Episode 26
Episode 26
Translation: Godtl
Most cadets couldn't properly see what was happening due to the thick cloud of dust kicked up.
But to Flame Emperor's eyes, everything unfolded in perfect clarity.
CRASH!
The moment their attacks collided, Cheon Ha-na's technique was completely shattered. Then Cheon Gi-baek's fist slammed into her abdomen.
The instant his fist connected, Ha-na's posture crumbled. That alone had decided the outcome.
Yet it didn't end there.
Squelch.
The crouching Ha-na's lower garments slowly darkened with moisture.
'Well now...'
The impact to her stomach had been so severe that Ha-na had involuntarily wet herself right there. Judging by the lack of red tint, it wasn't blood.
'This will conclude without incident as Gi-baek's victory.'
But what happened next was something even Flame Emperor hadn't anticipated.
Gi-baek picked up the sword Ha-na had dropped and strode directly toward her.
'What does he think he's doing?'
In that moment, Flame Emperor doubted his own eyes.
With a single motion, Gi-baek severed Ha-na's arm.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
Swish. Thud.
Ha-na's right arm fell onto the training ground floor.
Judging by his lips, his words roughly translated to: "I'll leave you your left arm. Better to be drenched in blood than piss, no? More fitting for your reputation."
Blood gushed from the cleanly severed stump.
The clothes previously soaked in urine were now thoroughly drenched in crimson.
Beyond shame or dignity, Ha-na's complexion was already turning pale from blood loss. Even from a distance, her pupils visibly trembled—undeniable proof of her critical condition.
Flame Emperor immediately intervened, leaping onto the training ground.
THUD!
As he landed, the dust cloud dissipated completely.
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
Having her arm severed in an instant, Ha-na released a piercing shriek unlike anything she'd experienced before. Her screams threatened to bring the training ground down around them.
"M-my arm!!"
Between agonized screams, Ha-na howled with bloodshot eyes.
Flame Emperor first approached her and sealed her pressure points—both to stop the bleeding and temporarily numb the pain.
'...Damn it. There's no reattaching this arm.'
Such miracles were impossible. The most he could do now was prevent further damage.
Tearing off his cloak, Flame Emperor tightly bound the severed limb to staunch the bleeding.
With her pressure points sealed and the wound compressed, Ha-na's expression gradually relaxed—though the fury in her eyes remained.
"That's enough. Get her to the infirmary immediately."
After barking orders at the martial arts instructors standing by, Flame Emperor rose and strode toward Gi-baek, who looked thoroughly rattled.
'Did he think no one would see through the dust cloud?'
However naive the thought might be, within the Demon Path Pavilion where the law of the strong prevailed, this wasn't technically an unforgivable transgression.
There were no rules against harming opponents—only against outright killing them.
The absence of specific prohibitions meant anything could be tolerated as long as that single rule was observed.
Much like how most cadets had sustained injuries from covert struggles during this Cooperative Battle.
"Cadet 307."
Though he knew Gi-baek's name, Flame Emperor addressed him by number.
"Y-yes..."
"That was excessive. While I understand the circumstances, I won't hold you accountable this time."
"......"
Gi-baek remained silent, but his expression spoke volumes—a mix of shock at being discovered and simmering anger.
"Be more careful next time. From now on, the Blade Demon Clan will despise the Fist Demon Clan."
This wasn't merely about losing the Heavenly Demon position.
A one-armed martial artist stood no chance of surviving in the Demon Path Pavilion.
If she didn't die here, she'd be forced out—but few men would take in a disarmed woman.
Any who did would only be bottom-feeders drawn by the Blade Demon Clan's remaining influence.
Today, Gi-baek had effectively made an enemy of the entire Blade Demon Clan.
'They'll throw every possible obstacle to prevent him from becoming Young Cult Leader.'
Not Flame Emperor's concern. But he needed to prevent further incidents.
"Understood?"
"Understood."
With that acknowledgment, Flame Emperor turned away.
"All cadets who passed the third trial will receive one week's rest. Eliminated participants should prepare for the Losers' Revival Tournament—it will be individual combat."
The candidates' reactions to the announcement of individual matches varied greatly.
Those confident in their skills visibly brightened, while the faces of those less capable darkened.
Of course, Flame Emperor's expression remained as grim as ever.
***
After the third-stage exam concluded, Flame Emperor sat in the Demon Path Pavilion's office, sighing deeply.
Piles of paperwork had accumulated on his desk while he was overseeing the trials.
Damn it.
He didn't particularly want to deal with this, but if he didn't, no one else would.
Wind God was busy serving as the Cult Leader's guardian, so she couldn't lend a hand.
In the end, everything inevitably fell on Flame Emperor's shoulders.
Just then, one of the martial instructors approached him, holding yet another stack of documents.
"These are the records of the candidates who failed up to the third-stage exam. As you can see, quite a few are from prominent sects."
"Hah..."
This was an unexpected variable.
No one could have predicted that Cheon Mu-jin would display such rapid growth.
It was troublesome in more ways than one.
"If upper-tier sect disciples keep failing like this, the Cult's overall strength will decline," Flame Emperor muttered as he skimmed through the list.
Ultimately, the Losers' Revival Tournament had to be structured to salvage as many usable talents as possible.
It wasn't unusual for elite sect disciples to fail in the Demon Path Pavilion, but this time, the situation was particularly severe.
The fact that this issue had escalated to a Pavilion-wide meeting was no small matter.
"I'll personally deliberate on the Losers' Revival Tournament arrangements."
"Understood!"
The martial instructor saluted with a fist wrap and withdrew.
I'll have to devise a solution.
His concerns deepened.
Flame Emperor had always believed that those who survived such trials were the true elites.
Strength wasn't about being a hothouse flower—nurtured by privileged sect resources and rare elixirs.
It was about innate talent, like Cheon Mu-jin, who had carved his place with nothing but sheer ability.
Now I have to waste time worrying about these fools.
He had never liked them to begin with, but from now on, he swore he'd rather serve as a guardian than play the role of Hall Master again.
His gaze drifted toward the Secret Manual Library adjacent to the Demon Path Pavilion.
By now, most of them must have headed there.
Through the window, he could see a crowd of disciples gathered at the library's entrance.
It made sense—starting from the third floor, the manuals contained martial arts from prestigious sects.
Of course, he had no personal interest, having already mastered the Five Elements True Art stored on the fourth floor.
Cheon Mu-jin... What kind of martial art did that kid actually learn?
His curiosity about Mu-jin only grew.
***
Cheon Mu-jin and Ye-ryeong immediately made their way to the third floor of the Secret Manual Library.
From here onward, the martial arts manuals became significantly more valuable.
True enough, the third floor was vast, its walls completely lined with secret manuals.
Just glancing at them made counting seem like an impossible task.
"Wow..."
An awed exhale escaped Mu-jin's lips. Beside him, Ye-ryeong mirrored his reaction.
Neither had ever seen so many books in their lives. And the fact that every single one was a secret manual made it even harder to believe.
"Ye-ryeong, you'll be looking for sword techniques first, right?"
"Naturally."
"Then start by browsing all the manuals."
"Understood!"
"We'll meet back here in two hours."
"Yes, Master."
After parting ways with Ye-ryeong, Mu-jin headed straight for the fist technique section.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art, as its name suggested, was a divine art—compatible with all forms of combat. But tracing its origins inevitably led back to fist techniques.
Or, more accurately, not just fist techniques but the fundamental martial arts of the human body.
Thus, what he needed now was a martial art that could reinforce his foundational techniques—something like the Thunder Fist.
Once I master the Heavenly Demon Heart Method, I'll be able to channel the Heavenly Demon Divine Art even through the Thunder Fist.
In that case, learning an immediately applicable martial art was the way to go.
The Thunder Fist was the legacy of the Wall Demon, once hailed as the greatest fist master in the world. Since he had once been a guest disciple of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, his techniques were stored here.
Mu-jin immediately began memorizing the Thunder Fist manual.
It truly lived up to its reputation as a peerless martial art.
The moment he read it, the first stance began unfolding in his mind.
[Skill 'Thunder Fist' has been acquired.]
Enlightenment struck.
He could now feel the Thunder Fist's power at his fingertips.
After mastering the Lust Demonic Art, he had finally acquired a usable martial art.
When he reunited with Ye-ryeong two hours later, she too had undergone a noticeable transformation.
"Found a sword technique?"
"Yes, I've learned the Moon Maiden Sword Art."
"Oh?"
It suited her perfectly.
With her silver hair and jade-like eyes, Ye-ryeong resembled nothing less than the reincarnation of the legendary Wol-nyeo herself.