Chapter 327

The underlying principles of the three martial arts Kwak Yeon had described formed the very foundations of the demonic arts under heaven.

Each of them, moreover, was an absolute demonic art capable of contending for supremacy beneath the heavens.

Reconstructing arts of that caliber in reverse from nothing more than authentic traces left by an ancient master would have been impossible without an extraordinarily profound understanding of martial arts.

The Eight Demonic Venerables found it almost impossible to believe that Kwak Yeon had already acquired such profound martial insight at his young age.

Yet Kwak Yeon was a disciple of Wudang’s Taoist-immortal line. There was no reason he would have received separate instruction in demonic arts, leaving them little choice but to believe that he had reconstructed those three demonic arts by himself.

In any case, once someone had comprehended and mastered an advanced martial art, understanding lesser arts beneath it was no difficult matter.

And if that advanced martial art was founded upon the very principles from which those lesser arts derived, it would naturally be easier still.

Kwak Yeon’s explanation made it perfectly clear why he had been able to comprehend their unique martial arts in such a short time.

But that very answer had dealt the Eight Demonic Venerables an even greater shock.

It was a revelation far more staggering than the fact that Kwak Yeon had broken through their unique martial arts.

If what they suspected was true, then the cherished wish the Demonic Eight Divisions had pursued for so long might finally be fulfilled.

Of course, the fulfillment of that wish would not necessarily benefit each of the eight sects.

That was why the Eight Demonic Venerables remained silent, caught between shock and disbelief.

The oppressive silence lasted nearly a quarter-hour before Jin Gwanho, the Ghost-Hand Demon Venerable, finally broke it.

“Taoist Kwak, thank you for answering us honestly. You have resolved this old man’s doubts.”

“I am relieved to hear that, Venerables.”

Jin Gwanho looked around at the others.

“Does any Venerable have anything further to ask Taoist Kwak?”

Perhaps they were still reeling from what they had heard, because no one answered.

Jin Gwanho understood their silence perfectly.

He himself had only managed to regain his composure because he had accepted responsibility for presiding over the discussion.

“Then, as the one presiding on behalf of the Eight Demonic Venerables, I shall bring this discussion to its conclusion.”

Again, the Venerables answered with silence.

Jin Gwanho turned to Kwak Yeon.

“Taoist Kwak, we Eight Demonic Venerables owe you our lives. Moreover, having measured our martial arts against yours and lost, we acknowledge you sincerely from the heart.”

Kwak Yeon clasped his hands and bowed respectfully.

“I am sincerely grateful for the consideration shown to me by the Venerables of the Demonic Eight Divisions.”

“We are the ones who should be grateful, not you.”

Jin Gwanho lightly shook his head before continuing.

“To speak frankly, we were never unaware that your proposal was the best course for rebuilding the Demonic Eight Divisions. We found it difficult to accept only because you are a disciple of Wudang and the Chief Secretary of the Martial Alliance.”

At Jin Gwanho’s candid admission, Kwak Yeon bowed deeply.

“I knew the difficulties the Venerables faced, yet I persisted regardless. For my discourtesy today, I shall visit you again in the future and accept whatever rebuke you see fit to give me.”

Once again, Jin Gwanho found himself impressed by Kwak Yeon’s attitude.

He took no credit whatsoever for what he had accomplished, yet treated his own fault as something for which he bore full responsibility.

He truly is a man destined for great things.

Jin Gwanho had realized long ago that Kwak Yeon was different from the orthodox martial artists who spoke nothing but pleasant platitudes.

That was precisely why he had left the cavern earlier to give Kwak Yeon a hint.

Jin Gwanho turned and met the gaze of each Venerable in turn.

Without words, he asked every one of them whether they truly acknowledged Taoist Kwak.

After receiving their answers through their eyes, he drove the final nail home.

“Is there anyone among the Venerables who still objects to placing a signature upon the Righteous Heaven Banner?”

Jo So-hong, the Blood-Haired Demon Venerable of the Gathering Demons Division, shook his head.

“We acknowledge him according to the law of the demonic path. What cause would there be for hesitation?”

No Yu-gak, the Myriad-Calamity Demon Venerable of the Myriad-Calamity Demon Palace, answered next.

“We bowed to the Entrance-to-Divinity Realm. There is nothing shameful about that.”

Yeong Ho-sin, the Yama Demon Venerable of the Asura Gate, continued,

“If Taoist Kwak had shown us that realm from the beginning, we would have acknowledged him long ago. It seems Taoist Kwak went through all this trouble merely out of respect for us old men.”

Gi Gwayeong, the Taoist-Immortal Demon Venerable of Blood Immortal Tower, nodded.

“Taoist Kwak went to such lengths to show us his sincerity. It is only right that we answer him with equal sincerity.”

Once all the Venerables had voiced their agreement, Jin Gwanho turned to Kwak Yeon.

“Taoist Kwak, we Eight Demonic Venerables shall accept your request.”

Kwak Yeon gave them a formal clasped-hands bow.

“I, Kwak Yeon, shall bear the weight of the Venerables of the Demonic Eight Divisions granting such a difficult request.”

Jo So-hong called to Jin Gwanho, who had been presiding over the discussion.

“Ghost-Hand Demon Venerable, this old man has something to say to Taoist Kwak.”

Jin Gwanho readily nodded.

“My role as presiding elder ended just now. Blood-Haired Demon Venerable, speak freely.”

Jin Gwanho stepped back, and Jo So-hong addressed Kwak Yeon.

“Taoist Kwak, understand this clearly. We Eight Demonic Venerables are not submitting to the orthodox martial world. We are acknowledging you. Therefore, write your name across the upper portion of the Righteous Heaven Banner before bringing it to us.”

As senior figures of the Demonic Eight Divisions, they wished to preserve their pride by treating the Righteous Heaven Banner as nothing more than the surface upon which they placed their signatures.

How could Kwak Yeon fail to understand what he meant?

Understanding their conflict, Kwak Yeon once again gave the Eight Demonic Venerables a clasped-hands bow.

“Once the evil influence cast over the Demonic Eight Divisions has been swept away, I promise that I will personally accept full responsibility and destroy the Righteous Heaven Banner bearing the Venerables’ signatures.”

“I appreciate the promise, but you may do with it as you please. Truthfully, we do not care all that much.”

“...?”

Jo So-hong spoke with a faint chill in his voice.

Seeing Kwak Yeon’s puzzled expression, he continued.

“I will be frank. There is another reason why we Eight Demonic Venerables do not particularly mind signing the Righteous Heaven Banner.”

No Yu-gak frowned and cut in.

“Blood-Haired Demon Venerable, why spoil a meal after it has already been cooked by bringing up every petty detail?”

“Myriad-Calamity Demon Venerable, Taoist Kwak has shown us complete sincerity. Should we conceal anything from him in return, no matter how small?”

Faced with Jo So-hong’s razor-edged retort, No Yu-gak shook his head with an exasperated expression.

“Do as you please. It seems even a trip to the underworld could not cure that damned obsession of yours with keeping everything spotless.”

“...!”

Jo So-hong shot No Yu-gak a glare, then turned back to Kwak Yeon.

“Taoist Kwak, there is no grand reason behind it. A signature on the Righteous Heaven Banner is valid only for the generation that signs it. None of us Eight Demonic Venerables has much life remaining, so placing our signatures upon it carries little burden.”

Kwak Yeon could feel how greatly the Eight Demonic Venerables’ spirits had been worn down.

They had been cornered by traitors who seized their own divisions, and they were already old enough to have chosen meditative passing.

I must not fool myself into thinking my little tricks alone brought this about.

Had these been the Eight Demonic Venerables in their prime, persuading them to sign the Righteous Heaven Banner would have been far more difficult than it was now.

“In any case, we intend to make the fullest possible use of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you have given us for as long as we remain alive.”

Kwak Yeon sensed the implication in their words.

The Eight Demonic Venerables themselves did not believe it would be easy to sweep away all the evil influence spread across the world.

Kwak Yeon knew that as well.

But if they cleared the path one step at a time, then eventually they would reach the end.

And if they continued gathering allies as they had now, that day would come sooner still.

Kwak Yeon gave the Eight Demonic Venerables a silent bow.

“Then I shall withdraw for a short while and return once the preparations are complete.”

The Eight Demonic Venerables watched in silence as Kwak Yeon left the cavern to prepare the Righteous Heaven Banner for their signatures.

“How do all of you see it?”

Once Kwak Yeon disappeared into the branching tunnel, Jo So-hong abruptly addressed the others.

Then he continued.

“Do you truly think that child... is the one destined to become the Sovereign of the Eight Divisions?”

At those words, the cavern instantly fell into a heavy silence.

The same four characters had already surfaced in every Venerable’s mind, yet none had dared voice them first.

They were words too weighty to utter carelessly.

The Sovereign of the Eight Divisions.

The true master of the Demonic Eight Divisions, and the Grand Patriarch of their demonic lineage.

Unlike the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Demonic Eight Divisions pursued a different branch of the demonic path. Originally, all eight sects had split from a single demonic lineage.

The Grand Patriarch of the Demonic Path, founder of the Demonic Eight Divisions, had taken eight disciples and transmitted a different set of demonic arts to each.

His demonic arts had been so profound that no single person could master all of them. Thus, the Grand Patriarch had been forced to divide his teachings according to the individual qualities of his disciples.

Later, he left behind a final instruction.

One day, they were to seek a once-in-a-millennium genius, transmit his demonic arts to that person as the common inheritor of all eight lines, and follow that inheritor as the sovereign of the demonic lineage.

But the eight disciples, already steeped in the demonic path, ignored their master’s dying command.

Instead, each founded a demonic sect of his own.

That was the beginning of the history of the Demonic Eight Divisions.

And though all eight had sprung from the same branch, they had never truly united.

Every sect harbored the ambition of becoming master of the entire demonic lineage.

If one could obtain all eight divisions’ demonic arts, one could reconstruct the Grand Patriarch’s absolute demonic art.

And according to the Grand Patriarch’s final command, whoever accomplished that would become sovereign of the demonic lineage.

If someone mastered the Grand Patriarch’s absolute demonic art and became sovereign of the demonic lineage, even placing all under heaven beneath one’s feet might become possible.

What member of the Demonic Eight Divisions could resist such temptation?

For that reason, the Demonic Eight Divisions had spent most of their history divided.

Yet from time to time, they had still joined forces.

Not because they felt any particular kinship from having originated in the same demonic lineage.

Rather, if even one of the eight sects vanished, the Grand Patriarch’s absolute demonic art could never again be completed.

Their hope of producing a sovereign of the demonic lineage would disappear with it.

And so, however bitterly they hated one another, the Demonic Eight Divisions had always been forced to cooperate when survival demanded it.

“This old man does not wish to admit it.”

No Yu-gak broke the heavy silence.

“But I cannot deny that the boy is closer than anyone we have ever seen to becoming the Sovereign of the Eight Divisions.”

“......”

“......”

“......”

When all the other Venerables turned toward him at once, No Yu-gak frowned.

“Surely all of you reached the same suspicion after hearing the boy’s explanation. The three demonic arts he described... their principles match the arts of insight attributed to ‘that person’ in the Grand Patriarch’s final teachings.”

Silence once again descended upon the cavern.

This time, it was so heavy that even the Eight Demonic Venerables seemed to have difficulty breathing.

For No Yu-gak’s words threatened to extinguish completely the cherished ambition that had driven the Demonic Eight Divisions for generations—their longing to produce the Sovereign of the Eight Divisions.

And of all people, the one who appeared to have inherited the demonic arts of insight attributed to “that person” was a Taoist of Mount Wudang.

Worse still, a Taoist of Samryeong Palace’s Taoist-immortal line.