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A plain in the Guangdong region.

There, a man knelt, bleeding.

“Cough….”

He pressed his hands against the floor and spat out blood.

Thud-! Dark red blood flowed.

This indicated that the man’s life was nearing its end.

His left arm was grotesquely twisted.

The center of his chest was unnaturally sunken.

The pain was excruciating.

Feeling this, the man laughed.

“Haha….”

The man’s name was Do Mun-gang.

No one called him that anymore, but just a few years ago, he was known as Samaoje.

The Nine Uniquely Cursed Demon, Do Mun-gang.

A Martial Master in the Transformation Realm who turned his opponents into pulp with just nine punches.

He was dying on the ground of Guangdong.

“…What a ridiculous situation.”

Spilling blood, Do Mun-gang lifted his head.

Struggling to raise his gaze, he saw someone standing before him.

Dressed in a martial robe that blended blue and dark colors, arms crossed, the figure looked down at Do Mun-gang.

Seeing him, Do Mun-gang raised his trembling lips into a smile.

“…Didn’t reach him?”

“Close enough.”

A flat voice.

With a somewhat youthful tone, Do Mun-gang smiled in despair.

“…Haha….”

This was a legendary martial art that never missed its target.

No, that was how it had been, yet the person before him had completely shattered that notion.

He barely grazed him.

Was it possible that the martial art he had honed over dozens of years was crumbling against a youth barely over twenty?

“Cough…”

Do Mun-gang chuckled and lowered his head.

He no longer had the strength to lift it.

Beyond his gradually dimming vision, Do Mun-gang asked, “May I ask your name?”

He wanted to know.

The name of the martial artist who had completely dismantled him.

Moreover, he wished to know the name of one who seemed poised to become the greatest of all time.

Do Mun-gang yearned to hear that name.

The youth, his light blue eyes shining, replied, “As for my name, just consider me the third son of the Gu clan.”

“…Gu clan….”

Upon hearing the name, a face flashed through Do Mun-gang’s mind.

It was the beastly man who had cast a binding on him.

They shared the same last name.

Could he be that man’s child?

He had been said to have a son, but the name escaped him.

Yet…

‘…It can’t be….’

He quickly dismissed that suspicion.

That beast wielded fire techniques, yet this young man did not use them.

He had killed him purely in hand-to-hand combat, so he surely wouldn’t belong to that family.

Having resolved his thoughts, Do Mun-gang asked the youth another question.

“Then…do you have a nickname…?”

“A nickname?”

The youth rolled his eyes.

A brief pause.

Or perhaps hesitation.

After a few seconds, the youth introduced his nickname to Do Mun-gang.

“Celestial Demon.”

Upon hearing the nickname, Do Mun-gang pondered.

“…Celestial Demon….”

A demon bestowed by the heavens.

Somewhat arrogant yet perfectly suited to the young man.

Thinking this, Do Mun-gang lowered his head and welcomed death.

“Hmm….”

Thud.

Looking at the deceased Do Mun-gang, the youth shook his hands.

His expression was hardly moved.

Then he drew out a letter from his pocket.

A letter his master had given him as a gift.

The letter bore the seal of the Beggar Clan.

Inspecting the seal, it was indeed the seal of the Beggar Clan’s leader.

The youth had to wear a reluctant expression.

It clearly seemed like an unusual matter.

What kind of ridiculousness had they sent this time?

He already felt uneasy.

As he unfolded the letter to check its contents.

“A.”

The youth widened his eyes upon seeing the first line.

The unexpected message was written there.

– The Shinryong Martial Arts Tournament will be held.

A rather abrupt and unforeseen statement.

Why would this suddenly come up?

It was simply ridiculous, yet the youth couldn’t help but smile for some reason.

Rather, it felt like a blessing.

“I really needed to move soon.”

With that, he roughly folded the letter and tucked it away.

He then gazed up at the sky.

And said, “Now, come down.”

Glaring at the sun, he heard a rough roar from somewhere.

– Kuaaahhhh!

Something raced down from the sky and crashed into the ground.

Immediately, something unknown collided with the earth.

Boom-! Kwaaaaah-!

With overwhelming gusts, dust flew in all directions.

Not long after, when his vision cleared again.

Grrr….

The youth was perched atop a gigantic demon beast adorned with blue scales.

Petting its scales with his hand, the youth said, “First, let’s head home. If it’s late, that old man will throw another tantrum.”

Grrr-!

Upon hearing the command, the beast sprung into action.

Whoosh-!

Moving swiftly as if gliding through the air.

The speed was astonishing.

The surrounding scenery changed in an instant.

As the wind fiercely tousled his hair, the youth repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists, thinking.

‘This should be enough preparation.’

Though it took longer than expected, the foundation was laid.

Now it felt like he could proceed.

Yeah.

It seemed like the time had finally come.

‘Let’s get started.’

It was time to make some real moves.

 

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