Returning to Majeon, Bu Eunseol entered his office and attended to his duties as usual.
He appeared so calm that it was hard to believe he was the very person who had just rendered the Hwa Wu Sword Sect and the Extinction Palace incapable of recovery.
The downfall of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect and the Extinction Palace, and the emergence of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors.
All of these circumstances had been foreseen, and he had already finished discussing them with the Great Lords. In the past, Jeok Bung had warned him not to ignore the true power of the Ten Demonic Sects.
Bu Eunseol did not listen to that story lightly and had constantly investigated the figures behind the Ten Demonic Sects.
As a result, he was able to discover that the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, who claimed to be the origin of the demonic path, were not merely a hollow legend. Since Majeon was formed by the joining of the Ten Demonic Sects, tracing its origin was not a difficult task.
The Seven Great Demon Ancestors.
They were the source of the Central Plains' demonic path.
They were the root-like beings that gave birth to seven of the Ten Demonic Sects.
Unlike the True Demon, who is called a pure Demon, they represent the Way of the Demonic.
***
Suppressed Demon Pavilion, Majeon.
As soon as the rumors of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors' emergence spread, Bu Eunseol convened a meeting of the Great Lords.
"The shadow behind the Seven Demonic Sects, which had been hiding so tenaciously, has finally popped out," Yoo Unryong said in a resonant voice.
The Death Shadow Corps already knew that the legendary Seven Great Demon Ancestors actually existed. They also knew they would appear the moment the Hwa Wu Sword Sect and Extinction Palace were forced to close their gates.
"The Hwa Wu Sword Sect was not just a simple sect; it was the Number One Demonic Sect."
Yoo Unryong wore a serious expression. "In other words, it represented the Seven Demonic Sects and spoke for the will of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors crouching in the darkness."
'I think I understand why Manwol urged me to keep increasing my strength.'
The face of Manwol suddenly flashed through Bu Eunseol's mind as he sat in the center of the meeting room, listening quietly.
"It seems everything will be decided in this generation," Myo Cheonwoo said with a bitter expression, shaking his head. "Even though the Three Realms, the Three Families, the True Demon, and their followers still haven't officially revealed themselves in the martial world."
"The Seven Great Demon Ancestors are different in nature," Yoo Unryong stated. "According to rumors, they are the very ones who created the demonic martial world in the first place and are the source of demonic martial arts."
"Since such beings have appeared..." Jo Namcheon sighed. "A peaceful martial world can no longer exist."
Knock, knock.
At that moment, the voice of Wi Cheongyeong was heard along with the sound of knocking. "Command Lord."
Entering the room, he spoke with an incredibly grave expression. "the Demon Emperor has summoned the Command Lord."
Bu Eunseol nodded. "Continue the meeting. I will be back."
The time he had been waiting for had finally arrived.
Until now, he could never discern the clear intentions of the Demon Emperor. Despite being the strongest person in the demonic path, the Demon Emperor did not particularly worship the demonic way or proclaim a demonic world under heaven.
That had always remained a mystery.
Why did he, who sought to reign over everything, not show a clear course of action? What exactly was he preparing for?
However, with the emergence of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, he could now obtain a clear answer.
***
In the Sacred Demon Hall, Bu Eunseol received treatment befitting his status as the Martial Soul Command Lord for the first time in a long while.
He was guided to the library within the Sacred Demon Hall, a place only the closest aides of the Demon Emperor could enter.
When Bu Eunseol entered the library, the Demon Emperor was reading a book.
Until now, Bu Eunseol had observed many sides of the Demon Emperor up close—drinking tea, watering plants, or unleashing a furious momentum. He had even seen him looking like a soft, relaxed ordinary old man.
But he had never imagined he would see him standing in a library reading a book.
"You've come."
The Demon Emperor continued to read his book without hesitation in front of Bu Eunseol.
"My Lord."
For the first time, Bu Eunseol showed respect to the Demon Emperor by using the title 'My Lord.' From the moment he went out to close the sects of Extinction Palace and the Hwa Wu Sword Sect, Bu Eunseol no longer thought of the Demon Emperor as an object of reverence.
He intended to either receive the position of the Master of Majeon or leave after this task was finished.
"Sit."
The Demon Emperor also seemed to have no particular complaint about the title and offered him a seat. Clearly, there had been no tea on the table in front of the library just a moment ago. But as he pointed with his hand, a table with steaming tea appeared out of nowhere.
"Have you entered a new realm in the meantime?"
Bu Eunseol suppressed his surprise.
As the Demon Emperor pointed his hand, the table and teacups that were elsewhere transcended 'space' and moved here. Since he had already seen Weiji Mu-a perform such harmony at the Hwa Wu Sword Sect, the sudden appearance of the tea table was not immensely shocking.
However, the Demon Emperor brought the table, chair, teacups, tea, and water from different places respectively and boiled it.
This was a Divine Skill that far surpassed Weiji Mu-a's technique.
'This is why I have no choice but to have such a goal.'
Even from the perspective of Bu Eunseol, who had constantly clashed with the strongest experts of the current generation, the Demon Emperor had reached a transcendent level beyond the limits of martial arts. It was after meeting the Demon Emperor that he had resolved not to catch up to the realm of the strong, but to make them ordinary.
"As you well know, there are figures and forces that haven't been revealed in the martial world." the Demon Emperor smiled. "They call them the abyssal forces, don't they?"
Surprisingly, he even knew the term Bu Eunseol used to refer to the forces crouching in the martial world.
"That is correct," Bu Eunseol replied calmly, and the Demon Emperor continued.
"However, from their perspective, they would say the current martial world forces are merely insignificant shadows."
It was a shocking statement that would have made an ordinary martial artist's mind go blank for a moment. It meant that the abyssal forces were the actual body of the martial world, and the forces revealed in the light were merely a portion.
But Bu Eunseol was not that surprised this time either. He had already made a similar prediction and had brought up the same story to Weiji Mu-a.
"I have always thought it was strange."
Knowing that Bu Eunseol had already guessed it, the Demon Emperor did not feign ignorance. "Because organizations and forces that do not appear on the surface could not possibly exist in so many forms."
There were too many secret societies and abyssal forces in the current martial world. At this level, they should have been recorded meticulously in martial history. For the majority of martial artists not to know those forces is simply nonsensical.
"Every single one of them was bound by restrictions," The Demon Emperor said, standing up and looking out the window with his hands behind his back. "And those restrictions are being released one by one."
After staring out the window for a while, he turned his head to look at Bu Eunseol. "Thanks to someone stirring up the martial world."
There were three meanings in the Demon Emperor's words.
One, the person breaking their restrictions was Bu Eunseol.
Two, he had induced the restrictions to be broken in such a way.
Lastly, the Demon Emperor himself had long hoped for the restrictions to be broken.
If not, the Demon Emperor, who was always careful with every word and spoke with multiple layers of meaning, would not have used the words "thanks to."
"I see."
In the past, he would have been greatly surprised and thought he had not yet escaped the Demon Emperor's grasp. But now it was different. He also knew all the inside stories, and this situation itself was an intended result. The Demon Emperor seemed to have grasped that point as well and smiled.
"So, our opinions have coincided."
"I simply thought it was right for all of them to be revealed to the light, whether they are the main body or the branches of the martial world."
The Demon Emperor said with his hands behind his back, "Before long, the Great Sects will appear, and the plaque of the Baekri family will be hung in the martial world. When that happens, the sects that hadn't officially revealed themselves will slowly rise to the surface."
Stopping for a moment, the Demon Emperor looked at Bu Eunseol and asked, "How much do you know about the Seven Great Demon Ancestors?"
"I know them as the source of the demonic path."
According to the legends passed down through generations, both the history of the demonic path and its martial arts exist because of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors. In other words, they are the progenitors of the demonic people.
Among the Ten Demonic Sects, excluding the Heaven and Earth Severing Sect (created by the necessity of the Sect), the Affectionate Blossom Sect (selected to absorb massive wealth), and the Nangyang Pavilion (which joined later), the remaining Seven Demonic Sects can be said to inherit the lineage of the orthodox demonic path.
In short, the Seven Great Demon Ancestors were the roots of the Seven Demonic Sects, and Majeon was a device to encompass the Ten Demonic Sects.
Because of this, the Lord of Majeon always came from the Ten Demonic Sects and managed the demonic path as the strongest person. However, with the appearance of the Demon Emperor, that custom was broken.
"The Seven Great Demon Ancestors are beings in conflict with the True Demon—the primordial demon. It is recorded in history books that they claim the True Demon is not a true demon, and that they themselves are the true demons. But those are all word games."
The Demon Emperor's voice echoed calmly through the library.
Bu Eunseol looked surprised. Could all the known legends of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors be nonsense?
"However, the truth must be uncovered personally." The Demon Emperor continued, looking into the air. "There is one thing I can tell you. The 'Demon' cannot be divided into two branches."
"There is the pure demon called the True Demon, yet another demon called the Seven Great Demon Ancestors has emerged in the martial world..." He muttered as if to himself. "It means that by the laws of nature, that power has eventually been divided."
'Demon' is one.
In other words, since a new demon called the Seven Great Demon Ancestors was born after the True Demon, the power of the True Demon, which fully possessed the demonic power, has been split in two.
In the past, Bu Eunseol would have wondered, "Is that possible?" But having experienced the arrangements of sects like the Ancient Sword Forest, the Divine Palaces, and the Sahyang Sect—sects that have descended from ancient times or whose founders prophesied the distant future—he was not that surprised that such laws existed.
"If so, the True Demon would have naturally prioritized dealing with the Seven Great Demon Ancestors first."
"Yes, it would be good to start from there," The Demon Emperor said softly, like a grandfather telling a story to his grandson.
"Why did such a thing not happen?"
Finding the shaking gaze in Bu Eunseol's eyes, the Demon Emperor shook his head. "The stories of other forces are a matter for later. Are you curious? Because from your perspective, it would be a very natural thought."
The reason the Demon Emperor was good at piercing through the hearts of others was that he always thought from the other person's perspective.
'Is the Demon Emperor going to tell me everything about the abyssal forces right now?'
For the first time, stories about the Baekri family and the True Demon came out of the Demon Emperor's mouth. And he must have been curious—whether Bu Eunseol himself had sworn an oath to one side or had escaped from the oath.
Perhaps this meeting was to check whether Bu Eunseol was under an oath or had broken free. Since the Demon Emperor himself must have been a subject of an oath long ago, he would either be bound by them or have escaped from it.
"As you well know, with the appearance of the Sacred Domain, the fight between the Baekri family and the True Demon became sacred. Under the name of an oath, no one could interfere with or intervene in that fight."
Despite the Demon Emperor's calm words, Bu Eunseol did not particularly react. Considering his past actions, it would have been easy to predict that he was a subject of an oath. the Demon Emperor might be able to instantly tell whether he had an oath or had escaped from it based on his biological reaction to those words.
"If so..."
In the brief moment as Bu Eunseol was about to continue his words, a very strange feeling arose. It felt like a minute earthquake had occurred, or like an ominous premonition had flashed by.
Click.
At that moment, the sound of a door opening was heard.
This was the most secluded and deep part of the Sacred Demon Hall, and no one could open the door without the Demon Emperor's permission. Yet, who could possibly open the door at will without any notice?
"The timing is exquisite."
The Demon Emperor, as if he had been waiting, looked at the opening door with an unconcerned expression. Even though the door opened, no one was visible. However, from the moment the door opened, both the Demon Emperor and Bu Eunseol's eyes were constantly moving. They clearly sensed that something invisible and transparent was walking inside.
What suddenly revealed its form was not a person, but a large bundle. Judging by the fact that it was covered in blood, one could easily guess what was inside.
"Lately, there have been frequent instances of heads being sent to this Sect."
As the Demon Emperor's low voice echoed, a white mist suddenly rose from the floor in front of the library entrance. Soon, a shadow wearing pure white martial robes slowly revealed itself.
From shoes to martial robes to the mask, everything was dyed white, and bandages were wrapped around the entire skin, including the face. Moreover, wave-like currents of air were slowly spreading from the body, making it feel as if one were facing a ghost from a nightmare.
"Did the Vajra Demon Ancestor send you?"
At the Demon Emperor's words, the faint light in the white shadow's eyes flickered from within the mask. "That is so."
Vajra Demon Ancestor.
One of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors who could be called the origin of the demonic path.
A subordinate of the being known as the "Demon of Birth," who is connected to the history of the demonic path, had revealed himself.
"I am Nahu, the Heavenly Scribe."
A Heavenly Scribe usually refers to a manager in a secret organization who stores and researches forbidden or ancient books and records knowledge.
Even if the Seven Great Demon Ancestors were the great founders of the demonic path, for a mere subordinate of the Vajra Demon Ancestor to use such arrogant language toward the Demon Emperor, who is called the sky of the Demonic Path?
"Because the White Horse Temple was not managed properly and the prestige of the Demon Ancestor was tarnished, I have cut off the heads of those involved," Nahu said in a low voice. "And the Demon Ancestor asks how you have managed the demonic path for the authority of the Seven Demonic Sects to fall to the floor like this."
People have names, and trees have shade.
If it were the Demon Emperor's usual personality, the head of that person named Nahu would have been crushed before he could say two words. However, perhaps due to the authority of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, the Demon Emperor had not yet taken action. Instead, he was wearing a smile on his face.
"The Seven Demonic Sects, you say."
That meant they did not recognize the Ten Demonic Sects.
The Demon Emperor looked at Bu Eunseol as if it were interesting. "Then the successor of this Sect must step forward."
The Seven Great Demon Ancestors do not recognize the Ten Demonic Sects and are ignoring the Demon Emperor's authority.
That was why he was telling Bu Eunseol to step forward.
He was the successor of Majeon and the next Lord.
'Are they trying to seize control of the Seven Demonic Sects as soon as they appear?'
Clearing the thoughts in his mind, Bu Eunseol spoke. "According to the words passed down through generations, I heard that the Seven Great Demon Ancestors are the very foundation of the demonic path."
He then continued calmly, "Why do you not recognize the Seven Demonic Sects, which can be called the current authority of the demonic path?"
"Who are you?"
If he was bold enough to break into the Sacred Demon Hall, there was no way he didn't know Bu Eunseol, the successor of the Sect. Even at the arrogant attitude of Nahu, who was intentionally pretending not to know, Bu Eunseol folded his hands with utmost politeness.
"I am Bu Eunseol, a disciple of the Nangyang Pavilion and the successor of this Sect."
"Successor? I see."
In an instant, a white light flowed from Nahu's eyes inside the mask.
"Lord of the Demonic Path," Nahu said to the Demon Emperor. "Record that that brat has not only accidentally released the restrictions of this Sect, but also tarnished the prestige of the demonic path and weakened the power of the Demon Ancestors."
He spoke with an arrogant expression. "I hope you dismiss that man from his position as the successor of Majeon."
"I shall refuse," The Demon Emperor said calmly. "Even if all the Lords of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors came and bowed their heads, that would not happen."
Nahu's eyes flickered. "That man will die soon anyway. He is at the top of the death list of all kinds of forces."
"That sounds interesting."
"Is there a need to take such a risk?"
The Demon Emperor showed a hint of a smile. "Is that position not created specifically to take such risks?"
When Nahu realized that the Demon Emperor's mind was firm, his expression hardened. "That brat from the rootless Nangyang Pavilion eventually caused trouble."
In an instant, the look in Bu Eunseol's eyes changed.
Originally, he respected the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, who could be called the ancestors of the demonic path, to a small degree. However, the moment Nahu insulted his sect, Nangyang Pavilion, that feeling vanished completely.
"If the figure who is the root of the demonic path is this narrow-minded..." Bu Eunseol muttered lowly with a disappointed expression. "His subordinate has no choice but to be narrow-minded as well."
Nahu's complexion froze in an instant. "What did you just say?"
"Are you deaf?" Bu Eunseol said coldly, staring straight at Nahu. "I said that because the master is narrow-minded, the servant is also narrow-minded."
The Seven Great Demon Ancestors were literally the foundation of the demonic path.
They didn't even care about the Lord of Majeon, yet a young fellow who didn't belong to the Seven Demonic Sects was talking this recklessly?
Gradually, Nahu began to emit a white energy not only from his eyes but from his entire body.
The servant, whose eyes were dyed white and whose face was wrapped in white bandages, truly looked like a death god from a nightmare.
"Can you handle this?"
"Handle?" Cold frost flowed from Bu Eunseol's eyes. "Can a mere servant handle this Command Lord?"
"What?"
Bu Eunseol curled the corners of his mouth. "I heard that the Vajra Demon Ancestor, who founded the narrow method among the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, holds the lowest rank at the end. Is that order perhaps based on the width of one's heart?"
Nahu stood there blankly as if he couldn't believe the sight before him. How dare a young successor of Majeon insult a Demon Ancestor to his face?
"The Nangyang Pavilion, which somehow crawled out only seven hundred years ago, has produced a madman."
"Since you know this Command Lord is crazy, it's a relief." A ghostly light flickered in Bu Eunseol's eyes. "Bring the Vajra Demon Ancestor here."
"?"
"I don't want to talk to a servant who has no authority." Bu Eunseol looked down at Nahu and said, "A snake crawling insignificantly... how could it understand the existence of a human?"
Nahu's expression contorted bizarrely. Bu Eunseol's attitude was a direct negation of all the knowledge and common sense Nahu had known until now.
"My Lord!" Panicked, Nahu looked at the Demon Emperor. "This situation right now—"
But he could not finish his words. Wasn’t the Demon Emperor looking at the faces of the two people as if watching an exciting play?
"Where are you looking when the conversation isn't even over?"
Along with Bu Eunseol's low mutter, Nahu's left cheek was instantly dyed red. He touched his cheek in disbelief and widened his eyes.
When that brat slowly raised his hand, he thought at first it was just a threat. Even when the hand approached his face, he had doubts. He surely thought it would end with a different attitude.
But in the next moment, Nahu's vision turned momentarily dark, and his senses disappeared from his control.
'Beast Way.'
Nahu clutched his teeth.
Using the mystery of Partial Form Soul Snatching, one of the extreme techniques of the Beast Way's Ten Thousand Senses Shattering, Bu Eunseol momentarily disrupted the senses of Nahu standing right in front of him.
Taking advantage of that confusion, he had slapped his cheek.
Comments