CHAPTER 402: ZHAO GUANG (2)

The Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley is a unique place located in the Kunlun Mountain Range.

That valley, shrouded in mysterious mist, is a restricted area with controlled access.

The soul of Zhang Sanfeng was there.

Zhang Sanfeng told Yi-gang that after becoming an immortal, he remained in spirit form solely to meet the Heavenly Demon again.

He said it was to finish the unfinished duel with the Heavenly Demon.

However, the Heavenly Demon spoke as if there was another hidden story behind it.

Yi-gang stared intently at the Heavenly Demon’s face.

A master of a previous generation who never appeared middle-aged, having grown so fast that his youthful appearance was frozen forever.

The face of the man who became the ancestor of the Demon Cult from the deposed crown prince of the Song imperial family…

How much blood was shed until the White Lotus Cult became known as the Demon Cult.

The weak deposed crown prince became a demon.

Few knew, but on his chest, at the Upper Dantian, there was a black hole.

From there, pure demonic energy flowed out naturally, unlike any other demon.

Even he did not know the reason.

Perhaps it was from a past wound.

Maybe the monstrous creature chasing him bit into his heart, piercing a hole.

And that hole might have connected all the way down to the bottom of hell where demonic energy rises.

For Zhao Guang, who began learning demonic arts at the White Lotus Cult, it was practically a fateful opportunity.

He used that pure demonic energy.

And thanks to his amazing talent and lack of flaws from birth, he reached the Extreme Demon realm in his teens.

It was an unprecedented achievement in the White Lotus Cult’s long history. Probably no one in all of Central Plains had such talent.

From then on, Zhao Guang was called by the nickname “Sky Shattering Divine Demon” instead of his real name.

Sky Shattering.

Only he knew that behind the wild nickname of Sky Shattering lay his anger toward the Song imperial family.

When he grew up and no one among the Extreme Demon realm masters could match him.

The Heavenly Demon revealed his identity.

That he was the son of the crown prince who was unjustly murdered.

Though it was something the imperial family would greatly resent, he had already stood alone as a demon outside Central Plains.

Eventually, he advanced into the Central Plains and even met the Taoists of Wudang.

Someone was bowing before Sky Shattering Divine Demon.

“Right Protector!”

At that time, Zhao Guang’s position in White Lotus Cult was the Right Protector.

“Speak.”

“The situation is not good. The Taoist Zhang Sanfeng wields his sword as if it were alive.”

“…They might break the agreement and attack us.”

It was certainly a sincere admonition.

The leader of the Blood Sword Squad sincerely regarded Zhao Guang as his lord.

“You are lying, Squad leader.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Speak clearly. Aren’t you worried that I might be killed by that Taoist?”

The Blood Sword Squad leader said nothing.

Because it was true.

Even if the Sky Shattering Divine Demon was a shining rising master like a star.

Even if he was an outstanding figure to open a new era, he was still young.

And there were figures in the Central Plains as well.

The Taoist Zhang Junbao, also called Zhangfeng Jin-in, was a Wudang Taoist and currently the best in the world.

A Taoist strong enough to be considered the greatest of all time.

He personally stepped forward to stop the demon Zhao Guang.

The martial artists of Central Plains who feared the Sky Shattering Divine Demon finally rejoiced at the prospect of the young demon’s death.

The Sky Shattering Divine Demon did not refuse Zhang Sanfeng’s request for a duel.

The Blood Sword Squad leader bowed once more and advised.

“Please reconsider…”

“Shut up!”

An overwhelming dense killing intent burst forth from the Sky Shattering Divine Demon.

That momentum was hard even for the expert Blood Sword Squad leader to withstand.

The old broken house’s door curtains trembled, and the lamp’s flame flickered precariously.

The Sky Shattering Divine Demon passed the sweating Blood Sword Squad leader and slammed the door open to step out.

Then he saw his subordinates waiting outside.

Those who came to rescue the demons detained in the Central Plains all bowed simultaneously.

“Follow me! We leave immediately!”

If the Sky Shattering Divine Demon died to Zhang Sanfeng, all who followed him would die too.

But if he returned alive.

The Sky Shattering Divine Demon would surely become the new White Lotus Cult leader, or rather, the Demon Cult leader.

At that time, Zhao Guang was like a wild dog.

He exuded uncontrollable killing intent, and his mind was filled with madness from his unfortunate past and his harsh life in the White Lotus Cult.

Zhao Guang was now the Sky Shattering Divine Demon before being the deposed crown prince.

But no matter how much he changed, one thing remained unchanged.

That was his “memory.”

The fragile memories of his childhood remained intact in the Sky Shattering Divine Demon’s mind.

A spring day, the imperial palace of Kaifeng.

The day when flowers bloomed profusely and he played in the garden with mountain birds.

The time he scraped his knee and cried loudly.

The memory of the crown princess, his mother, crying like a child with him for some reason.

Hiding behind his father’s robe to pay respects to the emperor.

In his memories, he was still young and weak.

Though he never told his subordinates.

In fact, Zhao Guang had met Zhang Sanfeng.

It would be more accurate to say he saw him rather than met him.

While the crown prince chatted with Taoist Zhang Sanfeng and his ministers, young Zhao Guang hid behind his mother’s skirt, just watching.

The shy boy secretly observed the renowned Taoist from behind the skirt.

Zhang Sanfeng, smiling and talking with the crown prince, glanced and met Zhao Guang’s eyes.

Zhang Sanfeng gave a sly smile, so Zhao Guang quickly looked away and hid.

He didn’t know what they talked about that day, but it was surely friendly.

After the crown prince died, Zhao Guang’s mother tried to send her child to Wudang Mountain.

The crown princess trusted the shamans and Zhang Sanfeng that much.

Although Zhao Guang fled to White Lotus Cult instead of Qudang and became a demon, eventually dueling Zhang Sanfeng.

In this cruel fate, Zhao Guang could only imagine.

What would his fate have been if he had fled to Wudang Mountain in Hubei instead of Xinjiang?

Would he have served as a Taoist under Zhang Sanfeng’s protection?

A demon and a Taoist, such a tragic crossroads of fate.

However, Zhao Guang did not regret not going to Wudang.

His mother trusted Wudang and Zhang Sanfeng.

But Zhang Sanfeng betrayed that trust.

The mortal enemy who killed Zhao Guang’s father and mother.

The current emperor who usurped the throne granted rank to Zhang Sanfeng.

Zhang Sanfeng knelt and bowed to the usurper and accepted the rank.

In return, Wudang were exempted from taxes for a hundred years…

When he met that Zhang Sanfeng again.

The Sky Shattering Divine Demon could only bare his fangs.

“Bow your head, Taoist.”

If he recognized Zhao Guang, it was a challenge to speak through his open mouth.

The atmosphere turned cold as the young demon spoke to the greatest Taoist.

“Ho…”

When Zhang Sanfeng gave a hollow laugh.

The Sky Shattering Divine Demon thought Zhang Sanfeng surely did not recognize him.

But what came from Zhang Sanfeng’s mouth was…

“Sky Shattering Divine Demon Zhao Guang. You expect me to show respect to the deposed crown prince?”

“No, not just the crown prince, but the crown prince’s son, should I say?”

Zhang Sanfeng recognized Zhao Guang.

That fact made Zhao Guang furious inside.

“…Impudent bastard.”

But only a dizzying word came out.

Thus began the bitter fate between him and Zhang Sanfeng.

A tragic enmity.

That day, the Sky Shattering Divine Demon almost died but survived by Zhang Sanfeng’s mercy.

The Sky Shattering Divine Demon became the Heavenly Demon, and their next duel ended in a draw.

The final third duel never took place.

Only the news of Zhang Sanfeng’s end was heard secondhand.

It was said he exterminated the evil dragon and ascended to immortality.

When the Heavenly Demon heard the news, he showed no particular reaction.

A strange feeling.

Emptiness, resentment, disgust, and inexplicable jealousy.

He swallowed those feelings without showing them.

Then the Heavenly Demon, in the Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley of Kunlun Mountains.

Finding Zhang Sanfeng’s trace was truly a coincidence.

Standing before the valley, the Heavenly Demon heard Zhang Sanfeng’s voice.

「Zhao Guang, come in.」

The Heavenly Demon had his subordinates wait at the valley entrance.

Then he entered deep into Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley alone.

What awaited the Heavenly Demon inside was…

「A trap.」

The Heavenly Demon told Yi-gang.

Yi-gang frowned instead of replying.

“What kind of trap?”

Zhang Sanfeng ascended as an immortal but chose to remain on earth as a mere spirit.

His mission was to finish the unfinished third duel with the Heavenly Demon.

More precisely, to stop the Heavenly Demon’s ambition…

Could it be that the honorable Zhang Sanfeng deceived the Heavenly Demon and set a trap?

「The Northern Dipper Lord brought his Seven Star Gods and waited for me.」

The Northern Dipper Lord is a powerful immortal of the Heavenly Realm.

He was waiting for the Heavenly Demon, a mere human.

「His plan was to kill me and drag my spirit to the Heavenly Realm’s prison.」

“What… is that?”

Knowing Zhang Sanfeng’s character, he wouldn’t rely on others’ power to deal with the Heavenly Demon.

Yi-gang, about to deny it, was startled.

Inside Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley, the place where Zhang Sanfeng sat was the Seven Star Altar.

The power Zhang Sanfeng used when possessing was the starlight power residing in that altar.

And the Northern Dipper Lord is the deity governing the Big Dipper constellation.

「I defeated the Northern Dipper Lord and escaped that trap.」

If the Northern Dipper Lord was really there, it means the Heavenly Demon defeated even a Heavenly Realm immortal.

「The Heavenly Realm knows my hatred culminates at the Evil Cult, an ancient evil. Yet they stopped me. What does that mean?」

The Heavenly Demon said mockingly.

「The Heavenly Realm never intended to stop that evil god’s group. It’s always been so. And Zhang Junbao will obey the Heavenly Realm’s orders.」

The Heavenly Demon pointed at Yi-gang with his finger.

「If you keep opposing them, someday the Heavenly Realm will act. Then Zhang Junbao will…」

And he was certain.

「He will stop you.」

Yi-gang’s stiff expression became rather calm.

The Heavenly Demon seemed displeased by that.

「Is it because you haven’t seen it that you don’t believe?」

「Fool!」

The Heavenly Demon suddenly got angry.

Such an emotional display was rare.

But Yi-gang felt even more certain seeing the Heavenly Demon like that.

“I have been with Zhang Jin-in for a long time. Isn’t that better than blindly believing your words?”

「…Heh heh.」

The Heavenly Demon laughed briefly.

「Kill the cult leader. Then seize the cult leader’s symbol and enter the underground of the Cult Leader Hall. There, weapons capable of killing the Evil Cult’s bishops and bleeding the evil gods will be prepared.」

「It took hundreds of years to prepare that. I tore my soul to delay death to buy that time.」

If it is true.

If that mighty the Heavenly Demon tore his own soul for something great.

It might be possible.

「After obtaining the cult leader’s symbol, take it and head to the Central Plains. Stop the needless bloodshed of war and eliminate the evil gods’ bishops.」

Stopping the war and exterminating the Evil Cult.

The Heavenly Demon Plaque vibrated loudly and Zhang Sanfeng’s spirit form suddenly appeared.

「Zhao Guang-!」

It was Zhang Sanfeng, whose spirit was briefly scattered by the Heavenly Demon’s ambush.

His face was flushed red and twitching, hardly giving the impression of someone who would set a sinister trap.

The Heavenly Demon smirked in response.

「Want to repay me?」

「Bring it on!」

The Heavenly Demon and Zhang Sanfeng began their duel.

Normally, when they fought, the sky would collapse and the earth sink, but as spirits, that would not happen.

Just before they clashed again, the Heavenly Demon glanced at Yi-gang and said.

「While teaching your younger brother demonic arts, you should watch and learn too.」

Zhang Sanfeng looked alternately at the Heavenly Demon and Yi-gang.

「With such weak skills, you won’t dare to rampage. Keep your eyes wide open and learn.」

「Why are you suddenly showing kindness!」

Zhang Sanfeng couldn’t understand why the Heavenly Demon wanted to help Yi-gang learn.

But it was pointless to ask.

The Heavenly Demon attacked Zhang Sanfeng once more.

Zhang Sanfeng met the attack without holding back.

The martial arts of these two, who contended for the title of the greatest of all time, unfolded before Yi-gang.