The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 602

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

Chapter 602.
“Shin San Ja.”
Bu Eunseol murmured softly, her gaze fixed intently upon the tattered robes that only an elderly diviner would wear.
“Is he impersonating the Murim Alliance Leader?”
Bu Eunseol found herself bewildered.
Jeong Cheon Je, the pillar upon which the Orthodox Sects stood—if he truly had perished…
Then the term “Jeong Ma Ssang Cheon Je” could no longer exist within the current Murim.
Could it be that the leadership of the Murim Alliance, unable to publicly declare this fact, was systematically concealing Jeong Cheon Je’s death?
Or had Sam Gye, coiled within the Alliance, slain Jeong Cheon Je?
‘No, that cannot be.’
Bu Eunseol, who had once met Ak Moo Ryung in private audience, could sense it clearly.
Even if Sam Gye dominated Tianxia,
they still dared not touch supreme masters like In Ma Ak Moo Ryeong.
Ak Moo Ryung, called the mightiest among Samma.
He would never tolerate those who lorded over him, and his martial prowess was already showing signs of piercing even the Celestial Realm itself.
If one left him alone, provoking Jeong Ma Ssang Cheon Je and fighting to the death,
then from Sam Gye’s perspective, it would leave behind a calamity they could not control.
Yet Sam Gye still dared not touch him.
But Jeong Cheon Je, ranked even higher than him, had been slain by someone?
That was utterly nonsensical.
‘One thing is certain—it was not the Murim Alliance.’
Bu Eunseol shook her head.
If they had sought to conceal Jeong Cheon Je’s death,
there would be no need to install an ice jade coffin in the underground of Yeongak Dojeon and hide the corpse there.
“What manner of place is the Murim Alliance, truly?”
A sigh escaped unbidden.
The Demon Palace is rife with schemes and treachery, yet the deeds committed there are those humans might perpetrate.
But the Murim Alliance is different.
It is as though demons wearing human masks gather to commit acts beyond imagination.
The term “Bok Ma Jeon” suited the Murim Alliance far better than the Demon Palace itself.
“No matter how I look at it, these are robes only diviners would wear.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed as she gazed upon the garments preserved in the Stone Chamber.
Could all of this be the work of Shin San Ja?
If the one lying dead in the ice jade coffin were truly Jeong Cheon Je… could Shin San Ja be playing his role?
‘If Jeong Cheon Je suffered grave wounds and has been quietly in seclusion… and if he feigned death at this opportune moment…’
This deduction held credibility.
He who had fought Ma Cheon Je had sustained severe injuries.
Taking this chance to eliminate Sam Gye’s agents rooted within the Murim Alliance, he feigned death…
And Sam Gye, deceived by this stratagem, may have placed a false Alliance Leader.
‘Or conversely, they may have entrusted the position of Alliance Leader to Shin San Ja.’
Perhaps Jeong Cheon had entrusted the position of Alliance Leader to Shin San Ja temporarily while he departed to treat his injuries.
“If that’s the case.”
Bu Eunseol this time touched the character for ‘World’ (世).
Click, click.
Then a metallic sound rang out, and the Ice Jade Coffin itself transformed into a gleaming golden rectangular metal.
“Earthly Extreme Mysterious Iron….”
The surface of that metal was composed of Earthly Extreme Mysterious Iron, its thickness too immense to gauge.
It seemed a master craftsman had created a mechanism capable of protecting the Eternal Ice Jade Coffin.
“Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle?”
Remarkably, on the exterior of the metal mass that the Ice Jade Coffin had become, there remained three hundred ninety-five sword marks scattered throughout, bearing striking resemblance to the Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle technique.
“They unleashed a sword technique directly upon the Ice Jade Coffin?”
This was incomprehensible.
Regardless of the truth, they had poured an absolute sword technique like the Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle upon the Ice Jade Coffin containing a corpse bearing Jeong Cheon’s visage?
Bu Eunseol examined the sword marks etched upon the surface once more with keen attention.
‘At minimum, four individuals….’
The Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle technique could only be deployed in a single, unified motion.
Yet the traces carved upon the coffin’s surface appeared as though four masters had divided its execution among themselves.
Four distinct sword marks had been left behind.
‘Then did four individuals divide the execution of the Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle technique?’
The Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle was an absolute sword art that the human body could never perfectly manifest.
Then had four formidable masters each learned a portion of it, before simultaneously deploying the Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle technique?
Of course, theoretically it was possible.
But if four individuals had combined their strength, it could not truly be called a perfect Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle technique.
Moreover, why would they deploy sword techniques upon the metal portion enveloping the Ice Jade Coffin, rather than upon Jeong Cheon himself?
“I shall examine this once more.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes continuously traced the marks etched upon the metal surface.
Though it appeared to have been executed flawlessly, it was indeed divided into four portions, revealing minute fractures.
“What I can perceive extends only to one hundred ninety-eight seconds.”
The marks left upon the coffin’s surface contained every transformation of the Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle.
Yet because I had not obtained the culmination of the Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle, from one hundred ninety-eight seconds onward, I could not properly discern how the sword technique continued or from where.
‘Conversely, this means I have obtained a sword result capable of deploying one hundred ninety-eight seconds in a single, unified motion.’
Bu Eunseol was in a state of having forcibly memorized the three hundred ninety-five transformations of the Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle technique.
If I were to deploy the sword technique based on these scars, one hundred ninety-eight seconds.
That is, I would have obtained nearly half of the Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle technique’s culmination.
‘This will prove invaluable in critical moments.’
If I could perfectly manifest the transformations of one hundred ninety-eight seconds, corresponding to roughly half of the perfect Sword Ascetic Heaven Circle technique?
It would be no different than creating a formidable vacuum for Seon Woo Jin.
“Oh!”
Bu Eunseol, who had been memorizing the sword technique’s transformations for some time, let out an exclamation.
Having examined the sword marks in a state of distraction.
Only belatedly did I realize that a considerable amount of time had slipped away.
“If what lies within this coffin truly is Jeong Cheon Je….”
Bu Eunseol bowed respectfully before the ice jade coffin that had transformed into metal.
Though he walked a different path, he was a titan who left colossal footprints across the Murim.
Moreover, through my grandfather, I had learned his forbidden heart technique, the Heaven’s Heart Sutra…
It could be said that a certain karmic connection bound us together.
“Since I have incurred a debt by learning the Heaven’s Heart Sutra unintentionally, I shall investigate this matter thoroughly and then reveal the truth to the Murim.”
What if Bu Eunseol had been a true Demonic Path cultivator?
I would have immediately spread word that a coffin containing Jeong Cheon Je’s corpse lay within Yeongak Dojeon, plunging the Orthodox Martial World into chaos.
But I had not confined myself within the boundaries of being a Demonic Path cultivator or an Orthodox cultivator.
Whether this was truly Jeong Cheon Je’s corpse or not remained uncertain, but I harbored no intention of exploiting his name to throw the Orthodox Martial World into turmoil.
“Very well.”
Bu Eunseol turned to make my way out.
“How troublesome.”
Perhaps due to the passage of time?
The entrance through which I had entered was sealed without a trace.
Zing!
Bu Eunseol unfolded the Yeouui Formation and inserted it into the wall crevice through which I had entered.
Boom.
Despite channeling my full power through the technique, the wall remained immovable.
Rumble.
Instead, the sound of internal mechanisms being damaged by the Yeouui Formation’s force echoed through the chamber.
‘Forcing my way through could expose my presence.’
This was the underground of Yeongak Dojeon.
If I used martial arts forcefully, those above might sense the vibrations.
My heart growing urgent, I surveyed my surroundings.
“Then.”
Bu Eunseol repeatedly traced the characters “第一” engraved upon the ice jade coffin.
Snap!
This time, invisible needles fine as hair suddenly rained down toward me.
Whoosh!
Bu Eunseol had no time to evade and immediately unfolded the Yeouui Formation, creating a massive barrier.
Yet the barrage of needles showed no sign of ceasing as time passed.
Slash!
Finally, Bu Eunseol drew the Muk Hon Sword and deployed the second form of Musang Cheon Ryu, which could deflect or redirect the needles.
Return to Origin, the Returning Form.
Shwish shwish shwish! Click!
As the microscopic needles were sucked back into the needle mechanism, the metallic sound ceased along with the barrage.
“So touching the wrong place activates the mechanism instead.”
Bu Eunseol gazed at the faintly engraved characters “Yeongse Jeil” on the side of the coffin.
If I carelessly touched something wrong, another trap could be triggered.
‘If that’s the case, there’s only one method.’
Harmony.
I would use Harmony—the power that annihilates all things—to pierce through the wall of the blocked passage in one breath.
Whoooosh!
Bu Eunseol drew upon all her strength, pulling every ounce of power from within her body.
“Ugh.”
As the energies within clashed against each other, a tearing pain spread throughout my entire body.
Yet enduring it steadfastly, at last a subtle auspicious radiance flowed from every part of my being.
Zing.
In that moment, the Prajna Great Power naturally spread outward, and a five-colored radiance bloomed forth.
Finally, I had perfectly aligned all the power within my body.
Rumble rumble rumble.
But then something strange occurred.
As the power of Harmony flowed out, a subtle light began emanating from the Ice Jade Crown that had transformed into a metal mass.
Rumble rumble.
At the same moment, a new secret passage suddenly opened in the wall opposite me.
‘It responded to Harmony.’
There was no time for deep contemplation.
Bu Eunseol immediately entered through the opened passage.
Unlike the corridor of Yeongak Dojeon that had descended on its own, this passage led upward.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh.
Spreading my Beast Path senses to their absolute limit, I immediately rushed upward.
‘It’s different.’
Bu Eunseol’s expression darkened.
This passage was connected in the exact opposite direction from the way to Yeongak Dojeon.
‘Branching passages.’
After traveling for some time, three branching passages appeared.
Bu Eunseol rushed forward through the middle path without hesitation.
Then a strange sensation washed over me from above.
I felt as though numerous martial artists of exceptional skill were standing in solemn formation overhead.
Zing.
Bu Eunseol spread both arms and gently released her inner power.
Thinking that someone might detect vibrations from the ground below, I refrained from directly shaking the earth.
Instead, I was wielding my inner power greatly, using its qi wave to unfold my Void-Piercing Eye.
‘Gunkon Pavilion?’
Astonishingly, this long passage above was connected to the interior of Gunkon Pavilion itself?
‘This makes no sense.’
The secret organization beneath Yeongak Dojeon was connected to Gunkon Pavilion, where the Murim Alliance Leader resided?
‘I need to investigate this.’
Bu Eunseol bit her lip.
‘After I overcome this crisis.’
For now, I needed to return to Yeongak Dojeon as quickly as possible.
If someone discovered that I had disappeared? I could no longer remain in the Murim Alliance.
Returning to the Branching Passages once more, I headed down the right path.
This time, an endless series of long corridors stretched out before me.
Finally, as I reached the end of the corridor, an old iron gate came into view.
‘This isn’t Yeongak Dojeon at all—it’s a completely different direction.’
Fortunately, I sensed no presence of any martial artists in this vicinity.
I had to check it out anyway.
I pushed open the iron gate and attempted to step outside.
‘Ugh.’
But the weight of the iron gate was tremendous.
Remarkably, I could only open it after channeling the internal energy of approximately the sixth stage.
‘This place…’
As I climbed out through the iron gate, the sight of a warehouse filled with scattered old supplies came into view.
This was the Supplies Warehouse located at the far end of the Seo Moon of the Murim Alliance.
‘So this secret passage serves as both entrance and exit.’
This supplies warehouse was a place no one visited except those who managed the supplies.
In other words, I could access the secret passage freely without worrying about others’ eyes.
If I used this supplies warehouse?
I could enter Yeongak Dojeon or the Gunkon Pavilion whenever I wished.
‘This isn’t the time for that.’
Regaining my focus, I re-entered the secret passage from the warehouse and headed back down to the underground level of Yeongak Dojeon.
Then the left branching passage must be the corridor that led back up to Yeongak Dojeon.
Whoosh!
After climbing back up through the secret passage, I dashed rapidly down the left corridor.
‘The direction is certain.’
Though the passage stretched on endlessly without a single ray of light.
I could distinctly sense that this corridor led toward Yeongak Dojeon.
Rumble.
Finally, as I opened the iron gate installed at the end of the corridor,
“…!”
My eyes widened in shock.
An entirely unexpected sight unfolded before me.
“A Cultivation Chamber.”
Remarkably, the passage connected to one of the ten Cultivation Chambers located at the far edge of the first floor of Yeongak Dojeon—
specifically, the one at the very end.
‘Why didn’t I discover this before?’
Retrieving the Seven Star Map from my robes once more, I exhaled a breath of relief.
‘At least that’s fortunate.’
What if I had emerged in the wrong location, or near the bookshelves where martial artists gathered in droves?
My use of the secret passage would have been discovered immediately.
I would have been dragged to Hyung Dang for intensive interrogation, or forced to flee the Murim Alliance altogether.
“Phew.”
Just as Bu Eunseol exhaled in relief,
Tap, tap, tap.
Light, brisk footsteps echoed from outside the Cultivation Chamber.
Sensing something amiss, Bu Eunseol stepped outside,
“Ah, so someone was here.”
An elderly man with hair as white as tree roots, meticulously combed, regarded Bu Eunseol with a hoarse voice.
The person who had walked down the Cultivation Hall corridor was none other than Mok Do In, the Master of Eun Rim Gak.
“Master.”
Bu Eunseol swallowed her surprise and respectfully clasped her hands.
“What brings you here?”
“Hehehehe. I was searching for a quiet place for contemplation.”
Upon hearing those words, Bu Eunseol’s heart grew cold.
There was no reason for Mok Do In, who resided on the third floor, to descend all the way to the first-floor Cultivation Chamber for meditation.
He had undoubtedly come after hearing that she had entered the first floor of Yeongak Dojeon.
‘Which side is he truly on?’
Bu Eunseol was confused.
Was Mok Do In connected to Sam Gye?
Or was he simply a high-ranking member of the Murim Alliance who took great interest in her?
While forcibly suppressing the flood of thoughts,
“I’ve been watching your exploits with keen interest all this while.”
Mok Do In spoke in a very warm and familiar tone.
“Tell me, have you gained something?”
In the end, he posed the same question to Bu Eunseol as before.
It was as though he welcomed the emergence of this new-generation prodigy called Seon Woo Jin and possessed considerable interest in her.
Yet Bu Eunseol could clearly sense that Mok Do In harbored some hidden intention.
She knew now.
That such a thing was impossible.
There were no high-ranking members of the Murim Alliance who possessed such pure thoughts.
“I realized I had neglected the fundamentals of martial arts, so I petitioned Deng Wu Jeon Ju to help me reestablish them.”
Bu Eunseol noticed Mok Do In’s gaze fixed on the Seven Star Diagram she held in one hand and smiled faintly.
“While investigating various texts out of curiosity regarding formation techniques, I found answers in a formation manual and came to the Cultivation Chamber to read it quietly.”
It was a flawless answer that left no room for criticism.
“I see.”
Mok Do In nodded as if understanding the situation.
“Indeed, the mysteries of formation operation and formation techniques share a common thread. A sound judgment.”
Then I offered a composed smile.
“Go ahead and cultivate diligently.”
“Thank you.”
Mok Do In turned away as though his purpose had been accomplished and vanished swiftly.
‘Mok Do In.’
A blade-like gleam flickered across my eyes.
‘One day, I will certainly unmask you.’
For now, I had no time to ponder what Mok Do In’s intentions were in approaching me.
There was simply too much to be done.
‘I must investigate Gunkon Pavilion first.’
The Murim Alliance Leader who had attended Beok Goong Ryung’s monument dedication ceremony possessed a demeanor entirely befitting one called Jeong Cheon Je.
His martial prowess was truly beyond measure.
Then I needed to first confirm which was real—the living Jeong Cheon Je or the corpse of Bing Ok Gwan.
Beep. Beep.
As night deepened, I emerged quietly from the Office where I had been meditating.
The Elite Division possessed a dense bamboo forest, and the figure known as Seon Woo Jin often wandered through this place, enjoying meditation.
This habit had been deeply ingrained in the minds of Murim Alliance martial artists long ago.
Therefore, even if I ventured out somewhere at night,
the passing martial artists would merely offer a light bow without paying particular attention.
I slipped through the bamboo forest and headed toward the western edge of the Murim Alliance.
There stood a massive warehouse where anyone in the Murim Alliance could access, storing old and discarded supplies.
And within it lay the underground level of Yeongak Dojeon.
And a secret passage leading to Gunkon Pavilion where the Alliance Leader resided.
‘The secret passage between Yeongak Dojeon and Gunkon Pavilion was likely designed from the very beginning when the buildings were constructed.’
Otherwise, Yeongak Dojeon could not have been built directly adjacent to Gunkon Pavilion.
But this supplies warehouse was different.
To conveniently utilize the secret passages already existing in Yeongak Dojeon and Gunkon Pavilion,
it was clearly newly constructed.
In other words, the Alliance Leader, or whoever served in that role, had this secret passage created to slip out of Gunkon Pavilion discreetly, to move freely between the Murim Alliance and Gangho.
This secret passage had been built for precisely that purpose.
Whoosh.
I entered the supplies warehouse and surveyed the surroundings with utmost discretion.
I sensed no human presence.
I ventured deeper and quietly opened the secret passage door on the floor that I had confirmed during the day.
‘Excellent security.’
Even if one discovered this door, not just anyone could enter.
The door was so heavy and massive.
One would need at least three hundred years of cultivation to barely lift it.
Whoosh.
Following the passage deeper, I chose the middle branching path among the three that led to Gunkon Pavilion.
I sensed the movements of Wi Sa’s men above ground, but I paid them no mind and carefully made my way to the end of the corridor.
Before long, the gentle passage gave way to a steep staircase.
As I ascended the stairs, a small iron gate finally came into view.
‘As expected, there’s no sign of anyone.’
Creak.
I quietly opened the iron gate, and the expansive interior of an office came into view.
‘This place…’
My eyes widened in shock.
Remarkably, this corridor connected directly to the office of Jeong Cheon on the third floor of the Gunkon Pavilion.
Click.
As I entered the office, the corridor door closed behind me, and a vase placed on a small table naturally toppled over.
The vase positioned at the edge of the office was the mechanism that controlled opening and closing the secret passage door.
Even if someone had secretly infiltrated the office of the Murim Alliance Leader, they would never touch something like a vase that would immediately give them away.
It was a simple yet ingenious mechanism.
‘I need to find evidence.’
Taking a deep breath, I drew upon my Gong Sun Dan Gyeong and began a swift investigation of the interior.
Ma Cheon Je’s office was like that of any other clan leader,
with nothing particularly unusual—merely numerous bookshelves filled with volumes.
But Jeong Cheon’s office was entirely different.
There were far too many things placed here.
Maps showing the precise distribution of sects and forces from the Orthodox Path, Demonic Path, Evil Sects, and Dark Path.
Countless documents and letters. And on one side, even a private armory was equipped.
‘Why would the Murim Alliance Leader need to focus this intensely on the movements of sects?’
The office interior resembled that of someone meticulously investigating every sect across all of Murim.
As if preparing for war.
‘This makes no sense.’
With a single word or gesture,
countless intelligence organizations would eagerly bring forth fresh information, hot as newly cooked rice.
So why conduct such investigations alone?
‘Moreover…’
A strange thought occurred to me.
Most of the maps, documents, and information here were from over a decade ago.
‘Has no one entered the Murim Alliance Leader’s quarters in ten years?’
This was utterly incomprehensible.
Zing.
As I thoroughly investigated the interior, I drew upon my Gong Sun Dan Gyeong.
Then I could sense and perceive countless details invisible to the naked eye.
‘Someone had been here.’
The office had been empty for a long time.
But around ten years ago, someone entered this place, examined various things, and organized them.
‘Resentment. Fury.’
And upon discovering something, he unleashed his wrath.
‘This is the place.’
The man then opened the armory concealed within the Murim Alliance headquarters with practiced ease.
The fact that he could open the armory meant one thing.
He was not entering Gunkon Pavilion for the first time, and he was clearly on intimate terms with Jeong Cheon Je.
Creak.
Upon stepping into the secret chamber, tattered martial robes hung before him.
And in the center of the stone chamber, an ancient wooden sword was embedded.
‘A wooden sword?’
Martial artists could infuse their inner energy to harden wooden swords until they rivaled steel blades.
But this wooden sword lodged in the stone wall had decayed so severely that injecting inner energy would shatter it instantly.
Yet the man drove the ancient wooden sword into the solid stone as though it were tofu.
‘A master beyond imagination.’
This meant he had not infused inner energy, but rather embedded it through the mysterious power of his sword technique.
In other words, whoever had embedded this wooden sword possessed not only profound mastery of martial principles, but also swordsmanship of unimaginable heights.
In that instant, a terrifying thought flashed through Bu Eunseol’s mind.
‘This sword…’
She discovered a sharp character carved into the hilt of the wooden sword embedded deep within the stone wall.
Mu—Martial.
“Surely not.”
Bu Eunseol murmured involuntarily.
“Mu Jon.”
Among the Three Demons, the one with supreme martial prowess was In Ma Ak Moo Ryung.
Among the Three Supremes, the one known to possess the greatest martial skill was Mu Jon.
And if one were to name the most formidable among the Three Demons and Three Supremes, it would be Mu Jon.
In other words, he was the master with the greatest martial skill in Murim, save only for Jeong Ma Ssang Cheon Je.
“Mu Jon wielded a wooden sword.”
If her deduction was correct…
That terrifying master who held the supreme seat among the Three Demons and Three Supremes was the one impersonating Jeong Cheon Je.

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