Chapter 905
As if bitten by a viper, Bu Eun-seol's expression stiffened and his complexion changed. The Wooden Buddha shook his head.
"It seems this humble monk has caused a misunderstanding."
Then he spoke bluntly.
"If it could be conveyed indirectly, this humble monk would have answered anything you asked."
In other words, Heavenly Punishment was absolute—whether indirectly or directly, he absolutely could not provide any clues. He was making it clear that his earlier words had not been referring to the murderer.
'I see.'
If there had been any way to convey information indirectly, a revered monk who could read Heaven's Will—one of the greatest in the world—would never have suffered such a cruel Heavenly Punishment.
In the end, any discussion about his grandfather and the murderer was something he shouldn't even think of hearing from the start.
"The words the Great Monk spoke just now..."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed as he realized something.
"You were teaching me that unless I thoroughly investigate the circumstances, I cannot carry out proper revenge."
A threadlike smile appeared on the Wooden Buddha's rigid lips.
"Words are just words. What meaning one takes from them depends on the listener's heart."
He continued,
"A good master and a great scripture can point the way. But the path to enlightenment must be walked by oneself."
His words carried profound mystery.
"I am grateful for your teaching."
As Bu Eun-seol bowed, the Wooden Buddha wore an expression of boundless benevolence.
"To those who stand firm against the tides of fate, the heavens send endless rains of trials..."
Then, in a gentle voice, he added,
"You will surely reach the end."
The Wooden Buddha nodded.
"You were raised under the guidance of the strongest and wisest in the world, and you possess an indomitable will that turns even trials into stepping stones for ascension."
—You will surely reach the end.
Those words eased the weight that had been pressing on Bu Eun-seol's heart until now.
He had always been uneasy.
Though he was constantly giving his best effort, he wondered if this was the right path, if he was truly progressing.
And whether he could reach the end...
But the Wooden Buddha had stated it clearly.
He was doing well.
Though slowly, he was undoubtedly moving forward.
"Do you happen to know my grandfather?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, the Wooden Buddha replied indifferently.
"Who in the world does not know Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang?"
It wasn't a direct answer, but it suggested some degree of familiarity with his grandfather.
"Is my grandfather's past also part of Heaven's Will?"
Bu Eun-seol offered a bitter smile.
"Even if I asked, you wouldn't tell me, would you?"
Then he lowered his head.
"Truthfully, I still don't fully understand who my grandfather truly is."
"He, too, is just an ordinary martial artist."
The Wooden Buddha spoke in a low voice.
"One who lived by the edge of his blade, entangled in countless favors and grudges... utterly ordinary."
"An ordinary martial artist."
Bu Eun-seol murmured softly.
He had never once thought of his grandfather that way.
After all, he was a peerless grandmaster who had reached invincibility in his era, leaving behind immortal achievements—the Great Killing Star of the martial world.
But this prophet, who could see through all things, had simply called his grandfather an ordinary martial artist.
'He's right.'
What did it matter if he was called the Great Killing Star or the Invincible Under Heaven?
His grandfather was just his grandfather.
Moreover, wasn't his grandfather merely a martial artist who regretted his past, still unable to break free from the shackles of favors and grudges?
That was all he needed to remember.
"Thank you."
Having attained enlightenment, Bu Eun-seol bowed with utmost respect.
"Thanks to the Great Monk's teachings, I've been able to let go of several burdens I couldn't wash away until now."
"Think nothing of it. This humble monk merely regrets that he cannot tell you many things."
Noticing the deep sorrow in the Wooden Buddha's expression, Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"The Martial Venerable knew the Great Monk wouldn't be able to answer my questions... which is why he could send me here."
The Wooden Buddha did not deny it.
"The Martial Venerable is a man of great ambition and profound mind. Moreover... he knows not only Jeong Cheon-je but also your grandfather well."
Tuk.
In that instant, a piece of the Wooden Buddha's earlobe melted away like malt candy and fell.
Astoundingly, even the mere statement that his grandfather and the Martial Venerable knew each other well was a Heavenly Leak.
And for that, he was immediately punished.
'Someone who receives immediate punishment.'
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened.
According to Han Sang-ja's words, those who received Heavenly Punishment immediately...
Were they not said to be those who had attained profound communion with Heaven's Will?
"Great Monk, please say no more."
Bu Eun-seol's face twisted in anguish.
"I no longer have anything to ask or wish to know."
In that instant, the Wooden Buddha smiled—a dry yet profoundly warm expression.
Despite having things he longed to know more than life itself, despite harboring desires so fervent—
Because Bu Eun-seol, concerned for his well-being,
Had told him to speak no further.
And he was only the second person to ever say such words to him.
The first had been...
None other than the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade, Bu Jan-yang.
"With a heart as kind as yours, even Heaven will not turn a blind eye."
The Wooden Buddha gazed at Bu Eun-seol with eyes brimming with benevolence.
His expression mirrored the compassionate visage of Guanyin Bodhisattva guiding lost souls through suffering.
"Venerable One, you—"
Zziing.
But then, an eerie sensation brushed past the Wooden Buddha's ears.
He paused briefly before swiftly pointing to a tree about thirty feet ahead.
"Beneath that tree, use the Earth Escape Art first, then the Turtle Breath Grand Art."
"The Turtle Breath Grand Art, not the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi?"
The Wooden Buddha's gaze was solemn.
"There's no time."
No approaching presence could be sensed.
Yet Bu Eun-seol obeyed without question, activating the Earth Escape Art beneath the tree before concealing himself with the Turtle Breath Grand Art.
The Wooden Buddha, already perfectly attuned to nature, needed only to lean against a rock to vanish completely.
Whoosh.
Then, countless presences swept past where Bu Eun-seol and the Wooden Buddha had stood.
Their energies were formidable, and their numbers vast.
But after a long while, another shadow halted near Bu Eun-seol's hiding spot.
Buried underground with the Earth Escape Art, Bu Eun-seol held his breath.
Baekri Leader.
He instantly recognized the figure standing above—
Baekri Mu-jo, the man he had fought earlier.
Yet what shocked him was that Baekri Mu-jo's energy now,
As he searched stealthily for something, was far more terrifying than during their battle.
So his earlier display wasn't his true strength?
Bu Eun-seol recalled once more that Baekri Mu-jo also served as another Supreme Emperor of the Three Realms.
Perhaps his overwhelming martial prowess—
Was only possible because he had devoted himself to the Three Realms, or had been one of their core members from the start.
"..."
Baekri Mu-jo meticulously scanned the area where Bu Eun-seol and the Wooden Buddha had been.
I see now.
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand why the Wooden Buddha had insisted on the Turtle Breath Grand Art over the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
Baekri Mu-jo had partially sensed the energy of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi emanating from me during our fight.
Just as Bu Eun-seol had guessed—
Baekri Mu-jo had detected traces of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi from Bu Eun-seol's body during their battle.
And now, as he passed through this area, sensing a faintly similar energy—
He was combing every inch of the surroundings.
After lingering for a long while, he finally found nothing.
"Hmm."
With a short hum, Baekri Mu-jo activated a Movement Technique and vanished into the distant sky in an instant.
Once he was gone, the Wooden Buddha spoke calmly.
"You may emerge now."
Cold sweat dripped from Bu Eun-seol's forehead as he surfaced from the Earth Escape Art.
Had he continued using the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi's subtleties for concealment as per the Hidden Stealth Secret Art—
Baekri Mu-jo would have detected him immediately.
"How did you know he could sense the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi?"
"Though the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi is versatile, exposing it repeatedly makes even its traces familiar to masters of his caliber—like intuition."
"I see."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply and shook his head.
"If not just him, but everyone else develops such sensitivity, escaping this place will be nearly impossible."
"We must try regardless."
The Wooden Buddha replied.
"Your martial arts are strong, and this monk is quite observant. Surely, we'll find a way."
"But wouldn't that incur Heavenly Punishment again?"
"This monk is merely trying to save his own life. Even Heaven would understand."
Bu Eun-seol hesitated before speaking.
"But once we leave, we'll fall right back into Martial Venerable's grasp."
"Unavoidable. Better than remaining in their hands. Besides, he won't be able to—"
Cutting off his muttering, the Wooden Buddha shook his head and changed the subject.
"Let us go now. Can you carry this monk and move northeast for about ten ri?"
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol hoisted the Wooden Buddha onto his back and activated his Movement Technique with utmost stealth.
After traveling ten ri, a massive boulder came into view.
"This monk will remain seated here. You must conceal yourself using the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi and stay close. But keep your eyes shut—guard your brow with the Water Essence Divine Qi."
The instructions made no sense.
Yet Bu Eun-seol obeyed without question.
He sat upright on the massive boulder, eyes closed, circulating the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi with all his might.
Shururu.
His form became completely transparent, merging with the rock.
Then, he shaped the Water Essence Divine Qi into a circular barrier around his forehead.
Before long, eight minutes had passed when—
KWA-RUNG! KWA-AANG!
A sound like the heavens being torn apart suddenly echoed, and a group of over a dozen figures descended from the sky.
Flash!
At the same time, he sensed ceaseless movement in the transparent state—
Formidable Masters were fighting in groups.
An undetectable storm of energy raged endlessly, and with every collision, shockwaves rippled outward, shaking the entire island like waves.
'I must generate my energy naturally.'
Bu Eun-seol kept his eyes shut, continuously circulating the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi through his body.
KWA-RUNG!
Amidst it all, tremors spread as if lightning were striking relentlessly.
The sound of unseen blades and spears clashing and shattering reverberated through the air.
The entire massive island swayed like a thin sheet of paper in the wind, crumbling apart.
Though his eyes were closed, Bu Eun-seol could vividly sense their battle.
'Six against two.'
The six were likely the Yellow-Robed Agents he had first seen on the island.
As for the two, he didn't know who they were—
But judging by how they coordinated on the spot, they didn't seem to be from the same sect or faction.
KU-RUNG!
As time passed, the battle grew fiercer.
The earth shook, the sky seemed to contract, and the world itself felt like it was collapsing.
Flash!
Finally, as if deciding the final outcome, an intense surge of power erupted from both sides.
In that instant, a blinding flash of light exploded, swallowing the world whole.
KURURU.
The sky twisted, the earth crumbled, and from the epicenter of the collision, shockwaves and storms blasted outward in all directions.
He couldn't tell who had won.
All that remained was the surroundings flattened and melting away.
Whoosh.
Once the battle ended, the transparent shadows vanished in an instant.
The only thing left standing was the massive boulder where Bu Eun-seol and the Wooden Buddha had hidden.
Thud.
As the storm dissipated—
A single piece of red-hot, sharpened metal, hovering in the air, fell to the ground.
At the same time, Bu Eun-seol's form, concealed by the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, gradually became visible.
The floating metal—
Had been stopped by the Water Essence Divine Qi Bu Eun-seol had created earlier.
'Just as I thought.'
The red-hot metal was likely a fragment of a weapon that had shattered and ricocheted during the clash.
If he had tried to dodge this metal shard hurtling toward his forehead at tremendous speed—
The movement might have given away his presence to them.
But because he had only spread undetectable Water Essence Divine Qi, he remained unnoticed.
"Let us move now."
"Understood."
Bu Eun-seol hoisted the Wooden Buddha onto his back again and moved in the direction he indicated.
Even afterward, formidable fighters appeared, but thanks to the Wooden Buddha's foresight, they avoided them easily.
'At this level, I could've evaded them alone.'
The Wooden Buddha had predicted nearly every situation—
And could merge with nature even more perfectly than Bu Eun-seol, who wielded the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
So why had he chosen to hide here instead of fleeing, knowing powerful fighters would come after him?
"Though the world is vast, there are few places this monk can go."
As if reading Bu Eun-seol's thoughts, the Wooden Buddha spoke.
"They all hold immense power in the Murim. This monk's body is not swift—I might evade them once or twice, but I cannot escape their pursuit forever."
"I see."
The Martial Venerable was not only immensely powerful in martial arts but had also absorbed all the forces established by Jeong Cheon-je.
With that kind of backing, he could likely provide a safe haven no faction could find.
"We're almost there."
The Wooden Buddha pointed at a faint sphere visible in the distance.
"If we pass through there..."
He paused mid-sentence, then shook his head.
"No, we must stop for now."
"We'll arrive soon."
"No, we cannot."
When the Wooden Buddha spoke firmly—
Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to halt his movement technique and descend into a wide forest.
The Wooden Buddha scanned the surroundings before speaking in a low voice.
"Can you deploy Langya Pavilion's Life-and-Death Combat Formation?"
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol, sensing the urgency, swiftly completed the formation.
But then the Wooden Buddha murmured quietly—
"Place the Thunder trigram to the east to keep the Life Gate open. Opposite the Life Gate in the west, place Metal. In the north, Kan, and in the south, Li..."
Wooden Buddha was altering the Life-and-Death Combat Formation in an unorthodox manner.
What if someone entered the formation just once and then left?
From then on, the position of the Life Gate would shift... and beyond that, it would transform into a unique battle formation only the creator could decipher.
In simpler terms—aside from the first intruder who entered—any additional intruders could step into the formation, but without Bu Eun-seol's permission, they would never be able to leave.
"...Maintain the balance of Yin and Yang by reflecting the changes, and let the Wood energy naturally fulfill the role of the Life Gate. Then..."
Wooden Buddha's explanation was abstruse and complex.
But Bu Eun-seol, who had been thoroughly trained in formations by Gongson Dan-gyeong, swiftly adjusted the formation exactly as instructed.
"Well done."
Wooden Buddha nodded after surveying the formation.
Then, with slow steps, he moved to a clearing where a massive boulder stood. He crouched and spent a long while running his hands over the ground.
Zzziiing—
As his wooden-like fingers brushed the earth, light emanated from the spot, and the surrounding pebbles transformed into gemstones shimmering with iridescent hues.
"I'll take care of it."
"No need. It's already done."
When Wooden Buddha waved his hand again, the light rising from the ground vanished, leaving only a few glittering pebbles behind.
With a grunt, he straightened and gazed at the distant sky, speaking in a calm tone.
"Now, only the final obstacle remains."
"What do you mean?"
"There is someone who has already anticipated the path of this humble monk's escape."
Wooden Buddha's voice was serene.
"He is the most fearsome figure among all the masters who have come to this island. That is why I set up this formation here—to shake off his pursuit first."
"You mean... someone can read your intentions?"
When Wooden Buddha didn't answer, a foreboding premonition crept over Bu Eun-seol.
Someone who could predict the movements of Wooden Buddha—a man capable of divining Heaven's Will?
Just who could possess such an ability?
'Heavenly Mechanism Star.'
The answer came easily.
A genius with intellect and insight beyond imagination, one who could analyze the currents of the present and even predict the future.
Only he could anticipate the actions of a prophet like Wooden Buddha.
"Remember two things."
Wooden Buddha spoke gravely.
"First—you must never use your signature martial arts or any technique that could reveal your identity while you're here."
"Understood."
"Second—if this humble monk gives an order through Voice Transmission, obey it immediately."
Before Bu Eun-seol could respond, Wooden Buddha added one last warning.
"And above all—no matter how dire the situation becomes for this monk, do not intervene."
"What kind of—"
"Remember it well."
Ssshh—
With those final words, Wooden Buddha slowly approached a great tree—and in an instant, his form merged seamlessly with the wood.
Bu Eun-seol couldn't comprehend it, but he committed the words to memory.
Then—
Zzziiing—
A low vibration hummed through the air as a shadow slowly stepped through the open Life Gate and into the Life-and-Death Combat Formation.
Clad in black robes with a mask covering his face, his entire body was wreathed in a dark crimson aura.
Though masked, it only concealed the lower half of his face, revealing enough to discern his features.
He was a young man with a face and presence reminiscent of a hawk.
"How strange."
The youth scanned the surroundings before addressing Bu Eun-seol.
"Why are you here instead of Wooden Buddha?"
Bu Eun-seol wore a veil woven from Heavenly Silkworm Silk—something no amount of enhanced vision could pierce.
Not only had he altered his gaze and physique, but under Martial Venerable's arrangements, he also carried a new Boundary-Prosperity Jade on his person.
Thus, the youth had no idea who he was.
"Fascinating."
Tilting his head, the young man studied Bu Eun-seol.
"So you're the one Wooden Buddha trusts with his life?"
His eyes flicked toward the altered formation, and as if making a firm decision, he spoke.
"Tell me where Wooden Buddha is, and I'll make your death painless."
"Such magnanimity. I'm honored."
Bu Eun-seol's voice dripped with mockery, and the youth's eyes flashed.
"So words won't work, then."
Crrrk—
The youth twisted his neck unnaturally.
His pupils turned icy, like frozen lakes, and suddenly, a black liquid seemed to crawl up from his toes, spreading until it engulfed his entire head.
One of the One Hundred and Eight Stars.
The moment the youth unleashed this inhuman, supernatural ability, Bu Eun-seol recognized him.
Krrrkk—
The liquid surrounding the youth's body solidified into black armor, encasing him completely.
It was eerily similar to how Bu Eun-seol clad himself in the Limitless Astral Energy form of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms.
But instead of making him appear bulky, it refined him into something sharp—like a single, deadly black sword.
"Not one of the One Hundred and Eight Stars... but the Heavenly Killing Star."
Snap!
It happened in an instant.
Something razor-sharp pierced into the space between Bu Eun-seol's eyebrows at the speed of light.
A speed no human senses could ever perceive.