Chapter 104
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: The Realm of the Heavenly Man
Golden Flower Money House.
He had been mulling over his schedule for the past few days and organizing his thoughts when Yoo Geon sent a messenger saying he wanted to see him. That was why Do Cheon had visited the Golden Flower Money House.
"The Iron Rod Emperor stopped by."
"He did?"
"Wasn't it you who sent him?"
"Well, something like that."
"Then why act like you don't know?"
"I really didn't expect him to come looking for you."
"Really?"
"He's from such a powerful family, and she's no ordinary woman. Who knows what they might do. Anyway, what did he say?"
"They offered to sell half of the large ships they bought at the original purchase price."
"They're opening up the Yangtze routes?"
"Yeah. Cooperate where we can cooperate, compete where we need to compete, and find a path to mutual prosperity."
"So, what are you going to do?"
"Our original plan was to draw in the Golden Sovereign Clan, right?"
"It was. But you said we'd end up getting swallowed by them."
"Right. So I've been thinking... I want to give it a shot."
"You do?"
"Yeah. I want to devour them instead of getting devoured."
"The Golden Sovereign Clan?"
"That might be a stretch. Who am I to aim that high?"
"Then?"
"The Yangtze. At the very least, we need to take complete control of the Yangtze like we planned from the start."
"But they talked about mutual prosperity?"
"Their idea of mutual prosperity means they take everything. So we should match them and aim for our own version of prosperity."
"Then do it. What's stopping you? The Yangtze routes will be open in a few days anyway."
"Good. Handle it for me."
"I'll handle it, but no tea even today?"
"Go drink it somewhere else. What's the big deal about having it here?"
"You're always so heartless. Fine, I'm going."
"Go."
Do Cheon left Yoo Geon behind and stepped outside.
He had said those words a very long time ago.
Don't look back. Don't keep checking each other's faces to celebrate our achievements. When everything is over—whether it's a total failure or success—that's when we'll face each other and laugh.
Iron Lion Sect main gate.
On his way back to the Iron Lion Sect after meeting Yoo Geon, Do Cheon ran into Ong Jung-seo just entering the main gate.
"Where have you been?"
"Ah, Branch Leader."
"You're busy as ever today."
Do Cheon smiled faintly, and Ong Jung-seo smiled back, lifting the long wooden box he was holding.
"What's that?"
"It's the sword you and the First Fairy Maiden retrieved last time."
"A sword?"
"You know, the one you weren't sure if it was a weapon or a sword."
He was referring to the Green Snake Poison Fan used by Noksa Dok-pyeon, the eldest of the Crimson River Seven Evils. Do Cheon had given it to Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun because it seemed no ordinary weapon. And upon returning to the Iron Lion Sect, she had asked Ong Jung-seo if he could remove the poison.
"Ah, that one! Did you remove the poison?"
"They cleaned off the poison and polished it up nicely, so I was on my way to pick it up. And I was right."
"Pardon?"
"I told you it looked like a New Moon Fan Sword."
"Ah, right. You did."
Do Cheon reacted as if it had just come back to him.
Ong Jung-seo shook his head.
"Shin Wol would jump out of his grave if he saw you."
"Why?"
"Shin Wol was revered as a master craftsman among master craftsmen. All ten divine weapons he forged rivaled the world's greatest treasures, yet you're reacting like it's nothing."
"That's because I didn't know it was that impressive. Anyway, so it really is a sword made by the master craftsman Shin Wol?"
"Yes. It's the genuine New Moon Fan Sword."
"Ah, then I should congratulate Martial Sister Byeon."
"It's a treasured sword that will elevate the First Fairy Maiden's prowess even further, so congratulations are in order."
The two chatted as they entered the Iron Lion Sect. Shortly after, they found Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun training with Little Sparrow and handed her the New Moon Fan Sword.
Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun carefully drew the sword.
With the poison removed from the blade and meticulously polished, the New Moon Fan Sword now revealed its original stunning elegance.
"It's truly magnificent!"
Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun was genuinely astonished. She had never been particularly interested in weapons, and the vicious reputation of the Green Snake Poison Fan had given her low expectations. But seeing the properly restored New Moon Fan Sword now, she could understand why people coveted famous blades.
"As Branch Leader said, you're the only one in the sect who can wield it properly, so don't hold back—use it to your heart's content."
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. You two earned it through your efforts anyway. It's short enough when folded, so it'll be comfortable to wear at your waist."
"Yes. I think so too."
Since it had come up, Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun tried fastening it to her waist.
The New Moon Fan Sword consisted of about twenty palm-sized blades linked together. When swung, centrifugal force would separate them, extending the weapon's overall length, but in its folded state, it was much shorter than a typical longsword. As expected, wearing it at her waist caused no discomfort in movement.
"I'm jealous."
Little Sparrow expressed her envy.
"You have the sword I gave you."
Do Cheon said.
"Ah, sorry. I just meant congratulations. I don't dislike the sword Big Brother bought me. I love this one too."
Little Sparrow lifted her own sword and smiled.
"When the opportunity arises, I'll find you an even better one, so be satisfied with that for now."
"Yes."
As Little Sparrow nodded, Do Cheon patted her shoulder.
"We'll be opening up the Yangtze routes soon."
Do Cheon said, looking at Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"Did you reach an agreement with the Golden Sovereign Clan?"
"Yoo Geon handled it. They apparently agreed to mutual prosperity. The Golden Sovereign Clan offered to hand over half their large ships at the purchase price."
"Will it really be mutual prosperity?"
"That guy seems determined to fight dirty."
"Pardon?"
"He said their idea of prosperity means taking it all, so he wants to take it all from them too."
"He's tough as nails."
"Exactly. Tough as nails with a heart of steel."
"When do you plan to leave?"
"In a couple of days. I'm taking Luck Junior Brother to the Jiangshi Hall that Protector Ong mentioned, so we'll cross the Yangtze on the way anyway."
"Can I come along too?"
"Don't want to?"
"Not this time. I need to oversee Little Sparrow's training, and I want to focus on my own cultivation. Heat Junior Brother and Mountain Junior Brother are working so hard—I don't want to fall behind."
"Alright, then stay here."
"Sorry."
"I'm disappointed, but it's unavoidable. Someday we'll roam freely together."
"Yes."
"Then get back to training. Little Sparrow, work hard. We're going. Shall we?"
Do Cheon addressed Ong Jung-seo last and left with him.
"Big Brother seemed really disappointed."
"Did he?"
"Yes. If it's because of me, it's fine—go with him."
"No. I just don't want to fall behind. Let's train hard so we never lose to Heat Junior Brother or Mountain Junior Brother."
"Yes!"
Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun smiled at Little Sparrow's spirited response. But concerned about Do Cheon, she glanced back in the direction he had gone one more time.
Golden Sovereign Clan, Golden Pavilion.
Golden Sovereign Golden Jeok-san summoned the Iron Rod Emperor, former Pavilion Master of the Golden Command Hall. The Iron Rod Emperor bowed deeply before the Golden Sovereign.
"You called for me?"
Instead of answering, the Golden Sovereign tossed something to him.
A tiny scrap of paper flew like a dagger and stopped right in front of the Iron Rod Emperor.
The Iron Rod Emperor raised his head, took the paper, and read it.
- Heavenly Demon Ancestor's ultimate technique has appeared. Identified as Iron Lion Sect's Iron Divine Dragon. Heavenly Demon defeated.
It succinctly stated only the key facts.
It was an urgent report from a spy in the Heavenly Demon Cult. While the Golden Command Hall oversaw all information, the Golden Pavilion directly managed matters concerning the Heavenly Demon Cult.
"What do you think?"
"Is this true?"
"Do you think it's false? What the hell has the Golden Command Hall been doing?!"
"My apologies!"
The Iron Rod Emperor bowed low.
Her mind was rapidly sorting through everything she knew about Do Cheon.
'That secret manual! It was the Heavenly Demon Ancestor's secret manual! That's why Heaven-Rending Legion and Volcanic Divine Sword got involved, and why they hushed it up... I need to investigate more. That bottomless confidence... It was because of the Heavenly Demon Ancestor's ultimate technique!'
Suddenly, Do Cheon's words flashed through the Iron Rod Emperor's mind as she organized her thoughts.
- Wow, they have way more money than we thought? If it weren't against the sect's iron rules, we'd be raiding the Golden Sovereign Clan.
'He meant it! He was really thinking of doing that!'
Startled, the Iron Rod Emperor looked up.
"You have something to say?"
"He sees our main house as prey."
"You mean he might attack?"
"Yes."
The Iron Rod Emperor summarized the key points of her conversations with Do Cheon.
The Golden Sovereign listened silently, then suddenly laughed.
Recalling the encounter with that enigmatic figure made him laugh even harder. That must have been the Iron Divine Dragon. He had hidden his identity and gone to great lengths to conceal himself. And the martial prowess he displayed that day—it had been astonishing. But because it was him, because the Iron Divine Dragon had mastered a Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate technique, the Golden Sovereign could laugh heartily.
Three years.
He might have tamed the energies of nature, but what he showed that day was probably all he had.
'Otherwise, there's no reason he would have let us go.'
The Golden Sovereign twisted his lips into a smile. Having seen the limits of his power, there was no reason they couldn't capture him. The Golden Sovereign fixed his glass-like eyes on the Iron Rod Emperor.
"In ancient times, after our clan's grand plan to open a world of blood failed, our predecessors endlessly researched the Heavenly Demon. They traced back generations to the Generation's Heavenly Demon and his disciples, uncovering every footprint and studying their ultimate techniques. Every Heavenly Demon was strong. Incredibly strong. But they were within our reach. We had to abandon our own ultimate arts and create new ones, but they were still within reach. And now, we can proudly face the Heavenly Demon."
It was the history of the Golden Sovereign Clan that even the Iron Rod Emperor knew.
After transforming into the Golden Sovereign Clan to surpass the Heavenly Demon and his cult, they had passed down countless generations, innovating new ultimate techniques to reach this day.
Domination of the world?
Without surpassing the Heavenly Demon and his cult, it could never be true domination. Thus, the Golden Sovereign Clan's gaze was always fixed on the Heavenly Demon and his cult.
But the Heavenly Demon Ancestor was different.
"The Heavenly Demon Ancestor..."
The Golden Sovereign showed an oddly excited demeanor.
"Do you know why the Heavenly Demon Ancestor was so extraordinary?"
"No."
"The Heavenly Demon Ancestor is revered as the origin of demonic arts and the greatest across history not just because his personal cultivation reached the transcendent realm, but because he was the only being in history to wield the energies of heaven and earth—the sole existence in the Heavenly Man Realm."
"...!"
"The Heavenly Man Realm, wielding the energies of heaven and earth—how incredible is that? It's like having inexhaustible inner energy that never runs dry. Who could possibly stand against him? Truly astonishing."
Thinking of Do Cheon, the Iron Rod Emperor felt a chill run down her spine.
Wielding the energies of heaven and earth? Inner energy that never depletes no matter how much it's used!
The greatest across the ages!
The Realm of the Heavenly Man!
The Iron Rod Emperor felt her blood run cold.
"Moreover, depending on how much of heaven and earth's energy one can wield, one could unleash god-like power beyond comprehension, perhaps even reaching the pinnacle of martial might attainable by humans."
"The... pinnacle."
"However, even that has a weakness."
"...!"
"Incredibly, despite being such a supreme realm, it has a clear vulnerability. It's simple logic. Just prevent him from wielding the energies of heaven and earth."
"Is that possible?"
"Cloud-Melting Heaven-Sealing Golden Demon Array!"
"...!"
"Our predecessors infiltrated Shaolin and Wudang with blood kin as disciples to steal their ultimate arts. Over generations, they deployed the heaven-sent intellect of the Zhuge family and experts in astronomy and geography to perfect this supreme formation."
"Cloud-Melting Heaven-Sealing Golden Demon Array..."
"It creates a new space between heaven and earth, perfectly blocking all external energies. Even the Heavenly Demon Ancestor cannot draw upon them inside, forcing him to rely solely on his personal inner energy. In other words, within it, we can fight the Heavenly Demon Ancestor on equal terms."
"...!"
"Now do you understand your task?"
"I must bring that man who learned the Heavenly Demon Ancestor's ultimate technique here."
"Exactly. We'll deploy the Cloud-Melting Heaven-Sealing Golden Demon Array at the main house. Once it's complete, lure him into attacking us. Our clan will be his grave."
"Understood."
The Iron Rod Emperor bowed vigorously.
Cloud-Melting Heaven-Sealing Golden Demon Array!
With the Golden Sovereign and the clan's countermeasure being this, there was no doubt about the outcome.
'He's finished right this instant.'
Hunan Changsha, Jeongga Village.
A manor used by the Great Righteous Alliance as a safe house.
Upon Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang's arrival, he was immediately escorted to the new Alliance Leader, Abbot Hyeoncheon.
"Welcome."
"You sought me out—what's the matter?"
"How could you hide something so grave?"
"What do you mean?"
"Heavenly Demon Ancestor."
"...!"
"So it was true."
"You already knew?"
"How could you keep it secret?"
"Because it's obvious what would happen."
"Even so..."
"Abbot, the one who stopped the Heavenly Demon this time was the Iron Divine Dragon. You met him that day, right?"
"Indeed."
"If Heaven-Rending Legion and I hadn't built a rapport with him beforehand, when he clashed with Wudang's Un-yang Zhenren, it would have been a disaster. And that disaster would have spread straight to Wudang."
"...!"
"We hushed it up to prevent exactly that, and we stayed at the Iron Lion Sect for the same reason. Leave the Iron Divine Dragon be, and he's no different from the righteous sects. The Iron Lion Sect's rules ensure that. They never commit unjust acts. But against external threats, they're as unyielding as any demonic faction. They say they'd rather break than bend."
"Even so..."
"Wudang must know by now."
"They do."
"What do you think they'll do?"
"Make it public."
"As expected. They'll see it as a demonic minion on this land. I might have done the same if I hadn't seen him up close. Abbot."
"Speak."
"Don't interfere."
"You mean...?"
"If Wudang and Shaolin get involved, the entire Great Righteous Alliance will mobilize. Do you know what happens then?"
"...?"
"The moment we make an enemy of the Iron Divine Dragon and the Iron Lion Sect, it's all over."
"What?!"
"Even with Heaven-Rending Legion and me combining forces, we were no match at all. The Heavenly Demon retreated without landing a single blow. The Iron Divine Dragon, that friend—he's practically the Generation's Heavenly Demon himself. So just leave him be. He has no intention of subjugating the world."
"What does he want then?"
"To revive the Iron Lion Sect. To restore its former glory alongside his junior brothers and sisters. That's all. So don't mobilize the entire righteous world in the name of the Great Righteous Alliance. That's the only way to prevent great chaos and preserve the righteous sects."
"And you call that not the path to world domination?"
"Then let him dominate the world. It's the natural way."
"What?! How is that natural?!"
Abbot Hyeoncheon looked shocked yet incredulous.
Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang frowned at the reaction. Wudang wouldn't stay quiet, and if Wudang moved, Shaolin would follow.
"What flows unhindered is the natural way. Try to block it forcibly, and it will surely burst."
With that, Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang rose from his seat. Abbot Hyeoncheon could only mutter Buddhist chants, unable to stop him.
"Amitabha! Ami-tabul!"
Sun Heaven.
Sun King, the Heavenly Lord, ordered his Twelve Guardian Heavens—including Gwi Ya-rim and Yin-Yang Sect followers—not to move a muscle for the time being before entering secluded cultivation.
"The day I emerge from seclusion, I will hunt the Iron Divine Dragon!"
That was his declaration before entering.
There were those wandering in the wrong place in their hunt for the Heavenly Demon: the Seven Star Old Freaks and Thunder Dragon. After barely coaxing the hyperactive Thunder Dragon and guiding him to the vicinity of Wudang Mountain, a message arrived from the Four Guardian Forests.
"They say the Heavenly Demon went back?"
"When?"
"Not just back—he fled in defeat."
"The Heavenly Demon lost? Did the old man strike first?"
"Not the old man—the Iron Divine Dragon."
"Iron Divine Dragon?"
"The Iron Lion Sect's Iron Divine Dragon. You heard about him when we left—the kid who fought Heaven-Rending Legion."
"Oh? As long as it's not the old man, who cares. Let's head back then."
"Head back where?"
"The Heavenly Demon went back, didn't he?"
"Boss, please think for once!"
"I did think, that's why I'm going back."
"Argh, seriously! What's the difference between that kid and the Heavenly Demon? That kid's the one the old man will target now."
"How's that kid the same as the Heavenly Demon?"
"Because he learned the Heavenly Demon Ancestor's martial arts."
"He did?"
"It's written right here."
"I didn't read it."
"What?"
"You didn't show me!"
"...!"
"Look at this punk. What did you just say to me? 'Boss, what would you know?' 'Give it here!' And then you took it."
The Seven Star Old Freaks' boss went berserk without regard for consequences once his eyes rolled back. Knowing this better than anyone, Blood Phantom King whipped his head around, spotted someone, and bolted.
"Hey, Thunder Dragon! Let's go hunt the Iron Divine Dragon!"