The young man looked over Bu Eunseol and Yoo Unryong in turn.
Step.
With a polite but somehow arrogant air, he pressed his hands together.
"The Palace Lord has encountered a situation and is unable to attend. Therefore, I, as the Lord of the Cloud Reception Office, have come in his stead."
Unaware that Bu Eunseol had already seen through his identity, he boldly identified himself as the Lord of the Cloud Reception Office for the Extinction Palace. Of course, that was likely not entirely a lie. When disputes or conflicts arise between sects, the position of Lord of the Cloud Reception Office—tasked with investigating and resolving them—is often filled by recruiting renowned figures from the outside.
"Hmm."
Bu Eunseol nodded with a relaxed expression. Ordinarily, this would have been an incredibly insulting situation, but because he knew the young man's true identity, he was able to remain composed.
"Strange," Yoo Unryong noted flatly. "The Martial Soul Command has identified all the senior members of the Extinction Palace, and yet I believe I've never seen such a young Lord of the Cloud Reception Office before."
He tilted his head curiously.
"Might I ask for your honored name? This Great Corps Leader’s eyes are poor, so I cannot seem to recognize who the Lord is."
"I am called Eung Bi," the young man said with a calm face. "I am but a nameless wanderer of the martial world, and since it has been less than a year since my appointment... it is only natural that you do not know me."
"Eung Bi (Soaring Hawk), I see."
It was a name that suited the sharp, hawk-like eyes of the young man born under the Heavenly Killing Star.
"I am Yoo Unryong, the Great Corps Leader of the Death Shadow Corps," Yoo Unryong stepped forward and offered a simple greeting. "The reason we have visited your palace is to reconfirm the Extinction Palace's intent to withdraw from our command."
The Lord of the Extinction Palace should have stepped forth personally, but instead, this unknown youth named Eung Bi, holding the rank of Lord, had appeared. Therefore, rather than Bu Eunseol speaking directly, Yoo Unryong stepped up to match the opponent's level and lead the negotiation.
"You should have confirmed the Palace Lord's signature."
"A signature is something anyone can forge, can they not?" Eung Bi replied calmly. "I will say it once more: the position of this Palace remains unchanged."
"Is the position of Lord in the Extinction Palace significant enough to finalize such a negotiation?"
At Yoo Unryong's question, Eung Bi's lips curled upward.
"A second-rank Great Corps Leader of the Majeon has come to negotiate with this Palace; there is no reason a Lord cannot negotiate as well."
"That means you certainly have the authority over this negotiation then, Lord Eung Bi?"
Since Bu Eunseol was present at his side, Yoo Unryong could be said to have inherited the full authority of the negotiation. However, since the young man named Eung Bi had come out alone, Yoo Unryong was questioning whether he truly held the full power to represent his sect.
'If it is Chu So, he would have prepared for this as well.'
Yoo Unryong had already received a telepathic message from Bu Eunseol, knowing that Eung Bi was the Heavenly Killing Star and a subordinate of Chu So.
"There is no need to speak of authority. This is the will of the Palace Lord."
"Ultimately, that means you are merely a messenger delivering the words of the Lord of the Extinction Palace and hold no actual power to negotiate. Is that not right?"
When Yoo Unryong asked persistently, Eung Bi let out a snort.
"Think what you wish. I am under no obligation to answer such questions."
"The obligation will arise," Yoo Unryong's lips curled. "Before being a second-rank Great Corps Leader, I am the Vice-Lord of the Martial Soul Command, and I intend to begin an investigation into the Extinction Palace's rebellion."
In an instant, Eung Bi's eyebrows twitched. Because Bu Eunseol rarely brandished his power and the name 'Martial Soul Command Lord' was often used like a casual moniker, people frequently forgot the actual authority he wielded.
The Martial Soul Command Lord.
He was the Martial Soul Command Lord, granted the authority by the Demon Emperor himself to audit every organization under the Majeon’s banner.
"Have you not received the letter stating that this Palace no longer belongs to the Majeon?" Eung Bi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That is merely the opinion of the Extinction Palace's Lord. The Demon Emperor has not yet granted permission," Yoo Unryong said leisurely. "Furthermore, the reason for wanting to withdraw from this command might very well be a step toward rebellion."
Even if the Lord of the Extinction Palace declared he was leaving, the Demon Emperor had not yet stated his position.
Moreover, if the reason for the withdrawal was to commit treason or plot something against the Majeon, there was more than enough reason to conduct an audit before the withdrawal could even be considered.
"Indeed, you live up to your reputation as the strategist of the Martial Soul Command Lord."
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Eung Bi's gaze remained incredibly flat.
Eung Bi was a subordinate of Heavenly Mechanism Star; naturally, they would have prepared some countermeasure for this.
"It cannot be helped, then."
"Does that mean you accept the investigation?"
"Far from it."
Eung Bi muttered as he turned his gaze toward the door.
"It means we should skip the bothersome steps and get straight to it."
Then, the sound of low footsteps echoed once more, and a very tall, thin middle-aged man appeared. His height, rising like a needle, was eerie—as if a dried bamboo stalk had mimicked a human form. His body was gaunt, with bones protruding and no sign of fat to be found. The wrists and ankles visible beneath the hem of his gray robes looked so fragile they seemed ready to snap at any moment.
Yet, within that fragility breathed a terrifying strength, as if power itself had been melted down and cast into his frame.
The Palace Lord of Extinction Palace, Shindo Jangcheon.
The master of the two most terrifying hand techniques in the world, a grand master of grappling techniques, and the Lord of the Extinction Palace had finally revealed himself.
Shindo Jangcheon looked at Bu Eunseol and nodded simply.
"Martial Soul Command Lord."
Because he was so thin, his cheekbones were high and his eyes were sunken deep. However, the black pupils shining within those shadowed sockets held an abyss whose depth could not be measured. His gaze did not feel like that of a living being; rather, it felt like the ghost of an ancient tree that had endured ten thousand years of solitude.
"Your martial arts have truly ascended."
Shindo Jangcheon had rarely shown his face, often using seclusion as an excuse even during Majeon meetings. However, Bu Eunseol had been able to estimate the prowess of the Lord of the Extinction Palace through his past fight with Shin Do-unhwi.
A father and son cannot help but resemble each other, and the energy of a disciple is the energy of the master. But even with the information that his martial arts had improved, his current prowess far exceeded expectations.
'I expected his energy to have risen, but to this extent...'
He had already predicted that Shindo Jangcheon's power would have increased. However, the prowess of the man standing before him was now leagues beyond that estimation.
"I believe this is the first time we have met face-to-face like this."
Shindo Jangcheon sat down on a dirty, old chair without hesitation.
Then, a strange thing happened. The moment he sat in the old, shabby guest hall, a disciplined and solemn energy spread out, as if a flickering candle had suddenly been steadied.
The rough wooden pillars seemed to transform into elegant columns imbued with the weight of ages, and even the cracks in the walls felt like patterns from a long history. The place where he sat changed into the dharma seat of a divine bodhisattva, and even the wind seeping through the twisted window frames turned into a reverent silence.
A State of Holiness within the Body.
His dignity as a Grandmaster who had entered the Limitless Realm was being revealed without omission; even while sitting, his transcendence was evident, making wherever his body resided a holy place.
"Palace Lord," Bu Eunseol showed his respect. "It is an honor to be in the presence of such a grandmaster."
This extremely polite greeting was an acknowledgement that he perceived Shindo Jangcheon had entered the Limitless Realm and a congratulations for it. However, Shindo Jangcheon expressed no particular emotion and turned his words flatly.
"The aura of the Command Lord has become even more refined. At this rate, it seems time for the Master of the Demonic Path to step down."
"You flatter me."
"However," Shindo Jangcheon followed his compliment by revealing a sharp edge. "Regrettably, the Command Lord will not be able to ascend to the position of the Master of the Majeon."
Shindo Jangcheon’s thin lips curled up. "It is truly a pity."
Ultimately, those words were a re-declaration of his will to ensure the Extinction Palace withdrew from the Majeon.
"That may be so."
Even so, Bu Eunseol changed the subject with a casual expression. "However, I believe it will be difficult for the Extinction Palace to withdraw from the Majeon."
"Is it that difficult?"
"I am saying I will not permit the Extinction Palace's withdrawal."
Once the firm answer was given, a death-like silence flowed through the pavilion for a long time. Shindo Jangcheon, who had been sitting with a wooden, expressionless face, wore a look of bewilderment.
"You will not permit it?"
He looked straight at Bu Eunseol and said coldly, "Those are words that even the Master of the Demonic Path could not say."
"That is correct," Bu Eunseol countered calmly. "If the Demon Emperor had come here, there would be no such conversation. He would have struck off your head immediately."
"So, Martial Soul Command Lord, you are now…" Shindo Jangcheon let out a sneer. "...trying to intimidate me with the prestige of the Demon Emperor?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Bu Eunseol opened his mouth with a nonchalant expression. "The Ten Demonic Sects are the sky of the Demonic Way and the pillars of the Majeon. If even one is missing, it can no longer be called the Majeon."
He then stared at Shindo Jangcheon with a sharp gaze. "If the Palace Lord does not retract his intent, it will be an act of rebellion against this Palace and against the Demon Emperor."
"Hahahaha!"
Suddenly, Shindo Jangcheon burst into a fit of wild laughter. After laughing convulsively for a long time, he returned to his expressionless face. This perfect lack of expression, revealing not even a shred of emotion, was the source of the aura that chilled the hearts of the world's heroes.
"Martial Soul Command Lord, ever since you began leading the Martial Soul Command, the prestige of the Ten Demonic Sects has plummeted day by day," Shindo Jangcheon said in a low voice. "At first, I thought it was a justified retaliation because the Ten Demonic Sects had touched you. Therefore, the people of the Demonic Way understood it."
"But now, anyone who knows anything knows that is not the case. You are not working for the Demonic Way, but rather using your position and troops for your personal revenge."
Bu Eunseol, on the contrary, spoke with a look of confusion. "I do not see the difference between walking the Demonic Path for personal fame and success versus walking it for personal revenge."
He then spoke firmly once more. "If the Palace Lord does not retract his intent, the Extinction Palace will no longer exist in the martial world."
Chuckle.
Shindo Jangcheon laughed lowly and nodded. "Hearing you say that makes me feel refreshed."
Then, in a solemn voice, he said, "From this hour, the entity known as the Ten Demonic Sects is no more, and you, Martial Soul Command Lord, are the primary enemy of this Palace."
"Fine."
The negotiation had cooled and failed. From now on, a full-scale war between the Martial Soul Command and the Extinction Palace would unfold.
"Then, I shall come again."
As Bu Eunseol rose from his seat, Shindo Jangcheon spoke. "It seemed there were less than four hundred of them—the number of martial artists in the Martial Soul Command. If that number can withstand the forces of this Palace, it would truly be a miracle of the world."
As Shindo Jangcheon stood up, an aura like a surging cloud flowed out.
"Are you going to strike right away without hesitation?"
"Did you not already come knowing this would happen?" Shindo Jangcheon snorted. "A man as famously brilliant as you would surely not visit this Palace without having calculated this much."
"I certainly expected it."
Bu Eunseol turned around with a flat expression. "I thought you would strike quietly from behind; I didn't expect you to act so shamelessly and openly."
He then smirked. "I wondered if you'd burn down the whole house just to catch one Command Lord."
The Extinction Palace had used Bu Eunseol as the reason for their withdrawal. That was to create a reason why Bu Eunseol could not help but visit the Extinction Palace personally, while simultaneously gaining a pretext to kill him.
"This gives the Majeon a reason to strike the Extinction Palace."
If he were struck without warning while coming to negotiate?
It would be seen as a plot to assassinate the Lord of the Majeon rather than a withdrawal, allowing him to lead the entire force of the Majeon to crush the Extinction Palace.
"That might be true if you return safely, but once I kill you quietly in this Palace, there will be more than enough reasons to invent."
"Do you think it will be difficult for me to escape alone?"
No matter if this was the heart of the Extinction Palace, even if thousands or tens of thousands of troops surrounded them, if Bu Eunseol intended to escape? It was by no means impossible.
"I heard you are not the type to abandon your subordinates."
"I must preserve this life to avenge my subordinates, must I not?"
"Hehe, that's right. That is why I called you here."
Thump.
At that moment, Eung Bi lightly tapped the floor. Suddenly, the sky gradually turned pitch black, and the surrounding scenery began to be dyed in darkness.
It was as if a giant beast had opened its mouth and swallowed the entire pavilion.
The darkness pouring out like black liquid was so deep and heavy it felt viscous. Even with eyes open, it was complete darkness, no different from having them closed, and it felt as if one's sense of direction had evaporated in an instant.
"This small pavilion itself was the trap."
At Bu Eunseol's murmur:
Creak.
An eerie grinding sound echoed, and a strange sensation—as if space itself were twisting and closing—wrapped around his body. Every passage of possibility through which he thought he could escape disappeared without a trace. Simultaneously, the sound of a giant, invisible bolt sliding heavily into place spread out.
"We put some effort into it," Shindo Jangcheon said with his hands behind his back. "It is no easy task to create a space that even the world-renowned Martial Soul Command Lord cannot escape."
"A fascinating formation," Yoo Unryong exclaimed. "To surpass the functions of the formations scattered across the martial world and perfectly close off both the Gate of Life and the Gate of Death."
Then, Eung Bi, who had been standing tall, nodded with a face full of pride.
"It is a formation that can only be deactivated by using the blood of the enemy as a sacrifice." He then smirked and said, "Until the hearts of the two people who entered the formation stop beating, this pitch-black prison will continue forever."
Seeing him guarantee it so strongly, it was clearly an ancient formation taught by Heavenly Mechanism Star.
"So you made it so only two people could enter." Yoo Unryong nodded. "Ancient formation arts that completely eliminate the Gate of Life generally require the perfect alignment of Yin and Yang."
If Bu Eunseol had set his mind on fleeing, there would be no way to stop him even if all the disciples of the Extinction Palace were mobilized.
The Heavenly Mechanism Star had created a formation designed so that he could never escape. However, the conditions for achieving perfect Yin-Yang harmony were quite strict, so even with his ability, the number of people who could enter was limited to just four.
Therefore, after luring Bu Eunseol and only one of his confidants here, they had deployed their strongest forces—Shindo Jangcheon and the Heavenly Killing Star—to ensure they could be dealt with definitively.
"Even if the Demon Emperor himself came, he could never break this formation until the two people inside are dead."
'Is Pamyeong not appearing?'
Upon hearing Shindo Jangcheon's guarantee, Bu Eunseol's gaze turned cold. Based on Jongbaek's words alone, he could not tell what kind of cooperative relationship had been formed between Pamyeong, one of the Three Attendants, and Heavenly Mechanism Star.
'It means they were certain they could kill me with this much force.'
If he hadn't known about Eung Bi? He would have mocked them, asking if a fight could even happen with just two people.
But Eung Bi was the Heavenly Killing Star.
Because he had clashed with him in the past during the search for the Wood Buddha, Bu Eunseol knew well how powerful his supernatural abilities were and how great his potential was. Unlike ordinary stars, he was not bound by territory and was someone who could exert transcendental speed and manifest various supernatural powers. Adding the Lord of the Extinction Palace to that, it had certainly become a situation where a landslide victory could not be expected.
"Let us begin."
At that moment, not the Lord of the Extinction Palace, but the Heavenly Killing Star stepped forward toward Bu Eunseol. All that remained was to engage in a life-or-death struggle within the ancient killing formation with no exit against the Heavenly Killing Star, who was said to bring inevitable death and despair to his enemies, and the Lord of the Extinction Palace, who unleashed grappling techniques that shattered the heart with a mere touch.
"Unryong."
The Lord of the Extinction Palace had reached a level of prowess comparable to the Limitless Realm, and there was no telling where the limits of the Heavenly Killing Star's abilities lay. Once the fight began, Yoo Unryong could lose his life instantly, even before Bu Eunseol.
[With this Heart Mirror Technique...] Yoo Unryong quickly sent a telepathic message. [...even if this Palace Lord is a master of the Limitless Realm, I can hold out for about fifteen minutes.]
Then Yoo Unryong showed a sparkling bracelet on his forearm. It was a divine treasure brought from the Divine Maiden Palace.
In the past, Yoo Unryong had held out for fifteen minutes against a master of the Limitless Realm using the early version of the Heart Mirror Technique. How much more so if he used the improved Heart Mirror Technique and the divine treasure of the Divine Maiden Palace?
Even if he couldn't win, he could hold out against the Lord of the Extinction Palace for about fifteen minutes.
Eung Bi's gaze grew incredibly sharp.
This was because Bu Eunseol and Yoo Unryong were showing an incredibly calm and flat reaction.
"Strange. How can you accept this situation so calmly?"
In truth, the idea that the reason the Extinction Palace sent a withdrawal letter to the Majeon was merely to trap and kill Bu Eunseol was an utterly nonsensical plan. If they were simply trying to kill him, there were plenty of other ways. There was no need to provoke the Demon Emperor or cause unrest among the million followers of the Demonic Way to plan such a murder.
"Did you think I wouldn't know?"
Bu Eunseol looked at Eung Bi, who was furrowing his brows, and his lips curled up. "The full story of this plan."
"Are you saying you know?"
"Of course."
His eyes, gazing at Eung Bi, emitted a white chill like a ten-thousand-year-old ice cave.
"Only this method could bring me into the Extinction Palace with dignity before the eyes of the entire martial world. And only by trapping and killing me within a formation that no master can break... could you deceive the world and create a fake Martial Soul Command Lord."
In an instant, Eung Bi's pupils shook like ripples.
The Heavenly Mechanism Star's plan was perfect.
No one could see through it, and it could never fail.
Yet this man had not only seen through it all but had also willingly walked into this death trap, knowing that everything he possessed would be taken by a fake.
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