―The Death Shadow War Host has annihilated the Blood Cult's two great Protectors and the Blood-Demon War Host!
A shocking rumor shook the martial world.
The war host directly under the Martial Soul Command comprised of about three hundred people, the Death Shadow Corps.
They had swept away the Blood-Demon War Host, one of the Blood Cult's strongest war hosts, and the Blood Cult's two great Protectors who were spreading infamy in the extra-territorial martial world.
The Blood-Drunk Twin Shadows in a single breath.
―Aha, it seems the Martial Soul Command Lord has performed a miracle again.
Though the martial prowess of the Martial Soul Command Lord wasn't properly known in the martial world.
The key figures of the martial world were well aware that he had long ago surpassed the realm of the Four Gods and Seven Kings, and was approaching the skill of the Three Demons and Three Venerables.
―The Martial Soul Command Lord was not at that battle!
But an astonishing fact was subsequently revealed.
At the time, the Martial Soul Command Lord was undergoing closed-door training, and.
The Death Shadow Corps had carried out an operation to destroy the Blood Cult branch by the order of the Majeon meeting.
However, the Blood Cult had obtained information about the Death Shadow Corps' expedition in advance, and placed the Blood-Drunk Twin Shadows and the Blood-Demon War Host on standby at the Shanhai Pass.
Yet even after falling into a trap, the Death Shadow Corps did not flee or avoid it, and.
Fought them head-on, ultimately achieving a great victory and returning.
Three hundred versus three thousand.
Moreover, the Blood-Drunk Twin Shadows were experts known since long ago to possess martial prowess matching the Four Gods and Seven Kings.
To have dealt with them even though the Captains of the Death Shadow Corps were all second-rank captains……
It proved they possessed far more mighty martial prowess than even the captains of Majeon's special war hosts.
―The Blood Cult keeps offending my mood.
The Heavenly Demon Emperor, having received the report of this news.
Sent Majeon's main war host, the Blood Mist Squad, to.
Cleanly subjugate the remnants of the Blood Cult remaining around the Shanhai Pass, and.
Commanded the Shadow Pavilion to create an intelligence organization exclusively in charge of the Blood Cult so they could not easily invade the Central Plains again.
He also bestowed a great reward upon the Death Shadow Corps martial artists who had defeated the Blood Cult's great war host to praise their merit.
Yoo Unryong and Myo Cheonwoo were treated with the standing of a Hall Master.
Won Semun, Wi Cheongyeong, and Jo Namcheon were elevated to the status of a top-grade corps captain.
No matter how intentionally they had been lowering their status until now, it was a truly unprecedented promotion.
―The Heavenly Demon Emperor's trust is incredible.
For the Heavenly Demon Emperor, who had constantly remained uninvolved in Majeon's affairs, to take care of the Death Shadow Corps' matter.
That alone not only raised the standing of the Death Shadow Corps within Majeon, but also further solidified the authority of the Martial Soul Command Lord.
* * *
Somewhere secretly in various parts of the Central Plains.
Lands where even taking a proper breath is a luxury occasionally occur through spatial rifts.
The Land of the Limitless.
Gravity dozens of times heavier that crushes everything living, and air so thin one cannot breathe properly as if having climbed a ten-thousand-year snow mountain.
It is truly like a land of death rejecting living life itself.
At the center of the Land of the Limitless, a desolate landscape looking as if it had reached the end of the world.
Two beings spreading intense waves of true energy stood facing each other.
From a massive shadow wearing a black mask covering even the face and an ink-colored armor flowing with luster.
Deep red blood flames were blooming.
That appearance was like the incarnation of a black-burning flame transformed into a human.
The eyes seemed capable of melting even iron, and with every exhaled breath, the ground seemed to slowly sink.
The Returning to One Realm Lord.
The absolute expert whom all the strong of the world pointed fingers at calling him a madman had appeared here.
"……."
There was a shadow facing him from the front.
It was a woman wearing splendid clothes, but donning an unbearably crude, featureless mask on her face.
Standing like a butterfly on a rock like a sharp spire as if rejecting gravity, and.
The pupils inside the pure white featureless mask with only eye holes pierced were deep and tranquil as if sucking in all the light of the world.
"Pasun."
Rumble.
As he drew a great blade, a roaring sound like a thunderbolt striking spread out in all directions.
The voice of the Returning to One Realm Lord, leaving only the instinct for destruction, rang out in all directions.
"You die today."
Could that frail woman wearing a featureless mask.
Be one of the True Demon's attendants, the one called Pasun who breaks all natural order in the world?
Pa-ah!
The great blade cleaved the void, and a massive blade qi that seemed to tear the sky was emitted.
Crack.
In an instant, the earth around where the woman, Pasun, stood split like a spiderweb, and the ash-gray sky became dyed black.
Swish.
As she slowly raised her white hand.
The berserk blade qi encroaching upon the surroundings smoothly scattered as if hitting an invisible wall.
It wasn't deploying martial arts to counter destruction, but a movement as if dancing a beautiful dance.
Rumble!
The Returning to One Realm Lord didn't care and swung the great blade at her.
Vwoosh, vwoosh, vwoosh, vwoosh!
Every time the ink-colored blade qi spread out, a rupture sounding as if space itself was wailing burst forth.
By that impact alone, the sky where dark clouds swirled was torn, and deep blue lightning bolts struck the earth.
Pasun remained completely motionless even before that overwhelming momentum.
Her pupils inside the mask were as tranquil as the eye of a storm, and.
Every time the heaven-shattering blow poured out by the Returning to One Realm Lord approached her very nose, she merely raised her hand.
Whirl.
Like a flowing river water, like a gentle breeze brushing a forest.
Simply, simply and elegantly.
She was lightly deflecting the Returning to One Realm Lord's blade qi that seemed to harbor the flames of hell.
Fwoosh!
The Returning to One Realm Lord suddenly threw his massive great blade into the void.
Crack.
At that, the ground around where Pasun stood sank deeply in an instant, and tremendous pressure that didn't allow her to twitch a single finger pressed down on her body.
Pat!
Not missing that opportunity, the Returning to One Realm Lord narrowed the distance in an instant and began to attack Pasun bare-handed.
Fist, palm, finger, claw, leg, thigh.
Using his entire body as a lethal weapon, he relentlessly drove Pasun into a corner.
Every single form poured out by the Returning to One Realm Lord contained the might to collapse mountains and cleave seas, and.
The profound mysteries contained within were transcending the martial arts limits of the martial world.
But Pasun's response was chillingly tranquil.
Like a shadow dancing before a massive wave, she neutralized all attacks with minimum movements.
She didn't strike away but twisted, didn't block but deflected.
The Returning to One Realm Lord's destructive attacks.
Lost their way before the infinite space she created and scattered into the void.
Clang! Rumbbbble! Clang!
Every time a clash ensued, lightning poured down like rain, battering the Land of the Limitless.
As the fight intensified, the contrast between the two people became even starker.
If the Returning to One Realm Lord, trying to destroy everything while spewing red flames, was a Great Demon King wearing a hideous mask.
Pasun, who embraced those madness-tinged attacks with a transparent veil, was emptiness itself with neither form nor sound.
"……."
Ultimately, the Returning to One Realm Lord stopped his movements.
Only now did he realize that she wasn't deflecting the attacks, but.
Cutting off the attacks themselves mid-way.
"They said you break the natural order."
The Returning to One Realm Lord's eerie voice from inside the iron mask rang out in the Land of the Limitless.
"It was true."
Pamyeong.
If he possessed the ability to dominate the enemy's physical body with super-senses reaching a god,
Pasun.
She possessed the power to sense all the flows of the world and nullify predetermined outcomes.
Flash.
Pasun's eyes inside the featureless mask sparkled.
To halt even the mighty true wave flowing from the Returning to One Realm Lord's body, she began to exert a mysterious power.
"Natural order (順) means not going against it like the flow of water, not resisting the order."
The Returning to One Realm Lord's low voice spread out in all directions.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
At the same time, the pitch-black blade qi swirling around the Returning to One Realm Lord's body began a test of strength against Pasun's pouring power.
Crack, crackle.
The ground split and the entire landscape of the Land of the Limitless distorted.
But because the powers of both sides were so equal, the outcome was not easily decided.
"The power called Pasun (break the natural order) ultimately must mean breaking the flow and destroying perfection."
The Returning to One Realm Lord, relentlessly pushing away Pasun's power, was continuing his words.
T-t-t-t.
Pasun was exerting an even more intense power to stop the Returning to One Realm Lord's words.
Because before her, nothing could become complete.
Conversely, the Returning to One Realm Lord was slowly completing his words in opposition to her power.
"In the end, if anything were to be completed before you…… it would mean the power of Pasun is broken."
Vwooong.
Ultimately, the Returning to One Realm Lord completed everything he had to say.
That moment, the light in Pasun's eyes began to waver like ripples.
Since the one who doesn't allow completion could not block the Returning to One Realm Lord's words……
By this fact alone, practically, this confrontation was no different from her defeat.
Screeeech.
That moment, a sharp friction sound like scratching the earth broke the silence.
At the same time, the energy filling the Land of the Limitless began to twist.
Crack.
A thin fissure like a rivulet appeared where Pasun stood, and then.
Dark red steam and pale flames spewed out from the crevice.
Pasun had cut off the power enveloping the entire Land of the Limitless mid-way.
Billow, billow.
A terrible malice mixed with black fog began to contaminate the Land of the Limitless.
The fissures spread out in all directions like a spiderweb, and the ground swelled up with an unstable energy. As if it would explode at any moment.
Rumbbbbbble!
Finally reaching its limit, the earth exploded as if screaming.
Along with a roaring sound as if the boundary between heaven and earth was collapsing, the axis of the earth shook.
The mountain seen far away sank down vainly, and black craters gaped open in the widely split earth.
Rumble! Kwa-kwa-kwang!
Rocks the size of houses poured down like rain from the blood-red sky.
The world miserably collapsed, as if meeting its doom.
Vwooong.
The Returning to One Realm Lord gripped his great blade with all his might.
Smirk.
At that time, the pupils of Pasun inside the featureless mask narrowed.
It was a look as if sneering.
Fwoosh.
That moment, the pupils inside the Returning to One Realm Lord's mask blazed fiercely, and then,
Flash!
He unleashed a massive slanting slash that seemed to fill the sky.
Pa-a-a-a-a-ah!
The massive blade qi over forty zhang wide drew a magnificent curve and shot up to the ends of the sky.
At that, the collapsing landscape vanished, and the surroundings turned into a wide open plain.
In no time, the Land of the Limitless disappeared as if evaporating, and.
The figure of Pasun, who was in front of the Returning to One Realm Lord, also vanished without a trace in an instant.
"……."
The Returning to One Realm Lord narrowed his two eyes as he looked at the place where Pasun had disappeared.
"You suffered a wound."
Clack.
As he retrieved his great blade and stared into the distant sky,
Flash!
An intense light capable of destroying the world shot up from the pupils inside the iron mask.
"Since I have already obtained the hunting method (旣得獵法),"
Thud.
As he turned his body, heaven and earth rang greatly.
"The day of death for you and your kind has arrived (汝輩死期至矣)!"
The dark red robe fluttered like a cloud, and then,
Swoosh.
The massive shadow dyed black vanished without a trace in an instant.
* * *
Returning to Majeon, Bu Eunseol praised the great victory of his Death Shadow Corps subordinates.
He bestowed spiritual medicines upon the injured to recover their bodies, and.
To those whose arms or fingers were severed, he passed down martial arts that could compensate for that.
He said he would provide enough money to spend for a lifetime if anyone had the mind to go down to their hometown, but.
There was not a single martial artist who left the Death Shadow Corps.
―We must analyze Pamyeong's power.
When the martial artists regained stability, Bu Eunseol immediately held a meeting of the Captains.
Luckily, he had succeeded in defeating Pamyeong.
No, Wi Cheongun who was encroached upon by Pamyeong.
But that was merely a half-victory at best.
Because Pamyeong was still alive.
If he regained his intact Soul Demon Dharma Energy, he might completely recover even his primordial spirit and return again.
Moreover, there is also the possibility of borrowing someone else's physical body again to plot new wicked schemes, so……
To completely sever Pamyeong's breath, it goes without saying that the essence and whereabouts of his power must be found.
Even that enigmatic power that trapped the Death Shadow Corps martial artists in a trap had to be thoroughly uncovered.
Fortunately, Bu Eunseol had not only Yoo Unryong, but also outstanding talents like Gongsun Dankyung and Han Sangja with him.
And after a long discussion, they were finally able to establish a precise definition of Pamyeong's power.
Suppressed Demon Pavilion, Bu Eunseol's office.
Yoo Unryong had set down the large metal box he was holding, and was giving a report to Bu Eunseol.
"Pamyeong, while manipulating others' physical bodies, with a super-sense that has reached the realm of a god, not only subtly manipulates all things, but also……."
They had reached a conclusion by gathering the contents of the investigations and meetings of the Martial Soul Society, Absolute Peak Corps, and Death Shadow Corps.
"The conclusion was that he can see the invisible threads of cause and effect (因果)."
The reason Pamyeong was confident he could exert the power to twist the flow of fate was.
Because he could ignite the sparks of a massive disaster with extremely trivial things like a single speck of dust, a single drop of water, or a single pebble.
"A single pebble on the roadside, a single speck of dust floating in the air. What kind of events that speck-like difference will bring about in the future…… it means he is seeing through it as clearly as looking at the palm of his hand."
Bu Eunseol described Pamyeong's ability as 'a super-sense that has reached a god'.
But that was close to a 'feeling' he had faintly grasped at the time because.
He had achieved Transcendental Unity and reached an equal level with Pamyeong.
Therefore, he couldn't explain how he, feigning coincidence.
Brought about catastrophes such as blowing up the Death Shadow Corps' armory and causing landslides.
But if what Yoo Unryong said is true.
The source of power capable of causing such phenomena is explained.
"So in the end, that guy ghost-like sees through that decisive single point of when, how a balance will widen and collapse."
Bu Eunseol let out a sigh.
In a word, Pamyeong, like a miraculous Taoist.
Could sense the harmony of heaven and earth (天地), and break its energy and balance with a small force.
"You could say that."
Yoo Unryong put strength into his two eyes.
"Ultimately, the Three Attendants were not god-like beings."
And continued his words in a low voice.
"With superhuman insight and the power to grasp minute balances, they had acted like a god manipulating the principles and fate of the world."
Finally, among the Three Attendants, the secret of Pamyeong's incomprehensible power had been revealed.
But Yoo Unryong had an expression of a lingering bitter aftertaste.
"Even so, he is a difficult opponent."
Though they gave Pamyeong a blow, he is still alive.
And it cannot even be fathomed how incredible his original power is.
What if Pamyeong recovers his body and appears? The martial world could be turned upside down greatly once again.
"Through Wi Cheongun's whereabouts during this time, track Pamyeong once again."
If Pamyeong were an ordinary martial artist, he would have killed Wi Cheongun whose whereabouts could expose him.
But he had said he doesn't touch innocent commoners.
And as if to keep that principle.
Wi Cheongun, having escaped his domination, was still unharmed.
However, because he had almost no memories of the time he was Pamyeong, it was difficult to find a decisive clue.
Yoo Unryong spoke powerfully even knowing such a fact.
"Of course. Just wait a little. We will definitely catch Pamyeong's tail."
"You can take it slowly."
"Ah, and this."
Yoo Unryong held out the metal box he had set down since coming in to Bu Eunseol.
"It is a treasure we accidentally found while returning from the Blood Cult branch."
Click.
Opening the box, there was a treasure-robe in the form of a long gown inside.
In a pitch-black, deep black color that seemed to suck in even light.
Along the ends of the sleeves and the hem, together with intricately embroidered patterns in gold thread, a blood-red hue lingered depending on the direction the light brushed past.
Though dyed ink-color overall, forming a vivid contrast here and there.
The gold and red were creating an ominous yet captivating beauty.
"Auspicious energy suddenly shot up from the sky, so we went to look, and this box was hidden under a smashed rock."
Yoo Unryong spoke excitedly.
"I don't know what it's made of, but it couldn't be cut even with a treasure sword. Judging from the condition of the box, it seems to be at least three hundred years old, but no matter how much we investigated, we couldn't figure out its history."
"I am fine."
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
"Give it to the Captains or corps members with weak martial arts instead."
"It's a treasure we obtained by achieving our first great victory."
Yoo Unryong spoke with a serious expression.
"The corps members all want you to wear it too. Now, look at this."
He spoke while bringing the treasure-robe against Bu Eunseol's body like an attendant at a fabric shop.
"Isn't it really a perfect fit?"
"It seems a bit too conspicuous to wear around normally."
The treasure-robe was so splendid that it was only suited for ceremonies or events.
"Hehehe, I knew you would say that."
When Yoo Unryong flipped the treasure-robe once, it had instantly turned into an ordinary long gown without any luster.
With a single flip, it became the form of an ordinary long gown.
"I've never heard of such a treasure-robe existing in the martial world."
Yoo Unryong spoke proudly.
"Hurry up and try it on."
"I'm really fine."
"The martial artists of the Death Shadow Corps prioritize your safety over their own lives."
Yoo Unryong spoke with burning eyes.
"Are you going to turn away from their fervent wish?"
"It's not that."
"Just put it on once."
When he spoke to this extent, there was nothing to say.
"Understood."
Bu Eunseol couldn't help but put on the treasure-robe.
"Yeah, that suits you well too."
The flipped side wasn't splendid, but it had a subtle luster, so it suited him quite well.
"It's an incredibly tough treasure-robe, so even if you freely deploy your movement techniques now, your clothes won't tear like rags."
At Yoo Unryong's appearance, delighted like a child, Bu Eunseol showed a faint smile as if he couldn't help it.
* * *
Rumble, swish-sh-sh-sh!
The September monsoon was endlessly pouring down heavy rain.
When flood damage occurred due to the ceaselessly pouring rain.
Bu Eunseol led the martial artists of the Death Shadow Corps and headed to the village that suffered flood damage.
After stepping into the martial world.
He might be indifferent to the major and minor affairs of the martial world, but he had never just watched the damage to powerless commoners idly.
During his days as a corpse examiner, when a village suffered a disaster, it would be restored like a lie the next day.
Every time that happened, the villagers would say,
―Strong martial artists helped us!
And praised the nameless wandering knights.
Since even if ordinary commoners came in swarms, it couldn't be restored in a single day.
At the time, the young Bu Eunseol just thought, 'I see'……
Looking back now, it must have all been his grandfather's secret good deeds.
Since no matter how great a wandering knight of the martial world, there was no way they would seek out a remote village in Hwangju Prefecture every year to secretly help with damages.
Inheriting his grandfather's will, he is always looking after and helping the damages of commoners like this.
Bu Eunseol wore a proud expression and looked around.
Without even imagining what would happen in the future.
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