Martial Alliance, Silver Moon Pavilion, Gongsun Dankyung's office.
Inside the secretly constructed hidden room, Bu Eunseol—who had disguised himself as Seon Woojin—was facing Gongsun Dankyung.
He had just returned to the Martial Alliance when her summons arrived.
It meant that the Martial Venerable had once again issued a secret command.
“It’s been a while.”
Unlike when they met at the Gongsun family previously, Gongsun Dankyung showed clear signs of exhaustion.
‘Must be because of the Elder Hall Lord.’
Looking at her face filled with fatigue, Bu Eunseol let out a bitter smile inwardly.
As the Chief Inspector of the Martial Alliance, the thing she had to monitor most sensitively was the movements of the Demonic Alliance—Majeon.
The Elder Hall Lord, Jeok Bung, who had retired and stepped down from his position, suddenly returned, reorganized the Elder Hall, and completely overturned the power structure within Majeon…
From her position, she had no choice but to investigate the reason behind it and understand the internal atmosphere.
For the past several days, she had been so busy running around that she couldn’t even sleep properly—her eyes were deeply sunken and hollow.
Regardless of that, Bu Eunseol spoke with an expression that clearly showed he couldn’t understand.
“The Martial Venerable is still giving me orders?”
The Martial Venerable had already broken his promises multiple times. Yet he was issuing separate commands through Gongsun Dankyung again? No matter how much he thought about it, it was incomprehensible behavior.
“You can refuse, you know.” Gongsun Dankyung spoke calmly. “I was actually planning to discuss this with Captain Seon anyway. About what we should do from now on whenever the Martial Venerable issues such commands.”
She had chosen Seon Woojin instead of the Martial Venerable and she was willing to take responsibility for that choice.
“No matter what, isn’t the Martial Venerable still the Alliance Leader in name? Many people probably think it’s impossible to go against him.”
“He wouldn’t think so simply. He knows very well what kind of personality this Chief Inspector has.”
“What do you mean?”
“Given my personality, there’s no way I wouldn’t have gathered evidence that the Martial Venerable is currently acting in place of the Heavenly Emperor.”
“You’re saying you intend to use that evidence to pressure the Martial Venerable?”
“That’s right.”
In the past, Bu Eunseol might have agreed to such a method.
But now he knew.
Among the people in the Martial Alliance, truly righteous individuals were almost nonexistent.
The Martial Venerable claimed he became Alliance Leader to protect the orthodox spirit of the martial world, but in reality, he was a man with unfathomable ulterior motives.
If he ever decided Gongsun Dankyung was an obstacle, he wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate her.
“That won’t do.”
“It’s fine. No matter how great the Martial Venerable may be, this Chief Inspector also possesses one secret trump card that others don’t know about.”
“Absolutely not.” Bu Eunseol spoke firmly. “People like him will commit any act without hesitation the moment they think someone is blocking their path. If you clumsily provoke him, Chief Inspector, you will be the one in danger.”
“Is that so?”
When Bu Eunseol vehemently opposed the idea, Gongsun Dankyung surprisingly withdrew her suggestion with almost laughable ease.
“Very well then. I’m glad. It means Captain Seon is even thinking about this Chief Inspector’s safety.”
‘There’s no way that’s the case.’
A meticulous person like Gongsun Dankyung would never clumsily attempt to threaten a giant like the Martial Venerable.
She had said it on purpose.
“Are you still testing me?”
As anger flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes, Gongsun Dankyung made an apologetic expression.
“Please don’t think of it that way. Half of it was sincere.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means I’m willing to use any means necessary and carry them out if it’s to protect you, Captain Seon.” She spoke with a slightly playful tone. “We can’t just sit back and watch each other fall into danger, can we?”
‘She really has changed.’
Since visiting the Gongsun family, both her speech and demeanor had subtly shifted.
The woman who used to be cold as ice and utterly ruthless was slowly opening her emotions toward Bu Eunseol.
‘I need to pull myself together.’
Gongsun Dankyung was the Chief Inspector of the Martial Alliance and his direct superior.
If she were to make a wrong judgment? He too could sink along with her.
If Gongsun Dankyung had become complacent, then he needed to become even colder and more calculating.
After taking a deep breath, Bu Eunseol changed the subject.
“What command did the Martial Venerable give?”
“He said you must obtain the Ice Crystal Jade.”
A sharp glint flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Ice Crystal Jade. It was a treasure of the Zhangxiang Sect.
And wasn’t it the core material of the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Coffin, as well as the device that maintained the cold energy inside the Ice Jade Coffin?
‘Is there a problem with the Heavenly Emperor’s corpse?’
After learning that even Gongsun Dankyung had never seen the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Coffin located beneath the Solitary Enlightenment Hall, Bu Eunseol had never once used the Martial Alliance’s secret facilities.
The Martial Venerable surely knew that fact as well.
He must have sealed off or altered the internal mechanisms in some way.
‘But why me?’
If one had the status of Martial Alliance Leader, they could easily obtain not just Ice Crystal Jade, but even something like the Golden Spirit Immortal Fruit.
Yet he deliberately gave the task of retrieving something as comparatively minor as Ice Crystal Jade to him?
“Why the long face?”
Noticing Bu Eunseol’s hardened expression, Gongsun Dankyung asked, “You don’t like it after all?”
Bu Eunseol quickly adjusted his expression and spoke.
“No, it’s not that… If the Martial Venerable simply wanted to obtain a treasure, couldn’t he just issue a single order?”
“You’re right. Honestly, even this Chief Inspector finds this mission incomprehensible.” Gongsun Dankyung shook her head and furrowed her brows. “Perhaps there are many obstacles in the process of obtaining the Ice Crystal Jade. That’s probably why he entrusted this mission to you, Captain Seon.”
“What kind of obstacles?”
Swish.
Instead of answering, she pulled out a single intelligence report from the drawer and handed it to Bu Eunseol.
“The Ice Crystal Jade has always been kept by a mysterious sect that never revealed itself to the martial world.”
As Bu Eunseol received and read through the report, a slightly surprised expression appeared on his face.
“Snow Blossom Sect. So this place is still maintaining its lineage.”
The Snow Blossom Sect.
A female-only sect that practiced extremely powerful extreme yin techniques, always compared to the North Sea Ice Palace located beyond the central plains.
Despite being a female sect, it maintained neutrality between righteous and demonic factions, yet some treated it as part of the unorthodox path.
The reason was simple—the ice techniques of the Snow Blossom Sect were bizarre and terrifyingly powerful.
Normal ice techniques required direct impact or exposure to cold qi to show their power but the Snow Blossom Sect’s ice techniques could freeze the meridians just by grazing someone—even when no visible wound existed at all.
It displayed power that defied common martial logic and understanding.
However, two hundred years ago, they suddenly vanished without a trace and never reappeared in the martial world.
And now, out of nowhere, he was being told to go to the Snow Blossom Sect to obtain Ice Crystal Jade?
“Even this Chief Inspector was quite surprised. A sect that disappeared two hundred years ago is still maintaining its lineage.”
“But it’s strange. Just looking at this report, the mission doesn’t seem particularly difficult.”
After pondering for a moment, Bu Eunseol shook his head. “Considering the position of Martial Alliance Leader, it doesn’t make sense that he couldn’t find anyone more suitable than me.”
“Then what is Captain Seon thinking…?”
“Perhaps… he intends to use me as a disposable pawn.” Bu Eunseol explained calmly. “Common sense dictates that if an outsider takes another sect’s treasure, it’s no different from openly picking a fight with that sect.”
Gongsun Dankyung gave a faint nod and spoke indifferently.
“Then we should refuse. This time, at least. I’ll make up any excuse necessary.”
“No. I will accept.”
“Huh?”
Contrary to everything he had said so far, Bu Eunseol readily accepted the mission.
“I will go to the Snow Blossom Sect.”
“Why?”
“If I succeed in this mission, it will become a bargaining power I can use to negotiate with the Martial Venerable.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed as he spoke.
“If I willingly take on a clearly dangerous and unreasonable task and succeed anyway… then at the very least, I can demand treatment befitting such a contribution, no?”
His eyes gleamed sharply.
“Moreover, once I obtain the Ice Crystal Jade, naturally someone will have to deliver it directly to the Martial Venerable.”
“That is an extremely dangerous idea.” Gongsun Dankyung firmly shook her head. “From the Martial Venerable’s perspective, you are replaceable personnel at any time. There’s also no reason why you must be the one to deliver the Ice Crystal Jade.”
“That won’t be the case.” Bu Eunseol spoke with certainty. “The Martial Venerable will definitely agree to a private meeting with me.”
He knew very well that Seon Woojin was replaceable in the Martial Venerable’s eyes.
But the Ice Crystal Jade had only one use—to be installed in the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Coffin.
In other words, this retrieval mission was definitely related to the Heavenly Emperor’s corpse.
‘The Martial Venerable must know that I have seen the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Coffin.’
He intended to negotiate with the Martial Venerable using the Ice Crystal Jade.
There was no other way to secure a private audience with the Martial Venerable.
He absolutely needed to discover the truth about the Heavenly Emperor’s life or death and his whereabouts.
‘And to split the Martial Alliance into three factions… I must reach an agreement with the Martial Venerable before a Commander is selected.’
Only now—after having already divided Majeon into three factions—did Bu Eunseol realize that he should not become a Commander of the Martial Alliance.
The position of Commander came with immense authority, but also crushing responsibility and obligation.
Until the Martial Soul Society could firmly establish itself in the martial world like the legs of a tripod, Bu Eunseol needed to remain within the Martial Alliance as long as possible.
To achieve that, above all else, a negotiation with the Heavenly Emperor—no, with the Martial Venerable—had to come first.
“What’s your reason?”
“The Ice Crystal Jade must be an extremely important item. That’s why he’s sending me instead of any other subordinate.”
For now, he could not explain the matter of the Heavenly Emperor’s corpse preserved in the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Coffin to Gongsun Dankyung.
So Bu Eunseol had no choice but to lie.
“And there’s an inexplicable intuition.”
“Intuition…?”
“Yes. I have a strong feeling that the Martial Venerable will personally come to receive the Ice Crystal Jade.” Bu Eunseol spoke with a confident expression. “And my intuition tends to be quite accurate.”
Gongsun Dankyung made a dazed expression.
From what she knew, the man called Seon Woojin was absolutely not the type to act based solely on intuition.
‘But whenever he was certain of something, it always came true.’
In the past, Gongsun Dankyung would have questioned him relentlessly until she was satisfied.
But somewhere along the way, a tiny seed of trust toward the man called Seon Woojin had taken root in her heart.
For now it was still very weak, but with time… it might grow uncontrollably large.
“I understand.”
Swallowing the questions rising in her mind, Gongsun Dankyung smiled and nodded.
“But please be careful.”
***
The peak of Okryong Mountain, where snow piled up all year round, looked as though a silver dragon had descended upon the mountain and was lying down.
In the martial world, many legends circulated about mythical spiritual creatures and miraculous herbs.
At Cheonseol Peak, there was a legend that the mythical herb Heavenly Snow Flower bloomed in full splendor. It was said that eating just one petal could restore one’s youthful appearance, and consuming the entire flower after boiling it could grant a disease-free long life—an legendary elixir.
In the past, martial artists climbed Cheonseol Peak after hearing the tale but all they saw was beautiful snow scenery. The legendary flower was nowhere to be found.
Moreover, due to the extreme altitude, breathing became difficult, and even powerful martial artists found it hard to ascend easily.
Over time, the legend of Heavenly Snow Flower faded, and no one climbed Cheonseol Peak anymore.
Rustle.
Now, a lone figure was climbing the steep mountain path of Okryong Mountain, a place no one visited anymore.
He wore ordinary white martial robes and carried a plain iron sword at his waist.
The sharp rocks covering Okryong Mountain had steep inclines, and the extreme cold could induce instant dizziness yet the man’s internal energy and movement technique were extraordinary—he ascended without the slightest discomfort.
Finally reaching the summit of Cheonseol Peak, a mystical scenery unfolded below the sheer cliffs, as though the sky and mountain merged into one.
The man gazed at the view, momentarily lost in awe.
“In ancient times, countless masters tried to create martial arts that imitated nature.” Staring at the vast, distant landscape, the man’s eyes sparkled as though he had gained a small realization. “But it is so vast, so deep… that both existence and non-existence become meaningless.”
The man in white was none other than Bu Eunseol, disguised as Seon Woojin.
He had come to visit the Snow Blossom Sect—known only in legends—to obtain the Ice Crystal Jade on the Martial Venerable’s secret orders.
“They said there’s a passage here that leads to the Snow Blossom Sect.”
Looking at the snow-covered scenery, Bu Eunseol took out the letter Gongsun Dankyung had given him.
It contained extremely complex diagrams drawn in chaotic patterns—the dissolution formation needed to unlock the hidden array on Cheonseol Peak. Once the formation was solved, he could use the secret passage hidden on Cheonseol Peak to enter the Snow Blossom Sect.
‘Quite difficult.’
But even with the dissolution method provided, the formation was so complex that it wasn’t easy to break.
‘At this level, it’s basically proof that they’ve recruited someone from the Snow Blossom Sect.’
The dissolution instructions contained details that no one except a true Snow Blossom Sect member could possibly know.
To explain the entry formation to a sect that had never appeared in the martial world even once in two hundred years with this level of detail…
The Martial Venerable must have recruited someone from the Snow Blossom Sect and obtained this dissolution method from them.
Rumble.
Finally, the hidden door concealed within the rock opened.
Beyond it lay a place that seemed to hold the mystery of creation—rare exotic flowers and plants bloomed, and the surroundings shimmered with subtle, mysterious light.
Without hesitation, Bu Eunseol stepped inside.
Shhhk—!
The next instant, he felt as though he were falling endlessly downward.
It had appeared to be a passage filled with mystical flowers, but in truth, they were all illusions.
What actually existed was a sheer, bottomless cliff.
‘A trap, after all.’
The sound of wind roared as his body plummeted endlessly downward.
The common methods martial artists used when falling from great heights were:
Lightening the body just before hitting the ground and performing the Cloud-Dragon Flip technique, or unleashing powerful palm force toward the ground to cushion the impact before rolling.
But Bu Eunseol had no need for such methods.
He possessed vision that could pierce darkness, and had mastered the supreme level of Swift Beyond Shadow, allowing him to change direction mid-air.
Moreover, with internal energy exceeding five hundred years of cultivation, if he didn’t care about consumption, he could even perform Land Flight Technique. If none of that appealed to him, he could simply circulate the Flowing Current Energy throughout his body and emit formless pressure to float in midair.
In short, there was no situation in which Bu Eunseol could die from falling from a great height.
‘Do the people of the Snow Blossom Sect turn into birds and fly?’
As he continued to fall endlessly, Bu Eunseol looked down with a dumbfounded expression.
The height of the cliff was easily over three hundred zhang.
At this height, unless one could fly upward using Land Flight Technique or embed a sword into the wall while descending, even the greatest martial artists would have no way to survive.
‘This isn’t an entrance.’
Unless one could fly three hundred zhang straight up when leaving Okryong Mountain and gently land from this terrifying height when returning, there was no way members of the Snow Blossom Sect would ever use this passage.
‘A test.’
A strange thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Was it possible that the Martial Venerable hadn’t given him a mission at all… but was testing something instead?
‘But why?’
The Martial Venerable already knew everything about him.
That he was searching for the enemy who killed his grandfather, and that his father was Baekri Muha…
So why? What more could he possibly want to test?
Whoosh—!
His body had now gained tremendous speed, and the ground was finally coming into view.
Bu Eunseol circulated his energy to the maximum, making his body light as a feather.
Thud.
Slowing down gradually in mid-air, he landed softly the moment the ground appeared.
He immediately surveyed his surroundings.
Below was a pitch-black cave with not a single ray of light, and countless branching paths stretched out before him.
‘They carved passages straight through the mountain.’
Looking up at the dizzyingly high ceiling, Bu Eunseol shook his head.
During the hundreds of years the Snow Blossom Sect maintained its lineage, they had either gradually carved away at the mountain, or perhaps the founding sect leader, having reached the state of Martial Extremity, used inhuman, terrifying power to bore straight through the interior of the mountain.
Tap.
Bu Eunseol lightly stomped his foot, about to activate the Void Heart Command, but there was no need.
Rumble rumble rumble.
From the opposite side, countless figures dressed in white poured out from somewhere.
They all wore face veils, and their eyes were cold as ice.
In one glance, Bu Eunseol realized they were members of the Snow Blossom Sect and clasped his hands together.
“This one is Seon Woojin, Captain of the Supreme Corps, from the Martial Alliance—”
The middle-aged woman standing at the very front cut off his words and spoke coldly.
“Follow me.”
She said only what she needed to and immediately turned around, walking in the opposite direction.
Bu Eunseol was momentarily taken aback, but soon followed after them.
After walking for a long time through the dark cave, the surroundings gradually brightened until a wide passage appeared.
Creak.
When the door there opened, the interior of a splendid building was revealed.
The floor and walls were all covered in marble, and the ceiling was densely embedded with seven-colored luminous pearls. The furniture and architecture inside were extremely unique, completely different from the style of the Central Plains.
‘It’s a sect from the Central Plains, yet why does it feel so much like a sect from beyond the border?’
“This way.”
The place the middle-aged woman guided him to had an extremely tall set of stairs, as though leading to an emperor’s throne hall.
At the top sat a magnificent jade throne adorned with dazzling white jade decorations and embedded jewels and seated upon it with a solemn expression was a woman dressed in splendid robes, her face veiled.
She was none other than the current Sect Leader of the Snow Blossom Sect—So Yeonghwa.
“Pay respects to the Sect Leader.” The middle-aged woman politely gestured toward So Yeonghwa seated on the jade throne.
With no other choice, Bu Eunseol approached the stairs and offered a respectful greeting.
“I am Seon Woojin, Captain of the Supreme Corps from the Martial Alliance.”
When Bu Eunseol merely gave a cupped-hand salute instead of a full bow, the middle-aged woman glared fiercely and stepped forward.
“I said bow to the Sect Leader.”
“Enough.”
The Snow Blossom Sect Leader, So Yeonghwa, who had been sitting on the throne, raised one hand to stop her and spoke.
“Seeing that he entered through our sect’s Moonshadow Gate, it seems he sent you.”
Bu Eunseol had simply followed the instructions in the letter given by the Martial Venerable—he had no idea what the Moonshadow Gate was.
But judging from her words, it was clear that some level of discussion had already taken place with the Martial Venerable.
“The reason I came here is to obtain the Ice Cryst—”
“I already know.”
It seemed the members of the Snow Blossom Sect were specially trained to cut people off mid-sentence.
The Sect Leader calmly interrupted Bu Eunseol once again and muttered in a low voice.
“As expected… they said he was bringing the greatest genius in the world.”
After a brief pause, she spoke again, her expression one of genuine surprise.
“To reach the realm of Indifferent Tranquility at that age? I can’t detect even the slightest trace that he has trained in martial arts.”
Just as Bu Eunseol was about to respond, the Sect Leader raised her hand once more to silence him.
“Well, there’s no need for long words.”
Then she nodded and looked at the middle-aged woman.
“Take him to the place where the Mysterious Yin Wall is located.”
Bu Eunseol couldn’t hide his bewilderment and opened his mouth.
He had just arrived, and the first thing they said was to take him to some Mysterious Yin Wall?
What in the world was going on here?
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