Chapter 188: An Unsatisfactory Act (3)
The Black Palace.
It is one of the largest organizations within the Unorthodox Faction, led by the Palace Lord, one of the Four Emperors and Five Kings, considered the Absolutes of the Unorthodox Faction.
Thud.
Thud.
An inexplicable deafening sound echoed repeatedly as someone traversed a dark corridor, devoid of any torches.
The man moved at a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow, but peculiarly, his footsteps were inaudible.
It wouldn’t be right to say that the sounds of his steps were drowned out by the thunderous echoes; his presence was simply too faint.
It felt as if he was walking on water.
As the man quietly advanced, he eventually reached a massive door.
A small violet gem was embedded in its pitch-black surface.
“We greet the Palace Lord.”
Upon the man’s appearance, those waiting before the door bowed their heads simultaneously in a gesture of respect.
“Any news?”
“None.”
Receiving the response, the man nodded and reached out to the violet gem on the door.
As he made contact, the gem shone brightly for a moment.
Ddddd-
Then a bizarre sound emanated from the door.
Boom!
Despite the enormous weight one would expect, the man easily pushed the door open with a single hand.
“Seventh.”
“Yes, Palace Lord.”
“There’s a crack in the gem; have the Great Oni attend to it later.”
“Understood.”
With that instruction, the man stepped inside.
The interior was just as dark as the outer corridor.
However, the man walked confidently, as if everything were clear to him.
In the deep darkness, only the faint violet glow from the man’s eyes was visible.
Eventually.
After a considerable walk, the man halted in a lightless chamber, yet he perceived everything within it clearly.
After surveying the surroundings briefly, he slowly knelt before a particular spot.
“Have you been comfortable here?”
His words dissipated into the void, as no response was heard.
Nonetheless, the man paid it no mind.
He merely had his own message to deliver.
“A lot has happened in a short time.”
As if echoing the Palace Lord’s statement.
Rustle, rustle.
A soft cracking sound emerged before the man.
It was the sound of a flower, dried up and crumbling helplessly.
In the gloom, the palace Lord could see the room illuminated, despite the darkness.
Before him lay countless petals that had accumulated into dust.
They were the result of flowers nurtured by tremendous Qi.
“The outside world is still akin to hell, but please do not concern yourself with it.”
The Palace Lord continued speaking.
“The sky only looks down from above, but you…”
Suddenly, the Palace Lord’s words ceased.
This was because his Heaven stood right before him.
A single bead of cold sweat dripped down the Palace Lord’s cheek as he raised his head.
“Ah…”
A breath of admiration slipped from his lips as he beheld his Heaven.
It was a diminutive form.
It seemed like a feeble body, as if one who would play in the streets.
Yet, the Palace Lord knew.
Just how immense the power hidden within it was.
In one hand, the child grasped a shriveled flower, while in the other, a book rested.
The child’s face remained obscured by flowing hair that fell to the floor, but the Palace Lord could see the exceptionally bright violet eyes shining like no other.
“…Oh, Heaven.”
The Palace Lord’s eyes clearly recognized it.
This child was the essence of pure darkness.
The fading light surrounding him was a gift bestowed by his Heaven.
And the uncontrollable turbulence of the Palace Lord’s Qi, merely by standing before the child, served as proof of that.
The child raised a small arm, extending the book toward the Palace Lord.
The Palace Lord carefully accepted the book.
“Done.”
The child’s faint voice echoed.
The Palace Lord consequently burned the book, seeing this as a form of blessing.
“I will prepare the next.”
“I’m hungry.”
“I’ll hurry to prepare that as well.”
After the Palace Lord responded, the child turned and returned to its previous spot, having said nothing further.
Was it a trick of the mind? The place where the child stood appeared to be particularly dark.
His Heaven was akin to a god giving him blessings.
The Palace Lord, observing the child’s retreating figure, quietly rose.
Though the space was surrounded by walls, he felt a breeze flowing through.
With that, the Palace Lord took one last look at his Heaven.
I must strengthen the body further.
The vessel was far too small to contain all that great darkness.
To achieve that, more flowers needed to be prepared.
The Palace Lord bowed his head respectfully toward Heaven, which was looking away, and turned to return through the entrance.
Boom!
As soon as the Palace Lord exited, the door slammed shut.
The same people continued to guard the door as before.
However, a figure awaited outside, one who hadn’t been there earlier.
“I am here to greet the Palace Lord.”
The elderly man before him was none other than the Vice Palace Lord of the Black Palace.
“Seven Deadly Blades, Seon Cheokmoon.” That was how the world knew the old man.
The Palace Lord regarded the old man with a renewed gaze and asked, “What brings you here?”
“I have an urgent message to convey, prompting my intrusion.”
“Speak.”
“We have discovered the whereabouts of the flame.”
The Palace Lord’s expression shifted to one of intrigue upon hearing Seon Cheokmoon.
“Where?”
“It is in Jeonseon.”
“In Jeonseon… It seems one of the Orthodox Faction is involved.”
In response, Seon Cheokmoon cautiously handed over a letter.
The Palace Lord accepted it and swiftly unfolded it.
He read rapidly but stopped at a specific passage.
“Gu Clan.”
The mention of that name felt like a thorn lodged in his throat.
“I see, so it’s the Gu Clan.”
Without further questions, the Palace Lord merely nodded.
The flame they sought belonged to the Gu Clan. How fitting.
“You mentioned it’s in Jeonseon.”
“Yes, indeed.”
Jeonseon.
It was a region that had turned to ruins after the influences of the Gate of Demons.
The foolish Orthodox Faction, under the pretense of protecting this place, sent their bloodlines and forces while gaining the trust of the people.
But all of that was futile.
Seon Cheokmoon, observing the Palace Lord’s demeanor, voiced his thoughts.
“…We are hastily assembling a battalion, yet considering the target, we anticipate some difficulties.”
At those words, the Palace Lord incinerated the letter.
Whoosh.
With the Samadhi True Fire summoned in his hand, Seon Cheokmoon’s head, already bowed, sunk lower.
“There is no need to assemble an army.”
Seon Cheokmoon wore a puzzled expression at the Palace Lord’s statement.
They had finally located what the Palace Lord had sought, so why such a reaction?
“I will go there myself.”
“…Palace Lord!”
Seon Cheokmoon reacted with shock at the Palace Lord’s declaration to take this matter into his own hands, especially considering he had never left the palace before.
The Palace Lord had stayed within the Black Palace for over a decade without stepping out.
“It’s far too dangerous! It may provoke the Flaming Demon himself… cough!”
Seon Cheokmoon’s babbling abruptly ceased, as he felt the crushing pressure rising from the Palace Lord.
Though the Palace Lord’s expression remained unchanged, Seon Cheokmoon instinctively realized that a mere misstep in his words could cost him his neck.
“Flaming Demon? Are you afraid of a toothless tiger?”
“N-no sir, how could I…”
“Exactly, you shouldn’t be.”
Hearing the feeble answer, the Palace Lord lightly patted Seon Cheokmoon’s shoulder, and the oppressive atmosphere lifted instantly.
“The Flaming Demon of the past is long dead, now just an old tiger living peacefully in Shanxi.”
The real menace from the Gu Clan was not the Flaming Demon.
Moreover, there’s no need to fear a martial artist who can’t escape his past.
“This matter will be handled personally by me. Convey that to everyone.”
“Yes… understood.”
After all, this wasn’t just any issue; it was the flame that Heaven needed.
With that understood, no hesitation lingered.
Had it been any other circumstance, I might have simply let it go…
But the mention of the Gu Clan piqued his interest.
He remembered that, in the past, the bloodline of the Gu Clan was intertwined with events he had once learned about.
Gu Yangcheon, was it?
The boy who killed the Peak Realm master, the Great Oni, despite being considered useless.
He too hailed from the Gu Clan.
Moreover, he was said to be the only son of the Flaming Demon.
The Palace Lord recalled the name from the letter before he burned it.
The Sword Phoenix, Gu Huibi.
If all went well, many would believe that she would inherit the title of Sword Master soon.
“Vice Palace Lord.”
“Yes, Palace Lord…”
“Prepare more flowers and books.”
“…I will follow your orders. I will inform the Great King regarding the book.”
With his final command, the Palace Lord brushed past Seon Cheokmoon.
After taking a few steps, he vanished, leaving only a faint gust of wind behind.
His destination was Jeonseon, where the Sword Phoenix resided.
This would be the first time in a decade that the Palace Lord set foot outside the Black Palace.
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