anything.
Even now, it was the same.
Though he had ventured into the martial world, there was no need to report what he had done.
Yet he deliberately sought out the Holy Demon Pavilion.
To make his report to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
No—for the first time, to demand an explanation for the absurdity.
'The Demonic Heavenly Emperor must have known.'
Before Bu Eun-seol had attained the Spiritual Aperture Breakthrough, before the barrier of his spirit and mind had formed—
That is, before he had been attacked by Hyeokryeon Eung at Prince Wei's Residence—the Demonic Heavenly Emperor must have scrutinized every corner of his soul.
Even if he couldn't uncover every thought hidden in his heart, he would have at least known that Bu Eun-seol burned with vengeance.
'And that Grandfather was the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.'
Perhaps the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had even known Grandfather's true identity.
Yet he had said nothing—did that not mean he had watched from a distance, amused by Bu Eun-seol's actions?
'Did it entertain you? My struggles?'
Looking back, even becoming the successor of the Demon Hall had been entirely the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's arrangement.
Despite enduring every manner of persecution and obstruction, he had been given opportunities to steadily accumulate merit.
So that even if the leaders of the Demonic Path Ten Gates refused to acknowledge him, the followers of the Demonic Path would have no choice but to accept him as their heir.
Of course, overcoming those trials and earning those achievements had been entirely Bu Eun-seol's own doing.
But the reason it had been possible at all...
Was because the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had seen through every facet of his ability and character.
Otherwise, he would never have subjected him to so many trials without hesitation.
'I am no puppet.'
Bu Eun-seol, who had been walking briskly, lifted his head.
In the distance, the silhouette of the Holy Demon Pavilion came into view, and the events at Shaolin flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
'Not just Dam-jeung—even the current abbot of Shaolin may be nothing more than a chess piece on the board.'
The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, Bu Jan-yang.
The peerless swordsman who had once dominated the Demonic Path was, in truth, a fabricated demonic warrior created through the Absolute Demon Saber Project.
Not only that—countless prodigies had infiltrated various sects of both orthodox and unorthodox factions, or become Shadows aiding him.
And this project had been carried out in the most secretive depths of Shaolin—Blood Shaolin.
Afterward, it was said that all who knew of this plan were silenced.
But Bu Eun-seol realized there was one critical flaw in this account.
The Buddhist Venerable, Hong-hyeon.
A Living Buddha said to be over two hundred years old, a legend of Shaolin, and a pillar of the righteous faction.
Could he truly have been unaware of the Absolute Demon Saber Project?
"Even if the previous abbot is dead, wouldn't he have known everything?"
Could Cheol Mu-hon and the former abbot Hong Yeop have proceeded with their plans without informing the Buddhist Venerable?
Of course, that was possible.
The Buddhist Venerable did not reside in Shaolin.
But to carry out such a crucial plan without including a figure like the Buddhist Venerable... No matter how he thought about it, it made no sense.
'In the end, to uncover all matters concerning Shaolin, I must seek out the Buddhist Venerable.'
Bu Eun-seol had believed that meeting the abbot of Blood Shaolin alone would be enough to reveal the truth.
But only now did he realize that meeting the Buddhist Venerable was the only way to grasp the full truth.
"Lord."
As they finally reached the Holy Demon Pavilion, the guards standing before it bowed respectfully.
"What brings you here?"
"I've come to see the Demonic Heavenly Emperor."
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor is in seclusion."
Only the Supreme Cult Commander, Yeop Hyo-cheon, could have an audience with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor during his seclusion.
But Bu Eun-seol had one privilege—his status as the Martial Soul Lord.
"A matter of grave urgency has arisen, one that threatens the very security of our hall. As the Martial Soul Lord, I must see the Demonic Heavenly Emperor immediately."
When Bu Eun-seol presented the Martial Soul Order Token, the guard hesitated.
That authority existed only on paper.
In the entire history of the Demon Hall, not a single person had ever forcibly gained an audience with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor during seclusion using the Martial Soul Order Token.
"I-I will report your request first."
Just as the guard stammered and lowered his head—
"Let him in."
A clear, melodious voice, smooth as rolling jade beads, came from beyond the pavilion's window.
Relieved, the guards bowed deeply.
"Please enter, Lord."
Inside the Holy Demon Pavilion, a vast Grand Hall where audiences with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor were held came into view.
Bu Eun-seol had always met the Demonic Heavenly Emperor here.
And each time, he had left behind nothing but profound chaos.
'This time, it won't be like that.'
Having reached the Sixth Layer of the Counter-Polar Internal Art, Bu Eun-seol now possessed an impenetrable mental barrier—one that even masters of the Martial Extreme Realm would not dare breach.
Even the Phantom Restoration technique of the Langya Pavilion's master had failed to influence his mind.
No matter how powerful the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was, he could no longer peer into Bu Eun-seol's thoughts.
Swoosh.
Passing through the Grand Hall, he arrived at an elegantly decorated reception chamber.
As he stood before it, the doors slid open as if waiting for him, revealing a woman clad in violet palace robes.
"Welcome."
The one who greeted Bu Eun-seol was not the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, but a beauty with flawless, translucent skin.
Her pupils were as cold as carved ice, yet within them lingered an inexplicable warmth.
It was none other than Upper Blossom Jin Seol.
"Upper Blossom Jin."
Bu Eun-seol showed no surprise, calmly clasping his hands together.
He had already recognized the clear voice from beyond the window as hers.
"Lord."
Jin Seol returned the greeting impassively.
Her face seemed slightly thinner than before, and the once cold, haughty air about her had shifted into something lonely.
She had been betrothed to Sim Wol, a disciple of the Blood Demon Jeok Bung and the Myriad Learning Society, but their union had ended in tragedy.
Sim Wol, force-fed an Artificial Inner Elixir by the traitor Hyeokryeon Eung, had become a Killing Ghost, slaughtering innocents.
And it was Bu Eun-seol who had exposed the truth.
At the time, Jin Seol had ignored Bu Eun-seol's advice and consideration, stubbornly trying to sway Sim Wol's heart.
In the end, she had only multiplied the number of innocent victims.
Having stepped down from her Upper Blossom position, she had retreated into the Holy Demon Pavilion, where the Demonic Heavenly Emperor resided.
Since then, she had remained hidden, performing menial tasks in silence.
"You've been well?"
As an awkward tension settled, Bu Eun-seol inquired after her.
"Thanks to you."
Jin Seol nodded with a composed expression, then parted her thin lips.
"You said you had urgent business."
"Indeed. I came knowing full well the Demonic Heavenly Emperor is in seclusion."
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor is not here."
Bu Eun-seol's eyebrows rose.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor, who was supposedly in seclusion, wasn't even present?
Did that mean the seclusion was a lie?
"Enter his office."
Then, Jin Seol spoke unexpected words.
"You have permission."
"Suddenly? What do you mean by that?"
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor knew you would visit soon."
Jin Seol's voice was clear but low.
"And he instructed that if you came, I should show you his office. He said you would find your answer there."
Crack.
Bu Eun-seol's fist clenched tightly.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
He was still tracking his movements.
And even predicting his actions.
In the past, he might have suspected some kind of Great Art had been cast on him.
But now, having achieved the Spiritual Aperture Breakthrough, his mind was impervious to any spiritual assault.
That left only two possibilities:
Either the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had meticulously tracked Bu Eun-seol's every move and deed—
'Or he has predicted every thought and action I would take.'
Which was the truth? He couldn't know yet.
"I see. Thank you."
Swallowing the surging questions and rage, Bu Eun-seol walked past the reception chamber with a composed expression.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's office.
Only those of the highest status—the leaders of the Demonic Path Ten Gates, the Supreme Cult Commander, or the head of the Demons-Control Department—could meet him here in private.
Those who had long discussed the martial world's affairs with him over wine.
Creak.
Bu Eun-seol pushed open the door and stepped inside without hesitation.
Given the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's status, one would expect his office to be filled with luxurious and ornate furnishings exuding an elegant atmosphere.
Yet the office before his eyes was no different from that of any mid-ranking executive.
The only distinctions were that it was roughly ten times more spacious than a typical office, and the bookshelves crammed with volumes were likewise ten times more numerous.
Was it because the space was too vast?
Strangely, the office lacked even the faintest trace of human presence—no lingering scent of the body that should naturally permeate a place where someone dwelled.
'Odd.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed as he approached the desk.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor resembled an ordinary old man with unremarkable features and a modest physique.
Yet the desk and chair in his office were precisely sized for someone over six feet tall—perfectly suited for Bu Eun-seol himself.
'As if they were meant for someone else.'
Was this deliberate misdirection?
Perhaps.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor had never once given Bu Eun-seol straightforward answers. Every conversation ended in chaos.
Even now, the mere dimensions of the desk and chair were sowing confusion in Bu Eun-seol's mind.
"Or is this meant to reveal another identity he possesses?"
The Divine Calculator's true identity was already suspected to be the Heavenly Emperor.
So even if the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had another persona, it wouldn't be particularly surprising.
As Bu Eun-seol studied the desk intently, his gaze fell upon a disorderly stack of letters.
"Am I meant to read these?"
Letters addressed directly to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor were rare.
After all, Yeop Hyo-cheon, the Chief Doctrine Commander, handled most affairs, great and small.
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol began unfolding the letters atop the desk.
"Ah."
His eyes widened before he had even finished skimming a few.
The contents were utterly unexpected.
"Ten Demonic Heirs."
He bit his lip.
"Are they doing this again?"
The Ten Demonic Heirs Plan—a scheme to gather prodigies regardless of sect or master-disciple ties and impart the ultimate arts of the Demonic Path Ten Gates.
It was through this plan that Bu Eun-seol had become a disciple of Langya Pavilion and could become the heir to the Demon Hall.
Yet the Demon Hall was still rounding up exceptional talents, confining them in one place, and forcing them into life-and-death duels to test their abilities in all fields.
The only difference from the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament was that instead of teaching the martial arts of the Ten Gates and selecting successors, they were now instructing in the techniques of the Myriad Demon Treasury Pavilion and grooming direct martial subordinates for the Demon Hall.
"So that's why the Myriad Erudition Hall leader traveled beyond the pass so often."
According to the letters, Baek Jeon-cheon was overseeing this operation.
In other words, he had replaced Hyeokryeon Eung—the former Chief Instructor—and was now conducting these bloodbaths to select the most gifted individuals.
"Why?"
Bu Eun-seol's pupils trembled.
Had the Demonic Heavenly Emperor deliberately left these documents here?
If this plan became known, Bu Eun-seol would undoubtedly oppose it.
'No—from the Demon Hall's perspective, opposing it might not be an option.'
The Ten Demonic Heirs Plan had, after all, yielded outstanding results.
It had proven that one couldn't judge martial talent by physique alone.
And it had produced Bu Eun-seol—the finest prodigy of them all.
That single achievement alone provided ample justification for the Demon Hall to continue these tournaments.
'This isn't a problem I can solve immediately.'
If it couldn't be resolved now, there was no point agonizing over it.
Moreover, if this was a plan directly overseen by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, meddling carelessly would be unwise.
This was a matter to be addressed later, in a full assembly of the Demonic Governance Council with all high-ranking officials present.
"Hmm."
A strange intuition suddenly flickered in his mind.
Had the Demonic Heavenly Emperor left these documents on his desk simply to inform Bu Eun-seol about the Ten Demonic Heirs Plan?
Preposterous.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor was no simple man.
He valued the unseen far more than the visible.
And he despised—no, loathed—being handed the truth by others.
Bu Eun-seol was certain that the ill-fitting desk and chair, along with this slaughter-fest resembling the Ten Demonic Heirs Plan, were not the full extent of what the Demonic Heavenly Emperor wished to convey.
—Seek it out. The truth lies in your own hands.
Once again, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had set a trial before Bu Eun-seol.
It was infuriating. Maddening.
But he had to endure.
Because he still couldn't defeat the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
Not in martial arts. Not in influence, subordinates, or resources. Not in any conceivable way.
"Haah."
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol carefully surveyed his surroundings.
There was no need to invoke the Empty Mind Spirit Perception.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor knew him too well—like a tapeworm in his gut, privy to every last one of his capabilities.
Which meant this wasn't a test of his abilities.
No, it was undoubtedly a process designed to yield the result the Demonic Heavenly Emperor desired.
'Even if I do find something, it will either be a planted clue or a truth meant to deepen the chaos.'
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor was the embodiment of chaos.
A single simple truth could be veiled beneath countless lies.
A single phrase from him could spawn riddles that would take years to unravel.
'Nothing.'
After searching for some time, Bu Eun-seol still couldn't discern what the Demonic Heavenly Emperor intended to convey.
If anything, the confusion only thickened.
Was he meant to stop the Ten Demonic Heirs Plan? Or uncover some hidden dual identity? What exactly did he want?
As his mind grew more tangled, the image of his grandfather suddenly surfaced in Bu Eun-seol's thoughts.
For Bu Eun-seol, who couldn't even recall his parents' faces, Grandfather Bu Jan-yang was his sole pillar of support—his only refuge.
'Grandfather...'
The memory of his grandfather's benevolent smile unconsciously brought to mind the Buddhist scripture tucked in his robes.
'The scripture?'
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol noticed something peculiar.
Among the books lining the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's shelves, wasn't there one whose appearance closely resembled the volume his grandfather had annotated?