NOVEL NEXT Ch 29
**Chapter 29**
The Heavenly Demon.
A name so often mentioned in the world that it almost seems diminished in its absolute significance.
In terms of influence, it was the strongest title in the long history of the martial world.
The ruler of ten thousand demons and the terrifying destroyer of worlds, the Demon Emperor.
However, what startled Chohwi the most was that behind the name of the Heavenly Demon was another title—**the Demon God**.
If the messenger’s words were true, it meant that the descendants of the Three Gods had all gathered in the current era.
The Sword God’s disciple, Chohwi.
The Martial God’s family, the Sima.
The Demon God’s descendant, the Heavenly Demon.
Though they hailed from different eras, their successors were all now living in the same time.
Such a reality was not something to be taken lightly.
But what surprised the Sword God even more than Chohwi was this:
– *Impossible! The foundation of the Ten Thousand Demon Tomb was thoroughly destroyed!*
The Sword God had never seen the Demon God directly. They belonged to different ages.
But the one who had single-handedly crushed the Dark Demon Sect, a group said to be the heirs of the Demon God, was none other than himself.
He had personally severed the limbs of the Eight Great Bishops, pierced the heart of the leader of the Dark Demon Sect, and obliterated their true foundation, the Ten Thousand Demon Tomb, leaving not a single stone intact.
The fact that the Heavenly Demon Castle, a branch of the Dark Demon Sect, was forced to retreat to the western lands was a result of those events.
If the Dark Demon Sect had retained the full power they once had during the peak of the Heavenly Demon Faith, they could have ravaged the entire martial world on their own.
This was all in the era when the Heavenly Demon, called the Demon God, was alive.
There was a world of difference between the Dark Demon Sect with the Heavenly Demon and the one without him.
– *I must see it with my own eyes! Let’s head to the Western Lands!*
‘What?’
Chohwi had never seen the Sword God so shaken before.
Why was he, who always maintained a noble demeanor, acting so agitated?
‘Isn’t the Sword God the strongest of the Three Gods? Why is he so worked up about this?’
The Sword God shouted.
– *You don’t understand, do you? To the ten thousand followers of the Heavenly Demon, the name is sacred! If the very god they have worshipped and devoted their souls to, the one they consider the reincarnation of their deity, were to return to the world, how would you feel?*
Chohwi, in his past life as a modern man, had never believed in religion.
But he had seen the actions of religious fanatics countless times on the news or online.
People who believed their leader was the reincarnation of Jesus.
People who, truly believing the end of the world was tomorrow, would poison themselves and commit mass suicide, others who would offer their purity to their leader, or those who sacrificed themselves for martyrdom.
He knew well how cruel the results of blind fanaticism could be.
Suddenly, Chohwi felt a chill.
‘Wait, are you saying there are a hundred thousand of these crazy people?’
In modern society, the chaos caused by only a few dozen fanatics was enough to send shivers down his spine.
But a hundred thousand?
Moreover, most of the Dark Demon Sect members were not ordinary people, but rather demons who had trained in demonic martial arts.
What made fanatics terrifying was their unshakable belief.
To them, the command of the Heavenly Demon—whom they regarded as a god—was the voice of the divine itself.
These fanatics had no fear, not even of their own lives, and that was why their martial arts were called “demonic arts” rather than divine arts.
The reincarnation of the Heavenly Demon was not merely the appearance of a supreme martial artist, Chohwi now understood.
But he still couldn’t fully grasp why the Sword God was so shaken.
The orthodox martial world was in its prime like never before.
The number of the current Martial Alliance was an astounding 800,000.
Perhaps sensing Chohwi’s thoughts, the Sword God’s rough voice rang out again.
– *Do you still not understand the nature of the central plains people? That number is inflated! The 800,000 includes not only the major sects and the Five Great Families, but also countless smaller sects, families, and even guests. If you were to simply open the gates, there would be dozens of thousands of people, and among them, how many would deny they belong to the alliance?*
Eh?
So the number of 800,000 includes all kinds of fringe elements?
– *Among the members of the alliance, the true martial artists number no more than 200,000. The Dark Demon Sect is different. They count only those who have anointed themselves with sacred oil and received the Eternal Fire Spirit, becoming their true followers.*
‘What is the Eternal Fire Spirit?’
– *An eternal flame of demonic energy, the seed of demonic power.*
The seed of demonic power?
So you’re saying that these hundred thousand fanatics are all trained in demonic arts?
Chohwi shuddered at the thought.
At that moment, Tang Muhuo suddenly rose from his seat at the Taesa.
From his robe, he produced the Five Poisons Order Seal!
“The Commander must immediately send a message to the alliance to inform them of this! The masters of the Black Dragon and Koryong Houses are to summon all their hawks and instruct them to prepare for action! Also, the full opening of the Poison Dragon Palace is hereby authorized!”
All the leaders of the Tang family kneeled in unison, showing respect.
“Black Dragon House! We accept the Five Poisons Order!”
“Koryong House! We accept the Five Poisons Order!”
“Poison Dragon Palace! Full opening in the name of the Five Poisons Order!”
Tang Muhuo looked sharply at the Koryong House leader.
“Koryong House must have all their hawks armed with Dark Serpent Cannons and ready to depart at a moment’s notice!”
“Understood!”
With a grinding of his teeth, Tang Muhuo quickly began strategizing.
Why now, of all times, when his innate energy was already depleted, did the Heavenly Demon appear?
Tang Muhuo, after considering the most skilled experts in his family who could handle Soul-Destroying Poison, suddenly had an idea and looked at Chohwi with bright eyes.
“…Could you help?”
Unlike when he had sat in the Taesa and represented the family’s authority, he was now speaking to Chohwi with the utmost respect.
Since he had descended from the Taesa, he treated Chohwi, the master of absolute martial arts, with reverence.
Chohwi nodded.
“I’ll handle the reconnaissance. I’ll head to the Heavenly Demon Castle’s Sichen branch immediately.”
A bright smile spread across Tang Muhuo’s face.
Nothing could be more pleasing than an absolute martial artist volunteering for such a dangerous mission.
Tang Muhuo bowed deeply, showing respect.
“Tang family never forgets favors or grudges! We will never forget!”
All the leaders of the Tang family looked on in surprise as the family head spoke these words, as the family’s motto was never lightly mentioned.
The Tang family motto was used only when vowing revenge or pledging eternal gratitude.
Luckily, today it was the latter.
“Tang family never forgets favors!”
“Tang family never forgets favors!”
All the Tang family leaders stood and bowed to Chohwi.
Chohwi nodded silently and then made his way out of the Dark King’s Hall.
* * *
When Chohwi arrived at the Sichen branch of the Heavenly Demon Castle, it was already completely empty.
So, I immediately changed direction towards Xinjing.
The road to Xinjiang is a long and arduous one.
Jo Hwi stopped by the stable, bought three horses, and without hesitation, mounted one of them.
I feel a strange wave of heat in my chest.
An inexplicable sense of déjà vu and strange excitement.
Even when I first experienced the gunfight, when I took over Hubei entirely, and when I occupied half of Jiangxi, it wasn’t this bad.
That heartbeat was fundamentally different.
The thrill of the unknown.
Subtle fear and strange anticipation.
The more I headed towards the new strength, the more some inner emotion reacted and boiled up.
Hehehehe…!
A black horse that alternates between trotting and galloping.
As Jo Hwi deftly lowered his body on the black horse’s back to reduce the wind resistance, the voice of the sword master was heard again.
-Without a doubt, the Demon God Festival must have taken place.
“God of Destruction Festival?”
The Blood Festival of the Demon Cult, a tradition of blessing and worshiping the manifestation of the god reincarnated in the mortal realm, and pledging loyalty.
Jo Hwi had also seen it in a book called “Moorim Compendium.”
The scene of a horrific and brutal human sacrifice.
That vivid description gave me chills even back then.
The cultists chosen as sacrifices scream with joy and shed tears.
The meaning of shedding blood at the altar of the Demon God is to become the eternal servant of the returning Celestial Demon.
The festival period is fifteen days.
During that period, the number of sorcerers sacrificed as offerings exceeds the hundreds.
“Then why were there no demon cultists in the Sichuan branch?”
-That’s right. If it is certain that the Celestial Demon has returned, the Demon God Descent Festival will surely take place.
Crazy bastards!
So, are all the members of the Demon Cult gathering frantically at the shrine to be chosen as sacrifices?
You even abandoned the branch that was facing the enemy?
Truly fanatic!
-Just confirm if the Demon God Festival has started, and then retreat immediately. Even if it’s the subordinates, you must never engage in battle with the leaders!
“Yes?” For what reason? I also want to experience the mine!
-I am the one who destroyed the Dark Demon Cult and defeated the Demon King’s Tomb. The great enemy they have etched in blood, who else could it be but me?
‘Ah!’
If you clumsily meddle and then retreat, you’ll just end up exposing your true identity.
Those fanatics will probably search the entire martial arts world to find themselves and the Jo Ga Dae Sang Hoe.
Then, it is no longer possible for the Joga Daesang Meeting to exist. Moreover, colleagues could be put in danger.
-You are absolutely forbidden to meet with the demon until you have entered the realm of nature! This is the command of a sage as a master!
“Why on earth is ‘Nature’ the name of your dog?”
A complaint that came out in a voice.
It was only natural, as they had witnessed the full extent of the sword god’s natural prowess in the Hwasan faction.
How could you reach such a level that isn’t even human?
He was the Sword God, a sword demon who had devoted his entire life to the sword, and a martial talent bestowed by the gods after acquiring unparalleled abilities from the Blood Jade. However, he himself had only been practicing the sword for a few years.
Even considering the enlightenment period, if you exclude those three years, it has hardly been a few months since I actually picked up a sword.
Jo Hwi felt wronged.
“Only three people in a thousand years, you say!” If life and death were that easy, they would have split heaven and earth!
– Foolish guy.
The voice of the Sword God Elder, sounding pitiful.
Before reaching the age of thirty, the first martial artist to achieve absolute mastery in the world of Murim must be you, since the birth of this world. Moreover, the very essence that will eternally discuss martial arts with that soul is also strong…
“…….”
-Can you really have a sudden enlightenment? Would you let the leftist miss the sudden enlightenment that comes like lightning? Don’t you walk the lonely path that is as vast as the open sea with me?
At that moment, Jo Hwi’s eyes reddened.
Because I could feel the earnest heart of the sword master who cherished me dearly.
I always thought it was a given.
I thought it was something I could naturally enjoy.
However, all of that was a privilege that only he enjoyed throughout the entire martial arts world.
My father who passed away a long time ago.
The paternal love that I haven’t felt for so long is once again moistening my heart.
“Why are you going this far with me…?”
– Have you forgotten?
“Yes?”
The voice of the sword master was warmer than ever.
-I am your master.
Please provide the text you would like to have translated.
At the edge of Qinghai Province.
After passing through the dry and desolate Shidalmok Basin, Jo Hwi’s water finally ran out when they reached Yongluha (Dragon Tower).
Wooooo!
I tried my best to raise the ice sphere and condense the steam inside the leather pouch, but in the end, the last remaining drop wouldn’t fall.
“Ah…”
Lips cracked like a parched field.
Clearly, the top masters in the martial arts novels I read in the past could easily last a month without eating or sleeping, but that was all nonsense.
Just not being able to drink water for six days makes it feel like my insides are burning up!
The essential elements needed to sustain life, namely water, salt, and nutrients, had to enter the body; otherwise, one’s strength would inevitably wane.
Inner strength?
The sound of a dog eating grass!
No matter how much one tries to soothe the internal energy with the supreme martial art of the world, the basic vitality and energy itself are declining, so what use is it?
Rather, my body was dying, but my mind was becoming even clearer, which only made me feel worse.
Jo Hwi stared at the last remaining black horse with haggard eyes.
The place where horses should be is the grasslands and continents, not a barren desert like this.
This guy will soon meet the same fate as my friends who came with me.
Yeah, you’re nice.
Since you’re going anyway, at least give me that blood…
“Eek!”
With eyes full of madness, Jo Hwi, who was about to stab the black horse’s nape, hurriedly withdrew his sword.
Thirst, that desperate craving, seems to have momentarily driven me out of my mind.
Oh my, trying to kill the grateful black horse that has carried you all the way to this distant desert!
Suddenly, a yellow stream burst forth from the lower part of the black horse.
Trickle, trickle, trickle!
As something resembling water came into view, madness flickered in Jo Hwi’s eyes once again.
Instinctively trying to kiss, Jo Hwi becomes dazed with a look of disbelief.
Only then did he realize that his symptoms were the galwangjeong that the elder of the sword had warned him about.
Polydipsia.
Separately, it is called the “drifting boat disease” (漂船病).
A disease where the crew of a drifting ship, unable to endure their thirst, eventually go mad and start killing each other.
The end of galactorrhea is an extremely severe lethargy to the point where one can’t even move their eyes.
Only then did fear wash over Jo Hwi, who was staring at the endless expanse of the desert.
-If you continuously stimulate the Tiantu point with your internal energy, saliva will be secreted. At that time, roll your tongue and press it against the roof of your mouth. The thirst will be the same, but it will be quite helpful.
The voice of the sword god, sounding somehow apologetic.
It’s no wonder, as he set out following the path the sword god had shown him, and that’s how things ended up like this.
Whenever the Sword God boasted to Jo Hwi that the oasis in the desert would soon appear, it always turned out to be nothing but a dry sand basin and a mirage.
Jo Hwi roughly shook his head and covered his ears as if he didn’t want to hear it.
“Ahh!” I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you! I won’t believe Master even if he makes meju out of beans anymore!
This little bastard?
I was just yesterday, with tears in my eyes, pleading in gratitude to my master!
“Sigh!” I was the one who was wrong to trust, so who can I blame?
-…….
Even the great swordmaster was not perfect.
The desert is a place where the terrain changes dozens of times a day.
In the midst of the sandstorm’s winds, where hundreds and thousands of mounds appear and disappear repeatedly, how could it possibly match the Sword God’s memories from hundreds of years ago?
Indeed, even the Sword God had only set foot on the land of Sin-gang once in his entire life. This place was not somewhere a person from the Central Plains could visit carelessly.
At that moment, from the hillside behind where Jo Hwi was standing, dust swirled and a presence was felt.
“Um?”
Five dolls crossing the desert on camels.
They were huddled closely against the camel, their bodies wrapped in dark raincoats.
The expertise of those who have traversed the desert for many years is evident at a glance.
However, Jo Hwi was more pleased with the leather bags hanging from the camels’ saddles than with their seasoned expertise.
“Mu, water!”
It seems they also found Jo Hwi.
Eventually, the leading camel came to a stop.
The person who was looking at Jo Hwi with a strange gaze while flipping the hat hanging on the windbreaker backward was surprisingly a young girl.
The girl slowly rode the camel and approached Jo Hwi.
The girl’s eyes widened in surprise.
Soon, she stared blankly at Jo Hwi as if looking at a madman, then burst into laughter, holding her stomach.
“Hahaha!” Horse? A horse in the desert?
Horses are fundamentally animals that sweat a lot.
It is not a beast that would be brought to such a barren desert.
Bringing the horse without killing it until the very end of this Yonglu Agreement is quite commendable.
What kind of expression will she make when she finds out that there were three at first?
Jo Hwi looked at the girl who suddenly treated him like a fool with displeasure.
Who doesn’t know that the Benz of the desert is the camel, you idiot?
If the ‘great and esteemed sword master’ hadn’t pressured me to leave as soon as possible, I wouldn’t have ended up going straight like this!
At that time.
Plop!
A girl takes out a dagger and stabs the black horse’s neck artery!
Then, he drives the leather pouch he had been wearing at his waist straight into the open wound of the black horse.
At that moment, with a face twisted in a fierce grimace, Jo Hwi was about to say something.
“Can’t you see this guy’s eyes?” You won’t be able to survive the night anyway. We should take the blood while it’s fresh, right?
Eeeeeeeeeeek.
A black horse trembling faintly and slowly collapsing.
Looking into his eyes, he seems more at ease than in pain.
Somehow, it feels like it alleviated the pain.
Jo Hwi bit his lip and stared at the girl again.
“Still, to recklessly… with someone else’s property…!”
“Here.”
Before long, the girl handed the leather pouch hanging from the camel’s waist to Jo Hwi.
“Radish, water?”
Soon, Jo-hwi, leaving behind the fading life of the black horse, picked up the leather pouch with a gleaming gaze.
Jo Hwi, who drinks like there’s no tomorrow!
Gulp gulp!
The girl, as if determined to empty it all, rushed over to Jo Hwi and urgently snatched the leather pouch.
“Don’t you know you shouldn’t drink a lot all at once?” And are you planning to survive all by yourself?
“Ah, I’m sorry!”
In the desert, water is worth more than gold.
However, from the girl’s perspective, it was by no means a loss.
To the desert dwellers, the blood of beasts is more precious than water.
Water only provides moisture, but animal blood can replenish both moisture and salt.
Blood is rich in various nutrients, including iron.
But there was the worst flaw.
The fact that it cannot be stored for a long time.
In the desert, the blood of a beast begins to spoil in less than half a day.
The girl’s companions also began to dismount from their camels one by one and started to draw blood from the black horse by wounding it in various places.
“What are you doing?” You should also quickly take your blood.
“…….”
What kind of bastards are these?
I’m grateful for the water, but isn’t it a bit crazy to just kill someone and take their blood out of nowhere?
Even just the girl in front of me, it’s still an act that harms a life, yet there’s no hesitation at all.
At that moment, the swordsman who was sharing Jo Hwi’s field of vision urgently shouted.
-Sacred Fire Mark! It’s the Demon Cultists!
‘Yes? Seonghwaheun? What is that?
Look at the foreheads of those men!
When Jo Hwi examined them, indeed, there were marks on their foreheads as if they had been burned.
-That is the mark of having accepted the Film Spirit. The demon cultists call that mark the “Holy Flame Mark.”
Suddenly, Zhou Hui stared at the girl. However, there was no trace on the girl’s forehead.
The female prisoners accept the film decree above their navel. Men offer their souls to the demon, but women offer their wombs. Producing a child imbued with the magic’s spirit is the greatest blessing and honor for the priestesses.
After hearing the elder’s explanation, Jo Hwi felt a chill in his heart at the madness of those ruthless cultists.
Blind fanaticism, those acts of insane faith were terrifyingly chilling.
Even the pregnancy that should be blessed through love between a man and a woman is being exploited by religion!
-Although they are lower-ranking members who do not belong to the core of the Demon Cult, they are still members of the Demon Cult. Kill them all!
Yes?
Jo Hwi paused and his face stiffened as he looked at the girl.
To kill such a young girl who hasn’t even shed the innocence of childhood yet?
Killing a person.
For those who roam the tumultuous martial world, it is an inevitable accumulation of evil deeds.
No matter how much righteousness and chivalry are attached to that evil deed, the act of killing a person does not lose its essence of wickedness.
Moreover, Jo Hwi, who holds modern views.
For him, taking a life was not any easier.
Cutting the neck of a live fish with a knife is also frightening and sends chills down one’s spine.
During college, none of the friends gathered around the campfire could catch a live chicken.
Let alone a living person?
What more is there to say?
Whether he read Jo Hwi’s feelings or not, the swordsman spoke even more solemnly.
You still don’t know how dangerous that guy called -ma (魔) is. Then, experience it for yourself.
Jo Hwi was gazing intently at the girl’s group.
They were meticulously dismantling the black horse, carefully gathering its blood and flesh.
As soon as they finished their work, the cultists immediately downed the leather pouches filled with blood.
Even though the blood of the black horse flowed down their faces and necks, staining the entire area with a deep crimson, they did not stop drinking.
Having emptied all the leather pouches, they soon approached Jo Hwi.
The sorcerer with the most sinister eyes did not lower his guard and opened his mouth.
“If you keep going like this, you’ll become a god.” What are you doing taking that hard road?
From the way he brought his horse carelessly to this harsh place, he is not a desert merchant.
Above all, the iron sword at the waist.
It was an ordinary iron sword without any special form, but it meant that he was a warrior as long as he was holding a weapon.
Unexpectedly, words flowed from Jo Hwi’s mouth.
“I’m going to Cheonmaseong.”
In an instant, the eyes of the demon cultists changed.
Chaaang!
The cultists of the demon sect, drawing their long swords and baring their white teeth.
“How dare you, a mere unbeliever, mention Cheonma-seong!” You want to die, huh?
Judging by the lack of a holy mark on his forehead, this guy was surely a pagan or an infidel.
“Disbelief?”
So far, on this long journey, I have heard endlessly about the Demon Cult from Elder Sword God.
I knew all too well how much they looked down on those who did not believe in the sanctification of the Celestial Demon, that is, the unbelievers.
In an instant, Jo Hwi’s face contorts menacingly!
At last, Jo Hwi’s method acting unfolds.
Booooooom!
The pure white energy forming in his twin orbs!
“Just because I haven’t accepted the divine decree yet, does that mean I am no longer a servant of the Lord?”
Suddenly, Zhou Hui changes direction and prostrates himself towards the Heavenly Mountain.
“Most esteemed Dark Divinity!” Eternal flames of demonic transformation! They are denying my soul’s essence! I cannot hear the voice of this faithful servant!”
At that moment, the sword master felt a chill run down his spine.
They persistently inquired about the rituals of the demon cult, and you didn’t plan this from the beginning, did you?
“Even after watching me so closely, you still don’t know me?”
Killing someone is not his way.
If there is a level to wit and cunning, then this body is already a natural sage.
Until now, taking the Changcheon Sword and dominating Hefei, and consuming half of Jiangxi, was all achieved through martial arts?
“Rain, Ice Skill?”
The girl’s eyes were wide open.
The pure white energy forming in Jo Hwi’s hands!
Anuncios
The land of Xinjiang, with the Tianshan Mountains in front, the ice martial artist bowing in reverence with the ancient Shinto ritual?
The girl trembled and rolled her eyes.
“Could it be… no way… you are…?”
Jo Hwi suddenly stood up and raised the ice sphere even more powerfully.
Booooooom!
In the days long ago when the New Religion was called the Dark Religion, there was a masterful and extreme magic that made even the ice of the Northern Sea pale in comparison.
Nine Yin Demon Manual!
Once, the demon technique of the Nine Demon Family, which belonged to the Eight Great Demon Families of the Dark God Cult!
The Nine Sounds Demon Sutra was the supreme demon technique that the then leader praised endlessly as the protective demon technique supporting the new religion.
After the Dark Religion was defeated by the evil sword god of the New Religion, another demon returned to the fold of the New Religion.
The return of the Magi is the greatest wish of the New Religion.
The girl knelt down with tears welling up in her eyes.
“Sniff… the Blood Flower of the Umgwi Clan!” We honor the return of the Guumaga in the name of Mahwa!
“In the name of Mahua, I command you!”
“In the name of Mahua, I command you!”
Thud, thud.
As the demonic cultists all kneeled, Zhou Hui put on an even more solemn expression.
To come up with such a trick using only the superficial ice aura of the North Sea! As a sword master, he could only shake his head in admiration.
What was the most effective way to infiltrate the Heavenly Demon Fortress?
Naturally, disguising himself as a cultist would be the easiest.
The deed was already done, but the real problem began now.
The five cultists, who looked at him with eyes full of admiration and respect, made Zhou Hui feel somewhat, no, quite burdened.
When he would raise his ice aura to soothe his tired body from the scorching desert heat.
“Wow! To witness the Yin energy of the Nine Yin Demonic Skill firsthand, this is such an honor!”
A young female cultist’s eyes were shining brightly.
When he would activate his protective demonic energy to block the desert’s sandstorms.
“Lord Nine Yin Demon, could this be the ultimate Demon Barrier of the Magic Art?”
A burly cultist with a thick beard stared at him in awe.
One quiet desert night, unable to sleep due to the loneliness, Zhou Hui quietly sneaked out to practice his swordsmanship.
“This is incredible! Your swordsmanship is on par with the Celestial Bliss Dance from the Nine Netherworld Illusion Demon Sect! I dare not show anything but respect!”
An eerie, one-eyed cultist shouted in excitement.
As things reached this point, Zhou Hui found it hard to perform any action comfortably.
He couldn’t tell if these people were watching him or if they truly revered him, or if they just wanted to flatter him.
Those cultists are nothing but expendable pawns, likely assigned to this mission, and ready to die without question. Since they believe you are the revered figure of the Nine Yin Demon Sect, they will likely try to maintain that belief. It would be beneficial for you to keep this pretense. There’s nothing wrong with consolidating your status and influence among the higher-ups of the cult, where strength rules everything.
‘Hmm…’
Zhou Hui looked at the five cultists with pity. So, all of this was just a desperate struggle for survival?
But there was something strange.
No matter how much he showed them his ice aura or demonstrated the cult’s ceremonial techniques, how could they so easily believe him to be the revered figure?
The title of “Lord” was supposed to be reserved for high-ranking figures within the cult, at least bishops, elders, or the leader himself, wasn’t it?
How frustrating. Did the one who showed the Protective Demonic Aura have the right to speak? What you demonstrated was the Huajing level. This is comparable to the realm of “Conquering Demons” within the cult, and naturally, they would assume you are fit to ascend to the ranks of a revered figure once you formally join the cult. Not to mention, you yourself claimed to be a descendant of the Demon Sect.
Zhou Hui nodded silently as he organized his thoughts. So, everything they did was in a desperate attempt to survive.
However, something was still odd.
Even after showing them the protective energy and ceremonial techniques, how could they so easily consider him to be a revered figure?
That title was supposed to be reserved for high-ranking cult members, like bishops, elders, or even the leader himself, right?
While Zhou Hui was lost in thought, the young female cultist was offering him a piece of meat, or rather, a part of the poor black horse, which she had set aside earlier.
“Please, eat this, Lord!”
She offered it with what she thought was a playful charm, but Zhou Hui could only feel a chill running down his spine.
“Get that away from me!”
Here is the translation of the text:
—
The young female cultist, Saunhyang, looked at Zhou Hui with amusement as she observed his innocent behavior.
She had heard the legends of the Nine Yin Demon Sect from the old days during the era of the Dark God Cult.
The extreme demonic martial arts that could freeze all the filthy people of the Central Plains with a single strand of melodious tension!
That terrifying and refined technique was the pinnacle and the best among the Eight Great Demon Sects.
Even the leader of that time reportedly cherished the Nine Yin Demon Sect the most.
The Nine Yin Demon Art was the most efficient demonic technique for dealing with multiple enemies.
On the battlefield, the strength of the Nine Yin Demon Sect was rightfully called the greatest among the new cults.
It was said that those who mastered the Nine Yin Demon Sect’s arts all had cold and cruel temperaments.
But this prospective “Lord” in front of her—this “brother” (?)—was different.
Unlike the cultists of the new religion, his speech was gentle, and his reaction to the meat of a horse he had ridden on was so adorable, it was hard not to find it cute.
It reminded her of herself before joining the cult.
Once he imprinted the mark of the Heavenly Demon and embraced the divine will of the Heavenly Demon, all of this innocence would melt away like snow.
Ah?
She thought another impious thought!
“Ah! Divine will! This humble servant has briefly entertained an impure thought!”
Suddenly, Saunhyang threw herself prostrate toward the direction of the Heavenly Mountain.
She then lowered her body to the ground like a sinner, repeatedly striking her forehead to the earth.
Seeing this, the four other cultists muttered quietly and began chanting.
When a member of the new religion confesses their sins toward the divine will, the surrounding cultists must curse the impure thoughts in the sinner’s soul.
The price for such sins is blood.
The burly cultist with the thick beard approached Saunhyang and tore her clothes off in an instant.
*Riiiiip!*
“Ugh…!”
The bearded cultist stared solemnly at Saunhyang, who was sobbing on the ground, and then drew a curved blade to carve strange symbols into her back.
As blood flowed from her back, the cultists again began muttering their incantations.
‘What the hell.’
Zhou Hui frowned and shook his head.
Truly, fanatics were fanatics.
Not only were they tearing a woman’s clothes off in broad daylight, but they were also carving her with knives like this!
How many times had this been done to Saunhyang? Her back was covered in countless scars.
These so-called “new religion” cultists were insane!
This was exactly why they were called demonic cultists!
If the plan went awry, Zhou Hui could end up in such a ritual himself, and the thought of that gave him a sudden chill.
Having disguised himself as a descendant of the Nine Yin Demon Sect, Zhou Hui would continue his journey with these people only until he entered the Heavenly Demon Fortress. Beyond that point, it was too dangerous.
Zhou Hui sighed deeply as he watched Saunhyang.
It was incredibly dangerous to expose oneself in the desert.
The scorching sunlight would directly burn the body, and the sweat would evaporate almost instantly, draining the body of moisture.
These cultists, experienced in the desert, should have known this.
And yet, they were tearing off her clothes like this!
Zhou Hui silently watched Saunhyang, who had wrapped her torn, blood-stained garment around her chest, and then handed her his outer coat with a deep sigh.
“Put this on.”
“Oh, Lord! It’s fine, really…”
“Damn, I’m not fine.”
Moved by his gesture, Saunhyang gratefully accepted the coat and began following Zhou Hui.
Zhou Hui, without much enthusiasm, gave a quick bow, then moved forward.
As he looked at the sand dunes stretching endlessly beyond the horizon, Zhou Hui shuddered once more.
This desert was always the same, no matter how far one walked.
Though he had walked for miles, it felt as though he had never moved an inch.
It was unbearable.
Had the desert merchants who spent their whole lives in this place truly remained human?
With such overwhelming thoughts, he walked for another half-day, but finally, something in the distance caught his eye.
“Huh?”
A group appeared at the edge of the sand dunes, the faint outline of many figures visible in the dimming light. It wasn’t just one group—they were numerous.
Looking from a distance, they seemed to be marching together, like ants all heading in the same direction.
Saunhyang’s face lit up.
“It’s the followers!”
They were cultists gathering for the Demon God’s Ascension Ritual.
The scattered cultists who had been on various missions were now all heading toward the Heavenly Mountain of the New Faith.
Zhou Hui spoke in a low, somber voice.
“I’ll take care of you later. But keep quiet about me being a descendant of the Nine Yin Demon Sect to the other cultists.”
The five low-ranking cultists nodded in reverence at Zhou Hui’s words, clearly moved.
“Understood, Lord!”
“We will do as you say, Lord!”
Zhou Hui took out the bag he had been carrying and carefully packed it away.
The sun, now sinking beyond the horizon, slowly disappeared, and the darkness began to descend, a quiet tension settling in Zhou Hui’s chest.
* * *
Under the almost overwhelming starlight of the desert, dozens of tents were set up.
The gathered cultists numbered at least five hundred.
Zhou Hui, trying to avoid contact with them, stayed in a corner of one of the tents, silently focusing on a conversation with the Sword Master.
‘The low-ranking cultists can be deceived, but what about the leaders? I need a demonic technique that can fool them properly.’
The Sword Master was frustrated by his disciple’s shameless request.
He had put on such a convincing act that the Sword Master thought there must be some clever trick up his sleeve!
The Heavenly Sword Divine Art.
This internal martial art of the Sword Master was so pure that it could almost be mistaken for a Taoist technique.
By cultivating this, anyone with a decent sense would immediately recognize him as someone from the Central Plains once his aura was revealed.
Zhou Hui had already achieved the “Empty Pill” stage, so he usually appeared as an ordinary person.
However, when his martial abilities were revealed in a tense situation, his true identity would be exposed.
– Magic arts…
The Sword Master, having immersed himself in martial arts throughout his life, had once studied the demonic arts as well.
The demonic arts had their merits too.
Much like the arts of the dominating schools, they could reach a certain level through innate attributes.
However, being part of an ancient sect, the demonic arts were far deeper and more complete than those of the other schools.
The problem with reaching higher levels in the demonic arts was that the more one advanced, the more they lost their humanity.
How could someone filled with the desire for bloodshed and destruction still be called a warrior?
The more one advanced in the demonic arts, the more the wall of “possession” became difficult to overcome.
Thus, the arts of “Demon.”
Based on defiance of the heavens, demonic arts were an area that no true martial artist should carelessly touch.
The Sword Master, having once dabbled in the demonic arts, had a painful experience with these impure desires.
– Hmm…
The Sword Master fell into deep thought.
His disciple had already reached the “Empty Pill” stage and could handle basic mental techniques. He wasn’t likely to be easily overwhelmed by the demonic arts.
Moreover, thinking about it now, if his disciple did show signs of being possessed, he could simply possess him and correct it, right?
Such a scam.
From a martial perspective, studying the demonic arts wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
However, the Sword Master knew only one type of demonic art.
That, in itself, was the problem.
– Would you like to learn the Demon God Art?
The Demon God Art?
Here’s the translation of the passage:
—
**Wait a moment, didn’t the ‘Heaven’ character get missed earlier?**
Could it be that the cultists, in their study of the demonic arts, refer to the ‘Demonic God Art’, while the Central Plains people separately call it ‘Heavenly Demonic God Art’or ‘Zaha Demonic Art’, that legendary martial arts technique?
– *Yes, that’s right.*
A chill ran down his spine.
No wonder the elder at the volcano had been lecturing on various terms like ‘Flower Transformation Body’ and ‘Demonic Transformation’! Was this the martial technique you had already mastered?
– *Part of it was absorbed into my Heavenly Sword Mastery.*
How did that happen?
– *I was the one who destroyed the Dark Cult and personally shattered the Ten Thousand Demon Mound.*
Ah, I see. But you managed to take it during all that?
– *It was purely out of a martial artist’s innocent curiosity. Furthermore, the arrangement of the Demonic God Art could only be discovered by someone who had reached beyond the state of ‘Wu Hun’ and attained ‘Wu Ji’ (無極), like me.*
So, the Demonic God Art is the same as the legendary Zaha Demonic Art, which is feared by the righteous for its bloodthirsty nature.
Zhou Hui was hesitant.
The moment he revealed his mastery of the Demonic God Art, the dark purple energy from the art would likely begin to surge, and that would cause more problems than it would solve.
Even the Zaha Divine Art, which minimized the demonic energy, created such a unique spectacle. Imagining the true Demonic God Art, Zhou Hui shuddered at the thought.
– *You fool. What you need is not just some simple ‘demonic energy’ that can hide your Heavenly Sword Mastery, but the true technique. As long as you don’t reveal any martial prowess beyond the ‘Flowing Realm’, you will be fine.*
The energy that flows out of the body and dissipates like vapor in the air is known as the “True Martial Transformation”.
Now, the Master was advising him to only be careful of that True Martial Transformation.
*Oh, I see! I will learn it immediately!*
At that moment, the Master’s serious voice echoed within Zhou Hui.
– *Enter the Flower, Revolve the Wheel… the Dark Sky Turns… Reverse the Soul, Rest the Peace… No Law, No End… Obtain the Empty Void…*
The Master slowly recited the 3,700-character martial mantra and the 625 bloodline pathways, leading Zhou Hui into the realm of demonic mastery.
Ironically, the ‘Demonic’ martial techniques were now being passed onto Zhou Hui.
—
### (In the Camp, Far Away)
Hidden beneath a dune far from the camp, Zhou Hui, reciting the 3,700-character mantra, was overwhelmed by a strange sensation.
A mantra is a collection of all the realizations experienced by its creator and the generations that followed. It is composed of fragmented insights.
Though expressed in mere characters, they are abstract by nature.
Still, it felt like wearing an old, familiar garment again.
As Zhou Hui continued to engrave the mantra in his mind, that strange sensation grew stronger.
The more he recited the mantra, the more deeply it seemed to integrate with him, almost as if it were a natural part of his being.
As he meditated on the mantras, he felt a peculiar sensation of timelessness—despite being fully aware that it was only a fleeting moment. It felt like hundreds of years were passing in an instant.
—
In that moment, a sudden rush of sensation enveloped him. It felt like something had escaped from his soul, which then transformed into a burning flame.
For a split second, the world seemed to stop, and his vision soared into the air, as though he was gazing down from a distant sky.
There, he saw the purple flames blazing within his own body, slowly filling his vision. The purple flames grew stronger, threatening to burn away his entire body with their blinding light.
‘…Is this… the Sacred Fire?’
Zhou Hui instinctively recognized it as the ‘Sacred Fire’ that the cultists spoke of.
The Master had called it ‘Demonic Transformation’.
But there was no sense of malice or destructive energy in those purple flames.
‘Is this really the Demonic Art?’
Could it be the ‘Sacred God Art’ instead?
At that moment, the Master’s astonished voice rang in his mind.
– *What, what exactly are you?! How did you skip all the stages and directly reach the ‘Reunion of Souls’?*
The Demonic God Art had stages.
The first stage was the Purple Soul Fire Spirit.
The second stage was the Wheel of Impermanence.
The third stage was the Heaven’s Demonic Red.
The fourth stage was the Flower Transformation Body.
The fifth stage was the True Demonic Path.
The sixth stage was the Reunion of Souls.
The seventh stage was the Realm of the Demonic God.
When Zhou Hui’s master had seen him ignite the first stage, the Purple Soul Fire, he had already been shocked.
Chanting the script and wielding the reverse sky martial arts, only three moments had passed.
Yet, not only had he manifested his self-image, but in the blink of an eye, he had surpassed all stages and achieved the union of the smoky soul.
He had yet to establish the laws of the first wheel, let alone gaze into the abyss of the Nine Moons, nor had he split his self-image into two across the heavens and earth.
The soul of the split self-image, after many cycles of cultivation, could be united into one, and only after decades of repeated refining would one be able to see the perfected self-image.
To carve away all the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and ultimately transcend all human desires—only after overcoming such brutal madness could the true self-image be completed.
That was the martial god’s transformation when one reaches the pinnacle, the holy fire worshipped by all martial sects.
**Holy Fire.**
It is the highest realm a human can attain, comparable to Buddhism’s sudden enlightenment or Taoism’s impermanence.
The divine realm of the martial god, which is the level humans reach in their quest to become like gods, was now just one step away for Cho Hwi.
Was this really possible?
The Sword God, acclaimed as the greatest martial artist of all time, had spent over forty years trying to understand the martial god’s arts.
Such is the perfection of the martial art that one might even doubt it was designed by a human.
The Sword God had an instinctive feeling that all these phenomena were no coincidence.
For now, solving the immediate problem was urgent.
– **Hurry! Hurry! If left unchecked, the transfer of soul will become irreversible!**
Cho Hwi, already flustered, could feel his vision drifting away from his body.
‘What should I do?!’
– **Focus! Intensify your thoughts on merging with the transformation!**
‘Thoughts!’
**Whoooosh!**
As the intense will formed, Cho Hwi’s vision was rapidly pulled inward, and he regained control of his body.
“Haah! Haah!”
It was an overwhelming experience!
As Cho Hwi managed to calm his wildly pounding heart, violet martial energy began to swirl around him.
“Ah…”
A powerful sense of elation filled him, as if he could tear apart the entire world.
Then, something unprecedented occurred within his celestial bloodstone.
**Wooooo!**
As the violet martial energy touched the celestial bloodstone, it suddenly began to tremble violently!
After a long while of intense shaking, the bloodstone suddenly turned to a clear blue, and the trembling ceased.
‘What?’
Cho Hwi blinked repeatedly, unsure if he had seen it correctly, but the stone never returned to its original crimson hue.
Upon witnessing this, the ancestors could hardly contain their excitement.
– **It is karma! The karma has accumulated in the bloodstone!**
– **No way! From the start, you were the one chosen by the Celestial Mandate!**
– **Ha ha! Truly remarkable!**
– **Then, the one who will end all calamities is…!**
Only then did the ancestors realize that Cho Hwi was no mere pawn destined for trivial fate.
However, their voices grew quieter, fading like an echo from a distant place.
Suddenly, a deafening noise assaulted Cho Hwi’s ears.
**Bweeeeee—**
He collapsed, clutching his ears!
“Aaah!”
The pain was unbearable!
Despite the agony, Cho Hwi opened his eyes wide, horrified.
He felt as if the connection between himself and his ancestors had been severed!
Tears welled up from his eyes.
“Masters! Sword God! Elder Mangde! Elder Man Sangjo!”
No matter how desperately he called out, there was no response.
It felt as though his voice couldn’t reach them.
Under the desert night sky, only a deep, silent stillness remained.
**’I can no longer hear the Sword God’s voice?’**
Cho Hwi sank to the ground.
A crushing sense of loss overwhelmed him.
Now, he understood how much he had relied on his ancestors.
**’What is happening?’**
What exactly is the martial god’s technique that it can alter the celestial bloodstone?
Cho Hwi continued to observe the violet transformation deep within himself, his thoughts conflicted.
The phenomenon he had just witnessed in an instant, which felt like the years of enlightenment in his previous martial training, was strikingly similar to the experience of bliss during his awakening, the sensation of understanding in three years.
The Celestial Sword Technique was a path forcibly engraved onto his body by the Sword God.
In the past, he only needed to use that overwhelming power as needed.
However, the martial god’s technique, gained through enlightenment, was fundamentally different.
He could feel it clearly.
Unlike the Celestial Sword Technique, the martial god’s technique had now become completely *his own*.
With the martial god’s arts awakened, Cho Hwi looked upon the world with a new perspective.
A changed world.
His vision now captured countless physical diagrams, and everything was connected differently.
The laws of all things in the world were visible.
From the distant sky, faint wills could be felt.
Finally, Cho Hwi clearly realized that he had become an absolute being.
Cho Hwi pushed the martial god’s arts to the extreme.
As his eyes turned a desperate violet, the dark purple transformation energy erupted from his entire body, releasing immense power.
**Boom boom boom boom boom!**
A storm fiercer than the desert’s sandstorms spread out in waves around Cho Hwi.
With a sword in hand, Cho Hwi raised his will.
**The Way of the Empty Sky!**
In an instant, a massive sand dune evaporated into thin air.
**Whoooosh.**
‘So easily?’
He immediately invoked the Empty Sky again!
Under the desert sky, dozens of points appeared, expanding into floating circles of darkness.
**Whoooosh!**
In the blink of an eye, dozens of sand dunes vanished!
‘This is like…’
Isn’t this similar to the divine power the Sword God exhibited when observing the volcano?
It was astonishing not only that he could consecutively use the Empty Sky technique, but also that the martial god’s transformation energy still radiated immense and boundless power from within.
‘This is the true inner art of the gods…’
Cho Hwi could only marvel at the power of the martial god’s arts, which were on a completely different level.
The difference between superficial martial arts and those achieved through self-realization was this vast?
Had he received the teachings of the Celestial Sword Technique from the Sword God from the start, he might have reached this level more quickly.
Nonetheless, with this power, he felt confident that even if the resurrected Heavenly Demon were incredibly strong, he would not lose.
But why did he feel so empty?
Cho Hwi tucked the celestial bloodstone—no, the blue jade—back into his chest and began walking toward the barracks.
Today had been the longest night of his life.
*The Martial World’s Fallen Modern Person 5*
**BUKDU NEO ORIENTAL FANTASY STORY**
*Cheong Ruyeon New Martial Arts Novel*
Author: Cheong Ruyeon
Publisher: Kwak Dong-hyun / Published by Good World Co., Ltd.
Email: [email protected]
This book’s copyright belongs to Good World Co., Ltd. and the author.
No part of this book, in any form, may be reproduced or adapted in any form without permission.
ⓒCheong Ruyeon / Good World Co., Ltd.
ISBN: 979-11-391-0709-8
Printed in Seoul, Korea
Good World Co., Ltd. accepts e-book submissions (all genres).
Novel submissions: [email protected]
Blog: [http://goodworld24.blog.me](http://goodworld24.blog.me)