Chapter 873
Un-jeong narrowed her eyes and spoke.
"The moment the Soul-Seizing Art takes effect, my head is set to explode. But... there's no Restrictive Seal preventing me from voluntarily telling you things."
She took a step closer to Bu Eun-seol.
"Members of our faction are impervious to any torture technique."
Then she extended her index finger and gently stroked the hair behind his ear with unsettling tenderness.
"This Lady would never willingly divulge information... which is precisely why no such seal was placed on me."
In truth, Un-jeong had received even that excruciating Heaven-Defying Punishment as pleasure.
In other words, her body was immune to any torture technique scattered across the martial world.
Yet attempting the Soul-Seizing Art would make her head explode... meaning no one could forcibly pry open her lips.
Zzziiing.
As Bu Eun-seol withdrew the Internal Energy he had poured into Void Object Retrieval, the woman floating midair slowly descended to the ground.
"Your Internal Power is truly extraordinary."
Un-jeong gazed at Bu Eun-seol—who had lifted her using sheer Internal Energy—and let out an admiring sigh.
Using Void Object Retrieval to lift small objects like wine cups or swords wasn't particularly difficult.
But to suspend an entire person in midair without so much as twitching a finger?
Martial artists capable of such a feat with their Internal Power were exceedingly rare.
"To accumulate Internal Power surpassing all imagination at such a young age..."
"Speak your demand."
Bu Eun-seol's voice remained calm.
"If you wish to live, I'll spare you."
"That wouldn't count among the conditions I mentioned, would it?"
"What exactly do you want me to do to please you?"
"Fufufu. Now we're finally communicating."
Un-jeong lightly tapped Bu Eun-seol's chest with her index finger, then slowly trailed it downward.
"Originally, I intended to make a different request... but my mind has changed."
As she repeatedly licked her lips, her finger came to rest precisely over Bu Eun-seol's dantian.
"Give me your Internal Energy."
"My Internal Energy?"
"Correct. Our faction possesses numerous treasures, among them Secret Arts inscribed with techniques to absorb primal energy."
Bu Eun-seol's expression didn't flicker.
"If I let you absorb my Internal Energy, will you tell me?"
The old man had been the benefactor who brought him a new life.
Yet the old man's only blood relative—
Was either imprisoned by some sinister faction or living in miserable circumstances?
No matter the cost, he absolutely had to be rescued.
Internal Energy was nothing in comparison.
"Are you serious?"
"Naturally."
"Fine. Take it."
Bu Eun-seol pressed further.
"But answer me first. Where is the child of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade?"
"In that case... I'll give you the answer once I've taken about half of your Internal Energy."
Un-jeong wore a leisurely expression.
"Refuse if you wish. I've nothing to lose."
No fool in this world would agree to such terms.
Yet Bu Eun-seol, for reasons unknown, impassively extended his hand.
"Take it. And when you've absorbed roughly half, answer precisely."
A crimson Blood Light shimmered in Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
"If you play tricks, you die instantly."
"Fufufu. Agreed."
With the same unhurried demeanor, Un-jeong seized Bu Eun-seol's wrist.
Immediately, Internal Energy began leaking from the sunken acupoint known as Outer Pass, nestled between the parted bones near his wrist.
Astonishingly, she was executing the Soul-Stealing Blood-Greedy Art—
A long-lost technique of the Dark Spirit Sect, said to steal even True Qi and Soul Essence in an instant—
And was now draining Bu Eun-seol's True Qi.
"Just this much?"
Un-jeong's mouth fell open as she activated the technique.
Bu Eun-seol's Internal Energy was like an ocean—so vast she couldn't even begin to gauge its depths.
"Incredible! With this much, I could perfect our faction's martial arts."
Her exclamation brimmed with greed as she clenched the Outer Pass acupoint with all her might.
With each squeeze, massive quantities of the Internal Energy circulating through Bu Eun-seol's body began pouring out.
Simultaneously, a faint glow started flowing through Un-jeong's body.
Having obtained such colossal Internal Energy, her physical form was gradually transforming.
So ravenous was her absorption—
That less than one-third of Bu Eun-seol's oceanic Internal Energy now remained.
"Start talking soon."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Un-jeong curled her lips into a cruel smile.
"At the time, our faction left traces suggesting they'd kidnapped the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's child to lure him out."
Her voice dropped low.
"The child had already fallen into their hands."
"Who are 'they'?"
"The Baekri Clan."
Un-jeong delivered the shocking revelation.
"The Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's child was taken by someone from the Baekri Clan."
Bu Eun-seol's frozen expression suddenly brightened.
The Baekri Clan.
If that legendary clan had taken the old man's child—
Wasn't there nothing to worry about?
Perhaps the old man himself had stopped searching for his blood relative because the Baekri Clan took him...
And spent his twilight years in peace, knowing.
Better to grow in the hands of that Great House—
Than in those bloodstained hands of yours.
'What a relief.'
In that moment, Bu Eun-seol felt a weight lift from his heart.
And then, without realizing it, he made a verbal slip.
"Why did the Baekri Clan take Grandfather's child?"
"Grandfather?"
Unjung's eyes instantly sharpened.
Only now did she realize who this masked man truly was.
"Martial Soul Lord."
Unjung's eyes widened as if she had stumbled upon a treasure, her lips parting in astonishment.
"So it was you—the Martial Soul Lord. Hahaha!"
She burst into laughter, brimming with delight.
Bu Eun-seol was not just a grandmaster of the Demonic Path, reigning supreme over the martial world—he was also the very person the faction behind her considered their greatest enemy.
And now, she had drained all his Internal Energy and turned him into a cripple...
This was nothing short of an unimaginable triumph.
CRACK!
Suddenly, Unjung struck like lightning, slamming her palm into Bu Eun-seol's chest.
Deprived of his Internal Energy, he was sent flying with a dull thud, crashing into the wall before collapsing.
"If I capture you, they'll crown me the Martial Empress of Murim."
Cackling, she approached Bu Eun-seol, who lay embedded in the shattered wall.
If she subdued his blood circuits now and used his life as leverage in negotiations with them—
Every ambition she had ever dreamed of would finally be within reach.
"You keep saying them. Who exactly are they?"
"Why, of course—"
Unjung abruptly cut herself off, a flicker of unease crossing her face.
Despite the deafening crash of the wall, despite her unrestrained laughter infused with Internal Power—
None of the guards waiting outside, none of her disciples, no one had come to investigate.
"...No."
Her eyes darted around the room before widening in realization.
The transparent Astral Energy Barrier was still intact, sealing them off from the outside world.
"Surprisingly sharp for someone from the so-called Vanished Sect."
Tap. Tap.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been sprawled on the ground, casually brushed off his robes and rose to his feet.
"Did you have a pleasant dream?"
Divine light flickered in his pupils, and an ethereal aura radiated from his entire body.
This was not the appearance of a martial artist who had been stripped of all his Internal Energy and reduced to a cripple.
"How—?"
"Internal Core."
Bu Eun-seol answered curtly.
"Overflowing, in fact."
His body had been accumulating Internal Energy far beyond what it could naturally contain.
So much so that it had reached the absolute limit a human vessel could endure.
Most of it had been forcibly condensed into an Internal Core, stored away out of necessity.
"Then what I absorbed was—"
"Just the remnants of the Poison Parasite's toxins I had converted into True Qi."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was calm.
"The Poison Parasite's venom was too potent—what remained were only the dregs I couldn't purify."
When Unjung demanded his Internal Energy, a brilliant idea had struck him.
While detoxifying the Peak Realm Members earlier—
He had been forced to leave traces of the Three Corpse Worms' Extreme Poison in their bodies, unable to fully cleanse them.
What if I injected that poison into her?
The audacious thought had flashed through his mind.
Though his Poison Saint Body rendered him immune to the Three Corpse Worms' venom—
The lingering, unpurified toxins had always been a nagging concern.
After all, whether it was the Essence-Absorbing Great Method or the Soul-Stealing Blood-Greedy Art—
The one absorbing the energy couldn't discern whether it was laced with poison.
And so, Unjung, oblivious to the trap, had greedily devoured the Poison Parasite's toxins along with a portion of his Internal Energy.
Huuuung—
With the last remnants of the Poison Parasite finally expelled, Bu Eun-seol's Poison Saint Body reached perfection.
The blood that had been tainted with Extreme Poison was now flawlessly purified.
Not only that—he had converted the Three Corpse Worms' poison into Reverse Polarity True Qi and stored it in his Internal Core.
While it couldn't compare to the One-Horned Flood Dragon's core, he had still gained another formidable poison.
Through this ordeal, he had seized the opportunity to step into the threshold of the Sage Among Poisons—the pinnacle of poison mastery.
'Now I can turn my blood into Extreme Poison at will... or infect anyone who touches my skin.'
Originally, one of the greatest obstacles to becoming a Sage Among Poisons was—
Deliberately storing an unabsorbable poison in one's body until someone else extracted it.
But only a Poison Supreme who had already reached that realm could draw out such a toxin.
Even then—
The process risked reversing the flow of meridians, drastically depleting Internal Power, or leaving most people crippled.
Yet thanks to Unjung, Bu Eun-seol had effortlessly overcome that hurdle.
Shudder... shudder...
Unjung's body trembled violently before—
SPLURT!
A black arrow of blood shot from her mouth as she collapsed.
The Poison Parasite's venom had spread through her entire body, slowly killing her.
"So the Three Realms were behind this."
Bu Eun-seol gazed down at Unjung, now bleeding black and dying.
"Aside from the superlative martial experts of Murim, only the Three Realms would know of my connection to Grandfather."
"Who knows?"
"Whether it's true or not doesn't matter. I've already learned about Grandfather's blood relative."
Now that he'd heard Grandfather's flesh and blood had gone to the Baekri Clan,
there was no longer any need to uncover who stood behind Unjung.
"You look relieved."
Even as the poison claimed her, Unjung wore a sinister smile.
"Because you heard that Bu Jan-yang's descendant went to the Baekri Clan, didn't you?"
"You're well-informed."
"Keheheheh. Hahahaha!"
Suddenly, Unjung burst into mad laughter, then pointed at Bu Eun-seol's face.
"Don't celebrate yet."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you the truth."
Unjung cackled as she spoke.
"They went to the True Demon's blood kin."
"What did you say?"
"You thought they went to the Baekri Clan? In truth, they went to the True Demon's blood kin!"
What kind of nonsense was this?
Grandfather's descendant—gone to the True Demon?
"What are you talking about?"
Bu Eun-seol seized Unjung by the collar and shouted.
"The True Demon's blood kin? Who the hell is that?"
"Want to know?"
"Speak!"
"Bring your ear closer. I don't have the strength left to speak loudly."
Bu Eun-seol leaned in.
Unjung opened her mouth to continue—then blood gushed forth.
The Poison Parasite had fully spread, rupturing every vein in her body.
"Go to... hell."
With those final words, Unjung died.
"Grandfather's descendant... to the True Demon's blood kin?"
Bu Eun-seol's pupils dimmed.
Had she lied in her last moments to sow confusion?
Or had she spoken the truth?
"The probability of it being a lie is higher."
It could be true, but—
she had been consumed by malice in her final moments.
In such cases, deception was far more likely.
"But if they are truly with the True Demon..."
A bloody light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes as his fist clenched.
"I must find them. Quickly."
What if Grandfather's only remaining flesh and blood had become a servant of the True Demon? Or worse—what if they had been turned into one of their blood kin, committing atrocities?
"In the end, I can't escape the shackles of the Baekri Clan and the True Demon."
Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened.
He had thought this would end with just himself entangled.
But now, even Grandfather's descendant—in the hands of the Baekri Clan or the True Demon's blood kin?
"Now is not the time for despair."
If they had become a Familiar of the True Demon—
they might clash before he even uncovered their identity. He might have to kill them.
"I can only pray they haven't become one of the True Demon's Servants."
Before that happened, he had to find out who Grandfather's descendant was.
He had to find them.
Upon returning to the Demon Hall, Bu Eun-seol convened a meeting and calmly relayed what had transpired.
The Great Lords no longer reacted with shock.
Not since they had first heard of the True Demon and the Baekri Clan.
Not since learning that forces beyond mortal comprehension existed within Murim.
There was nothing left to be surprised by.
Even if another mythical, legendary being on par with the Baekri Clan or the True Demon were to emerge—
it wouldn't be shocking anymore.
However, the revelation of the Covenant's purpose—
that it existed to maintain the balance between the Baekri Clan and the True Demon by selecting Servants from both sides—
did leave them somewhat shaken.
It was the same emotion Bu Eun-seol and Han Sang-ja had felt at the time.
—So Murim is nothing more than a battleground for the Baekri Clan and the True Demon?
They couldn't shake the thought.
—Find the True Demon's true form and the whereabouts of its Servants.
Bu Eun-seol issued the command to the Chiefs.
If Grandfather's descendant still lived—and if, by some misfortune, they had become one of the True Demon's Servants—
if the bloodline of the world's strongest had been passed to them—
the probability of them becoming one of the True Demon's most powerful Familiars was far too high.
—It'll still be difficult to find them in a short time.
The Death Soul Squad scoured every lead, but as expected, they found no trace of the True Demon or its Servants.
They had hidden their tracks even more flawlessly than the Baekri Clan.
It was no surprise they couldn't be found.
—It doesn't matter. Keep searching.
He never expected to find them quickly.
But thanks to their relentless efforts thus far,
they had uncovered countless secrets that had remained hidden in Murim.
Even if it took more time—
he was determined to find them.
'I will find them.'
Bu Eun-seol swore it silently.
If Grandfather's descendant truly lived, if they existed somewhere—
he would stake everything to find them.
"Lord, it's Wi Cheon-gyeong."
Just then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by Wi Cheon-gyeong's voice.
"Enter."
Wi Cheon-gyeong stepped inside the office, wearing a slightly bewildered expression.
"A guest has arrived, seeking an audience with the Lord."
"A guest?"
His time in the Demon Hall was strictly limited, and his movements outside were never disclosed.
How could someone have timed their visit to coincide with his presence?
"Who is it?"
"A person unknown to us. Someone unfamiliar who hasn't appeared in any of our intelligence networks."
Wi Cheon-gyeong scratched his head.
"Moreover, they didn't use the Death Soul Squad's network—they sent word through my direct intelligence channel. They even predicted the exact time you'd be in your office, something even we couldn't guarantee..."
"Hmm."
"It seems they belong to a faction with an intelligence network on par with the Death Soul Squad."
Wi Cheon-gyeong tilted his head in thought before extending a letter.
"And they assured me that if I delivered this, you would meet them immediately."
Bu Eun-seol's stiff expression softened slightly as he took the letter.
Inside was none other than the Sage Forest's treasure—the Measure of Boundless Light.
'Han Sang-ja.'
Tucking the Measure of Boundless Light into his robes, Bu Eun-seol stood up.
"Where is he?"
Han Sang-ja was seated in the guest chamber of the Hidden Demon Pavilion, sipping tea.
Or, more accurately, he had merely placed the steaming cup in front of him—his head was bowed, his expression grave.
"Brother Han."
Bu Eun-seol approached and greeted him warmly.
"What brings you here so suddenly?"
Han Sang-ja had once risked his life, trusting in Bu Eun-seol's abilities to resolve the matter of the Executioner.
That alone made him both a great benefactor and a good friend.
"Lord."
When Han Sang-ja raised his head to bow, Bu Eun-seol's expression stiffened slightly.
Something had happened in the meantime.
His face was now marred by grotesque scars, twisting like purple worms writhing beneath his skin.
"What happened? Were you injured?"
"It's nothing."
"Nothing? Your flesh is practically melted away!"
Han Sang-ja lowered his head like a man weighed down by guilt.
"...There was a reason for it."
When he looked up again, his eyes burned with an intensity that could melt steel.
"Lord, I must take revenge."
Bu Eun-seol immediately surmised that something terrible had befallen the Sage Forest.
"What happened to the Sage Forest?"
"It was burned to ashes. Completely."
"Who would do such a thing?"
"Heavenly Mechanism Star."
Han Sang-ja let out a bitter laugh.
"Laughably, the so-called King of the Sages was the one who set our forest ablaze."
'Chu-so.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed.
'He sought out the Sage Forest for revenge.'
The sages of the Sage Forest had been engaged in the artificial creation of the Heavenly Mechanism Star—and had reportedly succeeded.
Artificial implied an unnatural method.
Perhaps Chu-so had taken revenge on the very organization that had birthed him.
"You don't seem surprised."
At Han Sang-ja's words, Bu Eun-seol let out a deep sigh.
"Actually... when I visited the Sage Forest, the Forest Lord sent me a Voice Transmission with these words..."
He then relayed what Gwi-jin-ja had told him.
"Heavenly Mechanism Star was artificially created within the Sage Forest?"
"Indeed."
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned bitter.
"And because of that, my grandfather attacked the Sage Forest. The Forest Lord said his existence would bring calamity."
"...I see."
As if realizing something, Han Sang-ja's face twisted in pain.
"Artificially manifesting one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars... is an act of extreme wickedness."
"If you call it wickedness."
"To bear one of the Stars, one must endure a cruel process that ravages both mind and body. And even if a child is born with a one-in-ten-thousand chance of success... they must then endure another round of brutal experiments alongside their birth mother."
If Han Sang-ja's words were true, then the Sage Forest had merely reaped what it had sown.
"I couldn't understand why he would attack the Sage Forest."
Han Sang-ja let out another hollow laugh.
"But hearing your words, it seems this was simply our forest's karmic retribution."
"Brother Han."
"But I can't just let it go."
Blood dripped from Han Sang-ja's clenched fist.
He had squeezed so tightly in suppressed fury that his nails had dug into his flesh.
"I must avenge my master and my senior brothers."
Bu Eun-seol could say nothing, only releasing another heavy sigh.
The sight of Han Sang-ja, his eyes desperate as if vomiting blood, overlapped with his own past self—when he, too, had cried out for vengeance.
"You are now the Sage Forest's sole remaining sage—its Successor."
Bu Eun-seol tried to console him with gentle words.
"Rather than prioritizing revenge, shouldn't you focus on reviving the Sage Forest?"
"I thought of that too. That preserving the forest's legacy was what mattered most."
Han Sang-ja shook his head.
"But Heavenly Mechanism Star won't allow the Sage Forest to flourish again. He'll undoubtedly crush it once more."
Bu Eun-seol sighed deeply again.
Chu-so, who had burned the Sage Forest to the ground in an instant, surely bore a grudge that reached the heavens themselves.
There was no way he would let Han Sang-ja rebuild it.
"Lord."
Han Sang-ja stared intently into Bu Eun-seol's eyes before asking:
"You seem to know Heavenly Mechanism Star well."
"We have... somewhat of an ill-fated connection."
Though he trusted Han Sang-ja,
he hadn't yet built enough trust to reveal his dual identity as Seon-u Jin.
So he answered vaguely.
"He targeted my subordinate and schemed against us in various ways. In the process of stopping him, I came to realize his nature was... far from righteous."
"If you have any information—anything at all—please share it with me."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
Little did he know,
this conversation would lead him to uncover one of the Murim world's greatest secrets—
the True Demon.