Chapter 833 : Your Heavenly Demon Spirit Has Been Destroyed
Chapter 833: Your Heavenly Demon Spirit Has Been Destroyed
Geom Woojin passed on the mnemonic verse of the final Ninth Form to his son.
“The will of the demon soul brings death wherever it goes, and none shall be able to stop it. The beginning of True Energy starts from the Crown Assembly Point. The result precedes the cause, and death comes before life. Do not fear the reversal of True Energy……”
Geom Woojin did exactly as his son wished. He did not intervene in the slightest.
If he fully overcame this battle, his son would grow and become even stronger.
This battle was a once-in-a-lifetime crisis where both his life and the fate of the martial world were at stake, but at the same time, it was also a rare opportunity that would never come again in a martial artist’s life.
Geom Woojin willingly gave that opportunity to his son. Of course, without trust in him, he would never have entrusted everything like this.
While the mnemonic verse was being passed on, the two Heavenly Demon Spirits entered a full-scale battle.
It was a fight where the loser would be annihilated forever.
Kwaaang!
Amid the clash of swords colliding in midair, neither Heavenly Demon Spirit retreated even a single step.
“I will definitely make your power mine!”
The sword of Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit was filled with desire, while the sword of Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit was filled with the will to protect its master.
Each time their swords collided, a powerful demonic aura surged wildly. The two similar yet different demonic energies seemed as if they were alive, wailing.
It was because of this demonic aura that the opponent could not escape when the Great Annihilation Form was unleashed—an absolute demonic force that dragged the opponent in and ensured they could never escape that space.
From the Heavenly Demon Spirits, an even stronger demonic aura than when the Great Annihilation Form was used surged forth.
As not one but two Heavenly Demon Spirits emitted demonic energy, not only Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang but also the others could not approach the area where they were fighting.
Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang gave up any thought of intervening and instead stood before Geom Mugeuk, blocking the aftershocks of the impact rushing toward him.
Judging by the atmosphere, Geom Woojin was passing something on to Geom Mugeuk. If so, even the slightest breeze would become a disturbance to them.
The Fist Demon King, the Sword King, and the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult also shared the same thought and raised barriers with their internal energy.
Under their protection, Geom Mugeuk recited the mnemonic verse his father had given him.
He had already mastered up to the Eighth Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art, and his martial arts had reached the extreme.
The moment he heard most of the meanings contained in the mnemonic verse, he understood them.
However, even for Geom Mugeuk, there were parts he could not comprehend.
For now, he skipped the parts he did not know and focused on the next verses.
Thus, when the transmission of the mnemonic verse from beginning to end was completed—
—Father, please guard this place for a moment.
Geom Mugeuk immediately disappeared from the spot as he unfolded the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.
Geom Woojin thought his son had entered it to fully focus on the mnemonic verse.
But the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult knew Geom Mugeuk’s true intention.
‘He intends to use the Heavenly Time Secret Art in there.’
The Cult Leader felt pleased that what he had taught was being used so valuably at the most crucial moment. It even felt as if everything had been destined for this very moment.
Indeed, Geom Mugeuk used the Heavenly Time Secret Art within the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.
From the beginning, he could have entered this space with his father and received the mnemonic verse. If he had, he could have saved the time spent on transmission.
But there was a reason he did not.
It was to avoid creating a situation where both he and his father were absent from the outside.
The opponent was Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit. Its nature was cruel and ruthless. The moment it realized both he and his father had disappeared, there was no telling what it might do to the remaining people.
At least one of them had to remain.
Because he could not focus on the mnemonic verse of the final technique while worrying about the outside.
With more time gained through the Heavenly Time Secret Art, Geom Mugeuk mulled over the mnemonic verse. He reviewed what he understood and separately organized what he did not.
There were many parts he would need to ask his father about once he went out.
‘Will I be able to understand all of this in time?’
A sudden fear arose within him. This was not just any martial art, but the final technique of the Nine Calamities Demon Art. Had he been arrogant in overestimating his own ability?
Then, a thought suddenly surfaced.
‘Should I have spent this time thinking about how to use that mnemonic verse instead?’
There was a mnemonic verse he had learned from Gaye, the Priestess Palace Master.
While learning it, he had sensed that it was meant to control Hwa Moogi.
However, she had only passed on the verse and had not taught him how to use it. She herself did not know. Indeed, there was no way the Dark Palace Master would have revealed that method to others.
‘Still… should I have found some way to use that mnemonic verse?’
The moment that thought arose, Geom Mugeuk realized.
This was merely a distracting thought born from the fear that he might fail to fully master the Ninth Form.
Now that the Heavenly Demon Spirit had already appeared, such thoughts were nothing more than belated regret. It might work on Hwa Moogi, but it would not work on a Heavenly Demon Spirit.
He did not know how that mnemonic verse might help later, but for now, he had to focus on mastering the Ninth Form.
However, once his concentration broke, it was not easy to regain it. The more he tried to clear his thoughts, the more they surfaced.
It felt as though time inside the Heavenly Time Secret Art was flowing even faster.
At that moment, a scene rose in Geom Mugeuk’s mind.
It was the image of himself walking alone across a snowfield swept by a raging blizzard.
That moment when he had walked forward amidst vague despair and crushing loneliness, unsure if he would ever find all the materials for the great technique.
‘To arrive at this very place today.’
The mnemonic verse of the Nine Calamities Demon Art was important, and so was the mnemonic verse of the Six-Origin Energies—but the most important thing was himself, who had walked that long road to reach this point.
Because that path had not been walked through tricks or shortcuts.
‘Believe in yourself, Mugeuk.’
If even after putting in this much effort it did not work, then so be it—I will gladly accept death.
Had he not worked hard enough to say such words?
With that thought, Geom Mugeuk’s anxious mind gradually calmed. His distracting thoughts settled, and he felt his mind grow still.
Time, which had seemed to flow quickly, slowed once more.
‘Time… please flow slowly.’
After organizing the mnemonic verse from beginning to end in his mind, Geom Mugeuk released the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique and stepped out.
Outside, the battle had grown even more intense.
Even from a single glance, he could tell.
His Heavenly Demon Spirit was being pushed back.
But he had no time to worry about that.
—There are several parts I do not understand. First, when moving from the Qi Sea Point to the Central Pole Point, it says that the season stops at winter. Does that mean to stop the True Energy, or to move it with yin energy?
Geom Mugeuk asked his father about the parts he did not understand.
Geom Woojin answered sincerely.
—Both. Maintain the yin energy as much as possible while stopping the True Energy. However, that is not the most important part here.
If he was told one, Geom Mugeuk understood ten.
—So what matters is when spring comes.
Geom Woojin nodded and added one more thing.
“When is important, but how is also important. How gently you release the cold True Energy that you have held still—that is the key.”
“I understand, Father.”
Geom Mugeuk asked not only about what he did not know, but also confirmed what he was uncertain about.
—When moving from Yanggang Point to Hwangmun Point, should the True Energy be moved quickly?
—You saw it correctly.
—Then when moving from Taegye Point to Taejong Point……
Geom Mugeuk continued asking, absorbing everything his father explained as his own.
He displayed truly terrifying concentration.
If the father answering him had not been at the level of Twelve Star Greatness but at Ten Star Greatness? Or if he himself had been at that level as well? This exchange would have been absolutely impossible today.
Swaeaeaeaeak!
Kwaang!
Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit was pushed back toward them.
Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang raised their Protective Energy and unleashed their internal energy.
With the utmost gentleness, they blocked it so that Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit would not be harmed.
Enduring the powerful demonic aura emitted by the Heavenly Demon Spirit, the two pushed it forward again.
The Heavenly Demon Spirit charged forward once more. It did not fear, nor did it hesitate.
Geom Mugeuk knew why his Heavenly Demon Spirit was being pushed back despite him and Hwa Moogi being equal in internal energy.
His father had once said that the strength of a Heavenly Demon Spirit depended on how deeply the summoner understood the Nine Calamities Demon Art.
He was being pushed back because he had not yet mastered the Ninth Form.
Suppressing his impatience, Geom Mugeuk sent another voice transmission to his father.
—I will organize my thoughts one last time.
After saying that, Geom Mugeuk once again disappeared using the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.
Geom Woojin was inwardly astonished. In such a short time, his son had not only memorized the entire mnemonic verse but had also understood most of its contents and was asking exactly the right questions.
However, there were still parts he had not asked about—parts that, in his view, absolutely required questioning.
If he had knowingly passed over them, that would be fine. But if he had missed them, then fully mastering the mnemonic verse would not be easy.
Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit saw Geom Mugeuk disappear and reappear during the battle.
It was certain that Geom Mugeuk was plotting something.
‘I can’t afford to drag this out any longer.’
Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit unleashed the Nine Calamities Demon Art in earnest.
Seventh Form—Demon Soul Genesis.
Countless blades of force appeared, as if a net had been spread across the sky.
Those watching could tell—if those countless blades came flying, they would never be able to block them.
The only question was whether they could withstand it without injury using their Protective Energy.
At that very moment—
Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit also refused to yield and unleashed the same Demon Soul Genesis.
Their movements were identical. Even the angle of their arms as they thrust their swords forward was the same.
Even the countless blades of force forming behind them in the air were identical.
The Demon Soul Genesis unleashed by the two Heavenly Demon Spirits looked as though, if folded in half, they would perfectly overlap.
Swaeaeaeaeak.
Swaeaeaeaeak.
The countless forces created by the two Heavenly Demon Spirits poured toward each other.
Kakakakakakakakakakang!
A tremendous clash of force erupted in midair, scattering sparks.
The aftermath of the collision spread in all directions.
Hwaaaaaak.
A massive shockwave swept outward. The ground trembled, the earth cracked, and nearby fabric shops and blacksmith shops collapsed.
As thick dust rose—
Kwakwakwakwakwakwak!
Something burst out through the smoke.
What surged forward in a straight line were demonic ghosts.
With this move, Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit had not aimed at Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit.
In the moment when their vision was disrupted by Demon Soul Genesis, it had unleashed the Great Annihilation Form toward where Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang stood.
“Be careful!”
Jin Paecheon shouted as he raised his Protective Energy to the limit and unleashed his internal energy.
Baek Jagang did the same, pressing close beside Jin Paecheon to face one demonic ghost together.
“In a line!”
It was a wise decision. The demonic ghosts were larger than humans, so even two people could stand in the space one occupied.
By not dispersing their strength and instead blocking one ghost together while the others lined up behind to evade, they could survive.
Kwakwakwakwakwak!
Just as the demonic ghosts lunged at them—
Kwakwakwakwang! Kwang! Kwangkwang!
Jin Paecheon, Baek Jagang, and the others all saw it.
Before the ghosts could reach them, they collided with something.
A wall of force had been erected before Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang.
Astonishingly, it was Geom Woojin’s Great Demon Wall.
The demonic ghosts that collided with the Great Demon Wall began to disappear. Just as Geom Mugeuk had escaped the Human Annihilation Form with the Great Demon Wall, the ghosts of the Great Annihilation Form also could not break through it.
Jin Paecheon and Baek Jagang turned their heads.
Geom Mugeuk was nowhere to be seen, and Geom Woojin slightly bowed his head toward them. It was a gesture of gratitude for not fleeing and choosing to protect his son.
The two Alliance Leaders also expressed their thanks.
For a brief moment, a thought crossed their minds.
What if that Great Demon Wall had been erected behind them instead?
With the Great Annihilation Form in front and the Great Demon Wall behind—
No, something even worse.
What if Geom Woojin had unleashed the Great Annihilation Form from behind?
Could they have blocked it from both front and back? It would have been impossible. They would have died between the two waves of demonic ghosts—if Geom Woojin had betrayed them.
But Geom Woojin had placed the Great Demon Wall in front of them.
They were grateful for the situation, yet it was not entirely comforting. Because they could not help but imagine what it would be like if such a man became their enemy.
Without delaying any longer, Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit immediately unleashed the Ninth Form—Demon Soul Supreme.
Since Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit might have mastered up to the Eighth Form, but not the Ninth.
“This ends now!”
The pitch-black eyes of Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit began to glow pure white.
Everyone could feel it. Whatever attack was coming, if it were allowed to land, Geom Mugeuk’s Heavenly Demon Spirit would be annihilated.
Geom Woojin spoke in a low yet more urgent voice than ever before.
“My son, you must come out now!”
Flash.
Light burst forth from the pure white eyes of Hyeok Do-cheon’s Heavenly Demon Spirit.
It was the final technique meant for the Heavenly Demon Spirit—Demon Soul Supreme, which erased anything it beheld.
In the next moment—
Geom Woojin looked around.
Only Geom Mugeuk stood alone in an empty, void-like space.
“Father.”
Geom Woojin realized that his son had brought him into the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.
“I have not yet fully comprehended the Ninth Form.”
Yes, no matter how talented his son was, mastering it in such a short time was impossible.
That was the regrettable truth.
“…It’s unfortunate, but your Heavenly Demon Spirit has been destroyed.”
Geom Woojin felt more pain than anyone. He should have stopped him. This was not his son’s fault—it was his own mistake.
This was the first time Geom Mugeuk had seen his father look so regretful. In this final battle, he kept seeing expressions on his father’s face he had never seen before.
Then Geom Mugeuk spoke unexpectedly.
“There is still a chance.”
Geom Woojin looked at his son with a questioning expression.
“Look over there.”
Snap.
As Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers, the scene outside the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique appeared.
Seeing it, Geom Woojin was shocked.
By now, his son’s Heavenly Demon Spirit should have already been erased by Demon Soul Supreme.
But the light shooting from the Heavenly Demon Spirit’s eyes had stopped in midair.
It had not completely stopped—it was moving ever so slightly.
The others also stood as if time had stopped, yet they too were moving ever so slightly.
Geom Mugeuk had failed to fully comprehend the mnemonic verse of the Ninth Form within the allotted time.
But perhaps because he had treasured every second with such desperation, he had gained a different realization.
“I have just achieved the Great Mastery of the Heavenly Time Secret Art.”