Along the banks of the river, in a small village downstream on the Yellow River, a very strange incident occurred.
Overnight, the people in the village had died gruesomely.
The deceased were vagrants, the elderly, those suffering from serious illnesses, or the disabled.
They were all scattered about with limbs strewn everywhere, like broken toys.
The cross-sections of the severed limbs were rough, as if they had undergone dismemberment by chariots, and no traces of weapons were found anywhere.
Even the authorities came out and began an investigation, but the cause could not be determined and starting from this day, similar incidents gradually began to occur throughout the Central Plains.
This was a harbinger of a bloody catastrophe but most of these incidents were in small villages, and the victims were mainly vagrants or the disabled. Moreover, since the incidents happened sporadically, they did not attract much attention from the world.
However, there was a group that quickly noticed these anomalies...
It was the intelligence agents of the Death Spirit Corps and the Supreme Corps under Bu Eunseol.
In the Suppressed Demon Pavilion, the grand conference room.
"It seems to have begun."
All the corps captains, including Bu Eunseol, were gathered with serious expressions, as Wi Cheongyeong spoke.
"Unknown massacres are occurring in various places, but the scale of the damage is not large, and since the victims are elderly and sick commoners or vagrants... it's not receiving much attention yet."
"Hmm."
As Bu Eunseol let out a low groan, Yoo Unryong asked.
"Could this be what that guy called the Supreme Emperor mentioned? The backlash from the disappearance of the Infinite Realm... that force called Inbiin?"
A mysterious force originating from the Demon Cult, with its name and form constantly changing.
Inbiin.
The Supreme Emperor said that soon, the Ghost Children created by the Inbiin would appear in the martial world and if they could stop them, the Infinite Realm would not revive.
"Probably. He said signs would appear soon after the Infinite Realm disappeared."
"Then it's worth investigating."
"Yes." Bu Eunseol's eyes narrowed. "It's too organized to be random slaughter stars. Moreover, considering that the targets are the weak... it matches the beliefs of the Inbiin that the Supreme Emperor mentioned."
The corps captains furrowed their brows.
The bizarre belief of the Inbiin, who kill the weak to perform universal charity. That was truly something only a Demon Cult member could do.
"What about Gongsun Dankyung's side?"
In response to Bu Eunseol's question, Yoo Unryong said.
"Through the Supreme Corps' intelligence network, we've passed on some information about the force called Inbiin. A reply should come soon."
To destroy the Infinite Realm, Gongsun Dankyung had risked her downfall.
She had secretly met Bu Eunseol and requested a cooperative relationship, harboring deep resentment toward them and when Bu Eunseol finally destroyed the Infinite Realm, as repayment, Gongsun Dankyung had sent a letter saying she would provide help anytime.
Since the plan to establish the alliance required the involvement of the Martial Alliance, he had immediately informed her of these facts and requested assistance.
However, he omitted the story that the Inbiin were a force rooted in the Demon Cult.
There was no need to mention that.
"Command Lord, this is the reply from Chief Inspector Gongsun."
At that moment, Wi Cheongyeong, who had been outside, entered the conference room and handed Bu Eunseol a letter.
Since Bu Eunseol had revealed everything to the subordinates of the Death Shadow Corps as well, integrating the intelligence networks of both sides was not difficult.
As the Death Spirit Corps and Supreme Corps shared information from both orthodox and unorthodox paths and provided it immediately, they could even communicate directly with Chief Inspector Gongsun Dankyung.
"Hmm."
Upon opening the letter, it contained content stating that she would positively review what Bu Eunseol had asked but there was no immediate request for a meeting.
"Indeed, she's clever."
Like Bu Eunseol, Gongsun Dankyung did not unconditionally trust information heard through others.
Especially a force called Inbiin.
She would probably conduct her own investigation and attempt contact much later.
"Anyway, it's equivalent to a reply saying she'll help, so at this point, we can start moving slowly."
At Bu Eunseol's words, all the corps captains nodded.
The silent deaths of commoners and vagrants were not of interest to martial artists so no matter how much Bu Eunseol spat while claiming they were descendants of the Demon Cult, it would be useless because there was no evidence.
If they simply labeled the killers of commoners as wearing the mask of the Demon Cult?
It could backfire, making Bu Eunseol seem like a figure from an evil sect.
It could even lead to a loss of support from the demonic path practitioners.
Even though rumors had spread that he was doing good deeds, if Bu Eunseol stepped forward to take command in the murder cases of commoners and vagrants, it would make him seem like the orthodox faction itself.
The demonic path pursues hegemony, not protecting commoners and upholding justice.
But if the Martial Alliance stepped in, the story would change.
If they investigated the commoner murders and tried to claim great merit independently?
It would be natural for Majeon, which was in opposition to the Martial Alliance, to step forward and try to gain more achievements.
"I hope she does well."
At Wi Cheongyeong's words, all the corps captains took deep breaths.
It was strange for Majeon to save commoners, but it was possible for the Martial Alliance.
To set up a bigger stage and ultimately to create a new alliance force, Bu Eunseol had entrusted various tasks to Gongsun Dankyung.
With her power as the Chief Inspector of the Martial Alliance, she could treat the massacre of commoners as a major issue.
"We should start preparing soon."
At Bu Eunseol's words, all the corps captains nodded vigorously.
Now, the dice for the showdown had been cast.
***
―New murder ghosts have appeared in the martial world.
The Martial Alliance began to announce the previously unknown deaths of commoners and vagrants.
They described them as newly emerged murder ghosts who secretly roamed villages, targeting only the disabled or vagrants.
Although not known to the world, the Martial Alliance sensed the anomaly and launched a large-scale investigation, soon revealing shocking facts.
―The culprits are all teenage boys.
―Even without learning martial arts, they are strong enough to tear people apart and cunning enough to evade martial pursuers.
As new facts were revealed by the Martial Alliance, martial artists also began to perk up their ears but based on inquiries and eyewitnesses, they only confirmed that they were teenage boys.
They couldn't even specify the culprits, let alone find their traces.
Considering that the Martial Alliance had formed a full investigation team... this was utterly absurd.
While the investigation was facing difficulties, a surprising event occurred.
―Parts of the vanguard from the North Sea Ice Palace and the Wild Beast Palace have begun entering the Central Plains.
The entry of forces from the outer great sects into the Central Plains martial world was something taboo enough to cause both orthodox and unorthodox martial artists to have fits.
Throughout the long history of the martial world, invasions by outer forces into the Central Plains had been all too frequent.
―We called them to handle this murderous ghost incident that the Martial Alliance couldn't resolve.
But an unexpected thing happened.
Majeon's Martial Soul Command Lord, Bu Eunseol.
He claimed to have called in forces from the North Sea Ice Palace and the Wild Beast Palace to resolve this incident of murders of commoners and vagrants.
―No, does it make sense for outer great sects to come for such a trivial matter committed by young slaughter stars?
―They are not ordinary boys but beings called Ghost Children created by a force called Inbiin. Their bases cannot be found at all, and only the experts from the Wild Beast Palace and North Sea Ice Palace can track them.
―Inbiin?
Various sects in the martial world investigated the force called Inbiin but no such force was found.
That was only natural.
It was an existence that only the leaders of the Three Realms, who had ruled the martial world for generations, knew secretly.
Therefore, no matter how much Bu Eunseol explained, it was impossible to convince them.
―No such force existed. Even if it does, the Central Plains' affairs should be handled by the Central Plains’ martial world. Stay out of it.
Naturally the orthodox martial world, and all black path forces including the Black Flag Society, evil sects and even some demonic path forces protested Bu Eunseol's decision.
Even if there was a separate force behind this massacre, from their perspective, it wasn't urgent or significant enough to bring in outer forces.
―Whether we find them or not, outer forces absolutely cannot enter!
In fact, the entire martial world except Majeon opposed it.
But Bu Eunseol boldly told the martial artists.
―Do not interfere with this Command Lord's affairs. If a bloody catastrophe occurs later, you will have to take responsibility for this incident as well.
―Bloody catastrophe?
The martial artists felt something strange.
How could a mere murder case of commoners and vagrants lead to a blood catastrophe?
Moreover, even if the force called Inbiin was formidable, couldn't the martial sects unite to stop them?
―If we don't handle them in advance, a bloody catastrophe will occur. Clear the way!
Bu Eunseol once again mobilized the forces of the Death Shadow Corps.
―If you're prepared for compensation beyond the Martial Alliance, go ahead and block us. This time, we'll destroy with full force and extract compensation until the roots are pulled out.
Then, the opposing martial forces flinched.
Bu Eunseol, who had destroyed the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Forest, the base of the puppets that no one knew about, was showing resolute determination again.
That meant, as he said, this incident could truly be a harbinger of a bloody catastrophe.
―Is it another incident like the Heavenly Blessing Medicine Forest?
The opposing martial sects were conflicted.
Bu Eunseol had destroyed vicious forces secretly rooted in the martial world and saved countless people.
It was something no one had done before.
Now that such a man was stepping forward strongly again, they simply couldn't oppose him.
―Well, it's not like Majeon's successor is allying with outer forces to invade.
―With the Demon Emperor still intact, that couldn't happen anyway.
―I heard only parts of the vanguards from the North Sea Ice Palace and Wild Beast Palace are entering?
―Well, since it's the Martial Soul Command Lord doing it, it can't be bad.
As the saying goes, just like trees have shade, people have names.
The entry of outer forces into the Central Plains, which should never happen... was achieved absurdly easily, simply because Bu Eunseol was leading it.
But soon, the orthodox practitioners regretted it.
They naturally assumed they would head to Hunan where Majeon was but these forces began stationing in the wanderer market of Shaanxi, the Red Sky Veil?
Even if the location was on the outskirts, Shaanxi was still the center of orthodox forces.
Just by them staying there, intelligence organizations had to go mad tracking their movements.
In the Red Sky Veil, the Martial Soul Hall.
It was the name of the pavilion rebuilt larger after demolishing the Crystal Hall where Dam Yuyeon had stayed.
The first and second floors of the three-story pavilion had the personnel from the Crystal Hall continuing their duties as is.
The third floor was equipped with a luxuriously decorated office and a large conference room.
Currently in the conference room was Bu Eunseol, Do Cheonlin, and Dam Yuyeon.
Dam Yuyeon was busily directing servants to prepare tea or move furnishings.
Bu Eunseol and Do Cheonlin were huddled together, discussing something.
Around the time the morning sun rose to the highest point in the sky, shadows began ascending into the Martial Soul Hall one after another.
First was the North Sea Ice Palace Lord, Bing Hanpung.
"You've had a long journey. Thank you for coming, Palace Lord."
As Bu Eunseol politely bowed, Bing Hanpung also returned the courtesy meticulously.
"It's been a while."
The bright smile on Bing Hanpung's lips was unmatched.
Thanks to Bu Eunseol, the North Sea Ice Palace had crushed the traitor Dong Yugak's conspiracy and resolved the division among the five families. Not only that, with his help, the young lord of the Han family, who had long suffered from illness, was fully cured.
He had also restored the Heavenly Glacial Secret, the ultimate secret art of the North Sea Ice Palace, and left it for Bing Hanpung.
From Bing Hanpung's perspective, Bu Eunseol was like a benefactor who had revived the North Sea Ice Palace.
"You've become even more dignified in the meantime, Command Lord." Bing Hanpung looked at Bu Eunseol with a proud expression. "You've reached a truly boundless realm. It is a blessing for the demonic martial world."
When he had visited the North Sea Ice Palace to quell the turmoil, Bu Eunseol was a newcomer who had just entered Majeon but before long, he had become the figure managing the next Majeon and a grand master overseeing the entire martial world under heaven.
"You're too kind."
Bu Eunseol also humbly clasped his hands.
"You've already reached the realm of Spiritual Solitary Radiance, Palace Lord. Congratulations."
In that moment, Bing Hanpung could not hide his astonished expression.
Bing Hanpung had cultivated the Heavenly Glacial Secret passed on by Bu Eunseol to the realm of great completion and had reached the realm of Spiritual Solitary Radiance, where he could infinitely pour out extreme yin true energy according to his will.
This was possible because he was the Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, who had cultivated extreme yin studies his entire life.
If considering only the achievement in the Heavenly Glacial Secret, it was a realm that even Bu Eunseol could not match.
However, the deeper one cultivates extreme yin studies, the more the glacial energy in the body becomes subdued.
Even a master with exceptional insight could not gauge its level and achievement.
Yet Bu Eunseol had discerned Bing Hanpung's martial level at a glance.
‘This cannot be discerned by observation alone. The Command Lord's martial level must have reached an unimaginable height.’
"It's all thanks to you, isn't it?"
Swallowing his surprise, Bing Hanpung smiled, and from outside came a clinking sound as a young man with dark skin entered.
It was Dae Guhwi, the youngest son of Dae Gon, the Wild Beast Palace Lord.
"Command Lord!"
Dae Guhwi leaped like a large puppy and grasped Bu Eunseol's hands.
The once pure youth-like Dae Guhwi was now exuding a calm and majestic aura like the eye of a storm.
Not only had he completed Power of the Wild, but Thunder Spirit Energy also lay dormant within his body.
By absorbing these two extreme powers into his body, his martial arts had advanced by leaps and bounds, and even his demeanor had become serene. If he unleashed his martial arts, he would pour out power capable of splitting heaven and earth.
"Have you been well?"
As Bu Eunseol patted his shoulder warmly, Dae Guhwi nodded excitedly.
"Of course. Thanks to the secret manual you sent, Command Lord, I was able to perfectly unite the two energies."
Dae Guhwi had become Nae Bihon's disciple and learned all the martial arts of the Thunder Spirit Sect but Bu Eunseol had foreseen that someday the Power of the Wild and Thunder Spirit Energy would conflict.
For Dae Guhwi, he created a method to unite the two energies and sent it to the Wild Beast Palace.
To him, who could harmonize the powers of orthodox, demonic, Buddhist, and heretical energies, uniting two powers was nothing.
"You're a bit late."
With a click, an extraordinarily tall middle-aged man entered the conference room.
His eyes held an abstract-like dignity, but his aura was exceedingly gentle.
He exuded the aura of a great scholar with profound knowledge.
It was the Thunder God, Nae Bihon.
"Master!"
Dae Guhwi ran over in joy, knelt, and bowed.
"Have you been in good health all this time?"
Nae Bihon smiled, helped Dae Guhwi up, and patted his shoulder.
"You've achieved great progress."
"Yes, yes, thanks to the manual sent by the Command Lord, I could unite the martial arts of our palace and Master's martial arts."
"Yes, I've heard the story."
As he stroked Dae Guhwi's head, Nae Bihon nodded toward Bu Eunseol.
"Little brother."
"Big brother."
The two merely exchanged glances and called each other briefly, without long words.
The two, who had formed a bond of golden orchid friendship, conveyed all the backlog of words and feelings just by lightly exchanging glances.
"Brother Thunder, this is Bing Hanpung, the Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace."
At Bu Eunseol's words, Nae Bihon smiled broadly and clasped his hands.
"I've long admired Brother Bing's purity and nobility." Then he approached Bing Hanpung and greeted him warmly. "But to meet you in person like this is the greatest honor."
Nae Bihon was a grand master of Central Plains martial arts and one of the Four Gods.
Even though Bing Hanpung was the lord of an outer great sect, the North Sea Ice Palace, his status and fame could be seen as somewhat lesser in comparison.
Nevertheless, for Bu Eunseol's face, Nae Bihon extended the utmost courtesy in greeting Bing Hanpung.
"Compared to Sect Leader Nae, this Bing is merely an unknown nobody in the martial world; how can you say such overwhelming words?"
Bing Hanpung also greeted him with utmost politeness.
"Long ago, Sect Leader Nae struck down the Bald-Headed Xiang Killer with a single palm and eradicated the Snake Fang Gang, saving the suffering commoners of the Yangtze River. From then on, this Bing has engraved Sect Leader Nae's majesty in his heart for a long time."
Until he lost his family to Peng Ak, Nae Bihon had consistently dealt with vicious sects and villains who committed atrocities against commoners.
Slaying the Bald-Headed Xiang Killer, one of the Ten Demonic Experts who tormented the commoners in the lower Yangtze to death and single-handedly eradicating the Snake Fang Gang were the incidents that first announced his prestige as the Thunder God to the martial world and one of his greatest achievements.
Bing Hanpung deliberately highlighted that incident to praise Nae Bihon.
"How can a man who lived as a madman obsessed with revenge for so long be called a Sect Leader?"
Though he said that, Nae Bihon was very pleased and led Bing Hanpung by the hand.
"Just by Brother Bing coming all this way, not minding the distance, to help our little brother, we can call each other friends. After the matter is done later, let's have a drink."
After saying that, perhaps worried, Nae Bihon cautiously added.
"Brother Bing doesn't happen to dislike alcohol, does he?"
"Hahaha. How could that be? Even if I couldn't drink, since Sect Leader Nae called me Brother Bing, it would be as if I've drunk three mal of wine."
Originally, the hegemon of the outer regions and a grand master of the Central Plains could never mix.
But both of them were captivated by the figure Bu Eunseol, who didn't care a whit about orthodox or unorthodox.
Thus, they could open their hearts and become friends so quickly.
"This is Do Cheonlin. He leads the mercenary vanguard in the Red Sky Veil. And this is our association's strategist, Dam Yuyeon, Strategist Dam."
With Bu Eunseol's introduction, Do Cheonlin and Dam Yuyeon exchanged greetings with Nae Bihon, Bing Hanpung, and Dae Guhwi.
Guessing that the two were lovers, Bing Hanpung and Nae Bihon threw in a few compliments.
"You're a well-matched pair."
"With a dragon and phoenix like this in place, the future of the Red Sky Veil will be like a vast blue sky stretching endlessly."
After a long while of warm greetings, Bu Eunseol said.
"Shall we begin then?"
The group all nodded and took their seats in the conference room.
"This massacre of commoners and vagrants is not the work of ordinary murder ghosts or typical martial artists."
Bu Eunseol explained in detail to them all the incidents with the Three Realms up to now, and what he had heard from the Supreme Emperor.
How with the extinction of the Infinite Realm, forces called Ghost Children created by the Inbiin would appear, and there would be tectonic shifts in the current martial world situation.
When it came to the Supreme Emperor's story, the atmosphere became very heavy.
The Infinite Realm.
Though one of the three axes ruling the martial world was said to be gone, in the end, its influence was still as strong as ever.
Moreover, secret forces that might or might not be the Demon Cult had existed in the martial world under various names all this time?
"Ultimately, by using the chaos from the extinction of the Infinite Realm, you intend to have the Martial Soul Society recognized as a new alliance between orthodox and unorthodox."
At Dam Yuyeon's words, Bu Eunseol nodded.
"Yes."
"But will it be alright?"
Then Bing Hanpung opened his mouth with a worried expression.
"I brought the entire Glacial Vanguard under my command, and called it a part." He sighed and said. "Even if it's to deal with those Inbiin or Ghost Children or whatever... the Central Plains sects will absolutely not tolerate our group staying in the Central Plains."
A month ago, Bing Hanpung had received such a letter from Bu Eunseol.
―I will create an opportunity for the North Sea Ice Palace to escape the barren land and take root in the Central Plains. Will you accept?
Below the letter, it detailed that Bu Eunseol would create a new alliance force, and how they would take root.
If the plan proceeded as is, not immediately, but in the future, the North Sea Ice Palace would surely take root in the Central Plains.
But something was missing from that plan: the backlash from the Central Plains martial world.
The Central Plains martial world, which had guarded against outer forces for generations, would never tolerate such things.
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