The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 642

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

Chapter 642.
Buk Ri Seung’s expression grew puzzled.
“Aren’t you a candidate for Danjoo? Yet you’re offering your support to Seon Woo Dae Ju?”
“Is that not acceptable?”
“It’s not that it’s unacceptable, but…”
As Buk Ri Seung trailed off, Baek Mu Sung rose and clasped his hands respectfully.
“May I offer a word?”
“Go ahead.”
“Ben Maeng has thus far failed to produce talents as exceptional as those from the Demonic Path.”
Baek Mu Sung stood and swept his gaze across the assembly before speaking.
“Moo Hon Ryeong Ju and his subordinate Lords, even down to Gwon Wang—all the rising stars making names for themselves recently are said to hail from the Demonic Path.”
He clasped his hands and spoke with measured respect.
“Shouldn’t Ben Maeng change as well?”
Silence descended upon the conference hall.
Had another figure of Danjoo rank spoken such words, all would have scoffed.
But when Bul Jon’s disciple—he who had become the symbol of an indomitable warrior’s spirit—uttered these words,
they felt a measure of shame.
“I acknowledge it.”
Buk Ri Seung nodded.
“In truth, Seon Woo Dae Ju is indeed a rare talent in these times—a dragon among men.”
Through various meetings, it had become known that Seon Woo Jin was not only exceptional but had accomplished much good.
Thus Buk Ri Seung harbored a genuine fondness for him.
Baek Mu Sung offered a faint smile and nodded.
“Precisely. He is truly a remarkable individual.”
“But one alone is insufficient.”
With that, Baek Mu Sung turned his gaze toward Yuk Jang Cheon.
“Yuk Jeon Ju.”
And he offered the gentlest of smiles.
“What if we held a fair competition?”
In that instant, Yuk Jang Cheon’s brow twitched.
What nonsense was this young fool spouting?
“You have observed Seon Woo Dae Ju closely all this while, so you know his abilities better than anyone, do you not?”
When Yuk Jang Cheon said nothing, Baek Mu Sung continued.
“Moreover, this time Seon Woo Dae Ju slew Gwon Wang and ascended alongside you to the position of advisor among the Four Gods Seven Kings, did he not?”
A sharp intake of breath.
A sinister light flashed in Yuk Jang Cheon’s eyes.
How dare this wretch speak of Seon Woo Jin becoming one of the Four Gods Seven Kings right before his face?
Had this not been a conference hall, Yuk Jang Cheon would have rebuked Baek Mu Sung harshly.
“He began his duties in the Alliance as a third-rank Lord under Ben Jeon Ju.”
Yuk Jang Cheon suppressed his anger and spoke with measured calm.
“I acknowledge his abilities are considerable, but from my perspective as the head of this faction, it’s also undeniably awkward.”
“I appreciate your candor. However, have I not also risen from the Second Rank to become a candidate for Danjoo?”
Baek Mu Sung spoke with utmost courtesy.
“Should I face my former subordinate Seon Woo Dae Ju in fair competition, such a decision would be remembered as a cherished tale for generations.”
‘This bastard won’t stop spouting nonsense!’
Yuk Jang Cheon felt fury rising and nearly burst out in anger.
But sensing the piercing gazes of those around him, he forced a smile.
“No matter how I consider it, I’m not inclined. My apologies.”
“Indeed, for you as a Jeon Ju to face a rising talent who has ascended to the position of aide among the Four Gods Seven Kings—that would be quite the gamble, would it not?”
Baek Mu Sung, maintaining his smile, clasped his hands respectfully.
“I apologize. I spoke out of turn. Please forget what I said.”
In that instant, a pale white light emanated from Yuk Jang Cheon’s eyes.
―So facing a rising talent who has become one of the Four Gods Seven Kings is a gamble for you?
Baek Mu Sung had just uttered these words before the senior figures of the Murim Alliance.
If he continued to refuse the proposal?
Yuk Jang Cheon would be in a position equivalent to admitting it.
Should that occur, he might face endless ridicule until he became Danjoo.
A slow shake of the head.
At that moment, Yuk Cheong Ah looked at Yuk Jang Cheon and subtly shook her head.
It was a sign to absolutely refuse such a proposal.
‘You doubt your father’s abilities too?’
Yuk Jang Cheon felt deeply wounded by Yuk Cheong Ah’s reaction.
‘Fine! I’ll decisively crush both of them!’
“A fair point indeed.”
Yuk Jang Cheon rose from his seat, suppressing the erupting fury.
He surveyed those around him and spoke with a solemn expression.
“As Baek Danjoo says, the Murim Alliance does need fresh winds. Seeing all these competing candidates as young blood, my own heart burns with passion as well.”
And he spoke decisively.
“I agree to nominating Seon Woo Dae Ju as a candidate for Danjoo.”
Buk Ri Seung asked with a surprised expression.
“Are you sincere?”
“I am.”
Buk Ri Seung, who had worn a dazed expression for a moment, suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
“Hehehehe, what a delightful sight this is.”
Buk Ri Seung was indeed one of those who felt weary of the rigid distribution and hierarchy within the Murim Alliance.
Yet his position as Vice Alliance Leader had prevented him from expressing such sentiments.
But when Yuk Jang Cheon made such a bold decision publicly, he could not hide his delight and let out an exclamation of admiration.
“I offer my respect for Yuk Jeon Ju’s bold decision.”
And with a solemn expression, he surveyed the assembly and spoke.
“From this day forward, Yuk Jeon Ju, Baek Danjoo, and Seon Woo Dae Ju are formally nominated as candidates for Mu Cheon Danjoo.”
Silence hung over the conference hall where applause should have erupted in celebration.
And it was all because of Seon Woo Jin.
A young prodigy from the Merchant Realm who had climbed the ranks at breakneck speed had finally ascended to candidacy for Danjoo.
Buk Ri Seung immediately spoke in a loud voice.
“We shall conclude this meeting here.”
With the Murim Alliance leadership conference adjourned, turbulent times loomed once more for the Murim Alliance.
Deng Wu Jeon Ju, Yuk Jang Cheon.
Cheon Mu Dang Ju, Baek Mu Sung.
And the one who had transferred to the Chief Inspector Division.
Elite Division Lord, Sword King Seon Woo Jin.
These three had become candidates for Danjoo.
Baek Mu Sung becoming a new Danjoo candidate was hardly surprising.
It had been foreseen since he returned with Hyuk Ryeon Eung’s head.
But Seon Woo Jin was a rising talent with no particularly distinguished epithet to his name, and he had come from the ranks of a third-tier Lord under candidate Yuk Jang Cheon.
No matter how fortunate his circumstances or how he defeated Gwon Wang, how could he suddenly rise to candidacy for Wu Tian Danjoo?
This was even more shocking than Gong Son Dan Gyeong becoming Chief.
―This time, Chief Gong Son has overreached.
Gong Son Dan Gyeong had promoted Seon Woo Jin, a first-tier Lord, to the rank of a Danjoo-level official and rushed him into candidacy.
Public opinion of Seon Woo Jin deteriorated sharply.
What kind of position is a Murim Alliance Seven Great Lord?
Only the Alliance Master could command them, and when necessary, entire divisions could be mobilized at a moment’s notice.
Moreover, it was a position from which one could become the next Alliance Master based on merit.
No matter how talented, to scheme for such a position for a greenhorn who had only recently made a name for himself?
―Leave it be. He’ll be eliminated anyway.
Even though he had risen to assist the Four Gods Seven Kings, Gwon Wang had long ceased his activities in Gangho.
He was already in a state of being attacked by countless martial artists.
Many believed Seon Woo Jin had simply gotten lucky in defeating Seok Chi Haeng.
Much like how Bu Eunseol had slain Geol Wang in the past.
―Now let us conduct the first test.
Regardless of public opinion in the Murim Alliance, Buk Ri Seung assigned identical missions to the three candidates.
―The Danjoo examination shall not be decided hastily. Rather, we shall carefully assess their abilities through three trials.
The first mission Buk Ri Seung issued was this:
―For the first mission, we shall test the fundamental qualifications to become Wu Tian Danjoo.
That is, whether you can utilize the Wu Tian Duan’s special formation techniques.
And he assigned twenty team members equally to each of the three candidates.
―I have assigned the same lower-tier martial artists who recently joined the main force.
Within ten days, you shall have them master the Wu Tian Duan formation techniques perfectly. This shall conclude the first evaluation.
‘Excellent.’
Upon receiving the mission, Yuk Jang Cheon smiled.
Baek Mu Sung had connections with senior figures in the Murim Alliance, so mastering the Wu Tian Duan formation techniques would not be particularly difficult.
But Seon Woo Jin is different.
Even if he killed Gwon Wang, his time in the Murim Alliance has been far too brief, and he lacks any foundation of support.
The only person who could serve as his backing is Gong Son Dan Gyeong, and even she maintains distant relations with the elders and senior figures.
Ultimately, the only path available to Seon Woo Jin is to directly appeal to the martial artists of Wu Tian Duan.
He has no choice but to master the formation techniques.
The problem is that no matter how exceptional Seon Woo Jin’s martial talent may be.
The martial artists of Wu Tian Duan will never willingly transmit their formation techniques to him.
Because he has become a candidate backed by Gong Son Dan Gyeong.
From their perspective, he is absolutely someone who must never become the Lord.
‘Seon Woo Jin. In the end, there is nothing you can do.’
Yuk Jang Cheon smiled coldly.
After all, the one he would face was Baek Mu Sung.
Seon Woo Jin had absolutely no chance.
* * *
In the Great Conference Hall after the meeting concluded, two figures remained as if by prior arrangement.
They were none other than Gong Son Dan Gyeong and Baek Mu Sung.
“I won’t offer you thanks.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong spoke calmly, her gaze fixed upon Baek Mu Sung.
“Because you were surely the one behind the betrayal of both Lords.”
“I’m not sure why you would think that.”
“It was the same in the past.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong stared directly into Baek Mu Sung’s eyes.
“You always rescued me from predicaments.”
“….”
“But those predicaments were always ones you created.”
One of the reasons Gong Son Dan Gyeong ceased to love Baek Mu Sung.
It was that all the trials that had unfolded during their time together…
Were things Baek Mu Sung had deliberately orchestrated.
“Hehehehe.”
Baek Mu Sung, bearing a bitter smile, let out a snort as he gazed upon Gong Son Dan Gyeong.
“You are under a misapprehension.”
“….”
“Do you still believe I helped because I loved you?”
From Baek Mu Sung’s eyes flowed a light colder than ancient glaciers.
“Not at all. I nominated Seon Woo Jin as a candidate for two reasons. First, because I owe him a debt….”
Baek Mu Sung’s lips curved upward coldly.
“And second, to elevate him to great heights only to watch him fall miserably.”
Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s eyes wavered.
The Baek Mu Sung she knew.
Contrary to his reputation, was a tender-hearted figure—childlike, yearning to be loved by many.
That he could now speak such cold words with eyes filled with such resentment.
“You have changed.”
“I haven’t changed. I died.”
….
“That foolish young man who once struggled desperately to be loved by a woman—he no longer exists.”
Baek Mu Sung looked down at Gong Son Dan Gyeong with contempt in his eyes.
“Because I’ve come to understand that the woman in question is, in truth, nothing more than a willow by the roadside and a flower by the wall—always casting flirtatious glances at any man of worth.”
Most women would have widened their eyes or shouted in outrage at such insulting words.
“I see.”
But Gong Son Dan Gyeong merely smiled.
“I’m glad you’ve come to understand that, even if late.”
Baek Mu Sung’s eyes widened as she laughed beautifully.
“Perhaps that woman—like a willow by the roadside—abandoned such romantic notions long ago.”
….
“Because she had far too many matters to attend to, to concern herself with affairs of the heart.”
With those words, Gong Son Dan Gyeong turned away with a cold smile.
“Please excuse me.”
Baek Mu Sung stared intently at Gong Son Dan Gyeong’s receding figure.
Beneath the expression frozen in coldness, his eyes burned with possessive desire.
‘Yes, because you are such a woman. That is why I desire you so. Gong Son Dan Gyeong.’
Had she been an ordinary flower, he would not have spared her a glance.
But Gong Son Dan Gyeong—even amid the terrifying onslaught of the north wind, even within the bitter cold that seemed to freeze the entire world—
bloomed always with unwavering elegance, like a winter plum blossom.
And Baek Mu Sung desperately wished to pluck that single flower and hold it within his embrace.
“Seon Woo Jin. Let us see if you can maintain that elegance even as you watch him crumble miserably before your eyes.”
Baek Mu Sung, too, turned away coldly as he watched Gong Son Dan Gyeong disappear into the distance.
Muchen Hall, Great Training Arena.
There, some thirty Team Members stood in formation, and before them stood a man clad in white robes.
They were Bu Eunseol and the members of Wu Tian Duan.
‘Hmm.’
As I surveyed the Team Members, I felt a twinge of regret.
Danjoo Jo Cheon Wang had been defeated by me and returned to being an outsider.
Vice Danjoo Gwa Geuk Cheon had also met his end by my hand while attempting to kill Ma Geom Ja.
Though unintended.
As a result, Wu Tian Duan had been thoroughly destroyed by me.
But there was something strange about it.
Normally, the vacant position of Danjoo should have been filled swiftly to restore Wu Tian Duan to proper operation.
Yet the Alliance Leader and the senior figures of the Murim Alliance paid no attention to Wu Tian Duan without a Danjoo and did not hastily elect a new one.
As this neglect persisted, the outstanding Team Members could not bear it and departed Wu Tian Duan.
The remaining Team Members, too, had lost all motivation.
And Bu Eunseol…
had to learn the formation techniques of Wu Tian Duan from these people and pass them on to the fledgling martial artists.
“Welcome.”
One of the Team Members, wearing a languid expression, approached Bu Eunseol and clasped his hands together.
“I am Young Myeong, temporarily leading the Team Members.”
Young Myeong possessed a youthful and spirited appearance, yet his eyes were devoid of focus, like those of a dying fish.
Bu Eunseol found that gaze familiar.
She had encountered such individuals long ago.
Those who had once belonged to what was called Mubon Squad, the members of Sayoung Battle Division.
“I have preselected the Team Members and prepared a demonstration of the Silver Shield Formation, our sect’s supreme technique.”
Young Myeong led Bu Eunseol to point out the Team Members waiting at the Great Training Arena.
They too stood in tedious silence, their expressions hollow.
‘No one would be pleased to see anyone at this point.’
Since Jo Cheon Wang’s departure and Gwa Geuk Cheon’s death, Wu Tian Duan had been left neglected for far too long.
The Murim Alliance Leader, who should have immediately issued an order to elect a new Lord, had dragged out the matter with various pretexts.
In the meantime, the martial artists received treatment barely worthy of belonging to the Seven Great Units, assisting with miscellaneous tasks from other divisions.
Fortunately, the Alliance Leader had declared that a Lord would be selected, but by then, the members harbored no expectations whatsoever.
―After all, weren’t these candidates for Wu Tian Danjoo viewing the position itself as merely a badge of honor?
Yuk Jang Cheon, the Lord of Deng Wu Dian, was renowned throughout the Murim Alliance for his lust for power.
And Baek Mu Sung, who had become the new Cheon Mu Dang Lord, was surely viewing it as a stepping stone to aim for the next Alliance Leader.
Furthermore, this person called Seon Woo Jin…
had fortunately obtained an opportunity and achieved victory against Gwon Wang, yet from their perspective, he was woefully inadequate to become a Lord.
Ultimately, from the perspective of Wu Tian Duan’s members, all the former glory of being one of the Seven Great Units had vanished.
They found themselves cast adrift in the midst of a battleground where those vying for the next Alliance Leader’s position clashed.
Left alone, they felt like discarded grain sacks.
“Then I shall begin.”
As Bu Eunseol approached the Martial Arts Arena, thirty-two martial artists raised dark, tarnished shields.
These were not the Silver Shields, treasures once used by Wu Tian Duan in the past, but rather shields made of iron.
“Wait—why are you not using the Silver Shields?”
At Bu Eunseol’s question, Young Myeong’s shoulders drooped.
“The Alliance recovered the Silver Shields long ago, saying our sect was unworthy of possessing them.”
The Silver Shields used by Wu Tian Duan were among the treasures passed down through generations of the Murim Alliance.
But once Wu Tian Duan became a mere shell, the Alliance retrieved them and transferred them to another division that used shields.
“I see.”
Bu Eunseol exhaled a sigh.
There was now one more task she had to accomplish before ascending to the position of Lord.
“May we begin now?”
Annoyance was evident on Young Myeong’s face.
Had these been other candidates, he would have shown great displeasure, but Bu Eunseol paid it no mind and nodded.
“Of course.”
Thud. A sharp metallic screech.
Warriors bearing iron shields deployed their formation in disarray.
It was the Silver Shield Array that I had once directly confronted, now operated on an extremely reduced scale.
Modified so that the intricate workings of the formation could be clearly observed from outside.
‘Is that all it amounts to?’
As I watched the Wu Tian Duan members unfold the Silver Shield Array, I exhaled a peculiar sigh.
All the subtlety that Gwa Geuk Cheon, the former Lord, had woven into the Silver Shield Array had vanished.
What remained was merely the desperate thrashing of an aging soldier.
In the end, the Wu Tian Duan had become nothing but an empty shell.
“Well executed.”
Those were the only words I could offer.
The situation was not yet ripe to transform the Wu Tian Duan, nor did I possess the authority to issue commands.
Any instruction I gave them now would only serve to break their spirit.
“Then we wish you good fortune.”
As Young Myeong bowed weakly, the warriors saluted and turned to leave with equal lethargy.
“Wait.”
But I opened my mouth.
Young Myeong and the warriors turned back.
“Is there another command, my lord?”
“There is.”
Standing at the center of the Great Training Arena, I spoke loudly.
“Watch carefully.”
“Watch what, my lord?”
As Young Myeong approached and asked, I spoke solemnly.
“Let me be clear—the process of selecting a new Lord will take considerable time. We have three candidates, and we intend to evaluate their abilities from multiple angles.”
A sharp whistle pierced the air.
Simultaneously, a keen wave of vital energy emanated from my body.
“Practice this in the meantime.”
A metallic ring. A sweeping slash.
I drew my blade like lightning, and intricate web-like lines and geometric patterns etched themselves across the Training Arena.
It resembled the existing Silver Shield Array, yet was an improved, more refined version of the formation.
“How could you possibly—”
Young Myeong was utterly astonished.
The Silver Shield Array was too complex to master in a short time.
Did this person not only grasp all its subtleties from a single viewing, but also devise an entirely new formation?
“Did you not just witness it?”
With shameless nonchalance, I pointed to the patterns inscribed across the Training Arena.
“I will reissue the silver shields soon, even if it requires personal expenditure. Until then, master this formation perfectly.”
“Your confidence is rather excessive, my lord.”
Young Myeong spoke with hollow resignation.
“How do you propose to recover the silver badge that’s gone to another unit?”
“Is there a need to recover it?”
“Pardon?”
“I come from a merchant background.”
Bu Eunseol smiled faintly.
“To martial artists, silver badges may seem prohibitively expensive to replace, but that’s merely a perspective rooted in the Murim worldview.”
The Seon Hwa Trading Company remained obscure precisely because it was rooted in Sae Oe.
Yet its scale and financial resources rivaled the ten greatest merchant houses of Zhong Yuan.
If I wished, I could have silver badges remade without difficulty.
“I’ve heard rumors of considerable wealth, certainly.”
Yet Young Myeong spoke coldly.
“No matter what you offer us, there’s nothing the Lord can gain from it. The same holds true even if you earn points with us.”
“Earn points? That makes no sense.”
Bu Eunseol let out a scoff.
“Why would I need to earn points from a unit I’m about to command?”
“Lord.”
“The overdue salaries will be distributed soon.”
Bu Eunseol spoke with gravity.
“Don’t worry. It’s not coming from my personal funds.”
“….”
“Thanks to the Chief’s capable management, the Murim Alliance has emerged from chronic deficit.”
Bu Eunseol continued calmly.
“The unpaid wages likely stem not from the absence of a Lord, but from the absence of a Vice Lord. Murim organizations collapse into chaos without their administrators.”
Regardless of ideology, an organization’s finances are typically managed by the second-in-command rather than the leader.
After all, leaders are sufficiently occupied with numerous other duties.
Bu Eunseol had discerned that the Wu Tian Duan’s circumstances and treatment had deteriorated severely.
The cause lay not only in the Lord’s absence but significantly in the absence of Vice Lord Gwa Geuk Cheon.
If Yu Woon Ryong, who manages both finances and all affairs of the Sayoung Battle Division, were absent?
They wouldn’t even have proper meals, let alone salaries.
‘How does this young one understand such things?’
Young Myeong’s expression turned vacant.
He had advanced through rapid promotion and was positioned as a Lord candidate.
He was merely a typical figure relying solely on backing, having received abnormally elevated treatment despite his rank.
Yet how could he grasp the inner workings of such a vast organization as the Seven Great Units in such detail?
The very circumstances of the Wu Tian Duan that figures like Yuk Jang Cheon and Baek Mu Sung had failed to comprehend.
“Do as you wish.”
Contrary to his true feelings, Young Myeong’s tone remained cold.
“Nothing will change regardless.”
Bu Eunseol smiled.
He was deliberately denying his own existence.
I recalled the appearance of the Sayoung Battle Division Lords, ashamed of themselves for not being recognized.
“Until we meet again.”
Bu Eunseol turned her body with composure.
Young Myeong and the Wu Tian Duan members watched in a daze as Bu Eunseol departed leisurely with her hands clasped behind her back.
―Until we meet again.
It was merely a common farewell.
Yet when the person named Seon Woo Jin spoke those words, it felt as though they would truly meet again.
‘It’s as if fate itself is playing tricks.’
Bu Eunseol slowly emerged from Muchen Hall and gazed toward the distant sky.
‘As if telling me to create anew.’
The Wu Tian Duan crumbled in my hands.
And now it was preparing to be reborn anew through my hands once more.

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