Chapter 913
Crackle—
Black lightning struck the ground, sending up plumes of dust that soon coalesced into the silhouette of a man.
Dressed in black robes embroidered with the emblem of Twin Dragons Vying for a Pearl, his long hair fluttered wildly in the wind.
His eyes were so long and deep that it was impossible to tell where he was looking, and an aura of divine energy surged from his entire body.
It was none other than Bu Eun-seol.
"Greetings."
Without even glancing toward the Divine Maiden Palace's forces where Yeon Ja-mi stood,
Bu Eun-seol turned his gaze to the Blood Wolf Unit surrounding the palace and smiled faintly.
"You must have had a long and arduous journey."
His smile was disarmingly bright, his tone so casual it was as if he were speaking to an old friend.
That effortless demeanor sent a chill down the spines of the Blood Wolf Unit's warriors.
CRACK!
A sudden explosive sound—
—and the heads of the warriors at the forefront of the Blood Wolf Unit's vanguard shot into the sky.
The Willful True Binding had surged forth at blinding speed,
slicing through their skulls in an instant, like a farmer reaping grain.
Squelch— Thud-thud-thud.
Bodies gushing fountains of blood collapsed lifelessly to the ground, their heads severed.
—...
The warriors of the Blood Wolf Unit couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
They had all undergone a mysterious Great Art,
transcending human limits to gain heightened senses and strength—devoid of any fear.
Shudder.
So why were their bodies trembling?
Why did even meeting his eyes feel like an unbearable weight?
Why did they feel like insects—no, something even lower than insects?
They didn't realize it yet.
The authority of a superhuman.
Bu Eun-seol hadn't just killed his enemies in a single stroke—
No, it was as if he had carved their hearts apart with a razor-sharp Mind Sword,
branding their very spirits with the absolute dominance of a sovereign, leaving them no room for resistance, only submission.
"I wondered why the formation had collapsed. Turns out the problem was a traitor within."
Bu Eun-seol clicked his tongue as he looked at Im Seon-a, who still held a dagger to Yeon So-ha's throat.
"Is this the weakness of an all-female sect? Or did she simply hide her twisted heart too well?"
"Don't come any closer!"
Im Seon-a let out a scream that sounded more like a desperate struggle.
She pressed the dagger harder, drawing blood from Yeon So-ha's neck.
"Take one more step and—"
Crunch.
Her words were cut short.
The arm holding the dagger bent at an unnatural angle.
"AAAAAHHH!"
A piercing shriek echoed throughout Mount Wu.
Unable to endure the pain, Im Seon-a writhed and rolled across the ground.
But that was only the beginning.
Fwoosh.
Her fallen body levitated into the air.
"The Blood Cult wouldn't have sent just one infiltrator."
Bu Eun-seol's expression was colder than ice.
"Tell me the names of everyone who conspired with them."
"You think... I'd talk— Ptui!"
Even in agony, Im Seon-a spat at him.
"Because of you... the Young Palace Lord— GYAAAAH!"
Another bloodcurdling scream tore through the sky.
Her arms were being slowly pulled apart—Bu Eun-seol was using his immense internal energy to rip them in opposite directions.
"Lord!"
Yeon So-ha suddenly rushed forward.
"Please spare her!"
She clasped her hands together in desperate plea.
"She's been like an elder sister to me since I was a child!"
"An elder sister?"
Bu Eun-seol's lips curled with both disbelief and scorn.
"What kind of elder sister would sell her own to a demonic den like the Blood Cult?"
"That's..."
When Yeon So-ha couldn't answer, Bu Eun-seol scoffed.
"That naive mindset is what brought the Divine Maiden Palace to ruin."
"AAAHHH!"
Meanwhile, Im Seon-a's shoulders dislocated, her arms stretched to the brink of tearing apart.
"The Blood Wolf Unit Leader intended to use me as leverage to negotiate with you, Lord!"
Realizing Bu Eun-seol truly meant to tear her apart, Yeon So-ha spoke urgently.
"She must have planned to confirm my safety with him before abducting me!"
"..."
"She is a disciple of the main palace. If you punish her, complications will arise."
Yeon So-ha pleaded desperately.
"Please, for the sake of the main palace's dignity... Lord."
Did her desperate cry reach him?
Thud.
Im Seon-a, suspended in midair, dropped to the ground.
But the muscles in both her arms were already severely torn—
Without an elixir like the Azure Spirit Stone Fluid, she would most likely end up a cripple.
Snap.
Under Bu Eun-seol's gaze, the pressure points sealing Yeon So-ha's movements instantly released.
"Never show mercy to a traitor again. In the end, you'll only be putting a blade to your own throat."
After uttering those words, Bu Eun-seol turned his body.
And as he gazed upon the martial artists of the Blood Wolf Unit encamped before the Divine Maiden Palace, he smiled.
"From now on, only one of you will survive."
Step.
Bu Eun-seol took a single step forward and spoke.
"Because I need to leave behind a messenger to convey my intentions to Pae Reuk-gyeol."
Step.
He took yet another step forward.
Fwoosh.
Bu Eun-seol's figure gradually began to fade.
Having drawn upon the full might of the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi, his body had become completely transparent.
KWAOOOOOO—!
At the same time, a deafening gale, as if tearing through the heavens, poured down upon the martial artists of the Blood Wolf Unit.
The power of the Wind God, capable of passing through even the slightest gap.
He wielded the profound principles of Wind Seamless Passage and Wind Piercing the Finest Crack in the form of an attack.
And thus, he began piercing through their bodies.
Gooooo...
With every razor-sharp gust that swept past, the martial artists' bodies were reduced to bloody pulp.
A human's flesh possesses seven apertures (chilgong), and wind can pass through even the tiniest of gaps.
From the Wind God's perspective—
Humans were nothing more than beings who carried around seven fatal weaknesses, any of which could destroy them in an instant.
Bang! Bang!
There were no screams.
Only the sound of wind slicing through flesh—steel-hard bodies tearing apart, crushing, dissolving into showers of blood.
Though they had undergone the Blood Cult's Great Art, granting them bodies as hard as steel, their internal organs remained as soft as any ordinary person's.
And as the razor-sharp Wind & Cloud Divine Qi pierced through the gaps in their flesh—
Only the eerie sound of bursting skin echoed in rapid succession.
Bu Eun-seol had deliberately chosen the most agonizing and brutal method to slaughter the Blood Wolf Unit.
A cold, unrelenting warning to the Blood Cult.
Bang-bang... Splash-splash!
The sound of skin splitting grew faster and faster—
Until it no longer resembled explosions, but rather the smooth, rhythmic playing of some macabre instrument.
The Blood Wolf Unit numbered two thousand.
Considering their martial prowess and abilities, they could be considered equivalent to eight thousand elite troops of the Murim world.
But to Bu Eun-seol—
Two thousand or eight thousand... The only difference was how many skins he had to burst.
Shudder, shudder.
In the end, out of the two thousand-strong force, only one young martial artist remained alive—standing at the very rear of the formation.
KWAOOOOO—!
Then, the swirling storm of blood surged skyward.
SHWAAAAA—!
The blood rain began to pour down.
Strangely enough—
The crimson downpour fell only upon that lone surviving martial artist.
Shudder, shudder.
Drenched in the blood of his comrades, the young martial artist's eyes had gone utterly blank.
Originally, the warriors of the Blood Wolf Unit had their emotions stripped away.
But could even they remain indifferent after being bathed in the blood of those they had fought alongside for so long?
The answer was written plainly on the young martial artist's face.
Fear, despair, anguish, a sense of loss—
All emotions he had long believed excised now surged back, crushing his mind beneath their weight.
"Report everything you've seen and felt to Pae Reuk-gyeol without omission."
Bu Eun-seol spoke as he watched the lone survivor of the Blood Wolf Unit.
"That is the reason you were spared."
The martial artist stared at Bu Eun-seol with hollow eyes.
Then, slowly, he turned away.
Stagger, stagger.
His steps were unsteady as he slowly departed the Divine Maiden Palace, his fingertips trembling ceaselessly.
'He didn't just issue a warning to Pae Reuk-gyeol—he made an example for the entire Blood Cult.'
From afar, the Master of Haehwa Palace, Namgung Se-a, let out a sigh as she observed the scene.
As a member of the Namgung Clan, she possessed not only formidable martial arts but also exceptional wisdom and insight into situations.
She had immediately discerned why Bu Eun-seol had spared a single Blood Cult member.
'That survivor has no choice but to return to the Blood Cult's headquarters if he wishes to see Pae Reuk-gyeol.'
And once he does, every martial artist of the Blood Cult will witness it.
The price of provoking the Martial Soul Lord.
The manner in which he deals with his enemies.
'But it's too cruel.'
Namgung Se-a frowned.
The method Bu Eun-seol had employed—
Even for the Blood Cult, who revered bloodshed—
Was an effective means of engraving absolute terror into their minds, yet...
At the same time, it was inhumanely brutal.
Step, step.
Regardless, Bu Eun-seol walked back toward the Divine Maiden Palace's headquarters and spoke in a low voice.
"For a force of this size to bypass the intelligence networks and cross Jade Gate Pass to reach Mount Wu..."
Without sparing even a glance toward Yeon Ja-mi or Yeon So-ha, Bu Eun-seol scrutinized each of the Divine Maiden Palace's disciples one by one.
"That means either someone with intimate knowledge of the Divine Maiden Palace—or a faction in communication with it—attempted to sow disruption."
Crunch. Crunch.
Bu Eun-seol began scanning the faces of the Divine Maiden Palace disciples one by one, his pupils shimmering with an eerie glow.
His eyes burned crimson, like twin torches.
The disciples bowed their heads in fear, unable to meet his gaze.
"Lord. That's enough."
Unable to stand by any longer, Namgung Se-a stepped forward.
"The rest will be handled by this palace."
"No."
"'No'?"
Namgung Se-a spoke sternly.
"You mean to say the Palace Lord herself will handle it, not this hall master?"
"Even the Palace Lord cannot."
"What do you mean?"
Bu Eun-seol answered with unshakable resolve.
"How can a phoenix soaring the heavens discern those with the hearts of jackals?"
It sounded like praise for Yeon Ja-mi's grace—
But in truth, it was a declaration that even she lacked the ability to root out the spies within the Divine Maiden Palace.
"You—"
Just as Namgung Se-a was about to retort—
Swish!
The head of a female disciple, who had been avoiding Bu Eun-seol's gaze, flew through the air.
The three great hall masters—Jibu, Sujeong, and Buryeong—screamed and rushed forward.
"What are you doing?!"
"Quite bold for a mere spy to carry something like this."
Bu Eun-seol pointed at the dead disciple's robes with his finger.
Plop.
A large iron sphere, painted crimson, tumbled out from her hidden pocket.
From the scent of gunpowder and poison, it was unmistakably a Poison Bomb, specially crafted by the Blood Cult.
"This is..."
As the three hall masters stood frozen—
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Bu Eun-seol beheaded five more disciples in rapid succession.
Each of them carried either vicious hidden weapons or poison bombs from the Blood Cult—things no Divine Maiden Palace disciple should possess.
Some even had treasures or Dharma Instruments stolen from the palace's vaults hidden on their persons.
And among them—an Extreme Yin Divine Pill, dissolved in water.
"Disgraceful."
As Bu Eun-seol clicked his tongue, Yeon Ja-mi, who had remained silent until now, finally shouted sternly.
"Martial Soul Lord! The affairs of our sect are ours to resolve!"
"Palace Lord, endure a little longer."
"What?"
"It will be over soon."
A strange light spilled from Bu Eun-seol's crimson-flaring pupils.
For a moment, Yeon Ja-mi felt dizzy.
The moment his gaze met hers, it was as if her entire body—organs, lungs, and all—had been laid bare.
'Even I, the Palace Lord, grow dizzy from a mere glance?'
Though not one of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, Yeon Ja-mi was still one of the most formidable female martial artists in the world.
Yet just meeting his eyes made her spine tingle, as if her very inner self had been exposed.
Could he truly have reached the same realm as the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—where a demonic gaze could pierce the heart?
"The ringleader of the traitors is here."
Bu Eun-seol's mysteriously gleaming eyes locked onto one figure.
None other than Yang Nan-gyeong, the hall master of Byeokyo Hall—cherished by Yeon Ja-mi like a younger sister.
'He truly is peering into her spirit and mind with just his gaze, just like the Demonic Heavenly Emperor in the present.'
Just as Yeon Ja-mi reeled in shock—
"Answer me. Which sect conspired with the Blood Cult to strike the Divine Maiden Palace?"
Bu Eun-seol stepped closer, looming over Yang Nan-gyeong.
At first, she clenched her teeth, resolved to stay silent.
But his voice carried an uncanny mana, and before she knew it, the words nearly spilled from her lips.
"Do you think I'll tell you?"
Instead, she immediately severed her heart meridian, attempting suicide.
With things having come this far, all her plans had already crumbled.
Crack.
But her meridian didn't snap—her body twisted instead.
Bu Eun-seol had anticipated her suicide attempt and preemptively unleashed the Blood Death Torture.
"Kyaaaa—!"
A ghastly scream echoed into the distant sky.
Because Bu Eun-seol's Reverse Polarity True Qi contained both Yin and Yang energies,
His torture techniques, fueled by internal energy, inflicted pain dozens of times worse than any ordinary martial artist could deliver.
"I'll ask again."
Bu Eun-seol spoke leisurely.
"Which sect colluded with the Blood Cult to disrupt your intelligence network and plant spies in the Divine Maiden Palace?"
Yang Nan-gyeong couldn't speak even if she wanted to.
The agony was too overwhelming—she could only howl.
"Ghhh—!"
The torment was so excruciating that her hair turned white in an instant.
"Judging by the strength of your voice, you'll last another half-quarter."
"Martial Soul Lord!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Yeon Ja-mi unleashed her internal energy, sending a Finger Wind slicing toward them.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
But the Blood Death Torture remained unbroken.
Bu Eun-seol's acupoint-sealing skill was too profound and ruthless—even she couldn't undo it.
'How... how is this even possible?'
"It's done now."
Only after confirming that the light had completely faded from Yang Nan-gyeong's eyes did Bu Eun-seol release her from the Blood Death Torture.
The moment she was freed, Yang Nan-gyeong screamed with all her remaining strength.
"Jeong Jo-hyeok of the Broken Gold Palace!"
Then, as if terrified that Bu Eun-seol might subject her to the torture again, she hastily added:
"He said it was to claim the Young Palace Lord for himself!"
Jeong Jo-hyeok.
He was the Young Palace Lord of the Broken Gold Palace—a notorious lecher who couldn't resist women, a reckless ruffian who drowned himself in the Forest of Wine and Meat every day.
"Explain it properly."
With a hollow expression, Yang Nan-gyeong quickly recounted the details.
"A few years ago, at a gathering of the Seven Great Female Palaces, he saw Yeon So-ha's face and fell into lovesickness!"
She continued her explanation.
From then on, he had vowed to make her his.
But Jeong Jo-hyeok had struggled, unable to breach the Twenty-Four Heavenly Generals Formation created by the Divine Maiden Palace's leader.
Then, one day, he heard rumors that a nameless wanderer had passed through it.
Relieved by the gossip that the Divine Maiden Palace's leader had refused the marriage proposal and that the wanderer had left without protest...
...he was soon enraged when word spread that she had instead become betrothed to the Heir of the Demon Hall—the Martial Soul Lord.
Jeong Jo-hyeok couldn't contain his fury.
But he couldn't dare lay a hand on the successor of the Demon Hall, the rising sun of the Demonic Path.
Realizing this, the Blood Cult approached the Broken Gold Palace.
They promised that if the palace cooperated in allowing the Blood Cult's agents into the Divine Maiden Palace, they would ensure Yeon So-ha became his.
Jeong Jo-hyeok was overjoyed.
No matter how powerful the Martial Soul Lord was, he believed the Blood Cult could stop him.
"Even if things went wrong, it would all be blamed on the Blood Cult... so the Broken Gold Palace could assist them without worry..."
With those final words, Yang Nan-gyeong's eyes rolled back.
Bu Eun-seol had shattered her dantian without her even realizing it, and the pain was so unbearable that she fainted on the spot.
"Jeong Jo-hyeok. His guts must be swollen with arrogance."
A crimson qi swirled in Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
"How dare he lay hands on what's mine?"
Black Thunder Essence Divine Qi crackled around his body.
Normally, he never revealed the presence of the Three Divine Powers.
But now, he displayed them openly before the disciples of the Divine Maiden Palace.
"Lord."
At that moment, Yeon So-ha rushed to Bu Eun-seol's side.
Seeing the look in his eyes, she realized he intended to head straight for the Broken Gold Palace.
"What will you do?"
"If you don't show them that touching what's yours means death, they'll never learn to keep their hands to themselves."
Ever since earlier, Bu Eun-seol had been referring to Yeon So-ha as "mine."
She noticed his tone and expression were different from usual, but she spoke calmly.
"They've already been exposed for colluding with the Blood Cult. They won't dare touch me again."
"You don't understand such scum, Young Palace Lord."
"Huh?"
"Those human dregs only learn when they suffer for it. If you let them off lightly, they'll never change—they'll just repeat the same crimes."
Yeon So-ha hesitated but quickly replied.
"The Broken Gold Palace walks the path of the Righteous Faction. If you attack them, Lord..."
She couldn't finish.
Bu Eun-seol's eyes had frozen over, radiating a chilling cold.
"The Righteous Faction? Are you saying that because they're 'righteous,' I should let them get away with this?"
"That's not what I meant. I only meant that you might face trouble for it."
"Are you worried for me? Or for the Broken Gold Palace?"
Yeon So-ha answered honestly.
"Both. You saved me, so I'm fine, aren't I?."
"No. I am not fine."
"You've changed."
"If someone messes with me, repaying them twice over is the law of the Demonic Path."
"You consider yourself one of the Demonic Path?"
"Did you think otherwise?"
Bu Eun-seol smiled coldly.
"If you dislike it, you're free to sever ties now. I don't care."
"Lord."
"Did you think you could become my betrothed without even that resolve?"
His voice was utterly frigid.
"Did you come to the Demon Hall without the resolve to be a woman of the Demonic Path?"
"...Lord."
"Let me make myself clear. This Lord has no intention of binding himself to a woman whose thoughts run contrary to his own."
His words were merciless.
Yet, Yeon So-ha responded with a gentle expression.
"Of course, I will respect and follow you as my husband. But—"
"But?"
"But... what's right is right, and what's wrong is wrong. That is the duty of a wife."
She bit her lip.
"Right now, no one can deny that your actions are justified. But justification alone doesn't make them right."
"You refuse to yield. Good."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Then, in a voice colder than winter's heart, he declared:
"Young Palace Master Yeon. As of this moment, our betrothal is as if it never existed."
"What?!"
CRACK!
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol unleashed a black lightning bolt that tore through the sky.
In an instant, he shot into mid-air—
—and then streaked like an arrow toward the northeast.
The direction of the Broken Gold Palace.