Chapter 652 – Arrival (2)

The vast cavern fell briefly silent.

The Heavenly Demon’s tomb was damp.

The light of ancient night pearls flickered intermittently, mixed with gentle breezes.

Thick moisture slithered down the walls like split tongues. Shadows of stalactites extending from ceiling to floor danced like mad spirits.

But what penetrated deepest into Jeong Yeon-shin was the laughter echoing through the cave in Baek Mi-ryeo’s voice.

“Rather than Laugh at Heaven, Follow Heaven would be more fitting. There’s no better servant of heaven.”

“……”

The Heavenly Demon’s existence was the finishing touch of this cavern. And Jeong Yeon-shin had already experienced a similar place.

The cave where Taoist Three Peak’s Pine Pattern Ancient Sword had drawn a giant taiji with a dragon.

When he had faced Heaven-Conquering Sect Leader and Dark Heaven Emperor’s combined attack together with Lady Lu Xian, but in the end, that day too had been with Little Heavenly Demon Invincible. After using her as a negative example, hadn’t he completed Vast Taiji with Taoist Three Peak’s traces?

It had been a profound conversation.

—Live according to the heavenly mandate that damned heaven gave us.

—Stop saying ‘us, us’ all the time.

If he were to examine the grudges shared with Little Heavenly Demon Invincible one by one, he knew that favors overwhelmingly outweighed them, as she had once said.

In a way, she was like Seventh Apostle. It was Little Heavenly Demon Invincible who had saved him in Hangzhou, and who had arranged for his growth and safety with great plans.

Above all, there was great pitifulness.

Jeong Yeon-shin had also truly considered her his only understanding companion at times. Now she was like a broken mirror.

Therefore, he didn’t wish for Little Heavenly Demon Invincible to suffer great humiliation. This was why he was protecting her before the Heavenly Demon now.

“Three have gathered. In the end, it went according to her intention.”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke quietly.

The Heavenly Demon’s head looking down at Little Heavenly Demon Invincible again, that is, Baek Mi-ryeo’s head, tilted slightly to the side.

“Didn’t I say.”

The Heavenly Demon moved her lips slowly.

“I said one is enough.”

“……”

It was when Jeong Yeon-shin fell briefly silent.

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible, who had been kneeling at least on one knee before the Heavenly Demon’s feet, laughed quietly.

“Not knowing the grace of showing this world.”

Bluish lightning wrapped around her body. It was full-body explosive force of the thunder technique type that Jeong Yeon-shin had once experienced, striking inscribed in air at speeds transcending even sound. Then, the Heavenly Demon slightly lifted and lowered the tip of her foot.

Whoosh!

The lightning bolts that had swelled up azure were automatically swallowed by space. In the atmosphere where everything had vanished without trace, lightning marks briefly flickered semi-transparently before disappearing.

Jeong Yeon-shin immediately felt it.

‘She simultaneously broke and destroyed before the technique could even be manifested.’

She had split and burst the true energy structure read like light rays through energy perception with the light skill aftershocks of Heavenly Demon Lord Arrival Step. The entire process occurred at speeds transcending normal principles.

It was a technique unrelated to energy accumulation. It would have been possible with even a speck of true energy.

‘The incarnation of martial arts.’

If Fighting God and Desolate Fortress Lord were at realms just before touching the limits of power permitted by heaven, the Heavenly Demon seemed naturally to be heaven itself. Though both had reached human limits, she felt infinitely vast.

What would have happened if she had created her soul garment with living demonic energy and manifested completely? It was fortunate that all three’s full power wasn’t intact.

Even if the true energy that had created the formless sword Starry Night was exhausted.

“I was right.”

Jeong Yeon-shin said.

Before he knew it, ash-scorched hair ends were fluttering splendidly beside him. Little Heavenly Demon Invincible had struck an instant with retreat footwork.

Jeong Yeon-shin glanced at her profile.

The corners of her mouth, raised with considerable effort, briefly trembled slightly, and this too was an expression he had never seen. Her deliberate avoidance of looking at Jeong Yeon-shin was also like that.

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible received Jeong Yeon-shin’s words with a deliberately composed profile.

“Well, think again. Who created this once-in-history occasion?”

“I did.”

She couldn’t answer Jeong Yeon-shin’s calm words. Absurdly, she seemed to have thought the Heavenly Demon manifested with complete martial arts would show her favor.

Jeong Yeon-shin shook his head.

“You grew up in comfort and luxury.”

“That’s natural. Who wouldn’t support this appearance and talent?”

He could see it was empty bravado.

Because unstable breathing could be felt. Whether because her composure had collapsed or from the backlash of manifesting the first Heavenly Demon on this earth, he didn’t know. Jeong Yeon-shin thought it was both.

She had experienced humiliation for the first time in her life, and Jeong Yeon-shin had witnessed that state.

It was then.

“What is that doing?”

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s question was directed at the Heavenly Demon.

Jeong Yeon-shin had also been fixing his gaze on her for long, but at this moment the Heavenly Demon had closed her eyes with a strange smile.

Quiet murmuring could also be heard.

“Strange things are running rampant. The world’s power has also reached its peak.”

Only after those words rang did upper energy center insight arise. The Heavenly Demon’s energy perception was endlessly spreading to sense all under heaven. As if she could deploy Grand Empress Dowager’s Wind King techniques with martial arts alone.

“Oh.”

What had she seen?

Interest different from when dealing with Little Heavenly Demon Invincible appeared on the Heavenly Demon’s face. The reason could be known from the story immediately given to Jeong Yeon-shin.

“A cripple and a tree, and also a worthless sword… If the era is like this, it’s right to accumulate such martial arts at that age. You won’t be bored unlike me.”

Whoosh—

Dark air burst out three times in succession. As if a giant gaze had bounced three times.

The Heavenly Demon laughed.

“Impudent.”

But Jeong Yeon-shin wasn’t swept away by such overwhelming atmosphere. Because he had seen through what had just happened, an immediate question arose.

“Did you see a woman resembling the moon? I’m curious about her well-being. I’d also like to ask where she resides.”

“Companion?”

“She is my master.”

At those words, the Heavenly Demon’s lips faintly fell.

“I won’t answer.”

“What?”

“I don’t know if you can understand now, but your master is only yourself. As I was.”

“My path is different. Tell me.”

At that moment, Baek Mi-ryeo’s head tilted to the side, and that alone dramatically changed the hall’s atmosphere. At the same time, dark energy churned and kneaded the entire space.

“Are you one who begs from enemies?”

Goosebumps ran down Jeong Yeon-shin’s strong spine. It could be called deep trembling. Unlike his inner composure, his body reacted automatically.

He asked back.

“Are you my enemy?”

An ambiguous smile appeared on the Heavenly Demon’s lips.

“I can be anything. That is demon.”

In the tension that swept down fine hairs.

The Heavenly Demon spoke only to Jeong Yeon-shin, naturally sharing words steeped with life experience. The more so, Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s snow-white face gradually paled.

Ming Cult.

Though a heretical cult, it was still a religion.

The Ming Cult Leader’s prestige, spurned by the sect founding patriarch, would be less than dust.

If this matter became known to the world, Little Heavenly Demon Invincible might no longer be able to remain as Ming Cult Leader. The followers’ support would also fade. Because they were fanatics.

She would become endlessly lonely.

‘Would there be even one person to guard her tomb after death?’

Jeong Yeon-shin slowly spoke.

“Seeing your attitude, it doesn’t seem you’ll readily give wisdom if asked.”

[I understand, so shut up.]

It was Little Heavenly Demon Invincible.

She raised her eyelashes unprecedentedly high and simultaneously wrapped herself in black flames and blue lightning. Literally jet-black and blue flames and lightning flowed from her entire body like rapids, but Jeong Yeon-shin felt all their true energy structures had changed instantly.

In terms of fist techniques, it was like completely changing the way of using fine muscles. She had overhauled the form of techniques after being read once by the Heavenly Demon. Even though most jianghu people devoted their lives to perfecting transmitted techniques.

Bang!

Before the Heavenly Demon.

Dark blue true energy fragments scattered in pieces like mirrors. Before long, Little Heavenly Demon Invincible was striking down with her true angle at the Heavenly Demon’s feet. While meeting eyes with her sect founding patriarch.

[If you created a great religion like Ming Cult, didn’t you hope your name would continue forever?]

The Heavenly Demon’s indifferent face naturally reflected in her pupils.

“That was charity.”

[What?]

“Didn’t you use the name Heavenly Demon and martial learning usefully? I didn’t particularly need underlings.”

Then the Heavenly Demon slowly concluded.

“When I’m carved into all creation, what meaning is there besides myself?”

[……!]

A hand reaching Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s abdomen while tearing apart surging black flames and constantly flickering blue lightning like paper.

It was the technique that had absorbed Silent Radiant Sword Mirror’s constellations. Since it could even absorb condensed explosive force bodies floating in distant skies, it would be more than enough to grasp Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s energy center like a toy.

Jeong Yeon-shin stepped one step at swift speed simultaneously with insight. With Divine Beggar Zhu Guang having virtually retired alongside Ma Yeon-jeok, it was clearly the world’s fastest advancing footwork.

Whoosh!

The moment his vision crumpled and expanded, Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s back of the head filled it.

Grasping her shoulder and pulling with Myriad Heavens Flower Rain’s absorption technique came first. With the opposite hand he threw Enter The Divine Sword into the void, and in that instant formed Eternal Blossom Fist Technique Heaven Breaking’s tension in each extended finger joint.

Rumble!

He pressed down on the back of the Heavenly Demon’s hand before thunder could fully ring. The hand gripping torn robe.

‘Heavy.’

It was very strange.

Despite pressing down from above, absurdly heavy weight could be felt. No matter from which direction he attacked, it seemed he would ultimately feel pressed down.

“You aimed at demonic martial arts, but it could be used in all techniques. Your nature is well felt.”

Though merely blocking Star-Absorbing Great Method’s mysteries was all, she gave praise as if Jeong Yeon-shin was remarkable for that alone. Even that tone was plain and natural.

Meanwhile, her hand didn’t descend an inch.

Jeong Yeon-shin newly realized.

That the ancient and modern greatest demon had just flicked her fingers as a second strike before his eyes. At the same time, the Heavenly Demon’s body retreated one step like a mirage and kicked Jeong Yeon-shin’s jaw with a bang.

Immediately dust filling the cave while rushing violently like an earthquake. The protective energy perfected with the essence called Brilliant Star in the north poured explosive tinnitus even into his head. It meant defense was overwhelming.

But Jeong Yeon-shin again lowered his head and flashed blue-green eye-light. There was still something lacking in the opponent’s energy accumulation.

It was an instant.

He confirmed himself reflected in the Heavenly Demon’s pupils.

The forms of various Northern Kings, Divine Thief, and Six Star Lords overlapped with himself like quickly turning pages.

The Heavenly Demon’s lips twisted like laughter.

“You’re the first whose mind remains intact after taking a proper hit. I tried reproducing my leg techniques from when I was alive.”

It was as she said.

The scene of the Heavenly Demon’s legs inscribed in space for an instant was the most spectacular among all combat paths Jeong Yeon-shin had seen. The trajectory and speed of pouring out power contained in feet, the distribution of force was godly.

She seemed to have controlled her own body like a puppet by bouncing it with finger wind. Though Jeong Yeon-shin also understood the principle, reproducing the first Heavenly Demon’s ultimate techniques with Baek Mi-ryeo’s body was a different matter.

She was indeed a monster.

“…That era must have been peaceful.”

“Compared to your world, it might be so.”

A form of laughing off Jeong Yeon-shin’s provocation with one corner of her mouth. She was literally the absolute being of defying heaven.

“I must dispose of this first, so don’t interfere anymore.”

The next moment, the Heavenly Demon’s voice rang from behind Jeong Yeon-shin. It was also right before Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s eyes.

“It’s shameful to have it in my sight.”

[Noon Bright Lightning!]

The cave brightening blue as daylight with Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s will. A net of lightning tightened around the Heavenly Demon from all eight directions, and the stone floor brushed by its path spewed acrid burnt smell along with crackling lightning.

But the Heavenly Demon gathered those lightning bolts like tree vines all at once, then spread them wide left and right.

Seeing the invisible, touching the untouchable. A state different even from natural body. The words that automatically arose in Jeong Yeon-shin’s mind at that moment were ‘Heavenly Demon Body.’

‘A realm the Heavenly Demon built herself…!’

Why was it?

In an instant, Jeong Yeon-shin had rotated once around the Heavenly Demon’s body and was holding hands with Little Heavenly Demon Invincible.

A body that had swum like light rays through completely different time axes. It had moved automatically as his mind arose.

[……!]

He pulled as it was.

Little Heavenly Demon Invincible’s eyes, shocked beyond surprise, passed by sideways.

At the same time, she raised her entire body’s demonic energy in the same flow as the explosive force surging from Jeong Yeon-shin’s palm. Simply unconsciously, following the same combat sense as Jeong Yeon-shin.

Thin sleeves tangled rustling and created friction between demonic energy and dharma power like flint and steel, and when Jeong Yeon-shin’s Three Taoist Pure Forces penetrated into it.

Thump—

A blue-green sky blade rose between the two, raising its blade edge.

It was Starry Night.

“……”

Soon all lightning quietly faded, and the Heavenly Demon who had stopped in place asked Jeong Yeon-shin.

“What is your name?”

“Lightning Genius of the Jeong Family. As Divine Sword Group Leader of the world’s greatest sect called Desolate Fortress, I have the status of caring for people’s livelihood.”

“Isn’t what you’re trying to protect a harm to the world?”

She asked once more. The Heavenly Demon’s face was unprecedentedly cold, that temperament reminiscent of space without even a single star cluster. She seemed to draw in souls as well as all things.

Jeong Yeon-shin answered calmly.

“Even weeds become divine swords in my hands.”

“I understand you observed my manifestation. What did you seek to do so?”

“A way to survive.”

It was a powerful voice. He put great will into living. Conversely, the Heavenly Demon showed great disappointment as she had with Little Heavenly Demon Invincible. Until Jeong Yeon-shin added words like writing calligraphy.

“The world.”

He emphasized the finishing touch with martial arts at the forefront.

Instantly.

The Heavenly Demon’s face changed as if switching masks. It was a bizarre expression change. And soon, wild laughter began flowing from her lips.