Rumble.
A deafening roar that seemed to overturn heaven and earth swept in all directions.
The scene before his eyes shattered into pieces, and fragments of white light spread out explosively.
The stories that had burrowed into his mind suddenly became pure white butterflies, fluttering away into the distant sky.
A terrible chill, as if he were trapped in ice, washed over him, bringing a sensation like the blood in his entire body was freezing.
And... the memory cut off there.
Everything vanished.
Trickle.
The world before his eyes collapsed as if melting away, and then...
Flash!
In reality, Bu Eunseol opened his eyes amidst a pressure that seemed to stop his breath.
Then he saw the masked man driving a strangely shaped sword toward his sternum.
The eyes that had gleamed with madness had already lost focus, and the fingertips gripping the sword were slowly growing cold.
He had suffered a severe injury.
And his memory had been searched by forcibly tearing through the cracks in his spirit with Illusion Upon Illusion...
His brain was slowly melting away as he died.
Thanks to that, the strangely shaped sword that was about to reach Bu Eunseol's heart stopped at the very last inch.
"Kee-hee-hee."
But the dying masked man suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"Ke-he-he-he!"
He stared at Bu Eunseol and burst into manic laughter.
His gaze seemed to say...
―'I may die, but you will suffer endlessly as you live!'
He seemed to be mocking him.
Snap.
Suddenly stopping his laughter, the masked man...
Thud.
Letting go of the sword hilt, he smashed his head into the ground and breathed his last.
Squelch.
Bu Eunseol pulled out the sword lodged in his sternum in a single breath.
The endlessly pouring blood formed a small puddle, and a pain like a blazing fire was felt in the wound.
He was staring blankly into the empty air.
The memories left in that masked man's mind were not his own.
―'They said he was one of the Eighteen Souls of Light too, right?'
That memory was from his youth.
It belonged to a comrade who had endured hellish training alongside him to become one of the Eighteen Souls of Light.
―'Right. You can't even speak, and your spirit itself is completely destroyed...'
According to his comrade's words in the masked man's memory.
At that time, the masked man's spirit was already destroyed, and even his physical body was crippled.
In other words, his mind was not in an intact state.
And the stories of his comrade he heard during training remained somewhere in his consciousness.
They had now risen to the surface through Illusion Upon Illusion.
'Is this the limit of the method of peering into memories by injecting the power of the Poison Saint to create cracks in the spirit?'
Bu Eunseol had forcibly injected the power of the Poison Saint into the enemy to increase his martial prowess.
Through the resulting cracks in the spirit, he cast Illusion Upon Illusion to peer into the opponent's memory.
However, it was impossible to see all of a person's memories.
Because it was a method that forcibly broke into the spirit using the bait of increasing martial arts.
He could not scour every single memory in their mind.
He could only see certain memories engraved in their consciousness, or moments that had remained intensely etched throughout their life.
'Perhaps it's a natural phenomenon.'
Even when peering into another's memories in the Mind World.
What he could see were only memories directly related to himself, or memories the opponent had engraved most intensely during their life.
'But that face...'
Including the boy and his mother in the masked man's memory, the faces of the people who appeared there were all black shapes.
It was only natural.
Because the masked man would not have seen the faces of the boy and his mother back then.
But mysteriously enough...
Only the face of the warrior with yellowish eyes like a tiger could be seen clearly.
'The masked man must have also seen that warrior's face directly, just like the boy.'
At a similar time as the boy, or perhaps later...
The masked man had directly seen the warrior with that terrifying aura, and because of that, only the warrior's face was clearly revealed.
And thanks to that.
Bu Eunseol could now be certain the robust man's shout was true: the boy's father was the Seven-Finger Demon Blade.
He had done more than miserably abandon the boy's mother.
Bu Eunseol could also see clearly who the cruel culprit was, the one who pierced her two eyes and severed her two arms.
Gush.
Bu Eunseol eventually spat out a large mouthful of blood.
Not because of the wound on his chest, but because a massive shock continuously washed over him.
"Grandfather."
That boy's biological father and enemy.
The warrior carrying a large greatsword was none other than his grandfather in his youth, the Seven-Finger Demon Blade, Bu Zhanyang.
Bu Eunseol had already confirmed his grandfather's middle-aged face through the portrait album kept in Majeon.
The warrior's face was the only one clearly revealed in the masked eccentric's memory.
That was why he could instantly recognize it as his grandfather's.
"So... is that why the culprit pierced Grandfather's two eyes and severed his two arms?"
―'Do not look at me.'
Unable to endure the woman's gaze filled with deep resentment, he pierced his two eyes.
―'Do not grab me with those filthy hands!'
Her hands had grabbed at him, hoping he would at least raise the child...
To him they felt like an inescapable obsession, and so he severed them.
And the boy did just as he had sworn.
Just as his mother had suffered.
He had gouged out his cold-hearted father's two eyes and severed his two hands.
"So that is why you gave up your life without hesitation?"
Grandfather had lived his entire life regretting the past.
Was it not only because he had taken countless people's lives... but because he had abandoned his own wife and child?
But why on earth?
For a grand cause? Or because there was something he absolutely had to do?
Thud.
Bu Eunseol fell to his knees and collapsed.
Grandfather was an invincible bladesman.
Even if he had passed all his power onto him, he would never lose to anyone.
Even if he had been defeated and forced to retreat, his two eyes and two arms could not have been damaged so cleanly.
In other words, Grandfather had given up resisting entirely.
Why had he thrown his life away without hesitation?
Beyond the wish to protect him.
Was it because the son, who had been the source of the remorse weighing down his heart for so long, had come to find him?
"Then is he the Returning to One Realm Lord?"
Grandfather's flesh and blood was highly likely to be the Returning to One Realm Lord.
Because he closely resembled Grandfather's face from his youth.
Then was the reason the Returning to One Realm Lord was so strong because he was born with the Myriad Transformations Holy Physique?
And then he had been unable to suppress his extreme thirst for revenge.
Did he cruelly kill Grandfather, eventually even stealing his corpse, and horribly mutilating even that?
"It's a possibility. However."
Bu Eunseol slowly shook his head.
It was merely a simple intuition.
But he didn't feel at all that the boy who appeared in the masked man's memory and the Returning to One Realm Lord were the same person.
Rather, another child was born from a woman Grandfather had briefly formed a connection with.
And the conjecture that he might have learned of this fact belatedly felt more realistic.
"No, Grandfather is not someone who would turn a blind eye to his own flesh and blood."
When Grandfather heard in the past that his abducted flesh and blood was in the Holy Maidens' Sect, he had completely annihilated the place.
Yet a child born from a lowly woman acting as a courtesan, he had ultimately turned away and refused to accept?
It was a story that didn't add up.
"I don't know."
Bu Eunseol clutched his head.
There were three certainties.
First, Grandfather continuously regretted his past.
Second, the culprit who killed Grandfather used the same method as the one who killed the boy's mother.
Third, Grandfather... willingly gave up his life to the culprit.
And the third fact tormented Bu Eunseol.
It only made sense if the culprit was his own flesh and blood.
The Grandfather who had cherished him and given him so much love would never have left him alone.
He would never have given up his life to a mere culprit.
―'I heard that despite having ordinary bone structure, he surpassed the Eighteen Souls of Light, which is said to be composed only of the greatest geniuses of the era, and eventually became Number Nineteen, something unprecedented in history.'
Suddenly, he recalled an important fact he had heard in the masked man's memory.
Through the Seven-Finger Demon Blade plan, Grandfather had become a mighty bladesman who made the entire martial world tremble in fear.
Afterwards, washing his hands with blood and opening a path with slaughter, he had handled various dangerous missions alone.
And after that.
He became a member of the secret society known as the Eighteen Souls of Light, the martial world's greatest secret, and took the non-existent seat of Number Nineteen.
―'To become one of the Eighteen Souls of Light like him... and serve in the Martial Alliance.'
"The Martial Alliance!"
Bu Eunseol's eyes flashed.
In the end, there was only one answer.
The place connected to the secret society known as the Eighteen Souls of Light.
The place where Grandfather, who had become a bladesman of the demonic path through the Absolute Demonic Blade plan, had served at the very end as Number Nineteen.
All of those places were the Martial Alliance.
In other words, if he investigated the abyss of the Martial Alliance that had not been revealed until now, he would be able to find the answer.
* * *
Bu Eunseol returned to Majeon.
―'Find out exactly what kind of faction the Eighteen Souls of Light is, and what connection it has to the Martial Alliance without fail!'
Then there was the information about the Martial Alliance he had learned this time, everything in it except his grandfather's personal history.
He shared it not only with the Azure Sky Alliance and the Martial Soul Society, but also with all the leaders of the righteous and unorthodox factions he was acquainted with.
He also commanded the Death Spirit Corps to begin investigating the faction known as the Eighteen Souls of Light.
Originally, he had not informed his acquaintances or subordinates, with the exception of Yoo Unryong, about matters related to his revenge.
However, bringing down the Martial Alliance was no longer a matter just for himself.
The abyssal forces that continuously committed harmful acts had to be uprooted.
He had to gather all forces and fight against the Martial Alliance.
―'We'll have to undergo even more intense training.'
Upon hearing that the Martial Alliance was connected to the martial world's greatest secret society, the leaders of each sect silently devoted themselves to training.
―'Because we must grow our strength.'
The current situation of the martial world was no longer a power struggle between the righteous faction and the unorthodox faction.
For a long time, forces that manipulated the martial world as they pleased and dictated people's destinies had existed.
To eliminate them, they had to combine all their strength.
―'The faction known as the Eighteen Souls of Light was nowhere to be found.'
The Death Spirit Corps continued their investigation, but they could not find such a faction.
Even Han Sangja, who was profoundly knowledgeable in the history and ancient knowledge of the martial world, said he had never even heard of such a term.
―'It won't be easy to find them.'
Perhaps it was to be expected.
It was the organization Grandfather had served in at the very end.
If it were an organization that could be found so easily, his past tracks as the Seven-Finger Demon Blade would have been uncovered long ago.
―'Now, after changing my identity once more.'
'I intend to become a warrior of the Martial Alliance and thoroughly dig up that underground faction.'
Bringing down the Martial Alliance.
It had not been a top priority, but from the beginning it had been included in the grand design Bu Eunseol had continuously advanced.
But now he knew this much.
To find out what the Eighteen Souls of Light was, and what truth lay hidden in Grandfather's tracks.
He would once again enter the Martial Alliance as a spy.
This time, he had made up his mind to perfectly investigate the forces crouching in the abyss while simultaneously bringing them down.
As long as he had the Secret Art of Darkness, stirring up the Martial Alliance was no longer a dangerous or difficult task.
―'The Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect, the Palace Master of the Southern Palace, and the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan have met.'
Furthermore, because of this assassination incident, Yeong Cheongja and the others realized that the Buddha Venerable and Baek Museong were not righteous figures.
They were able to once again confirm that the Martial Alliance was a den of evil.
They were extremely meticulous, so they could not find evidence right now that they were the masterminds.
They intended to let all under heaven know that the reason the assassination incident could be carried out was due to information from inside the Martial Alliance.
―'Since the Martial Alliance has also stabilized and the invasion of the foreign sects has been safely repelled...'
'This old monk will lay down the position of Lord of the Phoenix and return.'
However, the Martial Alliance struck first.
It came alongside shocking news.
The holy monk who had become the Lord of the Phoenix, receiving all the authority of the Martial Alliance Leader, the Buddha Venerable.
He had settled the chaos in the Martial Alliance in a single breath, and by founding the Orthodox Path Alliance, he had splendidly repelled the invasion of the foreign sects.
Then, as if he had fulfilled his duty, he would leave the seat of the Lord of the Phoenix behind without any lingering attachments and go off to become a wanderer of the martial world once more.
―'As expected of the Buddha Venerable.'
At that news, the martial artists of the righteous faction could not hide their rising reverence and respect.
Lord of the Phoenix.
Because even the Martial Alliance Leader had to obey the orders of this supreme position.
He had essentially ascended to the position of the Supreme One of the Martial World for the righteous faction.
Yet he was going to lay down that position without attachment and leave the Martial Alliance?
―'Could the holy monk not lead the righteous martial world for us?'
Countless righteous faction members earnestly pleaded, but the Buddha Venerable responded with a gentle smile and suddenly disappeared without a trace.
―'The remnants of the foreign sects that invaded the Central Plains this time targeted the leaders of the righteous faction who participated in the Orthodox Path Alliance and attempted assassinations!'
Immediately after, Martial Alliance Leader Baek Museong delivered shocking news.
The foreign sects had anticipated that their invasion of the Central Plains would fail.
Their true objective was something else.
It was the elimination of the righteous faction leaders who were intoxicated with victory.
―'The Azure Sky Alliance Leader, the Wudang Sect Leader, the Clan Heads of the Southern Palace and Tang Clan, and the Martial Soul Society Leader were their targets!'
The foreign sects secretly sent an assassination squadron they had trained for a long time, launching a surprise attack on the returning leaders.
But contrary to their expectations, the leaders' martial arts levels far exceeded what was known, and the assassination attempt ultimately ended in failure.
―'This is all the responsibility of this Alliance Leader!'
Baek Museong issued a surprising statement with a cry of bitter grief.
―'Intoxicated with victory, this Alliance Leader neglected the safety of the righteous faction leaders who trusted and followed this Alliance!'
'Deeply feeling that responsibility, and to ensure this never happens again.'
'So that the information and events of this Alliance are not leaked, and so that spies cannot infiltrate this Alliance.'
'I will restructure this Alliance's security system once more, and at the same time, I will temporarily step down from my position and enter closed-door training.'
Alliance Leader Baek Museong had only just become the sun of the righteous faction martial world.
The foreign sects' assassination attempt was not his fault.
But his master, the Buddha Venerable, had left the position of Lord of the Phoenix without any lingering attachments.
And so he too chose the path of taking responsibility for everything.
The leaders, who could be called the pillars of the righteous faction martial world, had been ambushed while returning from the Martial Alliance.
He changed the security of the Martial Alliance into an impregnable fortress.
And handing over all authority to Vice Alliance Leader Buk Ri-seong, he temporarily stepped down from the Alliance Leader seat.
―'Both master and disciple are exactly the same!'
The people of the righteous faction endlessly praised these two righteous and great figures.
Furthermore, this incident had another effect.
Experts of the previous generation who had always looked upon the Martial Alliance with displeasure, and eminent masters who had settled beyond the frontier.
They were rushing to join the Martial Alliance one after another.
* * *
Majeon, Suppressed Demon Pavilion.
The Martial Alliance's sudden and shocking announcement changed everything.
He had been planning to infiltrate the Martial Alliance once again and investigate it from the inside.
Bu Eunseol's plan to find the people known as the Eighteen Souls of Light was stopped in an instant.
"Because of this assassination incident, the Martial Alliance has become a truly perfect, impregnable fortress."
These were the words of the Death Spirit Corps Captain, Mu Heon.
It was as if Baek Museong had been preparing for this moment for a long time.
He had now completed a perfect security system where no one could sneak in or infiltrate by changing their identity.
It was as if he had even kept the Secret Art of Darkness in mind.
The Hidden Forest Pavilion Lord, Mok Do-in, who had been replaced by another figure from the Sacred Domain, had come to oversee even the guard and security of the Martial Alliance.
And unique techniques that outsiders could absolutely never breach had even been installed inside the Alliance.
Clench.
Bu Eunseol clenched his fists tightly.
In the end, the Buddha Venerable and Baek Museong had prepared a perfect follow-up countermeasure in case all their plans failed.
So that no further information about the Martial Alliance could be obtained.
"No, it doesn't matter."
Bu Eunseol spoke as if he had made a decision.
"Because we can just crush the Martial Alliance anyway."
There was no need to be anxious.
If they couldn't investigate secretly from the inside? They just had to tear it down.
If they did that, eventually everything hidden in that abyss would be fully revealed.
After the meeting ended, Bu Eunseol buried himself in work again. Or rather, he tried to.
However, his mind was wandering amidst agony and anguish.
He did not show it.
He was feeling extreme confusion due to his grandfather's shocking past that had been suddenly revealed.
Knock, knock, knock.
At that moment, along with the sound of knocking on the door, Wi Cheongyeong's voice was heard.
"Command Lord. It is Wi Cheongyeong."
Opening the door and entering, he wore a troubled expression.
"We have a guest."
"A guest?"
"Chief Steward Gongsun's younger sister has secretly visited this Pavilion to see the Command Lord."
"Young lady Gongsun did."
Bu Eunseol knitted his brow.
Gongsun Dana.
Gongsun Dankyung's younger sister and the one known as the Flower of Eloquence among the Three Beauties of the World, had suddenly visited the Suppressed Demon Pavilion.
"Hmm."
As Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow, Wi Cheongyeong spoke cautiously.
"Shall I send her away?"
"No, no."
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
It was a situation where he couldn't concentrate on his work anyway.
Furthermore, considering his relationship with Gongsun Dankyung, he could absolutely not turn her away at the door.
"I will go see her."
Up until this point, he did not know.
Because of the visit of this woman, who was like a beautiful goddess, not only would his grandfather's unrevealed tracks come to light, but the opportunity to face his true nature would arrive.
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