"Young lady."
Having finished his thoughts, Bu Eunseol asked with a calm expression.
"What happens if you refuse to be offered as a sacrifice?"
Originally, his top priority was to probe for the location of the Baekri Family's true seat.
But for now, he had set aside such thoughts and was solely seeking a way to save the woman in white.
"That is nonsense."
"Why is that?"
"Because such a thing will not happen."
"Are you saying you have absolutely no aversion to being offered as a sacrifice?"
At Bu Eunseol's audacious question, the woman in white cast her eyes down for a moment before speaking with a solemn expression.
"It is not a sacrifice, but becoming an instrument of ritual to protect the sanctity of the main family."
"You mean killing people is sacred?"
A sharp light flashed in Bu Eunseol's eyes.
"Treating precious life carelessly is a sin that cannot be forgiven for any reason."
"You are still young, so you do not understand well."
The woman in white sighed.
She considered that Bu Eunseol did not know the importance of the ritual and was speaking nonsense.
"Since the beginning of time, humans have offered rites to heaven, earth, and unseen beings. And they have always offered the most valuable and noble things."
"..."
"Because by offering sacred blood and souls, impending disasters can be prevented, and those left behind can enjoy peace."
She calmly added.
"Such rituals are not sins, but the means by which the world has been protected generation after generation."
"If you use lives as sacrifices under the pretext of preventing disaster, isn't that sanctity ultimately just a facade built on blood?"
Bu Eunseol continued without a shred of hesitation.
"If heaven truly took pity on humans, why would it force the sacrifice of the innocent?"
When the woman in white did not answer, he spoke earnestly once again.
"If the Creator demands blood, that is not a god, but merely a tyrant."
"Are you saying you will disobey the main family's traditions passed down through generations?"
"Even if what is wrong has become tradition, and that has become the family's law... what is wrong cannot become right."
'This child is truly stubborn.'
The woman in white let out a long sigh.
Even if all those words were correct, as long as one belonged to a family, defying its existing rules and laws was practically impossible.
"What is the point of debating right and wrong in this situation?"
The woman in white, who had been walking ahead for a long while, gave a bitter smile and took something out from her robes.
"Keep this with you."
What she offered was a small bead.
However, it was dyed with a dull, dark radiance, and looked as if it contained black liquid inside.
It did not particularly look like a great treasure.
"What is this?"
"It is a treasure that can forcibly open the entrance to the Ten Thousand Dragons Cave."
She showed a faint smile.
"Did you think I brought you here without any thought?"
She had meekly obeyed the masked men's demands because she had her own way of saving Bu Eunseol.
"It is fine."
Bu Eunseol spoke with a serious expression.
"If that item truly is a way to survive and escape this place, you should keep it, young lady."
The woman in white narrowed her large eyes.
Only now did she realize that Bu Eunseol had not followed her out of pointless bravado, but had entered with the sincere resolve to die alongside her.
"You..."
The woman in white asked with a bewildered expression.
"Are you in the Seven Courts? Or do you belong to the Three Halls or the Four Palaces?"
'Where I belong...?'
He had thought the Baekri Family was just a small village where a tiny number of immortal-like figures lived.
But hearing this, didn't it seem like a complex, intertwined organizational system consisting not only of branch families and collateral houses, but various structures?
'So that is why she treated me like a distant relative.'
No wonder she had treated him as if a member of the main sect were treating a disciple of a branch.
Such circumstances were behind it.
"What does affiliation matter in this situation."
Alluding to her earlier words, Bu Eunseol changed the subject.
"Rather, I am suspicious of those masked men."
And he continued with an expression full of conviction.
"Until now, I have never once seen people wearing such peculiar attire."
He could be certain that those masked men were not people of the Baekri Family.
They had shown no reaction when the woman in white lied and called him her attendant.
And above all, while showing extremely polite attitudes toward her, they had inexplicably maintained a distance.
'Even if they belong to the Baekri Family, they must be part of a secretive organization that does not normally reveal itself.'
If that were not the case?
There would be no reason for them to walk around wearing bizarre masks that covered their entire faces and only revealed their eyes.
"Because they are people of the Holy Constellation Immortal Family."
The woman in white said something unexpected.
"Unless one participates in a special ritual, one will never have a reason to see the Heavenly Mechanism Law Lord or the Heavenly Mechanism Law Envoys in one's entire life."
'If it is the Holy Constellation Immortal Family... does that mean they are people of the Sacred Domain?'
He had guessed they were outsiders.
But to think they were people of the Sacred Domain?
"But it is truly strange."
Bu Eunseol asked again.
"Whether it is Human Body Offering or a sacrifice, is this not a ritual upon which the fate of the family hangs?"
"..."
"For such an important ritual held once every sixty-year cycle, how could merely three outsiders wearing masks come?"
It was a sharp point.
If the Primeval Dragon's contract were truly sacred?
At the very least, not masked men, but the senior figures of the Baekri Family should have stepped forward to escort her with utmost respect and perform the ritual.
But was the current situation not like the sight of someone being forcibly sold to a brothel by three underworld thugs, all because of a heartless father who could not pay his gambling debts?
Considering the prestige of the Baekri Family, which had opposed the True Demon since the beginning of time, this was absolute nonsense.
"You are right. It is not a proper ritual."
The woman in white's face darkened once more.
"But there are unspeakable circumstances here."
"What circumstances are you talking about?"
She smiled bitterly and cut him off.
"What do such things matter in this situation?"
Bu Eunseol had nothing to say.
Because she would soon die.
He could not pry and ask about the Baekri Family's circumstances or why such a shabby ritual was being held.
'I will absolutely not let her die.'
He had a burning desire to ask various things, but he did not know what would happen next.
For now, he must not confuse her mind.
"I apologize for saying useless things."
When Bu Eunseol politely paid his respects, the woman in white smiled slightly and resumed walking.
The cave was imbued with primeval mystery, and with every step, bizarre afterimages flickered before his eyes.
As the afterimages continued, Bu Eunseol felt his mind grow unsettled. But the woman in white was walking with a straight posture and a steady stride.
Finally, they reached the heart of the Ten Thousand Dragons Cave.
'The scale is incredible.'
A space larger than dozens of palaces combined was revealed.
At the end of this narrow cave, a massive panorama equivalent to the scale of Majeon was spread out.
On the ceiling, Night Pearls twinkling like real stars formed a Milky Way.
The air was clearer than above ground, making it feel as if one's very bones were being cleansed.
"That is the Dragon Soul Altar."
The woman in white muttered in a low voice.
In the center of the space stood a massive altar dozens of jang in diameter.
The altar gleamed black like obsidian, but a soft iridescent light shimmered beneath its surface.
Carved intricately into the surface, seemingly alive, were the form of the Primeval Dragon, the process of the world's creation, and the history of the Baekri Family.
At the lower part of the altar, beneath the massive stone platform, lay a circular pond resembling a dragon's pupil.
It was filled not with clear water, but with a liquid shimmering in golden light.
That light slowly seeped upward along the altar's patterns, as if breathing life into the altar itself.
"That pond is called the Origin Dragon Pond, said to be formed from the condensed tears and essence of the Primeval Dragon."
The woman in white spoke calmly.
"The Origin Dragon Pond is said to be the source of all life and the medium that connects the sacrifice to the Primeval Dragon."
Bu Eunseol understood the meaning of those words and his eyes flashed.
"You mean entering this pond will lead to death."
She offered a dry smile at Bu Eunseol constantly describing this sacred ritual as 'dying.'
"It is not dying, but unity with the Primeval Dragon."
The woman in white spoke indifferently.
"I have purified my body every single day for years for this day."
"For years."
In an instant, a flash of light gleamed in Bu Eunseol's eyes.
Usually, the one to become a sacrifice is determined from birth. Yet the Baekri Family had chosen their sacrifice only a few years ago.
"What happens... if you do not enter the Origin Dragon Pond?"
"The main family's contract is not a sorrowful sacrifice, but a noble contract and ritual."
The woman in white said firmly.
"Such a thing can absolutely never happen."
She turned her head and looked at Bu Eunseol.
"Even if this ritual ends, the entrance to the Ten Thousand Dragons Cave will not open. It can only be opened from the outside."
She smiled faintly while looking at Bu Eunseol.
"But if you use the bead I gave you earlier, you will be able to escape."
"I see."
Bu Eunseol, who had been constantly devising plans, suddenly asked an unexpected question.
"Come to think of it, I do not even know your esteemed name, young lady."
When Bu Eunseol asked for her name like a man of the martial world, the woman in white found it hard to hold back her laughter.
"You know nothing of the ways of the world, yet you speak exactly like an old man."
She shook her head and offered a brief smile.
"I no longer wish to linger in anyone's memory. So let us remain ignorant of each other's names."
And she turned around and headed for the altar.
Bu Eunseol's eyes darkened.
From the very beginning, that woman in white had discarded all lingering attachments and come here.
"Still, thank you."
The woman in white paused her steps and spoke in a low voice.
"For not being afraid and coming all the way here with me."
Even to him, who had constantly spouted bothersome questions, she had earnestly answered until the end.
It was not merely because of her gentle personality.
This long path through the Ten Thousand Dragons Cave, where she had to accept death alone, had been far too lonely and terrifying.
'Was that it.'
Bu Eunseol clenched his fists tightly.
The woman in white had been suppressing her loneliness and fear the entire time, acting with an unbothered face.
It was likely her warm consideration, meant to reassure him, a young boy.
"Then."
Her eyes were filled with reverence and pride rather than sorrow.
Dragging the hem of her pure white robes, she approached the golden pond located at the lower part of the altar, the Origin Dragon Pond.
The pond, which looked as though the heart of the sun had been melted into it, emitted a soft glow, divine energy shimmering like a heat haze above its surface.
The moment she stopped right in front of the pond, the entire space began to hum.
Vwooom.
Along with a roar that seemed to echo from the deepest depths of the earth, the golden pond bubbled and boiled.
Soon, a dazzling radiance surged up like a pillar, and slowly began to form a shape.
Pure white scales sparkled as if imbued with moonlight, and two massive horns stretched majestically toward the sky.
It was the form of the Primeval Dragon, a legendary existence said to have witnessed the beginning of the world.
Rumble.
The dragon made of light looked down at her with compassionate eyes.
But soon,
Craaack.
It slowly opened its massive maw as if to swallow the entire world.
She gave a faint smile as if accepting everything.
Step.
And without hesitation, she slowly walked into the maw of light.
It seemed as if she were entering the dragon's mouth, but in reality, she was walking into the pond of unfathomable depth.
"Wait!"
With a loud shout that tore through the silence, Bu Eunseol ran over and blocked her path.
"You cannot."
Grabbing the woman in white's slender wrist firmly, he said once more.
"You must not enter there."
At his resolute voice, the woman in white's eyes grew as cold as blades.
"If you interfere with this sacred ritual, you will become a heinous sinner who ruins the fate of the main family!"
There was not a shred of wavering in her eyes.
But Bu Eunseol did not back down.
Without letting go of the woman's wrist, he raised his head and glared at the dragon of light.
"Look once more."
Bu Eunseol pointed at the Primeval Dragon with his left hand.
"Does that truly look like the form of a sacred existence to you?"
The woman in white furrowed her brow and turned her head.
But the sacred form of the Primeval Dragon floating above the Origin Dragon Pond remained exactly the same.
"What on earth are you talking about?"
Seeing her bewildered expression, Bu Eunseol grasped the situation.
'She cannot see it.'
From the very beginning, he had no intention of standing idly by and watching this ritual.
However, there was no way a member of the Baekri Family would simply drop dead just by throwing herself into the Origin Dragon Pond.
He had been quietly observing to see what the true nature of this ritual was.
But just moments ago, when the Primeval Dragon had revealed its form, a dark violet wave had risen from his body and swept across the entire altar.
At that, the form of the Primeval Dragon that had been sparkling with sacred light distorted.
The brilliant white scales turned into a black, sticky substance and melted down.
And its compassionate eyes boiled like red magma filled with hatred and greed, did they not?
Moreover, the dragon, which should have let out a sacred roar,
―'Grrrrrr.'
It was making a horrific cry like the screams of the dead.
Bu Eunseol could be certain that what had risen from the Origin Dragon Pond was not the form of the Primeval Dragon.
It was a demonic dragon, consumed and twisted by wicked energy.
But the woman in white, unaware of the situation, only thought that Bu Eunseol was acting out of line and running amok.
"If you interfere one more time, I will have no choice but to subdue you with my own hands."
"Trust me."
Bu Eunseol said earnestly.
"That is not the Primeval Dragon."
The woman in white opened her hands as if she could no longer tolerate it.
"This will not do anymore."
Whoosh!
As she unleashed her power, Bu Eunseol flew into the rock wall dozens of jang away and became deeply embedded.
She had deployed the Profound Divine Technique Qi to turn the rock wall soft as tofu, then embedded his body deep within it.
"Never interfere."
And just as she was returning to the Origin Dragon Pond,
Rumble, rumble.
Escaping from the rock wall, Bu Eunseol drew the Silent Tiger Soul Sword from his waist.
'This is the only way.'
What currently flowed through his body was the Profound Divine Technique Qi, a mysterious power he had never once used before.
Furthermore, not only was that power quite weak, it did not follow the principles of martial arts, so it could not be wielded freely like internal energy.
No, even if he could use it, he would not be a match for her.
'In that case.'
A faint radiance rose in Bu Eunseol's eyes.
There was only one way to break this situation.
Paang!
A bizarre power surged from Bu Eunseol's body, and soon, a radiance in the shape of a sharp sword began to soar behind his back.
Swish!
And it became a streak of flashing light and shot toward the Primeval Dragon.
Sword-body unity.
He could not control the Profound Divine Technique Qi inside his body, but he could detonate it forward.
He detonated the power with all his strength and was hurtling toward the demonic dragon.
"How dare you!"
She swung her sleeves in fury.
Bang!
In the end, Bu Eunseol's body was smashed into the wall dozens of jang away once again.
Swish!
But something unexpected happened.
Bu Eunseol's body was sent flying.
However, the Silent Tiger Soul Sword he had been holding shot out like light and dug into the Primeval Dragon's brow.
It was the decisive method the Martial Venerable had used: feigning sword-body unity, then layering another martial art on top of it.
Crack. Bzzzt.
From the form of the Primeval Dragon, its brow pierced by the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, black sparks began to continuously burst out.
At the same time, an unbelievable sight unfolded.
In place of the glowing scales, black, gnarled scales like scabs of rotten blood sprouted repulsively.
Its long, elegant neck twisted abnormally, and its spine rose at grotesque angles with the sound of joints breaking and forcibly snapping back together.
Its noble-looking golden eyes turned into blood-red irises filled with greedy madness.
Bundles of muscle swelled and burst repeatedly, completely exposing tendons and dark red chunks of flesh.
Having been struck by the Silent Tiger Soul Sword, the true nature of the demonic dragon wearing the mask of the radiant Primeval Dragon was finally revealed.
―'Kwoooo!'
As the demonic dragon transformed back into its original form, it let out a bizarre roar as if greatly enraged.
Its form, which had been surrounded by light like an afterimage, was gradually turning into an actual dragon.
Splaaash.
The demonic dragon completely lifted its body from the large pond and soared dozens of jang into the air.
Whoosh! Tap.
Meanwhile, Bu Eunseol, who had fallen from the shattered rock wall once again, wiped the blood flowing down the corner of his mouth.
"How."
At that moment, the woman in white approached Bu Eunseol's side with an expression filled with guilt and bewilderment.
Seeing the hideous reality of the demonic dragon that had been wrapped in layers of Profound Divine Technique Qi, she looked deeply shaken.
"I do not know whether it was originally that form or not, but regardless, it is certain that it is an existence that must be eliminated."
The moment Bu Eunseol's low monologue ended,
―'Kieeeeee!'
The demonic dragon, its true identity exposed, unleashed another furious roar.
"Do not step forward."
The woman in white immediately extended both hands and created a mystical sword of light.
Tens of thousands of swords made of the Profound Divine Technique Qi were instantly raised toward the sky.
Unfortunately, however, she had consumed a lot of Profound Divine Technique Qi to enter this place.
Pa-pa-pa-pat!
The demonic dragon did not even flinch after being struck by the swords; instead, as if its ferocity were only further stimulated, it roared loudly.
―'Kwooooo!'
And it poured out a foul-smelling breath.
The moment that breath touched her, the woman in white's power vanished in an instant.
"Soul Demon Dharma Energy?"
She shook her head in disbelief.
The form of the Primeval Dragon said to dwell in the Origin Dragon Pond, woven from the very source of the Profound Divine Technique Qi, was in reality a demonic dragon made of Soul Demon Dharma Energy.
Swiiish!
Before they knew it, the demonic dragon's massive claws were falling right in front of the woman in white.
Dazed as she was, with the claws already pouring down, it was utterly impossible for her to evade them.
Boom!
At that moment, a shadow appearing like lightning blocked the massive claws.
It was Bu Eunseol.
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