Chapter 777: Strong Enough to Power Through Any Trap

TL: FoodieMonster007

A thunderous roar shattered the peace of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, so deafening that the demons thought they were under attack.

Drinkers spilled their alcohol. Sleepers shot up from their beds. People carrying luggage dropped their loads. The faint of heart screamed.

Every gaze turned toward the source of the thunder.

They'd never heard such a loud thunderclap in their lives. Most assumed something had exploded.

DONG! DOOOONG!

The emergency bell rang out repeatedly. Countless cultists ran busily across the fortress grounds.

The sound reached even the Heavenly Demon Hall.

Head Strategist Sama Myeong, who was in the middle of a report, flinched in surprise. For a moment, he wondered if something terrible had happened within the cult.

In contrast, Geom Woojin smiled. He knew the exact source of that sound. "The Fist Demon's fist has reached the heavens."

Finally, Sama Myeong understood. That loud thunderclap was the sound of the Fist Demon's fist.

It seemed that his martial arts had reached a realm that could actually shake the heavens and earth.

Coincidentally, he had just been reporting that Geom Mugeuk was once again training in fist techniques with the Fist Demon today.

So the Young Cult Leader has influenced even the Fist Demon's realm.

He knew better than anyone that the Demon Supremes had been growing stronger lately because of Geom Mugeuk.

Perhaps because of the Fist Demon's thunderclap, Geom Woojin revealed his inner thoughts for the first time in a long while, , muttering, "I miss the days when I roamed the Central Plains with that man."

Sama Myeong smiled as he recalled that time. "You two were truly incredible."

The two leaders of the Cult reminisced the past for a good long time.

The next Fist Demon, Cheon Sohwi, stared blankly at her master's training grounds, overwhelmed with emotion.

"Master!"

Just like Geom Woojin, she also knew that sound had come from her master's fist.

She felt a thrill that a human fist could produce such a sound, and her heart swelled with hope that her own fist could one day make that sound.

Someday, I will get there too!

The Little Fist Demon, Cheon Sohwi, set her life's goal.

While all this was happening, the person who had created the deafening thunderclap was calm.

The Fist Demon retracted the fist he'd thrust forward. "Congratulations, my disciple."

He knew that right before he had thrown his own punch, Geom Mugeuk's fist had made no sound at all.

"I should be the one congratulating you," Geom Mugeuk said. "Truly, congratulations, Master."

The Fist Demon looked down at his own fist. This was the moment he had longed for, yet he felt surprisingly calm, happy but dazed.

Geom Mugeuk teased, "I'd like to hear that thunderclap again, but if I did, everyone would think a real war had broken out, wouldn't they?"

Even now, the sound of the emergency bell echoed from afar.

"Master, how do you feel?"

A smile appeared on the Fist Demon's stern and fearsome face. "Awesome."

When was the last time he'd so honestly revealed his joy? He used to show it to the Cult Leader, back in the old days.

He looked at Geom Mugeuk. He would never have reached this realm without training together with him, this much was certain.

"It's all thanks to you," he said.

Geom Mugeuk nodded. "Of course, it's thanks to me."

The Fist Demon clenched his fist again. "You said you wanted to hear that thunderclap again, right?"

"No! This is all because of your own effort, Master!" Geom Mugeuk retracted his words instantly. For his stoic master to make such a joke, he could tell just how happy he was.

He looked down at his own fist. This time, it was his turn to express his sincere gratitude.

"I was able to do it thanks to you, Master."

He had not only completely mastered the Thunder Arhat Fist but had even gone a step further. The sound of thunder had vanished from his fist.

In terms of fist techniques, he had reached an unbelievable realm.

"We should gather everyone in our Cult and hold a banquet. Ah, I'll call Lee Ahn first. Lee Ahn, your father has gotten stronger! He now has the strongest fists in the history of the murim!"

Of course, such theatrics had no effect on the Fist Demon.

He began to walk away, leaving the training grounds first.

"Go and rest. You've worked hard."

After walking a few steps, though, he stopped.

"Congratulations. Now, your fist has become the fist of an adult."

Finally, the words Geom Mugeuk had so desperately wanted to hear flowed from his lips.

Geom Mugeuk returned to his residence and immediately opened the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. The place he created today was a hot spring in a snowy field.

"Ah, this is nice."

He stripped off his clothes and submerged himself in the hot spring. Since starting his fist technique training, he'd devoted himself to it, even sacrificing sleep. The joy of this brief rest, after achieving the fruhis of his bloody efforts, was surely incomparable to any other pleasure.

FLUTTER…

Snow began to fall on the snowy field.

Immersed in the hot spring amidst the beautiful scenery, Geom Mugeuk silently watched the falling snow. He relieved his accumulated fatigue and enjoyed the time alone.

Thanks to the effects of Body Reformation and the mysterious energy inside his qi center, his body recovered much faster than before.

After getting out of the hot spring, he used his yang qi to dry his body and got dressed.

Then he opened a new space.

WHOOOOSH!

In a windy wasteland, he summoned the Heavenly Demon Soul.

Originally, he'd wanted to summon and check on it right after learning the Eighth Technique of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, Berserk Demon Soul, but he postponed this reunion when he began his full-fledged fist technique training.

What changes will there be to the Heavenly Demon Soul? he wondered.

He conveyed his will, and the Heavenly Demon Soul suddenly stood before him.

No matter how many times he summoned it, it never felt any less incredible. How could such a massive Heavenly Demon Soul manifest without even disturbing the wind?

Geom Mugeuk greeted the Heavenly Demon Soul as comfortably as a friend. "I told you last time, right? This is the world inside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. I opened a different place than last time for a change of scenery, because I didn't know what kind of space you'd like."

Last time, he had opened a field, but today he opened a wasteland, a place where the sandstorms of the Outer Regions blew. For some reason, he felt this lonely space might suit the Heavenly Demon Soul better.

"If you don't like the sandstorm, I can change it to another place."

Of course, the Heavenly Demon Soul showed no reaction.

However, Geom Mugeuk could feel it.

It doesn't like this place.

He sensed the Heavenly Demon Soul's emotions. They could now share feelings on the level of 'like' and 'dislike'!

CLICK!

The surroundings changed. Geom Mugeuk and the Heavenly Demon Soul were standing on a plain again.

SHWAAAAAA!

Geom Mugeuk made it rain. The raindrops cleanly washed the dirt and dust from the Heavenly Demon Soul.

Soon, the rain stopped and the sun rose. A cool breeze blew, and the sunlight and wind dried the wet Heavenly Demon Soul.

Finally, Geom Mugeuk felt that the Heavenly Demon Soul's mood had improved.

It really has emotions!

The reason he could feel those emotions was likely because he'd mastered the Eighth Technique. As he mastered more techniques, he was growing closer to the Heavenly Demon Soul!

"You've changed again!" he exclaimed.

He noticed a change in the Heavenly Demon Soul's appearance. When he mastered the Seventh Technique, the Heavenly Demon Soul had gained a sword, and a faint, unrecognizable pattern had formed on his chest.

Now that he'd mastered the Eighth Technique, the faint pattern on his chest was clearly visible. The pattern, embedded in his chest like a heart, was a flame emblem tinged with blue light. It looked just like the flames of hell.

Upon closer inspection, though, it wasn't a simple flame shape. It was the face of a fiercely burning demon, the face of the Heavenly Demon Soul hiself, shaped from flames.

So this is why the flame is so scary!

It blazed fiercely, glaring menacingly at his opponent.

"After I master the final Ninth Technique, I hope I can have a conversation with you!" he said regretfully.

SEUEUK!

The Heavenly Demon Soul slowly began to bend his body.

Geom Mugeuk's eyes widened in shock.

The Heavenly Demon Soul bent at the waist and extended his hand, offering his palm to him.

Does he want me to climb on?

Geom Mugeuk carefully stepped onto his palm.

SEUEUK!

The Heavenly Demon Soul straightened up and stood with his hand held out in front of his chest.

Geom Mugeuk and the Heavenly Demon Soul's gazes met.

"Thank you, my friend."

Geom Mugeuk was moved. This was the first time the Heavenly Demon Soul had extended his hand to him.

The fact that it would lift him onto his hand surely meant it was a being with reason.

However, the Heavenly Demon Soul didn't express any further actions or emotions. It merely gazed silently at Geom Mugeuk.

"Even this much means we've gotten a lot closer. Right?"

Seen up close, the Heavenly Demon Soul's face was terrifying beyond measure.

"And don't worry that I'll be too scared of your face. I just spent all my time with someone just as scary as you."

Geom Mugeuk turned around on the palm. In the distance, the sun was setting over the horizon. A red glow colored the surroundings, blurring the boundary between the sky and the earth. Before it, trees stood like an ink wash painting with their backs to the sun.

The spreading sunset light colored Geom Mugeuk and the Heavenly Demon Soul. They too were a part of this landscape.

The two stood like that for a long time without a word. Although Geom Mugeuk couldn't talk to the Heavenly Demon Soul, his heart was at peace.

Just then, he sensed someone's presence outside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

He turned to the Heavenly Demon Soul and bid it farewell. "Next time, let's have a conversation. I'll make your body smaller so we can go out into the real world together, not this fake one. Let's meet again later, my friend!"

As he said goodbye, the Heavenly Demon Soul vanished. It usually disappeared in an instant, but today it seemed to fade a little more slowly. Perhaps it was because of his good mood.

When the Heavenly Demon Soul disappeared, Geom Mugeuk, who'd been on his palm, slowly descended to the ground by stepping on air. He then dispelled the Spacetime Manipulation Technique and landed on the floor of his room.

"Young Cult Leader, are you in?" an incredibly welcome voice asked.

Geom Mugeuk rushed outside. To his surprise, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon stood in the courtyard, wearing a pure white mask.

"Smiling Demon!"

"Young Cult Leader!"

The eyes behind the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's mask smiled in welcome.

Geom Mugeuk grinned. Truly, he felt a unique emotion when he saw those smiling eyes behind the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's mask. It was a special feeling that was hard to put into words.

Moreover, today, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon hadn't come alone.

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, who'd come with him, greeted, "Have you been well, Young Cult Leader?"

"Chairwoman, I didn't know you had visited our Cult!"

"Young Cult Leader, you've become even more handsome since I last saw you."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon nodded in agreement. While the change was barely noticeable to the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, he had accurately grasped the full extent of Geom Mugeuk's transformation. "I know you've been training with the Fist Demon. Is it perhaps because of that thunderclap?"

Geom Mugeuk answered honestly, "No. I underwent Body Reformation when I left the cult this time."

Since everyone he had met so far had noticed the change, he had no choice but to tell them about the Body Reformation too.

"On top of that, Master gave me an even greater miraculous encounter."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's eyes filled with joy.

Geom Mugeuk's heart leaped. Seeing those eyes, which were happier than if he himself had undergone Body Reformation, what more needed to be said?

"My sincerest congratulations, Young Cult Leader," the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman congratulated, surprised. She knew what a tremendous miraculous encounter Body Reformation was.

"Thank you, but we shouldn't keep standing here. Please come in."

Geom Mugeuk guided the two inside.

"Chairwoman, would you like some tea?"

"If it's tea brewed by you, Young Cult Leader, how could I refuse?"

Geom Mugeuk brewed and served tea. It was the best tea among the many he had.

"Perhaps because you brewed it, Young Cult Leader, this is the most delicious tea I've ever had."

"Of course. It's filled with my respect and affection."

After chatting for a while over tea, Geom Mugeuk asked, "But what brings you here to see me?"

If nothing had happened, the two of them wouldn't have come to see him together.

As it turned out, there was a matter big enough for the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman to seek him out.

"I received a secret message."

The problem was the identity of the person who sent the message.

"The Saintess sent word that she wants to meet me."

Both the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, who first received the message, and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, who heard it from her, judged that they couldn't handle this matter alone.

"Did she state her purpose?"

"No, she said she'd talk when we meet."

"Where did she suggest meeting?"

"She said to meet at Dongting Lake in Hunan province."

Hunan was a region dominated by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but that was no reason to be complacent. Their opponent could have been aiming for such carelessness.

"She said to come alone, but I felt I shouldn't, so I informed Orabeoni."

"You did well."

This message had arrived after the Sword King and the Flower Queen had been taken, and all the remaining Twelve Zodiac Kings were dead. It was possible that the real Saintess had something to say to the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman, but he thought this was more likely to be a trap than a real request.

After all, it wouldn't be strange for the Darkness Palace Lord to join hands with the Saintess and make some desperate move.

"It would be nice if I could receive a prophecy at a time like this," the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman sighed, feeling her own limitations.

Geom Mugeuk thought of the Saintess who'd delivered a prophecy to him three hundred years ago.

If the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman didn't receive a prophecy, then did the Saintess receive one? Is that why she wants to meet?

If this was a meeting between the descendants of that Saintess over a prophecy, then there was no backing out of this.

"If the Saintess wants to meet, then we must meet. However!" Geom Mugeuk's eyes shone sharply. "I intend to move differently than we have until now. If this is a conspiracy, they'll expect me and the Smiling Demon to come with you, Chairwoman, because that's what we've always done."

They had been cautious because of Hwa Mugi, but now the situation was too different from before his regression. As such, he intended to respond differently than before.

He no longer intended to move according to their will. He was now strong enough to power his way through everything, even a trap.

"This time, we'll go there fully prepared."