The Great Heavenly Demon Sovereign – Chapter 777

‘At such a young age, he has already mastered the Ten Fingers Eternal Return?’

The ultimate dream of those who handle hidden weapons is to master the pinnacle of projectile techniques—the Ten Fingers Eternal Return—before they grow old and die.

Yet here was a young man who appeared to be only in his early thirties, wielding the Ten Fingers Eternal Return with perfect naturalness?

Whirr, whirr!

The man was spinning and controlling hundreds of uniquely shaped projectiles, which was why such strange whooshing sounds had echoed earlier.

Swoosh!

At that moment, accompanied by a razor-sharp tearing sound, a small projectile shot toward the space between Jeong Cheongja’s brows at terrifying speed.

It was utterly sudden and swift as light itself.

But the instant Jeong Cheongja’s eyes flashed,

Thud.

The projectile froze in midair as if time had stopped.

“Impressive.”

The man spoke while looking directly toward the spot where Jeong Cheongja was hiding.

“You seem to be a senior of the martial world. May I ask how you came here?”

Only now did it become clear: the man had already sensed Jeong Cheongja’s presence from the very beginning.

“I wasn’t trying to spy.”

Jeong Cheongja stepped out from behind the tree where he had been concealed.

“I simply had business in this place.”

His gaze had darkened.

After enduring countless hardships to reach Neungna Mountain, So Okrim was nowhere to be found. Now he would have to head to another location.

“What business could someone have in such a deep mountain?”

Noticing Jeong Cheongja’s immortal-like bearing and gentle eyes, the man realized he was a reclusive master of the world and asked with polite respect.

“I was looking for someone. But… she isn’t here.”

“Someone you were looking for?”

“I thought she would be training in this place…”

The man let out an understanding “Ah.”

This area was permeated with a mysterious energy similar to the Great Natural Qi, and because human footsteps rarely reached it, it was an ideal spot for cultivation.

That was precisely why he himself had come here to train, leaving behind his clan’s perfectly equipped training halls and secret manuals.

“I’m sorry for disturbing your training.”

Noticing how extremely poor Jeong Cheongja’s complexion looked, the man approached and asked with concern.

“Are you all right?”

His eyes were brimming with clear vitality. At his waist hung a projectile pouch made of deerskin.

Seeing it, Jeong Cheongja gave a faint smile and said, “The Tang Clan’s Tang Gon. Among all the past heads of the Tang Clan, you are evaluated as the one with the richest emotions and the most outstanding talent. So the Clan Head is right here.”

The man practicing projectile techniques was none other than Tang Gon.

“How did you recognize this one at a glance?”

Because Tang Gon almost never engaged in activities in the wider martial world, very few righteous sect members outside those close to him knew his face.

So how had this old man identified him instantly?

“When one reaches mastery in both projectile techniques and poisons, there is no longer any need to wear gloves.”

When Tang Gon asked in surprise, Jeong Cheongja smiled gently.

“Moreover, how many people in the entire martial world can freely wield the Ten Fingers Eternal Return at such a young age?”

The projectiles Tang Gon held were coated thickly with the Tang Clan’s signature extreme poisons. Yet because he had already fully mastered all eight great secret techniques of the Tang Clan, he could handle them bare-handed while executing the Ten Fingers Eternal Return.

“Elder, you are…”

Just as Tang Gon was about to ask a question,

Sasasasasa.

With the sound of swarming insects, black shadows began pouring into the ravine like a tide.

It was the Stacked-Pupil People once again.

Thud, thud.

Having spotted Jeong Cheongja, the Stacked-Pupil People slowly began walking toward him.

“Run away quickly.”

Jeong Cheongja no longer wanted to involve young people and immediately tried to flee.

Considering the ferocious nature of the Stacked-Pupil People, they would surely harm Tang Gon as well.

“Tch. Stacked-Pupil People, huh.”

Yet Tang Gon instantly recognized the slowly approaching figures.

The Sichuan Tang Clan made all kinds of poisons, hidden weapons, and mysterious great secret arts their hereditary supreme techniques—naturally he identified them at a glance.

“Demonic creatures that should never appear in the world have shown themselves again.”

A sharp gleam burst from Tang Gon’s eyes.

In the martial world there exist demonic books and forbidden scriptures that must never see the light of day—one of them being the Evil Calamity Hell-Forging Scripture.

The secret arts recorded there demand innocent lives as collateral so they are things that must never be attempted.

Yet creatures created from that very forbidden book were striding openly through the martial world?

If these things ever slipped out of control, an uncontrollable massacre could erupt.

“Vile things like these must be eradicated at once.”

A transparent current flowed from Tang Gon’s hands.

It was one of the Tang Clan’s eight great secret techniques—Five Dew Mist—a method of dispersing five types of extreme poisons stored within the body through the wind. 

When fighting against large numbers of enemies at once, no other strange art could display such overwhelming power as Five Dew Mist.

But something bizarre happened.

Hwaak! Hwaaaak!

Instead of melting into a handful of blood, heat began rising from the Stacked-Pupil People’s bodies and in an instant, they incinerated the Five Dew Mist poison.

They had acquired and were now using the Flame Emperor Energy that Jeong Cheongja had employed earlier.

“Flame Emperor Energy. So it’s those damned Three Realms after all.”

A terrifying aura surged from Tang Gon’s eyes.

For a very long time, the Three Realms—especially the Clear River Realm—had infiltrated the Tang Clan and toyed with the life of his father, Tang Pae.

He had already been training relentlessly to avenge his father.

Seeing Stacked-Pupil People using martial arts from the Three Realms caused unprecedented rage to boil up inside him.

“Don’t worry about it and just leave this place.”

Despite Jeong Cheongja’s dissuasion, blood-red light poured from Tang Gon’s eyes.

“Elder, you should be the one to leave.”

Swoosh!

As Tang Gon extended both hands, no fewer than one hundred and thirty-two Iron Thorn Needles rained down on the Stacked-Pupil People all at once.

He had unfolded the Ten Thousand Heavenly Flower Rain—which could fire sixty-six projectiles with one hand—with both hands simultaneously.

The pouring Iron Thorn Needles pierced straight through the bodies of the Stacked-Pupil People who were unleashing flames.

Papapak!

Yet even with Iron Thorn Needles embedded in their bodies, the Stacked-Pupil People charged forward as if it were nothing.

Nevertheless, Tang Gon wore a strange smile.

“Extreme Yang energy is not omnipotent.”

Pop, pop, pop!

Suddenly the Iron Thorn Needles lodged in their bodies exploded, sending metal fragments flying in all directions. Knowing they used Flame Emperor Energy, he had overlapped the Heavenly Thunder Exploding Dragon technique onto the Ten Thousand Heavenly Flower Rain.

Sssss. Tuk, tuk.

But even after that explosion, when the Stacked-Pupil People were left with only bones and scraps of flesh exposed, they continued walking forward slowly with indifferent expressions.

“Persistent bastards.”

Shuuk! Papapak!

When Tang Gon spun both hands in circles, the fragmented Iron Thorn Needles embedded themselves into the Stacked-Pupil People once more.

Having reached the realm of the Ten Fingers Eternal Return, he could freely control even projectiles he had already fired.

He had pierced their bodies again using the exploding fragments from the Heavenly Thunder Exploding Dragon.

Boom. Boom.

Unable to withstand the successive techniques, this time the Stacked-Pupil People finally collapsed.

Thud, thud.

Nevertheless, more than half of them still survived.

Enraged, the Stacked-Pupil People now began walking toward Tang Gon as well.

Watching them, Jeong Cheongja narrowed his eyes.

‘He too is a pillar who will support the martial world. I cannot let him die in a place like this.’

Jeong Cheongja realized that Tang Gon also possessed good roots and was someone who would protect the martial world from wicked forces.

‘Even if things go wrong, entrusting the future to him will suffice.’

Tang Gon was an upright person.

Even if he were told the location of the Seven Extremes Secret Cave where the final profound insights of the Essence Three Realms were left behind, he would never covet it for himself and would surely pass it on to So Okrim.

“Run away.”

Raising the last of his internal energy, Jeong Cheongja spoke to Tang Gon.

“With ordinary power you can never…”

Rumble! BOOM!

But his words were cut off.

Suddenly, with an earth-shaking explosion, two lines shot up into the sky,

Swoooosh!

They crossed left and right in an instant—and neatly severed the necks of the Stacked-Pupil People.

It was the new Tang Clan secret technique that surpassed the eight great arts, created by Tang Pae after gaining enlightenment from witnessing the Seven Blood Tear Forms.

Tang Pae, the Clan Head, had wished for the declining martial arts of the Tang Clan to ascend to the absolute peak of the martial world in a single leap. Before his lifespan ran out, he invented an inescapable line of death and demonstrated it before Bu Eunseol and Tang Gon.

And Tang Gon, having inherited that profound insight and purification, named the art that unleashed that line of death after his father—Tang Pae’s Slash of Death.

Thud thud thud.

The power of Tang Pae’s Slash of Death was tremendous.

Even Jeong Cheongja, who was deeply versed in the martial arts of the Essence Three Realms, had found these Stacked-Pupil People difficult to eliminate.

Yet Tang Gon had beheaded over sixty of them in a single stroke.

Boom. Boom.

As the headless bodies of the Stacked-Pupil People collapsed in droves,

“Ptoo.”

Tang Gon spat out a thick clot of blood.

He had completed two strands of Tang Pae’s Slash of Death using the teachings left by his father, but because his internal energy was insufficient and he had forcibly executed an imperfect version, he had suffered internal injuries.

Swish!

In that moment, one of the remaining Stacked-Pupil People seized the opening, leaped forward, and poured Flame Emperor Energy toward Tang Gon.

Whoooosh!

But at the same instant, tremendous cold energy poured down onto the charging Stacked-Pupil Person.

Crack! Crash!

Simultaneously, Jeong Cheongja unleashed his palm force, instantly shattering the frozen Stacked-Pupil People into pieces.

He had used the Glacial Great Emperor Energy of the Glacial Great Emperor to freeze and destroy those possessing Flame Emperor Energy in one blow.

Shuuuk.

But having expended yet more life force, Jeong Cheongja’s face aged visibly in an instant.

Tang Gon, stunned by the terrifying martial arts of Jeong Cheongja, asked in astonishment,

“Are you a descendant of the Glacial Great Emperor?”

“Something like that.”

Suppressing the surging pain, Jeong Cheongja gave Tang Gon a thumbs-up.

“That technique you used earlier… it is a secret art capable of elevating the stagnant supreme techniques of the Tang Clan to the absolute peak of the martial world in a single leap.”

Tang Gon’s eyes sparkled when Jeong Cheongja instantly saw through the situation of the Tang Clan.

“Elder, just who are you?”

“Merely a passing wild man.”

Given Tang Gon’s deep resentment toward the Three Realms because of his father’s death, he could not casually explain the Essence Three Realms in just a few words.

“And…”

Jeong Cheongja took a small box from his robes and held it out.

“It seems this belongs to you.”

“What is it?”

“Open it.”

When Tang Gon opened the box, inside lay a pitch-black ring.

“This is…”

As the Tang Clan Head, Tang Gon was well-versed in all the treasures and rare artifacts scattered across the world.

He instantly recognized that the transparent thread wrapped around the ring was the legendary spiritual creature—the Water Dragon tendon, known as the Water Dragon Rope.

“Martial arts that materialize true energy are usually practiced by those born with physiques that can naturally accumulate far more internal energy than others.”

“…”

“But your internal energy is somewhat lacking.” 

Jeong Cheongja gave a gentle smile.

“However, if you use this Water Dragon Rope, you will be able to fire a perfect line of death without suffering significant loss of internal energy.”

Sssssss.

Once again, that bizarre sound spread from the distance.

Another wave of Stacked-Pupil People was approaching.

Eyes flashing, Tang Gon slipped the black ring onto his finger.

He extended his hand toward the charging Stacked-Pupil People.

Shiiiik!

With a sound as if heaven and earth were being split apart, Tang Pae’s Slash of Death unfolded once more.

Thud thud.

The necks of the charging Stacked-Pupil People fell to the ground in an instant.

Even though it was only a single strand this time, because the Water Dragon Rope substituted for the power of the true-energy line, the might was even greater while the consumption of internal energy was drastically reduced.

“…”

Stunned by the unexpected power, Tang Gon stared down at the ring wrapped in the Water Dragon Rope.

If he could obtain such a treasure?

He would instantly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest masters under heaven.

“I cannot accept this.”

Yet Tang Gon removed the ring again and held it out.

“How can I take such a treasure without having done anything to earn it?”

“Didn’t you just save me a moment ago?” Jeong Cheongja gave a faint smile. “Moreover, the Stacked-Pupil People pursue anyone who has ever harmed them to the very end. Because of this old man, you will have to fight battles teetering between life and death for quite some time… so it is by no means received for nothing.”

“It’s fine. If I gather the experts of my clan, we can handle them sufficiently.”

“You plan to handle them alone, don’t you?”

Jeong Cheongja saw straight through Tang Gon’s intentions.

“That is what you consider the dignity of a Clan Head.”

Surprised that Jeong Cheongja had read him completely, Tang Gon nevertheless nodded.

“Very well. Then I will deal with the Stacked-Pupil People first, and afterward return the Water Dragon Rope to you.”

Jeong Cheongja did not reply to those words; he simply smiled.

“Please protect the martial world.”

And before Tang Gon could respond, he executed a movement technique and vanished in an instant.

“The Three Realms…”

Tang Gon gazed at the distant sky where Jeong Cheongja had disappeared.

Then he muttered quietly,

“So there are righteous people even there?”

He had already guessed that Jeong Cheongja was someone from the Three Realms.

The only force that would know the details of the Tang Clan—which had always kept its martial activities to an absolute minimum—was the Three Realms.

But there was still a question.

“Then… are the Three Realms fighting among themselves?”

As far as he knew, in the current martial world, the only place capable of creating demonic creatures like the Stacked-Pupil People was the Three Realms.

Yet an elder presumed to belong to the Three Realms was being chased by them?

“I don’t know what exactly is happening.”

Shaking his head, Tang Gon took a deep breath and looked up at the distant sky.

“All I need to do is make my clan stronger and prepare for what is to come.”

In the sky, he seemed to see the face of the friend he respected most in the world.

“Isn’t that right?”

Tang Gon knew.

The only person in the world capable of clashing with the Three Realms and winning was Bu Eunseol.

There was no one else.

All he had to do was revive the Tang Clan and assist him when the time came.

***

Stagger, stagger.

Jeong Cheongja had now exhausted so much life force that he could no longer even execute movement techniques.

In order to find So Okrim in the Central Plains as quickly as possible, he had personally used qinggong to come all this way…

But constantly battling the relentless Stacked-Pupil People had drained far too much of his energy.

Originally he should have been able to hold on for another three days or so.

Now, however, he had only one day left.

No—perhaps only half a day.

“I must find Okrim no matter what.”

Until now he had ceaselessly worked to restore the power of the Baekri Family, and he had found the supreme talent in the world capable of mastering it.

No matter how many other outstanding prodigies might appear elsewhere, there would never be another like that child.

“That child…”

Jeong Cheongja’s vision blurred.

In the days to come, not only the Heavenly Demon but even those on the higher paths, and those who maintained balance… they would all begin to reveal themselves one after another.

He absolutely had to find So Okrim and pass on the remaining will he had left in the Seven Extremes Secret Cave.

“I hope this journey bears fruit.”

Among the three training locations, So Okrim was not at Neungna Mountain.

That left only Cheonju Mountain and Okryu Mountain.

After much consideration, Jeong Cheongja had chosen Cheonju Mountain near Huangshan and come here.

Rustle.

Finally arriving at Cheonju Mountain, Jeong Cheongja staggered deeper into the mountains.

He could no longer use qinggong let alone walk quickly.

The one small mercy was that Black Leopard and Tang Gon were dealing with the Stacked-Pupil People, so for the past few days he had not been pursued.

But now his energy was so depleted that even walking felt exhausting.

In the end, this journey of his life… would conclude here on Cheonju Mountain.

“Not only our realm, but the other places will not be safe either.”

The Demon Emperor was a thorough man.

Moreover, he possessed an intelligence network capable of instantly locating even those the Three Realms could not find… so surely the remaining members of the Essence Three Realms had already been attacked.

The only hope left now was So Okrim.

Thud.

After walking for a long time, Jeong Cheongja finally collapsed on the uphill path, unable to take another step.

Grip.

Yet trembling, he barely managed to clutch a tree trunk.

If he collapsed now, he would never rise again.

Even if he were to die, he had to climb to the secret cave on Cheonju Mountain and see So Okrim.

Thump.

But in the end his knees buckled weakly.

For ten days he had wandered the Central Plains without drinking even a sip of water. Even in perfect condition he could not have endured this long.

Because of the Demon Emperor’s Infinite Reverse Power, his body’s life force had been completely drained.

Though he had forcibly held on with the Absolute Soul-Returning Technique, it was no longer possible.

“Is this the end for this old man?”

With a sigh full of regret, Jeong Cheongja slowly let the strength drain from his body.

Shuuuk.

But at that moment, a gentle breeze blew, and a shadow caught his falling form.

“Are you all right?”

At the same time, pure and profound true energy surged into his vital acupoints like a tide.

When Jeong Cheongja faintly opened his eyes, he saw the face of a young man with a heroic bearing and a prominent nose.

Jeong Cheongja smiled.

The heavens were not heartless; they had sent him one last good root.

“This old man must climb to Cheonsa Peak. Can you help me?”

The young man looked at Jeong Cheongja—whose eyes were kind and whose entire body emanated an extraordinary aura—then smiled and nodded.

“Of course. Allow me to assist you.”

Without hesitation he lowered himself and said,

“Please climb onto my back.”

The young man’s white robes were made of extremely expensive silk. Yet he knelt on one knee on the dirty ground without a care.

Jeong Cheongja gave a faint smile and let the youth carry him on his back.

“Hold on tight.”

The young man executed qinggong and began ascending the mountain at once.

Rustle.

His qinggong was extraordinary and in less than the time it takes to burn one incense stick, he reached the summit of Cheonsa Peak.

“We’ve arrived.”

Jeong Cheongja slid down from the young man’s back and quickly scanned the area around Cheonsa Peak.

Here was the secret cave they had prepared.

But nowhere could he find any trace of So Okrim.

“In the end, that child isn’t here either.”

Jeong Cheongja let out a sigh and shook his head.

So Okrim was not at this place either.

But fortunately, a person worthy of entrusting the future to now stood before him.

“Young man, I have a request to make of you…”

Sasasasa.

But then a strange sound reached them.

From halfway down the mountain, black shadows were climbing upward with terrifying speed on all fours like spiders.

It was the Stacked-Pupil People again.

The young man looked at them, then asked Jeong Cheongja,

“Were you being chased by those things?”

“Yes.”

“They clearly emanate an evil aura.”

The young man drew the sword at his waist.

The blade was extremely thin and gave off a faint golden gleam.

It was none other than… the renowned sword of the Namgung Family—the Golden Needle Sword.

“You are… Namgung Un, the youngest young master of the Namgung Family, called the rare genius of the clan.”

When Jeong Cheongja instantly recognized his identity, the young man Namgung Un widened his eyes.

“You know me?”

“At barely twenty years of age, to have trained the Namgung Family swordsmanship to the level of ‘no technique yet containing mystery, within the technique lies wonder’—there is only one such genius, isn’t there?”

At Jeong Cheongja’s words, Namgung Un rubbed his nose and smiled bashfully.

“Elder, you flatter me too much. How could someone like me be called a genius?”

Shaking his head, Namgung Un looked up at the distant sky.

“My sworn brother is a hundred times, a thousand times greater than I am. Someone like me could never hope to catch up to him.”

Jeong Cheongja wore a subtle expression.

He possessed the Eye of the Precursor and could see how immense Namgung Un’s talent and emotional depth truly were.

For someone like him to think there was a person he could never catch up to—who exactly could that be?