Chapter 262: Six Great Demonic Gods (2)

Hideout. A model garden.

Anyone who didn’t know better would probably ask what on earth that meant.

But having grasped some of what they said, I nodded with a heavy heart.

“So that’s how it is….”

At my reaction, Yoo Jeon looked rather taken aback.

“Hm? You understood what I said?”

“To some extent, yes.”

I looked around.

Several houses had been built here, and it seemed like they were managing a basic level of self-sufficiency.

But ultimately, it all just felt like play-acting. It lacked something fundamental—what was needed for life to continue.

“This place… isn’t a real space, is it?”

“You’ve got sharp eyes.”

Yoo Jeon smiled in satisfaction.

“I had my suspicions since my physical condition wasn’t improving…”

In a place this rich in qi, neither the total amount of internal energy in my Dantian nor the extent of my injuries had changed at all.

It was completely different from the Heaven of Sacred Spirits where I had met the Heavenly Demon Founder.

“Yes, in this place, the concept of death doesn’t exist. In the first place, no living being can enter here—unless they came in through the key.”

“Ah…”

So that’s why they’d looked at me with such curiosity?

Just then—

“Hmph. Doesn’t seem like much, if he’s supposed to be the chosen one we’ve been waiting for. Is this brat really the one?”

A bearded man appeared out of nowhere and ruffled my hair.

Judging by appearances alone, he looked like he could’ve been sworn brothers with San Dojeon—a mountain bandit through and through.

Especially with that massive greatsword strapped to his back, his identity was obvious…

“I, descendant of the Jin Clan, greet the progenitor Pa Gooncheong.”

“Hmm? You know who I am?”

Of course I do.

Pa Gooncheong, the Saber Demon God.

Founder of the Extreme Saber Pa Clan, who gave birth to the insane trend of obsession with swords.

If the Pa Clan inherited the Saber Demon God’s disposition as-is, then there was only one thing I could say to him.

Clearing my throat, I spoke as if reciting from the Thousand Character Classic.

“I’ve heard the name of the ‘Greatest Saber of Past and Present’ so often since I was young that my ears have grown calluses.”

“You little bastard!”

Pa Gooncheong’s eyes flew wide open.

Then, a joy flashed across them.

“You’ve got the proper attitude for honoring your ancestor!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Gah!”

He meant to just lightly pat my back, but each blow was powerful enough to rupture my organs if it weren’t for the setting we were in.

Ma Seoyeon rolled her eyes at the sight.

“Isn’t that just great…”

Her expression was still filled with disapproval.

“Anyway…”

Yoo Jeon spoke with a bitter smile.

“There isn’t much we can tell you right now.”

“Because I’m not qualified?”

“That’s right. Soon… you’ll be expelled from this place.”

Even if they wanted to tell me, they wouldn’t be able to due to restrictions.

Because I hadn’t come here with the key, but by trickery.

“If you really find the entrance to this place and enter properly… then we’ll answer all the questions you have.”

“I understand.”

It’s hard to imagine what answers one could get from those who haven’t yet seen their “ending” and remain trapped like this.

Still, uncovering the truth of history is a joy in and of itself.

I’m definitely looking forward to it.

“But before you go, pay your respects to Master.”

“…!”

“If it’s Master, he probably already knows you’re here. Still, it’s only proper to greet him before leaving, don’t you think?”

The younger version of the Heavenly Demon Founder I met in the First Heaven of Sacred Spirits—

He had said that the version of him from another timeline still existed somewhere on the continent.

When I nodded, Yoo Jeon turned to lead the way.

“Follow me. I’ll take you to Master.”

It was a mountain of moderate terrain.

As we walked along the well-maintained mountain path, Yoo Jeon, who was leading the way, began to speak almost to himself.

“Once, my junior disciple Hwan said something to me.”

“Junior Hwan…?”

Yoo Jeon spoke with pride.

“The only sorcerer among the disciples, and the exceptional talent who passed the trial of the Hellfire Flame King. Thanks to that, he’s able to see a bit of the future.”

Foresight—the highest tier among all mystical arts, one of the greatest powers a mortal can possess.

“According to him, I would one day fall into a forbidden love.”

“Ahem!”

For some reason, Ma Seoyeon let out a loud cough from behind.

“Because of that love, I would clash with Master, eventually curse him, and be expelled…”

“……”

I remembered the fragmented memories I had seen through the Spirit-Absorbing Jade beneath the Thousand Illusion Hall.

I had seen them and yet…

I couldn’t accept Yoo Jeon’s words with a straight face.

“To be honest, I just don’t get it. How could I ever turn my back on these proud fellow disciples and the Master I respect so deeply?”

I couldn’t find the words and simply remained silent.

“We’re here.”

Before I knew it, we had arrived at a small cave tucked into the mountainside.

Yoo Jeon and the other disciples knelt on one knee in front of the cave.

“Master, it’s me, Yoo Jeon.”

“……”

“We have found the long-awaited chosen one. Though he is not yet qualified… I humbly ask that you offer him a word of blessing.”

“……”

There was no immediate response from within the cave.

But soon after—

A middle-aged man with a refined appearance slowly stepped out from within.

The moment I saw his face, I gulped.

‘He’s different.’

Different from the soft, kind aura of the Heavenly Demon Founder from the past.

Maybe it was the neatly trimmed beard, but his stern, sharp gaze stood out.

Because of that, the look he gave me was not purely friendly.

The Heavenly Demon Founder, whom I met once again, opened his mouth.

“So, you’re the one.”

“G-Greetings…”

I forced a smile and tried to greet him, but he coldly hardened his expression and said,

“My past self was far too soft. To think I let you remain at this pathetic level.”

My smile froze on my face.

…Soft?

The man who invented torture methods that would be praised even in hell was calling himself soft now??

‘This bastard—!’

As I stared at the Heavenly Demon Founder in disbelief, he reached out a hand toward me.

Sensing danger, I instinctively dodged to the side.

“Ugh!”

But I was immediately overpowered by an invisible grip without being able to do a thing.

‘T-This is absurd…!’

I had already reached the mid-stage of the Extreme Demon realm, and yet I couldn’t move an inch against something like intangible energy?!

“Hm…”

The Heavenly Demon Founder scanned my entire body with a calm gaze, then spoke.

“Still, he paved the road well. That much is praiseworthy.”

Who was praising who, exactly?

It was, without a doubt, the pinnacle of self-congratulation.

“You’re lucky. All the unnecessary impurities that were obstructing your advancement have recently been removed. Your aptitude is still just barely acceptable, but at least now you’re fit to stand at the starting line.”

Impurities… Was he talking about the power or vitality of the Second Heavenly Demon?

Thud!

The Heavenly Demon Founder released me from the invisible grip.

“Ugh!”

“But the time hasn’t come yet.”

He looked down at me with stern eyes and spoke.

“You were recently entrusted with a certain fate—for the sake of maintaining the world’s balance—by that loudmouth. Resolve that first, and then return through the proper entrance.”

“…!”

“When that time comes…”

The Heavenly Demon Founder said something truly shocking.

“I will officially begin transmitting the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art to you.”

After returning to the hut, Yoo Jeon spoke to me.

“It seems Master has taken quite a liking to you.”

“…This guy?”

The look he gave me was as if I were a bug, and his tone made it painfully clear he’d only reluctantly agreed to teach me.

Perhaps reading my expression, Yoo Jeon laughed heartily and patted my shoulder.

“At this rate, we might gain a seventh disciple. That’s truly a joyous thing.”

“…!”

Those words snapped me back to attention.

‘Seventh disciple?’

To become a disciple of the founders who established the Heavenly Demon Cult a thousand years ago?

Within the main cult, my rank would skyrocket.

Even if the Heavenly Demon Cult had supposedly tossed aside things like hierarchy and status, being a martial sect meant such structures couldn’t be completely abandoned.

‘Wait a minute… if that happens, wouldn’t I be able to propose to Yura without worrying about the Cult Leader’s approval?’

My delusions took it a step further.

‘Wouldn’t I be able to say something like “Call me Ancestor” to the Cult Leader?’

Well, I guess it’s technically possible, but…

I quickly shook my head to snap myself out of it.

‘No, that’s going too far.’

If I pulled something like that, the Cult Leader would probably say, “Heh heh heh, Ancestor. Care to taste the fist of a descendant?” and beat me like a dog. Better to leave that fantasy as just that.

Even if I managed to become a Supreme Demon, I don’t think I could win against the Cult Leader.

Just then, Ma Seoyeon curled one corner of her mouth into a mocking grin.

“A disciple, huh. Not bad. He’ll be perfect to boss around like a dog.”

“So, my place in the hierarchy gets all tangled up? I’m not sure how I feel about this.”

“What does worldly hierarchy matter now? If he’s a good disciple, that’s what counts.”

Jin Gwanchun, who had a strange look on his face, was comforted by Pa Gooncheong.

Ma Seoyeon clicked her tongue as she glanced around.

“Anyway, why aren’t the other senior brothers here yet? We’ve practically got ourselves a new slave—no, disciple.”

Pa Gooncheong answered.

“Fourth Brother is probably busy thinking about how to expand the frontier as always, Fifth Brother is likely playing quietly somewhere by himself, and as for Sixth Brother… well, who knows. That guy barely talks.”

“Senior brothers, my ass.”

Yoo Jeon chuckled as if proud.

“Our Seoyeon… she must be thrilled to finally stop being the youngest.”

“Ha? N-no, I’m not! Not even a little!”

Her face, however, was clearly saying otherwise.

I gave Ma Seoyeon a sidelong glance.

‘Slave, huh? I’ll take what I can and get the hell out.’

Even if she was one of the founders, she belonged to the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan.

As a descendant of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, I couldn’t allow myself to suffer under the heel of some Blood Dragon scion.

Turning to Yoo Jeon, I asked,

“By the way, I have a question.”

“Go ahead. As long as it’s not something bound by the restrictions, I’ll answer.”

“Lord Yoo Jeon… have you, by chance, mastered the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art?”

“Ah, you were curious about that?”

Apparently, this question didn’t fall under any restriction.

Yoo Jeon nodded readily.

“I managed to learn it somehow. But my master’s strength was so overwhelmingly violent at its core that handling it in full was difficult.”

Yoo Jeon raised a palm, and atop it appeared a burning sphere of dark crimson energy.

The Heavenly Demonic Divine Art, based on the dark crimson essence.

It closely resembled the Heaven-Slaying Qi that Yura had displayed.

Then, all of a sudden, the red energy in the orb began to dissipate.

“So, I ended up modifying my master’s martial art in my own way. Out of respect, I tried not to deviate too far from the original.”

“I see…”

“And the technique that takes only the violent parts from that martial art—that’s the Blood Demon Dragon Heaven Sword Formula that Junior Sister Ma mastered.”

“That’s… really true?”

I widened my eyes at this unexpected truth.

This was something I’d never known before.

“She said it suited her even more because she was born under the star of Heaven-Slaying.”

It was said that if one fully mastered the Blood Demon Dragon Heaven Sword Formula, it could rival the power of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art.

Considering it had branched off from the same origin, it made perfect sense.

‘Even so, that doesn’t make it any less of a surprise.’

While I was still reeling from the revelation—

“It’s time.”

Yoo Jeon glanced over my whole body.

“Ah, I see.”

At some point, my body had started to become transparent.

An undeniable sign I was being expelled from this space.

“It was a pleasure meeting you. To confirm that our will to stop Heavenly Evil is still alive even after a thousand years… it moves me deeply.”

Just as Yoo Jeon said, Jin Gwanchun and Pa Gooncheong looked at me with pleased expressions.

Even Ma Seoyeon, who had been constantly sarcastic until now.

She spoke to me.

“Well, when you come back to visit, at least bring a gift.”

“I can bring something here?”

“Didn’t you see the True Star Sword? It’s not impossible. Just needs a bit of a complicated procedure.”

“…I’ll try.”

“When that time comes, I’ll teach you a few sword techniques I’ve learned. They’re different from First Brother’s style, so you’ll be able to apply them in all sorts of situations.”

Sword techniques from the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan’s founder—the origin of the Demonic Clans’ sword styles.

Wouldn’t the Sword Demons go crazy with jealousy?

Then Jin Gwanchun laughed heartily and said,

“Hahaha! I’ll also teach you a proper Asura God technique next time. Looks to me like you learned a knockoff version.”

“H-hahaha…”

They weren’t going to train me to death, right?

Pa Gooncheong, who looked slightly dissatisfied, added,

“Hmm, since I’m a Saber practitioner, I don’t really have much to teach you… Oh, but if you want, I can teach you the secrets of the Holy Saber.”

“Gasp!”

Now that was tempting!

The Holy Saber, one of the greatest secrets of the Extreme Saber Pa Clan.

It was said that only successors like Pa Yeongyeong and Pa Seolyeong had mastered it, and even the Six Great Demonic Clans and Cheon Clan coveted it—proof of its immense value.

As I licked my lips in anticipation, Ma Seoyeon shot me a disapproving glare.

“Look at this bastard. Eyes practically rolling into the back of his head.”

Yoo Jeon gently patted her to calm her down.

“Now, now. We’ll be seeing him again soon, so calm down, Junior Sister.”

“……”

“In any case, I hope we meet again. Next time, we’ll gather all the disciples to welcome you properly.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

“‘Elder’ sounds too stiff. Next time, call me First Brother, like the others.”

Though we had only just met, it was already time to part.

But so what?

I’d see them again soon.

With a soft smile, I bowed deeply to Yoo Jeon and the other founders and made a martial salute.

“I most certainly will.”

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