The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 460

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 460.
The identity of Seon Woo Jin was not created in a mere short time.
An identity so perfectly arranged that even Sam Gye could find no flaws in it.
What exactly had Shin San Ja intended to use the identity of Seon Woo Jin for?
Why had he suddenly bestowed this identity upon me?
Multiple thoughts flashed through Bu Eunseol’s mind in an instant, but she soon shook her head.
What mattered now was Ak Gu Cheon.
If I did not dispose of him quickly, the Elite Division members would be slaughtered.
‘With this counterattack technique, I can boldly kill Ak Gu Cheon even under the identity of Seon Woo Jin.’
Having finished her deliberation, Bu Eunseol raised her iron sword high.
“Now I’ll end this.”
As Bu Eunseol lifted her iron sword toward the sky, Ak Gu Cheon let out a scornful laugh.
“That swordplay won’t work.”
Reversing the nature of toxic energy was quite subtle, but it was not a particularly effective technique for delivering fatal wounds.
Ak Gu Cheon charged forward with the Poison Strength Demonic Art firmly wrapped around his body.
Then Bu Eunseol unfolded the fourth form of the Iron Sword Thirteen Forms—One Sword Against a Thousand.
Ak Gu Cheon narrowed the distance with his arms crossed.
Even if his body were pierced through by Bu Eunseol’s iron sword, he intended to kill her in one breath.
“Die!”
Finally closing the distance to attack range, Ak Gu Cheon unleashed the first move of the Ghost Flame Stealing White technique, infused with the Poison Strength Demonic Art.
Then sharp energy pierced toward Bu Eunseol’s brow and lower abdomen.
Thrummm!
But then something astonishing occurred.
The deflected One Sword Against a Thousand move traced a semicircle through the empty air.
Suddenly, the energy that Ak Gu Cheon had unleashed from his Ghost Flame Stealing White was being wrapped around the sword’s tip—not dispersed, but coiled.
Crackle!
The force coiled around the sword’s tip traced another great circle before pouring back toward Ak Gu Cheon’s body.
‘What is this!’
Ak Gu Cheon’s eyes widened as he stared at the returning force.
‘She’s reversing not just toxic energy, but the force itself?’
Though countless swordplay techniques existed throughout Tianxia, there was no technique that unfolded a sword move to reverse the power of force.
‘I cannot evade it!’
Ak Gu Cheon quickly crossed his hands and blocked the returning Ghost Flame Stealing White move.
Boom!
In that instant, with a thunderous roar, Ak Gu Cheon’s body was sent flying upward like a severed kite before crashing to the ground.
The energy that had wrapped around Bu Eunseol’s sword and returned was several times more powerful than what he had unleashed.
Thud.
Ak Gu Cheon, who had fallen ungracefully to the ground, quickly pushed himself back up.
“Gahhh!”
But immediately after, he spat out blood dark as crimson.
The rebound of Ak Gu Cheon’s initial strike, empowered by tremendous force, had inflicted fatal internal injuries.
“What manner of swordsmanship is this….”
Ak Gu Cheon, who had been muttering in a low voice, snapped his eyes wide open.
Bu Eunseol, who had been at a distance moments before, was now crouched low and had closed the gap to mere inches from his face.
A flash of light!
In that instant, a keen hidden blade from his left hand pierced toward his chest.
A soft sound.
Yet the Poison Steel Demon Scripture remained unbroken—the blade’s tip merely grazed his skin.
“With a mere hidden blade, there is nothing you can….”
But his words never finished.
Bu Eunseol’s iron sword had already been shoved into his mouth.
“You do talk quite a lot.”
Ak Gu Cheon wanted to say something.
Yet with the sharp iron blade blocking his mouth, only a strangled “gack” sound escaped.
A wet gurgle. A heavy thud.
With his mouth pierced through, Ak Gu Cheon breathed his last in an instant.
A sharp whistle of air.
Bu Eunseol, withdrawing the blade that had run through Ak Gu Cheon, wore a dazed expression for a moment.
Iron Sword Thirteen Forms and Pear Blossom Touching Jade.
When the mysteries of this swordsmanship and martial art were woven together, a unique technique emerged that could counter any initial strike.
And this technique possessed power magnificent enough to captivate Bu Eunseol’s very heart.
‘Such extraordinary swordcraft.’
Bu Eunseol, gazing down at the blade, felt a surge of exhilaration.
The Iron Sword Thirteen Forms combined with Pear Blossom Touching Jade possessed a power like that of the perfect defensive Diamond Fish Sword merged with the heavenly retaliatory strike—a technique of unparalleled might…
Even against a master of the highest caliber, I could hold my own.
‘With this swordsmanship, I could certainly handle countless formidable foes even as Seon Woo Jin.’
Which meant…I must not reveal it except in moments of absolute desperation.
This swordsmanship must become Seon Woo Jin’s trump card. I must conceal it as much as possible.
A metallic click.
I sheathed the iron sword and turned my gaze toward the battle between the Elite Division and Gwihyo-dang.
Gwihyo-dang had just driven the Elite Division into a corner and were about to strike them down.
But as Ak Gu Cheon fell and I stared intently at them, their faces paled with shock.
‘Did you think I, as the Demonic Path’s secret agent, could not destroy Hell Blood Sect? Gong Son Dan Gyeong.’
My eyes flashed with a sharp light as I regarded the panicked poison masters.
‘Not at all. I am someone who would not hesitate to bring down Hell Blood Sect with my own hands!’
A sharp whistle!
I immediately began hurling hidden blades toward the poison masters.
“Ugh!”
“Cough!”
Though they too had mastered the Poison Steel Demon Scripture and continuously unleashed their poison techniques, it proved useless.
Poison proved ineffective against Bu Eunseol, and their toxic martial techniques were insufficient to withstand her Jade Sword technique.
Moreover, upon comprehending a new Thirteen Forms of Iron Sword fused with the Butterfly Jade technique,
I could redirect the torrential external force without even deploying sword forms.
Thud. Thud-thud-thud.
It took Bu Eunseol less than half an hour to eliminate half of the poisoners who had been pressuring the Elite Division members.
“Aid the Lord!”
Emboldened by her display, the Elite Division members surged forward to attack the poisoners.
Though only Tae Mu Ryong and Jeong Jong Do possessed exceptional martial prowess, the momentum had already shifted decisively in their favor.
The surviving poisoners attempted to retreat.
But each time, Bu Eunseol unleashed her Jade Sword technique to cut off their escape routes.
In coordination, the Elite Division members surged forward in a wave, dispatching the fleeing poisoners.
Boom.
As the final poisoner fell,
“Haah, haah.”
The Elite Division members, who had been wielding their blades like madmen, finally ceased their movements.
At last, the long and grueling battle had ended.
And the Elite Division had achieved victory against Gwihyo-dang, deemed the most fearsome faction even within Hell Blood Sect.
In truth, this was a triumph even I had not anticipated.
The members possessed far greater skill than I had expected, and despite the disadvantageous battle, they never surrendered, fighting to the bitter end.
When I finally defeated Ak Gu Cheon, they surged forward with renewed courage, overwhelming Gwihyo-dang’s poisoners through sheer fighting spirit alone.
Every member was drenched in blood, with not a single unblemished spot on their bodies.
Yet pain was absent, replaced instead by an exhilarating sensation that enveloped their entire beings.
“Uuugh….”
It was a feeling only those who had transcended the limits of body and will, surviving a death struggle, could experience.
Emotions that defied all words.
―Ooooooh!
―Aaaaah!
The members roared like beasts in unison, unprompted.
For the first time in their lives, they had fought in a melee and survived the brink of death.
Though many battles lay ahead, this first taste of victory would remain unforgettable for the rest of their lives.
“Lord.”
Tae Mu Ryong, the first to regain his composure, approached with a look of concern.
“Are you unharmed?”
“Of course.”
Clang.
Bu Eunseol sheathed her sword and took a deep breath.
Then she began inspecting the condition of her members.
Five showed signs of poisoning, and three had sustained severe injuries.
Fortunately, none had lost their lives.
The rigorous training they had endured thus far had proven its worth.
‘Yes. All I need to do is survive like this.’
Bu Eunseol had never intended to impart superior martial arts to these members from the beginning.
Instead, she had them cultivate techniques that would allow them to survive tenaciously under any circumstance.
If they could overcome crises and survive… they would surely grow stronger.
“There should be no more pursuit. Let us rest here and treat our wounds.”
Bu Eunseol let her members rest, then fed them another powerful antidote.
And to those with serious injuries, she infused her inner energy to alleviate their symptoms.
An ordinary commander would have sought a nearby physician, but Bu Eunseol freely expended her inner energy to treat her subordinates.
Her inner energy flowed endlessly, and treating wounds of this severity caused no depletion to her power.
Yet to her members, it appeared as though Bu Eunseol was generously depleting her vital energy to restore them quickly.
―If the Lord commands it, we would enter hellfire itself.
Bu Eunseol believed she was merely fulfilling her duty as a commander, but her members were silently swearing unwavering loyalty in their hearts.
* * *
Murim Alliance, Eun Wol Gak.
There stood a beautiful woman dressed in a white palace robe like snow, with a Black Shadow prostrating before her.
They were none other than the Chief Commander Gong Son Dan Gyeong and her trusted aide Chwi Myeong.
She sat with an upright posture, reading a document placed upon the table, when her eyes gleamed.
“It seems my assumptions were mistaken.”
The document contained a detailed record of the Elite Division Master Seon Woo Jin’s movements upon his return from the Yeoggyeong region.
“He persistently advised against the Wei Long Party Lord’s errors, and when his counsel went unheeded, he sent a letter to Deng Wu Dian… Upon his return journey, he was ambushed by Gwihyo-dang, yet… he instead displayed superior martial prowess and eliminated them.”
As Gong Son Dan Gyeong closed the document, a subtle light flickered in her eyes.
Until now, she had prided herself on never having her intuition proven wrong even once.
But this time, she had been completely mistaken.
The contents written in this document were compiled by the military strategist leading the Murim Alliance investigation team, and her most trusted aide.
Chwi Myeong himself.
“So he is not a Demonic Path schemer, but rather a dragon hidden in the upper realm.”
“Indeed.”
Chwi Myeong, who remained prostrate, spoke calmly.
“He has perfectly mastered Moo Ae Ja’s martial purification technique, to the point where he has no equal among the later generation masters. Rather, he stands at a level comparable to those counted among the next generation patriarchs.”
“I see.”
“Moreover, we have uncovered that it was Gwihyo-dang who killed the Iron Blade Lord. Though this negotiation has failed because of that, we can now demand proper compensation from Hell Blood Sect.”
Following the counsel of the Deng Wu Dian Master, she had merely sent them to attend the Wei Long Party.
Yet the Elite Division and Seon Woo Jin had returned with unexpected achievements.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong, who had been deep in thought, narrowed her long eyes.
“Have you met with the Seon Hwa Merchant Guild Master?”
“Yes. I have received information through our intelligence network throughout, and he stated he would visit anytime if the Ben Maeng extended an invitation.”
The aide, still bowing, spoke in a low voice.
“Moreover, he gave me three thousand silver notes as travel expenses, and sent five Seven Gold Cat’s Eye Stones and ten Golden Diamond Jade Pearls to Ben Maeng. He said to please take good care of Lord Seon Woo.”
“I see.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong, her eyes narrowed, shook her head slowly.
From beginning to end, there was not a single aspect of this person that warranted suspicion.
Even after visiting the Seon Hwa Trading Company and conducting a thorough investigation, not a trace of anything amiss could be found.
‘Could my intuition be wrong?’
Her Profound Insight Eye possessed an innate power to discern truth from falsehood without conscious thought or deliberation.
Yet when she gazed upon Seon Woo Jin, she perceived nothing.
The Profound Insight Eye failed only against those who had reached the Boundless Realm—great masters—or against exceptional monks who had cultivated to extraordinary heights.
It also could not penetrate daoists who had emptied their minds to achieve natural non-action, nor beggars.
Could it be that he, like monks and daoists, possessed a purified heart—a mind free of desire and attachment?
“Thank you for your efforts.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong nodded once her thoughts had settled.
“You may return.”
“Commander.”
Chwi Myeong bowed deeply and spoke with careful deliberation.
“And he has appeared in Murim once more.”
“….”
“He possesses not only exceptional appearance, but flawless credentials in every regard. Commander, if I may….”
“Enough.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong spoke coldly.
“I shall handle that matter myself.”
“…Understood. My apologies.”
Chwi Myeong bowed respectfully and turned to leave.
“Then.”
As Chwi Myeong departed, Gong Son Dan Gyeong exhaled a deep sigh.
“Seon Woo Jin. You too have proven to be a remarkable figure beyond my expectations. If that is the case, then I must reconsider my approach.”
Her eyes narrowed as she gazed down at the documents before her.
What if Seon Woo Jin were truly flawless, having concealed his abilities all this time?
Then it would be absolutely necessary to keep him at her side.
* * *
Murim Alliance, Deungmu Hall. Yuk Jang Cheon’s office.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Yuk Jang Cheon personally summoned Bu Eunseol upon her return to the Murim Alliance and held a private audience with her.
He lavishly praised the accomplishments of Bu Eunseol and the Elite Division.
The negotiations in Yeoggyeong had been utterly humiliating for the Murim Alliance.
Particularly because the matter had been bungled due to the excessive ambition of Yeon Ja Gang, the Lord of Wei Long Party under Deungmu Hall, Yuk Jang Cheon found it difficult to evade responsibility.
However, Bu Eunseol had uncovered the identities of those who had slain Iron Tyrant No Dok Cheong, and thanks to her, they had extracted substantial compensation from Hell Blood Castle.
Had Bu Eunseol not been sent to these negotiations, Yuk Jang Cheon himself would have suffered a grave defeat.
“Working alongside Commander Gong Son turned out to be a humiliation rather than a success.”
Deep furrows etched themselves across Yuk Jang Cheon’s brow as he sipped his tea.
“Of course, the Commander said not to concern myself with her own mistakes, but how could I, as the Hall Master, overlook such a thing?”
He was a man who coveted the vacant position of Master of Wu Tian Duan.
Even if I had accumulated countless merits, I could never feel at ease with such a grave blunder.
“Had you failed to achieve this great accomplishment, we would have faced a catastrophic disaster.”
If Bu Eunseol had not discovered the true culprit behind Iron Tyrant No Dok Cheong’s death.
If she had not extracted both substantial reparations and an apology from Hell Blood Castle as a result.
Yuk Jang Cheon would never have been considered as a candidate for the Wu Tian Duan’s leadership—he might have even faced demotion.
“How are the members of the division?”
“They are receiving excellent treatment with the healing elixir you graciously provided, Lord. We are deeply grateful.”
Yuk Jang Cheon had strongly emphasized Bu Eunseol’s merit in uncovering the true perpetrator of No Dok Cheong’s murder during the Chong Sa Hoe, and demanded appropriate compensation.
Thanks to his efforts, Bu Eunseol and the wounded members received the precious elixir.
Of course, it was merely Yuk Jang Cheon’s attempt to conceal his own failure.
“Fortunate indeed. This matter required no special intelligence—as long as you remained unharmed, that was all that mattered.”
“I’m not sure I follow, sir.”
“There is work that must be done alongside the Yeonseong Hall Master.”
Yuk Jang Cheon drew a deep breath and spoke frankly.
“While your merit has shielded me from criticism, the Wei Long Party Master’s blunder was far too grave.”
Most people remember misdeeds before accomplishments.
Fully aware of this truth, Yuk Jang Cheon intended to accumulate one more great merit, thereby erasing the Wei Long Party’s failure from the minds of the leadership.
‘That shows how desperate he truly is.’
As Bu Eunseol fell into contemplation, Yuk Jang Cheon spoke.
“This task is frankly impossible. All the leaders of the Murim Alliance have already failed at it.”
He shook his head and continued.
“But you have a habit of achieving unexpected triumphs, so I’m sending you on the slim chance of success.”
At this point, Bu Eunseol’s curiosity was thoroughly aroused.
What kind of mission could it be that all the leadership had failed, and he was sending her with nothing but hope?
“What is this mission?”
“To invite Tan Wang Buk Gung-ryeong to join the Ben Maeng as an elder.”
Bu Eunseol could not hide her shock.
Tan Wang Buk Gung-ryeong.
He had disappeared from the world, bearing the false accusation of murdering Orthodox sect masters due to a scheme orchestrated by Sam Gye.
Yet the Murim Alliance now sought to invite him as an elder?
“From what I understand, Tan Wang brutally slew Orthodox sect masters on Youling Island and abandoned Murim.”
Bu Eunseol asked with feigned surprise, and Yuk Jang Cheon shook his head.
“The truth was entirely different from what is known. Part of the Ten Legendary Treasures was hidden on Youling Island, and the Orthodox sect members slaughtered each other to obtain it.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“Tan Wang deliberately left traces of himself to conceal the shameful truth of those Orthodox sect members.”
‘How could he possibly know that?’
Such secrets were known only to Bu Eunseol and Tan Wang, who had been on Youling Island, that isolated sanctuary.
How had the Murim Alliance uncovered such a truth?
“That is remarkable. I cannot fathom how such a thing could be known.”
Bu Eunseol asked in a measured tone, and Yuk Jang Cheon stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“There was someone who survived on Youling Island, or so I heard. That’s how I came to know the truth.”
‘There was a survivor?’
“The Orthodox sect members who arrived at Youling Island had already lost their reason to the Ten Heavenly Wonders, and they killed each other early on. But Tan Wang arrived late and witnessed it, leaving behind traces of his martial techniques.”
“I see.”
As Bu Eunseol nodded, Yuk Jang Cheon spoke.
“Tan Wang has been a solitary figure standing above Murim all this time, performing many good deeds. Moreover, through this incident, I’ve come to understand his true heart and righteousness.”
After a brief sigh, he gazed outside the window and continued.
“Fortunately, we discovered his whereabouts, and several leaders from the Ben Maeng went to persuade him. If such a man were to remain buried in obscurity, it would be a great loss to Murim.”
“Mm.”
“The Ben Maeng sought to restore his honor and invite him as a public official, but… he firmly refused.”
“So that’s why the Yeonseong Hall Master is going this time.”
“Indeed. Cheong Ah is not only excellent in strategy but also had some acquaintance with Tan Wang in the past. So as a last attempt, I’m sending her from the Ben Maeng to try persuading him.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
If the Yeonseong Hall Master could accomplish what all the leaders of the Murim Alliance had failed to do regarding Tan Wang, it would be a great achievement.
“Of course, I don’t expect much.”
Even the leaders who had deep connections with Tan Wang had been coldly rejected.
So there was no way to expect that the Yeonseong Hall Master or the Elite Division Lord could accomplish such a task.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, came the sound of knocking on the door and a low voice.
“The Yuk Dang Ju of Yeonseong Hall requests an audience with the Lord.”
“Let her in.”
With soft footsteps, Yuk Cheong Ah entered wearing a blue robe.
“Lord.”
As Yuk Cheong Ah bowed, Yuk Jang Cheon nodded.
“Welcome. I was just explaining everything about this matter to Lord Seon Woo.”
“I see.”
Yuk Cheong Ah displayed a somewhat languid smile and asked Bu Eunseol.
“What are Lord Seon Woo’s thoughts? Are you confident?”
“To be honest, it seems like a completely impossible task.”
Bu Eunseol shook her head.
Unless she went with her original identity, there was absolutely no way to persuade him with Seon Woo Jin’s identity.
“As I thought.”
Yuk Cheong Ah also nodded and spoke.
“I’m not holding great expectations either. Even the leaders with connections to Tan Wang have failed in persuasion.”
“That’s true.”
“Still, from the Ben Maeng’s position, we cannot avoid going. Because Wei Long Party Master’s blunder was so grave… we need to divert attention from that incident.”
In the end, Yuk Cheong Ah too seemed to be departing without great expectations, simply to disperse the attention focused on the Wei Long Party.
“Yet going together with Lord Seon Woo is because… you’ve always achieved unexpected accomplishments.”
Yuk Cheong Ah spoke with an honest expression.
“Whether it’s luck or skill, I thought I’d borrow some of Lord Seon Woo’s fortune.”
Bu Eunseol held back a bitter smile.
If only she could refuse, she would turn away without hesitation and reject this mission entirely.
She knew all too well how stubborn Beok Goong Ryung could be.
“Then let us depart now.”
At Yuk Jang Cheon’s words, Yuk Cheong Ah took a deep breath and looked toward Bu Eunseol.
“Let’s go then.”
“Where exactly is Tan Wang staying?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Yuk Cheong Ah offered a faint smile.
“At the Jongri Estate.”
“The Jongri Estate…”
“Where Chim Wang resides.”
At Yuk Cheong Ah’s continued answer, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened considerably.
Of all places, Tan Wang was staying at the manor of Chim Wang Jong Ri Sa Hyeon—the very place where Bu Eunseol had infiltrated under a false identity.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————