Chapter 685
Kwaaaaah!
With this level of power, the vegetable garden should have been completely flattened, and everything in the surrounding area should have vanished as if evaporated.
But something miraculous occurred.
The energies capable of destroying the entire world compressed in an instant—only to coil around the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's body instead.
Kwawooooh!
Yet the Demonic Heavenly Emperor stood there calmly, as if nothing had happened.
Those terrifying energies couldn't even breach his body.
Kwawooooh!
Like a ferocious Evil Dragon, the immense power of the Thirteenfold Qi Induction, which had swallowed the Demonic Heavenly Emperor whole and raged violently, ultimately soared into the distant sky.
"Hmm."
For the first time, a glimmer of emotion surfaced in the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's eyes as he gazed in the direction where the Thirteenfold Qi Induction had vanished.
It was an expression that seemed both pleased,
and somewhat regretful.
He had realized that Bu Eun-seol's technique faintly contained martial arts from the orthodox sects.
However, since it had fundamentally been unraveled through the profound principles of Langya Pavilion's martial refinement via the Langya Mind's Eye,
he couldn't precisely discern the origin of those martial arts.
Whoooosh.
A silence as deep as death flowed between them.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor was savoring the immense power Bu Eun-seol had unleashed, now flying far into the sky.
That power was the Heaven-Shattering Form, capable of destroying the entire world, transcending the principles of martial arts.
Yet it was also the power of Regeneration, able to restore a shattered world.
"Did you obtain a fortuitous encounter?"
As the Demonic Heavenly Emperor asked, Bu Eun-seol steadied his breathing and answered slowly.
"While wandering here and there, I happened to acquire it."
"That is the essence of traveling the Martial World."
Despite having just poured out every refined martial art technique with the intent to kill each other,
their exchange was eerily peaceful.
"I learned well."
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands together, his expression unchanged from before.
"Strive further."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor spoke calmly.
"Walking a path no one else has taken is somewhat difficult. But once you reach its destination, you may achieve a new epoch—one no one else has ever reached."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor already suspected
that Bu Eun-seol was forging his own unique martial realm.
"I will keep that in mind."
"You may leave."
Bu Eun-seol respectfully clasped his hands and turned away.
Originally, if he survived,
he had planned to ask the Demonic Heavenly Emperor many things.
How much do you know of my origins?
Are you connected to my father's death?
How did you come to know my father?
Who killed my grandfather, Bu Jan-yang?
Were you, perhaps, the fake Great Master Takma in Tibet...?
But he asked none of it.
Not only would he not receive an answer, but he could no longer trust anything the Demonic Heavenly Emperor said.
What if he fabricated information about his grandfather or father?
It might only prolong the time needed to uncover the truth.
The truth must be found with his own hands. Just as his teachings had emphasized.
'As expected...'
Moreover, this encounter had confirmed one thing.
'He, too, is my enemy.'
That the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was also his enemy.
No—that in the Martial World, everyone he met was either a close friend or an enemy.
Ultimately... even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was an adversary he must defeat.
'I must ascend faster.'
Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky.
Truthfully, this time, he had been somewhat confident.
No matter how formidable the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's martial arts were,
he believed his Spirit and Mind would never crumble—
that at the very least, he had reached a level where he could escape with his life.
But the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's martial arts had already surpassed what could even be called the Martial Extreme Realm—reaching the Endless and Unnameable.
A state so boundless, so endlessly extending,
that no name could be attached to its unfathomable heights.
Grip.
In Bu Eun-seol's tightly clenched fist, a heat intense enough to melt iron rose in his eyes.
'Then I shall wield a power that imposes restrictions on such realms.'
If the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had reached an immeasurable, infinite realm beyond comprehension?
There was no need to chase after him.
Instead, he resolved to forge a power that could constrain even that unfathomable abyss.
Meanwhile, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor observed the unchanged scenery of the vegetable garden and muttered quietly.
"Clearly, it diverges from the Martial Extreme Realm."
The might of the martial arts Bu Eun-seol had unleashed had already stepped beyond the boundaries of the Extreme Heaven Realm.
Yet it was not the Martial Extreme Realm.
Had it been martial arts of the Martial Extreme Realm,
the moment such power was unleashed, not just the garden—but the entire area—should have been reduced to scorched earth.
Yet the force Bu Eun-seol had released was directed solely at him.
"And with an ultimate technique that does not even exist in the current Murim."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor realized that the martial arts Bu Eun-seol had employed were not techniques created or practiced in this era,
but absolute martial arts devised in previous generations—or even earlier.
"A martial art even this one cannot recognize..."
"I can say with certainty—there is no martial art in existence that I cannot recognize."
He must have concealed his techniques through some cunning method.
Shaking his head, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor gazed at the distant sky.
"And to think he's still obsessing over mere martial arts..."
For the first time, a glimmer of emotion surfaced in his eyes.
"Then the manifestation of the Heavenly Darkness Star's power is still far off."
He had waited far too long.
As his gaze fell back upon the water jar, his eyes darkened endlessly.
"Too long... and too tedious."
Even the Thousand-Day Withered Meditation would not be as agonizing as this.
"The sooner that power awakens... the sooner I can take it for myself."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
He had predicted that Bu Eun-seol carried the latent power of the Heavenly Darkness Star within him—and had been preparing to seize it the moment it manifested.
"Once I claim the Heavenly Darkness Star's power... I can wipe out every last one of those insufferable wretches."
Once again, he turned his eyes to the distant sky.
"If the stimulation is insufficient..."
If the stimulation was insufficient...
Perhaps it was time to intervene directly.
Yeop Hyo-cheon, holding the position of Supreme Cult Commander, had always managed the Demon Hall's affairs in place of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, who remained in seclusion.
His primary duties were—
Preventing conflicts between the Demon Hall's factions, mediating disputes impartially, and ensuring all matters were resolved fairly and reasonably according to the Hall's laws.
In the grand conference chamber of the Hidden Demon Pavilion...
The expressions of the gathered lords—excluding Bu Eun-seol—were deeply unsettled.
Yeop Hyo-cheon had issued an absurdly unreasonable order.
"The Death Shadow War Unit is to proceed to the Yin-Knot Demon Grounds and retrieve the head of Yong Mun-gyeok, who oversees the cultivation of the Iron Hammer Iron Corpse Warriors."
It was an abrupt command.
Until now, Yeop Hyo-cheon had never proactively assigned missions or interfered with the tasks of other factions.
Because his authority was not that of the Deputy Hall Lord—but of the Supreme Cult Commander.
His role was solely to oversee and manage the Demon Hall's organizations.
Yet this time, he had issued a direct order.
And not just any order—one given explicitly to the Death Shadow War Unit, under his personal command.
A mission tantamount to suicide.
The Iron Hammer Iron Corpse Warriors.
They were demonkin created by the Yin-Knot Demon Grounds, one of the Four Great Wicked Lands, and were said to rival the Soul-Restoring Golden Corpses once crafted by the Corpse Handling Sect.
Their numbers reached five hundred.
If they were to be eliminated?
Even the full might of the Demon Hall's forces would be required—not just the Death Shadow War Unit.
Yet, had that been the only order, the Death Shadow War Unit would have accepted it with a smile.
Because Bu Eun-seol, who had reached the Supreme Origin Realm, was among them.
With his peerless military strategy and overwhelming martial prowess?
Such a disadvantage could be overcome—it was not an impossible task.
But the Supreme Cult Commander had issued another ludicrous command.
"Martial Soul Lord. You are to personally negotiate with the Blood Cult and secure their pledge to halt their expansion into the Central Plains."
The Blood Cult was a faction specializing in esoteric ritual arts with strong religious overtones, and they had long coveted the Central Plains.
They had even established a branch sect—the Blood-Sound Cult—near Dongting Lake.
However, since the Blood-Sound Cult's influence was minor and posed little threat to the Central Plains' martial world, they had been left alone for observation.
Yet the orthodox and unorthodox factions alike monitored their movements with extreme vigilance.
And now, Yeop Hyo-cheon had ordered Bu Eun-seol, as the Martial Soul Lord, to personally visit the Blood Cult's stronghold.
To negotiate with their leader and extract a binding vow to cease their ambitions in the Central Plains.
"You are to depart tomorrow—immediately."
Without even allowing time for intelligence-gathering or strategizing for a smooth negotiation.
To set out for both missions simultaneously the very next day—what kind of preposterous order was this?
But the most shocking announcement came afterward.
"Should either mission fail... the Martial Soul Lord's position will be subject to reappointment."
To put it bluntly—
Half of the warriors affiliated with the Demon Hall belonged to the Demonic Path Ten Gates, and Bu Eun-seol's relations with them were already strained.
If his position as Martial Soul Lord were put to a vote again?
Aside from Langya Pavilion, the Fleeting Moment Boat, and the Heaven-Severing, Earth-Destroying Sanctuary...
The remaining sects of the Demonic Path Ten Gates would spare no effort to drive him out.
As these orders were relayed one after another, an emergency Lord's Meeting was convened in the Hidden Demon Pavilion.
Present in the conference hall were not only the Death Shadow War Unit's lords but also Soyo and the Protector Tak Il-hon, No Trace, leader of the Death Soul Squad...
And even Seo Jin-ha, who had been roaming the martial world under the alias Seon-u Jin.
"This is an impossible demand."
Yu Un-ryong was the first to break the long silence.
"Ordering the Death Shadow War Unit alone to deal with the Yin-Knot Demon Grounds is already madness. And now the commander is to personally negotiate with the Blood Cult's leader in the Beyond the Frontier—alone?"
He shook his head vehemently.
"This is clearly a mistaken order."
Wi Cheon-gyeong was the next to speak.
"Correct. Moreover, the Supreme Cult Commander has never issued direct orders before, has he? He doesn't even have the authority to do so."
The captains of the Death Shadow War Unit already knew the limits of the Supreme Cult Commander's position through Bu Eun-seol.
So why would he issue such an unreasonable command now?
With the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's return, they could impose restrictions on him for overstepping his authority.
"My Lord. Request a private audience with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor. That is the only way."
At Wi Cheon-gyeong's words, Bu Eun-seol finally spoke.
"It's not a mistake. This is the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's command."
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's command? What do you mean?"
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor issued this order through the Supreme Cult Commander."
Taking a deep breath, he continued.
"I challenged the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, so of course, I must bear the consequences."
For a moment, an icy chill seemed to sweep through the conference room.
"You... challenged the Demonic Heavenly Emperor...?"
Yu Un-ryong broke the long silence, his voice trembling.
"What the hell does that mean?"
Bu Eun-seol answered nonchalantly.
"Upon returning to the Demon Hall, I went straight to the Holy Demon Pavilion. And I asked the Demonic Heavenly Emperor to teach me a lesson."
"Teach you... a lesson?"
A heavy silence fell over the room.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's authority was absolute.
To what extent? One must never provoke his displeasure.
Not even an irreverent expression was permitted in his presence.
Yet, before the face of that absolute being—
Bu Eun-seol had boldly demanded a lesson like some back-alley thug?
That was nothing less than a direct challenge to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's authority.
"So... did he actually teach you a lesson?"
"Yes."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes darkened as he took another deep breath.
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's martial prowess has surpassed the Martial Extreme Realm. Perhaps he has reached an entirely new realm beyond it."
The words were shocking.
The martial world had endured through generations,
achieving brilliant advancements in martial arts.
And the Grandmasters who stood at its pinnacle had clearly defined the limits and stages of cultivation.
The Martial Extreme Realm—
That was the furthest boundary a human could reach.
In this era, numerous Absolute Grandmasters had ascended to that rank.
Yet, the term "Martial Extreme Realm" could not fully describe them.
Because the difference between merely stepping into that realm and mastering it was like the gap between heaven and earth.
The Twin Heavenly Emperors of Righteous and Demonic had become the heavens of the martial world precisely because they were said to have reached the utmost limit of the Martial Extreme Realm, beyond which no further progress was possible.
But the Demonic Heavenly Emperor... had he truly broken through even that final boundary of martial arts, long believed to be the limit of human capability?
"Then... has His Majesty reached the Heavenly Will Realm?"
At Wi Cheon-gyeong's question, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"The Heavenly Will Realm is a realm of imagination. Even if one reaches it, no one knows what will happen. But one thing is certain..."
Lowering his voice, Bu Eun-seol continued.
"I exerted every ounce of my martial refinement to transform the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's spiritual attack into a physical one. But in the end, my body was taken over... and all I could do was barely escape that attack."
He swallowed hard.
"In short, all I managed was to barely block a single gesture from the Demonic Heavenly Emperor."
Once again, a deathly silence filled the room.
Bu Eun-seol's martial arts transcended age and generation, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Grandmasters who roamed the world.
And yet, he had nearly died from a single technique of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, barely escaping with his life?
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor was the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
In the end, as the Sky of the Demonic Path and its absolute sovereign, no one could defy him.
Anyone who dared challenge his authority would inevitably meet death.
—The fact that the Lord barely survived... Could it be that the Demonic Heavenly Emperor showed him mercy?
Just as the captains exchanged looks of utter shock—
"You fools."
Yu Un-ryong let out a sigh and spoke.
"Do you really think the Demonic Heavenly Emperor spared the Lord out of mercy?"
A heavy silence answered him.
They couldn't bring themselves to reply, tacitly agreeing with his words.
"Unless the Demonic Heavenly Emperor didn't lift a finger at all, there's no way he showed the Lord any mercy."
The captains stared blankly at Yu Un-ryong before letting out faint gasps of realization.
Mercy. That word did not exist in the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's vocabulary.
"And how many in the martial world do you think could withstand even a single technique from the Absolute Demonic Lord, who stands at the pinnacle of the Martial Extreme Realm?"
The captains' eyes widened at Yu Un-ryong's words.
—That's right!
Come to think of it, Bu Eun-seol had said he managed to transform the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's spiritual attack into a physical one.
That could only mean one thing—Bu Eun-seol had also stepped into the Heavenly Human Domain, reaching a level where he could instantly establish a new martial lineage.
"It was merely the activation of this humble one's Heart's Eye."
Though Bu Eun-seol shook his head under the heated gazes filling the hall, the squad leaders' faces bloomed with elation.
How many in the history of Murim had ever set foot in the Heavenly Human Domain?
In truth, Bu Eun-seol had already transcended the limits of human flesh and mind—a state tantamount to reaching the Martial Extreme Realm.
"We offer our congratulations!"
Wi Cheon-gyeong rose to his feet, clasping his hands together, and the squad leaders quickly followed suit with stunned expressions.
"Congratulations, Lord!"
They swayed on their feet as if about to burst into celebratory dance at any moment.
But Bu Eun-seol poured cold water over their excitement once more.
"No."
"Huh?"
He shook his head firmly.
"I have not ascended to the Martial Extreme Realm."
"What—then are you saying the Demonic Heavenly Emperor went easy on you? That makes no sense!"
Won Se-mun shook his head in disbelief.
Even if the Demonic Heavenly Emperor favored Bu Eun-seol immensely, he was not the kind of man to spare those who challenged his authority.
If the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had held back—
Then he would no longer be the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
"That's not what he meant. The Lord said he hasn't ascended to the Martial Extreme Realm yet."
At that moment, Seo Jin-ha spoke up with a grave expression.
"Not that he couldn't—but that he hasn't."
The squad leaders blinked rapidly in confusion.
Who in the world would refuse to ascend to the Martial Extreme Realm if they could?
"What are you talking about?"
Won Se-mun's eyes bulged like copper bells.
"Are you saying the Lord deliberately chose not to reach the Martial Extreme Realm?"
"Most likely."
Seo Jin-ha turned to Bu Eun-seol for confirmation.
"Isn't that right?"
Tak Il-hon, who had been listening silently until now, suddenly shot to his feet, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Is it true, Lord?"
"It is."
Bu Eun-seol replied as if it were nothing.
"Though Limitless Equal Enlightenment manifested several times, upon reflection, it did not align with my path—so I suppressed it."
"Aaaargh!"
"Huuuurk!"
Won Se-mun and Jo Nam-cheon, who had been quietly absorbing his words, clutched their heads and screamed in unison.
"What are you saying, Lord?!"
"Good heavens—you deliberately refused the Martial Extreme Realm? Why in the world would you do such a thing?!"
The manifestation of Limitless Equal Enlightenment meant one thing—
That he had already discovered a path to inevitably reach the Martial Extreme Realm one day.
And Bu Eun-seol wasn't even thirty yet.
If Limitless Equal Enlightenment had already begun to manifest—
Then in time, he could surpass even the greatest Grandmasters of the current Murim.
Yet he had kicked it aside himself? What kind of madness was this?
"Indeed... I see now."
But Tak Il-hon, as if struck by sudden realization, nodded solemnly before abruptly rising and clasping his hands together.
Then, unexpectedly, he switched to formal speech.
"Lord, from this moment forth, I ask that you address me informally."
"What are you saying all of a sudden?"
"Was I not originally your old servant? The title of Protector was merely maintained out of your consideration."
His voice was earnest.
"But now, I wish to serve you as a retainer."
Tak Il-hon's expression was utterly serious.
"Will you grant me this honor?"
Bu Eun-seol sighed deeply.
To become a retainer—
Meant pledging lifelong service to a single clan.
And as a retainer... one could learn one or two of that clan's secret martial arts.
Due to his status and position, Tak Il-hon had never been able to formally receive martial instruction from Bu Eun-seol.
But if he became a retainer? He could now learn directly from him.
Even if it meant serving for life, Tak Il-hon desired nothing more than to receive Bu Eun-seol's teachings.
"Protector Tak, you are truly greedy."
In the end, Bu Eun-seol addressed him informally.
A tacit acknowledgment that he accepted Tak Il-hon as his retainer.
"Thank you, Lord."
Tak Il-hon clasped his hands together, overjoyed.
But Won Se-mun, still unable to grasp the situation, blinked in confusion.
"Protector Tak, is becoming the Lord's retainer really something to celebrate?"
"You absolute rice bucket."
Jo Nam-cheon scolded him.
"He's rejoicing because now, as a sworn vassal, he can receive the Lord's teachings!"
"Teachings?"
Seeing Won Se-mun still didn't understand, Wi Cheon-gyeong explained.
"Right now, the Lord has rejected the Martial Extreme Realm and is forging a new path. If this endeavor succeeds... the Lord will reach a new realm—one that renders even the Martial Extreme Realm insignificant."
Finally comprehending, Won Se-mun's eyes flew wide.
Though Murim had countless Eccentric Masters, those capable of reaching the Martial Extreme Realm were a select few—Divine Beings.
The moment Limitless Equal Enlightenment manifested—
It was all but certain that Bu Eun-seol would soon reach the Martial Extreme Realm.
But now, he was treading an entirely new path—
And if he succeeded?
He would attain a realm so profound it would make the existing Martial Extreme Realm seem trivial.
Gulp.
Won Se-mun swallowed hard—
"Huh?!"
Then suddenly let out a shocked gasp.
For he had just realized something terrifying—
If Bu Eun-seol reached such a realm... an unfathomably fearsome event would unfold.