Chapter 808
"Huuu..."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled a turbid breath after securing victory against the Spear Master.
Unlike his battle with the Fist Adept, he had emerged unscathed from this confrontation.
Of course, this wasn't due to an enhancement in his martial prowess—it was only possible because he had obtained the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi in the interim.
'The mysteries of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi are truly boundless.'
It had merely been intended to heal his body, yet the moment the divine energy fused with his being, his martial power surged uncontrollably.
'However...'
During their clash of internal energy, the Spear Master had unleashed a bizarre force—neither martial arts nor spellcraft. And in the final moment, he had shattered the mystical function of the Life-and-Death Combat Formation using blood mist.
Given that the True Demon's subordinates possessed abilities that bordered on fantastical legends...
It wasn't particularly surprising that they wielded hidden trump cards or unknown powers.
'The Spear Master was roughly on the same level as the Fist Adept, the lowest-ranked of the Eight Heavenly Servants.'
Like the Four Gods and Seven Kings, the Eight Heavenly Servants were said to exhibit vast disparities in strength even among those of the same rank.
Which meant battles against the other Heavenly Servants might not end as smoothly as this one.
'Had it not been for the Internal Core, suppressing the spreading poison would have been difficult.'
Soon, he would need to secretly detoxify the poison in the Peak Realm Members without the Martial Venerable noticing.
If it were discovered that he had already attained the Poison Saint Body, complications would arise.
Moreover, if his ability to wield poison energy became known, he might lose the chance to deliver a decisive strike when the time came.
It was best to keep his claws sheathed unless faced with a life-or-death crisis.
"Bu Eun-seol."
At that moment, Yu Un-ryong and Myo Cheon-u, who had been watching, approached him.
"What in the world just happened? How did you...?"
Myo Cheon-u couldn't finish his sentence.
The moment he met Bu Eun-seol's blazing eyes—still carrying the lingering intensity of battle—a chilling sensation surged through his body, as if his blood had frozen solid.
It felt like an icy hand had seized his heart and squeezed.
The figure standing before him bore the shape of a man, but in truth, it was akin to some unfathomable entity crouching within an endless abyss.
"This is why I warned you not to neglect your martial training."
Bu Eun-seol's voice, low and composed, rang out as he gazed at the distant sky.
"Because the ones we must face are exactly like that."
As his words settled, the frozen tension in their bodies finally melted away.
—So this was his true extent...
Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong exchanged glances and swallowed hard.
Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess had far surpassed the limits they had imagined.
"You seemed to know him. Who was he?"
Yu Un-ryong, the first to regain his composure, asked.
"How could a master of that caliber remain unknown in Murim?"
"Likely one of the Eight Heavenly Servants. They are all grandmasters who have reached the Martial Extreme Realm."
"The Eight Heavenly Servants?"
"Indeed. Given his weapon, he must have been the Spear Master."
Bu Eun-seol let out a soft snort.
"At any rate, I've already called for a Lord's Meeting at the Death Shadow War Unit. I'll explain in detail then."
"I'm curious. Just tell me now."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head at Yu Un-ryong's demand.
"Not now."
"Why not?"
"Because we need to move."
His eyes swept over the battered figures of Yu Un-ryong and Myo Cheon-u before he spoke decisively.
"Follow me."
The place Bu Eun-seol led them to was a small lakeside near West Lake.
There stood a modest pavilion, and before it, a middle-aged man stood tall, accompanied by a single guardian warrior.
Clad in a long robe that reached his knees, a jade-adorned belt at his waist, and black leather shoes, the man exuded an air of profound wisdom. His deep-set eyes shimmered with intellect, and his entire being radiated an unyielding dignity.
It was none other than Grand Secretary Yu Jeong-pung.
Thud.
At that moment, three bloodstained figures arrived before the pavilion.
Bu Eun-seol, Yu Un-ryong, and Myo Cheon-u.
"Your disciple, Bu Eun-seol, pays his respects to Your Excellency."
Bu Eun-seol stepped forward first, offering a formal bow.
His respectful demeanor carried respect and admiration for Yu Jeong-pung—not because he was one of the court's few incorrupt officials, but because he was the father of a man he cherished more than life itself.
Moreover, Yu Jeong-pung had once submitted a memorial to the Emperor at Yu Un-ryong's request to aid Bu Eun-seol—a debt that could not be easily repaid.
"Martial Soul Lord."
Yu Jeong-pung stroked his lush beard and nodded approvingly.
"They say you are a once-in-a-generation talent who shakes the world... Truly, a dragon among men."
"Please speak less formally, Your Excellency."
Though Bu Eun-seol held an exalted position in Murim and was of high seniority due to his complex lineage, he now presented himself as nothing more than a mere martial practitioner.
"Now then, why have you summoned me here?"
At this, Bu Eun-seol turned his gaze toward Yu Un-ryong, who had been silently observing the situation.
'Ah.'
Yu Un-ryong swallowed a bitter sigh inwardly.
He had wondered why his father—who had never practiced martial arts—had left the manor and come all the way to this remote lakeside alone.
But Bu Eun-seol had anticipated even the time it would take to drive off the Spear Master and had arranged for Yu Jeong-pung to be here in advance.
"This friend seemed intent on vanishing without a word, so despite the impropriety, I had no choice but to request Your Excellency's presence here."
He bowed respectfully once more.
"Then I shall take my leave first."
Yu Jeong-pung smiled benevolently before speaking in a low voice.
"Martial Soul Lord."
As Bu Eun-seol turned to leave, Yu Jeong-pung called out again, his voice hushed.
"I leave it in your hands."
Those words carried multiple layers of meaning.
Bu Eun-seol, who had inferred the countless implications behind them, bowed once more.
"Yes."
Then, supporting the barely standing Myo Cheon-u, he nodded at Yu Un-ryong.
"I'll take my leave first."
Snap.
In an instant, he activated his movement technique and vanished into the distant sky.
The father and son, who had been watching the two disappear as they raised their heads,
"..."
exchanged awkward glances before turning their faces away.
"Uncle Jang asked me to come... so I just stopped by briefly."
Yu Un-ryong spoke with his head still lowered.
"The assassin sent by the Eastern Depot was dealt with by him... and since he dispatched a master of that caliber so effortlessly, the Empress Dowager won't act recklessly from now on."
Yu Un-ryong's clothes were stained with blood and dust, his hair disheveled.
To anyone, he looked like a man who had narrowly escaped death.
"..."
For a moment, Yu Jeong-pung's pupils trembled like rippling water.
It was painfully obvious—his son had risked his life to fight a deadly assassin in order to save him.
Had it not been for the Martial Soul Lord, he would have undoubtedly perished, likely having already stepped through the gates of hell...
Yet here he was, standing before him with an expression so indifferent.
Just like when he was a child, showing not a hint of pain.
Yu Jeong-pung let out a deep sigh before asking,
"Is that why you came?"
Yu Un-ryong hesitated briefly before answering.
"Since you did not refuse my earnest request before... I, too, could not ignore your peril."
The resentment between them had not entirely dissipated.
But just as his father had not refused his plea, he had not turned away from his father's danger.
"I see. Understood."
"Then."
Unable to meet Yu Jeong-pung's gaze, Yu Un-ryong bowed his head in courtesy.
Then, quietly activating his movement technique, he departed.
"Take care of yourself."
Leaving behind words so faint that only Yu Jeong-pung, with his keen hearing, could catch them.
"You're not being honest."
Yu Jeong-pung muttered under his breath as he watched the direction Yu Un-ryong had vanished.
"Just like his father."
Though the lingering grievances between them remained unresolved... perhaps the next time they met, they could share a drink.
Demon Hall, Hidden Demon Pavilion. Grand Conference Chamber.
A rare full assembly of all the high-ranking members was underway—the Lord's Meeting.
The matters discussed today were not only of concern to the Death Shadow War Unit.
They were of utmost importance, to be relayed to the Martial Soul Society and even the Martial Alliance's leadership.
Because the topic at hand was the emergence of a new faction capable of overturning the martial world's balance—and the discussions surrounding it.
"...They are the Eight Heavenly Servants."
Bu Eun-seol shared in detail the information he had gathered.
The True Demon and his familiars.
The Three Attendants, the Four Divine Heavens. And the Eight Heavenly Servants.
—...
The assembled lords sat frozen, mouths agape.
The revelations Bu Eun-seol laid before them
were enough to negate and shatter the martial world's known history.
"If this is true, shouldn't we inform the entire martial world immediately?"
Jo Nam-cheon cautiously spoke up.
"The martial artists have the right to know of such circumstances."
When Bu Eun-seol remained silent,
"If the Eight Heavenly Servants were the end of it, we would have spoken already."
Wi Cheon-gyeong answered in his stead.
"But above them stand the Four Divine Heavens, the Three Attendants, and even the True Demon himself. And even the Eight Heavenly Servants have yet to fully reveal themselves."
Wi Cheon-gyeong shook his head as he looked at Jo Nam-cheon.
"The martial world wouldn't believe us even if we spoke of the Eight Heavenly Servants, let alone the True Demon."
Then, Bu Eun-seol spoke.
"That is not the only reason."
His gaze swept across the assembly as he continued.
"Ignorance, in this case, may be the act of protecting the innocent."
"I see."
Wi Cheon-gyeong nodded in understanding.
"Perhaps the martial world's leaders knew this as well—which is why they never spread word of the True Demon."
The others nodded in solemn agreement.
There are things in this world that people need not know in their lifetime.
And withholding information can sometimes be the means to shield the righteous.
If every person in the world knew of an organization's existence,
they would no longer operate in secrecy—and might commit atrocities openly, without hesitation.
"Indeed."
Jo Nam-cheon nodded.
"If these truths were revealed, the delicate equilibrium of the martial world would collapse entirely."
At that, Myo Cheon-u, who had been listening silently, crossed his arms.
"Then the repeated closed-door training of the martial world's supreme masters—including the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—must also be because of such existences."
His words struck at the core, and the assembly nodded once more.
The fact that the era's strongest figures all secluded themselves in repeated closed-door training
had always been difficult to comprehend.
But now, they understood the truth.
That the martial world had always been teeming with monstrously powerful beings.
From the perspective of the Twin Celestial Emperors of Righteousness and Demon, knowing this, they could not afford to remain idle.
"Heaven Beyond Heaven... Truly, there are heavens above the heavens."
Won Se-mun, who had been listening quietly, muttered bitterly.
"Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss..."
At those words, the assembly fell into another heavy silence.
The shared goal of all martial artists was—
"To stand shoulder to shoulder with the current strongest masters of Murim."
Yet the existence of those who surpass even that lofty goal... could make all their efforts thus far feel utterly futile.
"Moreover, the fact that the Baekri Clan has been opposing this so-called True Demon all along, and that they created the Three Realms which govern Murim..."
No Trace, chief of the Death Soul Squad also shook his head in shock as he spoke.
"In the end, the Murim we know has always been controlled by hidden powers... forces beyond our imagination wielding strength that defies comprehension."
His voice carried unmistakable wariness toward the Baekri Clan.
Of course, he didn't know Bu Eun-seol might share their bloodline...
But such caution was only natural.
How long could beings wielding such power remain just? Could they stay benevolent forever?
What if they changed their minds?
Another True Demon might very well be born from their ranks.
"Right. So what do you plan to do now?"
Yu Un-ryong asked with grave seriousness.
"The fact that such powerhouses haven't revealed themselves openly suggests there must be a reason."
Forces that remained hidden now emerging—there had to be a purpose behind it.
Considering Spear Master's alliance with the Eastern Depot, they might all become enemies of the Death Shadow War Unit.
Preparations needed to be made without delay.
"We must grow stronger. Not just our faction, but your individual martial prowess as well."
Bu Eun-seol declared.
"This battle confirmed my suspicions. Just as Fist Adept said—they created the concept of the Martial Extreme Realm to limit Murim's development."
Murim practitioners believe...
That manifesting Limitless Equal Enlightenment is natural, that accepting it to ascend to the Martial Extreme Realm and wield Limitless Power...
Is the only path to higher martial attainment.
But that path is flawed.
The moment one accepts Limitless Equal Enlightenment and begins wielding Limitless Power...
They become trapped within the confines of the Martial Extreme Realm.
Bu Eun-seol himself was living proof.
He suppressed his Limitless Equal Enlightenment.
Yet without reaching the Martial Extreme Realm...
He fought Fist Adept—a Martial Extreme Realm master equal to the legendary Three Demons and Three Honored Ones—and defeated both him and Spear Master in succession.
Had he ascended step by step through the Martial Extreme Realm?
At best, he might have matched them someday.
But never could he have grown strong enough to rival them so quickly.
"But isn't that only true for you?"
Myo Cheon-u interjected.
"Most martial artists die without ever touching Limitless Equal Enlightenment. Even if Fist Adept's words hold truth, what relevance does it have for us?"
Yu Un-ryong nodded in agreement.
"You mastered multiple martial disciplines simultaneously—arts ordinary practitioners could never hope to learn in a lifetime. Your starting point was fundamentally different."
The assembled group all nodded.
The idea that the Martial Extreme Realm restricts martial attainment was hard to accept...
Because reaching it was nearly impossible to begin with.
"Of course, that's one way to see it."
Possessing diverse energies actually strains the physical body and deviates from martial principles.
Bu Eun-seol sought the Death God's Art precisely to protect his body from such strain.
"My Limitless Equal Enlightenment manifested long ago. Had I followed the Pavilion Lord's advice and entered the Supreme Demon Path..."
He sighed before continuing.
"I would have swiftly ascended to the Martial Extreme Realm. Gained the ability to wield Limitless Power."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed.
"And still lost to Fist Adept. Because it would have just been following predetermined steps."
Then with absolute conviction, he declared:
"I can say this with certainty—if you cultivate martial arts tailored to your individuality and temperament, breaking free from conventional frameworks..."
After a deep breath, he finished:
"You can grow stronger faster, unshackled by traditional martial scriptures and established hierarchies."
Silence lingered.
"But surely... that doesn't apply to ordinary mortals like us."
After the long pause, Won Se-mun scratched his head awkwardly.
"We struggle just to climb the existing ranks—how could we suddenly disregard conventional martial scriptures?"
He wasn't wrong.
Among Murim's practitioners...
Only the truly exceptional could afford to ignore established martial scriptures.
Though Bu Eun-seol was pioneering a new martial paradigm... accepting such radical concepts wasn't easy for others.
"I'm not telling you to abandon martial hierarchies overnight. Just warning against blind faith in established systems."
Bu Eun-seol turned to Yu Un-ryong.
"Moreover, Squad Leader Yu recently obtained a fortuitous encounter and created a new Formation Study to combat powerful foes. That alone will ensure your survival until you break free from martial scripture constraints."
"A new Formation Study?"
At Wi Cheon-gyeong's question, Bu Eun-seol gestured to Yu Un-ryong.
"He combined Principles of Martial Arts with Formation Study to create a space resembling a Mindscape."
His explanation remained measured.
"With it, he fought over a hundred exchanges against opponents who wouldn't last three moves normally. If martial realms were absolute, this would be impossible."
Yu Un-ryong obtained the Essentials of Strange Mechanisms...
Then drew inspiration from Bu Eun-seol's battles within Mindscapes...
"Though incomplete, it harnessed the profound principles of martial arts and the mysteries of formation study to pierce through the enemy's spirit and mind—
unleashing a power akin to a mindscape: the Mind's Eye Mirror against the Spear Master.
And this proved that no matter how terrifying Limitless Power may be, it can still be countered by the principles of martial arts."
"Is that truly the case?"
At Wi Cheon-gyeong's question, Yu Un-ryong nodded.
"However, it had a fatal flaw. Once deployed—whether successful or not—it would eventually collapse both the spirit and the physical body."
Then, with conviction, he added:
"But through this incident, we discovered that if shared with comrades whose hearts are aligned, it no longer leads to death."
"'This incident'?"
"This time, I deployed it—together with Squad Leader Myo."
Yu Un-ryong had no choice but to explain in detail the Spear Master's ambush.
The faces of the squad leaders twisted as they listened.
It was a mix of resentment and fury—toward Yu Un-ryong and Myo Cheon-u, who had acted without consulting them, recklessly attempting Mutual Destruction.
"Squad Leader Yu. Do you take us for nothing? After all the time we've endured hardships together, you made such a decision?"
As Won Se-mun shouted, unable to contain himself, Jo Nam-cheon also stood up.
"And Squad Leader Myo is no different! If you knew of such a thing, you should have discussed it with us. Charging in alone—did you think that was admirable?"
The figures in the Death Shadow War Unit were no longer just members of the Demonic Path or the Righteous Path.
They were like a family, united under Bu Eun-seol.
And yet, he had tried to throw his life away on a whim—wasn't disappointment and fury the most natural reaction?
"I'm sorry. I just... didn't want to burden the Lord with harm."
Yu Un-ryong took a deep breath as he looked at the chiefs.
"But now I understand. That such actions, in fact, inflict even greater harm on everyone."
Then, he bowed his head.
"It won't happen again."
The chiefs' lips twitched, but they said nothing more.
The one suffering the most was Yu Un-ryong himself.
He had only wanted to protect his father.
"Regardless, all chiefs of the Death Shadow War Unit will now collaborate to research and complete the Secret Art Yu Un-ryong has created."
Bu Eun-seol issued a rare command.
They would pool their strength to perfect the incomplete Mind's Eye Mirror into a flawless Battle Formation.
"Once completed, even if we face a Master of the Martial Extreme Realm, we'll be able to hold our ground."
What makes Martial Extreme Realm masters fearsome isn't just the disparity in martial skill—
but the fact that they wield Limitless Power, a force that transcends human limits, rendering it unstoppable.
If there are no masters who can oppose Limitless Power?
Even overwhelming numbers become meaningless.
But if there is a means to counter it?
At the very least, numerical superiority won't be rendered irrelevant, and a way to confront them will emerge.
"This is only the beginning. From now on, I will find a way to outright restrictLimitless Power."
To suppress the transcendent power of supreme masters and force them into ordinary combat—
This was, in fact, something Bu Eun-seol had always desired as he advanced his martial realm.
But unlike before,
he no longer sought to elevate his own prowess. Instead, he would achieve it by innovating entirely new martial principles.
"RestrictingLimitless Power..."
The group wore dazed expressions.
No martial artist in history had ever conceived such an idea.
Because the dream of all martial artists was to ascend to the Martial Extreme Realm—
and Limitless Power was the proof of that attainment.
No martial artist would even consider seeking a way to impose restrictions on it.
"Good. Make sure you do."
Myo Cheon-u spoke up.
"That way, we too can become a true force to be reckoned with."
In the past, they had thought Bu Eun-seol's growth defied imagination—no, it was almost Divine Being-like.
But now, having glimpsed the abyss of the martial world...
Bu Eun-seol's growth no longer felt so extraordinary.
From now on, countless formidable figures would emerge in Murim.
And those masters would wield martial techniques entirely unlike anything known before.
The chiefs of the Death Shadow War Unit had to grow stronger—fast—to face them.
"Un-ryong."
Bu Eun-seol looked at Yu Un-ryong and spoke calmly.
"Starting today—we begin immediately."
BOOM!RUMBLE—
Explosions reverberated one after another across the Death Shadow War Unit's training grounds.
Deploying the Mind's Eye Mirror's mindscape within the Demon Hall was impossible.
So, using Internal Power that surpassed human limits and the force of Phantom Restoration Return, Bu Eun-seol simulated a mindscape within the Grand Martial Training Ground—
a space where time seemed to crawl, almost severed from the real world.
"Grrgh—!"
And every chief of the Death Shadow War Unit strained against it,
maintaining formation as they struggled to manifest the Mind's Eye Mirror.
Each of them became a living component of the Battle Formation, channeling the Mind's Eye Mirror's power.
"Focus harder! If your mind wavers, you'll never construct a space severed from the outside!"
BOOM!
With that solemn command, a surge of immense True Qi erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body.
It took the form of a dragon—divine, as though a Divine Spirit hovered in the air.
'Is this not Limitless Power?'
'How does the Lord possess such Internal Power...?'
Those who had already witnessed Bu Eun-seol's strength—
all except Yu Un-ryong and Myo Cheon-u—exchanged disbelieving glances.
"How can a mere human body of flesh and blood possibly wield such power?"
"Enough—this noise is intolerable!"
At that moment, a thunderous roar erupted from beyond the gates of the Hidden Demon Pavilion.
"Do you think you're the only ones training here?!"
With a heavy creak, the great gates of the pavilion swung open, and a martial artist clad in black robes and an iron mask strode forward with heavy steps.
He was none other than the commander of the Celestial Slaughter Corps, one of the three elite units of the Demon Hall.
In the past, he had been humiliated, crushed beneath Bu Eun-seol's overwhelming presence. Since then, he had devoted himself to bitter training, honing his martial prowess to unprecedented heights.
And now, having reached a level where he believed no one could stand against him, he had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to avenge that day's disgrace.
But when his subordinates reported that the Hidden Demon Pavilion was continuously causing disturbances—yet no one dared protest due to the Martial Soul Lord's authority—he had stormed here without hesitation.
"Martial Soul Lord! How do you discipline your subordinates that they—"
Just as the Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander, having pushed past restraining guards to reach the Grand Martial Training Ground inside the Hidden Demon Pavilion, was about to bellow in righteous fury—
Ooooooh...
Before his eyes, a colossal surge of True Qi, radiant with dazzling hues, filled the heavens.
The energy was so overwhelming that merely witnessing it sent shockwaves through his meridians, threatening to rupture them.
And this immense surge of True Qi was emanating from a single person.
From none other than the Martial Soul Lord himself—Bu Eun-seol.
'T-This...'
The Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander was no ordinary warrior. He was a seasoned veteran who had dominated the martial world and led countless battles to victory.
Yet even he could perceive that Bu Eun-seol's martial prowess had not only far surpassed the Extreme Heaven Realm but had ascended to an unfathomable level of internal mastery.
His vision darkened. His body trembled.
What in the world had happened during this time for his power to reach such heights?
"What is the matter?"
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol frowned upon seeing the Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander.
"This is my training ground. Outsiders are not permitted."
'He's speaking while unleashing such terrifying True Qi?!'
Cold sweat dripped down the masked face beneath the iron visage. Every time those razor-sharp eyes swept over him, it felt as though his flesh was being flayed from his bones.
"This commander..."
The Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander, staring into Bu Eun-seol's eyes—which seemed to condense millions of shards of light—
Swish.
Bowed deeply with utmost reverence.
"I came upon hearing complaints that the Death Shadow War Unit's warriors were disturbing the peace around the Hidden Demon Pavilion."
"..."
"Worry not henceforth. This commander shall ensure no such grievances reach your ears again."
With an expression of utmost sincerity, he bowed once more to Bu Eun-seol before—
Creak.
Like a broken mechanical doll, he stiffly retreated and vanished from the pavilion in an instant.
Leaving the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol made his way to the Martial Soul Society for the first time in a while.
He had already relayed all necessary information to the Death Soul Squad and the Supreme Blade Unit.
'Even the Heavenly Slaughter Unit Commander can be useful at times.'
Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes.
Thanks to the commander's interruption, he had realized anew that the training for the Mind's Eye Mirror must be conducted not within the Demon Hall, but in a place where outsiders could never intrude.
And now, he intended to gather the core members of the Martial Soul Society.
To share intelligence on the True Demon and his familiars, and to strategize accordingly.
—No, there was something even more pressing.
A single thought consumed Bu Eun-seol's mind.
Even now, few in the martial world knew of the Eight Heavenly Servants' existence.
But there must be factions or individuals who did.
Especially in the case of the Spear Master, where the Eastern Depot's involvement made it practically an open battle.
Which meant that those who monitored the Eight Heavenly Servants—or those who controlled the martial world's highest echelons of intelligence—would inevitably...
'They will seek me out.'
Particularly the existence known as Incheon—a ticking time bomb.
The Three Realms could not be the only ones opposing Incheon in the martial world.
Surely, there must be factions wary of their presence, or even those preparing to oppose them.
And if so, they would undoubtedly come to him.
'Let them track my movements first.'
Bu Eun-seol left So-yo behind, making no effort to conceal his path as he openly headed toward the Martial Soul Society.
Rather than employing his Lightness Skill to move swiftly, he traveled leisurely through Chengdu, ensuring intelligence networks could easily trace his steps.
Just as he entered Shaanxi's borders, an eerie sensation brushed past him from the distant sky.
As if someone was watching him.
'My senses have expanded.'
Bu Eun-seol could extend his extrasensory perception up to a thousand feet by releasing shockwaves.
But now, even while standing still, he could detect someone secretly tracking his movements.
And this was only possible thanks to the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
A power that allowed perfect concealment by harmonizing with nature—making it impossible for anyone to find him.
Yet now, it also allowed him to instantly perceive the Concealment Art being used by his pursuer.
'A formidable expert.'
Remarkably, the moment Bu Eun-seol detected the stalker's presence, the stalker immediately realized they had been exposed.
And instead of retreating—
'They're outright calling for me.'
They blatantly revealed their presence.
'Then they're not an enemy.'
If their goal had been an ambush, they would never have exposed themselves like this.
After brief contemplation, Bu Eun-seol activated his Movement Technique and vanished into a secluded forest.
Whoosh.
Arriving at a vast, uninhabited clearing, he spoke in a low voice.
"Show yourself."
Swish.
As if waiting for this very moment, a small shadow gradually materialized before him.
It was none other than an elderly monk draped in crimson robes, his face lined with wrinkles so deep they resembled tree bark, making his age impossible to discern.
Yet his eyes were profound, brimming with wisdom and overflowing with vitality.
The Divine Monk of Shaolin.
It was none other than the legendary figure of the Righteous Path—the Buddha Venerable Hong-hyeon.
His presence alone seemed to still the very air around them. The ancient monk stood before Bu Eun-seol, his crimson monastic robes rustling faintly in the breeze, his deeply lined face carrying the weight of centuries. Yet his eyes—sharp, profound, brimming with wisdom—burned with a vitality that defied his age.
This was the living saint of Shaolin.
The one whispered about in hushed tones across the martial world.
The Buddha Venerable Hong-hyeon.