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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon vs. North Sea Ice Palace (2)
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The entrance to the North Sea Ice Palace, sculpted from millennial ice that no single human could ever hope to shatter.
"Ohhh, ohhhh!"
Sogang was witnessing with his own eyes how the entrance to the North Sea Ice Palace—which he had once admired from afar for its beauty—hadn't just been shattered to pieces, but the millennial ice itself had melted under blazing flames.
'Truly awe-inspiring!'
Sogang looked at the First Heavenly Demon anew.
Of course, he knew the man was powerful, but up until now, the Heavenly Demon had only demonstrated the Lion's Roar and his chopstick finger technique.
From Sogang's perspective, at least.
But now, unleashing a true, bona fide fist art boasting tremendous ultra-high temperatures, he had melted the frozen palace of the icy North Sea in an instant. It went beyond shock—it was reverence.
"This is exactly..."
Sogang couldn't help but praise the Heavenly Demon.
Honestly, watching him slaughter the North Sword Sect warriors in such a terrifying manner last time had filled him with unfamiliarity and fear. But this time, it was awe.
'The First Heavenly Demon is truly multifaceted and versatile. Proficient in every martial art imaginable.'
But Sogang still didn't know.
That the Heavenly Demon shone brightest not with sound arts like the Lion's Roar, nor finger techniques like the chopstick throw, nor even the fist art he'd just shown—but with the sword.
"Aaaahhh!"
The North Sea Ice Palace warriors, who had dared to flap their mouths without recognizing the Heavenly Demon for what he was.
Some of them had suffered grievous wounds, and the gatekeeper captain finally came to his senses, frantically ordering his men to fetch the Ice Palace Lord.
"Now the real hordes of North Sea Ice Palace warriors will come swarming in like ants... Are you sure you're okay?"
Sogang glanced at the Heavenly Demon while eyeing the palace warriors already massing like an ant colony.
"You fool. Worry about them, not me."
He smirked.
The Heavenly Demon returned Sogang's foolish question with a wise answer and a brilliant smile.
Above all, he wasn't one to just talk.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Violent Flame Mad Wind
Scorching heat engulfs the area, incinerating foes like moths to a flame.
Belching forth sweltering heat, he began toppling the North Sea Ice Palace warriors, who charged like moths drawn to a brilliant fire.
Kaboom!
Looking over the scorched devastation, the Heavenly Demon left one remark.
"Nice and toasty... Feels good, doesn't it?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Palace Lord! We can't overlook this!"
"Dozens of palace disciples have already been massacred."
"By just two—no, one man!"
The North Sea Ice Palace had known peace so profound it bred complacency.
That peace was now a thing of the past.
The palace was like a massive fireball that had plummeted onto ice.
"I-Impossibly, such a thing...!"
Just yesterday—no, even this afternoon—it had been peaceful.
Seol Tae-chong, the Ice White Single Fist and lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, who had spent his idle days gazing at the Heavenly Lord Demon Dragon Sword, was now drenched in cold sweat.
'Does this make any sense? In the history of this palace, to be invaded and on the brink of falling to just two outsiders... Huh?!'
Amid his disbelief at this monumental event, a vague memory of something similar surfaced.
Coincidentally, the North Sea Ice Palace had faced something like this before.
'Right before the First Heavenly Demon and the Demonic Cult set out to conquer the Central Plains, they infiltrated North Sea Star City in secret. That's the incident.'
Legends said that to conquer the Central Plains, the First Heavenly Demon and his entourage had taken a wildly circuitous route, detouring massively around the Western Regions and Qinghai Province to enter via North Sea Star City.
And the overlords of North Sea Star City, the North Sea Ice Palace, had once been brought low by just two individuals.
'Those two were none other than the First Heavenly Demon and his right-hand man, the Loyal Ghost Sword Yang U-ryang.'
Seol Tae-chong recalled the anecdote passed down orally from his father and grandfather—one the palace had deliberately concealed.
It was a tale known only to the palace lord, vice lord, and elders of the Elder Hall.
'Grandfather said the First Heavenly Demon was fearsome, but the Loyal Ghost Sword Yang U-ryang's skills were terrifying too.'
Despite all the palace's retainers and soldiers mobilizing, those two had nearly reduced it to rubble.
-No way, that's impossible!
The young Seol Tae-chong had scoffed at the story back then, dismissing it as a lie.
But he hadn't understood at the time.
The deeply displeased expression on his grandfather's face in response to his denial.
"And now... it's happening again? In my generation, of all times?"
He trembled with rage.
Judging it unacceptable, he decided to buy time first by deploying the palace's strongest forces short of himself.
"Ice Palace Four Stars! A crisis has befallen the Ice Palace. It's time for you to step up."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The North Sea Ice Palace, the preeminent sect and overlord of North Sea Star City.
True to its name as the palace of ice, it was built from millennial ice and various other frosts and stones, supported by four striking pillars.
Equally impressive were the forces guarding it: the Ice Palace Four Stars.
They were the four star-like warriors who made the Ice Palace shine brightly.
"Ohhh! It's the Ice Palace Four Stars!"
"The Stars are finally stepping in!"
"We're saved!"
The palace warriors, who had been swept away and nearly washed out by a single Heavenly Demon.
Seeing the Four Stars finally emerge, they sighed in relief, as if their lives were spared.
And rightly so. The Four Stars usually lurked in the shadows by the lord's side, emerging only in sect crises or threats to the lord.
Each was at the pinnacle of super-first-class, surpassing most sect leaders in North Sea Star City.
For instance, any one of them outmatched the North Sword Sect's North Wind Swordsman Jin Sa-gong.
Flash!
True to their name, they descended like shooting stars, landing gracefully before the Heavenly Demon and Sogang.
"Who the hell are you, rolling in from god-knows-where to attack our palace?"
"Your guts must've spilled out your belly."
They growled and stepped forward, a rare show of aggression after so long.
Raised within the palace as sharp as honed blades, emotionless like assassins, they brimmed with pride in their home.
They had always been the best and strongest in North Sea Star City.
"Grrr!"
But seeing countless disciples gravely wounded or dead filled them with boiling fury.
What infuriated them most was the handsome young man's reaction before them.
"What kind of frigid ice fortress that doesn't even look lived-in has this many troops?"
The Heavenly Demon grumbled as he eyed the endlessly spawning palace forces.
Naturally, the Four Stars posed no threat to him.
"You bastard!"
"You dare ignore us?!"
"Arrogant fool!"
Unable to contain their rage at the Heavenly Demon's cocky, rude attitude, the Four Stars prepared their signature move.
Four super-first-class masters who had trained in sync since birth unleashing the North Sea Ice Palace's ultimate formation.
Another palace boast: four combining not for five, but ten times the power.
📜 FORMATION ACTIVATED 📜
Cold Ice Extreme Yin Formation
📍 Effect: Extreme yin chill traps foes in icy hell; even transcendent masters subdued.
The Four Stars deployed the Cold Ice Extreme Yin Formation, true to its purpose.
The chilliest extreme yin formation in the martial world. Those trapped in the space created by the four masters' joint assault felt like they were in an icy hell.
In fact, they had once subdued even transcendent experts with it.
Whoosh!
The four moved like stars in the North Sea sky, connecting points into beautiful lines.
At the same time, an indescribable extreme yin cold energy surged solely toward the Heavenly Demon.
"B-Be careful!"
Sogang shouted.
To a third-rate warrior's eyes, even the Heavenly Demon would struggle this time.
That was why Sogang had remained third-rate his whole life.
"Hmph!"
The Heavenly Demon scoffed, as if it were laughable.
He glared at the Four Stars, who waited silently for the perfect moment amid the surging chill.
That was the true terror of the Cold Ice Extreme Yin Formation.
Counter the Stars, and the chill froze you from the toes up. Fight the chill, and their joint attack could strike anytime.
'This is all you've got?'
But to the Heavenly Demon, this wasn't even a proper formation.
He would prove it personally.
The Heavenly Demon's way to break the ultimate formation.
It was exceedingly simple.
⚙ CORE ART ACTIVATED ⚙
Heavenly Demon Divine Art Profound inner energy surges, overwhelming all yin chills.
First, activate the core heart method to unleash vast inner energy.
Boom!
The formation's chill melted away entirely, subdued by his aura.
And that wasn't all.
Shiver!
The Four Stars, who should have been generating the chill to protect themselves, were trembling instead.
Like aspen leaves in the wind.
"Out of my way."
The Heavenly Demon neither attacked nor swung his fist at them.
He merely emanated immense inner energy, infusing each word with killing intent and power.
The effect was tremendous.
Whoosh!
Incredibly, the Four Stars—who had arrived brimming with confidence as the palace's pride—turned pale with terror and retreated.
They even abandoned the Cold Ice Extreme Yin Formation, their formation collapsing completely.
"That's more like it."
Even more astonishing was the Heavenly Demon's attitude.
As if they had never blocked his path, he ignored the cowering Stars entirely and strode forward.
Step by step.
Toward the next chamber, where the Ice Palace Lord awaited.
The Four Stars surrendered without even looking properly at his exposed back, let alone attacking.
The clash between the Heavenly Demon and the Four Stars ended in utter futility.
'What just happened?'
Sogang, a third-rate warrior, couldn't fathom why the Four Stars had lost their will and cleared the path.
"They're not even peak masters. Hit 'em with strong aura and a suggestion, and they tuck tail on their own."
The Heavenly Demon kindly explained to Sogang.
'As expected of the First Heavenly Demon! Such presence and stature!'
Sogang admired him once more.
And realized something.
To even draw a sliver of the Heavenly Demon's sincerity, one needed at least the Entering Divinity realm—not mere transcendent level.
"Shall we go catch that lying sack of an Ice Palace Lord from generations past?"
The Heavenly Demon had just two goals.
First: Reclaim his weapon, the Heavenly Lord Demon Dragon Sword.
Second: Punish the North Sea Ice Palace for fabricating martial history with lies and false heroic tales.
That was all.