Chapter 193: Encountering the Enemy
Chapter 192
He rode on horseback for half a day, but they had not yet escaped Qinghai.
Although the Kunlun Sect would not have the strength to manage it meticulously, it was still a place under the Kunlun Sect’s influence.
A demonic practitioner popped out of such a place?
“Is it the Heaven-Rebelling Faction?”
“It should be so. It seems our movements… have leaked.”
Im A-hyeong’s face turned beet red with shame.
On the contrary, those who followed him, including Yi Hwa, frowned.
If looked at simply, it could be accepted to the extent that the Heaven-Obeying Faction failed to enforce internal discipline, but depending on how one thought, it could also be that they intentionally leaked information to clash Old Jong, the head of the Neutral Faction, with the Heaven-Rebelling Faction.
“The Heaven-Rebelling Faction…”
They seemed to be those who moved quite actively.
‘Or is it a situation where they have no choice but to move actively?’
It was a detail that must be kept in mind when revising plans.
“Is there anyone who knows who this guy is?”
Since the Demonic Cult was not a tiny town like Samyang County, and given the scale of the Demonic Cult, unless they were under the same affiliation, there would be countless cases where they were unfamiliar with each other.
“May I check him for a moment?”
However, Old Man Jong stepped forward as if checking was possible otherwise.
When he nodded, he approached the groaning demonic practitioner and rolled his sleeve up to the shoulder.
Then, a shape of a flower tattooed in black was revealed.
“It is the Demon Flower Regiment. It seems to be the Heaven-Rebelling Faction’s side.”
“That’s right. The Demon Flower Regiment is all affiliated with the Heaven-Rebelling Faction.”
Im A-hyeong also agreed with Old Man Jong’s words and nodded.
“I see. Then the next problem is why this person is here…”
It could be estimated in two main ways.
A scout to secure information on this side, or an ambush for a surprise attack.
If it was the latter, it could be a serious problem.
Whichever way it was, if the tracks of the three people including Im A-hyeong were exposed, the reason they moved must have also been known.
Because if they planned a surprise attack even while knowing that bringing Old Jong was the mission, they would arrive at a very dangerous conclusion.
‘Meaning that among them, there is a power capable of dealing with Old Jong…’
Old Jong was said to be a ‘top-tier’ expert even in the Demonic Cult.
It meant he was that strong, but to put it another way, it meant that experts of Old Jong’s caliber were not completely nonexistent.
“Master Heavenly Demon.”
He called Master Heavenly Demon in a monologue.
Hearing the softly muttered sound, Old Jong seemed to flinch.
“I’m talking to myself.”
“…Yes.”
Perhaps recalling the instruction not to interfere when he was talking to himself, Old Jong bowed his head and stepped back.
[He must have noticed. No, in this case, it should be called certainty.]
“If it’s Old Jong, it doesn’t matter, does it?”
[True, if it’s that fellow, it would indeed be so.]
Master Heavenly Demon let out a strange laugh.
[So, what do you want to ask?]
“You told me not to order the Azure Bird around carelessly. Since it is a being with one foot in the heavens, problems due to karma might occur.”
[I did.]
“Would this be fine?”
The tendons in the limbs of the demonic practitioner dragged here by the Azure Bird were severed, and his main acupoints were accurately destroyed. At this rate, he was not long for this world.
As if reading his inner thoughts, Master Heavenly Demon’s laughter followed.
[The Azure Bird will have to pay a price.]
“I see.”
The restrictions placed on the Azure Bird seemed greater than he had thought.
It had done something to the point of bearing that restriction.
“…It means a strong person has come, to the point that the Azure Bird had to be wary.”
Ppi-eek!
The Azure Bird fluttered its wings, affirming the inference he had put forward.
‘Was it the latter?’
The being they would meet soon would be a strong person whom even Old Jong would find burdensome.
Would such a strong person have come simply to take a walk?
“Old Jong.”
“Yes.”
“Who in the Cult can be said to be definitely stronger than Old Jong?”
“The difference between the Five Great Demonic Sovereigns is not that great, but… if I had to point one out, there is the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign.”
“Entering heaven and a divine demon…”
It was a title filled with bothersome words.
In the Demonic Cult that worshiped Master Heavenly Demon as a god, putting the word ‘Divine’ in a title and using the word ‘Entering Heaven’ which meant entering the sky?
[Ah, that guy.]
Along with Old Jong’s reaction of hardening his face, Master Heavenly Demon pretended to recognize him.
But his reaction was different from expected?
He had said he would vent his anger on the annoying practitioners of the Demonic Cult by frying them in dung water.
Hearing the title, it felt like a challenge to Master Heavenly Demon in itself, yet he was pleased with it.
[If that guy has come, the Azure Bird has reason to be wary.]
He seemed to like him very much.
“Would I lose if we fight?”
[If you endure three exchanges in his hands, I shall praise you.]
“Whew…”
It meant that was the extent of the gap.
But his stomach churned with a sudden surge of irritation.
‘Isn’t three exchanges too harsh?’
If he even drew upon the Five Elements Divine Power, would he not be able to last about three exchanges?
The rebellion rose up to his throat, but he did not spit it out.
Instead, another thought arose.
“I want to see his face once.”
It was not a childish decision.
The Azure Bird seemed to have stepped forward with the meaning to avoid it since it was dangerous, but turning his back and running away in this situation was out of the question.
In the first place, he had not thought that his martial arts would exert enough strength to overturn the general trend in the Demonic Cult.
The greatest weapon he possessed in this journey to the Demonic Cult was that he was Master Heavenly Demon’s legitimate successor.
If such a person like him fled from the circumstances where the one presumed to be the strongest of the Demonic Cult had appeared?
It would be dragging Master Heavenly Demon’s name through the mud.
Even if he claimed to be the Heavenly Demon, no one would follow him.
“…This old servant shall protect you.”
Old Man Jong read his mind.
“I trust you.”
***
In the middle of the night, as they advanced across the night veil where the grass’s magical power lingered, there was a person on a rock that looked good to sit on.
Surprisingly, outwardly he looked to be at most in his early thirties.
If that guy was the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign, there was no way he was of the age he appeared to be.
‘Rejuvenation.’
The realm of Refinement to Youth, where one reached the limit and became young again.
He was merely sitting quietly, yet the surrounding air trembled.
The strong man sitting at the center of it raised his eyes and looked at him.
“Hmm! At least you don’t seem like a fearless newborn pup…”
Whether to relieve his boredom, he, who had been holding and rolling two flint stones in his hand, clenched his fist.
Crunch!
The fragments of the stone, shattered all at once, fell down.
When he waved his hand as if to dust off the dirt, a wild wind blew in front of them.
Kwa-aaaa-aa!
The fragments of stone loaded with internal force instantly became deadly weapons like none other in the world and poured down.
Boom!
Raising his power, he immediately stamped his foot.
The force field of power he raised refracted the air, opposing the wild wind.
Thud! Thud-thud!
The stone pieces pouring down like a torrential rain turned to dust and scattered the moment they touched the field.
“Heavenly Demon’s Reign Stride?”
A strange light flickered in the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign’s eyes.
“There was indeed a reason why Jong-geuk did not return. Since the divine bird of Tianshan even follows you, you can indeed be called the legitimate successor of the Heavenly Demon.”
He felt as if he had been tested.
A bitter taste left in his mouth.
Beside him, Old Jong asked.
“So you stepped forward yourself?”
“That’s right. I was curious who the figure was that made you move. Because even in the Cult teeming with insects, you are one of the few I acknowledge.”
A demonic practitioner of the Demonic Cult evaluated the Demonic Cult as a den of insects.
At that disparate sight, Master Heavenly Demon naturally came to mind.
He seemed to understand why Master Heavenly Demon was pleased with him.
‘Wouldn’t Master Heavenly Demon’s appearance when he was on earth have been like this?’
Though it was a vague imagination, the figure of Master Heavenly Demon, whom he had never met in person, was naturally drawn.
As he was thinking that, the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign suddenly turned his gaze toward him.
“Ugh?!”
Suddenly, a massive pressure rushed in.
It was not physical force.
It was like a shock that pierced the soul.
‘It is similar to what Yi Cheon-gyeong used, but… on a different level.’
When Yi Cheon-gyeong played tricks, he felt it was heavy, but that was all.
It could not leave a single scratch on his middle dantian.
But this was a shock like being hit directly in the heart.
It felt like his heart would break.
‘If it were not for the Clear Brightness Mind Method, I would have faced a rough situation…’
Under the pressure that seemed capable of killing a person with just a glance, his clear breathing protected his middle dantian and raised power.
“Indeed.”
The corner of the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign’s mouth went up.
“There was an insect who used the title Devouring Demonic Monarch without knowing his place. Perhaps because he was a guy who grew his strength by plundering other people’s internal energy, his mind was like a sheet of paper. You are at least better than that insect. That guy pissed his pants and begged me to spare him.”
He knew because he had killed him with his own hands.
Although he had won thanks to his traits, his own skills were those of a martial artist strong enough to toy with even the elders of the Nine Great Sects.
‘To think he subdued such a person with just a glance…’
He could tell once again what a tremendous monster he was.
The evaluation of Master Heavenly Demon, who had mentioned three exchanges, was fully understood.
No way of attacking him through strength could be seen.
“That is enough.”
As if unable to endure any longer, Jong-geuk stepped to the front.
Booom!
As the massive presence blocked the front, the pressure pressing down on him vanished as if washed away.
“I will not tolerate any more rudeness.”
Whoosh!
At the same time, along with the flow of a voice filled with anger, the surrounding darkness vanished.
Overflowing flames.
The Fire Divine Power overflowing inside Yi Hwa’s body opened a world of fire demons in the human world.
“Yes, the Divine Maiden was here too.”
Stepping back a step to avoid the flames that rose as if to burn the world, the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign smirked.
“Fine, I shall let you live. Considering that you are under the protection of Jong-geuk and the Divine Maiden, and even followed by the divine bird, you seem more qualified than that empty-shelled brat in the Cult.”
Suddenly, a chill ran down his neck.
It was a declaration that he originally intended to kill everyone here.
But he could also catch the other meaning contained in those words.
“Does that mean you will recognize me as the Heavenly Demon?”
“Your wild guesses are severe. If it is a worthless game of seats, go to the Cult and do it with the pathetic brat who called you. Bowing my head to authority is not my way.”
Then, what could make the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign bow his head?
The answer could be found without difficulty.
“Respect for the strong…”
“Hahaha! You are indeed worthy of being the legitimate successor. Yes, that’s it. I don’t listen to those weaker than me. So, if you want to make me submit, you had better do it when you become stronger than me. If you bring up some worthless authority of the Heavenly Demon, I’ll rip that mouth of yours open.”
The fierce answer flew in as if piercing his chest.
‘A game of seats…’
Somehow, the meaning contained in those words did not feel light.
He had a premonition close to certainty that his life in the Demonic Cult would be very painful once again.
By the time the figure of the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign slid away from the spot, Master Heavenly Demon’s laughter reached him.
[How is it? Do you like him?]
Master Heavenly Demon’s laughter sounded like a mockery.
No, it must indeed be a mockery.
“…This is driving me crazy.”
To properly resolve the matters of the Demonic Cult, he had to surpass that guy.
He thought it would not be easy, but this was truly beyond imagination.