Knowing that his knowledge, which transcended human cognition, could not be completely passed down to a single person, the Demonic Brain raised disciples to inherit that knowledge piece by piece.

Those were the Seven Demonic Wisdom Lords.

Je Geumhak was the bastard who held the title of Fierce Lord among those Seven Demonic Wisdom Lords.

Of all the Seven Demonic Wisdom Lords, it just had to be this guy...

The very bastard who would later play a decisive role in destroying the Murim Alliance by killing the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist, Zhuge Somyeong.

To think I would run right into this guy in this life when I never encountered him once in my past life.

Does this even make statistical sense?

Surely Ilmyeong didn't place a curse on me just because I talked a bit about mind-reading, right?

Otherwise, this shouldn't be happening.

"... Hmm. Just what exactly is your identity? Black Flame Dragon?"

Gun Yuhyeon... no, the Fierce Lord Je Geumhak tilted his head.

"Not only the Twin Shadow Fierce Demon Brigade, but the Devouring Gauntlet and even my identity... Just how did you know?"

"..."

How great would it be if there was a disease that killed people from curiosity. Then I wouldn't have to deal with that bastard.

At my silence, he slowly nodded.

"As expected, you aren't going to answer me, are you?"

CRACK. CRACK.

Je Geumhak straightened his bent fingers and began to gather different types of energy in each hand.

"You will soon want to speak yourself."

Fucking bastards, they said not even Wudang's Two Modes Mental Art could handle two distinct energies so clearly.

But I couldn't just keep voicing my complaints forever.

It wasn't like someone was going to appear and solve this for me just because I complained.

He began to merge the two different energies into one.

Even though the mutually incompatible fire and water energies had met, through some strange harmony, the resulting energy felt even more vast.

It was an incredibly ominous sight, like watching a lit Thunderbolt Bomb.

White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms.

First Form.

'Extreme Speed.'

I used the gap while he took his time to attack him.

My thought was that he wouldn't be able to use the Devouring Gauntlet at least while he was using both hands.

SWISH—

The moment my Sword Qi pierced through the air and was about to cleave his chest.

CLAP!

He clapped his hands together.

At that moment.

VWOOM—

An immense energy shot out, filling the space.

"AAAGH!"

There was no enduring it by using internal energy.

The attack flying in while pushing away the space itself was so incredible that it didn't fall behind even compared to the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Perhaps due to the spatial constraints, the explosion couldn't spread outward and rebounded inward.

The shock of the explosion returning inward felt strong enough to shatter every bone in my body.

'Crazy...'

If Dam-ak took this attack, there was no way he could survive.

I quickly turned my body and shielded Dam-ak from the impact.

"What are you doing..."

Dam-ak looked at me with eyes that couldn't understand what I was doing.

Honestly, I didn't really know either.

If I died here anyway, what did it matter whether Dam-ak survived or died?

But regardless, Dam-ak was the one who had kept the Murim Alliance alive in place of Zhuge Somyeong during that desperate Orthodox-Demonic Great War.

My body had naturally moved toward him.

Beyond my burning back, I heard Je Geumhak's sarcastic voice.

"Trying to save someone who will become an enemy. Is that the chivalry of the Black Flame Dragon?"

Chivalry? Well, had I ever dreamed of being a chivalrous warrior?

I had long abandoned the dream of being a chivalrous warrior around this time in my past life, when my special admission spot was helplessly stolen by Gye Cheolyeong.

"I don't operate on something like chivalry."

Following my will, the Taiyi True Scripture, surging as if in anger, slowly lowered the temperature of my burning back.

Fortunately, thanks to the Heavenly Silkworm Garment I received from Wang Geumsan, the damage was minimal.

A sneer formed on my lips without me realizing it.

"I operate on spite."

Even if Dam-ak became my enemy, if he could screw over the Demonic Cult in my place, I was even willing to lay down my life for him.

"Die, you bastard!"

I pushed him back, scattering the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist with my left hand and the Twin Heaven Sword Art with my right.

Je Geumhak still erected an ice barrier to block the Sword Qi, while simultaneously flicking his fingers to dispel the true sword strikes and fist force hidden within the illusions.

If this kept up, the moment my attacks stopped, he would pour out fireballs and counterattack.

I roughly figured out his fighting style.

CLANG— CLANG— CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG—

The moment fireballs gathered in Je Geumhak's left hand after he dispelled my true sword strikes and fist force, moving exactly as I expected.

I threw the Black Dragon Sword to attack the fireballs while simultaneously stepping with the Taiyi Eighty Thousand Divine Steps to take his back.

The guy who had maintained his composure shouted.

"Did you think I would fall for such a clumsy attack...!"

And the moment he erected an ice barrier and turned his head.

SSSSSS!

I brought out the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand I had prepared with full power and pierced through the ice barrier.

"What is this...!"

"Did you think you were the only one who could handle fire energy!"

The ice barrier instantly turned into steam and vanished under the burning heat of the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand, leaving his chest wide open.

However, when Je Geumhak blocked one of my Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hands with the Devouring Gauntlet, the heat flaring in my hand instantly shrank and disappeared without a trace.

Man, I seriously can't catch a break.

Still...

"I still have one hand left!"

I thrust out my remaining hand with all my might.

The moment one Demon-Extinguishing Hand was blocked by the Devouring Gauntlet and I was about to pierce his heart with my remaining hand.

"Do you think I'll let you do as you please!"

Je Geumhak countered my Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand with the fireball flaring in his hand.

FWOOSH.

The two flames spread out perfectly, as if splitting the space in half.

"What..."

Je Geumhak's eyes wavered in disbelief.

Soon, the immense pressure that started in our hands slipped out of control and exploded in all directions.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM.

I desperately raised my internal energy and protected my face.

I felt the searing heat sweeping across my arms, shoulders, legs, and thighs.

When the bright light faded, the scenery of the revealed space was different from before.

Black hole-like shapes had appeared on the walls where the crimson barriers had been erected, and the interior was filled only with ashes, with nothing left to burn.

I quickly checked my body.

Other than some minor burns, there were no major injuries.

I hurriedly picked up the Black Dragon Sword and checked on Dam-ak's condition.

"Are you okay?"

"..."

As expected, Dam-ak had already fainted.

At least he was still breathing, so it was a reli...

TWITCH TWITCH.

At the sudden presence, I turned my head to look.

"Bullshit..."

Ha, he was still alive?

Je Geumhak's body, which had collapsed after turning into black ash, was twitching.

It didn't stop there.

CRUMBLE CRUMBLE, CRUMBLE, CRUMBLE.

The black ashes fell away one by one as Je Geumhak slowly stood up.

This was really some fucking bullshit.

His lips slowly parted.

"... Huu."

CRACK— CRACK—

Je Geumhak stood up and stretched his body and shoulders.

Although his clothes had all been blown away by the explosion, not a single small burn mark remained on his body.

"The trajectory of this martial art has similarities to our cult's. What is the meaning of this?"

It was incredibly fortunate that Dam-ak was unconscious.

Truthfully, if we died here anyway, what did it all matter?

Regardless, the fact that I was worrying about this at all was proof of my desperate desire to live, wasn't it?

As I subtly looked down at Dam-ak, the wrinkles on Je Geumhak's brow deepened.

"... Are you, perchance, an illegitimate child of our cult?"

This guy was taking things way too far.

"If that is the case, perhaps we should talk more..."

When I remained silent out of sheer absurdity, he seemed to take it as a confirmation.

"You fucking bastard, why are you turning a perfectly normal person into an illegitimate child!"

Once again, an exhausting battle of attrition continued.

He blocked my attacks, and wounds began to appear on my body one by one.

It looked as if our fighting power was similar, but in reality, he seemed to be in a state with no depletion of internal energy.

On the contrary, I had to pour out my internal energy with all my might and exhaust my stamina just to barely defend against his attacks.

'If this keeps up...'

I shook my head while having dark thoughts.

Negative thoughts were of no help in this situation. They would only drain what little energy I had left.

I should rather think good thoughts... good thoughts... which was impossible. Damn it.

At that moment.

BZZZZT.

Through the blackened formation array, a golden light flashed, and a smooth, bald head revealed itself.

"Benefactor Jin... just where is this..."

It was the most welcome bald head in my entire life.

SWISH—

I quickly shot out the Flying Dragon Claw to grab Dam-ak, then threw him toward Ilmyeong.

The bald head, catching Dam-ak in his bewilderment, shouted in a panic.

"B-Benefactor Jin! If you suddenly throw something(?) like this, I won't be able to help..."

You getting out of here is what helps!

Shortly after Dam-ak's body slipped through the gap Ilmyeong had made, the black hole turned crimson red once again.

A sneer came from behind.

"How foolish. Escaping would have given you a higher chance of survival."

Je Geumhak shook his head as if it were a pity.

But I wasn't fooled.

If I got trapped in the formation array while trying to get out, dealing with this guy would have become even more difficult.

There was no way he had set up a formation array he didn't even know himself.

I countered with a sneer of my own.

"Save your crocodile tears."

Because that was their true nature.

* * *

Hyeoltu, who was in Dam-ak's quarters, furrowed his brow deeply.

"Shouldn't we go in? It's already been thirty minutes."

He had come all the way to Dam-ak's quarters at Jin Sowoon's request, but for some reason, Jin Sowoon had only told them to block anyone coming in from the outside.

Tang Seo-hee firmly shook her head.

"Jin Sowoon is not the type of person to give pointless orders."

"Huh?"

Tang Seo-hee, who normally had a blank look in her eyes that made it hard to tell what she was thinking, began taking out various mother-of-pearl bottles and flying daggers from her robes and gripping them in her hands.

Following that, even Ak Byeongbi, who hadn't fully recovered yet, was gripping his iron spear and preparing to fight.

Hyeoltu asked back without realizing it.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Jin Sowoon said that a dangerous person would come here."

"A dangerous person?"

Hyeoltu expanded his energy senses, but those coming and going nearby were nothing more than clumsy Underworld figures.

Yet she said a dangerous person.

FWOOSH.

Just then, Yeom Gwibi startled and began to ignite fire energy in both her hands.

"It's below us."

"Below?"

The moment Hyeoltu lowered his head.

The shadows flickering in the torchlight began to twist into a bizarre shape.

The moment he recognized the anomaly and kicked off the ground.

SLASH SLASH SLASH—

Black blades shot out and attacked the group.

"... These fucking bastards!"

Hyeoltu shook off the blood dripping from his ankle bone and expressed his fury.

However, he didn't just blindly throw a kick like he usually did.

Because he realized from that single exchange just now that these guys were no easy targets.

The blades that had aimed for Hyeoltu's ankles slithered back into the shadows, and then black figures began to ripple and appear around them.

Entities with their entire bodies wrapped in black cloth from head to toe.

The torches flickered and cast their light, but for some reason, nothing could be seen inside the robes pulled over their heads.

"Who goes there!"

"..."

Instead of answering Hyeoltu's growling words, the bastards gave no response at all.

The near-ten figures split in half, trying to enter the formation array.

Hyeoltu and the group quickly lunged at them, but an unexpected attack from the remaining half of the robed figures blocked their path.

"What is this..."

Each of their robes fluttered and expanded, absorbing and deflecting all the fireballs and force strikes.

While Hyeoltu's group's attacks were absurdly blocked.

Half of the robed figures entered the formation array.

"How dare... these bastards!"

Crimson blood energy began to flare on Hyeoltu's bleeding right foot.

Tang Seo-hee, who was keeping her eyes forward by Hyeoltu's side, spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

"We must be careful. Jin Sowoon said they were terrifying foes."

To think that guy, who acted like he left his fear behind at the Murim Academy, called them terrifying foes...

Then again, even though they had only exchanged one move, their techniques were extraordinary.

Hyeoltu felt as if more strength was pouring into his feet than usual.

* * *

I had a great deal of interest in combat methods utilizing formation arrays.

When fighting using a formation array, you can drag the opponent into a board of your choosing.

Gamblers love fleecing suckers on a board they've set up, so would warriors be any different?

Deploying the Boundless Indestructible Soul-Extinguishing Array at the Murim Academy to let people experience formation arrays was also, perhaps, preparation for fighting the Demonic Cult together in the distant future.

While the enemy would be trapped in the formation array, walking step by step toward the gates of hell, our side could freely move in and out of the array to provide support and rescue the injured.

Whether it was an absurd difference in martial prowess or the bizarre nature of sorcery, it had the advantage of being perfectly manageable as long as you set the board up properly.

And seeing what I had only imagined actually being implemented, I could truly feel just how great it was.

'The problem is that these fucking bastards are using that strategy on me.'

Five figures in black robes stepped through the crimson wall.

I was just about to teach Je Geumhak about definition and reason.

"Haa..."

A sigh burst out as soon as I confirmed their numbers.

Formless Flying Demon Squad.

It was because the shadow unit known as the Demonic Cult's escort warriors had entered.

I expected someone to come in and help him, but to think it would be the Formless Flying Demon Squad.

Then again, they would have to be at least that good to break past Hyeoltu, Yeom Gwibi, and Tang Seo-hee to enter the formation array.

It seemed Je Geumhak's current standing within the Demonic Cult wasn't as low as I thought.

Seeing my reaction, Je Geumhak cut in as expected.

"Oho, seeing your reaction, it seems you know their identities as well."

"..."

Je Geumhak, who had been completely confident up until now, was using his usual tone of voice again.

Sure, it must be nice. I would've given it back the exact same way if I were in that situation.

I gestured at the Formless Flying Demon Squad with my chin.

"Isn't this a bit cowardly? We were fighting one-on-one, after all."

"I heard the Orthodox sects claim their greatest advantage is numbers?"

I had never agreed with that.

Because wherever our Minor Orthodox Unit went, we always had fewer numbers than the enemy.

"Engaging in incitement and fabrication, are you truly the Demonic Brain's disciple?"

"Hahaha."

The bastard laughed unpleasantly.

No, he just laughed like normal, but maybe it just looked that way because I was in a bad mood.

Because it felt like my end in this life was slowly approaching.

"You are a truly amusing person. It makes sense why the Little Demon has taken an interest in you."

At the word 'Little Demon' popping out of his mouth, my mind turned ice-cold.

Because there was originally only one entity that the Demonic Cult's lackeys referred to as the 'Little Demon'.

Observing my stiffened expression, Je Geumhak cast his gaze to the side.

"I originally came for a different purpose..."

The guy looking at the spot where Dam-ak had escaped then looked at me and smirked.

"Perhaps this might be more amusing."

This definitely wasn't because I was in a bad mood.

That bastard was definitely smiling in a creepy way...

"Will you accompany me to our cult?"

"What?"

No, did I hear that right?

It felt like just yesterday that the Underworld Alliance offered me the Vice Leader position.

And now I'm already getting an invitation to the Demonic Cult? Aren't I moving up in the world way too fast?

"I've never heard such a horrific proposition in my life."

"Ah, I wasn't asking for your opinion. I was simply telling you what has already been decided."

"..."

Crazy bastard.

A truly crazy bastard.

I looked back and forth between him and the formation array.

And in that time, the Formless Flying Demon Squad began to move.

Entering a formation array with an unknown structure was suicide.

But standing still here meant I was highly likely to be dragged off to the Demonic Cult.

Neither of those were appealing options to me.

A laugh slipped through my lips without me realizing it.

'It's been a while since I faced such a cruel dilemma.'

If any choice I made would only worsen my situation into the worst possible outcome, I would choose the one that could at least screw over the opponent.

That was how I endured my shitty past life.

TAP.

I performed the World-Traversing Lone Footwork, which was not at all suited for a narrow space.

CLANG.

Setting aside the fast speed, even the direction wasn't easily controlled.

Simultaneously deflecting the Formless Flying Demon Squad member's sword, I grabbed his robe to barely bring myself to a halt.

And after turning my body to dodge the blade shooting out from the black shadows, I unleashed the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist.

BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!

Far from reaching an ice barrier, the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist was blocked by the robes scattered by the Formless Flying Demon Squad members and couldn't advance.

No, instead, the robes that blocked the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist slowly wrapped toward me and grabbed my fist and arm.

My left arm was completely immobilized, as if trapped in a net.

I roughly knew this would happen.

RUMBLE.

Coating the Black Dragon Sword in Sword Force, I shot out the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique.

The moment the Sword Force, shooting out in a straight line like a streak of light, pierced through the ice barrier and was about to pierce Je Geumhak's temple.

SWISH— THUD.

Another Formless Flying Demon Squad member's robe wrapped around my right hand and brought it to a halt.

Je Geumhak slightly tilted his head out of the way and smiled brightly.

"So you really didn't know what kind of power the Formless Flying Demon Squad possessed."

He nodded and took a step closer to me.

Then he thrust his face in front of mine with a triumphant smile.

"They possess quite a decent talent for capturing opponents alive."

It was a disgusting smile that I wanted to smash in right away.

"Is that so?"

I immediately cast the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand on both of my hands that were caught by the Formless Flying Demon Squad members.

FWOOSH.

As the flames flared up, the robes wrapping my hands loosened for a brief moment.

But soon, even more robes tried to wrap around my grasp.

Watching this, Je Geumhak's face grew even more confident.

"It's useless. Anyone caught by them can never..."

Like I said, I really don't like that expression.

"Never, you say?"

I thrust out the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand with all my might.

To begin with, the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand, infused with the holy power of the Okcheong Heavenly Star Power, had an outstanding demon-subduing effect.

GRAB.

My left hand, thrusting out and burning through the robes, locked with Je Geumhak's hand.

CRACKLE.

Then, as if frost had descended, the heat of the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand began to die down, and the sensation in my hand faded far away.

Je Geumhak, still relaxed, shook his head.

"Furthermore, that heat doesn't last very long."

This bastard seemed quite confident in his own martial arts.

Why couldn't he consider the thought that I intentionally put out the flames?

I smirked at him.

"Because I don't need it anymore."

"?"

I then immediately activated the Jade Dragon Bracelet worn on my left hand.

"Huh?"

There, that confident expression was broken.

WHOOSH—

The white frost that had settled on my hand instantly disappeared.

At the same time, the Sacred Fire Demon-Extinguishing Hand burning in my other hand began to raise its heat as if it were about to explode.

Now, astonishment even began to color Je Geumhak's face.

"W-What is this...!"

What else could it be?

It's the Great Star-Absorbing Art you bastards are so crazy about!

Je Geumhak could not hide his shocked expression.

Yeah, that expression was definitely the best one.