Chapter 682: In My Youth, I Will Not Believe in Fate
Chapter 682: In My Youth, I Will Not Believe in Fate
Heavenly Demon World Destruction.
It was the ultimate form of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, a technique capable of reducing everything within sight to nothingness.
However, it was a form notoriously difficult to practice. One had to find a completely desolate location, as there was always the risk that an innocent soul might wander into the technique’s devastating range at the final moment.
Fortunately, for Geom Mu-geuk, such constraints were no longer an issue.
Upon returning to his quarters, Mu-geuk immediately activated the Space-Time Displacement Technique.
Snap!
The moment he flicked his fingers, the world shifted. He found himself standing in the center of a vast, boundless plain.
Whoosh.
A lonely gust of wind swept past, fluttering his robes and hair.
‘Here, I can unleash Heavenly Demon World Destruction to my heart’s content.’
Intending to accurately gauge the reach of the technique’s power, he manifested massive boulders at regular intervals across the fields. He placed them so far away that he wondered if his power could even touch them.
They were at such a distance that they were barely visible to the naked eye. Furthermore, he didn't just place them in one direction; he ringed them in every direction around him.
Having completed his preparations, Mu-geuk slowly drew the Black Demonic Sword.
Taking a deep breath, he unleashed the Heavenly Demon World Destruction he had inherited from his father.
Flash!
Screeeeeeech!
A blinding, apocalyptic light erupted, surging outward in every direction.
The grass, the trees, the boulders—everything manifested within this artificial space began to disintegrate into dust.
Just as the light that had swallowed the horizon began to fade...
In that final heartbeat, Mu-geuk activated his New Eye Technique to observe the furthest boulder he had set.
That boulder, too, had vanished without a trace. Even the rock placed at a distance that required a specialized ocular technique just to see had been utterly annihilated.
Mu-geuk could feel the resonance in his chest. It was because his internal energy was so immense and pure that the technique exerted such terrifying, absolute power.
Shhh.
A moment later, the Space-Time Displacement Technique, having exhausted its energy, dissolved into mist.
Mu-geuk sat in meditation to replenish his internal energy before unfolding the displacement technique once more. Since he could activate it even while the displacement was active, it wasn't a technique that required his dantian to be at full capacity to maintain—but it did require it for the strike itself.
Exactly how much internal energy did he need to pull it off?
After testing it repeatedly, he found his answer.
Ninety percent.
He needed at least ninety percent of his total internal energy to unleash the form.
And once the technique was executed, that ninety percent was entirely consumed. Considering the horrific, world-ending power of the form, it would have been stranger if any energy remained at all.
‘Ninety percent... can I reduce the cost?’
What if he could use it with eighty percent? What if he could lower the requirement to seventy, sixty, or even fifty? If he could achieve that, he would be able to fight a standard battle and still have Heavenly Demon World Destruction held in reserve as a finishing move.
‘I’ll likely have to reach Great Achievement in the Nine Calamities Demonic Art before I can lower the requirement.’
Ultimately, Heavenly Demon World Destruction was a technique meant to be used freely once one reached the Twelve-Star Stage of Great Achievement.
Since there wouldn't be many situations where he'd need to resolve a conflict by killing every living thing in sight, he absolutely had to reach the Twelve-Star Stage, just as his father had.
For several days, Mu-geuk practiced the form relentlessly. His goal was to be able to unleash it as naturally as a simple breath.
This training served another purpose as well. The process of pouring out his entire reservoir of internal energy and then refilling it served as intense training for his mental cultivation method.
How many days had he been immersed in this cycle?
Now, he could unleash Heavenly Demon World Destruction as fluidly as any other form. He had also pinpointed the exact radius of its power and calculated the precise rate at which that power diminished over distance.
Truly, when was the last time he had studied a martial art with such academic precision?
Only when he could perform the technique at will did Mu-geuk finally leave his quarters. Having focused solely on his training in front of the massive wall known as Great Achievement, there was someone he wanted to see.
*
The Fist Demon’s fist cut through the air.
Whoosh!
The lightning-fast punch slammed directly into a woman’s abdomen.
Thwack!
The person sent skidding backward by the Fist Demon’s strike was none other than Cheon So-hui, his disciple and successor.
If any righteous heroes of the world had stumbled upon this scene, they would have rushed in to save her. A massive, terrifying-looking man was punching a woman as if he were trying to kill her.
Thwack!
This time, he struck her mercilessly in the ribs. She gritted her teeth, her expression contorted in agony.
Thud! Thwack!
Punches landed in rapid succession on her arms and shoulders. So-hui staggered, her feet dragging through the dirt, but she did not fall.
Normally, she would have suffered catastrophic internal injuries, but unexpectedly, she held her ground.
But it hurt. It felt like being hit by a runaway carriage, crushed by a falling pillar, or struck by flying iron. Nevertheless, she endured, refusing to collapse.
Finally, the relentless barrage of fists stopped.
“Haa... haa... haa...”
Only the sound of her ragged, desperate breathing filled the air. If the punches had continued for even a moment longer, she wouldn't have been able to hold on; her internal organs would have ruptured. The Fist Demon had pushed her exactly to her breaking point.
“Well done.”
When she looked up, the Fist Demon was smiling as if he hadn't just been pummeling her.
“Thank you, Master.”
The protective qi that had guarded her body was the Heavenly Dipper Body. Today’s training was specifically to temper that art.
The Heavenly Dipper Body.
It was the defensive art Mu-geuk had retrieved from the underground vault he had entered with the Sword King. At the time, Mu-geuk had taken only one manual from that place: this very technique.
The reason Mu-geuk had chosen the Heavenly Dipper Body was its compatibility; it could be used in conjunction with other defensive arts. It could be activated simultaneously with the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art and the Vajra Asura of the Thunder Asura Fist. In short, it allowed a practitioner to manifest three layers of absolute protection at once.
Mu-geuk had initially refined the Heavenly Dipper Body, which required a massive amount of internal energy, and then the Fist Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable had collaborated to perfect its form.
At that time, Mu-geuk had passed the technique to the Fist Demon, the One Flower Sword Venerable, Lee An, and Seo Jin. The Fist Demon, in turn, had passed it down to Cheon So-hui, the next Fist Demon.
In truth, the ones who needed the Heavenly Dipper Body most were the Fist Demon and Cheon So-hui, who fought with their bare hands.
“It truly is a magnificent defensive art.”
At So-hui’s admiration, the Fist Demon gave the credit where it was due.
“It’s a technique passed down by your Senior Brother, so give your thanks to him.”
Right then, someone walked in from behind the Fist Demon and spoke up.
“You’re too much, Master! Where on our fragile Junior Sister’s body is there even room left to hit?”
The one who appeared was Geom Mu-geuk.
A slight smile played on the lips of the Fist Demon, who still had his back turned, while So-hui’s face lit up with joy.
“Senior Brother! I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m not exactly fragile.”
Her body was now composed of even firmer, more defined muscle than before. One could tell just by looking at her how grueling her training had been.
“You look good.”
At Mu-geuk’s praise, So-hui replied humbly.
“I still have a long way to go.”
Mu-geuk immediately started teasing the Fist Demon’s broad back, which he hadn't seen in a while.
“Surely you aren't aiming for a body like Master’s? You mustn't, Junior Sister. Aim for a well-proportioned body like your Senior Brother’s!”
Only then did the Fist Demon turn toward Mu-geuk.
“Those baby hands of yours can't do anything.”
Hearing the term 'baby hands' after so long was so nostalgic that Mu-geuk greeted him with a bright smile.
“Master, your disciple has returned from his excursion.”
Ignoring the greeting, the Fist Demon looked back at So-hui.
“Seeing it in person is the fastest way to learn.”
Mu-geuk understood the Fist Demon’s intent immediately. He wanted Mu-geuk to give a direct demonstration of the Heavenly Dipper Body.
“I was wrong! Junior Sister, if you want to become the Fist Demon, you should obviously build a body like Master’s rather than my scrawny one! You need to get at least twice as wide as you are now!”
As the Fist Demon walked forward, clenching his fists with an expression that said it was already too late for jokes, Mu-geuk lowered his voice.
“I have come to see the Fist Demon in my capacity as the Young Cult Leader.”
Of course, that didn't work on the Fist Demon. He leaped forward and threw a punch as fast as a lightning bolt.
Whoosh!
Mu-geuk didn't dodge. This was a demonstration. The incredibly powerful fist slammed into Mu-geuk’s chest.
Thwack!
He blocked the impact by manifesting the Heavenly Dipper Body. He didn't suffer internal injuries, but the raw pain was transmitted directly to his nerves nonetheless.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Fist Demon’s punches struck Mu-geuk’s torso in rapid succession. They were incomparably faster and stronger than the punches he had used on So-hui.
Boom! Bang! Boom!
Despite the barrage of devastating strikes, Mu-geuk did not fall. As if to prove that taking a hit was a skill in itself, Mu-geuk weathered them exceptionally well.
Though he had acted like he didn't want to do it, this was actually invaluable training. When else would he get to test his Heavenly Dipper Body against the Fist Demon’s full power? Every single strike was a lesson of priceless value.
After throwing a flurry of punches, the Fist Demon asked So-hui.
“How is he different from you?”
So-hui, who had been standing dazed with a shocked expression, snapped back to her senses.
“At first glance, it looked like he was just enduring with the Heavenly Dipper Body, but I felt like Senior Brother was deflecting the punches. He was subtly twisting his body at the point of impact.”
The Fist Demon looked satisfied. So-hui had seen correctly.
“Good. Not only that, he adjusted the intensity of the protective qi for each part of his body. He didn't just make the point of impact strong; he adjusted the flow to shed the shock.”
At those words, Mu-geuk asked in surprise.
“I did that?”
The Fist Demon nodded.
“You did it instinctively. It’s not something you can do through conscious intent alone.”
The Fist Demon looked back at So-hui. He didn't say a word, but his eyes seemed to ask: Do you see the path you must take now?
So-hui bowed respectfully.
“Master. Thank you truly for this great lesson.”
She then turned to Mu-geuk.
“Thank you, Senior Brother.”
“I’m glad it was helpful. Ugh, I feel like my whole body is breaking.”
At Mu-geuk’s exaggerated complaining, So-hui whispered her own grievance before leaving.
“Do you think it hurts as much as it does for me? I’m the one who’s really in pain!”
So-hui left the area, groaning. As Mu-geuk watched her walk away, the playfulness vanished from his face.
“I look forward to the day. The day those fists strike a blow against the Murim.”
She was a Demon Lord who would lead the next generation alongside the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord. He would surely be there to witness her achievements.
“Let’s walk a bit.”
“Yes, Master.”
Mu-geuk and the Fist Demon walked together through the Eastern Fist Sect. The Iron Fists they passed bowed respectfully to Mu-geuk. Since he had deep ties with them, Mu-geuk’s gaze toward the disciples was gentle.
Naturally, the two headed toward the cliff that the Fist Demon always wanted to tear down. As they walked, Mu-geuk recounted everything that had happened during his time away.
After hearing the story, the Fist Demon recalled events from long ago.
“When I used to roam the Central Plains with the Cult Leader, we encountered mysterious individuals several times. Back then, I just dismissed them as some secret organization lusting for money and power... but perhaps some of them were descendants of the Dark Palace.”
“They likely were. No, they were definitely among them.”
They would have been secretly expanding their organization, amassing wealth and power throughout the Central Plains for centuries.
The Fist Demon asked curiously.
“But why now?”
Over the course of three hundred years, there must have been several opportunities to strike.
“It seems they believed in the prophecy of the Divine Maiden Palace.”
“That the prophecy would be fulfilled in this generation?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The Fist Demon’s gaze turned toward Mu-geuk. Of all times, in the era where a Young Cult Leader like this exists? If they waited three hundred years, they should have waited another hundred.
Since that thought came to him naturally, he could state with certainty:
“It must be a false prophecy.”
Though he said it with Mu-geuk in mind, Mu-geuk turned the reason back to the Fist Demon.
“With you here, Master, they don't stand a chance.”
Of course, the Fist Demon knew well that he wasn't the one who would change the prophecy. He knew that the one standing before the greatest fate, the one who would change everyone’s destiny, was Mu-geuk.
“Do you believe in fate?”
How could he, a regressor, not believe in fate? However, he didn't say he believed in it blindly.
“In my youth, I intend not to believe in it.”
When the Fist Demon looked at him as if asking what he meant, Mu-geuk continued.
“I feel like if I believe there’s a fixed destiny, I’ll just end up making more excuses.”
Mu-geuk, who had been looking ahead as he walked, turned his gaze to the Fist Demon.
“We might not be able to decide our fate, but we can decide our mindset and attitude toward it. While I’m young, I’ll live as if nothing in the world is set in stone. I’ll push my body to the limit, cultivate my mind, and later, I’ll say this to fate: ‘I’ve worked this hard, so what are you going to do about it?’”
This had been Mu-geuk’s consistent mindset since his regression. He said, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ but in truth, he was also saying it to himself.
If I can't change fate even after working this hard, then there’s nothing more I can do.
“I think I’ll wait until I’m around your age, Master, to look back on my life and decide whether to believe in fate then.”
The Fist Demon was curious. He wondered what Mu-geuk would feel when he reached his age and looked back on his life. What he would say then.
As they conversed, the two arrived in front of the cliff. After staring up at the massive rock face for a moment, Mu-geuk suddenly spoke.
“You won't be tearing this cliff down anymore, will you?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because now, you must be certain that you can tear it down.”
Mu-geuk could feel that the Fist Demon had become stronger. In fact, even in their last fight, the Fist Demon hadn't let his pride get in the way; he had fought with flexibility. The fact that the Fist Demon, who used to be unbending, had become flexible meant he had grown that much stronger.
“I am still not certain.”
Knowing that those were words only a stronger person could say, Mu-geuk smiled brightly and looked up at the cliff.
“Congratulations. It looks like you’ve survived.”
A faint smile appeared on the Fist Demon’s lips as well. Just then, an Iron Fist ran toward them and delivered a missive.
“A missive has arrived for the Young Cult Leader.”
It was a missive from the Smiling Demon, and its contents were brief.
— Please come to the Heavenly Flower Pavilion. —Smiling Demon.