An eerie light illuminated the ground, accompanied by a terrifying cry.
Step into the world. And place everything beneath your feet. This lowly servant of yours eagerly awaits your arrival, Heavenly Demon!
The high priests mad cry echoed. If there was a hell on earth, it would certainly resemble this.
Chung Myung silently advanced through this inferno.
And,
Ahhhhh!
His sword struck the high priests shoulder.
Chack!
But the sword, just an ordinary one without qi, couldnt cut the body down and only left an ambiguous cut on it.
Luckily, it was sufficient to defeat a formidable, equally wounded man, so the high priest fell to the side, coughing blood.
Cough
Both the high priest, who was slashed, and Chung Myung, who couldnt withstand his wounds, trembled and fell.
Cough
The high priest was coughing blood, but despite having a body that should be dead, he wasnt dying.
you filthy beings.
Chung Myung clenched his teeth and rose to his feet. But as he stood halfway, his arms lacked the strength, and he toppled over.
damn it.
He glared at the high priest, his eyes burning red.
Cough! Cough!
Despite the high priests anger-filled gaze.
Its futile.
what?
The high priest spoke, a smile on his face.
The ritual is complete! No one can prevent the resurrection now!
The high priests voice grew ominously clear.
So unfortunate for you, a descendant of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint.
However, his expression started to shift as he directed his attention towards Chung Myung.
You
And then, it happened.
Kwaaaaang!
The ice crystals on the ritual circle now appeared crimson, resembling blood, and the howling grew more intense.
Uhahahahahaah!
The high priest laughed maniacally.
No one can halt it! No one! The Heavenly Demon shall traverse into this realm and drench it in blood! After a century of yearning, our aspirations are finally coming to fruition!
And then he started reciting these strange mantras once again. Chung Myungs eyes shifted towards the radiating pattern.
And in that very moment.
Wheeik!
The asura painting became entangled and burned in the scorching glow. The cloth turned to ashes in a flash, revealing the figure behind it at last. It was such a shocking sight that Chung Myungs eyes widened.
this
Chung Myungs fingers trembled at the sight.
You goddamn bastards.
A man sat cross-legged, wearing a pure white robe.
His pale skin boasted perfectly red lips. Even with closed eyes, those eyelashes were unmistakably long. Whenever the wind blew, his hair, reaching the ground, danced wildly. Any stranger would see the eerie aura around him.
But what caught Chung Myungs attention the most was the red line encircling his neck.
He recognized it all too well.
No, it was a moment he would never forget, even in his dreams.
How could he ever forget it?
Even though he was alive, he felt dead.
A deity took human form, representing emptiness.
The person he killed with a slash to the throat.
Heavenly Demon.
The word escaped from Chung Myungs mouth. His body was ablaze.
- Remember. Disciple of Mount Hua. This is not the end.
Fuck.
Chung Myung clenched his teeth, fearing they would shatter.
He knew it. That was merely a lifeless body.
The Heavenly Demon was clearly beheaded by him and died there. Isnt there a visible line around his neck as evidence?
What the hell are you doing, you bastards!
He wasnt sure about their actions, but he was certain they somehow obtained and retrieved the deceased body of Heavenly Demon.
Now, he could finally see that the ice crystals surrounding Heavenly Demons body were not just a mere decoration.
No matter how purposeful, it was impossible for normal methods to preserve a dead body for nearly a hundred years.
The sound of the sword being grabbed again brought him to his senses. The blank gaze turned to Chung Myung. And, clenching the sword, he said,
Let us finish this now. You bastard.
Then, as if he had lost his will, the high priest just looked shocked and done with everything.
It was as if he had realized something significant.
You
The unanswered questions started to unravel in his mind.
the first resurrection ritual
His voice started to become clearer.
Right. Theres no way the ritual failed.
He was becoming more confident with his words.
Then, theres only one possibility ah!
His eyes filled with joy, sadness, and fear.
Y You! You truly are the Plum Blossom Sword Saint!
With everything now clear, he threw his head back and laughed.
AHAHAHAHAH! Right! Right! You really are the Plum Blossom Sword Saint! Right! Right! Right! AHAHAHAAH! Now I understand! PLUM BLOSSOM SWORD SAINT! In the flesh! AHAHAHAH!
Chung Myung approached him without any expression on his face.
The ritual of summoning a soul is to call forth a soul! Not just to respond to the one called! If the soul has already found another body!
Tears streamed down the eyes of the high priest.
If you were able to do it, he should be able to as well. Right! He surely should
Puak!
The swords tip pierced the high priests chest.
The high priest, who had been looking down at the sword that pierced his head, struggled and weakly said,
Heavenly Demon
His voice faltered.
Already
Finally, his body went limp.
Thud!
No blood even dripped down from his chest anymore. Even though his life had been taken a long time ago, he was a person who survived through sheer willpower. And the moment he lost that will, he simply turned into nothing.
The high priests lifeless face wore a jubilant smile, causing Chung Myung to lick his lips in anticipation.
I had a feeling it would be like this.
His gaze shifted towards the Heavenly Demon, whose eyes seemed unfocused.
No, in reality, he was simply observing the Heavenly Demons lifeless stare.
But
Chung Myung faltered and gradually approached the Heavenly Demon.
Step. Step.
He stared straight ahead as if transported back to the moment they first encountered each other on the mound of corpses.
Of course, the Heavenly Demons eyes were devoid of consciousness, but his arrogant smile when he saw Chung Myung at the last moment was still there.
Kwaaak!
The sound of teeth grinding leaked out from Chung Myungs lips, his face distorted.
- The Heavenly Demon already
Paaaat!
Chung Myungs sword, swung as if in the midst of war, slashed the neck of the Heavenly Demon.
The head, which soared into the air, rolled down helplessly. The throat was cut, but the smile remained.
Seeing that mocking smile, Chung Myung couldnt help but feel a surge of anger.
His anger was so intense that he coughed up blood multiple times.
Already?
Dont make me laugh!
That demon, from his past
Uhh
The image of that bloodstained mountain flashed through his mind.
Those who had perished were unable to escape. A vast field of lifeless bodies.
And the Heavenly Demon, standing alone in the world.
Everything in Chung Myungs life was trampled and destroyed at their hands.
Chung Myung was consumed by anger and hatred, and his reasoning clouded. He groaned with his mouth wide open, finally releasing a terrible roar, venting his rage.
AHHHHHH!
With a primal howl, the entire cave started to crumble.
- The Demon will return.
The laughter of the Heavenly Demon, a sound that should not be heard, started to echo in his ears.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
The rocks were thrown, accompanied by his angry howl.