A chilling gleam exploded from Jeok Bung’s sharp eyes.
“You’ve come to escort me?”
“That is correct.”
For a moment, he fell silent, as though wondering what nonsense this was, before letting out a low chuckle.
“Hohoho.” He picked up his teacup with a faint smile. “I’ve heard the story. You were simultaneously assigned missions against Eumgyeol Demon Territory and the Blood Cult, and somehow managed to pull them off.”
Surprisingly, even while living in this remote mountain manor, Jeok Bung had been keeping perfect track of everything happening inside Majeon, as if reading the lines on his own palm.
“You rode high on the Demon Emperor’s back, sweeping everything before you… and now that it looks like that won’t work anymore…”
Clink.
Lightly brushing the lid of the teacup aside, Jeok Bung’s lips curved upward.
“You intend to use this old man as a shield. Isn’t that what you’re saying?”
“Is that how it sounded to you?”
“Is it not?”
“It is not.”
Bu Eunseol gazed straight at Jeok Bung.
“Originally, the Elder Hall was one of the three great pillars—together with the Demon Emperor and the Ten Demonic Sects—that supported our sect.”
He continued calmly.
“But after I arrived, the authority of the Elder Hall actually weakened instead. Originally, the Council existed to maintain balance and adjust the power struggle between the Demon Emperor and the Ten Demonic Sects…” Bu Eunseol made a faintly regretful expression. “Instead, conflict arose between me and the Ten Demonic Sects, and in the end, their power was the one that declined.”
“It almost sounds like you’re saying this old man has been pursuing his own gain by taking advantage of the power struggle between the two sides all this time.”
A hint of insult seemed to flash in Jeok Bung’s eyes at Bu Eunseol’s words as his pupils burned like glowing charcoal.
“So that’s how I appeared to you.”
“Is it not so?”
Kuuung.
For an instant, a vibration as though the entire world were collapsing echoed briefly.
At the same time, an overwhelming aura erupted from Jeok Bung’s body, soaring straight up to the heavens.
“It seems this old man has lived too long.”
His presence expanded enormously toward the sky, as if he were looking down upon Bu Eunseol from above.
“I didn’t live long just to witness filthy spectacles.”
At that moment, the ground around where Bu Eunseol stood began to crack.
The Blood Demon Jeok Bung’s unique ultimate art—Heaven-Breaking Rift Palm was said to be capable of reducing a human to a handful of blood with the mere flick of a finger.
And ever since reaching the Limitless Realm, Jeok Bung no longer even needed to perform the technique—he had gained the power to turn anything in this world into a handful of blood without lifting a finger.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The earth shook violently as Bu Eunseol’s body slowly began sinking into the ground.
An invisible, terrifying force had bound him in place, then started driving him straight down into the earth.
Creak… creak…
Bu Eunseol stood motionless as he was gradually buried.
Before Jeok Bung’s horrifying power, no martial art or technique was of any use.
Only strength mattered.
The great demon who had slaughtered more orthodox martial artists than anyone in the current era, who had drunk more blood than any other, and who was considered the most cruel among the Three Great Demons—Jeok Bung—would unhesitatingly bury alive anyone who displeased him, whether they were Majeon’s successor or a disciple of Nangyang.
Thud.
Yet the descent of Bu Eunseol’s body suddenly stopped.
Whoooong—
He had raised an immense amount of inner force to resist Jeok Bung’s power.
Flash!
At that moment, the light pouring from Jeok Bung’s eyes grew even more intense.
With that gaze alone, it felt as though he had summoned an invisible, transparent giant to crush Bu Eunseol’s body.
Crack.
And so Bu Eunseol’s body began sinking into the earth once again.
Even with that enormous inner force, he ultimately could not hold back Jeok Bung’s power.
But the reason Bu Eunseol had raised his inner energy was not actually to resist Jeok Bung’s force.
Ziiing—
At some point, a black haze began rising from his body.
The wavering black true qi rose straight up toward the sky, and his eyes were gradually being dyed pitch black, as though black water were dripping from them.
Wishful True Binding.
The mind art secret technique created by the Demon Emperor through the Emotion-Severing Secret was the true qi martial art that was now being used to oppose Jeok Bung’s power.
‘This kid…’
A strange light flashed in Jeok Bung’s eyes as he looked into Bu Eunseol’s pitch-black pupils.
Though ranked last among the Three Great Demons, he too was an absolute master who had reached the Limitless Realm.
In an instant, he could tell what kind of martial intent was contained within the Wishful True Binding Bu Eunseol was displaying, and what kind of realm he had reached.
‘So that’s how it is.’
He was using the Demon Emperor’s mind art secret technique, yet there wasn’t the slightest trace of having entered the Demonic Path through it.
Nor was he circumventing it with orthodox secret arts.
While unfolding the highest mind art secret technique of the Demonic Path—one that allowed immediate entry into the Formless Demonic Path—Bu Eunseol was walking an entirely different, eccentric path of his own choosing.
Because of that, the Wishful True Binding he displayed was different from the one used by the Demon Emperor: it was hazy like mist, yet filled with unknown, unfathomable energies.
Because he was walking a path no one else in the world had ever taken, not even a master like Jeok Bung could guess where that destination might be, or how far he had already come.
Crack.
A tiny ripple appeared in Jeok Bung’s mind, causing a minute fracture in the force he had been pouring out.
Woooong!
Bu Eunseol did not miss the opening.
He instantly transformed the Wishful True Binding he had been unleashing into a round protective gang qi shield.
At once, Jeok Bung’s previously intangible force also took on a tangible form.
The formless power had changed into something resembling the Heaven-Breaking Rift Palm that Shim Wol used to unleash.
‘He can’t compare to the Demon Emperor, but he too is an overwhelming master.’
The Demon Emperor had attacked Bu Eunseol with undefinable, formless power. Bu Eunseol had no way to convert that force into tangible techniques, so after much thought, he had used Nangyang Heart Eye as an alternative, turning the Demon Emperor’s attacks into a contest of tangible techniques.
Even then, he had nearly had his head taken off with a single move.
Fortunately, Jeok Bung’s power was comparatively easy to materialize and the reason was simple.
The root origin of martial arts between master and disciple is the same.
Since Bu Eunseol had already faced Shim Wol’s Heaven-Breaking Rift Palm before… he was able to materialize Jeok Bung’s power in the form of Heaven-Breaking Rift Palm.
Crack crack crack.
The moment the untraceable, invisible force turned into visible, tangible power, Bu Eunseol was able to block it effortlessly with his immense inner force.
Right now, he could counterattack with fist or sword techniques, or even push back with pure inner force.
But Bu Eunseol did none of those things.
He simply looked quietly at Jeok Bung, as though waiting for him to withdraw his power.
Shuuuk—
Just as Bu Eunseol had anticipated, Jeok Bung soon retracted his force.
No matter who said otherwise, Jeok Bung was one of the Three Great Demons.
Once a green young man blocked a single move of his, that was the end of it. He would never unleash a second technique in succession.
“It reminds me of when I first met you.”
Jeok Bung spoke as though seeing Bu Eunseol anew.
“Even from the first moment I saw you, I coveted your skill. I wanted—by any means—to make you my own.”
“Though I cannot become the Elder’s man…”
After a brief pause, divine light poured from Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“I can help the Elder once again shake Majeon to its core.”
A strange silence lingered for a while.
After staring at the distant sky for a long time, Jeok Bung finally spoke.
“So what do you gain from this?”
“Nothing.” Bu Eunseol’s eyes sparkled. “I will be satisfied simply by watching the Elder boldly shake our sect once more.”
“You want me to stop the Demon Emperor’s monopoly.”
“Is Majeon not the sacred ground of ten thousand demons?” Bu Eunseol continued calmly. “If it were a place the Demon Emperor could rule unilaterally, it would not be called the Demon Palace (Majeon).”
“Well said.” Jeok Bung nodded, slapping his knee as though pleased. “Majeon is the alliance created by the Ten Demonic Sects—the so-called ‘Sky of the Demonic Path.’ Yet the Demon Emperor has always had a tendency to treat Majeon as his personal possession.”
He shook his head.
“Of course, the fact that things reached this point was probably also part of the Demon Emperor’s scheme.”
Originally, power in Majeon had been divided among three: the Demon Emperor, the Ten Demonic Sects, and the Elder Hall.
But the Demon Emperor designated Bu Eunseol—one of the Ten Demonic Warriors—as Majeon’s successor. Though it was supposedly chosen through fair competition… the Ten Demonic Sects still rebelled, and eventually they provoked Bu Eunseol.
When Bu Eunseol fought back instead of staying quiet, in the end even the three-way power structure of Majeon collapsed.
Only now, after the passage of time, had Jeok Bung finally realized… that everything had been the Demon Emperor’s scheme all along.
“Will you accept the proposal?”
After a brief silence at Bu Eunseol’s question, Jeok Bung spoke again.
“I have one question.”
“Please ask.”
“Is the only reason you came here to stop the Demon Emperor’s rampage?”
It seemed Jeok Bung had already guessed that the Demonic Path held no place in Bu Eunseol’s heart. After thinking for a moment, Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
“I am Majeon’s successor.”
Then he spoke calmly.
“Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for me when I become the Lord if I first restore Majeon to its former majesty?”
“Majeon’s successor, hm.”
Jeok Bung seemed to ponder something, then gave a faint nod.
“The Demon Emperor must be pounding the ground in regret right about now.”
“……”
“He thought he controlled the fate of every demonic cultivator, yet an unexpected figure appeared. Hohoho.”
After laughing lowly for a long while, Jeok Bung spoke. “If only to see that hateful face of the Demon Emperor, I suppose I should return to Majeon.”
Jeok Bung turned his head and spoke in a low voice.
“A guest has arrived—why are you just standing there without offering even a cup of tea?”
From somewhere came the polite reply of a maidservant. She seemed to have mastered considerable martial arts.
Less than half an hour later, a young woman in blue robes brought a steaming cup of warm tea and placed it before Bu Eunseol.
Her fair skin and long, elegant eyes reminded one strongly of Jin Seol.
“Go on, tell me.”
Once the tea had been served, Jeok Bung asked. “What is your plan?”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
Jeok Bung might appear simple and hot-tempered at first glance, but in reality, he was a man of outstanding intellect who had long balanced power between the Demon Emperor and the Ten Demonic Sects while serving in the Elder Hall.
If he did not like Bu Eunseol’s plan, he would immediately withdraw his current favorable attitude and turn cold once more.
“I will give you a new Elder Hall.”
After leisurely taking a sip of tea, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“One that does not need to rely on balancing power between the Demon Emperor and the Ten Demonic Sects—one that can impose proper constraints openly and legitimately.”
“You seem to have a brilliant idea.”
“Isn’t strength the first principle of the Demonic Path?”
At that moment, Jeok Bung’s eyes narrowed as he gazed into the distant sky.
“Do you think this old man will become nothing more than your puppet?”
“On the contrary, I hope you will shake things as much as you desire.” Bu Eunseol said calmly. “I hope that not only I, but even the Demon Emperor and the Ten Demonic Sects will no longer dare to spread their wings in front of you.”
After a brief silence, Jeok Bung’s eyes flashed.
“Let’s hear the details, then.”
***
Elder Hall Leader Jeok Bung returned to Majeon.
Astonishingly, he completely reorganized the Elder Hall which had previously existed in name only and operated independently.
First, he recruited a massive number of past-generation masters who had once shaken the Demonic Path.
The number reached a full one hundred.
Even considering the scale of Majeon, it was an overwhelmingly large number.
Moreover, since all of them had once dominated an entire era and led their own sects or factions, their combined influence and power grew beyond control.
—More than half of them are said to be demonic cultivators from the Heaven and Earth Severing Sect.
Their identities were soon revealed: the majority were great demons who had been living in seclusion in the Heaven and Earth Severing Sect.
—Strange. Isn’t the Heaven and Earth Severing Sect the place where those whose internal energy has declined and whose bodies have grown frail go to retire?
The Heaven and Earth Severing Sect is where demonic cultivators go after leaving behind brilliant reputations, once they grow old, sick, or physically impaired.
Yet astonishingly, they had returned with healthy bodies and full internal energy intact.
Moreover, the authority to organize the members of the Elder Hall belonged solely to its leader, Jeok Bung.
While Majeon felt somewhat bewildered, no one could interfere with what Jeok Bung was doing.
Furthermore, with so many great demons possessing overwhelming martial prowess joining the Elder Hall, they could only welcome it with open arms.
—The Council Leader has convened the Demon Council.
Having reorganized the Elder Hall, Jeok Bung suddenly convened the highest governing body of Majeon—the Demon Council, attended by the Demon Emperor and the leaders of the Ten Demonic Sects.
Though the Elder Hall Leader technically had the authority to convene the Demon Council, it had never actually been done before.
—What a nuisance.
The leaders of the Ten Demonic Sects showed little interest in whether the Elder Hall was reorganized or what Jeok Bung was plotting.
They had never particularly liked how he had once held power by balancing between the Demon Emperor and the Ten Demonic Sects.
—The authority of certain key positions within our sect—including the Martial Soul Command Lord—is excessively concentrated. I intend to discuss reducing those powers.
It was shocking.
Just from the fact that he had recruited past-generation masters from the Heaven and Earth Severing Sect, it was clear Jeok Bung was on the same side as Bu Eunseol, the Martial Soul Command Lord.
And yet now he was suddenly declaring he would reduce the authority of key positions—including that of the Martial Soul Command Lord?
—No choice, then.
If they did not attend, they would not be able to discern Jeok Bung’s true intentions.
Moreover, by not attending, they risked giving him the excuse to use his authority and act unilaterally.
In the end, the Ten Demonic Sects had no choice but to participate in the Demon Council.
Around noon, the Suppressed Demon Pavilion, Yoo Unryong’s office.
While he continued writing official documents with tired eyes—having even forgotten to eat—the door burst open with a bang.
A flood of the Death Shadow Corps' captains poured inside.
“Captain Yoo! Big trouble!”
Won Semun, who had shoved his face in first, shouted loudly.
“The Elder Hall Leader has convened a meeting, saying he will adjust the excessive concentration of power among the top leadership—including our Lord’s!”
Without even raising his head, Yoo Unryong replied, “So?”
“So?! That ungrateful old bastard is stabbing our Lord in the back!”
The moment Bu Eunseol returned and Jeok Bung reorganized the Elder Hall, the captains had realized it was all part of Bu Eunseol’s scheme.
Hyeok Sojin had once been the vice-leader of the Rootless Brigade, and the Heaven and Earth Severing Sect had long been a supporting force that lived and died together with Bu Eunseol.
Yet the moment Jeok Bung reorganized the Elder Hall and regained power, he had suddenly plunged a knife into Bu Eunseol’s back.
“Isn’t that actually good?”
When Yoo Unryong answered calmly, Won Semun’s eyes widened.
“What do you mean, Captain Yoo?”
“What does the Lord usually do?”
“Well… he either manages the Death Shadow Corps or handles orders coming down from above.”
“Exactly.”
Setting down his brush, Yoo Unryong asked Won Semun, “And when does the Lord activate that mighty Martial Soul Command?”
“Well… when the Ten Demonic Sects or some outside trash dares to touch him.”
Only after saying it did Won Semun let out an “Ah.”
“Now that you mention it… there’s no real justification to reduce the Lord’s authority?”
“Precisely.” Yoo Unryong resumed writing documents as he spoke. “Jeok Bung must have made some kind of agreement with the Lord. If he were truly going to reduce the Lord’s authority, he would either grant equivalent authority in exchange, or else…”
Swallowing a low hum, he shook his head.
“…he will drastically reduce even the Demon Emperor’s power.”
“Ah.”
Not only Won Semun, but all the captains of the Death Shadow Corps opened their mouths and nodded.
Only then did they understand why Jeok Bung had convened such a meeting.
“So he’s taken measures to prevent anyone from touching the Death Shadow Corps.”
At Wi Cheongyeong’s words, Yoo Unryong shook his head.
“That old man is not necessarily someone so favorably inclined toward the Lord.”
A sharp light flashed in Yoo Unryong’s eyes.
“He is most likely planning to reduce the authority of all the major power-holders within Majeon.”
The captains nodded with grave expressions.
They instinctively sensed that a storm capable of overturning the internal structure of Majeon was about to blow through.
—The results of the Demon Council have been announced.
The Demon Council proceeded swiftly and smoothly because of Jeok Bung’s spectacular return, and because the formerly nominal Elder Hall had been reorganized into the single most influential organization within Majeon.
Moreover—though it hardly needed saying—Jeok Bung was one of the Three Great Demons.
Aside from the Demon Emperor, he was effectively the strongest person in Majeon.
Now that such a figure had become the head of an overwhelmingly powerful organization, his influence could only rival that of the Demon Emperor himself.
—Although our sect prioritizes the logic of strength, it is nonetheless an alliance with clear hierarchy and structure.
Power excessively concentrated in one individual disrupts the balance of the organization and sows discord between factions.
Jeok Bung immediately distributed the results of the Demon Council to every organization.
—The Martial Soul Command Lord shall continue to manage the Death Shadow Corps as before. However, if the authority of oversight is required, it may no longer be exercised as arbitrarily as it has been until now. Instead, the Martial Soul Command must be formally invoked through the Demon Council. No independent activation of the Martial Soul Command shall be permitted under any other circumstances.
And then he announced yet another shocking decision.
—The independent missions of Lord-level personnel shall also be restricted. All such missions must now be conducted through the Demon Council.
Upon hearing this announcement, the warriors of the Death Shadow Corps finally broke into smiles.
Restriction of independent missions for Lord-level personnel.
In other words, the Demon Emperor could no longer unilaterally assign dangerously lethal missions to Bu Eunseol.
In a pavilion in front of the garden within the Elder Hall compound, Bu Eunseol and Jeok Bung sat facing each other, drinking tea.
Seeing Bu Eunseol drink tea with apparent ease, Jeok Bung said with faint surprise, “You seem to have come to enjoy tea now.”
“To be honest…” Bu Eunseol spoke with a wry smile. “I can appreciate the taste, but I don’t think I’ll ever truly enjoy it.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” Jeok Bung said in a low voice. “To be able to savor the flavor of this tea at your age is already remarkable.”
It sounded like a riddle.
Bu Eunseol rose from his seat calmly.
“I’ve enjoyed the tea. Thank you.”
“Remember this.”
Jeok Bung said to Bu Eunseol, who was turning to leave.
“With this, the favor you showed this old demon has been repaid. From now on, you’d best be careful.”
Crimson light floated in Jeok Bung’s pupils.
“This Elder Hall Leader no longer cares only about power.”
Bu Eunseol gave a faint smile.
“I sincerely hope you achieve everything you desire.”
Bu Eunseol clasped his hands together.
In the past, Jeok Bung too had been a man obsessed with power.
But now he had something he wanted besides power.
‘The power structure of Majeon has returned to a three-legged balance with this incident.’
With Majeon’s power now divided into three… the time had come to shatter the power of the Martial Alliance next.
Was it fate?
The opportunity presented itself on its own.
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