Chapter 648: It Seems You'll Live to Be a Hundred

TL: FoodieMonster007

A heavy silence descended upon the room, replacing the flurry of words that had just been exchanged.

The qi of the Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon began to shift, altering the very air around them. A tangible pressure, thick with the weight of a hundred and a hundred and fifty years, started to dominate the space.

Now that they were revealing their true qi in preparation for a fight, they were no longer the wavering old phantoms who had been moved by Geom Mugeuk's speech.

Pressed firmly against the wall behind Geom Mugeuk, So Cheongrak felt a genuine fear of them for the first time.

These are the kind of men who wouldn't simply die, even if you fed them the most lethal poison.

It was like facing monsters who would be driven mad by the toxin, going on a rampage and only dying after turning everything around them into a sea of blood. Yes, that must be why the organization recruited men like them.

So Cheongrak's gaze then shifted to Geom Mugeuk's back.

Can you really defeat them?

Because he was pressed against the rear wall, he was unable to see Geom Mugeuk's expression. It would have been natural to feel fear as he did, yet the sight of Geom Mugeuk's back, with the Black Demon Sword hanging loosely by his side, still appeared completely relaxed.

The Demonic Fire Lord was the first to break the silence.

"Young Cult Leader. I know what you're trusting in."

A blood-red killing intent flickered from his body as the qi spreading from his qi center heated his entire being like molten lava.

"The Nine Calamities Demonic Art, it's a truly terrifying martial art."

He did not underestimate the Nine Calamities Demonic Art in the slightest.

"Don't you know that I inherited the Nine Calamities Demonic Art?"

Of course, the old demons were aware of this. However, they also shared a particular belief.

"No matter how great the Nine Calamities Demonic Art is, you can never defeat us with the achievements of a mere twenty-year-old."

Geom Mugeuk could tell.

That was the very source of their confidence, the reason they believed they could kill him.

Where did such confidence come from? Right, it had to be this.

The power of time.

It was the greatest power they possessed.

The Demonic Fire Lord was a hundred years old, while the White Bone Spirit Demon had lived to be one hundred and fifty. It was only natural for them to see someone in his twenties as an easy opponent. For them, their own twenties were a distant past they likely could not even recall.

Time was their greatest strength, but it was also their greatest weakness.

"You two must have killed plenty of older masters when you were young. Then again, I suppose you've forgotten all about that."

At his words, the White Bone Spirit Demon's eyes turned pitch black as something began to flow from his body.

"Don't you worry. I haven't forgotten how to kill people."

TSSSSSS.

What emerged was a black fog.

Like a swarm of serpents, the black fog surged toward the spot where Geom Mugeuk stood.

The Ghostly Black Fog, a technique from his unique martial art known as the Ghost Controlling Art, had been unleashed.

Exposure to the Ghostly Black Fog would obstruct one's qi and blood while clouding the mind. Even a person at their peak would find their power drastically reduced within it. This demonic art was designed to display its greatest power in a completely sealed space like this underground chamber.

The Demonic Fire Lord was certain of their victory.

"I can understand being full of yourself, but to act so relaxed in front of us…"

The White Bone Spirit Demon, however, was cautiously deploying his martial arts. The image of Geom Mugeuk's indifferent gaze remained etched in his mind, an imprint that wouldn't fade until he was a corpse.

TSSSSSSSSS!

It seemed impossible for any human to evade the encroaching fog.

But in the next moment, the gazes of the Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon sharpened.

The black fog could not advance to where Geom Mugeuk stood.

Something, a transparent wall, was blocking the space between them and Geom Mugeuk.

The fog swirled aimlessly before him for a moment before it slowly began to rise. The rising fog attempted to cross over along the ceiling, but that path was also blocked.

TSSST-TSSST-TSSST.

Like a decapitated snake, the black fog thrashed about in a frenzy but could find no way to reach Geom Mugeuk.

SWOOOOOSH!

The Demonic Fire Lord, who had been observing, threw a palm strike.

"……"

The blast of wind scattered the black fog, but it quickly gathered again. His palm strike also failed to make the obstructing wall disappear.

Ultimately, the Ghostly Black Fog retreated to the White Bone Spirit Demon and was reabsorbed into his body.

The Demonic Fire Lord cautiously stepped forward.

He slowly approached, walking right up to the point where the Ghostly Black Fog had been stopped. Indeed, a transparent wall was there.

"Is this the Nine Calamities Demonic Art?"

"It is."

This was the third technique of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, the Impenetrable Demonic Wall. That transparent barrier was the Impenetrable Demonic Wall.

It was surprising that he had deployed the Impenetrable Demonic Wall without them noticing. It was even more surprising that the wall flawlessly filled the entire space before them. He could never have deployed it so precisely if he hadn't reached the ninth stage.

Geom Mugeuk asked the Demonic Fire Lord, who stood on the other side of the wall.

"Have you ever seen the Nine Calamities Demonic Art even once?"

"Never."

"I thought so."

The Demonic Fire Lord spoke coldly.

"How arrogant."

"It's faith. Faith in the martial arts that has allowed our Cult to endure until now, even while leading rough men like you Seniors."

Despite seeing the Impenetrable Demonic Wall, the Demonic Fire Lord's spirit was not broken in the least. He raised his hand.

"I've always wanted to burn the Nine Calamities Demonic Art to ashes with this very hand."

WHOOOOOSH.

The Demonic Fire Lord's hand began to burn a brilliant red.

He pressed that burning hand against the Impenetrable Demonic Wall.

CHIIIIK.

It was directly in front of Geom Mugeuk's face. He was making his intention clear, to burn through the wall and melt his face along with it.

From behind the Impenetrable Demonic Wall, Geom Mugeuk watched the crimson palm and commented.

"Looking at your palm, our Senior's life line is very long. It seems you'll live to be a hundred."

The Demonic Fire Lord scoffed and drew upon even more of his inner arts. His hand turned an even deeper shade of red.

CHIIIIK.

Smoke rose with the intense heat.

After some time had passed, the Demonic Fire Lord flinched and pulled his hand away from the Impenetrable Demonic Wall.

He looked down at his own hand. His palm was torn and bleeding. The wall of enhanced qi had not been breached. Instead, it had inflicted a wound on his own palm.

Seeing the blood, a flicker of excitement crossed the Demonic Fire Lord's eyes.

He immediately unleashed a double palm strike. If melting it didn't work, he would simply smash it to pieces.

KWANG! KWAAANG!

A powerful impact was delivered, but the Impenetrable Demonic Wall didn't budge. His blood stained the transparent surface.

He did not stop his attack.

KWAAANG! KWAAANG!

His twin palms struck continuously, right in front of Geom Mugeuk's face. It was an assault imbued with the will to kill him without fail.

On the surface, it appeared he was attacking randomly in a fit of excitement, but he had a plan.

Maintaining the Impenetrable Demonic Wall while enduring such powerful impacts would consume an immense amount of inner arts.

Does he dare to have a battle of inner arts with me?

The Demonic Fire Lord drew upon even more of his inner arts and struck the Impenetrable Demonic Wall.

It's the hot-bloodedness and arrogance of youth.

It might look impressive now, but if he consumed his inner arts like this, he wouldn't last long. Besides, the wall was blocking the entire front, a considerable size.

"I'll watch your father drench the murim in blood in your place!"

The Demonic Fire Lord provoked Geom Mugeuk, intending to wound his pride and force him to continue the confrontation of inner arts to the very end.

When Geom Mugeuk feigned a yawn from behind the wall, the Demonic Fire Lord inwardly rejoiced.

He took the bait!

A faint smile also appeared on the lips of the White Bone Spirit Demon, who was watching.

He considered Geom Mugeuk's attempt to block the attack with the Impenetrable Demonic Wall a clear mistake. He should have chosen a chaotic brawl from the start, where an opportunity might have arisen.

It seems I won't have to step in.

KWAAANG! KWANG! KWANG!

Clutching the leather pouch of herbs to his chest, So Cheongrak cheered for the Demonic Fire Lord.

Break it! Please, just break it!

KWANG! KWAAANG!

Now, the only sound was that of twin palms smashing against the Impenetrable Demonic Wall.

He's still holding on?

As time passed, the Demonic Fire Lord's heart filled with disbelief and astonishment. Beyond the wall, Geom Mugeuk looked utterly serene.

How can this be?

Just then, the voice of the White Bone Spirit Demon came from behind him.

"That's enough, come back."

KWANG! KWAAANG! KWAAAANG!

Only after a few more frantic attacks did the Demonic Fire Lord cease his assault.

The Demonic Fire Lord's hands, which had been burning red, returned to their normal color.

Geom Mugeuk was staring at him with an indifferent gaze. He would have felt better if he had been mocked or ignored. That indifferent gaze, however, made him feel one thing.

He had been the one pounding on the wall all this time.

In that moment, the Demonic Fire Lord felt a real wall.

The White Bone Spirit Demon spoke softly.

"The Young Cult Leader is stronger than we anticipated."

He immediately unleashed the most powerful move he possessed.

KRRR. KRK.

Following the fog that flowed along the floor, the ground trembled as something began to rise from it.

Surprisingly, they were skeletons. Not just bones, but the essence of the Ghost Controlling Art, the Ghost Summoning, with black energy flowing from their eyes. It was an illusion, yet the skeletons existed right before their eyes.

The demonic qi emanating from the skeletons was so foul that even the Demonic Fire Lord, standing with him, had to take a step back. Summoning just one of these demonic beasts was enough to slaughter decent masters, but now he had summoned all that he could.

"These are the White Bone Ghosts. They are impervious to swords and blades, and inhaling just a whiff of the demonic qi they emit will twist all the blood vessels in your body."

What was more terrifying was that no matter how they were shattered, the bones would reattach and revive. As long as the White Bone Spirit Demon was not dead or his inner arts depleted, this hell would not end. Indeed, he had immediately unleashed the most powerful move in his arsenal.

However, Geom Mugeuk was not frightened at all. Instead, he spoke to them calmly.

"I understand you. Not thinking about your own sins and only resenting the Demonic Seal Mandate, that's understandable. Because that's the kind of people you are."

So Cheongrak, watching from behind, cheered inwardly.

You're dead now!

He believed that Geom Mugeuk, judging the situation to be disadvantageous, had started using his clever words again to diffuse their killing intent.

But it wouldn't work this time. Those terrifying White Bone Ghosts were not something that could be killed with a tongue.

Geom Mugeuk's words continued.

"Not caring if the maJang Hu war breaks out as long as the prohibition is lifted, I understand that too. Because you're that kind of people. You might even try to kill me out of anger. I also understand your desire to overcome the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. My dear Seniors, I understand it all."

After speaking like the most magnanimous person in the world, Geom Mugeuk's qi began to change.

"So, please understand me for doing this."

As his words ended, the Impenetrable Demonic Wall that had been erected in front of him vanished.

At the same time, something else appeared in its place.

SHHHHHHHHHHH!

Things lined up in a row in front of Geom Mugeuk.

Larger and more terrifying, they were the demonic spirits of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. The spirits filled the space from wall to wall without a single gap.

The second form of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, the Great Annihilation Stance, had been unleashed.

Everyone there was horrified at the sight of the demonic spirits. This was not the Nine Calamities Demonic Art they had imagined. They never thought such terrifying demonic spirits could manifest.

So Cheongrak, watching from behind, also widened his eyes. At first, it had suddenly grown dark and a giant wall appeared.

However, it wasn't a wall. One of the lined-up figures slowly turned to look at him. The moment he saw that demonic spirit, So Cheongrak's entire body froze. It was truly the most terrifying face he had ever seen in his life. It was incomparably more frightening than the skeletons that had risen earlier. Those fearsome White Bone Ghosts looked shabby in comparison.

Geom Mugeuk's stern voice thundered through the space.

"The Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon, for the crime of not only violating the Demonic Seal Mandate, the strict law of our Cult, but also plotting the maJang Hu war, I will hold you accountable for that crime and carry out summary execution on this spot."

The moment the death sentence was passed!

The demonic spirits were merciless.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWA.

The demonic spirits filling the underground chamber swept everything away as they advanced.

The White Bone Ghosts blocking their path thrust out their swords.

CRUNCH! CRACK! CRACKLE!

The White Bone Ghosts, which could withstand not only sword qi but even enhanced sword qi, were shattered into pieces and scattered in all directions.

Before they could even reassemble, the demonic spirits had already surged toward the White Bone Spirit Demon.

The White Bone Spirit Demon raised his protective enhanced qi to its absolute limit.

I'll endure!

However, his body froze at the sight of the terrifying demonic spirits rushing toward him. He was an old wolf trembling at a tiger's roar.

CRACK-CRACK-CRACKLE!

The moment his protective enhanced qi shattered, a shockwave coursed through his entire body. In that final moment, he recalled the scene he had seen with the Dark Black Mind's Eye. His own figure, looking up at Geom Mugeuk from inside a pit. Indeed, what he had seen then was not Geom Mugeuk, but his own fate.

THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!

His body was smashed to pieces and scattered. The White Bone Ghosts that were about to rise again collapsed and vanished into smoke.

The Demonic Fire Lord was also giving it his all.

The Blazing Palm, into which he had poured all of his inner arts, contained an energy as hot as lava.

KWAAAAAANG!

The moment his twin palms collided with the surging demonic spirits!

That fiery hand seal, which had always pierced through and incinerated his opponents, could not penetrate the demonic spirit's body. As if plunging hot iron into cold water, his body cooled in an instant.

The last moment he recalled was a time long ago when he had been told that a demonic art could never defeat the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. In his youthful hot-bloodedness, he had inwardly denied it back then.

What's so special about the Nine Calamities Demonic Art? Someday, I'll tear it apart with these hands!

THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!

The Demonic Fire Lord's entire body was smashed and exploded.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!

Only after pushing all the way to the end of the chamber did the demonic spirits disappear.

When the dust settled, nothing remained. Not a corpse, not even a single root of a poisonous herb was left. Only the pool of blood on the floor told the tale that the White Bone Spirit Demon and the Demonic Fire Lord had been there.

In that empty space, only Geom Mugeuk stood with his back to them.

It's gotten stronger!

The Nine Calamities Demonic Art was incomparably stronger than it had been at the eighth stage. As the ninth stage was unleashed in actual combat, Geom Mugeuk was seized by a strong desire to achieve complete mastery.

So Cheongrak, who was watching his back, felt his legs give out and he collapsed.

THUD.

He could never have imagined that the Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon would be swept away in a single move, disappearing without a trace.

They were one-move opponents?

His body trembled uncontrollably.

…So this is the Heavenly Demon's martial arts!

Now he understood. He understood why Geom Mugeuk had measured the width of this space with his steps when he first entered. He had been measuring how many of those demonic spirits he would need to summon.

He'd been planning to kill them like this from the very beginning!

Geom Mugeuk walked back and sat down next to the terrified So Cheongrak.

So Cheongrak looked at Geom Mugeuk with trembling eyes. Even after shattering the two old demons, his gaze didn't waver in the slightest. That cold and merciless gaze felt so unfamiliar. He was confused if the talkative Young Cult Leader from before was the same person as this man now. It felt like he was dreaming.

Now, So Cheongrak's last hope was this. That Geom Mugeuk didn't have Myriad Poison Immunity, but had taken an antidote given to him beforehand by the Poison King. That he had just been lucky several times.

So Cheongrak tried to administer a lethal poison one last time. It was the only way. Please, let the Poison King not have anticipated this!

Just then, Geom Mugeuk took a poisonous herb peeking out from the leather pouch he was hugging and chewed on it as if it were a balloon flower root.

So Cheongrak, having given up on poisoning him, squeezed his eyes shut.

Because the poisonous herb Geom Mugeuk was now eating with such relish was the Heavenly Yin Myriad Poisons Grass, which was said to cause instant death with just a touch of the tongue. He wished this were all a dream, but Geom Mugeuk's vivid voice reached him.

"So Cheongrak, let's have a talk."