When the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede died, the spirit creatures that had filled the forest all disappeared as well.
The reason the forest had become a nest for spirit creatures was because the spiritual energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede, which shared Pahon's fate, had altered the earth's veins.
Making it a territory where spirit creatures could live.
With the death of the Black Centipede, the forest became ordinary land once again.
―'There is no need to feel guilty.'
Looking up at the distant sky, the words Pahon had spoken came to mind again.
―'My remaining life was ten years at most, or as short as three years, anyway.'
Bu Eunseol bit his lip.
The fact that his lifespan was short could not be an indulgence.
Since stepping into the martial world, he had grown and managed to preserve his life with the help of countless people.
And Pahon was also a benefactor who had protected him.
"At first, I thought he was the True Demon."
In truth, from the moment Pahon said he created the forest of spirit creatures, Bu Eunseol had suspected he might be the True Demon.
Because no matter how great an expert one is, they cannot turn a place where spirit creatures do not live into a territory.
But he, due to the secret art of the True Demon.
Was merely a victim who had lived a long time alongside the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Centipede through generations.
"I must go to Saha Manor."
Thank heavens, he had found a way to recover the lost personality of Baekri Geomha.
If more time passed, he might not be able to find him.
Therefore, he had to go to Saha Manor as soon as possible.
* * *
A desolate wind was flowing out from between the collapsed walls.
Under the ashen sky, the ruins of Saha Manor greeted Bu Eunseol with an even drearier atmosphere than before.
When he first set foot here, what filled his heart was a faint longing.
But as the hidden pieces of truth revealed themselves one by one.
That longing turned into sharp fragments, transforming into an agonizing pain that dug into his heart.
It was definitely the home where he was born and raised.
But it had become a blank land that didn't exist in his memories.
And now... only the fragments of memories left by Baekri Geomha remained.
Was it because of the slightly recovered memories?
Unlike the past, it felt as though a faint warmth had been overlaid on the desolate scenery.
"The place where I, as Baekri Geomha, was taught the Emperor's Step by Father is..."
Bu Eunseol used Baekri Geomha's memories as a lantern.
And moved his steps toward the clearing behind the Purple Fragrance Pavilion, where the Small Drill Hall would have been.
"It's here."
In the scenery of his memories, plum blossoms fluttered in the wind, and a charming garden spread out like a picture.
But now, there were only haphazardly scattered broken stones and dried-up dust. As it was, it would be difficult to synchronize the memories of the past with the state of mind in reality.
'If I wanted to feel nostalgia easily, I would have sought out the fake Saha Manor.'
The fake Saha Manor merely lacked the mechanisms secretly hidden in each pavilion.
Its outward appearance was chillingly identical, and the surrounding scenery was also recreated as if stamped out of a mold.
'But I don't want to go there.'
That place was intentionally created by the Heavenly Demon Emperor or the forces behind him.
He didn't want to recover Baekri Geomha in a false space.
Vrrrr, crackle!
As the inner energy blooming from Bu Eunseol's fingertips shook the air, the surrounding broken stones rose into the air.
He was trying to rebuild the framework of the old drill hall by rearranging the stones according to the scenery in Baekri Geomha's memories.
Ziiiing.
At the same time, Bu Eunseol's eyes turned deeply yellow.
Unfurling Illusory Restoration, he slowly began pushing color into the ashen world.
Trickle.
Presently, in the ruined surrounding scenery.
Pink plum blossom petals bloomed and fluttered in the air, and the illusion of an elegant pavilion was overlaid on the collapsed foundation stones.
—Yes, you are doing well.
For a moment, his affectionate father's voice seemed to ring in his ears.
As the assimilation with the memories of the past deepened, the illusion became as clear as reality.
Before he knew it, before his eyes was his father, Baekri Muha, with a benevolent smile.
And the figure of young Baekri Geomha sweating and practicing the Emperor's Step according to his teachings could be seen.
'He was bright back then.'
Baekri Geomha was a flawlessly pure and cheerful child like sunshine.
He always had a lot of laughter and his eyes twinkled with curiosity about the world.
But the current Baekri Geomha was arrogant, cruel, and immature.
Using the method of Illusory Restoration once again, he completely entrusted his body to the muddy current of memories Baekri Geomha had handed over.
He plunged into an endlessly deep and dark abyss.
Then, it wasn't the scenery of Saha Manor.
As if the tightly closed floodgates of memory had burst open, the forgotten fragments of the past assaulted his soul like a storm.
―'Aaaagh. Keugh.'
Suddenly, a scenery of Saha Manor covered in blood and ashes could be seen.
In a hellscape where everything was burning and collapsing, a young child was wailing at the top of his lungs.
It was a cry beyond sorrow, where the soul itself seemed to shatter.
Amidst the hellscape where wails and agonizing screams constantly echoed, Baekri Geomha's figure could be seen clearly.
—I will definitely, definitely kill them!
In his pupils, with his back to the blazing flames, only the chilling flames of hatred burned fiercely.
On his blood-soaked face, a desperate oath to tear his enemies to pieces even at the cost of his own life was carved like a curse.
Trickle.
And the space distorted again, changing the scenery.
For a moment, a darkness where all light had disappeared could be seen, and then,
—I want power.
Baekri Geomha could be seen whispering emptily amidst the ashes.
Powerlessness, bone-deep despair. Anger, revenge.
As the negative emotions continuously amplified.
The power of the Heaven-Dark Star, which had been sealed in the deepest place, began to be absorbed into the abyss of his mind following those emotions.
'I'm sorry.'
Watching the flow of memories Baekri Geomha had felt, Bu Eunseol wore a pained expression.
In front of that gruesome reality, which a genius but pure child's mind could not possibly handle.
In order to maintain an intact personality.
All the pain and sorrow, the burning hatred and curses toward the world.
He poured all the poison of those dark emotions that ate away at the soul into the vessel of another personality and sealed it away.
To protect his intact ego.
Baekri Geomha in the abyss willingly chose to become the scapegoat that took on all that hell.
'I was not born with a split personality.'
When the raging storm of memories ceased.
The cruel truth that had sunk to the bottom felt fresh again.
'The separation of memories... was caused by the bloodbath of Saha Manor.'
Bu Eunseol possesses outstanding wisdom, is calm, and shows little emotional agitation.
On the other hand, Baekri Geomha, having lost his childhood brilliance, is impulsive, evil, and acts like a child.
That was because, so that Bu Eunseol could navigate the rough waves of the world.
He had handed over wisdom and composure, which were his most brilliant talents, like nourishment.
'Having everything brilliant stolen away, there must have only been the sense of loss of being left as an empty shell.'
Baekri Geomha, whose soul's power had bottomed out after exhausting himself for a long time, and whose mind had even stopped at childhood.
That was why.
He had shouted so desperately, 'I am the master.'
And that was... a scream wanting confirmation that he existed.
'He must have felt wronged.'
Realizing the truth, Bu Eunseol felt unspeakable sorrow and guilt.
Ruuuuuumble.
At that moment, the entirety of Saha Manor shook.
It was a low-pitched vibration that sounded like a massive entity living in the deepest part of the earth was howling.
The surrounding gravel bounced up haphazardly, and a cloud of dust billowed up hazily.
At the same time, blinding white light was pouring down from the sky like a waterfall.
'They are not ordinary experts.'
Intuiting that someone with transcendental power was coming here, Bu Eunseol,
Trickle.
Instantly unfurled the Secret Art of Darkness and took on the face of an ordinary man.
Paaaaat.
The light that was pouring like a waterfall subsided.
Before he knew it, three shadows were floating nobly in the sky.
Their spotless white clothes fluttered sacredly even in a space without a single breeze.
Their appearance was like descended immortals or heavenly beings.
With emotionless eyes, they were staring at Bu Eunseol as if looking down at a lowly creature.
'An Absolute Domain?'
Not only that, the space of hundreds of jang around Saha Manor was already perfectly surrounded by a translucent curtain of light.
"Who are you."
Feeling the auspicious energy rising from their bodies, Bu Eunseol narrowed his eyes.
Putting aside whether they were people of the Baekri Family.
It was because, although they wore tranquil expressions, they exuded an atmosphere that was somehow intimidating and full of hostility.
[Dear me.]
At Bu Eunseol's question, the dignified-looking middle-aged man standing at the very front of the group of light opened his mouth.
[It starts again.]
His voice was cold as steel, yet solemn like a priest reciting scriptures.
[Are you trying to create Baekri Geomha again without even getting tired of it.]
'Create Baekri Geomha?'
"I don't know what you're talking about."
[There's no way a bastard who purposely sought out Saha Manor and forcefully rebuilt the drill hall that was set up in the past wouldn't know.]
In an instant, Bu Eunseol's eyes flashed.
To accurately remember that there was a drill hall here?
It meant they accurately remembered the structure of Saha Manor before it became a ruin.
In other words, they were people who had entered Saha Manor during the time his father and mother were there.
"Are you people of Saha Manor?"
Despite Bu Eunseol's polite question, the middle-aged man spoke like a judge delivering a verdict in an endlessly cold voice.
[There's no need for long words.]
In an instant, Bu Eunseol's eyes turned endlessly cold.
The good do not come, and those who come are not good.
The good do not come, and those who come are not good.
It was a moment where the unwritten rule of the martial world was proven once again.
'To them, there is a Baekri Geomha they believe to be real.'
Clack.
Bu Eunseol wordlessly gripped the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
Originally, facing people of the Baekri Family, he had a mountain of questions to ask.
But facing that arrogant and haughty attitude, he could realize.
That he absolutely could not have a question and answer session with them. That even if he knelt and begged, he wouldn't hear an answer.
That even if he revealed his identity, they would make their move.
'Haha.'
A hollow laugh burst out.
'Is my fate only written with inability to communicate and blood battles?'
He had come here to recover the memories of Baekri Geomha from the Saha Manor days.
But his own bloodline, the elders of his family.
Trying to beat him to death right away without even giving an explanation or reason?
"No."
Bu Eunseol suppressed the surging anger one more time.
Because they were still people of his father's, his own family.
"At least let me know the reason."
Normally, he would have engaged in a decisive battle without a single word. But suppressing his bursting sorrow, he asked.
"Why I must die."
[Because there must no longer be those imitating Baekri Geomha.]
"No longer?"
[Did you try that act again without even knowing the situation of the main family.]
As a shocking answer returned, Bu Eunseol stood blankly.
The old man of the Sacred Domain who held the authority of the covenant.
And Pamyeong in the appearance of Wi Cheongun in the past had said something similar.
―'The fake is acting like the real one.'
In the end, this story was revealed to be true.
"Are you saying there is another Baekri Geomha?"
Bu Eunseol asked back with a dumbfounded expression.
At that, the middle-aged man said coldly.
[Now you admit it. That you are trying to act as Baekri Geomha.]
"Not at all."
Bu Eunseol said with an endlessly lonely expression.
"Even if you escort me in a jade palanquin worth a thousand gold... I have no such intention."
[Let's end the useless conversation here.]
As if a question and answer session wasn't needed, the middle-aged man nodded to those attending behind him.
Rooooooar!
Along with a thunderous roar tearing through the sky, one of the two men in white floating behind the middle-aged man.
Began to transform into a white dragon flashing pure white scales.
The physical body that cast off its human form became as massive as a mountain range, and their eyes burned red like blazing lava.
The atmosphere touched by its breath froze, and pressure like a storm poured down with a single flap of its wings.
Originally, the Profound Divine Technique Qi didn't work on Bu Eunseol.
Because the Profound Divine Technique Qi and the Soul Demon Dharma Energy were intermingled in his body, firmly protecting his physical body.
And his mind was protected by his other personality, Baekri Geomha.
Also, because he contained the energy of the Heaven-Dark Star which annihilates everything.
He could remain unaffected by the Two Great Powers for the most part.
But right now, Baekri Geomha, who was his most powerful mental shield, was gone.
His physical body had been perfectly recovered by Pahon, but.
Because he lost the protective barrier known as Baekri Geomha.
He was unable to deflect the energy of the Profound Divine Technique Qi entering his mind.
Crackle, bzzzt!
As his mind was being destroyed by the Profound Divine Technique Qi.
Like a delicate ceramic cracking, fine fissures began to appear on his skin.
It wasn't a simple wound.
It was a pain that shook the foundation of his existence, a sensation like his soul tearing apart.
Even though an attack hadn't been launched yet, he had taken a hit to his mind.
Whoosh!
Without time to even feel the pain, as the massive white dragon's sharp claws cut through the air.
Crash!
Along with a thunderclap, a fierce wind wrapping around the entirety of Saha Manor poured down.
'It doesn't matter whether it's the Profound Divine Technique Qi or the Soul Demon Dharma Energy.'
He had consistently walked the path of martial arts.
Whatever power poured down, he just needed to respond to it.
Bu Eunseol's figure swam through the fierce wind like a butterfly.
Pat!
Breaking through the sharp attack and soaring into the air, he.
Approached the massive dragon like an illusion, dug in, and unleashed fierce sword strikes.
Clang! Sizzle!
But every time the Silent Tiger Soul Sword touched the white dragon's scales, only pure white sparks flew with an ear-piercing roar.
Not a single scratch was made on the scales.
'If they are the Baekri Family, this much is a given.'
Taking them down with ordinary sword strikes was impossible in the first place.
Paaang!
As he raised his inner energy, radiant brilliance bloomed from Bu Eunseol's entire body.
Kiyeeeeeeek!
At the same time, a chilling and desperate wail echoed from the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
Seven Blood Tear Forms.
He had deployed the greatest blade technique of all time that bestows death upon all things in heaven and earth.
Sizzleeeeee!
As the black blade energy struck the dragon's body, a faint brilliance spread from the scales.
But no matter how much he deployed the blade technique.
It was blocked by the brilliances formed on the scales.
[So it's the Seven Blood Tear Forms.]
The middle-aged man quietly watching the fight snorted.
[Is it a bastard created by the Three Realms.]
Even though he deployed the Seven Blood Tear Forms, rather than being surprised, he was holding back a sneer.
This was a given.
The United Heart Society Lord he encountered the other day had spoken as if there were many in the martial world who had learned the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
Also, Bu Eunseol was currently disguised with the Secret Art of Darkness.
When an unidentified person used the Seven Blood Tear Forms, the middle-aged man mistakenly thought he was a figure of the Three Realms.
"Are you so scared you can't even fight if you don't maintain that form?"
Perhaps feeling greatly insulted by Bu Eunseol's words,
"..."
The man in white who had transformed into the shape of a dragon suddenly returned to human form.
[Are you acting up trusting in the Seven Blood Tear Forms.]
Swoosh.
The man in white who returned to human form landed on the ground exuding an aura on a different level than before.
[Let's see you deploy it once more.]
He threw a punch.
What the man in white deployed was ancient martial arts.
It wasn't a stage that could be reached through the process of learning and mastering martial arts.
He was wielding the archetype from before martial arts existed, that is, the root power from which martial arts were born.
Unbound by form and posture, as a fist technique transcending even the common sense and limits of martial arts poured out,
Boom, boom, boom!
It caused explosions around Bu Eunseol's body, erasing the blade energy of the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
The fist technique deployed by the man in white.
Contained a profound principle that made evasion impossible even for Bu Eunseol, who had dealt with countless formidable enemies so far.
'I will not dodge and face it head-on.'
Clang! Claaang!
As the Seven Blood Tear Forms and the man in white's fist power clashed, sounds of collision shaking heaven and earth echoed continuously.
Even without transforming into a dragon.
The man in white was easily blocking the Seven Blood Tear Forms imbued with the authority of death.
'I have not yet reached the realm of death.'
Through his fight with the United Heart Society Lord the other day, Bu Eunseol was able to realize.
That the moment the Seven Blood Tear Forms truly becomes invincible is when the practitioner themselves becomes living death itself.
'I cannot become an entity that slumbers at the end of all life, but.'
However, Bu Eunseol still only hesitated precariously at that boundary and couldn't perfectly wield death.
'Even so, I am my grandfather's grandson.'
Kiyeeeeek!
A wail that seemed to tear the sky echoed from the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
His grandfather had carried the weight of atonement his entire life and taken countless lives, but.
At the end of it was an earnest will to save even more people.
A life marred by contradictions and paradoxes led his soul into endless solitude.
That solitude would have finally elevated the Seven Blood Tear Forms to an invincible realm, bringing it in touch with death.
Without even properly knowing his own circumstances.
Bu Eunseol, who was saving the martial world fallen into misery and the world in crisis, was before he knew it...
Slowly aligning with the mind of Bu Zhanyang, who tried to save everyone with a single great blade slung over his shoulder.
[What is that?]
The middle-aged man watching the fight let out an urgent exclamation of shock.
[Dodge!]
But it was too late.
Slaaash!
Along with the sound of parting water, one of the man in white's arms bounced up cleanly severed.
The man in white staggered and stopped his movements as if unable to bear the pain.
[That bastard!]
Greatly surprised, the middle-aged man quickly reached out his hand.
At that, the cracks spreading on Bu Eunseol's body grew larger, and blood seeped out.
[Strike!]
As the middle-aged man gestured, the body of the remaining man in white, who hadn't participated in the fight all along, began to swell.
Crack.
A massive dragon like a huge mountain range descended.
Craaack.
As that dragon's maw opened, an illusion arose as if all the light in the world was being sucked into it.
Roooooooar!
Bu Eunseol's vision was dyed in darkness.
The white dragon didn't open its mouth to shoot something, but unfurled a secret art that instantly swallowed the soul.
In an instant, Bu Eunseol.
All the flesh-cutting pain and soul-shaking despair disappeared.
It was a massive blow to his mind he had never experienced before.
It felt like falling into an endless pit.
In that pitch-black darkness, fragments of forgotten memories began to surface one by one like a faint but warm light.
―'Do not step into the martial world. Once you learn martial arts, the seal will break.'
They were his father's words.
But there was a contradiction in these words.
Hadn't he taught him the Emperor's Step in his childhood, and passed down various secret arts of the Baekri Family?
Of course, it couldn't be called martial arts that kill others, but they weren't exactly outside the category of martial arts either.
But why did his father.
Tell him not to step into the martial world, as if he hadn't taught him martial arts up until now?
'Baekri Geomha, who possesses the Heaven-Dark Star.'
The answer came easily.
His father had requested not himself, but Baekri Geomha, not to learn martial arts.
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