Chapter 811: A Lifetime Without Anything Happening
Now the three Demon Supremes had hope.
The Evil Smiling Demon had arrived outside, so they only needed to endure until he joined them!
At the same time, it also meant an even greater responsibility and duty had fallen upon them.
Even if they failed to hold on and died, they had to inflict as much damage as possible on the Dark Palace Master.
If the Dark Palace Master came out alive and well, then even if this space shattered, the Evil Smiling Demon alone would not be able to face him.
The Drunken Demon sent a voice transmission to the Demonic Buddha.
—When the moment comes that I grab him, do not worry about my life or death. Attack.
He had spoken confidently about dropping the remaining stars, but the Drunken Demon had already prepared himself for death. Even though the Greed Annihilation Art had disappeared, the Dark Palace Master was still a formidable opponent.
Most importantly, all of them had suffered internal and external injuries, and their inner energy was depleted. Defeating him under such conditions would never be easy.
As the thought of death crossed his mind, two people came to mind.
First was Lyu Bin, who would be waiting for him at the Tower of Drunken Dreams. If he died—
‘She’ll probably drown herself in liquor every day.’
Rather than fear or regret about his own death, what troubled him more was how much Lyu Bin would suffer.
Next he thought of Geom Mugeuk, who still had not come out of the Secret Box—whether he lived or died remained unknown.
Right. There was nothing to worry about. The Young Cult Leader would surely comfort Lyu Bin and take good care of her. For a martial artist, nothing gave greater strength than knowing someone would take responsibility for what came after.
‘Brother, I’m counting on you to take care of things.’
The Drunken Demon looked at the Demonic Buddha. He had not expected that he would save that man twice. If they survived, he would gain a drinking companion.
—If we meet later in hell, please buy the drinks then.
The Demonic Buddha stared at him before sending a calm voice transmission.
—I’ll buy the drinks and come to the Tower of Drunken Dreams. Invite me to your home.
In other words, they would survive together and drink at the cult.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, who sensed that the two were preparing to unleash their final move, also prepared her last technique.
She intended to use the Soul Reaping Art on the Dark Palace Master one last time.
But even when she had not been injured earlier, it had not worked. If she entered the Dark Palace Master’s body in her current state of severe internal injury, she would undoubtedly suffer qi deviation.
‘Even so, there’s no other choice.’
If she could bind him even for a brief moment! With a bit of luck, the Drunken Demon and the Demonic Buddha might somehow finish him.
As she sensed her approaching death, Geom Mugeuk came to mind. Just like during the previous crisis, this was what she regretted most.
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t serve you until the very end, Young Cult Leader.’
At that moment, a voice transmission from the Drunken Demon reached her.
—Soul Reaper, I have a favor to ask.
—Please speak.
The request was something she had never expected. When she heard it, she was startled.
—You will naturally know when that moment arrives.
After asking the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme for that one task, the Drunken Demon stepped forward.
“Well then, old man! If you invited a drunkard, shouldn’t you open the banquet again?”
The Demonic Buddha and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme walked out beside him on his left and right. Today, the two Demon Supremes willingly became the Drunken Demon’s wings.
They no longer paid attention to the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress. Since the Dark Palace Master was already confident in victory, the chances of him taking her hostage were slim.
Moreover, if they lost this battle, she would die along with them. Protecting her in this situation had no meaning.
The Dark Palace Master looked at the three Demon Supremes and spoke coldly.
“Enjoy it. It will be your final banquet.”
Outwardly he appeared confident, but like the darkness coiling around his body, he too was tense.
‘Now that the Greed Annihilation Art is gone, I must be cautious.’
No matter how injured they were, Demon Supremes were still Demon Supremes.
From now on, he could not recklessly use the Dark Demonic Art that consumed vast amounts of inner energy. If his inner energy ran out and even one Demon Supreme remained alive, death would follow immediately.
“Bring the liquor! And bring out the Young Cult Leader too!”
Shouting loudly, the Drunken Demon charged forward like a madman. Even though one arm was broken, he showed not a trace of fear.
The Demonic Buddha and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme rushed forward behind him to his left and right. Even without discussing a plan, they each knew what they had to do.
The pressure created by the combined attack of the three Demon Supremes was immense.
The Dark Palace Master targeted the Drunken Demon first. He thrust out both palms toward him.
Swaeaek, swaeak!
Two streams of palm force shot toward the Drunken Demon from different directions.
The Drunken Demon used his footwork to evade the palm force. The advancement he had gained in footwork during this expedition now shone in this final battle.
The Dark Palace Master leapt backward and thrust out both palms again. Two streams of palm force flew toward him with a slight time difference.
Swaeaek! Swaeak!
Once again, it seemed the Drunken Demon would dodge with his footwork.
Rippling.
The once-solid ground rippled and moved as if alive.
Because of that, the Drunken Demon’s footwork faltered.
Bam!
The second palm force exploded against his body.
The Drunken Demon was sent flying backward and collapsed onto the ground.
The one who neutralized the palm force flying toward the fallen Drunken Demon was the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.
A pattern appeared before him, swallowing the incoming force. Her Soul-Origin Reversal Transmission Art returned the energy back to the Dark Palace Master.
Meanwhile, the Demonic Buddha stepped in front of the Drunken Demon.
“Are you alright?”
The Drunken Demon got up at the worried question. Fortunately, the blow had struck the side opposite his broken arm. Even though he had activated his Protective Energy, it hurt as if his bones had been shattered.
“I’m fine.”
He rose vigorously.
“People fall over when they drink, don’t they?”
Then the Drunken Demon charged at the Dark Palace Master again.
Rippling, rippling.
When the ground rippled, he could have taken to the air and attacked. But the Drunken Demon instead ran along the rippling ground. It was a choice to conserve even the slightest bit of inner energy.
The swaying ground interfered with his footwork.
But the Drunken Demon clearly showed the difference between being caught unaware and advancing while knowing.
He dodged attacks as if dancing atop the rippling ground and then slid forward, rushing instantly toward the Dark Palace Master.
The Dark Palace Master had been fleeing until now, but this time he fought the Drunken Demon head-on. His aged body moved with astonishing agility as he tried to strike the Drunken Demon’s neck and heart with his hands.
Bam!
Although he allowed one palm strike from the Dark Palace Master, the Drunken Demon did not retreat. Even if both his arms broke, he seemed ready to fight by headbutting and biting.
“Do you know why drunkards fight so viciously? When we’re drunk, we don’t even know we’re in pain.”
How could it not hurt? The Drunken Demon endured the pain as he pressed forward.
Because the two were engaged in such a rapid close-quarters battle, the Demonic Buddha and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme could only watch without intervening.
At the moment the close combat reached its peak, the Dark Palace Master’s dark aura—which had remained silent until now—suddenly seized the Drunken Demon. It had waited for precisely this moment.
“No!”
The Demonic Buddha shouted, but the Dark Palace Master’s strike had already smashed into the Drunken Demon’s chest.
BOOOOM!
The Drunken Demon spat out a mouthful of blood.
With vacant eyes, he glanced once at the Demonic Buddha before lowering his head and collapsing.
The Dark Palace Master looked down coldly at the Drunken Demon.
“Your drinking party is over.”
A deep sigh escaped from the Demonic Buddha as he watched. No vitality could be felt from the Drunken Demon’s body. He had died from that single strike.
Had the Drunken Demon really died so meaninglessly like this?
Golden light filled with killing intent burst from the Demonic Buddha’s eyes as he looked at the Dark Palace Master.
Meanwhile, the Dark Palace Master stepped forward with a lighter heart. The Drunken Demon, who had clung close in the combined attack, had been troublesome. But the remaining two were manageable.
From the Demonic Buddha’s appearance, the Dark Palace Master sensed victory. The man was agitated by the Drunken Demon’s death. Even fighting calmly he could not defeat him—if he was emotional, the outcome was obvious.
Golden radiance began gathering in the Demonic Buddha’s hand. The Dark Palace Master sensed that he was about to unleash a great demonic art.
It was exactly what he wanted. If such a great technique was used, the remaining inner energy would be depleted instantly.
“I know well that your Blood Buddha is not merciful. But it seems that cruelty applies to you as well.”
At that moment—
Someone suddenly wrapped an arm around the Dark Palace Master’s neck from behind. It was the Drunken Demon, who had been thought dead.
“Now!”
The Drunken Demon had not died.
Before the battle began, the request he had made through voice transmission to the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme had been to make him appear dead—so that the Dark Palace Master would believe it.
All for this one opportunity.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme poured all her remaining inner energy into unleashing her final Soul Reaping Art.
Soul-Reaping Turtle Breath.
She perfectly disguised the Drunken Demon’s death. The impact of the final blow had been split between her and him. It was such a flawless move that even the Demonic Buddha had been deceived.
HOOOOOOOONG!
From the Demonic Buddha’s hand, the Demon-Palm Lesser Man burst forth.
KWAKWAKWAKWAK!
The enormous golden palm slammed into both the Dark Palace Master and the Drunken Demon, pushing them away as they were swept up by it.
The Drunken Demon rolled across the ground. Blood gushed from his mouth as his body became completely tattered.
Not far from him, the Dark Palace Master stood with a dismayed expression. He had almost died from that attack just now.
But he had not died. Blood dripped from his arm, and his face bore a deep wound—but he was alive.
A regretful sigh escaped the Drunken Demon’s mouth. Turning his head, he looked at the Demonic Buddha.
“With such a soft heart, how can you call yourself someone who serves the Blood Buddha?”
At the final moment, the Demonic Buddha had hesitated for an instant before launching the attack. That hesitation gave the Dark Palace Master time to escape. As the man broke free, the Drunken Demon—who had been clinging to him—also survived.
The reason the Demonic Buddha hesitated was the Drunken Demon.
He could not bring himself to kill with his own hands the man who had saved him twice.
Even though that choice had been the only way to save not only himself but everyone else, the Demonic Buddha had hesitated at that final moment.
“I couldn’t let you die together with that bastard.”
At those words, the Drunken Demon lay back and looked up at the night sky. Now real death awaited.
“This is all because of the Young Cult Leader.”
The Demonic Buddha had not originally been someone so soft-hearted. Then again, by that logic, the Drunken Demon himself would not have saved him twice either.
The Demonic Buddha sat down and silently turned his prayer beads. Having poured out all his remaining inner energy in the last attack, he could no longer help the Drunken Demon.
The same was true for the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme. Using the Soul-Reaping Turtle Breath had exhausted all her remaining inner energy.
The Dark Palace Master stretched his palm toward the Drunken Demon to strike him.
“What an annoying bastard!”
Truly, the Drunken Demon was an opponent he never wanted to fight again.
“Old man, move that hand away. It’s blocking the sky.”
The Dark Palace Master smiled coldly and was about to blow off the Drunken Demon’s head with palm force when—
“Stop.”
Someone unexpected stepped forward.
Amazingly, it was the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress.
She walked forward without fear and stood in front of the Drunken Demon.
“If you kill this man, you won’t hear the final prophecy from me.”
When she stepped forward, not only the Drunken Demon but also the Demonic Buddha and the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme were startled.
Deep wrinkles twitched on the Dark Palace Master’s face.
“Do you think prophecy still matters to me at this point?”
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress nodded calmly as if she had read his thoughts.
“I received a prophecy on this ship. Aren’t you curious what that prophecy was?”
Her words caused the corner of the Dark Palace Master’s eye to tremble slightly.
“What prophecy?”
“I’ll tell you if you spare the Demon Supremes.”
With an indifferent gaze, the Dark Palace Master shifted the hand that had been aimed at the Drunken Demon toward her instead. As if he intended to kill her first, Gaye shouted.
“No!”
She could not just watch the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress—who had saved her twice—die like this.
But the Dark Palace Master was not reaching out to kill her.
Using Void Telekinesis, he moved the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress to a place far from the others.
“Even if I give up hearing the prophecy, I cannot spare them.”
From the way he moved only her aside, Gaye realized something. He intended to let the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress live and kill her instead.
“The first one who should die is me.”
Gaye accepted death calmly.
“All of this is my responsibility for failing to properly deliver Heaven’s will.”
The Dark Palace Master spoke coldly.
“There’s no need to decide the order. I’ll kill you all at once.”
As he raised his hand, the stars floating in the sky began descending.
It was different from before when the stars had fallen as energy.
All the remaining stars slowly descended. The clusters of pure white light were beautiful just to behold.
Those stars gathered around the three Demon Supremes and Gaye. In front of their faces. In front of their hearts.
They could all feel it. These stars would soon explode around them.
He intended to kill them all with his final technique using the stars.
As the thought of imminent death came, the Demon Supremes closed their eyes.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme spoke quietly.
“It was an honor to fight alongside you both.”
It was a final expression of gratitude to the two senior Demon Supremes who had treated her as an equal until the end.
At the very moment the stars were about to explode—
Thud!
The sound of something being pierced echoed through the area.
The Demon Supremes opened their eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.
From the spot that the Drunken Demon had almost completely torn earlier, a sword blade suddenly protruded. Knowing that it was a weak point, someone had thrust the sword in from outside.
Was it because the Greed Annihilation Art had vanished? Or because the sword owner’s martial skill was overwhelmingly powerful?
Riiiiip.
The protruding sword tore downward through the dark energy.
At that moment, the dark space let out a scream like a living person.
Sssssss—
Astonishingly, the stars floating before them, which had seemed ready to explode at any moment, lost their light and vanished.
Because there were no stars in the night sky anymore, the Dark Palace Master could no longer change constellations to move locations.
As he hurriedly recited a mnemonic verse, the darkness surrounding him rushed toward the torn gap below to mend it.
But at that moment—
PAAAAAAK!
Through the place the sword had ripped open, something enormous burst through.
It was a great saber.
A great saber above, a sword below.
Two weapons pierced the wall of darkness at the same time.
The space screamed with an ear-splitting cry.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
With the sound of fireworks exploding, the night sky began to disappear. It was the moment the Dark Heaven Star Soul Art unleashed by the Dark Palace Master was shattered.
The hellish night sky vanished, and they returned to their original space.
Seeing the people standing there, the Drunken Demon tried to laugh loudly but clutched his chest as pain surged.
The Demonic Buddha also let out a sigh of relief, while a bright smile appeared on the face of the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress shouted with trembling eyes.
“Lord Soma.”
A white mask was smiling at her.
The man she had wanted to see so desperately had come to save them.
And the Evil Smiling Demon was not alone.
If he had been, the three Demon Supremes would not have looked so relieved.
Two more people stood beside the Evil Smiling Demon—people who explained how the external barrier and the dark mist surrounding the ship had been broken.
“Nothing ever happens in our whole lives, yet why did chaos break out exactly when we decided to go out for a stroll?”
The owner of the gentle voice was the One-Slash Sword Supreme.
Beside her stood the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with his great saber resting on his shoulder.
“This is why I can’t go anywhere.”