2 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 2 Three days had passed. Time flowed ceaselessly like a river, yet the situation I found myself in hadn’t changed in the slightest. ‘Never expected I'd have to keep living like this.’ My current physical state was abysmal. Using the energy I absorbed at that time had temporarily broadened my meridians, but it was only a stopgap measure, failing to fully heal my body. As a result, this damned body wouldn’t even allow the movement of a single finger, let alone the opening of my eyes. Of course, if I wanted, I could solve this. But I deliberately chose not to take any action. ‘…Not just yet.’ After all, what would be gained from rising without understanding the situation? ‘Moreover, having heard the name Huashan Sect, it wouldn't be wise to act rashly.’ Fortunately, my consciousness was clear, and the voices around me reached my ears with clarity. Thanks to this, I was able to absorb more information than I expected and managed to organize the situation. ‘Everyone called me Cheon Hui, didn't they?’ At first, I found it ridiculous. Who was I? Absolute Heavenly Demon, Dokgo Gu-yeon. An absolute entity whose fame resonated not only in the Celestial Demon Church and Tian Shan but in every corner of the Nine Provinces and Eight Wildernesses. ‘And yet, Cheon Hui?’ If I were called that once or twice, I would’ve laughed it off. But it was impossible to laugh it off. Every single day, they called me Cheon Hui. At first, I was bewildered. Why would they call me Cheon Hui? And why was I in this state? The more I pondered these questions, the more one answer presented itself. I am now Cheon Hui. With no other conclusion available, what choice did I have? ‘I just have to accept it.’ I accepted it and organized my thoughts. If my guess was correct, my soul had occupied the empty shell left behind by this boy named Cheon Hui, through some grand mystic art. ‘Then did the Eternal Immortal Reign Art fail…?’ A surge of irritation hit me. I had poured a decade of time and every ounce of my knowledge into that mystical art. And it failed? ‘No, it can't have failed.’ I recalled the situation back then. The Eternal Immortal Reign Art had been activated, radiating an otherworldly array of brilliant colors that enveloped me. The art was executed perfectly, just as dictated. How did it end up like this? ‘Could it be!’ A revelation struck me like lightning. The notion of eternal immortality involved transferring a soul to take over another’s body… ‘Damn it! Couldn’t he have documented what would happen afterwards more clearly?’ A curse involuntarily escaped my lips. Perhaps I should consider myself lucky. I had no attachments to the past. Neither fame nor position mattered to me. Otherwise, would I have relinquished the position of leader and left the Celestial Demon Church so nonchalantly? It wasn’t immortality that interested me either. Where there is life, there is death. I intended to follow the natural order. I did have some regrets about not mastering every martial art under the heavens. But! The dire situation I now found myself in was utterly displeasing. Huashan Sect? Huashan? The same Huashan Sect from the stubborn old Nine Great Schools that had persistently antagonized me? Moreover, to be told I am a disciple there? That was utter nonsense. Nevertheless, there was no other choice. The situation had come to this. ‘I need to learn more about this Cheon Hui.’ Since that day, I held my breath and sharpened my ears to gather information. Thankfully, most visitors were individuals related to Cheon Hui, providing an abundance of information. I diligently listened to their conversations, amassing information bit by bit, and managed to grasp who this child named Cheon Hui was. A young boy not yet past childhood. The youngest disciple of the late wise man, Hyeon Gang. A pure and kind child beloved by everyone in the Huashan Sect. These were all descriptions referring to Cheon Hui. And now, descriptions referring to me. Heh— Who said that extreme absurdity leads to laughter? That perfectly encapsulated my feelings. Pure, kind, and beloved? Terms I had never heard directed at me in my life. If someone in the Celestial Demon Church had uttered such words, I would have questioned their intentions first. Of course, there was no one who would have said so. ‘That's because the Cheon Hui they speak of isn't me.’ When I reached the end of my ruminations. “…” Coincidentally, the voices I occasionally heard vanished entirely. Following that, the gradually spreading silence completely enveloped the medicine house. ‘I’ve gathered all the information I could. Perhaps it's time to make a move?’ Gathering my concentration, I observed my body. As expected, the internal state was a mess. It would take a long time for my meridians to strengthen, and the twelve major meridians circulating internal energy were tightly blocked. It was a state where death wouldn't be surprising at any moment. Contrary to Cheon Go’s assurance three days ago that rest would suffice, my body perilously teetered on the edge of life and death. And that was no surprise. No matter how skilled he was in medicine, he couldn't perceive the details within. What he identified back then was the widened meridians using the energy from the Poria Cocos Pill. Anyone other than him would have concluded that Cheon Hui was stable. ‘Of course, had he known about the condition of this body, he would have noticed something amiss... Surely, he wouldn't have left it as is.’ While examining my body, I discovered that it didn’t collapse due to frailty. It was due to an unusual condition known as Anomalous Meridian Disorder. ‘I never expected it to actually exist.’ It reminded me of that time I was engrossed in medicine. I recalled the ancient medical book, dusty and forgotten in a corner of the Celestial Demon Library. The World’s Greatest Medical Book. Despite the absurd title, it wasn’t a legitimate medical book. It detailed how to efficiently create zombies. Could one learn the skeletal technique by transplanting a decayed arm? It contained content that no true physician would endorse, discussing unethical human experiments. ‘If it weren’t for its content, it was quite an entertaining read.’ Still, I suppose it should be considered a medical book, as it had its merits. The book detailed various peculiar meridians and physiques existing in the world. Perhaps due to its human experiments, there were unheard-of constitutions mentioned. Such as the Three Spirit Pure Yin Physique, the Five Demon Physique, the Indestructible Celestial Body, and the Celestial Death Radiant Meridian. At the time, I thought it was utter nonsense, but now, I could believe it. No, I had no choice but to believe it. This body was indeed one of the meridians described in such meticulous detail. The Yin Yang Supreme Spirit Meridian. A constitution born with the energy of a hundred yin and a hundred yang altogether. The young Daoist who originally inhabited this body likely struggled under the burden of this energy. Eventually, he would have succumbed, growing weaker before passing away. ‘And then my soul took over this empty shell left behind.’ I could surmise what happened. ‘Thinking further about it would only complicate matters. First, I need to fix this abnormal meridian.’ If Saengsae-gwai, the eccentric physician from the book, were here now, he’d probably scoff at the idea. "The Yin Yang Supreme Spirit Meridian is more cursed than any other. How could a human handle and manage the auras of a hundred yin and yang alone?" Even he, who engaged in all sorts of absurd human experiments, claimed there was no cure for the Yin Yang Supreme Spirit Meridian. And yet I intended to remedy this constitution. Saengsae-gwai would have dismissed it as absurd talk with a scoffing laugh. ‘That's your opinion.’ But instead, I snorted right back. ‘Perhaps a failure for the likes of ordinary folk, but not for me.’ Slowly, I scanned the energy within my body. Thankfully, there was ample energy. Slumbering within the meridians was the energy of the Poria Cocos Pill, yet to be fully absorbed. Then… Ba-dump— Blood flowed swiftly throughout my entire body. Along with that, my mind surged with excitement. Whoosh! A massive internal force surged forth. It was quite a shock. Cheon Hui was a Daoist who had not learned martial arts. Yet this immense internal power… ‘My martial skills manifest even without internal energy.’ This was the potency of the Absolute Sovereign Art. Typically, martial techniques accumulate internal energy in the lower abdomen, but the Absolute Sovereign Art defied that convention. Generally, martial techniques involve a format where internal energy is amassed in the lower abdomen. Thus, the quantity of accumulated internal energy generally dictated martial proficiency and power. However, the Absolute Sovereign Art shattered that framework. Soul (魂). The soul was the vessel of the Absolute Sovereign Art. Hence, it could be awakened. At first glance, it might not appear vastly different from other techniques, yet in this respect alone, it set itself apart and reached a higher echelon. Moreover, with the addition of my own extraordinary talent, the Absolute Sovereign Art transformed into a supreme martial technique surpassing all known martial arts. ‘Because the vessel isn't in the lower abdomen, I can control all of the three Dan Tian.’ Crack— The Baihui point opened. Through it, an indescribable energy flowed in like a vast sea, starting to rouse the dormant energy of the Poria Cocos within the meridians. Boom! Boom! The Eight Extraordinary Meridians expanded. The energy of approximately a hundred yin and a hundred yang circulated through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and coursed through the Twelve Main Meridians. From the Du Meridian and Ren Meridian to the Chong Meridian, Dai Meridian, Yang Qiao Meridian, Yin Qiao Meridian, Yang Wei Meridian, and Yin Wei Meridian. Every circulation was natural. Finally, as all the energy swept through the Twelve Meridians, it was complete. * * * Blink— The eyes, heavy as lead, opened. With a refreshed mind as if waking from a long slumber, I moved my neck. Crack— Crack— Though my neck was still stiff when moved, it was heavenly compared to before. I rose from the bed. “……” I sensed the change immediately. My field of vision had noticeably dropped. And my hands and feet were small and delicate. No doubt, I had grown younger. “Fourteen, huh? Smaller than I expected.” I rubbed my neck at the sound of the unexpectedly thin voice. Then scratched the back of my head. There’s no resolving anything by standing still and brooding. Moving is key. "First, I should take a look around." I lifted my gaze and looked outside the window. In the distance, the morning sun, eager to dispel the dense darkness, began to rise. Ssh— Ssh— I slowly took a step forward. Walking through the still-dark interior for a while, I reached a closed door. The moment I opened it without hesitation. Whoosh! Bright white light flooded in. “Ugh!” I raised a hand against the intense brightness. Perhaps because I hadn't seen light for so long. The sudden brightness stung my eyes. After blinking a few times. Sss— I slowly lowered my hand. The initial blinding light began to blend with beautiful hues, unfolding a breathtaking view. Petals of plum blossoms danced on the wind. Ragged peaks, sharp as blades, rose majestically. For a moment, I was entranced. It was a strikingly beautiful landscape, entirely different from the barren vistas of the Tian Shan Mountains. "Hyaah!" Startled by a vigorous yell from below, I pulled my chin back and peered downward. A large training ground lay sprawled below. On it, Daoists clad in robes adorned with plum blossom patterns were vigorously swinging their swords. “Damn it!” I looked down at the Daoists, displeased, and scrubbed my head roughly. “It really is Huashan.” The Great Master of Demon Arts, the Absolute Heavenly Demon. The one who had made the Nine Provinces and Eight Wildernesses tremble with fear, had awakened as a disciple of the Huashan Sect, one of the Nine Great Schools of the orthodox path.