CHAPTER 384: GAL DONG-TAK, DEMONIC ARTS (2)

Gal Dong-tak was resurrected.

The expression ‘resurrection’ was indeed appropriate.

He was on the verge of death but suddenly jumped up from his seat.

“Uoooo!”

He raised both hands high and roared.

Gal Dong-tak’s weight must have been less than half of what it was before.

Yet, despite that, he did not give the impression of being frail at all.

Because the layer of fat covering his entire body had been stripped away, revealing the muscles beneath.

In other words, Gal Dong-tak, who was taller than Yi-gang, had become a tall and muscular man.

His jowls had receded, revealing a masculine jawline, and his previously buried facial features became distinct.

It was an astonishing transformation.

“Uooooop!”

“Be quiet!”

Yi-gang covered Gal Dong-tak’s mouth.

Only then did Gal Dong-tak seem to regain his senses and slump down.

Yi-gang also sighed.

‘I thought I might have killed him…’

Following the Heavenly Demon’s instructions, he pressed the acupoints, but it was a sequence that would inevitably kill a person.

Yet Gal Dong-tak stood up perfectly fine.

Moreover, his Qi Deviation was gone, which meant one thing.

「The original form of the Green Blood Demonic Art he learned is the Great Blood Demonic Art.」

The demonic art founded by the Heavenly Demon.

Though how it happened is unknown, it was passed down to the Green Forest Alliance.

“You, answer my questions properly.”

Yi-gang looked sternly and glared at Gal Dong-tak.

Gal Dong-tak admired his restored body but then flinched nervously.

“W-what is it?”

“The Green Blood Demonic Art you learned, what kind of martial art is that exactly?”

Asking about someone else’s martial art is taboo.

Especially since it is a secret family divine art passed down only from the Green Forest Alliance leader to his son…

But Gal Dong-tak understood the situation after hearing Yi-gang’s explanation.

“My father said it was a secret family martial art passed down for generations…”

“That can’t be. This is definitely a demonic art originating from the Demon Cult.”

Gal Dong-tak’s face turned pale white.

Just because the Green Blood Demonic Art has ‘Demonic Art’ in its name doesn’t mean it is a true Demonic Art.

Only martial arts that manipulate demonic energy, practiced by Demon Cult members, are true Demonic Arts.

“Then am I… a demon?”

Those who master true Demonic Arts are called demons.

In any orthodox sect, demons are classified as targets for extermination.

“Well, strictly speaking, yes.”

Yi-gang examined Gal Dong-tak’s physical condition.

The previously sallow complexion turned healthily red, and the shadows under his eyes and the dullness in his sclera disappeared.

The problems Gal Dong-tak had seemed to vanish all at once.

“Then am I… going to die?”

His mind still doesn’t seem very sharp, but it will improve.

“I don’t think so. Surely not.”

It would be troublesome if Yi-gang and his group spread that Gal Dong-tak’s martial art is a Demonic Art, but Yi-gang had no such intention.

「It seems the Great Blood Demonic Art was modified to suppress the emission of demonic energy. That’s why it became such a half-baked martial art.」

The Heavenly Demon said.

Neither Gal Dong-tak nor Gal Sa-hyuk ever emitted demonic energy.

Yi-gang briefly sent Dam Hyun and Go Yo-ja outside.

Then he spoke seriously to Gal Dong-tak.

“It seems there is a problem with your martial art. Would you explain in detail how you circulate your energy?”

“That…”

“We might find the problematic part and improve it.”

He was asking to be taught the internal art’s energy circulation method.

Normally, it is something never to be shared with others, but Gal Dong-tak did not hesitate long.

He explained the Green Blood Demonic Art in detail.

The Heavenly Demon listened alongside Yi-gang.

「I don’t know how he got the Great Blood Demonic Art. What a fool. He clumsily tampered with what I created.」

Usually, those who master Demonic Arts are highly likely to fall into Qi Deviation.

If overcome, one can completely reach the Unrestrained Demon Realm and becomes an Absolute master, but most go mad and lose reason.

A master like White Monkey Demonic Hand, who was once chased by the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad, also went mad due to Qi Deviation.

“If properly improved, the Great Blood Demonic Art’s effects can be maintained without emitting demonic energy. Pass it on. First, reverse the internal energy of the ‘Gihae’ point…”

The Heavenly Demon began to improve the Great Blood Demonic Art on the spot.

Improving an existing martial art is as difficult as creating a new one.

His effortless mastery showed the true demeanor of a grand master.

Gal Dong-tak, who was pondering, muttered.

“But… why did I suddenly fall into Qi Deviation?”

“Have you never experienced that before?”

“Neither I nor my father have fallen into Qi Deviation.”

It’s natural since Qi Deviation usually leads to ruin.

“You said you couldn’t circulate energy during the journey. Has that happened before?”

“No… I haven’t missed a day since I was fifteen.”

“That might be the problem.”

The Heavenly Demon agreed with Yi-gang’s words.

「What the bandit learned forcibly suppresses demonic energy generation through the flow of internal energy. Since he stopped the energy circulation for a long time, the demonic energy surged at once.」

Yi-gang conveyed that explanation.

“So…”

“Your weight gain and the accumulation of impurities in your body also seem to be effects of an incomplete internal art.”

“That never happened to my father… Ah.”

Gal Dong-tak spoke as if he remembered something.

“Not to brag, but my father once said I was building internal energy too fast.”

The Heavenly Demon chuckled.

「Demonic Arts greatly depend on the practitioner’s aptitude. Tsk, tsk, if you were born as a martial artist in my sect, you’d have already achieved greatness.」

Gal Dong-tak also possessed great talent.

He rose to become a Super Peak master at a young age and was called the future of the Green Forest.

But to the Heavenly Demon’s eyes, even that seemed insufficient.

「However, with my improvements, that big guy will achieve new heights.」

Yi-gang told Gal Dong-tak to circulate energy as the Heavenly Demon instructed.

Gal Dong-tak did so.

When circulating energy, breathing must not be disturbed.

But Gal Dong-tak was so surprised he forgot even that basic rule.

The momentum of internal energy flowing through the acupoints seemed twice as strong as usual.

Gal Dong-tak’s face flushed red and his hair stood on end because…

After finishing the energy circulation, Gal Dong-tak stood up.

His face was still red, and his hair slowly fluttered against gravity.

Yi-gang thought to himself upon seeing that.

‘He looks like a demon.’

However, there was no demonic energy emanating from him.

“How is it?”

“…Heh, I feel full of power.”

Gal Dong-tak originally exhibited abnormal divine power.

But when circulating energy with the improved Green Blood Demonic Art, the effect was tremendous. An astonishingly immediate change.

“I feel the vital energy burning hot. I feel like I could break down a fortress wall with my bare hands right now.”

Judging by appearance, it didn’t seem like nonsense.

「The external traits of the Great Blood Demonic Art inevitably show.」

A flushed face and fluttering hair.

Such a yaksha-like appearance would definitely stand out.

Yi-gang advised.

“Don’t use your strength recklessly while staying here.”

“Okay, haha!”

Gal Dong-tak said proudly.

Anyway, Gal Dong-tak recovered his body and made great progress.

If the time comes for him to fully utilize the new Green Blood Demonic Art, Gal Dong-tak will be a great help.

The Heavenly Demon unusually helped Yi-gang willingly.

Unlike Zhang Sanfeng, who showed no favor to Yi-gang.

He was always cynical, so much so that Zhang Sanfeng grumbled when he helped.

「This is extremely suspicious.“

“You’ve become quite petty, Zhang Junbao.」

「Petty? What nonsense is that?」

“You’re anxious because you can’t be of help.”

「That’s absurd…!」

Yi-gang also asked.

‘Why are you suddenly helping so much?’

「Didn’t we make a deal?」

‘That when you ask for something when the time comes, I’ll consider it positively?’

「I said demand, not a request. Yes, that’s right.」

Because of that deal, the Heavenly Demon would not only heal Gal Dong-tak but help until the end.

No kindness is without cost, but the price for this deal was not great.

Yi-gang felt uneasy about that.

Zhang Sanfeng, who had been silent, spoke clearly.

“It’s because what you intend to do aligns with his purpose. That price is for you to bring one more piece of his soul fragment.”

“Even if all the soul fragments are gathered, resurrection isn’t guaranteed, but you must be hoping.”

The Heavenly Demon did not deny Zhang Sanfeng’s words.

‘I see.’

Anyway, it was true that Yi-gang was receiving the Heavenly Demon’s help.

Yi-gang’s group was only four people.

Though Yi-gang was an Absolute master, it was nearly impossible for just four people to find the Heavenly Demon’s soul fragment hidden somewhere in the Demon Cult and rescue Ha Jun and the others.

Nonetheless, they had infiltrated Sky Shattering Island for that purpose.

Of course, they had a plan.

「If I weren’t here, you wouldn’t have found the passage to Ten Thousand Demon Hall.」

「Ugh…」

Like Potala Palace, old sects always have several secret passages.

The purposes of secret passages vary greatly.

Some are for emergency escape, others for secretly entering and leaving the sect.

「Obviously, it’s not for escaping.」

The Heavenly Demon affirmed that.

He said it was for quietly entering and leaving the palace and Sky Shattering Island, and among them, there was one only the Demon Cult leader could use.

「There is a path only I used. If lucky, it still remains.」

In truth, they couldn’t fully trust that statement.

Three hundred years is enough time for its existence to be discovered; it might have collapsed.

「It probably hasn’t collapsed. If you’re so curious, why not find out yourself?」

Besides the secret passage the Heavenly Demon mentioned, there were others and more plans.

Yi-gang’s group disguised themselves at the inn.

There was no dramatic transformation like mimicry or shape-shifting.

They just dressed like wandering martial artists, darkened their eyebrows, or attached fake beards.

In Yi-gang’s case, it was very difficult to hide his noble appearance.

Dam Hyun, after some thought, drew a long scar on his face, giving him a rougher look.

“Let’s go.”

Yi-gang’s group left the inn.

Though Sky Shattering Island itself is the Demon Cult’s main base, the majority of its population are commoners.

This city can truly be called the capital of the Demon Cult.

The passage the Heavenly Demon mentioned was on the outskirts of Sky Shattering Island.

The group headed to the passage, tense.

It was originally a modified underground cave in the forest.

But Yi-gang felt uneasy as they got closer.

Why was the city becoming more bustling as they approached the secret passage entrance said to be in the mountains?

There were rare three or four-story pavilions lined up.

‘Is this the right way?’

「…Yes.」

The Heavenly Demon said firmly.

Yi-gang walked silently.

Finally, the Heavenly Demon announced their arrival.

And what awaited Yi-gang there was…

One Grab Thousand Gold Manor(一攫千金莊).

A stylish signboard hung on a five-story tall tavern.

「It’s probably underground there.」

Yi-gang couldn’t hide his astonishment.

‘…Wasn’t the passage discovered and closed long ago?’

His reasoning seemed logical.

But the Heavenly Demon strongly denied it.

「Do you think the cultists would recklessly close the passage I used? Or dare to build a tavern over the passage leading to Manmajeon?」

They worship the Heavenly Demon as a god.

If such a place were found in Sky Shattering Island, they wouldn’t build a building over it, as the Heavenly Demon said.

「Also, magical measures were taken to prevent careless discovery. If you doubt, check it yourself.」

In short, he was telling them to go inside.

Yi-gang boldly approached the door of One Grab Thousand Gold Manor.

And the gatekeeper guarding the entrance blocked his way.

“Do you have a reservation?”

“…I don’t have a reservation.”

“Sorry, but it will be difficult to let you in.”

Polite but firm tone.

Yi-gang was certain.

He had experienced this before. It was a strong sense of déjà vu.

Back then, when he searched for the place where the Immortal Divine Sword hid the proof of the Azure Forest.

The tavern waiting for Yi-gang then also blocked him with a gatekeeper.

“Hmm, can I make a reservation?”

“Our One Grab Thousand Gold Manor is members-only, sorry.”

But now, Yi-gang couldn’t force his way in like before.

Unable to struggle further with the gatekeeper, Yi-gang stepped back.

Dam Hyun grumbled.

“It looks like a place that doesn’t accept outsiders… how do we get in there?”

Many high-class taverns operate on a membership basis.

There’s no way the Hao Sect is here, so it won’t be easy for Yi-gang’s group to enter.

Someone was being dragged out from inside One Grab Thousand Gold Manor.

“Let go, you bastards!”

“Young Master, please stop!”

“Don’t you know who I am? You bastards are biting your master…!”

He seemed heavily drunk.

He was thrown down by the gatekeeper and shouted.

“You kick me out just because I ran out of money! How much have I spent here!”

Yi-gang’s eyes sparkled as he looked at him.

Perhaps he could use this man.