Chapter 498
"You... reached the Martial Extreme Realm at that age?"
Song Baek-do's voice trembled.
He was under the mistaken impression that Bu Eun-seol had peered into the depths of his spirit and mind.
"No, I haven't."
"Then how do you know about Hyeokryeon Eung?"
"Because Hyeokryeon Eung—that man—unleashed the Spirit Summoning Secret Voice in an attempt to kill me."
As Song Baek-do wore a puzzled expression, Bu Eun-seol swiftly explained the circumstances up to that point.
"...So in the end, you luckily survived by jumping off a cliff, is that it?"
After hearing the full story, Song Baek-do tilted his head.
"But why did you think I taught Hyeokryeon Eung? I never used the Spirit Summoning Secret Voice."
"At the time, Hyeokryeon Eung claimed that Sa Ok-cheong—the one called the Illusion King—was his disciple whom he had taught the Mind-Seizing Art. But even considering the Three Realms, it was hard to believe that two such renowned figures of the same era could have a master-disciple relationship."
"Hmm."
"Upon later reflection, I realized Hyeokryeon Eung had lied to me. There must have been someone else who taught both of them the Mind Seizing Secret Arts."
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
"Moreover, the Illusion King's Spirit Summoning Secret Voice and Hyeokryeon Eung's version differed too drastically in function. It was as if the latter had been newly refined."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with conviction.
"And after witnessing the 'Harmonization' deployed at Ghost Valley Pass, I began suspecting that you, Elder, might have been the one who taught Hyeokryeon Eung."
Song Baek-do's expression turned uncomprehending.
"You observed that Harmonization?"
"Yes."
"Then you truly have reached the Martial Extreme Realm."
To detect and comprehend the level of Harmonization placed at Ghost Valley Pass meant being impervious to any form of Mind Seizing Secret Arts.
And only a Master of the Martial Extreme Realm could erect such formidable barriers of spirit and mind.
"No. I merely achieved the Spiritual Aperture Breakthrough, allowing me to construct mental barriers."
"Spiritual Aperture Breakthrough? If you've achieved that, how can you claim not to have reached the Martial Extreme Realm?"
"Because only my Internal Energy has reached an abnormally high level."
"What?"
Song Baek-do muttered with an expression of disbelief.
"To reach that level through Internal Energy alone would require at least four centuries of cultivation."
"Mine exceeds... five hundred years."
Song Baek-do stiffened as if struck on the back of the head.
Only then did he realize that the young man before him had attained martial prowess of an incomprehensible level.
Gulp.
Swallowing hard, Song Baek-do asked with a bewildered expression:
"Speak plainly. What exactly do you want from this old man?"
"As I mentioned earlier—the Mysterious Leaf Stone."
Bu Eun-seol stared directly at Song Baek-do as he spoke.
"Of course, since you were once part of the Three Realms, it would be even better if you could share all the information you have about them."
Song Baek-do exhaled deeply.
One thing was certain—he could sense that the young man before him was genuinely opposing the Three Realms and hadn't spoken a single word of falsehood.
"How much do you know about the Three Realms?"
"Only that they control the entire Murim, are divided into the Infinite Realm and Azure River Realm, and that there are messengers called 'Heralds.' Beyond that, nothing."
"I see."
"I don't know when or why they were formed, why they're called the Three Realms, or what their ultimate purpose is."
"Hmm."
Song Baek-do exhaled again.
Then, after drawing a deep breath, he slowly began to speak.
"In the past, I was Do Song-baek, leader of the Absorbing Heaven Sect."
Song Baek-do.
His true identity was none other than Do Song-baek, the former leader of the Absorbing Heaven Sect, renowned for having reached the pinnacle of the Mind Seizing Secret Arts.
"Elder, you—"
This time, Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his surprise.
The former leader of the Absorbing Heaven Sect—who had reached the apex of the Mind Seizing Secret Arts thirty years before the Illusion King even appeared in Murim—was leading the Valley of Forgotten Souls in such robust health?
"To be precise, I didn't exactly teach Hyeokryeon Eung."
Song Baek-do—no, Do Song-baek—continued in a low voice.
"Hyeokryeon Eung had already achieved remarkable mastery over the Mind-Seizing Art on his own. He came to me proposing we research the Mind Seizing Secret Arts together. Claimed that by combining our strengths, we could reach the absolute zenith of the art."
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol nodded faintly.
That Hyeokryeon Eung possessed impossibly advanced Mind-Seizing Art techniques made sense—he had researched them alongside a peerless figure like Do Song-baek.
"But it was all my delusion. The Mind-Seizing Art we created together... instead destroyed people's minds and threw Murim into chaos."
"What possible purpose could the Infinite Realm have for such actions?"
"According to Hyeokryeon Eung, the Infinite Realm's goal was to save a Murim spiraling toward ruin."
"If it's ruin you speak of..."
"Ruin in the truest sense," Do Song-baek replied. "Complete destruction, leaving nothing behind."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
The word ruin carried an eerily similar resonance to the Final Extinction prophesied long ago by Mo-ryun the Dharma Seeker—a calamity that would consume the martial world.
"So the Infinite Realm claims they are saving the martial world?"
"Indeed."
Bu Eun-seol's expression twisted in disbelief.
"Then what of the Azure River Realm? What role do they play?"
"I only followed Hyeokryeon Eung into the Infinite Realm to research the Mind Seizing Secret Arts. I know little of the other factions within the Three Realms. However..."
Do Song-baek paused before continuing.
"From what I understand, the highest-ranking figures in the Infinite Realm are the Supreme Emperor and the Heavenly Venerable. All plans are decided by them. Likely, the Azure River Realm operates the same way."
"Are they the Realm Masters?"
"That, I cannot say. Whether there exists someone even higher... even I do not know for certain."
Taking a deep breath, Do Song-baek began explaining in greater detail.
"The Infinite Realm has the Ordinary Rank, who merely follow orders, and above them are the Envoys, who issue those orders. The Envoys have unrestricted access to the Realm's troops and intelligence network."
He exhaled heavily before continuing.
"And above the Envoys... are the Special Divine Rank."
"The Special Divine Rank..."
"Yes. The Special Divine Rank gather opinions and relay them to the Heavenly Venerable and the Supreme Emperor. The Infinite Realm operates based on their conclusions."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened at this unexpected revelation.
He had assumed the Three Realms functioned as parallel, independent factions—like opposing forces.
But in truth, the Infinite Realm had a clear hierarchy, a vertical chain of command no different from any major sect.
"So the Special Divine Rank not only command the Envoys but also serve as intermediaries to the Heavenly Venerable and the Supreme Emperor?"
"Precisely."
"Then Hyeokryeon Eung was..."
"Correct. Hyeokryeon Eung held an exceptionally high position among the Special Divine Rank—one known as the Dharma Demon Master."
"Dharma Demon Master..."
"And..."
Do Song-baek's voice dropped lower.
"The Infinite Realm's greatest fear was not the Azure River Realm, but the third faction—the one that has yet to reveal itself. According to Hyeokryeon Eung, the moment they truly act... everything will end."
He sighed as if weighed down by the words.
"That is all I know of the Infinite Realm."
Bu Eun-seol inhaled deeply.
By sheer chance, within the Valley of Forgotten Souls, through Do Song-baek, he had finally grasped the structure of the Three Realms—something he had long sought to understand.
'And yet, the Infinite Realm claims to be saving the martial world from ruin...'
Until now, the Infinite Realm had been responsible for atrocities—creating Human Flowers, Soulless Ones, and countless other horrors.
And yet, they claimed to be its salvation?
But what struck him as even stranger was the unsettling intuition that Hyeokryeon Eung had not been lying.
"Perhaps this, too, is fate."
Do Song-baek spoke again.
"I founded the Valley of Forgotten Souls to atone for the sins I committed while serving the Three Realms. Because of me, countless people were manipulated... and died."
Do Song-baek had been drawn into the Three Realms by Hyeokryeon Eung.
He had devised the powerful Mind-Ensnaring Art—only for it to become a tool for the Infinite Realm's domination.
Too late, Do Song-baek realized his mistake. He left the Three Realms and now lived to help others.
"There's no need for further talk. To me, it's all in the past."
Shhhk.
From his robes, Do Song-baek withdrew a small stone emitting a faint blue glow—the Mysterious Leaf Stone.
"Take it. And there's no need to return it."
His voice was solemn.
"Those who dwell in the Valley of Forgotten Souls live to forget their painful memories. Myself included."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand.
Do Song-baek had committed unforgivable acts in the name of researching the Mind Seizing Secret Arts alongside Hyeokryeon Eung.
And now, by helping others escape their suffering... he was trying to forget his own sins and anguish.
"If forgetting is possible, then forgetting is the best path."
Placing the stone in Bu Eun-seol's hand, Do Song-baek turned away weakly.
In that moment, he looked no different from the other tormented souls of the valley—those who writhed in pain, unable to escape their memories.
Hmm.
A strange melancholy settled over Bu Eun-seol.
In this world, there were those who grew through hardship and adversity... and those who wished only to forget their suffering.
Do Song-baek had reached the pinnacle of the Mind Seizing Secret Arts. And yet, even he could not control his own torment—only pray for an end to the endless pain.
"Though your companions... you'll have to persuade them yourself."
At that moment, Do Song-baek paused his steps and murmured as if to himself:
"They have already tasted peace of mind..."
"I understand."
Bu Eun-seol wasn't particularly worried.
Noe Bi-hon needed to avenge his son, and Dae Gu-hwi had to earn the Beast Palace Lord's recognition to resolve the bitter grudge of his mother's tragic death.
Neither of them would ever settle for the peace that forgetting offered.
KRRRUMBLE—
Then, with a deafening explosion, a tremor shook the entire Valley of Forgotten Souls.
"Elder!"
At the same time, a man came stumbling toward Do Song-baek in a panic.
"Elder, something terrible has happened!"
"What is it?"
"Someone is using explosives to destroy the valley's mechanisms and force their way in!"
"Explosives?"
Do Song-baek's expression darkened drastically.
To breach the Ghost Gate and forcibly enter the Valley of Forgotten Souls, one would need at least tens of thousands of pounds of gunpowder.
And those who would pour such an extravagant amount of gunpowder into breaking in—there was only one group capable of that.
The Three Realms.
'Did they track Noe Elder Brother's movements?'
Having instinctively realized it was the Three Realms, Bu Eun-seol spoke to Do Song-baek.
"Valley Master. It's likely because of my sworn brother."
"Your sworn brother?"
"Yes. He has long been an enemy of the Infinite Realm, and this time, he was injured while fighting someone who wielded the Blade Emperor's martial arts."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"We took care to erase his tracks, but... it seems they've realized he's recovering his strength and have come to interfere."
But the reaction was strange.
Do Song-baek shook his head as if that wasn't the case and spoke to the man.
"First, evacuate everyone in the valley to the Moon-Connecting Cave. If it's there, we should be able to—"
KWA-RRUMBLE! KWAANG!
But the explosions had already begun to shake the interior of the valley.
They had stormed in without even giving them time to prepare.
—AAAHH!
Soon, faint screams began erupting from all directions.
It seemed the Three Realms' Masters had already breached the valley and were indiscriminately slaughtering everyone.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it."
Just as Bu Eun-seol's expression hardened and he prepared to summon his Internal Power—
"It's fine."
Do Song-baek lightly placed a hand on Bu Eun-seol's shoulder.
"You shouldn't step forward."
—Thud.
At the same time, Bu Eun-seol's body stiffened completely.
Do Song-baek had unleashed a Great Art—not a pressure-point technique nor a Mind-Seizing Art, but something akin to the Meridian-Sealing Punishment Art, paralyzing every nerve in his body.
It was executed so naturally and without any hostility that Bu Eun-seol couldn't evade it.
"What are you doing right now?"
"It's not because of your sworn brother. They've come for me."
Seeing Bu Eun-seol's bewildered expression, Do Song-baek continued.
"I've known for some time that they were searching for this place. Since there had been no issues until now, I thought it would be fine, but in the end... it's come to this."
—AAAHH!
As another scream echoed, Do Song-baek shook his head and spoke quickly.
"If I had wanted bloodshed, this Valley Master would never have established the Valley of Forgotten Souls."
"Valley Master."
"What they want is this old man's life. If I give them that, everything will be resolved."
"Do you truly believe that?"
Do Song-baek smiled as if he had transcended everything.
"They fear my Mind-Seizing Art, nothing more. They cannot allow two people with such an ability to exist."
With those words, he hastily rushed toward the direction of the screams.
"That's wrong."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head as he watched Do Song-baek leave.
"The Three Realms don't stop slaughtering just because they've achieved their goal. Because they must never let their true nature be exposed."
—Whoosh.
At the same time, a five-colored flash surged from his body.
Do Song-baek knew Bu Eun-seol's Internal Power exceeded five centuries, so he had suppressed him not with Internal Energy but with an esoteric Meridian-Sealing Punishment Art—one that could not be broken through sheer force.
But Bu Eun-seol wasn't just powerful in Internal Energy alone.
—Sssss.
His body began alternating between freezing and melting, radiating intense heat.
He was alternating between Extreme Yin and Extreme Yang energies, trying to dissolve the force Do Song-baek had poured into his body.
—Crack.
The more he cycled the two energies, the more his stiffened body gradually regained movement.
'Hurry.'
Bu Eun-seol poured out his Internal Power with all his might.
If he didn't act quickly, not only would the people of the Valley of Forgotten Souls be in danger—Noe Bi-hon and Dae Gu-hwi's lives would also be at stake.
"Why...?"
Dae Gu-hwi, who had been plowing the fields, trembled.
Since coming here, he had forgotten all his painful memories and had been enjoying an unprecedented peace.
But suddenly, bizarre figures had poured in, setting the beautiful Valley of Forgotten Souls ablaze.
Not only that—they were mercilessly butchering the pure-hearted people who had served him delicious meals, worked alongside him until sweat beaded on their brows, and told him soothing stories that eased his mind...
The spilled blood formed ponds, and the piled corpses became hills.
Dae Gu-hwi felt an unprecedented rage at the horrific sight before him.
"Uuuu... Aaaaah!"
A tremendous roar shook the Valley of Forgotten Souls to its core.
At the same time, Dae Gu-hwi's body swelled so large it tore through his clothes, and his eyes blazed with a crimson energy.
Swish!
He became a streak of lightning, darting through the valley.
Every time he moved faster than the eye could follow, fountains of blood erupted from the assassins' bodies.
Having found peace and tranquility, only to witness a scene straight out of hell—
The barriers in his Spirit and Mind shattered in an instant, and the Beast Force that had been sealed away by his mother's death erupted all at once.
—Kuh-heung!
With each of Dae Gu-hwi's roars, the assassins fell like leaves in an autumn gale.
The Beast Martial Arts of the Beast Palace displayed movements and power that transcended human limits.
Moreover, like the instincts of a wild beast, his attacks were unpredictable—
Making him even more formidable in a battle against multiple foes.
[So, one of the Beast Palace's beasts was hiding here.]
A low voice murmured as a Black Shadow emerged.
A man wearing a mysterious mask—none other than the Messenger of the Three Realms.
"Kah-hak!"
Spotting the Messenger, Dae Gu-hwi bared his fangs and lunged at him.
Though his charge seemed reckless, it was a calculated strike that anticipated the Messenger's evasion and counterattack.
Boom!
A sudden explosion of sound rang out.
At the same time, Dae Gu-hwi was sent flying back dozens of feet as if struck by an invisible iron hammer.
"Kaaat!"
Yet, like a spring, he immediately rebounded and charged again.
His body, now awakened by the Beast Force, had become as hard as if he had trained in Horizontal Training Martial Arts.
[Hmph.]
The Messenger smirked and extended a finger.
Flash!
A razor-sharp gleam shot forth—
Gak!
Blood spurted from Dae Gu-hwi's shoulder.
The Messenger had unleashed a Finger Wind faster than the eye could see, piercing through Dae Gu-hwi's iron-hard body in an instant.
Shudder.
Moreover, the Finger Wind carried a strange force, paralyzing Dae Gu-hwi's acupoints as if sealing his movements.
"Potential threats must be uprooted immediately."
The Messenger strode toward the fallen Dae Gu-hwi.
"Do not harm him!"
A gaunt, middle-aged man—standing over seven feet tall—stepped in front of the Messenger.
It was Noe Bi-hon.
The Messenger studied Noe Bi-hon's face for a long moment before making a peculiar expression.
He seemed to recognize him, yet couldn't quite place him.
[You...]
The Messenger blinked behind his mask.
[Who are you?]
And for good reason. The Thunder God had always been shrouded in Thunder Essence Divine Qi, his pupils tainted with Madness.
But now, Noe Bi-hon stood before him with clear, lucid eyes—his Thunder Essence Divine Qi and Madness completely gone.
"None of your concern. Begone."
Frowning, the Messenger flicked his finger without hesitation.
A sharp Finger Wind shot toward Noe Bi-hon's brow.
Or rather, it should have pierced through.
Noe Bi-hon had lost his memories—
But not the combat instincts ingrained in his body.
The moment the Messenger's finger moved, he knew the attack was aimed at his forehead. Instantly, he dropped low and retaliated with a punch.
Boom!
Dust erupted in all directions.
Yet, Noe Bi-hon was the one sent flying back about fifteen meters.
His One Fist strike had failed to break through the Messenger's Body Protection True Qi, sending him hurtling backward instead.
[A mere nuisance.]
Just as the Messenger prepared to finish him—
Tap. Tap.
An old man in white robes, resembling an immortal, stepped forward.
It was Do Song-baek.
"My, my..."
Do Song-baek wore a dazed expression as he surveyed the carnage.
The people of the valley had spent their lives writhing in Pain and suffering, only to finally find peace and happiness.
And now, they were being mercilessly slaughtered just as they began to live happily?
[It's been a while.]
The Messenger's eyes curved into crescents behind his mask.
[I've worn out countless iron shoes searching for you. Who would've thought you'd be hiding in this remote valley of Yunnan, a place we had already investigated long ago?]
The Messengers of the Three Realms rarely spoke more than necessary to avoid exposing their identities.
Yet, he rambled on freely to Do Song-baek, as if there was no need for secrecy.
[Try running again. This time, I'll find you within about a month.]
"I won't run."
Do Song-baek walked forward calmly.
"These people have nothing to do with me. Cease your attacks."
[...]
The Messenger stared at him for a long moment before raising his right hand lightly.
At once, the assassins slaughtering the valley's inhabitants froze in place.
[Very well. Then there's no need to waste time.]
The Messenger's eyes curved like crescent moons as he gazed at Do Song-baek.
Then, in a voice dripping with malice, he spoke.
[Make it clean. Kill yourself. Then I'll withdraw quietly.]