Chapter 155
Guilin boasted such beautiful landscapes that its mountains and waters were even called the finest under the heavens. Within it was Mount Yao, where six middle-aged men sat around inside a pavilion on one of its high cliffs that seemed specifically made to prevent humans from approaching. Although the construction of a pavilion on it was already an amazing feat in itself, the six middle-aged men even managed to reach it. Those who didnt know any better would have mistaken them for deities.
However, they were far from being deities. After all, they were some of the Nine Celestial Demons Sects Nine Great Demon Kings. The pavilion they were in was simply one of the places the Nine Great Demon Kings used for meetings.
You all likely had a hard time getting here, Heavenly Killer Divine Demon Dok Go-Seong, who convened the meeting, greeted the five other Demon Kings out of courtesy.
I received news that the Thunder Gods successor has dealt heavy damages to the Heavenly Killer Sect and the Underworld Sect. It is a shame to hear that, Myriad Tribulations Divine Demon Hon Won-Pae, leader of the Myriad Tribulations Clan, said. However, contrary to his empathetic words, he had a scornful smirk on his face to mock the Heavenly Killer Sect and the Underworld Sect.
In response, the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon and Underworld Divine Demons expressions noticeably stiffened. If they got angry and things went south, things could get ugly.
The Heavenly Killer Sect and the Underworld Sect are the ones suffering now, but it could be us next time. We have to deal with the Thunder Gods successor before that happens. Invincible Divine Demon So Geuk-Sang intervened at the right time, changing the topic to the issue revolving around the Thunder Gods successor.
How do you plan to kill the Thunder Gods successor? Asura Divine Demon Seob Go-Won asked.
Eliminating him will be difficult using the Demonic Monarchs alone. However, if we, the Divine Demons, head into battle as well, killing him will be more than just a possibility, Geuk-Sang replied.
The Thunder Gods successor single-handedly killed six Absolute-Realm masters all at once, including the Heretical Emperor Hall Patriarch and five of the Heavenly Killer Sect and the Underworld Sects Demonic Monarchs. If the Three Great Slayer Kings, who were also with them, did not escape, they would have all died too. I doubt any of us can do that. In other words, even if we personally take action, well still have trouble defeating him, Go-Won skeptically replied.
The other Divine Demons couldnt deny that he had a point. The Thunder Gods successor had to at least be at the Supreme Realm to exert the power he showed while fighting the Heretical Emperor Hall. The Divine Demons were somewhere between the Absolute Realm and the Supreme Realm. With their current martial prowess, they could still defeat six Absolute-Realm masters and twenty Upper-Peak-Realm masters, but that would come with considerable risk. They couldnt display overwhelming power like Baek Mu-Gun.
Most importantly, Mu-Gun likely didnt show his full power against the Heretical Emperor Hall. Taking that into consideration, it was impossible to defeat Mu-Gun without first reaching the Supreme Realm.
The Asura Divine Demon is not wrong. Just take the previous Divine Demons as an example. They all reached the Supreme Demonic Realm, but they still failed to defeat the Thunder Gods successor. Even if we join forces, killing him would still be difficult since we have not even reached the Supreme Demonic Realm yet, Underworld Divine Demon Jong Ja-Ryang added in agreement with Go-Won.
We Divine Demons certainly would not be enough, but we can just mobilize all the Demonic Monarchs and the Higher Demons as well, Blood-Crazed Divine Demon Hyeok Ryeon-Pae commented.
We may be able to kill the Thunder Gods successor if we mobilize all the martial arts masters ranked Higher Demon and up. However, that would also bring us heavy losses. If we suffer huge damages in this situation where we have to be wary of the Nine Prominent Sects and the Seven Great Families, we could once again fail to achieve our great mission to conquer murim.
If we leave the Thunder Gods successor alone, the losses we will suffer in the future will just keep growing. He has already dealt us enormous damages. If were bound to suffer losses anyway, its better to kill him now. Ryeon-Pae held his ground.
Even so, I am still opposed to attacking the Thunder Gods successor with only the six factions gathered here. If that results in enough casualties to make it difficult for us to recover, the three major factions outside the border could benefit from it. I do not want to do something that will only benefit others, Won-Pae said in a displeased tone.
It will give you the achievement of killing the Thunder Gods successor, the sworn enemy of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect.
What use will I have for that if we lose our forces in the process? We have to prioritize protecting our forces. Amassing accomplishments only come second to that.
The other Divine Demons did not stand by and just listened to him run his mouth, especially those who had already suffered huge losses.
As you know, the other three factions are concentrating on absorbing the forces outside the border. They are not relaxing around either. However, arent you being too narrow-minded by using them as an excuse to not attack the Thunder Gods successor? Invincible Divine Demon So Geuk-Sang criticized Won-Pae.
You should take the lead in eliminating the Thunder Gods successor, then, Invincible Divine Demon. I wonder if you can still say that once youve lost all your Demonic Monarchs and Higher Demons. Won-Pae snorted, then said, Either way, it remains questionable whether the other three factions will recognize and respect the achievements that the Invincible Clan has accomplished.
The Nine Celestial Demons Sect has failed to conquer murim time and time again despite possessing great power because we, the nine factions, keep prioritizing their own interest. If we do not change that, we will face the same outcome this time as well, Geuk-Sang, his voice seemingly filled with regret.
The Invincible Divine Demon is right. We are all part of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect. We can compete between ourselves after conquering murim, Ja-Ryang added.
That changes nothing. After conquering murim, we will all be fighting for the position of the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens. In preparation for that, you all will probably try to put the other factions in danger and conserve your own forces. The accomplishments made in the process of conquering murim are considered when deciding on who the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens should be, but no matter how many accomplishments you have, do you think the other factions will recognize any of those when most of your forces are gone? You would have done all the hard work yet got nothing. All the credit would go to someone else. Won-Pae held firm.
So youll just keep thinking about nothing but yourself?! The Invincible Divine Demon raised his voice, unable to suppress his anger any longer.
Well only proceed with this if a truly powerful Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens takes command of us. Only then will the nine factions truly be able to achieve unity since we will have no choice but to follow their orders.
Everyone present knows that. However, isnt that impossible?
To become the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens, one would have to reach the Celestial Demon Realm first. In the entire history of murim, that feat had only ever been achieved by three peoplethe progenitors of the Three Greatest Demonic Sects. For as long as the Celestial Demon Realm was used as the benchmark, they would never be able to appoint a worthy Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens.
Then why are we not using a realistic method to decide on who should be the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens? Won-Pae questioned.
And what would that realistic method be? the Invincible Divine Demon replied.
Well, is there any other way but to compete in martial arts? The strongest of the Nine Great Demon Kings should assume the position of the Sovereign, shouldnt they?
You want the Divine Demons to compete with each other to decide on who would become the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens? The Invincible Divine Demon was astonished.
Isnt that the most reasonable method?
I wonder if the Divine Demons will truly accept the results of that battle. The Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens status only has meaning when the other Divine Demons truly accept and swear allegiance to them. Having martial arts that are a little stronger than the others is not enough. Unless you show an overwhelming difference in power, then its essentially meaningless, the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon said skeptically.
The difference in skills between the Nine Great Demon Kings was as thin as paper. Victory or defeat could be flipped on any day depending on their physical condition and the compatibility of their martial arts.
That alone was not enough. The Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens had to be so overwhelmingly powerful that others would have no choice but to acknowledge their rule. That was why the Celestial Demon Realm was a requirement to become the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens.
There is no way to make everyone truly acknowledge it anyway. All that matters is honesty. We have to stay true to the rules we set.
If we all stand by our faith, the Myriad Tribulations Divine Demons suggestion would certainly be a reasonable method, the Invincible Divine Demon finally agreed.
Will all the Divine Demons show good faith, though? Go-Won asked with a bitter smile.
The Nine Celestial Demons Sect would have already conquered murim long ago if they did. Even Go-Won himself hated the idea of serving another Divine Demon who became the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens. That was the same for the other Divine Demons.
Considering the trials and errors that we have experienced so far, we have to change our ways now. As long as we keep thinking that no one besides ourselves is worthy to become the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens, the Nine Celestial Demons Sect will never be able to conquer murim. How much longer are we going to live in the dark? Even if we cannot become the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens, shouldnt we at least find satisfaction in the fact that the Nine Celestial Demons Sect will finally conquer murim? the Invincible Divine Demon replied, seemingly appealing to the others.
The other Divine Demons could relate to what the Invincible Divine Demon said. However, they still could not bring themselves to acknowledge someone else other than themselves. A few words would not be enough to change their mindset. If that was the case, they would have already achieved unity long ago.
Lets think about this matter a little more. It is not something we can decide on our own anyway, the Heavenly Killer divine Demon suggested, and the rest of the Divine Demons nodded in agreement.
Are we really going to leave the Thunder Gods successor alone? Go-Won returned to their original discussion.
Our sect has finally completed the creation of the Soul-Burning Invincibility Pill, the Invincible Divine Demon said. We were planning to give the pills to the three outlaw groups to attack the Great Namgung Family, but why dont we change the target of that plan to the Loyal Heart Alliance instead?
Even if they consume the Soul Burning Invincible Pill, they still wont be able to destroy the Loyal Heart Alliance with their forces alone, the Heavenly Killer Divine Demon argued.
The martial arts masters of the six factions here can change that by joining them.
As I have already said, if the three factions who are currently beyond the borders do not join, I will not participate either. Won-Pae backed out again.
Arent you crossing the line just because the Thunder Gods successor has dealt the least damage to your clan? Go-Won countered, unable to withstand Won-Paes selfish behavior.
We were only able to conserve our forces because we moved with caution. If we followed our greed as someone else did, we would have suffered more losses.
Are you done running your mouth? Go-Won, who obviously knew who Won-Pae was talking about, let his killing intent leak out.
To be honest, I suspect that you are trying to make the other factions suffer the same losses your clan has, Won-Pae taunted, showing no concern toward Go-Wons killing intent.
So you think conserving your forces is good enough even if it means the other factions suffer any losses or not? Are you trying to fish in troubled waters and reap the benefits after the other factions have been beaten down in the process of conquering murim?
How preposterous. Fish in troubled waters? Honestly, what have you all done to conquer murim? By losing everything that you have achieved so far and revealing the existence of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, you have only increased murims wariness. If you were careful, murim would not have discovered the existence of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect, and we would have been able to steadily grow our power in the dark. In turn, we would have conquered murim more easily. Were in this situation all because of the Asura Cult. If I were you, I would at least take responsibility for my mistakes and perish with the Thunder Gods successor, Won-Pae said.
Stop it, both of you, The Invincible Divine Demon intervened with a sigh. What can the two of you achieve through arguing? This is only further frustrating everyone else.
If I knew things would turn out like this, we would have just focused on our martial arts training and made some progress. That would have made it easier for us to eliminate the Thunder Gods successor, Ryeon-Pae said, glancing at the Myriad Tribulations Divine Demon and the Asura Divine Demon with a deplorable look.
I think it would be better to do that. Lets monitor the situation until the three factions that have ventured beyond the borders return to the Central Plains. Until then, we should focus on conserving our forces, the Invincible Divine Demon said in resignation.
The other Divine Demons also gave up, having judged that achieving unity right now would be difficult. The Divine Demons Summit ended without achieving any outcome. However, they at least heard the assertive suggestion to decide on who should become the Celestial Demon of the Nine Heavens through a martial arts competition, which would allow the unity between the Nine Celestial Demons Sect factions to come to fruition. If that happened, they would finally be able to efficiently conquer murim. They could even end up killing the Thunder Gods successor.
Meanwhile, as the Divine Demons Summit was underway, the previous generations martial arts masters of three of the Nine Prominent Sectsnamely the Wudang Sects Taichi Sword Immortal and Supreme Elder Tae Heo, the Mount Hua Sects Clear Wind Sword Immortal Young Ho-Jung, and the Zongnan Sects Taiyi Sword Immortal Woon Jong-Hakcame out of seclusion. They decided to come out of their long retirement when they heard that the Thunder Gods successor had appeared and that the Nine Celestial Demons Sect could target him.
The three Sword Immortals had a good relationship with Guyang Hwi, the previous Thunder Gods successor. After all, Guyang Hwi was the one who saved their lives in the past. Not having forgotten the grace he showed them, they decided to repay their debt through Mu-Gun, Guyang Hwis descendant.
As soon as they left their respective headquarters, the three immediately headed to Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province.
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