Chapter 171
Chapter 171
The mountain was trembling. And every living creature dwelling within it trembled as well.
At the awe-inspiring sight, no one dared to open their mouth easily.
Even Pungwol could only keep his mouth shut in the face of this unbelievable situation.
Dan Hyeokse, the man acknowledged by Cheonung just moments ago and the strongest among the Twelve Demons, stared at Youngho with trembling eyes.
A demon.
That was no longer a human.
The chilling killing intent flowing from his gaze, along with the eerily raised corner of his lips that matched it.
To reach such a level with killing intent alone…
Honestly, he had underestimated him to some extent. He had merely thought that Youngho had received the same honor as himself—the honor of becoming that person’s plaything.
‘This is on a completely different level!’
But the being before him was different. If he and Youngho were to fight now, even if they fought ten thousand times, he would not win once.
The aura was that overwhelming.
And it seemed Dan Hyeokse was not the only one thinking this. All members of the Twelve Demons hesitated.
If the entire Twelve Demons attacked together, the fight might become somewhat even. Unfortunately, one of them had already become incapable of battle, but holding out should still be possible.
That itself was the problem.
No matter how strong Youngho was, he could not survive against such numbers. After all, Youngho was ultimately a human made of flesh and bone.
It was possible to kill Youngho and all of his companions.
But the losses to the Divine Cult would also be considerable. To capture the Sword Exalted without losses…
‘We need that person’s help!’
It was shameful, but aside from that person, there was not a single individual in the Divine Cult capable of facing the Sword Exalted.
Just as Dan Hyeokse was about to convey his thoughts to Pungwol, Pungwol suddenly ground his teeth.
A chilling sound, like bones being crushed, came from his mouth. With bloodshot eyes, he glared at Youngho and shouted.
“I cannot accept this! Someone like you!!!”
Perhaps he had bitten the inside of his mouth while grinding his teeth, because blood began to pool inside Pungwol’s mouth.
He cried out as if coughing up blood.
“How dare someone like you think you can become like that person!”
KANG—!
Youngho’s Sword Qi, which shot out like lightning, was blocked right in front of Pungwol’s eyes.
Having barely overcome his fear, Dan Hyeokse felt a chill run down his spine when he realized that if his defense had been even slightly slower, Pungwol might have died.
If Pungwol died here, obtaining the Central Plains would become impossible. The reason that person sought the Demonic Dominion of the World was to honor the ancestor who created the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
If obtaining the Central Plains became even slightly troublesome, that person would surely abandon it.
Respect for the ancestor could be expressed in many ways besides achieving the Demonic Dominion of the World.
Pungwol had been thinking the same thing as Dan Hyeokse, yet the fact that he had nearly died moments ago filled him with an even greater sense of humiliation.
Youngho looked at Pungwol and the Twelve Demons and smirked.
It was funny. Ridiculously funny.
How long would he have to continue this clownish act?
So Youngho gave them one last chance.
“Guide me to the Heavenly Demon. If you refuse, we will simply return as we are.”
Pungwol was about to immediately tell him to get lost. He could no longer tolerate the insult toward that person. It was shameful enough that he had entertained such blasphemous thoughts that he wanted to split open his own head.
“You’ve grown stronger.”
However, Pungwol instantly closed his mouth at the voice that came from behind him.
Aside from Youngho, no one had sensed his presence.
Yet no one was surprised.
The Demonic Cult worshiped the Heavenly Demon, and Youngho’s companions had already experienced this through him before, allowing them to remain calm.
A man whose name was Cheon Sangmu, but who was more widely known by the title of the Heavenly Demon.
The master of the Ten Thousand Demons and the Cult Leader of the Sun–Moon Divine Cult.
After three years, the Heavenly Demon had appeared before Youngho.
Youngho slowly withdrew his aura now that he had achieved his objective.
Seeing Youngho suddenly retract his killing intent, the Heavenly Demon sighed in disappointment.
“It feels like we could fight right now…”
“Unfortunately, I’d like to cut off your head right away too, but I have my own circumstances.”
The Heavenly Demon stared at Youngho for a moment.
In the past, a single glance would have revealed everything, but now he had to look carefully just to grasp Youngho’s essence.
With an intrigued expression, he spoke.
“You’ve filled your lacking parts with something else. It doesn’t seem like you used any heretical tricks… How did you do it?”
“You’ll find out when we fight.”
At Youngho’s bold words, the Heavenly Demon burst into hearty laughter.
The Demonic Practitioners flinched at the sight of him laughing.
It was the first time.
Never before had they seen their god enjoying himself like that.
Even Dan Hyeokse, who occasionally became his playmate, had never managed to entertain the Heavenly Demon to such a degree.
Just how strong was Youngho to amuse him like that?
What kind of playmate was he to be this entertaining?
Though the questions filled their minds, Youngho and the Heavenly Demon continued exchanging incomprehensible words.
“If I said I wanted to fight you right now, what would happen?”
“I’d be too worried about my companions and my Master to fight at full strength.”
“Then should I simply remove them?”
“If they die, it would be even worse. Since bluffs won’t work on you anyway, I’ll be honest. Threatening my companions’ lives is fine. But…”
Youngho smiled strangely—so bizarre that it bordered on terrifying.
There was no murderous obsession to kill the Heavenly Demon on his face.
Only madness flickered there.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’ll fight you after killing my companions.”
Realizing the sincerity of those words, the Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue lightly.
“Tsk. Then why did you even come here?”
“To fight you, of course.”
“So if the safety of the ones you brought is guaranteed, you’ll fight me?”
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon seemed less like a god and more like a child stubbornly demanding what he wanted.
There was not a trace of dignity in the nearly pleading tone he used.
Youngho glanced once toward Pungwol.
Pungwol seemed too lost in thought to notice the gaze, but seeing how twisted his face was, Youngho felt satisfied anyway.
Turning back to the Heavenly Demon, Youngho said:
“Heavenly Demon, I came to make you an offer.”
“If it’s about setting a duel date, I welcome it.”
“I’m glad to be welcomed. Because we can’t fight here.”
The Heavenly Demon immediately understood the meaning behind those words, and his expression brightened.
Though it disgusted him, Youngho endured it and continued.
“In about a month. Let’s meet in the center of Qinghai.”
“Just the two of us?”
“No. I’m practically the entirety of the Alliance, so I’ll definitely bring soldiers. My goal isn’t just to defeat you—it’s to defeat the Demonic Cult.”
“You’re greedy. I like that.”
There was not a single trace of falsehood in the delight within the Heavenly Demon’s voice.
“The Demonic Dominion of the World…”
He muttered the words to himself before turning his gaze toward Pungwol.
“Pungwol. In one month, I will move. That will be when we achieve the Demonic Dominion of the World, so make preparations.”
“Invincible Divine Cult, Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Submission.”
Pungwol, who had regained his composure, calmly recited the creed.
“Then we’ll meet again at that time…”
At that moment, an explosive aura erupted from the Heavenly Demon’s body.
It was not the intent to kill but the will to crush his opponent.
The formless pressure created solely to subdue the opponent restricted the movements of Youngho’s companions.
Youngho released his own aura and spoke.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Can’t you tell from my actions? No one leaves this place except you.”
“If you so much as lay a finger on my companions, I will not fight you.”
When Youngho roared fiercely, the Heavenly Demon smirked.
“You’re the one who said bluffs don’t work on me. We’ve already promised to meet in Qinghai. Do I have any reason to let them live? You’ll fight me anyway.”
Youngho stared at him with bloodshot eyes.
But the Heavenly Demon’s words were not wrong.
The only reason Youngho was alive was because the Heavenly Demon was obsessed with him. If he were being rational, Youngho should have died here already.
Youngho bit his lip lightly.
This was not entirely unexpected. That was why he had prepared a contingency, but in the worst case only a few—including himself—would survive.
If that happened, he would have to present the strongest bargaining chip from the start.
“Don’t you want to see one of the Twelve Demons fight one of my subordinates?”
“Hm?”
“The Twelve Demons are all strong. Let one of them fight my subordinate in a fight to the death. What do you think?”
“That’s certainly the most interesting thing after fighting you.”
The warriors Youngho had brought were each comparable to, or even stronger than, the Twelve Demons.
“If my subordinate wins, we leave.”
“And if the Twelve Demons win?”
“Then you can do whatever you wanted.”
While speaking, Youngho glanced subtly at Pungwol.
‘That crazy bastard…’
From Pungwol’s perspective, the situation made no sense. He should be killing Youngho and the others immediately, yet Pungwol—said to be the most devout in the Demonic Cult—simply obeyed the Heavenly Demon’s command.
‘He should’ve been born in the Orthodox Sect.’
His loyalty was so extreme that he would never betray or defect.
The Heavenly Demon briefly examined the faces of the fighters, including Kang Chowon and Namgung Cheon.
Then, with a satisfied smile, he nodded.
“I’ll accept your offer if that girl fights.”
When he pointed at Kang Chowon, Youngho shrugged.
“Fine. But she’ll be fighting that one.”
The opponent Youngho indicated was Cheon Muback, the Young Cult Leader of the Sun–Moon Divine Cult.
Cheon Muback glared at Youngho with darkened pupils.
The chilling sensation was like being stared at by a demon itself, yet Youngho merely smirked.
“Lower your eyes before I gouge them out.”
The moment he finished speaking, Kang Chowon released killing intent toward Cheon Muback.
It felt as though a spear had pierced his heart.
Yet Cheon Muback only smiled eerily, as if he felt exhilarated.
Namgung Cheon was utterly bewildered by how things were unfolding.
“Y-Youngho, wait a moment. Instead of the Blood Sword Ghost, I’ll go—!”
“Namgung Cheon.”
“Think about it one more—!”
“Namgung Cheon.”
At that moment, Namgung Cheon saw eyes as deep and cold as the abyssal sea.
Overwhelmed by Youngho’s gaze that bound both body and mind, he could only blink silently.
“I trust Chowon.”
Youngho’s voice trembled badly as he said that.
He said he trusted her, but he could not help worrying. After all, Cheon Muback was strong enough to kill Kang Chowon.
Then Kang Chowon gently placed her hand on top of Youngho’s.
Youngho’s body stiffened instantly.
Seeing that, Kang Chowon giggled and smiled brightly.
When Youngho looked at her, she spoke with a radiant smile.
“I’ll be back.”
She spoke calmly, as if it were not a final farewell.
Youngho’s tension seemed to loosen, and he smirked.
“Try to win if you can.”
“Yes~”
As Namgung Cheon stood there in a daze at the absurd situation, Youngho spoke sharply.
“Namgung Cheon. You think Chowon is weaker than you.”
“….”
He could not answer.
But Youngho continued without waiting.
“If you’re fighting to kill the opponent, then yes—Chowon is weaker than you. But…”
Watching Kang Chowon’s back as she walked forward, Youngho grinned.
“When Chowon fights prepared to die, she’s stronger than you.”