Chapter 403: The Time When the Sky Turns Red (3)

Cheon Clan.

The family that effectively ruled over the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Although their power had slightly diminished recently, it did not mean the overwhelming strength of the Cheon Clan had disappeared.

During the rampage of the Demonic Faction Lord Jin Yeomyung, most of the damage had been inflicted not on the direct members of the Cheon Clan, but on external allied families.

In fact, the cohesion of the Cheon Clan was now considered one of the strongest in its history.

Despite the turning away of external allied families, there were two reasons why such an evaluation persisted.

First, most of the elders of the Council of the Seven Elders, who had led the various factions within the Cheon Clan, had perished during the previous incident.

Second, was the presence of Clan Head Cheon Jumyeong, who had seized the opportunity and unified the Cheon Clan.

Especially after he stopped the rampage of the Demonic Faction Lord Jin Yeomyung, Cheon Jumyeong’s unstable position had risen dramatically.

He had become, quite literally, the new pillar of the Cheon Clan and could be considered another Cult Leader.

Cheon Jumyeong, having secured such a standing,

Surprisingly, had done absolutely nothing since then.

“It’s been a while, Jumyeong. Seems you’ve finally devoured the Cheon Clan entirely!”

“…….”

“The elders who opposed you have mostly vanished, and the ones hostile to you in the clan have been purged, haven’t they? Truly befitting the Demon Mind of this era.”

Cheon Jumyeong smiled bitterly inside.

If everything had gone according to the natural order, the one who would now be called the Demon Mind would have been Cheon Juchun in front of him.

“You’re the one who’s been busy lately.”

“Hmm! That’s true. Because of the chaos the Grand Heavenly Lord caused, I had to act in person for a while.”

Cheon Juchun chuckled and casually sat down.

“Yes, of course you’d be busy. You’re trying to swallow the Central Plains whole.”

“Hahaha, we’re brothers and comrades, aren’t we? Don’t be too harsh.”

Despite the continued sharp tone, Cheon Juchun remained completely unfazed.

Cheon Jumyeong narrowed his eyes at the man who had once been his brother.

‘His energy has become even more vicious.’

Viciousness.

There was no better word to describe Cheon Juchun’s current state.

Even without trying to control it, an ominous aura emanated from his entire body.

‘It doesn’t seem like he’s broken through a wall, nor has he learned a specific martial art. Then what is it?’

Noticing the gaze, Cheon Juchun shrugged his shoulders.

“Ah, are you curious about my condition?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“It’s because the Heavenly Time is approaching.”

Cheon Jumyeong remained silent for a moment.

Then he asked.

“What exactly is this Heavenly Time?”

“Heh heh…”

“It’s not something related to astronomy.”

It wasn’t related to auspicious dates, horoscopes, or sorcery.

There was clearly a more precise definition.

Cheon Juchun stood and slowly approached Cheon Jumyeong.

He picked up the fan placed before him and spread it open.

“This world is never kind to mortals.”

Then he asked Cheon Jumyeong.

“Do you know the phrase: ‘Heaven and Earth are unkind and treat all things as straw dogs’?”

“It’s a passage from the Tao Te Ching.”

“That’s right.”

Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they view all things as disposable like straw dogs.

“In this world, the being symbolizing the heavens is called Evil. That doesn’t mean the being of the earth is Good either…”

“Just get to the point.”

“The Heavenly Time refers to the moment the being symbolizing the heavens awakens.”

“You mean that being called Heavenly Evil?”

“Exactly, so you’ve heard of it.”

“I heard it had already perished in the past.”

“Hahaha! As if that were possible!”

Cheon Juchun laughed heartily, clutching his belly.

“That being is inherently immortal. Even if fragmented and sealed, it never truly disappears.”

“…….”

“When the Heavenly Time arrives, one of its fragments regains its essence and awakens as Heavenly Evil. We call that the Awakening.”

“What happens when Heavenly Evil awakens?”

“The world’s environment is overturned.”

“Be more precise.”

“The spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth begins to overflow abundantly. Like fish that had gone dormant due to lack of water beginning to swim again upon meeting water.”

Fish…

Cheon Jumyeong mulled over the words briefly before sharply asking.

“Are the strange phenomena occurring near Ten Thousand Mountains recently related to what you just said?”

Cheon Juchun’s face lit up with joy at those words.

“Oho! As expected of Jumyeong! You understood me perfectly!”

Cheon Juchun patted Cheon Jumyeong’s shoulder repeatedly.

“So yes, what’s happening now isn’t just some trivial disaster. The Cult and the fools of the Central Plains still think little of it…”

That was their grave misunderstanding and misjudgment.

“In truth, ancient beings affected by the Heavenly Time have begun to awaken one by one.”

It meant that even Cheon Juchun’s increasing power was influenced by it.

“……”

Cheon Jumyeong was once again struck by the realization that the one who used to be his brother was no longer human.

“For now, only the weaker ones have appeared, but once Heavenly Evil fully awakens…”

A sharp smile curled at Cheon Juchun’s lips.

“The world will be completely overturned.”

“There’s one more thing I’m curious about.”

“Ask away, as much as you like!”

Cheon Jumyeong voiced his question.

“If what you’re saying is true, that the Heavenly Time is approaching and those beings are returning…”

“That’s right.”

“Then why are you moving so desperately instead of just waiting?”

“Hmm, a sharp question indeed.”

Cheon Juchun answered like a teacher proud of a clever pupil.

“There are two reasons. One is to tilt the board in our favor.”

“In your favor?”

“You see, when the Heavenly Time arrives, it’s not only those related to Heavenly Evil that awaken.”

“What do you mean?”

Cheon Juchun shrugged.

“That’s something I still can’t share, sorry.”

Cheon Juchun genuinely apologized, patting his shoulder again.

“The second reason is the Grand Heavenly Lord.”

“The Grand Heavenly Lord?”

“He wants to become a ‘perfect one.’”

At those cryptic words, Cheon Jumyeong furrowed his brow slightly.

“He may claim to desire to become a transcendental being, one who has severed all emotions, but honestly, I think it’s just foolish obsession.”

“What are you talking about now…”

“In any case, securing that wench of a Cult Leader and removing obstacles is critical. The Grand Heavenly Lord is preparing to finally kill that bastard.”

“……!”

Cheon Jumyeong certainly knew who “that bastard” referred to.

“That guy is beyond dealing with through numbers now.”

“Exactly. That’s what makes it such a headache. Even a swarm of ordinary Awakened Bodies would get wiped out now.”

The martial prowess Jin Yeomyung displayed on the outskirts of the Cheon Clan had far exceeded even the expectations of the Grand Heavenly Lord and Cheon Juchun.

“We even considered awakening the Orders to confront him…”

“Try that and I’ll cut your head off myself.”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry. I have no wish to sacrifice my brother either!”

It was a remark devoid of any sincerity.

“So we’re left with no choice but to prepare an opponent fitting his level.”

“Does such a master still exist in this world?”

Honestly, unless it was the Cult Leader or one of the Three Sovereigns of the Central Plains, it seemed impossible.

“Fufufu… the opponent doesn’t necessarily have to be human.”

Cheon Juchun covered his mouth with his fan, but his brows still arched in delight.

“The Murim Alliance… or should I say, the Southern Murim Alliance now?”

Those who had effectively become hounds of the Main Assembly.

“If we make all of them the offering, it should suffice.”

“……”

Cheon Jumyeong sensed ominous foreboding in those words.

***

Murim Alliance.

Or rather, what was now the former Murim Alliance, the Southern Murim Alliance had still not established its structure like the Northern Murim Alliance.

“Hand over the interests in Hangzhou? Ridiculous!”

“Hohoho, if you don’t like that, Suzhou would be fine too.”

At the words of Jahonilgwi, who had been appointed as an elder of the Southern Murim Alliance, Gongsun Un of the Gongsun Clan exploded in fury.

“And if I refuse?”

“What else? We’ll just take everything by force.”

“Are you saying you’ll wage war against our Gongsun Clan?!”

“If it’s just the Gongsun Clan, well… that’s not something we can’t handle.”

Jahonilgwi was a master of the Transformation Realm who had succeeded the late Si Okhyeolla as the chief elder of the Evil Path Castle.

Heaven above, Paradise above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below—

That was a saying, indicating how powerful these cities were in the Jiangnan region.

They were far too vast for any single family to control.

However.

Originally, these cities were a hotbed of fierce competition among the Gongsun Clan, Namgung Clan, and the Namcheon Baek Clan.

A few years ago, when the Namgung Clan and the Namcheon Baek Clan closed their gates, the rights and interests over the two cities naturally fell into the hands of the Gongsun Clan.

Now, the Evil Path Castle was making a racket, demanding one of those cities.

“Urgh!”

Gongsun Un trembled in rage, glancing around for help.

But no one returned his gaze.

They too didn’t want to provoke the Evil Path Castle over territory that wasn’t even within their sphere of influence.

‘This is a mess.’

Though the Evil Path Castle and the Murim Alliance had merged under the name Southern Murim Alliance, calling their organization chaotic would be an understatement.

The Evil Path Castle was nominally cooperating in resisting the Northern Murim Alliance, yet it was steadily expanding its influence by encroaching upon the Murim Alliance’s original domains.

Of course, it was only natural that the existing righteous sects resisted…

However, within the Southern Murim Alliance, there was no single faction capable of confronting the Evil Path Castle.

‘The absence of Shaolin is too big of a blow.’

Aside from the main base of the Murim Alliance, Shaolin was by far the most powerful sect in Hanam.

Had Shaolin remained strong, the Evil Path Castle wouldn’t have been able to make such demands.

“What will you do?”

“Grr!”

Jahonilgwi grinned with a crooked smile.

“Frankly, though we are technically allies under the same ‘Association,’ that doesn’t mean we need to act all friendly, does it? It would be wise to stamp your seal and yield while you still can.”

“……”

Gongsun Un’s face began to darken ominously.

Truthfully, the Gongsun Clan wasn’t weak enough for the Evil Path Castle to act this brazenly, even with the difference in power.

But their strongest expert and Transformation Realm master, Gwaegeomgun Gongsun Su, had been tragically killed by one of the Black Lotus Hall’s strategists, known as ‘Sasa Heukroe,’ just a few months ago.

And he had even led the Hwangryong Celestial Sword Unit there and still suffered defeat, meaning their strength and reputation had both taken a significant hit.

It was then.

“Elders, we have guests seeking the Alliance.”

One of the martial artists from outside spoke up, prompting an elder seated slouchedly to frown in irritation.

“Guests? That’s something the reception hall should handle. Why are you bringing this up during a leadership meeting?”

Unless it was someone of considerable weight, such matters wouldn’t be brought to a meeting of this level.

The martial artist outside hesitated before adding,

“It’s… guests from the Namcheon Baek Clan…”

“What? Namcheon?!”

Jahonilgwi’s face contorted as Gongsun Un suddenly shot up from his seat.

Though the Namcheon Baek Clan and Gongsun Clan had once competed fiercely over city interests, in the face of a formidable foe like the Evil Path Castle, they could certainly cooperate.

And even as a single force, the Namcheon Baek Clan wasn’t much weaker than the Evil Path Castle.

“Who is it? Could it be the Sword King himself? If not, then the Divine Sword?”

“N-no, it’s neither.”

At those words, Gongsun Un’s expression dimmed briefly.

“Miss Baek Sang-ah, the Southern Lotus Sword, and Jin Myeong, the Heavenly Divine Dragon, have come to visit our Alliance.”

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