Chapter 789
The One-Horned Flood Dragon's poison was exceptionally potent because its internal core had condensed thousands of years' worth of spiritual energy and poison energy.
'Can I obtain a poison comparable to this?'
For decades now, within the Central Plains Martial World,
spirit beasts and spiritual herbs had nearly vanished as if their seeds had dried up.
The only places where spiritual herbs still existed were sects like the Cloud Sea Azure Spirit Palace—located Beyond the Frontier—which had long remained hidden from the martial world.
But could there still be a poison in the martial world that could rival the venom of a One-Horned Flood Dragon that had lived for millennia?
"Is there any poison in the world more potent than the One-Horned Flood Dragon's core?"
"None more potent, but there is one that could stand as its equal."
Bu Eun-seol had no particular aspiration to become a Sage Among Poisons; he merely wished to detoxify the Three Corpse Worms infesting his Peak Realm Members.
'To neutralize the poison, I just need to obtain one more toxin comparable to the One-Horned Flood Dragon's core.'
"Where can it be found?"
"Even this sect leader does not know."
Jo Baek-san drew a deep breath before speaking.
"But since you've absorbed the One-Horned Flood Dragon's core, you will undoubtedly find another poison of equal measure."
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol spoke as though he had realized something.
"Since I killed the One-Horned Flood Dragon, the Three Realms will surely come for me."
At his words, Jo Baek-san shook his head.
"No. Since the One-Horned Flood Dragon's poison has emerged, a poison of comparable potency will naturally appear as well. That is the natural order, the way of things."
It sounded somewhat like a fortune teller's prophecy.
Experts in a given field often uttered inexplicable words.
But because such words frequently proved true, Bu Eun-seol didn't dismiss them as mere nonsense.
'It doesn't matter what it is. It would be even better if the Three Realms come.'
If they came to reclaim the core from him, that wouldn't be a bad outcome either.
Undoubtedly, poison masters would be among them,
and it could become an opportunity to obtain another powerful toxin.
"Go back. Now."
Jo Baek-san gazed at the distant sky as he spoke.
"From now on, this island will become a land of death where not even a single blade of grass—no life whatsoever—can survive."
"Sect Leader."
"After all, this too is the natural order."
Jo Baek-san spoke calmly.
"Though, since you've absorbed the One-Horned Flood Dragon's core, this sect's poisons won't affect you anyway."
He no longer spared Bu Eun-seol a glance, turning instead to kneel before the corpse of his son, who had breathed his last.
"Seung-ji. Why didn't you listen to your father?"
Jo Baek-san clutched the horribly melted remains of his son and wept.
Though his son had chosen the wrong path, he had loved him dearly—so much that even holding him in his eyes wouldn't have pained him.
Ooooh.
Black fog seeped from his body as he shed tears.
With the Thousand Poisons Sect gone and his son dead, he intended to end his own life using the poison arts he had honed over a lifetime.
"Now, I shall go to your side."
Whoooosh.
Jo Baek-san's body instantly turned into black smoke.
Then, the surrounding grass began to wither and die, and gradually, the earth itself darkened.
As his life faded, the poison arts he had refined over decades spread across the entire uninhabited island.
"Rest in peace."
After paying his respects to Jo Baek-san's corpse, Bu Eun-seol indifferently surveyed his surroundings.
The poison energy emanating from Jo Baek-san's body had turned the island into a land of death in an instant.
But Bu Eun-seol, having obtained the One-Horned Flood Dragon's core, had surpassed immunity to all poisons.
He had reached the state of Myriad Poisons Gathering, allowing him to store every poison in the world within his body.
Thus, he remained unaffected.
"Was it the Ghost Return Realm after all?"
The Infinite Realm, its headquarters destroyed, had not yet revealed itself in the martial world.
Judging by their actions thus far,
compared to the Azure River Realm, which manipulated minds,
the Ghost Return Realm, which sought to resurrect past masters,
was more likely to have attempted something with the One-Horned Flood Dragon.
'To counter Dok-incheon...'
As Bu Eun-seol pondered deeply,
Swoosh!
A blade of black true qi extended from his body, scraping across the poison-soaked island in every direction.
He left traces of the Willful True Binding behind—proof that he was the one who had taken the One-Horned Flood Dragon Core.
"I can only hope Jo Baek-san's prophecy holds true."
Even if the Three Realms came for him, it was uncertain whether they would bring a poison of comparable potency.
Bu Eun-seol was in a situation where he absolutely had to detoxify the Poison Parasites in his Peak Realm Members.
He needed to find another poison rivaling the One-Horned Flood Dragon's as soon as possible.
Upon returning to the Martial Alliance, Bu Eun-seol immediately requested an audience with Gongson Dan-gyeong.
He intended to ask about the True Demon and the Eight Heavenly Servants—information he hadn't had time to inquire about during his clash with Fist Adept.
"Welcome."
Gongson Dan-gyeong greeted Bu Eun-seol warmly, as if she had been waiting.
Her demeanor was gentler than usual, her gaze kinder, yet Bu Eun-seol felt an inexplicable unease.
It was as though Gongson Dan-gyeong was forcing her smile.
"You've come to ask about the records concerning the True Demon, haven't you?"
"That's correct."
Because Gongson Dan-gyeong had been badly shaken at the time, Bu Eun-seol had not pressed her for the details.
But the True Demon and the Eight Heavenly Servants were highly likely to become his adversaries in the future.
The Jungson Clan's secret records contained information about the True Demon and its familiars, and she had read them.
He intended to ask for those details now.
"According to the records, in the beginning, there were the Baekri Clan and the True Demon, and the two fought endlessly. But no victor emerged, and the conflict continued through generations."
Gongson Dan-gyeong calmly relayed the contents of the Jungson Clan's records to Bu Eun-seol.
"Eventually, after a long struggle, the Baekri Clan managed to seal the True Demon."
"If it was sealed, does that mean they are beings like yokai?"
"I don't know. But given that they retain their memories through repeated reincarnations, they must possess power no different from that of yokai."
Gongson Dan-gyeong's eyes narrowed.
"However, the True Demon's familiars remained, so the Baekri Clan created the Three Realms and ordered them to protect the Murim. And that was the beginning of the calamity."
In truth, this was a story he had already heard—
From the mysterious pond known as the Bakyeon Legacy Site, left behind by the Baekri Clan.
But Bu Eun-seol showed no outward reaction and silently listened to her words.
"The Three Realms secretly dominated the Murim, wielding immense power based on the strength left behind by the Baekri Clan. And eventually, they even devoured their own master—to steal the power they possessed."
"I see."
"Disillusioned by the rebellion of the Three Realms, the Baekri Clan left the Murim in disappointment, vanishing forever."
Gongson Dan-gyeong, staring intently at Bu Eun-seol, stretched her lips thinly.
"That's all the records contain."
In the end, aside from the details about the True Demon and its familiars, the contents of the records were no different from the information contained in the Bakyeon Legacy Site.
Having heard everything, Bu Eun-seol cautiously asked:
"Then, about the one who lured the Chief Strategist into a trap—"
"That... seems to have been my misunderstanding."
Gongson Dan-gyeong shook her head.
"The Eight Heavenly Servants likely used traces of someone I knew from the past to throw me into confusion."
The lie was obvious.
But Bu Eun-seol didn't press further. Her expression looked unbearably lonely and pained.
If it wasn't something directly related to him, there was no need to pry.
"Then why are beings like the Eight Heavenly Servants targeting the Chief Strategist?"
"They seem to be under the mistaken impression that I am one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars."
Fist Adept had claimed that she was concealing the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars through some special method.
But Gongson Dan-gyeong firmly denied it once again.
"Just like when I was kidnapped as a child, mistaken for the Heavenly Mechanism Star."
"You truly aren't one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars?"
"If I had power like theirs, would I have been kidnapped so absurdly?"
She spoke with a bitter expression.
"At the very least, I would have resisted Fist Adept's threats."
This time, Gongson Dan-gyeong had been in real danger.
If Bu Eun-seol hadn't risked his life to save her, she would have been instantly killed by Fist Adept.
Even in that situation, she hadn't manifested the power of the One Hundred and Eight Stars—so her words couldn't be false.
'Could it be that she is one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars but simply unable to wield her power?'
Bu Eun-seol still had doubts. But seeing the darkness in Gongson Dan-gyeong's eyes, he dismissed the thought.
Whether she was one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars or not wasn't particularly important at this moment.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, all my questions have been answered."
"Is there nothing else you're curious about?"
In truth, Bu Eun-seol wanted to ask in detail about the True Demon and the person who had trapped Gongson Dan-gyeong.
'If it were something she could answer, she would have told me before I even asked.'
But Gongson Dan-gyeong hadn't spoken of it.
Which meant that even if he asked, he wouldn't get an answer.
Knowing her personality well, Bu Eun-seol gave up cleanly.
"That's all."
"I see."
Gongson Dan-gyeong smiled faintly, her expression somehow arid.
"Then this Chief Strategist will attend to the backlog of work."
"Thank you for making time for me."
Bu Eun-seol bowed once more before stepping outside.
"Hmm."
Once outside, Bu Eun-seol abruptly halted and turned his head to gaze at the Hidden Moon Hall.
'Is she in pain?'
Unlike before, Gongson Dan-gyeong now spoke and carried herself with the same detached tone and demeanor she used when dealing with the Martial Alliance's high-ranking officers.
But Bu Eun-seol could sense it—
That she was forcibly suppressing a storm of emotions within herself.
'It's understandable.'
This time, Gongson Dan-gyeong had faced a great trial and nearly lost her life.
Though she denied it, given the circumstances, it was clearly the work of someone she knew. The psychological shock must have been immense.
'I hope she overcomes it well.'
She was, in her own way, a good colleague with whom he had built a relationship of trust.
Muttering softly, Bu Eun-seol slowly turned and left the Hidden Moon Hall.
"Commander Seon-u."
Gongson Dan-gyeong, who had been blankly staring at the spot where Bu Eun-seol had left in the office, murmured softly.
"Just what is your true identity?"
Her gaze sharpened.
Seon-u Jin had always surpassed her expectations.
But Fist Adept, who belonged to Incheon, was different.
His martial prowess had reached the Martial Extreme Realm, and he was a figure even the Superlative Martial Experts of the current era would struggle to contend with.
Yet Seon-u Jin had survived his hands.
And when his energy had been momentarily disrupted by Fist Adept's attack—
She had sensed Seon-u Jin's ability.
An endless void.
A boundless space where no boundaries existed—an infinite expanse of possibility.
Gongson Dan-gyeong had only felt such energy once before.
From Chu-so, the Heavenly Mechanism Star.
"I opened my heart to you... yet you still hide something from me."
Her eyes wavered like rippling water.
She could stake everything on this certainty:
That Seon-u Jin was not truly part of the Martial Alliance, but belonged to another faction.
That he was absolutely not someone who had grown up in the Seonhwa Merchant House before joining the Martial Alliance.
"You approached me because you wanted something, didn't you? After all... I'm a useful person within the Martial Alliance."
At first, she had told herself it didn't matter—even if Seon-u Jin had ulterior motives, even if he served another power.
But now, it did.
Because she had come to trust him sincerely.
And now, she feared he might betray her.
"I..."
At last, Gongson Dan-gyeong realized it.
That she had changed.
She was no longer So-min, the farmer's daughter consumed by vengeance—
But Gongson Dan-gyeong, the eldest daughter of the Gongson Clan.
"Yes, that's right. I've changed."
She had no choice but to admit it.
She could no longer deceive her own heart.
"And I love him."
Her trembling lashes lowered as she whispered.
When had it started?
When had she fallen for Seon-u Jin?
Like a fine mist settling unnoticed—
She had, without realizing, fallen deeply in love with him.
Especially when he had risked his life to save her from Fist Adept's killing blow.
She had clenched her fists so hard, resisting the urge to pull him close and kiss him.
"But it can never be."
Her unfocused gaze drifted into empty space.
"Because I must take revenge."
Revenge against the Jungson Clan.
She had prepared and planned so much for this moment—now, execution was just around the corner.
And above all else—
"Because I am not Gongson Dan-gyeong."
At this point.
She could not simply erase everything and live as Gongson Dan-gyeong.
"Chu-so..."
Her eyes darkened endlessly.
One of the reasons she had been so desperate for revenge was him—Chu-so, who had given his life for her.
But what if he were still alive?
Would she still need to stake her life pursuing the Jungson Clan?
Wouldn't it be better to forget their deeds and live happily instead?
What should she do now?
Tap.
She sat limply at the table.
Her pupils blurred, as if wandering through Dream Essence.
Amidst the chaos of her emotions, only one man's face surfaced in her mind.
Unknowingly, she had transformed—
From a relentless incarnation of vengeance, obsessively hunting the Jungson Clan—
Into a woman tormented by love.
The greatest sages, surpassing even the Whale,
Sought places detached from the clamor of the world to build their nests.
In that regard, this place could truly be called Wuling Paradise—a realm severed from the storms of the mundane.
The mountains were gentle, their peaks veiled in white clouds, while crystal-clear streams traced their slopes.
Within the tranquil forest, like a scene from a painting, ethereal flowers bloomed between the trees.
Thud. Thud.
A man entered the study inside the pavilion, crafted as if plucked from an ink-wash painting.
Inside, shelves upon shelves of ancient texts and scrolls came into view.
And before the desk—
A shadow knelt in deep prostration.
Their face was entirely concealed beneath lustrous fabric, obscuring their features, yet their presence carried an energy sharp enough to split heaven and earth.
The man stepped past the prostrating shadow and halted before a map detailing the geography of the Central Plains.
"To survive Fist Adept's hands..."
He muttered with an expression of disbelief.
Until now, every plan had unfolded perfectly.
Not once had reality deviated from his expectations—not a single failure had occurred.
But this time, something incomprehensible had happened.
That Seon-u Jin—
Had survived an attack from one of the Eight Heavenly Servants, a Servant of the True Demon?
"And he is not even one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars..."
In the martial world, there existed beings born with mystical abilities, powers that transcended the limits of Martial Arts.
Among them, the One Hundred and Eight Stars—
Were so extraordinary that they were not called humans, but yokai.
Yet despite not being a Star—
"A superlative martial expert who has surpassed human limits... and he managed to preserve his life from the hands of one of the Eight Heavenly Servants?"
This was a completely unforeseen situation.
"Could he have used the Boundary-Prosperity Jade, like during his duel with the Sword Demon?"
As the subordinate kneeling before him cautiously spoke, the man shook his head.
"No traces of it were left. Had he used it covertly, the energy of the Boundary-Prosperity Jade would have made it impossible for him to escape Fist Adept's grasp."
The man stroked his chin and asked,
"His identity?"
"No matter how much any intelligence organization digs, it's flawless to the point where they can't deny he's the successor of the Seonhwa Merchant House."
"Flawless, with no gaps to exploit..."
The man's eyes flashed.
"That means he's been thoroughly raised and protected by someone with an exceptional intelligence network."
The subordinate spoke carefully,
"However, I'm concerned. Neither-Human-Nor-Beast still hasn't revealed himself."
"Neither-Human-Nor-Beast. Though he belongs to the Eight Heavenly Servants, in reality, his abilities and authority rival those of the Four Deathly Heavens. Otherwise, he wouldn't be overseeing the unsealing."
"Then... is he also undoing the Memory Seals of the Four Deathly Heavens?"
"Perhaps."
The man smirked.
"The irony is that the Three Realms have benefited the most from this. Thanks to his experiments, they've managed to recover a significant portion of their lost power..."
Because Neither-Human-Nor-Beast had long been creating Ghost Children and Ghost Spirits and sending them into the martial world,
the Three Realms had also succeeded in restoring numerous lost Great Arts through countless experiments.
"But Fist Adept has begun openly roaming the murim,"
the subordinate spoke again.
"Because of him, the other Heavenly Servants may emerge as well. There aren't many Boundary-Prosperity Jades left—it's concerning."
"Fist Adept is fixated on eliminating the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars, especially the Heavenly Mechanism Star."
The man bared his teeth in a grin.
"What if that Seon-u Jin is the Heavenly Mechanism Star?"
Realizing the implication, the subordinate spoke in a grave voice,
"You must be cautious. There aren't many of those left now."
"There's no need to be stingy. Having them doesn't mean we can deceive those beings indefinitely."
"Then allow me to handle it."
An indescribable, unique energy radiated from the subordinate's body.
"If you command it, I will eliminate that senile old fool immediately."
Astonishing.
The man spoke of Fist Adept—a being who could shake the world—as if he were someone who could be disposed of at any moment.
"Hohoho. It's not yet time for the Heavenly Killing Star to appear."
The man spoke indifferently.
"Seon-u Jin is a man of high intellect and exceptional martial arts. Fist Adept knows that. And now, he's survived his grasp."
"..."
"If he truly shines as the Heavenly Mechanism Star... Fist Adept will stop at nothing to kill him."
The man smiled faintly.
Before he knew it, a single orb, emitting a mysterious light, flickered in his hand.
Martial Alliance, Pinnacle Pavilion. Seon-u Jin's office.
Having finished his various duties, Bu Eun-seol sank deep into thought.
Beyond the True Demon and his servants,
the murim also harbored Abyssal Forces like the Ancient Sword Forest—entities that had yet to fully reveal themselves.
'Does that mean all Abyssal Forces are connected to the True Demon?'
According to legend, in the beginning, the Baekri Clan and the True Demon existed, locked in endless conflict.
If so, it was only natural to wonder whether the hidden Abyssal Forces were also tied to them.
'The purpose of the Eight Heavenly Servants is also unclear.'
Especially Fist Adept, who had abruptly appeared
and was now hunting down the Heavenly Mechanism Star—the very being the Jungson Clan, who had abducted countless children and committed cruel acts, had desperately sought.
That meant the Heavenly Mechanism Star must be
someone who existed in this era, opposing the True Demon and his servants.
'Perhaps it's only natural.'
The Heavenly Mechanism Star possessed intellect beyond human limits and the ability to foresee the future.
For the True Demon, who sought to dominate all things, such a being would be an irritant.
If he were to side with the Baekri Clan, it would mean the birth of a troublesome adversary.
'Is the Heavenly Mechanism Star truly that formidable? Or...'
Would the True Demon, who endlessly reincarnated with memories of past lives, truly fear the Heavenly Mechanism Star so much?
Could there be another reason Fist Adept was trying to kill him?
'For example... perhaps the Heavenly Mechanism Star is a necessary component for some Great Art to undo a seal.'
Bu Eun-seol, lost in thought for a long while, suddenly sharpened his gaze.
An eerie presence had abruptly brushed against his senses from beyond the window.
'Is it Baek Elder Brother?'
Within the Martial Alliance, few could discreetly make their way to the Pinnacle Pavilion at the northern edge of the Bamboo Forest.
The only one who would come here and observe him covertly was Baek Mu-seong.
'No... this isn't Baek Elder Brother's presence.'
The gaze from outside was faint—not Baek Mu-seong's,
but something more akin to a small child or an animal.
Rising to his feet, Bu Eun-seol looked out the window and saw a petite woman standing before the Bamboo Forest.
'From the Needle Immortal Pavilion?'
A sharp glint flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
The woman was none other than a clothing attendant from the Needle Immortal Pavilion, responsible for managing and distributing the Martial Alliance's plain gray uniforms.
Moreover, instead of avoiding his gaze,
she stared directly at him without flinching.
The sight was so bizarre
that even the unflappable Bu Eun-seol couldn't help but stiffen slightly.