Chapter 979
It was no mere wind.
It was a wave of destruction—the kind that could annihilate even the primordial chaos itself.
Whoooosh!
As the wind, howling like the breath of a god, swept across heaven and earth, Bu Eun-seol instinctively raised his Internal Power.
But So-dong furrowed his brow and shouted coldly:
"Do not move. I am trying to help you."
"You call this an attack?"
"Does this look like an attack to you?"
Whoooing!
Though the blue wind roared with a razor-sharp intensity, it merely swirled around Bu Eun-seol's body—never once lashing out with a lethal strike.
'It's not an attack.'
Moreover, despite its ferocity, the blue wind carried no destructive force capable of shattering or breaking anything. Instead, it held an energy so profound and inscrutable that its very nature defied comprehension.
'Just as he said, it doesn't seem like he intends to attack.'
"Do not move a single muscle. If you do, only your physical body will suffer for it."
Hwaaaak!
Once again, So-dong unleashed the wind.
Deciding to trust him for now, Bu Eun-seol stood still and allowed it to wash over him.
Kwawoooooo.
The wind did not blow against him—instead, it condensed around his shoulders and lingered there.
Swish! Swiiish!
At the same time, it began spinning violently.
How much time had passed?
Chiiiiii.
Suddenly, a wisp of pale smoke rose from the area near his shoulder, and something transparent began to peel away and fall.
It was a mass so alien and grotesque that he had never sensed its presence before.
"What is this?"
"One of the secret techniques of the Baekri Clan. You could call it the art of attaching an undetectable Watcher to someone."
Bu Eun-seol's Extrasensory Perception could detect even a speck of dust within roughly nine hundred meters.
Yet he had failed to notice something clinging to his back?
"But now that you've sensed its presence, the Baekri Clan will never be able to spy on you again."
Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod.
Superlative Martial Experts never forgot any foreign sensation once they became aware of it.
Back when he had gone to rescue the Wooden Buddha—
Bu Eun-seol had used the Wind & Cloud Divine Qi to conceal himself multiple times in front of Baekri Mu-jo.
But eventually, Baekri Mu-jo had grasped the subtle, alien nature of that energy and tracked him down.
The same principle applied here.
"First, let us proceed with the Covenant. As for your true identity, we can discuss that in detail after—"
Just as So-dong was about to continue—
Zzzzt! Zzzzzzt!
Something unexpected happened.
Without warning, black flames burst from Bu Eun-seol's shoulder.
It resembled the reaction of a tributary martial art being absorbed by the Origin-Flow Martial Arts.
"The Darkness Secret Arts?"
"And what is that supposed to be?"
"Silence!"
Drip—
With that roar, So-dong's form—originally that of a short, five-foot-tall figure—
Instantly transformed into a tall, six-foot elderly man dressed in robes embroidered with dragon patterns, his features sharp and austere.
"You bastard!"
Blue flames flickered in the eyes of So-dong—no, the Old Man of the Sacred Realm.
"Reveal your true identity at once!"
KWAANG!
A thunderous explosion rippled outward.
The Old Man of the Sacred Realm struck Bu Eun-seol's chest with a blow like a lightning strike.
Zzzzt.
But then, something even more bizarre occurred.
Oooom.
The entire Absolute Boundary trembled like a wave—
And instead of Bu Eun-seol, it was the Old Man of the Sacred Realm who was sent flying roughly thirty meters away.
"Y-You—?!"
The old man's eyes widened in shock.
He had struck with the Power of Star-Cloud Harmony—a force that no practitioner of the Sacred Realm's Secret Arts could possibly withstand unscathed.
Yet it had no effect?
"Y-You... Not only did you steal the Sanctuary's true secret art, the Black Darkness Secret Arts... but you've also gained another power?!"
"What in the world are you talking about? Explain it properly so I can—"
"Enough of your deceitful tricks!"
KWAANG!
A mysterious light erupted from the old man's body, and behind him, a force capable of sundering heaven and earth spread out like a spider's web.
Bu Eun-seol knew he was gathering his strength, but he felt no urge to exploit any openings to attack.
"At last... I've found you, the traitor who betrayed the Sanctuary!"
His furious voice tore through the sky like thunder, reverberating in all directions.
'There's some kind of misunderstanding here.'
Looking at the enraged old man, Bu Eun-seol hesitated briefly.
If he didn't reveal his true identity now—
He instinctively knew this misunderstanding would never be resolved.
'I have no choice.'
Bu Eun-seol wavered for a moment.
If he revealed himself, the Old Man of the Sacred Realm would learn that he was the Martial Soul Society Leader.
—Survive.
Suddenly, the words the Old Man of the Sacred Realm had once spoken to him in the past resurfaced in his mind.
Even after realizing Bu Eun-seol was of mixed blood from two great clans, the old man had sworn to keep that secret—even urging him never to reveal it to outsiders.
'He has kept that promise well until now.'
If the Old Man of the Sacred Realm had broken his vow—
At the very least, figures from the Baekri Clan or the True Demon would never have left him alone, knowing he was the Martial Soul Lord.
'It was bound to come out sooner or later because of that parchment anyway.'
If he kept forcing the Covenant, his true identity would inevitably be exposed sooner or later.
After a moment of deep contemplation, Bu Eun-seol finally—
Szzzt.
—released the disguise disguise using the energy within his body and spoke in his natural tone.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, old man."
Thud.
At that moment, the old man's jaw dropped so low it nearly touched his navel.
Bu Eun-seol—the one and only, perfectly blended descendant of the Baekri Clan and the True Demon's bloodline.
How... how in the world... could he possibly contain the Sacred Realm's Secret Arts within his very being?
How could something like this even happen?
"You—"
The old man shook his head in disbelief.
"How did you master the Sacred Realm's Secret Arts?"
"I didn't master it. It was forced into me."
"Forced?"
Bu Eun-seol answered honestly.
"To be precise, I was attacked."
"Attacked?"
The old man was so stunned that he mindlessly parroted Bu Eun-seol's words like a child.
"So..."
With no other choice, Bu Eun-seol explained the incident involving the Hwa Mu-gi who had lured him into Red Snake Gorge in the past.
"...During our battle, he forcibly extracted the energy of the Boundary-Prosperity Jade from my body. The backlash sent a portion of his own power flowing into my arm."
"Boundary-Prosperity Jade? You were absorbing its energy in massive quantities? How is that even possible?"
Bu Eun-seol couldn't bring himself to mention the stone chamber where the Martial Venerable had hoarded the jade, so he glossed over it.
"In the past, I stumbled upon a mysterious place filled with countless Boundary-Prosperity Jades. The energy infused there must have temporarily entered my body."
The old man frowned.
"That's something only you could have done. Normally, absorbing the energy of a Boundary-Prosperity Jade all at once is impossible."
Bu Eun-seol possessed a body capable of harmonizing all forms of energy—which was why he could absorb the vast power stored within the jades.
An ordinary person would have exploded on the spot.
Calmly, Bu Eun-seol continued.
"And then I realized—this power doesn't just alter appearances. It can transform every last vein, every strand of hair... a perfect disguise."
"Is that true?"
"It is."
He stretched out his left arm.
"See for yourself."
"You trust me?"
"I don't trust you, old man. I trust the name of the Sacred Realm."
The old man hesitated briefly before carefully examining the offered arm.
After a long moment of pressing and shifting his fingers like a physician checking a pulse, he finally nodded.
"It's true. This is undoubtedly the power of Darkness, cultivated to the Great Origin realm by a traitor."
He sighed and shook his head.
"Just what kind of madness did you endure for your body to end up like this?"
Outwardly, it seemed ordinary.
But his body had reached a state never before seen in the martial world—something beyond description.
The Universe.
His flesh, a chaotic amalgamation of countless energies, endlessly expanding—
No one could discern what it was made of, where it ended... It was like gazing into the infinite, unfathomable cosmos.
"Strange, isn't it?"
"Strange? Is that all you can say? This defies all martial history—!"
But Bu Eun-seol's blank expression showed not a hint of concern for the old man's shock.
Seeing this, the elder could only sigh and nod in resignation.
This was the child ofBaekri Mu-ha and Saintess Sa Ah.
Raised with utmost care byBu Jan-yang, the Greatest Saber Master of All Time...
Even if Primordial Spirit Light burst from his forehead like the Buddha himself, it wouldn't be surprising.
"Right. Of course it'd be you."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Forget it."
In the end, even this elder of the Sacred Realm—
Like all of Bu Eun-seol's acquaintances—
Gave up trying to fully comprehend the enigma of his existence.
"You mentioned a traitor earlier. Who are you referring to?"
The old man shook his head.
"This is a matter of the Sacred Realm."
"I shared my story. Shouldn't you return the favor?"
After a brief struggle, the elder reluctantly spoke.
"There was a traitor in the Sacred Realm."
His voice lowered.
"That bastard read and burned the Darkness Secret Arts, slaughtered our disciples, and fled. For decades, he's evaded our pursuit."
"Decades... Then—"
"The one who lured you into Red Snake Gorge was likely that very traitor."
Bu Eun-seol was stunned.
"So that man wasn't the real Hwa Mu-gi. He stole the identity of a high-ranking Demon Hall member."
"Who knows? The Darkness Secret Arts can completely alter one's body—enough to deceive even the gods. Unless he reveals himself, no one can uncover his true identity."
That ultimately meant it was unclear whether this "traitor" had temporarily stolen the identity of a high-ranking member of the Demon Hall—
Or if he had been lurking within the Demon Hall all along.
"However, one thing is certain."
The old man continued speaking.
"Since he's lost this much of his power to you, he won't be able to wield his secret arts as flawlessly as before."
Then that means even the Chief Doctrine Commander could be the Sacred Realm's traitor.
Bu Eun-seol's expression turned peculiar.
Truthfully, he had already been suspecting that the mysterious figure who lured him to Red Snake Gorge was none other than Chief Doctrine Commander Yeop Hyo-cheon.
After all, the note had been delivered from the Demon Hall, and the number of individuals capable of sending such a message to him was extremely limited.
But if he really is Bando of the Sacred Realm, would he need to continue walking such a dangerous tightrope by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's side?
With this kind of power, he could become the Emperor himself—or steal anyone's identity.
There would be no reason for him to remain as the Chief Doctrine Commander, buried under the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's shadow, handling all manner of trivial affairs for the Demon Hall.
"You seem to know something."
The old man, noticing Bu Eun-seol's expression, spoke up.
"Tell me. Who is it?"
"To be honest, I've long suspected the Chief Doctrine Commander."
"The Dark King, Yeop Hyo-cheon?"
"Indeed. Excluding the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, the Demons-Control Department's leader, and Hall Leader Baek... he is the only one who could have left such a letter in my office."
"I see."
The Old Man of the Sacred Realm wore a troubled expression.
The Demon Hall was in the Central Heaven region, and those from the Sacred Realm could not recklessly intrude.
Moreover, if they carelessly tested Yeop Hyo-cheon—who was always present in the Demon Hall and possessed strength on par with the Three Demons—the Sacred Realm might end up facing backlash instead.
"Though I must say, to think you were the Martial Soul Society Leader."
The old man sighed abruptly, shifting the topic.
"You've been stirring up the Murim far beyond this old man's expectations."
Then he added,
"But this time, you were reckless. Had I not come..."
The old man's expression twisted strangely mid-sentence.
Seeing the look in Bu Eun-seol's eyes, he realized something.
"You already anticipated my arrival?"
Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile.
"I merely took your past words to heart."
Long ago, the old man had explained to Bu Eun-seol that the Sacred Realm existed to ensure the martial world would not be reduced to a battleground between the Baekri Clan and the True Demon's forces.
And Bu Eun-seol had believed him.
"Why did you assume our faction would intervene?"
"Because that would prove the Murim isn't just a playground for the Baekri Clan and the True Demon's faction."
"Heh heh heh. Hahaha!"
The old man burst into hearty laughter, as if pleased by the answer.
"You truly are a madman."
Until now, he had witnessed countless brilliant young talents wither before they could bloom—
Crushed beneath the hands of the superlative martial experts.
But he had never seen a lunatic like Bu Eun-seol—one who not only stood shoulder-to-shoulder with those monsters at such a young age but even sought to exploit the Sacred Realm's power for his own ends.
His strategic insight and ability to analyze the situation and predict what lies ahead... it's nearly on par with the Heavenly Mechanism Star.
Just as he was regarding Bu Eun-seol with a mix of admiration and wariness—
"Though I didn't expect my disguise to be exposed."
Bu Eun-seol shrugged.
"Had it been someone else from the Sacred Realm, I would've been in trouble."
"So, do you intend to fight the Baekri Clan and the True Demon? Even knowing it's a battle you cannot win?"
"I don't know."
Bu Eun-seol answered honestly.
"But if they don't interfere with what I'm doing, I have no intention of picking a fight."
"What?"
"Right now, more than anything, I need a space to rest—free from their grasp."
Then he asked,
"Earlier, you mentioned the coalition being beyond their reach—implying it's an alliance even the Baekri Clan and the True Demon can't touch. Am I correct?"
"That's right."
The old man shook his head.
"But the coalition isn't permanent. It can be dissolved immediately if necessity demands it."
"Well, it doesn't matter."
Bu Eun-seol's expression remained calm.
"As long as I can find every last one of the bastards who attacked my grandfather and attacked my parents within it."
Then he added,
"Besides, I've been meaning to ask you many things, old man."
The old man realized one more thing.
Bu Eun-seol leaking the information about the New Bloodline being in the Martial Soul Society wasn't just to anticipate the Sacred Realm's intervention when the Baekri Clan and the True Demon appeared—
It was also a means to summon a favorable figure from the Sacred Realm.
Someone who could provide him with vast amounts of information.
Namely, himself.
"You are truly terrifying."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"But this old man doesn't have much time. And I cannot tell you everything you wish to know."
"Of course."
Bu Eun-seol had expected as much.
Even so, he believed the old man would still provide him with new information.
"But surely you can tell me about the Blood Eye of Saha Manor?"
The old man had openly revealed his identity and even mentioned his mother's name.
At the very least, he should be able to share something about the Blood Eye of Saha Manor.
"What I can tell you now is only a fraction of the whole."
It was the answer he had expected.
Bu Eun-seol nodded his head with an earnest expression.
"Of course. Even a part would suffice."
The old man opened his mouth as if he had no choice.
"The marriage between Baekri Mu-ha, the successor of the Baekri Clan, and Saintess Sa Ah of the True Demon Family created a slight atmosphere of reconciliation between the two factions."
From the very beginning, the words that came out were astonishing.
The Baekri Clan and the True Demon had been at war since the dawn of time, and their blood kin were forces that could never coexist from the start.
Yet, an atmosphere of reconciliation had formed? Could it be that the conflict between the two factions was merely due to personal grudges?
As if sensing Bu Eun-seol's doubt, the old man spoke again.
"That doubt can be easily resolved if you consider the True Demon's blood kin."
"Blood kin?"
"Assuming that, since ancient times, they could retain memories and undergo repeated reincarnations—how many descendants do you think they could have sowed?"
Bu Eun-seol couldn't hide his bewildered expression.
"Are you saying... all of them are called the True Demon's blood kin?"
The True Demon could have been born in Tibet or India.
They could have been born as a man or a woman.
But undoubtedly, the True Demon must have left descendants each time, binding them under the name of blood kin.
"Of course. And among them, some outstanding individuals were treated as tools to maintain the True Demon's influence."
"Tools."
"Indeed. But conversely, among the blood kin, there were also those who refused to follow the True Demon's will."
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
The True Demon was a pure demon that retained memories and repeated reincarnations.
From the very beginning, they would have had no attachment to their own blood kin, merely manipulating their descendants and using them like tools.
It was inevitable that some among them would grow resentful.
"Then, the True Demon Family..."
At last, Bu Eun-seol understood the meaning behind the term "True Demon's blood kin."
"It's not a single clan, but rather a collective of loyal descendants sown by the True Demon."
"Correct. There could be figures of the True Demon Family in India, and there could be some in Tibet as well."
The old man took a deep breath before continuing with a shocking revelation.
"...And there could be some among the Nine Sects or the Martial Alliance—or even the Demonic Path Ten Gates or the Demon Hall."
It was a terrifying thought.
In the end, the True Demon's descendants were scattered all over the world.
Did that mean they were secretly building forces under his command?
"We've strayed from the topic."
Setting aside the shocking revelation, the old man returned to the original story.
"At any rate, the blood kin who rebelled against the True Demon instead sought exchanges with the Baekri Clan... and attempted to thwart the True Demon's ambitions."
Then, inhaling deeply, he added:
"And the pinnacle of that exchange was the marriage between Baekri Mu-ha and Saintess Sa Ah."
"..."
"The two met by sheer coincidence but fell in love. And with the blessing of those within the True Demon Family who desired cooperation with the Baekri Clan, they were able to marry."
The old man's eyes narrowed as if tracing a long-buried memory.
Bu Eun-seol held his breath, listening intently.
After all, the only person in this world who could tell him about his parents' past was this old man.
"But then, the situation took a sudden and extreme turn. Not only the Baekri Clan, who had been favorable toward them, but even the True Demon's blood kin turned their backs on the couple."
"Why is that?"
"They claimed there was a traitor who ruined everything and sowed discord."
"A traitor? Who was it?"
"Even I do not know. Only... Saintess Sa Ah relayed such words to me."
The old man's thin eyes narrowed further.
"In the end, there was a traitor, and it was an unavoidable fate."
"An unavoidable fate."
Bu Eun-seol fell silent for a moment, mulling over the meaning of his mother's words.
"Then, does that mean my mother foresaw everything—yet failed to predict the destruction of Saha Manor?"
"That was precisely the question I wanted to ask."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol realize why the old man had expressed doubt when he had previously asked about Saha Manor's Blood Eye.
Saintess Sa Ah, who could foresee everything.
Yet someone had deceived her eyes and ears, sowing discord between the Baekri Clan and the True Demon's blood kin, meticulously plotting a conspiracy.
Had she truly failed to detect that alone?
Or had she foreseen the betrayal but not the annihilation of Saha Manor—was that part of a carefully laid plan?
That was a riddle that could never be solved unless the couple returned alive.
"I've entered the mindscapes of the Jungson Clan and the Servants of the True Demon. And each time, I saw sorcerers taking my mother's power."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath.
"They claimed that no single person could bear my mother's power, so they made two children share it."
Then, with the gravest of expressions, he asked:
"Who in the world were they?"
For a moment, the old man remained silent.
Then, slowly, he spoke.
"To seize Saintess Sa Ah's power, the two factions clashed again, only to realize that no single person could contain it."
"Two factions?"
"Indeed."
And then came the most shocking words of all.
"So the True Demon Family and the Baekri Clan... cooperated to divide the power."
Thud.
Bu Eun-seol was struck with such force that stars flashed before his eyes.
"Are you saying the two children belonged to the True Demon Family and the Baekri Clan?"
"That's right."
'Miss Man-wol.'
Bu Eun-seol bit his lip.
He had always assumed Man-wol was the Saintess of the True Demon Family.
But she could very well be a figure of the Baekri Clan.