Before he knew it, Bu Eunseol's mind was drawn to a certain day in the past, accompanied by the vivid sensations remembered by Baekri Geomha.
Whoosh.
On a day when the sky was exceptionally high and blue.
Baekri Geomha was flying through the sky, carried on the broad back of his father, Baekri Muha.
His father's broad back was like the firm and comfortable earth, more than anything else in the world.
The wind tickled his cheeks as it brushed past, and below his feet, clouds spread out like silk, gently wrapping the ridges of the mountain range.
Was this what the celestial scenery, where only immortals roamed, looked like?
Swoosh.
Finally, they landed on a peak like an island floating in the middle of a sea of clouds, at the summit of a deep, deep mountain where human footsteps could not reach.
There, a palace built of pitch-black, smooth jade stood tall.
On the entire front of its outer wall, as if alive and breathing.
A statue of a black dragon grandly wrapped around the palace, looking as though it would roar and soar into the sky at any moment.
As Baekri Geomha opened his mouth in surprise, "There is no need to be afraid."
Baekri Muha took his son's hand and directed his steps toward the entrance of the palace.
Rumble.
Then, as if waiting, the giant black dragon wrapped around the palace moved, Swish, swish.
Before they knew it, dozens of figures in black clothes appeared as if surging from the ground and blocked their path.
"Baekri Muha."
Their eyes were cold and emotionless, and a blade-like killing intent bloomed from their entire bodies.
"Did you come because you wish to die?"
They thrust out their palms in unison and lunged at Baekri Muha.
Baekri Muha stood unyielding like a great mountain, then lightly flicked his sleeve once.
Vooom!
And suddenly, a massive, invisible barrier of force spread out like a wave.
It pushed the fiercely charging figures in black away by over a dozen jang.
"I did not come to fight."
The voice of Baekri Muha, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back, was extremely low, yet it quietly echoed throughout the entire mountain.
"I came to converse with him."
"What nonsense."
Just as the figures in black were about to attack again, Creeeak, thud.
The giant closed doors slowly opened, letting out an eerie friction sound.
Step, step.
From the thick darkness inside the opened doors, a man revealed himself.
The black energy lingering over his entire body wriggled like a living creature, and only a pair of eyes flashed like ghost lanterns.
It was the appearance of a monarch who ruled over darkness.
"Hmm."
The man's mysteriously sparkling eyes were not scanning Baekri Muha, but the young Baekri Geomha hiding behind his back.
Nod.
As he slightly tipped his head.
Swoosh.
Among the surrounding figures in black, only the one who appeared to be the leader remained, while the rest vanished in an instant.
"Follow me."
The figure in black guided Baekri Muha inside.
The interior of the palace was submerged in a darkness and silence even deeper than the outside, and it was filled with a thick, mysterious energy.
The figure in black guiding Baekri Muha.
"Wait."
Upon arriving in front of a pavilion dyed pitch-black, he stopped his steps and looked at Baekri Muha.
"This child cannot enter."
And he nodded to a middle-aged woman with a cold impression who had emerged from the pavilion.
"Take the child away."
At that, Baekri Muha gently grasped his son's shoulders, as if he had no other choice, and said.
"Geomha. Stay here quietly until your father comes out."
Nod.
As Baekri Geomha nodded, Baekri Muha disappeared into the pavilion.
The middle-aged woman then led Baekri Geomha to a place like a large palace.
She shoved him into a secret room located on one side of the palace's interior and spoke in an emotionless voice.
"Wait here as quietly as a dead mouse."
Rumble.
Along with the sound of a heavy iron door closing, the interior of the secret room was submerged in perfect darkness.
"Hmm."
However, there was a fact they did not know.
That Baekri Geomha was a genius possessing eyes that could see through everything since birth.
"A unique formation……."
In his eyes, the flow of the complex formation placed on the door was reflected as a tangled stream of golden threads.
"It wasn't meant to trap a person, but to trap the space."
As his small fingers stirred the empty air a few times, the energy forming the core of the formation smoothly unravelled.
Baekri Geomha, who opened the door soundlessly.
Unable to overcome his curiosity, he began to look around the interior of the palace.
As he walked along the silent corridor.
He discovered an underground space where an exceptionally bizarre chill and evil energy flowed out.
"It looks like…… a prison."
Drawn in, he descended underground, and a breathtaking sight unfolded before his eyes.
In a space filled with demonic energy that seemed capable of melting even iron, surprisingly, at its center.
A girl, so beautiful it was hard to believe she was human, was bound by pitch-black iron chains.
Skin as white as snow, a face as lovely as a painting.
However, her head was drooped as if she were unconscious, and her lips were bone dry.
Sizzle.
As Baekri Geomha stepped inside, the demonic energy grew even thicker.
It was a highly toxic demonic energy that would turn an ordinary person to ashes in an instant, but.
Baekri Geomha walked on unbothered.
"Excuse me. Are you alr……."
Baekri Geomha, who approached the girl to speak to her, could not help but be shocked.
Not only her wrists and ankles, but also near the exact center of her chest.
Was there not a piece of an iron chain engraved with a small, bizarre pattern deeply embedded?
"How could they do such a cruel thing."
Anger gathered in Baekri Geomha's eyes.
Without hesitation, he reached out his hand to pull out the chain embedded in the girl's chest.
Crunch!
The moment his fingers touched the chain, a strange noise rang out. And then, as if he had grasped a sharp blade, deep wounds began to burst open on both of Baekri Geomha's hands.
Drip, drip.
Both his hands became covered in blood in an instant, but without giving up, he clenched his teeth and pulled on the chain.
Screeeech…… Clang!
Along with a gruesome friction sound, the piece of chain was finally pulled out.
Then, it smoothly vanished like light.
"Are you okay?"
But there was no time to be surprised.
Because the girl's condition had worsened even more.
As if the chain had been both a curse and a lifeline, the moment it was pulled out, it was evaporating the blood from her body.
Tremble.
Before he knew it, the girl's lips had turned blue.
Panicking, Baekri Geomha suddenly.
Had a passage he had read in a medical text flash through his mind.
―'To a patient in a state of severe blood loss, one can directly feed them blood to replenish their qi.'
Baekri Geomha did not hesitate and brought his blood-soaked hands to the girl's lips.
However, the blood flowing from the wounds dried up before it could even wet the girl's dry lips.
Slash!
In the end, Baekri Geomha took out a sharp dagger from his embrace and cut his own wrist deeply.
Drip, drip.
A large amount of fresh blood flowed into the girl's mouth.
"You have to drink it."
Baekri Geomha squeezed the wound, forcing out blood.
"Just a little…… more."
However, his eyes soon began to dim.
He felt dizzy because he had suddenly lost too much blood.
'I have to endure.'
If he fainted, the girl might die.
Baekri Geomha, who was trying to stay conscious with all his might, Thump.
Ultimately collapsed backward and lost consciousness.
At that moment, a miracle occurred.
Long, black eyelashes fluttered, and finally, the girl's heavily closed eyelids slowly opened.
Twinkle.
The girl's eyes were deep and mysterious, as if they contained all the stars in the night sky.
"……."
What entered her vision as she regained consciousness was.
A boy who had kept feeding her the blood flowing from his wrist, before losing consciousness and collapsing. It was Baekri Geomha.
He was lying collapsed with his face covered by his two hands, covered in the bloody water that had flowed down from his wrist.
"The blood of the Baekri Family, and the blood of the True Demon."
The girl, gazing at the collapsed Baekri Geomha with empty eyes, muttered lowly.
"That is why…… you didn't die even after coming in here."
To be able to calmly enter this cursed space.
"You were able to save me."
To be able to pull out that piece containing a god's curse with his bare hands.
It was because this boy had a lineage that possessed both divine nature and demonic nature at the same time.
Hummm.
A faint light flowed from the girl's entire body.
Due to the chain that had been embedded in her chest.
Her physical body, whose growth had been stopped for a long time, was slowly recovering.
"But it's blocked."
The girl, gazing near Baekri Geomha's Naohu acupoint.
Float.
Used her power to float Baekri Geomha's body into the empty air.
Then, without hesitation, the girl kissed his lips.
Along with the cold kiss, a sweet and clear fragrance spread into the boy's consciousness.
It was not a simple kiss.
It was the girl blowing the true energy harbored within her through her lips, and at the same time.
Momentarily absorbing the other person's mind and soul to make their memories coexist……
She had also injected the Wondrous Soul-Fading Caress Art, which the True Demon had created for his lover.
The girl, who slowly parted her lips, Thud.
Fainted just like that.
The Wondrous Soul-Fading Caress Art was a secret art that only one possessing a Soul Demon Dharma Energy equal to the True Demon could use.
Because she had performed it, her spirit momentarily collapsed and her memories were erased.
―'No more.'
How much time had passed?
Baekri Geomha heard the sighs of his father and mother while unconscious.
―'If we do not seal the blood points…….'
―'Shh. The child is awake.'
At the same time, a scorching hot current injected by Baekri Muha spread throughout his entire body via the Mingmen acupoint.
Like that, the young Baekri Geomha's memories were submerged deep into the fog once again.
* * *
'Dali.'
Bu Eunseol, having finally returned to the real world, realized.
'She…… was Pasun.'
Through this brief memory, he could understand.
The one who defied the natural order, the existence closest to the True Demon.
With her power sealed for some reason.
Pasun, who was dying in the True Demon Palace... no, Dali.
Had survived thanks to the young Baekri Geomha.
But to save the collapsed Baekri Geomha, she too had risked her life and used the True Demon's secret art, losing her memories.
In the end, they had failed to recognize each other.
'Did she ultimately become the True Demon's attendant?'
Dali must have risen to the position of the Three Attendants.
Otherwise, she could not have led a faction powerful enough to send him into the Land of the Limitless, bypassing the experts of the United Heart Society, the Three Realms, and the Imperial Palace.
And before long…… she would undoubtedly come looking for him.
Since she had performed the Wondrous Soul-Fading Caress Art.
They could not forget each other for the rest of their lives.
Like destiny.
"Why did you grant such a favor even at the cost of injuring your own body?"
Then, Unmong Sanin asked again.
"Just why?"
Only then did Bu Eunseol, waking from his thoughts, wipe the blood from his mouth and speak.
"You have not yet committed a crime deserving of death, have you?"
And, gazing at White Hand Demon Empress, he continued.
"Nor have you harmed people with the power of the origin."
Then, he turned his gaze to Unmong Sanin.
"You merely fell into a swamp of affection."
Cough.
Bu Eunseol eventually spat out the clot of blood he had been holding back once again.
To land the Silent Tiger Soul Eclipse, he had taken the White Hand Blood Shadow and the Essence-Seizing Catch head-on with his bare body.
Perhaps an ordinary martial artist's body would have burst and been torn limb from limb.
"However, we will have to wait and see to confirm if it has been completely eliminated. It wasn't a sword form executed with perfect power."
Unless he obtained the Four Divine Energies and reached Harmony with Nature.
He shouldn't even dream of fully unleashing the Silent Tiger Soul Eclipse.
Stagger.
Bu Eunseol moved his steps with difficulty.
"Having done all that I need to do, I will be taking my leave."
Then, he passed by them and slowly walked out. But just then, Bang!
Along with an explosive sound, Bu Eunseol's body was smashed into the cabin side once more.
White Hand Demon Empress had launched a surprise palm force.
"Yeon-mae! What are you doing!"
When Unmong Sanin shouted in surprise, White Hand Demon Empress spoke.
"That man has suffered a fatal injury right now."
She put on a dreary expression.
"If not now, when else could we kill him?"
"Are you crazy? Even though that man could kill us, he merely severed the vein of the origin and is leaving."
"Is it truly severed?"
White Hand Demon Empress wore a fearful expression.
"Just as he said, what if it's not completely severed, but only temporary?"
"……."
"He is with the Heavenly Demon Emperor. One day, he will definitely try to kill us again."
Unmong Sanin put on a distressed and miserable expression.
He had fallen deeply in love the moment he encountered White Hand Demon Empress, and even now, decades later, he maintained those feelings with utmost devotion.
Even if she was inherently lewd.
Even if her personality was fierce and cruel.
Unmong Sanin had never once hated her, and his feelings of affection had never changed.
However, reaching this point now.
He realized that she was not only too wicked, but a woman entirely unworthy of love.
Upon seeing Unmong Sanin's face tinged with contempt, White Hand Demon Empress instead snorted.
"Having watched my actions for so long, are you going to act the part of a good person now of all times?"
Then, looking at the collapsed Bu Eunseol, she spoke coldly.
"There's no need for you to step forward. I will deal with him."
And she slowly walked toward Bu Eunseol.
Vwuuuu.
Spreading both hands swirling with snow-white energy as she walked, she looked at the bleeding Bu Eunseol and formed a dreary smile.
"Martial Soul Command Lord. You must die."
Finally, just as she was about to pour out her palm force, Shiver!
Suddenly, as if she had been struck by lightning, she began to tremble intensely.
Sizzle.
Before anyone knew it, Unmong Sanin had unleashed the Essence-Seizing Catch and blocked all of White Hand Demon Empress's energy.
"Are you…… crazy?"
Unmong Sanin spread one hand with a tragic expression.
"Do you truly not know what kind of sword method he just performed?"
"What?"
"He performed a sword form that exhausted his own life force in an attempt to help us."
Unmong Sanin spoke earnestly.
"Yeon-mae, do not commit any more sins."
"What are you telling me to do?"
When she tried to use the White Hand Blood Shadow again, Fwshhhhh!
Unmong Sanin used his power again, slowly removing the snow-white energy that had gathered in her hands.
"Then let us die together."
Unmong Sanin unleashed the Essence-Seizing Catch once more, expelling the life force in her body outside.
"Are you crazy! Just why!"
"Because I love you."
Unmong Sanin spoke with an anguished expression.
"I can no longer let you commit sins."
"You always do as you please!"
White Hand Demon Empress shrieked in desperation.
"I have never once wished for your attention or affection! It was always you acting on your own whims!"
Streaming blood from her mouth, she cried out.
"Unwanted attention is also an evil deed! Do you know how uncomfortable it has been all this time with you sticking to me like a servant!"
"I am sorry."
Unmong Sanin nodded.
"You are right. I have continuously done unspeakable things to you."
And he said calmly.
"That is why I am trying to do the right thing for the first time."
"What?"
"Until now, you sucked the essence from men who had lost their memories, and with that strengthened power, you severed the memories of the strong again and absorbed their strength."
Unmong Sanin closed his eyes.
"Everything is my fault for turning a blind eye to your evil deeds in the first place."
Swoosh.
As he unleashed the Essence-Seizing Catch to its maximum, White Hand Demon Empress's skin shriveled up like an old woman's.
He had expelled all of her life force.
"Crazy bastard……."
Leaving those words behind, Thud.
White Hand Demon Empress drew her last breath, having transformed hideously into something like a mummy.
Unmong Sanin turned his head.
He looked at Bu Eunseol, who was picking himself up.
"According to logic, humans cannot wield the power of nature. Because that is a power only possessed by gods. If you continue using such sword forms, you will die young."
Then, he slowly reached out his right hand.
"And yet, you practice righteousness without even caring for your own life…… the heavens, looking down upon you, will surely open a path for you."
Wooooo.
Simultaneously, a brilliant light was pouring from his hand.
By reversing the Essence-Seizing Catch, he was transferring his own life force to Bu Eunseol.
"I don't need it. Stop."
"I have to die anyway, don't I?"
"I have already severed the karma. There is no need to die."
"It's not that."
Unmong Sanin smiled faintly.
"This old man swore to die on the same day and at the same time as her, so I must keep it."
He spoke with a relieved expression.
"Even though it's all my own greed."
He stayed by White Hand Demon Empress's side, even knowing it was an unrequited love.
Even if she permitted it out of necessity, in the end, it was the same as endlessly repeating actions she did not desire.
Moreover, he had turned a blind eye to her evil deeds while by her side…… so ultimately, he too was an accomplice.
"Since I have given you this old man's life force, there will be no great harm even if you execute that sword form of life for a while."
Crackle.
Unmong Sanin's body, having injected all of his life force into Bu Eunseol, cracked like a parched desert, Fwoooosh.
Before anyone knew it, his entire body turned into dust and disappeared.
At the same time, White Hand Demon Empress's corpse, which had changed to look like a mummy, also scattered in the wind and vanished.
"……."
Bu Eunseol gazed at the sight with a blank expression.
The Seven Great Demon Ancestors and the Ten Great Immortals.
Born as polar opposites to balance power, in the end, they were born with the same fate.
"May you rest in peace."
Bu Eunseol paid his respects as he watched the traces of Unmong Sanin scattering into the distant sky.
Although he had forgotten his duty and helped a wicked woman like White Hand Demon Empress throw the world into chaos.
In the end, he had done a good deed by transferring his life force to him and chosen the right path of self-destruction alongside White Hand Demon Empress……
One could say he had fulfilled his final duty as one of the Ten Great Immortals.
"The Silent Tiger Soul Eclipse is not the only answer."
Bu Eunseol wore a bitter smile.
Only after deploying the Silent Tiger Soul Eclipse this time was he able to realize just how dangerous a sword form that dealt with life was.
Especially, unlike when he executed it to eliminate the Soul Demon Dharma Energy, when trying to sever the karma of the origin.
An immense amount of life force was consumed.
What if Unmong Sanin had not given him his life force? He could have become someone with a limited time to live.
"I have no choice but to find another way."
Many of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors and Ten Great Immortals still remained, and he had to resolve that.
If he could not obtain the Heaven and Earth Divine Energy?
If he could not stably execute the Silent Tiger Soul Eclipse?
Ultimately, he would have to look for another method.
Hummm.
Just then, a bizarre sensation began to enter Bu Eunseol's mind.
With the death of one of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors and one of the Ten Great Immortals, something in Bu Eunseol, as the great vessel, was emptied out once again.
"Is this cause and effect?"
White Hand Demon Empress and Unmong Sanin did not die by his hands.
However, as a result, they ended up dying because of him…… they were fully annihilated by Bu Eunseol, the great vessel.
['Now.']
At that moment, Baekri Geomha's voice rang in his head like an auditory hallucination.
['Our farewell is not far away.']
The memory with Dali.
It was not the memory of the Baekri Geomha who had safeguarded his intact spirit by merging several personalities into one after embracing all sorts of agony prior to the massacre at Saha Manor…… but the memory of Baekri Geomha from a time when he was still pure.
['It's not a memory I gave you, yet you undid the seal yourself.']
It was a somewhat weak voice.
In that instant, Bu Eunseol realized.
According to the Red Flame Immortal, he was the great vessel.
She had said that the moment he killed one of the Seven Great Demon Ancestors, something would definitely be emptied out, and in reality, he felt as if he had lost something.
However, that emptying……
Was affecting Baekri Geomha, not himself.
['Do not worry, there is still a long way to go.']
Before entering the abyss within the spirit, Baekri Geomha spoke in a low voice.
['Well, it doesn't matter whether it's long or short anyway. Whether I am emptied out or disappear……']
With those words as his last.
Baekri Geomha disappeared deep into the abysss
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