Chapter 72:The Tournament Begins

Opening Scene 

The Above Heaven Tournament had not even begun, yet the entire town was already trembling with excitement.

Today, a new champion would be crowned.

Today, the future leaders of Murim would display their talents.

And today…

The Devil had arrived.

The arena was packed to the brim. Tens of thousands of people filled the seats, their cheers shaking the very air. Merchants shouted, children climbed onto their fathers' shoulders, and martial artists from every corner of Jianghu eagerly waited for the greatest spectacle of the year.

One by one, the major powers entered.

The clan patriarchs.

The sect leaders.

The esteemed guests.

Each arrival drew thunderous applause.

The atmosphere became even more heated when the Great Evil, Poison Demon, and the Great Elder of the Murim Alliance, Tortoise, made their entrance. Their auras alone were enough to silence the crowd for several seconds.

Then came the participants.

The Five Dragons.

The Three Phoenixes.

The disciples of the Demonic Cult.

The future rulers of Murim.

Each one entered with pride.

Each one looked at the others as though they were prey.

Yet despite all of this…

The crowd kept looking around.

"Where is he?"

"I saw him in town yesterday."

"Did he not come?"

"The Devil isn't here?"

Even the elders began to frown.

Where was Lucifer?

---

Then suddenly—

"LOOK AT THE SKY!"

Everyone raised their heads.

The clear blue sky had disappeared.

Dark clouds gathered overhead.

Lightning roared.

The atmosphere became suffocating.

BOOOOM!!

A pillar of lightning descended into the arena.

The participants instantly retreated to the corners.

Dust exploded everywhere.

Silence.

As the smoke slowly cleared…

A figure stood in the center of the arena.

Black clothes.

One hand inside his pocket.

A bamboo stick hanging from his mouth.

The Devil.

Lucifer.

He looked around casually.

Then grinned.

Lucifer: "Well… did you miss me?"

The entire arena erupted.

Some cheered.

Some cursed.

Some looked terrified.

The participants, however, looked annoyed.

"Show off."

"He really thinks he's special."

But Lucifer didn't care.

He never did.

---

The elders quickly began drawing lots.

One by one, the matches started.

The Five Dragons won.

The Three Phoenixes won.

Elizabeth won.

Lei Xin won.

Tsuru won.

Zhong Yu won.

The crowd was ecstatic.

Every battle was spectacular.

Every participant displayed incredible techniques.

Then…

It was Lucifer's turn.

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Everyone sat up.

The crowd became excited.

The participants became nervous.

What absurd thing would the Devil do this time?

His opponent entered the arena.

Then looked at Lucifer.

Their eyes met.

A few seconds passed.

The man swallowed.

Then…

"I FORFEIT!"

Silence.

The entire arena froze.

Even the elders looked speechless.

The challenger directly left the stage.

He wasn't afraid of losing.

He was afraid of dying.

Elder Tortoise sighed.

Tortoise: "Winner… Lucifer."

The crowd groaned.

"Boooo!"

"What?!"

"That's it?!"

Even Lucifer looked disappointed.

Then…

A grin slowly appeared on his face.

Everyone suddenly had a bad feeling.

---

Lucifer: "Let's spice things up."

Silence.

Everyone looked at him.

He smiled.

Lucifer: "All of you."

The participants frowned.

Lucifer: "Come at me together."

The entire arena became deathly silent.

Nobody could believe what they had just heard.

Lucifer continued.

Lucifer: "I don't care if you're Orthodox, Demonic, or Unorthodox."

He spread his arms.

Lucifer: "I'll fight everyone by myself."

The crowd exploded.

"What?!"

"Is he insane?!"

Even Elder Tortoise was stunned.

Tortoise: "That's against the rules!"

Lucifer shrugged.

Lucifer: "Then bend them."

Everyone froze.

He pointed at the participants.

Lucifer: "Use whatever method you want."

He smiled.

Lucifer: "If any of you can even scratch me…"

He placed his hand on his neck.

Lucifer: "I'll offer my head on a silver platter."

The participants' faces twisted.

Disrespect.

This was pure disrespect.

Then Lucifer added fuel to the fire.

Lucifer: "What? Too scared to even try?"

That was it.

Their anger exploded.

"BASTARD!"

"DON'T LOOK DOWN ON US!"

"WE'LL AT LEAST TAKE YOUR ARM!"

Dozens of participants charged at him.

Lucifer simply looked at them.

Then sighed.

Lucifer: "My arm?"

He smiled.

Lucifer: "You're not even worth that."

He didn't draw Chirin.

He didn't use Cleave.

He didn't use Dismantle.

He simply released his killing intent.

The world turned black.

BOOOOOOM!!!

An ocean of murderous intent erupted.

Everyone froze.

Then…

Bodies began to explode.

One.

Two.

Ten.

Twenty.

Blood painted the arena red.

The crowd watched in horror as pieces of flesh rained from the sky.

Screams filled the arena.

Silence followed.

Everyone's faces had turned pale.

Killing intent was supposed to suppress opponents.

Pressure them.

Make them submit.

But kill?

No one had ever heard of such a thing.

Yet the Devil had turned even killing intent into a weapon.

Lucifer stood beneath the rain of blood.

Smiling.

Enjoying the silence.

More than cheers.

More than applause.

This silence…

Was beautiful.

---

Elder Tortoise's face turned pale.

His fists trembled.

Tortoise: "We have to kill him."

His voice became cold.

Tortoise: "No matter what."

Because if this monster lived…

The balance of Murim would shatter.

---

The elders finally brought out an ancient painting.

An artifact capable of creating another dimension.

The remaining participants entered.

One after another.

Finally…

Lucifer entered.

The world changed.

A beautiful forest appeared.

Golden sunlight.

Blue skies.

Birds singing.

Lucifer looked around.

Then smiled.

Lucifer: "Too bad."

He stretched.

Lucifer: "I have to destroy this beautiful forest."

Suddenly—

Dozens of Orthodox disciples surrounded him.

They drew their weapons.

Lucifer sighed.

Lucifer: "Did you come here to die?"

One stepped forward.

"We came to buy time."

CRIMSON FLASH.

Their bodies were split apart.

Blood covered the grass.

Lucifer didn't even slow down.

Lucifer: "You're not even worthy to hold me back."

---

Meanwhile—

The Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes had begun fighting Elizabeth, Lei Xin, Tsuru, and Zhong Yu.

The battle was about to begin.

Then—

Lucifer appeared.

Everyone froze.

He looked at them.

Then laughed.

Lucifer: "Why are you trying to kill each other?"

He looked upward.

Lucifer: "We're all going to die pretty soon."

Everyone froze.

Elizabeth frowned.

Elizabeth: "What do you mean?"

Lucifer pointed upward.

Lucifer: "Look."

Everyone raised their heads.

Crack.

Crack.

CRACK.

Space itself was breaking.

The sky was splitting apart.

Everyone's faces turned white.

---

First Phoenix whispered,

First Phoenix: "What's happening outside?"

Lucifer smiled.

Lucifer: "They're trying to kill all of us."

Silence.

First Dragon exploded.

First Dragon: "BULLSHIT!"

"Our Alliance would never do that!"

Lucifer yawned.

Then threw someone onto the ground.

An assassin.

Everyone froze.

Tsuru frowned.

Tsuru: "Who is he?"

Lucifer: "An assassin sent to kill me."

He grabbed the man's head.

Lucifer: "Talk."

The assassin immediately confessed.

The Murim Alliance planned to destroy the painting.

Kill everyone.

Including Lucifer.

Silence.

Second Dragon shook his head.

Second Dragon: "Impossible."

"Assassins don't break that easily."

Lucifer smiled.

Lucifer: "I know many ways to break people."

His smile widened.

Lucifer: "Without killing them."

Everyone shivered.

---

Third Dragon spoke.

"Even if it's true…"

"Why should we trust the Devil?"

Lucifer laughed.

Lucifer: "You people are hypocrites."

"When you kill someone, it's justice."

"When I kill someone, it's evil."

Fourth Dragon pointed at him.

"You slaughtered innocent people!"

Lucifer looked directly into his eyes.

Lucifer: "Proof?"

Silence.

Fifth Dragon spoke.

"What about your massacres?"

Lucifer shrugged.

Lucifer: "Green Forest."

"18 Strongholds."

"Blood Emperor."

"They were all sinners."

He smiled.

Lucifer: "If I killed them…"

"I simply did a good deed."

Nobody could answer.

Because every person he mentioned truly deserved death.

---

Second Phoenix began crying.

Second Phoenix: "Are we going to die?"

The First Dragon tried calming everyone.

Failed.

Third Phoenix sat on the ground.

"I don't want to die."

Tsuru looked at Lucifer.

Tsuru: "Can you save us?"

Lucifer smiled.

Lucifer: "Maybe."

"Maybe not."

Elizabeth grabbed his collar.

Elizabeth: "Stop speaking in riddles!"

Lucifer looked at her coldly.

Lucifer: "I didn't ask any of you to come."

"You followed me willingly."

"Now you're blaming me?"

Silence.

Zhong Yu sighed.

Zhong Yu: "No point fighting."

"We need to survive."

Finally—

First Phoenix stepped forward.

First Phoenix: "Help us."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

Lucifer: "Why should I?"

She looked directly at him.

First Phoenix: "I know the Murim Alliance."

"I know their secrets."

"I'll trade information…"

"For my friends' lives."

Lucifer stared at her.

Then laughed.

A long.

Terrifying.

Laugh.

Lucifer: "Humans really are amusing."

He stepped closer.

Lucifer: "But remember something."

His crimson eyes glowed.

Lucifer: "You're making a deal…"

The entire forest became cold.

Lucifer: "With the Devil."

First Phoenix nodded.

First Phoenix: "I know."

Lucifer smiled.

Lucifer: "Then take a Blood Oath."

"If you betray me…"

"You die."

"And I'll kill everyone you love."

Silence.

She accepted.

The oath was completed.

Then Lucifer gave his first order.

He pointed at the others.

Lucifer: "Knock them out."

Everyone froze.

First Phoenix closed her eyes.

Then attacked.

One by one.

The Dragons and Phoenixes collapsed.

She obeyed.

Without hesitation.

She turned toward Lucifer.

First Phoenix: "Now save them."

Lucifer smiled.

Lucifer: "Of course."

"When the time is ripe."

Lei Xin trembled.

Lei Xin: "And… when is that?"

Lucifer looked toward the cracking sky.

The dimension was collapsing.

Darkness swallowed the horizon.

The world itself screamed.

Lucifer's smile widened.

The smile of a monster who had found a new game.

Lucifer: "You'll see."

As space itself began devouring everything…

The Devil started laughing.

Because he knew something nobody else did.

Another massacre…

Was about to begin.