Chapter 540
Massive pillars stood throughout the vast and dimly lit Grand Hall.
The surfaces of the pillars emitted a faint glow, engraved with the forms of the Four Symbols.
Though the interior was steeped in darkness, obscuring any discernible shapes,
a chillingly low human voice resonated through the space.
["It seems he should now step down from the Special Divine Rank."]
["Though to be fair, he impersonated the Heavenly Venerable for far too long with just the Mind-Seizing Art."]
["Moreover, with all his meticulously maintained identities exposed over decades, he can no longer be called the Dharma Demon Master."]
Though each voice was distinct, the emotions they carried were uniformly identical—
mockery and contempt.
As the voices echoing through the Grand Hall gradually subsided, a deep, resonant voice boomed forth.
["Would it be enough if I killed him and came back?"]
The low voice reverberating through the hall carried a razor-sharp Killing Intent.
["Such discussions can wait until after that is done."]
Simultaneously, one of the shadows filling the Grand Hall vanished outward.
Swish.
As the shadow passed through the Mountain Gate, a sprawling flower garden came into view.
The blossoms and plants in the garden emitted a soft, shimmering light.
The shadow—none other than Hyeokryeon Eung—gazed at the flowers flickering like stars embroidered across the night sky.
"I should have killed him properly back then."
The reason he had lured Bu Eun-seol to Prince Wei's Residence was to turn him into a puppet.
But that plan had ultimately failed, forcing him to abandon not only his position as Hall Master of the Guardians' Faction in the Demon Hall but also his role as Royal Tutor at Prince Wei's Residence.
No matter how formidable the Power of the Three Realms might be, it couldn't instantly recreate such meticulously crafted identities.
With his ability to operate openly in the Martial World gone, his standing within the Infinite Realm had gradually diminished.
Lately, didn't even the Infinite Realm regard him merely as a figure to be deployed when the Mind-Seizing Art was needed?
"Revoking my title as Dharma Demon Master? How dare they?"
Hyeokryeon Eung clenched his fist.
For someone who had handled the Infinite Realm's most critical affairs for years as the Heavenly Venerable's proxy, such treatment was nothing short of humiliating.
"He wasn't even supposed to survive in the first place."
Initially, he had assumed the boy would die quickly, given his mediocre bone and muscle structure.
But as the trials progressed, he began to sense it—
not just his talent for martial arts, but his exceptional observational skills, patience, insight, and unshakable composure even in the face of death.
Above all, the disposition of the Greatest Demon Under Heaven, capable of trampling the entire Murim beneath his feet.
That boy was destined to catch the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's eye, learn the Demonic Path Heart Formula, and become a Great Demon rivaling the golden age of the Three Demons.
Yet every expectation had been upended.
Despite learning the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's Mind-Training Formula, he never succumbed to the Demonic Path.
Instead, he took incomprehensible actions and repeatedly obstructed the Infinite Realm's operations.
But Hyeokryeon Eung hadn't paid it much mind.
To his eyes—having mastered the Spirit Summoning Secret Voice to the Ten Stars level—Bu Eun-seol remained nothing more than a minnow, someone he could eliminate anytime.
However, the incident involving the Artificial Inner Elixir given to Sim Wol had exposed his true identity.
In the end, he boldly lured Bu Eun-seol to Prince Wei's Residence to turn him into a puppet, only for the boy to endure the Spirit Summoning Secret Voice and leap off a cliff.
No corpse was ever found. Seasons changed without any trace of him, and there were no covert attempts to locate the Beloved Sword.
Only after detecting that even the Azure River Realm was scrambling in bafflement to track him down in secret did Hyeokryeon Eung finally conclude Bu Eun-seol was dead.
A figure of such caliber wouldn't feign death for so long or abandon the Beloved Sword just to scheme.
So he mobilized agents to provoke Gongya Geuk, preparing to oust him from the position of Martial Soul Lord.
Yet contrary to expectations, Bu Eun-seol was alive and well.
He annihilated the Great Cloud Forest, which manufactured Soulless Ones, and its financial backbone, the Changbai Mountain Corps, while reducing Hell Blood Citadel's sect to a half-sealed state for its involvement.
A flustered Hyeokryeon Eung continued attempting to kill him afterward, but...
Bu Eun-seol had become someone no longer so easily touched.
He steadily seized control of the Demon Hall, wielding a formidable faction and an overwhelming Information Warfare Unit.
In the end, Hyeokryeon Eung had merely provided him with the perfect trial—even granting him the opportunity to strike back.
Now, Bu Eun-seol...
had grown into a formidable figure capable of threatening the Infinite Realm's very existence.
And the responsibility for all this fell squarely on Hyeokryeon Eung, who had long served as one of the Infinite Realm's central pillars.
"Let's see if such words still come easily after I kill him immediately."
Hyeokryeon Eung bit his lip.
Killing Bu Eun-seol would set everything right.
The problem was that he now commanded immense influence and intelligence networks. No force could eliminate him instantly.
To kill such a figure, one must first blind and deafen him—then sever his hands and feet.
"Bu Eun-seol. You're already within my grasp."
As the Hall of Protectors Master, Hyeokryeon Eung had observed Bu Eun-seol for a long time.
How he had taken root in the Demon Hall, how he operated his organization—he knew it all.
"First, I'll sever the eyes and ears you've so thoroughly hidden away."
A flash of killing intent flickered in Hyeokryeon Eung's piercing gaze.
There was no need to drag this out. He would execute his plan immediately and take Bu Eun-seol's head in one swift stroke.
For the members of the Information Warfare Unit, each day was like walking on the edge of a blade.
They monitored hostile factions, gathered intelligence.
Sometimes infiltrating under disguises or false identities, other times slipping into enemy territory to carry out assassinations or sabotage.
Perhaps their lives were even more precarious than those of warriors who clashed swords daily.
Having spent a long time in the Kill-Seeking Unit, Bu Eun-seol was well aware of this.
And so, he had strived to ensure that no intelligence operative would die in vain.
—Couldn't they receive help a little faster in emergencies?
Especially since most of Bu Eun-seol's missions were carried out alone.
When a crisis struck. When danger closed in with no escape. He had researched every possible method to survive.
—At the very least, shouldn't we establish an emergency communication system to swiftly signal distress?
After much deliberation, Bu Eun-seol had reached that conclusion.
And so, he sought advice from So Ja-myeong.
Having led the covert Kill-Seeking Unit for years, So Ja-myeong had more experience in such matters than anyone else.
—It's complete.
So Ja-myeong had finished devising an emergency alert system—one that could instantly transmit an operative's location and situation the moment they were in peril.
—Though I hope this network never has to be activated.
So Ja-myeong had said with a smile.
—If this emergency system remains unused, it means not a single operative has been lost.
Hearing that, Bu Eun-seol had also smiled faintly and nodded.
And like So Ja-myeong, he had earnestly wished that this emergency system would never be triggered.
But that wish was not granted.
Seated in his office at Jeokjeong Pavilion, Bu Eun-seol received a letter from Tae Mu-ryong.
"A letter from the Seonhwa Merchant House, addressed to the Great Leader."
It was a letter sent by the Seonhwa Merchant House.
Inside were inquiries about Bu Eun-seol's well-being, along with news of a large donation made to the Martial Alliance.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes wavered greatly as he held the letter.
"Great Leader, is something wrong?"
Noticing his reaction, Tae Mu-ryong asked. Bu Eun-seol erased his stiff expression and smiled.
"No, I just realized how thoughtless I've been. I should have visited and paid my respects at least once."
Tucking the letter into his robes, Bu Eun-seol pulled a small envelope from the desk drawer.
"Lately, I haven't been particularly busy, nor have I had any special missions... I think it's time I finally applied for that Demon Leave I've been putting off."
Handing the leave application to Tae Mu-ryong, Bu Eun-seol chuckled.
"Since I've delayed submitting it for so long, approval should come immediately. Please submit this in my stead."
"You're taking Demon Leave now?"
"It's not sudden—I've been considering it for a while. Please explain things properly to the unit members as well."
"Understoo—"
Before Tae Mu-ryong could finish, Bu Eun-seol was already stepping out of the office.
"He must be in a hurry."
Tae Mu-ryong shrugged as he glanced at the spot where Bu Eun-seol had stood, then moved to tuck the letter into his robes.
...?
But something felt off about the letter.
Since the leave application had been prepared in advance, it was natural for the paper and ink to have dried somewhat.
'August Letter?'
But why was there a faint trace of the akebia vine oil—used by the Demon Path's spies when writing in their secret language—on it?
And specifically on the spot where the Great Leader had touched it?
'No, that can't be.'
The Great Leader frequently traveled the martial world, gathering all sorts of intelligence.
A man who moved between so many places might naturally have traces of akebia oil on his hands.
But it was strange. The same oil was also present on the letter supposedly sent by the Seonhwa Merchant House—on the very spot the Great Leader had touched.
Swish.
With an increasingly grave expression, Tae Mu-ryong studied both letters before finally tucking them away.
Then, using the brush and paper left on Bu Eun-seol's desk, he began writing a letter of his own.
Whoosh.
Bu Eun-seol was already darting out of the Martial Alliance headquarters with his Lightness Skill.
At this moment, there was only one person who could have triggered the emergency alert system—Soyo.
She was the only one who traversed the martial world freely, carrying out tasks assigned by Bu Eun-seol and Seo Jin-ha.
'A master even Soyo's Movement Technique can't escape is after her?'
Bu Eun-seol's heart pounded with urgency.
He had made sure Soyo could survive any danger.
He had trained her relentlessly in movement techniques until they reached a level comparable to his own.
Yet the emergency signal had been activated.
Didn't that mean someone stronger than Bu Eun-seol was pursuing her?
Whoosh.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been racing through a secluded forest after leaving Chengdu,
Crack.
instantly activated the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art, reverting to his original appearance.
At the same time, he twisted mid-air, his white garments transforming into black in the blink of an eye.
Fwoosh—KWAOOO!
Now fully restored to his true form, Bu Eun-seol unleashed his Lightness Skill at full power.
The gathering location written in the secret language was near Shanyang in Shaanxi.
If a message had reached Bu Eun-seol while he was at the Martial Alliance, then Yu Un-ryong must have already been notified as well.
In that case, since the Demon Hall was much closer in terms of distance, the Death Shadow War Unit's commanders would likely have arrived first.
'But I must get there before them.'
The enemy would undoubtedly be a master surpassing his own abilities.
Even if the Death Shadow War Unit's commanders had arrived first, they would stand no chance.
BOOM! CRACK!
Amidst the sound of thunder, Bu Eun-seol's figure split the air.
Using his movement technique at full power like this drained his internal energy and stamina at an extreme rate.
But Bu Eun-seol paid it no mind, becoming a streak of lightning as he relentlessly pushed forward.
SHWIIK!
With each leap, he tore across the land, and in the distance, he spotted crimson smoke rising from a mountain peak.
FLASH!
The moment he saw it, Bu Eun-seol pivoted mid-air again.
As he finally turned toward the mountain where the red smoke billowed,
BWOOOOM!
The deep, resonant sound of a horn trumpet—the kind used in naval battles—echoed faintly from somewhere.
All of this was part of the signaling system developed by So Ja-myeong.
Most emergencies involving intelligence operatives arose when their tracks were exposed, leaving them relentlessly pursued.
In such dire, time-sensitive situations, they wouldn't have the luxury of leaving behind secret messages to reveal their location.
That was why So Ja-myeong had created an emergency communication system—one that would instantly alert the Death Shadow War Unit and Bu Eun-seol the moment a distress signal was sent.
He had also established signal stations not just at Demon Hall branches but in every region, ensuring operatives could transmit their location even while on the move.
After all, sending signals from pre-installed stations was far faster than relying on people to relay messages manually.
And now, that system was functioning perfectly—allowing Bu Eun-seol to rush straight to the emergency site without needing a guide.
'The Reed Field?'
Bu Eun-seol realized that the emergency signal's origin point was the vast reed field now visible in the distance.
'An emergency signal... from an open reed field?'
Sending a signal in such an exposed location would only alert the enemy to their presence.
Of course, in truly desperate situations, it might be unavoidable—but someone as skilled as So-yo, a top-tier intelligence operative, would never make such a careless mistake.
'A trap.'
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol realized this emergency signal was a decoy.
Which meant that the communication system he and So Ja-myeong had painstakingly developed and implemented had been completely compromised by someone.
Thud.
Landing at the heart of the reed field, Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
'It can only be the Three Realms.'
They had lured him here using the covert communication methods of the Death Shadow War Unit.
Meaning the enemy had surpassed Bu Eun-seol's intelligence network and influence—and the only faction capable of that was the Three Realms.
Ssshhhk.
As if waiting for this moment, shadowy figures began encircling the reed field.
Their faces were masked, making their features impossible to discern, but their eyes—strangely familiar yet brimming with killing intent—gave them away.
They were likely Soulless Ones under the Three Realms' control.
'Just this kind of trap?'
They had gone through the trouble of detecting the Evil Soul Squad's emergency signal and using it to lure him here—
Only to try and kill him with mere Soulless Ones?
This made no sense.
'No need to overthink it.'
As he gathered his internal power, a crimson glow surged from his left fist.
He would break through this encirclement in one strike using the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon and escape.
FWOOOSH!
The moment he unleashed the Forgetful Shattering Together, a gale capable of sweeping away the entire world erupted, sending clouds of dust and dirt soaring in all directions.
WHOOSH!
But then, an enormous gust of wind blew in, instantly dispersing the dust storm caused by his technique.
Someone had unleashed overwhelming fist energy, forcibly blasting the spreading dust high into the sky.
Thud. Thud.
At the same time, a massive silhouette emerged from the ranks of the encircling warriors.
A powerfully built old man with a lion's mane of wild, unkempt hair.
BOOM.
The moment their gazes met, Bu Eun-seol's ears rang as if heaven and earth themselves were trembling.
"Hyeokryeon Eung!"
Fire flashed in his eyes.
The one who had sent the dust soaring skyward with a single fist.
He was none other than the Guardians' Faction Master of the Demon Hall and a core figure of the Infinite Realm who had attempted to subdue his spirit at Prince Wei's Residence to turn him into a puppet.
Hyeokryeon Eung himself.
"It's been a while."
Hyeokryeon Eung smiled faintly as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"You've improved since then. Your bearing has become even more imposing."
The one who had detected the emergency communication system of the Evil Soul Squad and used it to lure him into this trap—was Hyeokryeon Eung?
Then it makes sense he'd have that capability.
Bu Eun-seol's expression remained unshaken as he asked,
"Were you the one who attacked Vice Chief So?"
"Hmm."
Hyeokryeon Eung let out a thick, disdainful snort.
"I thought you were still using the Kill-Seeking Unit, but instead, you entrusted your intelligence network to some stray assassin woman."
Hyeokryeon Eung knew Bu Eun-seol had been operating the Kill-Seeking Unit as his covert intelligence force.
That was why he had sought out So Ja-myeong's whereabouts to cut off his eyes and ears.
Unexpectedly, the one who had been moving around Bu Eun-seol, running his intelligence network, was a female assassin who used the martial arts of the White Rank Assassination Sect.
He hasn't fully grasped the Evil Soul Squad, then.
Fortunately, the only person Hyeokryeon Eung had detected was So-yo, who traveled the martial world helping him.
It seemed he hadn't properly identified No Trace, the leader of the Evil Soul Squad, nor the unit itself.
"Originally, I planned to sever your eyes and ears first before dealing with you slowly... but then I realized there was no need for that."
Hyeokryeon Eung, who had been watching Bu Eun-seol with lion-like eyes, revealed a murderous smile.
"Killing you the moment I see you—that's all it takes."
"Confident, are you?"
"Back then, I was careless. I didn't expect you to break free from the Spirit Summoning Secret Voice and leap off a cliff."
A violet glow spilled from Hyeokryeon Eung's pupils.
"But here, there's nowhere to run."
Oooom—
The moment Hyeokryeon Eung's eyes flashed, the sky darkened, and black fog seemed to rise from the ground.
Spirit Summoning Secret Voice.
A terrifying Mind Seizing Secret Art that could steal a person's soul with just a single glance.
Flicker!
But at that moment, a sharp flash of light streaked across Hyeokryeon Eung's vision.
Time seemed to freeze.
Then, a crimson, razor-sharp point of light stabbed toward Hyeokryeon Eung's throat like a piercing needle.
The Transcendent Meteor Chasing Moon Form had been unleashed.
"Tch."
But Hyeokryeon Eung was no ordinary master.
Though an expert in the Mind Seizing Secret Art, he was a battle-hardened veteran who had roamed the martial world for decades, fighting countless bare-handed battles.
Realizing it was too late to dodge the barrage of Sword Strokes, he immediately raised both arms to block the light.
KAAANG!
A metallic clang resounded as Hyeokryeon Eung's massive body was forced backward, his forearms now gleaming gold where the light had struck.
A unique demonic fist art where his arms became as hard as Vajra Indestructibility without even channeling internal power, flashing gold upon impact.
The power of the Tyrant Emperor Golden-Wall Fist had manifested.
Golden Arm Blood Eye.
Hyeokryeon Eung had earned this epithet for two reasons: his Tyrant Emperor Golden-Wall Fist, which turned his arms gold,
and his Blood Wheel Demon Eye, capable of subduing enemies with just a gaze.
Sssk—
Hyeokryeon Eung, now pushed back nearly 40 feet with his arms still raised to his neck, stared at Bu Eun-seol in astonishment.
"The Spirit Summoning Secret Voice didn't work?"
Seeing the clarity in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, he widened his own in disbelief.
"Don't tell me you've mastered the Immovable Heart Art?"
Even Sa Ok-cheong, once called the Illusion King, had only reached the fifth star in the Spirit Summoning Secret Voice, while Hyeokryeon Eung had mastered it to the tenth.
To resist his Mind Seizing Secret Art, one would need to master something like Shaolin's Immovable Heart Art to Grand Perfection—
or reach the Martial Extreme Realm.
"You haven't reached the Martial Extreme Realm, that much is certain."
Hyeokryeon Eung discerned that while Bu Eun-seol's swordsmanship was formidable, it still operated within the boundaries of technique and artistry.
Had he reached the Martial Extreme Realm, that single strike would have severed both his arms.
"Are you prepared to die?"
Bu Eun-seol twisted the Ink Soul Sword in his grip.
Hyeokryeon Eung's greatest weapon was the Spirit Summoning Secret Voice. But since it had failed, they would have to clash with True Void.
"I did anticipate this situation might arise."
Yet Hyeokryeon Eung maintained his composed expression.
"Your abilities are simply too unpredictable."
"To still fight despite knowing that—admirable."
"Is that so?"
Hyeokryeon Eung, wearing a cruel smile, raised his hand.
Whoosh—
At his signal, the Soulless Ones surrounding the Reed Field slowly stepped forward.
But something was strange.
Now that he looked closely—weren't they wearing the plain gray martial uniforms worn by the Demon Hall's warriors?
Thud. Thud.
As they approached, Bu Eun-seol's gaze sharpened.
The eyes of the approaching Soulless Ones weren't just familiar—they were unmistakable.
"Remove all your masks."
At Hyeokryeon Eung's command—
Swish.
The Soulless Ones mechanically pulled off their face coverings.
Then, astonishing faces were revealed.
They were Won Se-mun, Jo Nam-cheon, Wi Cheon-gyeong... and the warriors under their command.