Chapter 645
Koooooh—
With an eerie sound as if all the air in the world had vanished, the Supreme Emperor also began unleashing his overwhelming power once more.
[I merely wished to confirm your thirst for vengeance. I had no intention of mocking Bu Jan-yang's death.]
The Supreme Emperor's voice had lowered slightly.
Suppressing Bu Eun-seol's rebellious strength was no easy task.
[Truly... I wanted to see if you intended to avenge Bu Jan-yang. Your fate will change depending on that.]
Then, in a somewhat earnest tone, he continued:
[Right now, the Main Realm is debating whether to kill you or not.]
Within the Supreme Emperor's shadow.
Bu Eun-seol's gaze shifted slightly as he stared at the figure of the boy.
He was different from the Heavenly Venerable.
His voice had remained gentle throughout, and he had shown considerable goodwill toward Bu Eun-seol.
"So you didn't come to kill me—you came to test me."
[That's correct.]
"You think you can manipulate my fate and test me as you please?"
[Yes, and I've realized that was wrong.]
At those words, the violent surge of power erupting from Bu Eun-seol lessened, and the killing intent in his eyes faded.
Seemingly relieved, the Supreme Emperor spoke again.
[Have you regained some rationality now?]
"Just say what you came to say. Quickly."
Once more, killing intent surged fiercely in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"My patience isn't limitless."
[To put it simply, you must not die. On the contrary, you must survive until the very end.]
As Bu Eun-seol halted the manifestation of his Two Spirit Energies, the Supreme Emperor also lowered his hand, releasing the oppressive force bearing down on him.
[And to survive the Main Realm's pursuit, there's one thing you must do. Since you've shattered the axis of the Infinite Realm, the counterforce will inevitably... draw Neither-Human-Nor-Beast into the Martial World.]
"Neither-Human-Nor-Beast... What the hell is that?"
[One of the factions in Murim that has never revealed itself to the world. The Infinite Realm has always dealt with them, so few know of their existence.]
In short, Neither-Human-Nor-Beast was
one of the Abyssal Forces.
[The goal Neither-Human-Nor-Beast pursued, which the Infinite Realm had blocked, is simple: to kill all the weak.]
Bu Eun-seol couldn't comprehend it.
"Why would they kill the weak?"
[Because they believe it is salvation.]
The Supreme Emperor answered.
[They are convinced that by slaughtering those born weak, they can be reborn as far superior and stronger beings.]
"You can't be serious."
Bu Eun-seol's long, sharp eyes narrowed.
Long ago, in the primordial Murim, there had been a sect that preached accumulating virtue through killing.
Their doctrine was incomprehensibly bizarre and cruel,
yet they wielded such mysterious and overwhelming power that no one could oppose them.
"You mean the Demonic Cult?"
[They were called that at one point, yes.]
The Demon Lord—the Great King of demons.
A vile sect founded upon his teachings.
They were Neither-Human-Nor-Beast.
[Shedding the name 'Demonic Cult,' they reappeared in Murim under countless different guises.]
"Reappeared... endlessly?"
Only now did Bu Eun-seol understand why the figures of the Three Realms had always prattled on about noble sacrifices.
The mysterious sect said to have vanished a thousand years ago—
had never truly disappeared.
They had continued to resurface in Murim, changing names and forms over and over.
"So the remnants of the Demonic Cult are Neither-Human-Nor-Beast?"
[Not just remnants—a faction that began as the Demonic Cult and evolved endlessly. That would be more accurate.]
A pair of sharp eyes formed within the Supreme Emperor's shadow.
[For all we know, they may have become an entirely new sect by now. They took root in Murim far earlier than the Main Realm and have never ceased evolving.]
"And you expect me to stop what even the Three Realms couldn't?"
[There's no need to worry. The faction you lead will be more than enough to eradicate them.]
The Supreme Emperor's voice turned bitter.
[Most of what appears in the Martial World aren't true members of Neither-Human-Nor-Beast—only the Ghost Children they command.]
'Ghost Children.'
That was a term Bu Eun-seol had vaguely heard in the Ancient Sword Forest.
Come to think of it, he had also heard whispers of Neither-Human-Nor-Beast there. Did that mean the Ancient Sword Forest was connected to the Demonic Cult as well?
'Then was the Great Art created by the Azure River Realm also derived from them?'
—The Azure River Realm allied with Neither-Human-Nor-Beast to carry out this brainwashing.
A-yeon, freed from the brainwashing, had said those words. She had also mentioned that those subjected to it could become Neither-Human-Nor-Beast themselves.
Did that mean the brainwashing was an initiation into the Demonic Cult?
[They send Ghost Children into Murim... little by little, as if conducting an experiment.]
The eyes formed by the Supreme Emperor's shadow grew faint.
[The Infinite Realm detected and eliminated them immediately.]
"And under that pretext, you conducted cruel experiments and mass-produced Soulless Ones."
[Laugh if you will. That was the will of the Infinite Realm, and in its own way, it did an admirable job of keeping Neither-Human-Nor-Beast at bay.]
The Supreme Emperor continued.
[Soon, signs of their emergence will appear. And if you can eliminate them...]
A smile formed at the edge of the Supreme Emperor's shadow.
[The Infinite Realm will never be restored. And your destruction of it will no longer be an issue.]
Before Bu Eun-seol could speak, he swiftly added:
[Survive to the end in this barren Martial World. If you do... you will one day meet someone beyond your imagination.]
Though his voice brimmed with intrigue, Bu Eun-seol coldly deflected his words.
"If you don't know the culprit, fine. Tell me the location of the Three Realms' headquarters and who their leaders are."
[There's no need to rush. Even if I told you everything now, you couldn't defeat them.]
The Supreme Emperor spoke as if persuading him.
[Focus on growing stronger and surviving, as you are now. Soon enough, you'll learn everything.]
KWA-RUNG!
An intense surge of energy erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body once more.
He was done playing Twenty Questions.
Whether it was the Demonic Cult or Neither-Human-Nor-Beast, whether the Supreme Emperor bore goodwill toward him or not—
Bu Eun-seol desired only revenge.
His sole purpose was to strike down the Supreme Emperor and tear out the roots of the Three Realms.
[And until you are certain the Two Spirit Energies can kill him, do not use them.]
The Supreme Emperor stretched out both hands.
[And you must obtain the remaining Two Spirit Energies without fail.]
Whoosh.
At the same moment, the Supreme Emperor dissolved into pure light and vanished into the ether.
Crack!
Bu Eun-seol transformed into a streak of lightning, chasing after the fading shadow.
Simultaneously, he unleashed the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, Third Move—Half-Alive, Half-Dead, scattering it in the form of sword qi.
If it was the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, then even if the target was a spirit, it could deliver death to its true body.
Slash!
But as his blade cleaved through the shadow, Bu Eun-seol realized the sword qi had not reached the main body.
The shadow was completely hollow.
"So he was slipping away while conversing."
The Supreme Emperor had split his shadow in two—
While engaging Bu Eun-seol in dialogue, he had already been making his escape.
"The leaders of the Infinite Realm don't rely on martial arts, but on the Art of Spells."
Both the Heavenly Venerable and the Supreme Emperor primarily wielded bizarre Esoteric Ritual Arts rather than conventional martial techniques.
This was proof that the long-lost Art of Spells, once vanished from Murim, was gradually resurfacing.
Click.
Sheathing Ink Soul Sword, Bu Eun-seol stared blankly at the spot where the Supreme Emperor had disappeared.
From this encounter, it was clear that the leaders of the Three Realms knew his true identity—and his purpose.
Which meant their involvement in the deaths of his grandfather and parents was undeniable.
'But.'
The Supreme Emperor had claimed he knew how his grandfather died because he had examined the corpse.
Perhaps he didn't know who the murderer was. Or perhaps he wasn't among the highest echelons of the Three Realms.
"Haa."
His thoughts tangled, Bu Eun-seol gazed wearily at the sky.
For a moment, he thought he saw his grandfather's benevolent smile peering through the clouds.
'The Return-to-One Realm.'
The image of transparent glass tubes filled with corpses flashed in his mind, and his pupils burned with renewed fury.
The ones who had taken his grandfather's corpse were the Return-to-One Realm. Their goal was unmistakable—the resurrection of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.
'Grandfather.'
The Return-to-One Realm had long been selecting individuals with constitutions identical to past martial masters—
Researching methods to recreate warriors with the exact same prowess as their predecessors.
If so, then just like the corpses of the Demon Venerables he had seen on Cold Moon Island—
His grandfather's corpse must have been dissected cruelly inside one of those glass tubes.
"I will annihilate the Return-to-One Realm."
Even if he spared the rest—
The Return-to-One Realm, who had desecrated his grandfather's remains, would never be forgiven.
"And I will send every last one involved in stealing his corpse straight to hell."
To do that, he needed to track down the Return-to-One Realm's trail as soon as possible.
Whirling toward the direction of the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol unleashed a movement technique swift as a gale.
[Haa.]
Yet the moment he departed, a soft sigh echoed, and a white shadow reappeared.
The Supreme Emperor. He had not left at all—
Instead, he had concealed himself with a Concealment Art so flawless that even Bu Eun-seol couldn't detect it.
[It won't be long now.]
The Supreme Emperor looked down at his own hands.
The shadow-formed limbs were fading, their white glow dimming.
In his attempt to suppress the explosive power within Bu Eun-seol's body, his true essence had been severely damaged—
And even his original body's true energy had partially dissipated.
[If I can obtain the Death Spirit Energy, I might stand a chance against him.]
The Supreme Emperor smiled.
Though he had guarded Murim for countless years, all that remained was a decrepit physical body and shadows that moved like his true self.
[I think I'd like to rest for a while.]
He gazed at the distant sky.
After centuries of mediating the strife within the Three Realms and cleaning up the messes of others, he figured he deserved a brief respite.
"I'll let you rest forever."
But then, an eerie voice rang out from the heavens.
At the same time, white energy erupted from the ground in a radius of hundreds of feet around the Supreme Emperor.
[No...]
He turned his head.
A blinding white light burst from the distant sky, cascading down upon his body.
[You—]
But his words were cut short.
The surging radiance was gradually erasing his shadow.
Rooooar!
The shadow's destruction was trivial.
But that light—it was delivering calamity even to his original body, hundreds of li away.
Just like the Bloody Tears Seven Forms of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, where death descended upon all touched by its sword qi.
Fwooosh.
Had both his shadow and his original body perished?
The Supreme Emperor's shadow vanished completely.
In the blink of an eye, Bu Eun-seol had traversed dozens of li, his mind racing even as his movement technique carried him forward.
Originally, he had been certain that Yeop Hyo-cheon had leaked his movements to the Three Realms.
But after encountering the formidable Supreme Emperor, he began to doubt that assumption.
'The Supreme Cult Commander is no fool.'
When his past actions had been exposed to the Infinite Realm,
Bu Eun-seol had decapitated a loyal subordinate right before Yeop Hyo-cheon's eyes.
Would he really risk exposing Bu Eun-seol's movements again so soon after that incident?
Unless he intended to leave the Demon Hall or relinquish his position as Supreme Cult Commander—
There was no way he would dare commit such an act.
'Then that leaves...'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he cut through the wind.
Only one other person came to mind who could have leaked his whereabouts.
'The Demonic Heavenly Emperor.'
The master of the Demon Hall, the ruler of the Demonic Martial World, the Number One of the Demonic Path—the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
The only one who could have informed the Three Realms of his movements was none other than him.
Demon Hall, Singular Light Pavilion. Yeop Hyo-cheon's Office.
Having returned to the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol sat across from Yeop Hyo-cheon, sipping tea.
There had been a time when they exchanged glances of mutual goodwill.
Though they now shared the same nest within the Demon Hall... unlike the past, an impassable river seemed to have formed between the two.
Yet despite this, Bu Eun-seol harbored no ill will toward Yeop Hyo-cheon.
For reasons unknown—
Whether it was merely going along with the circumstances around him,
or simply that there had only ever been signs of him maneuvering things for his own benefit—
Yeop Hyo-cheon had never directly attacked him or deployed any vicious schemes.
Having weathered all manner of storms from the Martial Alliance until now,
Bu Eun-seol even found Yeop Hyo-cheon to feel more guileless than the Righteous Faction's high command.
"I heard your movements were exposed again."
This time, Yeop Hyo-cheon struck first.
Not only was Bu Eun-seol reading the situation like the lines of a palm, but the Cult Leader had already guessed the reason for his visit.
"Surely you didn't come here to confront me about it?"
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol calmly lifted his teacup.
But he didn't drink it in one go—first inhaling the aroma deeply through his nose before taking a light sip.
"Iron Goddess of Mercy."
His eyes widened slightly as he gazed down at the golden-hued tea in his cup.
"The clean, fragrant scent feels like it's washing through my very bones."
"Ho."
Yeop Hyo-cheon's expression turned peculiar.
It was common knowledge among those who should know that Bu Eun-seol did not enjoy tea.
And yet here he was, suddenly acting like a connoisseur, discussing the tea's variety and flavor.
"I was under the impression the Lord didn't care for tea. Has your taste changed so quickly?"
"Tastes can always shift, can't they?"
Bu Eun-seol's lips curled into an enigmatic smile.
"In the past, I couldn't understand why people drank tea."
Setting the cup down, he stared directly at Yeop Hyo-cheon.
"In my foolish youth, I even tried critiquing flavors I couldn't begin to comprehend."
"Hmm. There seems to be a barb hidden in those words."
"It's merely a concern."
A cold energy seeped from Bu Eun-seol's pupils as he looked down at his teacup.
"Whether I should truly start drinking tea in earnest now."
Yeop Hyo-cheon's eyes narrowed.
He was a man who had spent years assisting the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—a being who could be called Chaos itself.
And the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—
Never wasted a single word, habitually layering multiple meanings into every utterance.
Because of this, Yeop Hyo-cheon, having served him for so long, had reached a level of discernment where—
It would be no exaggeration to call him the foremost in the Murim at unraveling the complexities hidden within a single phrase.
Slurp.
As Yeop Hyo-cheon lightly sipped his tea, his eyes gleamed.
—Now that I, too, must manage the world like the other grandmasters, I wonder if I should change my banner and disposition. What do you think?
That was what Bu Eun-seol was truly saying.
"Is there really a need to change your tastes now, of all times?"
Setting his cup down, Yeop Hyo-cheon chuckled.
"The Lord has his own convictions, and it's precisely because of them that he's earned the absolute support of the Demonic Path, no?"
"Convictions alone aren't enough for some things."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes flickered with a sinister yellow light, much like Ak Mu-ryeong's.
"Which is why I've come to consult the Supreme Cult Commander about such matters."
A brief silence passed.
"Is that so."
Yeop Hyo-cheon exhaled softly through his nose.
"Whatever your intentions may be, this Cult Leader has no stake in them. However... managing the world comes with responsibilities of its own."
"So you aren't opposed."
"Who can say?"
A faint smile touched Yeop Hyo-cheon's lips.
"When have I ever opposed the Lord's affairs?"
His smile was one he had never shown before.
It carried two meanings.
The first—acknowledgment.
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had been nothing more than a Hidden Dragon.
But he had realized that even this man was preparing to soar into the heavens, ready to seize the Dragon Pearl.
The second—pity.
He had realized that Bu Eun-seol, too, was in the same position as himself.
Though Yeop Hyo-cheon wielded authority akin to the Deputy Hall Lord, in the end, he did not steer the Demon Hall's course.
He was merely the Supreme Cult Commander, managing those beneath him.
And Bu Eun-seol, too, though bearing the title of successor—
Was the Martial Soul Lord, remaining beneath the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, who held the power of life and death, never knowing when he might become the Demon Hall's true master.
Misery loves company, as they say.
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly as he looked at Yeop Hyo-cheon.
"Truthfully, I was worried. That the Supreme Cult Commander might not share my sentiments."
No matter how much partial authority he held, the Supreme Cult Commander was still the Supreme Cult Commander.
As long as they remained within the Demon Hall's walls, he could impose restrictions on Bu Eun-seol at any time.
Had Yeop Hyo-cheon been of one mind with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, Bu Eun-seol would have had to abandon the plans he harbored.
But today, through this private meeting, Yeop Hyo-cheon had unmistakably declared his stance.
That he was not walking the same path as the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
"So it seems."
"The tea was excellent."
Bu Eun-seol rose, clasping his hands together.
"Then."
Stepping out of the Singular Light Pavilion, Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
Gazing at the distant sky, he thought he could faintly hear the cry of a hawk somewhere.
Now it truly begins.
He had made his decision.
To slowly break free from the cage the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had built and step outside.
To do so, he would have to initiate something even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor could never imagine.
If the Supreme Emperor's words hold true...
If the Supreme Emperor was right, then everything was merely following its natural course.
He had to grow endlessly stronger, amass an endlessly powerful faction.
And Bu Eun-seol had long prepared for exactly that.
—Prepare for the Grand Assembly of Hall Leaders.
Upon returning to the Hidden Demon Pavilion, Bu Eun-seol gathered all his subordinates to convene the general assembly.
The Great Leaders of the Death Shadow War Unit, Protector Tak Il-hon, So-yo, the Death Soul Squad Leader No Trace, and even Seo Jin-ha—who played the role of Seon-u Jin.
Every last one of his trusted confidants had been summoned.
Creak.
Yet the place where he had gathered them was none other than the secret chamber of the Hidden Demon Pavilion—known only to Bu Eun-seol and Yu Un-ryong.
"Have you prepared your heart now?"
At Yu Un-ryong's question, Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod.
"Yes."
Then, taking a deep breath, he spoke again.
"It seems the time has finally come."
Now, he would reveal everything to those he cherished—and shatter the very cage that had confined him for so long.