When spring passed and the moon had waned about three times, a bizarre pattern was engraved upon the ashen desert.
At first, it was thought to be a mere coincidental design created by the wind.
But before long, it surpassed mere intricacy and began to writhe and stretch out like a living creature.
Sometimes, it formed a spiral shape, as if a giant snake had stirred the sand.
At other times, it resembled a complex star chart stolen from the trajectories of the stars, or an unknown ancient script...
The phenomenon, which began on one side of the ashen desert, spread across all the parched lands.
When the sun rose again and noon approached,
Trudge, trudge.
There was a man walking barefoot across the desert, which was as hot as searing iron.
His skin was cracked like parched earth, a tangled mess of blood scabs and raw flesh.
His unfocused eyes occasionally poured forth only an intense thirst and hatred toward the blazing sun.
It was then.
From beyond the horizon, the color of the air began to change.
An ominous and murky purple hue, as if pitch-black ash had been clumped together, encroached upon the sky.
Hooooo!
The sound of the wind changed.
The wind brushed against the sand dunes.
And in an instant it had turned into an ear-splitting roar, like the screams of tens of thousands of vengeful spirits crying out all at once.
Ssssss.
Gradually, the sands tangled together, forming an entity with hollow eye sockets and a mouth seemingly torn open to swallow all living things.
It created the shape of a massive, distorted evil spirit.
Thud.
The man could endure no longer.
His knees buckled, and he finally collapsed to the ground.
Hot sand surged into his mouth and nose, blocking his final breath.
His vision blurred, and it was the moment his life, filled with pain, finally came to an end.
Swooooosh.
Before his eyes, an eerie light seeped out from deep within the sand.
It was a sharp, demonic hand, seemingly carved from pitch-black darkness.
Trickle.
That hand surged up through the sand like a living snake and was sucked into his limply hanging right hand like a storm.
"Uuuugh, aaaagh!"
A scream that could not be considered human erupted from his mouth.
Craaack.
Along with the pain of melting flesh and twisting bones, black blood vessels spread throughout his entire body along his veins.
At the same time, illusions of countless people dying in agony unfurled in all directions.
"..."
Before long, the man disappeared into the sand, and the storm subsided.
How much time had passed?
Paaat!
Suddenly, a hand pierced through the sand and shot upward.
It was no longer a hand covered in wounds.
It was flawlessly smooth, and the fingernails shone sharply black like obsidian.
It was around the time the black hand revealed itself from the sand.
A black shadow revealed itself in the sky, looking down upon the scene.
"Finally."
The shadow whispered in a low voice, like the spread of dawn mist.
"His corpse has appeared once again."
Even though it was receiving the midday sun, the shadow was dyed pitch-black.
"Now, one by one... it is reaching completion."
The voice sounded like that of a trembling old man, yet it also sounded so bizarre and evil that it could make every single grain of sand in the desert tremble.
―'Ooo... ooooooo!'
Suddenly, a monstrous shriek, as if tens of thousands of people were wailing all at once, echoed across the desert.
Ssshhh.
As the pitch-black shadow watched the scene, black fragments began to flutter around its body,
Flash!
And soon, it turned into a momentary flash of light and vanished.
* * *
Bu Eunseol, having returned to Majeon, handled his work with a refreshed expression for the first time in a while.
This was because the suspicions regarding his grandfather's evil deeds, which had been tormenting his heart from the masked man's memories, were completely resolved.
'I can be a little more proud.'
Although he had not shown it, Bu Eunseol had always been afraid.
Because his grandfather had endlessly regretted his past.
Could there have been unknown, cruel evil deeds?
Or perhaps a past that he could not handle? He could not help but worry about such things.
And the masked man's memories and the term Eighteen Souls of Light... had turned that vague fear into reality.
But now, he could clearly know.
That an existence like the Great Murder Star, which the martial artists pointed their fingers at, had never existed from the start.
There had been only one purpose: to save people.
There had only been a solitary guardian of darkness who bore all the stigmas and misunderstandings.
'Moreover, the Immortal was the same.'
There was the Fire Soul Land, its spirit vein severed, and its Land Lord, the One-Eyed Immortal.
Just like his grandfather, whose true worth was not properly known, they were hiding their true nature.
To the world, the place called Fire Soul Land was merely evaluated as a sect that had prospered in the past.
In reality, it was one of the greatest sacred grounds of the martial world, possessing martial arts and techniques akin to those of immortals.
And the One-Eyed Immortal, Yang Yeong.
She had already, in her youth, discussed the matters of the Baekri Family with his grandfather and stood against the True Demon Palace.
'The energy spreading through the Immortal's body was incredible.'
The One-Eyed Immortal had hidden her true appearance and form, but Bu Eunseol was able to grasp her true nature at once.
Not only did she harbor a divine energy throughout her entire body like one who had cultivated the secret arts of the Immortal Path.
She also intentionally maintained a hideous appearance.
'That must be why Grandfather even entrusted her with the matter of Palace Master Neung.'
The One-Eyed Immortal's personality seemed eccentric, but she was actually extremely kind, as well as deeply considerate.
If that were not the case, his grandfather would never have entrusted her with the matter of Palace Master Neung, who could be considered a rival in love.
―'You must start a family.'
However, the One-Eyed Immortal's words weighed on his mind.
Palace Master Neung was the same.
The people who had a connection with his grandfather were all the same.
Every one of them hoped that Bu Eunseol, at least, would surely start a family.
'Young Lady Gongsun.'
Suddenly, the beautiful figure of Gongsun Dana wearing a wedding dress flashed across his mind.
Even the sight of her, poisoned by the Candlelight Passion Ghost Flower, breathing into him with an alluring and provocative gaze.
'What am I thinking.'
Bu Eunseol's face flushed for no reason.
―'Since you have become a legitimate married couple, what does it matter whether you burn the Candlelight Passion Ghost Flower or the Lust Fire Burning Heart Grass?'
Then, as the One-Eyed Immortal's shout seemed to echo in his ears, he wore a serious expression.
Although it had been due to coercion, it was a wedding ceremony with all the proper procedures.
If Gongsun Dana took issue with that? He would have nothing to say.
'It should be fine.'
After seeing his grandfather's letter.
He had treated Gongsun Dana so coldly that she burst into tears from a sense of betrayal and humiliation.
In the end, she had left resenting him... so nothing special would happen.
"Command Lord, all the captains have gathered in the conference room."
Waking from his thoughts at Wi Cheongyeong's voice, he answered softly.
"I will be there shortly."
And so it went.
Without knowing that Gongsun Dana, pure as a child, actually possessed outstanding insight.
Without knowing her firm heart.
He erased his thoughts and entered the conference room in a good mood.
"It is a highly unusual matter."
The meeting began with the voice of the Death Spirit Corps Captain, Mu Heon.
The intelligence network of the Death Shadow Corps stretched across the entire Central Plains like a massive spiderweb, and it missed no minute incident.
And this time, an ominous and bizarre piece of news had been delivered.
Beyond Jade Gate Pass, the nomadic tribes around the Ancient Wall Desert, where endless sand rolled like waves, had been annihilated overnight.
If it were a simple massacre, it would have been dismissed as the blood calamity of a murderous fiend, but bizarre rumors began to spread.
―'When night falls, the dead walk upon the sand.'
At first, it was treated as an absurd, baseless rumor.
But then the elite intelligence agents and corps-level combat groups dispatched by the various intelligence organizations vanished without a trace.
They were finally certain that it was not a simple false rumor.
The Death Shadow Corps also conducted a detailed investigation.
But the only thing confirmed was the disappearance of the intelligence agents who had headed to the desert.
Mu Heon spoke cautiously.
"I am considering sending Deputy Corps Leader Soyo or Protector Tak, who are currently on leave. What do you think?"
Recently the intelligence network had become even denser with the help of Nangyang Pavilion's Wind and Cloud Corps.
Bu Eunseol had just forced a leave of absence on Tak Ilhon and Soyo, who had been working hard day and night.
"No, I will go personally."
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
"It is not a matter worth sending two people who are on leave."
A place where numerous intelligence agents and martial artists had gone missing.
No matter how capable the agents who went were, the danger would be the same.
Also, considering the distance, him investigating it would be the fastest and safest way to resolve it.
"Understood."
Simultaneously with Mu Heon's answer, Won Semun asked.
"Command Lord. By the way, has something good happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's just that... your complexion seems to have improved."
Surprisingly, Won Semun had seen that the matter constantly weighing on his heart was resolved.
And he had perceived Bu Eunseol's much lighter heart with uncanny accuracy.
"That is..."
As Bu Eunseol was about to open his mouth, Won Semun heavily furrowed his brow and spoke again.
"Could you not go this time?"
"Hmm?"
"It is a matter outside the pass anyway... and it feels somehow ominous and extremely dangerous."
Won Semun continued in a gloomy voice.
"It almost looks as if a pitch-black scythe is floating behind you, Command Lord."
The captains opened their eyes wide and stared at Bu Eunseol.
And then, was there not a shape truly resembling a grim reaper's scythe casting a shadow near his neck?
"Ow!"
Jo Namcheon smacked the back of Won Semun's head and said.
"It's the shadow of a tree branch outside!"
Unless it was a meeting requiring extreme security, they did not go out of their way to operate mechanisms to seal the interior.
However, the inside was not very bright, and shadows were cast across it.
The shadow of a tree branch reflected on the paper window was swaying, bent like a black scythe.
"Ah, so it is."
As Won Semun muttered softly, Myo Cheonwoo muttered in a bored voice.
"Hey, you should cut down on your drinking now."
Then, Wi Cheongyeong also grumbled.
"It's because you chug liquor every day and read junk books or bizarre texts like the Classic of Divine Marvels."
"No, I..."
As Won Semun scratched his head, Bu Eunseol stood up from his seat and said.
"We will end the meeting here."
At Bu Eunseol's words, the captains rose from their seats with annoyed expressions and muttered.
"We really need to make a rule for captains to abstain from drinking."
"Anyway, whenever he opens his mouth, he says unlucky things."
But the captains had momentarily forgotten.
That despite his rough appearance, Won Semun had good intuition like a spiritual Taoist and even had prophetic dreams.
And until this moment, they did not know.
That through this incident, Bu Eunseol would not only step on the threshold of death several times.
But in the process, he would uncover the secrets hidden within the eternal treasures he possessed.
And finally...
A new martial arts realm, and the new path he had so desperately desired.
The martial arts realm newly created by him, who had bypassed the Limitless Realm.
That he would reach the Void Extreme Realm.
* * *
Under the scorching sun, a tribal village in the Ancient Wall Desert was peaceful.
The laughter of children crossed between the tents.
Women chatted while grinding spices, and men shed thick drops of sweat as they tended to the livestock.
Bu Eunseol, who had come here in a single breath from Majeon, strolled among them like a ghost.
The people reflected in his eyes were so lively and full of vitality.
The bizarre rumors felt like an old tale from a distant land.
Bu Eunseol, who had been wandering the village, casually asked an old woman milking a sheep.
"Have there been any strange occurrences recently?"
The old woman crinkled her wrinkled eyes and shook her head.
"The nights in the desert are always cold and dangerous, but nothing special happens to us because we have the protection of the gods."
"I see."
Even though nothing unusual was discovered in the village, Bu Eunseol felt a strange sense of alienation and disharmony.
'Let's check other places as well.'
He immediately investigated other villages, but as expected, nothing unusual was found.
'Shall I visit that village one last time?'
After two days of investigation, Bu Eunseol finally turned back to the village he had investigated first.
As expected, the village was overflowing with vitality, and only a peaceful scenery unfolded.
However, the moment the sun hid its body beyond the horizon and stars rose in the night sky.
"..."
Suddenly, the laughter ceased.
Lively conversations also broke off.
The lanterns illuminating the tents all went out at once, as if by prior agreement.
The warm warmth that enveloped the village was gone, and a bone-chilling cold dug into Bu Eunseol's collar.
Soon, what broke the silence was not a sound made by humans.
Crack, riiiiip.
It was a monstrous sound like neck bones disjointing and dry leather tearing.
He turned his head.
The old woman, who had been bearing a benevolent smile just moments ago, was slowly approaching with her neck bent at a bizarre angle.
Her once-warm eyes were dyed an empty, blood-red color, and thick saliva drooled from her mouth.
"Uuuugh!"
Starting with the old woman, all the villagers were transforming into bloodthirsty demonic entities.
The only one perfectly fine was Bu Eunseol. The rest had become monsters craving the blood of the living.
They surged toward Bu Eunseol, who was standing tall in the middle of the village.
They were not merely running; they were shattering rocks with their bare bodies and sprinting across the sand like the wind.
Commoners who had never learned martial arts had suddenly become superhumans surpassing martial artists.
Rumble.
With a thunderous sound, Bu Eunseol lightly threw a punch.
It was an exceptionally smooth movement, but it contained enough destructive power to easily tear down a mountain.
Crash!
The villagers struck by the fist's force were sent flying in all directions.
Thud, thud, thud.
But soon, did they not bare their teeth like beasts and run at him even faster?
'What?'
In the split second Bu Eunseol was greatly surprised,
Slaaash!
They began to pounce, extending sharp fingernails like beasts.
Swoosh.
Bu Eunseol executed the sky-treading flight art and soared into the sky in a single breath.
"Just what is this."
But it was too early to be surprised.
When he avoided them by leaping into the air, did they not also leap into the air and pounce at him, swinging their fingernails wildly?
Slaaaaash!
Before long, sharp force poured out like spiderwebs from the villagers' fingernails.
'This is dangerous.'
Those thin strands contained enough power to cleanly slice through even a diamond.
'So this is why they couldn't return, and not even their corpses could be found.'
The intelligence agents who arrived here knowing nothing must have been relieved by the peaceful atmosphere.
And then night had fallen.
The villagers transformed into terrifying demonic entities that ordinary martial artists could not even face.
Ultimately, they were torn apart and devoured by them.
Srrng.
Having landed back on the ground, he drew the Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
'Must I cut them down.'
Seeing the commoners rushing from all sides, a brief conflict flashed in Bu Eunseol's eyes.
The faint traces of the good-natured smiles he had seen during the day remained on their faces.
Were they victims encroached upon by an unknown grand method?
Or did they originally possess evil souls and were encroached upon by demonic energy, becoming unsalvageable demonic entities?
―'Kaaagh!'
Before long, they dashed right up to Bu Eunseol's nose, swinging their sharp fingernails and opening their mouths to bite him.
'When day breaks, they will probably return to their normal state.'
It was highly likely that the villagers were not demonic entities but were encroached upon by some grand method.
If that was the case, he should not kill them, but rather return them to their original forms.
'Silent Tiger Soul Eclipse.'
An absolute sword art that handled life and could sever all karma.
Only this sword form had a chance of returning them to normal.
Ziiiing.
A single streak of light spreading out from the pitch-black darkness.
Paaaaat!
Soon began to spread out with an irresistible majesty, brightly dyeing the desert night sky.
Every time the Silent Tiger Soul Sword moved, the ink-black sky turned white.
The commoners collapsed without even being able to scream from the emitted sword aura.
Clack.
With the Silent Tiger Soul Sword sheathed, the villagers lay collapsed in a circle around Bu Eunseol.
Sizzle.
Black smoke continuously rose from their unconscious bodies.
There were those whose appearances returned to normal, and there were also some who maintained their hideous figures.
"Phew."
Bu Eunseol let out heavy breaths.
He severed the karma contained in their bodies at once and returned them to their original forms, but he had to pay the price.
A portion of his pitch-black hair had turned as white as snow.
'Just what is this dreadful technique.'
The power of the Silent Tiger Soul Eclipse showed absolute might in eliminating evil power.
And yet, to think there were commoners who had not properly returned?
The moment Bu Eunseol, who was catching his rough breath, tried to examine the collapsed people.
Ruuuumble!
A vibration sound that shook the entire world echoed.
The stars and moon in the sky were completely erased, and a suffocating pressure crushed the earth.
At the same time, a pitch-black shadow surfaced in the sky.
'An expert.'
Its shape was similar to a human, but it was not human. It was a bizarre entity condensed with pure darkness and malice.
The bizarre entity's gaze pierced the faint energy of the Silent Tiger Soul Eclipse remaining on Bu Eunseol's Silent Tiger Soul Sword.
'Is it a supernatural power?'
Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow.
The bizarre entity's greedy eyes suddenly flashed with a red light.
Flash!
Along with a flash that seemed to turn the entire world white, the whole village slowly began to melt down.
The tents became ash and scattered in the wind, and the sand melted like glass in the scorching hot wind.
It had been a single glance, nothing more.
And with it an entire village had been evaporated in an instant.
Fwooosh.
In the sky above the ruins that had become a fiery hell, Bu Eunseol floated alone.
The bizarre entity had flashed its eyes.
He had intuitively sensed that an immense power was pouring down, and had leaped into the sky.
"To kill innocent commoners."
He had thought that power would be directed at him; he had not even imagined it would wipe out the entire village.
The furious Bu Eunseol immediately raised his inner force.
It no longer mattered who the bizarre entity was.
Since it had slaughtered the commoners without reason, it had to pay the appropriate price.
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