Chapter 169
“Is there anyone else?”
The Demonic Heavenly Cult’s grand plaza, filled with countless people, was now steeped in shock.
All eyes were fixed on the masked man whose gaze shone coldly. It was Yeo Un-hwi.
Behind him stood Divine Maiden Wi Seollin and the Four Great Protectors.
What in the world was happening here?
An hour earlier.
A summons had been issued throughout the ravaged Demonic Heavenly Cult.
It was a summons issued by none other than Divine Maiden Wi Seollin.
Within the Demonic Heavenly Cult, only the Cult Leader and the Divine Maiden could issue such a summons.
However, unlike the Cult Leader, the Divine Maiden rarely issued one.
No, there hadn't been a single instance of it in decades.
Unlike the Cult Leader, who was the de facto ruler, the Divine Maiden held authority but had no reason to step forward.
Everyone was puzzled.
But given the circumstances, everyone had gathered without complaint.
The expressions of those gathered were far from bright.
And why wouldn't they be? The Demonic Heavenly Cult’s Masters had all been killed by an unknown Master who had suddenly appeared.
Rumor had it that even the Cult Leader, Heaven-Shattering Demonic Emperor Gwak Cheon-hu, and the Ten Great Demon Stars had all been defeated.
While some still lived, given the lost forces, it was safe to say they had suffered damage close to annihilation.
So how could their expressions be bright?
Their hearts were in despair.
No one knew how the situation would unfold from now on.
But then,
“L-look over there!”
“Huh? What is it? *Gasp!*”
Those who looked up had their eyes widened in disbelief.
They saw a light flickering within the Heavenly Road, which the Shamanesses had just brought onto the stage in the grand plaza.
That meant...
“I, Divine Maiden Wi Seollin, hereby proclaim that a new Heavenly Demon has been born at this very moment.”
A hush fell over the grand plaza.
What in the world was this sudden announcement?
A Heavenly Demon? Who could it be?
It was then.
*Kwoooong.*
A colossal Aura/Energy appeared, unlike anything they had ever felt before.
*Above their heads.*
Naturally, everyone’s gaze turned skyward.
There, a masked man was flying through the air, looking down at them.
A majesty akin to that of a celestial being emanated from him.
And soon, he descended slowly from the sky.
Sky-Treading Steps
Everyone who witnessed it gaped in awe.
The legendary Lightfoot skill, said to be usable only by those who had reached the pinnacle of its mastery, was unfolding before their very eyes.
As the masked man’s feet touched the ground,
*Waaaaaaah!*
A great roar erupted from the mouths of those who had been shocked by the sudden appearance of the Heavenly Demon and his astonishing Martial Prowess.
It was truly astonishing news, enough to instantly dispel the chaotic atmosphere that had been caused by the sudden calamity and the deaths of the Cult Leader and the Ten Great Demon Stars.
“We greet the Heavenly Demon!”
Numerous people bowed to the masked man.
A Heavenly Demon, the birth of a Heavenly Demon!
What could be more joyous than this?
With the Heavenly Demon born, whether the Cult Leader was dead or not no longer mattered.
For the very existence of the Heavenly Demon signified the Demonic Heavenly Cult itself.
How could a mere Cult Leader compare?
And they knew. The era in which a Heavenly Demon reappeared was always an era in which the Demonic Heavenly Cult ruled Under Heaven.
Their hearts pounded.
With anticipation of staining the entire world with blood.
But their hopes were shattered in an instant.
The Heavenly Demon, who had been slowly surveying those who were bowing and pledging their loyalty with booming voices, opened his mouth.
“I will not speak at length. From this moment, the moment I ascend to the position of Heavenly Demon, the Demonic Heavenly Cult is forbidden from killing without just cause. Those who violate this will die. And until I, the Heavenly Demon, issue a separate command, the Demonic Heavenly Cult will observe Sealing the Gates.”
Their euphoria lasted only a moment before everyone was overcome with shock.
A Heavenly Demon had been born, and instead of unleashing his ambitions upon the Central Plains Murim, he was forbidding murder and ordering Sealing the Gates.
Of course, because they had lost many forces, including the Ten Great Demon Stars, it could be a necessary choice to reorganize their strength.
But with murder forbidden, on top of that, those who had been bowing to the Heavenly Demon were utterly bewildered.
Their great expectations quickly turned into dissatisfaction.
And the first to express that dissatisfaction was the Council of Elders.
“Heavenly Demon, this cannot be.”
The Elders of the Council of Elders, located furthest from the Asura Gate, the entrance to the Demonic Heavenly Cult, had all survived.
And they held immense power within the cult, to the extent that even the Cult Leader could not treat them lightly.
The one who stepped forward was the Heavenly Blood Blade Demon, who wielded the greatest influence among them.
“Did you say this cannot be?”
“Yes. The command you have just issued is something we cannot possibly understand or accept.”
“Why not?”
“Is it not too sudden to forbid killing and even Sealing the Gates, for those who live by the sword? This has never happened before.”
“Really? To my ears, it sounds like you’re just saying I shouldn’t care whether you kill or not.”
It was clear that they had regarded the name Heavenly Demon as representing someone who would grant them a world where they could rampage and run wild as they pleased.
But when the situation turned out differently from their expectations, they couldn't remain silent.
“Alright. Very well. Those who do not wish to obey my command, step forward now. The same goes for those who dislike my recent command and wish to leave.”
Surprisingly, quite a number of executives stepped forward.
This included the entire Council of Elders.
Each and every one of them was a Villain among villains who had dominated an era.
The Heavenly Blood Blade Demon’s lips curled into a smirk.
He believed that if such a large number vehemently refused, the Heavenly Demon would have no choice.
Moreover, having just ascended to the position of Heavenly Demon, he felt a sense of crisis that he needed to establish boundaries from the beginning.
Otherwise, he would constantly be swayed.
The world doesn't work with mere youthful bravado. To act like the master is excessive the moment he arrives, Heavenly Demon. Tsk, tsk.
No matter how much of a Heavenly Demon he was, they had no intention of being easily pushed around.
Because among the things they excelled at were not just martial arts, but also these political struggles and leading the atmosphere.
But they did not know.
Yeo Un-hwi was not the kind of person to be swayed by such things in the slightest.
He had a very clear standard.
That standard was,
Annihilation Thunder
A standard for evil.
Those who had already killed without just cause and intended to continue doing so deserved to die.
Instantly, a black orb formed in the sky.
And before anyone could even register the orb, it struck the ground like lightning.
*Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!*
Soon, all those who had stepped forward, including the Heavenly Blood Blade Demon, were instantly annihilated without even a scream.
It was a horrific end, leaving not even a corpse behind.
With a single gesture from Yeo Un-hwi, the former Demonic Leaders of the Council of Elders, who had stained an era with blood, were all annihilated in a single stroke.
*Ugh...*
Those who witnessed it trembled in fear.
Everyone gasped, their breathing shallow, startled by the overwhelming Martial Prowess they had never seen before and the chilling Killing Intent that seemed to freeze their hearts.
Yeo Un-hwi, his face expressionless, spoke to them.
“Is there anyone else?”
And now.
Everyone suddenly realized.
Just as the entire world wished to fear the Heavenly Demon, it too must fear the name of the Heavenly Demon.
Yeo Un-hwi’s lips curled into a faint smile as he spoke.
“Those who intend to defy my command, step forward now. This will be the most comfortable death you’ll receive.”
But no one else stepped forward.
They didn't want to die such a horrific death.
Absolute terror and fear of Yeo Un-hwi had, by now, been etched into the hearts of everyone present.
“No one? Good. Then I will say it one last time.”
Yeo Un-hwi surveyed the crowd, then chuckled softly and continued.
“From now on, if anyone in the Demonic Heavenly Cult takes another’s life without just cause, they will die. The same applies to oppressing, tormenting, or causing the death of the weak and powerless. The same applies to defying any command I issue hereafter. A warning? There is no such thing. I will not say it twice. Do you understand?”
Then, someone bravely asked,
“Then what exactly are we supposed to do from now on?”
Listening to Yeo Un-hwi, I thought it sounded like something from the Orthodox Martial World.
They were simply curious about what this new Heavenly Demon wanted from them.
Yeo Un-hwi answered the question.
“Do you think it is the Demonic Heavenly Cult’s purpose to oppress, kill, and instill fear in the weak and innocent without reason? No. That is nothing more than petty self-aggrandizement.”
Useless, shamefully childish, and utterly cowardly acts.
Such things were unnecessary.
“Forget what the Demonic Heavenly Cult was like until now. My Demonic Heavenly Cult...”
Yeo Un-hwi’s eyes gleamed as he looked at those who had survived him, and spoke.
What he truly desired.
“...will not be a place overflowing with Demonic Force and dominance, but a place that governs all myriad demons Under Heaven.”
Everyone was overwhelmed by the words of the new Heavenly Demon.
A place that would govern myriad demons Under Heaven.
It was so different, so utterly different from the Heavenly Demon they had imagined.
Perhaps that was the true meaning of All Demons Submit.
The emergence of the new Heavenly Demon was utterly shocking and intensely powerful.
For a while, there would be no one who would rebel against Yeo Un-hwi’s will.
Because those who might have rebelled had already been slaughtered by Yeo Un-hwi’s hand.
Thus, his official activities as the Heavenly Demon came to an end.
And then,
“Now, I leave it to you.”
At Yeo Un-hwi’s words, Wi Seollin and the Four Great Protectors looked puzzled.
They had become his most devoted followers.
“Yes? Heavenly Demon, what do you mean?”
“What do I mean? I have my own life to live. I have many other things to do, you know. Haven’t I already done everything the Divine Maiden insisted I must do?”
Honestly, Yeo Un-hwi had wanted to leave today’s matters entirely to Wi Seollin and the Four Great Protectors.
But Wi Seollin had pleaded with him, insisting that he absolutely *must* be present at the proclamation of the Heavenly Demon with a dignified appearance, especially after he had slain Gwak Heo-won, the trash-like son of the former Cult Leader. So, Yeo Un-hwi went to great lengths to make the event grand.
Unlike his cold demeanor in the plaza, Yeo Un-hwi now offered a gentle smile.
“So, you all handle things here. Of course, I’ll step in when absolutely necessary, but I can’t always be here as if it’s a given. Please understand that.”
“I see. Understood.”
Wi Seollin nodded.
The Four Great Protectors were also confused but quickly assented.
Then Blue Dragon spoke.
“Instead, take Jujak with you.”
“Jujak?”
“Yes. Among us, she is most skilled in stealth, Lightfoot skill, and reconnaissance. She will be helpful. And we, the Four Great Protectors, can use Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission. Whether something happens here or the Heavenly Demon has a command, that way will be more convenient in many respects.”
Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission.
Though he spoke casually, it was clearly an astonishing ability.
And with that ability, he could easily communicate with the Divine Maiden and the Four Great Protectors.
Moreover, Jujak was an unparalleled Master, so there was no reason to refuse.
Yeo Un-hwi nodded.
“Good. Let’s do that. Then, until next time.”
Yeo Un-hwi smiled briefly and launched himself into the sky.
Jujak also nodded and then followed Yeo Un-hwi.
The silhouettes of the two instantly vanished beyond the horizon.
“It seems we have surely served the wrong person as Heavenly Demon.”
“Indeed.”
Everyone nodded at Blue Dragon’s words.
A Demonic Heavenly Cult that governs myriad demons, rather than filling Under Heaven with Demonic Force.
But why did that make their hearts pound even more?
Thus, the Four Great Protectors and Wi Seollin gazed at the sky where Yeo Un-hwi and Jujak had departed, smiling faintly.