The one who kills the most Grand Masters will become a candidate to succeed Majeon's Sect Leader!
Most of the Demon Warriors standing below the altar were reeling with shock and astonishment. Though they had mastered the supreme techniques of the Ten Demonic Sects, they had been shunned by the sects’ established powers and successors. And now, to think that the successor to Majeon's Sect Leader could be chosen from among the Demon Warriors?
“As is known, Majeon's Sect Leader has yet to name an heir,” Deung Ryun continued in a low voice. “That’s why he initiated the Ten Demon Warriors plan.”
Another shocking revelation poured from Deung Ryun’s lips.
“He seeks an heir who possesses the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects but is free from their influence.” Majeon was a coalition formed by the Ten Demonic Sects.
Historically, its lord had always been chosen from among the sects’ warriors. But the current Demonic Heaven Emperor was someone entirely unaffiliated with the Ten Demonic Sects. Thus, even as the supreme figure of the demonic path, he could not completely ignore the sects’ influence.
“You have each mastered the supreme techniques of the Ten Demonic Sects, but you are not their disciples. In other words, you are neither swayed nor controlled by the powers entrenched within them.” Deung Ryun glanced at Bu Eunseol, who stood silently at the back. “Of course, some have broken free from those constraints.”
‘Some…’ A brief glint flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes. Deung Ryun’s words implied that, aside from himself, others had been offered the position of successor by the Ten Demonic Sects.
‘That makes sense.’ This partially explained why so few Demon Warriors had shown up.
“You just said that the one who kills the most Grand Masters will become a candidate for Majeon's Sect Leader’s successor…” Yeong Munho stepped forward and asked. “Does that mean there are other candidates besides us?”
“Of course,” Deung Ryun replied calmly.
“The legitimate warriors of the Ten Demonic Sects are naturally candidates to lead the fortress as Majeon's Sect Leader’s successor. Those recommended by the Council of Elders can also become candidates. And…” After a brief breath, he continued, “If Majeon's Sect Leader deems someone worthy of leading the fortress, they too can become a candidate.”
In the end, even killing many Grand Masters only granted candidacy, not the succession itself. Yet, the eyes of several young warriors blazed with fervent ambition. Being a candidate for Majeon's Sect Leader’s successor was a status far beyond their current treatment.
“Any more questions?” Deung Ryun asked, scanning the crowd.
“If we’re not bound by methods, are we also not bound by time?” Bu Eunseol raised his voice, asking a question that cut to the core.
If time wasn’t a constraint, there would be no need to hastily confront the Grand Masters.
“Of course not,” Deung Ryun replied, looking at Bu Eunseol with a cold smile. “You have, at most, four months to avoid killing a Grand Master.”
After a brief pause, he continued, “If you fail to fight a Grand Master within that time, the fortress’s masters will deem it disobedience and cripple your martial arts.”
“If we fight a Grand Master within four months, does that earn us another four months?”
“Correct,” Deung Ryun said with a faint smile. “But if you defeat a Grand Master in the name of a Demon Warrior, you won’t have the luxury of relaxing for four months.”
All the Demon Warriors, including Bu Eunseol, nodded at this. If they killed a Grand Master as a Demon Warrior, they wouldn’t be able to leisurely bide their time for four months afterward.
Demon Warriors versus Grand Masters.
Their inevitable clash would become an unstoppable bloodbath.
“Any other questions?” After a long wait, no one stepped forward.
Deung Ryun spoke in a solemn, weighty voice, “Majeon's Sect Leader’s command takes effect now. Within the next four months, each of you must eliminate at least one Grand Master.”
Sweeping his gaze over the Demon Warriors once more, he left a final word.
“Good luck.” With that, he turned and vanished into the dark doorway.
“…” Even after Deung Ryun left, a deathly silence hung over the hall.
The martial world was unpredictable, but this was far beyond anyone’s expectations.
“At least this time, we’re not enemies.” Yoo Unryong’s arrogant voice broke the silence. “No need to fight each other to the death like on Hell Island.”
Seok Woo-Haeng smirked at his words.
“You’re more naive than I thought.”
“What?”
“Killing a Grand Master is hard, but eliminating competitors is easy.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Yoo Unryong demanded, his eyes blazing.
Seok Woo-Haeng closed his eyes briefly before opening them and saying, “From today onward, if I assassinate you one by one, I’ll become a candidate without lifting a finger.”
If anyone else had said this, the others in the hall would have dismissed it as a joke. But Seok Woo-Haeng was a Demon Warrior of the Extreme Slaughter Sect.
He had mastered the Strange and Evil Assassination Technique, optimized for killing. Assassinating a master stronger than himself wasn’t impossible.
“Seok Woo-Haeng, do you think you can become the fortress’s successor by doing such a thing?”
“Such a thing?”
“Do you think Majeon's Sect Leader would tolerate such actions?” Seok Woo-Haeng gave a hollow smile as he looked into Yoo Unryong’s bloodshot eyes.
“Yoo Unryong, you’re not just foul-tempered—you’re quite naive.”
“What?”
“The position of Demonic Heaven Emperor, overlooking the demonic world, is one you reach by piling up the corpses of both enemies and allies. Do you understand?”
‘Majeon's Sect Leader himself rose to that position by eliminating competitors.’ That’s what Seok Woo-Haeng meant.
Speechless, Yoo Unryong bit his lip in silence as Yeong Munho sighed and said, “Nothing new about this.”
With a languid smile, he scanned the room.
“We’ve been at odds since Hell Island.” At his words, a sense of desolation flickered in the eyes of some Demon Warriors.
First, they fought to become Demon Warriors… And now, they had to glare at each other to become the fortress’s successor.
“It seems we’re fated to never live under the same sky.” With a deep sigh, Yeong Munho turned and walked out of the hall.
One by one, the remaining Demon Warriors followed, leaving the grand hall. Only Yoo Unryong and Bu Eunseol remained in the vast space.
“Bu Eunseol.”
“Are you going to do this here?” Bu Eunseol looked at Yoo Unryong with an impassive expression.
Since their encounter in the fortress, Yoo Unryong had been radiating killing intent toward him.
“No… I won’t.” Yoo Unryong bit his lip. “I meant to teach you a lesson, but I now realize my skills are lacking.”
“…”
“For the next four months, I’ll train harder. And I’ll take down both the Grand Masters… and you.” As Seok Woo-Haeng had said, Yoo Unryong’s temperament was fierce, but his thoughts and actions were straightforward.
Bu Eunseol couldn’t help but smile at his simple determination.
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“Hmph.” With a cold scoff, Yoo Unryong left the hall.
Even after all the Demon Warriors had departed, Bu Eunseol stood alone in the empty hall. He stared intently into the darkness where Deung Ryun had vanished, as if searching for something.
After gazing into the shadows for a while, Bu Eunseol said, “I’ll take my leave.”
He clasped his hands calmly toward the darkness.
As he turned to leave—
“Ho ho ho.” A hoarse laugh echoed, and a dark figure slowly emerged from the shadows toward Bu Eunseol.
Swish.
The darkness on the floor rose into the air, transforming into the form of a refined old man.
“To detect my presence—truly remarkable.”
The old man stepped closer to Bu Eunseol. Though he stood barely five feet tall, his eyes flashed like ceaseless lightning, and a storm seemed to rage behind him.
‘It’s suffocating.’ It was a presence akin to the fury of Elder Jeok Bung—a supreme aura of absolute power.
“Your name?” At the old man’s question, Bu Eunseol spoke.
“Bu Eunseol, Demon Warrior of Nangyang Pavilion.”
“Bu Eunseol.” The old man gave a faint smile.
But his gaze was so sharp that it seemed to amplify his ferocious aura.
“How did you detect my presence?”
“I didn’t,” Bu Eunseol said cautiously. “I only deduced that the Great Lord of Myeonhon didn’t plan this.”
“This?”
“Summoning the Demon Warriors to the fortress.” Intrigued, the old man nodded.
“Go on.”
“The Great Lord said he summoned us to assign Grand Masters based on our skill levels and to discuss the successor candidacy… but I believe there’s another reason.”
“Another reason?”
“Yes.” Bu Eunseol took a deep breath, meeting the old man’s gaze. “If someone decided to have the Demon Warriors face the Grand Masters, they would surely want to see us in person.”
“So… you deduced I was here?”
“Correct.” The old man stared intently at Bu Eunseol.
His gaze was so deep and sharp that Bu Eunseol nearly summoned his inner energy instinctively.
“Ha ha ha!” The old man burst into hearty laughter and nodded. “Nangyang Pavilion has truly gained an exceptional Demon Warrior.”
“Thank you.”
“But you lied to me.” The old man’s demeanor shifted abruptly, from sage to demon. “Your reasoning alone wouldn’t have revealed my presence.”
His voice carried a chilling edge.
“I’ll ask again. How did you detect my presence?” Bu Eunseol finally spoke honestly.
“You deliberately made a slight sound.”
“Why? Why would I do that?”
“Perhaps… to test if any Demon Warrior could detect it.”
“I tested you?” A glint flashed in the old man’s eyes. But Bu Eunseol calmly met his gaze and bowed.
“If not, how could I have sensed the presence of the Dark King?”
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