Chapter 330
Chapter 330
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 330
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon (1)
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A man in a black robe floated in the air, wind swirling around him as he looked down below.
He appeared to be in his thirties, but the Heavenly Demon of this era had already been active thirty years prior.
'For such a monster to step out personally like this.'
Everyone's bodies stiffened rigidly.
The Shaolin Temple's abbot, Grandmaster Mujin—a transcendent master and one of the top experts of the righteous sects—was no pushover.
Yet even he had fallen to the Heavenly Demon...
"...Hahaha. It seems age has caught up with me; my body isn't what it used to be. It's all this monk's failing."
Psssh—
Fortunately, however, an elderly monk covered in dust emerged slowly from the rubble of the collapsed Buddha hall.
Of course, compared to his unscathed opponent, the monk's appearance was far from pristine.
He adjusted his tattered robe with one hand, glanced at his right arm severed below the elbow, then clasped his hands in greeting with his left alone, responding calmly.
"More than that, Donor Heavenly Demon, you seem even stronger than before. Did you partake of some elixir for your health?"
"Hah—indeed, I ate something exquisite. I feel like I could soar into the skies. If you wish, I could share some with you?"
"Amitabha, I appreciate the sentiment, but I'll decline. As one who follows the Buddha's teachings, I cannot stray from the righteous path."
"What a pity. You certainly have what it takes. Let me know if you change your mind."
Their tones were remarkably amicable, yet no one present took it at face value.
Each word felt like thorns piercing flesh, building a tension akin to walking a blade's edge.
The Heavenly Demon savored the rigid atmosphere, leisurely scanning the surroundings with a curled lip.
This was the Demonic Cult's grand debut after years of biding their time.
With the event proceeding so splendidly, satisfaction was inevitable.
'This momentum cannot be stopped. No one remains in this world who can stand against our cult... Hm?'
But his smile, relishing the tense, fearful gazes of the righteous sect underlings, didn't last long.
The arrogance that had perpetually graced his features hardened in an instant.
"...What are you?"
His cold voice echoed low, as if freezing everything in its path.
The others gripped their weapons in heightened tension, but the Heavenly Demon's eyes remained fixed unmoving on one spot.
'Ah, I knew it. Even with extra care this time, it ends up like this.'
To Hugo, who averted his gaze while inwardly sweating bullets.
Naturally, his opponent paid no heed to such feeble efforts.
"Why—why do you still linger in this world?"
A single phrase laden with inexplicable emotion.
The issue was that it didn't end as mere expression.
'Kuh, this...!'
He felt the gaze.
That alone crushed him like a lump of iron, his senses malfunctioning across his body.
Depth perception crumbled, balance warped, and brain activity stuttered.
Of course, his mind wasn't confined to Hugo's terminal body alone, so consciousness persisted, but losing physical control was unavoidable.
'...To think the Heavenly Demon was this level. No wonder even Grandmaster Mujin, a fellow transcendent, was overwhelmed.'
Hugo, not yet at the Fiery Realm, could offer no resistance.
All he could do was pray for mercy.
As he debated releasing the summon even now—
"Hup—!"
Fresh air flooded his lungs, and he realized his senses were restoring to normal.
He also noticed he hadn't breathed until then.
'...Terrifying. Without even channeling inner energy, sheer will alone reduced me to that state. And I'm no novice.'
Catching his breath and lifting his head, he saw the fluttering hem of a monk's robe before him, revealing how he'd regained his wits.
The Shaolin abbot, who had been slightly distant moments ago, now stood blocking his path.
"Hahaha, Donor Heavenly Demon, you're too harsh on this young junior."
"Step aside."
"Amitabha, do you truly intend to see this through? Clashing like this benefits neither side."
"Words won't suffice."
The Heavenly Demon's icy expression twisted subtly.
Hugo's presence evidently held greater significance than expected; his reaction was excessively sharp compared to his initial appearance.
"Vice Leader of the Demon Subduers."
"The Heavenly Demon descends, shrouding all demons in fortune! Vice Leader of the Demon Subduers, Black Cavalry Zhang Cheolik, reporting for duty!"
Clang!
At his call, a massive black man wrapped in iron chains stepped forward and prostrated noisily.
He was one of the Demonic Cultists who had already encircled the area upon arrival.
"Ensure not a single one escapes this place. Especially that one—do not let him slip away. Leave only his ears and mouth; I have questions."
"By your command! I shall obey your exalted will!"
Thus, the Heavenly Demon—who had directly ordered one of his Fiery Realm subordinates—glanced at Hugo still hiding behind the Grandmaster and sneered mockingly.
It was a derision so heavy and thick that those on the receiving end could scarcely comprehend it.
'Ah, this is bad.'
Hugo forced an awkward smile under the collective stares of Demonic Cultists and righteous warriors alike.
Even if he enjoyed attention, this obsessive fixation was unwelcome...
'No choice.'
Gripping his sword tighter in preparation for the incoming foes, he let out a small sigh.
He'd have to hurry things along.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Near the Shaolin Temple's mountain gate.
Claaang!
Sword Saint Namgung-u grimaced, glaring at the one-eyed elder matching his blade.
A black sword engraved with a ghostly figure withstood his immense power without yielding.
Its owner was Yeo Mun-cheol, Ghost Sword Demon Emperor—one of the Heavenly Demon Cult's Protectors, a transcendent master active in the same era.
"Heh heh heh. You've grown old, Namgung-u. Is this all you've got?"
"Hah—didn't you flee after losing an eye just yesterday? Bold words from you, Yeo Mun-cheol. Strutting on unjustly amassed power."
"Keh, hilarious. You, who devoured more elixirs than rice since childhood, say that?"
"You bastard, don't equate innocent lives' essence with elixirs!"
"What's the difference? Both are powers gained from external aid."
Claang—
Having clashed multiple times in the past—sharing era, weapon, talent, and realm—they knew each other well.
Namgung-u had claimed a marginal victory, taking one eye...
But after nearly twenty years, the dynamics had shifted dramatically.
'He's truly come prepared this time.'
The heavy rebound through his hand hardened the Sword Saint's expression.
Though Grandmaster Mujin held the Heavenly Demon alone for now, it wouldn't last; he'd felt that monster's aura firsthand.
He planned to dispatch the Ghost Sword Demon Emperor quickly during that window and join—but...
"Distracted, are we? Still got leisure for that?"
"Kuh!"
The opponent's might exceeded expectations.
Resolving it swiftly in his current state was impossible.
Pushing too hard would doom him first.
The Sword Saint ground his teeth.
Others worried him too, but his grandchildren lingering there gnawed most.
They'd trusted him to come this far; what a disgrace.
"Heh heh heh—your focus wavers, Namgung-u. Shall I take your other eye first?"
Amid the exchanges, the Sword Saint's sword stance began to falter.
In a matchup too close even at full focus, a wandering mind doomed proper combat.
As his movements grew disorganized and defeat loomed—
"Whoops, excuse me for a sec—!"
An uninvited guest no one anticipated intruded abruptly.
"...!"
"What?!"
Despite their focus, as transcendent masters, they reacted instantly to the intruder breaching their domain.
The Sword Saint stepped back to fortify defense and assess, while the Ghost Sword Demon Emperor slashed sharp energy at the foe.
To sever breath in one stroke, regardless of identity.
"...Whoa! Swinging something so dangerous without warning!"
That vicious strike irked someone merely trying to pass peacefully.
As a great warrior, he couldn't ignore such reckless violence!
Groooar—
Not that he'd time for theatrics.
He simply clenched his fist with full power and smashed it into the incoming attack.
And that sufficed.
Kabooom—!
"Kuh?!"
The Ghost Sword Demon Emperor's face twisted.
At impact, immense pressure surged into his sword-gripping hand.
The exceeding shock inflicted minor internal injury.
Far from good news.
'Brute physical force beyond reason. Even dispersing most, it's this much?'
Using the rebound to widen distance, he readjusted his grip.
Anticipating follow-up and countering—but the foe merely glanced casually.
Though he'd seized the chance to land a hit on the annoyance, his priority lay elsewhere.
This could wait.
"You two are going at it hot! Sorry for interrupting! I'll just pass through, so carry on without me!"
"That old man—is he the Sword Saint? Then his opponent... one-eyed with a black ghost sword. Ghost Sword Demon Emperor? So inside..."
"Hey, how long you gonna dawdle muttering to yourself, buddy? Hurry up!"
He dragged along the man mumbling behind, waved sheepishly at the wary elders, and turned away without lingering.
As if he'd merely intervened because they blocked his path.
"...What was that?"
"......"
Even the Sword Saint, and the Ghost Sword Demon Emperor fresh from clashing with the intruder, hesitated to pursue rashly.
That ruffian possessed exceptional skill belying his absurd appearance; engaging would expose fatal gaps.
And the present adversary wouldn't miss them.
'Who the hell is he? Never heard of a freak like that.'
The Sword Saint, unaware of the new Mad Demon rumors, voiced doubt.
He'd deduced from the Ghost Sword Demon Emperor's reaction it wasn't a Demonic Cultist, but the intruder's realm was suspiciously high.
Yet the Ghost Sword Demon Emperor's thoughts differed.
'...The Mad Demon and his impersonator. How are they here? He said he'd handle it himself—what were the troops doing?!'
It took a beat to recall amid the breeze.
Preoccupied with the major event, he'd dismissed the gossip—but their sudden appearance boiled his blood.
'Why are both here? They have little ties to righteous sects.'
The original Mad Demon was unaffiliated, leaning unorthodox toward the evil factions.
The impersonator seemed similar...
But the tension passed swiftly.
Regaining composure, they banished the departed duo from mind and stared each other down anew.
And—
Claang—! Chaeng! Kaboom—!
The brief respite ended; fierce combat resumed.
For their paramount duty was felling the foe before them.
End of Heavenly Demon (1)