Chapter 499
Do Song-baek stared fixedly into the messenger's eyes.
Having discerned the intent hidden within those twin pupils, he let out a sigh and shook his head.
"As expected, it won't work."
The messenger's eyes were filled with lies.
"Why?"
Even if he were to take his own life, there was not the slightest intention to spare those in the Valley of Forgotten Souls.
[As expected of a Special Divine Rank member, the Thought-Stealing Venerable, who can steal thoughts.]
The messenger marveled at Do Song-baek's perceptiveness as he replied.
[Who's to say you won't nurture another disciple in the meantime?]
"Would this old man repeat such a mistake?"
[I'd like to believe those words, but since when does the world flow according to one's wishes?]
"This old man shattered his own Internal Power to atone for past wrongs. Only the Mind Seizing Secret Art had no path to discard."
Do Song-baek exhaled a deep, heavy sigh.
"That's why I merely wished to use the Mind Seizing Secret Art to bring peace to the hearts of those in pain."
[Special Mind Investigator Do, isn't your true power not your Internal Power, but precisely this?]
The messenger pointed a finger to his temple and said,
[If you so desired, you could endlessly raise masters of the Mind-Seizing Art capable of opposing the Main Realm.]
The Three Realms had long feared the ability Do Song-baek possessed.
That was why they had pursued him relentlessly after his disappearance, yet failed to find any trace of him for years.
Then, by sheer coincidence, their intelligence network caught wind of the youngest son of the Beast Palace Lord heading toward the Valley of Forgotten Souls.
Dae Gon, the Beast Palace Lord, had mobilized his information network to monitor Dae Gu-hwi's first journey into the martial world.
The Infinite Realm sensed something amiss.
While it wasn't unheard of for world-weary martial artists to visit the Valley after hearing its legends—
For a young successor of the Beast Palace to enter the forgotten Valley of Forgotten Souls? That made no sense.
They launched a focused reinvestigation into the Valley.
And ultimately uncovered that Do Song-baek was hiding there, prompting them to dispatch a large force.
No matter how extraordinary Bu Eun-seol's wisdom were—
He could never have foreseen Dae Gon taking such action, nor the Three Realms intercepting that intelligence to orchestrate this.
[It seems we'll have to waste a little more time.]
The messenger raised his hand again.
At once, the assassins lifted their swords, preparing to attack.
Whoosh.
But in that moment, Do Song-baek's eyes had already turned a searing red.
The messenger's limbs twitched uncontrollably as if paralyzed.
Sssk—
Simultaneously, light swirled in the pupils of the surrounding assassins before they abruptly turned to surround the messenger.
Do Song-baek had unleashed the Mind-Seizing Art, paralyzing the lion's body and seizing control of the assassins.
[See now?]
Despite being encircled by assassins, the messenger clicked his tongue with a leisurely expression.
[With abilities like yours, Special Mind Investigator Do, you could never hope to find something like peace.]
"Leave."
Do Song-baek's voice was icy.
"Or dozens of swords will pierce your body."
"Lord Do! Be careful!"
Just then, the fallen Dae Gu-hwi shouted urgently.
He had sensed that the messenger's body wasn't stiffened at all.
But it was already too late.
Thunk!
Blood gushed from Do Song-baek's lower abdomen as he unleashed the Mind-Seizing Art.
The messenger, supposedly surrounded by assassins, had instantly closed the distance to Do Song-baek's face—
And plunged his knife-hand into his stomach.
[Given how long you've evaded the Main Realm's grasp, you've lasted quite a while.]
With a sinister smile, the messenger pulled his knife-hand from Do Song-baek's belly.
Squelch.
Crimson blood poured out like a river.
His knife-hand had severed the abdominal aorta near his navel.
[How does it feel? That pain.]
Having his guts torn apart barehanded, the agony must have been unimaginable.
Yet Do Song-baek only wore a faint smile.
"Isn't suffering the essence of life?"
He murmured softly with a lonely expression.
"All humans begin with life and walk toward death. And on that journey, happiness and sorrow must inevitably intertwine..."
[Are those your last words?]
Just as the lion bared its bloodstained grin—
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted from the distant sky.
Flash!
A bolt of lightning suddenly descended from the heavens, splitting the messenger's skull apart.
Swish!
The messenger swiftly retreated a step back.
Sssshhk—!
A sharp surge of energy cleaved the ground where the messenger had stood into two.
Thud.
At the same time, a gray shadow descended from the air.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
'Am I too late?'
His pupils dimmed as he spotted Do Song-baek bleeding to death.
[Who are you?]
The lion's eyes flashed, but Bu Eun-seol didn't answer.
Instead, he immediately approached the fallen Do Song-baek and channeled True Qi into him.
If only to hear his final words.
"It's been far too long."
Do Song-baek accepted his end with calm resignation.
"I originally intended to sever this wretched life immediately, but in the end, I couldn't—so I opened the Valley of Forgotten Souls. For those suffering the same torment as I..."
Bu Eun-seol could sense it.
Do Song-baek had never clung to life.
And now that the Three Realms had found him in the Valley, he was prepared to cast his life away without regret.
"Just why?"
"The secret method that allows the Three Realms to control the Soulless Ones... In truth, it was this old man who perfected it."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol finally understand Do Song-baek's torment.
He had joined forces with Hyeokryeon Eung to reach the pinnacle of the Mind-Seizing Secret Art... but freely controlling and enforcing absolute obedience upon human minds was an impossible feat.
In the end, they had resorted to Human Blossoms, creating a method that could only enforce absolute obedience upon those already addicted to them.
"You must save the people of this valley from their hands."
Even in death, Do Song-baek was solely concerned for the people of the Valley of Forgotten Souls.
"You can do that, can't you?"
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"Do not worry."
"Thank you."
Do Song-baek smiled faintly.
And then, he breathed his last.
A man who had lived on, unable to take his own life—who had spent his days aiding martial artists suffering the same agony as himself.
The death of Do Song-baek, Sect Leader of the Absorbing Heaven Sect, appeared infinitely peaceful.
"Why are the Three Realms so petty?"
Bu Eun-seol glared at the messenger as he spoke.
"Haven't you already seized most of the martial world? Was it truly necessary to hunt down and slaughter Do Song-baek, who sought nothing but peace?"
[So you know of our realm.]
Since Bu Eun-seol was wearing Seol-so's appearance, the messenger failed to recognize him entirely.
"You have no right to live."
Without another word, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Thirteenfold Qi Induction.
Sshhk!
Two streams of sharp internal power scraped across the earth, piercing toward the messenger's flanks.
"Hmph."
Crack!
The messenger lightly raised his internal power to deflect the attack.
But it was a feint.
Shrrrk—!
The true strike was the four streams of energy that arced in a wide semicircle, coiling around the messenger's back.
Whirr!
Startled, the messenger spun his body like a top.
But one stream had already pierced his side.
[Kgh!]
Crouching, the messenger let out a clipped scream.
As the razor-sharp energy burrowed in, pain as if his very bones were twisting spread through his entire body.
[This bastard—!]
Stunned by Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess, the messenger staggered back—
Whoosh!
—then suddenly spread both arms, summoning his internal power.
Transparent powder began scattering in all directions.
[Fall!]
At the same time, a sickly yellow light seeped from the messenger's right eye.
It was a formidable Mind-Seizing Secret Art, rivaling the Spirit Summoning Secret Voice—the Evil Spirit Demon Eye.
"One-Eyed Yama, Dong Cheon-gi. So you were the Three Realms' messenger?"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
One-Eyed Yama Dong Cheon-gi. A man who primarily used aphrodisiacs and basic Mind-Gathering Arts,
the sect leader of the Ghost Fire Sect, a Black Path faction that survived on contract killings.
He rarely showed himself in the martial world, instead sending disciples to take contracts while he grew fat on the profits.
He was also an exceedingly arrogant man—even the grandiose epithet "One-Eyed Yama" was one he had bestowed upon himself.
Yet Dong Cheon-gi not only held the identity of an Infinite Realm messenger,
but also wielded the Evil Spirit Demon Eye, a Mind-Seizing Secret Art comparable to the Spirit Summoning Secret Voice?
[The Evil Spirit Demon Eye... isn't working?]
The messenger—Dong Cheon-gi—staggered back in shock.
He was an adept of the Light-Splitting Finger Force and Mind-Seizing Art, and with the Evil Spirit Demon Eye he had gained from the Infinite Realm, he had effortlessly crushed his enemies.
Yet not only had it failed, but this man's martial arts surpassed his own?
"Then the identity of an Infinite Realm messenger isn't fixed—it's assigned as needed... or perhaps you hold another identity entirely."
A glint flashed through Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"Under the pretext of contract killings, you've been roaming the martial world with assassins disguised as Ghost Fire Sect disciples, carrying out the Infinite Realm's missions. The Mind-Seizing Art you use were likely taught to you by them as well."
[Shut your mouth!]
Dong Cheon-gi raised his left hand.
Shhk!
At once, the assassins pressed blades against the throats of the Valley of Forgotten Souls' inhabitants.
[Don't move. So much as twitch a finger, and I'll kill them all.]
Until now, the Three Realms' messengers had not only possessed exceptional martial prowess but also wielded unique techniques that transcended conventional martial arts.
Yet the messenger before him—Dong Cheon-gi—was by far the weakest in martial arts among those Bu Eun-seol had encountered.
Likely because he had always been assigned missions relying not on martial arts but on the Mind-Intrusion Art.
[Even you can't save this many people at once.]
The assassins held roughly a hundred people hostage.
To save them all, Bu Eun-seol would have to behead every assassin simultaneously.
That left only one method—the Willful True Binding—but the problem was its activation speed wasn't fast enough.
No choice.
Normally, he would have slaughtered the assassins and subdued the messenger without a second thought for their lives.
But Do Song-baek, who had willingly given him the Mysterious Leaf Stone, had made a request. He couldn't sacrifice the valley's people.
"Pull yourselves together."
Bu Eun-seol spoke to the dazed, trembling inhabitants standing before the ruined garden of collapsed flowers and trees.
"If you wish to die, offer your necks to their blades. If you wish to live—fight."
A sharp light gleamed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes as he looked at them.
"The valley master is dead. There is no more peace for you."
His low cry reverberated through the minds of the Valley of Forgotten Souls' inhabitants.
—The valley lord is dead. There is no more peace for you now.
A glimmer began to shine in the vacant, dazed eyes of those standing frozen.
The Valley of Forgotten Souls had crumbled. The valley lord was dead.
There would be no more beautiful landscapes to make them forget their torment.
The valley, once severed from the world, had now vanished.
"Ooooh!"
A middle-aged man among them unleashed a surge of formidable palm energy.
It was Dan Jung-ak, the Golden Blade Jade Man, who had once lost his beloved wife, fallen into despair, and found peace within the valley.
"Aaaargh!"
At his roar, the others, who had been standing dumbly, also began attacking the assassins with martial techniques they had long forgotten.
There was no more paradise.
If so, they had no choice but to return—to the world, to the Martial World.
Crack! Whoosh!
As the valley's inhabitants unleashed their martial arts, the assassins' formation collapsed helplessly.
These were men whose talents had been so exceptional that they had grown disillusioned with the world itself.
Now, releasing the emotions they had suppressed for so long, they transformed into supreme martial experts in an instant.
Swish!
Meanwhile, Bu Eun-seol's Thirteenfold Qi Induction pierced toward Dong Cheon-gi's throat.
[You think it'll be that easy?]
Though slightly weaker than the other emissaries who had appeared so far, Dong Cheon-gi's martial prowess was nothing to scoff at.
But Bu Eun-seol's skills were on par with those of the supreme martial experts who roamed the Martial World.
Dong Cheon-gi narrowly avoided decapitation multiple times.
[Wait!]
Dong Cheon-gi suddenly shouted in panic.
[Don't you want to know about our realm?!]
Bu Eun-seol scoffed.
"What could trash like you possibly know? Your head would explode before you could even speak the truth."
He already knew, from the Illusion King Sa Ok-cheong and the blue-eyed man of the Martial Alliance, that the Three Realms had placed an unbreakable Restrictive Seal.
Anyone who tried to reveal their secrets would die instantly.
Shudder.
Realizing there was no way out, Dong Cheon-gi trembled before suddenly widening his eyes and screaming.
[Then... we all die together!]
He stretched both hands toward the sky.
BOOM!
With a deafening explosion, his blood and bone fragments scattered in all directions.
He had chosen mutual destruction—detonating himself like the Dragon-Subduing Soul-Expelling Blast.
Zzzzzzt!
But Bu Eun-seol had anticipated this. Using the Willful True Binding, he formed a circular barrier to block the blast.
Rumble—!
Yet something unexpected happened.
The moment Dong Cheon-gi exploded, the entire Valley of Forgotten Souls began collapsing.
Before entering, he had ordered his assassins to plant massive explosives throughout the valley.
If his mission failed, he intended to bury everyone alive.
"To the Moon-Connecting Cave!"
At that moment, Noe Bi-hon, who had been standing to the side, shouted.
"There's a hidden passage there that leads to safety!"
Having stayed in the valley for so long, he had memorized every inch of its structure.
He knew of a secret passage in the Moon-Connecting Cave that connected to the outside.
Tap-tap-tap!
Following his cry, the crowd rushed toward the cave.
At its deepest end stood a massive iron gate.
Passing through it would lead them straight to the foot of the mountain.
Rumble—
As the mountain shook violently, the Valley of Forgotten Souls collapsed entirely.
The valley's inhabitants stared blankly at the sight.
There was no more refuge to make them forget the world's sorrows.
Now, they had no choice but to step back into the outside world and live.
Their expressions were like those of men waking from a long dream.
Then, one by one, they bowed deeply toward the ruins of the valley.
It was their gratitude—to Do Song-baek, who had sheltered them and given them peace.
Among the Seven Great Secret Palaces of the martial world, the Divine Beast Palace was the most unique and mysterious.
Unlike other sects, they did not interact with the outside world, maintaining only their own pure lineage with lofty pride.
They had also merged a mystical force called Water Spirit Energy with their martial arts,
turning something as common as water into the most terrifying weapon in the world.
And deep within the enigmatic Divine Beast Palace lay another secret place unknown to the martial world—
the All Swords Land.
The area around All Swords Land was perpetually shrouded in storm clouds, its atmosphere unstable.
Fierce winds, treacherous terrain, and a hot, humid climate caused... lightning to strike incessantly.
Now that they had obtained the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mysterious Leaf Stone,
if they could awaken the Thunder Essence Divine Qi using the lightning of All Swords Land...
Noe Bi-hon would regain his full power.
Bu Eun-seol and his party hurried toward Silver River Ridge, where the Divine Beast Palace stood.
Upon arriving near the ridge, they set up camp as night fell, lighting a fire.
"Rest here and recover your stamina. Then we head to the Divine Beast Palace."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Dae Gu-hwi diligently tended the fire while Noe Bi-hon prepared bedding.
Once everything was ready, Noe Bi-hon sat down to meditate.
Though his memories had not returned, fragments of the Thunder Spirit Gate's martial maxims surfaced in his mind over time.
And as he meditated, he recited these verses aloud, passing them on to Dae Gu-hwi.
During their journey from the Valley of Forgotten Souls to Silver River Ridge, where the Divine Beast Palace stood, Noe Bi-hon had imparted a considerable number of Thunder Spirit Gate's martial techniques to Dae Gu-hwi.
Since both the Thunder Spirit Gate and the Beast Palace's martial arts primarily emphasized ferocity, the compatibility and harmony between the two schools were remarkably good.
"Hmm, this one might be useful."
Noe Bi-hon, recalling yet another martial formula, meticulously explained it to Dae Gu-hwi.
"Gu-hwi, you might think your gentle nature and the way you're shackled by past memories prevent your Beast Force from manifesting properly. But I see it differently. It's precisely because you're too rational."
"Is being rational a bad thing?"
"No. Remaining cold and logical before a fight is the best choice. But you shouldn't overthink your opponent's movements or dwell on victory or defeat in advance."
Noe Bi-hon spoke plainly.
"The Beast Palace's martial arts prioritize instinct and senses. So, mastering this Thunder Spirit First Form should help sharpen your acute senses."
Then, he recited the formula for the Thunder Spirit First Form.
Dae Gu-hwi listened intently, memorizing the words with a serious expression.
'This must be how he wanted to live.'
Bu Eun-seol, watching the scene, smiled faintly.
Noe Bi-hon must have cherished his son deeply. And he likely wished to raise his child just like this—teaching him martial arts one by one as he grew.
Dae Gu-hwi, with his mild temperament, followed Noe Bi-hon's guidance earnestly.
To an outsider, they might even be mistaken for father and son.
'There's nothing left for me to do on this journey.'
Originally, Bu Eun-seol had planned to teach Dae Gu-hwi various martial formulas to help him unleash his Beast Force.
But after the events in the Valley of Forgotten Souls, Dae Gu-hwi had already succeeded in awakening his Beast Force.
And now, Noe Bi-hon was gradually filling in the remaining gaps.
By the time they finished their business at the Divine Beast Palace, Dae Gu-hwi would likely be able to wield his Beast Force smoothly.
Nod, nod.
As the night deepened, Dae Gu-hwi, exhausted, fell into a deep sleep.
Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky, lost in thought.
Then, Noe Bi-hon approached him.
"You've suffered a lot because of me."
"Not at all."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Though you don't remember, all of this is actually this younger brother's fault."
"What do you mean?"
"Because of me, you were suddenly forced into battle. And in the end, you were defeated and injured."
"How is that your fault? It was my lack of skill."
Noe Bi-hon chuckled lightly.
"You've really been through a lot. Because of me."
Bu Eun-seol smiled.
Though their bond had formed under imperfect circumstances, he felt a deep, unbreakable kinship with Noe Bi-hon—as if they were truly brothers.
So much so that he didn't even consider these hardships as suffering.
'But.'
This was only a fleeting dream.
Once Noe Bi-hon regained his Thunder Essence Divine Qi, he would lose all his current memories.
For now, it was enough to think of this as a pleasant dream.
"Let's save such talk for after everything is settled. We don't even know if the Divine Beast Palace Lord will lend us the All Swords Land."
"Right, that's true."
Noe Bi-hon replied calmly.
"But even if I don't recover my strength, I won't regret it. So don't push yourself too hard, little brother."
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol simply smiled.
He had already resolved to restore Noe Bi-hon no matter what.
But he never anticipated what would happen next.
The next day.
Bu Eun-seol and his party arrived early at the gates of the Divine Beast Palace and relayed their request to visit the All Swords Land to the guards.
"Please deliver this letter to the deputy palace master."
The Divine Beast Palace Lord was in seclusion, leaving all affairs to the deputy palace master, Sa Cheong-ha.
Thus, they had to convey their request to her.
But the reply they received was utterly baffling.
"Her Excellency says she'd rather cut your throats on the spot, but out of mercy... you are to immediately retreat thirty li from Silver River Ridge."
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
"Those were her exact words. That's all."
Thud.
The gates of the Divine Beast Palace slammed shut once more.
Standing before the closed gates, Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his bewilderment.
This was completely unexpected. Even if the Divine Beast Palace rejected outsiders, this level of hostility was excessive.
Clearly, there was some history between Deputy Palace Master Sa Cheong-ha and Noe Bi-hon.
"Noe Elder Brother. Do you remember anything?"
"No."
Noe Bi-hon shook his head indifferently.
Having lost his memories, even if there was some twisted karmic bond between him and Sa Cheong-ha, he wouldn't know.
"We can't just leave after coming this far."
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
How much had they suffered to obtain the Divine Spirit Staff and the Mysterious Leaf Stone?
If the Divine Beast Palace refused them entry to the All Swords Land, all their efforts would be for nothing—and they wouldn't be able to find the Heir of the Blade Emperor either.
"Young Hero Seol."
At that moment, Dae Gu-hwi stepped forward.
"Let me try."
He thumped his chest confidently.
"No matter what, I am a successor of the Beast Palace. Even the Divine Beast Palace wouldn't dare disregard our prestige so easily."
He was ignored.
Deputy Palace Master Sa Cheong-ha couldn't care less about the Beast Palace's reputation—let alone the standing of an obscure youngest son.
When Dae Gu-hwi returned with a dazed expression after being thoroughly dismissed, Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
'No other choice.'
He clenched his teeth.
There was only one way left to enter the Divine Beast Palace, which had shut its gates so decisively.
The identity of the Heir of the Demon Hall—the Martial Soul Lord.