Chapter 960
Bu Eun-seol's eyes widened at the unexpected sight before him.
"Your appearance..."
Originally, A-wan's face had been densely covered in speckled marks, as if she had been struck by Heavenly Punishment.
Apart from her eyes and teeth, there had hardly been a single unblemished spot on her.
But now, hadn't she transformed into a mysteriously beautiful woman with jade-blue eyes, rivalling even the Three Beauties of the World?
Moreover, she had grown at least a handspan taller, so much so that if not for her unchanged clothing and hairstyle,
Bu Eun-seol might have mistaken her for a different woman entirely, with A-wan having vanished and this new woman collapsed in her place.
"A-wan."
Due to the aftermath of creating the Sword Curtain, her clothes were torn in several places, and her sudden growth in height had left
A-wan's smooth skin exposed all over. Bu Eun-seol removed his outer robe and draped it over her.
"So-yo and..."
Though the instantaneous restoration of her appearance was already miraculous,
her transformed face
bore an uncanny resemblance to So-yo.
'So-yo isn't Han Chinese either.'
If that was the case, did that mean So-yo, who had claimed to be an orphan, was actually a descendant of the Yona Tribe?
'Surely they can't be sisters.'
So-yo, the former martial arts master who had lost her daughter and gone mad—Snow Blossom Jade Swallow—had been staying with Ja Su-ryeon.
Though she had repeatedly expressed her desire to return to the Death Soul Squad, Bu Eun-seol had ordered her to remain, stating it wasn't yet time and that she should further hone her martial arts.
'Staying there will bring her more happiness.'
The Martial World was ruthless, and the current atmosphere of Murim was more treacherous and bizarre than ever.
Bu Eun-seol simply wished for So-yo
to live peacefully with Ja Su-ryeon, without returning to the Death Shadow War Unit.
'What on earth lies beyond this?'
Finishing his thoughts, he carefully examined the gate within the evaporated pond.
The smooth metal door was as polished and transparent as a copper mirror, so much so that he could see his own reflection in it.
"Young Master."
Just then, A-wan, having regained consciousness, looked around and gasped upon seeing the vanished Fantasy Pond.
"What in the world happened?"
"The Fantasy Pond was a kind of gate," Bu Eun-seol calmly explained.
"It wasn't the will of the gods demanding you as a sacrifice... Rather, it possessed the power to manifest the deepest fears of those who sought to enter."
After listening to his explanation for a while, A-wan suddenly bowed her head, her face flushing with embarrassment.
The memory of him embracing her protectively, his face resolute, had resurfaced in her mind.
"Young Master, you were hiding your true appearance all along."
A-wan, who had been staring at Bu Eun-seol—now restored to his original looks—lowered her head again.
Having lived as a guide all this time, she had met all sorts of people.
Among them had been men renowned as peerless beauties,
but she had never even heard rumors of someone as strikingly handsome as this.
"I had my reasons for concealing it."
"I see. You've changed so much I almost didn't recognize you."
"Likewise."
"Huh?"
"Look."
Bu Eun-seol pointed toward the entrance of the Fantasy Pond, smooth as a copper mirror.
A-wan stared, entranced, at her own reflection in it.
Her long hair, carrying a faint fragrance, cascaded like flowing silk with every step she took.
Her soft skin, as if bathed in golden sunlight, contrasted with her pitch-black, clear eyes that shimmered with an enchanting hue.
Beneath them, her high, delicate nose stood proudly, and her plump, ruby-like lips glowed with vitality.
"The curse has been lifted!"
Though A-wan's appearance had transformed into that of a noblewoman, her speech and mannerisms still carried a spirited edge.
"Then you should be able to use your powers as well."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, A-wan let out a small gasp and looked down at her palms.
A divine light began to flow from her body, soon transforming into a mystical ripple that spread outward in all directions.
"My power...!"
Excited, A-wan flapped her arms for a while, conjuring waves of light.
The energy she wielded resembled Water Essence Divine Qi, yet it was far more potent and tangible—
as if it were a fusion of Water Essence Divine Qi imbued with power that repels evil and the Willful True Binding.
"It really feels like the legends are coming true."
"Legends?"
"Didn't they say that when the Wind Cloud Prince arrives, the Sacred Artifacts would be recovered, and the Four Sacred Tribes would regain their glory?"
"That remains to be seen."
"Huh?"
"We haven't found the Sacred Artifacts yet."
Bu Eun-seol gestured toward the metal door.
"Let's first see what lies beyond there."
Slowly, Bu Eun-seol approached the hidden gate within the Fantasy Pond.
But the door didn't open on its own, nor was there any handle to turn.
Rumble...
Yet when A-wan drew near,
as if it had been waiting, the glass-like door began to slide open smoothly.
"It seems only members of the Four Sacred Tribes can enter this place."
Bu Eun-seol nodded and stepped inside first, with A-wan following closely behind.
As they passed through the wide-open door, an ancient temple-like landscape unfolded before them.
The grand temple walls, reminiscent of a celestial palace, were built from white-stained stone.
Mysterious patterns were carved into their surfaces, glowing faintly when touched by light.
They seemed almost alive, their shapes shifting with the illumination. Gazing at them evoked an inexplicable sense of reverence.
And surrounding this vast temple—
Weren't there hundreds of times more White Sandalwood trees here than in the forests of Samana Valley?
Their size and quality were so incomparably superior that it was as if countless golden trees had been planted.
"The sacred artifact should be in there."
A-wan pointed toward the temple, paying no mind to the forest of White Sandalwood.
The temple doors were made of bronze,
standing over sixty feet tall, their surfaces intricately carved with symbols from India's myths.
When they pushed them open and stepped inside, the ceiling resembled a star-studded night sky.
Countless gemstones embedded in the ceiling illuminated the darkness, casting a radiant glow despite the absence of light.
"There's something here!"
At the center of the temple stood an altar holding two sacred artifacts.
"Are these the sacred artifacts of the Four Sacred Tribes?"
Bu Eun-seol studied the objects on the altar for a long moment.
The first was a blue mirror engraved with a human eyeball.
After staring into it for a while,
he suddenly felt an illusion of transcending time and space—glimpses of the past and future flickering faintly in its surface.
"That must be the Vayura Tribe's treasure, the Mirror of Heaven."
"I thought it would be a wind-related artifact, given they're the Wind Tribe."
"Ah, it only reacts to those of the Vayura bloodline, so..."
A-wan, who had been standing beside him, watching the mirror, suddenly gasped.
"Young Master, it's reacting to you."
"Reacting?"
"Look."
A transparent current of energy was flowing from Bu Eun-seol's body.
But it was so natural, like breathing, that he hadn't even noticed it until now.
'Their natures are the same.'
His heart pounded.
The power inherent in the Four Sacred Tribes' artifact—
It was the purest form of the Four Divine Energies found in the Central Plains.
Meanwhile, A-wan turned her attention to the large stone placed beside it.
"This is..."
Like a living heart carved from rock,
the stone pulsed with vitality, as if it were the extracted heart of an earth-dwelling spirit.
"This... must be the Vimala Tribe's sacred artifact, the Heart of the Earth."
A-wan sounded puzzled.
"But the third artifact is missing."
Bu Eun-seol picked up the Heart of the Earth.
Yet it remained unresponsive.
"What was the last artifact called?"
"The Surya Tribe's treasure, the Bead of the Sun."
"A bead, huh?"
Excluding the Yona Tribe—who were born with power but cursed into inability—
the other tribes could only wield their abilities if they possessed their sacred artifacts.
Meaning there should be three artifacts here, yet the altar held only two.
"Then perhaps these aren't the real artifacts?"
"Truthfully, I've only heard their names. I don't know much about the artifacts themselves."
As a descendant of the Yona Tribe,
even speaking of the lost sacred artifacts of the Four Sacred Tribes was taboo.
She had only vaguely overheard their names and forms in passing.
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol examined them for a long while,
but he couldn't determine whether these were the artifacts Anan-geuk, the Vayura chieftain, was so desperately searching for.
"Wait a moment."
After a brief pause, A-wan waved her hand, conjuring a transparent limb.
When she pressed it against the Heart of the Earth—
Zzzing.
A low vibration hummed, and a faint light flickered like a distant star.
"It really is a sacred artifact."
Bu Eun-seol nodded in agreement.
Given the divine radiance, these were undoubtedly the artifacts the Four Sacred Tribes sought so fervently.
"Was one lost? Or stolen?"
"If someone stole it, why leave the other two behind?"
Bu Eun-seol expanded his Empty Mind Spirit Perception, scanning the surroundings.
But he found no useful clues.
"If these are truly the sacred artifacts, and there should originally be three..."
Bu Eun-seol picked up the Mirror of Heaven
and angled it to reflect the Heart of the Earth.
Crack.
The large stone split open, revealing a smaller, yellow-stained Heart of the Earth inside—
A crimson orb shimmering with mysterious light revealed itself.
The Mirror of Heaven was blue, the Heart of the Earth was yellow, and the Bead of the Sun was red.
Now that the sacred artifacts were gathered together, it almost seemed as though mystical spirits of various colors dwelled within them.
Zzzing.
And as the three artifacts came together—
They emitted an inexplicably intense pulse, resonating as if alive.
At a glance, there was no doubt—these were the three sacred artifacts the Four Sacred Tribes had desperately sought.
"It seems we've found them."
Bu Eun-seol let out a sigh.
Though he hadn't been able to locate the Absolute Boundary the Saint had mentioned, he had, after countless hardships, recovered all three sacred artifacts capable of restoring the power of the Four Sacred Tribes.
Crackle.
When he touched the Bead of the Sun, which burned like a crimson flower, a flash of white lightning surged.
'This is the Thunder Essence Divine Qi.'
But the yellow-tinged Heart of the Earth showed no reaction no matter how he touched it.
'This Heart of the Earth must correspond to the Heaven and Earth Divine Artifact—the one I lack.'
He could be certain now.
The sacred artifacts of the Four Sacred Tribes undoubtedly contained the power of the Four Divine Powers.
'In that case, there's no way there are only three sacred artifacts.'
"Does the Yona Tribe not possess one?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, A-wan hesitated briefly before answering cautiously.
"Actually, our tribe once revered a sacred artifact as well. It was called the Whisper of the Stars."
"Whisper of the Stars."
"Yes. But it disappeared five hundred years ago."
"Five hundred years ago?"
"It's said that an unknown figure from the Central Plains took it. But it's only an oral legend..."
A-wan continued her explanation calmly.
"Our abilities function perfectly fine without the artifact, so we never bothered tracking its whereabouts."
'Five hundred years ago—that aligns exactly with when the lineage of the Heaven and Earth Divine Artifact was severed.'
He could sense it.
Someone from the Central Plains had deliberately cut off the lineage of the Heaven and Earth Divine Artifact.
'Was it the True Demon's doing?'
But he couldn't find the answer right now.
'In any case, if we recover the Yona Tribe's sacred artifact, we can obtain the Heaven and Earth Divine Artifact.'
Until now, he hadn't even had a clue about how to obtain it.
But if he could just find the Yona Tribe's sacred artifact—the Whisper of the Stars—he could complete the Four Divine Powers.
The Yona Tribe's artifact would undoubtedly correspond to the Water Essence Divine Qi, and it would have the property of encompassing all things.
Then, he might be able to draw power from the Heart of the Earth.
"If you seek to harness the power of the sacred artifacts... perhaps you could receive an infusion of power from the Vimala Tribe?"
Surprisingly, A-wan had seen right through Bu Eun-seol's thoughts. Likely because she had witnessed him using Thunder Essence Divine Qi and Wind & Cloud Divine Qi.
"Power received from another is impure."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Moreover, I've just perfectly unified the Three Divine Powers. If the energy isn't pure, it'll only introduce chaotic impurities."
"I see."
"Still, we've found a lead. That's enough for now."
Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly.
The sacred artifact called Whisper of the Stars was surely somewhere in the Central Plains.
If he continued his travels through the martial world, he would eventually encounter it. This journey to India had not been in vain.
Having resumed his disguise as Seol-so, Bu Eun-seol returned to Samana Valley to return the three sacred artifacts he had recovered from Fantasy Pond.
Not only had A-wan broken her curse and restored her beauty, but she had also gained the ability to wield the Yona Tribe’s power, which closely resembled Water Essence Divine Qi.
Moreover, Bu Eun-seol had taught her a technique derived from the Mind-Training Formula of the Martial Emperor's Enlightenment Art—
Allowing her to freely manifest and manipulate a pair of powerful, translucent hands.
Using those hands, she could now move as swiftly as if she had mastered Lightness Art, despite never having formally learned it.
When the two finally arrived at Samana Valley, they entered the temple where Anan-geuk resided.
Anan-geuk was so shocked to see the Yona Tribe girl he had last seen traveling with Bu Eun-seol return as a stunning beauty that he nearly fainted.
And when Bu Eun-seol handed him the three orbs, each brimming with mystical light—
Overcome with emotion, he dropped to his knees and bowed deeply.
"The prophecy has come true, Wind Cloud Prince."
"I merely returned the sacred artifacts."
The Saintess had said the Wind Cloud Prince would restore not only the sacred artifacts but also the glory of the Four Sacred Tribes.
But with the Eight Overlords of India already dominating the region—
It was practically impossible for the Four Sacred Tribes to reclaim their former splendor.
Yet Anan-geuk now believed even that legend could come to pass.
"Not only did you recover our tribe's sacred artifact, but you also lifted the Yona Tribe's curse... The prophecy has already begun to unfold."
At those words, Bu Eun-seol glanced at A-wan and said,
"For the prophecy to fully come to pass, shouldn't the Yona Tribe also rise as one of the Four Sacred Tribes and move forward together?"
Anan-geuk nodded, his face filled with gratitude.
"If the Wind Cloud Prince says so, then of course we must comply."
Anan-geuk immediately ordered his tribespeople to announce their return as one of the Four Sacred Tribes.
Upon hearing the news, the scattered members of the Yona Tribe, who had been wandering near Nashik City, began gathering in this Secluded Valley where the Four Sacred Tribes once lived.
The Sacred Artifact possessed infinite and mysterious power—it would restore the long-lost strength of the Four Sacred Tribes.
Let go of past grudges and unite as one, just like before!
When A-wan, a member of the Yona Tribe, not only retrieved the Sacred Artifact alongside the Wind Cloud Prince but also demonstrated mysterious power, the other tribes nodded in approval and welcomed the Yona back among them.
All members of the Four Sacred Tribes came together and held a joyous festival for three days.
Bu Eun-seol pretended to join in the festivities, but as deep night fell, he quietly left Samana Valley.
The deadline he had agreed upon with the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had already passed, and he still hadn't been able to contact his subordinates.
There's no helping it.
He let out a sigh.
By now, they were likely frantic with worry, searching everywhere for any trace of him.
Yet he couldn't send word through any intelligence network either.
If he secretly contacted the Death Soul Squad, his entire trail might be exposed.
Still, it wasn't all bad.
By aiding the Four Sacred Tribes, he had not only obtained the true Water Essence Divine Qi but also gained the fortuitous opportunity and insight to unify the Three Divine Powers.
That alone made it all worthwhile.
Unless I obtain all Four Divine Powers, I won't be able to withstand the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's Life and Death Palm Decree.
Though his martial prowess had improved somewhat,
when he considered the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's might,
surviving a full-force strike with his bare body was still a distant prospect.
Unless he fully obtained the Four Divine Powers, he shouldn't even dream of walking away unscathed from the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's hands.
"Are you leaving?"
As Bu Eun-seol exited Samana Valley, a beautiful woman in white stood before him.
It was A-wan, now fully recovered after breaking free from the Heavenly Punishment and restored to her full power.
"A-wan."
"I waited because I thought you might leave quietly. I feared my abilities wouldn't even sense your departure."
She bowed deeply.
"Thank you. For risking your life to protect me."
The childish, mischievous girl was nowhere to be seen—now, she carried herself with the serene and graceful bearing befitting the Yona Tribe's Saintess.
"We helped each other."
"There's something I couldn't tell you earlier."
A-wan spoke cautiously.
"Among the conditions of the place you were searching for, there was one location I deliberately hid."
Bu Eun-seol's expression shifted in surprise, and A-wan lowered her head.
"It was too dangerous—a place no one should ever go... so I kept it secret."
"Where exactly is it?"
"Near Lake Nagi in Nagara City, ruled by one of the Eight Overlords of India—the Poison Sovereign. The Ajanta Caves."
The Poison Sovereign—Garama.
One of the Eight Overlords of India, ruler of Nagara City and the Poison Saint of India.
His poison arts were said to be fundamentally different from those of the Central Plains, reaching the profound realm of Heart Poison.
The poison itself possessed a will—
those with impure intentions would be instantly poisoned just by approaching him.
Because of this, those who harbored ill will toward him dared not even enter Nagara City.
Of course, the extent of his poison mastery was likely exaggerated,
but there was no denying that he was a true Master who had forged his own unparalleled path in the art of poison.
"But Nagara City isn't Nashik City, is it?"
The Saint had clearly stated that the Absolute Boundary was in Nashik City.
And Bu Eun-seol had specifically asked A-wan to search for a location matching his conditions within Nashik City alone.
So why was A-wan now speaking of Nagara City, ruled by the Poison Sovereign?
"No. It was Nashik City. Until recently."
A-wan continued.
"But not long ago, the Iron Elephant King ceded that territory to the Poison Sovereign. As if tearing off a boil—he spoke of it quite triumphantly."
"The Iron Elephant King relinquished his territory?"
"It wasn't even a true relinquishment. The Poison Sovereign had already occupied it for a long time."
A-wan elaborated.
"Though it was clearly Nashik territory, the Poison Sovereign had stationed his subordinates there for years, and the Iron Elephant King turned a blind eye."
"..."
"And recently, the Iron Elephant King outright abandoned it. Now, the Lake Nagi area no longer belongs to Nashik City—it's part of Nagara City."
In short, the Poison Sovereign had long been scheming something in the Ajanta Caves within Nashik City, under the Iron Elephant King's rule.
And when the Iron Elephant King finally gave up the area, the Poison Sovereign officially absorbed it into his own domain.
"When exactly did this happen?"
"Less than a month ago."
A flash passed through Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
If it had happened less than a month ago—
then of course the Saint would have referred to it as Nashik City.
At last...
He had found the place where the Saint said the True Demon's secret lay.