Chapter 831: Your Heavenly Demon Spirits Will Not Enter the World.
“Heavenly Demon Spirit!”
Geom Mugeuk immediately recognized the opponent’s existence.
‘The Heavenly Demon Spirit that was absorbed that day… it was here together with these souls?’
Three hundred years ago, on that day, the Heavenly Demon Spirit had been absorbed into the Secret Box first. Hyeok Do-cheon struggled desperately to prevent it from being taken, but in the end, the Heavenly Demon Spirit was sucked into the Secret Box.
The others being absorbed into the Secret Box happened afterward.
Geom Mugeuk had naturally assumed the Heavenly Demon Spirit had disappeared. Yet that Heavenly Demon Spirit was here together with these souls!
Geom Mugeuk was someone who never showed surprise or agitation under any circumstances, but at this moment, even he was shaken.
The appearance of the Heavenly Demon Spirit brought shock not only to Geom Mugeuk but to everyone watching.
To think that the Heavenly Demon Spirit they had only heard about in words would reveal itself by borrowing a human body like this.
Even the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult, who had been spouting nonsense just moments ago, froze.
The Fist Demon King’s expression hardened. Against any other enemy it might be different, but the Heavenly Demon Spirit was absolutely not an easy opponent.
Moreover, the current Heavenly Demon Spirit was one that could think for itself and even speak.
‘A far more dangerous enemy than the Heavenly Killing Star we faced earlier.’
The Fist Demon King glanced at Geom Woojin beside him. Tension was evident on the rigid face of the Cult Leader.
It could not be helped. No demonic art would be able to shock the Heavenly Demon Spirit, and even the Nine Calamities Demon Art of the Cult Leader or the Young Cult Leader might not work.
An existence that no demonic practitioner should ever make into an enemy had appeared.
Geom Mugeuk calmly spoke to Hwa Moogi—or rather, to the Heavenly Demon Spirit.
“If I had known you were here, I would have tried to speak with you first.”
The Heavenly Demon Spirit, borrowing Hwa Moogi’s body, asked in a voice that shook the soul.
“Why?”
It was a sound that came from a human, yet it was not a human voice.
“Because it has always been my dream to have a conversation with the Heavenly Demon Spirit.”
Of course, that dream had been about speaking with his own Heavenly Demon Spirit.
He recalled something his father had once told him.
—There are records of a Heavenly Demon who spoke with the Heavenly Demon Spirit. It was a very long time ago.
And when he had said he wanted to speak with the Heavenly Demon Spirit, his father had replied:
—The Heavenly Demon Spirit is a dangerous existence. If it were to run wild, it cannot be stopped. Even so, do you still want to chatter with it?
Those words must have been meant for a situation exactly like this.
Right now, before him stood a Heavenly Demon Spirit on the verge of rampaging—or perhaps already beginning to rampage.
“You are certainly different.”
The other souls had not been able to dominate Hwa Moogi’s body. They had merely borrowed his mouth to speak.
But the Heavenly Demon Spirit had completely taken control of Hwa Moogi’s body.
“I saw you being absorbed that day, but I never imagined you were here together with these people.”
Naturally, he had thought the Heavenly Demon Spirit had been extinguished. Since Hwa Moogi had mastered the Nine Calamities Demon Art, he assumed either it would reappear through that art or that the art itself no longer contained the Heavenly Demon Spirit.
“Now that we’ve met, let’s talk as much as we like. Do you drink? Let’s go inside and have a drink while we—”
At that moment, a low voice from the Heavenly Demon Spirit resounded.
“Kneel.”
Silence instantly fell over the area.
Geom Mugeuk showed no sign of displeasure at all.
“Kneeling is no problem. After all, you’re the Heavenly Demon Spirit from three hundred years ago. If we’re family, then we’re family, aren’t we? I could kneel and call you Grandfather Heavenly Demon Spirit.”
Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not someone who would obediently kneel.
“But I’ll need permission.”
The Heavenly Demon Spirit’s gaze turned toward Geom Woojin.
“No permission is needed. I intend to make even the Demonic Cult Leader kneel.”
Despite those rude words, Geom Woojin showed no reaction. This family dispute was, after all, his son’s battle.
Geom Mugeuk spoke unexpectedly.
“I wasn’t talking about getting my father’s permission.”
The Heavenly Demon Spirit looked at him with a puzzled expression. Those watching also stared, wondering whose permission he meant.
The one Geom Mugeuk referred to was completely unexpected.
“I need to get permission from my own Heavenly Demon Spirit.”
“!”
The Heavenly Demon Spirit’s face slightly contorted.
“I’m someone who could kneel even to an innkeeper if I had to. But I don’t yet know what kind of personality my Heavenly Demon Spirit has.”
No one had expected Geom Mugeuk to bring up his own Heavenly Demon Spirit.
“You heard earlier—I care a lot about how others see me. But this is the Heavenly Demon Spirit residing within my body. How much more would I care about that? Right now, all I can think about is looking impressive to my Heavenly Demon Spirit.”
At that moment, an immense demonic energy poured out from the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s body.
Those who had not cultivated demonic arts immediately raised their internal energy to resist it.
Amid the raging demonic energy, the deep voice of the Heavenly Demon Spirit flowed out.
“Now that I have descended, your Heavenly Demon Spirits will not enter the world.”
This Heavenly Demon Spirit was the one belonging to Hyeok Do-cheon—cruel and arrogant from three hundred years ago. It was confident it could overwhelm not only Geom Mugeuk but even Geom Woojin’s Heavenly Demon Spirit.
Geom Mugeuk had experienced something similar before. His own Heavenly Demon Spirit had not appeared in front of his father.
Was it because a stronger Heavenly Demon Spirit suppressed it? Or was it showing respect to a predecessor?
Geom Mugeuk called forth his own Heavenly Demon Spirit.
But just as the Heavenly Demon Spirit had said, it did not manifest.
“If I kneel, it means my Heavenly Demon Spirit kneels as well. Are you truly such an extraordinary existence?”
He was not speaking to his opponent, but to his own Heavenly Demon Spirit.
‘Hey, my friend. Do we really have to kneel to someone like this?’
His Heavenly Demon Spirit gave no response, while the one residing in Hwa Moogi’s body reacted with anger.
Shiiiiiii!
The Heavenly Demon Spirit charged at Geom Mugeuk. As before, its speed was astonishingly fast.
And with that speed, could its attacks remain the same?
Each time the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s sword flew, a tearing sound echoed as if space itself were being ripped apart.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The attacks were so fast that there was no room for conscious thought, like “block this” or “counter like that.”
Only instinct and the reactions of a body honed through training could withstand such terrifying assaults.
After the initial clash of swords, a new shock surged in waves. That wave carried a dark energy unlike anything he had ever experienced.
If such an energy could negatively affect even him—who had mastered the Nine Calamities Demon Art—there was no need to imagine what it would do to others.
The depth of this battle was on a completely different level from before. The Heavenly Demon Spirit’s sword was not meant to cut a person—it was a sword that cut the heavens and the world.
Those watching held their breath.
All of them were astonished by Geom Mugeuk’s skill. In particular, Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang had to acknowledge one fact.
‘The Young Cult Leader is above us.’
It was not just that he possessed more internal energy. His skill itself was clearly superior. None of them could have blocked those attacks from the Heavenly Demon Spirit like he was doing.
Swoosh.
A missed sword energy from the Heavenly Demon Spirit sliced through the building behind.
Saaaak!
It cut through that building, then the trees behind it as well. The structures and trees were severed as if they were paper.
Geom Mugeuk was gradually being pushed back by the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s attacks. He could not counterattack and was barely managing to defend.
Those watching turned their gaze to Geom Woojin. Their eyes were filled with concern—would he really let the Young Cult Leader continue like this?
This was an opponent too much for the Young Cult Leader. In fact, it was an enemy none of them here could handle.
If so, they should all rush in together before it was too late.
But Geom Woojin silently watched the fight, as if he would not intervene unless his son called for help.
Creating distance with difficulty, Geom Mugeuk unleashed the Nine Calamities Demon Art.
A demonic ghost appeared before him—the most terrifying one among the four directions.
Chrrrrrrrr.
The ghost began to split apart.
What was he trying to do? The Heavenly Demon Spirit simply watched.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!
Geom Mugeuk’s Great Annihilation Form struck the Heavenly Demon Spirit.
The ghosts charged toward it.
Geom Mugeuk saw it.
While the other ghosts swept everything away, the ones attacking the Heavenly Demon Spirit vanished on their own.
Even at that shocking sight, Geom Mugeuk was not surprised. He had already expected it.
The Nine Calamities Demon Art did not work on the Heavenly Demon Spirit.
Because the Heavenly Demon Spirit itself was born from the ultimate of that very art.
“The Nine Calamities Demon Art is useless against me.”
Geom Mugeuk felt joy—and superiority—from the Heavenly Demon Spirit. Was this what all Heavenly Demon Spirits were like? Or was this one special?
Even in this situation, Geom Mugeuk did not falter at all.
“I’ll win without using the Nine Calamities Demon Art.”
The Heavenly Demon Spirit’s dark eyes curved in a smile.
“Then die by the Nine Calamities Demon Art!”
The moment the Heavenly Demon Spirit thrust its sword—
Sword energy rained down from the sky like lightning.
It was the Fifth Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art, Soul Severing Demonic Strike.
Shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk!
Each strand of sword energy was powerful enough to pierce the crown of a supreme master.
Geom Mugeuk activated the Wind God’s Four Steps. It was the moment he unleashed it at a level that had reached the extreme.
The Dark Shadow Step he displayed was on a completely different level than before.
To those watching, it seemed as if multiple afterimages of him appeared at once.
Flashing through the storm of sword energy, he emerged without a single drop touching him.
But that was not the end. The moment he escaped the attack, Geom Mugeuk used the Underworld King Step and charged toward the Heavenly Demon Spirit.
The manual of the Wind God’s Four Steps described it like this:
It can nullify any defense or evasion.
The one who wrote that would shout in admiration if he saw Geom Mugeuk now. Exactly like that!
Swaaaaaaak!
Geom Mugeuk’s sword grazed the chest of the Heavenly Killing Star. Twisting its body to evade, the Heavenly Killing Star countered.
Whoosh.
Geom Mugeuk also evaded the counterattack.
The two crossed past each other and switched positions.
The Heavenly Killing Star looked at Geom Mugeuk with surprise.
“To think you would evade the Soul Severing Demonic Strike with mere footwork.”
Geom Mugeuk was just as surprised. His opponent had evaded his decisive blow delivered with the Underworld King Step—an attack faster and more precise than any he had used before.
The writer of the Wind God’s Four Steps would need to add one more line:
It can nullify any ‘human’ defense or evasion.
As they switched positions, Geom Mugeuk met his father’s eyes.
—Please trust me to the end in this fight.
Through the voice transmission, Geom Woojin understood. His son was not recklessly driven by competitiveness—he clearly had a plan. Yet the fight looked far too dangerous.
Geom Woojin sent a single reply.
—Be careful.
Geom Mugeuk and the Heavenly Demon Spirit clashed again.
Geom Mugeuk fought in a state of complete selflessness. It was a battle beyond human limits.
It was a fight where he had to block seven consecutive thrusts aimed at vital points in his chest in the blink of an eye—then counter on the eighth.
Those watching realized it.
‘His skill is increasing through this battle! No… it has already increased.’
Even though the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s attacks had grown faster, Geom Mugeuk was blocking them all.
He likely did not even realize his own growth—he had no room to.
No matter how much he improved, those watching were filled with anxiety. He was barely holding on. It would not be strange if he died at any moment.
Pah!
Blood burst from Geom Mugeuk’s shoulder. This time, the wound was deep.
His breathing grew rough, and his heart felt as though it might burst.
Another spray of blood came from his side. He had barely avoided a fatal strike.
Jin Paecheon, Baek Jagang, and the others all looked to Geom Woojin. Someone had to step in.
The Fist Demon King finally sent a voice transmission.
—We must help Mugeuk.
He did not want to say it, but he feared the Cult Leader might hesitate because it was his son.
—Wait.
Geom Woojin waited. Knowing better than anyone what kind of resolve that word carried, the Fist Demon King said nothing more.
Boom!
Geom Mugeuk was slammed into a wall again.
Wiping the blood from his mouth, he instead provoked the Heavenly Demon Spirit.
“If you were my father’s Heavenly Demon Spirit, I would never win. But you are not.”
At the displeased gaze asking why, Geom Mugeuk answered while staring straight at it.
“Because you have lost the honor and pride of a Heavenly Demon Spirit.”
He deliberately provoked it.
“A being meant to protect the Divine Cult dares to point its sword at the Young Cult Leader!”
In a stern voice, Geom Mugeuk shouted:
“The one who should kneel… is you!”
A fierce demonic energy burst from the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s black eyes—no longer something human.
Wooooooong!
Geom Mugeuk’s clothes whipped violently. Everyone except Geom Woojin was forced to step back.
The Fist Demon King could not understand.
—Why is he provoking the Heavenly Demon Spirit in such a disadvantageous fight?
He asked in case the Cult Leader knew something he did not.
—He is not provoking that Heavenly Demon Spirit.
At first, he did not understand. But as he repeated the words, a realization struck him.
‘Could it be?’
The Heavenly Demon Spirit’s strike sent Geom Mugeuk tumbling across the ground.
He rose and coughed up blood—he had suffered internal injuries.
Seeing him covered in blood, Geom Woojin was about to step in, but their eyes met.
‘Father! Please trust me to the end!’
In that moment of hesitation, the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s sword shot toward Geom Mugeuk.
“This is the end!”
Swaaaaaaak.
Everyone moved to help him—but only Geom Woojin remained still.
Just as the sword was about to pierce Geom Mugeuk’s chest—
Clang!
Someone deflected the blade.
The Heavenly Demon Spirit staggered back in shock.
Those who had rushed forward also froze, staring in disbelief.
A figure stood before Geom Mugeuk.
This was the reason he had endured with his life on the line.
The true target of his provocation.
“I trusted it.”
Geom Mugeuk’s eyes trembled as he looked at that back.
“I knew you would come out.”
Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit descended, taking on a human-sized form.