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"Well, you don't look like you are in a condition to talk?

nCale subconsciously took a defensive attitude toward the Heavenly Demon>

nRaon called it a scamming smile, but

nIn Cale's opinion, the Heavenly Demon was a bit different from people like Alberu and himself.

nHes just the type who says whatever he sees and moves according to what he says.

nHe was the type who didnt see the point of using a glib tongue to gain benefits. However, the way he looked at the world might be similar to Alberu and himself.

nThere was a simple reason he felt this way.

nThere is nothing hidden in his eyes.

nHe was openly revealing his feelings. However, that did not make him look innocent or not serious.

nIn fact, despite looking like he was in his teens, the Heavenly Demon's eyes gave off a depth that made it difficult to know his age.

nThe fact that someone with a deep gaze could also fully show their emotions

nThis was not easy.

nBut there is no reason for me to get anxious.

nCale heard the Heavenly Demon's voice.

nI guess I do look like **.

nThe Heavenly Demon brushed back his extremely sweaty hair.

nBut there are things I can say because of how I am right now.

nCale plopped down on the ground after hearing that. The Heavenly Demon's face returned to its gruff look as he continued to speak.

nBut you are a bit different from what I have heard.

n

"What did you hear?

n

"So benevolent that someone like you could never be seen in the world ever again, gentle, and warm.

nThe Heavenly Demon calmly commented before Cale could even say anything.

n

"All of it was bull**.

nOh.

nCale was slightly wowed.

nI guess the Heavenly Demon really is the Heavenly Demon?

nThis guy understood that Cale was not that kind of person.

nYou, you! Thats not true! Human, you may hold a bit of a grudge, no, it might be more than just a little, but, regardless, human, you are gentle-, actually no, but anyway, human, you are a really good person!

nCale ignored Raons chaotic rambling and looked around.

nI guess this is a good place to chat since the formation keeps the noises out.

nHowever, his face turned a bit emotionless.

nOf course, your Guard still seems to be here.

nThats right.

nThe Heavenly Demon slowly raised his head.

n

"Shes on top of this rooms ceiling.

nThe Shadow Guard?

nYeah. The Shadow Guard only shows herself to the leader, so I ask for your understanding.

nCale was about to nod his head before looking at the Heavenly Demon with an odd gaze after hearing this comment.

nIt also looks like you brought a friend with you.

nHuman! This Heavenly Demon guy is looking in my direction!

nWow.

nCale held in his astonishment as he nonchalantly asked.

nThe Heavenly Demon can even see things like that?

nNo.

nThe Heavenly Demon pointed to his head.

nI can slowly see things hidden in the world since my upper dantian opened.

nI see.

nCale nonchalantly nodded his head before casually asking.

nIs that how you were able to realize that you were a living jiangshi?

n.

nThe Heavenly Demon was silent.

nHe just quietly observed Cale.

nCale flinched internally after seeing his gaze.

nWhat the hell? Why is he suddenly staring at me silently? Hes the one who wanted to chat.

nWeren't the living jiangshis and the Blood Cult the only things they had to talk about?

nCale looked at him with confusion as the Heavenly Demon started speaking again.

n

"I guess I should tell you everything since I myself said that you were the answer.

nThe Heavenly Demon looked up at the ceiling.

n

"Do not allow anybody to approach.

nThere was no response.

nHowever, he nodded his head before making eye contact with Cale.

nI'm sure you heard about some of it from the Sage Demon. I am fighting against the other me for control and am trying to fight against the Blood Cult.

nThats right.

nIt was then that Cale felt the fatigue on the Heavenly Demon's young face.

nThis next part should be new for you since even the Sage Demon doesnt know about it.

nHe looked like someone who was being weighed down by a heavy burden.

nI am currently dying. I will probably die within the next two weeks.

nWhat?

nThe Heavenly Demon looked up toward the ceiling before Cale could say anything.

nIt was because they heard a clunking noise from the center of the ceiling.

nIts okay.

nThe Heavenly Demon commented while looking at the ceiling before smiling bitterly toward Cale.

nShe's grumbling that I should not tell you everything. But I think I need to tell you everything.

nWhy are you dying?

nI made a wrong move.

nHe nonchalantly responded before pointing toward his heart.

nI learned that the evil aura started from here and is gathered inside.

nHis hand moved past his heart toward his belly button, the lower dantian.

nIt then mixed with my internal ki in my lower dantian. Basically, the middle dantian and the lower dantian have been taken over by this evil aura. Either way, it started from the heart.

nThe Heavenly Demons story continued.

nThat allowed me to figure how why the living jiangshis live like normal people without recognizing that they were brainwashed.

nCale crossed his arms and focused on the story.

nIf the brain is the territory of recognition, the heart is the territory of instinct. The Blood Cult implants it inside the heart, inside a person's instinct. They instinctively feel the mission the Blood Cult has given them.

nCale recalled the grotesque black heart of Namgung Tae Wi that had turned red.

nIf the Heavenly Demon's hypothesis is correct, I guess Namgung Tae Wi's instinctual mission was to assassinate the Sword Saint.

nThat was probably why he tried to die together with the Sword Saint.

nOf course, not recognizing it and delivering information to the Blood Cult was probably instinctual as well. Obeying their commands was probably stealthily placed in a person's instincts as well.

nThe Heavenly Demon scratched his cheek. He then smiled awkwardly.

nAs Cale thought that this was weird

nOnce I fully reached the Profound Realm and figured this out, I had this unexplainable confidence. Wouldn't someone as strong as me be able to get rid of this evil aura and suppress my other self?

nCales face turned odd but the Heavenly Demon calmly stated the results.

nHowever, I failed.

nHe shook his head.

nI underestimated this thing. I have made a wrong move and the middle dantian and lower dantian are attacking my upper dantian nonstop. The situation became one where the evil aura is now aiming for the upper dantian as well.

nTap. Tap. He tapped his head.

nAnd I will die once the evil aura takes over the upper dantian as well. Pfft. He let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

nIt all happened because of my arrogance.

nIt was at that moment.

nYoure wrong, my lord.

nThey heard a womans voice from the ceiling.

nGuard.

nThe Heavenly Demon called out in a low voice with a stiff look on his face but the voice in the ceiling continued.

nMy lord, you did not do this out of arrogance but because you wanted to stop the Demon Cult from crumbling.

nStop.

nCale got chills on his arms.

nA dark red aura started to rise from the Heavenly Demon.

nIt was a heinous and violent aura unlike his calm self.

nHowever, the voice in the ceiling did not stop.

nMy lord, it is you who should stop trying to carry all of the burdens by yourself.

nI will not accept your saying anything else.

nGulp. Cale subconsciously gulped.

nThe Heavenly Demon was the strongest person Cale had met here until now.

nThat was potentially why the pressure this dark red aura was giving off was no joke.

nHuman, it is similar to your aura!

nAh, seriously?

nCale stared at the dark red aura in a bit of shock.

nHe did not hear the voice in the ceiling any longer and the Heavenly Demon flinched after seeing Cale staring at his aura.

nDid I stare too much?

nCale became embarrassed and his face stiffened. He quickly opened his mouth because he thought he should say something.

nAre you sure that you are dying? It sounds more like you are just planning on killing yourself.

nThe Heavenly Demon's pupils started shaking at that comment.

nClunk.

nCale felt that presence in the ceiling again as well.

nCale didnt care and continued to say what he wanted.

n

"According to what you just said, wouldn't it be fine if you just did as the evil aura told you once it takes over the upper dantian?

nThen the evil aura, that dead mana, would spread through all three of his dantians.

nIt taking over will not kill you.

nHe did not die even though that aura had spread through the middle and lower dantians.

nWhat did that mean?

nHeavenly Demon. You are planning to kill yourself the moment that happens, arent you?

n.

n

"For the Demon Cult.

nAll emotion had disappeared from the Heavenly Demon's face.

nProbably because you think that if you become a living jiangshi, that other you will declare war on the Central Plains, which will also end up destroying the Demon Cult. If there is no answer after trying everything you could to stop that, you probably think that killing the source of the issue, which is you in this case, is the answer?

nAs Cale finished his comment with a question

nThe Heavenly Demon responded without any hesitation.

nYes, I did think that.

nCale chuckled before pointing at himself.

nThe reason you are saying you did think that is because things changed now that I am here?

nOf course.

nThe Heavenly Demon responded stoically. This guy was oddly easy to talk to.

nI heard about your purification through the Sage Demon. After having experienced it myself, you have a power that can get rid of that evil aura.

nAn odd smile appeared on the Heavenly Demon's face.

nHowever, that power seems to be completely unrelated to the Nature Realm that people seem to believe that you are in.

nI wasnt the one who spread that rumor.

nCale subconsciously commented back. The Heavenly Demon nodded his head.

nI know. However, it was quite an entertaining rumor. I like those kinds of rumors and exaggerations. The exaggerations and delusions of martial artists are quite entertaining.

nWhat?

nCale wondered what he had just heard but the Heavenly Demon changed topics as if it wasn't that important.

n

"Can you get rid of this evil aura?

nCale answered this question first because it was the most important issue right now.

nYeah. I can get rid of it.

nHe then immediately added on.

n

"But you will lose your internal ki.

nCale felt a scary aura at that moment.

nThe moment he felt murderous intent aimed toward him

nYou dare!

nRaon must have felt it as well as he became angry.

nOoooooooong-

nBlack mana fluctuated around Cale. It was Raons mana.

nGuard.

nCale heard a voice from the ceiling as soon as the Heavenly Demon scolded the Guard.

nI'm sorry, young master-nim.

nIts okay.

nCale nonchalantly responded before adding on.

nBut I cant guarantee what will happen if you do something like this again.

nI have no idea what an angry Raon might do.

nI'm also a chicken so I will get really scared.

nCale didnt say that part out loud.

nI understand what you mean, young master-nim. I will keep that in mind. My deepest apologies.

nThe person in the ceiling gave a good response back.

nCale nodded his head and thought to himself.

nThe Guards seem to cherish the Heavenly Demon quite a bit. The Sage Demon as well.

nIt didn't feel like they were simply treating the Heavenly Demon as a god of the Demon Cult.

nThey seemed to be taking care of him like a member of their family, like their child or younger sibling.

nThe Heavenly Demon smiled bitterly after making eye contact with Cale.

nI guess it is quite complicated here too.

nHe felt as if he understood why the Heavenly Demon had hidden his decision to kill himself from everybody except the Shadow Guard.

nAnyway, young master Kim. Can you explain the reason why my internal ki will disappear?

nCale nodded his head and explained what had happened when he purified Namgung Tae Wi.

nHe started with the enlarged black heart, then about how the living jiangshi tried to explode using the internal ki from the lower dantian, and about dead mana as well.

nMm.

nThe Heavenly Demon nodded his head every so often before closing his eyes after hearing that Namgung Tae Wi was no longer able to gather internal ki in his dantian.

nHe then opened his eyes, made eye contact with Cale, saw the look on Cale's face, and started speaking.

nYou look like you are expecting something.

nCale answered honestly.

nYou are the strongest martial artist I've met. I thought that you might be able to come up with a way to not lose your internal ki.

nCale had been wrong about something while going through this Central Plains world because he had read numerous wuxia novels.

nEverybody had pointed underneath their belly button when mentioning the dantian, so he thought that concepts such as the upper dantian and middle dantian did not exist.

nHowever, the Heavenly Demon said that he had broken through to the upper dantian.

nThat meant that the lower dantian, middle dantian, and the upper dantian He had gone through all of them at least once and that a martial art with such a concept should exist as well.

nWell, they do exist in the wuxia novels.

nCale shared his thoughts out loud.

nWhether it is a way to gather internal ki in the upper dantian or maybe a way to protect the dantian itself even if you lost a bit of internal ki

nThe Heavenly Demon started smiling.

nYou want something like that as a reward for purifying me?

nThe corners of Cales lips curled up as well.

nOh. I guess it is possible? You haven't said it is impossible.

nThe reason?

nHmm?

nYou could ask for other things in return for purifying me. But why is it that you want something like that?

nCale looked at the Heavenly Demon, who had been easy to communicate with until now, as if he could not understand him. It could not be helped.

nI need it so that I can increase the number of people who can help me fight the Blood Cult?

nThe future sect leader of the Kunlun Sect was currently a living jiangshi as well.

nThere was the Shaolins Jeong Chan and Zhuge Eun So as well.

nHe also had no idea who in the Unorthodox faction was a living jiangshi.

nNo matter who it was, it was guaranteed to be a person of importance.

nIf so many people were purified at once, lost their martial arts, and had to vacate their posts, that would make it difficult when fighting against the Blood Cult.

nCale had been planning on taking more of an active role against the Blood Cult in such a situation, but he saw a different path now.

nSo, shouldnt he choose that method?

nOriginally, I was going to ask him for the Demon Cult to help us when we fight against the Blood Cult.

nThe Heavenly Demon was a person who was willing to kill himself so that the Blood Cult, who had threatened the Demon Cult, would not get their way.

nHe probably did not need to ask for their help.

nCale looked at the Heavenly Demon, who still wanted his answer, and asked in disbelief.

n

"Because that is what I need the most. You know that, dont you?

nThere was a reason he was in disbelief.

nI do.

nThis Heavenly Demon bastard seemed to have figured out all of Cales thoughts. But he was still being annoying and asking.

nCale could see the Heavenly Demon let out a low laugh at that moment.

nI guess I can understand why such rumors have come out.

nHuh?

nIts nothing.

nThe Heavenly Demon was now chuckling.

nYou are quite an interesting person.

nWhat the hell is he saying?

nCale looked unsettled and the Heavenly Demon nonchalantly commented.

nI think I should be able to come up with a way to gather internal ki in the upper dantian.

nThat would mean that Namgung Tae Wi would have a way to walk the life of a martial artist once again.

nAs for purifying a person while protecting the dantian I do have something in mind that came up while looking at your power but I will need to test it out to be certain.

nTest it out?

nThat's correct.

nCale contemplated it for a moment before pointing at the Heavenly Demon.

nAre you the test subject?

nThe ceiling clunked again.

nOf course it is me.

nThe ceiling clunked once more as the Heavenly Demon calmly answered.

nThe corners of Cales lips curled up a bit once again.

nI want to hear this plan of yours.

n

"As much as you want.

nThe Heavenly Demon started sharing his thoughts.

nThe ceiling clunked a few times, and

nHuman, human! Are you going to purify someone again? If you cough up blood again like last time, I'm going to break that stone monk statue of Central Plains!

nRaon kept saying something but Cale focused on the Heavenly Demon's explanation and thought to himself.

nThis seems easier than I expected?

nThe cheapskate responded as well.

nIt does. It should be easy if you use the power of the divine item as well?

nCales expression brightened up.

nHe felt as if he would be able to take care of this easily without coughing up blood this time.

nI have a bad feeling about this! I always get a bad feeling when you have such a look on your face! Human, don't have such a bright look on your face!

nOf course he just ignored Raon's comments.

nTranslator's Comments

nCale, STOP IGNORING RAON!

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