The storm inside his chest grew fiercer, yet Lee Seong-jun's face did not waver. The violent blood imbued with Asura's power raged, battering against his heart like a wild beast demanding freedom. Any other cultivator would have recoiled in fear, but he pressed onward, for he had already walked this path countless times in his previous life. Failure was not in his calculations.
The thunderous pounding of his heart filled his ears, each beat threatening to tear his body apart. Pain surged like fire, trying to break his focus, but he knew that only by embracing this torment could he tame the heart and master true control over blood energy.
The process was perilous, a dance with death itself. To falter even for a moment meant annihilation. Yet, with every measured breath and every controlled release of power, the rogue currents of blood energy began to bend to his will. The struggle stretched on endlessly—beats blurred into thousands, pain folding into numb determination—until at last, he felt a shift.
His blood had settled. The raging torrents formed order, coiling around his heart in submission. The rebellion of his body had been crushed, and now his heart moved according to his command. It beat slower, stronger, more efficient—sending forth vast surges of blood at his chosen rhythm.
The battle was won.
A smile spread across his lips as a green system window shimmered into view before his eyes:
Blood Shadow Sura Divine Art has evolved to SS+ grade.
The body undergoes transformation.
All stats increase by 7.
Absorption of natural energy has greatly improved.
Seong-jun exhaled slowly, basking in the overwhelming vitality rushing through his veins. His muscles hardened, his skin grew tougher, his senses sharpened beyond what ordinary humans could imagine. He had reached the Peak Realm, a stage revered even on the Heavenly Continent.
With this breakthrough, his mastery over blood arts had transformed. The once unstable flames of crimson energy were now sharper, faster, and infinitely deadlier. A single flicker of intent summoned blood force instantly, responding from the heart instead of the lower dantian, unleashing speed and power that far surpassed his old limits.
Even C-class monsters, once troublesome, could now be erased with a single art like Blood Flame Rampage. His combat strength had changed course entirely—no longer merely formidable, but truly transcendent. Most importantly, he had gained the qualifications to once again wield the Blood Demon's Martial Arts, forbidden techniques that placed him on an entirely different plane of power.
Now, he was ready. The raid gate, the battleground of guilds, would be the stage where his return would be etched into history.
Preparations followed swiftly. The Baekho Guild spared no expense to polish their new recruit's image. From transportation to wardrobe, they provided full support. At the salon, his once unruly hair was refined into a striking style that revealed sharp features and intense eyes. A tailored black suit replaced his usual casual wear, combining elegance with freedom of movement. His once ordinary presence now radiated confidence and authority, every inch befitting the man who would soon stand before the five great guilds.
When he stepped outside, cameras flashed in a storm. Reporters swarmed like vultures, hungry for a glimpse of the man daring to challenge the elites. Hunters were heroes in this age—rivals to celebrities in fame—and Lee Seong-jun now stood at the center of their attention.
Guided by the Baekho Guild's staff, he was led past the chaos of reporters and cameras toward the waiting area. The raid gate awaited, and with it, the first step in proving to the world that the Demon God had truly returned.