Chapter 719
"Are you truly alright?"
At that moment, Namgung Se-a approached and asked.
"What in the world was down there that it took you so long?"
Should I tell her?
In any case, all the characters carved into the stone walls had vanished.
Moreover, the prophecies left by Yo-hui had nothing to do with the disciples of the Divine Maiden Palace. Was there any need to complicate things with explanations?
Besides, wasn't he the very one who had disrupted the arrangements of the Immortal Crane Hidden Estate?
No, I should be honest. It was a story left by the Founder, after all.
Bu Eun-seol answered truthfully.
"Below, there was a beautifully adorned small village, and deeper inside, a cave where a stone statue of the Divine Maiden Palace's Founder stood. That was likely the headquarters of the Immortal Crane Hidden Estate."
He then recounted the story that had been written on the stone walls.
However, he omitted the part about how he might be a being of demonic origin. After all, nothing had been definitively confirmed.
Namgung Se-a listened silently before tilting her head slightly.
"Such a tale existed?"
"Yes. But since the inscriptions on the stone walls flew into the sky and the statue disappeared... I suppose it might sound somewhat fantastical."
Because Namgung Se-a was Namgung Un's aunt, Bu Eun-seol treated her with utmost courtesy regardless of their relative seniority.
She, too, seemed aware of his consideration and wore a faint smile, though her eyes carried an inexplicable shadow.
"No, I believe you."
The moment Bu Eun-seol heard the unease lacing Namgung Se-a's voice, he instinctively sensed that something had gone wrong in the Divine Maiden Palace.
"What happened?"
"Nothing major. However... it would be best if you left the main palace quickly."
Namgung Se-a spoke gravely.
"At some point, a mysterious faction suddenly arrived at the main palace. They're insisting they must conduct a search."
"A search? Why would they demand to search the Divine Maiden Palace?"
"They're spouting nonsense about how the flow of Heaven's Will has changed, and they're forcing their way in regardless."
Namgung Se-a let out a bitter laugh.
"I suspect it's because of that energy you mentioned—the one that soared into the sky from the Immortal Crane Hidden Estate."
"Heaven's Will."
Bu Eun-seol had an inkling and asked,
"Among them, was there a young woman with somewhat short hair and a purple scar on her neck?"
"Indeed. Do you know her?"
Yang Seol-rin. So she's come.
Bu Eun-seol allowed a faint smile to surface.
Ultimately, the power of the Immortal Crane Hidden Estate had disrupted the flow of Heaven's Will, and Yang Seol-rin, sensing it, had immediately sought out the Divine Maiden Palace.
Opening the Immortal Crane Hidden Estate must have shifted Heaven's Will.
The Immortal Crane Hidden Estate was a place prepared by Yo-hui, the Divine Maiden Palace's Founder who had foreseen the workings of Heaven's Will.
Moreover, it was said that passing through it could awaken the power of the Heavenly Might Star.
In other words, merely opening the estate must have caused an enormous shift in Heaven's Will.
"That's correct."
Bu Eun-seol nodded firmly.
"I'll resolve this matter. Please guide me to where she is."
The Teaching-Scroll Terrace was located near the foothills of Flying Phoenix Peak on Mount Wu.
It faced Goddess Peak across a river.
Here, there was a flat and wide stone platform, said to have been created by the Founder Yo-hui through the Art of Spells.
And on this Teaching-Scroll Terrace, two figures stood beneath the night sky, facing each other.
The man seemed to blend seamlessly with nature, exuding a calm yet imposing presence—as though he could hold up the heavens and press down the earth.
The woman possessed the mystical pupils of a phoenix, her entire body wreathed in an aura of auspicious energy.
They were none other than Bu Eun-seol and Yang Seol-rin.
"It's been a while."
Yang Seol-rin looked both delighted and surprised to see Bu Eun-seol.
"What in the world brings you here?"
She had sensed a drastic shift in the flow of Heaven's Will and traced its origin to the Divine Maiden Palace.
Rushing to Mount Wu, she had attempted to investigate, but naturally, the Divine Maiden Palace barred her entry.
Yang Seol-rin had sought an audience with the palace master to negotiate, only to face stubborn resistance, leading to a standoff.
Then, out of the blue, the Divine Maiden Palace suggested relocating to the Teaching-Scroll Terrace.
—This matter can likely be resolved by discussing it with the person at the Teaching-Scroll Terrace.
Though suspicious, she had no other choice.
In the end, Yang Seol-rin headed to the terrace, where she encountered Bu Eun-seol.
"Don't tell me you've learned to read Heaven's Will now?"
Bu Eun-seol felt reassured that Yang Seol-rin remained unchanged—
treating him with the same familiarity while retaining her spirited, unruly nature.
She can be trusted.
Even as he sought her out due to the Boundary-Prosperity Jade, a part of him had been uneasy.
According to the Earthly Killing Star, the Yang Family was gathering the One Hundred and Eight Stars for experiments.
Whether that was true or not—
the Yang Family was deeply involved in the affairs of the martial world.
Just like the Three Realms and other factions he had encountered so far,
it was clear that the Yang Family, too, operated covertly with a unified and distinct purpose.
I don't trust people.
Those were words Gongson Dan-gyeong had once spoken.
She, too, must have interacted with countless factions in the martial world.
And she must have realized—
that the martial world was not as it appeared on the surface,
that many forces lurked in the Abyss,
and that trusting the wrong person could lead to unforeseen consequences.
But Bu Eun-seol trusted her.
He didn't know about the Yang Family as a whole,
but Yang Seol-rin—she was definitely not an evil person.
"How could someone like me possibly read Heaven's Will?"
Dismissing the countless thoughts swirling in his mind, Bu Eun-seol shifted the topic.
"But what about them? Didn't you say you came to the martial world alone?"
Behind Yang Seol-rin stood women clad in crimson martial uniforms, exuding a murderous aura as they glared at Bu Eun-seol.
"Ah."
Yang Seol-rin shrugged her shoulders.
"The martial world turned out to be far more treacherous than I thought."
"Are they masters from the Yangseol Clan?"
"Mmm, well."
She, too, seemed troubled as she evaded the question.
"But how did you end up here?"
"I was looking for you."
"You found me—so what?"
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol turned his gaze toward her subordinates.
Understanding the meaning behind his glance, Yang Seol-rin shrugged again and spoke to them.
"Give us some space for a moment. There's something important we need to discuss."
Yet the women didn't move.
With no other choice, Yang Seol-rin sighed and said,
"He's the ally I mentioned before. It's fine."
At her words, the red-clad martial artists reluctantly vanished in an instant.
It wasn't an ordinary movement technique—it seemed more like an otherworldly power, akin to the Art of Spells.
"Do you recognize this orb?"
Once they were gone, Bu Eun-seol retrieved a small orb from his robes.
It was the Boundary-Prosperity Jade.
"Huh?"
Yang Seol-rin tilted her head, staring at Bu Eun-seol in confusion.
"How do you have this?"
"I came across it while traveling the martial world."
Bu Eun-seol lied smoothly.
"And I realized this orb possesses a mysterious power... but suddenly, that power vanished."
"So?"
"I was searching for a way to either regain its power or restore it."
"So you came looking for me, is that it?"
Bu Eun-seol answered honestly.
"That's right."
Yang Seol-rin fell into thought for a long moment before shaking her head.
"No."
"What do you mean?"
"The Boundary-Prosperity Jade isn't something martial artists should use."
Her expression turned grave.
"And besides... this isn't even the real Boundary-Prosperity Jade."
"What are you saying?"
As Bu Eun-seol stiffened in shock, Yang Seol-rin exhaled a sigh and explained.
"This is an artificial Boundary-Prosperity Jade—one that's temporarily infused with power for use."
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol felt as though he had been struck in the back of the head.
This mystical orb, capable of wondrous feats... was a man-made fake?
"A fake, you say?"
"Not a fake—an artificial one."
Yang Seol-rin's expression was peculiar.
"This is even more precious than the real one. Because you can recharge it and use it again."
"Then the reason its power disappeared is...?"
"It must have been depleted."
Bu Eun-seol was thrown into confusion.
The mere existence of such a treasure in this world was astonishing enough—but the Three Clans could artificially create such things?
"Does the Yangseol Clan have many artifacts like this?"
"Who knows?"
"Then is it possible to recharge this depleted Boundary-Prosperity Jade?"
Yang Seol-rin frowned.
"No. I told you. Martial artists shouldn't use this."
Judging by her tone, it seemed recharging the orb was indeed possible.
But from the look on her face, she wasn't about to reveal the method easily.
After a moment of contemplation, Bu Eun-seol spoke again.
"Aren't you curious why Heaven's Will scattered, and why the Divine Maiden Palace became its origin?"
"Huh?"
"The people of the Divine Maiden Palace may not know, but I do."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"I'll tell you the exact reason."
"Don't tell me you're the one who caused it?"
"Not me. But I am certainly involved."
"Hmm."
Yang Seol-rin chewed on her lips before making a displeased face.
"Oh, so now you're being slick? You've asked me so many things, and now you're offering just one answer in return? Are you bargaining with me?"
"That's..."
"Isn't that just too much? No wonder they say the martial world is full of shameless, thick-skinned ingrates."
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned troubled.
He was a man who valued gratitude—someone who repaid even the smallest kindness without fail.
And Yang Seol-rin wasn't wrong.
She had consistently shown him goodwill and shared much with him.
Yet here he was, offering just one piece of information in exchange while demanding her help.
'There's no other way.'
He had exhausted all options to obtain the Boundary-Prosperity Jade.
With his decisive battle against the Sword Demon approaching, there was no more time to waste.
"My apologies."
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands respectfully.
"You're right. I shouldn't have demanded anything from you."
Resigned, he tucked the Boundary-Prosperity Jade back into his robes and nodded readily.
"I'll tell you everything—no conditions."
"What, are you sulking now?"
She was impulsive by nature—
A woman who looked down on the world with unshakable confidence.
But she certainly knew how to read people.
She had already discerned that Bu Eun-seol was a man of principle—one who never forgot a debt of gratitude.
"How could I?"
Bu Eun-seol replied evenly.
"You've shown me much kindness in the past. And I haven't even repaid any of it—I merely realized I was asking too much."
Despite his words, a trace of disappointment and resignation flickered in his eyes.
Seeing the gloom settle over Bu Eun-seol's handsome face, Yang Seol-rin's resolve wavered.
"Do you really need to use that orb?"
She pouted as she spoke.
"Do you even know what it does?"
"I know it's a precious artifact that can completely alter a person's temperament."
"Haah. You really don't know anything, do you?"
Yang Seol-rin crossed her arms and shook her head.
"It's not just about changing a person's temperament. It's..."
She clamped her mouth shut mid-sentence.
The truth about this artificial Boundary-Prosperity Jade was one of the martial world's greatest secrets—something that could never be disclosed to an outsider.
"Fine. If that's all you were planning to use it for anyway..."
Yang Seol-rin muttered under her breath before reluctantly extending her hand.
"Give it here. I'll make myself useful for once."
"No, that's quite all right. I couldn't possibly impose on you like that."
"Ugh. Just hand it over before I change my mind."
When Yang Seol-rin scrunched her nose in irritation, Bu Eun-seol smiled.
She truly was as pure and kind-hearted as a child.
Even if the Yangseol Clan had been tainted by evil, Yang Seol-rin herself could never be a bad person.
"My deepest gratitude."
Bu Eun-seol pressed his palms together respectfully.
"I will never forget this kindness."
Yang Seol-rin smirked, blowing a strand of hair from her face.
"Of course not. I'll be collecting interest—with interest."
"Naturally."
Unaware of what that "interest" would one day entail, Bu Eun-seol retrieved the Boundary-Prosperity Jade and handed it over.
"Hmm. This is an old one."
After examining the jade for a long moment, Yang Seol-rin murmured,
"It seems to be from the early days of its creation."
She then cupped it between both hands and closed her eyes.
Whoosh.
A mysterious orange light began to gather around her body before being drawn into the jade through her hands.
"Haa."
When she reopened her eyes and uncurled her fingers, the once-yellowish jade now shimmered like a mystical star, pulsing with an orange glow.
"There. Done."
"So that's how it works."
"What is?"
Bu Eun-seol nodded faintly as he observed the radiant jade.
"This Artificial Star-Reflecting Jade... It seems capable of temporarily storing a special kind of power. Perhaps... something akin to the One Hundred and Eight Stars?"
"You catch on quick."
"Am I correct?"
"Close enough."
Yang Seol-rin gave a faint smile.
"It can temporarily contain the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, after all."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed.
"Then that means you are one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars."
"Huhuhu. Jealous?"
Yang Seol-rin crossed her arms, wearing a haughty expression.
"That's right. I was born with a special power too."
She playfully thumped Bu Eun-seol's shoulder.
"Though if you had been born with the energy of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars or the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, you wouldn't have needed this jade in the first place."
'No way.'
Her words struck Bu Eun-seol like a bucket of cold water, snapping him to full alertness.
"Then... you're saying I'm not one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars?"
Even if Yo-hui's prophecy had been wrong, he had at least assumed he was connected to the Demonic Path—or the Heavenly Darkness Star.
And even if not, he thought he might be one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars whose power simply hadn't awakened yet.
After all, he had emerged unscathed from the Dark Shadow Layered Path—a prison within the Mindscape.
But Yang Seol-rin's reaction...
She seemed utterly convinced he wasn't one of them.
"What, did you want to be?"
"How can you be so sure I'm not?"
Yang Seol-rin smirked mischievously.
"If you were one of them, that orb wouldn't have stayed so yellow and transparent."
She shrugged.
"The Star-Reflecting Jade subtly absorbs one's nature. If you were part of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, it would've taken on their corresponding hue."
"But what if my power hasn't awakened yet?"
"Not awakened? Why?"
Bu Eun-seol averted his gaze and muttered,
"Lost memories, perhaps."
"If it's lost memories... Well, I suppose that could be possible."
Yang Seol-rin nodded thoughtfully, arms still crossed—but then frowned at the gravity of Bu Eun-seol's expression.
"Wait, are you talking about yourself? You don't remember?"
"I have no memories from my childhood."
"Same here."
She clicked her tongue.
"Strange, isn't it? I can't recall anything from before I was six or seven years old."
"Neither can I."
Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his surprise. Yang Seol-rin also had no memories from that time?
But she merely shrugged, unfazed.
"Oh? What a coincidence."
"Is there any way to confirm whether someone is part of the One Hundred and Eight Stars?"
"Well... It's not impossible to find out, but..."
Her gaze lingered on the jade in Bu Eun-seol's hand.
"Can it be done with this?"
"Yeah. Ah—but no, it won't work."
"Why not?"
Yang Seol-rin gave an awkward shrug.
"The method to infuse power into the Star-Reflecting Jade is one of my clan's Secret Arts. Outsiders can't be taught."
"Miss."
"Even if I did teach you, you wouldn't be able to do it."
"Why not?"
"This is akin to a Taoist Cultivation Secret. For someone who's trained in Demonic Martial Power, it'd take at least a decade of practice to grasp."
She chuckled lightly.
"The Star-Reflecting Jade is essentially a kind of Internal Core, so—"
'Internal Core.'
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol recalled the Taoist Cultivation Secret Gongson Dan-a had taught him—a fusion of the Quanzhen Sect's Secret Arts and Hua Tuo's Five Animal Frolics.
Whoosh.
Suddenly, the jade—previously tinged orange—clouded over like murky water.
"What the—?"
Realizing Bu Eun-seol had just channeled energy into it, Yang Seol-rin gaped.
"You've been practicing Taoist Cultivation Secrets? You, a demonic martial artist?"
Bu Eun-seol scrambled for an excuse.
"Our sect has many Internal Secret Arts that borrow from the Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths' strengths. The Heavenly Jade Mysterious Heaven Secret Art and the Soul-Scattering Infinite Extremity Art, for instance, share principles with Taoist methods."
Panic made the lies flow effortlessly.
Yang Seol-rin studied him with suspicion for a long moment—
"Pfft!"
Then, catching sight of the jade in his hand, she burst into laughter.
The Boundary-Prosperity Jade he had been holding had already turned transparent as water.
"Good heavens, you're just an ordinary commoner?"
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, Yang Seol-rin burst into laughter, rolling around.
"Oh, my stomach!"
"Miss."
"Not only are you not one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, but you don't even have the most basic martial spirit or physical constitution. Hahaha."
After laughing for a while,
she suddenly adopted a solemn expression, patted Bu Eun-seol's shoulder, and gave him a thumbs-up.
"To have come this far with nothing but the body of an ordinary mortal—that's truly impressive."
Bu Eun-seol had already known since the Ten Demonic Heirs Tournament
that he had been born with an unremarkable body.
"So, I'm not one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars?"
"Of course not. Even if you lost your memories, there's no way the Boundary-Prosperity Jade would stay this transparent after absorbing your internal energy."
At Yang Seol-rin's answer, Bu Eun-seol wore a dazed expression.
The Heavenly Venerable had declared him the Heavenly Darkness Star, and the fake Takma had insisted he was the Heavenly Might Star.
Yo-hui, who had built a mindscape like the Dark Shadow Layered Path, was also a Divine Being capable of discerning Heaven's Will.
But all of them had been wrong.
The Boundary-Prosperity Jade instantly absorbed internal energy, making it a Precious Artifact that could unmistakably distinguish truth from falsehood.
Which meant...
He truly was nothing among the One Hundred and Eight Stars, and the previous Prophet and those esteemed Grandmasters had all been mistaken.
"Why so disappointed? Did you really think you were one of them?"
"To be honest, yes."
"Why?"
Bu Eun-seol answered truthfully.
"A figure of considerable standing and influence in Murim told me I was one of them."
"What did they say?"
Bu Eun-seol couldn't bring himself to say "Heavenly Darkness Star."
"The Heavenly Might Star."
"Hah!"
Yang Seol-rin suddenly clutched her stomach and laughed.
"How absurd!"
"What's so different about the Heavenly Might Star?"
"Of course there is. The Heavenly Might Star is the foremost among the One Hundred and Eight Stars, possessing abilities on par with the Heavenly Darkness Star."
Yang Seol-rin licked her lips.
"And the Heavenly Might Star has never once flickered into existence before. So why would you suddenly be it?"
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
Hearing her words, the discomfort he had felt at the possibility of being the Heavenly Darkness Star—
and the crushing weight of destiny that came with potentially being the Heavenly Might Star, the one meant to save Murim—
both seemed to quietly fade away.
"I see. It seems they were mistaken."
Bu Eun-seol casually asked,
"Then is the Heavenly Darkness Star still shining?"
"No? It hasn't appeared since that time."
"I see."
For some reason, he felt relieved.
If the Heavenly Darkness Star hadn't been detected, then Yo-hui's prophecy had been entirely wrong.
Perhaps Heaven's Will had been in constant flux, and the future unfolding now was different from what Yo-hui had foreseen.
"Now, tell me."
Yang Seol-rin spoke up then.
"Why exactly did an energy capable of disrupting Heaven's Will emerge from the Divine Maiden Palace?"
Bu Eun-seol calmly explained everything.
How he had sought the Demon-Summoning Banner to repay the Divine Maiden Palace's debt, which led him to open the Immortal Crane Hidden Estate left by the Founder, Yo-hui.
How it contained prophecies about Heaven's Will,
and how, when they concluded, a brilliant light shot up into the sky.
However, he omitted the parts about the arrangements for the Heavenly Might Star,
only mentioning the warnings about the Heavenly Darkness Star's danger.
"Hmm, the prophecy of the Divine Maiden Palace's Founder, Yo-hi."
After hearing everything, Yang Seol-rin let out a deep sigh.
"So even the philosophers of old foresaw the danger of the Heavenly Darkness Star."
She didn't seem particularly surprised.
Which meant the Yang Seol family had also been aware of the Heavenly Darkness Star's existence.
"But the idea that it's some kind of demonic entity or that it reincarnates endlessly—that's just nonsense. The sages of the past tended to overinterpret passages from the Demon-Illuminating Scripture."
"The Demon-Illuminating Scripture?"
"Yeah, that kind of book."
Yang Seol-rin scratched her cheek and tilted her head.
"But I don't get it. Why would a sage like Yo-hui go to the trouble of creating such a Secret Cave just to pass on those words?"
In truth, Yo-hui had created the Immortal Crane Hidden Estate
because she foresaw that a Divine Being bearing the destiny of the Heavenly Might Star
would visit the Divine Maiden Palace five hundred years later with the Demon-Summoning Banner,
and she intended to awaken his dormant power through the Radiant Light Path.
Yang Seol-rin's instincts were sharp—she sensed there had to be
another reason behind the estate's creation.
"I wouldn't know. I couldn't examine the interior in detail."
In truth, Bu Eun-seol had considered saying:
"As an outsider, I couldn't inspect it closely, but I suspect she left Secret Arts there for the Divine Maiden Palace's disciples."
But clumsy lies were easily exposed.
Besides, it made no sense for Yo-hui to create a Secret Cave inaccessible to her own disciples just to hide martial techniques.
In the end, Bu Eun-seol decided it was better to feign ignorance.
"If you don't believe me, I'll ask my Palace Mistress to verify the cave's contents."
After pondering for a moment,
Yang Seol-rin nodded.
"Fine. I'll take your word for it. No need to involve the Divine Maiden Palace."
Then she added,
"After all, the disturbance in Heaven's Will was only temporary."
"Thank you for trusting me."
"Don't thank me. Just repay your debt."
"Of course. Name anything."
Bu Eun-seol was genuinely moved by Yang Seol-rin.
She had trusted him and repaired the Boundary-Prosperity Jade without conditions.
Unlike the martial artists of Murim, who hoarded information to maintain their advantage,
Yang Seol-rin had firmly believed in him without demands and resolved his troubles first.
For that alone, Bu Eun-seol was prepared to fulfill any request she made with sincerity.
"You're not even going to ask what it is?"
"I have faith that you're not the sort of personage who would deliberately put me in a difficult position."
"Hmm, I appreciate the sentiment. But this time, it might be a bit troublesome."
"Speak your mind. I'll give it my best effort."
"Well. Since I've incurred another debt from this matter..."
Yang Seol-rin's face flushed slightly.
"Can you do three things for me?"