The Ruler of Darkness

Book 2: Chapter 7

“What do you think of the demonic qi¹?”

The once esteemed elder immortal who had fallen from grace asked Yeon So-Hyeon.

“Demonic qi, you say…”

Yeon So-Hyeon stroked his chin.

“Frankly, there’s no other energy that has been less studied than demonic qi. It is overwhelmingly powerful in a dominating way, yet it’s inherently wicked, corrupting human nature. Other than this, people hardly know anything about it.”

He wondered if the followers of demonic doctrine or those related to demonic qi might have more information.

Even the Luoyang Sword Family, famous for zealously collecting all information related to martial arts, lacked foundational knowledge about demonic qi.

Even Yeon So-Hyeon, who had reached an almost pinnacle stage in the study of martial arts, knew very little about demonic qi.

The old man soon chuckled, “People think that just as martial artists control energy, demonic followers control demonic qi. But that’s a profoundly misguided belief.”

“Is that so?”

The old man summoned demonic qi with a wave of his hand.

“This energy doesn’t originate from the world you know.”

Yeon So-Hyeon’s eyebrows twitched.

There had always been a few fields that fundamentally resisted thorough research.

Ghosts, the netherworld, talismans, sorcery, Daoist arts, immortal techniques, Buddhist methods, and immortal principles. They were considered, by many, to exist only in the realm of imagination.

Some referred to these fields as mysticism or metaphysics.

“Demonic qi is a force flowing in from the external universe beyond our reach.”

Yeon So-Hyeon couldn’t fully grasp the statement but could understand its context.

“Demonic qi erodes, corrodes, and distorts our universe and reality.”

* * *

The flames, which were lit everywhere by the members of the Black Bone Faction in anticipation of night battles, started to dim.

The idea of flames dimming was inconceivable, yet it was happening.

The torches they held no longer illuminated their surroundings adequately.

The shadows deepened, and the night grew darker.

“Ugh…”

One by one, sighs and groans began to escape from the lips of the Black Bone Faction members, who until recently were so brave that they seemed possessed by madness.

Forgotten wounds began to ache again.

The dread of mortality returned.

The spell used by Geumju was nullified by the demonic qi stemming from Yeon So-Hyeon.

Members of the Black Bone Faction began to step back, clutching their wounds.

The fierce wind felt as cold as a snowstorm, chilling them to the bone.

Above all, the gaze from the white-masked figure atop the tower was overwhelmingly terrifying.

“Damn it…”

Geumju suppressed the primal fear rising within her.

With a surge of her inner energy, she shouted.

“Those who flee will die! Fight!”

However, her echoing voice had an unintended effect.

“Run!”

“A demon! A demon has appeared!”

The battle formation of the Black Bone Faction members crumbled as if it had never existed.

Fear paralyzed their reason, and everyone began to flee.

Some threw away their weapons and ran. Some chanted the names of their deities. Some even ran towards their enemies whom they had been fighting against just moments ago.

“What do we do now?!”

A recovering officer of Crescent Moon Pavilion shouted to Se-ah.

“All units, hold your positions!”

Even if Se-ah hadn’t commanded that, most were already too demoralized to act.

Even the elite combatants of Crescent Moon Pavilion, seasoned through real combat, were reluctant to engage the fleeing enemies.

But Yeon So-Hyeon, the chosen one of Dark Heavens Scriptire, had no intention of letting them go easily.

“The curtain has been raised, so the characters can’t simply exit at will.”

During the previous ambush in the cave, he had intentionally left a few members of the Black Bone Faction alive to foster fear within the faction. Now, he had no such reservations.

[Stop right there.]

His will was infused with demonic qi, and his command echoed, ruthlessly eroding reality.

A member of the Black Bone Faction, who had been fleeing with tears streaming down his face, fell to the ground. 

He saw a white hand clutching his ankle.

“Aaah…”

He tried to kick it off with his other foot.

However, dozens more hands rose and gripped him firmly.

[Die right there.]

As soon as the command was given, those with weak resolve died instantly. Blood flowed from every orifice of their face as they collapsed headfirst to the ground.

It was instant death.

Those who resisted even slightly, one by one, had their brain vessels burst and their hearts exploded to death.

To the chant infused with the magical power of Dark Heavens Scripture, it was nearly impossible for ordinary people without inner energy to resist.

Members of the Black Bone Faction, who had infiltrated every alley, were dying and collapsing all around in an instant.

“…Oh, Primeval Heavenly Lord².”

Facing this surreal spectacle, the commander on the spot from Crescent Moon Pavilion sought his deity.

He had served in the rough battlefields of the North and spent more than half his life there.

He had seen several bizarre phenomena suspected to be the doing of the shaman tribes.

He had witnessed rice grains turning into maggots right before his eyes after a draining battle, and he had seen the entire skin of soldiers infected with an unknown disease becoming covered in boils.

But none of the terrifying sorceries he had seen was as eerie and fearful as the phenomenon unfolding before his eyes now.

“Look over there!”

Se-ah looked in the direction the lieutenant pointed.

“Corpses…?!”

Not just her, but everyone witnessing the scene couldn’t believe their eyes.

From the deep shadows on the ground, pale hands sprouted, pulling the dead bodies.

The corpses pulled by these hands sank into the shadows on the ground, into their own silhouettes.

Growls could be heard emanating from the shadows that swallowed the bodies.

Some shadows seemed to howl.

At this scene that defied all reason and exceeded common sense, some of the Crescent Moon Pavilion members slumped down on the spot.

Some vomited, while others burst into tears.

‘Is this why…’

Seeing this, Se-ah realized why there were no corpses left at the site of the Black Bone Faction that had been attacked by the Sovereign of Dark Heavens.

‘What on earth…’

With trembling eyes, she looked back at the top of the tower.

“Pray, you should pray to the indolent heavens!”

The monster wearing a white mask burst into manic laughter.

“I have come here called by the innocent souls you tormented and killed!”

His laughter seemed to shake the thick clouds covering the sky.

The surviving members of the Black Bone Faction all met death at that laughter.

Se-ah’s knees wobbled, but she barely held on.

Until she saw him in person, she had analyzed him with key figures of Crescent Moon Pavilion.

He must be a master or someone with superb martial arts skills.

He must have received great assistance from capable allies.

Some even speculated that the rumors about him were exaggerated.

But no prediction or analysis mattered.

He was an entity entirely beyond the norm.

“…That’s the Sovereign of Dark Heavens.”

That was the true form of Yeon So-Hyeon, the eldest heir mocked by the Luoyang family’s swordsmen.

* * *

Geumju had no intention of sitting idly by and letting things happen.

“What on earth are these fools doing?! Attack now!”

From the beginning, no martial artists from Black Bone Faction wielding the black path dared to confront.

They had all been waiting for this very moment.

“Everyone, move!”

Dozens of martial artists from the Black Bone Faction and hastily summoned black path martial artists simultaneously revealed themselves, using lightness skills.

Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, their appearance was enough to intimidate anyone.

“There were that many martial artists in the Black Bone Faction?”

Se-ah was shocked at the sight.

“It seems to be twice the number than our intel indicated.”

Even the field commander couldn’t hide his surprise.

With that many martial artists, they would have enough power to go against even the most elite of opponents.

Moreover, isn’t Geumju with them?

Although an enigmatic figure with unknown origins appeared, wielding strange powers beyond reason, the enemy’s strength was not to be underestimated.

“We need to help…”

“There’s no need, Miss.”

It was Gyu who stopped Se-ah.

Supported by the agents, the sight of her made Se-ah turn pale.

“Gyu!”

“I’ve returned safely.”

Gyu managed a faint smile.

Though she looked a mess, her injuries didn’t seem severe.

Se-ah, helping Gyu sit on the ground, asked, “What do you mean there’s no need to help?”

“That thing, no…”

Gyu shook her head to correct herself.

“The Sovereign of Dark Heavens is a true monster.”

“But they have Geumju, a pinnacle of martial arts…”

“Trust me on this.”

Se-ah felt a shock looking at Gyu.

Even in front of Geumju, Gyu had always shown confidence.

Even facing impending death, she never flinched.

Yet, deep in her eyes was an unmistakable fear.

“He is a being where concepts like surpassing limits don’t apply. I can sense it. I’ve seen many masters.”

Everyone around was keenly listening to Gyu.

“If I were to face him…”

Gyu gave a bitter smile.

“I probably wouldn’t last a second.”

“What are you…”

Before anyone could question further, a tremendous aura erupted from behind them.

As if all the previous auras were just a joke, centered around the Sovereign of Dark Heavens, an explosive aura burst forth.

“Look over there!”

Following someone’s shout, all eyes turned to the tower where the Sovereign of Dark Heavens stood.

Their jaws dropped.

“……!”

Those who swiftly scaled the tower launched relentless attacks, but it was they who were repelled.

The Sovereign of Dark Heavens’s attacks were barely visible.

Each time something resembling a black lightning flashed, one from the Black Bone Faction was flung out from the tower.

From mid-air, limbs were severed, and entrails flew.

The vicinity of the tower’s top was almost shrouded in a mist of blood.

“He’s… a real monster…”

At someone’s words, Gyu nodded.

“It’s only the beginning. From what I see.”

She added, “He hasn’t even shown his true strength yet.”

At her calm statement, everyone else was left speechless, only staring at the scene atop the tower.

It was a one-sided massacre.

1. Qi means energy[↩]
2. It’s Yuanshi Tianzun, one of the highest deities in Taoism and also an overseer of Heaven and Earth.[↩]