Chapter 370: Cheol Ryu-heun, Just Who Is He
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Chapter 370 – Cheol Ryu-heun, Just Who Is He?
Taoist Cheon Mu’s words brought heavy stillness to the room.
‘…!’
Transparent ripples rising in the pupils of the assembly.
It was surprise visiting them once again.
Who was it?
A warrior that even the Grand Prelate, foremost of Heavenly Demon Cult, couldn’t take lightly…
He had said it was a figure from beyond the borders, not from the Orthodox Jianghu.
Suddenly, several candidates came to mind.
It was Taoist Mu-hyeon who was reminded of the past.
‘Ah!’
The high masters beyond the borders whom he had met to block interfering factors ahead of the great battle against the Sun Moon Demon Cult.
Kunlun Divine Palace’s palace master Kunlun Sword Crane Woon Ja-heon, and Asura Demon Cult’s cult leader Asura Blade Demon Emperor Sal Ma-ha.
Could it be one of them?
One side was Orthodox, and one side was Demonic.
If so, the odds leaned toward Kunlun Divine Palace Master Woon Ja-heon, representing the Taoist orthodoxy of the Orthodox faction beyond the borders.
Moreover, at that time, Cheol Ryu-heun had directly faced Asura Demon Cult Leader Sal Ma-ha and even restrained him.
He had then sent a warning of mutual non-aggression, telling them not to rashly encroach on the Orthodox Jianghu’s territory.
Along with handing over the Asura Divine Martial Scripture, the lost Demonic arts text of the original Asura Demon Cult Leader Asura Divine Demon.
He had also assigned the mission of blocking the support of the Sun Moon Demon Cult Headquarters’ remaining forces.
Sal Ma-ha had conditionally accepted.
So there was no way the Asura Demon Cult had joined.
However.
It was also a difficult situation for Kunlun Divine Palace to participate.
Because they had taken on the role of checking and monitoring the demonic path’s movements, including the Asura Demon Cult.
So that couldn’t be it either.
If the palace master Woon Ja-heon left his seat, it would be a dangerous gamble.
More decisive than those two was the reason lying in the power they possessed.
Though it was said that Woon Ja-heon and Sal Ma-ha were certainly of the upper ranks across all of beyond the borders, Gun Mu-ak’s martial power was exceptional.
Moreover, his extreme power was at a level difficult even to guess.
Why else would he have obtained the epithet Extreme Heavenly Demon Emperor?
If so, he might be able to evaluate Woon Ja-heon and Sal Ma-ha as warriors, but probably wouldn’t accept them as evenly-matched opponents whom he couldn’t take lightly.
Meanwhile, Wei Ji-am and Seol Hu-yong’s reactions were calm.
They appeared to have heard the story on the way to the dumpling shop.
In the midst of that, Taoist Cheon Mu’s voice continued.
“A place that has long been in conflict with that Potala Palace.”
The assembly finally realized the truth.
“Ah!”
“So that’s…!”
Each person wore an expression of having recalled the same faction name.
That’s right.
They were certain.
That it was that place, whose name alone being mentioned would make the world tremble with fear, like Heavenly Demon Cult and Asura Demon Cult…
Taoist Mu-hyeon asked with an expression of surprise.
“Goodness, did they reconcile or something?”
At that, Taoist Cheon Mu answered with a faint smile.
“That’s right. The respective representatives met and dramatically reconciled.”
“That’s not something that should be so easily resolved…”
“Sect Master Cheol discovered a divine artifact that Potala Palace had lost in the past. Through that, he had them resolve their long-standing grievances and misunderstandings.”
At that, the assembly of sect masters let out exclamations.
After thus exchanging a few more words with each other.
“Now then, shall we engage in a proper strategy meeting.”
With Wei Ji-am’s words, quiet discussion began to flow within the worn room.
* * *
Inside a grand and magnificent great palace.
In the space where a wide great hall spread out, one figure occupied a large chair.
A man of exceptional physique.
His age was around his mid-to-late fifties.
The air of his body was like an asura from hell made manifest.
A jet-black topknot and fierce eye lines, a long scar running from the left temple past the cheekbone to the cheek below, a beard resembling swallow-tail feathers… on top of that, even a jet-black Ceremonial Robe gave a frightening feeling.
Was that all?
The crescent-moon blade leaning askew beside the chair also exuded a terrifying feel.
Because of the skull carving decorating the end of the sword hilt.
In addition, an asura face pattern was embroidered at the center of the clothes.
It was so deeply red one would think thread dyed in blood had been used…
That was what represented the middle-aged man’s status.
The current Asura Demon Cult’s cult leader, Asura Blade Demon Emperor Sal Ma-ha.
He was propping his chin while gazing intently at the two books placed on the side table in front of him.
‘Hoot, it feels as if I’ve achieved a dream I couldn’t achieve. To get back the essence of demonic studies lost in the past…’
The title written on the covers of both books was precisely Asura Divine Martial Scripture.
The mysterious Demonic arts text that had been the only one lost among the first generation Cult Leader’s terrifying absolute techniques…
Sal Ma-ha withdrew his gaze while reflecting on the day he met Cheol Ryu-heun.
-It’s the real thing. Are you satisfied?
-So… this is the price of cooperation, you say…?
-That’s right.
-But how…?
-That’s none of your business.
-…I know that if I obtain this, I’ll grow even stronger.
-Whether you grow stronger or weaker, I don’t care.
-That statement means…
-Just don’t encroach on our territory going forward. That’ll do.
-Hoot. So be it. Now I clearly understand. The mission to block the support of the Sun Moon Demon Cult Headquarters’ remaining forces is a kind of test? To see whether I have the will to follow mutual non-aggression or not.
-You understand well. Whether you swallow up or smooth-talk the Sun Moon Demon Cult Headquarters, do as you please… and ensure not a single step can be taken toward our side. Should you fail, I intend to incinerate the remaining one book.
-…!
-Looking at you, you didn’t know. The Asura Divine Martial Scripture is two volumes in total. The Kunlun Divine Palace has been keeping the other one.
But at that time, Sal Ma-ha’s own contemplation wasn’t long.
-Good. I accept your proposal. From this moment, I promise to thoroughly control the Sun Moon Demon Cult Headquarters’ personnel in cooperation with the Kunlun Divine Palace.
It had truly been a satisfactory outcome.
Since he had gotten back both volumes intact as the price of cooperation.
The remaining task was only to master the Asura Divine Martial Scripture to its extreme.
It wouldn’t be difficult.
He could awaken to it well enough.
Also.
Even if he got stuck while reading, he already possessed the solution.
That was precisely the help of this era’s greatest, strongest demonic person.
That’s right.
He could borrow the outstanding knowledge and authority of Gun Mu-ak, the Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate to whom he had pledged loyalty a few years ago.
Just then.
The ornate lattice door opened with a DALKKAK! and two demonic persons appeared.
Their ages seemed to be early thirties at most.
The colors of the asura patterns at their chests were different from each other.
The good-looking demonic person’s was gold, the manly-looking demonic person’s was silver.
They were Gold Gate Guardian Hu Su-ryeo and Silver Gate Guardian Jin Jung-bi, high-ranking positions within Asura Demon Cult.
“So, has the Extreme Heavenly Demon Emperor sent word?”
Hu Su-ryeo, who had given a simple salute, answered.
“Yes, but…”
“What is it?”
“Actually, he sent word through the Kunlun Divine Palace.”
“…!”
“That is, to explain more precisely, the Beggar’s Sect’s communication network reached Kunlun Divine Palace.”
At that sound, Sal Ma-ha’s eyebrow twitched.
“Beggar’s Sect…? No, so you’re saying that news related to the Extreme Heavenly Demon Emperor was delivered through the Beggar’s Sect?”
“That’s correct. Currently the Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate and his attendants are traveling together with Cheol Ryu-heun. When I separately looked into it urgently, it turned out to be true.”
“What? What does that mean…”
“They say their goals are the same. So they’ve formed a kind of temporary alliance relationship…”
“If the same goal, Cheol Ryu-heun is also targeting the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan in the Shiwan Mountains?”
“Yes, it appears so. The rumor about the Divine Martial Sword that rapidly spread recently is said to be false.”
“Huh!”
“We’ll have to wait a bit longer to know the deeper inside story that we don’t yet know.”
“What a strange combination. The companionship of the Heavenly Demon Cult and White Peak Sword Sect…”
Sal Ma-ha, having trailed off, was soon worried.
‘Could it be that Cheol Ryu-heun subdued him with martial power and forced the temporary alliance?’
He recalled the conversation he had with Cheol Ryu-heun before.
At that time, he had asked like this.
-But do you have a clever scheme to defeat the Sun Moon Demon Cult Leader?
-Why would I need a clever scheme?
-…
-I can just press him down with my own power.
-What tremendous confidence indeed. Calling yourself Hunan’s Foremost Martial God…
-When this fight ends, you’ll come to know one more thing.
-What is that?
-The power I’m hiding.
-…!
-Curious? It’s no fun if I tell you in advance.
‘He said he was hiding some power, didn’t he? But… the Extreme Heavenly Demon Emperor’s martial prowess is no different from a divine being of the demonic path.’
The moment Sal Ma-ha spoke inwardly.
“They say he has mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”
Jin Jung-bi’s words hardened Sal Ma-ha’s expression.
“Who? Cheol Ryu-heun?”
“Yes. Not only the great Heavenly Demon’s demonic studies, but… he also possesses the true transmissions of Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, Martial Immortal, and Blood God.”
At that, Sal Ma-ha was at a loss for words.
“…”
Now he understood.
The meaning of Cheol Ryu-heun’s words.
An empty laugh escaped him.
‘Hoot. Crazy bastard.’
He had recently heard that Sun Moon Demon Saint Ahryo-nan had finally lost his life.
But he hadn’t known the detailed contents of that battle yet.
However… hearing this, he wondered if perhaps he had died to the unexpected Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Who could have thought?
That Cheol Ryu-heun had mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art unique to the Heavenly Demon Cult.
On top of that, even the true transmissions of the Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, Martial Immortal, and Blood God…
Indeed, so he was called a crazy bastard.
He really was an absurd monster.
But.
Wasn’t Gun Mu-ak also a monster transcending the mortal world?
Sal Ma-ha, negating his earlier thought, muttered.
‘My worry was a bit excessive. There’s no way he was subdued by Cheol Ryu-heun’s martial power and is now accompanying him. Of course not, what kind of person is he…’
In the midst of that, Hu Su-ryeo’s report continued on.
“Also, there’s news from the Potala Palace side.”
“Speak.”
“It’s said they’ve recently reconciled with them over there.”
“Them… Surely you don’t mean the blood-drenched demon?”
“Yes, it appears Cheol Ryu-heun has intervened in this case as well. He recovered the divine artifact and resolved the misunderstanding for them… That blood-drenched demon is said to have departed somewhere. Most likely, it must be Cheol Ryu-heun’s plan.”
Sal Ma-ha’s expression was one of utter amazement.
“No, does he carry around a magic club or something? How can he so easily obtain things one after another like that!”
Hu Su-ryeo and Jin Jung-bi felt the same.
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“He’s a truly strange and unpredictable person.”
Sal Ma-ha, who had been quietly clicking his tongue, soon let his gaze rest again on the booklets on the side table.
‘I too should engage in training until the Extreme Heavenly Demon Emperor sends word. A temporary alliance they say, but when that matter ends, the relationship becomes meaningless. So it’s only proper to prepare for what comes after. Yes, it seems the time has come to consume the Sky Clear Stone Milk I obtained with such difficulty. That single drop will make me climb to an even higher place.’
He stroked the hilt of the crescent-moon blade decorated with a skull, Skull Demon Blade, one of the Four Great Demonic Weapons.
Right at that moment, Hu Su-ryeo opened his mouth.
“There’s one more thing…”
At that, Sal Ma-ha’s expression crumpled.
“What, again!”
“Cheol Ryu-heun… gifted the Kunlun Divine Palace Master Sky Clear Stone Milk as the price for his trouble.”
“…!”
“If he consumes that, he’ll certainly grow stronger.”
“How many drops?”
“Well, it wasn’t a matter of drops, but… he just gave the entire bottle… About the size of an ordinary liquor bottle, they say.”
No sooner had those words finished than Sal Ma-ha, forgetting his dignity, shouted out.
“What the hell!”
* * *
Around that time, Cheol Ryu-heun was facing off against the enormous palm from the sky that had invaded the mental image space.
KUKUKUKU, KUKUKUKU…
Fiercely striking down power, and power countering upward to meet it.
Thus, the intangible energies were colliding vertically.
In an instant, multicolored currents discharged from Cheol Ryu-heun’s frame.
Simultaneously, the palm above his head distorted transparently and scattered.
In other words, it turned to powder and was drawn toward Cheol Ryu-heun.
‘It’s done!’
He had absorbed the mysterious energy composing the palm into his body.
Intending to use it as material to fully awaken his divine power.
In fact, this was just the beginning.
Going forward, an even more arduous process remained.
Then, the existence in the sky let out a voice like Secret Sound Transmission.
-Not bad. Fine, good. Go ahead and obtain what you want. I shall send down the one I took in.
Immediately after.
FLASH!
Light fell into the mental image space not too far ahead and soon transformed into the shape of a person.
The dark brown pupils of Cheol Ryu-heun, who confirmed that face, created ripples.
‘You are…!’
It was identical.
To his own appearance.
That was so.
The being that had appeared in front was the original owner of the body, Cheol Ryu-heun.
“Nice to meet you. So we meet like this.”