Chapter 983
"So you are Baekri Mu-ha."
As Jeok Bung's expression darkened sharply,
"Hahaha, indeed."
The man in blue, Baekri Mu-ha, let out a clear, ringing laugh as he bared his white teeth.
"Mark my words, old friend Jeok—having already broken through even the Extreme Demon Realm, you will not walk the path of a Great Demon."
Baekri Mu-ha turned his body slightly as he spoke.
"Having seen enough blood to last a lifetime, it might suit you well to join an institution like the Demon Hall and oversee the Demonic Path Murim."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"The Demon Hall should be led by a true demonic master like yourself."
"A true demonic master?"
"Think about it carefully."
With a faint smirk, Baekri Mu-ha tilted his head.
"Your figure, standing above the Demon Hall—I imagine it would be quite magnificent."
"Standing above the Demon Hall..."
Unconsciously, Jeok Bung pictured himself commanding the Demon Hall.
"Well then."
At that moment, Baekri Mu-ha turned away once more and vanished into the darkness.
Jeok Bung could only clench his fists as he watched that retreating figure, powerless to act.
A grandmaster of his stature could never stoop to such petty cunning as striking a man from behind.
And above all, no matter what martial arts he might unleash, he wouldn't even be able to stop that single step.
"The Demon Hall, hm."
Jeok Bung's gaze deepened.
That place already had the Demonic Heavenly Emperor—one who had transcended even the demonic realm and reached the heavens themselves.
For him to overthrow that man and become the master of the Demon Hall?
"Now that would be amusing."
He turned away.
By now, he was old enough that, even if he joined the Demon Hall, he'd only be treated as an elder.
But it didn't matter.
He was confident he'd live past two hundred.
His prime had yet to come.
Emerging from his reminiscence, Jeok Bung gazed at the distant sky.
'Then it must be true—he really is Baekri Mu-ha's son.'
Jeok Bung, too, was a figure who had peered into the Abyss of Murim.
He knew a fair amount about the Blood Calamity of Saha Manor and Bu Eun-seol's origins.
However, there were many conflicting theories about Bu Eun-seol's background, and the truth remained unclear.
Some claimed he truly was Baekri Mu-ha's son, while others insisted he was a shadow created to protect the real heir.
Because no power of the Baekri Clan or the True Demon had ever manifested in him.
And secondly, because he had been raised by Bu Jan-yang.
If Bu Jan-yang had gotten his hands on a descendant of the Baekri Clan or the True Demon,
He would have used that heaven-defying power to erase those traits in an instant.
And if Bu Eun-seol lacked the power of the Baekri Clan or the True Demon?
Then he was merely a Rising Talent of the Younger Generation with exceptional martial prowess.
Even so, Jeok Bung had taken a liking to Bu Eun-seol.
When he heard the young man had become the Ten Demonic Heir and entered the Demon Hall, his first instinct was to recruit him into his own Dark Soul Unit.
He had even considered beating him to death if he refused.
But Bu Eun-seol's unshakable ambition to master the Langya Pavilion Martial Arts had instead earned Jeok Bung's respect.
—Let's see how he turns out. What kind of man he'll become in three years.
That was what Jeok Bung had said.
And he had genuinely intended to observe him for only those three years.
Yet before even three years had passed, Bu Eun-seol had become the Heir of the Demon Hall—a position even Jeok Bung couldn't touch.
And now, before he knew it, the young man had risen to become a demonic pillar threatening even his own authority.
And today...
He had boldly withstood the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's Life and Death Palm Decree using the same footwork technique Baekri Mu-ha had once displayed.
'Did he just openly declare himself Baekri Mu-ha's son to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor?'
Jeok Bung couldn't make sense of the situation.
Bu Eun-seol was a man of profound depth, one who would never casually reveal his origins to others.
So why had he deliberately provoked the Demonic Heavenly Emperor by unveiling the Imperial Step?
'Then again, perhaps they've each played their own move.'
Jeok Bung had long known the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had been using Bu Eun-seol for some scheme.
But now Bu Eun-seol was gradually slipping from his grasp, boldly baring his fangs?
'He might be preparing to leave the Demon Hall soon.'
Jeok Bung could sense it.
That Bu Eun-seol was already contemplating his departure from the Demon Hall.
And when that time came, all the hidden factions of the Abyss would reveal themselves.
'Giving him that mission to preserve his dignity was certainly fitting of Evil Path Hall Master...'
Jeok Bung's Limitless Power wasn't merely capable of destroying objects—it could dominate space itself.
He had pinpointed the vanished figures of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor and Bu Eun-seol, then unleashed his Limitless Power to eavesdrop on every word of their conversation.
'They'll reappear soon enough.'
Recalling the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's voice from within the sphere of light he had created, Jeok Bung shook his head.
Just as the Baekri Clan and the True Demon had existed since antiquity, even the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions had their primordial origins.
Yet they have merely maintained their existence in silence, never revealing themselves.
But because of Bu Eun-seol—just one man—the precarious balance of the Murim has begun to slowly unravel.
'Then I must accelerate the plan.'
Until now, he had remained hidden, honing his martial arts in secret.
Even when he visited the Victory over Evil Island—where the Demonic Heavenly Emperor and the Sword Sovereign once clashed—he deliberately suppressed his martial prowess.
But judging by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's actions, time was running out.
The world was being torn apart.
The Great Hall was dyed crimson, the floor splitting open with screams.
And at the center of that power stood the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
The force radiating from his entire being was no mere martial might.
It was the primal will of ruin—denying existence itself, annihilating form, and crushing all order beneath its weight.
Under that overwhelming pressure, even time seemed to slow.
Everything touched by his abyss-deep gaze... became mere constructs, kneeling at his feet, awaiting shattering.
Rumble... rumble...
An unfathomable dread, a suffocating terror, swirled like a storm, devouring everything within the Great Hall.
Every being on this earth—
The living and the dead,
The tangible and the intangible—
All stood on the brink of annihilation at the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's slightest gesture.
Thud. Thud.
And then, a shadow strode into the heart of that destruction.
Bu Eun-seol, ascending the stone altar.
Even under the crushing pressure that annihilated all, his steps never faltered.
No—more than unfaltering, the moment that immense force touched him, it curved unnaturally and rebounded.
Every ounce of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's power—the momentum that erased existence, the cold that froze marrow, the heat that seared flesh—
All of it scattered the instant before touching him, repelled by the sheer naturalness of his stride.
Imperial Step.
Even against the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's world-sundering might, the Imperial Step refused all that force, either returning it intact or nullifying it.
Rather, with every step Bu Eun-seol took,
The destructive pressure was pushed back, forming a perfect void around him.
Amidst the storm of chaos and ruin, Bu Eun-seol's robes remained utterly still, his expression as placid as a pond.
—Kkkkghhh!
Then, the screams of the Disciplinary Hall warriors in the Great Hall flooded his ears.
As those agonized, desperate cries spread,
The unshaken depths of Bu Eun-seol's inner self rippled like water, and his rhythm faltered slightly.
Screeeech—
At that moment, black energy erupted from the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's pupils.
BOOM!
With a tremor that shook the world, the two vanished in an instant.
Huuuung...
They reappeared in a vast field before the Holy Demon Pavilion's West Gate.
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
The sky was clear and blue, sunlight pouring down warmer and brighter than ever.
A serene landscape unfolded, filled with birdsong—
Yet the storm of destruction between them remained, their clash of power reaching its zenith.
Oooom...
Finally, the shockwaves subsided.
The heavens held their breath, watching this strange and majestic standoff.
One side seemed to revel in beauty at the apex of destruction, while the other accepted this abrupt shift with unchanging tranquility.
"I acknowledge you."
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor spoke only those words before turning away.
Yet, oddly, concern flickered across Bu Eun-seol's face.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor showed no mercy and tolerated no slight to his divinity.
He had decreed the Life and Death Palm Decree—yet Bu Eun-seol lived.
That was a grave blow to his absolute majesty.
"And I shall assign you a task."
But as the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's low voice reached him, Bu Eun-seol—
"Understood."
—smiled and bowed deeply.
Truly, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
Even after enduring the Life and Death Palm Decree,
He had already devised a way to elevate his prestige even higher in the eyes of the world.
"Then."
As Bu Eun-seol bowed once more and turned to leave, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's eyes narrowed infinitely.
That righteous gaze, that utterly composed demeanor—
The majesty of a Supreme who worried more for his enemy than his own safety.
Such a thing existed in this world in only one man.
'Baekri Mu-ha...'
A ripple passed through the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's eyes, which had been devoid of any emotion.
His Spirit and Mind, unshaken by anything in this world, trembled at the mere mention of that name.
[Did you come all this way to kill him at all costs?]
At that moment, figures who had once stood by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's side in the Holy Demon Pavilion's Grand Hall emerged abruptly behind him.
[Are you certain about this? If you spare him, the Demonic Path Ten Gates will eventually collapse.]
Shockingly, they addressed the Sky of the Demonic Path—the Demonic Heavenly Emperor himself—with the familiarity of old friends, their tone devoid of restraint.
[If that happens, those of the Demonic Path—]
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor cut them off.
"Right now, an utterly ordinary stone is transforming into a dazzling jewel..."
Every time he faced hardship.
Every time he clashed with Superlative Martial Experts.
Bu Eun-seol drew forth limitless potential, harmonizing the power within his body as he grew.
"How could I possibly destroy such raw gemstone now?"
[But if that's the case—]
Zziing.
A mysterious light flashed in the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's eyes.
Nature Shattering.
The Limitless Power—capable of dissecting and mastering the deepest truths of the world—unfurled.
[...Well, it's not a bad thing for us, is it?]
Exposed to that gaze, their techniques and essences would be laid completely bare.
Leaving those final words behind—
Paaat!
They dispersed into hundreds of motes of light, vanishing into the void.
The atmosphere in the Hidden Demon Pavilion was nothing short of a celebratory feast.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been expected to either die or be crippled by the Life and Death Palm Decree issued by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, had not only returned unscathed but with his qi even more refined than before.
But the moment Bu Eun-seol spoke his first words at the gathered Great Hall Masters' meeting, the mood instantly turned into that of a funeral.
Because yet another mission—one so absurd it was practically impossible—had been handed down.
"This is utter nonsense."
Myo Cheon-u roared in fury.
"This is practically a death sentence, isn't it?"
The seated unit commanders silently nodded in agreement.
―I shall assign you a new mission.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor hadn't even asked whether Bu Eun-seol had truly uncovered the Saint's background.
After all, he had failed to complete the previous order.
―The martial world's spiritual lands have long been exhausted. However, we've received intelligence that the Martial Alliance has discovered a new land where the Golden Jade Divine Grass grows.
His expression was solemn as he spoke.
―Retrieve every last one of those herbs from that place.
Then came the bloodthirsty addition.
―If you fail this time and return to the Demon Hall, you will have to present your head.
It was a blatant threat—failure meant execution.
But stealing spiritual herbs from a newly discovered land under the Martial Alliance's control was an impossible order from the start.
In other words, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had already decided to take Bu Eun-seol's life.
Then, Wi Cheon-gyeong spoke.
"The Golden Jade Divine Grass is a legendary herb second only to the Golden Spirit Immortal Fruit. Because of this, the Martial Alliance has already stationed eight thousand elite troops at Great Wind Gorge."
Pausing briefly, he shook his head.
"For our Death Shadow War Unit forces to seize control of that place would be even harder than attacking the Martial Alliance itself."
Excluding the Information Warfare Unit, the Death Shadow War Unit could deploy only three hundred warriors at most.
Moreover, the Martial Alliance hadn't sent their usual forces—
Instead, they had formed a new special unit, the Heaven's Will Unit, specifically to guard the spiritual land.
In other words, these were the Martial Alliance's most elite warriors, incomparable to even their existing Six Great Battle Units.
Even if Bu Eun-seol and every warrior of the Death Shadow War Unit were deployed, victory was unthinkable.
"It seems the time has come to execute our plan to leave the Demon Hall."
At that moment, Protector Tak Il-hon's expression turned graver than ever.
"If Hall Master Sado is openly baring his fangs like this, then even if the timing isn't ideal, we have no choice."
Wi Cheon-gyeong nodded in agreement.
"Right. It seems there's no other way."
"There's no need for that."
Bu Eun-seol stood up.
Then, he smiled like a spring breeze.
"We just have to complete the mission. That's all."
"What?"
"If the Demonic Heavenly Emperor truly wanted to bring me down, there were far simpler ways."
In stark contrast to the Hall Masters' grim expressions, Bu Eun-seol's voice was bright, brimming with hope.
"There's no reason for him to hand me a doomed mission just to undermine the Demon Hall's prestige."
The Great Lords, who had been deep in thought, soon nodded their heads.
If the Demonic Heavenly Emperor truly wanted Bu Eun-seol dead or disgraced? A mere flick of his finger would suffice.
Moreover, what if a mission personally assigned to the Demon Hall's successor were to fail?
Or if the Death Shadow War Unit were annihilated by the Martial Alliance's vanguard?
Even from the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's perspective, such outcomes would hardly be desirable. After all, it would damage the dignity and prestige of the one hailed as Number One of the Demonic Path.
"Then why on earth would he issue such an order?"
When Jo Nam-cheon asked, Bu Eun-seol smiled.
"Think it through yourselves."
His smile was gentle and tender—utterly incongruous with the dire situation.
The Great Lords were somewhat taken aback but soon began racking their brains.
When no answer came, Bu Eun-seol turned his smiling gaze toward Yu Un-ryong.
It was a silent command to answer in his stead.
Ahem.
As if unnerved by that smile, Yu Un-ryong cleared his throat and addressed the Great Lords.
"The Demonic Heavenly Emperor aims to kill two birds with one stone through this decree."
"Two birds...?"
"Indeed. The Life and Death Palm Decree is effectively a death sentence. Though I can't say for certain whether His Majesty issued it believing the Lord would never fail the mission..."
His eyes swept over the Great Lords as he continued.
"Regardless, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor delivered the decree, and the Lord survived unscathed. To let this slide would crack the foundation of his absolute authority."
His voice dropped lower.
"By issuing another mission of certain death, he maintains the principle that 'a decree once given shall never be revoked.'"
"And the second reason?"
"Through this order, he intends to make the Martial Soul Lord's loyalty known to all."
Yu Un-ryong spoke calmly.
"What if the Lord silently accepts yet another suicidal mission?"
Wi Cheon-gyeong picked up the thread.
"Then naturally, the Lord would be recognized as a figure wholly loyal to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor."
"Precisely."
Yu Un-ryong elaborated.
"Should he refuse or flee, it would prove him an unnecessary element within the organization. The Demonic Heavenly Emperor could reaffirm his ironclad rule: 'Those who fail must die.' This would also serve to tighten discipline across the Demon Hall."
No Trace, the Great Lord of the Death Soul Squad, who had been listening silently, spoke up.
"Moreover, through this decree, His Majesty can project his majesty not only to the Righteous Faction but also to all hostile forces."
His tone remained measured.
"Granting a failed subordinate another deadly mission as a second chance... Such magnanimity is the exclusive privilege of the Demonic Heavenly Emperor."
True to his role as Great Lord of the Information Warfare Unit, he analyzed the situation from an outsider's perspective.
"So in the end, if he lives, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor secures a formidable successor. If he dies, he merely disposes of another useless asset."
At Myo Cheon-u's words, the Great Lords nodded.
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor was the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
This Absolute Demonic Lord, who saw through the depths of the human spirit and mind, acted with ruthlessly calculated precision.
All while safeguarding his own divine authority.
Testing his subordinate, fortifying his organization... and even waging psychological warfare against his enemies—every layer of his strategy was meticulously crafted.
"Regardless, we must depart at once. The Demonic Heavenly Emperor commanded us to march the moment preparations are complete."
At Bu Eun-seol's eerily composed words, Wi Cheon-gyeong cautiously asked,
"Do you have a favorable plan, my Lord?"
"Who knows? The Martial Alliance might even yield."
"...What?"
"They have their own intelligence network. They'll know full well I'm being forced there by the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's decree."
As Wi Cheon-gyeong and the other Great Lords widened their eyes, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"A joke."
Yet the sight of his smile only deepened their unease.
Bu Eun-seol never joked.
Especially not in a situation where the lives of the Death Shadow War Unit's warriors hung in the balance.
What was even stranger was his demeanor.
Even when he smiled, his inherently shadowy aura made it feel like a flicker of light in an abyss.
But now, he radiated a brilliance as dazzling as the sun itself.
—Ah... This is unsettling.
A strange sense of déjà vu crept over them.
They'd surely experienced something similar before, yet the memory eluded them.
"Prepare warhorses capable of carrying all Death Shadow War Unit warriors. Sweat-Blood Horses should suffice."
Bu Eun-seol clasped his hands behind his back as he issued the order.
"And while we're at it, have them don armor and Wind-breaking Robes befitting the Death Shadow War Unit's majesty."
Wi Cheon-gyeong's eyes bulged.
"You mean to ride into battle?"
Of course, with Sweat-Blood Horses—renowned for covering a thousand li in a single day—speed would hardly differ from employing Lightness Skill.
But why resort to mounted combat against an army of eight thousand?
"It'll look impressive."
With those parting words, Bu Eun-seol strode out of the conference hall.
"Make ready."
The Chiefs of the Death Shadow War Unit, unnerved by his utterly transformed demeanor, exchanged uneasy glances before nodding helplessly.
But they didn't know.
That the one drowning in the deepest unease was Bu Eun-seol himself—and that his current state was anything but normal.