Chapter 908
Bu Eun-seol crossed his arms and pondered deeply.
"Must I transform into an existence that matches the gate?"
If there were even the tiniest gap in this gate formed by the Absolute Boundary... perhaps he could pass through using the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
Whoosh.
Channeling the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi at full power, Bu Eun-seol rendered his body transparent and approached.
Zzzzt.
Yet this method proved futile.
"Then perhaps it demands a specific timing."
Since ancient times, one of the most common ways to breach certain battle formations was to enter at a precisely designated time.
Perhaps this Absolute Boundary, too—
Required a special condition—like the moon reaching a specific position or opening only at a predetermined hour.
"If that's the case, this is troublesome."
For instance, what if the gate could only be traversed during a full moon?
He'd have no choice but to endure here for over ten days.
Worse, without knowing the exact condition, that period could stretch to fifteen days or a month.
"No, wasn't this the Great Monk's arrangement?."
All of this was Wooden Buddha's design.
Which meant the condition would never demand such an extended wait.
"Now I understand why the dominators of Murim so desperately sought prophets."
Unconsciously, he had come to trust Wooden Buddha's words absolutely.
Since Wooden Buddha had arranged this—
He was certain the condition to open this Absolute Boundary wouldn't hinge on time or something he couldn't break.
"Prophecy truly is a power both convenient and terrifying."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled a deep sigh.
With such an immense ability... he must have been preyed upon by countless factions.
The hardships Wooden Buddha must have endured were beyond imagination.
"At any rate, the condition must be something I can fulfill immediately."
Bu Eun-seol crossed his arms again and sank into thought.
Then, the same question from before resurfaced:
What if the Martial God's Heaven were here?
Why would they use peerless weapons like the Ten Weapons of the World as bait to lure the Righteous Faction into a bloodbath?
Could the reason be connected?
As he pondered, the answer struck him.
"A sacrifice."
It could only be a sacrifice.
Because the massacre perpetrated by the Righteous Faction had drenched the island in blood.
They must have needed the blood of the righteous for some ritual—
And achieved that purpose through the Ten Weapons of the World.
Sshhk.
Bu Eun-seol immediately drew the Silent Tomb Sword.
'It might be similar to the spell on the demonic sword from the Ghost Return Sect.'
In the past, the Ghost Return Sect had scattered demonic swords imbued with terrifying powers.
By forcing their wielders to fight, the swords drank deeply of "the blood of countless strong warriors"—
Until inscriptions revealing their base locations appeared on the blades.
Back then, Bu Eun-seol had mixed his blood with Do Cheon-rin's to meet the sword's demand for "the blood of the strong."
What if these people, too, had conducted a ritual using blood as the medium?
What if they had lured countless renowned heroes here to wage a suicidal massacre?
"Let the blood be the key, I pray."
Slash.
He cut his wrist and splattered blood where he guessed the Absolute Boundary lay.
Drip, drip, drip.
As crimson bloodstains fell near the boundary—
Hssssss.
White smoke billowed, and fine cracks began spreading across the Absolute Boundary.
'It worked.'
He didn't need to shatter the boundary entirely.
A gap the width of a hand would suffice for the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi to slip through.
Whoosh!
Bu Eun-seol gathered the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi and hurled himself through the fissure.
Swoooosh—
An illusion seized him—as though his body were being sucked into some abyss.
Despite not activating his movement technique, howling winds and endless darkness whipped past his ears.
It felt like falling endlessly through a narrow, pitch-black passage into a bottomless abyss.
Thud.
Finally, the darkness lifted as his feet touched ground—revealing a staggering sight.
A damp, gloomy passage stretched so far its end was invisible.
When he reached its terminus, a vast grand hall unfolded before him.
'This is the Martial God's Heaven.'
He knew instinctively.
This was the heart of the Martial God's Heaven.
The ceiling soared so high its peak was unseen, studded with faintly glowing crimson gems.
Their light bathed the interior in an eerie blood-red hue, making the grand hall feel like the maw of a living, breathing monster.
'Are you calling me?'
Bu Eun-seol sensed a strange resonance.
Passing through the hall, he entered another door—revealing a corridor of smooth, jet-black stone.
Oracle bone script, carved as if written in blood, adorned the walls, and the stench of thick, rotting gore wafted from somewhere.
Deeper inside, the structure grew more labyrinthine.
Endless staircases gave way to winding paths.
Crimson mist coiled in patches, and with every blink, bizarre illusions flickered into view.
Creeeak.
At last, a metallic door opened—exposing the interior of a prison.
The prison doors lining the corridor were tangled with sharp, thorn-like ornaments.
At the center of each door loomed a massive metal skull.
Only one prison door, far ahead, stood out—
Flickering with dark crimson flames from the hollows of its skull's eyes.
Creak.
As the iron gate opened, an astonishingly vast space came into view.
What he had assumed would be a cramped prison cell turned out to be an unexpectedly massive grand hall.
The floor was polished smooth as glass, so reflective he could see his own face staring back at him. Towering pillars supporting the ceiling bore torches burning with an eerie blue flame.
After walking for some time, he reached the far end of the hall, where an old man sat bound head to toe in iron chains.
Thud. Thud.
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol approached him.
At that moment, the chained old man slowly opened his eyes.
They were mystical pupils, flickering with an interplay of blue and crimson light.
Meeting that gaze made Bu Eun-seol's heart pound.
'A being beyond humanity.'
This old man was not human.
He could instinctively tell—this was something else merely wearing the shape of a man.
'Is this the form of the Heavenly Will Realm?'
For the first time, looking at someone's appearance made him think of that legendary realm.
Considering his own conviction—that he had always dismissed the martial world's established hierarchies and classifications of prowess—
he could now indirectly glimpse just how extraordinary the old man's energy was... how it far surpassed even the greatest martial experts he had encountered.
'Do humans instinctively try to define and categorize what is stronger than themselves?'
Bu Eun-seol gave a bitter smile.
He had resolved to ignore the martial world's structured systems and realms, yet here he was, wondering if this old man had reached the Heavenly Will Realm.
Clank.
Then, the chained old man—
—fixed him with a razor-sharp gaze and moved his lips ever so slightly.
"You've returned."
His voice was bizarre and unique, not something heard with the ears but rather transmitted directly into the mind through the heart.
"Do you know me?"
"Your face."
'My face?'
Just as Bu Eun-seol tilted his head in confusion, the old man spoke again.
"Did Wooden Buddha send you?"
'Does he have some arrangement with Wooden Buddha?'
As if reading his thoughts, the old man's lips twitched once more.
"The only one who could allow an unpermitted person to enter this place... is Wooden Buddha."
'Heaven Lord.'
Muttering inwardly, Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and asked:
"Are you the Martial God Heaven Lord himself?"
"I am."
A brief answer.
Yet, it felt as though a massive iron weight had just crashed down above Bu Eun-seol's head.
Martial God Heaven.
A servant of the True Demon, transcending even the Human Heavens—had finally revealed itself to the world.
"How strange."
The Martial God Heaven Lord tilted his head, studying Bu Eun-seol.
"You should have inherited the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's legacy... so why are you carrying a sword?"
Those words allowed Bu Eun-seol to grasp one bizarre piece of information:
The Heaven Lord, despite not knowing his true identity, had already concluded he was the successor of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade.
'He knows my face, but not who I really am...'
By now, there wasn't a soul in the martial world who didn't know of him.
His wanted-poster portrait was known to the sect intelligence networks and martial artists—not just to sect intelligence networks, but to every blade-for-hire in the martial world.
'He's been imprisoned for a long time.'
The Heaven Lord's skin was unnaturally pale, as if he hadn't seen sunlight in decades.
'If he's the Martial God Heaven Lord, shouldn't he have countless subordinates?'
For someone like him to be locked away here for so long—there had to be a reason.
But the more critical realization was this:
Even a being like the Martial God Heaven Lord couldn't fully discern his origins.
'Meaning... there's no trace of the Baekri Clan or the True Demon's energy in me.'
Feeling a quiet relief, Bu Eun-seol pressed further.
"You don't seem to know who I really am, so why call me the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade's successor?"
"You're a funny one."
The Heaven Lord chuckled darkly.
"You brazenly took it, and now you're making excuses?"
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand.
Why the Heaven Lord had said he knew his face.
"So you saw me take the sword hilt hidden in this cave, the one containing the Blade Essence of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms."
The presence watching everything beyond the gate before he entered—
That had been the Martial God Heaven Lord all along.
"Hmph."
The Heaven Lord snorted instead of answering—but that was answer enough.
And with that, another long-held question was resolved.
Why had he lured the Righteous Faction's renowned heroes here under the pretense of the Ten Weapons of the World, only to let them destroy themselves?
"Using the Ten Weapons of the World to incite a treasure war..."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"...was all just a scheme to break the Restrictive Seal binding Martial God Heaven, wasn't it?"
"Oh?"
The Heaven Lord's eyes narrowed in surprise.
"To deduce all that from just a few words..."
He snorted again.
"Not only are you sharp, but you know of our Heaven."
His mystically flickering gaze swept over Bu Eun-seol's body.
"A brat so young he hasn't even undergone Rejuvenation... yet here you are, speaking so casually before this Heaven Lord."
Considering the weight of the name Martial God Heaven—
In his eyes, Bu Eun-seol must have seemed like nothing more than a mayfly.
But there was one thing the Martial God Heaven Lord didn't know—couldn't have even dreamed of.
The fact that Bu Eun-seol harbored not a single shred of fear toward him, regardless of his status.
"I don't understand."
Bu Eun-seol tilted his head slightly and asked in a low voice.
"You knew the sword hilt containing the Blade Essence of the Bloody Tears Seven Forms was stored here."
"Are you asking why I simply watched and did nothing?"
"That's right."
Bu Eun-seol's expression was one of genuine confusion.
"Didn't you want to obtain my grandfather's Blade Essence?"
"Grandfather?"
This time, the Martial God Heaven Lord reacted sharply.
"You're saying the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade is your grandfather?"
"That's right."
"Heh heh heh heh..."
The Martial God Heaven Lord lowered his head and let out a low chuckle before—
"HAHAHAHA!"
—throwing his head back in mad laughter, clutching his forehead.
Bu Eun-seol felt a pain so intense it threatened to split the back of his skull and rupture his eardrums, yet his expression remained unshaken.
"So you're Bu Jan-yang's bloodline. That explains it."
The Martial God Heaven Lord stared into the void with a face full of reminiscence.
"He was the one who struck me down."
Bu Eun-seol wasn't particularly surprised.
If it was his grandfather, he could have cut down even the True Demon, let alone a master of the Divine Heavens.
"Then he separated the sword hilt and the great saber's blade, hid them separately within the boundaries of my domain, and imprisoned me here for eternity."
Clink.
The Martial God Heaven Lord glanced down at the chains binding his body as he spoke.
"All so he could use me as nothing more than a gatekeeper for his treasure vault."
A subtle shift flickered across Bu Eun-seol's face, which had remained impassive until now.
In other words, his grandfather had defeated the Martial God Heaven Lord, left the blade and hilt here, and sealed him away forever—just to guard them?
"If you were defeated by my grandfather, then that's that. Why did you become a gatekeeper?"
"Because he made it so I would die if I left this domain."
"Domain."
A glint of realization flashed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes as he surveyed his surroundings.
He had been dismissing the term domain casually until now.
But if that was the case, then the Martial God Heaven Lord, like the One Hundred and Eight Stars, must have complete domination over a fixed space.
"Are you saying this massive underground fortress wasn't physically constructed, but is instead the Martial God Heaven's domain?"
"Not the Martial God Heaven's domain—my domain."
The vast space stretching from the cave entrance to the scale of this Great Hall—
It was larger than any underground castle the Three Realms had ever built. And yet, all of it was merely a domain created by the Martial God Heaven Lord's power alone?
"Why did my grandfather hide the sword here?"
Bu Eun-seol had assumed he wouldn't get any more useful information after hearing that the Martial God Heaven Lord had been defeated and imprisoned here.
But surprisingly, the Martial God Heaven Lord answered everything with unexpected openness.
"He said he heard a prophecy."
"A prophecy?"
"That within the boundaries of my domain, a successor would inherit everything from him—by obtaining the Blade Essence."
Wooden Buddha.
Bu Eun-seol instantly understood.
His grandfather must have also met the Wooden Buddha and heard the prophecy from him.
Then... did Grandfather know from the start that I would obtain the Blade Essence?
He pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
His grandfather had desperately wanted him to live an ordinary life and had never taught him martial arts that could harm others.
In fact, he had infused all his internal energy into Bu Eun-seol, making his body just like his own—so he could live normally.
How could he have left behind something like this Blade Essence for him?
"Are you saying my grandfather truly did that?"
"He did."
The Martial God Heaven Lord confirmed.
"Though he also said, 'What's the point of leaving behind a Blade Essence he'll never even use? I don't get why I have to do this.'"
So that's how it was.
Having pieced everything together, Bu Eun-seol let out a soft snort.
His grandfather had already retired from Murim over thirty years ago—before Bu Eun-seol was even born.
That meant the gloves and Blade Essence had been left behind during his prime, when he was still active in the martial world.
And the fact that he had hidden them here might not have been his own will—perhaps he had only done so after meeting the Wooden Buddha and hearing the prophecy.
"Why didn't you take my grandfather's Blade Essence for yourself?"
When Bu Eun-seol asked, genuinely perplexed, the Martial God Heaven Lord's eyes narrowed.
"I didn't even know where it was hidden. I only learned its location when you took it."
Then, his expression twisted into one of bitter resignation.
"Even if I had found it, I wouldn't have been able to use it anyway."
The Bloody Tears Seven Forms of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade could only be wielded by someone whose spirit, mind, and martial prowess were perfectly in harmony.
After all, even Bu Eun-seol—who could be considered a clone of Bu Jan-yang—still hadn't mastered the Bloody Tears Seven Forms completely.
"So... you've been trapped here all this time?"
"That's right. If I left this domain, I would die. So I had no choice but to stay here... while searching for a successor."
The Martial God Heaven Lord's voice seethed with resentment as he spat out his next words.
"All while waiting for the day I could chew out Bu Jan-yang's heart."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol realize—
Why the Martial God Heaven Lord had answered all his questions so readily.
His hatred ran deep—so deep that he wanted Bu Eun-seol to know everything, to understand the full truth—
Before tearing him apart in one swift motion and drinking his blood.
"Was it because of the Heaven Lord's pride?"
"What nonsense."
"Even if the Martial God Heaven has no subordinates left..."
Bu Eun-seol's expression was still one of incomprehension.
"There are many Servants of the True Demon in Murim. Why didn't you ask them for help?"
As Bu Eun-seol subtly probed him, the Martial God Heaven Lord's eyes flashed.
"You truly know nothing. The blade techniques Bu Jan-yang uses—"
Just as the Martial God Heaven Lord was about to say something, his gleaming eyes swept over Bu Eun-seol.
"But are you really Bu Jan-yang's grandson? How is it you know nothing at all?"
"I am his grandson. I simply never heard these stories before."
Bu Eun-seol answered honestly.
"Why Grandfather never sought out and eliminated the True Demon... I cannot understand it."
"What an amusing fool."
Rather than rising to Bu Eun-seol's provocation, the Martial God Heaven Lord instead let out a scornful laugh.
"He was a divine being who upheld the law, maintained balance, followed the heavenly way, and transcended all existence. And—"
Then came the shocking statement.
"The so-called 'True Demon' your martial world always speaks of—its very embodiment—is far closer to the true nature of the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade Bu Jan-yang himself."
"Nonsense."
"Hohoho."
The Martial God Heaven Lord chuckled lowly, as if recalling something.
"Come to think of it, you only took the hilt containing the Blade Essence."
Then, with a curl of his lips, he added:
"Find Bu Jan-yang's great blade and examine the inside of its blade. Therein lie the hidden secrets of his past, his sins, and the truth he wished to conceal."
"Inside the blade... Grandfather's sins?"
Bu Eun-seol furrowed his brow.
He had long known that his grandfather must have made mistakes and committed transgressions.
But to hide such things inside the blade of his great weapon?
How could he have taken such a risk with a weapon that could be stolen?
'If so, then Grandfather must have been safeguarding a secret that absolutely had to be passed down.'
"Who took the great blade?"
"I don't know. This Heaven Lord merely observed."
"If you saw it, shouldn't you at least know some distinguishing features of the thief?"
The Martial God Heaven Lord snorted.
"The only reason I've told you this much is because you're Bu Jan-yang's grandson. My seething resentment must be resolved."
"What do you mean?"
His gaze turned lethally cold.
"Shouldn't you curse your grandfather with your dying breath, now that you know the truth?"
The Martial God Heaven Lord's willingness to divulge everything had merely been groundwork for his own gratifying revenge.
'So it was a karmic bond after all.'
Because the Martial God Heaven Lord had answered everything so readily,
Bu Eun-seol had wondered if he might learn more of his grandfather's hidden deeds.
He had even hoped—perhaps this man shared some positive connection with his grandfather.
But in the end, this was an enemy he would have to fight with his life on the line.
"Don't even think of running."
The Martial God Heaven Lord smiled cruelly.
"Once you've entered this Heaven Lord's domain, escape is impossible."
"No need to worry about that. Make your move."
Bu Eun-seol's eerily calm response made
the Martial God Heaven Lord's gleaming eyes scrutinize his body and stance thoroughly.
"Your foundation is well-honed. You must have trained systematically in martial arts since childhood."
Bu Eun-seol could neither confirm nor deny.
Even during his time at Saha Manor, he had undoubtedly learned martial techniques.
And while working as an undertaker with his grandfather, he had received various strength infusions due to his frail constitution.
In the process, he had inherited countless martial techniques and the Heart-Seal Method—effectively, it was no different from systematic martial training.
"Regardless, now that this Heaven has finally welcomed a new Heaven Lord... All that remains is to grind you to dust before I can rest in peace."
'A successor.'
Bu Eun-seol's chest turned cold.
If so, then the old man before him was the previous Martial God Heaven Lord, and a new one had been born?
"You mean the current Martial God Heaven Lord is someone else?"
"Correct. A most fitting candidate for this Heaven Lord's purpose."
The Martial God Heaven Lord wore a proud expression.
"Now the martial world will descend into chaos. And it will begin with this Heaven."
"Who is he?"
"Ask the King of Hell that."
Clang.
As he took a step forward, the chains wrapped around his body clattered loudly.
The swaying chains moved not like metal, but like shimmering ropes, undulating smoothly.
Now, only the decisive battle with the Martial God Heaven Lord remained.
'I can't afford to lose even in the battle of momentum.'
After a brief contemplation, Bu Eun-seol allowed a faint smile.
"Martial God Heaven Lord, you've already lost."
"What did you say?"
"Have you forgotten why I came here in the first place?"
The Wooden Buddha could read the will of Heaven.
There was no way he wouldn't have foreseen this meeting between the Martial God Heaven Lord and Bu Eun-seol.
Which meant... the one destined for defeat could only be the Martial God Heaven Lord.
"Hahaha!"
The Martial God Heaven Lord instead burst into raucous laughter.
"Don't tell me you actually believe the Wooden Buddha is some righteous prophet?"
Then, with absolute conviction, he declared:
"The Wooden Buddha is an agent of chaos who has thrown the world into greater turmoil than Mo-ryun ever did."
What followed was another shocking revelation.
"Rather, it is precisely because of him—because of his prophecies—that the world has grown even more corrupted."
Bu Eun-seol wasn't particularly surprised.
Though he couldn't openly admit it, he partly agreed.
Whether the Wooden Buddha was truly an agent of chaos or not,
the mere existence of a prophet like him—his every word alone—
was enough to plunge the martial world into upheaval.
"What does that matter?"
"What?"
"Prophecies aren't the problem. It's the fools who blindly let themselves be ruled by them."
The Wooden Buddha is subject to heavenly punishment if he reveals celestial secrets.
In the end, it was the dominators of the martial world who demanded those prophecies, and they who let themselves be swayed by them.
Those like Bu Eun-seol, who walked their path with unwavering conviction,
were never shaken or dominated by prophecies to begin with.
"By Grandfather's orders, I've played gatekeeper here for far too long..."
Shhhk.
The moment he drew the Ink Soul Sword, a five-colored flash erupted from Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
"Now, I shall be the one to reclaim that command."