Chapter 562
Through this incident, Bu Eun-seol had eradicated all the spies entrenched within the Demon Hall, including Yu Jeok-do.
There would no longer be any factions within the Demon Hall who sought to attack Bu Eun-seol or respond to the Three Realms.
However, this incident had also cost Bu Eun-seol a significant amount of goodwill among the Demon Hall and the followers of the Demonic Path.
Dealing with the aftermath of an attack and seeking retribution was only natural.
But in the Demonic Path, strength took precedence.
Bu Eun-seol, whose martial arts and status were inferior to the Chief Doctrine Commander's, had beheaded Yeop Hyo-cheon's trusted subordinate right before his eyes.
From the perspective of the Demonic Path, this was an incomprehensible act of insubordination.
Bu Eun-seol had exploited his authority as the Heir of the Demonic Palace, earning him the reputation of recklessly stirring up the Demon Hall as he pleased.
"Will you be alright?"
Yu Un-ryong, who had come to Bu Eun-seol's office, spoke up.
"You might have dealt a blow to the Chief Doctrine Commander, but because of that, public opinion has completely turned against you."
"What do you mean?"
"The favorable sentiment toward you has vanished."
Yu Un-ryong wore a worried expression as he spoke.
"Rumors are spreading that the moment you entered the stable succession framework, you became a madman who committed an act of insubordination against the Chief Doctrine Commander."
"It doesn't matter."
Bu Eun-seol leisurely lifted a teacup from which steam curled upward.
"Isn't this the Demonic Path? Strength and authority take precedence here anyway."
If he were the successor of the Righteous Path, the support of his faction would be absolutely crucial.
But the Demonic Path was different.
As long as one possessed strength and authority, support would naturally follow.
"Right. That's exactly why I'm worried."
Yu Un-ryong furrowed his brow as he spoke.
"That strength and authority—right now, the Chief Doctrine Commander holds them. If he decides to treat you as an enemy from this point on, things will become truly troublesome."
Yeop Hyo-cheon was the second-in-command who led the Demon Hall in place of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
If someone of his standing resolved to crush Bu Eun-seol, there would be no way to counter it.
"That will never happen."
"Never? Not only did he watch his subordinate's head fly off right before his eyes, but his authority was outright denied. And you think he'll just sit still?"
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol spoke with confidence.
"Because of this incident, he has realized that he failed to perfectly control the grand scheme."
"Control?"
"Yes. This incident unfolded in a manner completely contrary to the Chief Doctrine Commander's expectations."
"Huh?"
"The appearance of the Buddha Honored One."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
"No matter how many times I think about it, if he had known the Buddha Honored One would appear, the Heavenly Venerable would never have shown up."
Turning his head, he fixed his gaze out the window.
"That single fact alone proves the Chief Doctrine Commander did not have complete control over the situation. And because of that, his spirit and mind, which had always pursued perfection, must have suffered a collapse."
After pondering deeply, Yu Un-ryong stroked his chin.
"So, you're saying he isn't a personage of the Infinite Realm?"
"Correct. Judging by his behavior thus far, he was more likely an outsider."
"How can you be so sure?"
"There are two reasons."
Bu Eun-seol explained calmly.
"If he had truly intended to bring me down, he would never have used Hyeokryeon Eung as a pawn in such a careless manner."
Because Hyeokryeon Eung had failed to catch Bu Eun-seol,
he had been practically expelled from the Infinite Realm and had recklessly attempted to topple Bu Eun-seol.
In the end, he had fallen into Bu Eun-seol's trap, and because of that, all the connections they had built within the Demon Hall had been wiped out.
If Yeop Hyo-cheon had been a personage of the Infinite Realm—
there would have been no need to confirm the truth by recruiting a Hall Master-rank figure through Hyeokryeon Eung.
Nor would he have ever fallen into Bu Eun-seol's trap.
"And the second reason?"
"If he were a personage of the Infinite Realm, he would have taken action himself."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze grew profound.
"I realized it once again this time—the Chief Doctrine Commander is stronger than me. At least for now."
"Right. That makes sense."
If Yeop Hyo-cheon were a personage of the Infinite Realm and absolutely determined to kill Bu Eun-seol—
there would have been no need for the Heavenly Venerable to appear. He could have simply acted himself.
"If the Chief Doctrine Commander had truly wanted me dead this time, he would have ensured my demise even if it meant joining forces with the Heavenly Venerable. He would never have let me walk away alive."
Yu Un-ryong finally nodded as if convinced.
"Most likely, he is someone who has silently observed the game the Three Realms have been playing and sought to exploit it. If he had intended to manipulate you directly, there would have been far too many opportunities from the very beginning until now."
As the second-in-command of the Demon Hall, Yeop Hyo-cheon wielded immense authority.
Yet he had never obstructed Bu Eun-seol's actions. Instead, whenever something occurred,
he had only then attempted to manipulate Bu Eun-seol by leveraging the situation.
Considering all these circumstances, Yeop Hyo-cheon could never be a personage of the Infinite Realm.
"Precisely."
Bu Eun-seol spoke in a low voice.
"He'll likely restrain himself and refrain from acting for the time being. Not only has his connection to the Three Realms been exposed, but he also failed to seize control of the grand scheme during this critical juncture."
"Well, that's fortunate, at least."
Yu Un-ryong suddenly seemed to recall something and asked,
"By the way, what were you doing for the past month? Even Vice Chief So and Protector Tak had no idea of your whereabouts."
During that time, Bu Eun-seol had enhanced Do Cheon-rin's martial arts and turned him into a link to the Three Realms.
And that was something he hadn't disclosed to Yu Un-ryong either.
He had many concerns.
What if Yu Un-ryong found out he had collaborated with Do Cheon-rin?
He would investigate Do Cheon-rin over and over—until he could understand, until he could trust.
"I just had some personal matters to attend to. A few memories suddenly resurfaced."
Instead, Bu Eun-seol employed the best possible defense.
After all, Yu Un-ryong knew he had lost his childhood memories and was searching for his parents.
"Ah, I see."
Knock knock knock.
Just then, the sound of knocking echoed, followed by Wi Cheon-gyeong's voice.
"Lord, it's Wi Cheon-gyeong."
"Enter."
Wi Cheon-gyeong stepped into the office, scratching his head before addressing Bu Eun-seol.
"We've received news regarding the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai, but something about it seems... unusual."
"The Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai?"
As Bu Eun-seol tilted his head in confusion, Yu Un-ryong wore a proud expression.
"Ah, my pigeon message network shines once again. Even news from Qinghai reaches us instantly."
Bu Eun-seol had many under his wing.
Not just the warriors of the Death Shadow War Unit, but also Langya Pavilion, Heaven-Severing Earth-Destroying Sanctuary, and the Milky Way Willow Pavilion.
The Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai, which he had first incorporated into the Demon Hall. And even the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace and the North Sea Ice Palace.
After So Ja-myeong's death, Yu Un-ryong had keenly felt his own responsibility for failing to properly support Bu Eun-seol, who had been swamped with various matters.
He recognized the need to further develop the emergency communication system of the Death Soul Squad.
After much deliberation, he expanded the branches of the Kill-Seeking Unit scattered across the Central Plains and restructured multiple information transmission systems—including the pigeon message service—to relay news more swiftly.
Of course, this was no easy task, and Yu Un-ryong had thrown himself into it, forgetting sleep for quite some time.
Fortunately, it was now functioning as intended.
"Among the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai, the Profound Heaven Sword Gate has been invaded by an enemy and is preparing for battle."
"The Profound Heaven Sword Gate?"
"Yes. An unidentified figure publicly declared to Sect Leader Ban Mu-reuk that if he does not commit suicide within three days, they will erase the Profound Heaven Sword Gate from existence."
Bu Eun-seol and Yu Un-ryong exchanged glances.
Though the Profound Heaven Sword Gate was the weakest among the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai, it was still a respectable sword clan in its own right.
And yet, someone had the audacity to threaten its complete annihilation unless the sect leader took his own life?
What kind of faction would make such an absurd threat?
"A madman, clearly. Just where did this threat come from?"
At Yu Un-ryong's words, Wi Cheon-gyeong shook his head.
"Not a faction—just one person."
"One person?"
"Yes. The individual wore a mask, so their identity remains unknown, but they claimed to be from the Yangseol Clan."
In an instant, the expressions of both Bu Eun-seol and Yu Un-ryong twisted into something bizarre.
The Yangseol Clan.
Three hundred years ago, they had briefly surfaced in the martial world before vanishing—a legendary family of recluses, said to rival even the Baekri Clan.
Truthfully, there were many clans that had never revealed themselves in the martial world, so this alone wasn't particularly special.
Yet the reason the Yangseol Clan was called legendary was because of a statement made by Mo-ryun the Dharma Seeker—a sage and prophet who could foresee the past and future.
"My abilities stem solely from having chanced upon the writings of the Yangseol Clan."
Mo-ryun the Dharma Seeker, who could read Heaven's Will and prophesy the future, who was versed in all the principles of the world—claimed his power came from reading the Yangseol Clan's texts?
The martial world was stunned by his words, and countless efforts were made to locate the Yangseol Clan's headquarters.
Yet to this day, no one had found even a trace of them.
And now, someone claiming to be from the Yangseol Clan had suddenly appeared, demanding the Profound Heaven Sword Gate's leader commit suicide?
"And then?"
"Sect Leader Ban Mu-reuk was furious and ordered the masked intruder captured, but their martial arts were formidable, and they escaped the Profound Heaven Sword Gate with ease."
Wi Cheon-gyeong continued calmly.
"Realizing the masked figure's martial prowess was no joke, the Profound Heaven Sword Gate requested aid from the nearest ally—the Wind-Shooting Sword Sect."
Yu Un-ryong tilted his head.
"The fact that they didn't contact us first suggests they intend to handle it themselves?"
Since the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai had been incorporated into the Demon Hall, they could naturally request reinforcements from the Demon Hall.
"That's correct. The Profound Heaven Sword Gate's leader likely believed there was no need to contact the main hall and instead reached out to the Wind-Shooting Sword Sect."
"And the Wind-Shooting Sword Sect?"
"In response to the request, the Wind-Shooting Sword Sect dispatched an elite force of about a hundred, including their young sect leader, toward the Profound Heaven Sword Gate."
Yu Un-ryong, who had been listening silently, turned to Bu Eun-seol and spoke.
"Whether this person is truly from the Yangseol Family or not, it doesn't seem like something we need to worry about, does it?"
Contrary to common perception, the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai were an exceptionally solid faction, with deeply intertwined relationships among themselves.
To provoke the Profound Heaven Sword Gate was to provoke the entire Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai.
No matter how formidable a force they were—
No one could take on all seven gates at once, especially in Qinghai, their home territory.
"Truthfully, I had planned to observe the situation a bit longer after hearing this report, but..."
Wi Cheon-gyeong wiped his nose before continuing.
"Something about it just felt off. I thought you should be informed in advance, Lord."
Because Bu Eun-seol oversaw a vast intelligence network—
He couldn't possibly scrutinize every piece of information flooding in daily.
In the past, unnecessary reports were filtered out, and only refined, high-quality intelligence was relayed to him.
But ever since Myo Cheon-u left for treatment, Yu Un-ryong of Death Shadow War Unit had taken over most of the administrative duties—
Leaving the bulk of information processing to Wi Cheon-gyeong.
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol stroked his chin.
Originally, he had been preparing various measures to coordinate with Do Cheon-rin.
But after hearing Wi Cheon-gyeong's report, it seemed he needed to verify the situation in Qinghai first.
"You're really going?"
Yu Un-ryong, sensing his intent, asked.
"Just because someone suspiciously invoked the name of the long-faded Yangseol Family?"
"There isn't a soul in the martial world unaware that the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai have joined the Demon Hall."
Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes.
"Yet someone boldly marched in alone and demanded the Profound Heaven Sword Gate's leader commit suicide... There must be someone behind this."
"Then just send the Great Masters."
"We only have two days left anyway."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Myo Cheon-u shrugged.
Reaching the Profound Heaven Sword Gate from the Demon Hall within two days—
Was a feat only possible for Bu Eun-seol, Wi Cheon-gyeong, the Death Soul Squad's No Trace or So-yo, or the Protector Tak Il-hon.
"Lord, then I shall accompany you to Qinghai."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head at Wi Cheon-gyeong's offer.
"No need. I'm just going to confirm the situation."
Yu Un-ryong nodded as if resigned.
"Still, just in case, I'll dispatch a separate force."
"Understood."
Bu Eun-seol immediately strapped the Ink Soul Sword hanging on the wall to his waist and left the office.
"Then I'll be back."
Exiting the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol instantly unleashed his full speed with his movement technique.
As his velocity surged, a white current of energy unfurled around him, accompanied by a thunderous KWA-RUNG!
Though he hadn't rigorously trained in martial arts due to constant travels across the Rivers and Lakes—
His movement technique had been honed ceaselessly.
The speed of his Ultimate Speed Shadowless, backed by his immense internal energy, was nothing short of a lightning flash.
'Can I go even faster?'
Even while pushing his Lightness Skill to its limit, he pondered ways to accelerate further.
But as he lost himself in thought—
ZZZZT!
The Thunder Essence Divine Qi within his body naturally began merging with his Original True Qi.
KRRRR—
A violet glow gradually intensified around him until—
KWAANG!
With an earth-shaking peal of thunder, Bu Eun-seol's body transformed into a streak of lightning, cutting through mid-air.
Unbeknownst to him, he had already surpassed the level of Go Wol, the creator of Ultimate Speed Shadowless.
KWA-RUNG! KWA-RUNG!
Amidst the relentless thunderclaps, Bu Eun-seol tore across the land and finally arrived in Qinghai—
A full half-day earlier than he had estimated.
"Haa..."
Bu Eun-seol gasped for breath, taking a brief moment to rest.
"So the Thunder Essence Divine Qi isn't omnipotent."
Using it for movement granted him transcendent speed—
But it placed immense strain not only on his physical body but also on his Mental Power.
"Perhaps because it was externally infused."
The power of the Four Spirit Energies was originally a divine gift, bestowed only upon the chosen.
But Bu Eun-seol had forcibly absorbed it from an external source.
Perhaps the Two Spirit Energies hadn't fully harmonized within him yet.
"Haa..."
Once his body recovered, he immediately ascended Half-Moon Mountain, where the Profound Heaven Sword Gate stood.
"Has it already begun?"
Bu Eun-seol frowned as he observed the wide-open gates of the Profound Heaven Sword Gate.
Traces of fierce combat were visible from the entrance.
However, these weren't the marks of a battle between factions—
But rather, the aftermath of a one-against-many fight.
In other words—
A single, overwhelmingly powerful master had breached the gates alone.
BOOM! BOOM!
At that moment, a series of massive tremors reverberated from deep within the Profound Heaven Sword Gate.
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol activated his movement technique and dashed through the great gate.
As he ascended the sloping path, the interior of the Profound Heaven Sword Gate came into view.
Bu Eun-seol passed through the remnants of fierce battles and arrived at the Grand Martial Training Ground, located before the Rising Dawn Pavilion, the residence of the sect leader.
Gathered on the vast training ground were martial artists from the Profound Heaven Sword Gate, along with troops and successors from the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai.
And standing imposingly before them was a masked figure draped in wide, flowing silk robes.
This masked figure was likely the very one who had ordered the sect leader to commit suicide and turned the sword gate's interior into a devastated wasteland.
'A woman.'
Though the masked figure's robes were large and loose, the clarity and size of the exposed eyes made it unmistakable—
At a glance, anyone could tell this was a young woman.
"I gave you a chance to die honorably, yet you refuse."
The masked woman's voice was indistinct, her words muddled with ragged breaths. Unless one strained their ears,
it was nearly impossible to discern what she was saying.
"I even granted you an opportunity out of courtesy."
WHOOSH!
At that moment, the ranks parted, and a middle-aged man with a bulky physique stepped forward—none other than Ban Mu-reuk, the sect leader of the Profound Heaven Sword Gate.
"Why in the world are you ordering this old man to kill himself?!"
Ban Mu-reuk's voice was thick with fury. The masked woman responded in a low, chilling tone:
"You know the reason better than anyone."
Ban Mu-reuk's eyes burned with rage, but he remained silent.
Then, his son, Ban Cheol-seong, stepped forward and spoke in a frigid voice:
"Father, there's no need to converse with this vile witch."
He gestured toward the disciples strewn across the ground.
"She has mercilessly struck down our sect's disciples. We must suppress her and restore our sect's dignity."
Despite Ban Cheol-seong's outcry, Ban Mu-reuk only furrowed his brow deeper.
The masked woman's martial prowess was extraordinary—she had felled thirty disciples in a single strike at the entrance.
If a full-scale battle broke out, victory was far from guaranteed.
"Right. No need for lengthy words."
The masked woman took a step forward, her breath ragged.
"I already gave you a chance."
SHWING!
In an instant, the warriors at the front of the gathered forces were hurled roughly 100 feet back, as if struck by an invisible force.
The distance between the masked woman and the Profound Heaven Sword Gate's warriors was roughly 100 feet.
Yet no one could see how she had attacked, nor what technique she had used.
"Strike her down!"
As Ban Cheol-seong had said, further dialogue was meaningless.
Ban Mu-reuk ordered his disciples to launch an all-out assault.
"Deploy the Blue Rock Sword Formation!"
RUMBLE—
The warriors of the Profound Heaven Sword Gate moved chaotically, encircling the masked woman.
As the formation took shape, their figures vanished in an instant, and layers of razor-sharp sword qi surged toward the masked woman.
But it was futile.
SHWING!
With a sound like ripping silk, the front line of the formation was torn apart in a single strike,
and the warriors who had concealed themselves were sent flying backward, as if struck by an invisible hammer.
THUD. THUD.
With over a dozen warriors collapsing, the formation crumbled instantly, and the remaining disciples stood frozen, eyes wide in shock.
"Now, even suicide won't save you."
Step. Step.
As the masked woman advanced, the warriors of the Profound Heaven Sword Gate retreated in fear.
The unexpected turn of events made Ban Mu-reuk's body tremble.
Originally, the Profound Heaven Sword Gate had been confident they could withstand the masked woman's martial arts—
After all, this was Qinghai.
Moreover, they had mobilized the entire intelligence network of the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai, yet no large-scale forces had been detected nearby.
This meant the masked woman had, at most, brought a small squad or a minor detachment—
Surely, her forces couldn't possibly overcome the over four hundred elite swordsmen of the Profound Heaven Sword Gate.
But reality defied all expectations.
The masked woman was a master of unparalleled skill, one Ban Mu-reuk had never encountered before.
She had felled elite warriors like autumn leaves, without even lifting a finger.
Now, only three hundred warriors remained, along with a hundred reinforcements from the Wind-Shooting Sword Sect—
A total of four hundred troops.
The problem?
Even with this number, Ban Mu-reuk doubted they could defeat her.
SHWING!
In that moment, five more warriors of the Profound Heaven Sword Gate were sent flying, blood spraying in their wake.
"Ah."
Behind the mask, a pair of eyes curved like crescent moons.
The sight was almost playful, like a child enjoying a game.
"DIE!"
But the Profound Heaven Sword Gate was a renowned sword sect of Qinghai. Unbroken by the masked woman's might, they charged again.
BANG! BANG!
Yet the moment they neared her—
They were hurled away, as if struck by an invisible hammer.
'What is that?'
Ban Mu-reuk, who had been closely observing the masked woman's technique, widened his eyes in shock.
'Could it be... the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi of the Wind God?!'