Chapter 812
Woo Village.
A small village located at the eastern edge of Hangzhou.
In such a remote village, there were no proper schools or martial academies, so the few who could read took it upon themselves to teach the children.
Old Man Jin.
He was the village's teacher, instructing the children in letters.
But since that alone didn't earn him much, he spent his spare time weaving bamboo baskets.
On a winter night with snow falling softly.
Old Man Jin sat before a brazier, diligently weaving a basket.
"Haa."
Having finished one basket, he let out a sigh with a somewhat weary face.
Then, as if craving fresh air, he stepped outside.
Zzzzzzz.
But suddenly, a black hand abruptly thrust itself up from the ground in front of the yard.
Skreeeek.
The hand gradually stepped forward, taking on the form of a person.
It was as though it was tearing through the darkness to emerge.
"Hoh."
Despite the utterly bizarre sight, Old Man Jin merely watched it with an exclamation of wonder.
Kwoom.
At last, the one who tore through the darkness was, quite literally, a shadow—a figure dyed entirely in black.
Though the bright moonlight poured down.
The black shadow seemed to absorb even the light, maintaining a form of perfect darkness.
Not only its face, but even the shapes of its shoes or clothes were indiscernible.
"The good do not come; those who come are not good."
Old Man Jin spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Are you trying to imitate the Grim Reaper?"
Clicking his tongue, Old Man Jin glanced around before shaking his head.
"Let's change locations."
Pat!
In an instant, he soared into the sky.
Then, with a movement technique befitting an immortal, he traversed dozens of li in a single breath, arriving at the Reed Field.
Thud.
As he landed in the Reed Field, the shadow stood before him like a ghost.
It had already anticipated his arrival and was waiting.
"Reveal yourself."
"..."
"Have you come to kill this old man?"
The black shadow silently stared at Old Man Jin.
Kwoom.
But then, at some point, a tremor shook the earth, and a black shadow appeared in the distant sky.
When the shadow looked up.
There, hovering above Old Man Jin's head, was an Evil Dragon the size of a house, its massive maw gaping toward the shadow.
"Enough with this pitiful imitation of the Death God. Just return to the Underworld."
Crash!
The dragon floating in the sky plunged its enormous head downward in an instant, swallowing the black shadow whole.
And just as it began to rise back into the sky—
Zzzzzz.
A single red-hot line flared across the dragon's forehead.
Sssshhk!
Its massive head split cleanly in two and crashed to the ground.
Kwoom.
The severed head melted away like snow the moment it touched the earth.
The black shadow stood motionless, as if nothing had happened.
"Impressive. To wield such power even after entering my Phase."
Old Man Jin clicked his tongue and shook his head, staring intently at the shadow.
"But did you think there was only one?"
—Kiiiiiiii!
Before anyone knew it, the night sky was filled with dozens of black dragons—each incomparably larger and more colossal than the one before.
They coiled through the air, blotting out the heavens.
It was a power akin to the Taoist Arts wielded by immortals.
Sssss.
Then, suddenly, a white mouth formed on the black shadow.
The mouth was made of pure white light, impossibly large compared to a human's.
And what curled upon it was unmistakably a sneer.
"A pity."
Old Man Jin shook his head.
"To stubbornly stand your ground even in such a situation."
Flash!
The moment Old Man Jin's thin, sharply folded pupils gleamed—
Crash!
The black dragons in the sky swept down like lightning, swallowing the black shadow.
Or rather, they should have.
Paaah!
Each time a dragon swallowed the shadow, light exploded outward, and the dragons vanished like mist.
"Limitless Power, was it?"
Old Man Jin swiftly rotated his hands, forming a seal.
At once, the dozens of black dragons in the sky let out earth-shaking roars and began coiling around the shadow.
Whoooosh.
They spewed black flames, dove underground, then surged back into the sky.
But it was futile.
With every attack, the dragons vanished one by one like mist.
And the shadow remained standing, still staring at Old Man Jin.
"Who are you?"
Only now did Old Man Jin realize.
The black shadow before him was an overwhelming Master—one whose power surpassed his own.
Moreover, what it wielded was not a Phase or a supernatural Art of Spells like his own... but the pinnacle of Martial Arts.
In Murim, those who had reached such heights of martial prowess were exceedingly few—and none of them would ever attack him.
[Now... you feel... fear.]
The shadow suddenly raised its hand and brought it to where its face should be.
Gradually, a face emerged from the black shadow.
"You—you are—!"
Jin No-in's mouth fell open.
He couldn't believe it.
How could he... be standing before him like this?
How could something like this even happen?
Squeeeeak.
As a pair of enormous, crimson pupils formed within the shadow—
Riiip.
Jin No-in's mouth suddenly stretched open unnaturally wide.
Then, from within his gaping maw, two pale white hands shot out. Slowly, long arms began groping along Jin No-in's body.
Shiver, shiver.
Tears streamed down Jin No-in's face as his body trembled violently.
The moment those ghostly white fingers touched him, his entire body stiffened, and he couldn't even make a sound.
[You who hide in the shadows...]
The shadow spoke in a voice dripping with boundless malice.
[...I will slaughter...]
"Guh—!"
Jin No-in tried to say something, but—
The white hands crawling out of his mouth kept pawing at his body relentlessly.
Gurgle, gurgle.
More and more hands spilled forth, far beyond what Jin No-in could endure.
"Ugh—urk!"
Finally, as dozens of hands burst out—
Squelch!
Blood gushed forth as Jin No-in's body collapsed to the ground like a felled log.
By now, his head had vanished without a trace.
[...I will kill them all.]
The shadow stared at Jin No-in's headless corpse, then stretched out a hand.
Zzzzzziiing.
A mysterious, five-colored radiance began to bloom from its palm.
Fwoosh!
In an instant, Jin No-in's remains—
Along with every last scattered fragment of his body—
Were utterly incinerated.
[...The Baekri Clan...! You bastards—!]
The shadow howled in a voice thick with anguish—
[Ughhh...]
Then, suddenly, it let out a pained groan, clutching at one side of its face.
But where there should have been flesh, half of its face was already melting away.
And the remaining half—
Wasn't that the face of the current Number One of the Righteous Path, Shin Do-mu-bi, the true name of Jeong Cheon-je?
[Ughh... Uuuuu...!]
With a roar that sounded like a scream of despair, the shadow tore through the darkness and vanished in an instant.
Having returned to his identity as Seon-u Jin, Bu Eun-seol resumed his duties as the chief of the Secret Intelligence Bureau upon his return to the Martial Alliance.
The Demon-Subduing Palace—no, the Martial Alliance was coiled like a serpent, harboring forces and figures whose true nature remained unknown.
To leave the Martial Alliance...
The most urgent task at hand was removing the Poison Parasites from the Peak Realm Members.
'I can't remove them immediately.'
Thanks to the Poison Qi he had absorbed from Wind God Palace's leader Hae-yeon, Bu Eun-seol had taken another step toward the realm of the Sage Among Poisons.
Having achieved the Poison Saint Body, he could now absorb and neutralize any poison.
But the Poison Parasite wasn't just any toxin—it was a living pair of parasitic insects, male and female.
Simply absorbing the poison wouldn't be enough; both parasites had to be eradicated simultaneously.
Of course, he could remove the Three Corpse Worms now if he wanted to, but the problem was that the Poison Parasites were linked to the caster's Spirit and Mind.
If he carelessly neutralized them, the Martial Venerable might notice and retaliate—
Or worse, change his mind and snatch away the lives of the Peak Realm Members, including Bu Eun-seol himself, in an instant.
Knock, knock.
Just then, the sound of knocking came at the door, followed by Jeong Jong-do's voice.
"Chief."
"Enter."
Jeong Jong-do stepped inside the office and carefully placed a letter on Bu Eun-seol's desk.
"A message from the Death Soul Squad. It appears to be urgent."
Bu Eun-seol immediately opened the letter.
His pupils dilated as he read its contents.
'This time, they're targeting me directly.'
The letter stated that Seo Jin-ha, currently traveling the Martial World under the identity of the Martial Soul Lord, had been tailed by a shadow so elusive that even the Death Soul Squad couldn't identify it.
Since Seo Jin-ha was currently acting as the Martial Soul Lord—
This meant that some faction or master was targeting him.
'This is bad.'
At present, the number of factions or individuals in the Martial World who would dare challenge the Martial Soul Lord was extremely limited.
Moreover, since even the Death Soul Squad couldn't pinpoint the pursuer, it wasn't a large-scale force—
The most likely culprits were masters from the Three Realms, the Three Clans, or the Eight Heavenly Servants.
The only factions that could evade the combined intelligence networks of the Martial Alliance, the Martial Soul Society, and the Death Soul Squad were—
The Three Realms, the Three Clans, and the Eight Heavenly Servants.
'There's a high probability that an master among the Eight Heavenly Servants—or someone of equivalent strength—is after me.'
"I'll need to step away for a while," Bu Eun-seol said, handing the letter back to Jeong Jong-do.
"For the time being, I'll be traveling the Martial World under my original identity."
"Understood. I'll relay the message to the other unit members."
Jeong Jong-do spoke cautiously.
"But you must be careful. More and more unknown powerhouses have been appearing in the Martial World lately."
They had already been briefed by the Death Soul Squad about the Baekri Clan, the True Demon, and the Servants of the True Demon.
The fact that Bu Eun-seol possessed martial prowess capable of defeating the Eight Heavenly Servants was encouraging.
But conversely, there was no telling how many more formidable masters would continue to emerge one after another... It was inevitable that his worries would multiply.
"Understood."
Bu Eun-seol nodded, but his mood was far from pleasant.
The reason he had returned to the Martial Alliance this time was to secretly seek an opportunity to discreetly deal with the Poison Parasites within the Peak Realm Members.
But now that Seo Jin-ha's life was in danger, that task would have to be put on hold.
Fortunately, nothing serious had happened to Seo Jin-ha yet.
After immediately switching identities with him, Bu Eun-seol even sent So-yo away and wandered leisurely, as if sightseeing.
Normally, all intelligence networks—including the Death Soul Squad—completely concealed his movements.
Because of this, no faction could easily track his whereabouts.
But what if he removed that protective veil? Organizations with superior intelligence networks would be able to trace his path with ease.
Hostile factions—
Even if they knew this might be a deliberate trap set by Bu Eun-seol—
Would never let slip such a golden opportunity.
'They don't intend to attack.'
As he deliberately strolled around at a relaxed pace, Bu Eun-seol could sense it.
The one tailing him was not an organization or faction, but an exceptionally skilled master acting alone.
And their purpose was not to seek an opening to strike, but to covertly approach him.
Because every now and then—
They deliberately revealed their presence, stimulating Bu Eun-seol's senses.
'I'll respond.'
Realizing the tracker's intent, Bu Eun-seol immediately left Chengdu and rushed toward a secluded area on the outskirts.
'That place should do.'
He headed toward an abandoned manor visible in the distance.
The interior was vast.
But none of the buildings remained intact—only grotesque weeds grew wildly.
'They've arrived.'
The once-clear sky had darkened without warning, and the air inside the abandoned house felt strangely heavy.
"Not only has your martial arts advanced by leaps and bounds, but your senses have also sharpened considerably."
At that moment, a faint shadow materialized directly in front of Bu Eun-seol.
The blurry silhouette soon solidified, taking the form of a boy clad in ornate robes.
"You—"
Bu Eun-seol couldn't conceal his surprise.
That boy was the very same sinister figure he had first encountered on Yeongpa Island, a former stronghold of the Return to One Sect—
Where the preserved bodies of past masters were displayed in glass cases.
Later, it had been revealed as an orphanage sponsored by So Ok-rim, though in truth, it was an experimental ground for the Infinite Realm.
The very same man who had captured the children there and—
Using a peculiar Great Art—
Turned them into grotesque existences that were neither human nor yokai.
"Have you come here to die?"
A murderous aura, sharp enough to split heaven and earth, rose from Bu Eun-seol's body.
Those who had committed atrocities even worse than the murderer of his grandfather—
Because it was the Return to One Sect who had stolen his grandfather's Physical Body.
He could never forgive them.
"Where is my grandfather's body?"
"Heh heh heh. You haven't changed at all."
Despite the bone-chilling killing intent radiating from Bu Eun-seol, the boy remained utterly composed.
"Are you still wandering the martial world seeking revenge?"
Bu Eun-seol didn't waste words.
Flicker!
With a flash of violet lightning—
Thud.
The boy's arm fell to the floor.
Bu Eun-seol had used the Peerless Thunderbolt, a technique of extreme speed.
After obtaining the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, his martial arts had advanced exponentially, becoming at least three times faster than before.
"Calm yourself."
The boy picked up his severed arm—which wasn't even bleeding—with complete nonchalance.
"I didn't come here today to fight you."
Shhh.
Then, as if attaching mud, he reattached the arm without any difficulty.
KWA-RUNG!
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol unleashed a Shockwave of True Qi that surged to the heavens.
If he couldn't find his grandfather's body—
Then he would incinerate this smirking boy from the Return to One Sect in an instant—
To vent even a fraction of his fury.
Zzziiing.
But then, something strange happened.
A crimson energy spread before his eyes once more, and the surroundings gradually transformed.
The abandoned manor around him shifted, its appearance changing—
Until suddenly, he found himself standing inside the towering halls of the Demon Hall.
The Hidden Demon Pavilion.
The scenery had morphed into the place where his subordinates from the Death Shadow War Unit were stationed.
"Illusions won't work on me."
"Illusions? How disappointing."
The boy's voice was ice-cold.
"I'm threatening you right now, you see?"
"Threatening?"
"Look closely."
A faint afterimage flickered before Bu Eun-seol's eyes—
And soon, the figures of his subordinates and attendants moving about the Hidden Demon Pavilion came into view.
Twitch. Twitch.
But then, the attendants began convulsing violently.
"W-What's happening to them?"
The martial artists nearby tried to help them up.
CRACK!
At the same moment, sprays of blood erupted in all directions.
The attendant's body exploded—her blood transforming into Extreme Poison, her bone fragments into razor-sharp hidden weapons.
Thud, thud, thud.
Every single person standing nearby was instantly killed.
"Oh?"
The boy stared at Bu Eun-seol, his lips forming a perfect circle.
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, this should have been nothing short of horrifying.
Yet his gaze remained utterly unchanged—cold and indifferent.
"It seems you've prepared a countermeasure against techniques like the Dragon-Subduing Soul-Expelling Blast."
Realizing that Bu Eun-seol wasn't the least bit afraid of such a gruesome sight, the boy waved his hand again.
"Then how about this?"
The scenery shifted once more.
Now, it showed the Death Shadow War Unit's Great Commanders in the middle of a meeting. Jo Nam-cheon and Myo Cheon-u were handing something to each of them.
Shhk.
But then—
Without warning, the two men plunged daggers, dripping with poison, into the backs of the seated commanders.
The Great Commanders, caught off guard by the sudden betrayal, collapsed lifeless on the spot.
"No one can resist the Spirit-Sealing Heart-Seal Method."
Bu Eun-seol let out a soft scoff.
This plan—using the Spirit-Sealing Heart-Seal Method to make the Great Commanders self-destruct—was something Hyeokryeon Eung had already attempted long ago.
To prevent a repeat, every Death Shadow War Unit commander wore a special wrist brace. If they lost consciousness and could no longer press its protruding button, the brace would jolt them awake with pain severe enough to make them foam at the mouth.
"Go ahead."
The boy clapped, recognizing the unshakable confidence in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"Of course. The Martial Soul Lord, hailed as the Divine Body of Zhuge Liang, wouldn't neglect countermeasures against the Soul-Seizing Art."
The boy shrugged playfully.
"Actually, this is what I wanted to show you."
With a mischievous grin, he altered the scene again.
—CRACK!
—URGH!
A vast plain stretched before them.
And there—
The Death Shadow War Unit warriors were being mercilessly slaughtered by a single, terrifying Master.
Despite their rigorous training, despite their relentless discipline—
It meant nothing.
They were being annihilated by just one man.
A Master of the Martial Extreme Realm.
If such a Master lured the Death Shadow War Unit into a trap and struck with full intent—
No matter how vast their forces, death would be inevitable.
"You don't actually think this is just an illusion, do you?"
The boy's crescent-moon eyes gleamed as he watched Bu Eun-seol.
"If a Master of this caliber truly set his mind on killing your subordinates—what could you possibly do to stop him?"
His laughter was innocent, almost childlike.
"So, what will you do? Should I kill them all right now?"
The boy knew.
He knew Bu Eun-seol's weakness was loyalty.
That even if he cared nothing for his own life, he could never endure the deaths of his subordinates.
"Feeling more inclined to talk now?"
The boy's grin twisted into something grotesque.
He had expected fury—or at least an attempt at negotiation.
But Bu Eun-seol...
Still wore that same mocking smile.
"You really are bluffing, aren't you?"
"Bluffing?"
Bu Eun-seol snorted as if watching an amusing Beijing Opera performance.
"Go ahead. Try it."
"..."
"Order those Martial Extreme Realm Masters to wipe out my subordinates. Right now."
When the boy didn't respond, Bu Eun-seol continued smoothly.
"Too hard to lure them in? Then name the place. I'll send my men there myself."
The boy was stunned.
Because he realized—
Bu Eun-seol wasn't bluffing.
He meant every word.
"Impressive."
The boy nodded slowly, as if finally understanding.
"To have completely shed your weakness—emotion—in such a short time. Have you truly stepped onto the Demonic Path? Or perhaps mastered its Mind-Training Formula to Great Completion?"
The boy was mistaken.
He thought Bu Eun-seol's heart had changed—that he had either perfected the Demonic Path's mental discipline or become so ruthless that his subordinates' lives no longer mattered.
And perhaps that was natural.
After all, the current Murim had no means to defend against a Martial Extreme Realm Master.
But now—
The Death Shadow War Unit possessed Yu Un-ryong's unfinished Mind's Eye Mirror, derived from the secrets of the Essentials of Strange Mechanisms.
Bu Eun-seol had faith.
That the Great Commanders would complete it.
And that they would stop any enemy.
"Well, I suppose the time for sentimentality has passed. You must have achieved tremendous Martial Prowess by now."
Shhhhk.
Ignoring the boy's praise—
Bu Eun-seol drew Ink Soul Sword in one fluid motion.
"If you don't tell me where the old man's corpse is..."
A bloody light, hot enough to melt steel, erupted from his pupils.
"You will die today."
The boy tried to smirk—but his smile vanished on its own.
The moment he met Bu Eun-seol's terrifyingly radiant gaze, time itself seemed to freeze.
This—
An overwhelming pressure crushed his chest, making it impossible to breathe. His heart pounded wildly, as if about to burst.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes were like the Abyss of the universe—dark, fathomless, yet piercing through everything with a light that saw all.
He's changed.
The boy's fingertips trembled.
He finally understood.
Bu Eun-seol's Martial Prowess had grown exponentially—beyond any comparison to the past.
And—
He would never allow him to escape.