Chapter 706
Tae Mu-ryong clenched his fist with a resolute expression.
"I will stake my life on finding their traces."
Finding the culprit among the Seven Great Leaders.
That was the very reason Bu Eun-seol had come to the Martial Alliance, and the ultimate goal the Ultimate Unit absolutely had to achieve.
"And Group Leader Jeong, you are to go to the Martial Alliance branch in Bogyeong Prefecture and gather all martial artists there."
Though Jeong Jong-do had been appointed as the Alert overseeing all martial artists of the Secret Intelligence Bureau, Bu Eun-seol still addressed him as "Group Leader."
This was the Ultimate Unit, after all.
Until the day they left the Martial Alliance, that title, that position... would never change.
"Bogyeong Prefecture, you say."
Jeong Jong-do blinked rapidly as he spoke.
"You intend to prune the rotten branches growing within our alliance."
Even the secret organizations registered within the Ten Thousand Reflections Hall alone numbered this many.
Those directly under the Alliance Leader or the Elders' Hall hadn't even been identified yet.
Hadn't even Gongson Dan-gyeong been operating a secret organization?
Jeong Jong-do assumed Bu Eun-seol planned to uproot all secret factions within the Martial Alliance.
"No, the Martial Alliance can wait."
A faint smile played at the corners of Bu Eun-seol's lips.
"The first branches to be cut will be from the Demonic Path."
"The Demon Hall, you mean?"
"Correct."
"Then..."
"I'm thinking of systematically eliminating the Top-Secret Battle Units hidden by the Demon Hall. Preferably those directly under the Demonic Heavenly Emperor or the Supreme Cult Commander."
A cold sneer dripped from Bu Eun-seol's words.
Now that he'd become head of the Martial Alliance's Secret Intelligence Bureau.
He intended to methodically dismantle the Demon Hall's secret organizations—something he couldn't have done as the Martial Soul Lord.
Blue Haze Hall.
This famous pharmacy had branches throughout the Central Plains.
Primarily catering to noblewomen needing tonics or selling expensive medicinal ingredients for frail children.
Murmur murmur.
As dusk fell, the Blue Haze Hall's attendants began slowly tidying up the shop.
Soon the lights went out and the great gate closed.
Swish swish.
By moonrise, shadows had stealthily surrounded the place.
All clad in black, each carried an Odd-shaped Sword on their back.
The martial artists numbered over three hundred.
They swarmed the perimeter of the Blue Haze Hall, then—
Thud. Thud.
Suddenly began discreetly placing stakes and large stones around the premises, including the main gate.
Whoosh.
Pale mist began rising until soon the buildings of the Blue Haze Hall became completely obscured.
So none inside could escape—they'd deployed a mystical battle formation.
Rustle rustle.
Once the formation activated, the martial artists scaled the walls and infiltrated silently.
But something was odd.
From the spacious horse yards to the interior—
Not a single lantern burned, leaving everything as dark as an abandoned building.
[Who dares?]
An eerie voice suddenly echoed across the Blue Haze Hall's front courtyard.
[From the look of you, righteous faction scum. Leave. Now.]
Step step.
Yet one masked martial artist stepped forward slowly, scanning the surroundings.
"Creating a path so dark that heaven and earth stand silent, devoid of moonlight..."
He murmured in a low voice.
"Then we must practice Cautious Conduct and Straight Steps. Moving carefully without taking the lead, following the single path."
[You... how do you know the Formation-Breaking Art...?]
The martial artist had just recited the verse to dismantle the Absolute Seizing Secret Divine Movement Formation—the Demonic Path's most mystical defensive array.
"An impressive formation indeed, but you've overused it until it reeks of decay."
Clink.
The masked man drew several copper coins from his robe and scattered them across the ground.
Ssssh.
As the coins aligned and reflected the moonlight, the oppressive darkness began dissolving.
Simultaneously, the previously empty darkness transformed into a torchlit interior—
Revealing attendants with fiercely gleaming eyes standing at attention.
"Blood Traces, isn't it?"
The masked man's eyes curved into crescents as he observed them.
"One of the Demon Hall's secret organizations, said to leave no trace even if you dissect their clothes, shoes, or even their very bodies?"
Instantly the attendants' expressions froze cold.
Blood Traces was an ultra-classified organization unknown even to the Demon Hall's high command.
How had these intruders identified their affiliation and true nature?
"Who are you people?"
In response to the attendant's question, the masked man answered impassively.
"Don't take it personally."
His laugh was glacial.
"We're simultaneously eliminating all Blood Traces cells in Bongan Prefecture and Eungcheon Prefecture as well."
Shhhk.
Drawing the Odd-shaped Sword from his back, the masked man narrowed his eyes.
"So die quietly."
Demon Hall, Singular Light Pavilion.
An icy wind howled through the secret chamber hidden within the office.
Three bases of the secret Blood Traces unit had been obliterated in an instant.
Their existence had never once been detected by any external intelligence organization.
Moreover, their last known activity had been years ago. How could such an organization be completely annihilated?
"Have you determined where the information leak occurred?"
At Yeop Hyo-cheon's question, Gwan Mu-pyeong, the leader of the Death Command Party in charge of secret organizations, bowed his head.
"There was no trace of an information leak."
He continued calmly.
"However, considering that the Blue Haze Hall in Eungcheon Prefecture reported movement from the Martial Alliance's covert branch a few days ago..."
"So the Martial Alliance is the most likely culprit."
"That is correct."
Click.
At that moment, the door opened, and a martial artist from the Secret Shadow Pavilion entered, bowing his head.
It was Ju Un-cheon, a former member of the Ten Demonic Heirs and now a messenger delivering top-secret intelligence from the Secret Shadow Pavilion to the Supreme Cult Commander.
"We couldn't find direct evidence that the Martial Alliance's covert unit was mobilized, but we confirmed that Seon-u Jin, who became the chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau half a month ago, conducted inspections of all branches."
"Seon-u Jin?"
Yeop Hyo-cheon's eyes flashed.
A rising star from a merchant background who had steadily built merit within the Martial Alliance, eventually defeating the Fist King and ascending to the ranks of the Four Gods and Seven Kings—a new-generation grandmaster of the Righteous Path.
From the perspective of the Demonic Path, it was absurd that someone unheard of had risen to such a position, and Yeop Hyo-cheon was well aware of his name.
"Are you saying he mobilized the assassination squads stationed in the Martial Alliance's branches?"
"The probability is high."
Ju Un-cheon bowed his head again.
"He has earned the Martial Alliance Leader's absolute trust, even receiving the Clear-Heart Command Token. Considering the remarkable achievements he's accumulated in such a short time... it's not unlikely that he discovered the Blood Traces."
"You're telling me one of our Top-Secret Battle Units, was completely wiped out by some young upstart?"
Yeop Hyo-cheon nearly burst into laughter out of sheer disbelief.
Throughout the Demon Hall's history, the Top-Secret Battle Units had occasionally been exposed, but never completely annihilated.
And now, a freshly appointed chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau—a mere youngster—had not only detected them but wiped them out entirely?
"We will immediately investigate how he uncovered our secret organization."
"No, there's no need."
A sharp glint flashed in Yeop Hyo-cheon's eyes.
"It seems the time has come to send the Martial Alliance a warning."
When rumors spread that the Guardians' Faction Master Hyeokryeon Eung had been beheaded, the Demon Hall had shown no particular reaction.
After all, he wasn't the real Hyeokryeon Eung to begin with, and more importantly, he was a marked traitor.
Reacting to the death of such a man would have been laughable.
But this was different.
One of the Demon Hall's most covert and elite battle units had been completely obliterated.
And by some greenhorn from the Martial Alliance.
In that case, it was only right to deliver a severe warning to the Martial Alliance.
A warning so absolute it would ensure they could no longer engage in martial activities—through complete annihilation.
"Young people are always the problem, no matter where you look."
For a moment, Yeop Hyo-cheon's eyes darkened as if recalling someone.
"Relay my orders to the Dark Soul Unit Commander."
His voice grew infinitely colder as he continued.
"Tell him to eliminate Seon-u Jin—permanently."
The Dark Soul Unit.
To sever Seon-u Jin's head, Yeop Hyo-cheon had just ordered the deployment of one of the Demon Hall's three Special-Class Elite Units—the Dark Soul Unit.
"The Dark Soul Unit?"
Gwan Mu-pyeong, who had been listening silently, wore a slightly surprised expression.
The Demon Hall's Special-Class Elite Units weren't classified as such simply because of their martial prowess.
It was because any mission assigned to them was guaranteed to succeed.
The Dark Soul Unit, in particular, specialized in assassinations—even if the target was a master on the level of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, they would find a way to behead them.
The problem was that killing a figure like the chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau, who enjoyed the Martial Alliance Leader's absolute trust...
The aftermath could be impossible to contain.
"Supreme Cult Commander—"
"If they dared touch one of our Top-Secret Battle Units, they should have been prepared for this level of retaliation."
A fierce light poured from Yeop Hyo-cheon's eyes as he spoke.
"Let's see how the Martial Alliance reacts when he dies."
***
Despite being the Heir of the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol had been unable to mobilize the Secret Shadow Pavilion—the foremost intelligence organization of the Demonic Path.
Because of this, he remained under the surveillance of not only the Three Realms but also the Demonic Heavenly Emperor and the Supreme Cult Commander.
However, once the intelligence networks of his personally trained Death Soul Squad and the Martial Alliance's elite forces merged, he gained power rivaling the Secret Shadow Pavilion.
And at last, he uncovered the Demon Hall's secret organization—
The Top-Secret Battle Unit under the Supreme Cult Commander's direct command: the Blood Traces.
Then, Bu Eun-seol mobilized the assassination squads stationed in every branch of the Martial Alliance and wiped them out completely.
Having finished his task, he was now returning to the Martial Alliance under the identity of Seon-u Jin.
Upon reaching the border of Hubei Province, he stepped out of the carriage and activated his Lightness Skill, heading back toward Henan.
Whoosh.
As he swiftly executed his Movement Technique under the darkening sky, Bu Eun-seol's expression—
Like the ashen twilight—grew somewhat somber.
Because while eliminating the Blood Traces, he had made a startling discovery.
'The order to attack Lord Dan... came from the Supreme Cult Commander himself.'
Bu Eun-seol had once taken on the role of Eighteen from the Kill-Seeking Unit, assigned to guard Dan So-ok.
Then, out of nowhere, assassins of unknown origin attacked, and he barely managed to repel them.
Even with the Demon Hall's intelligence network, they had failed to uncover the organization behind those assassins.
But now, it turned out the assassins who had sent assassins to attack Dan So-ok back then were none other than the Blood Enemy.
'Does that mean the Supreme Cult Commander and the Three Realms formed an alliance?'
The leader of the assassins who had ambushed Dan So-ok at the time had used the Namgung Clan's Heavy Sword Secret Art.
If it was the Three Realms, stealing and mastering the secret techniques of the Eight Great Families wasn't entirely impossible.
So Bu Eun-seol had assumed they were all assassins from the Three Realms.
'But if that's the case...'
Elder Poong, who had instigated the rebellion within the Namgung Clan in the past, had passed down a sword technique similar to the one used by the murderer who killed Bu Eun-seol's grandfather to Namgung Poong.
If so, did that mean the Supreme Cult Commander was also connected to the Three Realms—and by extension, to Elder Poong, who had been a spy planted within the Namgung Clan?
'No, the Supreme Cult Commander isn't part of the Three Realms.'
The probability that the Supreme Cult Commander—who handled most of the Demon Hall's affairs in place of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—was a member of the Three Realms was zero.
Rather, the more plausible deduction was that he had temporarily allied with them.
'But why?'
Dan Wol-hon, the Jipma Manor Lord, was a loyal figure who had never once abused his authority.
Even his relationship with the Supreme Cult Commander wasn't particularly bad.
Then why had he orchestrated such a scheme to kidnap Dan So-ok?
Was it because the Supreme Cult Commander resented Dan Wol-hon, who commanded over half of the Demon Hall's forces?
If not that—
Had he manipulated Dan Wol-hon into wiping out the Killing Sect, which had been falsely accused at the time, by staging the attack on Dan So-ok?
'The latter is more likely.'
In truth, after Dan So-ok was attacked, Dan Wol-hon had not only eradicated the assassin sects involved but also eliminated all the factions that had been a thorn in his side.
'But why go through the trouble of collaborating with the Three Realms for this?'
Suddenly, a strange thought occurred to Bu Eun-seol.
'Could it be... to test the Demonic Heavenly Emperor?'
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor avoided issuing direct commands whenever possible, always observing situations from a distance as if he were a god.
'To exploit the weakness of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, who treats everything as a game—'
Had the Supreme Cult Commander, in alliance with the Three Realms, orchestrated this to test the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—who treated all humans like chess pieces and manipulated the board as he pleased?
'It's possible.'
The Supreme Cult Commander was, after all, a man whose authority had been neutered by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
Moreover, during their private meeting, Bu Eun-seol had confirmed that he wasn't entirely aligned with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's will.
If so, it was entirely possible that the Supreme Cult Commander, too... was struggling to break free from the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's grasp.
'In the end, infiltrating the Martial Alliance was the best choice.'
Because of it, he had gained control of the finest intelligence unit spanning both the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths.
'If I had remained solely within the Demon Hall... I'd still be a puppet dancing on their strings.'
What if he had stayed only within the Demon Hall?
What if he hadn't created a dual identity and risen to a high-ranking position within the Martial Alliance?
He would have spent his entire life ignorant of the true nature of both the Demon Hall and the Martial Alliance.
'That both alliances operate shadow factions...'
At best, he would have remained nothing more than the Martial Soul Lord—a sweet but hollow title.
Even as the Heir of the Demon Hall, he would have known nothing of its true workings.
'And I would never have been able to utilize the Secret Shadow Pavilion in this lifetime.'
The Secret Shadow Pavilion—the Demon Hall's supreme intelligence organization.
It moved solely at the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's will, sharing information only with the Supreme Cult Commander.
Looking back, it made no sense.
No matter how much the Demonic Path operated on the logic of power, no matter how absolute the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's authority was—
How could they withhold intelligence from the Heir of the Demon Hall, the man destined to become its next ruler?
It was absurd from the start.
'I'll tear it apart from within.'
As he dismantled the Blood Enemy, Bu Eun-seol made his resolve.
Using the Martial Alliance's strength to expose the Demon Hall's true nature—
And using the Demon Hall's strength to lay bare the Martial Alliance's secrets.
Billow... Billow...
But then, an odd sensation crept over him.
It was as if a fog had begun to rise from somewhere, and the air within several thousand feet grew heavy, like slabs of lead.
Whoosh—
Sensing something amiss, Bu Eun-seol doubled his movement technique and veered toward Chengdu.
Since he was moving covertly without any troops, he intended to return to Chengdu, gather his escort, and then return with them.
Tap— Thud—
Leaping and gliding in rapid succession, he pushed forward, but the air grew heavier, as if filled with molten iron.
Before he knew it, his legs had become so leaden he could no longer maintain his movement technique, and his chest tightened until he could barely breathe.
Thud.
Finally, he halted his technique and stopped in a secluded reed field.
Swish!
As if they had been waiting, dozens of black shadows erupted from the ground, surrounding the reed field.
They were clad in black martial uniforms, their bizarre appearance completed by iron masks covering their noses and mouths.
Behind those masks, their eyes burned crimson like evil ghosts risen from the depths of hell.
'The Dark Soul Unit.'
The Demon Hall's Special-Class Elite Unit—an assassination squad said to have never once failed a mission.
The Dark Soul Unit had now appeared before Bu Eun-seol.
'They deployed a battle formation even while executing their movement technique...'
While pursuing Bu Eun-seol at extreme speeds, they had simultaneously laid out a formation, encircling him in an instant.
Thud. Thud.
Then, the Dark Soul Unit's leader, Hui Mu-ssang, emerged.
As he approached, the air—already oppressive—suddenly pressed down on Bu Eun-seol's entire body, and nausea surged up his throat.
At the same time, the veins across his body began darkening, and his head spun violently.
'Poison?'
Ugh...
Bu Eun-seol attempted to circulate his internal power to burn away the invading toxin.
Yet, no poison could be detected within his body. Despite this, the symptoms of poisoning only intensified.
'Heart Poison.'
Shockingly, the Dark Soul Unit was unleashing Heart Poison—a technique that could only be executed after achieving the Poison Saint Body.
Through some esoteric grand art, they had fused their internal power to unleash it.
'An effective method indeed.'
Heart Poison could not be blocked by internal power—it struck the spirit and mind directly, inducing poisoning symptoms.
Moreover, it was fundamentally different from illusions or bewitchment, meaning even those who had undergone a Spiritual Aperture Breakthrough could not resist it.
'So my internal power is draining too.'
The moment Heart Poison took effect, Bu Eun-seol's internal power had already diminished by one-third.
Worse, the poisoning symptoms worsened by the second—his movements slowed, and chaotic thoughts bloomed in his mind.
"It's you."
Hui Mu-ssang confirmed Bu Eun-seol's disguised appearance as Seon-u Jin and nodded without another word.
"Kill."
There was no greeting, no forewarning of death.
Swish!
The moment the death order was given, the Dark Soul Unit drew their swords as if they had been waiting for this very moment, unleashing lethal techniques in a torrent.
Slash!
As a razor-sharp sword qi grazed his cheek, Bu Eun-seol activated his movement technique, evading the onslaught.
'Fascinating.'
Even as the Heir of the Demon Hall,
he knew nothing of the training or methods of the Special-Class Elite Unit.
At most, he had only heard from Seo Jin-ha—who had once been part of the Celestial Slaughter Corps—that they employed a unique sword formation capable of striking the spirit and mind.
Yet here, the Dark Soul Unit was combining an esoteric battle formation with Heart Poison,
simultaneously attacking both the enemy's spirit and physical body.
'Hmm.'
Strangely, Bu Eun-seol felt excitement and curiosity amidst the danger.
Given his status,
he had never once fought a life-or-death battle against the Demon Hall's forces.
But now, facing off against a Special-Class Elite Unit representing the Demon Hall, he found himself experiencing an oddly refreshing sensation.
Shing!
Finally, Bu Eun-seol drew Ink Soul Sword and executed the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms.
His swordsmanship had reached such an advanced realm that even his most basic stances carried tremendous might.
"...!"
The Dark Soul Unit was visibly startled—despite his diminished internal power and poisoning from Heart Poison,
Bu Eun-seol was calmly wielding his sword to defend against their attacks.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
The Dark Soul Unit shifted their sword techniques again.
At first glance, the strikes seemed unremarkable, but the moment they neared Bu Eun-seol's body, the sword qi split into three or four separate streams.
The movements of the qi were not fast—in fact, they were almost languid.
Yet they carried such fierce energy that even a glancing touch could melt one's meridians.
Bu Eun-seol watched the sword qi fluttering like falling leaves around him before suddenly hurling Ink Soul Sword straight upward.
Whoosh!
In that instant, every member of the Dark Soul Unit reflexively looked up.
It was a fleeting moment—but for Bu Eun-seol, it was enough time to traverse dozens of yards.
Boom!
A surge of energy currents erupted from Bu Eun-seol's fingertips before condensing into a single point.
Flick!
With a light snap of his finger, a thin line of energy shot forth—
KABOOM!
A deafening explosion sent the Dark Soul Unit members flying more than a hundred feet back.
It was a Finger Flick Art—
a technique mimicking the Bullet King Bukgung Ryeong's Inner Energy Bullet Art, compressing immense internal power into a devastating strike.
"Ghk—!"
Groans escaped the lips of the unit members as blood spilled from their mouths.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Bu Eun-seol unleashed a rapid barrage of Finger Flick Arts, not only striking the Dark Soul Unit members but also splitting nearby trees in half—
shattered rocks sent plumes of dust and gravel scattering in all directions.
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had deliberately restrained himself from relying too heavily on martial arts fueled by his overwhelming internal power.
With factions like the Three Realms constantly employing methods to weaken internal energy,
he had believed that superiority in internal power held little meaning.
Indeed, Bu Eun-seol had always prioritized the subtleties of martial arts over brute force.
So why was he now repeatedly emulating Bukgung Ryeong's Inner Energy Bullet Art?
Was it to make absolutely clear—
to the Demon Hall—that he could wield the Bullet King's Supreme Heaven Ultimate Art at will?
'If it's the Dark Soul Unit, all the better.'
A flash of blood light ignited in Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
Now was the perfect time to execute one of his long-delayed plans—
a scheme that would send seismic tremors through the murim.