Demon God, Volume 1
Preface
The Greatest Martial Artist in the World.
For anyone involved in the martial world, this is a phrase that evokes admiration and sparks the ambition to become such a figure, even if only once in a lifetime. The desire to become stronger has always dominated the martial world, and comparing strength is clearly a natural human curiosity.
However, throughout the long history of martial arts, no one could definitively answer the question of who was the strongest. The standard of strength differs depending on the person and the era.
Then what if we ask who was the most extraordinary person in martial arts history?
Surprisingly, there is an answer.
Tian Giji (Heavenly Strategist).
Tian Giji was recognized for his genius from a young age due to his unparalleled Five-Star talent. Moreover, he mastered countless mechanical formations and techniques to an extent that could not even be imagined. His martial arts were so formidable that no one could disregard them. True to his title, he also possessed extraordinary insight, capable of reading the flow of Heaven itself.
He would act in ways no one expected, and whatever he intended to accomplish, he would achieve by any means necessary. As a result, the martial world was often thrown into chaos by his eccentricities, and people could only shake their heads at his strange behavior.
The reason people were fascinated with Tian Qizi, however, was because of his martial arts. Although his martial arts were indeed highly advanced, calling him the strongest in the world was a stretch. Yet he garnered attention because of his theories on martial arts.
Tian Giji had encountered more martial arts than anyone else in the world and had the ability to fully understand them. Based on this, he possessed the skill to invent far greater techniques.
In fact, even a single simple martial art he created in his later years was enough to shake the entire world, which hints at the magnitude of his abilities.
At that time, the martial art that shook the world was the Seomyeongdo (Shadow Flash Saber), a sword technique composed of five moves. A wandering martial artist who mastered this technique could single-handedly destroy dozens of small and medium sects.
The even more astonishing fact is that the wanderer learned the Seomyeongdo directly from Tian Giji in only three years. Using his unique methods involving mechanical formations, Tian Giji transformed an unknown third-rate fighter into an absolute master in a short time. Of course, that third-rate fighter later earned the nickname Seomyeongdo, and eventually, due to his martial accomplishments, met a tragic death.
Nonetheless, this feat was enough to draw the attention of countless people toward Tian Giji, and many martial organizations began seeking him out. Yet after this event, Tian Giji could no longer be found in the martial world.
Despite the mobilization of vast numbers of people to trace him, he vanished as if he had ascended to the heavens or sunk into the earth.
"Is this really Tian Giji's martial art?"
"Technically, it's a map of where the martial art exists, my lord."
Dokgo-un, the current leader of the Martial Alliance, looked sharply at the person sitting in front of him.
He was Jo Il-hyun, the head of the Jo family in Henan. The Jo family was a prominent martial clan based in Xuchang, Henan. Even for the Martial Alliance, it was rare for the head of such a distinguished family in Henan to personally visit. Dokgo-un was surprised by his visit, but the news Jo Il-hyun brought was even more astonishing.
"How did you confirm that this is indeed Tian Giji's map?"
"I brought it myself, my lord. You can verify it directly."
Jo Il-hyun produced a piece of paper from his robe. Dokgo-un swallowed hard as he saw it. The paper was spread across the table, and Dokgo-un eyes gleamed sharply as he examined it intently.
"It seems genuine to me. We should investigate this place. Judging by the illustrations on the map, they appear to be mechanical diagrams, so someone knowledgeable in formations will also be necessary."
Jo Il-hyun nodded strongly at Dokgo-un words.
"I thought so too."
"Have you visited this place yourself?"
"Not yet. Greed often brings disaster. The weight of this item is too much for me alone. I believed that even the Martial Alliance could handle it no matter how heavy it was."
Dokgo-un smiled in satisfaction and nodded at Jo Il-hyun's answer.
"Jo Il-hyun is indeed a wise man. I can already see the Jo family growing greatly in the future. Ha ha ha ha!"
Jo Il-hyun looked at Dokgo-un laughter with a satisfied expression. He had obtained everything he desired.
In any case, Jo Il-hyun's judgment was correct. The map containing Tian Giji's martial arts was something that no one could possess unless it was the Martial Alliance.
And so, a single map appeared in the world.
Thanks to this map, which recorded not only the locations where Tian Giji had developed his martial arts before his death but also how to uncover the mechanisms there, the long-dormant martial world began to stir once again.