Chapter 526
—The Martial Alliance Crushes the Heavenly Human Cult
Gongson Dan-gyeong, commanding the Divine Guard Unit and the Heavenly Martial Division, brought down the Heavenly Human Cult that had been sowing chaos in the Murim. She exposed their crimes under the bright light of day.
It was said that they had long been collecting demonic swords from the Murim and had artificially constructed a Sword Tomb on Taiping Mountain over the past decade.
Then, to awaken those demonic swords, they spread rumors that the place was a Sword Tomb, drawing martial artists in and harvesting their blood.
These facts had remained entirely unknown to the Murim—
But Gongson Dan-gyeong, the chief strategist of the Martial Alliance, saw through the cult's suspicious activities and finally uncovered evidence of their atrocities... annihilating the Heavenly Human Cult.
—You've done well.
Gongson Dan-gyeong, who had achieved merit in the subjugation of the Heavenly Human Cult, was personally praised by the Heavenly Sovereign—a figure who rarely made appearances—further solidifying her standing within the Martial Alliance.
But that wasn't all. There was even greater news.
—Seon-u Jin, the Second-grade Commander of the Pinnacle Squad, was appointed as a First-grade Commander.
In the history of the Murim, the only person to become a First-grade Commander in their twenties was the Sword Sovereign's disciple—the Heavenly Sword.
Moreover, the Heavenly Sword hadn't earned the rank through merit but had risen through a loophole, recognized for the Sword Sovereign's influence and his own exceptional martial prowess.
But Seon-u Jin was different.
Starting as a Third-grade Commander, he steadily accumulated achievements—forging a peace alliance with the Blazing Flame Sacred Palace, among other things—
He accomplished one major feat after another.
Furthermore, his outstanding military tactics led the newly formed Pinnacle Squad to victory in the Phoenix Tournament. He was also said to be a brilliant strategist, capable enough to command two battle groups in Gongson Dan-gyeong's stead while she was away in the Capital.
And finally, during the battle against the Heavenly Human Cult—when the Universal Sword Guard and Gongson Dan-gyeong were pushed to the brink—
He fought the cult leader alone and defeated him, earning recognition for his extraordinary martial prowess.
Now, once his injuries healed, it was confirmed that he would formally receive the rank of First-grade Commander.
Bustling, bustling.
As these rumors spread, countless figures flocked to the Bamboo Forest near the Pinnacle Squad's northern gate.
A First-grade battle group was permitted to operate independently, answering only to their direct superiors.
Personages from all corners of the Martial Alliance, now aware of the hidden strength of Seon-u Jin—a man who had risen to First-grade Commander through his own efforts at such a young age—
Came in droves, seeking to establish connections or build rapport with him.
Even Hall Master-rank figures who had previously ignored the Pinnacle Squad or Seon-u Jin now paid continuous visits.
Martial Alliance, Pinnacle Pavilion—Bu Eun-seol's Quarters
"How's your condition?"
A towering figure stood there like a firmly planted pillar—none other than Yuk Jang-cheon, Hall Master of the Hall of Martial Ascension.
"I hadn't expected you to accomplish such a grand feat."
Under normal circumstances, he would have been grinning ear to ear—
But as he looked at Bu Eun-seol, who had returned after achieving great merit, Yuk Jang-cheon's gaze was somewhat darkened.
The reason was simple: Bu Eun-seol hadn't reported his participation in the Heavenly Human Cult's extermination operation to Yuk Jang-cheon beforehand.
"My apologies."
Bu Eun-seol, having discerned Yuk Jang-cheon's inner thoughts, calmly explained.
"The chief strategist insisted this matter had to be conducted in absolute secrecy and personally selected me for the task."
"I've heard as much. But even so, you should have given me some notice, however belated."
"Of course. Once I became aware of the situation, I immediately reported it to the Hall Master of Yeonseong Hall."
"To Cheong-a?"
"Yes. I requested that she inform Hall Master Yuk, as it was a matter that required your attention. The chief strategist personally met with Hall Master Yuk and explained everything."
"Hoho, is that so?"
Only then did Yuk Jang-cheon's expression brighten.
Bu Eun-seol was a man who pursued perfection, just as his wisdom was extraordinary.
No matter how secretive the chief strategist's request had been, there had been multiple opportunities to quietly inform Yuk Jang-cheon before departing for the Heavenly Human Cult's subjugation.
But learning of everything only after the cult's annihilation had left Yuk Jang-cheon deeply disappointed.
—Was he trying to switch allegiance from my hall to the Grand Strategy Hall?
At first, Yuk Jang-cheon had been furious, but soon shook his head.
It wouldn't matter even if he did switch.
The Grand Strategy Hall had no position worthy of Bu Eun-seol's ascent.
What he wanted was the highest position he could attain at a young age: the position of deputy commander of one of the Seven Great Battle Corps—nothing more.
"Still, I wonder why Cheong-a didn't report this to me."
"Who can say? Perhaps Hall Master Yuk was simply too busy and forgot."
"Cheong-a doesn't just forget things. How strange."
Yuk Jang-cheon scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"In any case, you've done well. Once your injuries heal, there will be an appointment ceremony. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"Then, rest well."
Yuk Jang-cheon hurriedly stepped outside.
Judging by his demeanor, he was likely heading straight to Yuk Cheong-a—
To confirm whether Bu Eun-seol's words were true and demand why she hadn't reported it.
'A terrifying woman, that chief strategist.'
In truth, this had been part of Gongson Dan-gyeong's plan.
Had Bu Eun-seol formally reported his participation, Yuk Jang-cheon might have readily permitted it—but he would have harbored some suspicion about Bu Eun-seol's loyalty.
Thus, Gongson Dan-gyeong deliberately ordered Bu Eun-seol not to inform Yuk Jang-cheon—
Then, timing it for when Yuk Jang-cheon was absent, she personally met with Yuk Cheong-a.
Yuk Cheong-a, who held the record for youngest Hall Master, was a woman of remarkable ability and great ambition.
Gongson Dan-gyeong knew full well that Cheong-a had long viewed her as a rival.
—Don't the Yeonseong Hall and the Hall of Martial Ascension function just fine without Commander Seon-u?
And so, Gongson Dan-gyeong prodded at Cheong-a's pride.
—I'd like to quietly take Commander Seon-u under my wing, but I doubt Hall Master Yuk would permit it.
Yuk Cheong-a, deeply stung by Gongson Dan-gyeong's tone and attitude, chose not to report the meeting to Yuk Jang-cheon at all.
'They really don't have a normal father-daughter relationship, do they...?'
Bu Eun-seol, who had been gazing at the distant sky, shook his head.
According to Gongson Dan-gyeong, despite being father and daughter, Yuk Jang-cheon and Yuk Cheong-a surprisingly did not get along well.
Though they belonged to the same Hall of Martial Ascension as superior and subordinate, the two harbored entirely different ambitions.
What a terrifying woman.
Gongson Dan-gyeong had an uncanny ability to pierce through people's circumstances and psychology.
By driving a wedge between the two, she was meticulously laying out a plan to firmly secure Bu Eun-seol as her own.
Upon returning to the Martial Alliance after annihilating the Heavenly Human Cult, Gongson Dan-gyeong immediately convened the Chief Department Heads Conference and proposed promoting Bu Eun-seol to First-Grade Commander.
The motion was unanimously approved by all the hall leaders.
After all, the two deputy commanders who had fought alongside him—Muk In-hyeok and Seong Jo-yeong—had sung his praises until their lips ran dry.
No hall leader had the nerve to oppose their recommendation.
However, a subtle problem arose.
Though the Peak Realm Unit was classified as a multi-purpose combat unit, its primary duties aligned with those of an Information Warfare Unit.
While the Phoenix Tournament and various missions had proven the unit members' exceptional abilities, they had yet to achieve military feats worthy of recognition as a First-Grade Combat Unit.
"Then let us appoint Commander Seon-u to the vacant position of Sword Captain left by the Heavenly Human Crusade."
After much deliberation, the Martial Alliance's high command decided to assign him as the Sword Captain of another First-Grade Sword Unit.
But Bu Eun-seol refused outright.
"I am the commander of the Peak Realm Unit. I will share both hardship and joy with my unit members."
When he rejected the promotion to First-Grade Commander to remain with the unit he had led all this time—
"Is this man insane?"
Most warriors in the Martial Alliance shook their heads in disbelief.
For young martial artists, the rank of First-Grade Commander was—
A position that not only recognized one's martial prowess as a future Grandmaster but also granted the authority to conduct independent operations when necessary—a dreamlike station that combined both honor and power.
Yet he had outright rejected that status just to stay with his unit?
Only someone out of their mind would make such a decision.
"He has truly become a man of character. Excellent!"
In stark contrast, the high command couldn't conceal their satisfaction.
A commander who shared life and death with his subordinates and took responsibility for them to the very end—
That was the very image the Martial Alliance had always emphasized in its leaders.
Hadn't the Heavenly Sword failed to do so in the past, ultimately bringing disgrace upon the Martial Alliance?
"Commander Seon-u's decision will serve as both a warning bell to young commanders who chase only rank and glory and a shining example for the many warriors of our alliance!"
For refusing promotion to remain with his unit, the Martial Alliance granted Bu Eun-seol an unprecedented reward.
"The Peak Realm Unit shall be promoted to a First-Grade Information Warfare Unit. Furthermore, Commander Seon-u Jin shall be granted access to the second floor of the Pratyekabuddha Hall for four days, while the remaining unit members shall be permitted entry to the first floor!"
Rather than forcing the issue, the Martial Alliance's elders acknowledged the Peak Realm Unit as a First-Grade Information Warfare Unit and granted Seon-u Jin four days on the second floor of the Pratyekabuddha Hall—
And the unit members access to the first floor.
"He's truly won over the old-timers' hearts."
Upon hearing the news, martial artists couldn't help but burn with envy.
The second floor of the Pratyekabuddha Hall was a place only First-Grade Commanders or hall master-ranked figures could enter after achieving great merit.
Yet they were opening it to him immediately upon promotion?
This was an unprecedented, extraordinary reward.
"A new Grandmaster of the younger generation has emerged within our alliance."
After this incident, the name Seon-u Jin was deeply engraved in the minds of every warrior in the Martial Alliance.
But the world did not yet know—
This was merely the prelude to the storm that the man called Seon-u Jin would bring.
Guided by guards, Bu Eun-seol and the Peak Realm Unit members headed toward the West Gate, where the Pratyekabuddha Hall stood.
The Pratyekabuddha Hall.
Among the Martial Alliance's Scripture Archive Pavilion, it housed the secret manuals of the Divine Arts and Supreme Techniques from various sects.
Normally, repositories for martial arts manuals were located in highly concealed areas, rigged with numerous mechanisms to prevent intrusion by outsiders or thieves.
But the Pratyekabuddha Hall was neither hidden nor equipped with any special devices.
Because it stood directly opposite the Heaven and Earth Pavilion—the residence of the Martial Alliance Leader, where security was tightest and the high command constantly came and went.
The Heaven and Earth Pavilion...
As he followed the guards, Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant hall and drew a deep breath.
There resided the Number One of the Righteous Path, the True Heaven Emperor.
And that man's other identity was none other than the Foremost Sage of the Murim, the Divine Calculator—the one who had given him the name Seon-u Jin.
Bu Eun-seol was rising through the ranks at a rapid pace, achieving merit day by day.
And the Divine Calculator—no, the True Heaven Emperor—was undoubtedly watching.
What is he thinking?
Was he pleased that Bu Eun-seol was climbing the ranks as planned?
Why was he helping him track down and take revenge on the leader who had killed his grandfather? What did he truly want?
Krrr—
With a low rumble, the tightly sealed doors of the Pratyekabuddha Hall swung open, and a kindly looking old man stepped out.
His eyebrows were snow-white, and beneath his neatly combed hair gleamed clear eyes that seemed to hold the vast Azure Sky itself.
Though his stature was small, he exuded an aura reminiscent of the Immortal Wind Daoist.
This was none other than the Hidden Forest Pavilion Master, Daoist Mok—the caretaker of the Pratyekabuddha Hall.
"Seon-u Jin pays his respects to the Honorable Pavilion Master."
As Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply, his unit members followed suit.
"Come in."
Daoist Mok smiled as if he had been waiting and studied Bu Eun-seol.
"They say a dragon hides in the commercial world. Indeed, the rumors were not unfounded."
"You flatter me too much."
"Hurry inside. We must not waste this precious time."
Following Daoist Mok, Bu Eun-seol stepped into the Pratyekabuddha Hall.
The first floor's interior was lined with antique desks and chairs, while bookshelves packed with tomes stretched endlessly into the distance.
Since anyone who had made contributions could enter, the first floor was unexpectedly crowded with quite a number of people.
'This is different from the Ten Thousand Demonic Secret Archive.'
In the Demon Hall's Ten Thousand Demonic Secret Archive, even the first floor was heavily guarded by martial artists managing the secret manuals, preventing large numbers of people from entering at once.
But this Pratyekabuddha Hall was packed with people reading books, much like the scripture archives of any orthodox sect.
'I'll have to change the atmosphere of our main hall too.'
In the Demonic Path, strength was synonymous with authority.
That was why, even for the first floor of the Ten Thousand Demonic Secret Archive, the conditions for entry were extremely strict.
Without permission from the highest echelons—such as the Demonic Heavenly Emperor or the Chief Doctrine Commander—no one could enter, no matter how many contributions they had made.
But the Martial Alliance could open the Pratyekabuddha Hall anytime based on the majority opinion of its core members.
And they were actively providing as many martial artists as possible with the opportunity to study martial arts manuals.
Perhaps it was this stark contrast in philosophy that made the Martial Alliance's influence surpass that of the Demon Hall.
'Could this be the reason?'
"You're permitted to access this floor as well, so you may proceed upstairs immediately."
Daoist Mok took out a silver command plaque engraved with a phoenix from his sleeve and handed it to Bu Eun-seol.
"Wear this at your waist. For the next four days, you'll be able to move freely between the first and second floors."
"Thank you."
Daoist Mok smiled warmly as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"Though the time is short, I hope you make great progress."
Bu Eun-seol and the Peak Realm Members bowed once more in gratitude.
"Leader... I can't tell if this is a dream or reality."
At that moment, Tae Mu-ryong spoke up, his voice trembling.
"We've actually entered the Pratyekabuddha Hall..."
"I feel the same."
Jeong Jong-do couldn't hide his excitement either.
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
"Four days isn't a long time."
Then, addressing his unit members firmly, he said:
"Let's meet again in four days, transformed."
"Yes, sir!"
The unit members immediately bowed to Bu Eun-seol before scattering toward the bookshelves.
Watching them, Bu Eun-seol immediately ascended the stairs leading to the second floor.
Having already read numerous orthodox martial arts manuals in the Martial Emperor's Secret Vault, he didn't hold any grand expectations for the Pratyekabuddha Hall.
Still, since this was the famed Martial Alliance's scripture archive, he intended to skim through its contents at least.
Thud. Thud.
Bu Eun-seol climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Upon arriving, he was met with a long corridor.
'They're preventing the leakage of secret manuals.'
Faint metallic friction sounds suggested the presence of mechanical traps, and the auras of hidden masters could be sensed.
Unless one destroyed the Pratyekabuddha Hall itself,
this long passage was the only way in or out.
The Martial Alliance used this corridor to monitor outsiders and ensure no one smuggled out any manuals.
'They don't refrain from surveillance—they just disguise it.'
Bu Eun-seol smirked.
He had thought this place was freer and less monitored than the Ten Thousand Demonic Secret Archive, but in truth, the surveillance was simply concealed.
When he finally stepped onto the second floor, his eyes widened.
The books on the shelves—
unlike the ancient texts filling the first floor, all the manuals here were new.
'Did they rewrite all these secret manuals?'
Curious, Bu Eun-seol pulled out a book haphazardly placed on a shelf.
Heavenly Wind Sword Manual.
The sword techniques of the Heavenly Wind Sect, which had gained fame two centuries ago for their Chaotic Sword Art.
But the Heavenly Wind Sect had been nothing more than a mediocre second-rate sect. So why was their sword study preserved here?
Rustle.
Sensing something unusual, he flipped through the manual.
"This is..."
The sword techniques recorded in the Heavenly Wind Sword Manual weren't from two centuries ago.
They were a newly refined version of the Heavenly Wind Sword Art.
'So that's how it is.'
As he read, Bu Eun-seol felt a fresh wave of astonishment.
The Martial Alliance wasn't merely preserving outstanding martial arts from the past—
they were constantly researching, refining, and advancing them further.
'This is the Martial Alliance's hidden strength.'
Of course, the Demon Hall also had divisions dedicated to restoring or improving martial arts.
But they didn't refine or restore as many manuals as this—only selecting a few exceptional ones for enhancement.
Yet the Martial Alliance had taken the Heavenly Wind Sect's mediocre sword techniques from two centuries ago and refined them into something remarkable.
This meant the sheer number of talents within the Martial Alliance was something the Demon Hall couldn't hope to match.
'They have an abundance of outstanding talents.'
Bu Eun-seol nodded faintly.
The fact that even second-rate sword techniques had been refined wasn't just due to the number of talents—
it was also because skilled researchers had spent years studying foundational martial arts for lower-tier practitioners.
In other words, the Martial Alliance didn't just focus on elite martial artists—they also paid meticulous attention to the lower ranks that formed the backbone of their organization.
'Like building a structure, an organization must have a solid foundation.'
Unlike the Demon Hall, the Martial Alliance hadn't overlooked this crucial aspect.
'The Demon Hall should learn from this.'
Still marveling, Bu Eun-seol resumed browsing the manuals on the shelves.
Unlike the first floor, the manuals here were
undoubtedly advanced martial arts—either reserved for Hall Master-ranked figures or significantly refined techniques.
But none stood out as particularly noteworthy or worth mastering.
'The ultimate arts here aren't enough to serve as the foundation for Seon-u Jin's True Void.'
The new generation of grandmasters each cultivated supreme martial arts that had reached the highest realms.
While the manuals here contained exceptional ultimate techniques,
they still felt somewhat lacking for Seon-u Jin, who would soon have to challenge the leader.
'Wait, if they're refining techniques...'
As he scanned the manuals, a sudden thought struck Bu Eun-seol.
The martial arts stored here were largely refined versions of existing techniques.
Then it struck him—if he could use these manuals as a foundation to modify the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms... wouldn't that allow him to create the Breakthrough Form?