Chapter 206: Demonic Arts (1)
The Palace Lord was momentarily unable to comprehend the situation at hand.
The Sword Phoenix, who should have long since breathed her last, was instead sitting there, comfortably cradled in his Heaven’s lap.
Why on earth is my Heaven sitting on her?
‘…What is this?’
The Palace Lord’s trembling eyes were hard to adjust, as this was something entirely impossible.
This incident absolutely could not be distorted.
It served as a cornerstone to make his Heaven a more complete entity.
This moment marked the beginning of him getting closer to his desires.
It was a matter that could not afford to be ruined further.
His Heaven had to be perfect.
His Heaven was meant to look down upon all, more majestic than anyone else.
An absolute existence.
‘But it feels like…’
The image of a child, quietly reading a book in a woman’s arms, felt like a farce.
Sure, the form of his Heaven was indeed that of a young child, but it absolutely should not be this way.
How could a supreme being, unmatched by any mere human, be engaging in such an act before a human?
I must remove her.
As the thought passed through his mind, black fog began to rise from the Palace Lord’s body like a mirage.
The fog gradually coalesced and formed into a sharp spike directed at Gu Huibi.
Should Gu Huibi, who was unable to use her Qi, encounter it, her head would be skewered, leading to instant death.
Knowing this, the Palace Lord attempted to unleash his power at once.
…!
However, the sharp aura instantly crumbled like mist.
This was not the Palace Lord’s will.
The energy voluntarily bowed before its true master.
From a distance, he felt his Heaven’s gaze fixated upon him.
In response, the Palace Lord lowered his head.
Thud.
Soft footsteps grew ever closer.
Only after hearing the sound several times did he finally see a pair of pure white feet enter his line of sight.
“Don’t.”
The tender voice of his Heaven.
These words were ones he hadn’t heard in over a decade.
At this, the Palace Lord felt compelled to suppress his emotions.
This was unprecedented, and expressing anything carelessly could lead to unforeseen consequences.
If I make one mistake, everything will end.
If that happened, the power sustaining his life, along with his very aspirations, would vanish in an instant.
The Palace Lord understood.
No, it was more accurate to say he alone comprehended how vast the potential and power resided within the small form he called Heaven.
Only he.
“…I’m sorry.”
His Heaven, who’d remained silent until now, broke the quiet with those words.
“Book.”
It was a phrase he often heard, yet today it carried a markedly different hue.
“…I’ll get it ready right away.”
His Heaven nodded and turned back, intending to return to Gu Huibi.
“Heaven.”
Caught in that moment, the Palace Lord halted them.
“…?”
“Were my preparations perhaps to your liking?”
He inquired, gesturing toward Gu Huibi.
From just the information available, and by personally observing her, the Palace Lord knew for certain that Gu Huibi embodied the most exquisite form of ‘flame.’
Never the ruthless Flaming Demon, Gu Cheolun, nor the True Dragon set to be the Young Lord.
No, her flame was the purest and most perfect flame.
I wasn’t wrong.
Aside from the Gu Clan, no other sects wielding flame arts or even demons utilizing flames could compare.
While there were countless flames in the world, Gu Huibi’s flame was indeed the most unique.
This was documented in the ancient texts tied to his Heaven, all but confirming what he hadn’t set out to read.
And that flame was precisely what his Heaven needed most.
Moreover, his Heaven possessed both the strength and capacity to assimilate such energy.
Is my Heaven perhaps reluctant to accept her?
That didn’t seem likely.
Until now, the Palace Lord had bestowed countless energies upon his Heaven, which absorbed all of them without exception, almost appearing to revel in the act.
So, reluctance did not seem to be the issue.
Nevertheless, I must make my Heaven accept her.
For that, flames were essential.
Flames would be needed to facilitate the blending of energies.
And according to the ancient book, it was now time.
To this end, the Palace Lord had withheld any extraordinary energies from his Heaven for over a year.
But why?!
The Palace Lord was confused.
Why had his Heaven not siphoned Gu Huibi’s energy?
The ability to absorb Qi and claim it as one’s own was the greatest power his Heaven held.
His Heaven tilted its head slightly, indicating it didn’t quite understand the Palace Lord’s words.
The violet eyes, unusually bright, were now carefully focused on Gu Huibi.
After a brief blink, those very eyes widened slightly, as if recognizing the Palace Lord’s meaning.
“Ah.”
His Heaven offered a succinct reply.
“Now. Can’t eat.”
It seemed the silence had stemmed from a lack of the right words to convey their current state.
At hearing his Heaven’s words, the Palace Lord instantly shot his head up from the floor.
Such an event should never have occurred.
“What does that mean?”
“Now, I can’t…”
They started but suddenly shut their mouth.
Given the shape of their lips, they appeared to be expressing some degree of annoyance.
Meanwhile, the Palace Lord remained caught in the shock.
He needed to mull over the implications of his Heaven’s words.
Can’t eat anymore?
His Heaven couldn’t lie.
They’d opt to ignore rather than fabricate words.
So, what did that really signify?
Did it mean that his Heaven could no longer consume the power of others?
But why the sudden change?
The last time his Heaven had absorbed another’s Qi was just around this time last year.
The Palace Lord vividly recalled his Heaven devouring all the energy it came across back then.
Moreover, it had been someone of the Four Emperors and Five Kings.
The Warlord of Dual Blades, Hyuk Uhchoon.
True, he lacked martial prowess compared to others, but compared to young prodigies like Gu Huibi, the disparity was vast.
How could his Heaven, who had so effortlessly absorbed someone like Hyuk Uhchoon, fail to absorb Gu Huibi’s mere power? It was inconceivable!
Did something go awry?
If so, what occurred over the past year?
Gnash.
The Palace Lord quietly ground his teeth.
An issue had arisen at the most critical period.
This indeed was a crack.
And from that crack, an unsettling tension oozed out.
This is not good at all.
The painstakingly built pinnacle of his decades-long endeavor had developed an imperceptible rift, leading him far from feeling satisfied.
The Palace Lord remained silent, slowly rising to his feet.
“I’ll be taking my leave now.”
His Heaven exhibited no reaction to his words.
As he gestured, Gu Huibi’s body gracefully ascended into the air, flying towards him.
“Ugh…!”
Gu Huibi gasped while being lifted.
Just as she was being whisked away, his Heaven’s hand caught her.
“Where are you going?”
They questioned, tilting their head, but Gu Huibi was too stunned to answer.
She had so much she longed to say, yet the pervasive atmosphere created by the Palace Lord rendered her breathless, forcing her silence.
In fact, the way the child appeared unfazed by the entire situation surprised her even more.
I knew it wasn’t an ordinary child!
It was enough for her to sense the unusual aura coming from the child, apart from the circumstances.
The child effortlessly clung onto her as the Palace Lord attempted to draw her closer.
The child even seemed entirely untroubled by his oppressive aura.
If the situation extended, however, it would inevitably become a problem for Gu Huibi.
Finally, under the immense pressure, she mustered the strength to utter, “We’ll meet again next time.”
The statement held vague meanings, yet those few words had been challenging to articulate.
Her body couldn’t summon any Internal Qi, after all.
Fortunately, it seemed her words had found resonance; the child released Gu Huibi, allowing her to be flown toward the Palace Lord, who bowed deeply to the child before closing the door and stepping out.
Crash!
The door slammed shut with a loud bang echoing in the room.
Left behind, the child stared at the door and mumbled to themselves, “Again?”
They continued to chew on Gu Huibi’s words, trying to piece together their meaning.
But, it still eluded them.
With that, the child settled down again and closed their eyes.
Extinguishing the violet flame glowing at their fingertips, they slowly slipped back into darkness.
Only then could the child once more embrace a sense of comfort.
Bang!
“Ugh!”
Gu Huibi’s body thudded against the wide floor, causing her to roll several times.
She found herself back in the cell where she had been trapped for days.
Struggling to her feet from the rough landing, she spoke, “Your treatment seems excessively harsh. Is this perhaps not what you desired?”
The impact might have left her arm feeling twisted.
The Palace Lord frowned at her words.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Didn’t you wish for me to care for the child? I thought you summoned me here for some fun and games.”
Bound with sarcasm, Gu Huibi’s remarks only further chilled the Palace Lord’s expression.
Observing his reaction, Gu Huibi mused, It seems things didn’t follow his script.
She was fully convinced of it.
When she’d first encountered the child, she briefly thought of them as the Palace Lord’s offspring.
However, seeing the Palace Lord’s demeanor towards the child, she quickly realized that wasn’t the case.
Then what was their actual relationship?
And before all that…
What exactly is that child?
Her curiosity piqued.
From what she gathered about the Palace Lord, it seemed he had drawn her here due to something essential regarding the child.
Yet, the unexpected turn of events meant she could not grasp the full truth.
The child’s peculiar eyes flashed in her mind.
Those eyes bore a striking resemblance to someone familiar to her.
Their aura felt similarly intertwined.
Could this all truly be a coincidence?
In this peculiar situation, the Palace Lord remained gazing at Gu Huibi.
“Why are you staring at me?”
She asked, yet he replied with silence.
Instead, he merely lifted his hand slowly.
Just as Gu Huibi began to discern the Palace Lord’s intent…
Bang!
A noise resonated from somewhere, causing dust to cascade from the ceiling.
Gu Huibi hadn’t fully felt it, but it seemed the building had shuddered slightly.
“Hmph.”
Lowering his hand, the Palace Lord frowned slightly, as if sensing something Gu Huibi, who couldn’t utilize her Qi, couldn’t.
Turning his back on her, he began heading toward the entrance.
Back in the cell, surrounded by Elder Mook’s gentle snores, Gu Huibi became certain.
If that sound hadn’t occurred, she would have met her demise at the Palace Lord’s hand.
On the first floor of the Palace, the Palace Lord emerged in pursuit of the source of the noise, seeking the spell he’d sensed just moments prior.
Though the formations surrounding the Palace obscured his senses a bit, he was sure it was Fire Qi.
And it bore considerable similarity to some heat he had experienced previously.
A stinging pain from his abdomen recalled grim scars left by Fire Qi.
“I greet the Palace Lord!”
A chorus bowed their heads as the Palace Lord appeared.
Yet, his gaze remained fixed on the wall.
“What transpired?”
“…Well.”
One side of a wall had been horrendously damaged, as if a colossal demon had crashed through it, leaving devastation in its wake.
With the lingering embers, the Palace Lord could immediately pinpoint a culprit.
The Flaming Demon, Gu Cheolun.
An incredibly capable warrior from the Fusion Realm, truly capable of leaving such a signature in the Black Palace.
The distinct aura emanating from the flames assured him of the perpetrator’s identity.
He’s come.
It seemed that even the old tiger, worn down by time, held affection for his kin.
Using his power, he extinguished the remaining flames and pondered,
How on earth did he discover this location?
Even if he had pinpointed where they were, how had he circumvented the barriers of formations when he couldn’t rely on his Qi?
Just how?
The barriers erected by the Great Demon were no trivial kind.
Finding the Palace due to the formations was no easy feat, and even the Palace Lord could not effortlessly demolish it with sheer force.
Even if a descendant of the destroyed Zhuge Clan, famed for their mastery of formations, appeared, they wouldn’t easily achieve such a feat.
“Great Demon.”
“Yes, Lord!”
“Has the barrier been breached?”
Under the Palace Lord’s chilling voice, the Great Demon bowed his head and responded.
“N-No, Sir. Upon checking just now, the barrier remains completely intact.”
Then, what is going on?
The Palace Lord’s breath hitched as he stared at the wall.
Whatever it may entail, it was clear that the Tiger of the Gu Clan was indeed within the Palace.
Dark fog swirled around the Palace Lord’s shoulders.
His previously closed eyes sprang open.
As he spoke, his gaze shimmered with violet light.
“Search for him. He must be somewhere in here.”
As soon as the order was given, numerous members of the Palace raced to fulfill their Lord’s command.
Though he was puzzled why the Flaming Demon had chosen such an ill-fitted approach, as the Flaming Demon, he must have had his reasons.
Whatever the reason might be, it didn’t concern the Palace Lord.
I’ll just have to question him when we meet.
Gradually, the Palace Lord spread his dark fog further.
And from a distance,
Someone was watching him, shrouded in silence.
The ones who had toppled the wall.
Gu Yangcheon and Namgung Bi-ah observed from a distance.
They had hidden their presence within the thicket, avoiding detection.
In this moment, the unnerving Qi emanating from the Palace Lord made Namgung Bi-ah break out into a cold sweat.
Even from afar, it sent shivers down her spine.
Is that… martial arts?
The term seemed inadequate to encapsulate the profundity of what she was witnessing.
She was astonished that such martial arts could exist in the world.
As she steadied her racing heart, she sneaked a glance at Gu Yangcheon, who wore a shocked expression akin to her own.
However, Gu Yangcheon was taken aback for different reasons.
The unique and personalized martial arts he beheld from the Palace Lord.
The black fog that unfolded around him, almost consuming its surroundings.
From just the unpleasant sensation worming through his body, Gu Yangcheon realized what it was.
How could he not?
Demonic Arts?
That was certainly the power bestowed by the Heavenly Demon.
Demonic Arts.
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