Chapter 207: Rising Stars
Chapter 206 – Rising Stars
A Demonic King-level martial artist was smashed to pieces in an instant.
From the mental warfare before the fight began to the supreme and secret techniques used, looking closely at the inside, there was a considerably complex process.
In a word, he had run head-on with all his might into the Pacifying Heaven Demonic King, who had entered to lightly test the waters while being off guard.
Unless there was an extraordinary difference in skill, even an expert had no choice but to be defeated.
However, from the outside, it looked as if the decision was reached in a single move.
‘Appearances are important.’
First of all, in the eyes of the majority, he must have looked like a powerhouse who easily tore apart and killed a Demonic King-level expert.
Even experts with extraordinary discernment could not just ignore him.
In any case, it was because he had proven that he possessed the teeth to hunt a Demonic King-level powerhouse.
Thanks to that, the Great Martial Arena became quiet.
“Is there no next?”
He openly provoked them, but there were no challengers.
It was right after he had sliced a Demonic King-level expert into pieces at once.
Even calculating simply by weight class, a Demonic Emperor-level powerhouse had to step forward. Even then, they could not be certain.
From the standpoint of the Heaven-Obeying Faction, it would be perplexing.
‘They wouldn’t be able to deploy a Demonic Emperor-level powerhouse in an uncertain matter either.’
It was said that their strength was already at a disadvantage compared to the Heaven-Rebelling Faction.
Losing twenty-nine Demonic General-level experts must have been painful to the bone, and now they had even lost the Pacifying Heaven Demonic King.
Furthermore, even though they paid such a sacrifice, there was no result.
It was merely information that his skill exceeded the Demonic King level.
From the perspective of the Heaven-Obeying Faction, it would be a dilemma.
Even if they deployed a Demonic Emperor, would they have a chance of winning?
If they put in Demonic Kings in a battle of attrition like yesterday, how many would die by his hand?
This was the reason why the challengers suddenly cut off.
“How boring. Tsk!”
If there were no more challengers, there was no need to keep his place.
Rather, it was more profitable to manage the medicinal power that had not been digested yet.
The martial prowess he displayed looked robust at first glance, but in hindsight, it was a situation no different from a castle built on sand.
He was merely squeezing out power to replace the divine power of water by grinding in the medicinal power of all kinds of spiritual medicines.
‘Is this it for today?’
He turned his body with a sneer on his lips.
Perhaps the Heaven-Obeying Faction had a lot of thoughts while looking at the martial prowess he showed.
Perhaps because they had lived looking only at what was below them for too long, they seemed unable to even imagine their foothold collapsing.
If there were even one person whose thinking was open, they might be able to change the direction a bit, but even if such a person existed, if they were in the minority or in a situation where they could not voice their opinions, it would ultimately be no different.
Those who were unqualified had reigned supreme for too long.
This was the reason why those who had rotted to the point of stagnation had to be dragged down.
‘Is the check coming soon?’
If the front is difficult, then from the side.
Since they would be familiar with expedients, they would probably come out that way.
He had also scattered plenty of bait for them to do so.
***
Twenty-nine Demonic General-level demons and one Demonic Monarch-level expert.
This was the damage status of the Heaven-Obeying Faction demons who died by Yeon Cheong-un’s hands yesterday.
Now, they had to add the name of a Demonic King-level expert here as well.
“What on earth is this…”
The faces of the elders of the Heavenly Demon Bloodline who were looking down at the Great Martial Arena were drained of color.
“Although I thought his skill would be above average…”
“Even if he were to lose, I thought he would easily be able to contend for a hundred exchanges…”
Looking at Yeon Cheong-un’s martial prowess, the elders of the Heavenly Demon Bloodline made a rough estimate.
He possessed a skill unbefitting of his age and his internal energy was deeper than imagined.
Since there was no benefit in using half-hearted moves, they decided to play a strong card from the start today.
Thus, the card they put forward was the Pacifying Heaven Demonic King.
Demonic Kings were experts who surpassed the elders of the Nine Great Sects. They were rare men of ability even in the Demonic Cult.
That expert was defeated so easily.
“Forget the bottom, I can’t even see the outline.”
“This has indeed become quite troubling.”
Now, even an estimate could not be made.
However, they could not put up a Demonic Emperor-level expert either. Since his hands were cruel, there was a high probability that only vain losses would occur.
“It’s ruined.”
Elder Yi Won-bo, an elder of the Elder Council and the younger brother of Great Elder Yi Won-gun, buried his body in his chair and clicked his tongue in vain.
“Ruined… What do you mean by that?”
“It is exactly as it sounds. What hidden meaning could there be in such words?”
Great Elder Yi Won-gun, who would usually have a face full of discontent, was not in his seat.
In such a situation, Elder Yi Won-bo’s words could not help but create a great ripple.
When other elders expressed their dissatisfaction with faces that could not accept it, Elder Yi Won-bo continued speaking again.
“The reason we put only Demonic General-level children on the Great Martial Arena yesterday was to touch the fundamental aspect.”
“You meant to diminish his prestige.”
“That’s right. He is a guy who suddenly appeared, smashed the head of Yi Gang-mu, who was our Heavenly Demon, and claimed to be the Heavenly Demon himself. The problem is that he has more legitimacy than us. He possesses the intact Heavenly Demon Divine Art, is supported by the Divine Maiden and one of the Demonic Sovereigns, and even commands the Azure Bird of Mount Heaven, which no one but the Progenitor Heavenly Demon has ever followed. Moreover, his footsteps also overflow with a dominance most fitting of a Heavenly Demon. In the past hundred years, has there been a Heavenly Demon who gave such a shock and aftermath?”
“…There was none.”
As the Heavenly Demon Divine Art became incomplete, the descendants of the Heavenly Demon shrank. Rather than the law of the survival of the fittest, they borrowed the power of authority.
The demons of the Heavenly Demon Cult recognized the authority of the Heavenly Demon, but that was it.
The authority of the Heavenly Demon was no longer absolute.
To such a Heavenly Demon Cult, a person who evoked nostalgia for the past had appeared.
Strong martial prowess and shocking footsteps.
In that appearance of acting as if he had two lives, there was a power that made the heart of any demon tremble.
“The reason I did not oppose Brother Won-gun’s opinion and did not stop the battle of attrition that was carried out by throwing away twenty-nine living lives was because I judged that if the flow he is creating continues, the future of our Heavenly Demon Bloodline will be bleak. That was why we had to make him roll on the ground and gasp for breath against Demonic General-level warriors in front of everyone. But it’s completely ruined. Now he holds everything.”
“Are you saying that all of it has become meaningless just because he showed himself capturing the Pacifying Heaven Demonic King?”
“We must look at it that way.”
“But…”
“But what! He overwhelmingly sliced and killed the Pacifying Heaven Demonic King! Then what will the cultists of the Heavenly Demon Cult think when they see that? They will place him on par with at least the Demonic Emperor-level experts. Those who idolize him might even compare him to the Demonic Sovereigns. He proved that he possesses such martial prowess at a young age!”
Perhaps because he had accumulated a lot, Elder Yi Won-bo poured out harsh words unlike his usual personality.
“Then what will that future be like? Not to mention the Heaven-Rebelling Faction, even in the Heaven-Obeying Faction, those who follow him will emerge. While our strength is already insufficient, guys turning their backs will follow one after another. Perhaps in a few days, that Great Martial Arena will not be an execution ground, but a place where a pledge of loyalty is held, with all kinds of demons bowing their heads to pledge loyalty in front of everyone watching. Can you handle this!”
“…”
“Haha…”
Whether it was denial of reality or inability to accept it, the elders of the Heavenly Demon Bloodline tightly closed their mouths with faces full of discontent.
Elder Yi Won-bo let out a deep sigh and proposed a countermeasure.
“Before anyone else, we must make a pledge of loyalty. Our Heavenly Demon Bloodline must bow our heads first and be promised a tomorrow. Only then can we live.”
“Will that guy accept us?”
“He will weed out those to be weeded out, but he won’t be able to weed out everyone. Be that as it may, the Heaven-Rebelling Faction are like jackals who only look for opportunities. Fundamentally, they are rebels. If he intends to settle the Heavenly Demon Cult intact, he will need existences like us.”
“But the wall he has to overcome is still high! If we just endure well for fifteen days as promised, the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign will step forward…”
“How foolish… What the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign desires is not to become the Heavenly Demon. He wants to defeat the Heavenly Demon! If he had wished to ascend to the position of Heavenly Demon, he would have ascended long ago. Since he showed such potential, the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign will rather step forward and protect the Heavenly Demon until he matures!”
The Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign might stand on Yeon Cheong-un’s side.
At the words of Elder Yi Won-bo mentioning that possibility, the other elders were flustered.
“Do you really… believe it will turn out that way?”
“It cannot help but turn out that way! Good grief, to be so ignorant of the opponent… Tsk tsk!”
Elder Yi Won-bo clicked his tongue as if frustrated.
However, the elders could not easily accept it.
If Elder Yi Won-bo’s words were true, defeating that Heavenly Demon was impossible.
Alone, he was shaking the Heavenly Demon Cult and grabbing the Heaven-Obeying Faction by the collar.
If he even received the help of the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign here?
Most would follow the flow of the general trend.
It was because people naturally wanted to entrust themselves to the winning side rather than the losing side.
Force, authority, justification—there was nothing the Heavenly Demon Bloodline could put forward.
“…But Elder, your thoughts are ultimately just speculation, are they not?”
The elders turned their eyes away from the future that had neither dreams nor hope.
The evil consequence of having walked only a comfortable path.
In a crisis situation, those who could realize it and establish painstaking countermeasures were surprisingly non-existent.
“We have heard your high opinion well. We will definitely refer to it in our future plans.”
“No matter how strong he is, he is a greenhorn. There are plenty of ways to create a gap.”
“If it is not on the Great Martial Arena, there are things worth trying.”
The elders turned their backs, each adhering to their own thoughts.
In a situation where Great Elder Yi Won-gun was absent, Elder Yi Won-bo’s power alone could not control the tightly blocked old men.
“…I am going to persuade my brother immediately, so I hope you refrain from useless actions until I return!”
Elder Yi Won-bo sold Great Elder Yi Won-gun’s name and hurriedly left the conference room.
“If one does not match the time and opportunity, one suffers a disaster. Since they are guys who hold high positions but do not know how to take responsibility, they do not even know the most basic thing!”
Leaving the place alone, Elder Yi Won-bo ground his teeth fiercely.
“Disgusting things! Do you think I do not know that they gave the position of Great Elder to my brother because they feared the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign!”
He was so angry that even the words he had kept in his heart for a long time spilled out.
Until now, the two main pillars that had led the Heavenly Demon Bloodline were the Heavenly Demon and the elders of the Heavenly Demon Bloodline who supported him.
The Great Elder was an existence that represented such Heavenly Demon Bloodline elders.
It was a matter of course, but if the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign intended to overturn the Heavenly Demon Cult, the first targets whose necks he would strike were precisely the Heavenly Demon and the Great Elder.
Therefore, the elders passed the position of Great Elder to Yi Won-gun.
Great Elder Yi Won-gun, who had not hidden his fiery personality against the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign since long ago, was a perfect talent from the perspective of other elders as well.
It was the decisive reason why Yi Won-gun could sit in the position of Great Elder representing the Heavenly Demon Bloodline despite being emotional and foul-mouthed.
“Haha… How do I persuade my brother?”
Having guarded the seat next to Great Elder Yi Won-gun, he knew well.
The fundamental reason why Great Elder Yi Won-gun revealed such a fiery personality against the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign was jealousy and envy.
Despite inheriting the greatest blood under heaven, he fell behind someone who did not.
No matter how hard he tried, the despair that he could not even follow the heels of the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign caused anger and inferiority, and made the current Great Elder Yi Won-gun.
Persuading such a Great Elder Yi Won-gun would be a tedious task.
“…To save the Heavenly Demon Bloodline, even if it is difficult, I must achieve it.”
Elder Yi Won-bo, who was carving a firm determination, stopped his steps at the scent brushing the tip of his nose.
“The smell of blood?”
It was a thick stench of blood, enough for someone to have lost their life.
Elder Yi Won-bo hurriedly rushed into Great Elder Yi Won-gun’s residence.
“Broth…”
Slash!
A cold yet hot sound resounded.
“Ugh!”
Elder Yi Won-bo clenched his teeth at the hot pain carving into his shoulder.
“Kahahaha! As expected of the blood of the greatest bloodline! This blood is the best!”
A sight that felt like he would go mad if he opened his mouth to scream was unfolding before his eyes.
“Brother… Why…”
“Do not worry, brother. I will definitely remember your sacrifice. All of this is for the Cult!”
“Brother…”
“I will step on your and the clan’s sacrifices to rise and surpass the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign! Thereby, I will become the Heavenly Demon and become the savior of the Heavenly Demon Cult! Kahahahahaha!”
“Haha…”
The state of Great Elder Yi Won-gun, who was tearing off his younger brother’s arm and stuffing it into his mouth, was not the appearance of a human no matter who looked at it.
“It is the end… of the bloodline…”
As if he was not satisfied with one arm, looking at Great Elder Yi Won-gun who tore at his body and sought blood, Elder Yi Won-bo shed tears in his fading consciousness.
***
There were two people watching the terrible sight announcing the fall of the Heavenly Demon Bloodline from afar.
“To think such a thing is the bloodline of the Heavenly Demon. It is not even funny.”
“Ruination is a sad thing.”
Just as the impressions they released, their expressions were also different.
“The martial prowess of the Demonic Sovereigns is above average. Among them, the martial prowess of the Heaven-Entering Divine Demonic Sovereign has reached ascension. Will you be able to deal with him?”
At the question asked suggestively, a man clad in blood-red light stared blankly.
Thud!
In an instant, the sinister man’s arm bounced greatly and crumpled.
Even though the bone tore through the flesh and came out, as if he did not feel any pain at all, looking at the white bone fragment that pierced through the skin, the sinister man smiled quietly.
“My mistake. Those were not words to say to the one who completed the Limitless Great Sun Qi of the Mad Martial Sovereign.”
One of the Three Unparalleled Skills of Martial World.
And.
“Leader of the Blood Cult.”
The vanguard of evil smiled a strange smile as he looked at the crumbling Demonic Cult.