CHAPTER 411: GWI-RYEONG (GHOST)

Yi-gang defeated the leader of the Demon Cult.

It was an achievement that shook the world upside down.

However, surprisingly, the pursuit of Yi-gang was not that intense.

There are several reasons for this.

First, there is no one in Sky Shattering Island to chase after Yi-gang.

The Demon Cult’s forces have advanced into the Central Plains.

Among those remaining in Sky Shattering Island, only the elders are strong and influential.

However, the previous Demonic masters did not chase assassins for the cult leader.

The cult leader’s tyranny was the same even to the elders.

Most elders were rather pleased.

Some old ones who could not give up their lust for power tried to seize control of the hollowed-out Demon Cult.

Then, what happened to the beheaded corpse of Sun Moon Divine Demon?

Several days had passed since the murder, but his body was left untouched in the same place.

The excuse was that since the cult leader was killed, the scene needed to be preserved and investigated.

A few elders inspected and rummaged through the corpse, but no one took responsibility.

The man once considered the strongest in the Central Plains was rotting away like that.

His originally bloated belly swelled further from decay.

His dark skin turned pitch black.

The blood spilled on the floor dried sticky.

The room faintly smelled of corpse stench, and no sign of life was felt.

Twitch.

The corpse twitched and moved.

Could the dead Sun Moon Divine Demon have come back to life?

But resurrection of the dead is impossible.

Unless one transcends humanity like the Heavenly Demon.

Creak.

A long worm’s antennae popped out of Sun Moon Divine Demon’s mouth.

Finally, a colorful, splendid body emerged, covered in blood and viscera fluids, revealing a sticky worm’s body.

It was a gu poison worm.

Surprisingly, the Demon Cult’s leader harbored a gu poison worm inside his body.

It resembled the Ghost-Enslaving Gu used by the Evil Cult but was a bit more ornate.

It was a new improved version developed by Mang-hon after a method to detect those infected by the Ghost-Enslaving Gu was developed.

The worm that endured inside the rotting Sun Moon Divine Demon finally escaped.

Gu poison worms are creatures designed to live inside human bodies.

Instinctively, it sought damp and dark places.

However, its legs shriveled when exposed to cold air.

Clicking sound—

With the agonizing sound of its pincers rubbing, the gu poison worm died.

Gu poison worms come in pairs.

They are called the female gu and male gu.

The one Sun Moon Divine Demon harbored was the male gu.

Therefore, the death of that gu was immediately transmitted to the female gu’s owner.

Crossing the river.

Crossing the Great Desert.

To the one who had already reached the Central Plains.

“…Commander.”

At those words, Twin-Headed Demon Brain lifted his head.

His subordinates were looking at him.

Their eyes were filled with curiosity.

“The decision…”

It was understandable.

Demon Brain had bowed his head in thought for a while and remained frozen in that posture.

The silence was unnaturally long.

Demon Brain composed his expression and spoke calmly.

“Since this is serious, how can I reach a decision in haste?”

In truth, he was somewhat surprised inside.

He harbored a female gu inside his body.

Though the gu was tiny, about the size of a thumbnail, it could somewhat control the one harboring the male gu.

Implanting a gu poison worm into Sun Moon Divine Demon’s body was no easy task.

Though he was old, and sick, he was still a demonic martial artist of the Unrestrained Demon Realm, wasn’t he?

It took a full five years.

Still, controlling the Sun Moon Divine Demon like a puppet was impossible.

Only influence enough to agitate his emotions or cloud judgment was possible.

But that Sun Moon Divine Demon died.

“He should have had some lifespan left.”

Though no longer a threat, his death was earlier than expected.

“Commander!”

At that moment, someone shouted loudly at Demon Brain.

Naturally, it was assumed to be Yo Dae-soon, the True Demon Palace Master, but it was not.

Yo Dae-soon, his rival, remained silent.

Instead, it was the Four Heavens Palace Master beside him.

The Four Heavens Palace Master, who had relatively good relations with High Spirit Palace, was grimacing.

“You must make a decision! You, the Commander, hold the command authority!”

The Four Heavens Palace Master had fresh wounds on his face.

It was no ordinary matter that someone who was in the Unrestrained Demon Realm like him was injured.

There must have been a fierce battle.

But the real wound was not physical but to his pride.

“Because of your late deployment, the Four Heavens Palace suffered massive damage!”

The Four Heavens Palace Master took the vanguard role among the three Palace Masters and advanced into the Central Plains.

Though the High Spirit Palace and True Demon Palace also sent demonic martial artists, Four Heavens Palace fought at the forefront.

The Four Heavens Palace Master clashed directly with the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance’s forces.

No matter how transcendent he was, facing many absolute masters of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance was tough.

The Four Heavens Palace Master recently faced a life-threatening crisis.

In that battle, the vice-palace master of Four Heavens Palace was captured alive by the enemies.

That left a deep wound on Four Heavens Palace Master’s pride.

“What does the True Demon Palace Master think?”

Demon Brain suddenly asked Yo Dae-soon’s opinion.

Yo Dae-soon silently nodded.

“If unavoidable, then we just fight and compete. For the glory of the Demon Cult…”

Yo Dae-soon said so and closed his eyes tightly.

Demon Brain almost clicked his tongue unconsciously.

Yo Dae-soon had been strangely different since departing Sky Shattering Island.

He had thought he would rage more after the Heavenly Demon’s soul fragment was stolen, but it was unexpected.

He prayed daily, so he must have lost his mind.

“Pathetic guy. the Heavenly Demon will never return anyway.”

As far as Demon Brain knew, that was true.

The Heavenly Demon briefly revived but ultimately lost his body again.

Having missed one chance, the Heavenly Demon could never fully resurrect.

The prophecy of the Heavenly Demon’s reincarnation was already a closed chapter.

Demon Brain, who further troubled the Four Heavens Palace Master with his thoughtful attitude, finally nodded.

“I, Twin-Headed Demon Brain, Commander of the Demon Cult and proxy of leader Sun Moon Divine Demon, will speak.”

Though ugly and hunched, Demon Brain’s presence filled the hall as he stood.

“All troops, deploy.”

The demons’ faces brightened.

Their demonic art-infused voices were extraordinary.

The repeated small-scale skirmishes around the Kunlun Mountains were unbearably tedious.

Their desire to reclaim the Central Plains.

Their will to restore the Demon Cult’s name.

Boundless hatred to avenge the world that abandoned them.

Or simply strict obedience.

Whatever dwelled in their hearts.

The war had already ignited the demon warriors’ spirits.

“At the Crouching Dragon Basin, ninety meters away.”

Crouching Tiger Basin is a terrain at the edge of the Kunlun Mountains in Qinghai Province.

It was a basin shaped like a coiled dragon.

They chose the central plain as the battlefield.

Choosing the battlefield in advance hinted at how the fierce battle would unfold.

“The method is a pitched battle.”

Pitched battle.

Both sides fight at an agreed place and time.

This suits martial artists’ battles.

Sieges or sporadic guerrilla warfare were insufficient to quench the demons’ thirst.

A pitched battle clashing force against force would fill the basin with blood.

“The great battle will begin!”

Demon Brain stood up from his seat.

In this war, the Demon Cult’s commander was undoubtedly his role.

As Demon Brain walked out, Yo Dae-soon and the Four Heavens Palace Master flanked him.

Behind them followed the protectors, squad leaders, and pavilion masters.

Leaving the temporary command tent,

It was the highest point of the stronghold.

From the highest place, they overlooked all forty thousand demons.

As Demon Brain appeared, someone began beating a drum.

Boom - boom - boom -

The drumbeats filled with vital energy shook the ground with a thunderous sound.

All forty thousand demons raised their heads to look at their leaders.

“Demons!”

And Demon Brain shouted.

His harsh voice echoed loudly.

“Descendants of White Lotus!”

The organization, originating from the White Lotus Cult fanatics, still possessed fanaticism.

“Beasts cast out and abandoned from the fertile Central Plains!”

Hatred, demonic arts, and fanaticism combine to create demons.

“In the spirit of the Heavenly Demon, we will fulfill our long-cherished wish. Burn those scarecrows of the Central Plains!”

Demon Brain raised his hand.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the ground.

“We will open a new world again!”

Then Demon Brain shouted the most famous phrase of the Demon Cult.

Words he himself did not believe.

“Divine Demon Advent!”

Calling for the Heavenly Demon’s resurrection.

Forty thousand demons responded.

“Unrivaled In The World!”

It was a roar like thunder.

The demons cheered, and the drumbeats grew louder.

All the mountain animals fled in fear, and thousands of mountain birds took flight at once.

In that storm of fervor, Demon Brain smiled slyly, looking down at the ground.

They would gladly shed blood.

Not only their own blood but also that of countless enemies.

And that was exactly what Demon Brain desired.

Even the senior commanders were intoxicated by this fervor.

Demon Brain heard someone’s voice.

A voice no one else could hear.

It was not a transmission but a voice from someone not present here.

Inside Demon Brain’s ear canal, a small parasitic bloodsucking worm resided.

It transmitted Mang-hon’s voice, who was preparing his consciousness far away.

-Hey.

Demon Brain smiled gently and stepped back slightly.

The enthusiastic demons’ cheers remained loud.

-The ritual is being prepared. About a day should suffice.

Though Mang-hon and he were not on good terms, cooperation was vital for this long-standing plan.

The cooperation of the three Cardinals.

-Your disguise suits you well; that ugly nature fits that appearance perfectly, Gwi-ryeong1.

Gwi-ryeong.

That was the true identity of Twin-Headed Demon Brain.

More precisely, he wore the appearance of Twin-Headed Demon Brain.

The real Twin-Headed Demon Brain’s corpse was fed to the Great Desert Yellow Dragon that once roamed the Great Desert…

-Let’s meet again, hehehe.

Mang-hon’s voice cut off.

Gwi-ryeong’s facial muscles twitched slightly.

This time, having reincarnated as a woman, transforming into a unique appearance like Demon Brain was difficult.

The disguise’s precision must not falter.

Gwi-ryeong forced a smile.

The success of the grand plan was imminent.

And Dam Hyun.

Dam Hyun and his group finally entered the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance’s territory.

Since the alliance recently fought the Four Heavens Palace Master, injured and dead bodies were seen everywhere.

Go Yo-ja announced their survival as the group’s representative.

Those taken to the Demon Cult.

The fact that those presumed dead had returned caused a huge stir.

It was such a big deal that Iron-blooded Merciless Baek Ryu-san, the leader of the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance, and the leadership stopped their meeting and rushed out. ℞𝖆ℕộ𝖇Ë𝙎

And the one to greet them was Dam Hyun.

Baek Ryu-san was approaching ahead.

The man always calm and called Iron-blooded had lost his composure.

“They came back alive! My sons—! They returned!”

His expression betrayed his turmoil.

Dam Hyun felt rare and great embarrassment.

How should he say that Yi-gang and Hajun had not returned?

“This is going to be difficult…”

He resented Yi-gang.

1. TL/N: Gwi-ryeong means Ghost Spirit ️