Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon
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Heavenly Demon.
The cult leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult of this era.
The ruler of the demonic path.
I'd imagined meeting him would make my heart race. But it wasn't like that at all. He was certainly a being brimming with the authority of one who looked down on all. The palm strikes and fists he unleashed were overwhelmingly powerful. But that was it. He lacked the divine authority of the Generation's Heavenly Demon, the unparalleled supreme figure of past and present.
The divine authority of the Generation's Heavenly Demon.
That's right. Not power, not dignity—authority. What else could rival the might of a god but divine authority?
Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon!
The Heavenly Demon's ultimate technique embraced and dominated all things under heaven and earth, standing supreme by nature. The Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon was the pinnacle of his martial arts, embodying the very authority of the Heavenly Demon himself. That was why the Generation's Heavenly Demon regarded it as his own dignity and pride. Thus, he decreed that no one who failed to master it could bear the name of Heavenly Demon.
These were the words he personally carved onto the Heavenly Demon Wall, leaving them for posterity.
"The Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon isn't so much a martial art as it is the Generation's Heavenly Demon's authority incarnate."
"...!"
The Heavenly Demon's eyes flew wide open.
Do Cheon clasped his hands behind his back as if putting on a show for him, then strode toward the Heavenly Demon. Amid the gaze of nearly a thousand demonic cultists, he boldly stepped forward with the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
A fierce wind howled.
A massive gust followed in Do Cheon's wake with every step. It felt as though the energies of heaven and earth were instinctively responding to an aura that surpassed even the presence of this era's Heavenly Demon.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
One step, another.
The earth sank deeply with each footfall.
Do Cheon's feet never touched the ground—he trod the air itself. Yet the earth cratered beneath him all the same. The colossal windstorm trailing him slammed into the Heavenly Demon.
His robes whipped wildly as if about to tear. The cloth binding his white hair shredded, leaving his locks in disarray.
"Begone!"
The Heavenly Demon bellowed to reclaim his dignity.
He thrust out his palm, unleashing the Heavenly Demon Heaven-Exterminating Palm. A torrent of chilling demonic energy surged forth like a bursting water vein. But Do Cheon continued forward, one hand still clasped behind his back.
Kaboom!
Do Cheon took the full brunt of the Heavenly Demon Heaven-Exterminating Palm. Yet his steps didn't falter, nor did his posture change.
The Heavenly Demon's eyes widened in shock.
He clenched both fists and unleashed the Heavenly Demon Heaven-Rending Fist at full power.
Krraaang!
A devastating force capable of shattering mountains and toppling titans struck Do Cheon. But nothing changed.
"I told you. The Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon is the Generation's Heavenly Demon's authority itself. No matter how mighty his other ultimate techniques, none could surpass it."
"Nonsense!"
As the Heavenly Demon shouted in fury,
"The spine upholds the heavens, and both feet stand above all mortals." "The lower dantian faces down, the middle forward—so the Wind God shall walk with me, and the earth shall herald my descent." "All shall prostrate before this seat!"
⟨ Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon ⟩
"What does that—?!"
The Heavenly Demon blurted out reflexively at Do Cheon's words. He had no time to be astonished. Do Cheon, hands still behind his back, exploded forward, shattering the space between them.
Krkrkrkrkrkr!
The space he occupied—and the space all eyes were fixed on—erupted in unison. The Heavenly Demon before him was hurled backward the moment Do Cheon halted. It was utterly shocking. But it wasn't over. Do Cheon lifted his right foot and stomped down.
Boom!
The earth cracked wide. Do Cheon's form shot into the sky, pursued by a geyser of yellowish dust.
Hovering dozens of feet in the air, Do Cheon looked down upon the ground.
Nearly a thousand Heavenly Demon Cult demonic experts stared up in horror. Even the Heavenly Demon, who had tumbled far back only to spring to his feet, gaped at him.
Do Cheon gazed down at them all and walked through the empty air.
Air-walking treading.
The legendary realm had descended.
With every step Do Cheon took, the earth exploded. It was as if an invisible colossal divine body was trampling the land.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
As his footsteps turned toward them, the demonic cultists scattered in panic.
"Heavenly Demon!"
Do Cheon suddenly halted mid-air, standing tall as he called down to the Heavenly Demon.
"...!"
"Forget the Generation's Heavenly Demon! Forget his ultimate arts! This land will be ruled by me, not you!"
It was the decree of an absolute sovereign.
The Heavenly Demon—and his thousand demonic followers—couldn't react. Reality itself felt unreal.
Do Cheon took one more step.
The earth quaked violently, and an entire hillside was flattened in an instant. The Heavenly Demon and his thousand cultists were dumbstruck by the sight and the thunderous roar that shook the ground.
Now they understood.
"Begone!"
Do Cheon's voice boomed like thunder.
The Heavenly Demon turned.
Dragging his tattered robes along the ground, he began retreating the way he'd come. His thousand demoralized followers trailed behind him like defeated remnants. Some of the elderly cult leaders glanced back at Do Cheon—no hostility, just awe and astonishment.
"...!"
The Volcanic Divine Sword was speechless from the shock of Do Cheon's final display of the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon. Even after Do Cheon returned, he could only stare. Do Cheon could imagine the man's turmoil.
'He's more stunned than I expected, realizing it's even greater than he'd imagined.'
But martial arts weren't the priority now. Do Cheon looked down at Nam Myeong, still unconscious, and said,
"I couldn't save the Heaven-Rending Legion."
"Ah!"
The Volcanic Divine Sword snapped to attention. He'd seen it too—the Heavenly Demon smashing the carriage and warhorses to nothing in an instant. The shock of that scene had made the Heavenly Demon's threat feel even more insurmountable than the legion's fate.
"This guy'll have to endure it."
The Volcanic Divine Sword gazed pityingly at Nam Myeong. But the moment passed, and a sudden doubt made him turn to Do Cheon.
"Why let the Heavenly Demon go just like that?"
"Killing him wouldn't benefit me as much as sparing him."
"...!"
"Think about it. Everyone's been wary of the Heavenly Demon and each other, too scared to make a move on the world, right? Letting that continue buys my juniors time to grow stronger. So I sent him packing."
"Hah!"
The Volcanic Divine Sword was too flabbergasted to speak.
It was then.
Three figures appeared amid whipping winds.
Three elders.
The Unresponsive Heavenly Fiend, the Thunder Palace, and the Black Death Angel.
Having come searching for the Heaven-Rending Legion only to witness the unprecedented clash between Do Cheon and the Heavenly Demon, the trio stood before Do Cheon, blinking in stunned silence, at a loss for words.
"What you've heard and seen is the truth—no need for questions."
Do Cheon spoke.
The Thunder Palace's eyes widened further as he replied,
"Is it truly the Heavenly Demon Ancestor's ultimate art?"
Do Cheon nodded calmly. Instead, the Volcanic Divine Sword interjected,
"Gentlemen, I trust you'll keep this silent."
"Why?"
The Thunder Palace asked.
The Volcanic Divine Sword knew these three were the type no threats could sway.
"Because the young master here wishes it."
Do Cheon wished it—the one who mastered the Heavenly Demon Ancestor's art and effortlessly repelled this era's Heavenly Demon, the absolute being who leveled a hillside in a breath. He wished it.
The Thunder Palace had no choice but to nod.
"Kill Buddhas, but spare Heavenly Demons!"
The Unresponsive Heavenly Fiend stared at Do Cheon in awe. The Black Death Angel, lips pressed tight upon learning the identity of the art that had rendered him so powerless, wore a similar expression.
"Best we get moving."
The Volcanic Divine Sword said, scanning the surroundings. Do Cheon used Void Grasping to hoist Nam Myeong onto his shoulder and met his gaze.
"Let's go."
"Right."
As the two moved off, the three elders watched blankly.
Soon, the Thunder Palace followed. The Unresponsive Heavenly Fiend shouted,
"Where to?"
"I might not keep silent forever. Better stick close."
The Thunder Palace replied matter-of-factly. As he finished, the Black Death Angel moved.
"Black Ghost, what's your excuse?"
"I want to see what makes the Heavenly Demon's art so overpowering."
"But you can't kill the Heavenly Demon..."
The Unresponsive Heavenly Fiend muttered alone, hesitating without a good pretext. Then the Thunder Palace, now some distance away, called back,
"If even Buddhas head to hell, think a old freak can't?"
"Right you are!"
The Unresponsive Heavenly Fiend dashed after him excitedly.
"But where to? What's this about hell?"
He asked, matching the Thunder Palace's stride.
"Where the Hell Flame King resides—that's hell."
"Who's the Hell Flame King? Tell me. I'll meet him and kill him."
"Right ahead."
The Thunder Palace pointed at Do Cheon. The Unresponsive Heavenly Fiend flinched, then flew into a rage at him.
"You're dead set on getting me killed, aren't you? I'll rip that filthy bowman's trap shut!"
"The Hell Flame King is present. Mind your manners!"
"...!"
The Unresponsive Heavenly Fiend, poised to attack the Thunder Palace, fell silent.
A day had passed since Do Cheon and the Heavenly Demon's battle.
From the south, two thousand strong under the Great Righteous Alliance's banners appeared, fluttering proudly. From the southwest, fifteen hundred advanced with the Solar Heaven's flags at the fore. Shortly after, from the southeast, the Golden Emperor Clan emerged with a massive golden banner, commanding nearly three thousand troops.
They pitched camp, encircling the battlefield of Do Cheon and the Heavenly Demon's clash from three sides. After eyeing each other warily for a moment, about twenty from each camp moved toward the center.
From the Great Righteous Alliance: Venerable Hyuncheon at the lead, flanked by elders from the Seven Great Sects, Five Great Families, and Four Martial Clans.
From Solar Heaven: the Solar King striding ahead, followed by the Twelve Elders, his disciples, and experts of the Twelve Guard Formations.
The Golden Emperor Clan moved with the Golden Emperor himself in command.
Behind the Golden Emperor, clad in a dragon robe gleaming gold, came over twenty elders in pristine white robes, exuding an otherworldly majesty.
The Heavenly Grove.
The Heavenly Grove was the Golden Emperor's long-nurtured elite force. He'd scoured the land for hidden masters, employing every means to recruit them. He prided himself that neither the righteous sects nor the unorthodox could match it. Those twenty-plus elders radiating transcendence were they.
The groups from the three camps halted, spaced dozens of feet apart. One representative stepped forward from each to the center.
From the Great Righteous Alliance: the new Alliance Leader, Venerable Hyuncheon.
From Solar Heaven: the Heavenly Lord, the Solar King.
From the Golden Emperor Clan: the Golden Emperor.
The three met in the center, skipping greetings to dive straight in.
"Reports of the Heavenly Demon's retreat seem true."
Venerable Hyuncheon said, surveying the battlefield.
"Did the righteous sects intervene?"
The Solar King glanced sidelong while scanning the field. Venerable Hyuncheon gave no direct reply. The Three Sages of the righteous sects and their joint force, the Righteous Martial Dragon, had joined days ago and were now in the Alliance camp behind. He knew they hadn't stopped the Heavenly Demon—but no need to tip off Solar Heaven. Yet the shrewd Solar King saw through it.
"Not the righteous sects—who then?"
"Not the unorthodox either?"
Venerable Hyuncheon countered.
"Baldy! Answer properly before asking. You can't leave without arriving. Not the unorthodox—they vanished en route, no word since."
"Our spies must've missed the fight. They were watching the Heavenly Demon and his cultists when ambushed and knocked out. You?"
"Same here. All struck at acupoints, put to sleep. Hey! Golden Emperor Clan—know anything?"
The Solar King turned to the Golden Emperor. He stared silently at one spot—the place Do Cheon had flattened the hillside.
"That area's odd."
"What?"
"Everything else is cratered, but that's packed solid."
"Different technique, probably. Anyway, know anything?"
"Not righteous, not unorthodox—who?"
The Golden Emperor muttered—to himself as much as anything. Tempted to crush both righteous and unorthodox while gathered, but without knowing who'd repelled the Heavenly Demon, he couldn't act rashly.
"Even the Golden Emperor Clan doesn't know."
The Solar King scowled.
Late yesterday's overdue report had prompted scouts; some returned saying the Heavenly Demon and his followers were gone, only signs of a massive battle left.
What happened?
The Heavenly Demon had charged in with his horde, then retreated or veered off here.
Which way?
Solar Heaven, the Great Righteous Alliance, and Golden Emperor Clan nearly boxed three sides. A mere detour should've met resistance somewhere.
'He retreated after all...'
Not a change of heart—traces of devastation everywhere.
Injured. Defeated.
The Solar King eyed Venerable Hyuncheon and the Golden Emperor alternately.
"The Heavenly Demon lost!"
Astonishing words.
The Heavenly Demon, defeated?
Yet Venerable Hyuncheon and the Golden Emperor remained stoic, unsurprised—they'd reached the same conclusion and composed themselves.
"Good. We're aligned."
"We'll know for sure from reports of those who tailed the cult."
Venerable Hyuncheon cautioned.
All things demanded care, but the Heavenly Demon's affairs doubly so—no hasty judgments.
The Golden Emperor said nothing.
'Sly bastard...'
Irritated inwardly but feigning ignorance, the Solar King scanned around before speaking.
"You're curious who stopped the Heavenly Demon. So am I. We need to meet them."
"And then?"
Venerable Hyuncheon asked.
"No one with the power to rule the world shuns the dream. Whatever kept them quiet till now, if they exist and sent back the Heavenly Demon, they're a threat to us all. If not now, while we're gathered, the chance may never come."
"Attack them?"
"Why? Against it?"
"It's not about like or dislike."
"Exactly. Not like or dislike—eliminate while we can. Golden Emperor! Your move?"
The Solar King eyed him.
"We have skilled trackers."
"Good. Ours too—let's hunt together."
The Golden Emperor nodded.
The Solar King turned to Venerable Hyuncheon.
"I'm a petty man—I won't stand by while someone profits unjustly from my blood. Once we catch them, I'll ally with the Golden Emperor Clan to crush the Great Righteous Alliance. Think it over."
"...We'll join you."
Venerable Hyuncheon had no choice.
Soon, trackers from Solar Heaven, Golden Emperor Clan, and Great Righteous Alliance began scouring for traces of Do Cheon and his group, who had faced and vanished the Heavenly Demon.