Truly Paradoxical: Yong, Dokgo, Bok, Dongbang, Taesa, Yarul, Gye, Beom, Cho.
Chapter 14: Truly Paradoxical
The nine great families—Yong, Dokgo, Bok, Dongbang, Taesa, Yaryul, Gye, Beom, and Cho—were once known as the Nine Great Demonic Lineages, competing on equal footing and growing stronger together. It was all thanks to the tradition where the strongest demonic powerhouse of the era ascended to the throne of the Heavenly Demon, guided by the logic of hegemony.
But everything changed with the emergence of Sword Heaven Demon Yong Bijeong. The landscape shifted completely to "the overwhelming dominance of the Yong family." They began monopolizing the Heavenly Demon's seat by passing down talent and secrets to their descendants. Now, they reigned as the undisputed foremost demonic house, on an entirely different level from the other eight families. Thus was born the distinction between the Yong Demon Main House and the Eight Subordinate Clans.
"Uncle, if I were the head of one of the Eight Subordinate Clans, I wouldn't miss this opportunity. They'd speak sweet words from their mouths while hiding daggers in their bellies, biding their time."
"Mouth honey, belly sword..."
On a grand scale, assassination. On a smaller one, sabotage. Planting someone by my side was something they could certainly attempt.
"More than that, this is exactly the situation where challengers from the Eight Subordinate Clans could emerge. Relying on outside help is dangerous in itself."
"Hmm."
"..."
Yong Hyeonseok nodded in understanding. Beside him, Yong Seryeong looked like she wanted to argue but couldn't find the words.
"My sisters aren't like that..."
"But I can't refuse support entirely."
I ignored Yong Seryeong's sullen mutter and pressed on. "Vice Cult Leader, help me after I've defeated all five challengers."
"You'll accept support once you're out in the Central Plains?"
"Yes. Isn't the Great Tournament a stage where the famed later-generation talents from each sect gather? If I wander around all alone and shabby, it'll look suspicious and awkward instead."
I needed at least minimal support. Truth be told, I didn't have the bandwidth to handle every little detail myself.
Yong Hyeonseok nodded again. "True enough. The situation is complicated. So, what would you have me do? Speak, and I will help as much as I can."
A way to safely leverage this situation. I had to set the board.
"It'd be best if you requested assistance from the families that didn't eagerly step up to help me—those that showed no particular reaction."
"Hm? And what would that achieve?"
"First, it frees me from the families harboring ill intentions. Second, the designated families won't have prepared anything specific, so their response will be sluggish. I'll exploit that gap."
"Sound logic. But an incompetent ally might not help at all."
"That's fine. I'll bear it."
In truth, my top priority was not getting exposed as Yong Baekheon's body double. Better minimal help for safety than generous aid that put everything at risk. That was the way.
Needing less help to stay safe? Truly paradoxical. Then again, borrowing someone else's name makes it inevitable, doesn't it? Tsk tsk...
Bongmareung clicked his tongue lightly, but I didn't respond. Yong Hyeonseok nodded quietly, then rose to his feet.
"Understood. I'll prepare as you said. May the Heavenly God's blessing be with you."
"Take care, Uncle."
"I don't like it much, but I'll cooperate. Good luck."
"Take care, Young Cult Leader."
Once the two left, I was finally alone. But there was no time to rest.
Sleep is for the dead anyway.
I'm doing this to avoid dying!
Now it was time to begin cultivating the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art.
We spread out a map of the Hundred Thousand Mountains and deliberated at length. In the end, we selected one area rich in pure primal energy. According to Bongmareung, it was a sacred training ground used by ancient demonic powerhouses for their breathing exercises.
Let's go. Success comes once you form the seed. You mastered the arcane Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes in no time, so the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art should be even easier.
But Bongmareung's bold assurance ended up spectacularly off the mark.
* * *
In the vast southwestern reaches of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, the rugged peaks and valleys stretched endlessly.
"Hoo, hooo..."
I was delving deep into one particularly remote valley. The demonic spirit in my head was thrilled.
I can already feel the clear energy! Krr, mountains exist so the demonic path can thrive! Breathe deeper!
"I really hate hiking."
How long had I walked? I spotted a sunken rock cave. Even just sitting and breathing there cleared my mind—the pure energy gathered thickly.
"This seems good. What do you think, Mister Bong?"
Not bad. Pure primal energy pools just right, and even as the sun sets, no harsh light intrudes—you can focus purely on circulation.
Decision made. Following Bongmareung's guidance, I tidied the surroundings, set traps against mountain beasts, then sat cross-legged. Muttering the memorized incantation, I began my first circulation session.
Bongmareung's instructions flowed nonstop in my mind.
Inhale to draw in qi, but exhale without leaving any behind.
Absorption and filtration must happen simultaneously. Press what's needed deep into your dantian, let the unnecessary flow out.
Yet firmly! Condense with utmost firmness, as hard as you can manage!
I progressed step by step. Sweat beaded on my forehead. The four characters "Path of the Demon Among Immortals" swirled in my mind.
Master the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art to walk the Path of the Demon Among Immortals, growing strong without being swayed by demonic nature.
The sole way to avoid being consumed by demonic nature like other fiends. That's why I came to this valley to cultivate.
You're doing well. Keep focusing like that!
Bongmareung figured since I'd mastered the Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes in a flash, this would be easier. Indeed, absorbing and heating my meridians with qi felt smooth enough.
But problems arose once I passed the first stage.
Mister Bong, absorbing and filtering pure primal energy is fine. But strangely, the qi won't condense at all. Am I doing something wrong?
Qi not condensing...?
Since it's your first time handling demonic qi, you might just lack the feel. Try a bit more.
I kept at it until the sunlight filtering into the cave had completely shifted direction. I varied the condensation intensity, adjusted timing. Sweat dripped from my forehead, soaking my jaw, neck, and collar.
But the result? Glorious failure.
What the hell?
Not even an hourglass's worth of time—no, half a day wasted, and not a speck gathered. Bizarrely, I couldn't even achieve the starting point of the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art.
Even Bongmareung, the demonic spirit, started getting impatient—uncharacteristic for him.
I can't understand it. You learned the profoundly difficult Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes so quickly—why struggle with something this straightforward?
Isn't the beginning always the hardest?
No—the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art was designed for walking the Path of the Demon Among Immortals. Its demonic nature is profoundly simple and clear. The beginning is easy, growing harder toward the end.
I'm telling you, you shouldn't even be failing to start!
He was so frustrated he even snapped in anger. But honestly, I was the one truly exasperated.
"This is making me dizzy..."
I needed to compress this valley's pure primal energy into a tiny seed, but it scattered powerlessly every time. Like sand slipping through clenched fingers.
What's the problem?
I had no clue. If even Bongmareung, the expert on demonic arts, was stumped, how could I know? Reaching my patience limit, I opened my eyes and stood.
"Let's eat something first. That rabbit hopping around earlier must be in the trap by now."
* * *
A campfire roared to life in moments, rabbit meat roasting atop it. While I built the fire and prepped the meat, Bongmareung wouldn't shut up.
It almost seemed like the pure primal energy refused to bond with you. Perhaps your innate constitution clashes with the art's true qi.
I've never encountered such a case myself, but the world has as many constitutions as stars—it's possible. We could choose another path here.
Abandon the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art for something with milder demonic nature, like Blood God Demon Flower Art or Black Heaven Extreme Qi...
"Mister Bong, eat this first."
Let's consider switching arts.
"I said eat first!"
One shout, and Bongmareung finally went quiet. But I couldn't touch the rabbit meat either. Truth was, I felt immense pressure.
To resolve Yong Baekheon's unfinished business and my own deeds, I needed internal energy. I need it to face the challengers. Can't keep relying on True Origin Demonic Qi forever.
But I refused to be swayed by demonic nature, even in death. I wouldn't let power dominate me—I'd dominate the power. Otherwise, I'd become no different from the fiends I despised: a monster.
Yet things weren't going my way. I pondered.
What now? Give up on the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art like Bong suggested?
But that meant abandoning the Path of the Demon Among Immortals too... Bongmareung, reading my intent, spoke again.
Jang Hosam, do you truly desire the Path of the Demon Among Immortals?
"Yeah. I refuse to end up like those bastards who kidnapped me and massacred innocents, even if it kills me."
Heh heh.
The demonic spirit let out a hearty chuckle, fell silent a moment, then dropped something I never expected.
Do you know of Ghost Heaven Demon 'Gye Sail'?
"Not much. But Gye clan's Heavenly Demon? That'd make him from before Sword Heaven Demon—ancient history."
Indeed. Ghost Heaven Demon was once called 'Great Poison Demon' in his youth—a man who reached extremes through poison arts.
His old training cave is nearby.
No coincidence. He'd said this was where ancient fiends trained their breathing. But a Heavenly Demon's cave?
And from what I know, Ghost Heaven Demon also cultivated an art mismatched to his constitution and achieved great success—by exploiting interactions between extreme poison and natural earthly qi.
"...!"
I shot to my feet. The rabbit meat, just starting to char, got wrapped in cloth and slung over my shoulder.
A Heavenly Demon who trained a mismatched art? That's exactly me.
I needed a way to forcibly gather natural qi into a true essence crystal.
Perhaps we can find a method in Ghost Heaven Demon's training cave.
No—judging by him bringing it up, Bongmareung already knew something.
"Let's go. Which way?"
I'll warn you first: it's extremely dangerous. You could end up crippled or dead. You'll burn through those Great Revival Pills too.
He meant it out of genuine concern. But I just smiled quietly.
"Great Revival Pills are meant to be used anyway. And if I feared danger, I never would've dreamed of stealing and blowing up The Chronicles of the Sealed Demon."
True enough—a guy who's already staked his life doesn't need my pointless worry.
"Mister Bong, telling someone there's more to life than their neck—does it make your pitch-black mug break out in hives or something?"
Enough chatter—head toward the setting sun.
Bickering with Bongmareung, I trekked the mountain path. Soon, we found an earth cave overgrown with wild thickets.
Bongmareung murmured in a wistful tone.
Here. This is the training cave Ghost Heaven Demon Gye Sail used in his youth.