Chapter 497.16
Chapter 497.16 – Side Story 5 Part 1
White Ghost King (1)
"Mistress! You're safe!"
The White Ghost King couldn't hide his joy.
The order he had received from his young master Hong Hae-a was to protect his master's mother, Iron Fan Immortal.
[Who should I protect her from?]
[There are those desperate to catch me. They will surely target my mother. You must protect her.]
[I accept your command, young master!]
However, upon arriving at Plantain Leaf Peak, he couldn't help but feel both anger and despair.
He had wanted to carry out the young master's order to be forgiven by the Great Strength King, but he felt self-loathing for failing to even protect her.
The White Ghost King had heard from Ash-Faced Demon, one of Iron Fan Immortal's Three Heroes with long gray hair, that she had been abducted by an unknown person.
Thinking it might be an ancient immortal, he was going to report to the young master first, but he had flown here in a hurry after accidentally discovering her.
"White Ghost King?"
Recognizing him, Iron Fan Immortal frowned her delicate brows and called out.
She couldn't help but know him, as the Great Strength King had Great Spirit Beasts following him.
Each of these Great Spirit Beasts was a lesser demon with power so strong it wouldn't be strange for them to be given the title of one of the Six Demons.
However, in a war with the ancient immortals long ago, he had lost his right-hand man, the Yu-Battle King[1], and another one, the White Ghost King, had been imprisoned due to his great anger over some incident.
Puzzled by this, she asked:
"How are you here?"
"The young master released my confinement and gave me a chance for His revival."
"Hong Hae-a, that child released you?"
"Yes. Though He hasn't forgiven me yet, I want to achieve merit with this opportunity and become His strength again."
"How admirable."
She spoke as if finding something unsatisfactory.
This was because of that certain incident.
Long ago, despite the Great Strength King's orders, the White Ghost King had left his concubine, the Ten Thousand-Old Fox King's daughter, alone, resulting in a major incident where that concubine lost her life.
The White Ghost King had made the excuse that he left his post because of an order Iron Fan Immortal had given in the past, which caused the Great Strength King to become greatly angered. He imprisoned the White Ghost King deep underground and didn't see her for decades.
Because of this, she didn't particularly like the White Ghost King.
Even if it was from the distant past.
"Mistress, this is great. When the Lord awakens, once again like before—Mistress?"
The White Ghost King was puzzled.
This was because Iron Fan Immortal was frowning and shaking her head, as if restraining him from saying anything.
Finding this strange, the White Ghost King raised his white eyebrows and looked down at Cheong-ryeong, who was standing guard next to her with her sword drawn.
"Mistress, surely you're not acting like this because of this prey?"
"Stop!"
Startled by the White Ghost King's words, Iron Fan Immortal rebuked him.
"Mistress? How—"
"Apologize to the mistress at once!"
"What? Mistress? What on earth are you saying?"
The White Ghost King glared at Cheong-ryeong with a look of genuine bewilderment.
Just by revealing his killing intent, the White Ghost King, a Great Spirit Beast comparable to the Six Demons, made the surrounding air unbearably heavy.
Though she had surpassed even the purple spirit level and even exceeded Profound Realm masters when she was a vengeful spirit, Cheong-ryeong had become infinitely weaker compared to then after her complete reincarnation. She couldn't face this Great Spirit Beast alone.
However,
She had Iron Fan Immortal, the Great Spirit Beast that Heavenly Demon had made his spirit servant.
Iron Fan Immortal sharply rebuked the White Ghost King, striking his cheek that was pressuring Cheong-ryeong:
"Do you dare disobey my order?"
"Mi-Mistress? But this is just—"
"I said mistress."
"Mistress? What are you talking about—"
"She is the partner of the one I serve as master."
"Mistress! What do you mean by the one you serve?"
Suddenly, the White Ghost King recalled what Ash-Faced Demon, one of Iron Fan Immortal's Three Heroes, had said.
For some unknown reason, Iron Fan Immortal had willingly followed that monster-like being who had overturned Plantain Leaf Cave.
'That bastard who took the mistress must have used some technique. Otherwise, the mistress would never say such crazy things.'
The White Ghost King's mind became complicated for a moment.
With his simple and hot-tempered nature, he wanted to kill this human woman and wipe out the human who had used techniques on the mistress, but if the mistress Iron Fan Immortal went berserk due to the technique and tried to attack him, the young master might become angry.
If that happened, even if the Lord revived, the young master might not forgive him.
'Damn it, what should I do? Should I go along with the mistress for now and not touch this human woman?'
But that was truly disheartening.
To think he had to go along with mere prey.
Right. Let's take her to the young master for now.
The young master, who is skilled in all sorts of techniques unlike the Lord, might be able to return the mistress to normal.
So the White Ghost King withdrew his killing intent and carefully said:
"I understand. If she is the partner of the one the mistress serves, this White Ghost King shouldn't treat her carelessly. Human wench—no, woman. I apologize."
The White Ghost King bowed his head, apologizing to Cheong-ryeong according to human etiquette.
At his attitude, Cheong-ryeong asked Iron Fan Immortal beside her:
"Is this one a lesser demon following the Great Strength King?"
"Yes, he is."
Iron Fan Immortal answered nonchalantly.
At this sight, the White Ghost King's fur trembled with how furious he was inside.
'Endure. Just endure a little longer.'
The White Ghost King said to Iron Fan Immortal:
"Mistress. The young master—"
"Is, is that child still looking for the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox?"
At that moment, Iron Fan Immortal hurriedly changed the subject.
As she did so, she once again frowned at the White Ghost King, sending a look telling him not to talk about Hong Hae-a.
Though she had become a spirit servant, her true desire was to prevent that monster-like human from meeting Hong Hae-a by any means.
However, with Cheong-ryeong beside her, she couldn't say this openly.
Of course, Cheong-ryeong wasn't oblivious.
"By young master, you seem to mean Hong Hae-a. You, White Ghost King who follows the Great Strength King, seem to know well where that boy is."
"Ugh…"
Iron Fan Immortal grabbed her forehead, veins popping out.
This White Ghost King, all brawn and no brains, was about to ruin everything.
Seeing her seemingly in pain, the White Ghost King thought this wouldn't do and revealed his true intentions:
"Mistress! I don't know what technique you've fallen under, but this lowly one will capture this wench and take her to the young master, so please endure a little longer."
"No! Don't you dare do such a thing—agh!"
"Mistress, forgive me!"
With that cry, the White Ghost King reached out his hand to grab Cheong-ryeong.
Snap!
"I said no!"
Then Iron Fan Immortal, who had been clutching her forehead, drew the whip at her waist and struck the White Ghost King's wrist.
Crack! Whoosh!
Flames erupted where the whip struck, and the White Ghost King's hand was deflected sideways.
Ugh!
The White Ghost King gritted his teeth and endured, trying to grab Cheong-ryeong.
He thought that since she was under a technique, mistress Iron Fan Immortal would interfere with him anyway.
However, Cheong-ryeong had also honed her martial arts again after reincarnating, reaching the pinnacle-stage of the Transformation Realm.
Even though she was pregnant, she wasn't someone who would be easily caught.
Cheong-ryeong quickly used her movement technique and flew backwards.
Snap!
Having missed her, the White Ghost King tried to leap with a terribly twisted expression.
"You insect!"
However,
Boom! Whoosh!
A wall of fire erupted right in front of him, creating a wall of flames, forcing him to stop.
The fire wall didn't stop there but pushed towards the White Ghost King.
Knowing well that her flames were no ordinary ones, the White Ghost King stepped back, took a deep breath, and exhaled with his mouth pursed.
"Phooo! Whoosh!"
A whirlwind arose from the White Ghost King's mouth, creating a hole in the huge fire wall.
Not missing this chance, the White Ghost King leapt through it.
Having crossed beyond the fire wall through the hole, the White Ghost King looked around searching for Cheong-ryeong.
"Where did that human wench go?"
Snap!
It was right then.
As the White Ghost King turned his head looking around, his eyes fell upon mistress Iron Fan Immortal kneeling with terrified eyes.
Though he didn't know when he had appeared, in front of her was a man with quite beautiful features for a human, holding that human wench in one arm.
When did he take her there? Ah!
'It's that human bastard!'
The White Ghost King realized that this man was the one who had used techniques on her, seeing Iron Fan Immortal's unbearable state.
Thinking that if he just killed or captured this guy, the mistress would be freed, he leapt forward on all fours like a charging beast.
But then,
Whoosh!
As that beautiful man slightly raised his hand then lowered it,
Boom!
The White Ghost King was slammed flat onto the ground by tremendous pressure.
The White Ghost King's eyes widened at this sudden event.
What is going on?
An unbelievably powerful force was forcibly suppressing him, a level of energy he hadn't felt since his lord, the Great Strength King.
'What is this guy?'
On the surface, he looked like just an ordinary human.
But to possess this level of energy, could he be one of the ancient immortals the young master spoke of? If so, this wasn't a situation to recklessly charge in barehanded.
'Spirit Demon Great Treasure, Snake Scale Armor[2]!'
As the White Ghost King raised his demonic power, the snake-patterned armor he was wearing glowed purple, and the muscles under his white fur swelled greatly.
Crunch crunch crunch!
The Spirit Demon Great Treasure, Snake Scale Armor.
It was the White Ghost King's Spirit Demon Great Treasure, an armor that adapted to the opponent's strength.
This armor could only be used by the White Ghost King, and it was the greatest treasure that had allowed him to survive even in the war against the ancient immortals.
Having adapted to the qi that was suppressing him with the Snake Scale Armor, the White Ghost King sprung his hands and feet and rose from the ground.
Bang!
As he stood up, the White Ghost King unwrapped and threw the red silk wrapped around his right arm.
The red silk fluttered as if alive, then spread out widely and flew towards the beautiful man, Heavenly Demon.
Whoosh!
This was one of the two treasures Hong Hae-a had given him, called the Heavenly Mixing Silk[3], an immortal treasure that could control water and seal opponents.
The flying red silk treasure, Heavenly Mixing Silk, tried to swallow up Heavenly Demon and Cheong-ryeong in an instant. But then,
Whoosh!
Pillars of fire erupted from the ground, pushing back the Heavenly Mixing Silk.
"Damn it! Mistress!"
The one who had blocked this was Iron Fan Immortal.
Having become Heavenly Demon's spirit servant, she had developed a compulsion to protect her master regardless of her own will, so she had no choice but to instinctively block it.
Thinking this wouldn't do, the White Ghost King decided it would be better to bind Iron Fan Immortal instead. So,
'Heavenly Mixing Silk. Capture the mistress!'
At the White Ghost King's command, the Heavenly Mixing Silk that had been pushed back by the fire pillars fluttered, then changed direction, dodging them and targeting Iron Fan Immortal.
In that gap, the White Ghost King tried to throw the rope at his waist towards Heavenly Demon.
This was also a treasure given to him by Hong Hae-a, a rope called the Immortal Binding Rope[4], created to subdue immortals.
[An immortal bound by this cannot exert immortal power.]
His young master had given this saying it would work even if the opponent was an ancient immortal.
The moment the White Ghost King grasped the rope, a brilliant five-colored light flowed from it, which was the energy contained in the Immortal Binding Rope treasure.
But just as the White Ghost King was about to lift it after grasping it,
"Iron Fan Immortal, take your own life."
'!?'
As soon as those words left Heavenly Demon's mouth, Iron Fan Immortal, who had been blocking the incoming Heavenly Mixing Silk with pillars of fire, tried to pierce her own chest with her sharpened nails.
"Nooooo!"
Snap!
The shocked White Ghost King threw the Immortal Binding Rope at Iron Fan Immortal.
The Immortal Binding Rope, emitting brilliant five-colored light, flew and wrapped around Iron Fan Immortal's body as she tried to take her own life.
Not stopping there, the Heavenly Mixing Silk also flew and covered her in that state.
Whack!
Having barely prevented her from taking her own life, the White Ghost King angrily rebuked:
"You cowardly bastard!"
Whoosh!
But as Heavenly Demon grasped his sword,
Woong!
An enormous transparent sword appeared above the Heavenly Mixing Silk, falling and cutting through the red silk.
Slash!
The utterly transparent sword was the Formless Sword.
As the Heavenly Mixing Silk's fabric was cut by the Formless Sword, Iron Fan Immortal's figure bound by the Immortal Binding Rope was revealed, but she easily broke free of it with her strength.
Crack crack crack!
This was because the Immortal Binding Rope was originally a treasure for subduing immortals.
There was no way Iron Fan Immortal, who had no immortal power, would be bound by it.
As Iron Fan Immortal, having broken free, tried to pierce the center of her chest with her hand again, the White Ghost King leapt and grabbed both her arms.
Whack!
"Mistress! Stop!"
Despite the White Ghost King's cry, Iron Fan Immortal tried to forcibly make her demonic power go berserk to carry out Heavenly Demon's order.
Crunch! Crunch!
Iron Fan Immortal's blood vessels all over her body turned black and stood on end. Bewildered by her unceasing actions, the White Ghost King shouted towards Heavenly Demon:
"P-please stop!"
Chapter 497.17
Chapter 497.17 – Side Story 5 Part 2
White Ghost King (2)
Realizing he couldn't stop Mistress Iron Fan Immortal from trying to take her own life no matter how he tried, the White Ghost King hurriedly shouted at Heavenly Demon:
"P-please stop!"
It was almost a pleading cry, but Heavenly Demon showed no particular reaction.
Rather, he just stared with an indifferent gaze, as if completely uninterested.
Meanwhile, Iron Fan Immortal's blood vessels were bursting one by one due to her demonic power, and blue blood spurted out from various places.
Splash! Splash!
"You damn bastard! At this rate, the mistress will die! Please stop!"
At the White Ghost King's desperate cry, Heavenly Demon merely shrugged his shoulders.
He seemed intent on letting her die.
'This bastard!'
Thinking this wouldn't do, the White Ghost King's choice was to kill Heavenly Demon, who was controlling Mistress Iron Fan Immortal at will.
"Forgive me, Mistress!"
Whack!
The White Ghost King struck the back of Iron Fan Immortal's neck as if to knock her unconscious, then urgently flew towards Heavenly Demon.
Whoosh!
"I'll kill you!"
As the White Ghost King charged recklessly, Heavenly Demon smirked and said:
"If you kill the master connected by a tie, the spirit servant will die too."
Crunch!
As soon as those words fell, the charging White Ghost King planted his two feet on the ground and barely came to a stop.
"What?"
"It's exactly as you heard."
At Heavenly Demon's words, the White Ghost King's expression twisted in complexity.
He had wondered what kind of technique was being used to restrain and control Mistress Iron Fan Immortal at will, but he was bewildered by the mention of a spirit servant.
Wasn't that a method used by ancient immortals or diviners in the past?
He had thought it only worked on lower-ranked lesser demons, so how could it be used on the mistress?
As he wondered, it was at that moment.
The White Ghost King saw Heavenly Demon pointing somewhere with his finger.
Whack!
Then he noticed Iron Fan Immortal piercing her chest with her sharpened nails.
At this sight, the White Ghost King knelt on the ground and planted his head down.
Thud!
"I surrender unconditionally! Please, save the mistress!"
"Well…"
'This bastard!'
He had tried to somehow put out the urgent fire and save Iron Fan Immortal, but this guy was truly vicious.
If she really died, his shield for protection might disappear, but coming out like this meant he had more hidden cards?
After pondering for a split second, the White Ghost King finally,
Crunch!
"Ugh!"
Grabbed his right shoulder with his left arm and tore it off.
The White Ghost King, having torn off his arm, took off the Spirit Demon Great Treasure Snake Scale Armor he was wearing and threw it in front of Heavenly Demon.
Thud!
"If you want, I'll tear off my remaining arm too, so please just save the mistress."
His choice was to save her.
Though he wanted to choose the path of revenge without being swayed by this bastard, if he did that, he would incur the wrath of Young Master Hong Hae-a and Lord Great Strength King.
So he had to save Iron Fan Immortal somehow.
As the White Ghost King discarded his armor and even tore off his arm, taking a completely surrendering stance,
"Iron Fan Immortal, stop."
Heavenly Demon withdrew the order for her to take her own life.
Since it had been an order to end her own life, Iron Fan Immortal, who had momentarily lost her cognitive ability, looked at her hand with a bewildered gaze.
It was at that moment.
Whoosh!
The White Ghost King's cheeks, who was prostrated on the ground, puffed up greatly.
Then,
Boom!
As the White Ghost King blew towards the ground, a gale swept through, shattering the ground and sending debris and dust flying everywhere.
It was enough to obscure the view ahead.
Not missing this moment, the White Ghost King flew towards Cheong-ryeong at tremendous speed.
'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!'
You tried to do something to me by taking the mistress hostage, so in return, I'll capture your woman and make you feel the same pain.
Just as the White Ghost King's huge, rough hand was about to snatch Cheong-ryeong in one go, at that moment.
Slash!
A sharp sensation brushed past his arm.
With that, the White Ghost King's left arm, which had been reaching forward, lost strength and fell to the ground.
Thud!
'What?'
Heavenly Demon was already standing right beside him, having swung his sword downward. Before he could even see him approach, his arm had been cut off, and as he was bewildered, Heavenly Demon's foot kicked up into the White Ghost King's chin.
Crack!
The pain reverberating in his jaw was transmitted straight to his brain, and the White Ghost King's massive body soared upwards.
The height reached as much as ten jang.
Launched into the air, the White Ghost King fell straight to the ground without even properly regaining his senses.
Boom!
'What, what is this?'
This was already the second time.
Following being flattened on the ground earlier, this was the second time he had been laid out on the ground.
Though not as much as his lord the Great Strength King, he had prided himself on having one of the toughest bodies among lesser demons.
Yet his arm had been cut off so easily.
This wasn't a matter of being careless.
Even in the war against the ancient immortals in the past, there were few this strong.
Step step!
As he was at a loss for words at Heavenly Demon's strength, the sound of footsteps reached his ears.
Soon, Heavenly Demon's face looking down at him came into view as he lay on the ground.
"Just who the hell are you?"
"That's not important."
"I've never seen an immortal like you even in the past—"
"Cut the useless talk."
"What?"
"Join me."
"Join? Wait, you don't mean—"
Snap!
As he tried to hurriedly get up, Heavenly Demon grabbed his face and pushed it down to the ground.
Crunch crunch crunch!
'What kind of energy is this?'
Despite the difference in body size, the White Ghost King couldn't move an inch under the tremendous pressure pushing him down.
Looking at him like this, Heavenly Demon finally formed a hand seal with his left hand and chanted a technique.
Iron Fan Immortal watched this scene with a dazed look.
Because she immediately realized what Heavenly Demon was trying to do.
Crackle! Whoosh!
***
An underground cavern completely dyed red and filled with scorching heat.
This was a place called the Lava Cave, existing hundreds of jang deep beneath Mount Tian.
Located far below even the cave with the Spirit Fire Altar called the holy land of the Fire Faith Order, the heat here was beyond imagination. Ordinary humans would be roasted or burned just by touching the air, let alone entering.
In this tremendous heat, someone was sitting in meditation, accepting it as if it were nothing.
Whoosh!
It was a beautiful young man with red hair and a flame-shaped tattoo burning from his right forehead to his cheek. He was Hong Hae-a, the lesser demon born between the Great Strength King and Iron Fan Immortal.
Whoosh!
Flower-shaped flames were blooming around Hong Hae-a as he sat in meditation. This was a kind of alchemy called Samadhi True Fire.
This alchemy of accepting flames and handling them as energy was an internal alchemy difficult even for immortals to master, but Hong Hae-a had learned and mastered it long ago.
Whoosh!
Around Hong Hae-a were flames of five colors, indicating he had reached the highest realm of Samadhi True Fire.
However, Hong Hae-a was not stopping here and was trying to reach a new realm.
Hiss!
At some point, a flame bud had formed above Hong Hae-a's head, but unlike the other flames, this one had an ominously black color.
As Hong Hae-a repeatedly exhaled, the bud gradually opened, trying to bloom.
But this wasn't easy, and,
Drip!
Hong Hae-a's face was now drenched in sweat.
His complexion even repeatedly brightened and darkened, showing how difficult it was to master this new realm.
After cultivating for a long time, Hong Hae-a stopped and regulated his breathing.
'It's difficult.'
It hadn't been long since he discovered this flame that allowed him to pioneer a new realm.
Hong Hae-a called this flame the Abyss.
It was a flame containing all kinds of darkness.
He wanted to fully contain this and make the sixth Flame Flower bloom, but it wasn't easy.
Though he was a lesser demon, Samadhi True Fire was strictly closer to immortal techniques, so trying to bloom an almost opposite nature caused severe repulsion with the five Flame Flowers.
However, if he succeeded in this, he would reach complete transcendence.
'The harmony of immortal and demon.'
It wasn't far off.
If he achieved this, he would no longer be bound by the constraints of immortals.
It was then.
At that moment, the space in the center of the cavern overflowing with heat rippled, and one area bulged up.
Seeing this, Hong Hae-a shook his head.
'So he found out after all.'
He had thought that since he had created a formation with techniques, they wouldn't be able to find his existence for at least a few months, but it seemed a capable person had come, already discovering this location.
Hong Hae-a stood up.
As soon as he did,
Crack!
The cracked space tore open and a figure appeared.
It was a black-robed man of considerable size, carrying what looked like a spear on his back.
As soon as he saw him, one of Hong Hae-a's eyebrows raised.
Though he was hiding his identity with black robes, Hong Hae-a immediately recognized who he was by the aura he emitted.
"This is unexpected. For someone of your caliber to come out."
At Hong Hae-a's words, the black-robed man who had appeared by tearing through space answered in a cold voice:
"You have some nerve to say that after what you've done."
"Well, I can't deny that. I suppose you're the best choice, since clumsily interfering with the mortal world unlike before would get you swallowed by the natural order."
"If you know, it would be best to obediently receive the arrest."
"How could I do that? I haven't even achieved my purpose for coming here yet."
Hong Hae-a's gaze briefly turned somewhere.
It was towards the other side of the lava flowing like a river, where pillars of fire were swirling.
The Great Strength King, who had become a killing stone, was there in the center. As if noticing this, the black-robed man also glanced there, then said:
"You know well it's something you shouldn't do, Hong Hae-a."
Whoosh! Clang!
With this warning, he drew the spear on his back.
As he did, a blue spear shaft was revealed, and the blade at the tip split into three, changing into a trident form.
Just below the blades of this trident, something like a black fur curtain fluttered.
Seeing this, Hong Hae-a's flame-like eyes sparkled.
"I see that's the famous treasure said to devour souls, the Soul-Destroying Trident, received from the Jade Pure Grandmaster."
"If you know, you should also know how dangerous this is."
"Of course. But the treasure I have is no pushover either."
Hong Hae-a snapped his fingers
Whoosh! Swish!
Two huge wheels with sharp blades attached emerged from the hot lava.
As soon as he saw the two wheels, glowing red from the lava and spinning fiercely, the black-robed man clicked his tongue and spoke:
"That Heaven and Earth Wheel doesn't belong to you."
The Heaven and Earth Wheel.
It was quite renowned even among immortal treasures.
Known for being extremely dangerous.
And the owner of this treasure was also quite famous.
Woong!
At that moment, someone else appeared through the torn space after the black-robed man.
He was a general with a sturdy build and a grizzled beard, holding what looked like a model of a pagoda in one hand.
The sturdy general who appeared rebuked:
"That belongs to my son!"
Chapter 497.18
Chapter 497.18 – Side Story 6 Part 1
Flame of the Abyss (1)
"That belongs to my son!"
Another person appeared through the torn space and rebuked.
It was a sturdy general with a grizzled beard, holding what looked like a small model pagoda in one hand.
At his appearance, Hong Hae-a raised the corners of his mouth slightly and pointed to the two fiercely spinning wheels with both arms, saying:
"Indeed. I knew you would come."
"You knew I'd come? You bastard!"
Just as the sturdy general was about to lunge forward with a roar,
The shaft of the Soul-Destroying Trident treasure blocked his path. The sturdy general raised his eyebrows and protested:
"What are you doing?"
"There's still room to resolve this through dialogue."
"What? We've come all this way, what dialogue—"
"Have you already forgotten who's responsible for this incident? Lee Jeong."
At those words, the sturdy general who was about to express his displeasure stared at the black-robed man and took a step back.
Hong Hae-a's eyes gleamed strangely at this sight.
The black-robed man, who hadn't noticed this as he briefly turned his head, lowered his spear shaft and turned his gaze back to Hong Hae-a, speaking:
"Hong Hae-a. Regardless of your origins, you too are an immortal who learned immortal arts. So I make this proposal. What you're trying to do now is a dangerous act that will have a huge impact on the mortal world. Stop here.
If you do, you'll avoid the worst punishment."
At these words, Hong Hae-a clutched his stomach and laughed loudly.
"Hahahahaha! Avoid punishment? If I had such an easygoing mindset that I'd give up so easily, I wouldn't have come to the mortal world in the first place."
"Practicing the Way and immortality begins with letting go of all worldly attachments. Are you saying you won't let this go?"
"That seems a bit hypocritical. Didn't someone come all this way to retrieve his son's treasure?"
That "someone" referred to the sturdy general.
At Hong Hae-a's words that didn't miss a single detail, the black-robed man clicked his tongue.
Seeing that persuasion wasn't working, the sturdy general who had stepped back spoke:
"Did you really think this could be resolved through dialogue? Let's stop wasting time and hurry to subdue him."
"I told you to wait."
"Huh."
"Where is it?"
"If you mean that—ah!"
Understanding the black-robed man's question, the sturdy general held up the small model pagoda in his hand.
Strangely, a faint thumping sound could be heard from inside the small model pagoda.
At this, the black-robed man licked his lips and spoke to Hong Hae-a again:
"If you insist on this, we have no choice but to respond differently."
"Am I going to see that majesty that once shook heaven and earth?"
"Sigh. Don't be recklessly arrogant. Do you think you can match me just because you have a few dangerous treasures?"
"We'll have to see about that."
"You're overconfident to the end. But isn't there something you're looking for right now?"
At the black-robed man's question, Hong Hae-a shrugged and answered:
"Well, I'm about to obtain it."
"I wonder. Will it really be that easy? If someone has already stolen what you're looking for, you won't be able to break your father's seal that you desire so much."
At these words from the black-robed man, Hong Hae-a's eyes sharpened for a moment.
And those sharpened eyes turned towards the sturdy general behind the black-robed man.
Or more precisely, towards the model pagoda in his hand.
At this sight, the corners of the black-robed man's mouth turned up.
"You're not oblivious."
"How on earth did you guys…"
"It's basic tactics to get hold of what the enemy needs first."
This was unexpected, and Hong Hae-a's expression, which had been full of composure until now, wasn't very good.
He had thought they would just focus on capturing him, but the opponent was indeed not to be underestimated.
"To awaken the Great Strength King sealed by the killing stone, you need the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's Spirit Demon Great Treasure, right?"
"So you're saying you want to negotiate?"
"This isn't a negotiation."
Bang! Woong!
As the black-robed man stamped his spear shaft on the ground, a shockwave arose and heat was pushed back in all directions.
Even the flowing hot lava rippled.
At the black-robed man's tremendous aura, Hong Hae-a's eyes filled with wariness.
Though his face was hidden by the black robe, Hong Hae-a knew his identity.
The opponent was one of the greatest masters among the ancient immortals.
Though he had trump cards like the Heaven and Earth Wheel treasure, it was hard to guarantee victory in a head-on confrontation.
To the tense Hong Hae-a, the black-robed man said:
"I'll make a final offer. If you hand over all the stolen treasures now, I'll give you the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox."
"What?"
Hong Hae-a frowned at this unexpected proposal.
He had thought the opponent would come on strong since he held the card Hong Hae-a wanted and was a peerless master, but this proposal was beyond expectations.
This seemed to be something they hadn't agreed on, as the sturdy general also couldn't hide his bewilderment.
"What on earth are you saying? Giving him the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox?"
As he protested, the black-robed man whispered quietly:
"It's postponing the small for the sake of the great."
Is this something that can be resolved like this now?
If the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox is handed over, the Great Strength King, who could be called a calamity to the mortal world, will be released from his seal.
If that happens, the lesser demons might run rampant again, causing harm to the mortal world.
No matter how important the treasures were, this had too much risk.
"This is too—"
"Stop arguing, Lee Jeong. I have an obligation to recover the treasures. Those things he stole have a greater impact on the natural order than the Great Strength King being released."
This conversation between them was not audible to Hong Hae-a because the black-robed man had blocked the sound with immortal power.
However, Hong Hae-a could also tell that their opinions diverged.
Hong Hae-a's lips twitched as he spoke:
"You're making quite an enticing offer."
"I'm showing mercy by making this offer partly because you once tried to walk the path of an immortal. So be grateful."
"There's nothing to be grateful for."
"What?"
"Do you think I wouldn't know that you're trying to put out the urgent fire first because fighting here would have a big impact on the mortal world? It's troublesome to use a move with such obvious intentions."
Grr!
At Hong Hae-a's words, the black-robed man's mood twisted.
In truth, he had planned to soothe the bastard and recover the treasures, then destroy the pagoda to eliminate the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox so he couldn't achieve what he wanted.
But even that wasn't easy.
Is it because he's a lesser demon who learned immortal arts? He's quite clever.
As the bastard said, he also wanted to avoid fighting carelessly because of the big impact it would have on the mortal world.
But now it seemed meaningless to consider that.
It might be better to quickly subdue the guy who couldn't move carelessly because of the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
"You insist on making a bad move. Lee Jeong. If he tries to counterattack me, destroy the pagoda and eliminate the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox."
"You bastard!"
At Hong Hae-a's somewhat flustered cry, the black-robed man snorted.
"You should have just accepted the offer nicely."
Snap!
The black-robed man raised the Soul-Destroying Trident, aimed the tip at Hong Hae-a, and then flew forward.
The black-robed man's figure split into several as he tried to cross the air.
It was at that moment.
Boom!
The black-robed man's figure rushing towards Hong Hae-a was suddenly trapped in a pillar of light that erupted from the ground.
The black-robed man tried to break it by swinging the Soul-Destroying Trident infused with immortal power.
But the moment he swung the spear, the part that passed through the pillar of light disappeared and then reappeared.
At this strange phenomenon, the black-robed man gritted his teeth and shouted:
"You bastard, did you steal even the Primal Origin Golden Dipper treasure?"
The Primal Origin Golden Dipper.
It was one of the three treasures of the Three Immortals Way, a treasure that could completely seal off the caster's space and then send it to a desired location.
Its power was so absolute that even the strongest immortal, if sealed by this, couldn't escape from the disconnected space for a long time.
This could be hundreds or thousands of years.
It would be difficult to escape until the immortal power contained in the Primal Origin Golden Dipper ran out.
Hong Hae-a sneered at the black-robed man.
"Did you think I wouldn't have any precautions against pursuers? I expected they would send an immortal at least capable of facing me."
"A lesser demon using his wits, huh. But you've overlooked something too. Lee Jeong!"
The black-robed man hurriedly called out to the sturdy general.
It was to threaten him with the pagoda containing the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
But at that very moment,
Bang!
The pillar of light thinned and was sucked into space.
As the black-robed man disappeared instantly along with the pillar of light, Hong Hae-a shouted towards the sturdy general:
"Hey! Lee Jeong! If you do anything to even a speck of that pagoda, you should be prepared to be annihilated right here."
At this cry, the sturdy general hesitated and stopped trying to grab the pagoda.
This was because tremendous energy was emanating from Hong Hae-a, and as the surrounding heat intensified, it affected even him.
Hong Hae-a continued speaking to the sturdy general who seemed intimidated by his aura:
"Hand over the pagoda. If you do, I'll send you back nicely."
"Do you think I'd comply with your demands?"
"You'll have to. The Heaven and Earth Wheel treasure and Nezha are inseparable. If you don't take the treasure, Nezha will never wake up."
"You bastard…"
"Hand over the pagoda. Otherwise, I'll destroy the Heaven and Earth Wheel."
At this threat, the sturdy general hesitated, then closed his eyes as if defeated and sighed.
Seeing this, Hong Hae-a said triumphantly:
"A wise choice."
Then he held out his hand.
"Don't come close, just throw the pagoda."
At his demand, the sturdy general finally threw the model pagoda he was holding.
Hong Hae-a caught it with a smile.
He couldn't help but be happy as things were going smoothly according to his wishes.
Hong Hae-a injected immortal power into the pagoda in his hand and spoke in a voice filled with killing intent:
"Can you hear me, you fox bitch? You'll finally pay for what you've done. If you want to keep your life, you'd better hand over your Spirit Demon Great Treasure, the Fox Spirit Bead."
At these words, no sound came from the pagoda.
He should be able to hear the inside since he was focusing his immortal power, but all he could hear was a thumping sound.
It seemed the fox woman was desperate to come out.
But it was useless.
As far as he knew, only one being had ever broken out of Lee Jeong's pagoda.
'The stone monkey.'
No other being had ever escaped this pagoda.
In the end, if she didn't want to die, she'd have no choice but to submit.
Let's see how the fox woman is struggling.
Hong Hae-a focused his immortal power and put his eye close to the part of the pagoda inscribed with the character for "view."
Then he could see inside the small pagoda, and,
"Aaaargh! You damn fox bitch!"
He saw the sturdy general, covered in blood, pounding on the pagoda walls with his bare fists.
'What on earth?'
At that very moment,
Whoosh!
One of the two wheels of the Heaven and Earth Wheel beside him rolled through the air with a friction sound, blocking someone who was targeting Hong Hae-a from behind.
That someone was the sturdy general.
"You?"
"Ah. All that acting was for nothing."
'!?'
A woman's voice coming from the sturdy general's mouth.
Soon, the sturdy general's appearance rippled, his hair turned golden, the lines of his face thinned, and he transformed into the form of a beautiful woman.
Seeing this, Hong Hae-a raised his voice with a terribly twisted expression.
"You fox bitch!"
Chapter 497.19
Chapter 497.19 – Side Story 6 Part 2
Flame of the Abyss (2)
The sturdy general shook his head as he looked at the few remaining giant spirit generals.
Inside the pagoda, 90% of those with nearly infinite regenerative abilities had been annihilated.
It was fitting for one of the three worst lesser demons who had been infamous when immortals still remained in the world during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors era.
However, from the moment they were trapped in the pagoda, it was already over.
When repairing the once-broken pagoda in the past, it was made to absorb even energy so that those trapped inside could never escape.
No matter how strong that fox woman was, the outcome was predetermined from the start.
Rather, it could be said that enduring this long was impressive.
But now it's the end.
She seemed to have lost almost all her demonic power while annihilating nearly 90% of the giant spirit generals.
Covered in blood and staggering, she was almost crawling on the ground.
'That's enough.'
At this point, it seems I just need to finish her off.
Originally, I was going to leave it to the giant spirit generals, but should I give some payback for breaking my wrist?
The sturdy general entered the pagoda to finish her off himself.
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, nearly exhausted, didn't even notice him approaching and was just kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily.
Step step!
The sturdy general approached right in front of her, drew the sword at his waist, and spoke:
[Seeing one of the infamous Three Demons from ancient times submit like this makes me feel the passage of time.]
[You look like you're having trouble even breathing. As a courtesy to your high infamy, and to repay the debt of breaking my arm, I'll finish you off myself.]
With those words, the sturdy general raised immortal power in his sword.
But at that very moment,
Flinch!
Feeling an eerie sensation from behind, the sturdy general hurriedly turned sideways.
As he did so, something burst through his right collarbone.
Thud!
It was a golden tail stained with blood.
'What… is this…?'
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox was gasping for breath and seemingly unconscious right in front of him, so how could a tail have pierced through him?
As he wondered, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's appearance gradually rippled and changed into a giant spirit general with no eyes, nose, or mouth contours on its face.
'!?'
What on earth is going on?
Then a seductive woman's voice reached his ears.
[How do you intend to finish things when you can't even see what's right in front of you? Kekekeke!]
With that laughter, the remaining giant spirit generals visible in the sturdy general's eyes scattered like dust.
Was all of this a ploy to lure him into the pagoda?
'Damn it.'
"You fox bitch!"
Hong Hae-a roared as he looked at the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox who had returned to her original form from the sturdy general.
He had been searching for her, the one who had turned his father, the Great Strength King, into a killing stone.
Looking at him like this, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox waved her hand.
"It's been a while, red-haired kid."
"You…"
"I thought you had died long ago fighting the stone monkey, but I guess you didn't die then."
At her provocation, Hong Hae-a's eyes turned cold.
In the past, during the war against the ancient immortals, there was a time when lesser demons cooperated with each other amicably.
But not now.
Even if they knew about each other, they were now enemies.
Hong Hae-a suppressed the anger that had surged for a moment, regained his composure, and spoke:
"Fox. Why did you use the Fox Spirit Bead on my father?"
At this question, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox twirled her hair and answered:
"Well, wouldn't it be better to ask your father when he's released someday? Though I don't know when that will be."
"You're still the same. Trying to scatter your opponent's mind with provocations."
Whoosh!
Crackle!
As Hong Hae-a held out his hand, flames erupted from behind him to his right.
Then, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, who had wrapped herself with her nine golden tails, was flung back and stopped about ten steps away.
At the same time, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's figure in front of the Heaven and Earth Wheel blurred and scattered.
Her golden eyes gleamed.
'He's not the same kid as before.'
She had intended to subdue Hong Hae-a after distracting his attention.
But he had truly regained his composure, immediately noticing her tactic with his insight, and his demonic power had increased to a level difficult to compare with the past.
She was quite surprised, and Hong Hae-a held out his hand towards her and said:
"I won't say it twice. Hand over the Spirit Demon Great Treasure, the Fox Spirit Bead. If you do, I'll overlook what you did to turn my father into a killing stone."
"The kid's saying things he doesn't mean. For someone saying that, you seem to have prepared even ancient immortals' treasures, as if you're determined to fight this big sister."
"It's not something I don't mean. As a child, it's right to resolve a parent's grudge, but revenge tastes best when done by the person involved."
"It sounds like you want to release your father and make him fight me."
"You heard correctly."
Their conversation, with neither giving an inch, was filled with hostility.
And it wasn't just carried out through words alone.
As they were raising their auras with demonic power, sparks of shockwaves were flying up where their energies crossed, causing the space to ripple.
Crack! Crack!
Being Great Spirit Beasts on par with the Six Demons, the impact of their energies clashing had a big effect on the surroundings.
The boiling lava churned, seeming about to erupt at any moment.
As they battled with their auras while appearing to converse, the first to move was the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
Whoosh!
Her figure blurred as she tried to dive towards Hong Hae-a.
However, the fiercely rotating wheel of the Heaven and Earth Wheel blocked her path again.
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox changed all the hairs of one tail into sharp metal and struck away the rotating wheel.
Clang clang clang!
'Huh?'
But her tail, hardened like metal, got caught in the wheel's rotation.
She had thought there wouldn't be much difference in hardness since she was protecting her tail with demonic power, but her tail couldn't withstand the rotating force of the wheel.
Rumble!
The wheel rotated fiercely, trying to grind her up.
At this, three of her other tails moved and shot beams of light created with demonic power towards the rotating wheel.
Whoosh!
Bang bang!
The wheel that had been hit by the light beams infused with demonic power stopped for a moment.
Not missing this chance, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox tried to pull out her tail, but in that split second,
Whack!
Hong Hae-a flew in and launched a kick towards her face.
Just as the kick was about to connect with her face, one of her tails blocked it like a shield.
However, the force of the kick was extraordinary, and even though she blocked it, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's figure was flung back again.
Boom! Crash!
Flying back, she was only able to stop after breaking through three red-hot pillars in the lava cave.
'This guy?'
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's eyes narrowed.
She had thought he had become much stronger than before, but it wasn't just to that extent.
His demonic power had become so strong that it seemed to even surpass the Great Strength King in his prime before being sealed.
Unlike the Great Strength King, she had never been sealed and had continuously grown stronger, but she felt his demonic power had become even stronger than hers.
'What is this?'
Moreover, she felt a strangely opposing energy in his demonic power.
This was close to the immortal power one would feel from immortals.
Did this guy really train to become an immortal while he was gone? Even though he's a being that's incompatible with them.
Whoosh!
It was at that moment.
One of the Heaven and Earth Wheel's wheels flew in from behind her with a sound of air being torn.
She jumped up from the ground to avoid it and spotted Hong Hae-a's whereabouts.
'Here!'
One of her tails enlarged, creating a solid net that swooped down on Hong Hae-a as he ran along the ceiling wall of the cavern.
At this, Hong Hae-a stretched out his hand, and another wheel flew in, spinning flames and tearing apart the net.
Snap!
"That hurts!"
Then the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox flew in, grabbed Hong Hae-a's chin, and slammed him against the ceiling wall.
Boom!
In that state, she tried to grind Hong Hae-a's face against the heat-filled ceiling. However,
At that moment, Hong Hae-a's two legs wrapped around her body,
Whoosh!
The fiercely rotating wheel of the Heaven and Earth Wheel flew in behind her, trying to crush her back along with flames.
But she had nine tails.
Realizing that the power of the Heaven and Earth Wheel was no ordinary thing, she crossed four tails and tried to deflect it by creating a rebound with her demonic power.
But it didn't end there.
Crackle!
Then blue flames and yellow flames appeared in Hong Hae-a's hands.
'Samadhi True Fire!'
Hong Hae-a shot both flames simultaneously towards the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's face and chest.
Feeling the ominous energy in the flames, she wanted to avoid them, but she couldn't because Hong Hae-a was holding her body with his two legs.
So she moved two tails to block the white flames and blue flames.
Crack! Clang clang clang!
'What?'
One tail that touched the white flames froze solid, and the tail that blocked the yellow flames was paralyzed by the lightning created by the flames.
Then the rotating wheel of the Heaven and Earth Wheel, raising flames, collided with the spot where she had crossed four tails behind her back.
Whoosh!
She had thought she could definitely deflect it, but that was a miscalculation.
'!?'
Boom!
Under tremendous pressure like a great mountain, her crossed tails were burned and ground away, then pierced straight through the ceiling.
Snap!
In that split second, Hong Hae-a released his legs and landed on the ground, separating from the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
Hong Hae-a raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his power, having completed the Samadhi True Fire, an immortal cultivation technique, far surpassed even the Great Strength King.
Maintaining a somewhat equal situation through power control was also to inflict a fatal wound on her by suddenly increasing his energy in an instant.
Then one of the Heaven and Earth Wheel's wheels that had smashed the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox into the ceiling wall came out. But the wheel's rotation wasn't as smooth as before.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
This was because part of the wheel had turned to stone.
'This is?'
Boom!
The ceiling wall collapsed, and the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox burst out from there.
Holding a bead emitting five-colored light in one hand, she exhaled roughly as soon as she came out.
The condition of her tails wasn't good, but as the light from the bead touched her, the burned parts turned back into shiny gold.
Seeing this, Hong Hae-a's eyes sparkled.
"You've finally taken it out."
It was the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's Spirit Demon Great Treasure, the Fox Spirit Bead.
That was needed to remove the Great Strength King from the killing stone.
But then the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox looked around, then frowned at Hong Hae-a and spoke:
"Why… was I fighting with you, kid? I'm sure I was trapped in a pagoda fighting spirit generals."
At these words, Hong Hae-a's eyes gleamed and his lips twitched.
It was as if he had discovered something good.
"This is interesting. I didn't know the Flame of Oblivion would work even on a Great Spirit Beast."
"What? Flame of Oblivion?"
At Hong Hae-a's words, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's eyes sharpened.
She didn't know what had happened, but it seemed part of her memory had been erased.
Unlike humans, her thinking was on a different dimension, so she could immediately recognize that a part of her mind was empty.
"You have a dangerous power."
'Is it that?'
The Heaven and Earth Wheel's wheel was still rotating, though part of it had turned to stone because of the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
A strange immortal aura was flowing from that flame.
It seemed best to avoid directly clashing with that.
Meanwhile,
"Huhuhu. I'll burn away all your memories, fox, and make you a loyal slave."
"You've become quite a handful while I wasn't looking, kid."
"Soon you won't be able to have such arrogant thoughts. Fox!"
Whoosh!
As Hong Hae-a raised his hand, one wheel of the Heaven and Earth Wheel that was partially stone and another wheel began to rotate fiercely.
Woong!
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox gripped the Fox Spirit Bead and glared at the two wheels with a somewhat tense look.
Just as Hong Hae-a was about to manipulate the Heaven and Earth Wheel,
Thud!
At that moment, a huge monkey lesser demon with white fur and armor appeared in front of one of the Heaven and Earth Wheels.
It was none other than the White Ghost King.
As the Great Spirit Beast lesser demon serving his family suddenly blocked the Heaven and Earth Wheel's path right after returning, Hong Hae-a's eyebrows couldn't help but rise.
White Ghost King. What are you doing now?
But it didn't end there.
Someone descended through the hole in the ceiling of the lava cave and landed, also blocking the path of the other Heaven and Earth Wheel as if to protect the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox.
She was,
"Mother?"
It was Iron Fan Immortal, the Great Spirit Beast of Plantain Leaf Peak.
As Hong Hae-a was dumbfounded by this sudden inexplicable situation, someone slowly descended into the center of the lava cave with their hands behind their back.
Seeing this figure, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's face lit up and she shouted:
"Heavenly Demon!"
Chapter 497.20
Chapter 497.20 – Side Story 6 Part 3
Flame of the Abyss (3)
"Heavenly Demon!"
The being slowly descending into the center of the lava cave with his hands behind his back.
It was Heavenly Demon, the first-generation Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, momentarily unable to control her emotions at seeing his face after a long time, seemed to regret it and turned her head to hide her flushed face.
'I made a mistake.'
She had left for the Western Regions because she didn't want to see his face for a while.
Just a few months ago,
'Ah…'
She had been caught in a strange bitterness watching Heavenly Demon gently caress Cheong-ryeong's pregnant belly with a bright smile.
Believing him to be the King of Demons spoken of in an ancient prophecy, she had thought he was her eternal partner she had been waiting for.
That's why she had tried to imprint herself on him, pouncing on him several times.
It was her own way of trying to show that only she was a suitable partner for him, as she had truly come to like this man.
However,
'You're so consistent.'
In his heart, there was only one being.
A mortal who wouldn't even live a hundred years.
He truly loved and cherished such a being.
For the first time in her life, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox felt jealousy so intense it made her heart ache.
The happier he seemed, the stronger her wish to be the only one by his side grew, until she couldn't bear it.
'Let's leave.'
If she stayed here any longer, she might not be able to control herself and kill the woman he cherished.
So she left, and for a while, she tried everything to forget him, but the heart is truly fickle – she couldn't even last a full year.
The moment she saw Heavenly Demon's face, her heart pounded and she couldn't contain her joy.
It was then.
"So it was you?" Hong Hae-a spoke with a cold face.
This was because he, having learned immortal arts, had opened the Immortal Eye and could see many things invisible to ordinary eyes.
When Heavenly Demon appeared, he detected several connections stretching out around him.
'Can he see the connections?'
At these words, Heavenly Demon's eyes gleamed.
Connections originated from Taoism, or the Immortal Way, so the more one reached the extreme of immortal arts, the more intuitively one could perceive them.
"I thought you weren't an ordinary guy since you knew how to make demon beasts into spirit servants, but you're even more annoying than I expected."
Whoosh!
As soon as Hong Hae-a finished speaking, the wheels of the Heaven and Earth Wheel began to rotate fiercely again.
Having noticed with his Immortal Eye that connections linked to his mother Iron Fan Immortal and the White Ghost King, a Great Spirit Beast on par with the Six Demons, he was at the height of vigilance at this point.
Then Iron Fan Immortal shouted towards Hong Hae-a:
"Child. Stop. This person is the one this mother serves."
Grr!
At her cry, Hong Hae-a's expression twisted even more fiercely.
Knowing that his mother's thoughts were being controlled by the connection, he was now greatly enraged.
"You dare make my mother your spirit servant?"
To these words, Heavenly Demon replied nonchalantly:
"There happened to be a vacant position."
"A vacant position?"
"More importantly, where is Alyu?"
"Alyu? Ah, you mean that pig-sounding lesser demon? Didn't I already tell you? I said I'd spare its life if you brought the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox with your own hands."
"Ah, is that so?"
With those words, Heavenly Demon smirked.
Then, running his hand through his hair, he spoke in a cold voice:
"That was when I didn't know your location."
It was very strange.
He hadn't particularly revealed his energy or done anything special.
However, Hong Hae-a was subtly unsettled by Heavenly Demon's words.
Unlike his father or other lesser demons, he had even learned immortal arts from immortals, so he prided himself that no one in the mortal world could match him.
But the being before him now somehow made him feel wary.
'He's clearly human, but…'
Seen through the Immortal Eye, he was undoubtedly human, that is, a mortal.
Yet why was his instinct, which hadn't stirred even against the worst of the 'pursuers', suddenly awakening with caution?
Then the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox, who had been turning her head away, folded her arms and shouted:
"Red-haired kid. You're really unlucky."
"What?"
"Of all people, why did you have to mess with that man?"
"What nonsense are you spouting, fox?"
"What nonsense? The man in front of you now is someone you can't beat even if you die and come back to life."
"Huh?"
Hong Hae-a snorted at the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox's words, which were close to provocation.
Though he felt cautious, a being of the mortal world ultimately had set limits.
There were only a handful among the ancient immortals who could face his current self, yet this woman who seemed to know him somewhat was spouting such nonsense?
Then the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox raised the corners of her mouth slightly and said meaningfully:
"You shouldn't ignore this big sister's words. That man's hands cut off your father's horns."
'!?'
At these words, one of Hong Hae-a's eyebrows rose.
He had been wondering about something when he got hold of his father's statue sealed as a killing stone.
It was his father's broken horn.
Even the ancient immortals couldn't break his father's horns.
Yet this guy cut off the Great Strength King's horns?
'Has he transcended humanity?'
If he could cut the horns of the Great Strength King, who was considered the strongest in terms of power even among the Six Demons, it means he has already surpassed human limits.
"Not an immortal, not a lesser demon, and not a variant born from the convergence of heaven and earth's energies defeated my father?"
"I'll say it one last time. Hand over Alyu."
Heavenly Demon warned then.
At these words, Hong Hae-a's eyes sharpened.
"You're quite arrogant."
Whoosh!
As Hong Hae-a raised his hand, one of the fiercely rotating Heaven and Earth Wheels changed direction from the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox and tried to fly towards Heavenly Demon.
Then,
"Iron Fan Immortal, block it."
Snap!
As soon as Heavenly Demon's order fell, Iron Fan Immortal, who had been guarding in front, flew to block it.
But at that very moment,
Crackle!
Green flames erupted from Hong Hae-a's hand.
In that state, Hong Hae-a struck the green flame with his opposite hand as if clapping.
Zap! Whoosh!
Simultaneously, the green flames caused a shockwave that spread like waves in all directions of the lava cave.
Heavenly Demon made a slashing motion with his sword qi towards the spreading green waves, and the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox also rotated one of her tails, causing it to disappear before reaching them.
Whoosh!
'What's this?'
The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox tilted her head.
Thinking it was an attack, she had blocked it with demonic power, but it was resolved too easily.
As she was wondering what it was, something unexpected happened as the green wave's shockwave spread throughout the entire lava cave.
Heavenly Demon's eyes narrowed for a moment.
This was because,
"Roar!"
The White Ghost King beat his chest and roared, then immediately knelt towards Hong Hae-a.
This change wasn't limited to him alone.
Iron Fan Immortal, who had been trying to block the Heaven and Earth Wheel, deviated and kicked off the ground, flying to Hong Hae-a's side.
"Mother!"
"My son!"
Hong Hae-a and Iron Fan Immortal embraced each other.
Seeing this, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox looked at Heavenly Demon and said:
"Don't tell me the connections were severed?"
Heavenly Demon didn't deny her question.
The moment the green wave's shockwave touched the White Ghost King and Iron Fan Immortal, the spirit servant connections linked to them were severed.
'So this was the method?'
Heavenly Demon had found it strange when the connection with the demon beast Alyu was forcibly severed.
But now, seeing the method before his eyes, that question was resolved.
The moment he cut through the green wave's shockwave emitted from the green flames, Heavenly Demon felt a strong aura of the Immortal Way.
Being deeply versed in methods as well, he realized this was a type of immortal technique.
And it was a high-level immortal technique capable of severing connections.
"My son. Thanks to you, this mother was able to prevent herself from doing something terrible."
"How could I let that bastard dishonor you, Mother?"
"That guy is no ordinary person."
Though her blood boiled with the desire for immediate revenge upon regaining her senses and realizing she had been made a spirit servant, having directly experienced his power, she was worried.
To these concerns of Iron Fan Immortal, Hong Hae-a smiled gently and said:
"Don't worry, Mother. No matter how strong he is, he can't do anything to your son."
"But even your father…"
"I have reached a new realm called the Flame of the Abyss, surpassing the extreme of Samadhi True Fire. I dare say I now easily surpass Father in his prime."
"Ah, my child."
Hong Hae-a showed strong self-confidence.
Seeing her son like this, Iron Fan Immortal felt reassured but also worried.
That human's capabilities were so difficult to fathom.
It was right then.
The White Ghost King, kneeling on the ground, shouted:
"Young Master! Because the Mistress was caught as a spirit servant, I couldn't exert my full power. This lowly one will transform into my true form and strike down that bastard!"
Thump! Thump! Thump!
With those words, the White Ghost King stood up and beat his chest vigorously.
Then his armor decorated with snake patterns began to cover his entire body, and his physique started to grow even larger.
Along with this, his demonic power also began to increase greatly.
Seeing this, the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox said:
"That White Ghost King. It's been a while since I've seen that guy too. I'll handle that bastard, so can you take care of the red-haired kid?"
"There's no need for that."
"Huh?"
Whoosh!
Then Heavenly Demon slowly stepped forward with his hands still behind his back.
The White Ghost King, who had fully transformed into his true form and become enormous, let out a roar.
"Roar! You bastard! This time I'll face you properly. You'll pay for toying with the Mistress and me."
Slash!
In that moment, a single black line crossed the air.
Heavenly Demon had suddenly appeared behind the White Ghost King.
The White Ghost King's eyes, emitting white light, widened as if about to tear.
Soon, a deep blue line appeared on the neck of the astonished White Ghost King, and,
Thud!
The White Ghost King's head fell to the ground.
Blue blood gushed like a fountain from the severed surface of his neck.
Whoosh!
Due to the heat of the lava cave, the spurting blood evaporated immediately, filling the ceiling with blue steam.
It happened so suddenly that even Iron Fan Immortal couldn't hide her bewilderment, she was so shocked.
When transformed into the true form, one could exert several times more power than in human form.
Yet he had cut off his head the moment he transformed into his true form.
Just what is the limit of this guy?
Step step!
As fear began to arise, Heavenly Demon walked forward, still with his hands behind his back, and spoke:
"I've given enough warnings. From now on, you'll be begging me to kill you."