Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Black Fiend Dark God
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Do Cheon, having strayed far from the Iron Lion Sect, tossed the Non-Responding Heavenly Horned Fiend and Gi Yogon, whom he had tucked under his arms, onto the ground. The impact roused Gi Yogon with some difficulty, but the Non-Responding Heavenly Horned Fiend remained unconscious.
Do Cheon glanced at the pair before slowly turning around.
It seemed the world was full of monsters—masters so formidable that even Thunder Wall Fist at the brink of Perfection Realm couldn't easily fell them. The Heaven-Rending Legion had been one, the Non-Responding Heavenly Horned Fiend another, and now this all-black-clad elder before his eyes appeared to be yet one more.
"If you want a proper fight, don't hold back—go all out from the start."
At Do Cheon's words, the form of the black-clad elder, the Black Fiend Dark God, shifted. It shimmered like an illusion conjured of black smoke.
Illusion arts?
He wasn't sure. He wasn't particularly versed in martial scholarship.
Illusion or not, what did it matter? Victory made it a divine art, an absolute technique; defeat rendered it mere martial skill.
Do Cheon slowly raised his right hand. At the motion, the Black Fiend Dark God's form wavered even more violently.
Like a mirage, like heat haze, or like a specter in the dead of night.
The moment the Black Fiend Dark God's insubstantial form began drifting toward him like a ghost, Do Cheon thrust forward the palm he had raised to shoulder height.
In an instant, a terrifying surge of energy erupted explosively, blasting the Black Fiend Dark God's form backward.
Kwa-ang!
A massive boulder midway up the distant mountainside shattered with a thunderous roar.
The Black Fiend Dark God had been hurled straight into it.
Gi Yogon, now conscious, watched the scene in stunned silence.
My god, the Black Fiend Dark God! That nightmare of a foe said to rank among the world's top ten most troublesome... sent flying in one blow!
As Gi Yogon reeled in shock, Do Cheon scanned his surroundings. Yet his face showed no trace of pride or satisfaction—only irritation.
Iron Lion Sect! He called himself a direct disciple of the Iron Lion Sect! Is the Iron Lion King's ultimate art truly that powerful? Does he see crushing us as nothing, treating a single strike on the Black Fiend Dark God as casually as swatting a third-rate thug? Is dealing with us what's annoying him? Really...?
The shock of feeling reduced to third-raters left Gi Yogon staring wide-eyed at Do Cheon.
Do Cheon spared him not a glance before turning his head toward one side and venting his genuine frustration.
"If the old fogies stir up trouble, the young lions will gather... For real!"
"Well said!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion crowed in delight, leaping to his feet and launching himself forward. The Volcanic Divine Sword swiftly followed with his lightness skill. Ahead of them, the corpse-like Wise King charged in a straight line toward a certain direction.
"Puahaha! I knew it! I knew those guys would force him to reveal his true power!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion reveled in his triumph.
He seemed especially pleased at winning what felt like a battle between Do Cheon's concealment and their provocation.
"The direction's a bit off."
The Volcanic Divine Sword noted.
"He must've moved away to avoid harming the Iron Lion Sect."
"Might get a real fight after all?"
"...!"
"Not sure if the two of us can handle the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate art. And with the Wise King guarding him, too."
A thought the Heaven-Rending Legion hadn't considered.
A chill ran down his spine for a moment, but he shook his head vigorously.
"Forget it. The two of us are enough—no need to call others."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. At least he really seems to care about his sect!"
"Ah!"
The Volcanic Divine Sword let out a cry of realization at the Heaven-Rending Legion's words.
The pair then pursued the Wise King closely.
"Keep sitting there, and I'll really snap your legs."
At Do Cheon's words, Gi Yogon scrambled to his feet.
Do Cheon, still facing one direction without so much as a glance, continued.
"Take that old man and go. Forget everything you saw today, and stay away from the sect. Then you won't have to blame my heavy hand. Go."
Feeling no killing intent in Do Cheon's words, Gi Yogon hoisted the still-unconscious Non-Responding Heavenly Horned Fiend over his shoulder and bolted toward the direction the Black Fiend Dark God had flown. Once he was gone, Do Cheon let out a quiet sigh.
"I was so confident everything would go my way when I returned to the sect... but moving people is no easy task."
He fully realized his own arrogance.
One thing was certain: swaying people couldn't be done by strength alone. Some bowed to power, but others pushed back harder the more they were pressed. And still others ignored power altogether, doing only as they pleased. Trying to force such varied souls with brute strength alone was probably absurd.
As these thoughts swirled, Do Cheon reconsidered his plans. He might need to overhaul his scheme to draw the world's eyes to the Iron Lion Sect and unearth true Iron Lions—or push even more aggressively.
Revise if needed, act boldly if called for. The issue was how.
"Even with stronger martial arts, why can't this thick skull figure it out?"
Frustrated at his unlearned mind's failure to find a clear path, Do Cheon suddenly recalled one person. A woman whose face was mostly veiled, save for a pair of eyes sparkling with wisdom: Byeon Ryeo-gun, the Celestial Insight Maiden.
"She'd find a way in an instant..."
Muttering to himself, Do Cheon sank deeper into thoughts of her.
The hour grew heavy with encroaching darkness.
Do Cheon still stood in place.
Under the watchful gaze of countless twinkling stars and a brightly risen moon, three silhouettes appeared at breakneck speed.
The first to arrive, standing back-to-back with Do Cheon, was the corpse-like Wise King. Then, at a measured distance, the Heaven-Rending Legion and Volcanic Divine Sword halted.
"You thought your silver tongue could fool us all?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion demanded, brimming with momentum.
The gloom posed no hindrance as he stared Do Cheon down. Do Cheon swept his gaze over him and the Volcanic Divine Sword before speaking.
"I've deceived no one."
"You clearly said you had no manuals or divine weapons—never seen any."
"Correct."
"You bastard!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion bellowed like thunder.
"There were no manuals or divine weapons at all—just martial arts. You fell for wordplay, not I. Anyway, you've got your precious answer. Did I cultivate the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate art? Yes, I did. Now what?"
There truly had been no manuals or divine weapons. Only the true energy that drew Do Cheon in, containing the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate art and insights in mental imprints.
"...!"
"...!"
The Generation's Heavenly Demon's martial arts.
He admitted to cultivating them.
"How dare you! How dare you! You've gone mad craving death!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion's face twisted fiercer, eyes bulging as if to devour him. Do Cheon met his glare squarely.
"Can you kill me?"
"Hmph! Think I can't?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"That wasn't everything you showed last time, right? Probably holding back a move or two. But I've got more. Far more than what I revealed that day—enough that even if you two go all out, you can't touch me."
"Fine! So confident? Die without grudge then!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion's aura exploded outward.
A presence worthy of cries of "Now that's the Heaven-Rending Legion!" But Do Cheon didn't blink.
"Then..."
The Volcanic Divine Sword interjected.
He even stepped forward, subtly blocking the Heaven-Rending Legion.
"Why hide such power?"
The Volcanic Divine Sword's question made the Heaven-Rending Legion swallow his rage.
Strong men and warriors alike itched to flaunt newfound might, yet Do Cheon had concealed it.
"Hmph! You haven't mastered it! Three years wasn't enough—so you hide to buy time."
The Heaven-Rending Legion spat.
His energy surged fiercer, as if determined to slay him here.
"They call those who see only the visible world 'frogs in a well.'"
"You bastard!"
As the Heaven-Rending Legion roared, Do Cheon took a bold step forward.
Ku-ung!
The earth let out a colossal groan, and a vast energy flooded forth like a tidal wave, shoving both the Volcanic Divine Sword and Heaven-Rending Legion back simultaneously.
"...!"
"...!"
The pair gaped in shock.
The force was so immense they couldn't even think of countering, simply yielding. But it didn't end there. The Wise King, recognizing them as foes, charged ferociously.
"Stop!"
Do Cheon shouted.
Irritated at the Wise King's interference, that was all. Astonishingly, the Wise King halted abruptly.
It revealed the truth: once Heavenly Demon Divine Art reached a certain level, commands worked.
"Withdraw."
At Do Cheon's order, the Wise King moved behind him.
The display left the Heaven-Rending Legion and Volcanic Divine Sword feeling fooled once more.
"Once, I dreamed of conquering the world with strength alone."
With that, Do Cheon clasped his hands behind his back.
His spine straightened, chest expanded.
His impassive, chilling eyes ignored the giants of righteousness before him, gazing beyond to the endless world.
"The world exists to be dominated."
Finishing, Do Cheon turned his gaze to them. He was changed. Not the Do Cheon they had known.
Peerless master! Peerless tyrant! Absolute invincible being!
Perhaps even beyond—a Heaven-Conquering Emperor!
Overwhelmed by his transformed presence, the Heaven-Rending Legion and Volcanic Divine Sword were speechless.
"You bastard!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion bellowed.
He who never bowed his head until it was smashed into the dirt now unleashed his peak aura in defiance. The Volcanic Divine Sword didn't idle either. Volcanic Sect's signature fierce, sharp energy erupted like an active volcano as he drew his sword. A momentum befitting the twin titans of righteousness.
"Let's see if you can dominate the world."
Do Cheon's words ended. And in that instant, his step advanced.
He's coming!
We'll block him!
Do Cheon's single step clashed against the two giants' invincible might in a fleeting moment.
Kwang!
One explosive clash sufficed.
To send the two flying took but a single collision.
The titans of righteousness and evil, even in joint assault, flew apart like split logs from one strike. And in their stead stood Do Cheon, hands still clasped behind.
Kung! Kung!
Having soared hundreds of jang, they crashed into an unnamed wild hill.
Pride wounded? Or a sense of duty to block at all costs?
They sprang up, squeezing out their remaining inner energy for a second clash. But at the sight from whence they came, their eyes bulged impossibly wide.
He was coming.
Do Cheon hurtled toward them.
Still hands behind his back.
Cleaving hundreds of jang in a blink.
The ground split dozens of jang deep in his wake, dust clouds whipped like gales trailing him.
A momentum of absolute heaven-rending!
The Heaven-Rending Legion swallowed dryly without thinking.
The Volcanic Divine Sword's heart sank.
Who could stop him?
Overpowered by the onrushing Do Cheon, the pair faltered.
Do Cheon halted squarely before them.
The trailing dust clouds, like subjects bowed before his presence, stopped behind him and settled as if pressed down. And beside him stood the Wise King who had followed.
Jeobuk jeobuk!
Do Cheon stepped forward to them. And stopped.
His eyes still coldly impassive.
"I have obtained the power to dominate the world."
Do Cheon's declaration rang like an absolute conqueror's edict.
The Heaven-Rending Legion and Volcanic Divine Sword were mute. Do Cheon regarded them before continuing.
"Yet now that I possess it, world domination feels utterly worthless."
"...!"
"...!"
"What I desire now is one thing alone: to revive the Iron Lion Sect, fulfill my master's and martial uncles' long-cherished wish, and let my martial siblings stride the world with pride."
"...!"
"...!"
"Placing the world beneath my feet pales beside my sect family laughing freely with joy. Whether it's narrow vision or small dreams, I don't know—but for now, I wish only for them to venture out happily."
His words ended, and the terrifying aura pouring from Do Cheon vanished in a breath.
The Volcanic Divine Sword and Heaven-Rending Legion could only stare, eyes wide. Any thought of slaying him here had evaporated from the Heaven-Rending Legion's mind.
Do Cheon stared silently before speaking again.
"Whether the step I showed you ends as one to revive the Iron Lion Sect—or morphs into one trampling the world beneath my feet—depends on you two. Tell me: what will you do?"
His question hung heavy; their breaths grew labored.
Touch him, and he'd erupt. Rallying all righteousness might drown the world in blood. So they fell silent for a time. Do Cheon waited mutely for their answer.
Tense moments dragged on.
The pair unable to reply readily. Do Cheon urging them to declare their intent. Suffocating time wore on.
"What of the three?"
The Volcanic Divine Sword asked abruptly.
Inquiring after the Thunder Palace, Non-Responding Heavenly Horned Fiend, and Black Fiend Dark God.
"Sent them back."
"You didn't kill them?"
"Do you kill everyone who annoys you? Maybe evil sects do—but not me."
Do Cheon shot a glance at the Heaven-Rending Legion as he spoke. The man's lips twitched; the Volcanic Divine Sword sighed deeply. Though viewing the world from different stands, their current sight of Do Cheon aligned: he wasn't one to rampage recklessly with power. A small relief for both.
"That martial art mustn't emerge into the world."
"Right! The Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate art is a calamity unfit to see light!"
The Volcanic Divine Sword spoke, the Heaven-Rending Legion adding weight, setting aside pride and fury for the moment.
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why a calamity?"
"Never heard of Lhasa's calamity?"
"No."
The Heaven-Rending Legion scowled at Do Cheon's reply. Then the Volcanic Divine Sword explained softly.
"In the far western land of Lhasa, the Potala Palace has existed since time immemorial, guiding its sentient beings. A branch of Buddhism, yet divergent from Central Plains Buddhism. When the Generation's Heavenly Demon boasted his prowess, founded his demonic cult, and deified himself, a high monk of the Potala rebuked him harshly. Called him a cunning deceiver who bewitched the masses with petty martial arts to blind them to the heavens above."
The Volcanic Divine Sword paused for breath; the Heaven-Rending Legion cut in.
"Enraged, the Generation's Heavenly Demon appeared above the Potala and declared himself heaven incarnate, unleashing a single palm strike. That blow reduced the massive palace to rubble, slaughtering tens of thousands of monks and visiting faithful in droves. Was that human? Only demonic taint to the marrow enables such atrocity. The Heavenly Demon Divine Art isn't divine—it's pure demonic art, a forbidden calamity unfit for humans."
The Heaven-Rending Legion emphasized passionately.
He, apex of evil's lords—who tormented, struck, and slew countless—now spoke of human decency. No wonder Do Cheon, harboring no fondness for evil sects, reacted tepidly.
"If it's so terrifying, why leave the Demonic Cult be? Why not march there and demand they eradicate the Heavenly Demon's arts?"
"Think they'd listen?!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion roared.
The Volcanic Divine Sword interjected.
"Do you know why the Demonic Cult hasn't invaded these lands for ages?"
"No."
"The Generation's Heavenly Demon."
"...?"
"He decreed sternly: none succeeding him as Heavenly Demon shall exit the cult without perfecting Heavenly Demon Supremacy—lest his dignity suffer."
"...!"
"It must be extraordinary. From spies over ages, the righteous learned it's so lofty no Heavenly Demon has ever completed it. That's why they've never invaded the Central Plains."
The Heaven-Rending Legion added; the Volcanic Divine Sword continued.
"But now the situation changes."
"If word spreads that the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate art has emerged, they'd have reason to charge the Central Plains."
"That's why we've tried handling this quietly."
"Yet you've unleashed the calamity that should stay buried."
"It's not just your sect's affair."
"Evil sects kill only the fool who turns the screw, even if mad ones emerge—no harm to the world. But the Demonic Cult's different. If they swarm, blood won't cease for a day. The world will drown in gore."
"If the Demonic Cult steps forth, hell opens on this land."
The Volcanic Divine Sword and Heaven-Rending Legion voiced fears in turn. Do Cheon, listening long, suddenly raised a hand to silence them. As they fell quiet and watched, he furrowed his brow, glanced between them, and spoke curtly.
"As I said, I wish only to remain an Iron Lion Sect disciple. Unless someone provokes me."
Do Cheon's gaze flicked to the Volcanic Divine Sword, then pierced the Heaven-Rending Legion—a warning. The man clenched his fists, suppressing rage.
Do Cheon nodded.
"Seems we've sorted it. You won't pester me for that martial art anymore, right?"
The pair hesitated, faces strained. Do Cheon scowled.
"Why?"
"We need it to study and find a way to avert calamity."
"Wall Beggar proposed opening the Generation's Heavenly Demon's secret chamber for the same reason."
The Heaven-Rending Legion and Volcanic Divine Sword.
Do Cheon grasped their stance in this affair, even their intentions. Though true hearts remained opaque as ever.
But unless a fool, who hands over their power for such reasons? Do Cheon stated firmly.
"I can avert the calamity. So don't meddle, lest I slip. Then your fears won't come to pass."
Declaring thus, Do Cheon turned and strode toward the Iron Lion Sect, the Wise King following.
"Halt! It's not over!"
"Not just your sect's matter!"
The pair behind shouted hastily. Do Cheon, now distant, tossed back casually.
"That Lhasa calamity wasn't the Heavenly Demon's Heaven-Exterminating Palm."
"Then what?!"
"That absurdly lofty art."
"Heavenly Demon Supremacy!"
"Is it truly Heavenly Demon Supremacy?!"
The Volcanic Divine Sword's eyes widened as the Heaven-Rending Legion bellowed. But Do Cheon ignored, departing without further talk.
"Heavenly Demon Supremacy! Lhasa's calamity was real. We thought it rumor or exaggeration."
The Volcanic Divine Sword muttered, face grim.
"If Lhasa's calamity was true, how do we stop a Heavenly Demon who's mastered that impossible Heavenly Demon Supremacy?!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion and Volcanic Divine Sword's faces darkened further.
Not suspecting Do Cheon had already completed it.
"Should we just kill that bastard somehow?"
The Heaven-Rending Legion growled, glaring long at Do Cheon's vanishing form.
"How?"
"Mobilize the Great Righteous Alliance, Tyrant Emperor Sect, even Solar Heaven—can't we take him?"
"What of the casualties?"
"Unavoidable."
"And if the Demonic Cult invades amid that?"
"Why would they?"
"Mobilizing all that screams the Generation's Heavenly Demon's ultimate art emerging fully."
"Ah! Damn it!"
The Heaven-Rending Legion spat irritably. No-win either way.
The Black Fiend Dark God opened his eyes.
His occiput throbbed as if split, and excruciating pain like a shattered spine sliced razor-sharp along his back.
Shaking his head several times to clear the fog, the Black Fiend Dark God focused his sharpened gaze ahead. Two figures: the Thunder Palace Gi Yogon and Non-Responding Heavenly Horned Fiend, already familiar.
"...!"
The Black Fiend Dark God scowled. They stared fixedly at him.
Infuriating.
"Craving death?!"
He growled icily.
Yet they ignored it, merely gaping in shock.
"Truly...!"
"Don't just rage—come see for yourself."
Thunder Palace Gi Yogon said.
At his words, the Black Fiend Dark God moved.
Only then did he feel the crushing pressure gripping his body like iron claws, startling him into surveying his surroundings.
"...!"
His eyes bulged.
Astoundingly, his body was embedded in a massive cliff face.
"This...!"
A sudden memory quenched his shock and fury in an instant.
The overwhelming force that had blasted his body away in one strike.
Eyes wide, the Black Fiend Dark God wrenched free of the cliff. Then turned.
"What in the...!"
A massive handprint stark on the cliff where he'd been embedded—like a heavenly god with giant limbs had pressed its palm there. The Black Fiend Dark God was too stunned for words.
"At least seventy jang (210 meters). The distance you flew."
Gi Yogon's words summoned an image to the Black Fiend Dark God's mind: the man who had sent him flying.