Chapter 857
Hyeok So-jin, brimming with excitement, began chattering animatedly, spraying saliva as he spoke.
"Finally, you've decided to settle down with someone, haven't you?"
Spreading both hands wide, he shook his head from side to side.
"To be perfectly honest, I've been slightly worried for a while now... wondering if perhaps Brother Bu didn't fancy women at all..."
"..."
"But now I can breathe easy. Actually, in the Demonic Path, having three wives and four concubines is—"
As he continued speaking, Hyeok So-jin splayed all ten fingers wide.
Staring intently at his own fingers,
he shook his head with an expression that suggested something was lacking.
"A thousand consorts and ten thousand concubines—what's wrong with that?"
"Am I Shi Hu?"
Shi Hu was the emperor of Later Zhao,
notorious for indiscriminately taking beautiful palace women as concubines—their numbers said to have reached forty thousand.
"What's so great about Shi Hu? Aren't you destined to become the Emperor of Murim, Brother Bu?"
Hyeok So-jin began spouting endless nonsense.
"The Yangseol Clan is one of the Three Great Martial Families, so their accumulated wealth must be substantial, and they must have solid connections with various factions—it'll be a great help to you, Brother Bu."
Beaming, he spread his arms wide.
"Besides, she seems kind-hearted and as beautiful as a flower—a match made in heaven for you, Brother Bu."
Hyeok So-jin's lips flapped incessantly. Left unchecked, he looked ready to chatter for three days and nights straight.
Knowing his personality all too well, Bu Eun-seol changed the topic with a grave expression.
"Anyway... judging by the situation, it seems Murim is reaching its moment of reckoning."
Then, in the most solemn voice, he added:
"For the legendary Three Clans to all emerge, and for the Buddhist Venerable, hailed as the Divine Monk of the Buddhist Order, to be raising such grotesque individuals..."
Grotesque individuals.
No word could better describe figures like Seop Jeong-ung.
Though they possessed the blazing Warrior Spirit,
they were excessively destructive, self-centered, and obsessed solely with power.
Perhaps this was due to the influence of the Buddhist Venerable,
who had run amok under the banner of protecting Murim, without regard for means or ends.
"What do you mean? All Three Clans have emerged?"
Though Hyeok So-jin also shared intelligence through the Death Soul Squad, the details were all far too rudimentary.
With no other choice,
Bu Eun-seol recounted everything that had happened—including his encounter with the Soulless One, the former Heavenly Emperor—leaving nothing out.
Except for the matter of the Executioner.
That was a problem he alone had to resolve.
"This is madness."
Hyeok So-jin clutched his forehead.
"Just what's happened so far is already overwhelming enough..."
A heavy silence lingered.
Truthfully, until now, he had believed Bu Eun-seol could handle anything that came his way.
But the current state of Murim... was something even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor would struggle to manage, let alone Bu Eun-seol.
"My apologies, Brother Bu."
Hyeok So-jin bowed his head awkwardly.
"I've been too careless."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"It's not your fault. Just assisting the Sanctuary Master in managing the Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary must be exhausting enough."
"Running the sanctuary doesn't seem like the priority right now, though."
Bu Eun-seol could understand his sentiment.
Nothing in Murim was normal anymore. The future had become utterly unpredictable.
"Then grow stronger."
In the end, that was all Bu Eun-seol could say.
More powerful figures would inevitably emerge. Sooner or later, even Hyeok So-jin would have to stake his life in battle.
"That's what you must do now."
"Understood."
Recognizing Bu Eun-seol's intent, Hyeok So-jin took a deep breath.
"I'll keep training relentlessly—call on me again when you need me."
"I will."
"Then I'll take my leave first."
As Bu Eun-seol nodded, Hyeok So-jin saluted before darting away in a flash.
His mind must be troubled too.
Originally, he had no deep ambitions in Murim, content merely with guarding the Heaven-Severing Earth-Ending Sanctuary.
But the current state of Murim was shrouded in impenetrable dark clouds.
What they needed now was to grow even stronger, nurture formidable forces,
and prepare to face the torrent of powerful enemies that would come.
After Hyeok So-jin left, Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply.
"Now everything is settled."
As Man-wol had advised,
he had taken time alone to resolve what weighed on his heart.
All that remained... was to head to Layered Colors Mountain, gather information about the Executioner, and deal with it.
Before setting off for Layered Colors Mountain, Bu Eun-seol made his way to Langya Pavilion.
If he failed to resolve the matter of the Executioner, he might never return to Langya Pavilion again.
Just in case,
he wanted to see his sworn brothers at Langya Pavilion one more time.
"You say the Pavilion Lord has entered closed-door training again?"
Though he had come to Langya Pavilion,
Dan Cheong informed him that Ak Mu-ryeong was secretly in seclusion, and his whereabouts were unknown.
"Indeed. Given that he's gone to a location no one knows to avoid any disturbance... it seems he's preparing to shake Murim once more."
Ak Mu-ryeong was one to frequently enter seclusion.
Every time he returned from an undisclosed retreat, he would invariably do something that left the world astonished.
"Or perhaps he's preparing to face you properly."
Dan Cheong wore an enigmatic smile.
He could guess that Bu Eun-seol's rapid progress and martial prowess
had reignited the fire in Ak Mu-ryeong's heart.
"But is something the matter?"
Noticing the complexity in Bu Eun-seol's gaze, Dan Cheong inquired.
"If you have questions, ask freely."
"Nothing. I just came to see the Pavilion Lord and our brothers."
"Don't lie to ghosts."
Dan Cheong snorted.
"It's too early for you to be worrying about this pavilion."
Then, with a proud expression, he added:
"This pavilion has maintained its position among the Demonic Path Ten Gates despite our small numbers. No enemy has ever brought us down, and no matter what happens, we've stubbornly preserved our legacy."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Langya Pavilion was Langya Pavilion.
It wasn't something he needed to worry about—it was a place he could always rely on.
'But no.'
For a moment, his heart wavered, but he quickly steadied himself.
'Even if the masters of the main pavilion can hold their own, doesn't Langya Pavilion have many young disciples?'
Ak Mu-ryeong was not only one who had peered into the abyss of the martial world, but also a superlative martial expert who had fought against them.
Dan Cheong might appear leisurely within Langya Pavilion, but he was a master concealing terrifying power.
And then there were So-jeon, Baek Yeon, and others.
The masters of Langya Pavilion bowed to no one, possessing martial arts that ensured their survival no matter the circumstances.
But Langya Pavilion was no longer a den of wolves burning with martial soul.
Now, like any other sect,
it housed numerous young disciples and systematically taught martial arts.
If he were to speak of the Covenant or the Executioner, it might bring misfortune upon the entire pavilion.
"No."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"I will return once the Pavilion Lord completes his closed-door training."
"Do not try to resolve everything alone."
Dan Cheong, having seen through Bu Eun-seol's thoughts, spoke firmly.
"It's true that our pavilion rarely involves itself in the affairs of the martial world. But when it comes to the successor, the story changes. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I am grateful."
Bu Eun-seol bowed and immediately left Langya Pavilion, heading for the Demon Hall.
He had remembered one more person who might give him an answer.
Baek Jeon-cheon.
If there was anyone in the world who knew everything about the Demonic Path, it was this strategist.
Surely, he would know about the Covenant as well.
"My apologies, but I have nothing to say on that matter."
In the office of the Myriad Learning Society, Baek Jeon-cheon spoke decisively.
"If you are to unify the Demonic Path, this is something you must resolve on your own."
Bu Eun-seol could only nod.
The reason Baek Jeon-cheon cooperated wasn't because he favored him—
it was because Bu Eun-seol had promised to defeat even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor and restore the pure Demonic Path.
"You are right."
He had no choice but to acknowledge it.
If he couldn't resolve the matter of the Executioner, how could he defeat the Demonic Heavenly Emperor and unify the Demonic Path?
"Then."
After bowing, Bu Eun-seol left the Myriad Learning Society.
'I've done all I can for now.'
The matter of the Executioner wasn't something he could discuss with his subordinates.
It wasn't a problem to be solved with wisdom or force—it was something he had to end with his own strength.
He would head to Stacked Brocade Mountain and overcome this trial.
'Now, there's nothing left weighing on my mind.'
Just as he steeled his resolve—
[A message has come from the Death Soul Squad.]
At that moment, So-yo delivered strange news.
[I think you'll need to go in person.]
The forest, shrouded in thick darkness, was severed from the world, forbidding anyone from setting foot within.
The trees were densely tangled, blocking out all sunlight,
and the branches stretched in eerie, twisted forms, as if cursed.
At the heart of the forest,
stood a shabby cabin, barely large enough for one person, woven from stones and tree roots.
Inside, on a small chair, sat a beautiful woman in red, gazing blankly into the air.
Her pitch-black eyes, like the night sky, shimmered with countless stars.
Yet her gaze was dark and shadowed, as if holding all the world's secrets.
It was Man-wol.
—Creak.
On the table before her lay
a mysterious treasure embedded with crystals, obsidian, and various gemstones.
At its center was an orb shaped like an eye, within which flickered a five-colored flame.
—Screech.
The strange noise that had been echoing since earlier came from that very orb.
"He must know now."
Man-wol spoke softly, staring into the orb's pupil.
"But I cannot be the one to tell him."
No matter how much she wished to reveal everything she knew to Bu Eun-seol, she couldn't.
The heavens would never permit mortals to casually share secrets that must remain hidden.
"Hmm."
After staring at the treasure for a long while, Man-wol's eyes gleamed.
"In the end, this is the only way."
She reached out toward the treasure.
Whoosh!
A brilliant light erupted from it, piercing through the cabin's ceiling and soaring into the distant sky.
"This will become the trigger for everything to unravel, one by one."
She was looking into the future,
sacrificing this treasure, as precious as her own life,
to create the opportunity for Bu Eun-seol to uncover the truth, piece by piece.
The Joyous Sect, formerly known as Fleeting Moment Boat,
had suffered countless invasions from external enemies throughout its history.
The vast wealth accumulated from branches across the Central Plains, and an intelligence network rivaling even the Beggars' Sect—
these were things any martial artist seeking to dominate the world would covet first.
Endlessly harassed by invaders,
the Fleeting Moment Boat, as a female-only sect, developed its martial arts and expanded its influence.
Yet it still felt inadequate against powerful factions and experts.
In the end, they relied not on martial arts alone but on forging broad connections and alliances to deter invaders.
To directly block intruders, they constructed a special gate using mechanical engineering and precious artifacts—
the Immeasurable Heavenly Water Gate.
And within this gate lay a trap utilizing a mysterious liquid—
the Boundless Heavenly King Water, also known as Heavy Water.
A single drop of this precious artifact was said to weigh more than a massive block of iron, creating an impenetrable barrier.
But in the past, to prevent Bu Eun-seol from entering for his successor recognition,
Du Yak-ryang recklessly activated the mechanism,
resulting in the Immeasurable Heavenly Water Gate being utterly destroyed by Bu Eun-seol—a catastrophe.
Yet this turned into a blessing in disguise.
Through Bu Eun-seol and Hyeok So-jin, Fleeting Moment Boat inherited the supreme techniques of the Demonic Path.
And with Langya Pavilion's support, formidable forces were permanently stationed, rendering the Immeasurable Heavenly Water Gate unnecessary.
But before anyone knew it, hidden factions and powerful figures within the murim had begun emerging one after another.
If we could obtain Heavy Water again... If the Immeasurable Heavenly Water Gate still existed... It would become an unparalleled defense.
"A location containing Heavy Water has been discovered."
And just then, the Death Soul Squad had coincidentally uncovered crucial information.
They claimed to have found a mysterious cave where Heavy Water—a Precious Artifact no longer obtainable in the murim—had pooled into a mystical pond.
"A auspicious aura surged from the distant sky, and upon investigating the surrounding area, we discovered such a place."
No Trace, the leader of the Death Soul Squad, was overjoyed and personally sought it out.
But when he returned with his Unit Members to the cave...
A mysterious Barrier had been erected, preventing them from entering.
"It seems a special kind of Barrier has been cast."
The Death Soul Squad exhausted every possible method to break the cave's Barrier, but to no avail.
Even the auspicious aura that had been emanating had vanished.
Had the Unit Members not confirmed the cave's interior earlier... they might have dismissed it as a mere illusion.
'An Absolute Boundary?'
Bu Eun-seol could sense it.
The same cave, yet the scenery was different—and beyond a certain point, entry was impossible.
That was precisely the hand technique the Three Clans frequently employed with their Absolute Boundary.
"I'll go see for myself."
There was no telling what might unfold in the murim from now on.
Moreover, under the watchful eyes of certain factions...
For the sake of the Fleeting Moment Boat, which supported him, Bu Eun-seol resolved to break the cave's Barrier.
Xiao Wutai Mountain, located on the eastern edge of the Taihang Mountain Range, was a treacherous peak—jagged cliffs, needle-like rocks, and steep slopes so perilous that even herb gatherers rarely ventured there.
Tsu-tsu-tsu.
A shadow flitted swiftly up the mountain path, accompanied by the faint sound of air being sliced.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
'This should be the place.'
He headed toward the location the Death Soul Squad Members had described.
But now, not even a trace of the cave remained visible.
Only an endless vista stretched beyond the sheer cliff's edge.
Ziiing.
Upon arrival, Bu Eun-seol immediately spread his Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, searching for traces of an Absolute Boundary.
Yet he could detect no foreign energy, nor any sign of a Boundary being deployed.
Only an eerie silence, even more profound than that of an ordinary mountain, lingered in the air.
"Strange."
Truthfully, Wind & Cloud Divine Qi wasn't meant to detect Boundaries.
But until now...
He had been fortunate enough to sense the energy of Boundaries through it, which was why he had trusted this method to guide him here.
'Does that mean it's not a Boundary, but some other energy?'
Ziiing.
Then, something astonishing happened.
As he expanded his Extrasensory Perception, an all-too-familiar energy pulsed faintly in the distance.
"Miss Man-wol?"
A faint, barely perceptible energy.
It was unmistakably the Man-wol's Energy—something he could sense even from dozens of li away.
"Why is she here...?"
Bu Eun-seol swiftly dashed toward the source of the energy.
But something was off.
The closer he got, the less it resembled Man-wol's energy.
Instead, it felt like her energy was intertwined with something else—something foreign and dissonant.
"It's gone."
Midway through his pursuit, the sensation abruptly vanished.
Then, something bizarre occurred.
Flash!
A flame-like energy surged into the distant sky, and far ahead, the massive entrance of a cave materialized out of nowhere.
It was as though a the place where a Battle Formation meant to conceal it had been deployed had collapsed—perhaps due to a natural disaster—causing it to flicker in and out of visibility.
'There's something here.'
Bu Eun-seol wasted no time entering the cave.
The interior was vast and deep, with a faint glow emanating from the far depths.
'This is the Art of Spells.'
An Absolute Boundary possessed the miraculous ability to partition space while retaining the attributes of a Battle Formation.
But this cave's interior seemed to harbor an otherworldly power—as though it didn't truly exist in this world.
It felt more like an artificial space had been overlaid onto the cave's form.
As if to prove this, a dim light seeped from the cave's high ceiling.
Like midday sunlight captured and slowly released in measured doses.
"An extraordinary Art of Spells."
Moreover, the interior branched into hundreds of diverging paths, shrouded in a disorienting force that robbed one of their sense of direction.
But thanks to the lingering traces of Man-wol's energy, Bu Eun-seol could navigate without difficulty.
After passing through the labyrinthine passages, he arrived at a long, wide corridor bathed in radiant light.
Lining both sides of the corridor were staffs embedded with jewels, crystal orbs flickering between light and darkness, Dharma Instruments inscribed with strange characters, and other treasures meticulously displayed.
As Bu Eun-seol brushed past them, they emitted mysterious glows and pulsations.
"To display such treasures openly in a passageway..."
Though he had infiltrated countless Secret Vaults during his travels through the martial world...
This was the first time he had seen such rare artifacts casually arrayed along a corridor.
At the end of the passage stood a massive door, as though guarding a hidden secret.
Clank.
Though the door appeared firmly shut, the moment he approached, it slid open with a mechanical hum.
Inside, a bizarre space unfolded.
What seemed like a vast stone chamber was entirely clad in black marble-like material.
Within, countless black Dharma Instruments—so dark they seemed to absorb the surrounding light—were densely arranged.
Judging by their forms and designs, these were treasures of incomparable value, far surpassing those displayed outside.
After walking through the chamber for some time, a large chest caught his eye.
Its surface was engraved with strange emblems and indecipherable characters.
Peering inside the box, he saw what appeared to be engraved figures of ghosts floating in midair.
"This is—"
While examining the box, Bu Eun-seol's eyes suddenly widened as realization struck him.
It was the same enormous chest he had seen in Saha Manor in the Mindscape.
Wasn't this the very Dharma instrument that had transferred the power of the beautiful middle-aged woman he had mistaken for his mother to a newborn infant?