The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 518
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 518.
A Demon Blade that devours Demon Blades.
This iron sword was none other than the Demon-Slaying Blade, forged specifically to consume Demon Blades.
“The Demon-Slaying Blade…”
Bu Eunseol gazed intently at the sword resting in her palm.
She had never even heard rumors of a blade whose surface could inscribe and erase patterns in such a manner.
“Moreover.”
Thanks to the power flowing from this sword, the meridians that had been blocked within her opened, allowing her to channel her inner energy and eliminate Cheon Hwa In.
In other words, this Demon-Slaying Blade, like the Divine Sword and Demonic Blade, possessed extraordinary capabilities.
“Is it asking to be taken with me?”
Bu Eunseol shook her head as she felt the subtle vibrations transmitted through the sword’s hilt.
She had never intended to wield a Demon Blade in the first place, and once everything was resolved, she planned to completely demolish Geom Chong and destroy all the Demon Blades within it.
The Demon-Slaying Blade, being closer to a Demon Blade than a Divine Sword, was naturally something that should be destroyed.
Yet because it had saved her from mortal peril, she found herself unable to bring herself to destroy it.
Whoooosh.
The Demon-Slaying Blade sent forth another low vibration.
Then a sudden realization flashed through her mind.
The power of the Four Gods originates from the great natural world itself.
It inherently carries the essence of transcendence within it.
In other words, a blade capable of channeling such divine power would not be a Demon Weapon that brings harm to humanity.
“Very well.”
Bu Eunseol spoke, regarding the iron sword before her.
“For now, we shall travel together. However.”
She spoke with cold eyes and solemn gravity.
“If you ever crave blood or make demands of me, I will destroy you without hesitation.”
Whoooooosh!
The Demon-Slaying Blade rang out with a powerful resonance, as if answering that its only prey was Demon Blades.
Bu Eunseol emerged from Tae Pyeong Mountain.
Not only had the Geom Chong created by the Cheon In Sect been destroyed, but the middle slopes of Tae Pyeong Mountain connected to it lay in near-total ruin.
Moreover, not a single member of the Cheon In Sect could be found.
It seemed that while the mechanism collapsed, they had all fled, and those who remained had been slaughtered by Cheon Hwa In, who had been consumed by the Cheon In Blood.
“A truly absurd outcome.”
The Cheon In Sect Tae Pyeong Branch had attempted to awaken the Demon Blades they had collected, only to meet complete ruin.
But why would they entrust a terrifying Demon Blade like the Cheon In Blood to Cheon Hwa In, who hailed from the Hua Shan Sect?
They could not have been unaware that he was a member of the Orthodox Path.
Furthermore, where had all the other Demon Blades they had awakened gone?
Many questions arose, yet no matter how much she pondered, she could find no answers.
“I still have much to learn.”
Bu Eunseol exhaled a heavy sigh as she gazed upon the ruined landscape of Tae Pyeong Mountain.
“This time, I truly came close to death.”
Until now, I had steadily elevated my martial prowess, confident that none could match me save the masters of the Infinite Realm.
Yet Bu Eunseol harbored a fundamental flaw within herself.
Powerful forces dwelled dormant in my body—forces that could neither blend nor harmonize with one another.
Each was a masterwork in its own right, a triumph of its respective domain.
Yet when all were contained within a single canvas, they ceased to be masterworks at all.
―To suppress or harmonize the energies within your body, you need the power of the Four Gods.
Gong Son Dan Ah’s counsel echoed through my mind.
And her words had proven true.
Upon obtaining the Crystal Divine Artifact and the Thunder Divine Artifact, I could wield the power of harmony and save my own life.
Thus, the only path forward was to acquire all the power of the Four Gods.
“For now, let us return.”
What mattered most was reporting everything about the Cheon In Sect Tae Pyeong Branch and earning Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s trust.
‘She will surely entrust me with something significant.’
Bu Eunseol could sense it.
By resolving this incident at the Cheon In Sect Tae Pyeong Branch, I had earned the opportunity to become Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s trusted aide.
Whoosh.
After recovering the fragments of the Cheon In Blood, Bu Eunseol
—burst forth—
immediately deployed her lightness technique toward the north, where the Murim Alliance lay.
Yet she remained ignorant of the most crucial truth.
Because of this incident.
Because of obtaining that strange Demonic Sword.
She had become a candidate for the succession of the most terrifying heir of the Sam Gye—one who had remained hidden until now.
* * *
Murim Alliance, Eun Wol Gak. Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s office.
Bu Eunseol reported everything she had investigated within Geom Chong, leaving nothing out, detailing every discovery.
Save for a few facts—that she had obtained an iron sword capable of destroying the Demonic Sword, and that she had slain the Ghost-Face Messenger.
These she omitted from her account.
―…[earlier omitted] I secretly stole the Ghost-Face Messenger’s key and infiltrated the Secret Passage beneath Geom Chong.
There, I discovered and destroyed the apparatus that injected the blood of martial artists, whereupon Geom Chong began to collapse… [later omitted]…
She nodded as she reviewed Bu Eunseol’s report.
Within it lay detailed accounts of what they had plotted, the cruelty of their deeds—all meticulously recorded.
“You have endured much hardship.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong smiled broadly and commended Bu Eunseol, who stood across from her.
Until now, she had sent capable intelligence operatives to infiltrate the Tae Pyeong Branch, yet not a single one had returned.
Had it not been for Bu Eunseol,
they would never have known why the Cheon In Sect Tae Pyeong Branch had suddenly collapsed, nor what they had truly been doing.
“I was fortunate.”
Bu Eunseol drew a deep breath and spoke.
“Had matters gone awry, I too would have perished in that place.”
It was sincere.
Had I not obtained the Crystal Divine Artifact and the Lightning Divine Artifact.
Had I been unable to sustain the power of harmony within my body for so long.
Even with the skill to soar through the heavens, I would have been buried alive alongside Geom Chong.
“You’ve endured much.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong nodded with satisfaction.
“And now we can finally share a truly candid conversation.”
She erased her smile and spoke with utmost gravity.
“Let us move to a different location.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong led Bu Eunseol to a secret space within her office.
It was a chamber remarkably similar to the one Bu Eunseol had installed in Sayeong Hall—utterly concealed and secure.
Like Bu Eunseol herself, she clearly understood that ears existed in every corner and was acutely vigilant against them.
“Seon Woo Dae Ju. Everything I am about to tell you is classified at the highest level.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong spoke with the utmost solemnity.
“Since the Elite Division serves as the Information Division, you surely understand what would happen if my words were leaked to outsiders.”
“Of course.”
As Bu Eunseol answered immediately, she drew a deep breath and continued.
“Within Murim, there exist extremely secretive factions known only to the highest echelons. I suspect that even you, Seon Woo Dae Ju, must harbor certain suspicions by now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Could it not be that there exists a force manipulating each Orthodox Sect within Murim? Could there not be hidden individuals controlling the leaders of each faction… That is the question I speak of.”
At her direct words, Bu Eunseol feigned surprise.
“Indeed. Observing several recent incidents within Murim, I have been unable to shake such thoughts.”
“It is true.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong spoke with firm conviction.
“Such factions currently exist within Murim. They are called the Infinite Realm—a secret conspiratorial organization.”
This time, Bu Eunseol’s expression reflected genuine astonishment.
Someone of Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s caliber would surely possess some understanding of Sam Gye.
Yet why did she specifically mention the Infinite Realm rather than Sam Gye?
‘That would mean.’
A faint gleam flickered in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Perhaps despite ascending to the position of Chief, Gong Son Dan Gyeong had yet to obtain definitive information regarding Sam Gye.
Or perhaps, knowing full well, she had deliberately revealed only the name of the Infinite Realm.
‘Both possibilities exist.’
Not all leaders of the Orthodox Sects necessarily possessed knowledge of Sam Gye.
Yet someone of Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s stature could hardly be ignorant of it. The latter probability seemed far more likely.
“The Infinite Realm. A peculiar name indeed.”
Bu Eunseol asked, clearing the thoughts from her mind.
“But why has such an organization remained unknown to Murim?”
“Those who know of the Infinite Realm are extremely limited. Most of the senior figures within the Orthodox Sects remain ignorant of it.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong spoke with measured calm.
“Even if I wanted to destroy the Infinite Realm, their power is simply too formidable. I don’t even know where or how to strike, which is precisely why I’m struggling.”
It was an even more astonishing revelation.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong was attempting to destroy the Infinite Realm?
Anyone who understood the Three Realms would never make such a claim lightly.
Even I, the successor to Nangya Pavilion and the future master of Demon Palace, could not dare to annihilate them.
I’ve been considering a gradual, piecemeal approach over an extended period. Yet she was aiming for the complete destruction of the Infinite Realm?
‘What on earth could her reason be?’
Bu Eunseol had an absolute motive: revenge.
But Gong Son Dan Gyeong had no such compelling reason, did she?
Could she possibly have adopted such a goal out of a desire to uphold justice in Murim?
“The fact that you speak such words in this secret chamber suggests this is not an official position as Chief.”
Bu Eunseol cut straight to the point, and Gong Son Dan Gyeong nodded.
“Correct. Their influence is not only spread covertly throughout the Orthodox Sects, but also exists within the Murim Alliance itself. If I were to openly display hostility toward them, it would be nothing short of suicide.”
“I see.”
“I have been searching for individuals of exceptional ability who remain unknown to Murim. Only such people can stand against the Infinite Realm.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s eyes gleamed.
“Can you guess why I seek individuals with such specific conditions?”
“Perhaps because those already exceptional are likely to have been recruited by them.”
“Precisely.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong let out an exclamation of admiration.
But Bu Eunseol deliberately adopted an embarrassed expression and spoke.
“As you say, Chief, I have neither gained great renown nor high position, so there would be no reason for them to recruit me.”
“Not at all.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong regarded Bu Eunseol with eyes of piercing sharpness.
“From the very beginning until now, I have continuously suspected Seon Woo Dae Ju. It’s simply that no matter how much I’ve investigated, I’ve found no evidence.”
“What do you mean?”
“Seon Woo Dae Ju. I believe there is a very high probability that you are a traitor who has been recruited by the Infinite Realm or some external force.”
Bu Eunseol momentarily lost her words, her mouth falling open.
“If you suspect me, why would you tell me such things?”
“The reason is simple.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s eyes sparkled with the cold brilliance of starlight.
“Even if you are a traitor, your exceptional ability is far too valuable not to exploit.”
‘So that’s why she rose to the position of Chief at such a young age.’
Bu Eunseol could not help but admire her bold judgment and confidence.
Even if Bu Eunseol were truly a traitor.
She was confident she could manipulate him to her advantage.
Which meant that Gong Son Dan Gyeong, too.
Was someone capable of using anything and anyone for the sake of her goals, just as Bu Eunseol was.
“Though it would be even better if you weren’t.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong displayed an utterly candid smile.
“If Seon Woo Dae Ju isn’t a spy, then he could certainly become my person.”
She paused for a moment, then shook her head.
“I’ve said too much.”
Then she met Bu Eunseol’s gaze directly and continued.
“I won’t say things like ‘become my person.’ Someone of Seon Woo Dae Ju’s caliber would want a more solid bond.”
“It seems you won’t believe me even if I deny being a spy.”
“I won’t deny that.”
“Yet you’ll still make me a proposal.”
Bu Eunseol met Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s eyes directly and asked.
“A sweet enough proposal that I couldn’t refuse even if I were a spy.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong answered with a faint smile instead of words.
She enjoyed conversing with those of keen intellect.
Because in the words of the intelligent lay the effort to read their opponent’s true intentions,
and until the conversation ended, a tense atmosphere persisted like walking on thin ice.
And Gong Son Dan Gyeong was someone who savored tension more than anyone.
“Precisely.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong took a deep breath and uttered something shocking.
“I intend to elevate Seon Woo Dae Ju to the vacant position of Wu Tian Duan Lord.”
“…!”
“In place of the Deng Wu Jeon Lord.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened.
Despite having accumulated considerable merit, I held only the rank of a secondary Lord within the Murim Alliance.
Moreover, at not yet thirty years old, how could I possibly ascend to the position of a Unit Lord?
“Seon Woo Dae Ju must be thinking: how could such a thing be possible in this rigid Murim Alliance that places such emphasis on hierarchy and distribution? Am I wrong?”
“At first, I thought so, but not anymore.”
“Why is that?”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
“Because the person who shattered that notion is sitting right before my eyes.”
That was true.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong had risen to the position of Chief of the Murim Alliance at thirty years old.
In light of the Murim Alliance’s history, which placed extreme emphasis on distribution and hierarchy, such a thing should have been absolutely impossible.
Yet she had accomplished it.
Which meant she possessed the power to make such things possible once more.
“How convenient for Seon Woo Dae Ju that you need not speak twice.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong smiled broadly.
“What do you say? With conditions like these, will you join hands with me?”
“Do you believe I possess the capability for such a role?”
“Of course.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong regarded him with unwavering certainty.
“I’ve sensed it for some time, but this mission made it clear. Seon Woo Dae Ju—you’re concealing considerable power.”
“….”
“If you join hands with me, there will be no need to hide your strength. Your abilities will become mine.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong drew out her conclusion once more.
“I’d appreciate it if you could make a decision now.”
Bu Eunseol couldn’t answer immediately.
This proposal from Gong Son Dan Gyeong was—
a betrayal of Yuk Jang Cheon, who had trusted her implicitly until now and sought to grant her every opportunity to earn merit.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s large eyes brimmed with confidence, and a faint smile played at her lips.
She believed in something.
That Bu Eunseol would inevitably betray Yuk Jang Cheon.
“You believe I possess the ability to defeat Dae Ju Yuk.”
To ascend to the position of Wu Tian Duan Lord, one ultimately had to surpass even Yuk Jang Cheon, the Grand Master of Martial Arts known as Jang Wang among the Four Gods Seven Kings.
And Gong Son Dan Gyeong had wagered that Bu Eunseol would emerge victorious even against Yuk Jang Cheon.
Even knowing the probability that he might be a hidden agent.
‘Remarkable. Truly a terrifying woman.’
To become the successor of the Demon Palace, I had endured countless schemes and intrigues, engaging in life-or-death struggles.
Yet Gong Son Dan Gyeong, who seemed as though she had lived her entire life like a delicate flower in a greenhouse, was living a life not so different from mine.
“I would think that someone of Seon Woo Dae Ju’s caliber would have already finished their calculations. Am I wrong?”
Bu Eunseol opened her mouth in response to Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s confident gaze.
“There is one thing that troubles me.”
“Speak.”
“What happens if I refuse?”
The moment Bu Eunseol refuses, the critical secret that Gong Son Dan Gyeong is opposing the Infinite Realm would be exposed to danger.
And her relationship with Yuk Jang Cheon, with whom she had maintained good standing, would immediately fall apart.
A person like her would surely have prepared countermeasures for such a scenario.
But an unexpected answer came back.
“Nothing happens.”
“What do you mean?”
“Such a thing will absolutely never occur.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong gazed at Bu Eunseol with eyes full of certainty.
“Because Seon Woo Dae Ju will definitely accept my proposal.”
From her large eyes, which resembled the sea, a profound light emanated.
“You desire to climb above the Murim Alliance as soon as possible. Desperately so.”
“….”
“Otherwise, you would never have entered under Deng Wu Jeon Ju. Not while rejecting the interest and favor of Sung Wi Dan Ju.”
Perhaps this was all too obvious.
I had kicked away the sturdy bridge of the Sungwi Unit and stepped onto the unstable bridge of the Deng Wu Dian.
There was only one reason.
I held the conviction that I could elevate Yuk Jang Cheon to Lord and ascend to Vice Lord myself.
To others, it seemed like an empty dream, but I possessed the ability to make it reality.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong had not only seen through Bu Eunseol’s plan but was certain she possessed the capability to execute it.
‘A perilous path, yet undeniably alluring.’
Elevating Yuk Jang Cheon to the position of Wu Tian Duan Lord while she herself became Vice Lord—this was the optimal strategy Bu Eunseol had conceived.
Yet even this would demand considerable time.
Moreover, the authority of a Vice Lord alone might not grant access to the inner circles of the Murim Alliance.
But if she became one of the Seven Lords?
There would be no need for such concerns whatsoever.
‘There is no choice to be made.’
Bu Eunseol clasped her hands together.
“I accept your proposal, Chief.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong nodded as though she had expected nothing less.
“A wise decision.”
She drew a deep breath, her eyes gleaming as she fixed her gaze upon Bu Eunseol.
“Then we must swiftly elevate Seon Woo Dae Ju to First-Rank Lord.”
In times past, Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s authority as Chief alone would have sufficed to appoint a First-Rank Lord.
Those of Lord rank and above possessed the authority to make such appointments.
Yet when Geom Joon’s disciple Cheon Geom ascended to First-Rank Lord through such means, the Murim Alliance suffered irreversible disgrace and humiliation.
Since then, the Murim Alliance had rendered it impossible to appoint through mere connections without merit.
To appoint a First-Rank Lord, a majority of those of Lord rank must now ratify the appointment.
Majority consent from those of Lord rank.
This meant one must accumulate such extraordinary merit that a First-Rank appointment became unavoidable.
“You seem unsurprised.”
“There is nothing surprising about it.”
Bu Eunseol harbored no doubt regarding Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s words.
For she possessed both the strength and wisdom to accomplish such things.
“This is likely connected to the Cheon In Sect incident as well.”
“You had already anticipated this.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s expression reflected genuine admiration.
The more she conversed with Bu Eunseol, the more certain she became that the woman possessed wisdom comparable to her own.
And this realization brought her immeasurable satisfaction.
If Bu Eunseol’s capabilities exceeded her expectations, she would be capable of handling far more intricate and demanding matters.
“Through the incident caused by the Cheon In Sect Tae Pyeong Branch, our Alliance has gained justification to deal with them.”
“Then…”
“I intend to mobilize forces immediately and strike the Cheon In Sect’s main temple.”
Bu Eunseol drew a deep breath.
Though the Cheon In Sect’s history was not particularly long, it had already grown into a formidable religious organization dominating the Yellow River Region.
Particularly because they were not merely a martial force but included common folk within their ranks.
Striking such a place would require substantial justification.
“Even with justification, this will prove no simple matter.”
The Yangmun Mountain area where the Cheon In Sect had established itself was a natural fortress of the highest order—a thousand defenders could hold back ten thousand troops.
Especially since there are only two paths to enter that place.
If combat erupts, we can employ various stratagems to prevent a large force from entering at all.
“The collapse of the Cheon In Sect is merely inevitable, after all.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong spoke with eyes gleaming brightly.
“The real question is how to accumulate enough merit in this expedition to elevate Seon Woo Dae Ju to a first-rank Lord.”
Tap.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong unfolded a map on the table and smiled toward Bu Eunseol.
“Let us discuss that strategy now.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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