Chapter 860: You Shall Be Annihilated.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 860: You Shall Be Annihilated.
[That child is off-limits.]
A voice, crystalline and pure, began to vibrate through the surroundings.
At that sound, the Heavenly Demon’s indifferent expression began to crack. His brow furrowed, and his face contorted into a grimace. It was a look of unmistakable fury.
"This Seat does not take orders."
A mist, darker than the deepest abyss, began to pour from the Heavenly Demon’s form. It started to seep toward Un-seol once more, as if intent on devouring her whole.
Sssssss.
It was then.
A pure white mist flowed in from nowhere and began to slowly envelop Un-seol.
One layer.
Two layers.
Three layers.
Overlapping again and again, the mist thickened. After a few moments, her figure was completely hidden behind the dense, snowy veil, vanishing without a trace.
"…A futile little trick," the Heavenly Demon remarked in a calm tone.
He reached out toward the white mist.
Crackle! Zap!
Suddenly, a massive surge of electricity lashed out at his hand, as if refusing to allow even the slightest approach. His hand began to char black, and the stench of burning flesh filled the air, yet the Heavenly Demon did not pull back.
Instead, he thrust his hand deeper into the mist, as if the lightning meant nothing to him.
Crackle! Boom!
The sound of electrical discharges and the smell of scorched skin intensified. After a few moments—
Flash!
The mist surrounding Un-seol scattered in an instant, leaving no trace behind. He had shattered the barrier with sheer, overwhelming force.
"Oho."
As the mist cleared, the Heavenly Demon let out a small exclamation of admiration. A figure had been revealed within.
Hair neatly tied. A snowy white mane and a long beard. Eyes that shone with absolute clarity. A pristine white Taoist robe.
The man was an old man who perfectly embodied the phrase an air of transcendent grace.
"To what do I owe the honor of a lofty immortal from the Realm of Immortals showing his face in such a lowly place?" the Heavenly Demon asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"How dare the Sovereign of Evil attempt to harm a disciple of Kunlun!" the old man thundered, his voice a sharp rebuke.
"This is a matter of the Mortal Realm. It is no business of the Realm of Immortals," the Heavenly Demon stated flatly.
The immortals of the Realm of Immortals were forbidden from interfering in the affairs of the Mortal Realm. This was the Law of Heaven established by the Heavenly Emperor—an absolute decree that no one could defy.
And yet, here he was, manifesting himself to obstruct the Heavenly Demon’s path.
"Do you think I would stand by and watch as a wretch who even refused Ascension destroys the Mortal Realm at his whim?" The elder, despite his refined appearance, glared at him with eyes full of rage, his voice rising.
"Do you have the Heavenly Emperor’s permission?" the Heavenly Demon questioned.
"That is none of your concern," the old man replied coldly.
"So, you have manifested of your own accord."
The Heavenly Demon could tell. The immortal before him had defied the laws and descended without the Heavenly Emperor’s sanction.
"If you break the Laws of Heaven, even an immortal will not emerge unscathed, will they?" The Heavenly Demon let out a cold smile.
The Laws of Heaven set by the Heavenly Emperor were absolute rules that applied to all things—from mere humans to the highest immortals. Defying such laws meant that even an immortal could not hope to remain whole.
"It matters not," the elder replied calmly.
"Are you not afraid? A single manifestation could lead to your total annihilation." The Heavenly Demon’s smile turned malicious as he began to provoke the immortal.
"If sacrificing this body can stop you, then I have nothing to fear."
"And who do you think will appreciate such a sacrifice? On the contrary, everyone will curse you for breaking the Laws of Heaven."
"I care not for the gaze of others. I merely do what I believe is right," the old man declared. "And that is to kill the one who brings chaos to this world!"
The elder slowly reached out his hand. In his grasp, a razor-sharp sword began to materialize. It was a display of Creation—bringing something into existence from nothing.
Whoosh!
The elder lightly swung the created blade. The very space itself split apart as a slash of energy hurtled toward the Heavenly Demon.
Rumble!
The strike connected, and a massive explosion erupted, kicking up a cloud of dust that swallowed the Heavenly Demon.
Swish! Swish!
Without pause, the elder swung his sword again and again, as if determined to end him then and there.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The slashes that rent space itself pierced through the dust cloud, triggering a relentless series of explosions. They were direct hits. After the thunderous echoes finally subsided—
"Whew…"
The elder let out a small sigh and slowly lowered his sword. He stared ahead into the thick shroud of dust.
Thud. Thud.
The sound of footsteps emerged from the haze. Soon, the Heavenly Demon appeared, his clothes reduced to rags.
"…The Space Sword… Quite fierce."
"…You endured that?" the elder asked, his expression turning grave.
The Space Sword was the pinnacle of the Heart Sword Path he had perfected just before his Ascension. It was no exaggeration to say it was the culmination of all his enlightenment. Yet, the demon had withstood it with his bare body. How could he not be shaken?
This monster is stronger than I anticipated, he thought.
"Do you truly believe a mere Heart Sword could defeat This Seat? How amusing," the Heavenly Demon said with a chilling smile. "I am a god. It is only natural that the enlightenment of a mere human cannot stand against me."
"…Have you reached the realm of a Demonic Immortal?" the elder asked, his eyes trembling with unease.
"I wonder. What do you think?"
The Heavenly Demon’s expression remained arrogant. Looking at him, the elder realized the truth: the Heavenly Demon’s power was now equal to that of the immortals in the Realm of Immortals.
"What a truly terrible thing."
The elder’s face darkened. A being with the power of an immortal roaming the Mortal Realm at will—there could be no greater nightmare.
I must stop him.
He gripped his sword tighter. He had to stop this fiend before he brought ruin to the world.
Vroom!
A profound, mysterious energy began to flow from the elder’s body. It was the mystical aura of the Realm of Immortals, said to be wielded only by those who had achieved enlightenment—Immortal Energy. He intended to use it to annihilate the Heavenly Demon.
"…You intend to use Immortal Energy?" the Heavenly Demon remarked, sounding genuinely taken aback. He hadn't expected the elder to go as far as drawing upon the power of the celestial realm. "The moment you exert that power, you will be annihilated."
The Heavenly Demon’s tone turned somber. Immortal Energy was a power permitted only within the Realm of Immortals. If used in the Mortal Realm, it would clash with the natural energies of the world, causing the user’s soul to be instantly extinguished.
"I do not care! As long as I can erase you from existence!" the elder shouted, his eyes burning with resolve.
He knew. He knew that using Immortal Energy was synonymous with throwing away his life. But he would not stop. If he left this man be, the Mortal Realm would fall into ruin.
"You are mad. To think you would wager your very existence just to destroy me!" the Heavenly Demon roared, glaring at the elder.
"That is what justice is!"
The elder raised his sword of resolve high into the air.
This is dangerous.
The Heavenly Demon felt a genuine sense of crisis. Even for one who had reached the realm of a Demonic Immortal, Immortal Energy was a heavy burden. In truth, the only thing that could counter Immortal Energy was Immortal Energy itself. That meant he would have to release his own Immortal Energy to match the elder’s.
I cannot do that.
The Heavenly Demon quickly began to put distance between them. He saw no need to meet the attack head-on.
"Do you think I will let you escape!"
The elder gripped his sword even tighter, preparing to strike before the Heavenly Demon could retreat further.
Grab.
But his intent was thwarted. Someone had firmly caught the elder’s hand.
Since when…?!
Startled, the elder quickly turned his head to identify the person who had seized him so silently. He saw an old man with a cranky, eccentric face.
"That’s enough."
"…L-Lee Ho-seon?"
The elder with the immortal’s air gasped as he looked at the newcomer. It was Lee Ho-seon—the Combat Immortal who had caused a stir in the Realm of Immortals the moment he ascended, and the Great Demon once known as the greatest devil under heaven: the Yin-Yang Demon.
"If you swing that, you’ll be annihilated instantly," Lee Ho-seon said, looking at the elder.
"…I must… I must destroy him! If I don’t… the Mortal Realm… the Mortal Realm will be in danger!" the elder pleaded, trying to convince the man stopping him.
"That won't happen," Lee Ho-seon replied calmly.
"What?"
"Do you really think the Heavenly Emperor would leave a monster like that unchecked for no reason? He leaves him be because there is someone capable of handling him." Lee Ho-seon’s eyes sparkled with certainty.
"Nonsense! He is a monster who has already reached the Life and Death Realm! How could a mere human possibly face such a creature?"
"It is possible… Human potential is more infinite than you think." Lee Ho-seon spoke as if it were a trivial matter.
"That is impossible!!" the elder shouted, still unable to accept it. It was beyond his comprehension.
"…Yin-Yang Demon."
A cold voice cut through the air. Lee Ho-seon slowly turned around. He met the gaze of the Heavenly Demon, who was glaring at him with eyes like ice.
"Long time no see, you little monster," Lee Ho-seon said, a mischievous, slightly wicked smile playing on his lips.
"Why… have you manifested as well?" the Heavenly Demon asked, his voice laced with tension.
He couldn't understand why Lee Ho-seon had suddenly appeared. He could understand the other elder; he was connected to Kunlun and possessed a sense of duty to protect the balance of the Mortal Realm. He was willing to face annihilation to oppose him.
But Lee Ho-seon was different. He had no ties to Kunlun, nor did he have any sense of duty toward the world's balance. He was simply a battle-crazed war demon. Why would such a man show himself here?
"Are you and I close enough to exchange such trivial questions?"
"…Have you come to annihilate me?"
"Heh… Are you scared?"
"Hardly. I simply find it tedious. If you are serious, it will become a nuisance for This Seat as well."
The Heavenly Demon spoke calmly. He didn't think he would lose, but it would certainly be a hassle. Lee Ho-seon was a man who possessed enough power to be a legitimate threat.
"Pfft… Look at you acting tough when you're clearly rattled," Lee Ho-seon mocked him. "Relax. I have no intention of laying a finger on you."
"That is unexpected."
"Why? Did you think I’d want a piece of you?"
"I thought it was well within your character."
"My body’s itching for a fight, sure, but I’d rather not be annihilated."
"So even the great Yin-Yang Demon fears for his life."
"Let’s just say I didn't find it worth the price."
"What?"
"I mean that killing you isn't worth risking my life, Heavenly Demon," Lee Ho-seon said with a sneering grin.
"…You say the most amusing things."
"Finding a sarcastic remark 'amusing'… you really are a monster. Your empathy is severely lacking."
"…I am the Heavenly Demon."
"And I am Lee Ho-seon," he replied nonchalantly.
"I am the Sovereign of Evil, the eternal and indestructible who cannot be burned or killed—the one called Incomprehensible," the Heavenly Demon continued, his eyes sinking into a calm, dark depth. "And you say killing me is not worth it?"
"That’s right."
Lee Ho-seon answered without a moment’s hesitation.
"…And why is that?" the Heavenly Demon asked, his expression showing genuine confusion.
"Because even if I don't destroy you, you are going to be annihilated anyway."
"…If not you, then who could possibly annihilate This Seat?"
"This old man’s disciple," Lee Ho-seon said firmly. "You shall be annihilated by my disciple."