The Heavenly Demon of the Blue Sky - Chapter 55

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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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Changtian Heavenly Demon 055
The road to Anhui Province was long and treacherous.
Unlike our departure, the procession had swelled well over a hundred strong.
We chose wide roads fit for carts instead of narrow mountain paths or shortcuts.
After days of travel, we reached the northern border of Anhui Province.
The ruins of a massive estate came into view, utterly devastated.
Charred pillars, collapsed walls, and weeds running wild over everything.
Once a noble house that ruled northern Anhui—the Jinjueon Clan.
Seomun Ho gazed out from the cart, his face clouded with conflicted emotion.
“I bore the Jinjueon Clan no love, yet I harbored no wish to see them brought so low…….”
Deep regret weighed in every word.
“But when the dead were reforged into Corpse Demons, hurling themselves at living throats, I had no choice as Clan Head but to sever my enemies’ breath completely to protect my own.”
In the aftermath of that battle, both territories had been razed and burned.
At his heavy confession, those nearby exhaled slowly, breath ragged with sorrow.
From my saddle, I stared ahead and answered without wavering.
“I would have chosen the same way.”
“Clan Head…….”
At my words, Seomun Ho drew a shallow breath and found a measure of comfort.
Just as we were about to pass through the ruins of the Jinjueon Clan without stopping.
“Wait.”
I pulled the reins and brought my horse to a halt.
Then I turned my head, my gaze settling quietly on a towering peak that rose beyond the estate.
Perhaps it was because I had crossed the threshold of death and inhabited this new form.
Of late, I had grown acutely aware of Vengeful Spirits and the Lingering Resentment left behind by the dead.
Now too, something only my eyes could perceive—a thick, ominous pall of black clouds hanging over that distant summit.
“What is that peak?”
“Ah, that is the Ancestral Burial Ground of the Jinjueon Clan. Much as we resented them, we honored the glory they once brought to the Martial World and left their tomb site untouched, not disturbing even a single hair.”
At Seomun Ho’s answer, I dismounted and made my way down the slope.
“W-what are you doing so suddenly……!”
My companions hurried after me in confusion.
Closer inspection of the Ancestral Burial Ground revealed an outwardly peaceful scene.
Weeds flourished atop the rounded burial mounds, but there was no sign of the earth having been disturbed or desecrated by any hand.
“The Jinjueon Clan has been extinguished and none remain to tend these graves, yet fortunately they seem to have escaped the hands of grave robbers.”
Seomun Ho exhaled, relieved.
But what I perceived told a different story. That sinister presence still lingered.
Without speaking, I stepped into the tomb area and pressed my hand against the nearest burial mound.
“W-Clan Head? What are you—”
I drew forth the Changtian Demon Qi from my dantian and sent it surging through my fingertips, driving it deep into the earthen heap with tremendous force.
Crumble!
The seemingly solid mound collapsed like a sandcastle, helpless and hollow.
“What manner of sacrilege is this, desecrating the resting place of the dead!”
Seomun Ho cried out in shock, and his companions could not hide their bewilderment at my sudden action.
I pointed my chin toward the dust-shrouded pit and spoke calmly.
“There is no resting place when the master was never buried here to begin with.”
“……What?”
My companions rushed forward and peered into the collapsed grave.
Their eyes widened. The hollow tomb was completely empty.
No corpse, no heavy coffin that should have held it—all had vanished without trace.
“Common grave robbers tear through the earth crudely and pilfer valuables, then flee. They would never haul away a heavy, decaying coffin intact. And to cover it all so seamlessly as to leave no sign? This was done with deliberate intent.”
Those who covet the very flesh of the dead and erase their traces with such care.
“The Blood Cult.”
At my murmur, Seomun Ho’s face drained of all color.
His lips pressed together as if he’d grown sick of deeds that abandoned all humanity.
I too was deeply troubled. This was something we could have prevented.
‘My failure. I was too intent on claiming the Jinjueon Clan’s Secret Martial Techniques and Jiangshi knowledge.’
I reproached myself, then shook my head. Even had I known.
How could one simply desecrate another clan’s Ancestral Burial Ground and set it to flame?
With a bitter expression, I gestured toward the headstones standing before the pit.
“Do you recognize any of the names?”
Seomun Ho limped forward, examining the headstones before the empty graves with meticulous care.
Having wandered the Martial World for so long, I recognized many of the names they mentioned.
“Great Elder Eon Gi Mu…. Guard Commander Eon Cheol…! All of them masters who left their mark as formidable names in the Martial World!”
Perfect, more than sufficient materials to forge into powerful Corpse Demons.
“Then surely…!”
Seomun Ho, grasping the gravity of the situation, advanced toward the summit.
Soon he reached the tomb situated at the Auspicious Site and drew open the Walking Cane Sword.
It was carved from ancient wood and appeared to be nothing more than a staff, but it was truly a blade.
Shing—! The frost-laden edge cleaved the burial mound in two like tofu. A tremendous strike.
As expected, only a deep pit remained—completely empty.
“Ah…! This is dire! So they’ve desecrated even this one’s corpse!”
“Who is the master of this tomb?”
“The former Clan Head of the Jinjueon Clan…. Eon Mu Gang, the White Tiger of Jinjueon.”
I had heard he ranked among the finest masters in Jinjueon Clan history.
“Had he lived, with his reputation for righteousness, much would have been different.”
He would have aided Namgung to crush the Blood Cult, and his son Eon Tae Gyeong might never have walked down a twisted path.
“What’s done is done—lamenting it changes nothing. Now we must look forward, not back.”
The Blood Cult had seized the dead Clan Head of Jinjueon and their other masters.
The faces of my companions grew dark, but I paid it little mind.
With thorough preparation, there was no battle we could not win.
By then twilight had fallen beyond the ridgeline, and a crimson sunset stretched before us.
Turning slowly away from the tomb area, its ghastly depths now exposed.
Whoosh—!
A fierce wind swept down through the ravine, scattering the hem of my deep blue robe.
My eyes, catching the red light of the setting sun at my back, gleamed cold and sharp.
“Whether they commanded Heaven itself in life or shook the Martial Realm matters little to me.”
Passing by the motionless Seomun Ho, I strode down the slope with long steps.
“Beneath my Changtian, neither demon nor phantom can find purchase.”
My elongated shadow wavered like the form of some vast Demon God.
Indifferent as the night sky to the gathering clouds above it. All the more so.

* * *
Days later, our long procession finally arrived at the foot of Cheonju Mountain.
“The Clan Head has returned!”
The massive gates of the Namgung main residence, sealed tight until now, swung open wide.
Yeon Hwa and Seol Hwa, along with Dang Suk and hundreds of household members came streaming out.
But that was not all.
Jegal Un, Jang Ho, and Hye Gwang had all come to greet us.
“Brother! You’ve returned safely!”
“Clan Head, we’ve been waiting for you!”
Tempering the festive mood, I called upon Seol Hwa, who managed the Namgung household.
“You’ve had the guest houses prepared generously?”
“Of course! I’ve arranged plenty of bedding as well.”
“Good.”
I gestured toward the people of the Seomun Clan and Taishan who had labored on the journey here.
“Give them quarters to settle into. Since we’re now in the same boat, see they’re treated exactly as our Namgung people—food, clothing, everything. If anyone shows favoritism or grudging treatment, punish them severely.”
Seol Hwa beamed warmly as she welcomed the new guests.
Then I issued instructions in turn to Yeon Hwa, the physician, and Dang Suk.
“Clear vacant land at once and expand the stables. Prepare a comfortable rest place for all the horses the Shandong mounted guard brought with them.”
“Already on it! We’ve been enlarging the stables as the clan grew!”
“Good. Physician, as soon as you’ve unpacked, examine our wounded again—those still unable to move freely.”
“Yes, I’ll open the medicine room immediately and prepare restorative broth.”
“Dang Suk, see that those exhausted from the long journey have plenty of meat broth and wine to recover their strength.”
The household members moved with practiced efficiency, dividing the baggage and guiding the arrivals to warm quarters.
The Seomun Clan’s people seemed amazed by the sheer scale of the Namgung main residence, now rebuilt perfectly like an impregnable fortress.
Moreover, treated without discrimination despite being outsiders, they quietly wiped away tears of gratitude.
Even the disciplined mounted guard of the Hwangbo Clan and Sandong Ak Clan began melting quickly into the fold, delighted by the Namgung household members’ generous welcome—hearty servings of meat and wine, friendly slaps on the back.
After the quarters were assigned and the warm welcome concluded,
the leaders of our force gathered in the wide administrative hall to drink tea.
The talented men who had fought alongside us in Shanxi vied to recount my exploits.
“The green wind overturned the raging flames and wrapped around the enemy like something wondrous—we thought we were witnessing an immortal!”
“And that’s not all! The Medical Arts—cutting flesh and scraping bone—what of that!”
“This old man’s rotting legs were brought back to life by you!”
The excited voices filled the office with admiration from everyone present.
Meanwhile, I pressed my temples wearily and spoke with blunt irritation.
“You’re all exaggerating. It was nothing. I simply did what needed to be done in my position. Luck was on our side, too.”
Though I’d spoken carelessly, the atmosphere in the office flowed in a direction entirely opposite to my intent.
“Ah! To achieve such tremendous feats and yet remain so humble!”
“How could we not recognize the Clan Head’s consideration, crediting all success to us!”
Instead, a cascade of praise erupted.
Jegal Un snapped his fan shut, his eyes glistening with emotion.
Jang Ho and Hye Gwang both nodded, remarking on the bearing of a great master.
“That’s enough of that.”
My face flushed. I frowned and steered the conversation elsewhere.
“In any case, since we have newcomers here, let’s exchange proper introductions. These are faces we’ll be seeing often going forward.”
The talented individuals in the office suddenly realized they’d been so caught up in the Namgung Clan Head’s praise that they’d neglected the initial courtesies.
Late to the realization, they turned toward one another and clasped their fists in salute.
“We meet again after the Yongbong Gathering. It’s truly a joy and reassurance to have the two prodigies of Shandong make the journey all the way to Anhui Province.”
Jegal Un offered his greeting with that characteristic serpentine smile of his.
Hye Gwang and Jang Ho rose from their seats and bowed respectfully with clasped hands.
“We have long heard of the righteousness of the masters of Taishan. It is an honor to meet you in person.”
“Come now, what are you saying! To meet in person the two masters who represent the great leaders of the Orthodox Sects—Shaolin and the Beggar Clan—is an honor beyond measure for us!”
Hwangbo Gang and Ak Jin rose as well, their faces flushed with enthusiasm as they observed proper courtesy.
Then Seomun Ho, who had been quietly touching his teacup, spoke.
“Outstanding rising talents and the young pillars of the Martial Realm gathering to discuss a brilliant new future—I wonder if this old man, who has already suffered one clan’s annihilation and fallen behind, is shameless to have squeezed into such a gathering…….”
At his self-deprecating greeting, everyone in the office rose from their seats as though by agreement.
“Is not the Seomun Clan Head one who has long stood at the front lines of the northwest, holding back the tide of evil—a beacon for all the Martial World? Though our affiliations differ, we all hold you in profound respect.”
“That we are privileged to share this place and common purpose with such a man is an honor that overwhelms us!”
They bowed deeply, offering sincere respect.
At the juniors’ admiration, Seomun Ho turned the praise toward me.
“It is only because the Namgung Clan Head is exceptional that we have all been brought together. Truly, your reputation draws people.”
As Seomun Ho spoke praise of me, Jang Ho beside him laughed heartily.
“Indeed! Wherever the Clan Head goes, how do such fine talents gather?”
“Though outwardly blunt and cold, within burns a goodness and sense of justice that we have all experienced firsthand.”
“That’s right. Such righteous sincerity naturally spreads, does it not.”
The entire group gazed at me with warm, almost sticky eyes.
‘Damn…….’
I, flustered, raised my voice.
“No, I’m only calculating my own interests and using you all for my benefit. Stop reading meaningless sentiment into everything!”
It was genuine anger, born of embarrassment.
“Ah, there the Clan Head goes again!”
“Why do you deny what is clearly true? Your real nature has been exposed, and now you’re ashamed!”
“Oh my! Our Clan Head’s unstoppable consideration!”
“…….”
Rather than taking heed, they treated my outburst as endearing and chuckled warmly. I found myself at a loss, pressing my forehead and sighing.
Had the demon practitioners of my past life seen this, they would have collapsed foaming at the mouth.
“In any case, a serious matter has emerged. Everyone, focus.”
The office had been filled with the warmth of laughter just moments before.
But when I raised the matter of the Jinjueon Clan grave robbery I’d witnessed on the way here, the atmosphere grew heavy.
“The Blood Cult bastards have desecrated the graves of the Jinjueon Clan’s late Clan Head Eon Mu Gang and other powerful martial masters. They intend to refine them into Corpse Demons.”
A grim situation—difficult enough to contend with the living, much less having to face the corpses of dead masters.
I slowly swept my gaze across the hardened faces of my companions.
“However difficult the enemy, together we can overcome it.”
I spoke calmly, then suddenly froze.
Had I not spent a lifetime ruling alone, standing supreme?
Yet here I was, uttering the word “together” and offering encouragement.
Uncharacteristic of me, I awkwardly cleared my throat and added as though making excuses.
“Fear always springs from the unknown. But we already know what our enemy is crafting, what cards they hold. There is no reason to be afraid.”
At my words, belief kindled in the eyes of companions who had been gripped by dread.
“The Clan Head’s words are absolutely right!”
“How could cowering before them accomplish anything!”
As the tension eased, he turned to the fundamental difficulty at hand.
“Right now, the most fatal problem when dealing with Corpse Demons is the mutant poison that coats the decaying corpse. Poison is such that if the blend is even a fraction off, finding the key to its antidote becomes as difficult as solving a riddle at a cliff’s edge.”
“As someone who has experienced it firsthand, your words are precise, Clan Head.”
Seomun Ho rubbed his own shin and shuddered.
“It burrows into the flesh and rots the bone—even with formidable inner strength, it’s a desperate affair.”
Hwangbo Gang too concurred, beads of cold sweat trailing down his face.
“The physicians attached to our Taishan are among the most accomplished in the Martial Realm, yet even they could not uncover the solution to this mutant Corpse Demon poison.”
At that moment, Ak Jin swallowed hard and turned his gaze toward me.
“Surely Namgung Clan Head, having ascended to the realm of the Divine Physician, could discern the method to neutralize such a poison?”
All eyes fixed upon me with cautious expectation.
I withdrew a long vial filled with crimson blood from my sleeve and set it upon the table.
It was the blood I had collected separately after completing Seomun Ho’s procedure.
“I pride myself on my depth in the Medical Arts, yet even this is exceedingly difficult to grasp at once. I cannot be certain I will be able to determine it accurately.”
It contained foreign substances and mixing methods I had never encountered in my previous life.
At my honest reply, concern settled once more across their faces.
I then turned to Jegal Un.
“What of the Jegal Clan’s progress?”
“We have been researching day and night for talismans and formation techniques that might serve as the Corpse Demon’s weak points. However, regarding matters of poison, our knowledge falls short as well…….”
Jegal Un answered ruefully, his fan screening his mouth.
Jang Ho and Hye Gwang shook their heads as well. Even Shaolin and the Beggar Clan had no distinctive methods when it came to poison.
“With so many of the Martial World’s finest gathered here, yet we have no clear solution to the antidote……. What are we to do?”
A hopeless silence descended. My chest grew tight, and I approached the window.
Beyond the lattice, the tender green leaves of late spring stretched forth, staining the white paper window with a soft verdant glow.
As I gazed quietly at that green light, a good thought came to me.
Had I remained the Heavenly Demon of my former life, seeking aid would have been unthinkable; but now, as Namgung Clan Head, it was not so.
“If no answer can be found among those gathered here…….”
I lifted one corner of my mouth in a crooked smile.
“Then I must seek the answer from outside.”
“Outside, you say……. Do you mean there is a place capable of neutralizing such a poison?”
The group echoed the question back as if by prior agreement.
I cast my gaze out through the window, toward the distant west, and answered.
“You all know it well. When it comes to handling poison and antidotes, there is but one family called supreme under heaven.”
Then I picked up a brush and slowly wrote four characters upon the verdant window paper.
“The Sichuan Dang Clan.”

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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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