The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 795
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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 795.
“That is likely the case.”
Bu Eunseol nodded, having discerned Hyuk So Jin’s thoughts.
“The deliberate act of flying a kite to expose their location was probably meant to invite a powerful outsider capable of ascending four hundred zhang into the air, or perhaps they were compelled by some circumstance to reveal the location of the Wind Divine Palace.”
Bu Eunseol immediately devised a countermeasure.
Likely candidates were the Muk Hon Ryeong Ju, the Sword King Seon Woo Jin, and Seol So, a disciple of Tan Wang.
Any of these identities could spark conflict between the sects.
“As Pyo Un, then?”
The identity Bu Eunseol had chosen was Pyo Un, the Dragon-Tiger Hall Master of Jeol Cheon Myul Ji.
“It is temporary. Considering the caliber of the Wind Divine Palace, I will eventually need to reveal my true identity.”
“So you will enter as my subordinate for now.”
“Yes. Let us proceed.”
“Very well.”
Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin immediately moved toward the peak of Haba Snow Mountain.
After braving the bitter cold and climbing for some time, a white fortress appeared near the main summit, seeming to blanket the entire mountain.
“If it were in such a place, the location of the Wind Divine Palace would have been discovered long ago.”
Hyuk So Jin was astonished.
Likely, the Wind Divine Palace was—
Like the kite before it, concealing its main headquarters with mysterious power.
“Welcome.”
Yet something strange occurred.
As Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin approached the entrance of the Wind Divine Palace, the gates opened of their own accord.
Two women in white robes stood waiting, ushering them inside as if they had been expecting them.
“…?”
Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin exchanged glances tinged with bewilderment.
These women clearly seemed to be mistaken about something.
Yet since this was not their error, they would have to proceed into the Wind Divine Palace regardless, even if it meant going to Samsu Gapsan afterward.
Tap, tap, tap.
The woman in white moved with butterfly-light steps toward the interior of the fortress.
Upon entering the palace, it displayed the quintessential appearance of a mysterious sect—
Beautiful gardens alongside palace halls constructed in a style entirely unique to the Zhong Yuan, yet distinctly their own.
All the figures walking about the grounds were young women, dressed in flowing white robes with their hair elegantly pinned up.
“This way.”
The woman in white led them to an ornately decorated banquet hall.
It was arranged in two levels—the lower level housed musicians playing instruments.
The upper level contained seating for guests, of which there were fifteen in total.
―Fifteen guests had been invited.
Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin exchanged glances once more.
That the Wind Divine Palace had invited such a number of people
meant this was no ordinary gathering, but surely one with a specific and deliberate purpose.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
The woman in white guided Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin, then departed the way she had come.
The two sat down cautiously, observing their surroundings.
‘Skilled masters. And young ones at that.’
Everyone filling the banquet hall was a young man in his twenties or thirties, and their martial prowess was exceptional.
What particularly caught Bu Eunseol’s attention were three individuals.
A man wearing silk woven from heavenly silkworm thread, a young scholar whose face bore a perpetual amiable smile.
And a man with an arrogant expression.
‘Brother Bu, that man appears to be Yeo Mun Gi, the illegitimate son of the Gangnam Martial Alliance Lord.’
Hyuk So Jin whispered to Bu Eunseol, as if recognizing the arrogant man.
‘Despite being from the Orthodox Sects, he’s known as a vile wretch with a terrible temperament and vicious methods. I’m surprised to see him in a place like this.’
Footsteps echoed.
Then an elderly woman with skin like ancient wood appeared at the banquet hall.
She was Hyang Gun Byung, the highest elder of the Wind Divine Palace.
She surveyed the crowded banquet hall and furrowed her brow.
“There seems to be some mistake.”
She spoke in a cold voice.
“Two uninvited guests have arrived at our sect’s banquet.”
Hyang Gun Byung, Elder Hyang, swept her cold gaze across the interior.
Her eyes then fell upon Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin, whose clothing was particularly shabby.
The two had endured six days of sleeping under the stars and wind to find the Wind Divine Palace.
Their garments were inevitably soiled.
“This old woman’s eyes have grown weak; I cannot recognize two such young heroes.”
She regarded Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin and asked plainly.
“Who are you, and where do you hail from?”
“I am Pyo Un, the Dragon Tiger Lord of Jeol Cheon Myul Ji.”
“Jeol Cheon Myul Ji?”
Elder Hyang tilted her head in confusion, then her gaze shifted to Hyuk So Jin.
“I am Hyuk So Jin.”
A murmur rippled through the banquet hall.
Hyuk So Jin.
Was he not the grandson of the fearsome Hwan Ma, and the future lord of Jeol Cheon Myul Ji?
“You were not invited, yet how did you manage to enter our sect?”
“When we arrived here, a young woman guided us inside.”
At Hyuk So Jin’s response, the old woman furrowed her brow and spoke.
“I meant to ask how you found the entrance to our sect in the first place.”
Bu Eunseol answered instead.
“We saw a tower floating in the sky and climbed toward it, where we discovered a large kite connected in this direction.”
“You directly confirmed the suspended kite?”
“Are you saying you directly confirmed the kite that was flying?”
“That is correct.”
Elder Hyang let out a soft hum before his expression shifted to one of considerable surprise.
The men surrounding him also widened their eyes in disbelief.
“You possess enough martial power to execute terrestrial flight?”
Bu Eunseol answered Hyang Gun Byung’s question with candor.
“Not quite. I couldn’t suppress my curiosity, so I used combined force channeling to leap upward and see for myself.”
At that, laughter rippled throughout the banquet hall.
―So she had risked her life by hurling herself skyward just to reach Poong Sin Palace.
Yet Elder Hyang ignored the murmuring and nodded approvingly.
“Then she possesses sufficient qualification after all.”
He then addressed a disciple standing behind him.
“Prepare two additional seats.”
The banquet hall was spacious enough that two more places would cause no inconvenience.
From her account, it appeared
that anyone who possessed the skill to leap into the void by any means and witness that kite
would gain the qualification to enter Poong Sin Palace.
Rumble.
At that moment, Si Bi attendants hurried over and swiftly added the seating.
Once the new places were arranged,
two young men radiating spirited vigor entered the banquet hall once more.
Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin exchanged glances and arrived at the same conclusion simultaneously.
‘Their martial prowess does not appear particularly exceptional.’
The men who had just arrived possessed respectable internal cultivation in their own right,
yet in the eyes of Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin, they were merely young masters of mid-tier advancement—nothing more, nothing less.
Moreover, none of them had likely used terrestrial flight to reach the kite leading to the Wind Divine Tower.
These men were undoubtedly those who had received formal invitations from Poong Sin Palace.
“Brother Bu, it seems everyone except us was invited.”
At Hyuk So Jin’s whisper, Bu Eunseol simply nodded.
The banquet continued for some time.
Delicacies and exquisite dishes were piled high like mountains, yet most of those present ate perfunctorily.
It seemed their true purpose for visiting Poong Sin Palace lay elsewhere.
After roughly an hour had passed,
a gong sounded.
With the chime, disciples in white robes entered the banquet hall carrying
a peculiar round stone of distinctive shape.
From the way four martial women strained to transport it, it was clearly no ordinary stone.
Once the massive stone was positioned, Elder Hyang drew a deep breath and spoke.
“I express profound gratitude to all you valiant heroes who have answered our invitation and journeyed such great distances without hesitation.”
Elder Hyang gazed upon the young people seated at the banquet and spoke with clear resonance.
“Our sect’s Poong Yun Divine Technique’s lineage was severed over a century ago, and now it can only be obtained through the Harmony of Sun and Moon.”
She raised her voice again and spoke.
“Therefore, our Palace has long sought out exceptional young talents capable of mastering the Wind Cloud Divine Technique, designating them as consorts to the Palace Lord’s daughter.”
In that moment, Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin, who had been listening silently, exchanged glances.
Only then could they comprehend what was truly unfolding before them.
―Was this a Consort Selection Grand Tournament?
The pupils of Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin’s eyes lost focus as they stared at each other.
―So that’s why so many talented young men had gathered…
Though they had used the euphemistic term “Harmonious Unity,” the Wind Cloud Divine Technique could ultimately only be obtained through the union of man and woman.
The Poong Sin Palace, a sect of women, had lost the lineage of the Wind Spirit Body a hundred years ago.
It seemed that ever since, they had been selecting suitable husbands from outside to continue the legacy of the Wind Cloud Divine Technique.
‘This is troublesome.’
Bu Eunseol bit her lip.
To heal my body, I needed the Wind Cloud Divine Technique.
But since even the Poong Sin Palace had lost the lineage of the Wind Cloud Divine Technique, ultimately I would have to become a live-in son-in-law of the Poong Sin Palace to obtain it.
At least they were holding this Consort Selection Grand Tournament to choose suitable husbands, so it was fortunate in a sense.
[Brother Bu, something seems amiss.]
At that moment, Hyuk So Jin sent a transmission.
[No matter how prestigious the Poong Sin Palace is, how could they cultivate the Wind Cloud Divine Technique through mere union alone?]
He sent another transmission with a bewildered expression.
[If one can obtain the Wind Cloud Divine Technique by uniting with a woman from the Poong Sin Palace, then couldn’t the Poong Sin Palace, if they wished, release their disciples and turn all martial artists in the realm into Wind Gods?]
Though somewhat absurd, his words held merit.
If one could obtain the Wind Cloud Divine Technique through mere union?
If the Poong Sin Palace so desired, they could create countless Wind Gods.
At that moment, Elder Hyang’s clear voice continued.
“You there, come down and try infusing your inner energy into this stone. The Wind Cloud Divine Technique requires one to be born with at least three of the Five Elemental Energies to obtain it.”
Hyuk So Jin’s curiosity was immediately resolved.
To obtain the Wind Cloud Divine Technique, one had to be born with at least three of the Five Elemental Energies.
The Poong Sin Palace was using this mysterious stone to discern which elemental energies existed within one’s body.
“Allow me to try first.”
At that moment, a young man seated beside Hyuk So Jin stood and walked forward.
Whether intentionally or not, he casually touched the ornamental tassel of the sword hanging at his waist as he rose.
‘He was from the Geum Do Gate.’
The tassel of the sword the man wore gleamed with golden light.
Though no longer active in the martial world, he was long regarded as standing equal to Geom Gak.
He appeared to be a master from the Geum Do Gate.
Zing.
The man descended to the first floor and slowly extended his hand toward the massive stone.
As he infused his inner energy, ethereal mist spread in all directions, and a crimson light flashed from the stone.
“Heh heh.”
As the explosive crimson light spread outward, the man shrugged his shoulders and wore a confident smile.
I thought that with this level of radiance, I had surely passed the test.
“I apologize, Deung So Hyup.”
But Elder Hyang shook her head.
“You have been eliminated.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“When a master of the Murim who has cultivated inner energy techniques touches it, naturally they will manifest something like Separated Fire Qi.”
In that instant, the man’s face turned dark.
In short, it was merely because he possessed inner energy that the Five Elements Stone emitted red light.
It meant he did not possess the constitution to obtain the Wind Divine Technique.
“That cannot be! This body has cultivated the Golden Essence Divine Art, and my inner energy exceeds forty years!”
“Deung So Hyup.”
Elder Hyang spoke calmly.
“I am well aware that you possess formidable martial prowess and lack nothing as a person.”
And she wore an apologetic expression.
“However, the Wind Divine Technique of this sect can only be manifested by those born with three or more of the Five Elements Qi, so there is nothing to be done.”
Though Elder Hyang spoke kindly, the man from the Geumdo Sect’s face flushed red and pale in turns.
“I shall not forget this humiliation!”
With a sharp cry, he immediately stormed out of the Banquet Hall.
The gathered individuals wore somewhat darkened expressions.
A Selection Gathering typically served to choose a worthy son-in-law with excellent bloodline and outstanding talent.
But the Wind Divine sect had only one condition:
Only those possessing the Five Elements Qi—a unique energy never before heard of—qualified.
Then why had this not been announced beforehand?
“This is strange.”
At that moment, the masked man sitting across from Bu Eunseol spoke.
“The Wind Divine Palace seeks those with the Five Elements Qi, and you possess a precious object capable of discerning such things. Why then did you invite us here?”
His eyes gleamed within the mask as he fixed his gaze upon Elder Hyang.
“Would it not be simpler to take that stone and wander the Gangho, testing people’s hands directly?”
At the masked man’s words, which pierced to the heart of the matter, those gathered nodded their heads.
His words were logical and penetrated to the essence of the issue.
“You speak truly. This Palace opened this Selection Gathering for two reasons.”
Elder Hyang said.
“First, if we did not invite people to this Palace and did not reveal proper justification, there would be few willing to inject their inner energy into the Five Elements Stone. Suspicion would naturally arise.”
She continued.
“Yet this sect has been secretly wandering the Gangho seeking suitable sons-in-law through the Five Elements Stone. But if no qualified talent emerged after five years of this….”
Light blazed forth from Elder Hyang’s eyes.
“We select and invite the young talents of the Gangho with good reputations, and those who cultivate the Great Strength Art or the Harmonious Origin Art lineages of inner energy techniques. That is the second reason.”
Only then did exclamations of understanding burst from those gathered.
All the young people present here
had cultivated either the Great Strength Art or Harmonious Origin Art lineages, which could explosively manifest true qi in an instant.
“If one can truly master such an inner cultivation technique, then the probability of acquiring the Five Elements Qi would be high, would it not?”
The masked man’s words caused Elder Hyang to nod in agreement.
“Precisely so.”
As it turned out, from the perspective of Poong Sin Palace,
they had been doing their utmost to find a son-in-law candidate who could cultivate the Wind Cloud Divine Technique alongside them.
After searching for five years without finding a suitable candidate, they had opened the Inaugural Conference according to the palace’s regulations.
“However, there is one more reason you have overlooked.”
The masked man spoke coldly.
“Is there not one additional condition that must be added to the selection criteria?”
“What do you mean?”
“That only those who lack recognition from their respective sects, or illegitimate children of noble families, should be selected.”
At those words, the young talents seated in the banquet hall exchanged glances with one another.
Just as the masked man had said,
most of the young prodigies present, despite possessing exceptional abilities,
either lacked the support of their sects’ mainstream factions or were illegitimate offspring of their families.
“Jegal Seowoon. Your wisdom is truly remarkable. That is precisely why you abandoned your position as the young master and left your family to wander the Gangho.”
When Elder Hyang revealed his identity, the masked man had no choice but to remove his mask.
At that moment, the crowd, especially Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin, gasped in greater shock.
The masked man was none other than
the young master of the Jegal Family who had previously helped Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin deal with Yi Hun Gwang Ja—
Jegal Seowoon.
At that time, thanks to Bu Eunseol’s aid, he had accumulated an undeserved and absurd reputation of great renown,
and as a result, he could not venture into the Gangho and had to seclude himself in closed-door cultivation.
Yet he seemed to have realized something,
and suddenly, contrary to his duties as the young master of the Jegal Family, he desired to become a true wanderer of the Gangho and continue his journey.
But when the family patriarch refused to permit it, Jegal Seowoon forcibly pursued his wandering anyway.
Ultimately, such actions incurred the patriarch’s wrath, and he was effectively cast out from the Jegal Family.
“True. As Jegal Seowoon says, he too meets the criteria.”
Elder Hyang did not deflect and acknowledged it.
“Only then can he leave his sect or family without regret and willingly become a son-in-law of this palace.”
This point was understandable from Poong Sin Palace’s perspective as well.
If they were to carelessly transmit the Wind Cloud Divine Technique—
which could make one a Poong Sin who dominates the Gangho—to someone from another sect,
they would simply take the Wind Cloud Divine Technique and leave without hesitation.
Poong Sin Palace had deliberately selected son-in-law candidates who either had nowhere to return to or could remain in Poong Sin Palace without regret.
“Are all your doubts now resolved?”
At that moment, Yeo Mun Gi, an illegitimate son of the Gangnam Martial Alliance Lord, spoke.
“No matter how excellent the Wind Cloud Divine Technique may be, if the young palace lord’s face is plain, would that not also be a hardship?”
He spoke in a melodious voice.
“Moreover, she might have a physical disability or a fatal flaw as a woman.”
Though the remark was somewhat crude, several men nodded in agreement.
What good was dominating Tianxia with the Wind Divine Technique if So Gung Ju’s appearance was ruined?
Or if she possessed some utterly unacceptable flaw?
Not the Wind Divine Technique.
Even if someone imparted the secret method to become an immortal, they would absolutely refuse to attend the Inaugural Beauty Tournament.
“Of course, that’s possible.”
Elder Hyang showed no anger.
Instead, a mysterious smile graced his lips.
“But have no fear. I stake my reputation that So Gung Ju possesses the most beautiful countenance in this entire palace.”
At those words, the faces of several stern men brightened considerably.
The disciples of the Wind Divine Palace who had guided them here all possessed clear skin and beautiful features without exception.
But if she was the most beautiful among them? There was nothing to worry about.
“Are you satisfied?”
Yeo Mun Gi smiled and nodded.
“Then that’s good.”
Elder Hyang also nodded and spoke in a loud voice.
“From this moment forward, I officially commence the Inaugural Beauty Tournament. If anyone opposes this event of our palace, I ask that you leave now.”
And he added one more thing.
“For your information, the Inaugural Beauty Tournament includes trials so perilous that one cannot guarantee their life… and once you participate, you absolutely cannot withdraw midway.”
Hearing such words,
it seemed there truly were trials where one’s life hung in the balance.
At that, Bu Eunseol rose from his seat without hesitation.
An ordinary martial artist
would have had no choice but to participate in the Inaugural Beauty Tournament to recover their body.
But Bu Eunseol had no intention of deceiving the Wind Divine Palace to receive their secret divine technique.
Even if his body could never be restored, he had no intention of becoming a live-in son-in-law.
[Bu, my friend.]
Hyuk So Jin, reading Bu Eunseol’s thoughts, quickly grasped his hand.
[This won’t do. If you do this, won’t you fail to recover your body?]
Bu Eunseol shook his head.
[The fact that the Wind Divine Palace is holding such a tournament means something is amiss. How could I deceive them just to recover my body?]
Hyuk So Jin quickly interjected.
[I know you are honest, my friend. But if I become the son-in-law of the Wind Divine Palace, wouldn’t that solve everything?]
[What are you saying?]
[I will do it. And then I can simply infuse the Wind Divine Technique into your body, can’t I?]
Hyuk So Jin
was willing to sacrifice himself to restore Bu Eunseol’s body…
participating in the Inaugural Beauty Tournament to become the live-in son-in-law of the Wind Divine Palace.
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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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