“How is something like this even possible?”
An emotion that had never appeared before surfaced in the Inbiin Lord’s eyes.
It was a glimmer of fear—something he had never once revealed until now.
“Feel free to imagine as much as you like.”
Bu Eunseol raised the corners of his mouth.
Thanks to Yoo Unryong, he had been able to learn one of the ancient formation studies recorded in the secret manual called the Record of Inherited Essentials.
Heart Mirror Technique.
It was a heavenly secret art that allowed one to create a Mind World simply by arranging a formation modeled after the movement of heavenly energy.
Among the subordinates of the True Demon, there were naturally many who were proficient in the Mind World.
After all, the Inbiin Lord’s underlings, such as Yeon Wol, had freely deployed Mind Worlds.
Bu Eunseol had always been wary of the Mind World, and to defend against it, he had installed a formation around the wooden hut that applied the principles of the Heart Mirror Technique.
However, because the Inbiin Lord had used only pure martial arts until now, he had not activated it.
The moment he realized that the Inbiin Lord had unleashed a Phase on a completely different level from any Mind World he had experienced before, and that he possessed a fake body, he activated the prepared Heart Mirror Technique. He then transmitted the pain of the fake body melting directly into the Inbiin Lord’s soul.
After all, with his body almost completely melted, the Inbiin Lord no longer had any strength left to defend against the Mind World.
Transmitting pain that felt no different from reality within the Mind World was a simple task.
“Phase?”
Only then did the Inbiin Lord sense something was wrong and widened his eyes.
“That can’t be…”
He had only passed down the power of the second tier of the Phase to the Inbiin under his command. In terms of deploying the Mind World, his ability was so unparalleled that even the Death God Heavenly Lord could not compare.
Yet a mere mercenary was not only deploying a Mind World, but even transmitting the pain of a melting fake body to him?
And doing so with a Mind World that he could not even detect?
How was such a thing possible?
“…So that’s how it was.”
The Inbiin Lord.
While enduring the excruciating pain that felt as if he were about to die, he scanned his surroundings.
Only then did he realize that every single stone and blade of grass centered around the wooden hut had been arranged according to mysterious and intricate principles.
“This level of sophistication is something that can never be achieved with the current formation studies of the martial world.”
The Inbiin Lord muttered lowly.
“You used an ancient formation study.”
Swallowing the pain, he wore a strange smile.
“So you weren’t alone… there was someone behind you.”
The ancient formation installed around this wooden hut was so extremely secretive and clever that even an expert in the Phase like himself could not detect it. Moreover, its arrangement and subtlety were far more complex and profound than the movement of countless stars in the sky.
Even a genius like him could not fully comprehend it.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
When Bu Eunseol snorted and continued to play ignorant,
“The formation installed here is one meant to block attacks from the Mind World. There is nothing different from reality.”
The Inbiin Lord continued in a low voice.
“‘Since your body is already ruined, you wouldn’t have the strength to block such a thing anyway, and transmitting the pain of your body melting isn’t difficult…’ Isn’t that what you were going to say?”
“You’re quite relaxed. Doesn’t it bother you at all that your fake body is being destroyed?”
“Who knows.”
As the Inbiin Lord answered leisurely, Bu Eunseol’s eyes, as he looked at the melting body, poured out a light as intense as the sun.
“You always said you were the one doing the hunting.”
An aura of dignity befitting a great master who could split the heavens and earth flowed from his body.
“From now on, I will be the one hunting you.”
The Inbiin Lord had toppled countless experts across generations and researched their bodies.
But now, all of his techniques had been dismantled by Bu Eunseol.
Even if he had brought his real body.
Even if he had deployed the Mind World…
Every single one of his methods would have been broken.
“In the future, I will research the ancient secret arts you people use and locate the places where your absolute realms are hidden. If I keep doing that… eventually I will find your true body and your main base.”
At that moment, the Inbiin Lord’s expression hardened.
He had a premonition that Bu Eunseol really would find his true body and the main base where he resided.
“You really aren’t just a mere mercenary.”
The Inbiin Lord blinked his wrinkled eyelids and said, “It’s truly strange. For someone so young to say such things… the only one who could do that is the Martial Soul Command Lord, the successor of Majeon.”
Even the Inbiin Lord, the greatest expert in the field of the body who had researched the bodies of martial world powerhouses for generations, could not see through the black secret arts that Bu Eunseol possessed.
“Seolso. I will definitely capture you and use you as a research subject.”
Chiiii.
The Inbiin Lord looked down at his nearly melted body and grinned.
“And I will slowly uncover who is behind you. So… make sure you survive.”
At the Inbiin Lord’s confident words, Bu Eunseol snorted.
“Are you researching the body so thoroughly because of the resurrection of the True Demon?”
“Resurrection? Hahaha. Why would that be necessary?”
It was a chilling statement.
Did that mean the True Demon was already roaming the martial world, or had already finished preparing whatever he desired?
“Then what are you experimenting for?”
“It is not an experiment.”
The Inbiin Lord wore a strange smile.
“It is research and transformation.”
“What do you mean?”
“In the end, all I can do is throw the dice.”
Throw the dice.
It sounded like he was toying with other people’s fates for amusement but to Bu Eunseol’s ears right now, it sounded as if the Inbiin Lord was saying he was not acting as a faithful subordinate of the True Demon.
“Are you dreaming of rebellion?”
“Rebellion? Huhuhuhu.”
The Inbiin Lord laughed for a long time, as if something was incredibly funny.
Even though his body had almost completely melted and he was suffering from the pain inflicted by the Heart Mirror Technique, he burst into genuine laughter.
“You seem to know a lot, yet you surprisingly don’t know the truly important things.”
The Inbiin Lord kept blinking his eyelids in amusement.
“I’ll put off using you as a test subject for a little while.”
Then, as if bestowing a great favor, he spoke solemnly.
“Go visit Cheongun Hall in Seorim.”
“Cheongun Hall?”
“You must have many questions about the True Demon. If so, start gathering clues from there.”
One of Bu Eunseol’s eyebrows rose.
The subordinates of the True Demon never used the word “True Demon.”
So why was the Inbiin Lord uttering it so casually?
“Why are you telling me this?”
Suddenly realizing something, he scoffed.
“Are you trying to set a trap? To confirm my identity once again?”
If he immediately went to investigate the place after hearing those words, there was a chance his identity or background would be exposed.
“If you can think that far, then you don’t have to worry about falling into someone else’s trap.”
After saying those mysterious words, the Inbiin Lord raised his melted lips as high as he could.
“I told you. I only throw the dice.”
Hearing those words, Bu Eunseol instinctively understood.
The Inbiin Lord, who had researched the human body for a long time, was not a faithful subordinate of the True Demon right now.
He was simply a being consumed by something.
A true madman of the world, drenched in madness.
“If you’re going, you should go quickly. Finding traces of the True Demon isn’t easy.”
Drip…
By now, the Inbiin Lord’s body had completely melted away.
Although it was a fake body, the pain must have been clearly transmitted, so he would not act recklessly again.
Shuuuuuu.
The body that had flowed down like candle wax bubbled and spread out, while the clothes rotted away, emitting smoke as if they had touched Hwagolsan.
Then, something bizarre that had been deeply hidden inside the fake body slowly revealed itself.
It was a bead that looked as if it had been carved from smooth obsidian, emitting a black luster.
Twisted vein-like things clung to it like scars in various places.
Those veins wriggled faintly as if alive, and inside them, black blood seemed to flow slowly.
At its center was a vertically torn slit, like a giant eyelid that never closed.
“I think I need to see this with my own eyes.”
After staring at the bizarre bead for a long time, Bu Eunseol called out.
Gulp.
Then the perfectly intact wooden hut began to shake violently as if it were alive,
Creak.
Soon, a shadow wearing blue clothes opened the door from inside and slowly walked out.
His eyes were the first thing visible—transparent like a quiet winter lake, yet sparkling as if countless stars were shining all at once.
There were wounds on his face where the skin seemed to have melted away, but the warm, sun-like smile that slowly spread across his face and the neat, calm aura flowing around his body made even those scars appear like restrained elegance.
It was none other than Han Sangja, the sole survivor of the Sage’s Forest.
“So it really wasn’t the Heavenly Mechanism Star, but a subordinate of the True Demon who appeared.”
Han Sangja looked at the Inbiin Lord’s melted corpse and shook his head with a regretful expression.
His goal had been the Heavenly Mechanism Star—Chu So—who had brutally killed his martial brothers and sisters of the Sage’s Forest. Yet one of the Eight Human Heavens, the Inbiin Lord, had shown up instead.
“I expected the Heavenly Mechanism Star to come, but it turned out like this.”
Bu Eunseol clicked his tongue.
Originally, he had opened an orphanage to lure Chu So, who was turning pitiful children into his puppets.
Disguised as Seolso, he had deliberately massacred all fifteen orphanages scattered across the central plains—including the Graceful Benevolence Institute—along with everyone connected to them.
But the Dark God Heavenly Lord, who harbored a grudge against him, had acted first.
Still, just in case, Bu Eunseol had contacted Han Sangja and destroyed the orphanage created by the Heavenly Mechanism Star, and roughly explained the situation—that the Dark God Heavenly Lord was having his subordinates kill the mercenaries.
―In case the Heavenly Mechanism Star comes with them, we must make every preparation.
Upon receiving the message, Han Sangja had immediately come to Bu Eunseol and given him various advice.
Especially since the Heavenly Mechanism Star was the one who had restored even the ancient lost sorcery and completed the Yin-Soul Killing Men.
He could not be opposed with martial arts alone, and it was impossible to predict what methods he would use.
―I have a formation that can manifest the Mind World. No matter how many powerful enemies come, if I utilize the creation of the Heart Mirror Technique, I should be able to deal with them.
Bu Eunseol had taught Han Sangja the ancient formation study from the Record of Inherited Essentials—the Heart Mirror Technique.
―This… seems to be missing some principles.
Surprisingly, Han Sangja had instantly restored the missing principles of the Heart Mirror Technique that even Yoo Unryong had failed to restore.
―If you permit it, I would like to modify this a little and set it up. If modified well… it could be turned into a trap capable of catching even the Heavenly Mechanism Star or a subordinate of the True Demon in one go.
He had transformed it into a formation study that displayed several times the power of the original Heart Mirror Technique.
―To install the modified Heart Mirror Technique, we need a base. Since the Command Lord also needs to train, it would be good to build a new wooden hut and use it as the trap.
Bu Eunseol had accepted Han Sangja’s advice and began building the wooden hut.
The newly modified Heart Mirror Technique by Han Sangja required calculating not only the furnishings inside the hut, but also the position of every stone and blade of grass outside, and even the sunlight from the sky.
Because of this, even Bu Eunseol, who could instantly unravel layered formations, could not fully grasp its principles, and even the Inbiin Lord, a master of the Mind World, could not see through the formation.
―I will dig under the wooden hut and use the Ghost Concealment Great Law. After all, the formation must be maintained.
Moreover, to maintain the newly created Heart Mirror Technique, it was absolutely necessary to place one living person at the Heavenly Origin position.
―It can’t be helped. I understand.
In truth, Bu Eunseol had known.
Because there was a chance the Heavenly Mechanism Star might come, Han Sangja had deliberately modified the formation that way.
If it was him, who could freely alter ancient formations, there would surely be other ways to maintain the Heart Mirror Technique without placing a person at the Heavenly Origin.
After finishing his recollection, Bu Eunseol clicked his tongue and said, “The Heavenly Mechanism Star would never fail to monitor the movements of the True Demon’s subordinates.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with a regretful expression.
“He must know that the Dark God Heavenly Lord is targeting the mercenary Seolso… so for the time being, he will probably watch this situation with interest.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Han Sangja shook his head.
“This incident is not unrelated to the Heavenly Mechanism Star.”
“Why do you say that?”
“It was too fast.” He continued, “Even if the Dark God Heavenly Lord harbors a grudge against the Command Lord, and even if the Inbiin Lord is very interested in the mercenary Seolso… to orchestrate a lure using assassins requires a considerable amount of information.”
“So the Heavenly Mechanism Star, who was grinding his teeth at Seolso because of the Graceful Benevolence Institute incident, gave them the information.”
“Exactly. Otherwise, it would mean the Dark God Heavenly Lord or the Inbiin Lord had been watching the person called Seolso from before… which doesn’t make sense.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
As expected, a sage was a sage.
He could pierce through the core of the problem even in small details that others might miss and grasp the overall flow.
“But what are you telling me to look at?”
“Ah.”
Bu Eunseol let out a sound of realization and pointed at the bead left in the Inbiin Lord’s body.
“Something like this was left in his body. The person from the Returning to One Society who used a fake body before didn’t have anything like this.”
Han Sangja walked over to the melted flesh of the Inbiin Lord, crouched down, and without hesitation pulled out the black bead buried there and placed it on his palm.
Once taken out, it no longer looked like a smooth bead. It was closer to a black mass freshly extracted from the heart of a living creature, covered densely with thin red veins like capillaries and thick blood vessels.
“Brother Han.”
“It’s fine.”
Crack…
It clung to Han Sangja’s hand and began spreading vein-like red lines.
At the same time, faint energy seeped out from the eye-shaped mark.
However, it did not seem to react to a living person’s body.
It could not spread any further and slowly began to shrink.
“It looks like they restored an ancient Demon Eye Bead.”
Han Sangja looked at Bu Eunseol and said, “In simple terms, it is a medium that connects consciousness and a device that supplies power to carry out commands.”
He held out the black bead—the Demon Eye Bead—to Bu Eunseol.
“If you place this inside a fake body, you can control the fake body with precision, just as a human brain controls the entire body through the nervous system.”
“I see.”
Bu Eunseol shook his head and said, “It would be better for Brother Han to keep such a demonic object.”
Han Sangja smiled brightly as if he had seen right through Bu Eunseol’s inner thoughts.
“You’re saying that if possible, I should find those with fake bodies or find a way to oppose them.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
His wisdom was on par with the Heavenly Mechanism Star’s.
If it was him, he would surely be able to gain something through this Demon Eye Bead.
“I owe you this time.”
Bu Eunseol said while looking at Han Sangja.
“If you need anything next time, just tell me anytime. I’ll lend you a hand.”
The two shared the common goal of running toward revenge and were willing to sacrifice everything for it.
Although they felt a deep friendship toward each other… because they each had goals that must be achieved, they had promised to help each other only through mutual assistance in dangerous matters.
“Thank you.”
Han Sangja nodded, then looked at the distant sky with a serious expression.
“You’re thinking of going to the place the Inbiin Lord mentioned earlier.”
“Yes.”
“You must be careful. Those kinds of madmen do not hesitate to destroy not only others but themselves as well.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
There would definitely be a terrifying trap or dangerous events waiting.
But it didn’t matter.
He had to uncover the secrets of the True Demon no matter what.
“Then…”
Han Sangja suddenly disappeared.
Judging by the mysterious footwork that made him vanish in an instant, it seemed he had also mastered some new mystical martial arts during this time.
“Cheongun Hall…”
Bu Eunseol looked at the distant sky.
Why had the Inbiin Lord given him such information?
Moreover, blindly going to that place after hearing only those words was extremely dangerous.
But if it could unravel the secrets of someone like the True Demon?
He had to take this much risk.
Besides, from the moment he had decided to find his grandfather’s blood relatives, hadn’t he already resolved to look into the True Demon?
‘I’ll go right away.’
He would not have thought of heading straight to Cheongun Hall the moment he heard it.
Even if he had predicted that, and even if there was a trap there, it didn’t matter.
He could just destroy everything.
Flash! Hooooooo.
Still disguised as Seolso, Bu Eunseol immediately headed toward Cheongun Hall in Seorim.
Information obtained as Seolso had to be investigated under Seolso’s identity.
If he changed his identity midway or showed signs of moving his subordinate intelligence units, it would be the same as handing information to the enemy.
After running for a full day and half a day, Bu Eunseol arrived in Seorim and immediately headed to Cheongun Hall on the outskirts.
‘Something is strange.’
Although Cheongun Hall was located in a remote area far from the city, it was famous for its enormous scale and for gathering many outstanding experts as guests.
Yet only the barking of several dogs could be heard; there was no sound or presence of people at all.
‘Hmm.’
After thinking for a moment, Bu Eunseol secretly infiltrated the grounds.
What he saw was an unbelievably bizarre scene.
“Ugh… ugh… ugh…”
The sound he had thought was dogs barking was actually coming from the people inside the hall, and all of them were extremely emaciated, like dried corpses, with their hands clasped together as if in prayer.
“Ugh… ugh…”
“Ugh… ugh… ugh…”
The problem was that they kept making the “ugh… ugh…” sound endlessly with their mouths open.
Looking around the grounds, every person was either leaning against a wall or squatting, hands clasped, continuously making the eerie “ugh” sound.
Their eyes had no focus, and strange groans kept coming from their mouths.
The sight was so bizarre that even Bu Eunseol could not help but open his mouth in shock.
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