The Demonic Swordsmith immediately began the task of creating a scabbard.
The Demonic-Killing Sword that Bu Eunseol possessed was a Black Divine Weapon, completely different from anything he had handled before.
For the Demonic Swordsmith, who had worked in metallurgy his entire life, it was a magnificent conclusion and a great challenge.
―Beyond spiritual intelligence… this sword is just like a person.
The Demonic Swordsmith muttered with a troubled expression.
Usually, a scabbard for a demonic sword is made from the same material, and that is the end of it.
However, Bu Eunseol’s Demonic-Killing Sword, as if displeased with the scabbard, was constantly rejecting it.
Woong! Woong!
As it was placed into the scabbard the Demonic Swordsmith had made, the demonic sword let out a continuous sword resonance, as if displeased.
“Hmm. It seems this one isn’t to its liking either.”
But the Demonic Swordsmith did not give up, relentlessly mixing various metals and continuously forging new scabbards.
Though he called it making a scabbard, creating one from the same material as the Demonic-Killing Sword was as arduous a task as forging a Divine Sword or Demonic Saber.
It was a feat that no one but a man who had handled demonic swords his entire life could even dare to attempt.
However, as failures repeated endlessly, the Demonic Swordsmith suddenly began to act strangely.
He stopped making the scabbard.
“Yes, so that’s what it was.”
He shut the door of the forge and locked himself inside.
Like a madman, he was conversing with the Demonic-Killing Sword.
“You didn’t want to stand out. Yes, I can understand that.”
After muttering to himself for a full day and night, he began to make the scabbard again.
And on the third day,
“It is done!”
An exclamation burst from the tightly shut workshop.
When Bu Eunseol rushed in, he saw a dark, smudged sword resting in its scabbard.
He had finally created a scabbard that satisfied the Demonic-Killing Sword.
“This is the scabbard for the Demonic-Killing Sword?”
Bu Eunseol wore a somewhat bewildered expression.
The scabbard for the Demonic-Killing Sword, which the Demonic Swordsmith had created, forgoing food and drink.
It was an ordinary scabbard that could be bought at any forge.
Moreover, it was dark and smudged, with a slightly rusted feel, to the point where anyone would think it housed a cheap iron sword.
“It may look like rusted iron, but it is certainly made of the same material as the Demonic-Killing Sword. It is exceptionally hard.”
The Demonic Swordsmith held the Demonic-Killing Sword with both hands and offered it to Bu Eunseol.
“Here, take a look.”
Bu Eunseol accepted the Demonic-Killing Sword and examined it closely.
Woong.
Then, the Demonic-Killing Sword let out a low, pleasant sword resonance.
It seemed to be asking him to infuse it with his two divine Qis.
“Alright.”
Bu Eunseol drew upon the two divine Qis circulating within his body.
However, unlike before, no patterns or light emerged.
‘Has the seal disappeared?’
Bewildered, Bu Eunseol infused it with the maximum amount of his two divine Qis.
Jiiiing.
Then, a mysterious pattern appeared on the surface of the scabbard, and golden and crimson light flowed out simultaneously.
“What is happening? Why is the pattern on the scabbard?”
“Hehehe. Since they are of the same material, it must have transferred it there.”
“Is the seal broken?”
“Not likely. It has literally just moved its location. The sword and the scabbard are one, after all.”
“I see.”
Only then could he understand.
From the Demonic-Killing Sword's perspective, the seal's pattern must have been a shameful mark, like a prisoner’s brand.
But when the Demonic Swordsmith made a scabbard of equal material, it hid the light and patterns within the scabbard.
“And it wanted a scabbard that looked like scrap metal.”
The Demonic Swordsmith looked at the pattern and light on the Demonic-Killing Sword’s scabbard and nodded.
“It must wish to hide its true form as much as possible.”
“Are you saying you really spoke with the sword?”
“Hehe, does it sound like a lie?”
Bu Eunseol shook his head at the Demonic Swordsmith's question.
He was a man who had handled iron his entire life.
It seemed entirely possible that he could understand even what an ordinary lump of iron was saying.
“Besides, the demonic energy has completely vanished. Even a master of metallurgy of my level would never be able to tell it’s a Black Divine Weapon.”
Bu Eunseol nodded.
This way, unless he infused it with his maximum two divine Qis, its true identity would not be revealed.
It would be of considerable help when he encountered a powerful enemy as Seon Woo-jin.
Click.
But when he sheathed it again, the Demonic-Killing Sword, as if disappointed,
Woong woong.
Let out a low sword resonance.
“Now what is it?”
“Give it a name.”
The Demonic Swordsmith said, as if he had read the Demonic-Killing Sword’s mind.
“Now that it has a scabbard, it seems it intends to properly serve its master.”
For a moment, Bu Eunseol thought of the Black Sword he had lost.
Furthermore, the Ice Soul Sword was stored at the safe house for Seo Jin-ha to use whenever he changed identities, so he had always felt the absence of the Black Sword.
In that case, this Demonic-Killing Sword would now become Bu Eunseol’s new beloved weapon.
“Ink Soul.”
Looking at the Demonic-Killing Sword, Bu Eunseol spoke firmly.
“From now on, I will call you Ink Soul.”
If the Black Sword had a soul.
Hoping it would reside here again, he named the Demonic-Killing Sword Ink Soul.
Wooooong!
The Demonic-Killing Sword, no, Ink Soul, let out a loud sword resonance, as if pleased with its name.
The Demonic Swordsmith watched the resonating Ink Soul Sword and gave a strange smile.
“That sword’s spiritual intelligence is so strong, it’s just like a person.”
“I have felt something similar myself.”
“Cherish it. I do not know why its ability was sealed, but it is a fine sword.”
With the Demonic-Killing Sword at his waist, Bu Eunseol respectfully clasped his hands.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I feel as if I have gained a new sword.”
“Hehehe. It was worthwhile for me as well. My final hammer strike was to create a scabbard for the next Demon Palace Lord.”
Then, with a look of relief, he threw his hammer.
Whoosh!
The hammer traced a long arc and fell somewhere deep in the forest, disappearing from sight.
Watching this, Bu Eunseol nodded and spoke firmly.
“Then let us go.”
*
The Demonic Swordsmith took a liking to Nangya Pavilion.
To be precise, he was extremely fond of the Iron Master.
Though not on the Demonic Swordsmith's level, the Iron Master was also a master of metallurgy who had worked with iron for a long time.
At a glance, he was a skilled master of metallurgy, no less than himself, his personality was just as taciturn, and he even liked alcohol…
It was truly as if he had met a long-lost friend.
Bu Eunseol watched the satisfied smile on the Demonic Swordsmith’s face before quietly leaving.
After catching up with various people like Dan Cheong, Baek Yeon, and Sojeon, he left Nangya Pavilion.
“Now, I must go to the Martial Alliance.”
As Seon Woo-jin, Bu Eunseol had successfully met with Grand Strategist Gongsun.
He then sought out the whereabouts of the Demonic Swordsmith for Yeop Hyo-cheon and sent a letter stating that he was staying at Nangya Pavilion.
Now that he had obtained the Ink Soul Sword and fulfilled his duties as the Martial Soul Lord, he met with Seo Jin-ha again to switch identities.
He then began his return to the Martial Alliance.
Crack.
Bu Eunseol disguised himself as Seon Woo-jin and wore the ragged clothes of a rogue.
Seon Woo-jin was always leaving the Martial Alliance under the pretext of traveling the Martial World to gather information.
Tap.
Whoosh.
Instead of taking a carriage, he used his movement technique.
Jiiiing.
But something was strange.
For some time now, he had been feeling a very peculiar sensation.
It felt as if a monster of unknown identity had appeared somewhere very far away.
But he could not detect it with the Beast Path.
It was a sensation that was more accurately described as a gut feeling.
‘Hmm.’
Bu Eunseol never took even the faintest gut feeling lightly.
After a moment of contemplation, he left Seongdo and headed west.
Moving swiftly with his lightness skill, he circled around for a long time before stopping at the entrance of a quiet village.
He did this to reverse-track his pursuer, to find out who they were and what their objective was.
‘Let’s wait and see.’
Looking around the village entrance, Bu Eunseol immediately walked toward the marketplace.
But it was strange.
No matter how quiet a village, it should be busy with various activities in the afternoon.
But here, not even an ant could be seen.
Creak.
He looked inside an open house, but it was the same.
There were no people inside; it was empty.
Just then, Bu Eunseol noticed something odd.
On the table were bowls of food with steam still rising from them.
This meant that until shortly before Bu Eunseol arrived, people had been eating here.
But now, there was no one.
‘Could it be?’
Bu Eunseol went outside and checked another house.
But nowhere could he find any trace of people.
‘In that case.’
Jiiiing.
A white aura began to pour from his eyes.
He had activated his Empty Heart Spirit Sense and begun to survey his surroundings.
‘There were people here… about a quarter of an hour before I arrived.’
Examining the traces left around him, Bu Eunseol frowned.
There were signs that people had been bustling about in the village about a quarter of an hour before his arrival.
But now, everyone had vanished as if they had evaporated.
‘No, they couldn’t have just vanished.’
Even if all the people in this village were martial masters who had used their lightness skill to leave before he arrived, there should still be traces of their movement somewhere.
But there were no traces anywhere around.
Looking around, Bu Eunseol found the tracks of footsteps that had moved back and forth quickly.
The footprints led to a large warehouse on the outskirts of the village.
It seemed to be a warehouse for storing farming tools and various other things all at once.
Creak.
Walking over, Bu Eunseol carefully opened the door.
His eyes, looking inside, trembled greatly.
The inside of the warehouse was filled with the bodies of the villagers.
“How could this be?”
The bodies were still warm.
The cause of death was heart failure.
But it was impossible for so many people to die at the same time, nor could dead bodies walk to a warehouse.
In other words, someone had massacred the villagers and thrown them into this warehouse.
“Who on earth would do such a thing?”
Roooar!
Furious, the combined power of Bu Eunseol’s righteous, demonic, Buddhist, and two divine Qis shot up into the sky.
To slaughter innocent common people so brutally.
Bu Eunseol went outside to pursue the perpetrator and immediately activated his Empty Heart Spirit Sense.
“…!”
But from somewhere, he faintly felt the presence of a person.
And it was the presence of a super-strong master.
Swoosh.
In an instant, Bu Eunseol launched himself into the air and hid his form.
His agility and stealth were so mysterious and seamless, it was as if he had performed a Daoist spell.
Rustle.
At the same time, from the opposite path, a gray shadow arrived in front of the warehouse.
From his unkempt, rough attire and appearance, he looked like a wandering rogue martial artist.
At his waist, he wore a dagger that glinted strangely.
“Hmm. I definitely felt a powerful shockwave.”
The rogue martial artist looked around, tilting his head, and then entered the open warehouse.
“Who did this!”
With a thunderous shout, the rogue martial artist came back outside.
Shwooook.
Suddenly, a black shadow shot up from the ground, revealing its form in front of the warehouse.
From his shoes to his martial robe and mask, everything was dyed black, and strange patterns were inscribed on the surface.
“Did you do this?”
The masked man tilted his head at the rogue martial artist’s question.
[Strange.]
The masked man’s voice was high and grating, like a crow speaking, and it sounded as if it was coming from deep within the earth.
[I felt a rather strong aura, but you haven't manifested it yet?]
The masked man’s gaze, as he muttered lowly, was fixed not on the rogue martial artist’s face, but on the small dagger he wore.
‘A Messenger of the Three Realms.’
Bu Eunseol, hidden in secret, could tell just by hearing the masked man’s voice.
He was not a messenger from the Infinite Realm or the Clear River Realm, but… a new Messenger of the Three Realms who had not shown himself until now.
As if to prove it, the masked man’s attire and markings were quite different from the messengers of the Three Realms who had appeared so far.
The aura flowing from his body was also incomparably superior to theirs.
Grit.
Bu Eunseol had to forcefully suppress his anger and aura.
He wanted to strike down the Messenger of the Three Realms who had killed innocent common people right away, but he needed to understand the situation first.
“I asked if you were the one who killed the villagers.”
[Hmm.]
Even though the rogue martial artist asked again, the masked man did not answer.
After seeming to think deeply about something for a long while, he finally opened his mouth.
[That is correct.]
As the firm answer returned, the rogue martial artist roared loudly.
“A murderer beyond redemption!”
Then, he extended his sleeve, and a flash of light flew toward the masked man’s neck.
Befitting a rogue martial artist, he had aimed for his opponent’s opening and thrown a dagger as swift as lightning.
‘What incredible throwing knife art.’
Bu Eunseol was inwardly impressed.
It lacked the refinement of the Limitless Wanderer’s Heavenly Flying Dagger Art, but in terms of speed, it was surprisingly a cut above.
Flash!
A single streak of light adorned the empty air as the sharp throwing knife dug into the masked man’s neck.
Thwack.
But the throwing knife instantly vanished, and in the next moment, it was held between the masked man’s two fingers.
[Hmph… so you used the ability of the Extreme Dark Demonic Sword in this way.]
Crack.
The masked man, who had casually broken the throwing knife, approached the rogue martial artist.
[Wang Cheol, the Iron Palm Wanderer.]
Surprisingly, the masked messenger identified the rogue martial artist at a single glance.
He was indeed the rogue who wandered aimlessly, having mastered the Nine Yin Iron Palm, and was said to take on masters of the Martial World with just a pair of hands.
He was Wang Cheol.
[How is it? Is the sword of my realm useful?]
Also, as Bu Eunseol had expected, the masked man was a Messenger of the Three Realms.
“My realm?”
The rogue martial artist, Wang Cheol, frowned and said.
“What do you mean by ‘my realm’?”
When no answer came, Wang Cheol spoke in a solemn voice.
“You seem to be a member of a demonic sect. Why did you kill the villagers!”
The messenger waved his hand as if bored.
[Let’s dispense with the useless talk.
It’s a waste of time.]
The messenger looked at Wang Cheol and narrowed his eyes.
[Judging by the aura that was manifested, you should have sufficient potential….]
After thinking deeply for a moment, the messenger nodded.
[Good.
Since I have specially chosen you, I will tell you the story.]
“Cut the useless chatter.”
Wang Cheol, as if it wasn't worth listening to, drew the sword from his waist.
A chilling coldness spread in all directions, and sharp streams of aura began to emanate from his body.
But the messenger spoke nonchalantly.
[Did you think you were lucky to have found that demonic sword?]
“What do you mean?”
[That demonic sword can only be used by those with an Empty Spirit Body.
It only reacts to the aura of an Empty Spirit Body.]
The Empty Spirit Body.
Also known as the Body Beneath the Saint, the Empty Spirit Body is one where the True Yin and True Yang energies within the body have achieved perfect harmony.
Men are strong yet meticulous, and women possess intelligent yet resilient bodies.
Furthermore, because their wisdom is exceedingly high, it is known that those with an Empty Spirit Body display outstanding abilities and distinguish themselves in any field they are in.
Wang Cheol, who had been listening silently, nodded.
“So you’re saying you people intentionally scattered these swords?”
[That’s right.
And since demonic swords resonate when they are in close proximity, they can recognize each other.
So you will have to wander around diligently.]
As the messenger continued to speak, a strange light flickered in his eyes from behind the mask.
[You seem to be a rather promising figure.]
Wang Cheol, stroking his scraggly beard, frowned.
“Are you telling us to kill each other, the wielders of the demonic swords?”
[Exactly.]
The messenger nodded with a satisfied look.
[From now on, wander the Martial World, find those who possess a demonic sword, and fight them.]
“I refuse.”
Wang Cheol said coldly.
“I have no intention of being manipulated by an unknown force, nor do I intend to commit murder without reason.”
Although he was a rogue, he was known as a hero who knew righteousness and did many good deeds.
But the messenger said mockingly.
[Hehehe.
That is not for you to decide.]
The messenger’s eyes curved into crescents.
[Now that you hold the demonic sword, the Empty Spirit Qi must have already awakened.
You will soon realize what that demonic sword means.]
Bu Eunseol, who was listening in secret, was finally able to piece together the puzzle he had long held regarding the Celestial Human Sect.
‘So they are the ones behind the Sword Tomb incident perpetrated by the Celestial Human Sect.’
The fact that the Celestial Human Sect was able to construct a Sword Tomb where incredible demonic swords were stored.
The fact that they could kill martial artists to awaken the demonic swords and prepare to oppose the Martial Alliance for a long time.
All of it was possible because the Three Realms were behind them.
‘Does that mean the Ink Soul Sword was also deliberately planted by the Three Realms?’
The Ink Soul Sword was hidden in the Celestial Human Sect’s Demonic Sword Tomb, and the Demonic Swordsmith also judged it to be a demonic sword.
But its true identity was a Black Divine Weapon, possessing the energies of both a Divine Sword and a Demonic Saber.
‘It’s unlikely they would deliberately plant such a precious sword in the Sword Tomb.’
In that case, did the Three Realms think the Ink Soul Sword was just an ordinary demonic sword and plant it there?
Or did they know and still plant it there?
‘But I don’t have an Empty Spirit Body.’
What the Three Realms wanted was the Empty Spirit Body.
But he was not born with a body like an Empty Spirit Body.
So how was he able to awaken the power of the Ink Soul Sword?
‘In the end… was it because of the two divine Qis?’
The divine weapons were a natural force existing within all things in the universe.
It would have a similar nature to the Empty Spirit Body, which achieves the harmony of yin and yang.
[I will tell you one last thing.]
Contrary to his desolate gaze, the messenger’s attitude was quite gentle.
[If you survive to the end of the battles with those who wield demonic swords, you will obtain the power to rule the Martial World.]
In that moment, Wang Cheol’s eyes trembled greatly.
No matter what the messenger said next, he had intended to strike him down at once and punish him for brutally murdering the common people.
But listening to his words, it seemed they had deliberately scattered demonic swords across the Martial World.
And he was saying that through battles with the owners of these demonic swords, one could obtain the power to rule the Martial World.
“Obtain the power to rule the Martial World.”
Wang Cheol took a deep breath.
The Supreme Ruler of the Martial World.
Was that not a glory that a martial artist dreamed of?
‘It’s probably not a lie.’
Since obtaining this Extreme Dark Demonic Sword, Wang Cheol’s martial arts had rapidly improved due to the sword’s ability.
He was in a state where he feared no one.
Yet, the aura of that grotesque masked man far surpassed his own.
Just from that fact alone, he was definitely not the subordinate of some insignificant force.
“Even if the wielder of a demonic sword dies, the sword will remain. Are you telling me to continue that fight forever?”
At Wang Cheol’s sharp question, the messenger smirked.
[Such a thing will not happen.]
“Why is that?”
[Don’t worry.
You will know when the time comes.]
As the messenger turned his body and spoke, Wang Cheol shouted.
“Wait, then tell me one more thing. If I compete against those who wield demonic swords and survive until the end, how will I obtain the power to rule the Martial World?”
Wang Cheol’s voice, which had been cold all along, was now desperate and soft.
In the end, he had fallen for the sweet temptation of the demon-like messenger.
[Hmm.]
The messenger thought for a moment, then nodded.
[Alright.
I will specially tell you.]
The messenger spoke in a secretive voice.
[If you survive to the very end, you can become the ‘sword’ of my realm.]
“A sword?”
[Hehehe.
Let’s just say it’s something similar to a successor.]
Thump.
A thump sounded in the head of Bu Eunseol, who was listening in secret.
The reason for scattering demonic swords in the Sword Tomb was to create successors for the Three Realms?
[Who’s there!]
‘Ah.’
At that moment, the messenger shot his hand out like lightning toward the tree where Bu Eunseol was hiding.
A terrifying force poured out, melting all the tree branches.
Crack.
Rotating his body, Bu Eunseol, wearing a cloth mask, landed on the ground.
Fortunately, he was wearing rogue attire, so his identity was not revealed.
[Who are you.]
To the messenger’s words, Bu Eunseol replied in a hoarse voice.
“You don’t need to know.”
[Hmph.]
Gooooo.
In an instant, the surrounding air felt like a vacuum, and a powerful energy began to gather at the messenger’s index finger.
A strange sound echoed as if it were sucking in the air, and a transparent energy formed at his fingertip.
Kwaoo!
And that energy flew toward Bu Eunseol’s chest.
It contained a heaven-shattering power capable of toppling Mount Tai in a single blow, and its speed and timing of release were completely unpredictable.
‘Tch.’
Bu Eunseol was inwardly flustered.
The finger wind launched by the messenger had already reached his Jeonjoong Point, hadn't it?