Chapter 563
"All that nonsense about being from the Yang Family or whatever—so she was actually the Descendant of the Wind God?"
Ban Mu-reuk bit his lip.
At this moment, the masked woman stood with her hands behind her back, not moving a single finger.
Yet the only thing capable of unleashing such overwhelming power without so much as a twitch was the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi of the Wind God.
From the rear, Guyang Cheong-jeong, the successor of the Wind-Shooting Sword Sect who had been observing the situation, spoke to Ban Cheol-seong.
"Her techniques only work within three zhang—and only from the front."
Guyang Cheong-jeong's eyes gleamed.
"Don't use the Blue Rock Sword Formation. Instead, deploy the Majestic Soul Blood Thunder Formation to block her attacks. Then, our sect's Poison Owl Sword Formation will restrain her."
Ban Cheol-seong nodded.
After the subjugation of the Black Alliance, Guyang Cheong-jeong had devoted herself entirely to sword techniques.
Now, among the successors of the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai, she possessed the most outstanding martial prowess.
If she was confident, it must be the right call.
"Black Shadow Unit, step forward and deploy the Majestic Soul Blood Thunder Formation! I'll personally command the sword formation."
As Ban Cheol-seong took charge and directed the formation, the space around the masked woman darkened.
At the same time, from the rear, Guyang Cheong-jeong—successor of the Wind-Shooting Sword Sect—and her Divine Owl Unit joined the fray, unfolding the Poison Owl Sword Formation to assist in the battle.
"Not bad. You're using your heads."
The masked woman narrowed her crescent-moon eyes as she watched the two formations overlapping toward her.
"But a gap in strength isn't something you can bridge so easily."
In that instant, the operation of both formations came to a halt.
The woman hadn't attacked the swordsmen maintaining the formations to break them.
Instead, she had interfered with the formation's operation through some mysterious power, shattering them in a single breath.
Rumble—
As the martial artists stopped operating the formations, the battle arrays collapsed all at once, revealing their figures where they had once been concealed.
In that brief moment, the masked woman closed the distance to Guyang Cheong-jeong—who had been directing the formation—and reached out her hand.
"You're annoying."
As the masked woman's hand neared her throat, Guyang Cheong-jeong's vision darkened.
At the same time, she felt as though her soul was being ripped from her body, soaring violently into the sky.
She instinctively knew—if her soul truly flew away into the heavens, she would die.
'Ah, no...'
As death loomed before her eyes, one person surfaced in Guyang Cheong-jeong's mind.
It was a first love so intense it felt like her heart would burst—yet one that had never come to fruition.
But she hadn't despaired. She had opened her heart wide.
After all, there were countless wonderful people in the world. And she had every condition needed to meet someone good.
The fever of first love would fade soon enough.
But as time passed, the longing only grew stronger.
The more she tried to meet others, the more his face resurfaced in her mind.
So she practiced the sword.
Because that way, she could forget.
Because if she became an outstanding figure herself, perhaps—just perhaps—she might see him again.
But before that love could ever be realized, her life was about to end at the hands of a mysterious masked intruder who had stormed the Profound Heaven Sword Gate.
Ssshh—
But then, something strange happened.
Her darkened vision suddenly cleared, and the world abruptly regained its colors.
And standing before her was the man she had longed for even in her dreams.
Deep brows, eyes brimming with sorrow. A lonely aura as if he carried the weight of the world's grief.
The only difference was that his demeanor and appearance had grown more solemn.
And now, he even carried the bearing of a grandmaster—one she wouldn't dare approach.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
"Lord... how?"
As Guyang Cheong-jeong gasped in shock, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward.
"Step back."
Then, he walked—step by heavy step—toward the masked woman.
He wore nothing but plain black robes, yet under the sunlight, Bu Eun-seol's slow, deliberate advance resembled a black dragon descending from the clouds, manifesting in human form.
"You."
The masked woman studied Bu Eun-seol before tilting her head.
"Who are you?"
Bu Eun-seol didn't answer. Instead, his expression turned grave.
"Are you prepared?"
"Prepared for what?"
"Attacking a sect that has nested within my domain is no different from attacking me."
His eyes blazed with light.
"Why did you interfere with the Profound Heaven Sword Gate?"
"Because they committed acts worthy of death."
"What do you mean?"
"None of your concern."
"You will explain."
As killing intent flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, the masked woman suddenly laughed and spoke.
"It wasn't interference. It was a favor."
"A favor?"
"Yes."
The masked woman replied calmly.
"No matter how I think about it, that fatty sect leader couldn't possibly be him. So I did them a kindness."
The words made no sense whatsoever.
As Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow,
"That's enough conversation for now. I'd say I've been generous enough with my favors."
Swish.
With a flick of her hand, Bu Eun-seol's vision plunged into darkness.
At the same time, it felt as though all the True Qi in his body had vanished.
But it lasted only a moment.
The moment his Water Essence Divine Qi activated on its own, the black veil shrouding his vision dissipated in an instant.
Bu Eun-seol had been observing her abilities throughout the fight.
He had assumed her power involved a force that could send people flying without touching them.
But now that he had experienced it firsthand, he realized she wasn't actually unleashing any force.
It was more like she borrowed the True Qi within her opponent's body, using the energy of Great Nature to rebound and deflect their own force back at them.
"Is she using Wind & Cloud Divine Qi?"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
The ability to manipulate the True Qi within another's body and turn it against them—wasn't that a power only the Wind God himself could wield?
Only the legendary Wind & Cloud Divine Qi could achieve such a feat.
"She can't be the Wind God himself... so is she his disciple?"
The masked woman's eyes widened in surprise as Bu Eun-seol effortlessly shrugged off her power.
"How did you break free from the Black Rope?"
"Black Rope?"
"You're strong."
They were speaking past each other.
"It wasn't martial arts."
The masked woman wasn't looking at Bu Eun-seol—
but at the transparent energy swirling around his body. She nodded slowly.
"You had one of the Divine Spirit Energies. That's why you could dispel it so easily."
"So it's not Wind & Cloud Divine Qi?"
Bu Eun-seol frowned.
He had assumed her power was derived from the Wind God's techniques,
but judging by her mention of "Black Rope," it seemed more like an Esoteric Ritual Art—something entirely separate from martial arts.
"Shall we test it out?"
She took a sharp breath, and her pupils shimmered with a sky-blue hue.
At the same time, a dark radiance seeped from Bu Eun-seol's body, and a fierce wind surged around him.
Instantly, the Reverse Polarity True Qi circulating within him seemed to vanish.
"No... Could it be Imperial Court Martial Arts?"
The ability to neutralize another's True Qi without lifting a finger—
It bore an uncanny resemblance to the Nine-Aspect Purgatory technique used by the Special Divine Rank envoy the Heavenly Venerable had once brought.
"Try blocking this!"
The masked woman shut her eyes—
And an overwhelming force exploded against Bu Eun-seol's chest.
It wasn't a strike of Palm Energy or any physical attack—just a mysterious, direct impact slamming into his body.
CRACK!
But despite the deafening sound, it left no mark on him.
The Water Essence Divine Qi within him naturally repelled her force, effortlessly nullifying it.
"Water Essence Divine Qi."
The masked woman's eyes widened as she recognized the source of his power.
"How is a man wielding the Divine Water Palace's energy?"
"Why assume it's the Divine Water Palace's? It could be something else."
"Lies."
Her voice turned icy as she scrutinized the energy around him.
"You might fool others, but you can't deceive my eyes."
"You're wrong. You know nothing."
Just like Hyeokryeon Eung had done, Bu Eun-seol lied without hesitation.
He had learned—naturally—that even the smallest deception could sow great chaos in an enemy's mind.
"This technique is my own creation. I call it the Floating Life Like a Dream Art."
"Floating Life Like a Dream" referred to the fleeting nature of existence.
In truth, Bu Eun-seol was implying that this Internal Power didn't exist at all—
But the masked woman, unaware of the ruse, jolted in surprise before shouting,
"Then we'll just have to fight again!"
WHOOSH!
A sharp wind howled, and suddenly, something invisible sliced toward Bu Eun-seol.
It resembled Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, yet its nature was entirely different—an unfamiliar, alien force.
SHING!
Bu Eun-seol instantly drew Ink Soul Sword and parried the transparent energy.
BOOM!
The moment the energy clashed with his blade, an immense brilliance erupted, pressing down on him with crushing force.
It was as if a massive block of steel had dropped from the sky onto his body.
CRACK!
Bu Eun-seol twisted into a half-step stance to evade the pressure—
BOOM!
A massive pit formed where he had stood.
Had he remained in place, his body would have been crushed into that dark abyss.
"This is practically sorcery."
SWISH!
Though astonished by the masked woman's technique, Bu Eun-seol immediately channeled his Water Essence Divine Qi and unleashed the Waning Moon Morning Star.
Eight streaks of cross-shaped sword light erupted in a radiant glow, coiling around the masked woman's body.
"Impressive."
With an admiring sigh, she conjured hundreds of blade winds and unleashed them upon Bu Eun-seol in rapid succession.
These were formless, impossible to cut.
Had it been an ordinary martial artist, their body would have been shredded to rags in an instant.
But Bu Eun-seol, clad in Water Essence Divine Qi, treated the intangible blade winds as if they were mere physical objects—his sword techniques effortlessly altering their very nature.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
The collision of swordplay and blade winds resounded in a deafening clamor.
Though the masked woman wielded a mysterious power, the Water Essence Divine Qi easily nullified it.
No matter what technique she employed—
To Bu Eun-seol's eyes, it merely looked like she was striking a graceful pose.
Swish!
Having erased every last blade wind, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Waning Moon Morning Star in rapid succession. The woman raised both hands as if surrendering.
Had it been an ordinary woman, any martial artist would have sheathed their sword at such a gesture.
Unfortunately for her, her opponent was Bu Eun-seol.
Swish! Swish-swish-swish!
Whether she surrendered or not, the cross-shaped sword energy of Waning Moon Morning Star raked mercilessly across her body.
Slash-slash-slash!
She rolled frantically in shock.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Though she narrowly avoided fatal wounds, razor-sharp sword energy left deep gashes across her entire body.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
The masked woman shouted in outrage.
"You stab your sword into someone who surrendered without hesitation? What kind of cowardly man does that?!"
Bu Eun-seol sneered.
"You can criticize my ruthlessness all you like, but do you really think it's acceptable to order the leader of another sect to commit suicide?"
Drip-drip.
Watching the blood trickling down her body, she shrugged and nodded.
"Fine. I'll admit that."
Even though she had been utterly defeated by Bu Eun-seol, her tone carried the arrogance of someone who had merely held back.
"But don't get cocky. I wasn't formally trained in martial arts, you know."
Pausing briefly, she spoke coldly.
"Martial Soul Lord."
She had already discerned Bu Eun-seol's true identity.
But he wasn't particularly surprised.
He was one of the youngest and most renowned among the next generation of Grandmasters. Anyone with even a passing interest in the Martial World would know of him.
"You still don't grasp the situation."
Bu Eun-seol raised the Ink Soul Sword, his voice grave.
"Why did you attack the Profound Heaven Sword Gate?"
"I told you. I was doing them a favor."
"If you make me play Twenty Questions again, I'll cut your head off immediately."
The masked woman wasn't insane—just overly confident.
But when Bu Eun-seol genuinely prepared to strike, her eyes widened in alarm.
"You really want me to say it here?"
When Bu Eun-seol remained silent, waiting, she sighed in resignation.
"They were trying to create Child Body White Bones to achieve the Six-Spirit Body Exchange."
For a long moment, Bu Eun-seol's expression went blank.
The terms sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite recall them.
"Child Body White Bones... Six-Spirit Body Exchange?"
Only after a long pause did he remember—something he had read in a book during his time in the Kill-Seeking Unit.
Child Body White Bones.
A forbidden Great Art of the long-vanished Veneration Cult, where children under ten were abducted and gruesomely turned into white bones...
Six-Spirit Body Exchange.
A transformation ritual that used that power to forge a body capable of wielding six supernatural abilities.
In short—
A cursed Demonic Gate Great Art that should never see the light of day, where children were brutally slaughtered to convert their bitter resentment into raw power.
And the Profound Heaven Sword Gate's leader had attempted such a ritual?
"Sect Leader Ban."
Bu Eun-seol turned to Ban Mu-reuk, disbelief etched across his face.
"Did you truly turn children into white bones to perform the Six-Spirit Body Exchange?"
"How could that be possible?!"
Ban Mu-reuk recoiled as if struck, pointing an accusing finger.
"That woman is spouting nonsense! Lord, you must execute her immediately to restore the sect's honor and prestige!"
"Liar."
The masked woman smirked and pointed toward the Rising Dawn Pavilion.
"The resentment of the Child Body White Bones is billowing from that hall like smoke—can't you see it?"
At her words, the gathered disciples all turned to look at the Rising Dawn Pavilion, where their sect leader resided.
But the pavilion stood bathed in peaceful sunlight, with no trace of any ominous glow.
"See for yourselves! That woman is a lunatic!"
When Bu Eun-seol turned his head, the masked woman blinked innocently.
"You can't see it either?"
"No."
"You're lying. You blocked the Black Rope—something others can't even sense—but you can't see that?"
She tilted her head in puzzlement.
"Wait... are you a virgin?"
Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened.
The masked woman suddenly burst into laughter—Kya-ha-ha!
"I see. So that's how it was."
"Lord, will you continue to tolerate this madwoman?"
Ban Mu-reuk immediately drew his sword.
With murderous intent in his stride, he stepped forward to kill the masked woman standing before Bu Eun-seol.
"If it troubles the Lord to kill her yourself, I shall do it personally."
The masked woman observed this, then instead moved closer to Bu Eun-seol's side.
"Fine, then I'll make you see it."
And in an instant, she removed her veil.
Whoosh.
Revealed was a woman with short hair and scars running down her neck and behind her ears.
Her features were beautiful enough to be called a peerless beauty, yet the scars on her neck and ears gave her the aura of a battle-hardened veteran who had weathered countless storms in the Martial World.
"Look into my eyes."
A blue energy flowed from the woman's pupils.
Simultaneously, she cautiously approached and lightly embraced Bu Eun-seol.
The motion was so natural there was no time to evade.
Ssshh—
Water Essence Divine Qi spilled from Bu Eun-seol's body, suddenly coiling around hers.
Then, blue energy also surged from his pupils, and a strange vibration pulsed between them.
"What? You had the ability to see it all along?"
The woman muttered under her breath before pointing a finger at Bu Eun-seol.
"Look, there it is."
Bu Eun-seol followed her finger and raised his head.
He could see the black energy rising from the Rising Dawn Pavilion.
It had taken a skull-like shape, endlessly surging toward the heavens.
"That—"
Only then did Bu Eun-seol realize the masked woman's words had not been lies.
Stomp. Stomp.
With an expression of unparalleled fury, he strode into the Rising Dawn Pavilion.
"L-Lord!"
Ban Mu-reuk, startled, tried to block his path.
But the overwhelming, solemn aura radiating from Bu Eun-seol was so terrifying that he couldn't bring himself to step forward.
Rumble.
Entering the pavilion, Bu Eun-seol swept his gaze around before abruptly raising his left hand.
The interior shook as if struck by an earthquake, and a desk split in two, revealing a hidden passage descending underground.
Boom.
With another surge of Internal Energy, a thick iron door slid open, exposing a secret staircase leading downward.
He descended immediately, revealing a vast underground space.
Countless large jars filled the chamber. Without hesitation, he tore open the sealed lid of one.
"...Hm."
Bu Eun-seol turned his head away with a grim expression.
Inside the jar was a sight too gruesome to bear—a child's corpse reduced to white bones.
Dozens of jars lined the space, each containing the skeletal remains of children. Some still held corpses not yet fully decomposed, drenched in blood.
When he uncovered a hidden storeroom and forced open its door, a tower of white bones stood revealed.
Thud.
Ban Cheol-seong and Guyang Cheong-jeong, who had followed him, gaped in horror at the sight.
"How could such a thing—"
"Everyone, out."
At Bu Eun-seol's command, the two flinched and hastily retreated.
Upon returning to the pavilion, Ban Mu-reuk met them with shameless defiance.
"So, you've seen everything now, have you?"
Ban Cheol-seong turned to his father and shouted,
"Father! Why would you commit such atrocities? Why?!"
"Atrocities? I merely chanced upon the Six-Exchange Secret Record."
Ban Mu-reuk shook his head.
"With the body of the Six-Spirit Body Exchange, one can become a supreme master ruling the Murim."
He then addressed his son:
"Our sect was once the foremost sword sect representing Qinghai. But after our sword techniques were lost, we've fallen to the lowest rank among the Seven Sword Gates, haven't we?"
Black energy seeped from his eyes.
"I had no choice but to use such a Great Art to regain strength."
In the Demonic Path, power comes first.
If one can gain strength and seize authority, nothing else matters.
From a demonic practitioner's perspective, such methods are never wrong.
But the moment he laid hands on innocent children, turning them into white bones with his evil ritual—
Ban Mu-reuk had strayed not into the Demonic Path, but the Heretical Path.
"Father..."
As Ban Cheol-seong's face twisted in disappointment, Ban Mu-reuk snapped irritably,
"Don't look at me like that. Had you grown stronger, I wouldn't have resorted to this!"
He pointed accusingly at Guyang Cheong-jeong.
"You neglected your martial training, chasing after women instead—fawning over her! It's your fault our sect has fallen into further ruin!"
From the moment he began creating the Child Body White Bones, Ban Mu-reuk had succumbed to Demonic Nature.
There was no turning back now.
"Martial Soul Lord. They say your martial arts rival even the greatest masters of the realm."
Ban Mu-reuk advanced toward Bu Eun-seol, black energy swirling around him.
"Since things have come to this, let us settle this—sect leader to sect leader."
Step. Step.
Bu Eun-seol answered not with words but by striding forward to meet him.
Whoosh—
Flames akin to the calamitous fires of hell ignited in his eyes.
He could never forgive one who harmed innocent children for the sake of martial power.