The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 41

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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 41.
Stepping outside, I found myself in a garden where rare flowers and exotic plants bloomed in breathtaking beauty.
Man Ma Heon.
By reputation alone, one might expect it to be a gathering place for malevolent spirits, yet in reality it was arranged like a paradise beyond the mortal realm.
The gentle sound of flowing water echoed softly.
Following Jin Seol through the expansive garden, I spotted a small pond beside the flower beds, and before it stood a pavilion that seemed plucked from a painting.
Inside the pavilion, refreshments were laid out, and an elderly man with an otherworldly air sat in composed stillness.
“Come, sit here.”
The old man gestured naturally toward a seat, inviting me to join him.
His voice was low and soft, yet it carried an irresistible authority within it.
As I settled into my seat, the old man pointed toward a teacup and spoke.
“Drink.”
Those accustomed to commanding others naturally possessed an overwhelming presence that subdued those around them.
I could discern that this elderly man held not only a high position but had also directed countless individuals under his will.
“This is Jade Flower tea—I personally plucked and dried the petals myself.”
I swallowed softly.
After taking a sip of the tea and setting the cup down, the old man asked me a question.
“What do you think of it?”
From his expression, it seemed he wished me to offer my assessment of the tea’s flavor.
After a brief moment of consideration, I answered simply.
“I’m not certain.”
“Not certain?”
“I’ve scarcely ever had tea before.”
The old man, as if already aware of my circumstances, spoke with a puzzled expression.
“Even in the harshest of places, surely you’ve had a proper cup of tea at least once?”
“I worked in a place where we disposed of those who died without family or connections.”
I continued speaking matter-of-factly.
“Most of my work came from government orders, so I was paid only the bare minimum.”
“I see.”
“Moreover, I disliked going to inns. I ate at home and drank clear water instead of tea.”
“Why was that?”
“I despised being looked upon with contempt.”
My eyes grew distant as I recalled those days.
“The stench of death never left my body, so whenever I entered an inn, I was usually turned away. On the rare occasions I was allowed inside, I had to consume my food as though drinking water to avoid lingering.”
“I understand now.”
The old man wore a bittersweet smile, as if lamenting something.
“The Five Dragon tea produced on Geommi Mountain, where Nangya Sect resides, is said to be the finest under heaven. I had hoped you would compare it with this Jade Flower tea.”
The old man studied me as he savored the taste.
“But it seems you’ve never even had the chance to experience a proper meal, let alone Five Dragon tea.”
“I was too occupied learning martial arts from the moment I arrived.”
“That would be the case. Nangya Sect doesn’t even acknowledge disciples who fail to properly master martial arts.”
The old man chuckled and spoke.
“Then enjoy my tea to your heart’s content today. And next time, give me your assessment.”
He poured more hot water into Bu Eunseol’s teacup.
“Do you know who I am?”
“I’ve only heard that this is where the Elder Council Leader resides.”
“Elder Council Leader? That’s merely the most idle among the old fools clinging to life.”
This old man was none other than the elder of Demon Hall and the Elder Council Leader—Jeok Bung.
Blood Demon, Jeok Bung.
Excluding the Dual Heavenly Immortals, he was one of the Three Demons among the Three Demons and Three Sages who had reached the highest realm of the martial world.
He had roamed Gangho for a long time, earning his fearsome reputation, and the number of orthodox masters who had fallen to his hands was beyond counting.
Such a terrifying Peerless Demon Lord possessed the serene bearing of an immortal sage.
“Bu Eunseol, disciple of Nangya Sect, pays respects to the Elder Council Leader.”
As Bu Eunseol rose from her seat and bowed formally, Jeok Bung’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re somewhat different from what I’ve heard.”
He then spoke of something quite different from the praise she’d received thus far.
“I heard you learned martial arts late, yet your joints and muscles are all supple and relaxed. Moreover, your inner energy foundation is remarkably solid.”
Jeok Bung seemed capable of discerning Bu Eunseol’s bone structure and inner energy level with merely a glance.
‘Is he testing me?’
After a moment of thought, Bu Eunseol answered.
“In childhood, I learned breathing techniques through a game of hiding inside coffins.”
“Breathing techniques?”
“Only after arriving at Nangya Pavilion did I learn that was the Qi Circulation and Absorption Method.”
“So you didn’t learn martial arts late—you simply didn’t realize you’d been learning martial arts since childhood.”
“That is correct.”
“Indeed, so it came to pass.”
Jeok Bung’s response was ambiguous, carrying two possible meanings.
One suggested ‘I knew it would be so,’ while the other implied ‘I didn’t expect this.’
“You’ve been performing salt work in Hwangju all this time?”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm.”
Jeok Bung’s gaze remained fixed upon Bu Eunseol.
Yet his eyes seemed to pierce through her, gazing toward some distant, profound place.
“Well, such things are of little importance.”
A sharp gleam of light radiated from Jeok Bung’s eyes as he murmured softly.
“I’ll speak plainly.”
The light emanating from his eyes seemed to pierce through Bu Eunseol’s very body.
“Once you complete your training at Nangya Sect, come to the main hall.”
“To Demon Hall…is that what you mean?”
“That is so.”
Clink.
Jeok Bung’s eyes grew sharper as he flicked away the water droplets clinging to the teacup lid.
“Though Nangya Pavilion is said to be part of the Ten Demonic Gates, it lacks the structure befitting a true branch sect.”
His voice did not emerge from his lips—it descended like lightning from the heavens themselves.
“There is no finer place to master martial arts. Yet for one to achieve grand ambitions, Nangya Pavilion is woefully narrow.”
Clink.
“A great talent must play upon a great stage, must they not? By the time you complete your training at Nangya Pavilion, roughly three years will have passed.”
Clink.
As Jeok Bung spoke, he continuously flicked away the water droplets from Bu Eunseol’s teacup lid.
“When that time comes, I intend to recommend you to the Demon Hall Master as a member of Am Cheon Dae.”
Am Cheon Dae.
Along with Cheon Sal and Myeol Hon, it was the Demon Hall’s most elite force.
In particular, Am Cheon Dae was the Demon Hall Master’s personal elite unit, wielding the most formidable authority—handling anything and everything that posed a threat to the Demon Hall.
Yet to place a mere fledgling fresh from Nangya Pavilion into Am Cheon Dae?
“Whether you know it or not, entering Am Cheon Dae is hardly an exaggeration to call the greatest thread connecting you to becoming a future pillar of the Demon Hall.”
Clink.
Jeok Bung flicked the teacup lid once more and asked calmly.
“What say you? Will you accept this old man’s proposal?”
After a moment of deep contemplation, Bu Eunseol met Jeok Bung’s gaze and spoke with composure.
“I must decline.”
Clink.
In that instant, Jeok Bung’s hand—which had been flicking the teacup lid—came to a halt.
He had merely ceased the motion of clearing the droplets.
Yet in that moment, an inexplicable dread and sense of crisis enveloped all directions.
The once serene air of the pavilion grew heavy as lead, and the bright sky seemed to darken into pitch black.
“Your reason.”
The hint of laughter that had lingered in Jeok Bung’s eyes vanished.
In that instant alone, his visage transformed from that of an immortal sage to a demonic fiend.
“I have no leisure to consider such matters yet.”
“Leisure?”
“Learning the martial arts of Nangya Pavilion demands that I stake my life with each passing day.”
Bu Eunseol answered in a measured voice.
“If such a position were guaranteed to me before I even began my training….”
After steadying her breath, Bu Eunseol spoke with resolute conviction.
“I would succumb to comfort and never achieve mastery of Nangya Pavilion’s martial arts.”
“Hehehehe….”
Jeok Bung, who had been chuckling softly, suddenly burst into uproarious laughter.
“Hehehehe… Hahahaha!”
His laughter, which shook heaven and earth, contained inner power beyond imagination.
“Ahahaha! Wahaha!”
A thunderous laugh echoed across the heavens, and the very earth trembled as clouds were swept away into the distant sky.
The tremendous shockwave shook my entire body, and I felt my internal organs convulse as a sweet taste of blood rose in my throat.
“Excellent.”
Jeok Bung’s laughter ceased, and the sharp glint in his eyes faded, replaced by a gentle aura that spread outward.
“A stance befitting a true martial artist—nothing more could be desired.”
Click.
Jeok Bung nodded and gently wiped the lid of his teacup once more.
As he did, the anxious atmosphere that had gathered in the pavilion seemed to purify itself completely.
“I shall observe.”
Clack.
Jeok Bung fully covered the teacup lid and spoke in a low voice.
“Three years hence, I wish to see what caliber of person you have become.”
Then his gaze fixed not on me, but on the garden beyond.
It was a silent command to leave.
“Then.”
I bowed deeply and turned my body.
Then I slowly retraced the path by which I had entered.
Thud, thud.
With each step, thick beads of sweat dripped from my forehead onto my clothes.
Though I maintained a composed expression throughout, my upper garment was drenched with cold sweat.
‘If I had not made excuses…’
As I walked slowly, I bit my lip.
When I had said “I must refuse,” an indescribable, colossal killing intent had enveloped my entire body.
What if, at that moment, my reason for refusal had seemed trivial to Jeok Bung, or displeased him?
‘That old man would have snuffed out my life instantly.’
Drip.
Another thick bead of sweat trickled down my forehead and traced my cheek.
A wall. For the first time, I felt a truly immense wall.
Jeok Bung, Elder Council Master.
He possessed a transcendent realm entirely different from any master I had encountered thus far.
A power so overwhelming that a mere flick of his finger could crush me like an insect.
‘Becoming a master of the martial world is a lofty and treacherous path. I have been far too fortunate until now.’
In the Demon Hall, in the martial world itself… there existed monstrous transcendents who had reached unimaginable heights.
I felt acutely that the road to my revenge stretched far, far ahead.
Creak.
Finally, as I stepped outside the pavilion,
Whoosh.
A faint shadow appeared behind the pavilion where Jeok Bung sat.
It was a frail-looking young man in scholarly robes—Sim Wol, who had guided me to Man Bak Dang.
“I have never seen anyone refuse the Elder’s proposal outright.”
Jeok Bung spoke in an even tone without turning his head.
“What is your assessment?”
“He certainly possesses the capability to match such a feat.”
Sim Wol’s voice carried weight and gravity.
“While the first four techniques could be attributed to chance, blocking the final move of that great master was no accident whatsoever.”
“Yet it was not the Hwa Woo Geom technique.”
“The Cheon Woon Gwang himself, who created the Cheon Rye Mu Ssang technique, has yet to perfect this killing sword.”
Sim Wol’s eyes narrowed as he kept his head bowed.
“If he could wield it so proficiently in such a short time merely from instruction, Cheon Woon Gwang would have risen to at least a branch master’s position, not merely sect leader.”
Sim Wol spoke in an exceptionally grave voice.
“This is the man the Hwawoo Sword Sect had marked as their successor. Regardless of other matters, it is clear he possesses genius-level talent in swordsmanship.”
“Hmph.”
Jeok Bung exhaled a low breath through his nose.
“For now, we shall observe. Let us see which path he truly chooses.”
“Understood.”
Sim Wol’s form faded once more into the shadows as he bowed.
Jeok Bung slowly lifted his teacup as though nothing had transpired.

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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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