Chapter 629: More Handsome and More Terrifying

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk stood in a field, engrossed in a book. His mastery of the Divine Eye Technique meant his eyes never grew tired from reading.

For a man accustomed to flying and leaping across the jianghu, however, the simple act of standing still was a true ordeal.

He had devised this method of reading while standing to combat the stillness, but even this was starting to feel tedious.

Geom Mugeuk began to move, not forward, but straight up into the sky. He used Void Steps to stroll leisurely through the empty air, still reading his book. Then, he threw himself down as though collapsing onto a bed.

He tumbled about in the air, reading on his back and then on his stomach, supported by what seemed to be an invisible cloud.

This divine display was possible because he was using the Heavenly Space Secret Art, a part of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, all while reading. It was not martial arts training but a game he played with his abundant inner arts.

By now, Geom Mugeuk had finished several hundred books. A third of them had nothing to do with martial arts, while the remaining two-thirds were all martial arts manuals.

Even the best things become tiresome after a day or two, and he had already faced multiple crises. Reading books proved more difficult than training. It was boring, hard, and frustrating, and with each struggle, a strong temptation arose.

[Will reading a few books really help? You! Do you have time for this?]

Yet, Geom Mugeuk refused to surrender.

He was the one who had walked a long and lonely path in his life before regression. He was a man who did not understand the concept of giving up.

He imagined what would happen if he continued reading like this.

Should his father ask, "Where was that book again?" he could answer, "It's on the eighth bookshelf, fourth shelf."

Of course, reading every book here was a practical impossibility. He could not remain here reading forever. That task would have to be left for another.

"Blade Demon Elder, when I'm the Cult Leader, I'll give you permission to enter the Heavenly Demon Archives whenever you want. You can read to your heart's content then. Read every single one!"

He knew that without the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, he never would have developed an interest in books or even considered entering this archive. This entire training session was thanks to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

Moreover, every book here was a verified, high-quality text.

Several of the manuals Geom Mugeuk had read contained supreme martial arts capable of causing a bloodbath if they were ever released in the murim. The Broken Moon Sword Technique he was currently reading was one such art, having dominated the murim three hundred years prior.

After reading the manual in mid-air, Geom Mugeuk descended back to the ground.

He stared straight ahead for a moment before drawing the Black Demon Sword with the speed of lightning.

In an instant, a single streak of sword light cut a vertical line through the space before him.

SWOOOOOSH.

All the grass in the field bent in one direction.

CRRRRRRACK.

Simultaneously, the ground cracked open, forming a straight line that stretched far into the distance.

Geom Mugeuk inspected the cross-section of the fissure, then shook his head in displeasure and swung his sword once more.

CRRRRRRACK!

A new crack appeared in the ground right next to the first one.

Geom Mugeuk sat between the two lines, comparing the second cross-section to the first as he contemplated.

Following this process, he created a third split.

After examining the third cross-section, Geom Mugeuk finally showed a satisfied expression. He had captured the moment the Moon-Slaying Sword cleaved the moon.

SNAP.

He snapped his fingers, and the fractured ground mended itself, returning to its original state.

Geom Mugeuk set the Broken Moon Sword Technique on the desk and chose his next book.

It was yet another martial arts manual. He had recently become completely engrossed in the joy of reading them. Whenever he grew excited while reading, he would test the techniques himself, just as he had done with the Broken Moon Sword Technique.

One might assume he could only perform the basic forms from a manual he was reading for the first time, but that was not true.

In fact, he found it easier to execute the most profound and complex techniques. Geom Mugeuk's own level was so advanced that the more difficult a technique, the more effortlessly he could perform it.

Simple techniques, on the other hand, filled his mind with countless thoughts. This was also a result of his high level. Rather than just executing them, he would think, "It would be stronger if I change it like this," or "It would be faster if I change it that way."

This too was a new experience for him. Nearly everything he had encountered since entering the archives was novel, and this learning process was having a profound impact on Geom Mugeuk.

He compared the arts, researched them, and even identified their flaws.

By continuing to read martial arts manuals in this way, Geom Mugeuk's comprehension of the very origin of martial arts grew deeper.

How are martial arts born?

He then took his thoughts a step further.

How are martial arts passed down and evolved?

Eventually, his contemplation led him to the differences between these martial arts and the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

What is it that makes the Nine Calamities Demonic Art so special?

He was now asking a question that had never once occurred to him while he was learning the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

Without reading other martial arts manuals, he would have only been able to offer a simple answer.

Because it is just an inherently powerful martial art.

Now, however, he was in the process of uncovering the specific reasons for its strength.

He thought and researched. He read and reread. And he thought again.

Then, at a certain point, he formed a conjecture. It was a guess made possible only because he had read so many manuals.

Could this be the reason the Nine Calamities Demonic Art is so powerful?

It was not a firm conclusion, only a guess, but Geom Mugeuk felt in that instant that the time had arrived.

A passion erupted from deep in his heart, compelling him to draw his sword immediately.

Geom Mugeuk instantly set down the book and began to perform the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

The First Technique, the Human Destroying Stance.

The four demons materialized.

There was the terrifying one, the handsome one, the mysterious one, and the one that looked intelligent. They had grown so familiar he now considered them family.

It's been a while, East, West, South, North!

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

The figures vanished after slashing their target from all four directions.

There was always a change in these figures whenever his martial arts level was on the verge of rising.

And today was no exception.

Right before they disappeared, the way they looked at Geom Mugeuk was different.

It was a gaze that seemed to want something.

The look sent a tickle through Geom Mugeuk's heart.

Geom Mugeuk knew exactly what this sensation signified. It was a sign that his martial arts level was about to increase! The moment was finally here.

I can't miss this chance.

An increase in martial arts level is not a slow ascent like climbing a hill. It is a sudden step up to a new level in a single moment.

Geom Mugeuk entered a trance, training in the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. He performed it over and over, meeting the demons tens, hundreds, and then thousands of times.

"Ah, this is exhausting!"

Geom Mugeuk fell to the ground, completely spent.

"It must be nice for you, just watching like that, huh?"

Geom Mugeuk was speaking to the Secret Box on the desk. He had developed a habit of talking to it whenever his training became too difficult.

"What's that? You think I can master the Nine Calamities Demonic Art just by reading some books? You'd rather I go see the Demon Supreme instead? It's been ages since you last came. You think the Drunken Demon is so mad he's drowned himself in a jar of liquor?"

That was him giving voice to the demon's whispers through the Secret Box.

Then, the will inside Geom Mugeuk whispered back.

"Think about your father. Think how hard he must be training, even entering seclusion training. And you're slacking off? When your father emerges, are you going to tell him, 'I, your young son, was tired so I took a break'? Is that what you're going to do?"

No, I can't ever do that.

Geom Mugeuk leaped back to his feet. His father had been the most powerful force driving him since the day he regressed. This was especially true now that his father was also in seclusion training.

Father, I will definitely succeed too.

Geom Mugeuk swung his sword again.

The four demons cut through space with a unified will. The terrifying demons charged in a line, sweeping across the world. A single streak of sword light pierced the deepest darkness as the world's strongest wall was formed, and a storm of sword qi rained down.

He swung his sword even when it felt like his arm would detach. When his inner arts were depleted, he would circulate his energy and begin the process anew.

He felt that if he stopped now, the four demons of East, West, South, and North would never look at him with that same wanting expression again. He could not bear to see their disappointment.

He lost track of how many days and nights had passed.

It was not difficult. He did not consider it a hardship.

Effort is not the same as hardship. True hardship is being in a situation where one does not even have the opportunity to try.

Geom Mugeuk poured all the training he had skipped while reading into this single push. It was like storing up energy only to release it in one burst.

Only the Secret Box bore witness to his bloody struggle.

And then, the fateful moment came!

Geom Mugeuk's eyes trembled as he stared blankly at a single point in space.

He had executed the technique in the same manner, but the Human Destroying Stance was different.

The four demons of East, West, South, and North were now larger.

He thought he might be imagining it, but they remained the same size even after he blinked. They had also become more handsome, more terrifying, more mysterious, and more intelligent in appearance.

SHWIIING! SHWIIING! SHWING! SHWIIING!

The swords they swung down were also far more powerful.

Seeing this, Geom Mugeuk let out a gasp.

"…I've reached the ninth stage."

Just as he realized this, the wanting gaze of the demons turned calm once more.

Right before the four demons vanished, they seemed to smile in satisfaction, as if telling him he had done well. He wondered if his exhaustion was making him see things.

THUD.

The tension left him, and Geom Mugeuk collapsed on the spot. A wave of extreme fatigue washed over him.

But Geom Mugeuk shot back to his feet. He could not waste such a precious moment on sleep. He was far too happy to feel tired.

He performed the Nine Calamities Demonic Art again, praying it was not a dream.

The Second Technique, the Great Annihilation Stance.

CHWAAAK. The demons that appeared before him were also larger. Their number had increased to a staggering twenty-six.

KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!

They swept through the area in front of him with immense force. The ground they crossed was gouged out, leaving not a single blade of grass. The power was on a completely different level than before.

"I've really reached the ninth stage!"

Geom Mugeuk cheered, feeling truly happy. He had demonstrated the results that a heaven-sent Heavenly Martial Body could achieve through blood, sweat, and tears.

The Secret Box had been the sole witness to his efforts, and now, it seemed to be smiling at him.

This achievement was not, of course, the result of simply reading books. Nor was it due only to his grueling efforts.

It was built on the lifetime of experience and knowledge from his life before regression.

To that, he added the bonds he had formed in this life with his father and many others, along with the experience from life-or-death battles against the Twelve Zodiac Kings.

All these factors had combined to produce this incredible result.

This is just the beginning.

Reaching complete mastery of the ninth stage would be much harder than anything he had accomplished so far.

Furthermore, Geom Mugeuk's goal was not the tenth stage, but complete mastery of the twelfth stage. He could not yet know how difficult the path ahead would be.

One particular expectation now made Geom Mugeuk's heart tremble.

If he could just advance one more level, he would finally meet the Heavenly Demon Soul.

What kind of Heavenly Demon Soul will my Heavenly Demon Soul be?

He wanted to share this joy with many people, but his father was the first person who came to mind.

What if his father asked how he managed to reach the ninth stage?

It's thanks to reading books diligently.

What would his father's reaction be?

He also wondered what kind of wall his father was currently trying to overcome.

Father, I've overcome one hurdle!

At that very moment, a report came from Cheokyeon, the head bodyguard, who was waiting outside.

"You are urgently summoned by the All-Knowing Hall."

When Geom Mugeuk reached the All-Knowing Hall, he saw that a new flag had been added to the strategic map.

It was planted directly beside his brother's flag.

滅 (Annihilate).

This was the flag of Jin Hagun, the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade.

"The two of them have met!"

Geom Mugeuk had been sincerely hoping his brother would encounter Jin Hagun. He was someone who might show his brother some consideration in the Infinite Land, where everyone was an enemy.

"So the two most boring, stoic guys in the world have met."

Sama Myeong smiled upon hearing that. He was also well aware of both men's personalities.

"How did they meet?"

The answer he received was unexpected.

"The First Young Lord apparently sent word first."

"My brother did? That can't be right."

Knowing his brother's personality, it seemed highly unlikely he would have initiated contact with Jin Hagun. There had to be a reason.

Just then, another messenger pigeon arrived from the Infinite Land.

Sama Myeong's expression grew stern after he read its contents. It was clear that something serious had occurred.

"A new figure has appeared."

A subordinate Strategist approached the strategic map of the Infinite Land.

He moved toward the section representing the Murim Alliance Headquarters.

Around a dozen flags were already planted there.

These flags belonged to the masters of the Murim Alliance who were worthy of having their own.

At the very center, in the Chairman's Hall, stood a magnificent flag depicting a dragon. In the middle of the dragon was the character 正 (Righteous).

It was the flag of Chairman Jin Paecheon, the leader of the Murim Alliance.

The subordinate Strategist set another flag down beside the one belonging to the Murim Alliance's head. It was a new flag, one that had never before been seen in the Murim Alliance.

It was placed right next to the Chairman's flag.

華 (Hwa).