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As Zhuge Sa felt the moment of Zhu Rong’s descent, he experienced an excruciating pain that felt as if black flames were burrowing into his brain, burning him alive.

Crackle!

His entire body quickly suffered severe burns, and his flesh melted away like liquid. In agony, as his bones started to char, Zhuge Sa let out a grin. It was all too predictable.

Of course, I knew it would be like this.

As he had tirelessly researched thousands of spells and incantations, the moment Zhuge Sa received the summoning technique from the Three Sovereigns’ Jeon Wook, he instinctively knew it spelled his doom.

There’s no way the Three Sovereigns would give a mortal a summoning spell that could be casually used. Summoning such a powerful entity would mean the residual force takes over the summoner’s mind, and if not controlled, it was obvious that they would meet their end. To prevent that, the Three Sovereigns would need to show consideration, but seeing as they regarded humans as mere insects, that was out of the question.

In reality, this technique had zero defensive magical patterns or circuits for the summoner. Thanks to that, there were no requirements for sacrifices or additional offerings, making it quite simple, but that was solely for the convenience of the Three Sovereigns. In truth, the summoner’s very body served as the offering!

Summoner who calls forth Zhu Rong shall burn in the flames of the Fire God.

Needless to say, this spell would have been practically pointless to teach Baek Woong after his return. While there was a way to use it, currently, it was utterly meaningless. He could stir up trouble in other ways.

However, Zhuge Sa felt fine with this. After all, he was not Baek Woong. With his abilities, he could easily exploit the gaps in this flawed summoning spell.

Burning to death.

Zhuge Sa could sense the moment he reached death’s threshold, feeling his soul begin to detach from his body. Even before his flesh began to melt, life had already ceased to exist within him. Normally, when a living being reaches this moment, their consciousness fades, leaving them with an incredibly frail spirit; however, a master of the Soul Exchange Technique, trained to its peak, could maintain consciousness and manipulate their spirit freely even after death.

His soul formed hand signs as he activated the supreme secrets of the Soul Exchange Technique. Having mastered it to perfection, he possessed unique abilities to cast spells even in spirit form.

Transference!

Pop!

In the next moment, Zhuge Sa’s vision shifted to an entirely different place. He realized he had successfully transferred to a spare body prepared in the hideout’s basement.

This was the ability exclusive to someone who reached the pinnacle of the Soul Exchange Technique—transference.

The ultimate technique allowing one’s spirit to instantly move to a prepped body after death!

Had Zhuge Sa’s achievements been greater, he might have been able to cross dimensional barriers even if another body existed in another world, but that sort of thing was only possible when wielding powers akin to a Demon King. However, there was no doubt that Zhuge Sa was the most perfected master of the Soul Exchange Technique throughout history. Usually, even those reaching the peak of greatness had a failure rate of about 30%.

Of course, Zhuge Yulong could do the same like Zhuge Sa, but in his case, he had reached the extreme of Eight Trigrams Technique, making a similar spell possible. Both brothers had become masters in their respective fields, which meant extremes could connect but had fundamentally different principles; Zhuge Yulong’s method was less efficient and more complex. Nothing in this world was as specialized for controlling the spirit as the Soul Exchange Technique.

As Zhuge Sa arose, still staggering from the previous searing pain coursing through his body, he smiled bitterly at the side effects that faced him.

‘I can’t see.’

Having lost his vision to the Demon King, everything around was pitch black. The magical hearing had also momentarily disintegrated, leaving him utterly uncomfortable. Since this was due to a contract, even transference wouldn’t restore his sight.

Zhuge Sa quickly began reciting a magical incantation.

“Come forth, be my eyes!”

Summoning a familiar as a temporary measure, he regained his sight, though this was just a stopgap solution. The summoned creature constantly drained magical energy, so it wouldn’t last long. In about half a moment, the familiars deployed all over the Divine City would immediately dissipate.

Drip, drip.

Tears of blood flowed from Zhuge Sa’s eyes. The phantom pains of his extensive burns stimulated his conscious mind, delivering a very real suffering to his body. His head throbbed, feeling as if it might split open, and he had the desire to carve out his temples with a knife, yet he chuckled.

“Hehe.”

In the quiet hideout, Zhuge Sa’s dry laughter echoed.

As if his plans were far from over.

The Eight Parts of the Divine Yacha transformed his body and let out a roar.

[Damn it!!]

Crunch!

Despite keeping his human form, his arms had morphed into those of a beast.

She had used her power, but no matter the effort, she couldn’t revert back to her original state in such a short time.

The Eight Parts of the Divine had initially received the blessings of Changhyeol. Thus, they could fight right after being resurrected with their full power. However, the problem was that the fatal injury received while battling the Twelve Joules was inflicted by the Seven Luminaries.

Having succumbed to the Seven Luminaries meant a slower resurrection time, and even after being revived, her original power felt heavily shackled.

Moreover, the greater issue was that she was summoned against Zhu Rong. For some reason, the Eight Parts of the Divine found fighting Zhu Rong exceedingly burdensome. While she desperately wanted to flee, she simply couldn’t.

After all, Gin Nara and the Thief Gang had not yet been revived. If they were resurrected while Zhu Rong was summoned, a horrific disaster would ensue. Yacha couldn’t just let her comrade from the Eight Parts of the Divine be tortured.

‘Damn human!!’

Why had things turned so haywire?

She was sure that they had moved with a great deal of caution. Originally, they had thought that even if scattered, they could handle things easily; yet Gin Nara had specifically chosen to stick together. They had transformed into their original states without dropping their guard. Yet here they were!

Only then did Yacha realize their mistake. They had assumed that no matter how powerful the Twelve Joules were, they would hardly reach the level of overlay techniques, leading to this fiasco. Although he was just a human, utilizing the Seven Luminaries could genuinely amplify one’s power beyond measure!

‘Regardless, this situation is dangerous.’

No matter how strong the Avatar of the Fury King was, she believed she would surely be able to knock it down. The same would apply even if another [Old Ruler] was summoned instead of the Fury King. Since it wasn’t the Avatar or Apostle level, it would be the same.

Without a doubt, there was a special reason the Eight Parts of the Divine couldn’t lose here.

It was nothing less than Changhyeol’s long-planned blessing.

But Zhu Rong was different.

Zhu Rong must not be faced.

Yacha bit her lips tightly and decided to make a rational judgment. She swung her scythe widely and shouted out loud.

[Zhu Rong has arrived!! Don’t help us, everyone else run away!]

Yacha had no choice but to lead the remaining three from the Eight Parts of the Divine to retreat while she stayed back to buy time for the resurrected Gin Nara and the Thief Gang to escape. What could be done in her human form was uncertain, but it was the only option.

Wiying!

Her cursed scythe vibrated, resonating with echoes. Yacha raised her scythe, activating her magic.

Tenth Hell of Earth!

Knife Mountain Hell!

Summon!

Rumble, rumble!

Suddenly around her, the scenery transformed. Her cursed scythe was forged by the master blacksmith of the Underworld, destined to become the property of the Hell’s King, but was bestowed upon her due to a deal with Changhyeol. Essentially, it was a treasure of the Underworld, granting her the power to draw on the forces of hell.

In no time, the area within a five-li radius morphed into a hell filled with countless knife-like trees. Yacha levitated in the air, stretching her hands forward, and from the knife forest emerged countless blades, launching towards the dark cross-mark in the sky.

Slash!

In an instant, the swords of the Knife Mountain Hell flew like a torrential downpour.

Boom!

The chaos twisted around.

[Grr…]

But the dark cross-mark in the sky swallowed the blades as if ignoring them. Despair flooded Yacha as she realized her attacks had no effect, even on the Great Immortal. But real despair came moments later.

Bam!

Before Yacha could scream, she collided with a wall and perished. What killed her was a dark giant’s finger that appeared out of nowhere, spiraling as it was engulfed in blue flames.

Suddenly, the lethargic voice of the summoned giant reverberated throughout the hall.

[I’ll take this one first.]

As the finger slowly drifted away from the Sacred Altar Tree’s remnants, it left behind Yacha’s bloodied body, lying dead like a fly.

Pop!

At that moment, Gin Nara and the Thief Gang’s figures materialized in the air. Resurrected by Changhyeol’s powers, they were taken by surprise at finding the Knife Mountain Hell active and quickly processed the sight of the blue flame giant and Yacha’s corpse.

“No?”

The Thief Gang exclaimed in shock. They were thoroughly familiar with the blue flame giant from the Mythological Age—an entity that haunted their nightmares.

“Zhu, Zhu Rong!! Why?!”

Gin Nara’s face went pale.

“This can’t be… no way!!”

“We have to run!”

They strove to muster their strength to turn into their original forms, but found it increasingly difficult. Gin Nara was flummoxed.

“No… Is it possible the injury from the Seven Luminaries is still affecting us?”

At that moment, the giant’s finger reached out once more, attempting to grab a bug, hesitating as it showed interest.

[Oh… the Seven Luminaries? What’s that?]

“……”

The two remaining from the Eight Parts of the Divine were taken aback. While transforming might allow them to escape, doing so in human form seemed farfetched. They had no idea if this interest from Zhu Rong in the Seven Luminaries was a good sign or a bad one.

The Thief Gang decided to leave everything up to Gin Nara, gazing at him. Gin Nara pondered deeply before addressing Zhu Rong.

“Zhu Rong! We possess the Moon Sovereign and Wood Element.”

[Is that so?]

“And you’re telling me?”

Boom!

The blue flame giant slowly settled down. Zhu Rong used the broken remnants of the Sacred Altar Tree as a makeshift throne, resting his chin upon his hand in a pose of utter arrogance.

[So what do you want from me, you little bugs?]

“Gah! This bastard…”

Feeling utterly infuriated, Gin Nara eventually calmed his emotions and spoke up.

“I’ll hand over the ownership of the Seven Luminaries if you let us go.”

Zhu Rong didn’t immediately respond, choosing instead to change the subject.

[Oh… wait a minute, you’re Gin Nara, right?]

“You know of me?”

[Changhyeol has praised you some. He mentioned that he had the best sage’s soul from Tianzhu under his command… I’ve heard of the other members of the Eight Parts of the Divine at least once.]

“……”

Indeed, Zhu Rong was originally a being of equal rank to Changhyeol, so it was only natural for him to look down upon the Eight Parts of the Divine. Gin Nara considered Zhu Rong’s apparent recognition of him positively and quickly continued his plea.

“Please, I will transfer ownership of the Seven Luminaries! Just let us…”

[Fine.]

“You’ll grant my request?”

Gin Nara’s face lit up. The Thief Gang felt the same relief. Since victory was out of the question, they had to flee, and yet Zhu Rong might actually let them escape!

But then, Bam!

In the next instant, Gin Nara’s robust form burst apart, turning into a bloody mass. Zhu Rong’s finger, extended by his magical power, had squashed his human form.

The Thief Gang realized the situation had just escalated and immediately activated the defensive techniques of Geol-seon to escape from the area.

Drunken Eight Trigrams Step!

Known throughout the Martial Arts world, the legendary open-door technique was executed, and his form swiftly zipped past the Knife Mountain Hell. In the blink of an eye, he covered a distance of around three li. However, Zhu Rong simply stood and cast a sidelong glance, swinging his hand.

Crunch!

“Cough…!!”

What was this? Zhu Rong hadn’t actively pursued the Thief Gang; he merely waved his hand in the air, yet the Thief Gang found themselves caught in Zhu Rong’s grasp. Of course, the Thief Gang understood all too well what had just transpired.

Zhu Rong was a master of manipulation.

Thus, manipulating time and space to capture a mortal was child’s play! That made opposing him with human martial arts utterly futile. Only revealing their true forms and resisting his might could turn the tide. Even so, Zhu Rong was an opponent beyond their ken, and the Thief Gang regretted fighting the Twelve Joules.

‘If only we had all fought together in the beginning…’

Zhu Rong smiled as he looked down at the caught Thief Gang.

[Honestly, every time Changhyeol talked about you guys, it made my stomach turn. Who do you think you are to even think of challenging me?]

“Ugh… ah…!”

Crunch!

The Thief Gang couldn’t utter a single retort. Zhu Rong gripped him so fiercely that despite activating the Protection Energy Technique, his bones and flesh were beginning to separate. As he was being crushed, the Thief Gang suffered in agony, inching closer to death.

Locking eyes with the Thief Gang, Zhu Rong spoke.

[It’s been a while since I’ve come to the mortal realm, and now I’m feeling a bit hungry…]

His gaze held an unmistakable glimmer of hunger.

“……!!”

The Thief Gang’s eyes widened in horror. His body was gradually drawn towards Zhu Rong’s mouth. Realizing what was about to occur, the Thief Gang threw all his strength into a futile struggle.

“Ugh… uh…”

But there was nothing he could do, and moments later, he was consumed by the pitch-black darkness, undergoing unimaginable torment.

Crunch!

Crunch!

After relishing a delightful feast for some time, Zhu Rong appeared genuinely pleased.

[Hmm… of course, there are no Seven Luminaries. It was all just a bunch of nonsense, as expected.]

As he observed the Eight Parts of the Divine, returning to their original forms and soaring towards him, he broke into laughter.

[Hahaha! What a magnificent feast today.]

The Demon King, Zhu Rong, who had once threatened to scorch the world, had truly arrived.

 

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