Chapter 879
Swish!Crash!Slash-slash-slash!
In that brief moment, over a hundred Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men struck, clawed, and raked at Bu Eun-seol's hardened body as if trying to shatter it.
Though his wounds multiplied, his pupils instead began to gleam with a dazzling light.
'Had I forgotten all along?'
Bu Eun-seol bared his fangs in a grin.
The sharp teeth and claws that pierced through solid flesh. The instinctive movements.
Every motion of the Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men—
Overlapped perfectly with the profound martial arts and principles of the Beyond the Frontier that he knew.
'Beast Martial Arts!'
The movements of those creatures were in perfect harmony with the pinnacle of Beast Martial Arts.
'Suppress Frenzy and Use Strength. Tame the Fierce and Release Force.'
The essence of Beast Force—exploding the latent power within the body to unleash strength comparable to internal energy—
Required suppressing instinct while simultaneously harnessing it.
Long ago, Bu Eun-seol had realized that the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace's Beast Martial Arts shared a common lineage with Langya Pavilion's Sensory Martial Arts and the Way of the Beast.
He had combined them and achieved a certain degree of mastery.
But because the martial arts he had learned were too advanced and too overwhelmingly powerful,
He no longer had any need to use Beast Force or diligently train in Beast Martial Arts.
Yet now, the flawless Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men created by Heavenly Mechanism Star were displaying movements that resonated with those very Beast Martial Arts.
And coincidentally, Bu Eun-seol was in a situation where he couldn't use his internal energy or the Three Divine Powers at all.
But Beast Force was a technique that erupted the body's innate power, pushing it to the extreme—free from any restrictions.
And now, before him lay the perfect opportunity to fully master it in real combat.
BOOM!
Just then, a Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Man closed the distance in an instant and raked its tiger-like claws down Bu Eun-seol's side.
Though it was a simple motion, its speed and agility defied common sense—
Making it impossible to block.
Slash.
In an instant, a long gash of blood streaked across Bu Eun-seol's flank.
The Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men possessed physical strength dozens of times beyond human limits.
Drip. Drip.
Yet only blood trickled out—the wound wasn't deep.
As he drew upon Beast Force in accordance with the principles of Beast Martial Arts, his muscles had become tough and elastic, like hardened rubber.
'Humans are not weak.'
Bu Eun-seol's sharp eyes flickered toward his bleeding side.
Of course, animals were strong.
They could exert power many times greater than humans and possessed reflexes beyond human reach.
But humans were stronger.
Because they could gather the strengths of countless animals and manifest them as techniques.
Beast Force, in particular, represented the apex of such techniques—
Not merely making muscles beast-like, but perfectly optimizing the very way human muscles functioned.
'Unlike beasts, humans can deliberately channel more power into their muscles.'
For example, humans could amplify strength through emotion.
Extreme excitement triggered chemical changes in the body, further enhancing muscular power.
They could also deliberately increase blood flow to their muscles through breathing techniques and various methods.
Beast Force maximized these traits—
A secret art that allowed the human body, even without internal energy, to surpass wild beasts... to maximize the body's latent power.
Hiss—!
The moment Bu Eun-seol grasped the ultimate principle of Beast Martial Arts and unleashed Beast Force—
His movements accelerated as if he were using internal energy, and soon, he was moving at blinding speeds.
Flash!Crunch!
Attacks that mere moments ago had been impossible to land even with martial arts techniques—
Now struck the bodies of the Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men with effortless ease.
Swish-swish-SLASH!
Bu Eun-seol's legs spun like a windmill at high speed,
Matching the movements of the Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men, whose speed had been too fast for the eye to follow.
In response, a sinister gleam flickered in the eyes of the Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men, and their bodies began moving even faster.
Shhk!Grab!
As the distance between them widened again, Bu Eun-seol dropped to all fours and ran like a beast.
Then, displaying movements that surpassed even the agility of the Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men—
BAM!Thud!
Before anyone realized, he was attacking them with the instincts of a wild animal.
"Khaa!"
At times, he even let out bestial growls, radiating killing intent from his entire body.
Yet his pupils remained utterly cold and still.
Though he seemed to attack as chaotically as a wild beast—
Though he seemed consumed by killing intent—
In truth, he was blending the principles of fist techniques into his movements, continuing his assault with icy, methodical precision.
CRACK!
Every time Bu Eun-seol's fist grazed them—
The heads of the Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men, harder than steel, burst apart like shattered fragments.
By merging Beast Force with the principles of fist techniques,
He was displaying destructive power even greater than when using internal energy.
"Khaa!"Hiss!
At times, Bu Eun-seol let out beast-like cries as he unleashed his attacks.
These weren't temporary bursts of excitement or battle cries—they were the natural breaths accompanying his animalistic movements.
Animals, even when sensing victory, didn't laugh like humans or let their emotions sway.
They showed no unnecessary movements.
Only instinctive, lethal attacks to bring down their prey.
Thud.
In less than half a quarter of an hour—
Bu Eun-seol had completely shattered the entire horde of Yin-Killing Soul-Transferring Men that had swarmed him.
Finally, when the attacks ceased—
Drip.
Blood trickled from Bu Eun-seol's lips as well.
Beast Force maximized physical power, but at the cost of brutalizing the body.
Had he not possessed a physique tempered through years of martial arts training?
The backlash from wielding such Beast Force would have shattered not just his muscles, but his very bones.
Tremble, tremble.
The few surviving warriors of Ghost King Valley took one look at Bu Eun-seol—his eyes like a pair of ghost lanterns, his muscles bulging as if ready to burst—and collapsed to their knees, shaking uncontrollably, as though trapped in a nightmare.
Overwhelmed by his sheer power and terrifying killing intent, they had completely lost the will to fight.
"Haa—Khaat!"
Bu Eun-seol, still not finished with the Ghost King, unleashed his Beast Force once more, igniting his instinct for slaughter.
His blood surged faster, and like a wolf thirsting for prey, he swiftly pursued the fleeing Ghost King's trail.
Whoosh!
Soon, the Ghost King would neutralize all the poison. He might even summon the countless troops stationed within Ghost King Valley.
Bu Eun-seol had to catch him and cut his throat before that could happen.
Tap-tap-tap!
In a flash, he dashed through the passageway and emerged outside the valley, where he spotted the Ghost King staggering away.
Fortunately, still preoccupied with detoxifying the poison Bu Eun-seol had unleashed, the Ghost King had yet to activate his movement technique.
"You bastard!"
The Ghost King whirled around, his eyes widening at the sight of Bu Eun-seol charging toward him like a blood-soaked beast.
Though he had mastered mystical spells and secret arts of myriad colors, he had remained within Ghost King Valley all this time, relying on the evil qi that flowed through it to become an invincible existence.
Never once had he experienced a battle where flesh burned and blood spilled.
Even the injected Extreme Poison had only suppressed his ability to regenerate—it hadn't rendered him powerless.
Yet, despite still having strength to fight, he had chosen to flee rather than face Bu Eun-seol head-on.
Because he had only ever fought battles where victory was assured.
Because within Ghost King Valley, he was invincible.
The Ghost King.
That name was nothing more than a title granted to him as the ruler of Ghost King Valley.
The truth hidden behind it? A coward who only thrived within the safety of his own domain.
That was why he had so readily submitted to Heavenly Mechanism Star's persuasion and gathered Demon-Sealing Fragments.
Because he wouldn't have to risk his life fighting enemies.
With those fragments, he could become an undying, invincible being—just as he had been within Ghost King Valley.
"Disappear!"
The Ghost King shuddered as Bu Eun-seol, radiating killing intent, lunged at him like a beast.
And for the first time, terror seized his entire body.
Whoosh!
Swallowing his fear, he condensed his evil qi and unleashed a spell.
Crack.
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol's limbs stiffened like stone.
The eerie spell had paralyzed him in the blink of an eye.
Snap!
But Bu Eun-seol's reflexes were faster than light.
The moment the Ghost King's spell hardened his limbs, he leaped forward with all his might.
Swish!
A streak of light, Bu Eun-seol pounced on the Ghost King mid-incantation.
"Gyaaah!"
A bloodcurdling scream echoed in all directions.
Just as his limbs were locking up, Bu Eun-seol had lunged and sunk his teeth into the Ghost King's neck.
It wasn't deliberate—just the instinctive attack method of Study of Beasts.
Gush, gush.
As flesh tore from the Ghost King's throat, blood poured out in torrents.
Thankfully, he twisted his neck in time to avoid a severed artery, but his jugular vein had been ripped open, unleashing a flood of blood.
Zing.
Bu Eun-seol didn't waste the opportunity—he released another wave of poison.
"Guh—!"
The Ghost King staggered and collapsed.
As the vicious poison invaded his body, his muscles convulsed, and even breathing became a struggle.
He was the Ghost King, known as an invincible being.
But against Bu Eun-seol's relentless fighting spirit, the Beast Martial Arts that could substitute for several centuries' worth of internal energy, and the poison of a Saint Among Poisons, even his mystical power faltered.
Now, he was slowly dying.
"Who... sent you?"
The Ghost King wore an expression of utter incomprehension.
"How did they uncover this valley lord's weakness... and send a Saint Among Poisons like you?"
"Weakness?"
"The Ten Thousand Poisons Black Death Extinction Heaven Art—the only poison art capable of destroying the Spirit-Embracing Demon-Greedy Body. Only a Saint Among Poisons could wield it."
The Ghost King snorted.
"You've disrupted this valley lord's bodily harmony, rendering even the Demon-Sealing Fragments I've absorbed unusable."
'So that's it.'
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand why the so-called King of Ghosts—
Despite his overwhelming power, had been unable to fight back and now lay helplessly defeated by poison.
The secret to his reign as the King of Ghosts had been his Spirit-Embracing Demon-Greedy Body, which absorbed all forms of energy.
Thanks to this unique constitution, he could draw upon the evil qi of Ghost King Valley, making it the source of his immortality.
But even this body had one fatal flaw.
The Ten Thousand Poisons Black Death Extinction Heaven Art—a poison art exclusive to a Saint Among Poisons.
Exposure to this poison shattered the body's special properties in an instant.
Unable to absorb evil qi, his spells sealed, he became nothing more than an ordinary man.
'I got lucky.'
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow and spoke.
"Then this so-called Demon-Sealing Fragment... It's not just referring to the True Demon's knowledge, is it? How exactly is it used?"
At that question, the Ghost King's expression twisted strangely.
Only now did he realize that Bu Eun-seol wasn't merely hiding the Demon-Sealing Fragment's energy—he didn't possess it at all. His body was completely ordinary.
"You... You don't even have a Demon-Sealing Fragment, yet you stubbornly sought to kill me. Why?"
"I told you. To find Heavenly Mechanism Star."
"Nonsense!"
"Your death was decided long ago."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was solemn.
"From the moment you harmed innocent civilians and drained their Essence Blood to artificially forge the Boundary-Prosperity Jade."
The Ghost King opened his mouth as if to say something.
Gurgle.
But instead of words, a thick, black sludge of blood spilled from his lips.
Thud.
Without uttering a single syllable, his body collapsed heavily to the ground.
A pitiful and wretched end—unbefitting of a man who had once ruled under the mighty title of Ghost King.
"Hah."
As the Ghost King breathed his last, the effects of his spell gradually faded, and the numbness in Bu Eun-seol's limbs receded.
Drip, drip.
Meanwhile, black blood poured from the Ghost King's Seven Orifices before—
Sizzle.
—his body, unable to withstand the poison, began to melt away with a grotesque hiss.
"To think one of the masters who had attained a seat among the Seven Kings was such a fool."
Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant landscape of Ghost King Valley.
Ghost King Gal Hu-cheon.
He was known as the ruler of Ghost King Valley, a sorcerer who wielded the most bizarre and sinister arts in all of Murim.
But in truth, he was nothing more than a coward who had holed himself up in this valley, relying solely on its endless regenerative power.
So desperate was he to steal a Demon-Sealing Fragment—something that would grant him true invincibility.
And yet, in the end, he couldn't even properly wield the power he already possessed.
He met his demise at the hands of Bu Eun-seol, who had no Internal Energy or strength to speak of.
"Time to go back."
He had completed Han Sang-ja's request. There was no further reason to stay in Ghost King Valley.
But then—something strange happened.
Writhing, coiling.
From the half-melted remains of the Ghost King's body, tendrils of black fog began to rise.
Whoosh.
And then, abruptly, they were sucked toward Bu Eun-seol—no, into his left arm.
"What the—?"
Caught off guard, Bu Eun-seol recoiled and tried to push the black fog away.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
But the more violently he resisted, the faster the fog burrowed into his arm.
Worse yet—some of it was even being drawn into his nostrils.
Gulp.
In the blink of an eye, before he could even struggle, the black mist had been completely absorbed into his body.
"A Demon-Sealing Fragment."
There was no doubt—this was the accumulated Demon-Sealing Fragments the Ghost King had hoarded.
"..."
Bu Eun-seol's expression darkened as he meticulously inspected his own body.
The Demon-Sealing Fragment.
Han Sang-ja had called it the True Demon's knowledge, accumulated over countless cycles of reincarnation.
But judging from the Ghost King's words—
It clearly held some kind of power, something that could manifest abilities.
Yet no matter how much time passed, no matter how deeply he focused his senses inward—
He felt nothing. No change at all.
"Is it because of the Evil Qi saturating Ghost King Valley?"
The Evil Qi flowing through the valley suppressed all internal power.
Recalling this, Bu Eun-seol swiftly exited Ghost King Valley.
The moment he did—
Rumble.
A faint vibration coursed through his body as the energy that had been sealed by the valley's Evil Qi began to flow freely again.
"..."
But still—no anomalies.
His Internal Energy and the Three Divine Powers had returned to normal.
No foreign presence. No demonic energy. Nothing.
"Then..."
Bu Eun-seol recalled the black fog that had entered through his nostrils.
"That wasn't the Demon-Sealing Fragment?"
After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head.
No. That couldn't be.
If it wasn't—
Then why would energy from a dead man's corpse have been forcibly absorbed into his body?
In all of Murim, the only thing that could be absorbed from a dying enemy—
Was the Demon-Sealing Fragment Han Sang-ja had mentioned.
"So that's what it was."
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol wore a dazed expression.
Only now did he understand why this had happened.
"This isn't a shackle. It's a blessing."
He was neither of the Baekri Clan nor aligned with the True Demon.
Even the Old Man of the Sanctuary had called it a curse.
But this—this was a blessing.
Even the Demon-Sealing Fragment, a torn shred of the True Demon's soul, had no effect on him.
Which meant—
The restrictions the Baekri Clan and the True Demon had imposed upon Murim, the chains they forced upon its people—
He could cast them off without hesitation.
"Brother Han foresaw all of this when he made his request."
Han Sang-ja had instantly deduced the Ghost King's secret—that he served Heavenly Mechanism Star—and tasked Bu Eun-seol with assassinating him.
There was no way he wouldn't have known the Ghost King possessed a Demon-Sealing Fragment.
"Perhaps Brother Han suspected my lineage when the Covenant was resolved."
Perhaps he had entrusted this mission to Bu Eun-seol precisely because he was unbound by the Covenant.
The Demon-Sealing Fragment.
It was something neither the Baekri Clan nor the True Demon's followers were meant to possess.
"In the end, he was the one who reeled me in."
But this was merely his own speculation.
The only person who could unravel these doubts with certainty was Han Sang-ja.
Ultimately, he would have to seek him out once more.
Bu Eun-seol immediately headed to Chengdu to summon So-yo, intending to inquire about Han Sang-ja's whereabouts.
The Demon-Sealing Fragment.
Since it had been absorbed into his body, he naturally had to uncover its secrets.
Even if it meant fulfilling Han Sang-ja's request once again, there was no other choice.
[He was already waiting.]
But there was no need to search for him.
Just as Han Sang-ja had predicted the exact moment Bu Eun-seol would finish his task—
He appeared at the guest inn in Chengdu where So-yo had been waiting.
And, astonishingly, he had rented out an entire nearby manor in advance, biding his time there.
Sage.
Generally, a sage refers to someone possessing exceptional wisdom, vast knowledge, and the ability to devise brilliant strategies.
But Han Sang-ja was different.
Like the Heavenly Mechanism Star—
He had the ability to foresee the future by reading the currents of the present.
'Then, does the Martial Venerable possess the same ability?'
From the moment the sages of Sage Forest vanished until now, he had been called the Foremost Sage of the Murim.
If so, perhaps—
Did he possess wisdom and foresight far surpassing even Han Sang-ja's?
'When I was in the Martial Alliance, he severely underestimated me.'
The Martial Venerable held the position of the Martial Alliance Chief, wielding absolute authority.
Moreover, since he had never dreamed that Mu-gyeol would betray them, Bu Eun-seol's schemes had succeeded to some extent.
But what if he had truly regarded Bu Eun-seol as an enemy from the start? The likelihood of things unfolding as smoothly as they had now would have been far lower.
'Martial Venerable.'
With the Martial Alliance remaining eerily silent, its movements impossible to discern, Bu Eun-seol suddenly felt uneasy about the Martial Venerable's existence.
'For now, focus only on what lies before me.'
Shaking his head, Bu Eun-seol headed toward the manor So-yo had indicated.
Located on the outskirts of Chengdu, the manor was not particularly large but had been built with considerable elegance.
"Welcome."
As he knocked on the great gate bearing the signboard "Clear Wind and Night Rain,"
A woman who appeared to be an attendant opened the door as if she had been waiting and guided Bu Eun-seol to the guest hall.
"Lord."
And there, Han Sang-ja was waiting.
As if he had predicted even the exact time of Bu Eun-seol's arrival, he had prepared warm tea in advance.
"Did you purchase this manor?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Han Sang-ja replied nonchalantly.
"It's merely one of several hidden bases I've prepared."
"A base, you say."
"They say a cunning rabbit always has three burrows, don't they?"
Han Sang-ja smiled faintly.
"The enemy I must face is the Heavenly Mechanism Star. If I don't start acting cunning now, I'll lose my head before I can even exact my revenge."
"I see."
"In any case, you've worked hard."
He bowed to Bu Eun-seol with utmost respect.
"I am truly grateful that you kept your promise."
"It was merely a transaction."
"Even so, how many men in this world would stake their lives to keep a promise?"
Han Sang-ja stared intently at Bu Eun-seol, his scar-covered face unwavering.
Unlike in the past, his eyes were no longer filled with bitterness and despair.
It seemed that through this matter—
Through Bu Eun-seol... he had realized that revenge was possible.
"So you knew after all."
After carefully observing Han Sang-ja's expression, Bu Eun-seol let out a sigh.
"That the Ghost King possessed a Demon-Sealing Fragment."
"I considered it a possibility."
Han Sang-ja spoke calmly.
"Otherwise, a man as cowardly and devoid of ambition as him would never have become the subordinate of someone as power-hungry as the Heavenly Mechanism Star."
"And you knew it would be absorbed by me?"
"I didn't believe it would harm you."
Han Sang-ja replied plainly.
"I thought the Lord would either wield that power freely without restriction or simply disregard it."
He met Bu Eun-seol's gaze directly.
"If a personage of the Sacred Realm could nullify the Covenant, they must surely possess power befitting that feat."
"Disappointing."
Bu Eun-seol's voice dropped to an icy whisper.
"Even if I knew you could survive being thrown into a wolf's den, how would you feel if I pushed you in without so much as a word?"
No matter how brilliant Han Sang-ja was—
Making decisions based on mere 'predictions' of uncertain outcomes—
And passing judgment on another's fate was as reckless and arrogant as the Heavenly Mechanism Star's methods.
"That wasn't the only reason."
Han Sang-ja remained composed.
"I wished to help the Lord achieve his purpose even a single day sooner."
"Purpose?"
"Were you not searching for the True Demon and his familiars?"
Taking a sip of tea, he spoke as if it were nothing significant.
"The only way to uncover the True Demon's identity and headquarters is to obtain a Demon-Sealing Fragment."
Seeing Bu Eun-seol's pupils freeze over like a frigid lake, Han Sang-ja quickly elaborated.
"As I mentioned before, the Demon-Sealing Fragments react when their bearers engage in battle. Do you remember?"
When Bu Eun-seol nodded, he continued.
"If the Lord were to obtain a Demon-Sealing Fragment, you could track down the other bearers. In other words, you would gain a powerful means to pursue the True Demon."
In that instant, a chill ran down Bu Eun-seol's spine.
Han Sang-ja could not only foresee the future—he had also pierced through his innermost thoughts.
And for the first time, Bu Eun-seol realized—
Just how dangerous sages truly were.
If they so desired, they could manipulate countless people and weave endlessly treacherous schemes.
And Sage Forest, where such sages had gathered—
Had every reason to be annihilated.
Zing.
A razor-sharp glint flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, visible yet elusive.
It contained an extremely faint yet lethal killing intent.
That gaze was eerily similar to how the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had looked at Bu Eun-seol in the past.
Through their conversation up until now, Bu Eun-seol had realized one truth.
And it had completely altered his perspective on Han Sang-ja... as well as the thoughts he had harbored all along.