Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 19

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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 19
Seven days and nights after my meeting with the Chief Military Commander, I stepped out into the courtyard, using the sunlight as my path forward.
“Ugh.”
With each step, my body felt as though it were sinking into the earth. My entire frame was leaden, as if I were trudging forward while bearing the weight of boulders upon my shoulders.
‘Damn it. How much did I even move?’
The aftereffects of that previous battle still lingered within me. While not severe enough to call it an injury, a creeping fever persisted relentlessly.
What grated most was the fact that I had struggled against that precious Demon.
‘Not only did I have difficulty against such an opponent, but now I’m in this pathetic state.’
No matter how I considered it, raising my cultivation was the most pressing priority. I steadied my breathing calmly and assumed a meditative posture.
‘Let me check on this.’
Whoooosh!
I drew demonic energy to its limit and concentrated it within my palms.
The moment I threw a punch, successive waves of force erupted in succession, tearing through the empty air.
It was the Arhat Fist—the foundational technique and essence of Shaolin.
The energy extended along its familiar trajectory, but then….
Screeeech!
“Argh!”
A searing pain erupted from my meridians. In an instant, my energy scattered and excruciating agony flooded through me.
I had failed to execute the Arhat Fist.
‘Why?’
Either my inner strength was insufficient, or demonic energy was fundamentally incompatible with this technique—one of the two had to be true.
By conventional wisdom, the latter conclusion would be correct, yet I had encountered no problems when deploying the Great Compassion Palm or the Prajna Palm.
Therefore, it could only mean that my cultivation level was not yet sufficient to support it.
If that were the case, then with enough inner strength, I could execute not only the Arhat Fist but even the supreme techniques beyond it?
‘How is this even possible….’
The more I cultivated the Formless Divine Art, the more questions accumulated like mountains, rather than answers.
If I elevated my realm according to what was written in the secret manual, would I naturally come to understand it?
‘Then when will I reach this so-called hundred-fold stage or whatever it is?’
The thought of seeking out a spirit elixir to consume naturally brought to mind the summoning stone I had hidden away in my previous life.
‘Surely no one would have dared to touch it.’
It was then.
‘Hmm?’
A sudden presence reached my senses, and I turned my head to see a figure emerging from the faint mist.
‘Who is this Demon now?’
As I narrowed my eyes to observe, I quickly discerned the identity of this uninvited guest. It was an impression not easily forgotten.
When one encounters enough people, one develops an intuitive sense of what type of person they are, and this individual fell into a distinctly clear category.
One might say his face bore the unmistakable mark of a madman not to be trifled with.
“Oh, what an unexpected honor. It has been some time, Gwangmyeong Left Envoy.”
The Gwangmyeong Left Envoy entered the courtyard without a word in response. The moment our eyes met—his gleaming with an ominous crimson light—my spine froze in dread.
‘Now that I think about it….’
When Yeon Hong explained the organizational structure of the Demonic Sect, she mentioned that the title of Gwangmyeong Messenger referred to the Chief Abbot of the Dharma Protection Institute.
At the time, it seemed irrelevant to me, so I paid it little mind. But now, the significance felt entirely different. The Dharma Protection Institute, I had learned, was the organization tasked with safeguarding the Cult Leader and his successors.
Perhaps he had come to hold me accountable for my guidance of the Fourth Prince.
“What brings you to this place?”
The Gwangmyeong Left Envoy spoke in a low, measured tone.
“Interesting news reached my ears, so I came to see for myself. I’m curious how you’ve changed so drastically, and there’s much that puzzles me.”
His voice was remarkably level, belying the chill that had frozen my spine moments before.
Whether his curiosity was genuine or whether I sensed a hint of goodwill beneath his questions, I found myself relaxing.
“Ha, well then. It seems I’ve been hearing that quite often lately. People change at the slightest provocation—I don’t understand why everyone finds it so remarkable.”
“Perhaps that’s precisely what’s remarkable. Even if you’ve shed your pessimism, the root cause hasn’t vanished, yet you act as though it has.”
I narrowed my eyes, studying the Gwangmyeong Left Envoy.
“The root cause? You mean my dantian?”
“What else could it be? Have you forgotten you came seeking counsel from the Cult Leader about your constitution?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right…”
Now that I thought about it, I had seen such an entry in Cheon So-hyun’s journal. He had visited the Cult Leader’s Hall to inquire about his physical condition.
I cleared my throat and continued.
“I’ve decided to live differently now. If cultivation cannot resolve a problem, then perhaps there’s a reason for accepting it as it is.”
“It’s nearly impossible to progress while settling for complacency.”
“It’s not complacency—I’ve simply released my urgency. After all, this is happening within my own body. Won’t time resolve it?”
The Gwangmyeong Left Envoy let out a soft chuckle.
“Yet you seem quite busy for someone at peace with such matters.”
He had apparently learned of my meeting with the Chief Military Commander.
“…”
I hesitated, weighing whether it was safe to tell this demon that I harbored doubts about the Great Sect.
In truth, since the Chief Military Commander had already accepted my position, it would likely become known eventually, so there was no great harm in revealing it.
But.
‘Something about this feels deeply wrong.’
Those eyes, swirling with crimson energy, resembled a rabid beast that should not be touched lightly, and I found my words catching in my throat.
“The meeting wasn’t about my constitution—I had many questions to ask. It’s awkward to explain. If you’re truly curious, ask the Chief Military Commander yourself.”
After a moment of silence, the Gwangmyeong Left Envoy spoke in a heavier tone.
“Then how should I understand your conflict with the Fourth Prince?”
Dense demonic energy flowed from around the envoy. Though it was merely a fragment of his true power, it carried a weight that made breathing difficult.
Of course, it was not enough to shake my composure.
“What else? Brothers spar and grow through it, don’t they?”
“…”
“A bit of rough play now and then clears the air between us. I gave him proper instruction, so he’s learned something valuable. His reckless behavior will diminish in time, and soon enough he’ll be grateful for it.”
I spoke without the slightest concern.
“But it doesn’t seem you came because of that fool of a brother. What business brings you here?”
I could easily infer that the Gwangmyeong Left Envoy’s visit had nothing to do with my conflict with the Fourth Prince. From the start, this demon seemed indifferent to anything not directly concerning the Cult Leader.
The Gwangmyeong Left Envoy smiled faintly, then produced a wooden box from his robes and extended it toward me.
“Please accept this.”
“Hm? What is this?”
The ebony chest was adorned with an antique cloud motif and a massive black dragon rendered in exquisite detail. The dragon’s pearl seemed to rest precariously within the chest’s seam, and through that narrow gap, a subtle aura seeped forth with an otherworldly mystique.
“…!”
It resembled a scene where the great dragon of the Demonic Path itself emanated divine radiance—at a glance, I recognized this as no ordinary artifact.
“This is a divine treasure bestowed by the Cult Leader.”
“…A divine treasure?”
“A reward for the rare curiosity you have demonstrated. This grace is immeasurable beyond reckoning, so endeavor without waste to make proper use of it.”
An irrepressible surge of anticipation welled up within me.
“Does it contain an elixir of some kind?”
Gwangmyeong Left Envoy nodded.
“It contains a Demonic Restoration Pill. Open it and see.”
“…!”
Thump, thump.
My still-aching body seemed to cry out in exultation.
What is an elixir? It is a mystery of the Realm itself, spoken of as a stroke of fortune in Jianghu.
From spiritual pills refined through alchemical methods to treasures born of nature’s accumulated essence over countless ages—their varieties were manifold, yet each boasted extraordinary efficacy.
‘Not only does inner strength accumulate….’
They excel at tempering sinews and muscle, purifying meridians and blood vessels. In essence, they would prove absolutely invaluable in stabilizing both body and spirit.
I carefully opened the chest.
Click.
‘Ah, how remarkable.’
Between cascading white vapors, verdant herbs cradled a pale rose-tinted pill.
Unexpectedly, the green herbs brimmed with vitality. They seemed to maintain their freshness through the elixir’s essence.
It was a spiritual treasure imbued with such pure qi that the name “Demonic” seemed wholly inappropriate.
As I examined various corners of the chest, Gwangmyeong Left Envoy interjected.
“The Demonic Restoration Pill is counted among the sect’s most prized elixirs, and absorbing it alone is exceedingly difficult. Minimal preparations have been made, though….”
Gwangmyeong Left Envoy’s gaze swept across me with a lowered, penetrating intensity.
“Even those preparations will likely prove useless. Once your body and spirit have stabilized, visit the Dharma Protection Institute.”
“….”
Was he offering assistance so I could absorb the elixir?
He seemed to believe that integrating it alone would be impossible. Yet his concern was largely unfounded—no matter how vast the Demonic Restoration Pill’s yang essence, it posed no problem for me.
‘Heh, indeed.’
Gathering and refining qi was as simple as lying down and eating rice cakes for someone like me. I lifted the Demonic Restoration Pill and examined it closely.
Through my fingertips, I felt a warm, intense heat.
‘The Demonic Sect’s power is far more formidable than I anticipated.’
An elixir of this caliber would ordinarily set the entire Jianghu ablaze with bloodshed merely by appearing, yet they offered it so readily for a single spark of curiosity?
‘Excellent.’
With my resolve solidified, I turned directly toward Gwangmyeong Left Envoy.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but is there truly a need to travel so far?”
The moment Gwangmyeong Left Envoy reached out with a startled expression.
“What are you—!”
Gulp.
I swallowed the Demonic Restoration Pill whole without hesitation.
* * *
Gwangmyeong Left Envoy’s eyes sharpened. His gaze fixed upon Cheon So-hyun, who sat in lotus position.
A pallid complexion, both hands wrapped in bandages.
Since he did not appear to have completely shaken off the aftermath of demonic obsession, even a hasty judgment could prove fatal in this situation.
‘…What in the world is he doing.’
He could understand the desire to swallow such a precious spiritual elixir as quickly as possible. It would not only restore his damaged body but also prevent disputes over the elixir itself.
However, when spiritual energy became excessive, matters took a different turn.
If a weakened body and spirit could not withstand the heat of circulating energy and burned away one’s vital force, even the internal power one possessed would scatter to the winds.
Spiritual energy beyond one’s capacity to handle would instead become poison.
Gwangmyeong Left Envoy’s eyes grew cold.
Though faint, he harbored clear goodwill toward the Third Prince. Was he not the very being in whom the Sect Master of Ten Demons—soon to transcend the mortal realm—had shown interest?
And yet.
“How dare he commit such a foolish act…!”
Whoosh—
The Left Envoy’s eyes burned an even deeper crimson. Fierce demonic energy radiated outward, suppressing the entire area as his turbulent emotions laid bare.
As if a typhoon had descended, the mountains and vegetation began to tremble.
His rage was not born from the vanished Demonic Restoration Pill. It stemmed from something far more important, something absolute above all else.
‘How dare he.’
To sully the Cult Leader’s rare expectations in such a manner—this filled him with extreme displeasure.
Crack!
With a sound like tearing space, power concentrated in the Left Envoy’s palm. As his hand trembled with gathering force.
Boom!
A thunderous impact struck, and Cheon So-hyun’s lower abdomen swelled momentarily before both shoulders shuddered slightly.
“…?”
In that instant, Gwangmyeong Left Envoy’s brow furrowed. This was the reaction that appeared upon completing the initial stage of body refinement.
‘How is this possible?’
When the yang energy of the Demonic Restoration Pill surged, a burning heat should have flooded in immediately. Yet the Third Prince’s expression remained serene.
As though this were nothing, as though he had anticipated it.
The Third Prince’s internal power circulation far exceeded what he had estimated.
“….”
Soon the energies in the area gradually subsided.
‘He acted with confidence in his own abilities.’
If so, there was room for consideration. It was better that he had acted on faith in his own talent rather than being swayed by foolish greed.
As long as he did not become crippled, he could use this present mistake as a stepping stone for further cultivation.
Gwangmyeong Left Envoy expanded his perception widely, sweeping across the estate.
“…!”
In that instant, his expression stiffened rigidly.
What could be the worst situation for the Third Prince?
His expression remained serene, as though the embodiment of qi was nothing at all.
As the Left Envoy pondered the question, watching that tranquility, his face gradually contorted.
“Kekeke. Such a naive, inexperienced child….”
Surely the Third Prince had reasoned this way before consuming the Demonic Obsession Pill.
There could be no safer moment than this.
For no one, regardless of their malice, would dare inflict harm before the Left Envoy of the Divine Sect.
‘So he’s appointed me as his Dharma Protector?’
It was certainly the most efficient strategy. He could devote himself entirely to consolidating his qi.
Yet the absence of external assault did not mean all danger had vanished.
Should I merely extend my hand, the fragile spark of life he had barely sustained would be snuffed out in an instant.
This is precisely why the Dharma Protector role is entrusted only to one’s most trusted confidant….
What audacity possessed him to make such a judgment?
The Gwangmyeong Left Envoy’s eyes sank into profound darkness.
‘If he fails to meet my expectations, he must be prepared for the consequences.’
A subtle madness and murderous intent that surpassed it crystallized in his pupils.

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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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