Ascension of the Heavenly Demon - Chapter 222

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

Chapter 222

The third floor great hall of the Hwangbo Family manor, Taegang Hall.

After Fist King Hwangbo Yun became absorbed in martial studies to reach a new realm, meetings presided over by the Family Head were not held frequently.

All meetings regarding family operations were presided over by Young Family Head Hwangbo Yeonwu.

However, when Hwangbo Yun, who had rarely convened meetings, entered the great hall, the retainers who had gathered and were waiting in advance bowed their heads with slight tension.

“We greet the Family Head.”

“Mm, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you all. Is this the first time we’ve all gathered together like this since the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?”

“That is correct.”

Though he had visited them individually for conversations and occasional drinking sessions, it had truly been a long time since all the Hwangbo Family retainers had gathered to meet with the Family Head.

After brief greetings asking about each other’s well-being.

“Since you’ve already heard the situation from the Young Family Head, tell me what each of you thinks.”

The first to respond to Hwangbo Yun’s words was First Elder Gang Cheonwi, who oversaw the family’s discipline and punishment.

“Isn’t this too much speculation?”

“Why do you think so?”

“Isn’t the Tang Family’s intention too obvious? They must know that not only we, but also the Hebei Peng Family and Namgung Family are closely watching their movements. They must also be considering that opposition could arise and an anti-alliance could be formed.”

“Hmm…”

“It seems the Young Family Head is getting ahead of himself. For now, it would be better to observe a little more.”

At those words, some nodded in agreement.

It wasn’t to make things difficult for Hwangbo Yeonwu.

The current Hwangbo Family retainers were not composed mainly of blood relatives.

Employment without distinction between branch families and affiliated families.

That was a voluntary choice, not a forced change to adapt to the new era.

Therefore, they did not antagonize each other internally.

They were simply trying to find a more correct direction so that the Hwangbo Family could extend its branches throughout All Under Heaven.

“Are there no dissenting opinions?”

When Hwangbo Yun asked, Third Elder Hwangbo Munyeong, who handled external negotiations and relationships with outside sects, stood up and answered.

“I think it’s a reasonably plausible speculation.”

“What’s your reasoning?”

“Because the recent atmosphere has been unusual, according to what I’ve heard from merchant groups and escort agencies traveling to and from Hubei.”

“Explain in detail.”

“Though it has temporarily slowed down now, the Zhuge Family’s expansion was excessively fast. As soon as they gained control of Dangang District and formed friendly relations with Wudang, there was friction with the Namgung Family.”

“That’s right.”

“At the same time, everyone knows they sought to increase their strength by subjugating the unorthodox sects. And they immediately defeated the Namgung Family.”

At his continued explanation, Hwangbo Yun nodded with a calm expression.

“But they didn’t face the Namgung Family with strategy alone. There was a martial artist who served as the main force.”

“Mm, you mean the martial artist called Violent Dragon?”

“That’s correct.”

Violent Dragon Zhuge Munhyeon.

His name appeared one day as if it had suddenly fallen from the sky.

“You know about Gang Mugakju of the Namgung Family, whom he defeated. He was someone the Namgung Family Head, who never employs even blood relatives if they lack ability, kept directly by his side. And he endured by that side for ten years.”

“He’s an outstanding martial artist.”

“It’s known that Violent Dragon defeated such a person in just two exchanges. If that’s true, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’s unquestionably the best among the later generation masters.”

“But isn’t that a greatly exaggerated rumor? I heard he had just completed his coming-of-age ceremony at the time…”

“Everyone thinks so. But what if it wasn’t the Zhuge Family that raised Violent Dragon?”

“Not the Zhuge Family?”

“Family Head, and everyone else, do you think the Zhuge Family is capable of raising such a martial artist?”

“Hmm… So Third Elder, are you saying that the Tang Family has been preparing for this by joining hands with the Zhuge Family long ago?”

“In my view, that seems much more likely.”

Opinions were divided in two.

But both couldn’t be accommodated.

Nor could they be left alone.

What if, by any chance, the Tang Family was behind everything as the Young Family Head and Third Elder thought, and they formed an alliance using the pretext of the Demonic Sect’s rise?

Power would be reorganized around them.

‘The Tang Family…’

A family that couldn’t be trusted.

Also a family that had long reigned as the hegemon of Sichuan.

If they let their guard down for a moment and missed the timing, not only the Hwangbo Family but everyone would end up like dogs chasing chickens.

Once the flow created by the Tang Family became stronger and stronger, they would eventually be swept away.

Their dream toward All Under Heaven would crumble.

“Family Head, and elders. May I say something?”

When Hwangbo Yeonwu, who had been contemplating for a while, carefully opened his mouth, the attention of those present focused on him.

“How about we try to foster friendship at this opportunity?”

“Friendship?”

“Yes, it’s soon the Family Head’s birthday.”

“…?”

“Though I’ve never experienced it myself, I heard that during the era when the Murim Alliance existed, whenever the head of each family had a birthday, they would invite close associates to foster friendship. At that time, the young family heads or heirs of each family would visit as envoys, didn’t they?”

At his son’s words, Hwangbo Yun suddenly realized something and smiled slightly.

“Are you saying we should use my birthday to hold something similar to a Dragon and Phoenix Gathering?”

“That’s correct.”

“Dragon and Phoenix Gathering… Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.”

It wasn’t only Hwangbo Yun who nodded and smiled.

It wasn’t a bad strategy.

If the Tang Family had some intention, observing first was the priority.

If they were invited to a place that promoted harmony under the pretext of friendship, they couldn’t refuse to come.

The same would be true for other families.

They too must have already heard about the gathering being held at the Zhuge Family.

They must be troubled.

The probability of them responding was certainly high.

Because they would want to find out something through this meeting.

Even if the Tang Family and Zhuge Family didn’t come, it didn’t matter.

If they gathered the rest and formed an alliance opposing them, those families wouldn’t be able to freely reveal their sinister intentions.

“What do you all think of the Young Family Head’s opinion?”

“We will follow your command.”

The divided opinions finally reached agreement.

“Good, Third Elder, immediately make plans for this and convey my intentions to each family.”

“Yes!”

The meeting concluded with everyone united in purpose.

Just as the Zhuge Family had moved, the Hwangbo Family also began to move little by little toward the future.

* * *

Around that time at Cheonseong Pavilion on Yungzhong Mountain.

The hellish training, so intense that they couldn’t even remember how each day passed, had already continued for about two months.

It was survival.

A time of endurance where they gave their all to avoid being brutally trampled by the instructors who were fed up with them.

However, dropouts and those who gave up appeared in succession, and of the over one hundred training participants, only about thirty remained.

There was no need for many.

What was needed were demons who could jump into the battlefield and reverse the tide of war in an instant.

Thirty was sufficient.

Looking at them sitting upright in the training ground, Zhuge Munhyeon couldn’t hide his satisfied expression.

‘Finally, they look somewhat useful.’

How gratifying.

Setting aside their bodies covered in wounds with hardly a healthy spot to be found… look at those eyes filled with poison and killing intent.

They’re practically like evil spirits.

Who would think they were warriors from a scholarly family upon seeing them?

“You’ve all worked hard during this time.”

“…”

“This Chief Instructor is very satisfied that you’ve survived like this. Now we can finally begin training in earnest.”

Finally?

In earnest?

Then what exactly was all the training they’d done until now?

The warriors’ eyes trembled as they recalled the hellish two months.

‘That damn bastard!’

‘Someone give me a blade. I’ll cut that bastard’s throat.’

Most had such looks in their eyes, but no one acted on it.

It was because they were still in a state of power dispersal.

No, even if they had their internal energy, how could they defeat that monster?

If they rashly attacked, they might end up in the infirmary like those who were eliminated first.

From what they heard, some who couldn’t endure the training and were carried away were still shitting blood.

“Chief Instructor!”

“Please speak.”

“I’d like to know what this ‘training in earnest’ entails.”

Jang Gokseong, who had mustered his courage, raised his hand and asked with a grave expression.

Initially full of complaints, he had participated enthusiastically in training after seeing Zhuge Domyeong get beaten like a dog.

They needed to know what it was to prepare mentally at least.

Surely he wouldn’t hit them just for asking, would he?

“That’s an excellent question.”

“…”

“From now on, everyone gathered here will cultivate the Small Heaven Formation Heart Method.”

“Pardon?”

The answer was unexpected.

The Small Heaven Formation Heart Method?

They were well aware of the rumors about it.

That Zhuge Munhyeon had transformed what had been nearly abandoned due to slow growth into a supreme divine art.

All Cheonseong Pavilion trainees since then learned only that method.

“Chief Instructor!”

“Please speak.”

Jang Gokseong, who had raised his hand high, gained another opportunity to speak.

“The Small Heaven Formation Heart Method? I’ve heard it’s currently the finest heart method in the main house, but we’re already practicing different heart methods.”

“Good point. That’s correct. Originally, different heart methods practiced together could cause serious side effects.”

“But how…?”

“However! I’ve created an advanced version of the Small Heaven Formation Heart Method for all of you.”

“Pardon?”

The warriors couldn’t help but feel bewildered, but the two uncles just nodded as if it were natural.

Nothing that bastard did was particularly surprising anymore.

He might even make bean paste from red beans.

“From now on, you won’t learn any other heart method and will only practice the Small Heaven Immortal Heart Method. This heart method achieves results more than twice as fast as existing ones…”

“Tw-twice as fast?”

“Hmm, thinking about it, twice was too extreme.”

When Zhuge Munhyeon admitted his mistake and quickly changed his words, the warriors nodded.

Twice as fast… wasn’t that too much of an exaggeration?

And it wouldn’t conflict with existing heart methods?

If such a martial art existed, everyone would rush to learn it first.

But Zhuge Munhyeon showed three fingers with an utterly calm expression and said:

“Three times.”

“…?”

“…!”

This time even the two uncles couldn’t hide their surprise.

That was incomparable to miracles like making bean paste from red beans.

But it really was three times.

Exactly three times.

He had said twice because he was afraid they’d be shocked.

“What, don’t you believe it?”

“Th-that is…”

The warriors averted their gazes and murmured among themselves.

He understood.

But it was true.

While they were doing basic training, Zhuge Munhyeon had been going back and forth to the Military Strategy Hall, helping Zhuge Doyun who was devising new formations for him.

The spiritual power of the Receiving Spirit Orb alone wasn’t enough to gauge the effectiveness of formations.

During various experiments with formations, he had thought hard.

About ways to make the warriors grow in a short time.

Physical training alone wasn’t enough.

He needed to dramatically increase their internal energy.

No matter how much he pondered, there was only one answer.

Because there was only one heart method that explosively increased internal energy.

The Demonic Path’s Heaven Defying Art.

So he tried mixing them.

Adding a drop of the Demonic Path to Zhuge Martial Learning.

‘Its name! Heaven Defying Small Heaven Formation… or should it be Small Heaven Formation Heaven Defying Heart Method?’

The order wasn’t important.

What mattered was that this martial art would represent a specific warrior unit of the Zhuge Family.

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