Chapter 56:The Devil and The Heavenly Demon

Not the peaceful kind.

The uncomfortable kind.

The kind where nobody dared speak too loudly.

Because one man sat alone in the corner.

Eating noodles.

Covered in blood.

Fresh blood.

Dried blood.

Enough blood to paint an entire room red.

Every movement left crimson stains on the floor.

On the table.

On the chair.

On everything.

Yet nobody complained.

Not the customers.

Not the servants.

Not even the owner.

Because everyone knew who he was.

Lucifer Morningstar.

The Devil.

Lucifer slurped another mouthful of noodles.

Completely ignoring the terrified looks around him.

"Good soup."

Chirin floated beside him.

"You just slaughtered an entire gambling den."

Lucifer shrugged.

"They attacked me first."

"You murdered the manager."

"He annoyed me."

Chirin stared.

"You realize normal people don't solve problems like that?"

Lucifer pointed his chopsticks toward the bowl.

"Normal people also don't get rich this quickly."

His grin widened.

"Now I own a gambling den."

"Do you know how much money that thing makes?"

Chirin sighed.

"I regret asking."

Lucifer laughed.

The sound echoed throughout the restaurant.

Nobody else laughed.

Meanwhile—

The Asura Festival had reached its climax.

The largest arena in the Demonic Cult overflowed with spectators.

Hundreds of thousands watched.

Geniuses from powerful clans.

Royal descendants.

Noble heirs.

Famous warriors.

Every seat was occupied.

Every eye focused on the arena.

Because only one thing mattered today.

Recognition.

Recognition from the Heavenly Demon.

The strongest man in Murim.

The ruler of the Demonic Cult.

A living legend.

One word from him could elevate a nobody into greatness.

One glance from him could change a person's fate forever.

Which was why everyone fought like their lives depended on it.

Because for many—

They did.

The arena shook.

Two geniuses collided.

Swords screamed.

Qi exploded.

The crowd roared.

Blood stained the stone floor.

Another contender fell.

Then another.

Then another.

Hours passed.

Battle after battle.

Victory after victory.

Until only one person remained standing.

The Second Disciple.

The strongest disciple currently present.

His robes were torn.

His breathing heavy.

Yet his eyes burned with confidence.

Because he had won.

The elders from his clan immediately stood.

Praising him.

Boasting loudly.

Mocking rival clans.

The atmosphere became lively.

No one could deny his strength.

He had earned this victory.

But despite everything—

The Heavenly Demon remained silent.

Still hidden behind the curtains.

Still watching.

Still waiting.

The Sword Demon noticed.

"My lord."

The Heavenly Demon didn't respond.

"He isn't here."

Silence.

Then—

A small sigh escaped him.

"No."

"He isn't."

The Sword Demon understood immediately.

The person the Heavenly Demon wanted to see...

Hadn't appeared.

The Devil.

Back at the restaurant.

Lucifer ordered another bowl.

The owner nearly cried.

Not because of the food.

Because Lucifer's bloody clothes were staining everything.

Still—

Nobody dared complain.

Lucifer took another sip of wine.

Completely relaxed.

As if the biggest festival in the cult wasn't happening.

As if the strongest man in Murim wasn't watching.

As if the entire world didn't exist.

The Second Disciple stepped forward.

His voice echoed across the arena.

"I have a request."

The crowd quieted instantly.

The Sword Demon spoke.

"State it."

The Second Disciple pointed toward the sky.

Toward the disciples' residential district.

Toward one specific person.

"I challenge Lucifer Morningstar."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Then—

The arena exploded.

"What?!"

"The Devil?"

"He's challenging Lucifer?"

"Today?!"

Even the elders became shocked.

The Second Disciple continued.

"Lucifer Morningstar has become increasingly tyrannical."

"He kills fellow disciples."

"He slaughters elders."

"He disregards order."

"He acts above the rules of the cult."

Murmurs spread everywhere.

Everyone knew who he meant.

The problem was—

Nobody could prove anything.

Zhong Yu narrowed her eyes.

"Evidence?"

The Second Disciple smiled.

"None."

The crowd laughed.

But he wasn't finished.

"However..."

"Everyone knows."

More murmurs.

The elders immediately joined him.

"Indeed."

"Such a dangerous disciple must be disciplined."

"He lacks respect."

"He acts too freely."

"He has become a threat."

Zhong Yu internally rolled her eyes.

Hypocrites.

Every single one of them.

The real reason was simple.

They feared Lucifer.

Because Lucifer couldn't be controlled.

The Sword Demon glanced toward the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon remained silent.

Thinking.

Then slowly nodded.

Not because he believed the accusations.

Not because he cared.

But because he was curious.

Very curious.

A disciple who could make an entire cult nervous.

A disciple who had become the center of every discussion.

A disciple who called himself...

The Devil.

The Sword Demon raised a talisman.

Ignited it.

And threw it into the arena.

The talisman exploded into golden light.

At that exact moment—

Lucifer was drinking wine.

Then—

Reality twisted.

Space folded.

The world spun.

And suddenly—

THUMP.

Lucifer landed on his backside.

Right in the middle of the arena.

The entire stadium stared.

Thousands.

Hundreds of thousands.

Everyone.

Lucifer rubbed his butt.

"Ouch."

Chirin nearly died from embarrassment.

"You fought a Nascent Beast King."

"You got punched through mountains."

"You survived poison."

"And you're pretending that hurt?"

Lucifer blinked.

"...Good point."

Then he started laughing.

The crowd was speechless.

Who acted like this before the Heavenly Demon?

Who?!

The Second Disciple smiled coldly.

"Long time no see, Junior Brother."

Lucifer looked around.

Then pointed at himself.

"Me?"

"Yes."

Lucifer squinted.

"Who are you?"

The Second Disciple froze.

The crowd froze.

Even the elders froze.

"...What?"

Lucifer cleaned his ear.

"I asked who you are."

The Second Disciple's face darkened.

"You don't remember me?"

"No."

"You truly don't know who I am?"

"No."

The man's eye twitched.

Then he laughed.

A dangerous laugh.

"Perhaps your memory was damaged when I destroyed your dantian."

Everything became silent.

Lucifer's smile disappeared.

Instantly.

The atmosphere changed.

Like a storm arriving.

"So it was you."

The Second Disciple smirked.

"Now you remember."

Lucifer slowly stood.

One hand resting on Chirin.

"Good."

His voice became cold.

Very cold.

"I've been looking for you."

The crowd shivered.

The Second Disciple laughed.

"You intend to kill me?"

Lucifer smiled.

"Can I not?"

The Second Disciple released his cultivation.

Peak Transcendent Realm.

The entire arena shook.

Power flooded every corner.

"You are still in the Nascent Realm."

"The difference between us is heaven and earth."

Lucifer laughed.

A genuine laugh.

"You know..."

"Everyone who said that died."

The smile widened.

"And heaven?"

His eyes gleamed.

"I stand above it."

Silence.

Pure silence.

Not confidence.

Not arrogance.

A declaration.

The declaration of a madman.

Or a king.

Both released their qi simultaneously.

BOOM.

The collision shook the entire arena.

Black demonic qi collided violently.

Neither side moved.

Neither side retreated.

A perfect stalemate.

Even the elders became serious.

The Sword Demon stepped forward.

"Enough."

Both immediately stopped.

His voice echoed.

"The victor may request one thing from the Heavenly Demon."

The crowd erupted.

The reward was absurd.

Yet neither fighter cared.

Their eyes remained locked.

The Second Disciple moved first.

Thunder exploded.

Lightning covered his body.

Lucifer vanished.

Sin of Sloth.

A black blur appeared behind him.

"Cleave."

A sword descended.

Fast.

Lethal.

The Second Disciple barely blocked.

BOOM.

The arena cracked.

The match officially began.

The next several minutes became chaos.

Thunder.

Wind.

Fire.

Qi.

Sword intent.

Everything collided.

Lucifer unleashed Dismantle repeatedly.

Black slashes filled the arena.

The Second Disciple countered with superior cultivation.

Superior speed.

Superior power.

Yet somehow—

Lucifer remained equal.

The crowd couldn't understand.

How?

How was someone several realms lower competing?

Then—

The Second Disciple smiled.

Finally.

An opening.

He deliberately left a flaw.

Lucifer saw it.

And attacked.

Exactly as planned.

"Roaring Thunder!"

Lightning exploded.

Lucifer's eyes widened.

Trap.

Sin of Greed activated.

The world slowed.

Everything slowed.

Except him.

He barely twisted away.

Even then—

Blood erupted from his shoulder.

The crowd cheered.

Finally.

Lucifer was wounded.

The Second Disciple laughed.

"Is that all?"

Lucifer spat blood.

Then smiled.

"Not even close."

Sin of Lust activated.

Pain flooded his body.

Every injury.

Every broken muscle.

Every fractured bone.

Converted.

Stored.

Waiting.

The Second Disciple felt danger.

Real danger.

For the first time.

Both prepared their strongest attack.

The entire arena trembled.

The formations protecting the spectators activated automatically.

Elders stood.

Nobles held their breath.

Even the Heavenly Demon leaned slightly forward.

Interested.

Very interested.

"Roaring Thunder: Seventh Form!"

Lightning consumed the sky.

Lucifer raised Chirin.

"Severance."

One simple swing.

Nothing flashy.

Nothing grand.

Just a single cut.

The two attacks collided.

The world exploded.

Light swallowed everything.

Sound disappeared.

The arena vanished beneath dust.

Nobody could see.

Nobody knew.

Who won?

Then—

The smoke parted.

A figure remained standing.

Covered in blood.

Clothes torn.

Body broken.

Yet still standing.

Lucifer.

The Devil.

Behind him—

The Second Disciple lay on the ground.

Alive.

But ruined.

Arms shattered.

Legs destroyed.

Dantian broken.

Future erased.

Lucifer looked down.

Coldly.

"We're even now."

Then turned away.

"Enjoy the rest of your life."

The crowd trembled.

Because death would've been kinder.

The Second Disciple's clan elders exploded.

"KILL HIM!"

Several elders rushed forward.

Lucifer couldn't even stand properly anymore.

One punch.

That was all it would take.

Then—

The curtains moved.

For the first time.

The Heavenly Demon revealed himself.

Silence.

Everyone immediately knelt.

Every elder.

Every disciple.

Every noble.

Every prince.

Every emperor's representative.

They all knelt.

Except one person.

Lucifer.

Blood dripping from his body.

Bones nearly broken.

Barely conscious.

Yet standing.

Sword planted into the ground.

Using it to support himself.

Looking directly at the Heavenly Demon.

Eye to eye.

Without fear.

Without hesitation.

Without submission.

The Heavenly Demon smiled.

For the first time.

Genuinely.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Then—

He released more pressure.

The arena screamed.

People collapsed completely.

Faces pressed into the stone.

Unable to move.

Unable to breathe.

Lucifer coughed blood.

His knees trembled.

His vision blurred.

Yet somehow—

He remained standing.

Still staring upward.

Still refusing to bow.

The Heavenly Demon's smile widened.

Because for the first time in many years—

He had found someone worth watching.

And Lucifer realized something terrifying.

The pressure wasn't hostile.

It was curiosity.

The strongest man in Murim...

Was testing him.

And the Heavenly Demon wasn't asking:

"Can he survive?"

He was asking:

"How far can this monster go?"

End Chapter.

Next Chapter: The First Conversation Between the Heavenly Demon and the Devil.