Chapter 46
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Dao-Seeking Demon
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Entry, Middle, High, Peak.
This was the way of classifying levels within the same realm.
Just because two people were First-Rate, or both Transcendent, didn't mean they were on the same level.
Within the same realm, the greatest differences lay between Entry () and Peak ().
Those at the Entry stage could rarely overcome those at higher stages. The gap between a fresh novice and a seasoned master was naturally vast.
Surprisingly, the difference between Middle () and High () was often not that significant.
It could easily be overturned by factors like combat experience or one's physical condition on the day. The distinction itself was so ambiguous that they were often grouped together as Middle-High ().
Peak () was different.
It represented the widest gap.
Because it was a stage where one had a foot in the next realm, even if it was just half a step.
This is why, back in my days as the Fiend Demon, I was treated differently from other masters of the Enlightenment Realm.
The Peak of the Enlightenment Realm.
This was the realm Wi Ji-cheon had reached.
No matter what they tried, other masters of the Enlightenment Realm could not defeat Wi Ji-cheon.
The only ones who could face Wi Ji-cheon were those at the same Peak of the Enlightenment Realm, or masters of the Profound Realm.
The martial world called those who reached such a realm, including Wi Ji-cheon, the Two Saints, the Two Hegemons, and the Three CalamitiesThe Seven Strongest in the Divine Continent.
From this, one thing becomes clear.
Those of lower stages cannot contend with someone who has reached the Peak.
"Kuhk!"
"Daoist Master Jang-myeong! Get a hold of yourself!"
"Martial Uncle Hyeon-un, be careful!"
"Ahem, this Jang Sam has always been deeply impressed by the teachings of the Blood Cult... Hey, you bastards, listen when someone's talking!"
Wi Ji-cheon's expression grew heavy.
The situation looked dire.
Both Hyeon-un and Jang-myeong were at the Middle-High stage of the Transcendent Realm, making them no match for that Mad Blood Emissary from the Blood Cult.
And there were other remnants of the Blood Cult as well.
What should I do? Dealing with someone up to the Middle-High Transcendent Realm isn't difficult, but the Peak Transcendent Realm is another story.
Wi Ji-cheon pondered.
If one were to strictly define Wi Ji-cheon's realm as a demonic practitioner, he was at the Entry stage of the Transcendent Realm.
He had reached the Transcendent Realm by using a shortcut, raising only his enlightenment.
In terms of the balance between enlightenment, energy, and body, he was a complete mess.
For Wi Ji-cheon to reach a higher realm than his current onethat is, the Profound Realmit was essential to resolve this imbalance first.
At least my energy has improved slightly after taking the Violet Elixir Pill. But it's still not enough.
Wi Ji-cheon had absorbed the pill's energy by dividing it between the righteous Life-Giving Heart Method and the demonic Blood Immortal Demonic Arts.
This was all possible thanks to the ability of the Heavenly Immortal Divine Arts, which allowed him to handle energy freely.
He had partitioned his dantian to prevent the righteous and demonic energies from clashing.
It was an incredible feat that no other martial artist would believe, but as a result, the energy-gathering effect of the Violet Elixir Pill was inevitably split between righteous energy and demonic energy.
Having thought that far, Wi Ji-cheon let out a small laugh.
What am I so worried about? He's not at the Profound or Enlightenment Realm, just a mere Peak Transcendent bastard.
It was true that, in his current state, this was not an easy opponent.
But still, he was only at the Transcendent Realm.
The fact that he had hesitated against such a foe wounded his pride.
First, he changed into his wind-blocking cloak. He had also brought a mask, just in case he needed to use his demonic powers.
Then, he slightly altered his bone structure using the Bone Shrinking Technique. He wasn't an expert in it, but with the mask on, no one would recognize him as Wi Ji-cheon.
He went up the opposite side of the forked path.
If he went straight up from his current position below, the "Wi Ji-cheon" who was coming from below might arouse suspicion. So, he planned to take the other fork to go up, then come back down from above.
Soon, he arrived at the scene of the fight.
Halfway up the stairs, there was a flat area where the paths crossed, and the fight was taking place there.
I expected this, but it's not good.
Jang-myeong of Zhongnan lay fallen, critically wounded by a blade to his abdomen, while Hyeon-un of Huashan's face was pale blue, indicating severe internal injuries.
The others, like Hong Gae and Cheong-song, had also suffered injuries of varying severity.
The surprising one was Jang Sam.
Whether he had skillfully dodged his way through, Jang Sam alone was unscathed.
I'd better hurry. If this drags on, Daoist Master Jang-myeong will surely die.
No, his condition was so grave that it was questionable if he could be saved even with immediate treatment.
Thud. As he took a step down, a Blood Cult remnant finally noticed him and shouted.
"Who are you?!"
Splat!
With a light palm strike from Wi Ji-cheon, the man's head exploded.
"!!"
The battle on the field came to a sudden halt.
"A demonic practitioner?"
Hyeon-un, Cheong-song, Hong Gae, and the others wore tense expressions.
Birds of a feather flock together; it was highly likely that this demonic practitioner was on the Blood Cult's side.
If that demonic practitioner is with the Blood Cult, we're finished.
Hyeon-un thought in despair.
The Mad Blood Emissary they had fought was strong, but Hyeon-un felt an even greater fear from this newly appeared demonic practitioner.
It wasn't that his aura was powerful.
It felt as if some unknown, unknowable entity was coiled within him.
The Mad Blood Emissary, Gok-seong, must have felt a similar unease, as he asked cautiously.
"Which brother are you? You don't seem to be family from our Blood Cult. Are you from the Sacred Mountain?"
"No, I have no connection to the Hundred Thousand Mountains."
"Then what? A Mountain Demon? A fellow like you, who has mastered such profound demonic arts?"
This was a term for demonic practitioners who were not from the Demonic Cult or the Blood Cult.
Strictly speaking, Wi Ji-cheon was closer to being from the Demonic Cult. This was because the Blood-Shattering True Arts, the basis for his Blood Immortal Demonic Arts, was a Demonic Cult technique. Though he had modified it so much that its origins were hard to trace.
I have to answer this carefully.
There will be times in the future when I'll have to act as a demonic practitioner.
The longer the tail, the greater the risk of being caught.
I had to set up my cover story well in advance.
"A Mountain Demon? How arrogant. Are you saying no one outside your Blood Cult and the Demonic Cult has mastered orthodox demonic arts?"
"!!"
"I am but a single practitioner, seeking to attain the Dao through the path of the Demon."
In the back.
Jang Sam, the only one who had guessed the identity of the suddenly appeared demonic practitioner, wore an expression that said, 'What scam is that devil pulling now?' but Wi Ji-cheon continued shamelessly.
"Why? Is it so strange? Just as the disciples of Daoism train with the sword to cultivate the Dao, and the warrior monks of Shaolin practice martial arts to follow the teachings of Buddhism, I have simply chosen the path of the Demon to reach the Dao."
"...I see you're one of those unhinged, crazy Mountain Demons. Why did you show up here?"
"To attain the Dao."
"...What?"
"What is the Dao? It is fulfilling one's duty as a human being."
"...No, I mean... speak in a way people can understand, you crazy Mountain Demon."
"You people laid a hand on the Medical Immortal Medical House."
"...What?"
"In the past, before I became a demonic practitioner, I was indebted to the Medical Immortal Medical House. When I was a beggar, no other medical house would treat me, but the Medical Immortal Medical House saved my life."
"!!"
Wi Ji-cheon began to build up his aura.
"It is the law of Heaven's Dao to repay a debt of gratitude. I will tear every one of you to shreds and kill you. This is the Dao I walk as a demonic practitioner."
"Ha! Shut up!"
Fwoooosh!
The Mad Blood Emissary, Gok-seong, charged forward fiercely.
His reputation was well-deserved.
His movements and presence were incomparable to the Transcendent Realm master from the Blood Cult he had fought back in Xi'an.
But.
Wi Ji-cheon swung his sword.
KWAANG!!
"!!"
Gok-seong retreated in shock.
What kind of demonic art is this?!
The energy itself wasn't massive.
But it was terrifyingly tyrannical.
As if it sought to destroy everything.
In the face of that overwhelming, destructive violence, the superiority of one's energy was meaningless.
What was more frightening was that it wasn't just powerful.
The depth of his swordsmanship also overwhelmed Gok-seong.
"Y-You bastard, how dare you!"
The other Blood Cult remnants joined in late, but.
Thwack! Thwack!!
Wi Ji-cheon didn't even swing his sword at the remnants.
He swatted his hand as if catching insects, and the Blood Cult remnants died in vain.
At his overwhelming divine presence, everyone swallowed hard.
"Y-You...!"
Gok-seong, who had unconsciously taken a step back, gritted his teeth.
"Don't get cocky! You've only just set foot in the Transcendent Realm! I'll show you what true strength is!"
FWOOOOOSH!!!
An energy like a waterfall erupted from Gok-seong's sword, and everyone who saw it widened their eyes as if they would tear.
It was Sword Aura, the symbol of the Profound Realm!
Sword Aura. It's over.
Sword Qi cannot stand against Sword Aura. It would just be sliced apart like a straw.
A gap that cannot be overcome by mere skill.
And yet.
He took the bait.
Wi Ji-cheon cheered inwardly.
If he had calmly faced me with a direct approach, it would have been troublesome. In the end, I would have been the one to tire out first.
That's right.
Wi Ji-cheon had deliberately pushed him with powerful moves.
To induce him into using his Sword Aura.
Fwoosh!
A ferocious demonic energy flickered on Wi Ji-cheon's sword.
It was still just Sword Qi.
Incomparable to Sword Aura, but.
KWAANG!!
The moment the Sword Qi and Sword Aura collided, an unbelievable event occurred.
"Keeeuhk?!!"
The Sword Aura scattered, and the Mad Blood Emissary vomited a mouthful of blood!
His Sword Aura wasn't a proper one to begin with.
The core of Sword Aura is the Heavenly Hammer.
One must firmly grasp the energy with a pillar of will.
Wi Ji-cheon had precisely targeted the gap in the man's pillar of will.
"I-Impossible..."
The man swung his sword in a final, desperate struggle, but in his severely internally injured state, there was no way he could withstand Wi Ji-cheon's blade.
Slice!
Wi Ji-cheon's sword cut through Gok-seong's neck, and a breathtaking silence fell upon the scene.
Everyone watched Wi Ji-cheon, trying to read his intentions.
Wi Ji-cheon remained silent and still, saying nothing.
Damn. There's a problem.
He frowned beneath his mask.
The urge to destroy is boiling up.
It was the influence of the Blood-Shattering True Arts!
Normally, the more one uses a demonic art, the more they are influenced by its nature. The Blood-Shattering True Arts' nature was destruction.
He had overcome such inner demons long ago, but now, with his mind, energy, and body out of balance, he was being affected by it.
I have to suppress it quickly. Otherwise, it will become a persistent headache.
Just then, a good idea came to mind.
To utilize the Life-Giving Heart Method.
The Life-Giving Heart Method was not just a simple energy-gathering technique, but a study of the heart.
As he recalled the verses of the Life-Giving Heart Method in his mind, the inner demon gradually subsided.
However, this action by Wi Ji-cheon led to an unexpected misunderstanding.
Hyeon-un, Hong Gae, and the others sent him looks of admiration.
Though he is a demonic practitioner, his eyes are so clear. His story about pursuing the Dao through the demonic path wasn't a lie.
Just as not all beggars are the same, and not all righteous faction members are good, not all demonic practitioners are necessarily evil. To think I judged him with prejudice. Hong Gae, you still have a long way to go.
Divine Doctor.
New Dragon.
And with that, it was the moment the story of the Saintly Demon, another legend Wi Ji-cheon would write, began to stir.