Suppressed Demon Pavilion, Conference Hall of Majeon.
There, Bu Eunseol—who had just returned from the Wind God Palace—was holding a private meeting with Yoo Unryong.
“It seems the time has come for our Death Shadow Corps to stake our lives as well.”
Yoo Unryong spoke with an utterly grave expression.
“The unknown monsters have completely annihilated both our sect’s Ghost Annihilation Unit and Blood Shadow Unit.”
The mysterious sect from the western regions that Bu Eunseol had brought under Majeon’s control, and which supplied eighty percent of the spiritual herb ingredients used to produce Majeon’s elixirs—the Azure Cloud Sea Palace’s sphere of influence—had suddenly been invaded by an army of unknown grotesque beings.
Azure Cloud Sea Palace responded immediately, but they were no match at all. In response, Majeon dispatched two combat units in haste… only for them to be utterly massacred.
“Our sect has already done everything it could. In the end, since Azure Cloud Sea Palace is a force subjugated by the Martial Soul Command Lord, the Demon Emperor has issued an order to his successor: resolve this incident.”
In the name of the Demon Emperor, an order had come down to eliminate the monstrous forces invading Majeon’s sphere of influence. However, Bu Eunseol had been occupied with business in the Wind God Palace at the time and could not immediately carry out the command.
In the end, there was no choice but for Seo Jinha to accept the order and lead the Death Shadow Corps’s forces toward Azure Cloud Sea Palace.
“The elite troops of the Death Shadow Corps number no more than three hundred at best.”
Yoo Unryong spoke in a depressed tone.
“To order them to accomplish what even a unit composed of Sichuan’s forces could not… is essentially telling them to go die.”
The flow of time in the Wind and Cloud Spirit Ground differed from the outside world.
Bu Eunseol had thought it was merely the equivalent of a single day’s absence, but in reality a considerable amount of time had passed.
During the period when he could not contact the Death Spirit Corps, so many events had unfolded.
“I will go there right now.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Yoo Unryong lowered his head.
“Even if you depart now, it will be the same. Those monsters with their eyes and mouths sewn shut are opponents we simply cannot face.”
“Eyes and mouths sewn shut?”
“Indeed. According to the rumors, they say no attack can ever kill them. In the martial world, monsters like that…”
Bu Eunseol drew in a deep breath.
Then he nodded calmly.
“Contact the Death Spirit Corps and order the entire army to withdraw.”
“What?”
“There is no need to send intelligence operatives either. Azure Cloud Sea Palace will contact us soon anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“They are called Enemy Destroyers. They are the monsters created by the Dead Man among the Eight Human Heavens.”
Bu Eunseol calmly explained what had happened in the Wind and Cloud Spirit Ground.
“The Heavenly Lord of Death Heaven died so futilely?”
When Yoo Unryong blinked in bewilderment, Bu Eunseol shrugged.
“It seems the Dead Man’s true strength was not his own martial arts, but his ability to command the Enemy Destroyers.”
He shook his head and continued.
“Probably because I appeared disguised as Seolso, and was accompanied by Palace Lord Hae and Instructor So… at best he must have thought I was merely someone from the Essence Three Realms and revealed himself.”
If the Dead Man had not appeared in person in the Wind and Cloud Spirit Ground and had only used the Enemy Destroyers?
Even if he had not been defeated, Bu Eunseol would have endured tremendous hardship.
But the Dead Man had proudly revealed himself to Bu Eunseol, and as a result, he was cut down in a single stroke by the Seven Blood Tear Forms.
“Then—”
“By now, the Enemy Destroyers have probably all become piles of corpses.”
“Hahaha.”
Yoo Unryong burst into incredulous laughter.
“They say even when a capable man falls, he picks up gold nuggets.”
The mere act of following So Okrim and Hae Yeon to the Wind and Cloud Spirit Ground in the Wind God Palace had unexpectedly become the key to instantly resolving the unprecedented crisis facing the Death Shadow Corps.
“Then it’s time to begin.”
Rising from his seat, Bu Eunseol wore a smile laced with killing intent.
“Such an order would never have come directly from the Demon Emperor himself.”
There was no way the Demon Emperor would issue an order capable of annihilating a pavilion like the Death Shadow Corps. This was clearly the machination of one of Majeon’s highest-ranking figures—one capable of drawing out the Demon Emperor’s command.
“Outwardly he was the Chief Instructor… but in reality, he was the Shadow Pavilion Lord.”
As if he had been waiting, Yoo Unryong drew a booklet from his robes and offered it.
“He was the one who extracted the Demon Emperor’s order.”
“The Shadow Pavilion Lord?”
“He must have been utterly unable to face the Demon Emperor. Thanks to the Death Spirit Corps’ efforts, your movements—which had been completely transparent—suddenly became impossible to track.”
Yoo Unryong ground his teeth as he spoke.
“If the captains of the Death Shadow Corps were eliminated, there would be no one left to manage the massive intelligence organization known as the Death Spirit Corps… He must have been aiming for that gap.”
Yoo Unryong had thoroughly investigated the mastermind behind this incident, firmly believing that Bu Eunseol would resolve everything.
“Well done.”
Without even glancing at the booklet, Bu Eunseol walked out.
“You’re not even going to look at the evidence?”
“Would someone of Hwa Jung-cheon’s caliber start something like this without intending to cleanly sever at least one thick tail?”
“Then…”
“We simply need to show him that in such matters, cutting the tail alone is not enough.”
A dull yellow gleam rose in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
He no longer looked like the young grand master of the Demonic Path.
He resembled the second coming of an asura.
At twilight, as the setting sun dyed the earth red, an unbearable, terrifying bloody storm swept through the interior of Majeon.
He had once been called the gentle young grand master who embodied righteousness within the Demonic Path but now he had become the reaper of blood announcing the end of lives.
Those who charged at him died in agony.
Those who begged for mercy died.
Those who made excuses died.
Those who stood still died.
Those who fled died.
All the dead belonged to the secret combat operatives of Majeon’s foremost intelligence organization—the Shadow Pavilion.
As the horrific slaughter continued,
Kuung. Urrrrrr.
The main gates of the Shadow Pavilion burst open, and a massive force poured in.
They were the warriors of the Blood Demon Corps, belonging to Solitary Light Pavilion and personally commanded by Chief Instructor Yeop Hyocheon—a unit said to rival Majeon’s special combat divisions.
When word first spread that the Martial Soul Command Lord had stormed into the Shadow Pavilion and begun a merciless massacre, the people of Majeon had laughed it off.
However, when the Thousand Shadow Pavilion—the symbolic stronghold and watchtower of the Shadow Pavilion, a strategic fortress that overlooked all of Majeon—collapsed with a thunderous roar, the warriors of Majeon finally grasped the situation.
At the request of Shadow Pavilion Lord Hwa Jung-cheon, Yeop Hyocheon’s Blood Demon Corps had rushed in.
Swoosh.
The lined-up warriors parted to either side, creating a path.
An old man in a black robe and another in a gray robe walked forward side by side.
They were none other than Chief Instructor Yeop Hyocheon and Shadow Pavilion Lord Hwa Jung-cheon.
‘You mad bastard!’ Hwa Jung-cheon glared around with fury blazing in his eyes.
Amid the stench of blood and an ominous chill, the gruesomely slain figures were all the most capable and cherished confidants of the Shadow Pavilion, weren’t they?
‘How could this happen!’
He had already predicted Bu Eunseol’s every possible action from the beginning and had perfectly prepared to sever all tails in case of failure.
Moreover, the Enemy Destroyers were immortal.
No matter how heavenly his movement techniques might be, he could never overcome the Enemy Destroyers unleashed upon Azure Cloud Sea Palace.
Thus, having failed to fulfill the Demon Emperor’s command… even if Bu Eunseol discovered that this entire scheme was his doing, the only place for him to vent his rage would have been the scapegoat he had prepared in advance: Grandmaster Hwa Shin.
Yet somehow, all the Enemy Destroyers at Azure Cloud Sea Palace had died, and Bu Eunseol had boldly stormed into the Shadow Pavilion and slaughtered his confidants indiscriminately.
“Chief Instructor. This old man simply cannot comprehend this situation.”
Hwa Jung-cheon was a seasoned veteran hardened by countless battles. Even in a situation where his blood boiled in reverse, he maintained his composure and spoke leisurely.
“This is not something even the successor of our sect can handle.”
“It was the Dead Man among the Eight Human Heavens.”
Bu Eunseol spoke briefly.
“If you claim ignorance and forget the annihilated two full combat units of our sect, that too would be a crime.”
In that instant, Hwa Jung-cheon’s gaze wavered.
The Shadow Pavilion was Majeon’s foremost intelligence organization.
“Ignorance” could never serve as an excuse.
“If you knew it was the Dead Man among the Eight Human Heavens and still committed such an act, then it would constitute treason.”
Bu Eunseol extended his hand to the left.
Splat!
A severed head flew into his grasp.
It belonged to the Vice-Pavilion Lord of the Shadow Pavilion, Ghost Slaughter Demon Go Il-san.
“Choose.”
Thud.
Bu Eunseol tossed the head at Hwa Jung-cheon’s feet.
“Was this carried out under Go Il-san’s orders, or is there yet another mastermind behind it?”
Instead of answering, Hwa Jung-cheon’s fingertips trembled violently.
A perfect checkmate.
He had been cornered in an utterly inescapable deadlock.
“Even so, did you have to slaughter the elite warriors of the Shadow Pavilion so brutally?”
When Yeop Hyocheon clicked his tongue as if it were someone else’s affair, Bu Eunseol replied indifferently.
“I acted in accordance with our sect’s laws.”
At that, Hwa Jung-cheon could no longer suppress his rage and shouted shortly, “This pavilion answers only to the orders of the Demon Emperor. Do you understand what that means?”
“I do.”
Nodding once, he turned his body and said, “If you believe this constitutes a crime, then summon the Demon Emperor.”
With that, he walked out beyond the ruined Shadow Pavilion.
‘Report this to the Demon Emperor.’
Leaving behind only those words, Bu Eunseol departed.
Tremble, tremble.
Hwa Jung-cheon shook like an aspen tree, unable to contain his fury.
In contrast, Yeop Hyocheon narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Bu Eunseol’s receding figure.
“Pavilion Lord.”
Looking at Hwa Jung-cheon, Yeop Hyocheon spoke calmly.
“This Chief Instructor will take his leave as well.”
Hwa Jung-cheon could say nothing and merely lowered his head.
From the very beginning, this entire plan had been his own doing.
Yeop Hyocheon had already taken one step back.
Since he could not sever the head of the Shadow Pavilion Lord, the highest-ranking figure who answered only to the Demon Emperor… Bu Eunseol had instead utterly crushed Hwa Jung-cheon’s prestige.
***
The incident in which the Martial Soul Command Lord carried out a horrific massacre within Majeon greatly shook the entire martial world. Even among those who pursued the domineering way of the Demonic Path, internal power struggles and factional conflicts within the same organization were common.
However, excluding the execution of traitors, immediate beheadings were rare.
Yet the Martial Soul Command Lord had done exactly that.
He had targeted the elite warriors of Majeon’s foremost intelligence organization, the Shadow Pavilion.
‘What in the world happened?’
The martial world was driven mad with curiosity about the inside story, but the truth never came to light. Because the details included matters concerning the kin of the True Demon—information that must never be revealed to ordinary martial world people.
Originally, this had been Hwa Jung-cheon’s scheme to silence Bu Eunseol’s mouth… But now it had instead become the means to silence his own.
Majeon, Suppressed Demon Pavilion, Conference Hall.
The captains of the Death Shadow Corps—who had steeled themselves for death and returned from Azure Cloud Sea Palace—stood in stunned silence.
‘The Lord defeated yet another Heaven Lord?’
Moreover, the opponent had been the Dead Man, who commanded immortal grotesque beings that could never be killed.
Although the absolute sword art known as the Seven Blood Tear Forms had displayed miraculous power, the tales and battles Bu Eunseol experienced in the Wind and Cloud Spirit Ground could not help but feel like legends of immortals from ancient stories.
“Y-yes… I see.”
After hearing the full account, Myo Cheonwoo nodded as if it were no big deal.
“You must have gone through a lot.”
By now his eyes were sparkling brightly.
Bu Eunseol’s actions and martial prowess had already advanced to a realm so distant that they could no longer comprehend it.
Now they could only smile calmly and say, ‘Ah, I see.’
“The martial world has grown quite harsh lately, hasn’t it?”
When Wi Cheongyeong murmured with shining eyes, Won Semun folded his arms.
“Well, it’s not like madmen appearing is anything new.”
Jo Namcheon nodded as well.
“Even if that old True Demon bastard has six arms, it wouldn’t be all that surprising.”
On the surface everything appeared peaceful, yet the current state of the martial world was difficult to accept with a sane mind.
The Baekri Family was establishing Absolute Boundaries throughout the martial world, and the kin of the True Demon were destroying them.
Judging by the way things were progressing, it was only a matter of time before the True Demon himself fully revealed his presence. Moreover, unfathomable abyssal forces—ones undetectable by existing intelligence networks—were gradually beginning to move.
The history of the present martial world was being rewritten anew, rendering all previously known knowledge obsolete.
“Well, putting that aside.”
Yoo Unryong—the only one still in possession of clear senses—changed the subject.
“I don’t know if they’re aware of the situation or not… but those damn lunatics are perfectly timing their moves.”
Sighing, he brought up the agenda for today’s meeting.
“The Blood Cult.”
Unexpectedly, another force had appeared to provoke Bu Eunseol and the Death Shadow Corps’s ire.
Namely, the Blood Cult had broken their promise not to invade the Central Plains and was once again slowly encroaching on Majeon’s sphere of influence, establishing a new branch sect.
It was none other than the Crimson Yellow Cult.
Backed by the Blood Cult’s immense support, they had rapidly expanded their power.
Moreover, through a mysterious great art that combined elements of the Zhang Clan and the Ancient Tower Cult, they were controlling disabled individuals and turning them into formidable human weapons.
“Making promises with people like the Blood Cult is utterly meaningless.”
Myo Cheonwoo wore an expression of barely contained anger.
“Well, to begin with, I never trusted that blood-red bastard Pae Yukgyeol anyway.”
In the past, together with Seo Jinha, he had negotiated with Blood Cult Leader Pae Yukgyeol on Bu Eunseol’s behalf.
They had extracted a promise not to invade the Central Plains, yet not long after the covenant was made, the Blood Cult was once again revealing its ambitions.
“If we do not deal with them, the Demon Emperor will find fault with us. After all, the document recording the negotiation with the Blood Cult bears the Martial Soul Command Lord’s seal.”
At Myo Cheonwoo’s words, Wi Cheongyeong spoke up.
“Moreover, Hell's Blood Fortress is sitting back and watching the Crimson Yellow Cult’s expansion with delight.”
The Pyeongwol Prefecture region that the Crimson Yellow Cult had claimed as their territory overlapped with the sphere of influence of Hell's Blood Fortress, which dominated Guizhou. Yet Hell's Blood Fortress—fully aware of the inside story—was deliberately allowing their expansion.
“Unfortunately, they’ve set up camp near Mount Cheongam, making a subjugation difficult.”
Yoo Unryong nodded.
“That place cannot accommodate a large army’s entry, and those bastards prefer using great arts over martial techniques… If we attempt a subjugation, our side will suffer considerable losses as well.”
“Rather, this is fortunate.” Bu Eunseol, who had been listening silently, nodded. “This is a perfect opportunity to swing our blades freely.”
Wi Cheongyeong spoke cautiously. “No, my lord. If you continue handling everything alone…”
“I will not go.”
Surveying the conference room, Bu Eunseol declared firmly.
“This is an excellent chance to test just how much your martial prowess has improved.”
“Us?”
Bu Eunseol nodded. “The subjugation of the Crimson Yellow Cult will be carried out entirely by you all.”
Jo Namcheon tilted his head.
“My lord. The Crimson Yellow Cult’s forces reportedly exceed eight thousand. Moreover, they use strange great arts.”
No matter how exceptional Bu Eunseol and the captains’ martial prowess might be, if they clashed head-on with eight thousand troops?
The only one who could survive would be Bu Eunseol himself.
“I am not ordering you to wipe out all eight thousand troops.”
Bu Eunseol spoke calmly.
“The Crimson Yellow Cult is, after all, nothing more than a temporary branch created by the Blood Cult. There is no need to cut them all down.”
“Then-”
“Immediately charge into the White Palace—where their cult leader is said to reside—cut down the cult leader and his core executives, and return.”
If a large army marched to Mount Cheongam, they would inevitably be detected.
But if only the captains moved stealthily?
It would be impossible to immediately track the movements of a small elite force numbering fewer than ten.
Bu Eunseol was ordering the captains to assassinate the Crimson Yellow Cult Leader and his top executives.
“Even if we succeed, we will become rats trapped in a jar.”
At Wi Cheongyeong’s words, Bu Eunseol smirked.
“Don’t you possess the means to shatter that jar?”
When everyone tilted their heads in puzzlement, Yoo Unryong—who had been listening silently—answered.
“The Lord is telling you to unfold the Mind’s Eye Mirror.”
Infiltrate the Crimson Yellow Cult boasting eight thousand troops, kill the cult leader and his leadership, and escape safely?
That was impossible.
It would be far better to carry out the assassination alone and withdraw.
But ordering all the captains to enter together meant for them to combine their strength, perfectly unfold the Mind’s Eye Mirror in actual combat, and use it to escape.
“I see.” Wi Cheongyeong nodded. “If we use the Mind’s Eye Mirror, escape might indeed be possible.”
Jo Namcheon grinned. “And even if we fail, the Lord will surely have a contingency plan.”
“There is none.”
“Pardon?”
“If you fail, death is all that awaits.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with utmost seriousness.
“If you cannot even survive the hands of the Crimson Yellow Cult, then from here on your chances of survival are zero.”
Half of it was probably sincere.
Strong enemies were pouring forth endlessly.
If they could not even survive against the Crimson Yellow Cult?
From now on, survival would truly become impossible.
“We must stake our lives every single day.”
At Won Semun’s words, Myo Cheonwoo gave a wry chuckle.
“Isn’t that the fate of those who live by the blade?”
The captains’ eyes blazed fiercely.
They had always been prepared for death but even if they were to die, they had no desire to fall at the hands of worthless scum like the Crimson Yellow Cult.
“Then when do we begin?”
When Wi Cheongyeong asked, Bu Eunseol’s eyes sparkled.
“Right now.”
***
Every intelligence organization in the martial world constantly extends its feelers to uncover the movements and activities of the leadership of sects that exert massive influence on the martial world’s political landscape, or of individuals deemed to hold equivalent value.
In particular, the very first thing the Crimson Yellow Cult—newly established with the Blood Cult’s backing—undertook was to monitor the movements of Majeon, the force capable of eliminating them at any moment.
More precisely, to track the whereabouts of the Death Shadow Corps’s leader, Bu Eunseol.
However, the activities of Majeon’s captains—who merely carried out orders—were never a matter of interest to them.
As a result, the captains of the Death Shadow Corps were able to slip past their surveillance with ease.
Swish.
One by one, the captains stealthily slipped out of Majeon and began unleashing their movement techniques at full power. Though the distance would normally take ten days even if one covered a thousand li per day, the captains arrived in just three.
The Crimson Yellow Cult had established its main base on Mount Cheongam—a place surrounded by extremely narrow gorges with only a single accessible path.
Moreover, being situated at a high elevation, they had installed watchtowers at various points to constantly monitor the surrounding area.
It was truly an impregnable fortress, utterly impossible for a large army to assault from the start.
Swish.
The captains of the Death Shadow Corps stealthily approached the Crimson Yellow Cult’s location.
Halt.
Suddenly, Myo Cheonwoo—who had been leading the charge—froze mid-stride.
An enormous sound was coming from the direction of the Crimson Yellow Cult’s main base.
The other captains exchanged puzzled glances.
The plan to strike the Crimson Yellow Cult had been carried out with such perfect secrecy that no organization could possibly have detected it.
Yet the sounds reaching them were unmistakably the clash of weapons mixed with screams.
‘Someone didn’t infiltrate—they attacked the Crimson Yellow Cult head-on without any subtlety.’
Sensing that something had gone wrong, Myo Cheonwoo abandoned stealth techniques and unleashed his movement art at maximum speed.
The remaining captains immediately followed suit, pouring all their strength into their steps to keep up.
‘What…?’
The first to reach the Crimson Yellow Cult, Myo Cheonwoo could only widen his eyes in shock.
The interior was filled with mountains of corpses and rivers of blood; flames were rising everywhere.
Moreover, the piled bodies all bore traces of having been killed by the exact same technique, didn’t they?
“And this technique is…”
Bending down to examine the wounds on the corpses, Myo Cheonwoo’s eyes bulged.
“Annihilation Palm.”
The method used to massacre the Crimson Yellow Cult members was none other than the Annihilation Palm—one of the palm techniques of the Extinction Palace, from which he himself had been selected as one of the Ten Demon Warriors.
“The Extinction Palace destroyed the Crimson Yellow Cult?”
Myo Cheonwoo muttered gravely under his breath.
“Then does that mean the Extinction Palace Lord came here?”
It made no sense.
The Crimson Yellow Cult’s sphere of influence overlapped with that of Hell's Blood Fortress, but it had no connection whatsoever to the Extinction Palace.
So why would the Extinction Palace Lord do something like this?
“Arrrgh!”
At that moment, another scream echoed from far away.
It came from the vicinity of the White Palace, where the Crimson Yellow Cult Leader resided.
Boom!
Unleashing his movement technique, he immediately rushed toward the source.
There, several hundred warriors clad in bizarre attire—as though covered in greenish scales—stood in solemn formation, as if they had already completed their task.
Meanwhile, a single blood-soaked man was engaged in combat with the Crimson Yellow Cult Leader.
No—it could hardly even be called combat.
The man was handling the charging cult leader with utter ease.
Swish.
Yoo Unryong, who had hurried after him panting, soon stood side by side with Wi Cheongyeong.
Won Semun and Jo Namcheon, whose movement techniques were slower, had not yet arrived.
“Captain Myo.”
Looking at Myo Cheonwoo’s grave expression, Wi Cheongyeong asked, “What in the world is going on?”
“Shin Do-unhwi.”
At that moment, Yoo Unryong—who stood beside Myo Cheonwoo—widened his eyes until they seemed ready to tear.
The man fighting the Crimson Yellow Cult Leader was not the Extinction Palace Lord.
It was none other than the Palace’s Young Palace Lord, Shin Do-unhwi.
Bang!
With the sound of leather bursting, the Crimson Yellow Cult Leader’s body was launched three zhang into the air before crashing back to the ground.
Struck by the Annihilation Palm Technique, every bone in his body shattered; unable to rise, he gasped desperately for breath, then
Thud.
He died on the spot.
“How is he…”
Counting the strikes of Shin Do-unhwi’s palm technique that had felled the cult leader, Myo Cheonwoo shook his head in disbelief.
Right now, Shin Do-unhwi’s Annihilation Palm had reached the level of Great Completion—an unreachable realm that no method could block.
Hadn’t it already far surpassed even his own skill?
Swoosh.
As the Crimson Yellow Cult Leader fell, Shin Do-unhwi turned around.
Spotting Myo Cheonwoo and the others staring at him, he gave a soft chuckle.
“Some welcome faces have arrived.”
Then, suddenly, he spoke loudly into empty air.
“Martial Soul Command Lord.”
He smiled warmly, as though greeting an old friend.
“Since you’ve come all this way, is there really any need to keep watching from hiding?”
Tssut.
With the tiniest sound of air being cut, a transparent shadow moved in midair, and soon a figure clad in gray robes descended to the ground.
It was none other than Bu Eunseol.
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