Chapter 264: The Last Demon God
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GULP.
Ximen Yue, positioned in the rear, swallowed dry saliva.
Ripples shaking his pupils.
It was the effect of his mind and body being overwhelmed by the fearsome atmosphere of the demonic energy that had transformed like a dark giant.
That wasn’t all.
Seol Hu-yong, Ham Chong, and all other members of the party felt tension and pressure and drew in their necks.
Just from watching, goosebumps ran all over their bodies.
Woon ja-heon, the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Divine Palace and the Kunlun Sword Crane, wore an expression of wonder.
‘This is the pinnacle of demonic nature!’
Until he had earned the brilliant epithet of Kunlun Sword Crane, he had sparred with countless orthodox-unorthodox masters.
So he rarely wavered at any ordinary martial prowess.
But today was different.
Truly a succession of shock and amazement.
First he had been surprised by Gun Mu-ak’s intangible aura, and now he was surprised again by the pitch-black demonic energy that Cheol Ryu-heun had released.
Great reverence filled his chest.
He was impressed.
Gun Mu-ak, and Cheol Ryu-heun.
Existences that were truly of a different caliber.
Cheol Ryu-heun’s bizarre and unfathomable ability was especially thrilling.
Look, wasn’t he completely disregarding martial knowledge?
He had heard before entering the fight today.
About Cheol Ryu-heun’s hidden power.
That’s right.
It was something he already knew.
The mysterious ability for which the attributes of internal power mind methods were meaningless.
But the difference between hearing and seeing was indescribable.
When he actually encountered the energy unique to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, it felt as if his thoughts were being paralyzed.
If that was the case even knowing about it, how great must the surprise in the opposing side’s hearts be?
Indeed.
Eyes wavering like waves – Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji’s intense reactions spoke to that.
The same went for Gun Mu-ak, who had not wavered until now.
Though he hadn’t revealed as great a change as the two.
Ya Baek-ji, who had firmly bitten her red lips, clenched both hands tightly.
‘What on earth is Cheol Ryu-heun…!’
That went beyond simply breaking common sense.
She was at a loss for words.
To think Cheol Ryu-heun had mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art…
The information she had obtained before hadn’t contained such content.
Other than the fact that Cheol Ryu-heun had skillfully executed the Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique, which applied the Yang Two Hearts Divine Art.
Ah, and there was one more thing.
An art presumed to be an upper dantian ability based on mental power.
In a brief moment, memories of First Seat Pi Hu-o flashed through her mind.
-Ah… you came at just the right time.
-My, what is that state you’re in?
-Hmm… I’ve suffered a serious internal injury. Things were so urgent I didn’t even have time to regulate my breathing.
-Whose handiwork is this?
-It was… Cheol Ryu-heun.
-…
-My appearance might look laughable… KEUM! He was… stronger than expected.
-So the circulating rumors weren’t just exaggerations. A few days ago, I received a report from the Gale Wind Squad Vice Squad Commander about a series of sparring results. The fact that he has grasped the activities of our cult and announced a great battle to all under heaven as well…
-Was that so?
-That’s why I came in a hurry. Sorry I was a step late.
-What… It’s fine. It couldn’t be helped. Anyway, he had intentionally leaked information about Gam-tae. Even the meeting with Black Rope Wondrous Lady was a trap. In the end… the entire Sun Demon Assembly was annihilated. As you can see, the only survivor is… me.
-Was it martial power of a level impossible to face?
-Yes… power beyond the rumors. What was most shocking was… hmm…
-What is it?
-He executed the Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique. At a virtually perfect level…
-That can’t be…!
-He probably applied Yang Two Hearts Divine Art. How he obtained it is unfathomable, though.
-They say he is someone who has experienced various fortuitous encounters of the former martial world.
-I don’t know what the true nature of the fortuitous encounters he obtained is. Even if that’s so… not only the authentic transmissions of the Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, Martial Immortal, but also even our cult’s Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique…
-The martial world is vast – I’m made to keenly realize that meaning anew.
-KEUM… There is one more thing that weighs on my mind.
-Yes?
-Cheol Ryu-heun… that bastard… seemed to have read my mind. That mysterious red eye light… was definitely no ordinary power. I must inform the Cult Leader of that too.
-Red eye light? Some kind of eye technique consummate art?
-That’s my guess, but… something felt quite different. When compared to the Cult Leader’s Mind-Casting Demon Eye…
-Hmm… is that so? In any case, he’s a threatening yet interesting existence.
-EUUUK… My chest feels increasingly constricted. The internal injury worsened because I overexerted myself.
-Oh dear… Now, lean your back and catch your breath first.
-No, forget it. I must hurry and move again. I’ve fled this far, but… the stage where I can feel completely safe hasn’t been reached yet. Before reaching the vicinity of Mount Zhongnan… UUK… I need something to temporarily manage my body.
-…
-Do you have any healing elixirs? I must hurry and inform the Cult Leader. That bastard… can even skillfully use the essence of the Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique…
-Go where?
-What…?
-You’re going to die here. Within the pleasure I shall bestow.
At that time, she had roughly intuited.
Cheol Ryu-heun, who possessed the Yang Two Hearts Divine Art, Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique, and even a mysterious eye technique of uncertain wondrous function, would serve as a variable contributing to the Sun Moon Demon Cult’s disposal.
But… the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was outside the range of expectation.
That was a realm of power absolutely impossible with the Yang Two Hearts Divine Art.
Since only the White Peak Sword Sect’s mind method and the Sun Moon Demon Arrival Technique’s mind method corresponded to the essence and wondrous function of the Yang Two Hearts Divine Art.
Adding one more thing to that didn’t make sense.
Therefore, that power couldn’t be viewed as the Yang Two Hearts Divine Art.
What could it be?
What kind of ability was it?
Doubt and disbelief brought by internal shock.
At that moment.
Dark flames arose around where Cheol Ryu-heun stood.
HWAAAAAAK, HWAAAAAAAK, HWAAAAAAK…!
Ya Baek-ji, seeing that, reflexively stepped backward.
Eun Yi-bi beside her did the same.
GOOOOO, GOOOOOO-
The surrounding air, invisible to the eye, sank heavily and gave rise to fierce trembling.
The dark flames flickered, telling all present.
That this was not merely a power that mimicked the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
To Eun Yi-bi’s question-filled thought transmission, Ya Baek-ji also revealed confusion and replied.
Soon, Gun Mu-ak let out a soft voice.
“It’s definitely the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”
It was an incomprehensible situation.
The progenitor of the demonic martial world, the demon god of the absolute realm, the first owner of the Divine Martial Sword – such a being’s martial art, the Heavenly Demon’s Divine art, resided in Cheol Ryu-heun’s body.
There was no way the core formulas could have leaked from the Heavenly Demon Cult.
That’s why it was an even harder matter to accept.
However, amid that, he realized one thing.
Not only Aryun-nan but also the Three Elder Lords – Light Demon Elder, Sun Demon Elder, and Moon Demon Elder – who were the secret combat forces of the Sun Moon Demon Cult, had all died by Cheol Ryu-heun’s martial power…
‘Yes. It’s fully possible. For someone with such talent.’
Gun Mu-ak, having inwardly admired him, threw out a question.
“Where did you obtain it?”
“You probably have a rough guess too.”
At Cheol Ryu-heun’s indifferent response, Gun Mu-ak’s eye light deepened.
“Could it be…”
“That’s right. One of the Heavenly Demon’s secret locations in this land.”
“Amazing. That there would be someone who found that place.”
“Let me briefly summarize now. As you know, I didn’t steal anything. I merely achieved the Heavenly Demon Divine Art through a fortuitous encounter of heavenly fate.”
“You’re telling me not to pick a quarrel and use it as justification for conflict?”
“You catch on well. If you want to resent someone, resent your founder, the Heavenly Demon. My outstanding talent is not at fault.”
“Don’t worry. I have at least that much discernment.”
“I like your refreshing personality.”
“I ask, do you know the other locations as well?”
“I have no obligation to answer. Well, even if I knew, I’d say I didn’t.”
“…”
“As I expected, your disposition is deep. To see this power with your own two eyes and not immediately make a move.”
“Hm… I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You appear to have been secretly receiving reports while planting spies in the Sun Moon Demon Cult… Besides disposing of the Sun Moon Demon Cult, wasn’t one of the reasons you came here to closely observe whether I and the potential of the martial world pose a threat to the Heavenly Demon Cult?”
“Correct.”
Gun Mu-ak answered with a nod.
His attitude remained honest.
Shortly after, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke with an indifferent expression:
“With this, the pieces have fallen into place.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have probably obtained something besides the existing Heavenly Demon Divine Art. That’s why you’re docilely accepting this situation.”
Gun Mu-ak’s eyes showed no waver upon hearing those words.
Rather, it was Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji in the rear who were startled.
‘He even guessed that!’
Gun Mu-ak answered with an attitude that didn’t deny it.
“This is the first time I’ve faced someone who catches me off guard like you.”
“It’s not a difficult deduction. You dream of the past Heavenly Demon’s revival. The Heavenly Demon Cult has stayed behind closed doors for two hundred years. During that time, they never once started a fight. Moreover, the last official external activity was thirty years ago. You are undoubtedly the rare monster born from that period of enduring patience. You’ll probably succeed in the goal called demonic path unification as well. However.”
“However?”
“Be satisfied with just reclaiming the branches that split off from the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
“Those words mean…”
“It means don’t carelessly touch the Blood Demon Cult.”
In truth, the Blood Demon Cult was the demonic force that was born most recently.
Also, its roots did not originate from the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The ultimate demon practitioner who had ended the Heavenly Demon Cult’s rise and bloodshed two hundred years ago, a figure named Mu-wol…
That’s right.
It was the Blood God who was the root – the leading figure of the Blood God’s Reign Period, recorded as one of the highest-tier demon practitioners in martial world history.
After his death, the current Blood Demon Cult was created.
If the Heavenly Demon was the first demon god, the Blood God was the last demon god.
However, he didn’t understand why Cheol Ryu-heun had suddenly mentioned the Blood Demon Cult and issued a warning.
“The Blood Demon Cult is off the table?”
“Because it has nothing to do with the Heavenly Demon cult.”
“This is puzzling. It shouldn’t be an affair you need to involve yourself in.”
“It is related.”
“Why?”
“Well, what do you think?”
Suddenly, Gun Mu-ak was seized by a peculiar premonition.
‘Wait, those words mean…’
At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun’s apathetic voice flowed out.
“I am that very root.”
In an instant, the energy that had been taking the form of a giant transformed.
More precisely, half its color changed.
BUGEULBUGEUL, BUGEULBUGEUL…
Demonic energy birthing and squirming as if bubbles were bursting.
KUKUKUKU… KUKUKUKUKU… KUKUKUKU…
It was a dense blood-red color.
To the extent that one even had the illusion of a pungent bloody scent spreading.
A vivid contrast between red and black.
A bizarre atmosphere where darkness and fresh blood coexisted.
Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji’s complexions turned pale.
‘How can that be!’
It was a shocking sight.
To reveal two types of demonic energy simultaneously…
Their blood vessels heated up at that solemn intangible pressure.
At last, Eun Yi-bi and Ya Baek-ji fully understood.
What that terrifying power was.
‘Bl-Blood God…!’
The authentic transmission of the Blood God, the last demon god who stood equal to the Heavenly Demon, the first demon god.
That’s right.
The dense blood-red demonic energy that Cheol Ryu-heun was currently releasing was the Blood Stream Divine Demon Art, the greatest demonic art created by Blood God Mu-wol in the past.