Chapter 912
The Hidden Demon Pavilion, Grand Conference Hall.
An abrupt piece of intelligence had all the battalion commanders of the Death Shadow War Unit hastily gathering to begin an emergency meeting.
The cause was none other than what could only be described as an invasion—though not quite—by the Blood Cult.
"The Blood Cult bastards have come up with a rather ingenious scheme," Wi Cheon-gyeong said with an expression of utmost gravity.
"They've been secretly infiltrating the Divine Maiden Palace."
Even among those of the Demonic Path who staunchly supported Bu Eun-seol, his engagement to the Young Palace Lord of the Divine Maiden Palace had been somewhat difficult to comprehend—an arrangement that inevitably bred discontent.
And now, the Blood Cult was deliberately provoking the Divine Maiden Palace, as if to remind everyone of that fact once more.
Wi Cheon-gyeong continued, "Most likely, they have no intention of tolerating the Lord's recognition as the Heir of the Demon Hall."
"The Divine Maiden Palace, hm?"
Even upon hearing that the Divine Maiden Palace—where Yeon So-ha resided—had been infiltrated by the Blood Cult, Bu Eun-seol wore an expression of utter nonchalance.
"Is this confirmed?"
"It is," Wi Cheon-gyeong replied cautiously. "The Blood Cult bastards have been restraining themselves from direct attacks on the surface, given their peace agreement with the Lord."
His eyes burned with fury as he spoke.
"But they've been preparing pawns to pressure the Lord openly. Mobilizing a large force in secret right before the Divine Maiden Palace—that's something they couldn't have done without colluding with sects from the Central Plains."
"They're probably trying to gauge what kind of person the Heir of the Demon Hall truly is," Myo Cheon-u interjected.
"They need to figure out what kind of man the Lord is before they can plan their next moves."
"What do you mean by that?" Jo Nam-cheon asked.
Myo Cheon-u answered, "Until now, the Lord has maintained the Middle Path as long as no one provoked him. But with this rumor, they're likely trying to confirm his true intentions."
"So they're preparing for an invasion of the Central Plains?"
"Exactly. When that time comes, the kind of person the Lord is will matter most."
"In the end, the Divine Maiden Palace has been caught in the crossfire for no reason," Jo Nam-cheon muttered.
The battalion commanders' expressions darkened.
Yeon So-ha had come to the Demon Hall and treated them with kindness. Her calm demeanor and excellent culinary skills had earned their respect.
The thought of her now facing hardship pained them.
"They're using rumors," Won Se-mun said. "Now that the Lord has declared his Demonic Hegemony, aiding the Divine Maiden Palace—a faction aligned with the Righteous Path—would be laughable."
"Precisely," Yu Un-ryong nodded. "There is justification—she is his betrothed, after all. But if he rushes to her aid in a frenzy... it would undermine the prestige of the Heir of the Demon Hall."
Bu Eun-seol was someone who had fearlessly criticized the Demon Hall's inner circle and executed them without hesitation.
But if he were to immediately rush to the defense of Yeon So-ha—a betrothed from the Righteous Faction—what would that say?
Even with justification, his standing as the Heir of the Demon Hall would inevitably suffer a severe blow.
"Prestige, hm?"
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol's lips curled into a faint smile.
"The Blood Cult bastards... They still don't understand my temperament, it seems."
His tone was markedly different from the stern and cautious manner he had maintained until now.
Seeing the killing intent brimming in that smile, Yu Un-ryong cautiously spoke up.
"If you intend to intervene, we should send the warriors from this hall. There's no need to dance to their tune."
"Right," Myo Cheon-u agreed. "If you personally resolve this matter, the Blood Cult will keep targeting those connected to you. They'll take it as proof that such tactics work."
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol simply maintained his smile.
Yu Un-ryong then said, "Then, for this matter, I'll take command of the Death Shadow War Unit's forces and handle it accordingly."
"No. I'll go."
"What?"
"Even with Battalion Commander Wi and Protector Tak, it would take three days. By then, it would become a negotiation, not a battle."
Bu Eun-seol bared his white teeth in a smile.
"And frankly, this is the perfect opportunity to show them."
That smile was so beautiful it was almost sinister.
"What happens when they touch what's mine."
The battalion commanders' faces stiffened slightly at the sight.
It was an artificial, icy smile—too deliberate to be natural.
Regardless, an unmistakably delighted smile lingered at the corners of Bu Eun-seol's lips.
"In fact, this is a rather good opportunity."
At those words, not just Yu Un-ryong but all the battalion commanders' eyes widened.
After all, this matter involved the lives of the Divine Maiden Palace and Yeon So-ha.
And yet he called it an opportunity?
"I'll handle this matter myself. The rest of you, focus on your duties."
"Lord, this is—"
Wi Cheon-gyeong tried to speak, but Bu Eun-seol waved him off.
"Work hard."
Without so much as a backward glance, he strode out of the conference hall.
BOOM!
A distant peal of thunder soon echoed through the air.
Bu Eun-seol had unleashed his Lightness Skill at full power.
"..."
Silence lingered in the hall for a long moment.
"The Lord seems..." Won Se-mun stammered.
"...in a good mood lately. He's become more positive and gentle compared to before."
But no one answered him.
Because there was no way Bu Eun-seol would act like this simply because of his mood.
They all sensed it—that he had changed in some inexplicable way.
Mount Wu, the Divine Maiden Palace.
One of the Seven Great Secret Palaces of the martial world.
Legends say it was founded by Yo-hui, the third daughter of Sin-nong, who presided over agriculture and medicinal herbs.
True to those tales, the Divine Maiden Palace is said to house mysterious Dharma Treasures and Immortal Artifacts once wielded by celestial beings, as well as rare spiritual herbs and miraculous medicines piled high like mountains.
Because of this, those who sought to dominate the martial world had always coveted the Divine Maiden Palace.
To seize control of it meant gaining countless elixirs and hidden treasures.
It was much like how the Joyous Union Palace—the predecessor of the Fleeting Moment Boat—had been endlessly harassed by factions lusting after its vast wealth and intelligence networks.
Eventually, after relentless invasions, the Divine Maiden Palace gradually shifted its focus from martial arts to Formation Study.
If they could fully utilize the natural defenses of their terrain, a mere hundred defenders could hold off an army of tens of thousands with the right formations.
But in time, the Divine Maiden Palace came to realize—
Formations alone were not the answer.
In fact, they had an unexpected weakness.
If they relied solely on formations to repel external forces...
All it took was a single traitor colluding with the enemy—
And the core of their formations would be shattered, their vulnerabilities laid bare in an instant.
Just like now.
Zzzzt—!
As layer upon layer of formations dissolved, bolts of lightning flickered in all directions before—
Ssssshh—
The mist lifted, revealing the majestic exterior of the Divine Maiden Palace in full view.
The Dharma Instruments embedded along the path to the palace had been destroyed, severing the cyclical flow of the formation's energy.
Whoooosh—
Now that the Divine Maiden Palace stood exposed—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Over two thousand soldiers clad in crimson surged forward in a rapid advance.
They were the Blood Wolf Unit—
An elite force within the Blood Cult, composed of warriors skilled in Great Arts that enhanced their physical strength, as well as various sorceries.
Bwooo—!
A horn blast echoed from the unit assembled before the palace, and—
Whish! Whish! Whish!
A rain of silver Steel Arrows came pouring down upon them.
—Gahk!
Screams filled the air, but they paid no heed, charging relentlessly toward the Divine Maiden Palace.
The ground trembled beneath them as hidden spikes and bizarre formations activated to block their advance.
Yet the warriors of the Blood Wolf Unit, their bodies tempered like steel, pressed forward without fear of death.
—Strike them down!
Finally, as they closed in, the Divine Maiden Palace also dispatched its own forces to engage in direct combat.
But the two thousand Blood Cult warriors completely overwhelmed the palace's disciples.
From the start, the Blood Wolf Unit was composed of battle-hardened veterans, all proficient in Great Arts.
Moreover, they had been handpicked for this very mission—to strike down the Martial Soul Lord.
—Hold the line!
The disciples of the Divine Maiden Palace fought desperately, but under the relentless assault, their defensive lines began to crumble.
"Tch."
From a distance, the Palace Lord, Yeon Ja-mi, bit her lip.
The Blood Cult warriors all wielded bizarre blood-based Great Arts, meaning—
The longer the battle raged, the more wounded there were... the stronger they became.
Worse, the cult's followers considered death in battle a glorious honor.
They had been brainwashed to believe that dying under their cult leader's command would grant them passage to a paradise of eternal life.
"It seems the Blood Cult has already taken control of the Central Plains' intelligence networks," said Namgung Se-a, Master of Haehwa Palace, standing guard beside Yeon Ja-mi as she clenched her jaw.
"There's no other way they could have infiltrated the palace like this without detection."
No matter how many mysterious Great Arts the Blood Cult possessed, it was impossible to conceal the movement of such a massive force entirely.
Moreover, infiltrating the Central Plains with over two thousand soldiers—let alone sneaking them to the Divine Maiden Palace—should have been unthinkable.
After all, Sichuan was home not only to the Sword Pavilion and the Dang Clan but also the Azure Heaven Alliance, a coalition of orthodox factions.
Yet shockingly, the Blood Cult had deceived them all and breached the Divine Maiden Palace.
"Most likely due to the Blood Cult's intelligence operatives spread throughout the Central Plains," Yeon Ja-mi muttered.
"But that's not all. They must have planted spies within the palace and used factions familiar with us to spread false information."
Just as she said, the Blood Cult had not only used Sichuan sects to disseminate misinformation—
They had also incited large-scale chaos in Sichuan and Shaanxi.
Black Path and Unorthodox Faction offshoots, usually dormant, had suddenly begun massacring civilians without mercy.
Most intelligence networks assumed it was merely infighting among minor factions—
But in truth, it had all been a ploy to mask the Blood Cult's troop movements toward the Divine Maiden Palace.
—Aaaagh!
—Ughhk!
By now, the defensive lines had completely collapsed.
The disciples' screams echoed in all directions, and the formations were no longer of any use.
Especially since the Divine Maiden Palace's disciples had never prioritized martial training—
They simply couldn't withstand the battle-hardened followers of the Blood Cult in close combat.
"Enough!"
Finally, Yeon Ja-mi shouted to the three hall leaders commanding the battle—the leaders of the Divine Maiden Palace's Three Great Legions: Water Purity, Shamanic Spirit, and Purple Mansion.
"Cease combat immediately! We will surrender!"
"Palace Lord! You can't!"
The hall masters tried to dissuade her, but she shook her head resolutely.
"Fighting any longer will only result in our disciples pointlessly losing their lives. I would rather negotiate for what they want."
At Yeon Ja-mi's command, the battle came to a temporary halt.
Thud. Thud.
At the forefront of the Blood Cult forces that had broken through the defensive line stood a giant of a man clad in crimson armor.
He was none other than Do Nap-geuk, the leader of the Blood Wolf Unit spearheading this assault.
"A most excellent choice, Palace Lord."
Do Nap-geuk nodded approvingly as he gazed at Yeon Ja-mi, who had stepped forward before her disciples.
"As they say, a wise man knows when to yield. Truly, the rumors of your wisdom do not disappoint."
At his glib words, Yeon Ja-mi's expression grew even colder.
Such behavior was nothing short of mockery.
"Just what does the Blood Cult want from this palace that they would resort to such brutality?"
"Have the martial artists of the Central Plains not said that possessing treasure is itself a crime?"
Yeon Ja-mi's eyes sharpened at Do Nap-geuk's words.
An organization like the Blood Cult would never go to such lengths merely for the treasures stored within the Divine Maiden Palace.
"Fine. Speak your demands."
Yeon Ja-mi kept her voice steady.
"The fact that you mobilized such forces in secrecy means you must have a different objective."
"This leader desires only one treasure."
Do Nap-geuk bared his fangs in a grin.
"A Glance Worth a Thousand Gold."
"...What?"
"Hand over the Young Palace Lord—one of the Three Beauties of the World—to us."
Do Nap-geuk smirked darkly.
"Then we shall withdraw quietly."
"Hahahaha!"
Yeon Ja-mi burst into laughter, utterly dumbfounded.
"You should have said so from the beginning."
Unbridled killing intent erupted from her eyes.
"Had you done so, I would never have proposed a truce—even if this palace were to crumble."
In her fury, she raised her voice in a thunderous command.
"All disciples, listen! From this moment onward, we shall—"
But her words were cut short.
Before anyone realized it, the disciples at the front lines had begun collapsing one by one.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"Shouldn't you have noticed when your formation was broken?"
It was now clear—the Blood Cult had long since planted spies within the Divine Maiden Palace.
Not only had they neutralized the formation's effects, but they had also poisoned the disciples.
"How could this happen...?"
Yeon Ja-mi's face twisted in devastation.
As a sect that rarely revealed itself in the martial world, the Divine Maiden Palace had always maintained unshakable unity.
She had believed they had completely barred all external forces from infiltrating.
Yet had it all been an illusion?
'Should we have joined the Azure Heaven Alliance after all?'
The Divine Maiden Palace had initially accepted Bu Eun-seol's proposal for the Sichuan Alliance.
But when that plan later transformed into the Azure Heaven Alliance, they had firmly refused to join.
Because it would inevitably become corrupted.
Even the Divine Maiden Palace, which had long walked the righteous path, had declared neutrality between orthodoxy and heterodoxy.
They had witnessed firsthand how the Martial Alliance—that grotesque coalition—had degenerated.
Though the current alliance leader, the Bullet King, was an upright figure...
In the end, the Azure Heaven Alliance was bound to meet the same fate. That was why they had refused.
—Then even if you do not join the alliance, at least permit a detachment of Azure Heaven troops and the Information Warfare Unit to be stationed at the Divine Maiden Palace.
That had been Bu Eun-seol's suggestion.
The Divine Maiden Palace was too isolated to grasp the situation in real time.
Thus, Bu Eun-seol had urged them to allow the deployment of intelligence operatives to monitor any threats...
But Yeon Ja-mi had rejected even that.
—This palace will handle its own security.
And now, just as Bu Eun-seol had feared, this tragedy had unfolded.
At this moment, she bitterly regretted her decision.
"Since you refused our generous offer, you leave us no choice but to administer punishment, no?"
Yeon Ja-mi bit her lip at Do Nap-geuk's words.
"But poison should have no effect on this palace's disciples."
The disciples of the Divine Maiden Palace regularly consumed the spiritual herbs of Mount Wu.
They had nearly reached a state of Immunity to All Poisons.
Moreover, no matter how potent the toxin...
It shouldn't have been possible to immobilize them so completely in such a short time.
"That's because it isn't poison—that's why it works."
Do Nap-geuk clicked his tongue as he surveyed the fallen disciples.
"They drank water laced with the Extreme Yin Divine Pill."
"Extreme Yin Divine Pill...?"
It was a spirit medicine meant to replenish depleted Yin energy.
But if given to perfectly healthy disciples...
Their Yin energy would surge uncontrollably, paralyzing their bodies.
Clench.
Yeon Ja-mi tightened her fists.
While the palace lord and senior members with profound martial arts remained unaffected, ordinary disciples were succumbing to paralysis.
Even if they continued the battle, all that awaited them was utter defeat—a crushing, humiliating rout.
"Even now, if you hand over the Young Palace Lord, no harm will come to pass."
"Nonsense!"
Step, step.
But then, a shadow emerged from among the fallen disciples.
Her skin glowed with a luster like moonlight, and her pupils were as deep and mysterious as a frozen lake preserved for a thousand years.
It was as if all the beauty of the world had gathered into a single woman.
None other than the Young Palace Lord Yeon So-ha, known as A Glance Worth a Thousand Gold.
"Oh-ho."
Do Nap-geuk nodded approvingly at her approach, raising his thumb.
"As expected, the rumors of your beauty were not unfounded."
He chuckled darkly.
"Truly, a single glance from you is worth a thousand gold."
"So-ha."
Yeon Ja-mi spoke firmly as she watched her daughter stride forward unflinching.
"Why have you left the Purple Haze Cavern?"
"How could I stay hidden while my disciples risk their lives fighting?"
"Foolish child. Their target from the beginning was the Martial Soul Lord. Don't you realize they're after you for that reason?"
From the moment the Blood Cult launched their invasion, Yeon Ja-mi had discerned their true intent.
They sought to tarnish the prestige of the Martial Soul Lord, Bu Eun-seol, and drive him from his position as successor.
Because he had extracted an oath from the Blood Cult's leader, Pae Reuk-gyeol, to never invade the Central Plains.
At the time, Pae Reuk-gyeol must have thought—
That an oath could be broken at any time.
After all, it was merely a promise made to a young successor of the Demon Hall, not even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor himself.
But before anyone realized, Bu Eun-seol had become a sect leader capable of moving the Demonic Path, just like the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
Which meant they could no longer openly break that oath... They had to reassess Bu Eun-seol's temperament and reformulate their strategy.
And to do that, they targeted his betrothed.
Yeon So-ha.
"I know. But I am the Young Palace Lord of this palace."
Yeon So-ha's expression was resolute.
"I refuse to become someone's weakness or a bargaining chip. I would rather fight and shatter like jade."
Her spirit seemed capable of piercing the heavens, her demeanor transcending life and death.
"Though our palace may lack the strength to survive this day and vanish from the Martial World, our unbroken will and integrity will be remembered by all!"
—Rooooar!
At Yeon So-ha's cry, the disciples' morale surged like a tidal wave, and they roared in unison.
Even though the Divine Maiden Palace was a sect of women.
Even though they had endured relentless invasions from external forces.
The reason they had preserved their legacy through bloodstained history...
Was precisely this unyielding conviction that refused to bow to any threat.
"A splendid sight."
Do Nap-geuk nodded approvingly.
"But that conviction couldn't stop your subordinate's betrayal, could it?"
"What—?"
Crack.
A sharp sound came from behind Yeon So-ha.
Im Seon-a, her attendant and guard who had been like a sister to her since childhood—
Had suddenly seized her Demon Blood Point.
Shhhk.
Pressing a dagger to Yeon So-ha's throat, she swiftly retreated through the disciples toward Do Nap-geuk's ranks.
"Seon-a... how could you?"
Yeon Ja-mi trembled with betrayal.
When Yeon So-ha was frail as a child,
She had ordered Im Seon-a—gentle and meticulous by nature—to accompany her at all times.
And Yeon Ja-mi had cherished Im Seon-a like her own daughter.
How could she have been bribed by the Blood Cult?
"So-ha was smart and bold, just like the Palace Lord."
Im Seon-a's voice was thick with venom as she glared at Yeon Ja-mi.
"But after meeting that man from the Demonic Path, she became a fool. She cast aside the one who cared for her all her life!"
"You—"
"And in the end, even the Palace Lord didn't stop her. What choice did I have?"
Yeon Ja-mi was speechless at the fury in Im Seon-a's expression.
No matter how close they were, how could she speak with such hatred?
'So that's how it was.'
Im Seon-a hadn't seen Yeon So-ha as a sister.
She had harbored an abnormal, twisted possessiveness.
"This is my failure..."
Yeon Ja-mi had misjudged Im Seon-a's mental state, allowing them to grow up like siblings.
This was entirely her mistake.
"You've suffered."
Do Nap-geuk's gaze lingered on Yeon So-ha's slender figure.
Even in the loose robes of the Divine Maiden Palace, her exquisite curves were unmistakable.
"Truly! No wonder the Martial Soul Lord fell for such a beauty."
"Release the Young Palace Lord!"
At Yeon Ja-mi's shout, Do Nap-geuk smirked.
"The Young Palace Lord is already in my hands. There's no reason to fight further."
He surveyed the surroundings with leisurely confidence.
"With this bargaining chip for negotiations with the Martial Soul Lord, this leader shall take his leave. Don't do anything reckless."
If this had been the Yeon Ja-mi of the past,
She would have sacrificed her daughter to protect her disciples.
But Yeon So-ha had reignited the Divine Maiden Palace's spirit.
Even if it meant death, they could not yield to such villains.
"How tragic, this choice of yours."
Seeing Yeon Ja-mi's grim resolve,
Do Nap-geuk sneered, realizing she had chosen Jade Shattering.
"Pity. The Divine Maiden Palace's legacy, passed down through generations, will end here—all because of the Palace Lord's poor judgment—"
His words were cut short.
CRACKKKKK—!
A sound like a storm tearing through the heavens erupted from the distant sky,
Flash!
And a black bolt of lightning struck the earth.
Simultaneously,
Thud.
Do Nap-geuk's head fell to the ground.
"..."
A silence as thick as death settled between the Divine Maiden Palace and the Blood Wolf Unit.
The sheer unpredictability of the situation had paralyzed all thought.