Chapter 752
The riverside shrouded in mist was as still and desolate as a landscape from another world where no humans lived.
An old man wearing a deeply tilted bamboo hat sat motionless, gazing at the river with his fishing rod lowered.
Through the gaps in the hat, his deeply sunken eyes flickered like stars scattered across the night sky.
Though his features appeared somewhat ordinary,
his mental fortitude, spirit, and magnanimity were beyond compare.
He had reached an unfathomable depth of wisdom and martial prowess so lofty it seemed to touch the heavens—a level no other figure could hope to rival.
He was none other than the Sky of the Demonic Path, the Number One of the Demonic Path.
The Master of the Demon Hall.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor, Sado Mu-myeong.
Crouched by the riverside,
he sat as immovable as Mount Tai, his expression devoid of joy or worry,
fishing with an utterly blank face.
Ssshhh—
But then, something strange occurred.
In this silent riverside where no one should have been, the sudden sound of crashing waves began to spread.
Ssshhh—!
Before long, the sound of waves grew so distinct it seemed to echo in one's ears,
and around the area where the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was fishing, millions of tiny points of light began to form.
Whoooosh—
Countless specks of light eventually took on human shapes, gradually solidifying into azure shadows.
Zzziiing—
The blue shadows rippled like water under a low vibration before finally transforming into the perfect form of a person.
It was the Old Man in Blue, his tranquil eyes like calm waves, reminiscent of the Immortal Wind Daoist.
The very same Old Man in Blue who had once approached the Demonic Heavenly Emperor while he was fishing,
delivering the Three Realms' declaration that they would kill Bu Eun-seol.
"Hmm."
The Old Man in Blue let out a soft hum and observed the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, who remained absorbed in fishing.
His peaceful demeanor was so perfectly in harmony with nature that if one closed their eyes,
they would never have guessed someone was fishing by the river.
'As expected.'
Not only had the Old Man in Blue refined martial arts said to have reached the pinnacle of martial studies,
but he had also mastered esoteric ritual arts that transcended the limits of martial learning.
Yet even he could not gauge the depth of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's martial attainment.
Truly, the level he had reached was so unfathomable that ordinary people could not even begin to imagine it.
"You have surpassed the realm of mere martial artists and become something entirely new—the Demonic Heavenly Emperor."
It was the highest praise, filled with awe for the heights the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had achieved.
Yet the Demonic Heavenly Emperor remained seated, indifferent, as if he had heard nothing.
"But why did you break your promise?"
Then, as though he had never offered any praise, the Old Man in Blue spoke again, his voice icy.
"I told you not to interfere with Heaven's Will."
Despite the murderous glint in his eyes and the sharpness of his voice,
the Demonic Heavenly Emperor continued fishing, unbothered, as if a dog were barking in someone else's yard.
"Was it because our agreement fell outside the bounds of the Covenant?"
Even when the Old Man in Blue pressed further,
the Demonic Heavenly Emperor remained seated with an air of perfect nonchalance.
"Do you not realize that the Heavenly Mechanism Star could unravel all your plans?"
"You've spent too long with the Martial Alliance. It seems your courage has withered."
In that instant, a silence as heavy as death descended.
The Old Man in Blue's eyes, fixed unwaveringly on the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, had now become twin ghostly lanterns.
"There are lines in this world that should never be crossed."
Whoooosh—
As the wind swept past, an oppressive tension filled the riverside.
The Old Man in Blue radiated an aura ready to strike at any moment,
while the Demonic Heavenly Emperor continued fishing, his expression utterly untroubled.
'The longer the night, the longer the dreams.'
No matter how closely he scrutinized him, the Old Man in Blue could find no opening in the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's movements.
And so, he began to circulate a mysterious energy throughout his body.
If martial arts alone could not contend with him, then he would have no choice but to employ spell arts that surpassed the limits of martial learning.
"This has gone far enough."
Muttering softly, the Old Man in Blue stretched out his hand—
BOOOOM—
—and the mighty river the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had been gazing upon vanished entirely.
At the same time, the scenery around the riverside began to scatter like fluttering sheets of paper in all directions.
Ruuuumble—
With a sudden tremor that shook heaven and earth, the sky itself shattered into tiny fragments, raining down like a cascade.
Each fragment exploded violently upon touching the ground, scattering shards of light in every direction.
From the fissures in the earth, bubbling lava surged forth as if to swallow everything in its path.
Before long, the sky burned crimson, and scorching heat and ash swirled through the air.
It was a scene as though the apocalypse had descended upon the world.
"Still the same as ever."
Despite the terrifying spectacle unfolding before him,
the Demonic Heavenly Emperor clicked his tongue as if disappointed.
"After all this time, you couldn't come up with something more creative?"
"Then let me create a creative death for you."
KWA-BOOOM—!
With an ear-splitting thunderclap, the heavens split apart, and a dazzling light poured down upon the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's head.
This was no illusion.
It was an explosion of colossal power, capable of annihilating a human body without leaving a single trace behind.
"Hmph."
As the Demonic Heavenly Emperor let out a low scoff—
KWAOOO!
The earth trembled violently, and the torrent of power that had been pouring down vanished in an instant.
Witnessing this, the Old Man in Blue, instead of being alarmed, curled his lips into a smile.
"To resort to such an outdated Nature Shattering... I suppose I was underestimated."
As his smile deepened, his crimson-glowing eyes narrowed into crescents, and the corners of his mouth stretched all the way up to his pupils.
It was as though his human form was warping into something monstrous—something that should not exist.
Sssssss—
The Old Man in Blue's hands began to glow.
Countless points of light swirled into existence, like galaxies condensing in his palms.
GUUUUUUUN—
From behind the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's back, a swirling black sphere began to churn violently.
It was darkness and chaos incarnate, distorting space with every rotation, sending out palpable shockwaves.
"Farewell."
FLASH!
The Old Man in Blue thrust his hands forward—and like the birth of millions of stars, a dazzling explosion erupted, surging toward the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
FWOOOOOSH!
The world turned into blinding flames, weaving light into every space the Demonic Heavenly Emperor occupied.
"You've grown stronger."
Murmuring softly, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor flicked his wrist—and the sphere hovering in his hand shot forward on its own.
The moment it collided with the Old Man in Blue's light—
KUUUUUUNG!
The universe itself seemed to tremble. Space twisted—no, even time began to distort.
Countless timelines unfurled:
—A Demonic Heavenly Emperor who had come to fish.
—A Demonic Heavenly Emperor who left without fishing.
—A Demonic Heavenly Emperor who departed without ever encountering the Old Man in Blue.
—A Demonic Heavenly Emperor who engaged in calm conversation with the Old Man in Blue.
The collision of two Masters who had transcended human limits had warped time itself, revealing infinite possibilities.
GOOOOOO—
The clash of power continued.
The Old Man in Blue's stars radiated a pure white light, carrying the force of creation—capable of rejuvenating the entire world.
Meanwhile, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's power was the ultimate chaos, a wave of destruction that devoured and annihilated everything in existence.
FWAAAAA—
Finally, the collision reached its peak.
All the light in the world began converging into a single point between the two—
FLASH!
A colossal explosion erupted, swallowing everything.
In that instant, the two figures shattered into countless fragments, scattering beyond recognition.
The world itself was reduced to nothingness.
Chirp... chirp...
How much time had passed?
Somewhere, the sound of insects could be heard.
As the light that had consumed the world faded, the riverside scenery returned—completely unharmed.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor still held his fishing rod, and the Old Man in Blue gazed at the distant sky.
The Old Man in Blue had unfolded his Phase, conjuring a power and a world that did not belong to this reality.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor had countered it with his terrifying Limitless Power, neutralizing it completely.
A stalemate.
Neither could breach the other's Domain.
And so, time rewound—returning them to the moment before their battle, as if nothing had happened.
"All this talk of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor... you must have thought you had truly surpassed the level of Human Heaven."
The Old Man in Blue smirked, watching the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, who remained motionless with his fishing rod.
"Let this be my final warning."
His voice was solemn, carrying an unshakable weight.
"If you meddle with Heaven's Will again... I will take your life."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor gave no response, his gaze fixed on the river.
The Old Man in Blue snorted—
SWOOOOOSH!
—and vanished into the distant sky as countless points of light.
Was it a spell? Or had he truly executed such a Movement Technique?
It was impossible to discern.
"Still shackled by your obsession with Phases. How utterly stagnant."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's eyes gleamed mysteriously as he watched the river flow.
"If I were to phrase it in the numerical games you so adore... I have already reached the Tenth Heaven."
The Tenth Heaven—the absolute peak of the Aspect Constants, a height beyond which there was no further ascent.
Had the Old Man in Blue been more attentive, he might have noticed—
He should have counted his own footprints by the riverside.
Because he had never moved.
From the moment he arrived, he had been trapped within the Mindscape the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had constructed.
Yet, oblivious to this truth, the Old Man in Blue left under the illusion that they had fought as equals.
"Keep tearing at the fabric of reality. It only hastens the completion of my Grand Endeavor."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's eyes flashed once more.
"Though... there is one thing that refuses to go as planned."
His thoughts turned to Bu Eun-seol.
He had ordered the Yin-Knot Demon Grounds and the Blood Cult to negotiate—
—intending to strike at Bu Eun-seol's Spirit and Mind through the deaths of his Death Shadow War Unit subordinates.
Yet, against all expectations, Bu Eun-seol had found a way to prevent their deaths.
"...I should sever those emotional ties."
As he let out a sigh, his pupils flickered once more with a mysterious light, as if recalling something.
"That would be best. They've become unusable anyway..."
Standing by the riverside, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor curled his lips into an enigmatic smile.
"I'll have him kill them personally."
Simultaneously, his body gradually grew transparent, merging with the surrounding scenery.
His contours blurred and form scattered until finally dissolving into pure light, vanishing in an instant.
Kurrrung.
With the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's disappearance—
Kugung. Rumble.
The entire surrounding terrain completely transformed, and even the river began evaporating.
This place was never a real river.
It had been the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's Mindscape all along.
Demon Hall, Hidden Demon Pavilion. Grand Conference Chamber.
There, Bu Eun-seol and all the Unit Commanders had gathered.
In truth, this meeting had been requested by Yu Un-ryong.
His call for an assembly meant there had been a major shift in either the Demon Hall's affairs or the Martial World's situation.
But before addressing that, Bu Eun-seol began relaying more crucial information.
—"The Three Clans primarily wield the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars, which manifests abilities surpassing the principles of martial arts—almost akin to yokai within certain domains."
—"The Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts mainly deploy Phases, their own Mindscapes, where each exhibits unique powers."
Bu Eun-seol proceeded to explain the nature of these forces based on his encounters.
The One Hundred and Eight Stars of the Three Clans, and the Phases of the Neither-Human-Nor-Beasts.
Upon hearing this, the Unit Commanders gaped in disbelief.
Both powers not only far transcended the profundity and strength of martial arts but were also nearly impossible to counter through conventional means.
"In the end, both forces only have the limitation of operating within defined domains," murmured Wi Cheon-gyeong, who had been listening intently, his face pale with shock.
"There's absolutely no way to oppose them."
"Correct."
Bu Eun-seol's reply was firm and unequivocal.
"If you identify an enemy as either a wielder of the One Hundred and Eight Stars or a Neither-Human-Nor-Beast, retreat immediately."
Knowing the Unit Commanders' competitive nature well, he emphasized again:
"Even if I were to face them one-on-one, I couldn't guarantee victory. So never—under any circumstances—entertain the thought of challenging them alone."
His stern gaze swept across the assembly as he declared with finality:
"This is an order."
The Unit Commanders nodded.
If even Bu Eun-seol would struggle against them, no amount of grit could possibly secure a win.
"But here's the thing," Jo Nam-cheon scratched his head. "How are we supposed to tell whether it's the One Hundred and Eight Stars or a Neither-Human-Nor-Beast?"
"Good question."
Bu Eun-seol answered calmly:
"Both groups hold martial artists in utter contempt and wield powers fundamentally alien to martial principles. To put it simply, it feels like confronting sorcery."
He elaborated in detail about his experiences with the two forces.
"So in short—if they're using powers that defy martial logic, they're definitely one of the two."
"Most likely."
Bu Eun-seol studied each commander's face as he added:
"Let me reiterate: if you detect even a hint of such signs in an enemy, disengage immediately. This order applies equally to the Supreme Masters' faction."
"Understood."
As Wi Cheon-gyeong acknowledged,
"What of the Silver Flame Corps' training?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Myo Cheon-u gave a nod.
"About eighty percent complete."
The Silver Flame Corps—
This was an elite martial unit Myo Cheon-u had poured his soul into training.
Unlike ordinary Death Shadow War Unit warriors,
They were specialists honed exclusively for exponential combat prowess.
Moreover, Bu Eun-seol had personally provided them with spirit medicines and mental cultivation methods. Beyond demonic path martial arts, they'd been taught orthodox techniques separately.
Under Myo Cheon-u—a master of Fist and Palm Learning—they'd undergone brutal training.
As a result, every member of the Silver Flame Corps had been reborn as terrifying masters, proficient not just in palm techniques but in all manner of orthodox and unorthodox martial arts.
"Then we begin in earnest now."
The Corps existed for one purpose alone:
To provide constant protection for Seo Jin-ha, who served as Bu Eun-seol's shadow, in case he ever faced grave danger in Bu Eun-seol's stead.
"Understood. We'll execute immediately."
As Myo Cheon-u responded, Bu Eun-seol turned his gaze to Yu Un-ryong.
Yu Un-ryong rose with a nod, his expression graver than ever as he spoke:
"The Supreme Cult Commander has summoned the Chief of the Nine Demons Heaven from Hainan to appoint him as the vacant Blood Secret Command Lord."
Silence instantly blanketed the conference hall.
The Blood Secret Command Lord was a position tasked with roaming the martial world to identify and eliminate organizations threatening the Demon Hall.
Within the Martial Alliance's structure, it closely paralleled Bu Eun-seol's own role as head of the Secret Intelligence Bureau.
The problem? No organization called the Nine Demons Heaven existed within the Demon Hall.
"So the Demon Hall has its own shadow organization after all," Bu Eun-seol muttered under his breath.
Yu Un-ryong nodded. "Unless the Supreme Cult Commander suddenly developed a taste for practical jokes."
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow.
He was the Heir of the Demon Hall.
Yet even now, he couldn't mobilize the Demon Hall's supreme intelligence apparatus—the Secret Shadow Pavilion.
That much was understandable.
But even as the future leader of the Demon Hall...
He still didn't have a clear grasp of the secret organizations covertly operated by its key figures.
And all such organizations lay firmly within the grasp of the one called the Sky of the Demonic Path—the Number One of the Demonic Path, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
Of course, the Demonic Path was about power. Only those with strength could claim everything, so in that sense, it wasn't beyond comprehension.
The only subtlety was...
The intention behind restricting such authority wasn't born of malice.
It was almost as if, for a certain period, he had wanted them to grow without knowing the forces and enemies lurking in the Abyss.
"In the end, this is a deliberate move to reveal the existence of a shadow organization."
At that moment, Yu Un-ryong spoke.
"And since the Supreme Cult Commander doesn't have the authority to appoint a Lord..."
"It must be the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's will."
"Most likely."
"But isn't this going too far?"
Won Se-mun, who had been listening quietly, pursed his lips.
"They publicly declared the Lord as the successor, yet they didn't pass down any martial arts. They just gave him internal Inspection Authority—like a shiny but useless apricot."
Yu Un-ryong shook his head.
"Of course, in the past, the Demon Hall nurtured successors. The heirs of the Demonic Path Ten Gates always became its leaders."
"..."
"But not anymore. The Demonic Heavenly Emperor ascended to the position of Demon Hall Master himself and became the Sky of the Demonic Path. He's not the kind of person who would raise or pull anyone up."
Yu Un-ryong gazed out the window at the Singular Light Pavilion.
"And he concentrated all of the Demon Hall's authority in himself. Look at the Supreme Cult Commander, the so-called second-in-command of the current Demon Hall. Even his power has been partially neutered."
"That's why relations with the Demonic Path Ten Gates aren't great either."
When Myo Cheon-u chimed in, Won Se-mun fell silent.
When you thought about it, there was no one to blame.
In the Demonic Path, strength was the law—the Iron Rule.
As long as the current Number One of the Demonic Path remained its master, the Demon Hall was effectively in his grasp.
"But now that I think about it... it's quite strange."
Jo Nam-cheon stroked his chin.
"The Supreme Cult Commander is the foremost of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, and in terms of martial arts, he's considered on par with the Three Demons, isn't he?"
He scratched his head in confusion.
"No matter how loyal a subordinate he is to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, to endure such treatment for so many years...?"
Though he didn't finish his sentence, the implication was clear.
—Doesn't the Supreme Cult Commander have some hidden motive for sticking around like this?
Even Bu Eun-seol, despite the Demonic Heavenly Emperor blatantly extending his claws, had remained in the Demon Hall.
It was to grow the Shadow Spirit Hall even larger.
And seeing how the Supreme Cult Commander stubbornly clung to the Demon Hall despite his diminished authority...
The probability that he, too, had another purpose was high.
"Are you all misunderstanding something?"
Myo Cheon-u scolded them.
"This isn't the Martial Alliance—it's the Demon Hall. Isn't that kind of thinking the norm here?"
He shrugged and looked at the squad leaders.
"Absolute loyalty to the strong, but if an opportunity arises, they'll strike them down and rise in their place. Someone in that position pledging Absolute Loyalty to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor must have their own Plan."
Only then did the squad leaders nod with dazed expressions.
Having spent so long with the unwaveringly upright Bu Eun-seol...
They had, at some point, forgotten the Laws of Demonic Hegemony.
The weak pledged loyalty, while the strong trampled over even stronger figures to rise higher.
That was the Demonic Path.
"But who is this Chief of the Nine Demons Heaven? If he's publicly become a candidate for Blood Secret Command Lord, shouldn't there be information on her?"
At Myo Cheon-u's words, Yu Un-ryong nodded.
"Her name is Yu Baek. They say she's only twenty years old."
Yu Un-ryong sighed as he spoke.
"If he's truly appointed as Blood Secret Command Lord, he might become the first Lord capable of mobilizing the Secret Shadow Pavilion. After all, the Blood Secret Command Lord is a position meant to assess the Martial World's state of affairs."
"Then that means..."
"Right. The likelihood is high that it's to keep the Shadow Spirit Lord in check."
The atmosphere in the meeting room darkened at Yu Un-ryong's words.
A Lord at the tender age of twenty, capable of wielding the Secret Shadow Pavilion, which held all the Demonic Path's intelligence?
Of course, Bu Eun-seol had also risen to the position of Lord at a young age, but...
That was only possible because he had started as the Ten Demonic Heir, accomplished numerous feats, and proven his abilities.
But placing a young man from a secret organization in such a critical role? That was an absurd personnel decision.
"Could it be they're trying to establish a new succession structure?"
Wi Cheon-gyeong spoke cautiously.
"The Blood Secret Command Lord is just a test."
At those words, the squad leaders all furrowed their brows.
If they raised the Blood Secret Command Lord as a test, and if he moved as intended...
Then they could very well pit a new figure, comparable to Bu Eun-seol, against him in competition once more.
"It doesn't matter."
Bu Eun-seol spoke then.
"I have no intention of playing along with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's schemes any longer."
His eyes surged with Killing Intent.
"From now on, I'll show the Demonic Heavenly Emperor what true Demonic Hegemony really is."
"What do you mean?"
At Yu Un-ryong's question, Bu Eun-seol let out a soft breath through his nose.
"The news that he departed from Hainan only just reached us—which means he's still far from arriving."
"You can't mean..."
As Yu Un-ryong's mouth fell open, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"I'll ensure he never even sets foot in the Demon Hall. I'll deal with him discreetly before then."
In an instant, the squad leaders were stunned.
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had thoroughly crushed anyone who provoked him.
But unless they were enemies...
He had never struck first.
And yet, without even knowing who the Blood Secret Command Lord was or what he might do...
He was planning to eliminate him preemptively?
Didn't that mean he was outright declaring the Demonic Heavenly Emperor as his enemy?