The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign - Chapter 796

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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 796.
Bu Eunseol shook her head firmly.
[Rather, I should reveal my true identity and petition the Palace Lord directly. Ask him to transmit the Poong Yun Divine Technique to me.]
[Would the Wind Divine Palace, which walks the Orthodox path, truly transmit secret techniques to Brother Bu? Moreover, judging by the fact that they’re holding the Preliminary Conference, the Wind Divine Palace’s situation is far from normal.]
Bu Eunseol understood this much already.
But because of her.
She could not allow Hyuk So Jin to become a live-in son-in-law at the Wind Divine Palace.
[Even if you become a live-in son-in-law, would the Palace Lord permit the transmission of the Poong Yun Divine Technique to an outsider?]
[Who would seek such permission and then receive transmission? If that happened, it would be as good as announcing to the world that the Poong Yun Divine Technique exists.]
Bu Eunseol fell silent.
In truth, the Crystal Divine Technique she herself possessed.
Had she not obtained it without Sinsugung’s permission, by absorbing it through the Taoist secret manual while defending against the vicious power of the Former Palace Master?
[If I am eliminated, then you may give up at that point. Surely that much is acceptable? If Brother Bu withdraws, I must withdraw as well.]
Seeing the earnest light in Hyuk So Jin’s eyes, Bu Eunseol sighed deeply.
[So Jin.]
[Please, I beg you.]
Hyuk So Jin knew Bu Eunseol’s nature far too well.
Even if it cost him his life.
He would not be forced to participate in the Preliminary Conference.
That is why he was not trying to persuade him, but rather becoming a live-in son-in-law at the Wind Divine Palace himself.
[Is there truly such a need?]
[I’ve reached an age where it’s fitting, and marrying a beautiful woman is surely a good thing, is it not?]
[What of Jeol Cheon Myul Ji? They desire a live-in son-in-law.]
Hyuk So Jin laughed, baring his white teeth.
[Being a branch lord is, after all, nothing more than managing the elders. Grandfather would be delighted if I married quickly and gave him grandchildren.]
[So Jin.]
[If you wish to stop me, cut off my head and rise from this place.]
Hyuk So Jin knew well how severe Bu Eunseol’s injuries were.
Without timely treatment, they could worsen irreversibly.
He was staking his entire life to heal Bu Eunseol.
Witnessing the blazing intensity in Hyuk So Jin’s eyes—burning hot enough to melt steel—Bu Eunseol exhaled a profound sigh.
Had their positions been reversed.
She would have acted identically.
[Very well.]
Bu Eunseol finally sat down.
[But if anything dangerous emerges, I shall withdraw immediately.]
[Understood. Thank you.]
At that moment, Hyang Elder called out.
“Now, come forward one by one and channel your inner force into the Five Elements Stones.”
And she spoke with finality.
“At minimum, three lights must flow forth for passage to be granted. Should fewer than three lights emerge, I ask that you depart from this palace quietly.”
All who heard the explanation nodded in understanding.
Without hesitation, they descended to the first floor and placed their hands upon the Five Elements Stone.
“Ah!”
An exclamation burst forth at that moment.
As Yeo Mun Gi infused his inner power, the Fire Qi emerged alongside the Trembling Wood Qi and the Resolute Metal Qi—three lights flowing forth in total.
“Hehehehe.”
He harbored an arrogant smile.
Despite his exceptional talent, he had been consistently dismissed and excluded from succession considerations solely because of his illegitimate birth.
But if he were to obtain the Wind Divine Qi and become the Grand Duke of the Wind Divine Palace?
Then the position of Gangnam Martial Alliance Master would be utterly insignificant.
Moreover, he could take the peerless beauty of the Wind Divine Palace as his wife—truly a stroke of fortune on multiple fronts.
―Ah.
Yet at that very moment, another exclamation erupted.
As Jegal Seowoon infused his power, four lights flowed forth.
Yeo Mun Gi’s eyes narrowed in displeasure.
“Do not worry. The number of lights does not determine talent.”
The Hyang Elder spoke with composure.
“Three lights are entirely sufficient to obtain the Wind Divine Qi.”
At this, Yeo Mun Gi’s stern expression softened somewhat, and he returned to his seat.
Next came the young scholar who perpetually wore a smile upon his lips.
As he infused his inner power into the stone, four lights emerged.
Thus far, five individuals had produced three lights.
And only Jegal Seowoon and the smiling man had produced four lights.
“It is my turn.”
Hyuk So Jin placed his hand upon the stone and infused his power.
Once again, an exclamation burst forth.
He too produced four lights.
Now it was Bu Eunseol’s turn.
‘It will not work regardless.’
Already during the Ten Demon Hall Conference.
I knew well that I possessed no unique constitution or innate power.
Moreover, through the Gyeongseong Jade, I had confirmed this fact once more—
I harbored no expectations whatsoever.
I drew forth my inner power.
Bu Eunseol raised her cultivation energy.
As I had anticipated, the Five Elements Stone showed no reaction.
“Hmm?”
Yet the Hyang Elder’s expression grew puzzled.
Inner power had been infused, so at minimum the Fire Qi’s light should have emerged.
Why is there no reaction at all?
“Has the Five Elements Stone been damaged?”
The Hyang Elder tilted her head in confusion, and the moment she extended her hand, three streams of light flowed forth.
“It’s perfectly fine.”
“Perhaps it has no power at all.”
At my calm words, the Hyang Elder tilted her head before her eyes suddenly gleamed.
“Surely not, you…”
And she spoke in an increasingly ominous tone.
“You’ve used Reverse Transformation.”
I felt a chill, but I feigned ignorance.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“When one employs a reverse transformation technique to alter one’s appearance, the Five Elements Stone won’t react.”
As the Hyang Elder nodded while glancing around, disciples clad in white robes poured out in a rush and surrounded me.
“Did this palace’s event seem like a game to you?”
Before I could even respond, the Hyang Elder spoke decisively.
“Reveal your true identity. Otherwise, I shall regard you as a spy who came to interfere with this palace’s event.”
I took a deep breath.
From the Hyang Elder’s demeanor, even if I left now, there was no way she would let this pass.
‘Wasn’t I planning to reveal my true identity anyway?’
I had anticipated that my identity would be exposed from the moment I first used the reverse transformation.
Besides, when I first intended to go to the Wind Divine Palace, hadn’t I planned not to hide my true identity?
Crack.
In the end, I released the Face-Changing Bone Technique.
As I did, my bound hair came undone, revealing a face as beautiful as a painting.
“This person is…”
The Hyang Elder’s eyes widened to their limits.
The successor of the Demon Palace.
The foremost young Grand Master of the Demonic Path—none other than Muk Hon Ryeong Ju?
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
As I revealed my true face,
not only Jegal Seowoon but every man present had their eyes flash with astonishment.
“I came here unintentionally, so I was forced to conceal my identity.”
I looked toward the Hyang Elder and clasped my hands together.
“I meant no harm, so I humbly ask for your understanding.”
It was a greeting befitting a master of the Demonic Path—confident yet respectful.
“If you wish, I shall leave the Wind Divine Palace this very moment.”
Yet the Hyang Elder’s expression was strange.
It was as though she was overjoyed and didn’t know what to do, and in a way, she seemed to be barely restraining emotions that threatened to burst forth.
“No, there’s no need for that.”
The Hyang Elder composed her mysterious expression and spoke calmly.
“Since you’ve released your demonic energy, I’ll acknowledge your participation in the Choseo Conference. Place your hand upon the stone.”
The Hyang Elder, who had been acting as though ready to strike at any moment, forced a smile.
Bu Eunseol felt a vague sense of unease.
Moreover, they were continuing to permit participation in the Choseo Conference simply because I had released my demonic energy?
‘What could they possibly want?’
[Brother Bu, we’re already riding the tiger—they’ve formally approved our participation, haven’t they?]
Upon hearing Hyuk So Jin’s spiritual transmission, I reluctantly placed my hand upon the Five Elements Stone.
Yet still, there was no reaction whatsoever.
“I’ve failed the test.”
I shook my head helplessly.
“Not at all.”
The Hyang Elder spoke with certainty.
“When the Five Elements energy reaches its zenith, sometimes nothing appears at all.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
An unexpected answer sent whispers echoing through the chamber.
In other words, wasn’t Bu Eunseol in the optimal condition to obtain the Wind Divine energy?
“The Previous Palace Master was the same way at first.”
It was a lie.
Whether the Five Elements energy reached its zenith or not, the Five Elements Stone only discerned the presence or absence of such energy. This person possessed no Five Elements energy whatsoever.
Yet still, the successor of the Demon Palace must pass through this gateway.
Not to bestow the Wind Divine energy, but for the sake of vengeance.
‘The opportunity for revenge presents itself.’
The Hyang Elder bit her lip.
The reason the Previous Palace Master died such a terrible death.
It was none other than the foremost of the Demonic Path.
Ma Cheon Je, Sa Do Moo Myung, had brutally murdered the Previous Palace Master.
‘Even if I cannot kill Ma Cheon Je, I can certainly kill his successor.’
The Hyang Elder swallowed a vicious smile.
Since Bu Eunseol had come to the Choseo Conference of his own accord, she would not miss this opportunity—she would kill him.
* * *
Those who passed through the Five Elements Stone
numbered seven in total, including Bu Eunseol.
In truth, whether it was a bride-seeking conference or a son-in-law-seeking conference, most such events concluded with martial contests.
Yet the Wind Divine Palace seemed to give no thought to such contests, instead leading them deep into the palace’s interior.
After walking for some time, they arrived at several buildings with open doors.
Extending my inner sight, I saw curtains hanging within the doorways, with layers of silk threads draped beyond them.
By their appearance, they seemed to be places for silent meditation or quiet tea ceremonies.
“Now then, let us commence the formal Choseo Conference.”
The Hyang Elder, who had brought the seven youths to this place, spoke in a loud voice.
“This is where our palace conducts heart-method cultivation. And within, our sect’s senior masters have refined exceptional heart-methods.”
She surveyed the young participants and spoke.
“When they hear the word ‘pass’ from those women, that counts as passing the trial.”
“I fail to comprehend.”
Yeo Mun Gi twisted his lips upward as he spoke.
“What method should we use to receive a passing grade? Surely you don’t mean we should resort to intimidation?”
“That works too.”
Hyang Elder smiled knowingly.
“Whether through intimidation or suppression matters not. If you can make them utter the word ‘pass,’ you will have passed.”
At those words, the gathered men exchanged startled glances.
What abilities could those women inside possibly possess to speak with such confidence?
‘Are they deploying soul-stealing techniques?’
My eyes narrowed.
Though my supernatural perception had faded, my five senses remained intact.
Through the open door, I detected the Soul-Stealing Incense—a substance masters of soul manipulation used in secret.
[So Jin.]
[I’m aware.]
Hyuk So Jin, having caught the scent as well, replied in a low voice.
But then a peculiar transmission echoed to both of us.
[They are likely verifying your identities once more… or perhaps confirming whether you pose a threat to Wind Divine Palace.]
It was a transmission from Jegal Seowoon.
No matter how one calls it an initial selection.
A sect’s secret divine technique.
Moreover, they are in the process of unconditionally transferring the power of Wind Divine among the Sasin.
Whether through soul-stealing techniques or something far more extreme.
It was only natural to filter out those with impure intentions.
[You likely suspect as much already, but you will pass if you prove you pose no threat to Wind Divine Palace. The crucial point is this: you must never resist the soul-stealing technique.]
As Bu Eunseol and Hyuk So Jin exchanged bewildered looks, Jegal Seowoon turned his head away.
[I owe you a debt from before, so I offer this counsel. Of course, this alone does not settle that debt.]
Then Hyang Elder called out.
“Now, enter.”
The participants who had been standing idle each entered the building before them.
Bu Eunseol exchanged a glance with Hyuk So Jin, then positioned myself before the structure directly ahead.
“You may come inside.”
At the cold woman’s voice, I lifted the curtain and stepped within.
A rather narrow room came into view, and a gaunt middle-aged woman with sharp eyes sat waiting.
“I am Ok Jung, master of Jo Ha Dang.”
As she offered her greeting, I bowed respectfully in return.
“Bu Eunseol, disciple of Nangya Pavilion.”
“So you are Muk Hon Ryeong Ju, successor to Demon Palace.”
Ok Jung fixed her piercing gaze upon me.
“You’re quite handsome.”
She then swept her gaze across my face and body, her tone turning cold.
“I imagine you’ve never experienced dissatisfaction in your entire life, and you’ve walked a smooth path, haven’t you?”
“….”
“I’m curious what you might offer to satisfy this Palace Lord.”
All around us, the Tal Baek Hyang bloomed—a fragrance said to steal the very soul from a person’s heart.
Since Tal Baek Hyang was not a poison, one could not defend against it with inner energy, and the chamber was cramped with poor ventilation.
If I continued conversing in this narrow room, defending against the Seop Sim Dae Beop would not be easy.
“….”
I stared at Ok Jung for a moment.
As one ages, one’s true nature reveals itself in the face.
In the eyes, expression, and voice, one’s inner emptiness becomes apparent.
After lingering in thought for some time, I spoke calmly.
“I would appreciate a drink. Preferably something quite strong.”
At my words, Ok Jung’s lips curved upward.
When men seek to captivate women’s hearts, the most common tactic is to ply them with alcohol.
‘This one is simpler than I thought.’
Ok Jung held back a scoff.
“Of course I can provide drink. But this Palace Lord will not be drinking.”
“Do as you please.”
As Ok Jung spoke in a low voice to those behind her, shortly thereafter a table laden with strong spirits, fruits, and cakes was brought forth.
I slowly poured the liquor into a cup.
The spirit they had brought was indeed quite potent as I had requested, with a subtle and refined aroma.
Lifting the bottle and filling the cup to the brim, I brought it slowly to my lips.
My manner of drinking was quite distinctive.
I would fill a transparent cup with clear spirits, then sip it gradually rather than drain it in one gulp.
The pace at which I emptied the cup was neither fast nor slow, but perfectly measured.
Watching me, Ok Jung found herself swallowing involuntarily.
The disciples of Poong Sin Palace live in cold regions and favor strong spirits.
Yet seeing such an extraordinarily handsome man drink strong spirits so delicately, one could not help but salivate.
“In truth, my childhood was not one of comfort.”
Having slowly emptied one bottle, I spoke matter-of-factly.
“Rather, I could say I lived a more wretched existence than most.”
With each word I spoke, the rich aroma of spirits spread through the air.
Ok Jung enjoyed drinking, so she felt no particular aversion to the rising fragrance of alcohol.
“And?”
“The first memory that comes to mind is from when I lived in the Underground Waterway. On the brink of starvation, I discovered a rat that a bird of prey had chewed and discarded… and I consumed it.”
I recounted my wretched past without emotion.
Though I spoke little, once I began, I was an eloquent speaker who captivated the listener’s very soul.
She attempted to show no particular interest in whatever I might say.
He had told his story with such captivating flair that I found myself drawn in despite my better judgment.
“Since then, I have never gone hungry. I came to understand that there is not a single thing in this world that people cannot eat.”
Bu Eunseol slowly emptied her cup once more.
The room was not particularly spacious, and the two of us sat facing each other.
Ok Jung drank the potent liquor in successive gulps.
She could not help but catch the scent of wine mingling with Bu Eunseol’s breath, and she felt her own spirit growing languid.
‘I must regain my composure.’
Ok Jung’s task was not to listen to Bu Eunseol’s tales, but to uncover every secret he possessed.
There was no need to continue indulging in his rambling confessions.
“One cannot call such hardship difficult. In this harsh world, are there not countless nameless orphans?”
“You mean to say you lived a more wretched life than I?”
Bu Eunseol smiled in an uncharacteristic manner, the corners of his mouth lifting.
At this, Ok Jung’s expression turned glacial.
“I was swept up in war. My family was slaughtered, and my mother was violated by soldiers.”
She bit her lip.
“From that day forward, my mother descended into madness. She would beat me every day, then weep in anguish, begging my forgiveness, over and over.”
“….”
“And then, at some point, she began saying that if you could suffer such misfortune, then so could I… and she tried to kill me.”
Ok Jung’s eyes reddened.
“The number of times my mother nearly succeeded in killing me is beyond count. One day, she resolved to do it—she tried to slit my throat with a sickle.”
She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly catching herself.
She realized she was speaking of things she should never have revealed.
But then Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Yet the Palace Lord is alive and well now… so it seems your mother met a tragic end alone.”
At his clumsy deduction, Ok Jung bit her lip.
“Far from it. I was struck by my mother’s sickle and dying. But by fortune, the Palace Lord discovered me on that day of my death.”
Ok Jung had lived a wretched existence, dying at her mother’s hands.
But she was saved by the Palace Lord, who had been the previous Wind Divine, and became a disciple of Wind Divine Palace.
“What extraordinary fortune.”
Bu Eunseol nodded, unaware of the depths of her suffering.
“Having come to Wind Divine Palace, you must have been freed from that agonizing life.”
“Freed, you say?”
Ok Jung bit her lip.
It was strange.
No matter how hard she tried to maintain composure, she could not shake the despair and bitterness that dwelt in her heart.
“It was quite the opposite. Watching my mother die at the Palace Lord’s hand, I felt relief—finally, I would no longer suffer. Finally, I would not have to torment myself wondering whether to kill my own mother.”
She could not contain her bitterness, and a sorrowful smile crossed her lips.
“And yet I despised myself for thinking such thoughts… for believing I was finally free from that burden.”
Drip, drip.
At last, hot tears streamed from Ok Jung’s eyes.
After hearing the entire story, I exhaled a long, weary sigh.
I too had lived through an age of war and endured a wretched existence.
I possessed no memories of my parents, and the memories I had painstakingly recovered turned out to be fabricated implants.
Yet Ok Jung retained genuine memories of her parents.
And those very memories had become a harrowing, sorrowful past that tormented her relentlessly.
*Glug.*
In silence, I filled the cup to the brim.
The transparent glass overflowed with liquor, releasing a pungent aroma that tickled the nostrils.
Yet I did not drink from it.
It was an act of empathy toward Ok Jung, who carried such a tragic past—a cup I had filled for her sake.
Ok Jung stared at the cup with bewildered eyes.
Then, suddenly, her eyes widened.
She had detected the transparent ripple of true qi emanating from the cup.
“Surely not.”
Ok Jung’s voice trembled.
She had just realized that I had painstakingly channeled my inner strength to weave a barrier of true qi.
This prevented any sound from leaking beyond our sanctuary.
“It is well. No one will hear us.”
Ok Jung could not comprehend it.
Why, to this man,
had she suddenly begun pouring out the tragic secrets she had never spoken of before?
“I did so intentionally.”
Having perceived her thoughts, I smiled with composure.
“I did not ask you to read the cup merely on a whim.”
Upon seeing Ok Jung’s face, I could discern much.
Her eyes held a harrowing past, and her lips harbored secrets she had never shared with another soul.
And hearing her parched voice,
I glimpsed the emptiness and anguish concealed beneath that cold exterior.
―Am I beginning to resemble Ma Cheon Je?
Though I had suffered grievous wounds in my battle with Gwon In,
I had gained confidence and conviction that I could contend with masters of the Mujik Gyeong.
And through this, my martial prowess underwent another profound leap forward.
And as if to prove it—much like Ma Cheon Je and Mu Jon—
I had developed eyes capable of perceiving the inner spirit of others.

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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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