Chapter 482: Reinstating

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Everyone’s expressions subtly wavered in an instant.

Due to the unfamiliar force name that Gun Mu-ak had just mentioned…

Heaven Emperor Society.

It was a name they were hearing for the first time.

But there was one thing everyone equally perceived.

That was surely that the mysterious group called the Heaven Emperor Society was the enemy that had provided the catalyst for creating an unprecedented alliance between the Orthodox, Unorthodox and Demonic factions under Cheol Ryu-heun’s leadership.

That name from the very start was infinitely arrogant and grandiose, as if dismissing the entire Orthodox, Unorthodox and Demonic martial worlds.

Nine times out of ten, it seemed the leader was someone claiming to be a divine being on par with the Emperor of the Heavenly Realm.

That was the meaning contained in the name.

A group that worships the Heaven Emperor and moves together centered on him…

Truly, it was a name that couldn’t possibly belong to a benevolent force.

Amidst that, the terrifying presence reminiscent of an intangible tidal wave from beyond the door drew even closer.

Along with the footsteps of many people.

Thud thud, thud thud, thud thud, thud thud…

It was the presence of about a dozen people in total.

Somehow, just from their walking, one could feel their discipline and class.

Asura Demon Cult Patriarch Sal Ma-ha, his gaze fixed on the lattice door, was inwardly expectant.

‘At last… Are they making their first appearance to us?’

Illusion Demon Cult Patriarch Yak Pa at the opposite table was the same.

‘Those who, in that distant past, made the Heavenly Demon Cult’s unparalleled status and value even more special… Today is the day when it’s publicly declared that their legacy has been revived in this generation after such a long time.’

-They are this cult’s special forces prepared for the battle against the enemy called the Heaven Emperor Society.

He knew all too well what Gun Mu-ak’s words meant.

Everyone gathered here was thinking of the same title in their minds.

The Four Dharma-Protecting Kings.

Their official name recorded in Jianghu historical texts was the Four Great Heavenly Kings Who Protect the Cult and Uphold the Dharma.

The terrifying demon kings of fear and wonder who had assisted the Heavenly Demon… The founding patriarch and progenitor of all demons under heaven… And displayed terrifying martial might a thousand years ago…

Those four were different from the beginning.

They were regarded as mysterious demonic people who slightly transcended the human category.

The reason was simple.

Each was originally from ancient bloodlines born with bizarre supernatural abilities.

But after the Heavenly Demon’s death, perhaps due to their sense of loss, they all declared retirement and completely vanished.

All the bloodlines, including the four demon kings…

Thus, the highest-ranking cult position called the Four Dharma-Protecting Kings naturally disappeared as if sealed.

Of those four bloodlines, only the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan had uniquely broken the hiatus about five hundred years ago.

Seeking to conquer the Jianghu with their bizarre ability to brainwash opponents through blood-drinking and even transform their bodies.

At that time, the Blood-Drinking Demon Spirit, the leader of the bloodline, swept through consecutive victories with unstoppable momentum, ravaging both the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions.

However, he was ultimately defeated by Tak Wi-yeon, the Hidden Dragon Sword… Owner of the Divine Martial Sword and possessor of the legendary body of Nine-Grade Martial Bones, appearing for the first time in three hundred years since Sword Emperor Bukga-shin.

After that, the remaining bloodlines never appeared.

But.

In this current generation, Gun Mu-ak had revived the vanished position of the Four Dharma-Protecting Kings.

It was part of an ambitious plan dreaming of the Heavenly Demon’s second coming.

He had already made up his mind before being invested as Great Prelate.

If he wished to recreate the glory days of the cult’s one and only god, the Heavenly Demon, the Four Great Heavenly Kings Who Protect the Cult and Uphold the Dharma, who had displayed terrifying martial might in that era, should also exist.

So he had tracked down the bloodlines’ legacies through covert operations and then reached out to them with the utmost sincerity, like Liu Bei visiting Zhuge Liang’s cottage three times.

Then one day, Bat Demon Great King Heuk Ma-yung, the Clan Leader of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan, stole the Ink Child Dragon’s blood and fled.

An unexpected traitor had emerged.

However, Gun Mu-ak had prepared for even that variable in advance.

Another mysterious bloodline that could replace the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan…

Everyone was certain.

That the presences currently approaching were probably the Four Dharma-Protecting Kings, and the head of the new bloodline was likely included.

The personnel aside from those four seemed to be people from forces other than the Heavenly Demon Cult.

After all, everyone had clearly heard the Sound Transmission from someone presumed to be one of the Four Dharma-Protecting Kings.

-Also, we met the people from that place on the way.

That’s right.

If they were affiliated with the Heavenly Demon Cult, what reason would there be to express it as “the people from that place”?

In an instant.

Swish…

The door was gently opened, drawn by a strand of formless energy.

It was Gun Mu-ak’s control of objects through the void.

Through the wide-open door, thirteen people entered in orderly fashion and then lined up like a folding screen.

Four of them separated out and strode toward where Gun Mu-ak was seated.

These were the ones who held the position of Four Dharma-Protecting Kings of the Heavenly Demon Cult in this era…

Was it an illusion?

Each time the four walked, it felt as if mysterious fissures were occurring in the space.

Seeing that, Shadow Flash Demon Elder Hak Hyeon-hoe and Innocence Demon Maiden In Ae-yeon instantly felt goosebumps rise all over.

Though they were merely walking, it felt as if tremendous fighting spirit was pouring forth.

Something was on a different level.

The domineering and oppressive spirit of the new Four Dharma-Protecting Kings was not inferior even compared to Asura Blade Demon Emperor Sal Ma-ha and Demon Midst Illusion Emperor Yak Pa.

The demonic man in his fifties leading the four looked especially strong.

No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say he looked extremely terrifying.

The biggest reason was his eyes.

There was one more small pupil in the center of his forehead.

In other words, he was an owner of three eyes.

Everyone immediately discerned who he was upon seeing that.

‘A descendant of the Three-Eyed Blood Clan!’

With three eyes, he boasted the majesty of a truly foremost powerhouse.

He was Na Ya-geol, the Demon Eye Dragon King… The current representative of the Three-Eyed Blood Clan and the first Protector Dharma King.

His features exuded a stern atmosphere.

In his gaze swirled an irresistible dignity, and the sword he carried seemed to emit an immense sharp energy even though it wasn’t drawn.

Also, it felt as if his entire body was wrapped in a deadly demonic power like a peerless tortoise-shell armor performing the dual wonders of offense and defense.

As if merely brushing or touching him slightly would cause one’s bones and flesh to fall apart as death arrived…

Was this the second coming of the Three-Eye Demon King, the first owner of the Demon-Devouring Sword, who was called the Heavenly Demon’s right arm a thousand years ago?

Following that, an old man came to stand side by side next to him.

It was truly a peculiar appearance.

Why?

Because from head to toe, literally the skin of his entire body looked as if it had been carved from bluish stone.

Even his pupils, hair, and beard were dark blue.

As he said, he was like a blue goblin.

Sure enough.

On his head, a protuberance resembling a horn stood out prominently.

Everyone knew well that this was a characteristic of the ancient Blue Specter Bloodline.

That was right.

The old demonic man was Gil Gyeon, the Blue Shelter Demon King… The Leader of the Blue Specter Bloodline and the second Protector Dharma King.

On his back, he carried a long spear slanted, the same color as his skin.

Could blood not be concealed?

In ages past, the ancestor of the Blue Specter Bloodline who had assisted the Heavenly Demon, the Blue Body Demon King, had also made his martial name known through spear techniques at that time.

The middle-aged saber wielder standing right beside him made one naturally think of the phrase “half-human, half-beast.”

This was because his two eyes resembled go stones, and short, coarse fur densely covered his entire body.

Moreover, his features resembled a fierce orangutan.

If he had a tail, it would be no exaggeration to describe him as a giant demonic monkey.

Another impressive thing was his build.

His frame was so large that even while standing hunched over, he boasted a height one head taller than most men.

Contrary to his appearance, he either liked fancy attire or was wearing a silver cult uniform, which was somehow strangely harmonious.

He too was one of the Protector Dharma Kings, like Demon Eye Dragon King Na Ya-geol and Blue Shelter Demon King Gil Gyeon.

Tal Ryeon, the Demon Saber Orangutan King… Clan Leader of the Orangutan Monster Bloodline.

Thus, a new bloodline was added to the existing three bloodlines.

In place of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan that had betrayed the Heavenly Demon Cult.

The woman standing beside Tal Ryeon was that very protagonist.

Sal Ma-ha, Yak Pa, Hu Su-ryeo, and others were inwardly impressed by her figure.

Because her appearance was so beautiful.

She looked to be about twenty-odd years old.

Her form, with ivory skin and clad in white robes, was literally a masterpiece of a peerless painter.

Hair styled up like clouds, clothes fluttering like butterfly wings, and two cheeks rosy like flower petals with lips sparkling as if wet… Truly, there was nowhere that wasn’t pretty.

And yet… She gave off an extremely cold feeling.

It started with her eyes.

Her gaze was reminiscent of the harsh cold wind of midwinter.

The intangible presence flowing and wrapping around her body was no different.

How to describe it… Hers was a charm that exuded nobility and coldness simultaneously.

Perhaps that’s why.

The silver iron sword hanging at her slender waist and her skin reminiscent of white jade felt even colder.

To exaggerate a bit more, the atmosphere was like a person sculpted from ice and snow.

In truth, such a feeling was only natural.

Because the demonic art this beautiful woman possessed had an attribute of extreme freezing.

The beauty’s identity was Buk Ri-sara, the Ice Demon Queen… The Palace Master of the Ice Heaven Divine Palace, composed of the mysterious bloodline called the Ice Vein White Clan from the northern frontier, and the new Protector Dharma King within the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Her martial prowess had long been famous.

Because she was the youngest Palace Master ever of the Ice Heaven Divine Palace… The supreme, strongest force of the northern frontier sea that used demonic arts with extreme freezing attributes.

That was something she had in common with Gun Mu-ak.

The hall briefly stirred as others recognized her.

The majority reacted as if it was unexpected.

Seeing that, Gun Mu-ak soon spoke inwardly.

‘Ha… He figured out everything early on.’

“He” referred to Cheol Ryu-heun.

As he did, he recalled the conversation at the inn from the past.

-Rest easy. There won’t be any need to make contact with that ice block queen.

-You already figured it out. The fact that the Ice Heaven Divine Palace has sided with us.

-Well, it’s as obvious as looking at a fire.

-Is that so?

-A queen of the Ice Vein White Clan’s caliber is sufficient to take a seat as one of the Four Dharma-Protecting Kings in place of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan’s Bat Demon Great King. Moreover, the relationship between the Heavenly Demon Cult and Ice Heaven Divine Palace has traditionally been close.

-Right… You hit it exactly. More than anything, I was drawn to the current Palace Master’s supreme martial level.

-And the Palace Master’s true feelings must have been the same. If she has crossed swords with you.

Having cleared his thoughts, Gun Mu-ak soon looked forward and spoke.

“As you can see, this cult has revived the position of the Four Dharma-Protecting Kings… And we are planning to deploy our elite forces against the Heaven Emperor Society. Will you come with me?”

His heavy voice was directed at those who had just entered together with the Four Dharma-Protecting Kings…

Subsequently, everyone’s gazes naturally turned toward them.

Amidst that, an old man of about seventy standing at the very center of that group smiled and replied.

“Hoho… Since we’ve already made up our minds, isn’t that why we’ve come here on this late night? If it is Sect Master Cheol’s will… This cult is more than willing to participate.”

Astonishingly, the old demonic man was Je Ak, the Blood Demon Saint… The Great Dharma Protector called the second-in-command of the Blood Demon Cult.