Chapter 55:Asura Festival

The news spread across Murim faster than wildfire.

From remote mountain sects...

To imperial capitals...

To noble clans hidden for centuries...

Everyone heard the same message.

The strongest man in the Demonic Cult had returned.

And the world trembled.

Deep inside the cult.

A lone swordsman knelt before a massive stone gate.

The moment the gate opened—

A terrifying pressure flooded the entire mountain.

The sky darkened.

Clouds twisted.

Even the earth seemed to bow.

Sword Demon lowered his head.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, my lord."

A tall figure stepped out.

Long black hair.

Golden eyes.

An aura that made reality itself feel heavier.

The Heavenly Demon.

He stretched lazily.

Then sighed.

"You don't need to be so formal when it's just us."

Sword Demon remained kneeling.

"I cannot do that."

The Heavenly Demon rolled his eyes.

"Before I'm the cult leader, I'm still your brother."

"I cannot."

The answer came instantly.

The Heavenly Demon laughed.

"You really haven't changed."

Sword Demon suddenly unsheathed his sword.

Without hesitation—

He pressed the blade against his own throat.

"If I have offended you..."

"You may take my life."

The Heavenly Demon immediately slapped the sword away.

"Are you insane?"

Sword Demon blinked.

"Possibly."

The Heavenly Demon burst out laughing.

Some things truly never changed.

Several minutes later—

The two walked through the cult.

Sword Demon acting as guide.

The Heavenly Demon acting completely lost.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Your palace."

The Heavenly Demon frowned.

"I know where my palace is."

Sword Demon calmly pointed behind them.

"Then why were you walking in the opposite direction?"

"..."

A long silence followed.

Sword Demon pretended not to notice.

The Heavenly Demon coughed awkwardly.

"I was testing you."

"Of course, my lord."

After bathing and changing into fresh robes—

The Heavenly Demon finally sat upon his throne.

A jar of liquor rested in one hand.

A smile appeared on his face.

"Home sweet home."

Sword Demon stood nearby.

"You missed this place."

"Of course I did."

The Heavenly Demon took a large drink.

"Try cultivating inside a dark cave for decades."

Sword Demon remained silent.

The Heavenly Demon pointed at him.

"Don't ever let me do that again."

"Understood."

A pause.

Then the Heavenly Demon's expression became serious.

"What happened while I was gone?"

Sword Demon immediately answered.

"The First Disciple has become stronger."

"As expected."

"The Second Disciple as well."

"Expected."

"The Third and Fourth Disciples died."

The Heavenly Demon froze.

The liquor stopped halfway to his lips.

For several seconds—

Silence filled the throne room.

Then—

"Repeat that."

Sword Demon obeyed.

"The Third and Fourth Disciples are dead."

The Heavenly Demon slowly lowered his drink.

"Who killed them?"

"The Fifth Disciple."

A smile appeared.

Small.

Dangerous.

"The boy with the broken dantian?"

"Yes."

"The one abandoned for a woman?"

"Yes."

The smile widened.

"Interesting."

Sword Demon nodded.

"He changed his name."

The Heavenly Demon leaned forward.

"What name?"

Sword Demon answered.

"Lucifer Morningstar."

A pause.

Then—

"The Devil."

The throne room exploded with laughter.

The Heavenly Demon laughed so hard tears nearly appeared.

"The Devil?"

"He calls himself The Devil?"

Sword Demon nodded.

The Heavenly Demon couldn't stop laughing.

"That child has always been strange."

"But this..."

"This is wonderful."

For the next hour—

Sword Demon explained everything.

The conspiracy.

The betrayal.

The deaths.

The rise of Lucifer.

And the increasingly terrifying methods he employed.

When the story ended—

The Heavenly Demon sat quietly.

Thinking.

Then he smiled.

"A true demon."

Sword Demon nodded.

"A rare one."

"Should I summon him?"

The Heavenly Demon immediately shook his head.

"No."

"Why?"

The Heavenly Demon looked toward the window.

"Because the moment I summon him..."

"The elders will think I favor him."

"And I have never favored anyone."

His gaze sharpened.

"Not even my own disciples."

Sword Demon understood.

The Demonic Cult respected only strength.

Anything else was weakness.

The Heavenly Demon stood.

"Good."

"The Asura Festival is approaching."

Sword Demon nodded.

"Yes."

The Heavenly Demon smiled.

"Then I'll see him myself."

The announcement shook Murim.

The Asura Festival.

Personally hosted by the Heavenly Demon.

Every major power immediately sent representatives.

Princes.

Nobles.

Clan heirs.

Sect geniuses.

Everyone wanted to witness the legend.

Everyone wanted recognition.

Everyone wanted opportunity.

And somewhere among them—

A devil was gambling.

"Again."

The dealer's hands trembled.

Cards were dealt.

Lucifer looked at them.

Then casually tossed down his hand.

"I win."

Silence.

The crowd exploded.

"Again?!"

"He hasn't lost once!"

"How many victories is that?"

"Twenty-three!"

"Impossible!"

Lucifer leaned back lazily.

One hand in his pocket.

A meat skewer hanging from his mouth.

"Next."

The dealer nearly cried.

The gambling den's manager finally arrived.

Several guards followed behind him.

The manager forced a smile.

"Sir."

Lucifer didn't even look up.

"What."

"We need to inspect you."

Lucifer slowly raised an eyebrow.

"For?"

"To ensure fairness."

The atmosphere immediately became dangerous.

Lucifer chuckled.

"So when you win..."

"The game is fair."

"But when I win..."

"I'm cheating."

The manager's smile twitched.

"That's not what I meant."

"No?"

Lucifer leaned forward.

The crowd instantly became silent.

"Then explain it better."

The manager gritted his teeth.

"There is roughly a fifty percent chance of winning."

"Correct."

"You have won every round."

"Correct."

"So something is suspicious."

Lucifer shrugged.

"My luck is great."

The manager nearly exploded.

But forced himself to remain calm.

"Then allow us to search you."

Lucifer thought for a moment.

Then smiled.

"Sure."

The manager relaxed.

Until Lucifer continued.

"But if you find nothing..."

"I take ownership of this gambling den."

The manager froze.

"What?!"

The crowd erupted.

Lucifer calmly chewed another piece of meat.

"My reputation is being questioned."

"If I'm innocent..."

"Compensate me."

The manager's face turned red.

"That's absurd."

Lucifer laughed.

"Then don't accuse me."

Silence.

The manager's thoughts raced.

He was certain Lucifer cheated.

Absolutely certain.

There was no way anyone could win this much.

No way.

Finally—

He agreed.

A contract was written.

Signed.

Witnessed.

And then—

The search began.

They checked everything.

His clothes.

His sleeves.

His boots.

His hair.

His rings.

His storage pouch.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

The manager's face became pale.

Lucifer smiled.

"So."

"I own this place now?"

The manager's eye twitched.

"...Yes."

Lucifer stood.

"Wonderful."

Minutes later—

He was escorted elsewhere.

Far from witnesses.

Far from crowds.

Far from help.

The manager's polite mask vanished instantly.

His face twisted with hatred.

"You stupid bastard."

Lucifer sighed.

"There it is."

The manager sneered.

"Kill him."

Every guard attacked at once.

Lucifer looked disappointed.

"Really?"

The first man arrived.

CRACK.

His neck snapped instantly.

The second rushed forward.

CRUNCH.

His ribs collapsed inward.

The third lost his head.

The fourth lost an arm.

The fifth lost the will to live.

Screams echoed through the alley.

Lucifer didn't use his sword.

Didn't use techniques.

Didn't use cultivation.

Just overwhelming brutality.

The manager fell backward.

Urine soaked his clothes.

Fear consumed him.

The monster before him wasn't human.

It wasn't even a cultivator.

It felt like death itself.

Lucifer crouched before him.

Smiling.

The manager trembled.

"Do...you know..."

"...who backs me?"

Lucifer tilted his head.

"Consequences."

The manager nodded desperately.

"Yes!"

Lucifer laughed.

"Do I look like I care?"

The manager felt despair.

For the first time—

He understood.

This wasn't someone who ignored consequences.

This was someone who simply didn't fear them.

"Who are you?"

he whispered.

Lucifer smiled.

"The Devil."

A blade flashed.

The head rolled.

And silence returned.

Several minutes later—

Lucifer walked through the festival.

Covered in blood.

His brand-new clothes completely ruined.

People parted automatically.

Nobody dared stand near him.

Chirin floated beside him.

"You look terrifying."

Lucifer looked down.

"My outfit is ruined."

"That's your concern?"

"Of course."

"I paid for this."

Chirin gave up.

Then Lucifer noticed a crowd.

Thousands gathered around a massive notice board.

Curious—

He approached.

The crowd instantly moved aside.

The blood helped.

A giant banner hung overhead.

ASURA FESTIVAL TOURNAMENT

The Heavenly Demon Will Personally Observe The Competition

The crowd went wild.

Everyone wanted recognition.

Everyone wanted glory.

Everyone wanted the Heavenly Demon's attention.

Chirin glanced at Lucifer.

"Are you entering?"

Lucifer looked at the notice.

Then shrugged.

"Nah."

"What?"

"Nah."

"Why?"

Lucifer turned away.

A faint smile appeared.

"Because I've spent too much of my life trying to make others acknowledge me."

His hands slid into his pockets.

The festival lights reflected in his crimson eyes.

"I'm done chasing approval."

And far above—

Within the palace—

The Heavenly Demon looked toward the festival grounds.

For a brief moment—

His gaze stopped.

Directly on Lucifer.

The Heavenly Demon smiled.

"Found you."

And for the first time—

The strongest man in the Demonic Cult became interested.

To Be Continued...