Chapter 310: The Heavenly Demon (1)
Inside a small hut, the remaining survivors were desperately fighting for their lives.
“Block it!”
“If they get in, we’re all done for!”
“Eek!”
Piling up wood and wielding sickles and pickaxes, they struggled with all their might.
It was less of a proper defense and more of a final desperate effort.
A truly critical situation.
A ghoul’s arm grasped a man’s head.
“S-save me!”
Right at that moment.
BANG!
Soh Yumyeong leaped forward, kicking off the ground.
“How dare mere corpses, created by sorcery, try to harm humans!”
Blue energy surged from his sword.
“Keeek!”
As the technique of the [Taeguk Sword] unfolded, the ghouls’ heads were shattered into pieces. [1]
BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!
The claim that he was the top disciple of the Wudang Sect was no empty boast.
The ghouls were swept away without even being able to properly counterattack.
One clash, two clashes… three clashes.
In the blink of an eye, Soh Yumyeong had dealt with more than seven ghouls, wiping the blood off his sword.
“Wow, impressive for a newcomer. Reminds me of the Contractor’s old days.”
“He’s quite useful. We can leave the cleanup to him from now on.”
“As expected from someone chosen by Mr. Jinhyuk.”
Though compliments followed, a deep shadow loomed over Soh Yumyeong ‘s face.
The joy of saving people was brief, as the harsh reality of his situation dawned on him.
“Th-thank you.”
“We thought it was all over…”
“Sob, sob.”
Was it due to the relief of surviving?
The people, whose tension had eased, collapsed on the spot.
A village that once housed over a hundred now had barely thirty survivors.
If just ten ghouls caused this much devastation…
Depending on their movement, the damage could exponentially increase.
“For now, please distribute these. Catch your breath, and then I have a few questions.”
Jinhyuk took out water and barley bread from his subspace inventory and handed them to the people.
After a brief respite, the exhaustion began to fade from their faces.
“I am the old man who serves as the village chief. First… I must express my gratitude for saving our lives. Without you, none of us would have survived.”
The old man bowed deeply to show his gratitude.
“But, what brings such distinguished individuals to this remote village?”
“We aimed to deal with those who attacked this place… and we’re also looking for someone.”
“Looking for someone?”
Jinhyuk glanced around.
Everyone was busy tending to the wounded and preparing for a potential second ghoul attack.
A little conversation wouldn’t attract much attention.
“Do you know if there’s anyone among the survivors who recently came to this village?”
If the Heavenly Demon had left the Heavenly Demon Sect and come to Luoyang, it must have been quite recent.
To those who have lived here all their lives, a stranger would stand out.
“…Actually, there is one young man who arrived here five days ago.”
The old man nodded.
“Is he still here?”
“Yes… he is.”
As expected.
He had come here to reclaim his internal energy.
This place, where the harmony of Yin and Yang clashed, was unique in the entire martial world.
“Who is it? Oh, don’t point. Just describe him while talking as if it’s an ordinary conversation.”
“You will recognize him easily. He has a distinctive sword scar on his neck. He’s the one you’re looking for.”
A scar on the neck.
Jinhyuk’s eyes darted like lightning.
Among the people eating…
‘Found him.’
He looked quite emaciated and dusty, as if he had been starving…
But his eyes were still alive.
No, the sharp glint in his eyes, shining through his disheveled hair, was even fiercer than his master’s.
The scar on his neck looked more like a beast’s claw mark than a sword cut.
“Thank you.”
Jinhyuk stood up.
—
The Heavenly Demon (天魔).
The disaster of ten thousand demons and the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
‘The Heavenly Demon Sect was able to wage war against all of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Major Clans as a single entity because of the absolute ruler known as the Heavenly Demon.’
However.
The bird that soared the highest had its wings broken one day.
The king, who was both revered and envied by all…
…could no longer be seen on the throne.
Why he fought against the 50th floor.
Why he abandoned everything he had.
I didn’t know the reason.
But from now on, I planned to find out everything.
Jinhyuk slowly approached the man.
“May I sit here?”
“….”
The man didn’t respond to Jinhyuk’s words.
But Jinhyuk took the silence as a form of consent.
As he sat down, the man finally reacted.
“I didn’t say you could sit.”
“If you didn’t like it, you could have said so.”
“You’re a shameless one. Or do you think you can ignore the will of someone who lives by eating grass?”
“I dealt with the ghouls and provided a meal, so this should be acceptable, right?”
Jinhyuk grinned and gave a reasonable explanation.
The man sighed lightly, as if unable to think of a rebuttal.
“…Do as you please.”
In the past, he hadn’t seen the man’s face clearly because of the Heavenly Killing Qi, but…
‘He’s much more handsome than I thought.’
The Heavenly Demon, too, looked similar to ordinary people.
No, thanks to the transformation, he had clean skin and a sharp impression.
Jinhyuk activated the [Eyes of Gluttony] to carefully observe the man.
Ding!
—
**Name**: Baek Ilha
**Gender**: Male
**Age**: ??? years
**Level**: ???
**Strength**: ??? **Agility**: ??? **Stamina**: ??? **Magic**: 7 **Internal Energy**: ???
**Stat Points Available**: 0
**Unique Abilities**: Heavenly Demon Divine Art (天魔神功)
**Skills**: ‘Heavenly Demon Sovereignty Steps (天魔君臨步)’ Lv?? , ‘Heavenly Killing Qi (天殺罡氣)’ Lv??, ‘Heavenly Demon Great Destruction (天魔大滅劫)’ Lv??, ‘Heavenly Demon Rebound Qi (天魔返彈氣)’ Lv??………… There are too many skills to display.
—
[Copy Condition: The Heavenly Demon is currently in a state where most of his core energy is depleted due to a battle with an entity from the 50th floor. It is impossible for him to regain his former internal energy. However, if you assist him in recovering his internal energy, you will be able to copy one of his unique abilities or skills.]
[Special Condition: You can enter the Heavenly Demon’s memories once. The completeness of the copied Heavenly Demon Divine Art will depend on your prior understanding of the Heavenly Demon and the Heavenly Demon Divine Art (maximum 10 stars).]
To climb to the upper floors of the tower smoothly.
To reach the 50th floor…
Learning the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is a must.
This is not an option but a necessity.
‘The speed of clearing the 40th floors differs more than sevenfold with and without the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.’
Especially, the gods of Norse mythology and their beasts were specialized in overwhelming force and immense magic power.
Naturally, to fight them, one needed corresponding abilities.
‘Although Black Heavenly Demonic Art and the Art of Immense Strength and Chaos are also very helpful, the most efficient is still the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.’
Usually, one would acquire higher versions of abilities through fusion, but…
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art is a flawless ability with no higher version.
‘It’s also very compatible with beings like Fenrir and Jormungandr…’
Above all, indebting the Heavenly Demon would be beneficial in many ways for the future.
Though the conditions to copy are stringent, I must find a way.
“Could you stop pretending not to know me? I’m sure my master told you about me.”
Jinhyuk ended the tiring game of wits.
Though Sama-ja betrayed the Heavenly Demon, the Dark Emperor did not.
Instead of relying on strength, he purely believed and followed the Heavenly Demon.
Even now, after losing everything, he remained loyal to the Heavenly Demon.
In the end.
“I heard that Uho Beop took a disciple. He always said he’d never take one, but in his twilight years, he finally did. And not just a martial artist or a man from the Murim, but an outsider from the tower.” [2]
The Heavenly Demon let out a complicated smile.
“Fate is indeed strange.”
“It really is. So, why has Uho Beop’s disciple come all the way here to find me?”
Here begins the main discussion.
“Could you tell me… what happened that day?”
At the mention of past wounds, the Heavenly Demon’s eyes narrowed.
But only for a moment.
“I had one of the crowns, so… beings that shouldn’t have crossed over did.”
“…!”
This time, Jinhyuk was surprised.
To think the word ‘crown’ would come out of the Heavenly Demon’s mouth.
A holy relic that must be collected to reach the top of the tower.
He had one of them.
“From your reaction, it seems you know about the crowns.”
“I’ve heard about them.”
Jinhyuk didn’t deny it.
“Since you referred to it in the past tense… does that mean you no longer have it?”
“Yes. But don’t worry. It wasn’t taken by them. At the last moment, I threw the crown outside the floor.”
…Huh?
So…
He threw the most important treasure of the tower?
Down to the lower floors?
Seeing Jinhyuk’s dumbfounded expression, the Heavenly Demon hurriedly added.
“Ahem! I know it was a foolish act. But wasn’t it better than letting them take it?”
Unbelievable.
Who would have thought there’d be a monster capable of breaking through the tower’s floors with their own power?
“Do you… not regret it?”
He lost all his internal energy fighting those beings.
He succeeded in driving away the beings of the 50th floor, but the price was too high.
“I… do not regret it.”
The Heavenly Demon spoke calmly.
Was that the pure truth without any pretense?
Or a lie he told himself to escape despair?
The sun slowly set behind the mountains.
Day passed.
Night arrived.
—
In the deep of night, when everyone was asleep.
Jinhyuk took out the martial arts manual he got from the Cloud Veil Pavilion.
[The manual is being opened!]
[The essence of ‘Blood Demon Shura Heart Technique,’ written by the second Heavenly Demon, ‘Baek Wolcheon,’ is being revealed.]
[Your understanding of all martial arts of the Demon Sect increases by 370%!]
[Prolonged use of the Heart Technique may lead to Qi Deviation!]
A double-edged sword that aids greatly in mastering demonic arts but can drive the practitioner mad.
A manual personally written by Baek Wolcheon when he reached the pinnacle of extreme demonic power.
It was so complex that understanding the heart technique and postures described was impossible, but absorbing the demonic energy from the book would greatly help in understanding the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
‘Hoo…’
Jinhyuk controlled the demonic energy rampaging within his body through [Black Heavenly Demonic Art] and [Blood Demon Qi].
When the ‘special condition’ activated, a cold demonic energy engulfed his entire body.
[Reading the Heavenly Demon’s memory.]
Jinhyuk quietly closed his eyes.
And when he opened them again…
RUMBLE!
All the scenery around him had changed.
A sky dyed purple.
Among the floating stones and rock fragments…
The Heavenly Demon was visible.
Grand and arrogant.
The absolute ruler of the Murim stood with his sword drawn.
Like a bamboo standing firm in the eye of a storm.
Facing him was an ancient being with numerous mouths and teeth.
Shub-Niggurath. [3]
Though its true power was extremely restricted as it manifested in the lower floors of the tower, its mere presence was enough to overwhelm all life forms.
Just looking at it caused cracks in space and altered the terrain.
A god-like being of unmeasurable power moved to invade the floors.
However.
The Heavenly Demon showed no fear or hesitation.
‘This is the Heavenly Demon in his prime…’
I must capture this with my eyes.
Every move and gesture.
And what the Heavenly Demon’s true intentions were.
[Understanding: 0%]
“Come forth. Mother of the Black Lambs. I shall measure the depth of your power personally.”
“KIYAAAH!”
A battle that would go down in the history of the tower had begun.
—
***
Footnotes:
[1] Taeguk (태극): In Korean philosophy, “Taeguk” represents the ultimate reality or the cosmos. It embodies the concepts of balance and duality, similar to the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang. The symbol for Taeguk is most famously seen in the center of the South Korean flag, depicting the harmony of opposites.
[2] Uho Beop (우호법): A title or name that may refer to a respected martial arts master or a specific martial arts technique in the context of Korean martial arts literature.
[3] Shub-Niggurath: A deity from the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe created by the writer H.P. Lovecraft and expanded by other writers. Often referred to as the “Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young,” Shub-Niggurath is a monstrous and prolific fertility deity. It is associated with the horror genre and appears in various stories and mythos created by Lovecraft and his followers.