The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 704

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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 704.
‘Something feels off.’
Bu Eunseol sensed the irregularity almost immediately.
‘His martial prowess shouldn’t be at this level.’
In the past, when Baek Mu Sung had deployed the Blood Dew Seven Techniques while wearing a mask, his martial arts had been enhanced beyond measure.
Even if the Heavenly Exterior Non-Immortal Technique approached the pinnacle of what Seon Woo Jin could unleash.
Baek Mu Sung’s skill should have been able to defend against it perfectly.
Yet without any progress in all this time—how could he suffer such a devastating defeat?
“Will you acknowledge your defeat?”
Bu Eunseol, who had been regarding Baek Mu Sung with a troubled expression, asked calmly.
Crack.
Baek Mu Sung gripped the half-severed greatsword.
Simultaneously, an unprecedented killing intent flickered in his eyes.
“A weapon breaking slightly doesn’t determine the outcome of a match.”
Fortunately, Baek Mu Sung demonstrated his resolve to continue the exhibition match.
‘Thank goodness.’
Bu Eunseol felt relief wash over her. Had Baek Mu Sung surrendered here, all her plans would have unraveled.
Crunch.
Bone sounds emanated from Baek Mu Sung’s body as he gripped the severed blade, his expression contorting slightly.
It seemed he was grimacing from drawing his inner force to its maximum, but upon closer inspection, his skin tone appeared to shift subtly.
His eyes and the shape of his gaze seemed to transform minutely as well.
Hiss.
When Baek Mu Sung’s gaze met Bu Eunseol’s, a faint smile played across his lips.
Zing!
In that instant, a brilliant azure radiance blazed from the half-severed blade.
He had materialized his inner force to reconstruct the blade.
“Haaah!”
Baek Mu Sung’s cry reverberated in all directions,
Boom.
The earth trembled as if the sky itself were collapsing from somewhere.
The entire world turned pitch black, and time seemed to freeze.
Baek Mu Sung unleashed a bizarre power.
He had transformed the entire Combat Stage, including the space where Bu Eunseol stood, into a realm of death.
‘What is this?’
Bu Eunseol drew a deep breath.
The actual landscape of the Combat Stage remained unchanged.
Only to her eyes, exposed to this bizarre energy, did the entire world appear pitch black.
‘What kind of technique is this?’
It resembled the deployment of a soul-stealing technique.
But he could not breach her spirit, which had achieved the Unity of Soul and Body.
Moreover, making such a landscape visible only to his own eyes was closer to sorcery than swordsmanship.
‘My body won’t move.’
As the entire world turned pitch black, Bu Eunseol couldn’t twitch a single finger.
Then Baek Mu Sung’s eyes gleamed with intensity.
With the sword energy of his materialized great blade, he was clearly attempting to pierce through her body.
‘This ending is unacceptable.’
Only her vision had turned pitch black—the world itself remained unchanged.
The watching martial artists had no idea her body couldn’t move.
If she took Baek Mu Sung’s blade in this state?
The masters would forget all the fierce and precarious exchanges until now.
They would mistakenly believe Bu Eunseol had simply lost in an absurd, pathetic manner.
‘Then.’
With her eyes closed, Bu Eunseol drew upon the Heaven’s Heart Technique.
She synchronized her inner energy circulation and true qi, attempting to move her body by any means necessary.
A deep hum resonated.
A faint light emanated from Bu Eunseol’s body.
But then something extraordinary occurred.
The moment she activated the Heaven’s Heart Technique, Baek Mu Sung’s thoughts suddenly flooded into her mind.
‘Was it an application of the Blood Dew Seven Techniques?’
As Baek Mu Sung’s thoughts transmitted to her, Bu Eunseol realized this black mist was a technique derived from the Blood Dew Seven Techniques’ principles.
And since she herself had cultivated the Blood Dew Seven Techniques, and had now deployed the Heaven’s Heart Technique,
her spirit had inadvertently connected with Baek Mu Sung’s, the technique’s caster.
A violent surge swept through her.
As their spirits connected, Bu Eunseol’s vision transformed into a desolate world.
It was Baek Mu Sung’s inner landscape.
‘Death, or perhaps… nothing at all.’
The world Baek Mu Sung had created was absolute death—or rather, it approached absolute emptiness.
It was as though everything that had once existed in his heart had vanished.
Yet even as the entire world disappeared, leaving only black darkness,
far in the distance, something very dark appeared.
It was the shadow of the Beautiful Woman.
Though the darkness obscured her features, from her silhouette alone,
Bu Eunseol could discern her identity.
‘He couldn’t let her go.’
Gong Son Dan Gyeong.
Even within a spirit so desolate it had reduced the entire world to emptiness,
Gong Son Dan Gyeong still remained in Baek Mu Sung’s heart.
‘He still loves her.’
Though she hadn’t intentionally glimpsed Baek Mu Sung’s spirit,
she could confirm that Gong Son Dan Gyeong still dwelled within his heart.
‘So it was the Cheonghae Realm.’
Bu Eunseol could finally discern which of the Three Realms Baek Mu Sung belonged to.
The Cheonghae Realm.
Baek Mu Sung had devoted himself to the Cheonghae Realm, and he had undergone the grand technique of personality separation.
‘If she dies, will Baek’s heart return to him?’
The method to break the secret art of the Cheonghae Realm was to shatter the desire or yearning that person had desperately wished for throughout their entire life.
But Bu Eunseol dared not attempt it.
‘Her martial prowess cannot feign death.’
Gong Son Dan Gyeong was clever, but her martial skill was not particularly high.
Unless she reached the same level of martial mastery as Bu Eunseol, she could never deceive the eyes of a master like Baek Mu Sung.
‘He has destroyed himself through love far too profound.’
Bu Eunseol genuinely pitied Baek Mu Sung.
‘It is only regrettable that I cannot help him.’
And now I had to break through this secret art he had unleashed.
After a moment of contemplation, I slowly approached where Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s shadow lay.
Then the desolate world suddenly blazed crimson.
As I approached Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s shadow with tenderness,
into Baek Mu Sung’s empty spirit poured the colors of rage and jealousy.
A deep rumble echoed.
As the color of the entire world transformed, Baek Mu Sung’s mental realm began to crumble.
My vision brightened, and I could move my body.
I could perceive Baek Mu Sung’s motion as he thrust his blade toward me.
The seemingly endless time within the mental realm
was shorter than the snap of a finger in reality.
‘This is the only way.’
Right now Baek Mu Sung was using a secret art to immobilize me, attempting to pierce my chest in one swift motion.
But if victory or defeat were decided by such a simple opening move, that would never do.
A brilliant flash!
From my Muk Hon blade, hundreds of sword qi bloomed skyward before cascading down to earth.
I applied the Heavenly Sword Invisible Form technique, draping both our bodies in dazzling sword qi.
A magnificent display.
The martial artists watching could only see the sword qi covering us like brilliant wings.
They could not see the two of us fighting.
But imagination creates the finest reality.
Considering the high-level combat displayed thus far, they would surely believe a terrifying sword exchange was happening within that veil.
A wet sound.
At that same moment, Baek Mu Sung’s blade pierced into my chest.
‘Avoid the most fatal wounds.’
Having already drawn upon my Water Divine Qi in advance, I accepted Baek Mu Sung’s blade without dodging.
A wet sound.
At the same moment, Bu Eunseol pierced Baek Mu Sung’s shoulder with the Muk Hon Sword, channeling thirteen streams of inner energy.
A deafening roar erupted!
The sword aura dissipated, and both figures became visible once more.
Mutual destruction.
In that final instant, Bu Eunseol had orchestrated a scene of mutual annihilation with Baek Mu Sung.
A heavy thud echoed.
Both collapsed, dropping to one knee each.
Though they had avoided fatal wounds, Bu Eunseol’s injury was grievous—a deep puncture that had pierced through her chest.
A sharp sound.
Yet Baek Mu Sung, with his shoulder pierced, could not rise from his kneeling position, his inner power severed.
He collapsed completely.
Bu Eunseol then feigned unconsciousness, falling limp.
The match could proceed no further.
“That’s enough!”
At Buk Ri Seung’s cry, the martial exhibition to select the new Mu Cheon Danjoo came to an end.
* * *
Yak Seok Won.
A healing facility accessible only to the elite masters of Murim, where each patient received a private chamber.
It was staffed with Si Bi attendants and Haeng Rim healers dedicated to treatment.
‘Exceptional care.’
Bu Eunseol, lying on the bed and gazing out the window, wore a composed expression.
Using the Water Purification Divine Technique, I had avoided all vital organs, sustaining only a puncture wound.
The true problem lay in the formidable sword aura emanating from the shattered blade—it had nearly severed my meridians.
‘I had arranged a draw.’
Yet strangely, the Haeng Rim healers and Si Bi attendants here treated me with exceptional diligence.
Could it be that Mu Jon had broken his promise and elevated me to Mu Cheon Danjoo after all? Such anxiety gnawed at me.
‘By now, I should have received word.’
Six days had passed since treatment began, yet no message had arrived.
Of course, given the severity of my injuries, they might have refrained from visiting to allow me rest.
Still, I could not suppress the unease.
‘No, Baek was clearly conscious at the end.’
The final match had been unmistakably Baek Mu Sung’s victory.
With countless martial artists witnessing the exhibition, even Mu Jon could not overturn such an obvious fact.
‘What is certain is that Mu Jon has misunderstood something.’
According to Mu Jon’s deduction, the Murim Alliance had been infiltrated by the Gwi Il Gye.
But since Baek Mu Sung had separated his personality, he naturally belonged to the Cheonghae Gye, not the Gwi Il Gye.
‘Could it be that the Three Realms are fighting over hegemony of the Murim Alliance in this manner?’
Though the Three Realms’ banners opposed one another, I had never witnessed them directly clash or engage in factional struggle.
Then were their so-called confrontations and conflicts unfolding in this very way?
‘As time passes, their true nature will eventually be revealed.’
Baek Mu Sung must have been recruited into the Cheonghae Gye.
Even if he becomes the Danjoo, he will initially show gratitude to his benefactor, but ultimately he will become nothing more than a puppet dancing to the Cheonghae Gye’s tune.
When that happens, I will come to understand how the Cheonghae Gye and the Gwi Il Gye collide with one another.
Or how they intend to manipulate the Murim Alliance.
There would be no other reason for the Cheonghae Gye to bestow such martial techniques and power upon Baek Mu Sung without cause.
‘Could they possibly be aiming for the next Alliance Lord?’
The Sam Gye covertly controls the Murim.
If they could place their own puppet in the position of the Murim Alliance’s leader…
They would be able to manipulate the Murim far more effortlessly.
“Do you have brush and ink?”
At Bu Eunseol’s call, Si Bi’s low voice came from outside.
“I shall bring them at once.”
Scratch, scratch.
Bu Eunseol sat at the table and swiftly wrote out characters.
She then placed the writing into an envelope and tucked it into her garment.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door, and Tae Mu Ryong entered.
“My Lord.”
Tae Mu Ryong approached with quick steps, his expression troubled.
“The Yak Seok Won insists that you must rest, so they have forbidden all visitors for six days…”
“I am aware.”
“But, are you truly well?”
Tae Mu Ryong was astonished to see Bu Eunseol’s unblemished face.
He too had watched the entire battle from below the Combat Stage.
No matter how extraordinary one’s martial prowess might be,
A penetrating wound of such magnitude should have resulted in considerably slower recovery.
Yet Bu Eunseol maintained a state of perfect health, as though merely pricked by a needle.
‘You deliberately took that blow.’
Tae Mu Ryong, a faint smile playing at his lips,
Whoosh.
Suddenly drew upon his inner force and faintly manifested a barrier of energy, cutting off sound.
He, who had consumed the Jam Ma Shin Dan and received the Gae Jeong Dae Law, had by now reached a level where he could faintly manifest such a barrier.
Bu Eunseol nodded upon seeing Tae Mu Ryong erect the energy barrier.
“The decision has been made.”
“Indeed, my Lord.”
Tae Mu Ryong nodded, his eyes gleaming.
“Fortunately, as planned, it has been decided that Baek Danjoo will become the Wu Tian Duan’s Danjoo.”
“Excellent.”
Bu Eunseol smiled.
Now that Baek Mu Sung had become the Wu Tian Duan’s Danjoo.
Mu Jon would have no choice but to honor his promise to grant Bu Eunseol the Cheong Sim Ryeong.
“By unanimous consent, then?”
“Not quite. Baek Danjoo achieved clear victory, but several senior members raised objections, which led to the convening of the Grand Council.”
Tae Mu Ryong continued in a low voice.
“Fortunately, most of the senior members recommended Baek Danjoo as the new Mu Cheon Danjoo.”
Baek Mu Sung had long maintained special relations with the leaders of various Murim factions.
Thus, elevating him to Danjoo was as certain as seeing fire.
“Once Baek Danjoo’s appointment as Danjoo was finalized, the Alliance Leader announced the appointment of the Dae Ju to the position of Cheop Mil Won Ju.”
Tae Mu Ryong spoke carefully, glancing around.
“However, the senior members objected vehemently. The Grand Council even had to be temporarily suspended.”
“That’s understandable. A natural reaction.”
“But through the materials presented by Gong Son Chong Sa, the appointment was ultimately approved.”
Through this martial exhibition, Bu Eunseol had demonstrated
such formidable martial prowess that no one would object to her becoming the Murim Alliance Danjoo.
Yet to suddenly appoint her as Cheop Mil Won Ju for this reason alone seemed somewhat forced.
After consulting with Gong Son Dan Gyeong,
she disclosed the various missions she had handled as the Seon Woo Jin, making her achievements known.
She also mentioned the shadow of darkness that hung over Murim’s circumstances.
And she made a powerful appeal to the senior members once more.
Bu Eunseol, who travels throughout Gangho, would become Cheop Mil Won Ju, constantly monitoring the shifting landscape of Murim,
and preventing the rise of forces that would throw Murim into chaos.
After reviewing all the materials, the senior members had no further grounds to oppose his ascension to Cheop Mil Won Ju,
and approval was finally granted.
“But this doesn’t seem quite right.”
Tae Mu Ryong said.
“However vast the authority of Cheop Mil Won Ju may be, it operates outside the Murim Alliance proper, does it not? In essence, it merely adds the power to command the Alliance’s branches to what the current Dae Ju already does.”
Jeol Jeong Dae Ju Seon Woo Jin had consistently ventured covertly into Gangho to gather intelligence and carry out various missions.
And the role of Cheop Mil Won Ju was likewise to assess the conditions of Gangho.
The only addition was the authority to mobilize and command the forces of each branch of the Murim Alliance when necessary.
It was a position with little real power within the Murim Alliance itself.
“I hadn’t mentioned that before.”
Bu Eunseol only then recalled that she had told the Team Members of her appointment to the position of Cheop Mil Won Ju.
She had not discussed the matter of the Cheong Sim Ryeong.
“I arranged to receive the Cheong Sim Ryeong separately to enable surveillance within the Murim Alliance.”
“The Cheong Sim Ryeong… you mean? Is that even possible?”
“Now that Baek Mu Sung has become Danjoo, from Mu Jon’s perspective, having someone with the authority to detect and restrain changes within the Alliance is not a bad thing.”
Tae Mu Ryong opened his mouth.
“I’m puzzled why this matter wasn’t brought up in the Grand Council.”
“If it were mentioned beforehand, it would face opposition. The Alliance Leader will likely exercise his prerogative authority.”
“The Alliance Leader’s prerogative… I see.”
If I were to appoint both the Cheop Mil Won leadership and the Cheong Sim Ryeong simultaneously, the senior members would never accept it.
Therefore, I first secured approval for the official position of Cheop Mil Won leadership.
Then, at the time of the next major council meeting, I will issue the Cheong Sim Ryeong again in a gathering of senior members.
After all, it was an authority that could be exercised by the Alliance Lord’s direct prerogative.
“How fortunate. Without knowing that, we have been preparing various measures while you rested, Lord.”
The Elite Division members displayed unwavering loyalty, and when it came to matters concerning Bu Eunseol,
they repeatedly checked and rechecked whether there was any deficiency, any lack whatsoever.
“Forgive me. I’ve been so preoccupied with confusing matters lately that my mind has been scattered.”
“Not at all.”
Bu Eunseol patted Tae Mu Ryong on the shoulder.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“You’re too kind. It’s simply what must be done.”
“And… you may be exposed to far greater dangers ahead.”
Bu Eunseol took a deep breath.
“Until the Muhon Society grows.”
“I am already prepared for that.”
Tae Mu Ryong smiled.
Now Bu Eunseol would become the Cheop Mil Won leader, representing the Murim Alliance, capable of understanding and directly influencing the state of affairs in Gangho.
This meant the Elite Division members would have to undertake increasingly perilous tasks ahead.
Moreover, Bu Eunseol had just birthed a coalition of righteous and demonic forces—an unprecedented power in Murim.
And she intended to nurture it into one of the three great powers of Murim, rivaling neither the Demon Palace nor the Murim Alliance.
In short, the Elite Division members
were in a situation where they could die at any moment, exposed to danger just as Bu Eunseol was.
Yet Tae Mu Ryong and the Elite Division members felt no fear.
With Bu Eunseol,
they could walk into Hell itself with a smile.
“And.”
Bu Eunseol handed Tae Mu Ryong a letter she had written in secret.
“Deliver this to the Cheong Myeong Unit leader.”
As Tae Mu Ryong took the letter, his eyes gleamed.
He had realized what situation Bu Eunseol was anticipating.
“Indeed, there are no fruits that taste only sweet in this Alliance.”
If someone offered sweet fruit… surely bitter poison lay hidden within it.
That was precisely what the Murim Alliance was.
Tae Mu Ryong smiled and clasped his hands together.
“I shall deliver it at once.”
* * *
At last, the Danjoo appointment ceremony began.
Geum Jeong Shin Ryong, Baek Mu Sung.
As a disciple of Bul Jon and a renowned figure in Gangho, he began his life as a warrior in the Murim Alliance as a second-rank Lord.
Throughout my years of establishing merit, I sustained irreversible injuries while dealing with Sal Gwi of Sichuan.
Eventually, I quietly departed from the Murim Alliance.
But as if that had never happened.
I beheaded Hyuk Ryeon Eung, the Dharma Protector Lord of the Demon Hall and branded a traitor, and made a glorious return.
With that achievement, I ascended to Lord, and finally became a candidate for Mu Cheon Danjoo, ultimately attaining the position through various trials.
This tale of hardship and adversity would serve as a fine example for the martial artists of the Murim Alliance.
It would likely be recounted for many years to come.
As the inauguration ceremony commenced, Jeong Cheon Je, the Alliance Lord who had repeatedly secluded himself, made his appearance.
A Danjoo of the Murim Alliance.
It was one of the seven pillars supporting the Murim Alliance, and a position signifying the next Alliance Lord.
When necessary, one could independently command a division, and with just cause, one could refuse orders from anyone save the Alliance Lord himself.
A position like a dream for any martial artist belonging to the Murim Alliance.
Having ascended to such a station in my thirties, the three characters of my name—Baek Mu Sung—now stood tall throughout the Murim.
Click.
Jeong Cheon Je, who had ascended the platform where Baek Mu Sung stood,
personally affixed the armor engraved with a shield-shaped symbol representing the Mu Cheon Danjoo to my shoulders.
I was finally formally appointed as Mu Cheon Danjoo.
“I have great expectations for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Say a few words.”
As Jeong Cheon Je extended his hand, I bowed respectfully in acknowledgment.
Then I turned and gazed down at the martial artists arrayed below the platform.
“I have ascended to a position far beyond my years.”
Without infusing inner energy, I filled the entire Training Grounds with my voice.
“I am grateful for your unwavering support and encouragement.”
I spoke in an extraordinarily solemn and composed tone.
“I shall strive to become a Lord worthy of your expectations.”
It was a remarkably understated sentiment.
Yet many of the martial artists nodded in admiration.
They had surely expected me to speak with ambitious fervor, urging them to follow me.
Or perhaps to present various pledges and appeal for strong support.
But I had simply stated my position with humility.
To ascend to the position of Lord with absolute power at such a young age and maintain such composure was no easy feat.
The martial artists were deeply moved by my calm and measured words.
As I descended from the platform, Buk Ri Seung stepped forward next.
“Elite Division Lord Seon Woo Jin, come forward.”
Bu Eunseol, taking a deep breath, ascended the platform.
“Seon Woo Dae Ju. You have consistently established great merit for this Alliance, and demonstrated exceptional martial prowess during the Mu Cheon Danjoo trials, earning distinction.”
Buk Ri Seung spoke calmly.
“By the decision of the Grand Council, I appoint you as the head of Cheop Mil Won. Root out and eliminate any forces that would disturb the Murim.”
And Buk Ri Seung presented the Twin-Winged Phoenix Insignia, a symbol of the Cheop Mil Won’s authority.
“I shall do my utmost.”
Bu Eunseol accepted the insignia with reverence and bowed respectfully. Then she descended from the Platform.
Today’s ceremony was the inauguration of Mu Cheon Danjoo Baek Mu Sung.
Since she was not the central figure, she should receive only the Phoenix Insignia and depart quietly.
But then something unexpected occurred.
“Director of Cheop Mil Won.”
A low voice reached her ears as she descended.
Jeong Cheon Je, who stood at the center of the Platform.
No—Mu Jon had called her to a halt.
‘Surely not.’
Bu Eunseol tensed.
The Cheongshim Insignia was not a position for routine duties, but rather a powerful investigative authority directly bestowed by the Alliance Lord.
Because of this, rather than presenting it publicly, it was customary to grant it in the presence of the heads of related organizations such as the Hyung Dang or the Jip Beop Dang.
Those connected to the Cheongshim Insignia.
Yet he intended to do otherwise.
To present it publicly at the inauguration of Mu Cheon Danjoo, attended by all the Alliance’s martial artists…

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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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