Chapter 54:A Devil’s Bargain

The mysterious voice echoed behind Lucifer.

"What if I kill you right now?"

The smile on Lucifer's face didn't disappear.

Even as the screams of the Third Disciple's camp echoed below.

Even as beasts tore through cultivators.

Even as poison devoured everything trapped within the formation.

Lucifer simply turned around.

Standing behind him was a woman.

Black hair.

Crimson eyes.

A sword hanging at her waist.

Her aura was calm.

Too calm.

The kind of calm only possessed by someone dangerous.

Lucifer's grin widened.

"Nauko."

For the first time, surprise appeared on her face.

"...You know me?"

"Of course."

Lucifer sat casually atop the formation.

As if they were discussing the weather instead of standing above a massacre.

"You're the Third Disciple's older sister."

Nauko's eyes narrowed.

"And?"

"The elders ordered you to protect him."

Silence.

Lucifer continued.

"Your clan's future patriarch."

"...Your little brother."

Nauko stared.

Carefully.

Trying to understand how much he actually knew.

"What exactly are you planning, Lucifer?"

Lucifer looked toward the camp below.

A disciple tried to escape.

A beast crushed him beneath its claws.

Blood splattered.

Lucifer smiled.

"Having fun."

Nauko frowned.

"You're insane."

"No."

Lucifer shook his head.

"I'm efficient."

The screams continued below.

Nauko's gaze shifted toward her brother.

The Third Disciple was still alive.

Barely.

"Do you understand who he is?"

she asked.

Lucifer laughed.

"The Third Disciple?"

"No."

Nauko's voice became colder.

"The future Heavenly Demon."

Lucifer nearly choked from laughter.

For several seconds he couldn't stop.

Finally—

He wiped a tear from his eye.

"Oh, you're serious."

Nauko's expression darkened.

Lucifer pointed toward the dying camp.

"Your brother?"

"Future Heavenly Demon?"

"That's adorable."

A dangerous silence followed.

Lucifer's smile disappeared.

"Let's be realistic."

"He isn't strong enough."

"He isn't talented enough."

"He isn't ruthless enough."

"He isn't respected enough."

"Against the First Disciple?"

Lucifer shrugged.

"He dies."

"Against the Second Disciple?"

"He dies."

"Against me?"

Lucifer's grin returned.

"He definitely dies."

The air became colder.

Nauko's hand moved toward her sword.

Lucifer noticed.

But didn't care.

Instead he spoke softly.

"You know I'm right."

That single sentence struck harder than any blade.

Because she did know.

Everyone knew.

The Third Disciple was intelligent.

But in the Demonic Cult—

Strength ruled everything.

And compared to the true monsters...

Her brother wasn't enough.

Nauko remained silent.

Lucifer looked at her carefully.

Then smiled.

"Besides..."

"Why are you protecting him?"

Nauko frowned.

"What?"

"You're smarter than him."

"Stronger than him."

"More respected than him."

Lucifer tilted his head.

"So why does he inherit the clan?"

For the first time—

Nauko's expression changed.

Only slightly.

But Lucifer noticed.

Because predators notice weakness.

"Your elders promised you the position."

Lucifer continued.

"They praised you."

"They rewarded you."

"They used you."

A pause.

"Then they handed everything to your brother."

Nauko's hand tightened around her sword.

"Enough."

Lucifer laughed.

"Am I wrong?"

Silence.

"Exactly."

The truth hurt.

That was why people hated hearing it.

Nauko took a deep breath.

"You are trying to create conflict between us."

"No."

Lucifer looked directly into her eyes.

"I'm showing you conflict that already exists."

The forest became silent.

Even the screams below seemed distant.

Nauko stared at Lucifer.

Trying to determine whether he was manipulating her.

The worst part?

He wasn't entirely lying.

That made him dangerous.

Because the best lies always contained truth.

Finally she asked:

"What do you want?"

Lucifer smiled.

"A deal."

Nauko immediately knew she would regret hearing those words.

"What deal?"

"I kill your brother."

"..."

"You blame me."

"..."

"The clan loses its heir."

"..."

"You inherit everything."

Nauko couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Lucifer was casually discussing murder.

As if discussing dinner.

"And what do you gain?"

she asked.

Lucifer stood.

Wind rustled through his black coat.

His crimson eyes glowed faintly.

"Entertainment."

Nauko stared.

Then laughed.

For the first time.

A genuine laugh.

"You're unbelievable."

"I hear that often."

Nauko thought for several moments.

Then finally spoke.

"If you want my cooperation..."

Lucifer listened.

"...Then bring me the Soul Fruit."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Interesting.

"The Soul Fruit?"

"It grows in the northwestern region."

Nauko nodded.

"Protected by a Peak Nascent beast."

"And?"

"Bring it to me."

A pause.

"Within forty-eight hours."

Lucifer grinned.

"That's all?"

"If you fail."

Nauko's voice became icy.

"I'll kill you myself."

Lucifer offered his hand.

"Deal."

Nauko didn't shake it.

Lucifer sighed dramatically.

"No trust."

"None."

"Fair."

The next second—

He vanished.

Sin of Sloth.

Leaving only distorted air behind.

Nauko watched him disappear.

For the first time in years—

She felt something unusual.

Curiosity.

The race began.

Forty-eight hours.

A Peak Nascent beast.

And a Soul Fruit.

Most cultivators would consider the task impossible.

Lucifer considered it Tuesday.

He moved through the forest like a phantom.

Hours became a blur.

Mountains.

Rivers.

Valleys.

Everything passed beneath his feet.

By the second evening—

He finally arrived.

At the center of a ruined valley.

The Soul Fruit glowed brilliantly.

A crimson fruit hanging from a silver tree.

Beautiful.

Tempting.

And heavily guarded.

A massive creature slept beneath it.

Nearly six meters tall.

Two heads.

Two clubs.

Two sets of glowing eyes.

Chirin gulped.

"...That's huge."

Lucifer nodded.

"It is."

"...What's the plan?"

Lucifer smiled.

"Violence."

"Of course."

The Twin-Headed Ogre suddenly opened its eyes.

Golden pupils locked onto Lucifer.

The ground trembled.

The beast stood.

Roaring toward the heavens.

The entire valley shook.

Lucifer sighed.

"Why do they always get angry?"

Chirin floated behind him.

"Maybe because you keep trying to kill them."

"Fair point."

The battle began.

BOOM!

The first club smashed into the earth.

A crater exploded outward.

Lucifer disappeared.

Sloth activated.

The attack missed.

The second club followed.

Again.

Again.

Again.

The valley transformed into ruins.

Lucifer dodged relentlessly.

Waiting.

Observing.

Analyzing.

Every movement.

Every breath.

Every weakness.

A predator studying prey.

Even when the prey was stronger.

Much stronger.

Hours seemed to pass.

Then—

An opening.

Tiny.

Almost invisible.

One of the heads became consumed by rage.

Predictable.

Lucifer smiled.

"Got you."

Sin of Envy activated.

Suddenly—

Thoughts.

Instincts.

Intentions.

The Ogre's next move became visible.

Not because Lucifer saw it.

But because he knew it.

The monster raised its club.

Exactly as expected.

Lucifer moved.

Sloth.

Greed.

Envy.

Three sins simultaneously.

Pain exploded through his body.

His meridians screamed.

His dantian trembled.

But Lucifer ignored everything.

One chance.

One strike.

That was enough.

The Ogre's weapon became lodged within a giant tree.

And Lucifer appeared beside its wounded flank.

His sword flashed.

"Cleave."

A black-red slash crossed the valley.

Silence.

The Ogre froze.

For a moment—

Nothing happened.

Then—

Its body split apart.

Two halves crashed onto the ground.

Dead.

Chirin stared.

"...What was that?"

Lucifer exhaled.

"Sin of Envy."

"The more someone envies me..."

"...the easier it becomes to understand them."

The giant corpse dissolved.

The Soul Fruit remained.

Waiting.

Lucifer plucked it.

Without hesitation—

He devoured it.

Sin of Gluttony activated.

The fruit's energy exploded.

Pure spiritual essence surged through his body.

His lower dantian expanded.

Then—

Something impossible happened.

A second dantian formed.

Within his center.

Chirin's eyes widened.

"Humans have three dantians..."

"Lower."

"Middle."

"Upper."

"And you just awakened your second."

Lucifer grinned.

The energy continued rising.

Peak Nascent.

Nascent Fourth Stage.

Nascent Fifth Stage.

Power flooded every corner of his body.

When he finally opened his eyes—

The world seemed smaller.

Weaker.

Slower.

Lucifer stood.

"Now."

He smiled.

"Let's go finish business."

Back at the camp—

The massacre had ended.

Bodies covered the ground.

Poison lingered.

Beasts feasted.

The smell of death filled the air.

Only one person remained alive.

The Third Disciple.

Barely.

Using forbidden techniques.

Draining the life force of his own followers.

Desperately clinging to existence.

Pathetic.

Lucifer entered the camp.

The Third Disciple looked up.

His eyes widened.

"You..."

Lucifer smiled.

"Yo."

Rage exploded across the man's face.

"You think you've won?"

"I usually do."

"My guardian will expose everything!"

Lucifer laughed.

"About that."

The Third Disciple froze.

Lucifer produced a recording orb.

Activated it.

Nauko's image appeared.

The deal.

The conversation.

Everything.

The Third Disciple's face became pale.

"No..."

Shock.

Disbelief.

Betrayal.

The three emotions shattered him completely.

"My own sister..."

Lucifer crouched beside him.

Watching.

Enjoying.

The Third Disciple began laughing.

Then crying.

Then laughing again.

His mind finally broke.

With trembling teeth—

He bit down.

Blood spilled.

And his body collapsed.

Dead.

Lucifer clicked his tongue.

"What a waste."

Chirin stared.

"You are genuinely insane."

Lucifer looked toward the dark sky.

A smile spread across his face.

"No."

His eyes glowed crimson.

"I'm the Devil."

Far away—

Deep within the Demonic Cult—

A cultivation chamber exploded.

A terrifying aura surged toward the heavens.

An ancient genius opened his eyes.

A smile appeared.

"At last..."

His gaze turned toward the horizon.

"Time to meet my successor."