Chapter 187. I Will Shoulder It Instead

It was said that one sees as much as one knows.

Jin Cheon’s feelings upon having an audience with the Iron-Blooded Demonic God were exactly like that.

Jin Cheon was in a state incomparably stronger than before.

Having obtained the Essences of Water, Fire, and Divine to gain enlightenment, as well as achieving the Heavenly Demon Divine Skill Demonic Emperor through Body Reformation now.

Jin Cheon’s feelings looking at the Iron-Blooded Demonic God were even more overwhelming than before.

‘I dare not…… approach.’

Having achieved the Demonic Emperor, the gap was felt even more keenly.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Skill Demonic Emperor was like a check guaranteeing the Best Under Heaven.

That was something applicable in any era.

It had always been so since Dokgo Seong founded the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and ascended as the First Heavenly Demon.

In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that the title Heavenly Demon implied the meaning of being the Best Under Heaven of that time.

Although he ascended to such a realm of Demonic Emperor, Jin Cheon didn’t even dare to claim himself as the Best Under Heaven.

Why?

Because the Iron-Blooded Demonic God was well.

Having a master who reached the realm of the Best in All Time, Jin Cheon wasn’t foolish enough to dare claim himself as the Best Under Heaven.

“Greetings to Master.”

Jin Cheon knelt on one knee toward the Iron-Blooded Demonic God and paid respects.

“Eventually, you achieved Great Success.”

A smile rose gently on the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s lips.

“Indeed worthy of my disciple. Completing you shall become my greatest achievement.”

“……!”

That was practically the highest praise for Jin Cheon.

The greatest achievement of the Best in All Time…….

“It is undeserved. How can a disciple be Master’s greatest achievement. Master is…….”

“No.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God shook his head.

“Ending the old era was my role, but opening a new era is not. You, as my greatest achievement, will open a new era. The completion of our Cult’s reform shall be accomplished by you.”

“Master……!”

“So, what did you see, hear, and feel. I want to hear the disciple’s tale of heroism.”

“To tell you…….”

“Let’s move locations.”

The scenery in front of his eyes changed.

“……!”

Jin Cheon was startled seeing a small shrine enshrining the tablet of the Azure Heaven Divine Warrior in the distance.

Clearly, he was in the Cult Leader’s Hall just a moment ago, but to move location with just a word…….

‘What realm has Master reached on earth.’

Jin Cheon suddenly became curious.

How far the Iron-Blooded Demonic God was looking ahead…….

He couldn’t help but be truly curious about what the world he sees, hears, and feels is like.

Swish, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God held out a liquor bottle.

“Receive it, it is liquor given as a master.”

“Yes, Master.”

Trickle, liquor drops emitting a profound and clear scent filled Jin Cheon’s cup.

“May I offer a cup.”

“As much as you like.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God smiled.

“It is the first time. Receiving a cup from a disciple.”

“Ah.”

“It just happened so.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s expression saying so was somewhat bitter.

‘Master…….’

Jin Cheon felt like he knew the inner thoughts of why the Iron-Blooded Demonic God made such an expression.

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God was never indifferent to other disciples.

Of course, it was true that he regarded Jin Cheon specially, but that didn’t mean he treated the other six disciples poorly.

It was just that since he was in a position where he couldn’t intervene in the Human World, he was keeping distance as much as possible.

“That…….”

“Speak.”

“Someday…… I want to make a gathering once.”

“Gathering?”

“Suddenly, the thought occurred that I want to have a good time serving Master together with Senior Brothers.”

“……!”

“Please allow it.”

“Will such a day…… come.”

“Why would it not come. That heavy burden Master is shouldering right now, I will shoulder it instead.”

Jin Cheon said with emphasis.

“I hope so.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God smiled bitterly and drank the liquor Jin Cheon poured.

“So, what did you experience.”

“I will tell you starting from the Scorching Hell.”

The things he experienced flowed from Jin Cheon’s mouth.

***

After the story ended.

“Thus, there is something I want to ask Master.”

“You must be curious.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God nodded as if understanding.

“Aren’t you curious whether you are truly the reincarnation of Dokgo Seong, that guy?”

“That is correct.”

That was the reason Jin Cheon ran to the Cult Leader’s Hall as soon as he revived Cheol Yu-ra.

What the First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong contained in the Heavenly Demon Stone said…… the words that Jin Cheon was actually a part of Dokgo Seong weighed on his mind.

“Then, I ask. If you are truly Dokgo Seong’s reincarnation, if you are a part of him, what about it.”

“Pardon……?”

“Even if so, is there anything that changes?”

“……!”

“What if you are Dokgo Seong’s reincarnation, and what if you are not. Your choice was Jin Cheon. Disciple of Azure Heaven Divine Warrior Jang Guk-pyeong, my disciple, and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Seventh Young Master Jin Cheon.”

“Ah!”

Jin Cheon suddenly gained enlightenment at the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s wise answer to a foolish question and let out an exclamation.

Right, what importance does that have.

Whether he is a part of Dokgo Seong or not is fine either way.

He just had to live as Jin Cheon.

“Thank you for Master’s teaching.”

Jin Cheon bowed flat on the ground toward the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

“Did it become an answer?”

“Yes, Master.”

“If you are really curious, there is nothing I cannot answer.”

“It is fine.”

Jin Cheon grinned and expressed his refusal.

Because it was after realizing that whether it was the truth or sophistry to lure Jin Cheon was not important at all.

“Right, what do you intend to do now.”

“I intend to continue tracking Dokgo Seong.”

Jin Cheon answered without hesitation.

Having achieved the Heavenly Demon Divine Skill Demonic Emperor, it was now worth trying.

Now the time to truly punish Dokgo Seong had come.

“It would be a good choice. However, before that, finish the grudge and come.”

“If you say grudge…….”

“Sichuan.”

“……!”

“Haven’t you waited for a long time. Cheong-ryeong, your enemy.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Jin Cheon recall his enemy, the Great Divine Physician of Immortals.

Great Divine Physician of Immortals.

He was currently staying at the Qingcheng Sect’s main mountain.

It was no exaggeration to say that it was thanks to the Great Divine Physician of Immortals that the Qingcheng Sect was still fine even after causing such an incident.

Because the Great Divine Physician of Immortals, a master of the Mysterious Realm, was holding out, even the Sichuan Tang Clan and Emei Sect dared not attack the Qingcheng Sect.

But if Jin Cheon joined, the story would be different.

If it was Jin Cheon who rose to the realm of the Heavenly Demon Divine Skill Demonic Emperor, wouldn’t it be possible to easily punish the Great Divine Physician of Immortals and devastate the Qingcheng Sect?

“Yes, Master. Then, I will settle the old grudge at this opportunity. However, I intend to identify Dokgo Seong’s location in advance.”

“Surprising.”

“Pardon……?”

“Isn’t your desire for revenge toward them never small. Yet, to intend to identify Dokgo Seong’s location first…… it must be more for the Cult and the world than personal revenge.”

“Th, That is…….”

“You have become free from revenge.”

“I understand now.”

Jin Cheon nodded.

Desire for revenge?

It remains.

He suffered for twenty years in that hell-like Demonic Prison.

Jin Cheon’s anger, hatred, and grudge toward the Great Divine Physician of Immortals and the Righteous Heavenly Alliance were still deeply engraved in his heart in raw form.

Nevertheless, revenge was not the top priority now.

Why?

Because he obtained the power to exact revenge anytime.

Since achieving the Heavenly Demon Divine Skill Demonic Emperor, Jin Cheon’s revenge was no different from being already accomplished.

He just hadn’t done it yet.

“I will look at his whereabouts first.”

“Do so.”

As soon as the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s permission fell, Jin Cheon took out the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box and the map to track Dokgo Seong.

Soon, the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box marked Dokgo Seong’s location on the map.

Dokgo Seong’s location found out like that was…….

“……Potala Palace and the Imperial Palace.”

A mutter close to a groan flowed from Jin Cheon’s mouth.

***

Around the similar time.

It was when Jin Cheon achieved the Heavenly Demon Divine Skill Demonic Emperor and was having a private audience with the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

‘Wh, What is this.’

Sword Saint Gong Ryung-ja, who entered the palace upon the summons of the newly ascended Emperor, couldn’t hide his astonishment after having an audience with the Prince of Ming Ju Hyu sitting on the throne.

The Emperor, Ju Hyu, was an existence that could never be called human.

A person emitting demonic qi enough to make even the Sword Saint, a master of the Mysterious Realm, wet his pants couldn’t be human.

Moreover, the two eyes that seemed to contain the void, whose depth was hard to measure, were enough to make even the Sword Saint tremble in fear.

And the Sword Saint had experience meeting such an existence in the past.

About forty years ago from now.

At the end of the 1st Righteous-Demonic War…….

“Y, You are……!”

Recognizing the opponent, the Sword Saint turned pale with fright and stepped back hesitatingly.

‘How can such a thing!!!’

The Sword Saint couldn’t easily come to his senses.

Because he never dared to imagine that Prince of Ming Ju Hyu, who was said to have newly ascended to the throne, would be the First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong…….

“Do you recognize me.”

Prince of Ming Ju Hyu, no, the First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong asked the Sword Saint.

“……How could I not recognize you. When I still dream the nightmare of that time.”

The Sword Saint’s voice saying so trembled.

The Sword Saint still couldn’t forget that time.

His clash with Dokgo Seong was merely about thirty moves.

But in those thirty moves, the Sword Saint suffered a fatal injury and fell out of the fight just like that.

Since that day until now, the Sword Saint could never forget those thirty moves.

No matter how much he trained and trained again, he couldn’t find the answer to the thirty moves exchanged with Dokgo Seong at the time.

Even now, when he occasionally dreamed of that time, he would wake up sweating profusely…….

“How can you be alive?”

“It has been hundreds of years since I achieved immortality.”

“But you…….”

The Sword Saint spoke as if he couldn’t believe it at all.

That the Heavenly Demon lives eternally repeating reincarnation over reincarnation was a fact the Sword Saint also knew well.

Because the history of Murim and the records of ancestors who met Dokgo Seong proved that fact.

However, to think he would resurrect even though he was killed by the Azure Heaven Divine Warrior and Iron-Blooded Demonic God?

Moreover, borrowing the body of none other than an Imperial Prince…….

“Those who are merely mortals will neither fathom nor imagine my ability.”

“…….”

The Sword Saint couldn’t refute Dokgo Seong’s words.

That was an undeniable fact.

Compared to the First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong, the Sword Saint was merely a mortal.

How could he refute when one who repeated reincarnation for hundreds of years and now resurrected borrowing another’s body called him so?

Compared to Dokgo Seong, the Sword Saint would be just a mortal with high martial arts.

“So it is…… You have already transcended humanity…….”

The Sword Saint dared not show fighting spirit and just agreed with Dokgo Seong’s words in surprise.

“Then…… what do you intend to do with me.”

The Sword Saint asked Dokgo Seong.

“To you, isn’t someone like me just a fly’s life that can be killed anytime.”

“I will grant a choice.”

“Choice……?”

“Choose. Whether to die here, or become my kin and enjoy eternal life in the future.”

“E, Eternal life, did you say?”

In an instant, greed flickered in the Sword Saint’s eyes.

Eternal Life.

That was a temptation too attractive to ignore, even for a master who reached the Mysterious Realm.

“Can I truly live eternally too?”

“Of course.”

Dokgo Seong answered the Sword Saint’s question.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep