Chapter 902
Martial Alliance, Heaven and Earth Pavilion.
The Martial Venerable sat at his desk in the office, eyes closed.
—I will not live as a servant of the True Demon.
At the time, the Martial Venerable had said those words to the Martial God Heaven Lord, who had granted him power and passed on the legacy of Martial God Heaven.
"As I thought... it was twisted from the start."
According to the Martial God Heaven Lord,
no one outside the Servants of the True Demon knew that he had become the Martial God Heaven Lord.
Yet, Daoist Mok seemed to vaguely grasp his true nature.
What was even more unsettling was the Martial God Heaven Lord's reaction back then.
When he declared he would not live as a servant, the Martial God Heaven Lord had instead smiled with satisfaction and said:
—Nonsense. You are already an exemplary servant.
Even now, the image of the Martial God Heaven Lord's abyss-like throat and sharp fangs rose vividly before his eyes.
'That sight... it lingers in my mind.'
Back then, the Martial God Heaven Lord had transferred nine-tenths of his immense power before withering into a feeble old man.
Moreover, he had been alone.
Without soldiers or subordinates, he had lived in solitude for countless years, harboring that overwhelming power.
And in the end, he had revealed nothing.
Neither the True Demon's true purpose nor the reason he had chosen him as his successor.
—Then I have no choice but to kill you, ensuring no one knows I have become Martial God Heaven.
At the time, the Martial Venerable had sought to silence the Martial God Heaven Lord permanently by killing him.
Yet, the Martial God Heaven Lord had gazed at him with a satisfied smile, as if he had already foreseen everything.
In that moment, a creeping discomfort had slithered into his heart.
It felt as though the man had glimpsed a future even he himself could not see—as if every step he took had already been predicted.
In the end, the Martial Venerable had left the Martial God Heaven Lord behind on that desolate island where he had resided.
And now, he felt a faint twinge of regret over that choice.
"The bigger problem... is that we can no longer make use of Wooden Buddha."
Becoming the successor to the Martial God Heaven Lord had not been an untainted blessing.
Because the Baekri Clan and the True Demon were the very secrets of Heaven,
the prophets of Murim had never even uttered their names, let alone engaged in the slightest conversation with them.
To speak with them was akin to pressing one's lips against a viper's fangs.
Though he had become the strongest wielder of Soul-Demon Magic Energy, he could no longer borrow Wooden Buddha's power.
"Then... the only method left is that man."
The Martial Venerable placed the letter he had been writing earlier onto the table.
A faint light flickered intermittently in his pupils. No matter how he thought about it, this was the only remaining plan.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, the sound of knocking echoed, and a masked man clad in gray martial robes entered.
He was Pyo Seung, the leader of the Swallow-Flight Unit—one of the Martial Alliance's secret organizations—and one of the Martial Venerable's most trusted subordinates.
"Alliance Leader."
Pyo Seung bowed respectfully before speaking in a low voice.
"As expected, they've been exposed."
"Hmm."
"The factions desperate to find Wooden Buddha have all headed there. Fortunately, Wooden Buddha has relocated to an island and deployed the Heavenly Boundary Formation... but it's only a matter of time before he's discovered."
"Hmm."
The Martial Venerable smiled bitterly.
His gaze remained fixed on the letter resting on the table.
"Deliver this letter to the Martial Soul Lord of the Demon Hall."
Though he had merely glanced at it,
the letter was already in Pyo Seung's hand before he knew it.
"Send it through the Demon Hall's intelligence network under his command."
"The Martial Soul Lord, you mean?"
"Indeed. No one is more suited to handle this matter than him."
The Martial Venerable clasped his hands together, resting his chin atop them.
"At least when it comes to bringing Wooden Buddha back."
"Absolutely not."
Pyo Seung shook his head.
"If he meets Wooden Buddha, the Martial Soul Lord will learn everything."
"Nonsense. Wooden Buddha will never speak."
The Martial Venerable spoke decisively.
"No—he cannot speak."
"How...?"
"Just deliver the message."
Though Pyo Seung's expression remained unconvinced, he bowed respectfully.
"Understood."
Click.
As the masked man left, the Martial Venerable sat back with a composed expression.
Sssss—
But something was strange.
White smoke began to rise from between his brows, soon swirling with a blue energy.
"Ghhh—!"
Suddenly, thick black veins burst across his entire body, and his eyes flooded crimson.
Becoming a Servant of the True Demon was not merely about gaining power.
The moment one accepted his power,
their flesh and soul fused with the True Demon's consciousness.
In other words, all servants became part of the True Demon, sharing his will.
The plan the Martial Venerable intended to execute now was an act forbidden to the Servants of the True Demon.
To act against the True Demon's will like this... meant suffering the agony of a burning soul.
"I will never yield."
Before he knew it, blue smoke was rising from between his brows.
His brain felt as though it were melting like water, and the veins throughout his body burned fiercely.
The expression "soul burning" was insufficient to describe it.
His eyeballs liquefied, his tendons were pulled out, and his bones crumbled.
It felt as though his internal organs and skin were taking turns being scorched in searing flames.
Sssss—
Though smoke continuously rose from his body,
"Haa, haa..."
the Martial Venerable instead wore a faint smile amidst the pain.
This much suffering was nothing.
He had already abandoned everything—even the emotions that allowed him to feel pain.
"How did I make it this far...?"
Even he had betrayed even his sworn brother, who had saved his life, casting him into the abyss of death.
But yielding to something as trivial as the True Demon's will? Impossible.
Sssssss—
Amid the agony of his brain melting, the searing pain as if his eyeballs were liquefying and dripping away—
The Martial Venerable stood firm, unbroken.
Crunch, crunch.
Bu Eun-seol advanced through the thick, suffocating fog.
It was as if all the mist in the world had gathered here.
Visibility was so poor he could barely make out a few steps ahead.
The air was cold yet clung to his skin like mucus, making it feel as though he were wading through a swamp of slime.
Finally, as he emerged from the fog, a primeval forest stretched before him—untouched, as if no human foot had ever trodden upon it.
The narrow path winding through the dense trees twisted like a labyrinth, and towering rocky cliffs occasionally blocked the way.
The landscape itself seemed alive, shifting endlessly—
Just standing still made his head spin.
At last, after passing through the forest, a small hermitage came into view, standing before a clear pond.
The hermitage's wide-open doors revealed an elderly man sitting with impeccable posture, sipping tea.
The Martial Venerable—Danmok Gi.
The most formidable master of the orthodox Murim, a shameless traitor who had betrayed Jeong Cheon-je—
Here he was, leisurely drinking tea.
"You've chosen quite an inconvenient place for a fight."
Instead of a greeting, Bu Eun-seol's voice was sharp as a blade.
Just this morning, he had been buried in paperwork at the Demon Hall.
But then, through the Death Soul Squad's intelligence network, an extremely discreet letter had arrived—
A letter from the Martial Venerable himself.
It contained nothing but a location and a time.
No words, no explanations.
Which meant only one thing: a duel.
Since he had already resolved to kill the Martial Venerable, there was no reason to hesitate.
Danmok Gi.
He had tried to kill Gongson Dan-gyeong, sought to erase both Seon-u Jin's identity and Bu Eun-seol himself.
And more than that—
He had made a promise to the real Seon-u Jin.
The one now living as Dokgo Jin, Chief Steward of the Azure Heaven Alliance.
A promise to kill the Martial Venerable.
Even if he wasn't fully prepared for an absolute victory—
Since the Martial Venerable had openly sent the letter, Bu Eun-seol would not avoid the duel and would test their strength.
"A fight... you say."
At that moment, the Martial Venerable set down his teacup and rose from his chair.
"Are you serious?"
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol felt an illusion—as if the Martial Venerable's body had expanded, towering high enough to touch the heavens.
This much...?
For the first time, Bu Eun-seol was genuinely stunned.
He had been meticulously tracking the Martial Venerable's movements, constantly calculating the extent of his martial prowess.
Because at any moment, they might clash in a life-and-death duel.
But now, all his calculations had been shattered.
The Martial Venerable had reached a level far beyond his expectations.
He must have grown stronger recently.
During his time in the Martial Alliance, the Martial Venerable had never possessed such overwhelming power.
Moreover, those who reached such heights couldn't elevate their strength overnight.
And given that he was an ambitious man who avoided unnecessary risks—
Unlike in the past, he wouldn't engage in life-or-death duels, nor could he be expected to grow so rapidly.
Yet here he was, as if he had been fighting masters of equal caliber every single day—
Reaching an unimaginable realm in such a short time.
I'll have to go all out.
Even if he was stronger than anticipated, defeat wasn't guaranteed.
For the first time, Bu Eun-seol began slowly merging the two cores within him—
One storing his internal energy, the other condensed with poison.
Zzzzzzzzz—
At that moment, an indescribably intense energy ignited in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"Impressive momentum."
The Martial Venerable nodded, having already discerned Bu Eun-seol's silent gathering of power.
"At this level, you could fight the strongest masters of this era without yielding an inch."
A strange thing to say.
The Martial Venerable himself was one of the era's superlative martial experts.
Yet his words implied he no longer considered himself among them—
As if he had already transcended that realm entirely.
"Won't we know the difference only after crossing blades?"
"That's one way, but there's no need for that now."
The Martial Venerable observed Bu Eun-seol's combat stance with ease, his voice calm.
"I came only to give you information that will benefit you."
Bu Eun-seol clenched his fists.
One side was gathering every ounce of strength, waiting for the right moment—
The other spoke leisurely, as if they had all the time in the world.
Just this dynamic alone—
Meant Bu Eun-seol had already lost the battle of momentum.
"Information that will benefit me?"
Bu Eun-seol's voice was flat.
"I came to scout your grave."
"No need to be so hostile. It makes conversation uncomfortable."
Then, with a casual wave of his hand—
The energy Bu Eun-seol had been secretly amassing melted away like snow.
And it wasn't due to spells or supernatural abilities.
It was a martial art never before seen in Murim—
A technique formed by layering the deepest mysteries of martial studies to an unfathomable degree.
Like a god who could freely manipulate the principles of all martial arts—
The Martial Venerable had effortlessly dissolved not only Bu Eun-seol's internal energy but even the poison within his core.
"Let me say this again—this conversation will be mutually beneficial. First, let me speak."
"Speak."
The longer this dragged on, the more advantageous it was for Bu Eun-seol.
By analyzing the Martial Venerable's stance and momentum, he might unravel the secrets of his martial arts.
Flicker.
A pale golden light bloomed in Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
So that if the Martial Venerable unleashed his techniques again, he could instantly analyze them—he had simultaneously activated both the Langya Mind's Eye and the Heavenly Robe Mind Art.
"Currently, in the murim, there exists the greatest prophet, one who can perfectly read the will of heaven."
The Martial Venerable spoke leisurely, fully aware that Bu Eun-seol was observing him.
"And it was he who made me the Divine Calculator."
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol's focus wavered.
The title Divine Calculator was synonymous with the Foremost Sage of the Murim.
But to admit that it was granted by a prophet's power—and to confess such a thing to an enemy?
Did that not mean he had grown so strong that he no longer even needed that name?
"His name is Wooden Buddha. A disciple of Mo-ryun the Dharma Seeker—and in truth, the greatest prophet of all time, surpassing even Mo-ryun himself."
"Is he also a sage of Sage Forest?"
When Bu Eun-seol reacted, the Martial Venerable chuckled and shook his head.
"Sage Forest? They're nothing but bookworms who worship ancient tomes."
His tone was decisive.
"Wooden Buddha is the will of heaven itself. There is nothing in this world he does not know."
Then he smiled meaningfully.
Bu Eun-seol had been preparing for battle, disregarding whatever the Martial Venerable said.
But the man's final words forced him to lower his combat stance.
"And he could tell you everything you wish to know."
"Nonsense."
When Bu Eun-seol denied it, the Martial Venerable shrugged.
"I stake all my honor on this."
His expression turned solemn.
"Wooden Buddha—he knows all the laws and secrets of this world. Even the identity of the one who murdered the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade."
The corner of Bu Eun-seol's eye twitched.
No matter how treacherous and cunning the Martial Venerable was, he was still one of the foremost grandmasters of martial arts in the world.
A man of such immense pride would never dare to lie so blatantly.
"What is it you want?"
The Martial Venerable was his enemy.
And throughout history, prophets—
Had been little more than spoils of war, bound to the superlative martial experts who ruled the murim.
The mere fact that someone capable of reading heaven's will still existed in the murim—
No, the fact that a disciple of Mo-ryun the Dharma Seeker still lived—was already invaluable information, something no amount of money could buy.
So why was he revealing this to him?
"I'll be honest."
The Martial Venerable clasped his hands behind his back and gazed at the distant sky.
"Wooden Buddha had long been under my control."
"..."
"But while I was away due to certain circumstances, the Absolute Boundary shattered, and he disappeared."
Bu Eun-seol raised an eyebrow.
"Then just send your forces to find him again."
"I would, but I no longer have the qualification to restrain him."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed.
Merely possessing a prophet granted unimaginable advantages.
Yet he no longer had the qualification to keep him?
"Why?"
"That is none of your concern."
Bu Eun-seol immediately grasped his intent.
"So in the end... you want me to retrieve this Wooden Buddha in your stead."
The Martial Venerable nodded.
"Good, no need for further explanation."
"You think I'd do something so tedious?"
"Of course."
The Martial Venerable stared at him with unwavering confidence.
"A clever man like you would never pass up the opportunity to meet a sage who knows all the secrets of this world."
He couldn't refute it.
Even if this was all a trap, the chance to meet Wooden Buddha—
Was worth the risk.
"What if I take him for myself?"
"If you can, by all means. But that will never be possible."
"Why?"
"Because Wooden Buddha will refuse."
For some reason, the Martial Venerable was certain Bu Eun-seol could never claim Wooden Buddha.
"You must think this is an offer where you lose nothing, no matter how you twist it. But that's not entirely true."
"His location has been exposed—where Wooden Buddha is hiding."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was firm.
"Now that the existence of such a transcendent prophet has been revealed... the strongest factions in the murim will swarm him."
"..."
"And that's why, even as the Alliance Chief—no, even as the Divine Calculator—you can't save him."
"As I always say, conversing with you is efficient. No need for repetition."
When the Martial Venerable readily admitted it, Bu Eun-seol snorted.
"What were you planning to do with all those secret forces you've been hoarding like buried treasure?"
"The same problem applies. If it's discovered they're my subordinates, I can't use them."
The Martial Venerable had been anxious that Bu Eun-seol, while stirring up the Martial Alliance, might expose his secret organization.
Given how desperately he avoided exposure, it was clear he had some grand scheme involving those hidden forces.
"Martial Venerable. Your brilliance and cunning are no less than Jeong Cheon-je's."
Bu Eun-seol sighed and asked:
"What exactly are you trying to achieve, betraying even the Emperor of Righteousness, who spared your life?"
Originally, Bu Eun-seol had believed—as Mu-gyeol claimed—
That the reason he betrayed Jeong Cheon-je was out of greed for his martial arts and the Golden Cicada True Qi.
But only now did he realize the truth.
That his betrayal of Jeong Cheon-je wasn't merely to steal his martial arts.
Just what was it for?
What could have driven him to betray Jeong Cheon-je and become such a vile, wicked man?
"You're spouting nonsense."
Martial Venerable's voice was cold.
"Every person has their own circumstances, and no one has the right to pry into them."
Then, he turned away.
"If you don't want to do it, then don't. There's always a second option."
Considering all conditions, Bu Eun-seol had merely been the optimal choice.
Naturally, a contingency plan had been prepared.
'I must remain calm and judge this rationally.'
Martial Venerable was an adversary he would eventually have to face in a life-and-death duel—and he knew that just as well.
Yet, despite that, he was making this kind of proposal...
Not only did that confirm the existence of the prophet Wooden Buddha, but it also meant he wielded power significant enough to warrant such a move.
Just as he had said, meeting him would undoubtedly be worth it.
"Fine."
Bu Eun-seol gave a slow nod.
"I'll give it a try."
"I knew you'd agree."
Martial Venerable tossed him a letter.
"The island where Wooden Buddha is hiding. It's not a place just anyone can enter... but you'll manage, won't you?"
He had already deduced that Bu Eun-seol was the intruder who had infiltrated his Secret Vault.
Otherwise, there was no reason for his right-hand man, Mu-gyeol, to suddenly betray him the moment the Spring and Autumn Annals hidden near the Secret Cave had vanished.
"But breaking through Wooden Buddha's Boundary Formation won't be easy. It resembles an Absolute Boundary, yet its structure is entirely different."
Martial Venerable threw him a wooden box.
When Bu Eun-seol opened it, a mysteriously shimmering light spilled out.
Upon closer inspection, it was a transparent orb glowing with a crimson radiance.
"You're really giving me something like this?"
Martial Venerable snorted, understanding the implication behind Bu Eun-seol's words.
"Take it if you want. It's not like I can use it anymore anyway."
Meaning it could only be used this once—or that it would become unusable after this mission.
"So, it's a kind of key that only works for this occasion."
The moment Bu Eun-seol uttered the word key, Martial Venerable's gaze flickered slightly.
But he brushed it off casually and shifted the topic.
"You'll have to stake your life on this. There will be martial artists there far stronger than you."
"We'll see."
"If you succeed, bring him to the location written in the letter. That will conclude our deal."
Then, he added,
"You're aware of the Boundary-Prosperity Jade, aren't you? Considering you stole half the things in my Secret Vault."
At the time, while recovering his body,
Bu Eun-seol had absorbed the qi of the Boundary-Prosperity Jade in the stone chamber, though nothing particularly significant had come of it.
But Martial Venerable seemed to believe he had deliberately stolen its power.
"You'd do well to take at least one with you this time. Your identity absolutely must not be exposed."
With that, he slowly turned away.
"I hope you succeed."
Without another word, he vanished in an instant.
"Qualification, huh."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed as he mulled over Martial Venerable's words.
"So, apart from his position as Martial Alliance Chief, his original status or identity has changed."
Martial Venerable had said he no longer had the qualification to approach Wooden Buddha.
A man who, for his goals, wouldn't hesitate to kill even a sworn brother who had once saved his life—
He wouldn't have made such a statement unless his qualification had truly been revoked.
"The only one who could restrain Martial Venerable is..."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze sharpened.
The only restriction that came to mind capable of binding someone like Martial Venerable was a Covenant—or something akin to it.
"What's certain is that he's been bound by a Restrictive Seal, whether through a Covenant or something similar. Yet, he's still trying to locate Wooden Buddha..."
A flash of insight flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"He must be confident that, in the future, he'll regain the qualification to possess Wooden Buddha once more."
That much was certain.
Otherwise, a man like Martial Venerable would never have sought him out and revealed Wooden Buddha's existence in the first place.
"And..."
Martial Venerable had been certain.
Certain that he himself wouldn't be able to extract information from Wooden Buddha.
After all, there was no reason for him to do a favor for the very adversary he would one day have to face in a life-and-death duel.
"I'll do it."
It had always been this way when he was in the Martial Alliance.
Whether it was Yuk Jang-cheon or Martial Venerable, if someone set a trap, all he had to do was dismantle it.
This time, Bu Eun-seol intended to use Wooden Buddha to uncover more information about the culprit behind his grandfather's murder.
"It'd be even better if I can gather intel on Martial Venerable as well."
Martial Venerable had already surpassed the level of a Superlative Martial Expert, exuding an eerie, alien energy unlike anything Bu Eun-seol had ever sensed before.
"He obtained a fortuitous encounter."
A man like him wouldn't be unable to control his qi.
Which meant he was either deliberately revealing it to obscure his true identity... or he genuinely couldn't fully suppress that energy.
"The former is far more likely."
Martial Venerable was meticulous.
Whether he had gained a fortuitous encounter or a new martial art, he would never leave behind any clues that could expose its origin.
"A fortuitous encounter within Martial Venerable's martial prowess..."
Currently, Martial Venerable's momentum was on par with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's—overwhelmingly powerful.
And yet, he was bound by some kind of restriction, whether by someone or something.
In the end, it meant that within Murim, there were still stronger figures lying in wait.
"I can grow stronger too."
If there were powerful martial artists on the island where Wooden Buddha resided, all the better.
The outcome of a battle was never determined solely by the level of one's martial arts.
Stamina, combat experience, and concentration played a role.
So did adapting to the terrain, improvising counterattacks against an enemy's strikes.
And with keen observation, one could exploit an opponent's weaknesses—or even use psychological warfare.
Through countless methods... the gap in martial prowess could be bridged.
Bu Eun-seol had always used that truth to defeat opponents stronger than himself.
And now, he would prove that truth once more—on that island.