Chapter 46: The False Supreme
Remnant Blood Baek Clan—a family that, along with the Radiant Bloodblade Do Clan, once stood as the closest aides to the former Heavenly Demon. If the Radiant Bloodblade Do Clan was all about brute force, these guys were just plain cruel. Honestly, any family that puts “blood” in their name is already suspicious.
To put it bluntly, they were war criminals.
“Heh... Hehehe... I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Don’t make me repeat myself, you rat. I told you to guide me to Do Il-gwang.”
“Rat” was a typical insult hurled at the Baek Clan, who practiced the claw-based martial art Jwagong.
“I-I really don’t know what you mean...?”
“I’m talking about you—the rat of the Baek Clan that once leeched off Do Il-gwang’s power, flaunted authority, and then got wiped out. The same clan that lost their seat among the Six Demon Families to our Sado Gwang.”
My words made the man twitch an eyebrow. If you’re trying to hide something, at least control your face.
Soon, he changed his tone.
“You... are you just perceptive... or have you simply lost your mind?”
He lowered his mask, revealing a gaunt, ragged middle-aged man. I had called him a rat before, but he actually looked like one.
“How dare a nobody from the Sado family mock the mighty Remnant Blood Baek Clan!”
“In the Cult, strength reigns supreme.”
I focused my qi in my eyes as I said it. The Baek Clan member flinched when our gazes met.
“It’s laughable—a stammering failure talking about ‘daring’ in front of me.”
“You bastard!”
He raised his claws like he’d attack me at any moment—but did nothing more.
[Trying to use Saweol now, are you, monster?]
“Like you said, I’m an idiot.”
[......]
“Do you really think I did all this without a plan?”
The power of the formation in the Disciplinary Block was real. The guards’ masks were likely genuine protective treasures too. Both Saweol and Tak Horak had sensed it.
The bloodstains on that mask... Tak Horak said it felt damp. That means it was recent.
[So you mean...]
Yeah. That bastard probably killed the guards and took the mask himself. That means he only recently recovered his power.
The Remnant Blood Baek Clan was imprisoned here five years ago. With their cultivation sealed and eroded by the formation for five years, there was no way they were in top shape.
And that frailty was plain to see. He looked like he wanted to attack, but couldn’t commit.
“D-Do you even know what happened to the head jailer?”
“No.”
“He let his guard down and I—I killed him with my own hands!”
“You expected me to pity someone weak enough to be killed by a mere prisoner?”
I didn’t care if his name was Sangtak or whatever. He was probably just one of Sado Gwang’s minions anyway.
But since my provocation didn’t work, the rat from the Baek Clan ground his teeth.
A true Cultist would've attacked. That’s how strength works here.
They would’ve attacked without a word, like the other prisoners around the campfire. But he didn’t.
“Well, besides—don’t forget we’ve got our human weapon, Saweol. You might look down on her, but she’s one of the top twenty in the entire Cult.”
The Baek Clan man gave up his bravado and changed his tune.
“So this is the famous Sado family genius... your tongue is as sharp as they say. You must be Sado Gwang.”
“Sado Hwan.”
“You mean... his younger brother?”
He looked annoyed. Probably had no clue about Sado Gwang’s current state since he spent so long in isolation. Gwang had lived like a recluse until he elevated the Sado family to one of the Six Demon Families. I wasn’t exactly famous either before that.
“You look too alike. Are you twins?”
“Enough nonsense. Take me to your master.”
“You insolent brat. Think you can act that way even in front of the Supreme One?”
He pulled up his mask again.
“F-Follow me.”
The Baek Clan man—Baekryung—turned around and led the way.
“Lord!”
Tak Horak whispered in shock.
“I recognize that man! He’s Baekryung! Known for his cruelty even among the Remnant Blood Baek Clan!”
“So?”
“If he’s joined forces with the former Heavenly Demon, it’s dangerous! Who knows what he’s planning—wait, no way...”
Seeing my calm gaze, Tak Horak was horrified.
“You came here... to find the former Heavenly Demon?”
“Don’t be dramatic, Tak Horak. There is only one true Supreme who rules over all demons.”
As I passed by him and Saweol, I muttered:
“A false supreme must be extinguished.”
Tak Horak stood stunned. Then his eyes lit up.
“As expected of you, Lord! You’re the best! I’ll give my life for you!”
Skybreaker clinked softly on my back.
[Hah... you sure talk like a Cultist. Impressive, monster.]
Good thing I was ahead of them. My face was burning with embarrassment.
Being a method actor sucks sometimes.
“L-Let me join you, Lord!”
Tak Horak followed right behind me, and Saweol trailed silently.
The path that Baekryung led us down was deathly quiet.
As I suspected, Do Il-gwang and his followers had already seized control of the Disciplinary Block. Just like the campfire prisoners said, not a single rat was around—everyone was hiding.
They were afraid.
Of course they are.
Do Il-gwang, the former Heavenly Demon, was a tyrant. Just because he was locked underground didn’t mean his nature had changed.
“Are we there yet?”
“A-Almost. Just past this corridor...”
Sure enough, faint light flickered at the end of the path.
[You’re not nervous?]
Why would I be?
The former Heavenly Demon would be bound by stronger seals than anyone else. That was a fixed “setting” in <Return of the Murim>. That setting wouldn’t change.
So I believed—until we arrived.
What awaited us was a massive plaza-like chamber. A low, eerie hum echoed throughout. Probably due to the cavern.
“Another altar?”
At the center stood an altar—and something horrifying hung upon it. I wasn’t even sure I should call it a person. Rags might’ve been more appropriate.
[That’s... Do Il-gwang? We were scared of that?]
The Radiant Bloodblade Do Clan was like a corrupted version of the Paeng Clan—monstrous and violent. But the man on that altar didn’t match that image.
He was emaciated to the point of revealing his bones, with massive nails driven through every part of his body. Wispy threads of energy flowed from those nails into the altar.
A tyrant’s end is always tragic... is that it?
Baekryung dashed ahead and threw himself to the ground.
“L-Lord Heavenly Demon! Eternal Domination of All Demons!”
Hearing those words, Saweol and Tak Horak scowled.
Only the true Heavenly Demon could receive that chant. Not some prisoner buried in an underground cell.
“How dare you speak his title!”
Tak Horak drew his segmented spear, just like he had when I once insulted the Heavenly Demon. Baekryung sneered over his shoulder.
“L-Let’s see if you can s-s-still act so arrogant h-h-here!”
Just then—the “doll” on the altar raised its head. Eyes gleamed from behind disheveled hair.
And then—
BOOM!
A monstrous pressure slammed into us.
It was as if the very air gained weight. My lungs felt like they were inhaling lead.
“Guhk!”
Tak Horak coughed blood and staggered back before quickly sitting in meditation.
Saweol was pale too, though she didn’t vomit blood. Her eyes met mine silently, then she sat down as well.
So much for bodyguards.
[That killing intent is insane!]
Killing intent—a high-level technique where a master’s qi crushes weaker opponents.
But this wasn’t the fake aura I’d been bluffing with. This was real. On a completely different level.
It wasn’t just my hair standing on end—every cell in my body screamed. It felt like an invisible foot was grinding me into the ground.
This... this is what a real master is like?
Everything I’d faked until now felt pathetic in comparison. This wasn’t power a human should possess. It was power that could alter the laws of the world with will alone.
[Back off! You can’t win this!]
“No. I don’t need to back off.”
If I’m ashamed, I should face it—not run.
[What...?]
“Like I said—if he could kill me, he would’ve. The Radiant Bloodblade Do Clan doesn’t hesitate.”
If he was only releasing killing intent...
It means he can’t do anything else.
I wasn’t unafraid. My life was still the most important thing to me. If I weren’t acting, I’d probably be trembling like a leaf.
But backing down now would be foolish. This was a chance—a safe test to face a real master, something I’d never had.
Besides, the seals binding him looked horrendous. He hadn’t regained full power.
Even Saweol, near the Transcendent Peak, couldn’t stand—but I could. Why?
Wriggle!
It was the energy stirring in my dantian. As it surged, the pressure eased.
[So this is the power of the Asura Demon Emperor Divine Art...?]
Skybreaker muttered, stunned.
But no—it wasn’t that.
The power inside my core was something else.
“You... you’re withstanding the Supreme One’s killing intent...?”
The Baek Clan man was horrified.
Feigning composure, I walked forward.
“Do Il-gwang.”
His eyes, which had been fixed on me, twitched. He glanced briefly at Saweol, then back at me.
And spoke—not in a voice, but in a metallic rasp.
“Not of sacred blood...”
His eyes gleamed.
Then—
FWOOSH—!
His shadow swelled. It spread over the altar and the cave walls, taking on a demonic shape.
“Heavenly Demon!!! Eternal Domination of All Demons!!!”
Baekryung screamed with all his might, no longer stammering, bowing deeply.
“A fake has come…”
“Fake, huh?”
I stepped forward, unleashing the power surging in my core.
A force locked away by my cursed meridians burst forth, flooding into my vision like a tidal wave.
It hurt like my eyes were being ripped out—but I didn’t close them. I opened them wider.
To see more. To feel more.
Do Il-gwang’s face changed—for the first time, emotion crossed it.
“Still think I’m fake?”
[Yes! That’s the true Asura Demon Emperor Divine Art!]
But before Skybreaker could finish boasting—
“You... how do you know the Heavenly Demon Divine Art...?”
Do Il-gwang gasped in utter disbelief.