Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 78

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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 78
“What exactly do you mean by difficulties?”
The Gwangmyeong Left Envoy answered.
“The Third Prince will likely enter the Tenth Complete Formation among the Ten Demonic Formations. It’s a hellscape where you can only escape by pushing your senses to their absolute limit. Since the Cult Leader himself designed this formation, it is both an honor and….”
Cheon So-hyun’s brow furrowed.
“Wait, a hellscape? I thought you said it was a training ground?”
“That’s what we tell the Cult Leader. There must be enough pressure to make even your breathing falter for a moment.”
Faced with a response as if asking why he would question something so obvious, Cheon So-hyun exhaled sharply.
“Ah… I see.”
So it meant there was danger lurking that could cost him his life. Of course, learning this didn’t make him consider fleeing.
If it meant meeting those bald martial brothers in the Central Plains, I would grasp at straws.
“But what makes you so certain it will be the Tenth Complete Formation? Did you receive some kind of hint?”
“There is no other formation the Third Prince could endure. Since perfectly containing one’s qi is a prerequisite for leaving the sect, it is also the most suitable place.”
“….”
“In any case, it’s a place that permits not even a moment of carelessness, so survival will only be possible by sharpening your senses properly.”
After that, the Gwangmyeong Left Envoy offered several more pieces of advice, and Cheon So-hyun absorbed them in silence.
Surprisingly, the Gwangmyeong Left Envoy had a talent for explaining things clearly.
Most remarkably, he shared even his own insights without hesitation.
“The only thing that can help immediately is this. I’ll circulate my qi, so remember the technique well now. At least in the Tenth Complete Formation, it will serve as a lifeline for you.”
Did this mean he truly desired war? Where could such animosity possibly stem from? Cheon So-hyun’s lingering questions naturally turned toward the Cult Leader.
‘What is the Cult Leader thinking?’
Unable to suppress his rising curiosity, he finally ventured to ask.
“But how does the Cult Leader regard my departure from the sect?”
“You’re only curious about that now?”
“The more we talk, the deeper my doubts grow. From the way you set conditions, it seems you’ve permitted it… but seeing how you’re pushing me into this place called a hellscape makes it seem like you disapprove.”
Most critically, the stark contrast in how the Chief Military Commander and the Gwangmyeong Left Envoy treated my departure only deepened my suspicions.
The Gwangmyeong Left Envoy regarded me with a lowered gaze.
“Do not presume to fathom the Cult Leader’s intentions. If you seek answers, rather than guessing with your insufficient judgment, it is proper to ask directly. You stand on the verge of receiving grace—do you not understand the meaning of entering the palace?”
Cheon So-hyun nodded. The tone was displeasing, but the words were not wrong.
“That couldn’t be. It’s just that my doubts haven’t cleared all this time. In any case, thank you for your help.”
“I hope the effort wasn’t wasted on something futile.”
Cheon So-hyun laughed lightly.
“Wait a moment. I have some truly astounding news to share with you.”
* * *
Kugu Palace.
The doors of the Cult Leader’s Hall opened with a heavy sound.
Thud, thud.
‘Hmm?’
I stopped abruptly while treading upon the crimson carpet. The Throne Dais before me was empty. Faced with the unexpected absence of the Cult Leader, I blinked in confusion.
Perhaps he had stepped out somewhere.
Boom!
At that moment, a thunderous crash echoed through the chamber, as if a boulder had come crashing down.
“Enter.”
Cheon So-hyun exhaled softly at the heavy, resonant voice that made his ears ring.
‘Still the same as ever.’
As I ventured toward the shadowed corner that the torchlight failed to illuminate, five doorways became faintly visible.
In one of them, the Cult Leader sat in lotus position with his back turned.
‘Was he in the midst of cultivation?’
I assumed a respectful fist salute and bowed properly.
“It has been far too long, Father. I trust you have been well?”
After a moment of silence, the Cult Leader opened his eyes. A pitch-black radiance flickered brilliantly, filling the chamber.
“Have you achieved the Bright Moon stage?”
“Yes, I have just reached it. The moment I succeeded, I rushed here with all haste.”
The Cult Leader gestured with his chin toward the opposite side—a silent command to step closer for inspection. I took one step forward.
Click.
In that instant, a faint metallic sound emanated from beneath my feet. Countless demonic runes carved into the floor began to glow, radiating their sinister energy.
‘Is this a formation?’
The sensation of having my inner essence laid bare was decidedly unpleasant.
The Cult Leader cast an indifferent gaze and asked.
“Are you prepared?”
“…Pardon?”
“Have you not already heard what this place is for?”
It seemed he knew of my meeting with the Gwangmyeong Left Envoy.
“Ah, yes. I heard that within the Cult Leader’s Hall exists a formation called the Ten Demonic Formations, and this appears to be the Tenth Complete Formation that you yourself created. Is that correct?”
“It is. If your resolve is firm, then prepare yourself.”
The casual manner in which he sent his own son toward certain death nearly drew a bitter laugh from me.
“Ahem, my resolve has long been steadfast. However, before we begin, might I ask a few questions?”
“What is it?”
“I am curious about your thoughts regarding my departure from the sect.”
The Cult Leader answered in a low voice.
“It is a delusion as double-edged as a blade. The likelihood of it fading away is considerable.”
“A delusion?”
“Indeed. What could one who stands at the threshold of martial knowledge possibly comprehend by venturing into the Central Plains?”
The Cult Leader made a light sweeping gesture toward empty air. Instantly, a wine bottle that had been resting behind him was drawn into his grasp.
“Your eyes will be blinded by the tumultuous fervor of the world, causing you to overlook what truly matters. And for every moment wasted in such blindness, your progress will slip further away. In the end, this hollow ambition will only breed resentment among the sect’s disciples.”
“Then… why did you grant me this condition?”
“Because you are a warrior who has cultivated the divine art. More precisely, because you have consistently demonstrated changes that exceeded my expectations, I offered you this opportunity.”
I asked with evident confusion.
“You speak of my changes?”
“Yes. Ever since you escaped the heart demon, have you not conducted yourself as though you were a different person?”
“Ah… Yes. That’s right.”
The Cult Leader drained his cup in one gulp and continued.
“Cultivating martial arts is ultimately the same as building up one’s life. To break through limitations from a certain point onward, there’s no choice but to broaden one’s perspective on life through prolonged meditation and seek transformation.”
“Does that mean if a great change occurs, there’s no need for lengthy meditation, Your Excellency?”
“Precisely. Should fortune favor you, you could shorten the time again, just as you achieved mastery of the Wuling Divine Art.”
Cheon So-hyun nodded slowly.
Having experienced countless encounters with walls in his past life and broken through them repeatedly to reach new realms, he understood perfectly what the Cult Leader meant.
The deeper one delved, the more the walls that could once be shattered through innate talent and effort alone became as solid as iron, blocking the path forward.
Warriors were the sort who would seal themselves in caves and sever ties with the secular world to resolve such impasses, so he understood keenly how crucial it was to shorten the time of achievement.
Yet no matter how significant that was, it remained merely personal advancement.
Even in the unlikely event, was his own achievement worth risking an early war with the Central Plains?
Disliking roundabout discussions, he asked directly.
“Is the achievement of the Wuling Divine Art a critical matter for the Sect as well?”
A subtle shift appeared in the Cult Leader’s expression.
It wasn’t quite what one would call agitation, but since he was someone who rarely revealed his emotions, the difference felt all the more pronounced.
‘What is this?’
As a heavy silence descended, Cheon So-hyun laughed awkwardly.
“Haha, considering how you imparted teachings to me before… I wondered if there was some special significance to this.”
“Among the countless demonic arts within the Sect, few martial techniques remain that deserve to be called true divine arts.”
“Yes? Why is that?”
“Either they were damaged or destroyed by those who couldn’t bear their own incompetence, or their lineages were severed because they weren’t properly transmitted. Since divine arts are precious in themselves, your achievement of the Wuling Divine Art could become the beginning of a new lineage.”
In other words, there was no reason to refuse if it meant the Sect would grow stronger.
The Cult Leader drained his cup again and spoke softly.
“If not now, it would be an obsession that could never be resolved.”
“And why is that?”
“What could one learn from a world reduced to ashes?”
A chill ran down Cheon So-hyun’s spine.
It was an arrogant answer, yet it didn’t sound like mere bravado. These were the words of the Cult Leader, the absolute sovereign of the Demonic Martial World.
‘As I thought… he’s set the entire Realm as his adversary.’
Then the Cult Leader’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Will you enter?”
“Yes, of course I must. What exactly is the Tenth Gate?”
“The realm of the Infinite is something that can only be achieved through self-imposed hardship, endurance, and bloodshed. The Tenth Gate is a formation that embodies that process. Though perhaps less severe, the trials you will face will not differ greatly from that.”
“So you’re testing whether I have the qualifications to achieve the Infinite, Your Excellency.”
“Exactly. Prove to yourself that you’re worth the risk. If your conviction about ascension was genuine, you won’t merely perceive the difficulties ahead.”
Cheon So-hyun nodded calmly and replied.
“Then I’ll ask the rest after I return. This conversation will only have meaning after I’ve passed through.”
“Well said.”
In the moment the Cult Leader’s lips curved into a faint smile as he regarded him.
A sharp crack split the air!
Cheon So-hyun’s vision darkened. As if the surrounding darkness converged toward a single point, his entire body was consumed by shadow.
* * *
After Cheon So-hyun disappeared.
The Cult Leader drained cup after cup of wine like a man consumed by unbearable thirst. The profound indifference that had veiled his eyes peeled away layer by layer.
“What will you show me next?”
At some point, my encounters with the Third Prince began to stir something within me.
His perspective on strength, his approach to martial arts, even the application of demonic energy I had never witnessed before—his way of thinking, so different from the other warriors of the Divine Sect, became a fresh stimulus to me as well.
Though it was merely a single drop falling into a vast lake, the Cult Leader of this era was a warrior who dissolved even those shallow ripples into enlightenment and transcended them into the Way.
Whoosh.
Between his breaths flowed dense demonic energy as if the night sky itself had been condensed. It stretched forth endlessly, then was drawn back in, forming a continuous cycle.
Though this method had never existed in the Divine Sect before, the entire process appeared familiar.
* * *
‘Hmm?’
Cheon So-hyun stood within the Pitch-Black Space.
Nothing was visible, no sound could be heard—a space where even shadows had abandoned him.
The darkness seeping into his skin stirred a primal fear, yet the mind he had built so steadfastly refused to be swayed by such things.
‘So it begins now.’
Boom!
Cheon So-hyun launched himself forward, pushing off the ground.
The counsel he had received from the Gwangmyeong Left Envoy flashed through his mind.
-You must endure the onslaught of attacks in a space devoid of light. Poisoned darts may fly at you, assassins may appear, and sometimes even imagined enemies will take form.
Crash!
The moment his feet left the ground, a deafening explosion erupted behind him.
A poisoned dart had struck the empty space where he had been standing.
‘Here it comes again!’
Though he could see nothing, the cold wind transmitted through his skin revealed the direction of the assault.
Boom! Boom!
Cheon So-hyun sprinted forward, his feet striking the ground in rapid succession.
-The Tenth Gate is entirely a personal realm—even the Cult Leader cannot interfere or observe within it. Once you step inside, there is no turning back. It will grow more ferocious, feeding on your fear, so remain composed no matter what appears.
“Amitabha Buddha.”
As he chanted the sacred name and pressed forward, the surroundings gradually brightened and transformed.
“Once again, you build false convictions and plunge the Realm into suffering. I should never have taken you in.”
A sturdy Elder Monk blocked his path, looking down at him.
An illusion born from the Tenth Gate—a cruel trick that dredged up doubts and regrets buried deep in the unconscious and led them toward demonic delusion.
Though his expression was more sinister than in memory, it was a face he had longed to see so often in dreams that a faint smile spread across Cheon So-hyun’s lips.
“Is that what you still say? You’ve seen all the kindness I could offer, and yet you lack all shame?”
“Your departure from the temple caused Shaolin’s fortunes to decline. You accumulated such grave karma, yet why did you leave alone? Did you never consider what hellish paths your elder brothers would wander? Could you truly have believed that Shaolin sealed its gates merely to honor you, a single disciple?!”
“Is that not so?”
“In the end, even the Demonic Sect was stirred to action. How can you possibly bear such karma….”
Crash!
Cheon So-hyun’s fist pierced directly through the face of Shaolin’s Abbot, Hyegong.
“Honestly, you never know when to be satisfied. And here you claim to be a Buddhist.”

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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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