Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: The Final Victor of the Three Demons' War
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The moment the Salt Lake was chosen as the stage, Mu-heun inwardly celebrated. This was because he knew that heating salt to its limit and applying an electrical stimulus would alter its properties, causing it to explode upon contact with water.
The conditions, moreover, were perfect.
Two Transcendent Demon martial artists who wielded fire energy.
The Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi.
The Dragon Demon, Baek Mu-heun.
A Transcendent Demon martial artist who wielded cold energy.
The Ice Demon, Yeon A-ryeong.
The heat and cold generated when they clashed were more than enough to turn the situation to his advantage. Evaporating the lake's water. Then making it fall again as rain.
The countless explosions that erupted on the Salt Lake's floor granted Mu-heun a power that took him a step further. It lasted for only a moment, but it was a power that even the absolute venerables of the Orthodox Sects had never reached.
The pinnacle of Transcendent Demons.
The immense wave of power allowed Mu-heun to unleash the next form of the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Demon.
“Divine Sword of the Heavenly Demon. Fifth Form. Broad Heaven Demonic Wheel, Silent Void March.”
The realm of supremacy.
A power that had reached its apex created a space within the darkness. A power akin to that of the Martial Alliance Leader, Du Baek, which bent space. The power of the void blossomed from the tip of the Sun and Moon Sword.
The Sun and Moon Sword headed toward the Ice Demon, who had manifested thousands of layers of ice walls.
And toward the Flame Demon, who was gathering power behind her.
A composition that unfolded, coincidentally, in a straight line. Feeling a powerful destiny guiding him, Mu-heun executed the form.
The thrust Sun and Moon Sword.
The Silent Void born from its tip.
The Demonic Wheel created by the chain of Silent Voids.
Like a rolling black circle,
the black dot began to advance.
Whooosh!
As he launched the Broad Heaven Demonic Wheel, Silent Void March, Mu-heun said,
“The time it takes for the Silent Void to pass may be but an instant, but it will remain forever in your eyes.”
After that, everything before Mu-heun began to disappear.
The falling raindrops,
the exploding heat,
the scorching salt.
The thousands of ice walls the Ice Demon had deployed. Her ultimate technique, the Ice-White Rampart, began to be swallowed by the Silent Void.
Kra-ka-ka-ka-ka!
The Ice Demon's wall, unparalleled in defense within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, was being pierced. It sent a massive shock through the observing Bright Heavenly Demon Brigade, as well as the forces loyal to the Ice and Flame Demons.
“Th-th-the Ice-White Rampart is being broken! Does that even make sense?”
“N-no way…”
“Am I dreaming…?”
The higher the martial skill of the observer,
the deeper their astonishment…
The Cult's 3rd Elder and Extreme Demon master, Seo Mu-yeol.
The Cult's 5th Elder and Supreme Demon master, Mu Un.
The Ghost Province Pavilion Lord and Supreme Demon master, Cheon O.
These three men, watching Mu-heun's martial prowess, began to envision a different blueprint. A blueprint for the future of the Cult.
Furthermore, the Supreme Demon master Cho Geum-hwa, who supported the Flame Demon. And the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Extreme Demon master Yeon Hak-ja, who supported the Ice Demon.
Despite being relatives of Cho Yeom-wi and Yeon A-ryeong, these two thought they might have to change their stance.
At that moment, the Flame Demon sensed the crisis and immediately manifested his Flame Demon's Annihilation Art, the Limitless Crimson Lotus.
Endless crimson lotuses blossomed from both hands.
Fwoooosh!
‘No matter how powerful that jet-black Demonic Wheel is, it can't be unscathed after breaking through my senior sister's ice wall, the strongest shield in the Demonic Cult. Now's my chance! My Limitless Crimson Lotus should be able to offset his attack!’
The vermilion lotuses, released from the Flame Demon's grasp, surged forward like a fiery wave.
However, the Silent Void March was an attack on a completely different level. Not only did it instantly devour the ice wall that boasted absolute defense, but it also viciously consumed the relentlessly surging crimson lotuses.
It advanced without hesitation.
As if such things could not possibly obstruct its path.
It swept over the Ice Demon, Yeon A-ryeong.
And it swept past the Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi.
KRA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KABOOOM!
A ferocious roar echoed throughout the Sidalmok Basin, and a shockwave that shook heaven and earth spread along the mountain range.
The ground rumbled, and the atmosphere vibrated with danger.
It was like a natural disaster.
The Silent Void March traveled in a straight line from the center of the Salt Lake, where Mu-heun stood, to the far end, where the Ice and Flame Demons were. The entire space in that area, including the ground, was erased.
Furthermore, after passing the end of the lake where the two demons stood, the Silent Void March went on to completely obliterate a small mountain.
Everyone present was left speechless, unable to contain their astonishment.
The Bright Heavenly Demon Brigade was utterly astounded.
Grand Lord Jin Mu, Left Emissary Seo Deung, and Right Emissary Ma Ji-seung. They all shared the same thought.
‘The one closest to becoming the next Cult Leader is Baek Mu-heun.’
It was an instant.
The instant it took for a raindrop to fall from Jin Mu's ear to his shoulder.
What happened in that instant delivered a massive shock to Jin Mu, the Grand Lord of the Bright Heavenly Demon Brigade…
Left Emissary Seo Deung and Right Emissary Ma Ji-seung were equally stunned into silence.
Cough!
Gack!
The Ice Demon, Yeon A-ryeong, lay collapsed, the entire left side of her torso blown away.
Her left shoulder, left arm, left waist, and left leg had vanished as if erased by something. Crimson blood flowed out to fill the empty space.
The Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi, had lost the right side of his torso in contrast… His right shoulder, right arm, right waist, and right leg were all gone. Crimson blood also poured out, as if trying to fill the void in his body.
If there was a difference, it was that a faint blue cold energy was leaking from the Ice Demon, while a vermilion fire energy was seeping from the Flame Demon.
Mu-heun began to trudge toward the two fallen figures.
Compared to the battle fought at incredible speed, his pace was endlessly slow.
Mu-heun himself had suffered severe internal injuries; blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and it flowed from the countless wounds covering his body.
But he staggered on to see the end of the fight. And because each and every step was that of the victor… no one present blocked his path.
Coughing up blood, their final flames of life about to be extinguished, the Ice and Flame Demons looked up. Mu-heun, who had arrived before them, spoke with an expression that was not entirely joyful.
“Senior Brother, Senior Sister.”
The Flame and Ice Demons coughed up blood but still managed to reply.
“Still… calling us your martial siblings…”
Mu-heun ignored their words and continued.
“You must have known that formidable enemies are descending upon the Central Plains, did you not?”
At this, the Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi, smiled as if in relief and said.
“Cough… cough… What of it?”
“We could have fought together… Despite learning such difficult martial arts and obtaining such great power, why were you so wary of me and bent on killing me?”
“Heh, heh heh heh. I've killed my way to the top, and I just did as I've always done. If there's an enemy, you either kill or be killed. That's all there is to it. Heh heh, what more do you want?”
Mu-heun sighed and said.
“Any last words?”
“None. Just…”
Cho Yeom-wi gripped the four red beads around his neck with his remaining arm. Then, he infused his fading crimson flame into them.
“Take this.”
“…”
Mu-heun silently took the red beads from the Flame Demon's neck.
“I will put them to good use.”
“Haha… You impudent… brat…”
‘…He's dead.’
And so, the Flame Demon died, his eyes still open. A false smile remained on his dead face.
Just then, Yeon A-ryeong called out to Mu-heun.
“Bae, Baek Mu-heun…”
“So you were still alive.”
“Seol Ha-ryeong… Is that child… alive?”
“She is. Unlike you, she is now completely my person.”
“Is that so…”
After encountering the Soul-Stealing Immortal, the Ice Demon, Yeon A-ryeong, took in Seol Ha-ryeong. At first, she intended to use and kill Seol Ha-ryeong as one of her subordinates, like the Ice-White Seven Robes, but she had a change of heart.
Whether it was the influence of the Soul-Stealing Immortal's soul-stealing arts, or simply her own whim, no one could know now.
However, Yeon A-ryeong managed to lift her Ice-White Demonic Fan one last time.
“This… To that child…”
Mu-heun took Yeon A-ryeong's Ice-White Demonic Fan.
Indeed, it was a demonic fan imbued with a cold energy so powerful it was worthy of being called a divine weapon of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“I do not acknowledge you. There is no camaraderie between us as martial siblings, nor do I feel any pity. However, I will make good use of the items you surrendered in defeat. That is all.”
“Is that so…”
With those words, Yeon A-ryeong closed her eyes.
After confirming the deaths of the Ice and Flame Demons, Mu-heun turned and said.
“Grand Lord. My senior brother and senior sister have both drawn their last breaths.”
At that, Jin Mu realized he had been spacing out.
“Ah, right…”
Jin Mu had been momentarily lost, having witnessed a scene beyond his imagination. It was understandable; anyone who had just seen such sublime martial arts would have been bewildered.
However, he quickly regained his senses and shouted, his voice imbued with profound internal energy.
“Then! As the Grand Lord of the Bright Heavenly Demon Brigade and the witness to this life-or-death duel, I, Jin Mu, declare! The victor of the duel between the Cult Leader candidates is… the Dragon Demon! Baek Mu-heun!”
Jin Mu recalled the time he had gone to war with the Cult Leader, Cheon Mu-jin.
‘The Broad Heaven Demonic Wheel, Silent Void March… It's like seeing the Cult Leader in his prime. No, perhaps the current Cult Leader is even greater than that.’
At that moment, Mu-heun, his Yin-Yang Twin Dragon Robe fluttering, swung the Sun and Moon Sword down with one hand and shouted to the masters who had followed the Ice and Flame Demons.
“Now, then… may I hear your intentions?”
Immediately, the Cult's 3rd Elder, Seo Mu-yeol, knelt on one knee, cupped his fist, and spoke.
Thud!
“The 3rd Elder of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult! Seo Mu-yeol! I pledge my support to the Cult Leader's sixth disciple, the Dragon Demon, Lord Baek Mu-heun!”
Following him, the Cult's 5th Elder, Mu Un, and the Ghost Province Pavilion Lord, Cheon O, knelt and cupped their fists.
“The 5th Elder of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult! Mu Un! I pledge my support to the Dragon Demon!”
“The Ghost Province Pavilion Lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult! Cheon O! I pledge my support to the Dragon Demon!”
Then, with the exception of the Bright Heavenly Demon Brigade, the numerous masters surrounding the Salt Lake knelt, cupped their fists, and declared.
“““We pledge our support to the Cult Leader's sixth disciple, the Dragon Demon, Lord Baek Mu-heun!”””
The numerous Cult masters who had followed the Ice and Flame Demons. From pinnacle masters to Extreme Demon masters, a vast and powerful force was pledging their allegiance to Mu-heun.
Among them were also the relatives of Cho Yeom-wi and Yeon A-ryeong.
Cho Geum-hwa, the head of the Crimson Flame Demon Family, who wielded the Crimson Flame Demonic Arts as her clan's signature technique. She was a Supreme Demon master.
Yeon Hak-ja, the head of the Ice-White Demon Family, who wielded the Ice-White Demonic Cold Arts. He was an Extreme Demon master.
Neither the Crimson Flame Demon Family nor the Ice-White Demon Family were particularly prominent in the long history of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. However, after the appearance of two family heads with outstanding martial skill, they slowly began to distinguish themselves, eventually even producing candidates for Cult Leader.
But their dreams were shattered here, upon the Salt Lake of the Sidalmok Basin. Words could not express their devastation… yet they did not hesitate to kneel and cup their fists.
‘They are capable family heads. Though they've lost their candidates for Cult Leader, it seems they have no intention of giving up on their families. Then again, they weren't their biological children.’
Mu-heun looked down at the kneeling figures who had cupped their fists and said.
“Take the bodies of the Ice Demon, Yeon A-ryeong, and the Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi.”