Appearance of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 54
Hyeol-do Majun settled into his seat with a sharp exhale.
The moment he sat, a woman’s voice drifted across the Upper Platform—bored, discontented.
“Why did we gather so quickly anyway? Was there any need to convene this soon? If the first trial is merely passing through the Illusion Formation, we could have waited at least half a Double Hour before assembling.”
Beneath the Thin Mask, full red lips curled downward in protest.
It was Yo-hwa Majun, mistress of Yao-hwa Palace.
To Yo-hwa Majun’s complaint, Sama Majun—patriarch of the Sama Clan—replied in measured tones.
“Children invariably exceed an adult’s expectations. We must align ourselves with the Entering Formation time, prepared for the possibility that a student might pierce the Illusion Formation sooner than anticipated.”
“Hmph. You’re saying the Illusion Formation created by the Master of Hwan-yeong Palace yields so easily to snot-nosed brats? That sounds rather like doubting his abilities, doesn’t it? Wouldn’t you agree, Master of Hwan-yeong Palace?”
Yo-hwa Majun’s gaze fixed on Hwan-yeong Majun, seated several positions away.
Draped entirely in black robes, hood drawn up to conceal his features, he sat as the master of Hwan-yeong Palace.
The one who had prepared the Illusion Formation for the first trial.
From beneath the darkness of the black robes came a thin, rasping voice, sharp as a blade.
“Hmph. I don’t fall for such crude provocation. I’ve said it before—our Illusion Formation is nothing like the Array Techniques gentlemen study.”
“Is that so?”
Yo-hwa Majun, having hoped to stoke conflict between the Sama Clan and Hwan-yeong Palace, clicked her tongue in disappointment.
“True, I agree that mere children with barely any experience cannot easily pass through. This Illusion Formation I crafted with particular care, and absolutely—”
But Hwan-yeong Majun’s words died unfinished.
In an instant, silence swept across the Upper Platform.
Thud—
Hwan-yeong Majun lurched to his feet, his face one of disbelief.
“Mm-hm.”
From the edge of the platform came an amused interjection.
It was Am-yeong Majun.
“Are you sure you were being careful?”
Beneath his half-mask, Am-yeong Majun’s mouth curved into a sharp grin.
“Because to me, that looks like a snot-nosed brat who barely knows which way is up.”
Am-yeong Majun let out a low chuckle.
Yet none of them—not Hwan-yeong Majun, not a soul—could muster a reply to his taunting remark.
They had already sensed it moments before, as Hwan-yeong Majun’s words were still forming.
The approach of the Master of Maryong Hall and a student, their presences drawing near.
“This…”
How could this be?
Hwan-yeong Majun’s hands trembled as he watched the student bound eagerly toward the tables, moving with unrestrained joy.
‘This can’t be. This cannot possibly…’
What is this student?
Did he not pass through the Illusion Formation?
Why?
Why does only this student receive special treatment—
– First to pass the trial.
The Master of Maryong Hall’s voice transmission echoed through the minds of the demon lords.
Having seated the student, he turned halfway toward the Upper Platform.
Beneath his tousled hair, sharp eyes fixed on Hwan-yeong Majun, who looked ready to burst from his seat at any moment.
– Proper procedures were followed. Understand that clearly.
“…!”
Those words struck Hwan-yeong Majun with even greater shock.
‘You’re telling me he actually passed the Illusion Formation?’
Barely a quarter-hour had elapsed since word came that the trial had begun.
The gazes of the demon lords had already shifted, glinting with intrigue as they fixed on Hwan-yeong Majun.
Just moments before, he had stood there bursting with pride, boasting of his Illusion Formation.
Now that vaunted creation lay in tatters before them—a fine spectacle of humiliation.
True to expectation, Hwan-yeong Majun stood awkwardly, unable to conceal his bewilderment—a source of considerable amusement for the others.
Meanwhile.
Tsk-tsk.
‘I did advise standing out…’
But I didn’t expect such a flamboyant entrance. Quite impressive.
‘Our little one.’
Am-yeong Majun continued to chuckle softly, his hand held to his lips.
Jewang-geom should have seen this.
This audacity—this poise—shocking the very pillars of the Demonic Sect from the moment of entry.
* * *
“Delicious…!”
Yeon-woo’s eyes gleamed and sparkled.
“First come, first served—the seating follows rank, so everything on this table is yours.”
The hall master had seated him at a place laden with what could only be called an extravagant feast.
“Really? Really I can eat all of this? All of it?”
“Speak properly. It’s all yours, so eat it or waste it—do as you like.”
With that, the hall master climbed up to the Upper Platform above.
The wooden-railed platform above was crowded with people.
He didn’t know who they were, but Yeon-woo threw himself into the meal with unbridled enthusiasm.
“Ohhhhh how—how could food like this even exist in the world?!”
For Yeon-woo, raised on nothing but wild animal meat his entire life, the banquet spread of Maryong Hall was staggering beyond belief.
There was even something that looked like roasted greens, and it tasted wonderful!
Time passed as he sat there alone, munching contentedly.
“Urrgh-.”
Finally, Yeon-woo patted his now-rounded belly and pulled away from the table.
Laughter echoed from somewhere—a soft chuckling sound.
Yeon-woo’s head snapped toward the far end of the Upper Platform.
“….”
Feeling the child’s gaze fixed upon him from beyond the railing, Am-yeong Majun unconsciously wiped the smile from his face.
‘What—does he see me?’
That shouldn’t be possible.
Wait, why am I tense…? Ahem. Hmm.
‘Anyway.’
Am-yeong Majun’s gaze shifted to the table where Yeon-woo sat.
‘He ate for quite a while.’
Nearly half a Double Hour, was it?
Of course, he’d eaten slowly to savor the flavors, but he’d spent almost half a Double Hour absorbed in the meal.
What was even more striking was how much food remained untouched.
‘Harsh—this Maryong Hall is truly harsh.’
One hundred twenty students passed the first trial.
Yet only one hundred tables were laid out.
And unlike the first table that began with such extravagant delicacies, the final ones contained nothing but a handful of dumplings.
‘The Hierarchical Distribution System.’
This was the Demonic Sect’s core principle—the order of the strong—transplanted directly into Maryong Hall.
The strong seized everything.
And the more power one possessed, the more one enjoyed and dominated.
The weak received only what was left behind.
To enjoy and possess more, one had no choice but to grow stronger—the Law of the Jungle made flesh.
This hall master was determined to teach that order thoroughly within these walls.
‘Truly.’
Am-yeong Majun’s gaze moved to the center of the platform, to Gwi-ya-gaek—the master of the Heavenly Sword Demon Family and hall master himself—seated there.
Watching him yawn repeatedly with an expression of utter boredom, Am-yeong Majun let out a soft chuckle.
‘He’s more meticulous than he looks, that one.’
More time passed.
It was less than half a Double Hour and a quarter-hour when it happened.
“…What?”
Another student entered the banquet hall.
Seeing Yeon-woo sprawled out flat after finishing his meal, the newcomer froze for a long moment.
Then, sensing a presence from behind, he frowned and moved to the second table to sit.
“….”
The second table held fewer dishes than the first.
Yet it remained what could be called a resplendent spread.
And yet he did not eat.
When the third and fourth students arrived and found their places.
He only sat before his table with fists clenched, glaring at the food.
“You’re not going to eat?”
Yeon-woo, watching this strange behavior with curiosity, couldn’t help but ask.
“That stuff’s really delicious, you know? And that too. The red meat’s a bit spicy, but, ah, and that roasted greenery is pretty good….”
“You….”
“…?”
The second disciple to arrive turned to look at Yeon-woo, his fists clenched tight.
His gaze was sharp as a blade.
“How long have you been here?”
“Me?”
Hmm—
Yeon-woo considered briefly, then answered.
“Quite a while? Must be half a double hour since I arrived. Now that I think about it, why are you all so late? Weren’t any of you hungry?”
“Half a double hour…you say…?”
He’d sensed the disparity from the moment Yeon-woo lay there patting his belly after finishing his meal.
Half a double hour?
Half a double hour ago was when the test began.
“You didn’t pass through the Illusion Formation?”
“Oh, I got through that.”
“Then how did you possibly—!”
“Ah, so everyone else got held up watching that? Guess I wasn’t interested!”
“You weren’t…interested?”
Was it something that could simply be dismissed by lacking interest? It shouldn’t be possible.
“And the Illusion Formation…?”
“I just ignored it.”
At those words, two figures flinched and trembled.
“Ignored…it?”
It was the second disciple who had been conversing with Yeon-woo and Hwan-yeong Majun, who had been watching Yeon-woo intently from atop the Upper Platform.
‘How dare he dismiss my Illusion Formation…!’
Rough, wild energy began to surge around Hwan-yeong Majun.
“Enough.”
Gwi-ya-gaek, the Master of Maryong Hall who sat at the center of the Upper Platform, rose from his seat with an air of indifference.
Hwan-yeong Majun startled and hastily reined in his energy.
Had that rebuke been directed at him? The Master wondered as he turned—but his gaze was fixed on the disciples below the platform.
The Master’s seat was not obscured by his feet, so the disciples could see him clearly looking down at them.
“Don’t overstep. Sit in the order you passed. I’ll eliminate anyone who causes trouble without mercy.”
The disciples who had just arrived and were about to quarrel over their seats closed their mouths and filed to their places.
As Hwan-yeong Majun watched this unfold, his gaze followed the Master as he turned away with a yawn, then fixed itself once more on Yeon-woo.
That arrogant young fool, lying there drumming his belly with satisfaction.
The light in Hwan-yeong Majun’s eyes as he stared at that fool grew cold and sharp.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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