Chapter 87: The Method to Kill the Heavenly Demon
Who is the Heavenly Demon?
The pinnacle of the Divine Cult, where the strong reign supreme as the highest value.
The Demon of the Heavens, sovereign of ten thousand demons, an idol worshipped by every Cult member.
Even uttering that name demands reverence and fear, spoken with utmost caution.
Researching ways to kill such a Heavenly Demon? With the Six Demonic Families gathered no less?
'You get it?'
[I never imagined... such blasphemy.]
'You're starting to catch on.'
I'm a veteran of Murim Returner, after all.
"Because of the Heavenly Demon Blood Slaughter?"
"You're too quick on the uptake—takes all the fun out of it. Tsk. Spot on."
As expected, correct.
"As you know, up until a hundred years ago, the Cult's headquarters was in the murim world."
Back then, it was in Gansu Province. Sure, that was still the frontier by murim standards, but at least it wasn't beyond the Great Wall like now, out in the wild borderlands.
"Warriors naturally pursue strength, so the Cult, preaching the supremacy of the strong, was unrivaled in the world—practically the greatest power in murim."
"Must've drawn in a ton of mediocrity too."
"Watch your mouth, kid. Anyway. The Cult, riding high in its golden age, crumbled due to one incident."
"The Heavenly Demon Blood Slaughter, right?"
"Exactly. The Heavenly Demon Blood Slaughter."
Even Cult members casually used the term "Heavenly Demon Blood Slaughter" for the event—it was that shocking.
The massacre unleashed by the Fourth Heavenly Demon, Cheon Yu-hak.
As the legitimate successor "Lord" of the Cult, Cheon Yu-hak was naturally a Super Peak master, acknowledged by all—even by the murim world—as the supreme warrior under heaven.
The Cult's explosive growth without aggressive expansion? All thanks to Cheon Yu-hak's reign. His endless strength made it possible.
Then suddenly, he entered secluded cultivation with his five disciples, claiming he'd grasped a clue to a new realm.
One year later.
Cheon Yu-hak emerged as a monster. Reason lost, driven only by instincts of destruction and slaughter.
Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Jiangxi, Zhejiang Provinces.
He carved a diagonal path of carnage across the murim world.
Estimated warrior casualties: over twenty thousand.
Sects annihilated: four hundred seventy.
All by Cheon Yu-hak alone. No one could stand against him.
If he hadn't self-destructed from his own power, the death toll might've been worse.
Paradoxically, that spurred today's murim golden age a century later. The brief war-like shock jolted a complacent world into action.
On the flip side.
"The Cult became murim's public enemy. Just being a Cultist meant persecution—warriors torn apart, civilians stoned to death. Thus, the Fifth Heavenly Demon relocated headquarters here, to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, the Cult's founding grounds."
"So. You're saying the Heavenly Demon who caused that is the problem?"
Cheol Mu Geuk shook his head. Despite the booze reek, his face turned deadly serious as he continued.
"Not the Heavenly Demon's fault. It's what to do when someone with irresistible power appears. Since the Heavenly Demon is closest to that, they phrased it as 'Killing the Heavenly Demon'—Cheonma-sal."
"Problem for the Cult if an absolute powerhouse emerges from within, or from outside."
"Right. That's it."
If the Cult had one doctrine left, it'd be the supremacy of the strong. Worrying about an absolute powerhouse in a group that worships strength? Ironic, really.
"Who suffered most from the Blood Slaughter? The Cult, obviously. Yet it boasts insane numbers of masters. Why do you think?"
"The Six Families studied it at their gatherings... and shared the methods among themselves?"
"Bingo. That's why Super Peaks cluster in the Six Demonic Families."
"So you're saying it's deviated far from the original intent? But it enabled master cultivation, solidifying their power. Explains why those six families stick together despite trash-talking each other."
Cheol Mu Geuk looked impressed.
"How old are you again? Just past thirty?"
"Does age matter?"
"You've got insight beyond your years. At your age, So Pyeong was just a hot-headed punk."
For a split second, I nearly burst out laughing imagining why Cheol So Pyeong was bald.
"Anyway. As you said, the gatherings warped. What started as pursuing strength turned into pissing contests."
"Must've been bloody fights back then?"
"Oh yeah. No rankings—they just beat each other senseless. Family heads even died."
Lucky for me. Meant no blades at the gathering. I'd be target number one.
"Only our house and Kwak Family head keep the original spirit... the rest? Tch."
Couldn't argue picturing the other Demonic Six Families.
"Even Jin and Hyeok Families know the truth?"
"They're the worst. Sneaking in to fill the void left by Do Il Gwang's Light Blood Sword and Residual Blood Baek, eyes only on scraps. At least..."
"At least?"
"At least thanks to you, the balance is restoring. Sado will walk the true path of the Six Families, right?"
Makes sense. Sado Gwang wouldn't ignore the gatherings. Greedy enough to wring water from a dry rag if it profited. Cheol Mu Geuk was hinting at that.
I nodded.
"But one thing I don't get."
"What?"
"How do you prepare for an absolute powerhouse like Cheon Yu-hak from a century ago?"
No modern video recording back then.
'Even if recorded, would it capture properly?'
I'd only seen Murim Returner's lore, so no certainty. But a monster that nearly wiped murim solo—filmable?
'Maybe basing it on the current Heavenly Demon?'
Endless debate among Murim Returner fans.
Yi Se-ryeong with supreme talent versus Cheon Yu-hak of the Blood Slaughter—who's stronger?
Even I, a true veteran, couldn't say. Yi Se-ryeong was top dog now, sure.
Cheol Mu Geuk smirked meaningfully, chuckling low.
"You'll learn that on Jan Hon Island."
Smug as if he'd one-upped me. Clearly fishing for me to beg for spoilers. No way. My composed persona was locked in.
Showing weakness now? Only hurt me.
"I see."
"I see? That's it?"
"What else?"
"...Boring bastard. Figure you won't flinch no matter what, huh."
Nope. Just couldn't.
"Anyway. Talk's cheap—prepare thoroughly. Especially your mind. Keep it sharp."
"My mind?"
"Not Super Peak myself, so unsure, but So Pyeong said first sight of 'those things' might leave you dazed."
After facing the Heavenly Demon's simsang—even a fragment—my resolve rarely wavered. Not some enlightenment breakthrough, but a small gain nonetheless.
His pointed "those things" was obvious bait. No playing along.
"You really won't bite, huh. Playing along with this old man's tune that hard?"
"Don't call yourself old with that face. Could pass for brothers with young master Cheol."
"Young master... tch."
Cheol Mu Geuk poured the last of the liquor in one go, then gulped it straight down.
Would give him food for thought. His grandson was mid-twenties.
"Oh, right. Ran into Ma Ui at Ma's Pavilion recently—he asked about you slyly."
"About me?"
"Seemed interested."
Unexpected.
Ma Ui and Dok Ma were bitter rivals. Not blood enemies, but they'd hurl insults with smiles on sight.
Figured he'd ignore me for allying with Dok Ma.
'...Better avoid him.'
Dok Ma was selfish—overlooked anything profitable.
Ma Ui? Mad scientist gone mildly good. For medicine's advance, who knew what he'd do. One slip, and he'd spot my blocked meridians, no inner energy.
"Why not visit?"
"No real need."
"Strutting with Cult pride might bite you someday. Remember: some stand outside the hierarchy."
"No worries."
Cult was rank-obsessed, numbering by strength. But not everyone joined. Cheol Mu Geuk meant those outliers.
Nothing to fear.
They stayed hidden till war. By then, I'd be out of the Cult.
"True, with you... whatever. My nose is stuffy—who am I to worry?"
Rising, he handed me a small box.
"Lifetime's worth of priceless booze from you—gotta reciprocate. Open it."
I did. Inside: a dark, murky bracelet.
"This is...?"
"First treasure artifact a Heavenly Grade blacksmith made himself. Solid Cloud Demon Iron. Priceless beyond gold."
A heartfelt Heavenly Grade creation? Treasure indeed. While I'd just given booze I barely drank.
"Gratefully accepted."
"Not even asking what it does?"
"Ah."
"Your insight skips the weird spots. Smear blood on it."
Blood-binding—classic for treasure artifacts.
I drew Pa Cheon across my palm. Modern me would've flinched at a needle; now, after dangling on death's edge so often, nothing.
Blood hit the bracelet—blinding light erupted.
"This bracelet's Guardian Arm Ring. Channel inner energy; it expands instantly into a massive, sturdy shield based on your power. Pure Cloud Demon Iron—even gang qi won't breach it."
"......"
"What? Test it."
Ah.
Disaster.
Some artifacts like Pa Cheon or Black Ox Needle worked sans inner energy, but most needed it.
'Skipping demo in front of the maker? Suspicious...'
Even allied, revealing my secret? Cheol Mu Geuk might rage at the deception. Literally breathe fire and roast me.
Panicking, I grabbed the Guardian Arm Ring. Fresh blood from the wound smeared it again—
DRRRRRRRRR—
BOOM—!
"...?!"
A colossal black wall burst through Cheol Mu Geuk's forge, shooting skyward.