Chapter 661
Bu Eun-seol, having cleared his thoughts, answered impassively.
"How many places would dare disregard the legendary Three Clans?"
The man in black asked in a sharp voice.
"It's rather odd that you'd think of the main house from just that remark."
"The Yangseol Clan roams freely through the murim. The Jungson Clan wouldn't have remained idle either."
"Something's off."
A sharp glint flashed through the black-clad man's eyes as he muttered lowly.
Heh.
Then, as if struck by a thought, he stretched his lips wide into a smile.
At a glance, it seemed amicable, but Bu Eun-seol could tell it was a grin laced with thick killing intent.
Heh.
Seeing this, Bu Eun-seol also allowed a faint smile to grace his lips.
"Silencing Through Murder. An excellent method."
As Seon-u Jin.
He had always opted for dialogue over subduing with force, maintaining the dignity and courtesy befitting the Martial Alliance's Chief.
But this forest was isolated from the world by mysterious arts.
There was no need to force propriety here.
"To remain confident even as your internal energy wanes and movements slow... That implies hidden strength."
Killing intent oozed relentlessly from the black-clad man's body.
"Impressive. A body honed in martial arts since childhood."
The man in black observed Bu Eun-seol's physique as though appraising a work of art.
"You'll make a fine plaything."
Whoosh!
No sooner had those words left his mouth than an enormous curtain descended behind Bu Eun-seol.
There had been no preparatory movement or presence—even Bu Eun-seol was helpless against it.
Zzzzt.
As the curtain enveloped him, Bu Eun-seol nearly lost consciousness in an instant.
It wasn't poisoned, nor was it strangling him.
Like the power of Phantom Restoration Return.
An unknown, unfathomable force was pushing his mind into an endlessly deep abyss.
Had he been an ordinary martial artist, this single move would have plunged him into unconsciousness with no hope of return.
Zzzzt.
But Bu Eun-seol had achieved the Spiritual Aperture Breakthrough.
No external force could strike his spirit and mind.
The mysterious power contained within the curtain sought to drag his consciousness endlessly downward, but—
Flash!
A brilliant white light flared in his pupils, and in an instant, his awareness snapped back.
Whoosh!
In that moment, ultra-high flames erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body, still shrouded by the curtain.
He immediately summoned Thunder Essence Divine Qi and Great Stillness Heat River True Qi, incinerating the curtain wrapped around him.
"So the legendary Jungson Clan's method amounts to knocking one unconscious with Soul-Seizing Art and throwing a curtain over them."
Bu Eun-seol's sneer came the instant the curtain burned away, and the black-clad man's eyes bulged.
"You can burn the Star-Washing Dragon-Capturing Robe?!"
Only then did he seem to realize something, shouting in disbelief.
"You—you're also one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars!"
His trembling voice was laced with joy and elation.
"Hahaha! Seon-u Jin! You're one of them too!"
The man in black cackled as if immensely pleased.
"Of course! At your age, such martial prowess could only belong to one of the Stars!"
So that's it.
From his words, Bu Eun-seol deduced one fact.
The masked men, animated like living puppets.
The mysterious curtain that had just ensnared him—these weren't ordinary martial arts or a Black Divine Artifact.
They were powers of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
Like the Earthly Killing Star, who had once used corpses to create his own domain and wielded sorcery, this black-clad man also possessed bizarre abilities.
"If you're one of the Stars, my plans change."
The man in black burst into laughter, eyeing Bu Eun-seol up and down like a delicious meal.
"Since I lack proper power, I've been stuck doing grunt work."
Slowly, he stretched out both hands.
A white light began pouring from his palms.
"With your power, I can become a true member of the Jungson Clan."
It was a shocking admission.
That a man of his skill wasn't yet a full-fledged member of the Jungson Clan.
But the surprise was short-lived.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed as he smirked.
"Now I see why you were stuck doing odd jobs."
"What did you say?!"
"With a mouth that loose, no wonder you couldn't shake off your errand-boy status."
Instantly, the black-clad man's pupils dilated as if about to tear, veins bulging across his entire body.
Enraged, he prepared to unleash his trump card with full force.
Flash!
But in that moment.
A crimson light erupted from Bu Eun-seol's Ink Soul Sword.
When humans rage, their blood surges, and their bodies tense with power.
This increases strength but slows movement.
Bu Eun-seol had deliberately provoked the man into fury—creating the perfect opening for Shooting Star Chasing the Moon.
Slash!
The black-clad man dodged swiftly, but half his neck was already severed.
Yet no blood spilled.
"Don't... underestimate me."
Clutching his neck, the man in black grinned cruelly.
"This entire forest is a trap—the Fire-Burning Divine Ground—laid to capture the One Hundred and Eight Stars."
"What did you say?"
Flash!
Suddenly, a blinding white light erupted from the ground in an instant.
Since the light had surged from every corner of the forest, Bu Eun-seol had no time to evade and was fully exposed to its radiance.
"Hahaha!"
The man in black curled his lips into a grin of ecstasy as Bu Eun-seol became engulfed in the light.
"Now, I can rightfully claim the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars for myself."
Crunch.
The man clenched his severed neck with his fist. With the sound of crushing bone, the wound sealed shut as though melded together by mud.
"Unavoidable, I suppose."
The man in black sighed as he examined his ruined neck.
"Having captured one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, I can endure this much damage."
But something was strange.
The power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, absorbed through the Fire-Burning Divine Ground, should have flowed into the Boundary-Prosperity Jade in his possession.
Yet, there was still no sign of it.
Crunch, crunch.
At that moment, a shadow slowly emerged from the blinding white radiance.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
"How?"
The man in black's eyes widened to the point of tearing.
"How is one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars standing unharmed within the Fire-Burning Divine Ground?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Bu Eun-seol frowned as he observed the luminous particles still swirling around his body.
"Wasn't this just some technique to release light?"
"You... you're not one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars?"
The man in black couldn't believe it.
"How is that possible? If you're not one of them, how did you burn away the Star-Washing Dragon-Capturing Robe?"
"..."
"Why aren't the Bone-Pounding Marrow-Draining and Skillful Seizure and Forcible Taking activating?"
The functions of the Fire-Burning Divine Ground were Bone-Pounding Marrow-Draining and Skillful Seizure and Forcible Taking.
It was meant to instantly extract and seize the blood, bones—and thus the power—of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
"Extracting and absorbing blood and marrow..."
Listening to the man's words, Bu Eun-seol finally realized something.
The ones who captured the One Hundred and Eight Stars weren't the Yang Seol family—it was the Jungson Clan.
In the past, the Earthly Killing Star had claimed that the Yang Seol family sought the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars and conducted experiments to obtain it.
But in truth, those who committed such atrocities weren't the Yang Seol family—it was the Jungson Clan all along.
"How?"
The man in black muttered with unfocused eyes.
"If you're not one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, how did you burn the Star-Washing Dragon-Capturing Robe? How did you break through the Art of Spells of the Fire-Burning Divine Ground...?"
The One Hundred and Eight Stars, blessed with power bestowed by the heavens.
They were the only ones who should have been capable of such feats—so how could this man not possess their energy?
"Then I'll just kill you. If I turn you into a corpse, I can still use you, can't I?"
Without pause, the man in black, his eyes burning crimson, glared at Bu Eun-seol.
Crack.
As he mustered his full combat power once more, his skin gradually darkened to a murky black.
Only then did Bu Eun-seol realize—the man in black, too, was inhabiting the body of a long-dead corpse.
Just like the Heavenly Venerable.
The man in black had also preserved his physical form through some bizarre Great Art.
Flash!
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol's Ink Soul Sword pierced through the man's heart.
"Futile."
Unfazed even as his heart split in two, the man in black let out a hollow laugh.
"Hehehe."
By then, his skin had turned completely black.
"The dead cannot die twice."
Baring his white teeth, he grinned.
"Now, I'll kill you—and make use of your corpse!"
With a Great Roar, the man unleashed a torrent of black energy toward Bu Eun-seol.
Bu Eun-seol swiftly slashed with sword qi, striking vital points, stabbing his neck and heart—yet the man in black did not fall.
"Is that all you've got?"
As the man sneered,
"I'm already dead."
Shink.
With a sigh, Bu Eun-seol sheathed the Ink Soul Sword once more.
"Then I'll see if your body and soul have truly reached the Realm of Death."
"Grah!"
In that instant, the man roared and lunged at Bu Eun-seol.
Swoosh.
As the Ink Soul Sword left its scabbard again, black Sword Rings spread outward from Bu Eun-seol's body.
He had unleashed the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
Even the faint sunlight in the sky darkened, and the rising Sword Rings were all sucked into the man's body.
Thud.
Then, the man in black froze.
His body no longer moved.
All he could do was roll his eyes, staring down at himself in disbelief.
Then came an endless void—and an overwhelming tide of fear flooding his mind.
The Sword Rings pouring from that pitch-black blade... were delivering death not just to his body, but to his very soul.
"Ah..."
The man let out a low groan.
As the void and fear passed, sorrow and pain took their place.
Then came an immeasurable silence—and an incomparable tranquility.
That was death itself.
"Was life merely a journey to reach death, after all?"
Muttering softly, the man in black—
Thump.
—collapsed, his eyes wide open, lifeless.
His body, drained of all vitality, had ceased to move, and his soul had reached the boundless darkness.
Bu Eun-seol closed his eyes as he watched.
The more he used the Bloody Tears Seven Forms,
the more he felt himself synchronizing with the emotions of his grandfather—who had sought peace and eternal rest through death.
Ziiing.
As the Black-clad Assassin's breath completely ceased,
a faint spatial distortion that had previously been invisible began to manifest.
It was the Life Gate of the Fire-Burning Divine Ground that the black-clad man had set up within the forest.
"So he was acting as a gatekeeper, preventing anyone from entering."
Only now did Bu Eun-seol grasp the Black-clad Assassin's intent and let out a deep sigh.
Just like the Yang Seol faction, the Jungson Clan was also secretly operating within the Murim.
Their goal, as the Earthly Killing Star had mentioned, was likely to research—or even absorb—the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars to achieve some hidden purpose.
Which meant... they were no different from the Three Realms, willing to commit any atrocity in pursuit of power.
"Something is happening here."
It was impossible that a figure from the Jungson Clan had appeared here and cast such bizarre spells without reason. Clearly, something was unfolding in this place.
"The Martial Venerable must already know."
A terrifying figure like the Martial Venerable—
there was no way he would send Bu Eun-seol here without knowing who was present or what was transpiring.
"What does he truly want?"
With just the title of Foremost Sage of the Murim, he could already manipulate countless martial artists.
If he wielded his position as the Martial Alliance Chief, he could accomplish anything.
So why was he assigning such tasks to Bu Eun-seol?
Did he have some other objective?
'It'll come to light eventually.'
Bu Eun-seol's goal was revenge.
Whatever the Martial Venerable's hidden motives were, uncovering them could wait.
"I have no idea what's happening here."
Muttering under his breath, Bu Eun-seol stepped through the Life Gate.
He needed to confirm why the Black-clad Assassin had cast spells here, sealing the area from outsiders.
"...Bizarre."
Entering, Bu Eun-seol exhaled a sigh.
The interior was just an ordinary forest—
the same woods he had seen ever since entering Seo-ryeong Mountain.
'A spatial function similar to the Black Divine Artifact used by the Wudang Sect.'
Back then, the infiltrator in the Wudang Sect had employed the Black Divine Artifact to seemingly split one space into two.
Now, though he was clearly standing in the same forest, some mysterious force had divided it into two separate spaces.
"Which means... they might also be using a Black Divine Artifact."
Crunch, crunch.
Moving cautiously, Bu Eun-seol's gaze sharpened.
The grass underfoot was faintly trampled—
traces left behind by a large group of people who had dashed forward using Lightness Skill.
"Someone's being pursued."
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol followed the trail at full speed.
How long had he been running?
Finally, he caught sight of a massive group moving ahead.
Watching from a distance, Bu Eun-seol doubted his own eyes.
Over fifty masked figures were swiftly leaving the forest as if walking on clouds, their Movement Techniques impeccable.
Their bodies were riddled with wounds, their plain gray martial uniforms drenched in blood.
Judging by the sheer amount of blood staining their clothes, they must have engaged in a large-scale battle against hundreds—if not thousands—of troops before retreating.
But what truly shocked Bu Eun-seol was the group of masked men bringing up the rear.
They were carrying a massive palanquin, atop which sat a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
It was none other than Man-wol—the girl he had encountered while dealing with the Ghost Children.
'What are they doing with her?'
Man-wol's body was tightly bound in crimson threads,
while an array of treasures imbued with evil-repelling energy surrounded the palanquin.
Had there been yellow talismans plastered around, Bu Eun-seol might have mistaken her for a captured jiangshi.
'Did they defeat a large enemy force and take her prisoner?'
Judging by the masked men's demeanor and Man-wol's expression, they were definitely not allies.
Most likely, these warriors had crushed a massive army aligned with Man-wol before abducting her.
'I'll follow them.'
Bu Eun-seol activated Swift Shadowless and stealthily pursued them.
Whoosh.
The masked men sprinted forward at breakneck speed, carrying the palanquin bearing Man-wol.
'She must have suffered greatly.'
Unlike before, Man-wol looked emaciated, her complexion deathly pale.
She seemed to have sustained internal injuries and been transported in this state for days.
'To abduct a young girl without hesitation...'
Rage flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
In the end, the Jungson Clan was no different from the Three Realms—ruthless in their pursuits.
'I'll find their headquarters, no matter what.'
Not only would he rescue Man-wol, but he would also locate the Jungson Clan's main base or at least one of their strongholds.
But something was strange.
The masked men weren't heading out of Seo-ryeong Mountain—they were plunging deeper into the forest.
'Just how far in are they going?'
Whoosh.
As they ventured endlessly deeper, a wide clearing suddenly came into view.
And at its center stood a massive, pitch-black box.
'A coffin?'
Bu Eun-seol frowned from afar.
The enormous black object was unmistakably shaped like a coffin.
The Ink-Black Coffin appeared to be forged from metal, exuding a sinister, oppressive aura.
THUD.
The masked figures, who had been moving in formation, halted their Lightness Art and lifted Man-wol, who was bound tightly.
They seated her directly facing the Ink-Black Coffin.
Then, the fifty masked individuals formed a circular formation around her and the coffin.
Mumble, mumble.
They began chanting in strange, guttural voices, their hands weaving esoteric seals.
The words resembled the True Words of the Esoteric School, yet also carried the cadence of martial arts maxims.
Then, something bizarre began to unfold.
The Ink-Black Coffin trembled, and Man-wol, seated before it, contorted in agony.
Upon closer inspection, the red threads coiled around her body were digging into her flesh, drawing blood.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
What the hell is inside that black coffin?
Why are they chanting those eerie incantations to torment Man-wol?
Are they planning to sacrifice her life to resurrect the dead?
Drip, drip, drip.
Crimson blood seeped from Man-wol's bound body, her face growing paler by the second.
Simultaneously, the coffin's tremors intensified.
If left unchecked, she would surely die.
I can't just watch her die.
FLASH! CRACK!
Bu Eun-seol, hidden in the distance, unsheathed the Murky Soul Sword in an instant and unleashed a surge of Sword Qi.
His movements were deliberate, yet the Sword Qi was faster than Lightning Flash.
ZING!
But something astonishing happened.
Despite standing motionless in their circular formation, the masked figures effortlessly deflected every last strand of his Sword Qi.
CRASH!
Yet Bu Eun-seol's true objective wasn't them—it was saving Man-wol.
Seizing the moment they spent deflecting his attack, he shot toward the center of the formation where she lay.
SCREECH—!
But as he neared her, a strange Counterforce manifested, forming a semicircular barrier.
Same as before.
The barrier radiated the same eerie energy as the Art of Spells he had encountered in the forest.
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol channeled his Thunder Essence Divine Qi, relentlessly bombarding the barrier.
CRACKLE! BOOM!
In an instant, he shattered through and landed beside Man-wol.
SLASH!
He severed the red threads binding her, and she collapsed forward.
"Snap out of it."
As he reached to steady her unconscious form, a bizarre pressure began bearing down from all sides.
The masked figures encircling them were unleashing a sinister force.
He had been waiting for this.
WHOOSH.
A prismatic glow emanated from Bu Eun-seol's body.
The moment they had deflected his Sword Qi so effortlessly, he had guessed they would unleash this inescapable pressure.
Which meant he could use their own force against them—amplifying his Power of Harmony to wipe them out in one strike.
HUM—
As their pressure intensified, the radiance around him deepened.
ZING.
Finally, the Prajna Great Power surged forth, aligning every ounce of his energy into perfect harmony.
Now.
Just as Bu Eun-seol prepared to unleash Harmonization upon the masked figures—
CLANG—!!!
A deafening Metallic Sound erupted from behind.
He whipped his head around—only to see the Ink-Black Coffin's lid hurtling skyward.
THUD!
It crashed back down, shaking the earth with a resonant BOOM, the sheer thickness of the metal lid measuring over a foot.
While Bu Eun-seol stood frozen in shock—
SLASH!
A crimson line suddenly arced across the fallen lid, forming a massive, glowing circle.
Danger!
Sensing the lethal power within that red line, Bu Eun-seol snatched Man-wol and leaped into the air.
But the masked figures forming the perimeter—
Unfortunately, they weren't fast enough.
THUD-THUD-THUD!
As the red line completed its circle, the heads of the encircling martial artists rolled to the ground.
CREAK... CREAK...
Simultaneously, the opened coffin began to shift—
SPLURT!
A geyser of blood erupted from within, and a monstrous figure emerged.
A hulking oddity, its upper body rippling with muscle, surveyed its surroundings as thick, viscous blood spilled from the coffin.
Its milky-white eyes, devoid of focus, locked onto Bu Eun-seol—and its lips curled into a grin.
SPLASH.
As the creature rose from the coffin, the very sky seemed to bleed crimson.
It stood over eight feet tall, its skin a sickly gray, completely hairless.
Its pupil-less white eyes made it look like a vengeful ghost clawing its way from the grave.
THUD. THUD.
With each step it took, Bu Eun-seol's Internal Energy instinctively surged in response.
The sheer pressure of its approach alone was enough to set his nerves alight.
HISS—
The blood clinging to its body evaporated into mist, absorbed through its skin.
"...Blood... Emperor?"
Bu Eun-seol's chest tightened.
A martial artist whose blood was depleted whenever he used his techniques, forcing him to suck blood—but who absorbed it through his very skin.
A peerless grandmaster who had blazed across the murim like a comet four hundred years ago, elevating the very standards of martial arts.
One of the Eight Emperors and Three Stars.
The Blood Emperor had returned.