The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 526

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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 526.
―The Murim Alliance had crushed the Cheon In Sect.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong commanded the Shin Wi Dan and Cheon Mu Dan, bringing down the Cheon In Sect that had thrown the Murim into chaos, and exposed their crimes to the light of day.
It was revealed that they had long ago collected the demonic blades of the Murim, and over the past decade had artificially constructed the Sword Mound on Tae Pyeong Mountain.
To awaken those demonic blades, they had spread rumors that the place was indeed the Sword Mound, drawing the blood of Murim warriors to fuel their dark purpose.
Though such facts had never been known to the Murim at large.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong, Chief of the Murim Alliance, had seen through the Cheon In Sect’s suspicious activities, finally uncovered evidence of their atrocities, and annihilated them.
―You’ve worked hard.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong, who had earned merit in the subjugation of the Cheon In Sect, received personal commendation from Jeong Cheon Je, who rarely showed his face, further solidifying her position within the Murim Alliance.
But that was not all—there was even greater fortune to come.
―Seon Woo Jin, a Second-Rank Lord of the Elite Division, was appointed as a First-Rank Lord.
In Murim history, only Cheon Geom, a disciple of Geom Joon, had become a First-Rank Lord at the age of twenty.
Moreover, Cheon Geom had not risen through merit, but rather through irregular means, relying on Geom Joon’s influence and recognition of his exceptional martial prowess.
But Seon Woo Jin was different.
Starting as a Third-Rank Lord, he had steadily accumulated merit, establishing peace with Yeol Ha Sung Palace, and more.
He had consecutively achieved numerous great and small accomplishments.
Furthermore, through his exceptional command, he had led the newly formed Elite Division to victory at the Phoenix Tournament, and was said to be such a brilliant strategist that he could command two units in place of Gong Son Dan Gyeong, who had gone to the Capital City.
And finally, in this battle against the Cheon In Sect, when the Hwan Woo Sword Brigade and Gong Son Dan Gyeong found themselves in dire peril.
He fought the Cheon In Cult Master alone and defeated him, earning recognition for his exceptional martial prowess as well.
And once his wounds healed, it was confirmed that he would formally receive the position of First-Rank Lord.
Bustling and busy.
As such rumors spread, countless figures flocked to the Bamboo Forest at the North Gate where the Elite Division was stationed.
A First-Rank Division could independently execute missions and answered only to their direct superior’s orders.
The various luminaries of the Murim Alliance, having learned of the depths of Seon Woo Jin’s power—a young man who had risen to First-Rank Lord through his own strength alone.
Were visiting in succession, seeking to establish acquaintance or build connections with him.
Even the Lords who had previously dismissed the Elite Division and Seon Woo Jin were making endless visits.
Murim Alliance, Jeol Jeong Gak. Bu Eunseol’s quarters.
“How is your body?”
Standing there was a stout figure, imposing in stature. It was Yuk Jang Cheon, Lord of Deung Mu Jeon.
“I never expected you to achieve such a great merit.”
Under normal circumstances, his mouth should have been split wide with a smile.
Yet as Yuk Jang Cheon gazed upon Bu Eunseol, who had returned having accomplished such a great deed, his eyes were somewhat darkened.
This was because she had not reported in advance to Yuk Jang Cheon about her participation in the Cheon In Sect annihilation operation.
“I apologize.”
Bu Eunseol, having discerned Yuk Jang Cheon’s true feelings, explained calmly.
“The Chief said this matter had to proceed in utmost secrecy and specially requisitioned me for the task.”
“I’ve heard as much. But shouldn’t you have given me at least a hint, even if belatedly?”
“Of course. Once I learned of such circumstances, I immediately reported to the Yeonseong Hall Lord.”
“To Cheong Ah?”
“Yes. When I asked that this was a matter requiring report to the Yuk Lord, the Chief herself met with the Yuk Dang Ju and explained everything.”
“Heh, is that so?”
Only then did Yuk Jang Cheon’s face brighten considerably.
Bu Eunseol was someone who pursued perfection as much as she possessed outstanding strategic acumen.
Even if she had received a covert proposal from the Chief Inspector, there had been numerous opportunities to quietly inform him of this fact before departing on the Cheon In Sect extermination campaign.
However, only after annihilating the Cheon In Sect did he learn all these facts, and he had been deeply disappointed in his heart.
―Was she attempting to switch from the Ben Maeng to the Chief Inspector Division?
Yuk Jang Cheon had been greatly angered at first, but soon shook his head.
Switching would serve no purpose.
There was no position in the Chief Inspector Division that Bu Eunseol should ascend to.
The only position he desired was the highest rank she could attain at her young age—the Vice-Commander seat of the Seven Great Units.
“But I’m puzzled why Cheong Ah didn’t report this to me.”
“Well, perhaps the Yuk Lord was so busy that she simply forgot.”
“Cheong Ah doesn’t forget things like that. This is strange indeed.”
Yuk Jang Cheon scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“In any case, you’ve worked hard. Once your injuries heal, there will be an inauguration ceremony. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Then, rest well.”
Yuk Jang Cheon hurried out of the room.
From the way he left, it was clear he was about to go question Yuk Cheong Ah about whether Bu Eunseol’s words were true.
And why she hadn’t reported this matter.
‘A frightening woman. The Chief Inspector.’
In truth, this was one of Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s schemes.
Had she reported formally, Yuk Jang Cheon would have readily approved her participation in the Cheon In Sect extermination operation, yet he would have harbored some suspicion about Bu Eunseol’s loyalty.
Therefore, Gong Son Dan Gyeong deliberately ordered Bu Eunseol not to report to Yuk Jang Cheon.
Then, timing it with when Yuk Jang Cheon would be away, she met with Yuk Cheong Ah directly.
Yuk Cheong Ah possessed exceptional abilities—enough to set a record as the youngest Lord—and was an ambitious person.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong knew well that she had consistently harbored competitive feelings toward her.
―Doesn’t Yeon Seong Dang or Deng Wu Dian run smoothly even without Seon Woo Dae Ju?
And Gong Son Dan Gyeong had scratched Yuk Cheong Ah’s pride when they met.
―I’d like to quietly take Seon Woo Dae Ju away, but it seems the Yuk Lord won’t approve.
Yuk Cheong Ah’s pride was deeply wounded by Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s attitude and tone, and she chose not to report to Yuk Jang Cheon about having met with her at all.
‘She said their relationship as father and daughter wasn’t normal….’
Bu Eunseol, gazing at the distant sky, shook her head.
According to Gong Son Dan Gyeong, despite being father and daughter, Yuk Jang Cheon and Yuk Cheong Ah surprisingly had a poor relationship.
Though they were superior and subordinate within the same Deng Wu Dian, the two harbored distinctly different desires from one another.
‘A frightening woman.’
Gong Son Dan Gyeong precisely saw through people’s circumstances and psychology.
She was methodically laying out a plan to create distance between the two, making Bu Eunseol completely her own person.
* * *
After concluding the Cheon In Sect’s annihilation and returning to the Murim Alliance, Gong Son Dan Gyeong immediately convened the Grand Leader Council and submitted a proposal to promote Bu Eunseol to First-Class Lord.
And with unanimous consent from all the Lords, I received approval for my promotion to First-Rank Lord.
The two Deputy Division Commanders who had participated in the battle alongside me—Muk In Hyeok and Seong Jo Young—praised me endlessly.
And there was no Lord bold enough to oppose their opinion.
However, a subtle problem arose from this.
While the Elite Division was called a multipurpose division, its primary function was the work of the Information Division.
Though the members’ exceptional abilities had been proven through the Phoenix Tournament and various missions, they had never actually accumulated the kind of merit worthy of being recognized as a First-Rank Division.
―Then let us promote Seon Woo Dae Ju to fill the vacancy of First-Rank Sword Lord created by this Cheon In Sect annihilation battle.
After careful deliberation, the leadership of the Murim Alliance decided to send me to another First-Rank Sword Division as its Sword Lord.
But I firmly refused.
―I am the Lord of the Elite Division. I will share life and death with my members.
To remain with the members I had always led, I rejected the promotion to First-Rank Lord.
―Is this person insane?
Most martial artists in the Murim Alliance shook their heads in disbelief.
For young martial artists, a First-Rank Lord position was…
Recognition as a next-generation master, the ability to conduct independent operations when necessary—truly a dream position combining both honor and power.
Yet to refuse such a position outright for the sake of sharing hardship with one’s members?
It was a decision no one in their right mind would make.
―You’ve become a true person. Excellent!
In contrast, the leadership could not hide their satisfaction.
A commander who shares life and death with their members and takes responsibility for their subordinates to the very end.
That was the image of a commander the Murim Alliance had always emphasized.
In the past, Cheon Geom had failed to do so, and as a result, hadn’t the Murim Alliance suffered tremendous disgrace?
―The Elite Division Lord’s such decision will serve as a warning bell to young Lords who pursue only status and honor, and will become an excellent exemplar for many martial artists of our Alliance!
Bu Eunseol, who refused promotion to First-Rank Lord to share hardship with her members.
For such loyalty, the Murim Alliance provided an unprecedented reward.
―Promote the Elite Division to a First-Rank Information Division, and allow Lord Seon Woo Jin access to this floor of the Yeongak Dojeon for four days, while the remaining members may enter the first floor!
The senior figures of the Murim Alliance, for the Elite Division Lord who refused to assume the position of First-Rank Lord,
Instead recognized the Elite Division as a First-Rank Information Division, and granted Seon Woo Jin access to this floor of the Yeongak Dojeon for four days.
And they decided to open the first floor to the members.
―The old masters truly had their hearts won over.
Those who heard the news could not hide their envy.
The second floor of the Yeongak Dojeon was a place one could only enter when First-Rank Lords or Lords of similar rank had accomplished merit.
Yet to open such a place upon promotion—
It was an unprecedented extraordinary reward.
―A new generation of masters will be born in our Alliance.
Through this incident, the name Seon Woo Jin became deeply imprinted in the minds of all martial artists in the Murim Alliance.
But the world did not know.
That this was merely a harbinger of the storm that the figure known as Seon Woo Jin would bring.
Bu Eunseol and the Elite Division members headed toward Seo Moon, where the Yeongak Dojeon was located, following Wi Sa’s guidance.
The Yeongak Dojeon.
It referred to a section within the Murim Alliance’s Library Pavilion where the secret martial arts manuals and forbidden techniques of each faction were stored.
Typically, library pavilions that housed secret martial arts were situated in extremely concealed locations, with numerous mechanisms installed to prevent outsiders and thieves from entering.
However, Yeongak Dojeon was neither hidden nor equipped with any special mechanisms.
This was because it stood directly across from Gunkon Pavilion, where the Murim Alliance Lord resided—the most heavily guarded location within the entire alliance, with high-ranking officials constantly moving in and out.
‘Gunkon Pavilion.’
As I followed Wi Sa down the corridor, I gazed at the distant palace hall and drew a deep breath.
There resided Jeong Cheon Je, the foremost master of the Orthodox Sects.
And Jeong Cheon Je’s other identity was that of Shin San Ja, the greatest sage of Murim—the one who had given me the name Seon Woo Jin.
I was rising rapidly through the ranks, accumulating merit with each passing day.
And Shin San Ja—or rather, Jeong Cheon Je—would certainly be taking notice of this.
‘What could he be thinking?’
Was he pleased with my rapid ascent through the ranks according to plan?
Why was he helping me seek revenge against the Lord who had killed my grandfather? What exactly did he desire?
Rumble.
At that moment, the tightly sealed doors of Yeongak Dojeon opened with a low tremor, and a benevolent-looking elderly man emerged.
His eyebrows were entirely white, and beneath his neatly combed hair gleamed clear eyes that seemed to hold the vastness of the azure sky.
Though his stature and frame were quite small, he possessed the bearing of one like a celestial immortal.
He was none other than Mok Do In, the Hidden Forest Pavilion Master who managed Yeongak Dojeon.
“Seon Woo Jin offers respectful greetings to the Pavilion Master.”
As I bowed respectfully, my attendants followed suit with their salutations.
“Welcome, welcome.”
Mok Do In smiled as if he had been expecting me, his gaze fixed upon me.
“So the dragon hiding within the Merchant Realm is as remarkable as the rumors suggest.”
“You are too kind with your praise.”
“Come now, do not waste this precious time. Let us proceed inside.”
I followed Mok Do In into Yeongak Dojeon.
The first floor interior was furnished with antique tables and chairs, while bookshelves packed densely with volumes stretched endlessly into the distance.
Since this was a floor accessible to ordinary martial artists upon accumulating merit, there were surprisingly many people visible within the first floor.
‘This is quite different from the Manma Yujin Pavilion.’
Even on the first floor of the Manma Yujin Pavilion in the Demon Palace, martial artists managing the secret archives strictly guarded the interior.
And it was structured so that such large numbers of people could not enter all at once.
Yet here in Yeongak Dojeon, numerous people gathered as if it were any ordinary faction’s library pavilion, reading books without restriction.
‘I must change the atmosphere of the Demon Palace as well.’
In the Demonic Path, power is authority itself.
Therefore, even the first floor of the Manma Yujin Pavilion had extremely stringent conditions for entry.
Without explicit permission from the highest echelon like Ma Cheon Je or Chong Gyo Ryeong, not even those with considerable merit could access the first floor.
But the Murim Alliance could open Yeongak Dojeon whenever the majority of senior members agreed.
And they were providing as many martial artists as possible with the opportunity to study secret martial arts manuals.
Perhaps it was precisely this contrasting atmosphere that
led me to the realization that the Murim Alliance’s power surpassed that of the Demon Palace.
“You’re permitted access to this level, so feel free to head up immediately.”
Mok Do In withdrew a silver token engraved with a phoenix from his robes and handed it to Bu Eunseol.
“Wear this token at your waist. For the next four days, you can move freely through this level.”
“Thank you.”
Mok Do In smiled warmly as he gazed at Bu Eunseol.
“Though the time is brief, I hope you make significant progress.”
Bu Eunseol and the Elite Division members bowed once more in gratitude.
“Lord. I still can’t believe this is real and not a dream.”
At that moment, Tae Mu Ryong spoke up, his voice trembling with emotion.
“We’ve all actually made it into Yeongak Dojeon.”
“Indeed, we have.”
Jeong Jong Do also couldn’t hide his excitement.
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
“Four days is not such a long time.”
Then she spoke with conviction to her members.
“Let us meet again in four days, transformed.”
“Yes!”
The members immediately bowed to Bu Eunseol and scattered toward the Book Repository in a rush.
Watching them depart, Bu Eunseol immediately climbed the stairs leading to this level.
Having read countless secret martial arts texts from the Orthodox Sects in Martial Emperor’s Secret Archive, I harbored no great expectations for Yeongak Dojeon.
Still, since this was supposedly the famous Library Pavilion of the Murim Alliance, I thought I’d take a cursory look to see what was available.
Thump, thump.
I ascended the stairs to this level.
Upon reaching this floor, a long corridor came into view.
‘So this is how they prevent secret texts from leaking outside.’
The long corridor seemed equipped with mechanical devices—faint metallic friction sounds echoed through it, and I sensed the presence of hidden masters stationed within.
Unless one destroyed Yeongak Dojeon itself,
one had to pass through this long corridor to exit.
The Murim Alliance appeared to use this corridor to block outsiders from entering and to verify that those passing through didn’t leak the secret texts.
‘They’re not refraining from surveillance—they’re simply concealing it.’
A faint smirk crossed my lips.
I’d thought it was freer and less monitored than Man Ma Yu Jin Gak, but it was merely that the surveillance wasn’t made obvious.
Finally reaching this level, I opened my eyes wide.
Books lined in the shelves.
Unlike the first floor filled with ancient texts, all the secret manuals here were new.
‘They rewrote all these secret texts anew?’
Surveying my surroundings, I pulled out a book casually placed on the shelf.
Heavenly Wind Sword Manual.
The swordsmanship of the Heavenly Wind Sect, which gained renown two hundred years ago for their chaotic blade techniques.
Yet the Heavenly Wind Sect was merely a second-rate faction. So why would their sword arts be placed here?
A soft rustling sound.
Sensing something amiss, he began to decipher the martial manual.
“This cannot be.”
The sword techniques inscribed in the Cheon Pung Sword Manual were not from two hundred years ago.
They were newly refined Cheon Pung sword techniques.
‘So that’s what it was.’
Bu Eunseol, who had been reading the secret manual, received a fresh shock.
The Murim Alliance did not merely preserve the outstanding martial arts that had once flourished in the past.
Rather, they continuously researched and improved upon them, advancing martial arts to new heights.
‘This is the true foundation of the Murim Alliance.’
Of course, the Demon Hall also had places where martial arts were restored or newly improved.
However, they did not improve or restore so many secret manuals all at once, but only selected a few outstanding martial arts for such work.
Yet the Murim Alliance had refined the Cheon Pung sword technique of the Cheon Pung Sect, which had not even gained particular renown two hundred years ago.
And created it anew as an exceptional sword technique.
This meant that the number of talented individuals belonging to the Murim Alliance was at a level the Demon Hall could never hope to match.
‘They truly have many exceptional talents.’
Bu Eunseol nodded faintly.
The fact that such second-rate sword techniques had been refined was partly due to the abundance of talent.
But it was likely also because these exceptional talents had long devoted themselves to researching foundational martial arts for lower-ranked warriors.
In other words, the Murim Alliance paid meticulous attention not only to exceptional martial artists but also to the lower-ranked warriors who formed the foundation of the organization.
‘Just as a building must have a sturdy base, so too must an organization.’
Unlike the Demon Hall, the Murim Alliance had not overlooked this principle.
‘The Demon Hall must learn this lesson as well.’
Bu Eunseol, who had been marveling continuously, began to survey the secret manuals on the shelves once more.
Unlike the first floor, the secret manuals on this level
were certainly filled with exceptional martial arts that only those of Lord rank could master, or martial arts that had been exceptionally refined.
However, there were no martial arts that particularly caught Bu Eunseol’s eye or that she felt compelled to learn.
‘It seems the absolute techniques here are insufficient to serve as Seon Woo Jin’s foundation.’
The new generation of sect leaders each studied the highest-level ascending martial arts they had attained.
The secret manuals here were all exceptional techniques.
Yet for Seon Woo Jin, who would soon have to challenge for the position of Lord, they felt somewhat lacking.
‘Wait, if it’s about refinement….’
As Bu Eunseol scanned through the secret manuals, a sudden thought occurred to her.
The martial arts here were generally refinements of existing martial arts.
So then, based on the secret manuals here, could she not refine the Thirteen Forms of the Iron Sword and create a breakthrough technique from it?

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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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