Chapter 51:The Beast Mountain Examination

The announcement board stood in the center of the outer disciple grounds.

Inner Disciple Selection Exam.

Lucifer stared at it for several seconds before a grin slowly appeared on his face.

Finally.

The next step.

The next source of resources, influence, and power.

He walked directly toward the registration hall.

Registration Problems

The hall was packed with disciples.

Everyone wanted a chance to become an inner disciple.

Lucifer stepped forward and placed his registration token on the desk.

The official glanced at it.

Then shook his head.

"Request denied."

Lucifer blinked.

"Huh? Why?"

"You don't meet the requirements."

Lucifer frowned.

"I'm at the seventh stage of Foundation Establishment."

"The requirement is the ninth stage."

Lucifer stared.

"That's only two stages."

The official stared back.

"Still not enough."

Lucifer leaned on the counter.

"Can't you be flexible?"

"No."

Several guards shifted their hands toward their weapons.

Lucifer noticed immediately.

"...Relax. I was joking."

He casually placed a small pouch on the table.

The official looked inside.

His expression changed instantly.

A moment later another pouch appeared.

Then another.

The official coughed.

"After careful consideration..."

Lucifer smiled.

"Yes?"

"Your registration has been accepted."

"Excellent."

The official quickly stamped the document.

"Proceed to the gathering field."

Lucifer nodded.

"Pleasure doing business."

As they walked away, Chirin floated beside him.

"That could have gone very badly."

Lucifer shrugged.

"As long as humans exist, greed exists."

A grin appeared.

"And greed is one of the easiest things in the world to use."

The Fourth Disciple

Thousands of disciples gathered in the massive open field.

The sky suddenly darkened.

A giant shadow passed overhead.

Everyone looked up.

A dragon descended from the clouds.

Standing atop it was a man dressed in black robes.

The moment Lucifer saw him—

His smile vanished.

Chirin noticed immediately.

"...That's him."

Lucifer's eyes narrowed.

"Yeah."

Jang Joseuk.

The Fourth Disciple of the Heavenly Demon.

The man responsible for destroying his cultivation years ago.

The man who poisoned him.

The man who had nearly ended his future before it even began.

Jang landed before the crowd.

His aura swept across the field.

Silence followed instantly.

"Listen carefully."

His voice echoed throughout the area.

"The rules are simple."

A map appeared behind him.

"One thousand participants."

"Only two hundred and fifty positions."

Murmurs spread.

Jang continued.

"Within Beast Mountain are plaques marked 'Inner Disciple.'"

"Find one."

"Keep it."

"Return alive."

A pause.

Then his smile turned cold.

"Most of you will fail."

"Some of you will die."

"The beasts inside are stronger than many of you."

His gaze slowly drifted toward Lucifer.

Only for a moment.

But Lucifer noticed.

"So do your best."

Entering Beast Mountain

The gates opened.

Immediately, disciples rushed forward.

Everyone scattered.

Everyone searched.

Everyone fought.

Everyone panicked.

Everyone except Lucifer.

He walked fifty meters from the entrance.

Found a comfortable tree.

Then lay down.

Chirin stared.

"...What are you doing?"

"Resting."

"What about the exam?"

Lucifer closed his eyes.

"Labor is for workers."

A grin appeared.

"Rest is for kings."

Chirin groaned.

"You can't be serious."

"Oh, I'm very serious."

Three Days Later

The mountain became a battlefield.

Disciples fought beasts.

Disciples fought each other.

Blood stained the forests.

Screams echoed every night.

Meanwhile—

Lucifer slept.

Fished.

Hunted.

Explored.

And waited.

Patiently.

Like a predator.

On the third day, survivors finally began returning toward the exit.

Exhausted.

Injured.

Carrying plaques and treasures.

Then they stopped.

Because someone was sitting directly in front of the only exit.

Lucifer.

The Harvest

Lucifer slowly stood.

"My fellow disciples."

A smile appeared.

"Please leave all valuables behind."

Silence.

Then laughter erupted.

One disciple stepped forward.

"Why would we do that?"

Lucifer tilted his head.

"Because your lives are worth more than your possessions."

More laughter.

Another disciple shouted.

"There's only one of him!"

"Attack!"

The crowd surged forward.

Lucifer sighed.

"Unfortunate."

Chirin immediately retreated.

"Here we go."

Lucifer drew Chirin.

Black flames danced around the blade.

Lightning crackled.

Qi gathered.

Compressed.

Focused.

Then—

Lucifer swung.

"Cleave."

A crimson-black arc tore through the battlefield.

The earth split.

Trees shattered.

The charging disciples froze.

Then collapsed.

The survivors stumbled backward in horror.

Fear spread instantly.

Lucifer calmly lowered his sword.

"Anyone else?"

Nobody moved.

Within minutes the battle ended.

The survivors surrendered everything.

Plaques.

Treasures.

Herbs.

Weapons.

Everything.

Lucifer collected it all.

Chirin floated beside him.

"That technique..."

Lucifer smiled.

"Recognize it?"

"That's one of your old techniques."

"Correct."

"I thought your abilities disappeared after transmigration."

"Most of them did."

Lucifer examined the blade.

"But skill leaves traces."

"Muscle memory."

"Instinct."

"Understanding."

A faint smile appeared.

"I may have lost my power."

"But I never lost myself."

The Observer

High above the battlefield—

A hidden figure watched.

An assassin.

She had monitored Lucifer for three days.

At first she thought he was lazy.

Then she realized the truth.

He had been waiting.

Waiting for everyone else to do the work.

Waiting until they exhausted themselves.

Waiting until escape became impossible.

Then striking.

Perfect timing.

Perfect efficiency.

Terrifying patience.

The assassin immediately prepared to leave.

She needed to report this.

Now.

A voice suddenly appeared behind her.

"Leaving already?"

Her blood froze.

Lucifer stood there.

Smiling.

Information Exchange

The assassin attacked instantly.

Lucifer knocked her weapon aside.

Three moves later—

The fight was over.

She sat against a tree while Lucifer casually examined her equipment.

"You work for Jang Joseuk."

The assassin froze.

"...How do you know?"

Lucifer laughed.

"Because it's obvious."

Silence.

Then she sighed.

No point denying it.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Information."

Lucifer sat down.

"Why is Jang here personally?"

The assassin hesitated.

Then answered.

"Golden Core Ape."

Lucifer's eyes sharpened.

Interesting.

She explained quickly.

A legendary beast.

A rare treasure hidden within its body.

Something capable of strengthening one's future cultivation foundation.

Something powerful enough to attract Jang himself.

Lucifer stood.

"Where?"

"Eastern region."

She pointed.

Lucifer nodded.

"Thank you."

The assassin blinked.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"You aren't going to kill me?"

Lucifer looked genuinely confused.

"Why would I?"

The assassin didn't know how to answer.

Lucifer turned away.

"I'm not interested in pointless killing."

A pause.

"Only useful killing."

Then he walked off.

Leaving her speechless.

The Battlefield

The eastern region looked like a war zone.

Trees destroyed.

Craters everywhere.

Bodies littered the ground.

At the center—

Two figures remained.

Jang Joseuk.

And the Golden Core Ape.

The battle had clearly lasted hours.

Both were injured.

Both exhausted.

Both near their limits.

Lucifer watched from a cliff overlooking the battlefield.

Then smiled.

"Perfect."

Chirin immediately understood.

"Oh no."

"Oh yes."

The ape roared.

Jang unleashed his final technique.

The mountain trembled.

The beast staggered.

Then fell.

Dead.

Victory.

Jang dropped to one knee.

Breathing heavily.

Blood covered his robes.

But he smiled.

At last.

The prize was his.

Years of effort.

Finally rewarded.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

A slow applause echoed through the battlefield.

Jang's smile disappeared instantly.

He knew that voice.

A figure stepped out from the shadows.

Hands casually in his pockets.

A grin on his face.

Eyes filled with amusement.

Lucifer Morningstar.

Jang slowly stood.

His expression darkened.

"What are you doing here?"

Lucifer's smile widened.

"Miss me?"

End of Chapter

End Scene 

Jang was exhausted.

Lucifer was fresh.

One had won the battle.

The other had waited for the winner.

And in Beast Mountain—

The most dangerous predator wasn't the beast.

It was the devil watching from the shadows.