Seo-jun was on his way to the area where the Violet Thunder Demon had been sighted, returning the wild demonic beasts he encountered along the way back to nature.
That day wasn’t any different from usual. Contrary to his initial prejudices, Tian Shan was also a place where people lived. Their way of thinking was just somewhat different—by quite a bit, actually—but there weren’t any truly drastic differences compared to the orthodox sects’ territories.
Well, other than the fact that human lives were treated a bit more lightly here, that people occasionally turned into monsters, and that you’d sometimes run into weirdly shaped demonic beasts?
If you broke it down in detail, the differences were pretty significant, sure—but even going to a foreign country could feel like that.
Tian Shan was… yeah. It felt exactly like an isolated island inhabited by cannibals.
Basically, it was like a foreign land—but with a sprinkle of seasoning added in.
So, Seo-jun found the current situation to be rather fascinating.
“AAAAAAHHH!”
He caught a deer.
“P-please spare me!”
To be precise, it was a deer-human hybrid. Or was it supposed to be a horned deer?
“What exactly are you supposed to be?”
Seo-jun slipped his hands under the creature’s armpits and lifted it straight into the air.
It had small horns on its head, but other than that, it looked no different from a plump child with baby fat.
“I-I’m going to get eaten!”
The child flailed its short limbs desperately.
‘Were deer and roe deer both herbivores?’
Seo-jun couldn’t quite remember. Maybe roe deer were omnivores? Either way, they both seemed to eat plants.
Pulling out a carrot from his bag, Seo-jun brought it up to the child’s mouth. He carried carrots around just in case he needed to feed the occasional demonic beast he ran into.
“D-do I have to eat carrots…?”
“Then what do you want?”
“Bok choy tastes better these days?”
Seo-jun wasn’t about to start carrying bok choy around. He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a peach instead.
“How about a peach?”
“Peach is good.”
The child grabbed the peach with both hands and started eating it eagerly.
“So, why were you hanging around in such a dangerous place?”
“I wasn’t hanging around?”
What was with this kid’s way of speaking? Was this how deer-people talked? Scratching his cheek, Seo-jun asked again.
“Then what were you doing?”
“Running away?”
“From what?”
“I don’t know? Some guy was shooting purple lightning?”
“Oh.”
Purple lightning probably meant the Violet Thunder Demon. Lucky.
‘Wait, what?’
Seo-jun looked at the child with a curious expression.
“You ran away from that guy? How? Don’t tell me you challenged a transcendent to a game of rock-paper-scissors.”
“Deer are good at running away.”
“Your name’s Nokyo?”
“That’s right.”Having finished the first peach, Nokyo stretched out both hands.
Seo-jun pulled out another peach and placed it in her hands.
“So, are you… a deer-human or something?”
“Deer? What’s that? Nokyo is a fawn?”
“Oh, right.”
Now that he thought about it, horned animals were more likely to be deer.
Horns probably meant it was a male deer, but—looking closely—this Nokyo was undoubtedly a girl.
He could tell because he’d raised Chun-bong when she was younger. There was no way this kid was a boy.
“Can you take off your horns or something?”
Seo-jun tapped Nokyo’s horns, making her shudder.
“If my horns fall off, I’ll die…?”
“You’ll die? Just from losing your horns?”
“Wouldn’t a human die if their head fell off?”
“Ah.”
When she put it like that, it kind of made sense. Seo-jun nodded seriously, and Nokyo gently stroked her horns.
“Adults can hide their horns at will. But Nokyo isn’t an adult yet, so I can’t hide them.”
That’s how it was, apparently. She said it confidently, so Seo-jun decided not to argue.
“Anyway, you said you were running away from someone shooting purple lightning?”
“Ah! That’s right!”
Nokyo shoved the half-eaten peach into her mouth.
“Bwe haf to wun!”
“We have to run?”
Nokyo nodded rapidly. Seo-jun poked at her puffed cheeks, stuffed full of peach, before standing up.
“No need. I’m stronger.”
“Ooooh?”
Spitting out the peach pit, Nokyo plopped down onto the ground.
“Then Nokyo will take a nap.”
“What?”
“Wake me up when it’s over.”
With that, Nokyo fell asleep right there. Seo-jun stared down at her, dumbfounded.
‘What is this kid?’
Not only did she have the skills to escape from the Violet Thunder Demon, but she also carried herself with an unusual level of composure. Seo-jun started to feel curious about her upbringing. Maybe he should ask her parents for some parenting tips.
RUMBLE—!
Suddenly, a crack of thunder accompanied by a rapidly approaching presence sent a tingle through Seo-jun’s skin.
The unmistakable sensation of lightning told Seo-jun exactly who it was.
“Damn. So much for a peaceful day.”
Scratching his head, Seo-jun raised his voice.
“Stop right there!”
His voice carried a commanding power that forced martial artists to obey. For a moment, the Violet Thunder Demon’s aura hesitated—
BOOM!
But then it surged forward with a thunderous roar.
“Pretending to be the Heavenly Demon…! Who are you?!”
A lightning-clad old man pulled his right hand back. Sparks crackled as massive bolts of lightning swelled in his palm.
“And I am—”
“No time for talk!”
CRACK—!!!
Lightning flashed for an instant, and the Violet Thunder Demon’s figure closed the distance in the blink of an eye.
‘He’s the one who asked, though.’
Seo-jun raised his palm to meet the attack. The Violet Thunder Demon’s strike collided with Seo-jun’s hand.
Boom—!
The sound wasn’t all that loud. Seo-jun had used Hundred Rivers Ghost Absorption and Absorption Technique, significantly weakening the force of the attack.
‘As expected.’
Observing the Violet Thunder Demon up close, Seo-jun could discern the unique traits of the Violet Thunder Demonic Art.
The opponent’s entire body emitted a faint violet glow, and subtle electrical currents danced around him. It seemed to provide a constant defensive effect, like an active protective technique.
‘Didn’t this art require driving one’s hands into human corpses to master it, just like Black Water Grand Palm?’
Seo-jun was already capable of using Black Water Grand Palm without needing such gruesome steps. With some modifications, it seemed this technique could be reshaped into something suitable for Namgung Su-a as well.
“Ugh…! Shut up! I’m trying to sleep!”
A sudden shout came from behind him. Nokyo, who had been peacefully sleeping until now, yelled out without opening her eyes. The Violet Thunder Demon turned sharply toward her, his eyes widening.
“There you are! Offer your body to me at once!”
The Violet Thunder Demon tried to bypass Seo-jun and lunge toward Nokyo. However, Seo-jun didn’t let go.
While their palms were still locked, Seo-jun bent his fingers, seizing the opponent’s arm, and yanked him inward before delivering a fierce kick to his abdomen.
“Gah…!”
Boom—! The Violet Thunder Demon was sent flying, crashing into the ground.
Watching the violet lightning that flickered through the dust cloud, Seo-jun tried to initiate a conversation.
“What exactly are you planning to do with the kid?”
“What else?”
Whoosh—! A surge of energy scattered the dust.
The Violet Thunder Demon, now radiating an even darker shade of violet, bared his yellowed teeth in a twisted grin.
“Living deerfolk females carry pure yin energy, and their antlers—when harvested after death—contain pure yang energy.”
The Violet Thunder Demonic Art was an extreme yang-based technique. If left unchecked, the overflowing yang energy would burn its user’s body from within.
To neutralize this excess energy, the yin energy of a woman was required—and the yin energy of deerfolk females was considered exceptionally pure, making them the ideal source.
“Even if she dies after being used, her antlers will still yield pure yang energy, making her the ultimate elixir for those who cultivate the Violet Thunder Demonic Art.”
“So I’ll make you an offer. Hand her over, and I’ll let you use her two or three times before I’m finished with her.”
“Use?”
“I mean for dual cultivation, of course. Absorbing the yin energy of a deerfolk would greatly enhance your internal energy. Not a bad deal, is it?”
“You’re a crazy pedophile bastard.”
“Exactly! This Violet Thunder Demon is the embodiment of the path of excess! A man among men!”
Seo-jun wordlessly drew his sword. The Violet Thunder Demon raised his brows but quickly smirked and tried to sweeten the deal.
“Not interested? Fine, then. How about three times instead?”
“I’ll split your body into three pieces instead.”
Seo-jun charged. The Violet Thunder Demon panicked.
“Wait, what? Why? It’s a good offer!”
Even in his panic, the Violet Thunder Demon unleashed his technique with precision.
Violet Thunder Explosion.
Rumble—!
Violet lightning erupted from his entire body, surging outward in waves.
Seo-jun ignored it and advanced. The lightning tried to cling to him, but it failed.
Crackle—!
Instead, the lightning coiled around Seo-jun’s sword. Most demonic energy couldn’t defy Seo-jun’s will.
He moved forward, examining the demonic lightning dancing on his blade. Unlike the pure and crisp lightning used by Namgung Su-a, this energy was sticky and foul.
‘Lightning techniques, huh.’
A certain martial art came to mind. Boundless Sky Swordsmanship.
Namgung Su-a’s Boundless Sky Swordsmanship focused on controlling the lightning that filled the heavens.
But using techniques from the Namgung Clan here in Tian Shan didn’t sit well with him. More importantly, the Violet Thunder Demon’s lightning felt fundamentally different.
Time slowed. Seo-jun reached into his mental space, pulling forth images and ideas.
Whoosh—!
The chaotic fragments of his thoughts unraveled and fell into order.
‘So, it still comes back to the sky.’
The Namgung Clan’s Path of Dominion focused on defying the heavens—and he already had precedent for it with techniques like King’s Sword Form and Heavenly Demon’s Step.
Seo-jun merged these threads and wove them into his blade.
Heavenly Demon Divine Sword.
Crackle—!
Dark lightning coiled tightly around his sword. Seo-jun drew the sky itself into his blade. Memories of his back-alley brawling days flashed through his mind, and so did the principles of the Three Talents Swordsmanship.
‘Heaven, Earth, and Man.’
He recalled Chun-bong’s voice, explaining the sword’s logic. Heaven is divine energy, Earth is essence, and Man is qi.
By merging the Three Talents with the principles of Spirit, Essence, and Qi, Seo-jun crafted his own understanding.
There was no single answer. If he believed it could be done, then it would be.
Seizing that inspiration, Seo-jun slashed downward, bringing the sky itself crashing down.
Heavenly Demon Divine Sword—First Form: Mount Tai Suppression.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The slash split the world in half.
*****
Seo-jun took a moment to process his sudden insight.
The Three Talents and Spirit, Essence, and Qi. He had focused on each aspect individually, but now he saw the broader picture.
Balancing the Three Talents led to transcendence. Enlarging Spirit led to Enlightenment. Combining them into one led to Divinity.
Then what about the Three Talents? What lay beyond their balance?
Though it was still vague and riddled with leaps in logic, Seo-jun wasn’t concerned.
He was certain the answer would come—
And when it did, his Heavenly Demon Divine Sword would be complete.
“Grgh…!”
The Violet Thunder Demon groaned, his left side completely severed. Seo-jun had spared him intentionally—to learn more about his techniques.
As Seo-jun approached, Nokyo trailed behind him, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
“Mister, you’re really strong! Maybe not as strong as my mom, but still super strong!”
“…What?”
The Violet Thunder Demon, who was beginning to go berserk after failing to break through his limits, didn’t even register to Seo-jun anymore.
“What the hell does your mom even do?”
Seo-jun stared at Nokyo. She shrugged.
“My mom’s just a really big deer?”
He still had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.