Heavenly Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

—–CROW—–

The Tianshan Mountain Range of Xinjiang.

It was a barren mountain range, unsuitable for human habitation, yet since ancient times, a massive organization had nestled within its folds.

The Heavenly Demon Cult.

A sacred ground of the demonic path, unequivocally the largest single sect in all the lands, including the Central Plains and beyond.

And since ancient times, they had coveted the prosperous Central Plains…

But recently, they had been strangely quiet.

As if plotting something.

The Ma-yeong Palace, the heart of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

The leaders of the Heavenly Demon Cult stared at the head seat with grave expressions.

The jade throne where the Cult Leader should have been seated.

But the throne was empty.

And it had been for ten years.

“…What are we going to do about the Cult Leader position?”

“We can’t keep it vacant forever. We’ll have to hold a Holy War to decide, won’t we?”

“But the previous Cult Leader may still be alive.”

At the Flame Demon Lord’s words, a silence fell over the Ma-yeong Palace, as if doused with cold water.

At the same time, everyone’s eyes widened.

And they recalled the previous Cult Leader who, ten years ago, had abruptly vanished after handing over the leadership.

Among those called Heavenly Demons throughout history, he was one of the most powerful.

He ascended to the position of Cult Leader and earned the title of Heavenly Demon without learning the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, the divine technique only learned by the Cult Leader.

A supreme genius who, not content with mastering the hundreds, thousands of demonic techniques within the Heavenly Demon Cult, also mastered medicine and other miscellaneous studies.

A figure adorned with countless praises.

The Absolute Heavenly Demon.

Shudder—

Everyone trembled with fear and dread at the mere thought of him.

But some shook their heads to cast off their fear and cautiously spoke.

“But it’s been ten years.”

“R-Right. Besides, the Cult Leader stepped down and left.”

“That’s true, but if the Cult Leader doesn’t like the new Cult Leader…”

At the Flame Demon Lord’s words, which once again broke the tense atmosphere, their faces turned pale.

Once, in the past.

Someone had provoked the Cult Leader’s wrath.

And the result was horrific.

The five great families that supported the Heavenly Demon Cult were reduced to four.

Gulp!

Those who recalled the previous Cult Leader, who single-handedly annihilated the Hyeokryeon Clan, froze in fear.

Stealthily—

Meeting each other’s fear-filled eyes, they swallowed and whispered.

“Then let’s discuss this next time…”

“Let’s do that.”

“Y-Yes.”

Watching the terrified group, Ma-noe, the Brain of the Demonic Cult, sighed.

“Sigh.”

A wry smile touched his lips.

“If only the Cult Leader had appointed a successor…”

How many times had this happened?

They held meetings every year, but the result was always the same.

Even though the Absolute Heavenly Demon had vanished, they couldn’t escape his grasp.

No, they felt even more bound.

Because what you can’t see is more frightening.

‘If only I knew where he was, things would be so much better.’

He searched for the Absolute Heavenly Demon every day.

But it was as if he had sunk into the earth or ascended to the heavens; he couldn’t find any trace of him.

Thus, time simply passed without any results.

For a whole ten years.

“Sigh—”

Letting out another deep, unending sigh, Ma-noe, clutching his head in frustration, muttered towards the one who caused all this trouble.

“Where are you, Cult Leader?”

***

A small cave deep within the Tianshan Mountain Range, covered in perpetual snow.

Since the snow began to accumulate, for eons, not even a beast, let alone a human, had entered this cave. But for the past ten years, a warm light had flickered within.

There was a man in the cave.

His hair and beard were disheveled.

Moreover, the clothes he wore were so tattered and worn out that they seemed to tear at the slightest touch, showing how long he had worn them.

The man, Dokgo Guyeon, raised his hand, and jet-black energy surged forth.

Then his hand moved gracefully.

Crack!

In an instant, a large circle was drawn on the floor, and on top of it, unidentified symbols were quickly inscribed as if adding something.

“You dare make me suffer like this?”

A chilly breath escaped his lips and gently spread around.

A voice filled with excitement, unlike the cold air.

Dokgo Guyeon was filled with elation.

At first, it was just a mild interest.

After mastering all the demonic techniques in the Heavenly Demon Library, he began to take an interest in other miscellaneous studies besides martial arts.

Then he belatedly recalled the incomplete supreme law written at the end of the Absolute Reign Technique he was practicing.

Since he had already mastered the Absolute Reign Technique, he thought he would complete it soon.

But as a year passed, and then two, he realized how foolish he had been.

He couldn’t execute the supreme law.

No matter how many times he tried.

His towering pride was cracked.

By the fact that he couldn’t complete it.

He didn’t care about eternal immortality or ruling the world, as written in the supreme law, but his stubbornness grew as he failed to succeed.

So he casually handed over the position of Cult Leader to someone and left the Heavenly Demon Cult, arriving here.

***

“Now, it’s finally complete.”

Elation consumed him.

How long he had waited for this day.

The day the supreme law would be complete!

Until he became obsessed with this supreme law, his pride knew no bounds.

He could master any martial art in the world with a single glance, and he could instantly learn medicine, formations, and even supreme laws.

But recently, that pride had been broken.

Because of the Eternal Immortal Reign Supreme Law drawn here!

“It’s been a long time.”

A smile spread across his face.

He had invested a full ten years in a single supreme law.

As its completion neared, he couldn’t contain the laughter of joy escaping his lips.

Now all he had to do was stand on the formation.

Good.

Savoring the imminent victory, he slowly looked around.

Despite staying for ten years, it was desolate.

A single book and piles of辟穀丹 (Bigokdan – fasting pills).

That was all.

There was no water, no clothes, no blankets.

The only noticeable thing was the luminous pearl illuminating the cave.

This was because he had achieved invulnerability to heat and cold, so he didn’t feel the cold, and he only needed to satisfy his hunger.

“It’s been truly dreadful.”

He shook his head, looking at the fasting pills.

Even though he had reached the absolute realm, the sensations that governed his body remained.

He wasn’t a Taoist.

Yet, he ate these tasteless, astringent fasting pills every day.

To save even a little bit of time.

It was thanks to his competitive spirit overcoming his appetite.

Now that was over.

Stealthily—

The moment he moved his stopped feet.

Whoosh!

A dazzling, five-colored light spread from the supreme law.

‘Yes, just as I expected!’

The colors he experienced for the first time slowly enveloped him like silk.

A warm sensation tickled his skin.

Grin—

The corners of his eyes curved like crescents.

***

Mount Hua Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects.

It was early morning, a time usually bustling with training, yet today it was unusually quiet.

“…”

In the Medicine Hall, the Taoist masters, the pillars of the Mount Hua Sect, bearing the title “Hyeon” (Wise), watched one spot with grave expressions.

A small bed placed in the center.

The Medicine Hall Master was carefully inserting needles into the body of a young, pale Taoist lying on the bed.

How much time passed?

“Phew…”

Having inserted all the needles, the Medicine Hall Master exhaled the breath he had been holding and wiped away his sweat.

“It’s done.”

“Is Cheon-hwi alright now?”

“Is he better?”

“How is he?”

The Taoists who had been watching breathlessly began to pester the Medicine Hall Master, their junior, Cheon-go, as if they had been waiting.

“I’ve taken all possible measures.”

Stealthily—

As soon as he finished speaking, the female Taoist, Hyeon-ryeo, with bloodshot eyes and biting her lip, moved.

She clasped Cheon-hwi’s small hand as he lay still as death, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Perhaps because this winter was particularly cold.

When she visited him early in the morning, Cheon-hwi, whose health had already been poor, had already collapsed and lost consciousness.

“If only I had hurried…”

Tears welled up in Hyeon-ryeo’s eyes.

The Taoists expressed their sorrow at the tears of Hyeon-ryeo, known as the most rational and composed among the Mount Hua Sect Taoists.

They all knew how much she cherished Cheon-hwi.

“No matter how much you like your disciple, isn’t he too young to follow…?”

At her tearful words, trembling with grief, everyone groaned.

Cheon-hwi was the only disciple of the deceased master.

Ever since he entered Mount Hua Sect holding his master’s hand, he had been too frail to learn martial arts, but he was loved for his righteous and pure nature.

As they bit their lips in sorrow.

Twitch—

Cheon-hwi’s finger moved.

“…!”

Hyeon-ryeo quickly turned her head.

Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

“S-Sect Leader.”

At Hyeon-ryeo’s urgent words, Hyeon-sang, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua Sect, immediately nodded and spoke to Cheon-go.

“Is there no other way?”

“I can’t be certain… but if he takes our sect’s Purple Essence Pill, it might have some effect on a disciple who hasn’t learned martial arts.”

His calm voice spread around.

However, the content of his calm voice was astonishing.

What was the Purple Essence Pill?

Shaolin’s Great Rejuvenation Pill,

Wudang’s Great Clarity Pill.

It was a peerless elixir of the Mount Hua Sect, boasting effects that rivaled these two famous elixirs.

But to give such an elixir to a young Taoist who hadn’t even learned a cultivation method?

If other martial artists heard this, they would faint from envy.

But Hyeon-sang didn’t hesitate.

Cheon-hwi was the sect’s treasure.

He was more precious than the Purple Essence Pill.

“Grant it.”

Cheon-go’s eyes shone as he turned his head.

“Jeok-un.”

As if he had been waiting, Jeok-un, the Vice-Master of the Medicine Hall, scurried in.

“You called?”

“Go and get the Purple Essence Pill.”

“The Purple Essence Pill, sir?”

Jeok-un’s eyes widened.

Then, noticing the collapsed Cheon-hwi, he quickly nodded.

“I’ll bring it right away.”

A moment later, Jeok-un returned with a wooden box.

Stealthily—

He removed the needles stuck in Cheon-hwi.

Then, slowly, he took out the Purple Essence Pill.

The rich plum blossom scent of the revealed Purple Essence Pill spread in all directions.

“Please, please…”

“I beg you.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Hearing their desperate voices, Cheon-go took out a long needle. Then, without hesitation, he deeply inserted it into Cheon-hwi’s Baihui acupoint.

Push!

At the same time, he pressed the Purple Essence Pill between his fingers and slowly dripped it into Cheon-hwi’s open mouth.

And so, two diverging fates intertwined.

Dokgo Guyeon, lost in a deep slumber, was suddenly awakened by the rich fragrance that wafted into his throat. However, his mind was still hazy.

‘The supreme law?’

The only thought that clearly surfaced.

Then.

“…The Chuigong and Hwagyeol points are… difficult…”

“What to do… Now… his life…”

Muffled voices reached him, as if heard underwater.

‘Voices?’

The first thing that came to mind was bewilderment. The cave he was staying in was deep within the Tianshan Mountain Range, a place difficult for even beasts, let alone humans, to reach.

Yet, he heard voices.

Moreover, multiple voices tinged with the passage of time.

He briefly thought of the elders of his cult.

But he shook his head.

‘Even if they found this hidden place, those old geezers wouldn’t come here.’

They were uncomfortable with him.

After he became the Cult Leader, he had ignored most of their requests because they were bothersome.

They would have definitely welcomed his disappearance.

While he was imagining them laughing,

Rumble!

Suddenly, his body contorted.

Then, an indescribable, excruciating pain washed over him in an instant.

‘What is this!’

His mind reeled from the sudden onslaught of pain. He hadn’t felt pain since he mastered the Absolute Reign Technique and reached the absolute realm roughly fifty years ago.

Perhaps because of that.

The pain he felt after so long was even more intense than back then.

Shocked, he urgently searched for the cause.

His meridians were so narrow that even a single needle couldn’t pass through, and as a result, all the muscles in his body were contracted.

‘Damn it!’

Swallowing the curse he couldn’t utter, he desperately widened his meridians.

Crackle—

Perhaps because he was forcibly tearing them open,

Unbearable pain surged through him.

‘Damn! This hurts like hell!’

But he couldn’t stop.

To move at all, he had to widen the meridian connected to his Baihui acupoint.