Chapter 682: In Youth, I Will Not Believe in Fate

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Heavenly Demon Destroys the World. This was the ultimate technique of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, an ability that annihilated everything in its path.

However, training such a martial art was not a simple matter. It required a place with no other people, as someone could accidentally wander into the area of effect at the last moment.

Fortunately, this was not a constraint for Geom Mugeuk.

Upon returning to his residence, Geom Mugeuk immediately activated the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

TAK!

With a snap of his fingers, Geom Mugeuk found himself standing in a vast, open plain.

WHOOOOSH.

A strong wind blew, fluttering Geom Mugeuk's clothes and hair.

Here, I can unleash the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World to my heart's content.

He wanted to grasp the exact extent of this martial art's power. To do so, he created rocks at set intervals throughout the field.

Geom Mugeuk placed the rocks so far away that he wondered if the effect could possibly reach them. They were at a distance that was truly invisible to the naked eye. He did not create them in just one direction but in all directions around him.

With his preparations complete, Geom Mugeuk slowly drew the Black Demon Sword. He took a deep breath and then unleashed the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World, the technique he had learned from his father.

"……"

SHWAAAAAA!

A blinding light erupted, spreading out in every direction. The grass, trees, and rocks, everything created in this space, began to disintegrate.

As the light that had illuminated the surroundings finally faded, Geom Mugeuk used the Divine Eye Technique. He focused his vision on the very last rock he had placed in the far distance.

The rock he had created there was gone. Even the stone placed at a distance that could only be seen with the Divine Eye Technique had been completely annihilated.

Geom Mugeuk understood why. The technique could exert such tremendous power because his own inner arts were immensely vast and pure.

FZZZZT.

In the next moment, the Spacetime Manipulation Technique shattered, having exhausted all of its inner arts.

Geom Mugeuk circulated his energy to replenish his inner arts before unleashing the Spacetime Manipulation Technique once more. He could use it even while the technique was active, so it wasn't something that required his qi center to be completely full.

So, just how much inner arts did he need in his qi center to be able to use it?

He tested it again and again.

Ninety percent.

He needed to have more than ninety percent of his inner arts to unleash the technique. When the martial art was activated, that entire ninety percent was consumed. Considering its formidable power, it would have been strange if any inner arts remained.

Ninety percent. Can I reduce this?

What if he could use it with eighty percent of his inner arts? Or perhaps seventy, sixty, or even fifty percent. If only he could lower the requirement to unleash this martial art.

Then he could fight normally and still use the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World as a final option.

First, I'll have to achieve complete mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art to see if I can reduce this requirement.

Ultimately, the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World was a martial art that could only be used freely upon reaching the twelfth stage of complete mastery. There would not be situations that could be solved by killing everyone in sight. He had to achieve the twelfth stage, just like his father.

For several days, Geom Mugeuk trained relentlessly in the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World. His goal was to unleash it as naturally as he would any other martial art.

This training also had another purpose. The process of completely expending his inner arts and then refilling them served as a natural form of cultivation for his core technique.

How many days had passed while he was so immersed in training?

He could now unleash the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World as naturally as any other technique. He had figured out the exact reach of its power and precisely how much that power diminished with distance.

When was the last time he had trained in a martial art with the intensity of a scholar studying?

Once he could unleash the Heavenly Demon Destroys the World at will, Geom Mugeuk finally left his residence. After facing the great wall of complete mastery and focusing solely on his training, there was now someone he wanted to see.

The Fist Demon's fist sliced through the air.

BWOOONG!

The swiftly flying fist struck a woman squarely in the stomach.

PWAAAK!

The person sent sliding back from the Fist Demon's blow was none other than his disciple and successor, Cheon Sohwi.

If any righteous martial artists of the world saw this scene, they would all rush to save Cheon Sohwi. After all, a fearsome, large-bodied man was beating a woman with his fists as if to kill her.

PWAAAK!

This time, she was struck mercilessly in the side. She gritted her teeth, her expression pained.

PWAK! PWAAK!

Fists struck her arm and shoulder in succession. Cheon Sohwi staggered but refused to fall. Normally, she would have suffered severe internal injuries, but she was enduring it surprisingly well.

But it hurt. She felt the pain of being hit by a carriage, crushed by a giant pillar, or struck by a flying chunk of iron. Nevertheless, she did not fall, enduring and enduring.

Finally, the ceaseless storm of fists stopped.

"Hah, hah, hah."

Only her ragged breaths echoed in the space. If any more fists had flown, she would not have been able to endure and would have collapsed with internal injuries. The Fist Demon had pushed her precisely to her limit.

"Well done."

When she lifted her head, the Fist Demon was smiling as if he had not been hitting her at all.

"Thank you, Master."

The protective enhanced qi that guarded her body even while being beaten was the Big Dipper Body. Today's training was precisely for the Big Dipper Body.

The Big Dipper Body. It was a protective art that Geom Mugeuk had brought back from the underground area he visited with the Sword King. At that time, Geom Mugeuk had taken only one martial art from there, this very technique.

The reason Geom Mugeuk took the Big Dipper Body was that it could be used in conjunction with other protective arts. It was a martial art that could be used simultaneously with the Heavenly Demon Defense Art and the Vajra Asura of the Thunder Arhat Fist. In conclusion, it meant he could use three protective arts at the same time.

Geom Mugeuk first improved the Big Dipper Body, which consumed a vast amount of inner arts, and then the Fist Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme discussed it to further increase its perfection. At that time, Geom Mugeuk had passed the martial art on to the Fist Demon, the Flower Sword Supreme, Lee Ahn, and Seo Jin, and the Fist Demon, in turn, passed the Big Dipper Body on to Cheon Sohwi, the next Fist Demon.

In truth, the ones who needed the Big Dipper Body the most were the Fist Demon and Cheon Sohwi, who fought with their bare hands.

"It's truly a magnificent protective art."

At Cheon Sohwi's admiration, the Fist Demon gave the credit to Geom Mugeuk.

"It's a martial art passed on by your Senior Brother, so give your thanks to your Senior Brother."

Just then, someone walked in from behind the Fist Demon and spoke.

"That's too harsh, Master! Where is there to even hit our delicate junior sister?"

The person who appeared was none other than Geom Mugeuk.

A faint smile formed on the lips of the Fist Demon, whose back was turned. A look of delight bloomed on Cheon Sohwi's face.

"Senior Brother! I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm not exactly delicate."

Her body had become more solid and muscular than before. A single glance at her physique revealed how diligently she had trained in fist techniques.

"It's good to see."

To Geom Mugeuk's praise, Cheon Sohwi replied humbly.

"I still have a long way to go."

Geom Mugeuk started picking a fight with the large back of the Fist Demon, whom he had not seen in a long time.

"Surely you're not aiming for Master's body, are you? Absolutely not, junior sister. Aim for this well-built Senior Brother's body!"

Only then did the Fist Demon turn toward Geom Mugeuk.

"You can't do anything with those baby hands."

Hearing the term 'baby hands' after so long was so welcome that Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and greeted him.

"Master, your disciple has returned from his trip outside the Cult."

The Fist Demon acted as if Geom Mugeuk had arrived at the perfect time. He turned to Cheon Sohwi instead of returning the greeting and said, "Seeing it directly is the fastest way to learn, I suppose."

Geom Mugeuk instantly understood what the Fist Demon was saying. He was being told to give a direct demonstration of the Big Dipper Body.

"I was wrong. Junior sister, to become the Fist Demon, you should naturally build a body like Master's, not my flimsy one! Your back needs to get twice as big as it is now!"

As the Fist Demon balled his fists with an expression that said it was too late and walked forward, Geom Mugeuk lowered his voice.

"I have come to see the Fist Demon in my capacity as the Young Cult Leader."

Of course, that did not work on the Fist Demon.

The Fist Demon leaped into the air and threw a punch as fast as lightning.

WHOOOSH!

Geom Mugeuk did not dodge the incoming fist. This was a demonstration of the Big Dipper Body, after all. A fist of immense power struck Geom Mugeuk in the chest.

PWAAAK!

He used the Big Dipper Body to block the impact. However, while he did not suffer internal injuries, the pain was transmitted fully to his body.

WHIZZ! HWIP! WHOOSH!

Again, the Fist Demon's fists successively struck Geom Mugeuk's torso. They were incomparably faster and stronger than the punches that had attacked Cheon Sohwi earlier.

KWAANG! KWANG! KWAANG!

Despite the continuous barrage of immensely powerful fists, Geom Mugeuk did not fall. As if taking a hit was also a skill, Geom Mugeuk took the blows really well.

In truth, though he pretended he did not want to do it, this was very useful training for Geom Mugeuk. When else would he get to test the Big Dipper Body against the Fist Demon's punches? Each and every punch was priceless.

After that flurry of punches, the Fist Demon asked Cheon Sohwi, "What's different from you?"

Cheon Sohwi, who had been standing there blankly with a surprised face, quickly came to her senses.

"At a glance, it looked like he was just enduring with the Big Dipper Body, but I felt that Senior Brother was deflecting the incoming fists. By subtly twisting his body."

The Fist Demon wore a satisfied expression. Cheon Sohwi had seen correctly.

"You saw well. Not only that, but he also controlled the intensity of the protective enhanced qi differently for each part of his body. He didn't strengthen the part being hit, but rather adjusted it to make it easier to deflect the impact."

At those words, Geom Mugeuk asked in surprise.

"Did I do that?"

The Fist Demon nodded at Geom Mugeuk's surprise.

"You did it instinctively. It's not something you can do intentionally."

The Fist Demon looked back at Cheon Sohwi. He said nothing, but his gaze seemed to ask a question.

Do you now see the path you must take?

Cheon Sohwi bowed respectfully.

"Master. Thank you so much for this great lesson."

Cheon Sohwi also expressed her gratitude to Geom Mugeuk.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

"I'm glad it was helpful. Ugh, my whole body feels like it's going to break."

At Geom Mugeuk's feigned complaint, Cheon Sohwi also feigned a complaint in a whisper before leaving.

"I wonder if you're as hurt as I am? I'm really in pain!"

Cheon Sohwi left the place, groaning.

The playful look vanished from Geom Mugeuk's face as he watched her retreating back.

"I look forward to that day. The day those fists land a blow on the murim."

She, along with the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, was a Demon Supreme who would lead the next generation. He was certain he would be able to witness her achievements.

"Let's walk for a bit."

"Yes, Master."

Geom Mugeuk and the Fist Demon walked together, just the two of them, within the Eastern Fist Garrison. The passing Iron Fists bowed respectfully at Geom Mugeuk's visit. As his connection with them was deep, Geom Mugeuk's gaze toward the Iron Fists was gentle.

The two of them naturally headed toward the cliff that the Fist Demon wanted to destroy. As they walked there, Geom Mugeuk told him everything that had happened while he was away.

After hearing the whole story, the Fist Demon recalled something from long ago.

"In the past, when I roamed the Central Plains with the Cult Leader, we encountered unidentified individuals several times. Back then, I just dismissed them as some mysterious organization greedy for money and power. Perhaps among them were descendants of the Dark Palace."

"That was probably the case. No, they were definitely among them."

They must have been secretly growing their organization, earning money and building power all over the Central Plains.

The Fist Demon asked with a sense of wonder, "But why now?"

Over the course of three hundred years, there must have been many opportunities.

"It seems they believed the prophecy of the Saintess Palace."

"The prophecy will be fulfilled in this generation?"

"Yes, that's right."

The Fist Demon's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.

Of all times, in an era with a Young Cult Leader like this? If they waited three hundred years, they should have waited another hundred.

Because that thought naturally came to mind, he could declare this.

"It must be a false prophecy."

He had said it with Geom Mugeuk in mind, but Geom Mugeuk attributed the reason to the Fist Demon.

"With you here, Master, they don't stand a chance."

Of course, the Fist Demon knew well that he was not the one who would change the prophecy. He knew that the one standing before the greatest fate, the one who would change everyone's destiny, was Geom Mugeuk.

"Do you believe in fate?"

How could he, who had regressed, not believe in fate? However, he did not say that he believed in it unconditionally.

"In my youth, I try not to believe in it."

The Fist Demon looked at him with an expression that asked what he meant.

"Because if I believe in a predetermined fate, I feel like I'll just make more excuses."

Geom Mugeuk, who had been walking while looking ahead, turned his gaze to the Fist Demon.

"We may not be able to decide our fate, but we can decide our mindset and attitude toward it. In my youth, I will live as if nothing in the world is set in stone. I will tenaciously move my body and cultivate my mind, and later, I will say this to fate. I've tried this hard, so what are you going to do about it?"

This had been Geom Mugeuk's consistent mindset since his regression. He said, "What are you going to do about it?" but in truth, he was also speaking to himself. If he could not change fate even after trying so hard, then there was nothing to be done.

"I think I'll believe in fate when I'm around your age, Master, as I look back on my life."

The Fist Demon was curious. When Geom Mugeuk reached his age and looked back on his life, what would he feel? What would he say then?

The two of them arrived in front of the cliff while conversing. Geom Mugeuk looked up at the cliff for a moment and then said abruptly, "You won't be destroying this cliff anymore, will you."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because you must now be confident that you can definitely destroy this cliff."

Geom Mugeuk could feel that the Fist Demon had grown stronger. In fact, even in their last fight, the Fist Demon had not asserted his pride and had fought flexibly. The fact that the Fist Demon, who would never break, had become flexible meant that he had become that much stronger.

"I'm still not confident."

Knowing that this was something only a stronger person could say, Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and looked up at the cliff.

"Congratulations, it seems you've survived."

A faint smile also formed on the Fist Demon's lips.

Just then, an Iron Fist ran up to where the two were standing and delivered a messenger pigeon.

"A messenger pigeon has arrived for the Young Cult Leader."

It was a messenger pigeon sent by the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. The message written inside was brief.

[Please come to the Thousand Flower Palace. The Smiling Demon.]