Chapter 353 |
Chapter 353
Record of the Demon Sovereign's Retur
In the vast Tianman Mountains of Xinjiang lies the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Cult, deep within which stood a grand pavilion.
Inside this pavilion, known as the [Heavenly Demon Hall], seven men were seated facing each other.
It was a strange sight. A luxurious chair stood alone at the head seat, and behind this empty spot, the sacred flame, known as the sacred relic of the demon cult, burned incessantly.
"…It seems the Heavenly Demon won't be joining us again today, Left and Right Guardians."
"Indeed."
The head of the Hwan family, with a face full of suspicion, asked, and Guangming Usan nodded indifferently in response.
Looking at Guangming Usan with disgust, Hwan-ma sighed inwardly and spoke.
With that, Hwan-ma surveyed the faces of those present.
There was Bright Left Envoy and You, known as the Left and Right Guardians.
The heads of the four major demon families, known respectively as Sword Demon, Dao Demon, and Fist Demon. Finally, there was the head of the Elder Council, known as the Great Elder.
Excluding the Heavenly Demon, the master of the demon cult, the highest-ranking members of the cult were all present.
Guangming Usan briefly explained the reason for the gathering.
"Recently, there has been a wind of war blowing in the Central Plains, as you all know."
"The war between the so-called orthodox sects and the back alley black path forces?"
Dao Demon sneered, implying who wouldn't know, and Guangming Usan shook his head.
"That war is already over, with Sa Doryeon's defeat. And now, another war has begun. A group using the name Shinchun has swallowed half of the Central Plains and is at odds with Jeongmumaeng and the Southern Sky Association."
"After the Murim Alliance split into two not long ago, Jeongmumaeng and Sa Doryeon went to war, and now a new force has emerged, bringing more conflict."
"Indeed, war seems to be endless."
With the comments from the Great Elder and Fist Demon, Guangming Usan nodded.
As the Sword Demon observed this scene, he asked in a grave tone.
"So, what's the conclusion?"
It was a silent pressure to stop wasting time.
However, despite the Sword Demon's heavy tone, Guangming Usan smiled faintly, as if he had been waiting for this question.
"It has been several decades since the Heavenly Demon secluded himself due to qi deviation while mastering the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. It's time to select the next leader."
"?!"
Everyone looked at the Left and Right Guardians with shocked expressions.
"What method do you propose to select the next Heavenly Demon?"
"I don't see the connection between this discussion and selecting the next Heavenly Demon."
Looking at the heads of the four major demon families filled with questions, Bright Left Envoy, who had left all explanations to Guangming Usan until now, opened his mouth.
"What is the greatest wish of our Heavenly Demon Cult? It is to punish those who drove us out a hundred years ago and return to the Central Plains to spread the teachings of the demon cult. Until now, we aimed to select a new Heavenly Demon and unite our strength under him to fulfill this wish. But we have decided to think differently."
"Thinking differently, how…."
"Could it be!?"nn
Unlike Dao Demon, who seemed utterly confused, Hwan-ma furrowed his brows, seemingly sensing something.
The Sword Demon, too, seemed to have realized something but remained expressionless and silent.
Alternating their explanations, the Left and Right Guardians continued.
"With the numerous sects in the Central Plains weakened by consecutive wars, now is the perfect opportunity to punish them."
"And the one who contributed most in these wars should be the one to realize our wish, making him the most suitable candidate for the Heavenly Demon."
As soon as they finished their explanation, Hwan-ma, Dao Demon, and Fist Demon exchanged wary glances.
After a brief stare-down with his competitors, Hwan-ma looked at the Left and Right Guardians with suspicion.
"Are you asking us to join this war based on your words alone?"
Surprisingly, it was Dao Demon who answered Hwan-ma's question.
"Hmph. How petty, befitting your martial arts. If you're so scared, the Hwan family can stay out of this expedition. Actually, it might be safer. After all, you did conspire with the orthodox sects in Nanzhao to kill Ilgongja. There's no guarantee you won't do it again."
Supporting Dao Demon's words, Bright Left Envoy spoke leisurely.
"If the Hwan family wishes to abstain from this expedition, we won't stop you."
Bright Left Envoy, also known as Sobaek, the Second Young Master of Shinchun, meant this sincerely.
Due to the sudden letter from Cheonju, he had organized this meeting to mobilize the demon cult, but there was no need to take all their forces.
In the current situation, Shinchun only needed the demon cult to weaken the forces of Jeongmumaeng.
With Bright Left Envoy's shameless attitude, Hwan-ma forcibly swallowed a sigh.
'Damn it. The balance of power is already tipped because that idiot Dao Demon has switched sides.'
In addition to the Left and Right Guardians, the Great Elder, who had long sided with them, now had Dao Demon's support, increasing their influence.
Desperate, Hwan-ma turned to the Sword Demon and Fist Demon.
"Do you two share the same thoughts?"
Without hesitation, the Sword Demon responded.
"Why would I avoid the task of punishing the traitors of the Central Plains?"
After a moment's hesitation, Fist Demon nodded in agreement with the Sword Demon's answer.
"Our Fist family is the same."
With their responses, Hwan-ma sighed inwardly and spoke.
"…The Hwan family will join as well."
If they abstained, whether the war was won or lost, the Hwan family would be branded as cowards or traitors, leading to their downfall.
* * *
Kunlun Mountains in Qinghai.
A sacred mountain located at the gateway between the Central Plains and Tibet and Xinjiang, where the prestigious Kunlun Sect resided.
Perhaps currently, the Kunlun Sect was the most peaceful place in the Central Plains.
The reason was simple. They had declined Jeongmumaeng's request to join the alliance.
Their sole objective was to block the demon cult.
Uninterested in internal power struggles of the Central Plains, they remained entrenched in Kunlun Mountain, vigilantly watching the west.nn
And today.
Their vigilance over the decades finally bore fruit.
However, whether this was fortunate or unfortunate was yet to be known.
"Headmaster! The vile demon cultists have surrounded the mountain!!"
The demon cultists, vastly outnumbering the Kunlun Sect's forces, had mobilized all at once.
Seeing the demon cultists surrounding Kunlun Mountain, the headmaster, who had rushed out at the First Disciple's report, shouted.
"Reinforcements from Jeongmumaeng will come! We must hold out here and buy time!"
It was half-truth.
In reality, the head of the Kunlun Sect had already requested reinforcements from the Jeongmumaeng.
One of the disciples monitoring the path from Xinjiang to Qinghai had sent a message, confirming the enemy's movements in advance.
Additionally, orders to gather were sent to the disciples scattered throughout Qinghai to monitor the demon cult.
However,
'Foolish people! How can they turn their attention to petty territorial disputes while the demon cult is constantly seeking opportunities!'
The head of the Kunlun Sect knew very well that the Jeongmumaeng, amidst a massive war in the Central Plains, would not send reinforcements.
He had only fabricated the existence of reinforcements to boost the morale of his disciples.
Beep!
With the unpleasant sound of a horn in the distance, the demon cultists surrounding Kunlun Mountain began to climb.
Watching this scene, like a swarm of insects, the head of the Kunlun Sect thought to himself.
Even if the Jeongmumaeng sent reinforcements, could they really hold out?
* * *
"Ugh…"
Screams and the sounds of things being cut and destroyed echoed continuously.
Unlike the massacre happening at the front, Hwan-ma was observing the battlefield from a step back.
'They're like wild boars.'
Watching Dao Demon swinging his weapon like a madman at the front line, possibly to turn the First Young Master into the Heavenly Demon, Hwan-ma turned his head to the side.
There, Sword Demon was also watching the battlefield.
"Never mind that foolish Dao Demon, I don't understand why you are voluntarily playing along with the Left and Right Protectors' schemes."
In response to Hwan-ma's question, Sword Demon replied without taking his eyes off the battlefield.
"Because I can't be sure if it's their scheme."
When Hwan-ma looked at him with an expression of incomprehension, Sword Demon, after a moment of silence, spoke again.
"In any case, exterminating the traitors of the Central Plains is the desire of our Heavenly Demon Cult. There's no reason to oppose it."
"What will you do if it turns out all of this is the Left and Right Protectors' scheme?"
"That's why we must join forces. We need to see with our own eyes whether it's truly for the cult or their own scheme."
Only then did Hwan-ma understand Sword Demon's intent.n
"…What will you do if it's revealed to be their scheme?"
"You're asking the obvious."
Sword Demon, as if the conversation was over, drew his sword.
He advanced towards the battlefield, which was at a standstill.
A Taoist of the Kunlun Sect swung his sword at the advancing Sword Demon.
Slash!
In just one move, the Taoist was split in two.
Each time Sword Demon swung his sword, dark sword energy full of destructive power swept through, creating a path of blood.
For some reason, to Hwan-ma's eyes, the Taoists being cut down by Sword Demon's sword overlapped with the images of the Left and Right Protectors.
* * *
In one of the newly constructed pavilions of the Jeongmumaeng in the outskirts of Shaanxi Province.
After reading the contents of the letter in his hand, Jegal Muhwan burned it with a candle flame.
'To think the Kunlun Sect would fall so easily.'
The letter was from the Special Operations Unit sent to the Kunlun Sect.
Contrary to the Kunlun Sect head's expectations, Jegal Muhwan had indeed sent the Special Operations Unit to the Kunlun Sect despite the shortage of manpower.
However, the Special Operations Unit was not sent to fend off the demon cult.
With the manpower shortage, they couldn't afford to send many people.
They were a kind of guides, chosen to help the Kunlun Sect Taoists escape and flee to the Jeongmumaeng.
However, before the Special Operations Unit could even reach Kunlun Mountain, the Kunlun Sect had already collapsed.
Thus, the only information contained in the Special Operations Unit's letter was the fall of the Kunlun Sect and some rough details about the Demon Cult's forces.
"The Demon Cult has moved on a large scale, so it's highly likely the Left and Right Protectors are involved."
Jegal Muhwan knew that the Bright Left Envoy was the Second Young Master of Shincheon, and the Bright Right Envoy was merely a puppet under the Left Envoy's control.
Hence, this situation was ultimately the result of an order from the Cult Leader.
With just these circumstances, Jegal Muhwan could easily read the flow.
"Although the exact reason is unknown, Shincheon seems to be aiming for a short-term strategy."
Having deduced this, Jegal Muhwan quickly gave an order to the warrior standing guard at the entrance of the hall.
"Summon Kwon Je immediately!"
Jegal Muhwan instinctively knew it was now time for them to make their move.
* * *
Somewhere in Nanzhao.
In a place that should have been filled with dense tropical rainforest, devastating deforestation was occurring continuously.
When a middle-aged man unleashed a palm strike, a dark red flame erupted.
Boom!
Where the dark red flame swept through, the foliage that originally occupied the area instantly turned to ashes and burned fiercely.n
Crash!
The bushes struck by the blue lightning that followed the path of another man's sword couldn't withstand the intense energy and burst apart.
However, these two men were not fighting to the death against each other.
To be precise, two middle-aged men were sparring with a young man.
The young man, who evaded the dark red energy of the Explosive Soul Demon Palm unleashed by the man on the left, swung his sword along with his stepping technique.
The gray lightning that arose from the young man's sword tore apart the blue lightning from the Blue Thunder Demon Sword coming from the right.
In an instant, the young man nullified the combined attack of Geum Yang-hwi, a former Red Flame King of the Demon Cult, and Byuk Gi-wan, a former Blue Thunder King.
Ou-yang Pae counterattacked with his sword, driving Byuk Gi-wan into a defensive position.
As Byuk Gi-wan was quickly put on the defensive, Geum Yang-hwi hastily unleashed the Explosive Soul Demon Palm to assist him.
"!?".
Ou-yang Pae, as if predicting Geum Yang-hwi's move, split the dark red flame in one stroke and simultaneously thrust his sword towards the Blue Thunder King.
With defense and attack seamlessly integrated into a single move, it would seem to anyone watching that it was all prearranged.
Despite being stunned by the brilliant maneuver, Byuk Gi-wan tried to block Ou-yang Pae's attack with his sword.
Having partially offset the force of the Explosive Soul Demon Palm, Byuk Gi-wan thought he could hold out for a moment.
Swish!
Unbelievably, the blue lightning covering Byuk Gi-wan's sword was instantly cut off, and the sword itself was sliced into two.
Nevertheless, the experienced Byuk Gi-wan did not panic. As his sword was cut, he swiftly adjusted his stance and tried to unleash his lightning with his left hand.
"!?".
But before he could, Ou-yang Pae, who had already extended his left hand, used the Golden Locking Hand technique to quickly suppress Byuk Gi-wan's pressure points.
Having subdued Byuk Gi-wan, Ou-yang Pae turned and charged at Geum Yang-hwi.
Geum Yang-hwi, though trying his best to resist, found it impossible to handle the fight alone after they had already struggled together.
After successfully subduing both Byuk Gi-wan and Geum Yang-hwi, Ou-yang Pae calmly regulated his breath and released the pressure points on the two men.
"The utilization of the Primordial Chaos Divine Art has become much more fluid, Young Lord."
"Beyond just the Primordial Chaos Divine Art, your combat senses have also sharpened significantly."
Though it might have sounded like flattery, the two men were sincere.
In the sparring session just now, they had not held back at all. They had genuinely tried to kill Ou-yang Pae with their techniques.
Yet, they couldn't even scratch Ou-yang Pae and were subdued by him without causing him any injuries.
Explaining how difficult it is to subdue an opponent without hurting them is unnecessary.
Only a handful of masters across the martial world could handle the combined assault of two former Heavenly Kings of the Demon Cult in such a manner.
"The defeat by that So-cheon-ju last time taught me a great deal."
Ou-yang Pae's casual response moved the two middle-aged martial artists deeply.
As the three men were cheerfully discussing Ou-yang Pae's achievements, Neung Gok-hwan, the former leader of the Red Tiger Group, hurriedly arrived and saluted.
"For Leader Neung to come rushing like this, has something major happened?"
"Young Lord! It seems that the Cult members have left the Heavenly Thousand Mountains and are heading towards the Central Plains."