"The Hidden Demon's Grand Festival is not a place to simply determine the strongest. You must make everyone submit with your martial power and prove that you are qualified to reign over the Demonic Path in the future."
"Does that an I can't kill them?"
"Even in the Demonic Path, no one will revere soone who has killed their child. Moreover, you must receive the submission of all participants."
"Submission... that will be difficult."
"It's not just difficult. The descendants of the nine great sects of the Demonic Path are not the type to submit easily. Moreover, they will know that if young master Ban, who is participating under the na of the Heavenly Pavilion, becos the master of the Demonic Path, the rest of the nine great sects of the Demonic Path will be in danger."
Cho Myung finally understood.
Although he could kill them, he could not make them submit. Even if he had the martial prowess to overwhelm everyone, he could never beco the master of the Demonic Path. Because they would rather be broken than submit. They would do everything they could to prevent a third party, not themselves, from becoming the new demonic master.
But what did it matter?
He had no interest in the position of the master of the Demonic Path.
"It doesn't matter to . If I can fight, and fight, and fight again, that is enough."
Cho Myung showed his determination.
The Heavenly Pavilion Master stared at such a Cho Myung and shook her head.
"If that is your determination, I can't let you go even more."
"......?"
"If you inherit the Immortal Demonic Aura and cannot make everyone submit, that is to disgrace him."
The two had different thoughts.
Cho Myung just wanted to beco stronger, and the Heavenly Pavilion Master wanted Cho Myung to protect the authority of the Immortal Divine Demon.
***
The sun set.
As darkness fell, the area around the Heavenly Pavilion beca a city that never sleeps.
When the blue, red, and yellow oil lamps were hung everywhere, it was a different world.
Drunkards looking for alcohol and lechers looking for flowers flocked to the Heavenly Pavilion.
The first floor of the Heavenly Pavilion was for drunkards without money.
Although there were no courtesans, the alcohol was cheap and tasted good for the price.
Moreover, if you sat on the first floor, you could occasionally feast your eyes on the figures of the courtesans.
It was so popular that the two hundred seats on the first floor were filled before half an hour had passed.
The second floor was a place where you could et more high-class alcohol and courtesans.
It was a place where drunkards with deep pockets and lechers mingled. If you had money, you could even embrace the courtesans. The second floor was a place where the excited moans and groans of the courtesans never ceased.
It was a temptation to the custors on the first floor to bring all the money they had and co up to the second floor, and it was a temptation to the wealthy custors on the third floor not to hold back and embrace the courtesans.
To embrace a courtesan on the third floor, you had to pay not in silver but in gold. Nevertheless, there were not many custors on the third floor who just drank and went back after hearing the moans of the courtesans from the second floor.
If the third floor was a place for those who spent money lavishly, custors who could easily spend gold on alcohol and courtesans, then the fourth floor was a place for the truly wealthy.
The fourth floor was a place where you could have courtesans who would be called the best flowers if you went to any brothel on both sides and drink fine wine like water.
And the fifth floor.
They did not accept money there.
Instead, to go up to the fifth floor, you had to have the right qualifications.
Only the richest of the rich, the billionaires, or the martial arts masters who could shake the world could go up to the fifth floor.
The best fine wine and the most beautiful courtesans in the world.
The fifth floor was a place where you could freely take all of them.
As a result, it beca a eting place for billionaires and martial arts masters.
There was no alcohol or courtesans on the sixth floor.
There, the leaders of the Heavenly Pavilion and other masters were stationed.
To protect the Heavenly Pavilion and its custors, and to block the way to the seventh floor where the Heavenly Pavilion Master resided.
A ti when the excitent of the custors who had visited the Heavenly Pavilion reached its peak.
About ten young n and beauties went up to the fifth floor.
Those who were guarding the entrance to the stairs leading to the fifth floor did not stop them. It ant that they knew their identities.
"Every ti I co here, I feel like it's a new world."
"You seem to co here often?"
"Oh my! That can't be! I've only followed my big brother a few tis when he ca."
"Do you expect to believe such a lie?"
"A lie? I'm Yong Cheonsang. If it's sister Haedang's order, I can even pull out my heart, so how dare I lie."
"Then pull it out."
"Then let's go."
"Where?"
"To a place where I can be alone with you, sister."
"......?"
"There are so many eyes watching, are you telling to take off my clothes here? That can't be, right? I believe it's not. Even though I look like this, this body is a virgin."
"Pfft!"
At Yong Cheonsang's slick words, Tie Haidang burst out laughing, and the others chuckled and said a word each.
"What virgin?"
"You crazy brat! That's a word for beautiful ladies like Miss Danhyang, is it even appropriate for a brat like you who's black on the inside!"
"Hey! Bi Sageol! Why is Cheonsang black on the inside?"
"Ah, sister Haedang. I'm just saying."
"So why are you just saying that?"
"Isn't it so? Is it even appropriate for a male brat like Cheonsang to be a virgin?"
"If he's clean, he's a virgin. Hey, Cheonsang! Have you slept with anyone?"
"Who would I sleep with, leaving you, sister? I've never done such a thing."
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes."
Bi Sageol, who was flustered by Tie Haidang.
Yong Cheonsang looked at such a Bi Sageol and grinned, and Muk Danhyang just blushed at Bi Sageol's words that she was pretty.
anwhile, the man with a huge build that could overwhelm everyone walked swaggeringly to the window, sat down on a chair, and crossed his arms.
Anyone could see that he was leading everyone.
The young master of the Big Dipper Iron Horse Family, Tie Paigang.
That was the man's identity.
Tie Paigang's martial prowess had long since reached the level of the supre, and since the Big Dipper Iron Horse Family was a place that competed with the Asura Blood Demon Family for the hegemony of the Demonic Path, he was fully qualified to go up to the fifth floor of the Heavenly Pavilion.
When Tie Paigang took his seat, Tie Haidang, Yong Cheonsang, Bi Sageol, Muk Danhyang, and others also took their seats.
"Young master Tie, it's been a while."
A middle-aged man in neat clothes approached and bowed his waist.
He was the general manager in charge of the fifth floor.
"Ah, I'm on my way to participate in the Hidden Demon's Grand Festival. I stopped by to celebrate with my younger brothers who are also participating. Please prepare appropriately."
"I understand."
The general manager withdrew.
Usually, the courtesans of the fifth floor would have greeted them, but seeing that the young ladies were with them, it seed that the general manager had stepped forward with discretion.
"By the way, is the Heavenly Pavilion really not sending anyone?"
"It seems so."
Tie Paigang answered Bi Sageol's question.
Bi Sageol was the young master of the Hongyeom Gwangpung Family, one of the nine great sects of the Demonic Path.
The nine great sects of the Demonic Path were divided into two, the Big Dipper Iron Horse Family and the Asura Blood Demon Family.
The Hongyeom Gwangpung Family, the Mukcheon Demonic God Sect, and the Demonic Path Tower gathered around the Big Dipper Iron Horse Family, and the rest were attached to the Asura Blood Demon Family. And the Heavenly Pavilion was neither here nor there.
Although the Heavenly Pavilion was a mber of the nine great sects of the Demonic Path, its power was inferior to the other nine great sects of the Demonic Path. However, it made up for that lack of power with its overwhelming financial power.
"Then it will be decided by a match between you and Sima Long, big brother."
Sima Long was the young master of the Asura Blood Demon Family.
It was obvious that that side would also participate in the Hidden Demon's Grand Festival, united around Sima Long.
"Of course, but it won't be decided by a single match. As you all know, we have to make that side submit. To do that, I need your help. Only if you follow without wavering will those who follow Sima Long be shaken."
"Don't worry about that. If you tell us to die, big brother, we'll rush at those brats with a sword in our mouths. Isn't that right, everyone?"
"That's right. Don't worry about that."
"I've told the friends of the twelve gates and seventy-two sects until my mouth was dry. To follow only you, big brother."
Yong Cheonsang also said a word.
Yong Cheonsang was not a mber of the nine great sects of the Demonic Path, but the young master of the Yonghwa Gwi Sect, one of the twelve gates of the Demonic Path. But no one ignored Yong Cheonsang.
Because the current Yonghwa Gwi Sect was a place that had risen so much that it should be included in the nine great sects of the Demonic Path, not the twelve gates of the Demonic Path.
Moreover, the marriage between Tie Haidang of the Big Dipper Iron Horse Family and Yong Cheonsang was being promoted, and the two parties had a strong liking for each other.
"Good. If you all follow so well, the throne of the demonic master will be mine. Although it's a position without real power for now, it will be different in ten years. Because it will be the one and only throne that will lead the entire Demonic Path."
A strong confidence appeared on Tie Paigang's face.
Those who were with him were fascinated by such a Tie Paigang's strength.
They ca to have the illusion of running through the world, leading the Demonic Path with Tie Paigang.
'The preparations are over. If I trample Sima Long to the ground, the children who follow him will also turn their eyes.'
Tie Paigang leaned back in his chair with a relaxed mind.
But at this ti, a sight that caught his eye was visible in the distance.
A person was coming down from the sixth floor. Since the masters of the Heavenly Pavilion were stationed on the sixth floor, it was not strange for soone to co down. Nevertheless, the reason he could not take his eyes off was because he was a young man who looked much younger than him.
In the mind of Tie Paigang, who knew the key figures of the nine great sects of the Demonic Path and the twelve gates of the Demonic Path like the back of his hand, there was no information that there was such a person in the Heavenly Pavilion.
Then it ant that he was an outsider.
The Xue Fuyong who was clinging to his side gave him confidence. When the brat stopped and stared at this side, he showed a stiff attitude for a mont and then said sothing, so he must be explaining.
'So he was an outsider.'
He was sure. So he was surprised and amazed.
'To be a person whom Xue Fuyong, one of the seven disciples of the Heavenly Pavilion Master, is personally guiding...'
He was curious about his identity.
"Hmm?"
Tie Paigang frowned.
Because he was approaching him.
Even though he must have heard who he was from Xue Fuyong, he was approaching without hesitation.
'Is he looking down on ? This is interesting.'
Tie Paigang chuckled and waited.
But the brat stopped right in front of him and said sothing really out of the blue.
"I want to participate in the Hidden Demon's Grand Festival."
Cho Myung said with sincerity.
But Tie Paigang laughed.
"It seems the Heavenly Pavilion Master did not give her permission."
"That's right."
"If she didn't give her permission, there must be a good reason."
"She said that no matter how strong I am, no one will submit."
"......!"
It was a strange thing to say.
Depending on the listener, it could be misunderstood.
"Does that an you are strong, but we will not submit?"
"That's right."
"Do you want to die!"
It was not Tie Paigang, but Yong Cheonsang, who exploded with anger and kicked his chair and shot up. The energy of his whole body fluctuated as if he would attack at any mont. But when Tie Paigang opened his mouth, he did not move and waited.
"So you're not satisfied that you can't participate in the Hidden Demon's Grand Festival, and now you're picking a fight?"
"No. I don't like picking fights. Why would I pick a fight when I have a fist? And... do you happen to know Xiong Fu Fan Zhong?"
"I don't. Is he soone I should know?"
"It's good to know. Because he's a cool big brother. Anyway, he said so. What kind of martial artist's life is it to train like crazy until you're twenty or thirty, and then just strut around, bound by your family, sect, master, and elders, and grow old without doing anything?"
"......!"
"A martial artist is a being who lives in the world with his own martial arts, not soone who struts around with the na of his family and master on his back. If he can't display his martial arts, he can no longer be a martial artist."
"......!"
"So that big brother said he wanted to create a world where the old n who have divided the world cannot bind the young martial artists, a world where at least the young martial artists with boiling blood can go out into the world and compete to their heart's content."
A world where young martial artists with boiling blood can compete to their heart's content.
It was a heart-pounding thing.
Even Yong Cheonsang, who seed he would attack Cho Myung at any mont, had forgotten why he was angry.
"That big brother said he wanted to show the world, to the young martial artists with boiling blood, what the fierce path of a martial artist is. Even if he can't go far and falls and dies, he wants to create a stir in the world."
He wanted to show the world, to the young martial artists with boiling blood, what the fierce path of a martial artist is!
Tie Paigang's brow furrowed deeply.
He was not pleased. Because it was bigger than his own ambition. He was confident that he would stand tall on the throne of the ten thousand demons. But the weight of the two words 'the world' was more than enough to make his heart pound.
Cho Myung was also like that.
Although he did not want a futile death, his heart had pounded at Fan Zhong's words.
"The Hidden Demon's Grand Festival is a world of only the Demonic Path here. I heard that older people can't participate. I'm young and strong. I'll run wild to my heart's content, so much so that all the participants will be thoroughly sick of it, so find a way for to participate. You can do it, right? The Big Dipper Iron Horse Family?"
It was not a joke. It was sincere.
The problem was whether he had the strength to back up that sincerity.
"Xue Fuyong, is this brat qualified to participate in the Demonic Sect's Grand Festival?"
At Tie Paigang's question, Xue Fuyong hesitated for a mont.
She saw the sight of everyone who had co with Tie Paigang waiting for her answer.
Xue Fuyong straightened her back. And after sweeping her cold gaze over everyone, she said with a sneer on her lips.
"I dare not judge whether he has such qualifications or not. But if I must answer since you asked, I want to say this instead. If the young master of the Tie family has the qualifications to participate in the Hidden Demon's Grand Festival, then young master Ban is more than qualified."
"Xue Fuyong! How dare you!"
"This is why the Heavenly Pavilion is no good. They keep forgetting that they are being treated well because of that damn money!"
"After playing with brats like you in the Black Pond, you've only grown a big liver!"
Everyone was furious, saying a word each.
When Tie Paigang raised his hand, it beca quiet in an instant.
"Xue Fuyong, can you take responsibility for those words?"
"What will you do if my words are true? Will you take responsibility?"
"I am Tie Paigang. The words I utter are the iron rule and the law. Xue Fuyong, if you will take responsibility for your words, I will also take responsibility and let you participate in the Hidden Demon's Grand Festival. But if it is revealed that you do not have such qualifications, I will co to find you after the Hidden Demon's Grand Festival is over. And I will place you under my feet in this very spot. Now, I ask. Can you take responsibility for your words?"
"I will wait for you."
Xue Fuyong said without losing.
Seeing that, Tie Paigang thought.
'It would be fun to make the disciple of the Heavenly Pavilion Master my plaything.'
Tie Paigang got up from his seat.
Even though he was just standing up, it gave the illusion that a great mountain was moving.
"I will negotiate with the Pavilion Master."
***
The Heavenly Pavilion Master called Cho Myung.
"What did you say to that brat?"
"I told him that I would run wild to my heart's content, so find a way for to participate. Sister Fuyong said that I am more than qualified than that person."
The Heavenly Pavilion Master stared at Cho Myung silently.
Tie Paigang was a cheerful person.
Although he was rated as being skilled in small calculations, he was a person who prioritized what his heart told him to do.
"You chose well."
"What?"
"There are two ways to protect the throne. One is to occupy the throne, and the other is to prevent anyone from ascending to that throne. Young master Ban."
"Yes."
"Participate in the Hidden Demon's Grand Festival under the na of the Heavenly Pavilion. Prevent anyone from ascending to his throne. That is the condition of my permission. If young master Ban accomplishes that, I will tell you where he ca from."
The Heavenly Pavilion Master's gaze was intense.
The second coming of the Immortal Divine Demon.
Because she was expecting it.
"Yes. I will do so."
Cho Myung, who answered calmly.
The Heavenly Pavilion Master stared at such a Cho Myung and then turned her gaze to the paper on the table.
"It's the application form. The main pavilion will notarize everything about your identity, so you just need to write your na."
"You know my na."
"Ban Myung, that na is weak. It feels like a righteous person. Since you said it's not your real na anyway, change it to a stronger na."
Cho Myung frowned.
Co to think of it, he had many nas.
Cho Myung, Eun Myung, Ban Myung, Jeok Myung.
There were four.
It had beco so because he had made them up temporarily according to the situation.
Anyway, it must an to use a strong na worthy of the Demonic Path.
"I will go by Banjeok Myeong."
Banjeok Myeong.
He had taken the surna of Old Man Ban and even the surna of Jeok Yorap.
'Yes, from now on, I will live as Banjeok Myeong. I will completely abandon the na Cho Myung.'
His parents had sold him.
In his young mind at the ti, he had thought it was the right thing to do. Because the remaining family mbers could eat their fill. But not now. If they were truly a family, they should overco any difficulties together. How could a parent judge a child? That was just abandoning the child.
"I am Banjeok Myeong, and I will continue to be Banjeok Myeong. Please use that na."
At the words of Cho Myung, no, Banjeok Myeong, the Heavenly Pavilion Master stared for a mont and then wrote that na on the application form. And she looked at Banjeok Myeong.
"The Hidden Demon's Grand Festival is held at the Qilian Mountains. If you don't want to be late, you must leave tomorrow morning."
"Yes."
"You can kill them all. Prevent anyone from ascending to his throne."
Banjeok Myeong nodded his head vigorously.
The path the Immortal Divine Demon had walked.
He was walking that path.
To beco as strong as the Immortal Divine Demon.
So a smile naturally ford. A white smile full of confidence.
(End of Chapter)
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