4 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

### Chapter 4 In the past, his physique had been extraordinary. It was the *Body of the Demon Spirit*. From birth, his body had naturally harnessed a demonic aura, allowing him to master any demonic martial arts with ease and speed. Without this *Body of the Demon Spirit*, he could never have achieved such fame as the Absolute Heavenly Demon, nor would he have become the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect without mastering the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Such was the uniqueness of that *Body of the Demon Spirit*. But as he observed his current body, it conjured memories of that extraordinary physique. "Exactly the opposite of the *Body of the Demon Spirit*." The previously blocked twelve meridians were now freely open, and the once chaotic eight extraordinary meridians were as resilient as ox tendons. Moreover, the energy of the natural element, mingled with the elixir's essence, circled his bloodstream, firmly solidifying the acupuncture points. If it had ended there, there would have been no reason to recall the *Body of the Demon Spirit*. But then. "This is where it truly starts." His introspective gaze dove deeper, reaching the abdomen, probing the lower danjeon (energy center). Once hardened by blocked meridians, the lower danjeon had expanded like a vast ocean, thanks to absorbing all energy, appearing pristine as if untouched. As pristine as a newborn child. Even achieving the state of *rebirth* could not result in such purity. It was a sensation he had never experienced before. "With this level of purity, any energy from across the world could be swiftly mastered." This was the greatest advantage of his current mysterious physique. Accepting all energies. Born with demonic energy, but the *Body of the Demon Spirit* antagonized opposing forces. His current body, though empty, could accept all energies freely. Existence and Nonexistence, Demon and Void. The two physiques started from complete opposition, yet shared their brilliance. "And right now, this is perfect." In the past, being Dokgo Guyeon, he would have preferred the *Body of the Demon Spirit*, but now, this body suited him best. That was not all. His mind was filled with innumerable martial arts techniques and the experience of mastering unparalleled martial arts and facing them. And now he had this excellent body? It was like giving wings to a tiger. A smile crept onto his face. "I only wanted to heal my life-threatening yin-yang restrictive pulse, but fortune favored me. It landed perfectly." The series of events over just a day seemed to mockingly smile upon him. With this level of physique, he might recover his former martial skills faster than anticipated. After thoroughly examining his body with a face full of satisfaction many times, "This should suffice for now." He opened his eyes, which he had closed after fully grasping his physical state. Then, he took a slow, sweeping look around him. The pitch blackness had consumed the interior of the small cabin like an abyss. "Time sure flew by." When he opened the window, he realized that far more time had passed than he had initially thought. The full moon, slyly peeking from behind the clouds as if embarrassed, sat round in the sky, and the blue moonlight slowly dyed the crimson shadows of the Mount Hua Sect's terrain with a cool, blue hue. The mystical landscape captured his heart, drawing him in. "Moonlight..." Having only seen the luminous pearls in the cave for ten years, the blue moonlight felt nostalgic and slightly melted his hardened heart. *Thud—* He lay down, spreading his arms wide. "Now, what's left is martial arts... What shall I tackle? Should I try the Heavenly Demon Divine Art? Or perhaps the Nine Heavens Demonic Art for rapid attainment? First, establish the foundation with the Nine Heavens Demonic Art, then centralize on the Return to Heaven Demonic Knot, and perhaps ultimately reach the Heavenly Demon Divine Art..." In the midst of pondering, he hesitated. "...Must it be demonic arts?" He had delved into most of the demonic martial arts in the Heavenly Demon Sect. To ruminate over the same arts again? It didn’t sit well with him. Moreover, he was no longer Dokgo Guyeon, but Cheon Hui, a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. If someone detected demonic energy, wouldn’t troublesome matters like being labeled a spy or an outlaw arise? Pondering the future outcomes, he cleared his mind. There was no need to learn demonic arts. Wouldn't it be much more interesting to learn martial arts of the orthodox sect? Smiling broadly at the thought of learning new martial techniques, he faced the prospects head-on. Though the Heavenly Demon library held many captured orthodox martial art books from the past, simply reading them never allowed mastery. Orthodox teachings opposed demonic energy. But now, an opportunity had presented itself. Thus, he put aside demonic arts for now. He calmly recalled the martial techniques of the Mount Hua Sect. Their techniques truly were splendid. Swinging the sword, flowers would bloom, and a deep plum blossom fragrance would spread... A chuckle slipped through his lips. Just recalling it seemed amusing. It was as if they were proudly proclaiming their presence to the enemy from every direction. "Yet, it was indeed a sight worth beholding." Their elegant sword forms certainly surpassed the odd fist techniques of monks, the staff wielding of beggars, or the bizarre circular swordplay of Taoist priests from Wudang. "And now, I get to learn it?" With that thought, he began to reminisce about the unique techniques of the Mount Hua that had gathered dust in a corner of the Heavenly Demon library. Recalling the Foundation of Purity, the Reversal Heavenly Sword, the Immortal Cloud Lone Peak, the Nine Palace Steps, and the Mystic Jade Steps he had witnessed led him to a sudden realization. "Come to think of it, Mystic Jade Steps..." The stepping technique Hyeon Ryeo demonstrated this morning suddenly came to mind. "Wasn’t that the Mystic Jade Steps?" The Mystic Jade Steps he knew invoked visions as if carved in jade, being both steep and illusory. But the steps she demonstrated only offered quick movements without the subtle gaps he expected. "On second thought, maybe not? It was similar, though." Dwelling on thoughts of Mystic Jade Steps, his contemplation deepened, as did the night sky. --- The next morning. He slowly stretched as he rose. The slight stiffness he felt just yesterday had completely disappeared, leaving him feeling light. "Then..." He murmured softly as he stepped away from the old bed. "Shall we go?" For three days, he gathered information with his ears, and now it was time to move with his feet. He donned the red-and-black robe he had checked upon his arrival yesterday. Then he looked at the sword placed on one side. Perhaps it belonged to the person called his master. A long sword about three feet three inches in length. Not a weapon suitable for a young Taoist. He turned swiftly. As he opened the door of the small house, the cool early morning air wrapped around his lungs. “Phew... it’s refreshing.” The hut was located on one of the peaks of Mount Hua, Nakyeon Peak. Perhaps because it was a high place within Mount Hua, the surrounding scenery was easily visible. First, there were sharp cliffs that seemed to have been carved with a knife, and beautiful plum trees were blooming all around. ‘Unlike the dullness of Tianshan, this is a pleasant sight.’ Tianshan was higher and more massive than Mount Hua. But it didn’t overflow with the kind of vibrant energy that this place had. The eternal snow and the wild beasts contributed to that. Though thanks to those beasts, it had been possible to live well-even in such barren conditions. Perhaps because he recalled the chewy wolf and tiger meat he occasionally hunted before entering seclusion for ten years, his mouth watered. I should enjoy some meat later. With thoughts of his extended plan in mind, he quickly set off. Step by step, he descended the narrow mountain path, slowly absorbing the scenery as he went. The fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air, tickling his nose, and the imposing pavilions caught his eye intermittently. After descending for some time, the steep path gradually leveled out. Along with it were large pavilions lining the landscape. The Pearl Plum Pavilion where the second-generation disciples resided, the No-Flower Pavilion for the third-generation disciples, and the Martial Refinement Pavilion for the first-generation disciples. However, contrary to the information, the pavilions where they stayed were all silent. Just then, he heard a faint sound. "Haap! Haap!" Sharpening his focus, he perked up his ears to catch the distant cries of exertion. Then, it must be Peach Forest Plain, where the second-generation disciples train, or Dream Herb Plain, where the first-generation disciples practice. He calculated, basing his thoughts on the source of the cries. After a moment, the internal map of the Mount Hua Sect started to form faintly in his mind. Then if I head this way... He abruptly changed direction. Continuing along this way, he paused after about a quarter of an hour at a slightly worn-down hall. Finally found it! He gazed at the sign above the entrance, which read *Man Kyung Pavilion*. The library that housed and organized all of Mount Hua Sect's martial arts tomes was tall, comprised of three stories. "Now let’s take a look at Mount Hua’s martial arts." He approached the Man Kyung Pavilion, surrounded by silence, and grabbed the door handle. Creak― As soon as he opened the door, it wasn’t books or bookshelves that greeted him but a middle-aged Taoist. "Oh, isn’t it Hui?" The middle-aged Taoist, with his wrinkled expression, ran over and patted his head. ‘Is patting one’s head considered a greeting here? It'll wear out at this rate.’ As he looked at Hyeon Cheong, the middle-aged Taoist who patted his head after the headmaster, his lips parted. "According to the headmaster's words, you’ve crossed a huge hurdle safely today. So, what brings you to Man Kyung Pavilion?" "I wanted to read some martial arts... books." Still not fully accustomed to using respectful language, his words came out in broken bits. Yet, instead of finding the awkwardness strange, Hyeon Cheong widened his eyes at the content of his words. "Martial arts books, you say?" “Yes.” "Hahaha, I see. Your health has improved, and now you're interested in martial arts." Whatever delighted Hyeon Cheong, he laughed heartily before stepping aside to speak. "Since this is your first visit, I’ll explain." Soon, the interior of Man Kyung Pavilion came into view. 'Oh ho?' The corners of his mouth twitched. Though smaller than the Heavenly Demon library, Man Kyung Pavilion was much larger than typical halls. And it was all filled with books, enveloping the space with the unique scent of paper. "On the first floor, you’ll find various books on miscellaneous studies and widely known martial arts. The second floor contains martial arts accessible to named disciples, while the top third floor houses the secret techniques meant for true disciples of our sect. Normally, named disciples who haven't received a title would be confined to the second floor, but since you’re a true disciple and an immediate successor, you can freely access anywhere in this pavilion." He couldn’t help but smirk. 'How many books are there?' At the thought of the countless martial books he was about to peruse, a joyful smile slipped through his lips. For the first time, he felt satisfaction with the results of the Eternal Sovereign Dominion Art. "Haha." Hyeon Cheong chuckled softly. Observing Cheon Hui’s bright, sparkling eyes, he stroked his unevenly grown beard, long neglected. ‘I thought he wasn't interested in martial arts, but he was only hiding his intentions due to worrying about his poor health all this time.’ A pang of regret swelled in his heart. The boy brought by the youngest disciple. Initially, everyone hoped the boy would inherit the great progress of their master, considered Mount Hua’s next great swordsman, but upon witnessing him firsthand, they all realized together. The boy’s body was in shambles. ‘Hah, but to think that the elixir and the skills of Saji could resolve it like this... It would have pleased the youngest disciple.’ Tears clouded his vision. The youngest disciple had been Mount Hua’s treasure. With natural talent anticipated to restore the recently dimmed fame of the Mount Hua Sect, reaching the Celestial Martial Boundary at a young age seemed possible. But it all ended up as a dream. He had lost his life in a battle with Baek Ghost Seong eight years ago, leaving Cheon Hui increasingly withdrawn. ‘It’s a relief your health has improved.’ One misunderstanding seemed to breed another. With softened eyes, Hyeon Cheong didn’t rush Cheon Hui, who was already enraptured by Man Kyung Pavilion and unaware of anything else, as he headed inside. ‘Hmm, although I’d like to linger here, third floor it is for now.’ Cheon Hui forced his reluctant feet to climb the stairs briskly. Reaching the third floor, his eyes shone with anticipation at the bookcases filling his view. Breathing techniques, sword techniques, fist techniques, palm techniques, step techniques... Skimming through the labels on each bookcase, Cheon Hui halted at one point. On the side of the bookshelf, he saw the label reading "Lightfoot Techniques." He immediately turned to the side and skimmed through the densely packed titles on the shelves. Black Cloud Spits Thunder, Heavenly Dragon Emerges from Clouds, One Step of the Executioner's Hand, and Nine Palace Steps, among others. All the quintessential footwork techniques associated with the Mount Hua Sect were assembled here. He clicked his tongue. His gaze involuntarily lingered on a few techniques, but he forced himself to keep searching. "Mystic Jade Steps, Mystic Jade Steps..." Muttering softly, he searched for the Mystic Jade Steps, not taking long to find it. "Got it!" With a swift motion, he pulled the book out. Seeing a martial arts manual clearly labeled 'Mystic Jade Steps' stirred excitement within him. A new martial arts manual after such a long time. His eyes began to redden with excitement, and a twisted smile formed at the corners of his mouth. Scenes flashed back to when those close to him used to call him the "Martial Mad Ghost." *Rustle!* As he flipped open the martial arts book— "Huh? This is supposed to be Mystic Jade Steps?" A voice tinged with bewilderment escaped him.