Chapter 166
Guided by Wi Seollin, they arrived at a small room located in the deepest part of Fengshan Palace.
Devoid of expensive decorations, it merely held the faint traces of everyday life, appearing utterly unremarkable.
However, the moment Wi Seollin moved a small mirror hanging on the wall,
*Rumble.*
The wall beside it suddenly receded, revealing a secret door.
It was a hidden passage.
Wi Seollin, holding a small lantern, led the way. How long did they walk along the passage?
Just as a faint light began to appear, the two emerged outside.
*Whoosh.*
A chilling wind blew.
They had arrived at a dense forest, shrouded in such thick fog that one could not see an inch ahead.
As Yeo Un-hwi surveyed his surroundings, a sudden chill ran down his spine.
Is this a Formation?
Yes, it is. You noticed.
Wi Seollin nodded.
Without a special method, one can never pass through this place.
Indeed, Wi Seollin had every right to speak with such confidence.
Even Yeo Un-hwi had felt a shiver of dread.
Any ordinary Master who stumbled in unknowingly might lose their way forever, or even their life to something within the Formation.
*Swish.*
Wi Seollin briefly set down the lantern, then removed the necklace from her neck and held it up towards the sky.
And then,
*Whoosh!* A powerful gust of wind seemed to sweep through, instantly clearing away all the dense fog and revealing the forest's true appearance.
Truly beautiful.
The sight was perfectly described by those words.
The forest, now unveiled from the fog, was so mysterious and beautiful that it made one wonder if the eerie atmosphere from moments ago had been an illusion.
It was as if this was what the Celestial Realm would look like.
Yeo Un-hwi's eyes widened slightly at the forest's completely transformed appearance.
Yeo Un-hwi felt as if quite a few surprising things had been happening since he arrived here.
Wi Seollin retrieved her necklace, picked up the lantern again, and smiled faintly.
Shall we continue then?
The two walked along the forest path once more.
Before long, they arrived at the entrance of a cave.
As they gently pushed aside the profusely hanging vines, a relatively clean entrance appeared.
He didn't need to be told; he already knew.
This was the destination Wi Seollin had intended to guide him to.
This is the Heavenly Outer Secret Cave. Everything about the Demonic Heavenly Cult began here.
It was just a very ordinary-looking cave.
Yet, the Demonic Heavenly Cult was said to have originated here.
You may enter here now.
With those words, Wi Seollin handed the lantern to Yeo Un-hwi.
Yeo Un-hwi, who had instinctively taken it, asked Wi Seollin,
Aren't you coming in with me?
No. From this point on, only the Heavenly Demon may enter.
The Heavenly Outer Secret Cave did not permit entry to anyone other than the Heavenly Demon.
Wi Seollin smiled faintly, then bowed deeply.
Then I shall wait here until you return.
Hmm. Very well.
Yeo Un-hwi turned his head to look at the Cave entrance, then nodded.
Going in alone shouldn't be a problem.
I thought about telling her to go take care of her own business since I didn't know how long this would take, but I figured she wouldn't listen anyway, so I dropped it.
Soon, Yeo Un-hwi stepped into the Cave.
Wi Seollin remained in place, watching his retreating figure.
The light from the lantern he carried grew fainter and fainter until it finally vanished.
And how much time had passed?
Someone appeared behind Wi Seollin, who had been standing motionless.
*Rustle.*
At the deliberate sound, as if to announce their arrival, Wi Seollin turned around, recognized their faces, and smiled faintly.
You've arrived.
The inside of the Cave was quite vast.
Only the entrance had been dark; deeper inside, Night-Shining Pearls embedded in the walls illuminated the Cave as brightly as day.
Thanks to this, he was able to leave the cumbersome lantern behind.
Even though his pace wasn't slow, Yeo Un-hwi encountered a massive stone gate just as he thought he had been walking for a long time.
Perhaps it was because only those who had earned the qualification could enter this place.
There was no complicated formation or array placed on the stone gate.
With a slight push, the stone gate creaked open easily.
What appeared then was a vast open space.
But,
*Stone statues.*
Thirty-two stone statues, each with multiple arms and legs, were arranged in a circle.
And in the center, a stone statue with dozens of hands sat in a meditative posture.
The words "Heavenly Demon Divine Art" were carved into the cave ceiling.
*This is...!*
Perhaps it was because Yeo Un-hwi had already reached the pinnacle of cultivation through the Heavenly Martial Divine Art.
He recognized it at a glance.
Secret Manuals were usually passed down in book form, but the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was different.
This vast open space, this entire area, was itself a Secret Manual.
Quickly grasping the arrangement of the stone statues and the Secret Manual, Yeo Un-hwi began to engrave the Heavenly Demon Divine Art into his mind.
The sequence was quite complex, but it wasn't difficult for him to discern.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art is hidden within the thirty-three stone statues.
Although it might not rival the Heavenly Martial Divine Art, it certainly seemed to be one of the most peerless Divine Arts throughout history.
It was uncertain when or how he might be able to use it.
Just as Yeo Un-hwi finished engraving the last part of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art into his mind,
*Boom!* The thirty-three stone statues slowly sank into the ground.
As if they had sensed that Yeo Un-hwi had fully comprehended the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
It was truly a wondrous phenomenon.
As the statues disappeared, another massive stone gate behind them opened.
Yeo Un-hwi walked in without hesitation.
Oh?
In another vast open space, there was a small lake in the center.
And on a small patch of land rising from the middle of the lake, something was sparkling.
Yeo Un-hwi lightly launched himself, flying towards the center of the lake.
The sparkling object in the center was a sword.
With its elegant, slender form and a blade that shimmered transparently depending on the viewing angle, the Sword was undeniably beautiful.
Yeo Un-hwi, as if drawn by an invisible force, reached out and drew the Sword.
*At that moment,*
*Hummm.*
The Sword vibrated as if weeping, creating a resonance.
Feeling the subtle tremor transmitted to his hand, Yeo Un-hwi examined the Sword.
The name *Wolya* (Moonlit Night) was engraved on the hilt.
Wolya.
It was a remarkably fitting name.
I was just starting to need a weapon that fit my hand. No, I needed a weapon that could fully withstand my Aura.
Just a short while ago, when he defeated the Heaven-Shattering Demonic Emperor Gwak Cheon-hu, the Blade he had been using couldn't withstand the force and shattered into pieces.
Wolya.
It was the supreme Divine Sword, symbolizing the Heavenly Demon, passed down since the time of the Founding Heavenly Demon.
Yeo Un-hwi was quite pleased with Wolya.
It was the first time a weapon had ever appealed to him so much.
Yeo Un-hwi gazed at Wolya for a long time, then picked up its scabbard, which lay beside it, and sheathed the Sword.
As he did,
*Rumble.*
Another stone gate opened on the opposite side.
*What could be behind this one?*
Yeo Un-hwi passed through the next door with Wolya in hand.
And then,
Ha, haha... This is incredible.
Yeo Un-hwi couldn't help but let out a wry laugh.
It was a massive chamber, filled with a chilling cold that was as eerie as it was intense.
And there, countless Elixirs and treasures of all kinds were piled up.
Yet, each and every one of them was something any Martial Artist would desperately covet, even in their dreams.
Ten-Thousand-Year Polygonum Multiflorum, Clear Stone Oil, Shaolin's Great Elixirs, and even the Internal Pellets of spirit beasts.
Seeing them piled up so casually, he could only let out a hollow laugh.
They said these were prepared for the Heavenly Demon... indeed.
Fortunate.
That's what I thought.
It's better that I became the Heavenly Demon.
It's better than someone else with evil intentions becoming the Heavenly Demon, taking all these things, and becoming an enemy.
However, these were things Yeo Un-hwi didn't immediately need.
As Yeo Un-hwi had inherited everything from the Martial God, his Internal Qi was already accumulated to a level that touched the heavens.
But I figured there would come a day when they could be put to good use elsewhere.
No other stone gates appeared.
It seemed this was all that had been prepared in this starting Cave for the Heavenly Demon.
Of course, even this much was already more than abundant.
Yeo Un-hwi exited the Cave.
As he retraced his steps, the stone gates that had opened with each movement now closed again.
Perhaps only I will be able to enter and exit this place from now on.
Yeo Un-hwi felt as if he had acquired a rather large and useful storehouse.
Soon, Yeo Un-hwi emerged from the starting Cave.
But then,
"Hmm?"
People who hadn't been there when he entered were now waiting for him with Wi Seollin.
Four unfamiliar men and women.
Yet, the Internal Energy emanating from them seemed to be at least that of a Ten Great Master. No, it appeared slightly inferior to the Heaven-Shattering Demonic Emperor and the Black Emperor, who were among the Twelve Venerables.
Four such Masters had appeared.
It was astonishing.
Who are these people? Such individuals remained in the Demonic Heavenly Cult?
Seeing Yeo Un-hwi's surprise, Wi Seollin introduced themself with a proud expression.
These are the Four Great Protectors, who have only awaited the day of the Heavenly Demon's return.
Following Wi Seollin's introduction, the four men and women knelt before Yeo Un-hwi.
We greet the Heavenly Demon!
What was the reason?
With faces that seemed to barely suppress surging emotions, they paid their respects to the newly appeared Heavenly Demon of this era.
They introduced themselves as Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Jujak, and Black Tortoise, respectively.
Furthermore, they declared that from now on, they would obey only the Heavenly Demon's commands, and would willingly accomplish anything and everything the Heavenly Demon ordered.
So these were the true hidden powers of the Demonic Heavenly Cult.
They seemed so powerful that even the entire might of the Demonic Heavenly Cult, including Gwak Cheon-hu and the Ten Great Demon Stars, could not compare to these four individuals.
For Yeo Un-hwi, it was simply astonishing that such individuals had lived without proper renown or obligation until now.
As if reading Yeo Un-hwi's thoughts, Wi Seollin added an explanation.
Only a very select few within the Demonic Heavenly Cult know of the Four Great Protectors' existence. They are individuals whose actions are restricted until the Heavenly Demon appears.
Restricted actions...?
At Wi Seollin's words, Yeo Un-hwi furrowed his brow.
I almost didn't understand. Her words were that astounding.
Are actions restricted until the Heavenly Demon appears?
As far as Yeo Un-hwi knew, the Heavenly Demon had appeared only three times before him throughout the long history of the Demonic Heavenly Cult.
And if one excluded the Founding Heavenly Demon who established the Demonic Heavenly Cult, it was only twice.
This meant that these individuals, known as the Four Great Protectors, had simply sacrificed their lives for a Heavenly Demon who might or might not appear, generation after generation.
*Isn't that too terrible?*
It is an Iron Rule established by the Second Heavenly Demon. We have no choice but to merely follow it.
Wi Seollin also wore a bitter smile.
Then what if I command you to abolish that damned Iron Rule immediately?
It is not that simple.
So you're saying there's a way.
Heavenly Demon, we are fine.
No. It's because I'm not fine with it. If I hadn't known, that would be one thing, but now that I do, I can't just stand by and watch such trashy practices continue.
As Yeo Un-hwi's eyes gleamed coldly, the Four Great Protectors fell silent.
With just that gaze, they understood.
Even before being the Heavenly Demon, Yeo Un-hwi was already a peerless Master who had reached a supreme realm far surpassing that of others.
Explain, Divine Maiden.
Yes. There is certainly a way. Please follow me.
Wi Seollin let out a short sigh, then guided Yeo Un-hwi.
Soon, they arrived at the end of a path different from the Heavenly Outer Secret Cave.
There stood a magnificent and grand palace.
This is the Ten Thousand Demon Palace. It was prepared for the successive Heavenly Demon Lords.
Yeo Un-hwi nodded.
It was so lavish and beautiful inside the Ten Thousand Demon Palace that no other place could compare.
It was indeed a fitting residence for the true master of the Demonic Heavenly Cult.
Then, Wi Seollin pointed to a pillar erected in the center of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace.
But it was no ordinary pillar.
For one, it was a pillar made not of stone, but of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.
And quite a lot of text was carved into it.
The Iron Rules established by the successive Heavenly Demons are engraved on this pillar.
Yeo Un-hwi looked closely at the pillars.
Second Heavenly Demon. Neung Nam-cheon.
Third Heavenly Demon. Hwang Dae-un.
Deeply carved handprints and the Iron Rules they had established were inscribed below, along with the names of the two previous Heavenly Demons.
The mere act of carving handprints and elegant script so deeply into Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron revealed the profound depth of the previous Heavenly Demons' Martial Arts.
However, Yeo Un-hwi found the Iron Rules they had carved utterly displeasing.
Every single one of them sanctified the existence of the Heavenly Demon.
And for that purpose, they thoroughly enforced the indefinite sacrifice of others.
There's nothing from the Founding Heavenly Demon.
Indeed. That person merely established the Demonic Heavenly Cult's foundation in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and set the framework for the cult; they did not enforce anything.
It was also said that he was the one who brought the Heavenly Road.
Yeo Un-hwi chuckled.
Thus, the evil practices that the Founding Heavenly Demon had never established were created by subsequent Heavenly Demons.
*For what reason, exactly?*
Yeo Un-hwi shook his head.
Then he looked at Wi Seollin.
So, what needs to be done?
You must carve your handprint even deeper than the previous Heavenly Demon Lords' handprints, right on top of the Iron Rules engraved on that pillar.
Is that so? Doesn't seem like much.
But it was not as easy as it sounded.
Because it means one must possess Martial Prowess that surpasses the previous Heavenly Demons.
And that's for Yeo Un-hwi, who just became the Heavenly Demon.
Thinking it might be impossible for now, even if not later, Wi Seollin tried to dissuade Yeo Un-hwi.
But then,
Then, shall I just tear it all down?
Yeo Un-hwi walked forward.
And without hesitation, he extended his hand.
Towards the pillar engraved with countless evil practices.