Chapter 965
Anan-geuk asked Bu Eun-seol with a visibly shocked expression.
"Are you saying you've found the legendary Maya Forest?"
Bu Eun-seol swept his gaze over the gathered tribesmen before nodding firmly and declaring in a powerful voice:
"That's right. I have found the location of the legendary Maya Forest."
In an instant, gasps of admiration erupted from the crowd.
The Maya Forest—a place so distant in legend that even its name felt like a myth. Throughout India's long history, its existence had never once been confirmed.
And now, the Wind Cloud Prince had uncovered this secret realm, a place that had only ever existed in records, in the blink of an eye?
Bu Eun-seol carefully observed the stunned faces of the tribesmen one by one.
Then, with a faint smile, he raised his voice again.
"Come to think of it, there's something I forgot to mention."
His voice carried the weight of his Internal Energy.
Not only the elders gathered around him but every tribesman nearby could hear his words with perfect clarity.
"It's only been a few days since I retrieved the Sacred Artifact. Yet, the Iron Elephant Sect dispatched a massive force here as if they already knew I would bring it back."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze sharpened to an unparalleled degree.
"Isn't that rather strange?"
Je-ba-sa, who had locked eyes with him, widened his own in disbelief.
"Are you suspecting me?"
Instead of answering, a golden light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's pupils.
His observational and analytical skills rivaled the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's Limitless Power and Nature Shattering.
From the moment the elders had gathered here, he had already singled out those he suspected of being spies.
But he didn't rely solely on his judgment. He continued the conversation, carefully observing their physiological reactions.
Without clear evidence, determining truth solely through physiological responses and penetrating the Spirit and Mind was a task that could not afford even a single failure.
"The human body is astonishingly honest."
His voice, infused with Internal Energy, resonated powerfully through Samana Valley.
"When unexpected information is heard, an appropriate physiological reaction occurs—such as a curious glint in the eyes or an expression of bewilderment."
He continued.
"But spies are different. They are trained to suppress emotions and control their reactions, so their responses are distinctly unlike those of ordinary people."
"What are you suddenly talking about?"
Je-ba-sa averted his gaze, and Bu Eun-seol smiled.
"Because they've cultivated the habit of artificially regulating their reactions. The way they process information is slightly different from that of normal people."
Pah-pah-pahk!
At the same time, dozens of light points erupted from Bu Eun-seol's fingertips.
Fifteen of the forty or so elders standing nearby collapsed like felled logs.
Those he was certain were spies.
He had struck every single one of their Demon Blood Points—pressure points that paralyzed those who deliberately suppressed or controlled their physiological reactions.
"Are you saying all of them were spies?"
Anan-geuk gaped in shock, and Bu Eun-seol nodded.
"That's right. If we interrogate them, we'll be able to root out every last one who collaborated with the Iron Elephant Sect."
Then he turned his head and looked straight at Je-ba-sa.
"Isn't that so?"
Je-ba-sa's expression twisted strangely in that instant.
It was as though he wanted to laugh but couldn't, leaving his face contorted in an awkward grimace.
"If they are spies, then I suppose that's possible."
When Je-ba-sa forced a laugh, Bu Eun-seol asked:
"But don't you find it odd?"
Then, with an enigmatic expression, he pointed at the fifteen fallen elders.
"A full third of the elders being spies? That makes no sense whatsoever."
"I don't follow."
"No matter how formidable the Iron Elephant King's power and influence may be, how could he possibly turn a third of the Four Sacred Tribes' elders into spies?"
Je-ba-sa tried to maintain a composed expression under Bu Eun-seol's interrogation.
But when he met those amber-lit eyes, his mind grew restless.
Because the light flowing from those pupils—
It was something no one should ever see.
It felt as though it was illuminating the dark, endless Abyss within his own heart.
"You don't know, do you?"
Bu Eun-seol withdrew his gaze from Je-ba-sa and turned to face the tribesmen.
"In cases like this..."
BOOM!
A sudden explosive sound rang out, and Bu Eun-seol's body lurched violently as he spoke to the tribal elders.
Je-ba-sa, who had been standing behind him, had unleashed a terrifying burst of Palm Energy.
It wasn't the power of the Four Sacred Tribes—it was the Iron Elephant Sect's supreme martial technique, the Iron Elephant Stomps the Earth Palm.
Tap. Tap.
But Bu Eun-seol merely brushed off his robes indifferently before turning back to face Je-ba-sa.
"...It's because the leader colluded with an external force, allowing him to sway those around him and increase the number of spies."
Je-ba-sa's face darkened.
Abandoning his previously polite tone, he spoke in a cold voice.
"How did you know? I left no openings."
"I didn't."
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"You perfectly controlled your physiological reactions. At first, I couldn't detect anything."
Je-ba-sa's face twisted in an instant.
He had just realized—Bu Eun-seol truly hadn't known his true identity until now.
"But how were you able to find those fifteen spies?"
"They weren't as skilled as you."
Je-ba-sa trembled.
He had deceived Bu Eun-seol flawlessly... yet in the end, he had still walked into the trap.
"The only thing I'm curious about is how a spy of the Iron Elephant Sect could become the chieftain of a tribe."
At those words, A-ba-dan, a senior member of the Vimala Tribe, pointed at Je-ba-sa and said,
"Then... the deaths of A-ram-ban and A-na-su, who were once candidates for chieftain—were those not the work of the Iron Elephant Sect, but yours?"
"How could that be?!"
Je-ba-sa roared.
"The Iron Elephant Sect only promised to make me chieftain. I never expected them to kill those two!"
"You didn't expect it? Is that what you call an excuse?"
Je-ba-sa, whose impatient temperament and lack of virtue had led him to become the chieftain of the Vimala Tribe, had in truth risen to power by eliminating his competitors one by one—with the Iron Elephant Sect's help.
"The Four Sacred Tribes could never escape his grasp anyway!"
Je-ba-sa instead raised his voice defiantly.
"Now that we've found the Sacred Artifact, it would have ended if you'd just handed it over. But you—you fools resisted, dreaming of gaining power you didn't deserve!"
He glared bitterly at A-wan.
"After seeing that child regain her strength, all the tribes started hoping they could reclaim their power too."
"What nonsense—"
As A-wan furrowed her brow, Je-ba-sa shouted,
"Not everyone can gain power from the Sacred Artifact! But you didn't even know the truth—they were dreaming!"
"Isn't that only natural?"
At that moment, Ba-ra-ta-ya, the chieftain of the Yona Tribe, who had remained silent until now, spoke with solemn dignity.
"It's not that just anyone can obtain it—the Sacred Artifact chooses its wielder. Even as chieftain of the Vimala Tribe, you didn't know this?"
"What?"
"The Sacred Artifact judges whether one is worthy of its noble power. But you—because of the evil you've committed... you were never chosen."
Ba-ra-ta-ya spoke calmly.
"All tribesmen who have maintained their virtue can receive the Sacred Artifact's power."
Je-ba-sa's face went blank.
He had heard countless legends about the Sacred Artifact—but never that it chose its wielders.
"Lies!"
"Did you think only the Vayura Tribe received prophecies?"
Ba-ra-ta-ya's voice remained steady.
"From the beginning, our tribe hid the Sacred Artifact because of the oracle's prophecy. Only by concealing it... could the Four Sacred Tribes avoid destruction."
"Hah!"
Je-ba-sa scoffed.
"What kind of nonsense is this?!"
"Haven't you heard?"
Ba-ra-ta-ya's expression darkened with sorrow.
"Two hundred years ago... what kind of life the Four Sacred Tribes were living."
The Four Sacred Tribes were undoubtedly virtuous.
But drunk on the power of the Sacred Artifact, they ruled India with tyranny and decadence.
At that time, the Eight Overlords of India and countless other factions rapidly grew in strength, uniting to plot the annihilation of the Four Sacred Tribes.
Had the Sacred Artifact not disappeared?
The Four Sacred Tribes would never have survived the overwhelming assault—they would have faced total extermination.
But when the Sacred Artifact vanished, the tribes lost their power and swiftly declined.
Paradoxically, it was because they lost the Sacred Artifact that they escaped the attention of the powerful—and thus survived.
Thud.
Je-ba-sa collapsed to the ground as if his legs had given out.
Realizing there was no way out, he drew a dagger from his robes and plunged it straight into his own heart.
"..."
The revelation that Chieftain Je-ba-sa had been a spy for the Iron Elephant Sect—and his subsequent suicide, leaving behind only a cold corpse—plunged the entire Vimala Tribe into shock.
A silence heavier than death settled over them.
The chieftain they had believed had led them so brilliantly...
The unbelievable truth that he had been a spy recruited by the Iron Elephant King left the tribespeople utterly devastated.
"A failed spy has nowhere to return to."
Bu Eun-seol's expression was bleak.
He had known Je-ba-sa would take his own life—yet he did not stop him.
Just like the Gong Twin Demons... he couldn't interfere with a man's final choice.
"In the Martial World..."
Since entering the Rivers and Lakes, he had encountered countless spies—he himself had even lived as one for years.
He had been fortunate enough to survive.
But a spy's fate was always this lonely and wretched.
—What are we supposed to do now?
Murmurs rose among the tribe's elders, thrown into chaos by Je-ba-sa's sudden death.
He had been the most progressive and well-connected of the chieftains, and the Vimala Tribe was the largest and most populous of the Four Sacred Tribes.
But Je-ba-sa had been the Iron Elephant King's spy—and because of him, countless tribesmen had met their deaths?
"Wouldn't it be best for the Great Chief to lead all the tribes at once?"
Bu Eun-seol asked Anan-geuk.
The elder momentarily wore a dazed expression before shaking his head.
"Though I appreciate the suggestion, this old body can no longer handle such responsibilities."
Anan-geuk was wise and intelligent—
but unfortunately, he had grown too old, lacking the vigor needed to lead a tribe transforming into a merchant guild.
"Then—"
As Bu Eun-seol turned his gaze toward Ba-ra-ta-ya, the elder also shook his head.
"This one is also too old, Young Master."
He gestured toward a middle-aged man standing among the assembled leaders—one adorned with a red jewel on his forehead, radiant as the sun.
"The chief of the Shuriya Tribe, Gam-pa-na, would be the most suitable candidate."
Ba-ra-ta-ya continued,
"As you said, Young Master, the Four Sacred Tribes must now be reborn as a merchant guild. For that, a young and quick-witted leader would be best."
But the young chief Gam-pa-na shook his head.
"To lead the tribes, one must possess great virtue and wisdom. I am not that person."
Anan-geuk responded,
"The fact that you can say such a thing is proof of your wisdom and prudence."
Then, looking at Bu Eun-seol, he added,
"It seems he should be the one to become our Great Chief."
Gam-pa-na was young, yet wise.
And the Shuriya Tribe was the second-largest after the Vimala Tribe.
"That is not for me to decide."
Bu Eun-seol swept his gaze across the assembled tribesmen.
"But if you wish for him to become Great Chief, then hold a council and formally acknowledge his position. Only then will he gain the tribes' support and true authority."
"We shall obey your command."
As Anan-geuk bowed his head, Ba-ra-ta-ya and all the other tribal leaders prostrated themselves in reverence.
Thus, under Bu Eun-seol's guidance, the Four Sacred Tribes welcomed Gam-pa-na as their Great Chief—
and prepared to take their next great leap forward.
From the beginning, the Four Sacred Tribes had lived by managing the forests and harvesting white sandalwood.
Thus, transforming into a merchant guild was not particularly difficult.
Under Bu Eun-seol's direction—a man well-versed in managing alliances and factions—they rapidly evolved into a trading company.
—Do not trade white sandalwood in its raw state as before. You must learn to refine and process it to increase its value.
They studied the Central Plains' processing techniques while simultaneously, following Bu Eun-seol's advice, began forging connections with the imperial household and nobility.
—To survive as both a guild and a tribe, you must establish ties with the nobility and the imperial court.
—We know that, but we lack the necessary connections.
It was common knowledge that regularly offering tribute to the imperial household or nobility could strengthen relations.
But the real challenge was securing the initial link—the introduction.
They couldn't just barge in unannounced and shove money or valuables at them.
—Supply the highest-quality white sandalwood to the temples frequented by the imperial household and nobility. Free of charge.
Bu Eun-seol's solution was ingenious.
By furnishing temples with top-tier white sandalwood products, they would catch the attention of the nobility.
Any noble who recognized its worth would naturally inquire about its origin.
Thus, word of the Four Sacred Tribes' white sandalwood would spread, and connections would form organically.
—However, when trading with the imperial household and nobility, do not merely sell goods. You must also return a portion of the profits to them.
If they shared the gains from their trade? The nobles would not only be delighted but would also extend their protection.
Factions that provided them benefits—
would never tolerate the tribes suddenly being made to disappear by someone.
—An intelligence network for trade with the Central Plains.
—And the necessary escort corps for trade will all be provided by the Martial Soul Society.
Of course, this would only begin after I return to the Central Plains.
For a guild to grow on a large scale, expanding into new markets and establishing trade routes was essential.
Moreover, operating an intelligence network to monitor various factions was fundamental.
Because Bu Eun-seol had the Martial Soul Society—a powerful allied faction—
the Four Sacred Tribes could instantly resolve the issues of securing both an intelligence network and trade routes for their guild operations.
Not only that, but by utilizing the Martial Soul Society's abundant pool of wandering warriors, they could entrust them with escort duties and goods transportation—
a mutually beneficial arrangement for both sides.
Furthermore, since India treated wandering warriors with great generosity, many within the Martial Soul Society would willingly relocate there.
Bu Eun-seol did not overlook this advantage.
By selecting willing candidates, he planned to establish an elite escort corps under the Four Sacred Tribes—thereby strengthening the guild's own martial force.
"Since I'll be overseeing trade with the Central Plains, I won't have to part with you, Wind Cloud Prince."
A-wan smiled brightly as she watched the Four Sacred Tribes transform into a guild.
Soon, they would become the Four Stars Trading Company—a major player in India's trade.
Of course, those who wished to preserve tribal traditions would remain separately, guarding the Sacred Land under the guild's protection.
As for A-wan, she had relinquished her position as Saintess to instead oversee trade with the Central Plains in cooperation with the Martial Soul Society.
No longer bound to the Sacred Land.
Free to come and go as she pleased, able to visit Bu Eun-seol in the Central Plains whenever she wished...
It fulfilled, at least in part, her stubborn desire to follow him no matter what.
"Very well."
Bu Eun-seol nodded calmly in response.
A-wan was still young.
Once she traveled between the Central Plains and India, gained more experience, and met more people...
She would come to realize that her bond with him was nothing more than a childish infatuation from her youth.
"Ah, there's something I wanted to ask."
Bu Eun-seol cleared his throat before speaking.
"Are your parents still alive?"
A-wan blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned by the abrupt question.
Why is he suddenly asking about my parents? Is he... planning to propose or something?
"Don't misunderstand."
As if reading her thoughts, Bu Eun-seol continued in a composed tone.
"I have a subordinate in the Central Plains who looks exactly like you."
"Huh?"
"The resemblance is uncanny, so I wondered if there might be a connection."
Perhaps his explanation was too brief—A-wan still wore a puzzled expression as she answered.
"That's... impossible. Both my parents passed away not long ago."
"I see."
A shadow crossed A-wan's face, and Bu Eun-seol shook his head slightly, his expression apologetic.
"Forget I mentioned it."
Then, swiftly changing the subject—
"I'll be heading to Nagana City now."
Too much time had already been lost in rescuing the Four Sacred Tribes.
Even if he had failed to keep his promise to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor...
He still needed to uncover the True Demon's secret, just as the Saint had mentioned.
"Stay safe on your journey."
A-wan's bright smile held no trace of sorrow.
If things went well with the Four Great Merchant Guilds, she would be able to visit the Central Plains soon.
Even if Bu Eun-seol pushed her away, she had already resolved to follow him for the rest of her life.
"Understood."
Completely unaware of her feelings, Bu Eun-seol activated his Movement Technique and departed.
Ajanta Caves
Originally a scenic landmark of Lake Naki, situated on the border between Nashik City and Nagana City.
But two decades ago, it fell into the hands of one of the Eight Overlords of India—the Poison Sovereign.
When the Poison Sovereign first set foot in Lake Naki, within the Iron Elephant King's territory, everyone expected a major clash.
After all, it was a blatant invasion of the Iron Elephant King's domain.
Yet, to everyone's surprise, the Iron Elephant King did nothing in response.
Twenty years passed since the Poison Sovereign stationed his forces in Lake Naki.
Eventually, the Iron Elephant King abandoned the region entirely, and the Poison Sovereign formally incorporated Lake Naki—including the Ajanta Caves—into Nagana City's territory.
On the surface, it seemed like a typical power struggle between major factions.
Yet, in truth, no one could easily accept this outcome.
Because the Iron Elephant King and the Poison Sovereign were known to be bitter rivals.
Despite this, the Iron Elephant King remained passive—not only during the initial incursion but even as the Poison Sovereign fully occupied the Ajanta Caves.
The Poison Sovereign's actions were equally baffling.
If his intention had been to challenge the Iron Elephant King's influence...
He should have used Lake Naki as a foothold to expand further.
Yet he seemed content merely stationing troops in the Ajanta Caves, making no further attempts at territorial expansion.
And now, after twenty long years, he had suddenly and officially redrawn the borders—an enigma that defied all logic.
'All of this was done under the True Demon's orders.'
But Bu Eun-seol, having heard the full story from the Iron Elephant King, already knew the truth.
And once again, he was struck by the realization that the True Demon was a being of unfathomable power.
'Even if he offered immense benefits, the Eight Overlords of India wouldn't blindly obey him without reason.'
The True Demon had deliberately sent his Saints to demonstrate his power.
Against those Saints—who wielded a fusion of the Baekri Clan's and the True Demon's power—no martial arts or spells could prevail.
They could unleash supernatural Great Arts that defied all logic.
And by doing so, he made it clear: Refusing his offer would invite unimaginable consequences.
'I assumed he was in the Central Plains' martial world... but to think he was in India all along.'
Judging by when he had recruited the Iron Elephant King, he must have been in India for a long time.
'Did he take control of India before undergoing another reincarnation cycle? Or is he currently inhabiting an old man's body?'
The True Demon's age was impossible to determine.
There was no way to know whether he had undergone another reincarnation and now wore a young man's form...
Or if he remained in the withered body of an ancient monster.
Whoosh—
As Bu Eun-seol raced toward Nashik City, his gaze settled into calm focus.
'If even the Poison Sovereign serves the True Demon... then a confrontation is inevitable.'
The Poison Sovereign—Garama.
A grandmaster of poison arts said to have reached the pinnacle of the Sage Among Poisons realm.
The four poisons he had created—the Four Deadly Poisons—were said to possess supernatural toxicity that no martial art could defend against.
Though Bu Eun-seol himself had reached the threshold of the Sage Among Poisons...
He had never formally trained in Poison Arts, nor had he mastered the secrets of wielding poison.
Even if he was not afraid of poison...
He had never fought a true Poison Person who had attained the Sage Among Poisons realm.
This... won't be easy.
Soon, Bu Eun-seol would have to face—
A master who wielded not only curse-like powers that defied martial logic but also a Poison Art steeped in the mystique of an esoteric religion.
A true Sage Among Poisons.