Chapter 1: Chapter 1
The Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang.
It was a barren mountain range unsuitable for people to live in, but since ancient times, a massive organization had crouched down and established its base there.
The Heavenly Demon Cult.
As a single sect, it was the holy land of the Demonic Path that could undoubtedly be called the best in the world, including the Central Plains and the Outer Realms.
And since ancient times, they had constantly sought opportunities to take the prosperous Central Plains, but…
Recently, they had been strangely quiet.
As if they had some hidden agenda.
The center of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Demonic Shadow Palace.
The higher-ups of the Heavenly Demon Cult stared at the seat of honor with serious expressions.
The throne where the Cult Leader should originally sit.
However, that throne was completely empty.
And that was for ten whole years.
“…What are your thoughts on the Cult Leader position?”
“Since we cannot keep it vacant indefinitely, shouldn’t we inevitably open a Holy War or something?”
“But the Former Cult Leader might still be alive.”
At the Fiery Demonic Venerable’s words, a silence that felt like cold water had been poured over the Demonic Shadow Palace flowed.
At the same time, everyone’s pupils shook greatly.
Along with that, the Former Cult Leader who had passed on the Cult Leader position and vanished ten years ago came to their minds.
A person who could be counted on one hand in terms of martial prowess even among those called Heavenly Demons throughout history.
A person who ascended to the Cult Leader position and gained the title of Heavenly Demon without learning the divine art that only the Cult Leader learns, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
A supreme genius who mastered all medical arts and other miscellaneous subjects, not to mention mastering the hundreds and thousands of supreme arts of the Demonic Path within the Heavenly Demon Cult.
A figure with countless praises attached to him.
The Absolute Heavenly Demon.
Tremble…
Everyone trembled at the fear and terror that bound them just by thinking about it.
However, some shook their heads left and right to shake off the fear, and then carefully brought up their words.
“But ten years have already passed.”
“Th-That is correct. Besides, the Cult Leader stepped down from his position and left.”
“That is also true, but if the Cult Leader says he does not like the new Cult Leader…”
At the Fiery Demonic Venerable’s words breaking the atmosphere once again, their faces turned pale.
Just once in the past.
There was someone who offended the Cult Leader.
And the result was gruesome.
As the Five Great Clans that supported the Heavenly Demon Cult at the time were reduced to Four Great Clans.
Flinch!
Those who recalled the Former Cult Leader, who had single-handedly annihilated the Hyeokryeon Clan back then, stiffened in fear.
Rustle…
Meeting each other’s fear-soaked eyes, they swallowed their saliva and whispered.
“Then we shall discuss this later…”
“Let us do that.”
“L-Let’s do so.”
The Heavenly Demon Cult’s military advisor, the Demonic Brain, let out a sigh as he watched the terrified group.
“Haa.”
A bitter smile lingered around his mouth.
“If only the Cult Leader had designated a successor…”
How many times had it been?
They held a meeting every year, but the result was the same.
Even though the Absolute Heavenly Demon had disappeared, they could not escape from his grasp.
No, they became even more shackled.
Because what could not be seen was even more terrifying.
‘It would be much better if we just knew where he was.’
They searched for the Absolute Heavenly Demon every day.
However, whether he had sunken into the earth or soared into the sky, they could not find any trace of him at all.
Like that, time simply passed without any results.
And that was a whopping ten years of time.
“Haa… “
The Demonic Brain, who let out another deep sigh that had not run dry recently, muttered towards the one who caused this mess, clutching his head as if he had a headache.
“Where on earth are you? Cult Leader.”
* * *
A small cave located deep within the heavily piled permafrost of the Tianshan Mountains.
Since the permafrost began to pile up, a warm light had existed for the past ten years in the cave where not even a beast, let alone a human presence, had entered during eons of time.
There was a man in the cave.
Disheveled hair and beard.
Furthermore, the clothes he wore were so worn out, as if they would tear at a touch, showing how long he had worn them.
As the man, Dokgo Gu Yeon, raised his right hand, pitch-black astral qi surged up.
Following that, his hand moved elegantly.
Crack!
In a single breath, a massive circle was drawn on the floor, and an unidentifiable pattern was rapidly engraved over it as if adding something.
“You dare make me suffer like a dog?”
The cold breath that leaked from between his lips spread softly to the surroundings.
Unlike the cold air, his voice was excited.
Dokgo Gu Yeon was drenched in elation.
At first, it was a light interest.
After mastering all the demonic supreme arts of the Heavenly Demon Library, his eyes only then began to turn toward other miscellaneous subjects besides martial arts.
During that time, he belatedly recalled the incomplete great art written at the very end of the Absolute Reigning Art he was learning.
Since he had already reached great completion in the Absolute Reigning Art, he had thought he would complete it in no time.
However, as one year passed, and as it approached two years, he could feel in his bones just how arrogant that thought had been.
He could not unfold the great art.
No matter how many times he tried.
His sky-high pride cracked.
At the fact that he could not complete it.
He had no interest in the eternal immortality or reigning over the world written in the great art, but as he rarely succeeded, his stubbornness flared up.
Therefore, he roughly passed on the Cult Leader position that bound him to just anyone, and then left the Heavenly Demon Cult and arrived here.
* * *
“Now, it’s finally complete.”
Elation dominated my body.
How much had I looked forward to this day.
The day the great art was completed!
Until I clung to this great art, my pride knew no bounds.
Just by looking once, I could learn all the martial arts in the world, and I could instantly learn formations and great arts, not to mention medical arts.
However, recently, that pride had been broken.
Because of the Eternal Immortality Reigning Great Art drawn right here!
“It was a long time.”
I naturally smiled.
I invested a whole ten years into a single great art.
As its completion reached the end, I simply could not control the joyful laughter leaking from between my lips.
Now, I just had to stand on the formation.
Good.
Thoroughly enjoying the impending victory, I carefully observed my surroundings.
Even though I had stayed for ten years, it was empty.
Only a single book and piled up Fasting Pills.
That was all there was.
There was no water, clothes, or blankets.
The only thing that caught my eye was the luminous pearl that brightly illuminated the inside of the cave.
It was because I had achieved immunity to cold and heat, so I did not even feel the cold, and I only needed to fill my empty stomach.
“It was truly agonizing.”
Looking at the Fasting Pills, I shook my head.
No matter how much I had reached the absolute realm, the senses that dominated my body remained the same.
I was not a Daoist.
Even so, I ate Fasting Pills that had no taste at all and were only bitter every single day.
In order to save even a little bit of time.
It was thanks to my competitiveness overcoming my appetite.
Now that was also over.
Rustle…
The moment I moved my stopped feet again.
Flash!
A brilliantly colored light spread from the great art.
‘Yes, it’s just as expected!’
The colors I encountered for the first time slowly wrapped around me like silk.
A warm sensation tickled my skin.
Smirk…
The corners of my eyes curved like half-moons.
* * *
A pillar of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, the Mount Hua Sect.
It was the early hour of the rabbit, a time when they would normally be busy with training, but today it was exceptionally quiet.
“…….”
“…….”
In the Hall of Medicine, the Daoists of the Hyeon generation, the core of the Mount Hua Sect, were gazing at a single spot with serious eyes.
A small bed placed in the center.
The Hall of Medicine Head was carefully inserting needles into the body of the young Daoist lying with a pale complexion.
How much time had passed?
“Huu…”
Having inserted all the needles, the Hall of Medicine Head let out the breath he had been holding back and wiped his sweat.
“It is now finished.”
“Is Cheon-hwi okay now?”
“Has he recovered?”
“How is he?”
The Daoists who had been continuously watching with bated breath began to press the Hall of Medicine Head and their martial nephew, Cheon-go, as if they had been waiting.
“I have taken all the measures that can be taken.”
Rustle…
The moment those words ended, a female Daoist, Hyeon-ryeo, who had been watching with bloodshot eyes while biting her lip, moved.
She held onto the small hand of Cheon-hwi, who lay as if dead, and sent a sorrowful gaze.
Was it because this year’s winter was exceptionally cold?
When she visited in the early dawn, Cheon-hwi, whose body was already unwell, had already collapsed and lost consciousness.
“I should have hurried a little more…”
Moisture gathered in Hyeon-ryeo’s eyes.
The Daoists expressed pity at the tears of Hyeon-ryeo, who was called the most rational and level-headed among the Daoists of the Mount Hua Sect.
It was because everyone knew how much she cherished Cheon-hwi.
“No matter how much you liked my martial Junior Brother, aren’t you still too young to follow behind him…”
Everyone let out a groan at her tearful words as she trembled in sadness.
Cheon-hwi was the only disciple of their deceased martial Junior Brother.
Ever since he entered the Mount Hua Sect holding their martial Junior Brother’s hand, his body had been unwell, preventing him from learning martial arts, but his inherently upright and pure nature made him a beloved existence.
Around the time they bit their lips in sadness.
Twitch…
Cheon-hwi’s finger moved.
“……!”
Hyeon-ryeo hurriedly turned her head.
Everyone had surprised eyes.
“S-Sect Leader Senior Brother.”
At Hyeon-ryeo’s urgent words, the Mount Hua Sect’s Sect Leader, Hyeon-sang, immediately nodded and opened his mouth towards Cheon-go.
“Is there no other way?”
“I cannot be certain, but… if we use our sect’s Purple Perilla Pill, it might show some effect on my martial Junior Brother who has not learned martial arts.”
A calm voice spread to the surroundings.
However, contrary to that calm voice, the contents contained within were astonishing.
What was the Purple Perilla Pill?
Shaolin’s Great Restoration Pill.
Wudang’s Supreme Purity Pill.
It was the peerless elixir of the Mount Hua Sect that boasted efficacies that did not fall behind even when compared to those two elixirs widely known throughout the world.
But they would give such an elixir to a young Daoist who had not even learned a mental method?
If other martial artists heard this, it would be a matter they would faint from jealousy over.
However, Hyeon-sang did not hesitate.
Cheon-hwi was the sect’s treasure.
He was even more precious than the Purple Perilla Pill.
“I permit it.”
Cheon-go’s eyes shone as he turned his head.
“Jeok-un.”
As if waiting for the call, the Deputy Head of the Hall of Medicine, Jeok-un, trotted in.
“Did you call?”
“Go and bring the Purple Perilla Pill.”
“Do you mean the Purple Perilla Pill?”
Jeok-un’s eyes grew endlessly large.
Then, discovering the collapsed Cheon-hwi, he quickly nodded.
“I will hurry and bring it.”
A moment later, Jeok-un brought a wooden box.
Rustle…
He pulled out the needles stuck in Cheon-hwi.
After that, he slowly took out the Purple Perilla Pill.
The strong plum blossom scent of the Purple Perilla Pill that revealed its appearance spread in all directions.
“Please, please…”
“I beg of you.”
“I will do my best.”
Listening to their desperate voices, Cheon-go took out a long needle. After that, he deeply pierced it into Cheon-hwi’s Baihui acupoint without hesitation.
Press!
Along with that, he crushed the Purple Perilla Pill with both hands and slowly flowed it into the opened mouth.
Due to that, two crossed destinies interlocked.
Dokgo Gu Yeon, who had been in a deep slumber, suddenly woke up from his sleep at the strong scent squeezing through his throat and flowing in. However, his mind was still hazy.
‘What about the great art?’
The only thought that clearly came to mind.
Just then.
“…Pushing qi and passing blood is… difficult…”
“What should we… Now… his life…”
Muffled voices that sounded as if heard underwater could be heard.
‘Voices?’
The first thing that came to mind was doubt. The cave he stayed in was the deepest part of the Tianshan Mountains, making it difficult for not only people but even beasts to visit.
But to think he would hear voices.
And multiple voices that clearly bore the traces of long years at that.
For a moment, he recalled the elders of his cult.
However, he soon shook his head.
‘Even if they found this place where I hid, there is no way those old folks would come.’
They felt uncomfortable around him.
Because after he became the Cult Leader, he had ignored most of the things they wanted out of annoyance.
It was obvious they would have rather welcomed his disappearance.
While he was recalling them laughing.
Rumble!
Suddenly, his body twisted.
Following that, an indescribable, terrible pain surged in an instant.
‘What is this now!’
His mind became dizzy from the sudden surging pain.
After reaching great completion in the Absolute Reigning Art about fifty years ago and ascending to the absolute realm, he had never felt such a thing as pain.
Was it because of that?
The pain he felt for the first time in a long while came even more intensely than back then.
In shock, he urgently searched for the cause.
His entire body’s blood vessels were so narrow that it would be difficult for even a single needle to pass through, and due to that, the muscles of his entire body had shrunk.
‘Damn it!’
Swallowing the curse he could not spit out, he urgently widened his blood vessels.
Riiip…
Was it because he forcefully tore them open?
Indescribable pain surged.
‘Damn it! It hurts like hell!’
However, he could not stop.
In order to move somehow, he first had to widen the blood vessel leading to the Baihui acupoint.
After urgently taking stability as a temporary measure, he racked his brain to grasp the situation while concentrating his mind.
‘The great art definitely succeeded…’
Just then, the muffled voices that sounded like they swallowed water became clear and knocked on his ears.
“Ah, the Heavenly Venerable has helped us.”
“The Mount Hua Sect’s virtue accumulated by our ancestors is shining brightly.”
‘What? Mount Hua Sect?’
He lost his spirit with a shock as if he had been hit in the back of the head with a massive hammer.
‘What kind of bullshit is this now?’
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