Chapter 843
Thud.
As the Deathly One completely vanished into the darkness, the Enemy Annihilator suddenly dropped to all fours.
Then, with a grotesque twist of its body—
Skitter, skitter, skitter.
It began charging toward Bu Eun-seol like a beast on all fours.
The sight was as if a malevolent spirit had draped itself in human skin and was now lunging forward on four limbs.
Swoosh.
The moment the Enemy Annihilator moved, Bu Eun-seol was already preparing the Transcendent Meteor Chasing Moon Form.
Gooo...
Time seemed to slow as a crimson glow began radiating from the Ink Soul Sword.
Screeeech!
The red Sword Qi, launched at hyper-speed, split the earth in its wake, sparks of flame scattering in its path.
Just as the crimson light was about to slash through the Enemy Annihilator's neck—
Whoosh!
Its body turned transparent in an instant, and the Transcendent Meteor Chasing Moon Form's sword energy sliced uselessly through empty air.
BAM!
At the same time, a chain lashed out and struck Bu Eun-seol's body.
An attack like this should have been too simple to even touch Bu Eun-seol's body.
But the Enemy Annihilator had allowed the Transcendent Meteor Chasing Moon Form to pass right through it while simultaneously whipping its chain—making it impossible to avoid the strike.
Tchik.
Bu Eun-seol took three steps back, his expression grave.
Having reached the Internal Energy of ten Cycles, his body was nearing the state of being Impervious to Blades.
Yet, where the whip had struck, an Excruciating Pain seared through him, and suddenly, his Internal Power refused to flow.
[The Crystal-Binding Scale Technique, was it?]
The Deathly One's voice echoed from the darkness.
[No matter how profound your martial arts, no matter what realm you've reached—it makes no difference.]
"..."
[The Crystal-Binding Scale Technique deflects all attacks, and with each strike that lands, your Vitality will drain away.]
No matter how much he sharpened his hearing, no matter how far he spread his Wind & Cloud Divine Qi—
He couldn't even begin to guess where the Deathly One was hiding, its voice seeming to drift from nowhere.
It was as if it were truly a dead corpse—no presence, no biological reactions.
[Did you think that by hearing my voice, you could locate where the Lord of Heaven stands?]
As if sensing Bu Eun-seol's attempt to expand his Extrasensory Perception, the Deathly One let out a mocking laugh.
[Hahaha. Go ahead and try.]
'Even if I were to manifest the Way of Nature, hiding oneself this perfectly should be impossible.'
Moreover, in the direction the voice came from, there wasn't the slightest trace of presence or movement.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Meanwhile, the Enemy Annihilator floated through the air like a specter, moving freely as it attacked Bu Eun-seol.
Not only that, but whenever it was struck, it simply let the attack pass right through it.
And their chains carried a strange power—even the slightest graze caused Vitality to drain away.
'Stronger and stronger enemies keep appearing...'
Yet, a smile escaped Bu Eun-seol's lips.
Though Heaven had imposed the restriction of the Martial Extreme Realm, the current superlative martial experts of Murim had already broken past those limits.
And Bu Eun-seol was no exception.
Though his Martial Arts hadn't yet reached a state of perfect establishment—
He possessed the power to face any foe.
"If the trick is letting attacks pass through you..."
A smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"This should be fun."
[Fun, you say?]
As if irritated by Bu Eun-seol's muttering, the Deathly One's sharp voice reverberated through the Grand Hall.
[Then let me make it even more enjoyable for you.]
Sssssk—
At the same moment, from behind the Enemy Annihilator—
Dozens more Enemy Annihilators emerged in a swarm.
A single Enemy Annihilator was already a match for Bu Eun-seol in skill.
Yet they had mass-produced such beings?
"As expected... Heaven is Heaven."
Still, far from feeling fear—
Bu Eun-seol strode toward the horde of Enemy Annihilators, completely unguarded, a delighted smile on his face.
The more enemies, the better.
Only then could he further refine his Martial Arts.
Step. Step.
Whoosh.
Forty-odd Enemy Annihilators had already surrounded Bu Eun-seol in a perfect circle, moving like phantoms.
Clang!
At the same time, razor-sharp chains pierced through Bu Eun-seol's body—or rather, they should have.
Whoosh.
But in that instant, Bu Eun-seol's body turned transparent, and the chains passed right through him.
He had replicated the Enemy Annihilator's Crystal-Binding Scale Technique—no, something far more perfected.
"The Crystal-Binding Scale Technique is nothing more than a derivative, an inferior imitation of the Wind God's Martial Arts."
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Enraged, the Enemy Annihilators whipped their chains wildly, trying to siphon Bu Eun-seol's Vitality.
But his body was already engulfed in a torrent of Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, rendering the chains' strange power useless.
Whoosh! Crack!
When their attacks failed to land, the Enemy Annihilators closed the distance and began swinging their chains in earnest.
The relentless, interlinked strikes of forty phantom-like beings, each attack launched at angles and moments that should have been impossible to evade—
Yet Bu Eun-seol turned his body transparent with each strike, letting them all pass through him.
Moreover, no matter how stealthily the Enemy Annihilators moved, they still displaced air as they traveled.
Even if he closed his eyes—
Through the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, he could predict their movements perfectly.
Slash! Slash!
The cross-shaped sword energy of the Waning Moon Morning Star, the violet lightning of the Nine Dragons Flashing Thunder—they tore through the Enemy Annihilators' bodies again and again.
But just as the Deathly One had said, they neither died nor fell. Truly, they were Undying and Invincible.
Yet, as if struck by a thought, Bu Eun-seol sheathed his sword with a click.
'Might as well practice the subtleties of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi while I'm at it.'
And so, deliberately refraining from counterattacking, he repeatedly turned his body transparent—
Or unleashed waves of Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, predicting the Enemy Annihilators' every move.
After half a quarter had passed like that, his evasive movements using the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi had become quite familiar.
[That bastard—?]
The Deathly One, who had been watching from the shadows, let out an incredulous scoff.
When surrounded by the Enemy Annihilators, even the greatest master could only meet a miserable death.
With the Crystal-Binding Scale Technique, they could deflect any attack, and merely touching their chains would drain an opponent's life force.
But this bastard—was he really using the Enemy Annihilators, the very embodiment of terror, as nothing more than a leisurely training dummy?
"I think it's about time to wrap this up."
KWA-RUNG!
Once he had grown somewhat accustomed to wielding the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, Bu Eun-seol drew upon his internal power and lightly unleashed a fist technique.
KWA-RUNG!
A tremor shook the earth, followed by an explosive roar as a colossal storm surged toward the Enemy Annihilators.
Fifth Form of the Seven Forms of the Fist Demon.
The Form Without Beginning or End unfolded—an unstoppable whirlwind of fist energy that endlessly coiled around the enemy.
ZZZING! ZZZING!
As razor-sharp cyclones capable of splitting metal poured forth, the Enemy Annihilators immediately turned their bodies transparent, allowing the fist energy to pass through them.
KWA-UUUU!
But the terrifying aspect of the Form Without Beginning or End was that, depending on the caster's level of internal power—
—it could extend the duration of those razor-sharp fist energies suspended in the air indefinitely.
ZZZING! ZZZING!
As Bu Eun-seol's relentless fist energy coiled around them, the Enemy Annihilators had no choice but to keep their bodies transparent.
But maintaining such a technique continuously was fundamentally impossible.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Eventually, the Enemy Annihilators abandoned their transparency and swung their iron chains, attempting to repel the fist energy and counterattack.
But this situation was—
—no different from a child from a minor martial school charging at a grandmaster who had mastered the profound depths of martial arts.
Unable to turn their bodies transparent and forced to rely on conventional attacks, the Enemy Annihilators—
—were no longer objects of terror or fear, nor could they pose any threat to Bu Eun-seol.
FLASH!
Spotting an opening in the movements of the forty-some Enemy Annihilators, Bu Eun-seol unleashed the Transcendent Meteor Chasing Moon Form in rapid succession, severing their necks one after another.
SLASH! CRASH!
Yet even with their heads cut off, the Enemy Annihilators paid no heed and simultaneously lashed at Bu Eun-seol's body with their chains.
[Heh heh heh. Didn't I tell you...? The Enemy Annihilators cannot be killed...]
The Deathly One, muttering from the shadows, suddenly cut himself off.
It wasn't the attacking Enemy Annihilators—
—but his own body, hidden in the darkness, that was now bleeding dark crimson.
DRIP. DRIP.
As blood flowed, the Deathly One, who had been concealed in the shadows, was forced to reveal himself once more.
"As I thought."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly as he watched the Enemy Annihilators freeze the moment their master appeared.
"There's no such thing as an existence that cannot die."
The Deathly One had claimed that since the Enemy Annihilators were already dead, they could never be killed.
But how could beings that weren't even truly alive drain life force on their own, wield the Crystal-Binding Scale Technique, or move like ghosts?
In other words—there had to be a separate source fueling them.
The moment Bu Eun-seol saw the Enemy Annihilators with their eyes and mouths sewn shut, he realized their life force was linked to the Deathly One.
And so, he had been searching relentlessly—
—for where the man was hiding, how he was moving.
Because only by killing the one controlling the Enemy Annihilators could this battle truly end.
[How—]
"The reverberation of your voice."
Bu Eun-seol answered flatly.
"Sound creates minute vibrations through the air."
He wasn't just a wielder of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi—he was the Wind God himself.
Not only could he trace the path and direction of sound—
—he could even detect the boundaries where sound waves collided and clashed.
And once he pinpointed the location—
—he unleashed the Bloody Tears Seven Forms, the absolute sword art that governed death, splitting the Deathly One's torso vertically.
"Guh—kgh..."
The Deathly One was no longer using that strange resonance akin to the Six-Harmony Voice Transmission.
Instead, his voice came directly from his mouth.
The power of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms had carved away a massive chunk of his life force—his deathly energy.
Because of that, not only could he no longer command the Enemy Annihilators—
—but like an ordinary human, pain, suffering, and fear came flooding in all at once.
"Did you really think you'd become a Grim Reaper just because you commanded the dead?"
As Bu Eun-seol's murmur faded—
SLASH.
The Deathly One's body slowly split apart, blood gushing forth.
"To think the Lord of Heaven would fall so pitifully..."
Even as his body was being torn in half, he spat out a curse at Bu Eun-seol.
"In the end... the order was only slightly altered."
Blood dribbled from his lips as he pointed a finger at Bu Eun-seol.
"You... will die soon too..."
"What is the True Demon's goal?"
Bu Eun-seol cut him off sharply with a question.
"The destruction of Murim? Or the ruin of the world?"
He would stop breathing soon anyway.
"What does that demonic being seek, that it refuses to relinquish its eternal life?"
"The destruction of Murim? Shouldn't you be asking the Baekri Clan that?"
"What?"
"From the beginning, it was the Baekri Clan that sought to destroy Murim."
Seeing Bu Eun-seol's stunned expression, the Deathly One suddenly burst into a rasping laugh.
"In the end... you know nothing. Heh heh heh... HAHAHA!"
With an expression of twisted delight, he erupted into mad laughter—
SPLAT.
—before his bisected body finally dissolved into a black liquid, scattering in all directions.
All that remained where the Deathly One had stood was a pile of limp skin and congealed crimson blood.
Perhaps he wasn't fully alive—only sustained by some mysterious great art.
It seemed the power of that Great Art had allowed him to command the Enemy Annihilator and eliminate formidable foes all this time.
"The Baekri Clan is trying to destroy the Martial World?"
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed to slits.
Thinking about it calmly—
these so-called Servants of the True Demon—
had never inflicted any particular harm upon the Martial World until now.
They weren't like the Three Realms, slaughtering innocents without reason, nor were they waging large-scale battles or massacres to seize dominance over the Martial World.
Then why was the True Demon considered evil?
What exactly did the Servants of the True Demon want?
"I don't know."
Bu Eun-seol clutched his forehead.
At this point, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't find an answer.
The only certainty was that the Baekri Clan and the True Demon couldn't be neatly categorized as simply good or evil.
"Compatibility is terrifying."
Suddenly, as he stared at the Deathly One's corpse, now reduced to a pool of black liquid, he took a deep breath.
"To think the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi alone could render the Enemy Annihilator, commanded by the Lord of the Deadly Hall, utterly useless..."
From the perspective of the Martial World's warriors, the Deathly One possessed an invincible power.
The Enemy Annihilator, capable of deflecting any attack, draining an opponent's vitality, and silencing them completely.
And on top of that, the Concealment Secret Art, which erased all traces of presence...
Yet, unfortunately for the Deathly One, none of these abilities worked against Bu Eun-seol, who had obtained the Wind God's power.
If Bu Eun-seol hadn't gained the Wind God's power? It would have been an exceedingly difficult battle.
"The Bloody Tears Seven Forms."
The second factor was the might of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
"This, too, was the Deathly One's natural counter."
The absolute swordsmanship of his grandfather, which he had restrained himself from using all this time to forge his own path—
had the power to cleave through even an unknown force like the Deathly One, a Superlative Martial Expert, in a single stroke.
If that was the case, then this technique could remain an effective means of confronting the Servants of the True Demon in the future.
"And if the Servants of the True Demon are appearing one after another in the Martial World..."
Bu Eun-seol sighed as he gazed at the Deathly One's remains, now dissolved into something resembling black water.
If the Deathly One's words were true—
the Servants of the True Demon were both devices maintaining the Absolute Boundary and forces destroying the Baekri Clan's facilities meant to repair the Heavenly Punishment.
In that case, it was only a matter of time before... the True Demon itself appeared.
"I can't say I don't care anymore."
Until now, all Bu Eun-seol had wanted was revenge for his grandfather.
In the past, it wouldn't have mattered to him what the True Demon did to the Martial World, whether it burned or boiled.
But now... the Martial World held precious friends and cherished subordinates.
If the True Demon appeared with the intent to destroy all of that?
Then inevitably, he would have to clash with it.
Thud.
Just then, a thump-thump-thump sound echoed from somewhere.
Rumble. Grrrrrumble.
Soon, a faint vibration could be heard in the distance, and the darkness of the Grand Hall began to recede.
Simultaneously, two doors swung open ahead—
"Bu Eun-seol!"
So Ok-rim and Hae-yeon stumbled out breathlessly from that direction.
They, too, must have been fighting the Enemy Annihilators sent by the Deathly One—their bodies were drenched in blood, bearing marks from chains that had struck or grazed them.
"What the hell is this?"
So Ok-rim's jaw dropped as she saw the black liquid melting beside him.
"The Deathly One. The Lord of the Deadly Hall of Incheon."
"The Deathly One?"
"Indeed. He was the one controlling those chain-wielding oddities. Since I killed him, all the oddities have stopped moving."
"Is that so? No wonder... they suddenly collapsed like puppets with their strings cut."
As So Ok-rim let out an exasperated sigh, Bu Eun-seol continued.
"And according to him, there is no Baekri Clan Secret Vault in the Martial World."
"What do you mean? No Baekri Clan Secret Vault?"
He explained to So Ok-rim and Hae-yeon the information the Deathly One had shared about the Baekri Clan's vaults.
"...In the end, the so-called Baekri Clan Secret Vaults are devices maintaining the Absolute Boundary spread throughout the Martial World, facilities meant to repair the Heavenly Punishment and research the power of blood kin."
After hearing everything, So Ok-rim rubbed her forehead as if unable to comprehend it.
"Then why did our grandfathers tell us to find the Baekri Clan Secret Vault?"
"He said 'most.' That implies there must still be a genuine vault among them, one that holds the true power of the Baekri Clan."
—Most of what are known as the Baekri Clan Secret Vaults are merely devices maintaining the Absolute Boundary scattered across the Martial World...
The Deathly One had clearly said most.
After sinking into deep thought for a long while, So Ok-rim finally spoke, her brow deeply furrowed.
"Then the place we previously identified as the Baekri Clan Secret Vault... was actually just one of their research facilities..."
Her expression twisted into something grotesque.
"Are you saying Jeong Cheon-je became their test subject and went mad?"
So Ok-rim had arrived at the same conclusion as Bu Eun-seol. There was simply no other way to explain the current situation.
For beings like them, it would be entirely possible to use someone like Jeong Cheon-je as a Familiar or experiment on him.
"I thought the same."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"But I find it hard to believe someone like Jeong Cheon-je lost his mind because of the Baekri Clan."
All the evidence before them suggested that Jeong Cheon-je had been altered in some way by the Baekri Clan.
Yet, for some reason—
Bu Eun-seol had an intuition that Jeong Cheon-je was neither of the Baekri Clan nor one of the Servants of the True Demon.
"Jeong Cheon-je?"
Hae-yeon, who had been listening quietly, blinked.
Reluctantly, Bu Eun-seol explained that the oddity they had encountered earlier was Jeong Cheon-je and that his mind was no longer intact.
"What an unbelievable tale."
Hae-yeon, who had been listening to their exchange, let out a deep sigh.
In the Martial World, the Three Clans were spoken of as little more than legends, passed down through whispers.
But in truth, they existed.
And among them, the Baekri Clan had been locked in an endless struggle against the True Demon, a being who had lived through countless ages.
In other words, they were no mere legends—they were a clan that still existed in the Martial World to this day.
"We must ascend to the Wind God Pavilion quickly. I need to examine the knowledge left behind by the former palace lord."
And through this incident, she realized something.
The most essential virtue a faction leader must possess is the discernment to grasp the martial world's shifting tides—and the information network to support it.
She could no longer delay her ascension.
"Even if you find the Baekri Clan's Secret Vault, never enter it alone."
Bu Eun-seol cautioned So Ok-rim.
"That place will be crawling with the Servants of the True Demon and the Abyssal Forces, all waiting for the slightest opportunity."
Then he added,
"If the vault is discovered, contact me through the information network of the this hall's Death Soul Squad."
Bu Eun-seol drew a deep breath before continuing.
"Then I'll accompany you."
"Thank you."
So Ok-rim beamed.
"But I'm surprised. I thought you wouldn't set foot in the Baekri Clan's vault again."
"You're right. Truthfully... I had no intention of going."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Because my roots no longer matter."
"Then why?"
"I'm already entangled in this fight, aren't I?"
Bu Eun-seol had become a figure capable of swaying the martial world's currents. Within the Rivers and Lakes, he had cherished friends and subordinates.
Once immersed in the lake of favors and grudges that was the martial world... there was no escaping its flow. One could only ride its waves.
"Alright, I understand."
So Ok-rim grinned.
"I won't say thanks again."
At that moment, Hae-yeon also spoke to So Ok-rim.
"If you ever need help, don't hesitate to contact this palace lord."
Though the Wind God Palace did not actively engage in martial affairs, all its disciples could wield the Wind God's Energy.
Securing their aid would be akin to gaining both an elite intelligence network and a formidable strike force.
"Mm. Thank you."
So Ok-rim flashed a bright smile, her white teeth gleaming.
"Big Sister."
Just moments ago, she had been trapped in the mechanism alongside Hae-yeon, and together they had overcome the danger.
Now, she truly acknowledged that Hae-yeon had earned the right to be called her elder sister.
"Indeed."
Hae-yeon clasped So Ok-rim's hand firmly.
She had once risked her life to obtain the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, venturing into the Wind God's Path—only to lose a hundred years in vain.
But after awakening once more...
For the first time, she had forged a bond through her own power. Nothing could bring her greater joy.
"After I've honed my martial arts a little more..."
So Ok-rim squeezed Hae-yeon's hand in return.
"I'll visit you."
Exchanging one last glance with Bu Eun-seol—
BOOM!
—she vanished into the distant sky in an instant.
Through this ordeal, she had realized once again how far behind she still was compared to Bu Eun-seol.
Unless she reached his level of martial prowess—unless she could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him—
She understood she wouldn't survive in the current martial world. No doubt, she was leaving to train once more.
"Earlier, when you said your roots no longer mattered... were you implying you might be a descendant of the Baekri Clan?"
Hae-yeon had noticed from the start but hadn't pressed the matter.
"And that's why you're searching for the vault."
"That's correct. But it holds little significance."
Bu Eun-seol spoke calmly.
"What I must do is avenge my grandfather."
Seizing the moment, he explained his circumstances in full. After all, she was already involved.
"I see."
Hae-yeon sighed deeply.
She had assumed he was merely a young grandmaster who commanded the world's respect—never imagining he carried such a tragic, untold story.
"Then I shall take my leave as well."
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands and bowed to her.
"Wait."
Hae-yeon reached into her robes and withdrew a dagger.
"Take this."
"What is this?"
"An heirloom passed down through generations of the palace lords, it seems."
She smiled.
"I found it earlier while trapped in that mechanism."
Bu Eun-seol examined the dagger.
Not only was it exquisitely sharp, but a mysterious gem was embedded in the hilt, marking it as a treasure of immense value.
"I cannot accept this."
"You may."
Hae-yeon produced a second dagger from her robes.
"They come in pairs. So I should share one with the Grand Duke."
After all, Bu Eun-seol was now officially the Wind God Palace's Grand Duke.
After a brief hesitation, he finally accepted the dagger.
"My gratitude."
"However..."
Hae-yeon's cheeks flushed.
"Since you've received something, shouldn't you give me something in return?"
Bu Eun-seol rummaged through his robes, but all he found were the Martial Soul Order Token and scattered silver taels.
Due to his frequent disguises and need to conceal his identity, he deliberately avoided carrying anything that might reveal him.
"It doesn't have to be an object."
Hae-yeon pointed toward the distant exit of the Sacred Land.
"I'd like to walk there side by side with you. Can you grant me that?"
Though he didn't understand her intent, it was a simple request.
"Very well."
Bu Eun-seol walked slowly with her toward the Sacred Land's outskirts.
The sunlight was radiant, and the flowers shimmered brilliantly.
The narrow path was blanketed in white blossoms, resembling a road of pure snow.
Hae-yeon naturally linked arms with him.
"Palace Lord."
"Just until there."
She didn't release his arm as she spoke.
"It's only about a hundred paces."
Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks burned crimson.
“Could you not?” Her voice, though low and composed, carried an inexplicable yearning—soft yet fervent.
Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to nod.
With his permission, she walked arm-in-arm with him.
Though the distance was merely a hundred paces, it felt endlessly long.
A gentle breeze rustled through the trees lining the path like a folding screen, their leaves trembling lightly.
Beneath their footsteps, the crisp fallen leaves formed a beautiful melody, while golden sunlight scattered like powdered gold above them.
With every step, a golden celebration seemed to envelop them, as though blessing their journey.
Rustle.
When they finally reached the exit, Hae-yeon released his arm.
And, gazing at Bu Eun-seol beneath the dazzling sunlight, she revealed her white teeth in a radiant smile.
"Today will be a memory I'll never forget for the rest of my life."
She knew she wouldn't be able to see Bu Eun-seol for a long time, so she had crafted the most unforgettable memory possible.
"Then."
Leaving behind that brilliant smile, she unfurled a breathtaking Movement Technique and vanished into the distant sky in an instant.
The beautiful sight of her disappearing like the wind lingered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes for a long, long time.