Chapter 80:The Perfect Betrayal

The battlefield fell silent.

The dust that had swallowed the clash between White Tiger and the Demon Physician slowly drifted across the ruined mountains, hiding both legends from the countless disciples watching from afar. Every eye remained fixed on the haze.

No one dared to breathe.

Then—

A figure staggered forward.

It was the Demon Physician.

His robes were torn, his breathing ragged, and exhaustion showed on his face. Across from him, White Tiger still stood with his sword lowered, equally battered after their desperate battle. Neither warrior had enough strength left for another prolonged exchange.

For a brief moment, it seemed the fight had reached its end.

Then a sword pierced through the Demon Physician's back.

Everything froze.

White Tiger's pupils contracted.

The blade emerged from the Great Evil's chest.

Behind him stood a young man dressed in flowing black robes traced with crimson patterns.

Lucifer.

His expression carried the same carefree smile as always.

"...You?" White Tiger whispered.

The Demon Physician slowly looked down at the sword before turning his head with difficulty.

"...Why...?"

Lucifer's smile widened.

"Because I know you."

"You've never hidden your hatred for me. If today ended differently, sooner or later you would've tried to eliminate me."

He calmly pulled the sword free.

"So I simply moved first."

The Demon Physician let out a weak laugh.

"...Still... a devil..."

Lucifer extended his hand.

"Sin of Gluttony."

Dark crimson energy spread outward, surrounding the fallen elder. Streams of spiritual energy flowed toward Lucifer like rivers returning to the sea.

The pressure surrounding Lucifer rose steadily.

The air itself became heavier.

His cultivation climbed another step.

When the energy finally settled, even White Tiger's expression changed.

"So you've broken through again..."

Lucifer flexed his fingers before smiling.

"Sovereign Ninth Realm."

White Tiger's grip tightened around his sword.

"You demons consume even your own."

Lucifer shrugged.

"You call it cruelty."

"We call it survival."

White Tiger frowned.

"And that's exactly why Murim can never allow your path to spread."

Lucifer looked directly into his eyes.

"Then why are you surprised?"

"If we're already destroying each other, shouldn't that make your job easier?"

White Tiger fell silent.

Lucifer continued,

"The truth is different."

"You fear what our path can produce."

"A martial artist willing to abandon everything for strength grows far faster than one bound by rules."

"That's what truly frightens the Alliance."

White Tiger slowly raised his sword again.

"No."

"What I fear..."

"...is what happens if men like you are left unchecked."

Lucifer laughed softly.

"And who's going to expose what happened here?"

"The only witnesses..."

"...are you and me."

The mountain shook.

White Tiger answered by unleashing his Dharmic Body once more.

The enormous white tiger phantom towered over the battlefield.

Even weakened, its presence forced nearby disciples to retreat.

Without warning, the giant claw descended.

Lucifer moved.

He twisted aside at the last instant, but the attack still clipped his shoulder and sent him sliding across the shattered ground.

White Tiger narrowed his eyes.

"...Interesting."

Lucifer stood back up.

"So?"

"You didn't dodge completely."

White Tiger remembered the impossible speed Lucifer had displayed in previous battles.

"You can't freely use that movement technique anymore."

Lucifer smiled.

"So you noticed."

"You exhausted it traveling here."

Lucifer didn't deny it.

"I did."

White Tiger allowed himself a small smile.

"Then perhaps fate still favors Murim."

Lucifer brushed the dust from his robes.

"You're wounded."

"I'm missing one of my strongest movement techniques."

"I'd say that makes us even."

White Tiger answered with another charge.

The clash that followed shattered stone and sent shockwaves across the mountains.

Lucifer blocked instead of avoiding the strike.

The impact launched him deep into the earth, leaving behind a massive crater.

For several seconds...

Nothing moved.

White Tiger stared into the dust.

"Is it over...?"

Then laughter echoed from below.

The sound was calm.

Almost amused.

Lucifer climbed out of the crater, brushing dirt from his sleeves.

"...Good."

"The armor works."

Chirin groaned.

"You took that head-on just to test it?"

Lucifer grinned.

"How else am I supposed to know?"

"No sane person does that."

"I'm not most people."

White Tiger's expression darkened.

He had just realized he had become little more than a test for Lucifer's newly acquired armor.

His anger erupted.

"You insolent child!"

Golden Qi gathered around him as he prepared everything he had left for one final attack.

Lucifer looked up.

"So..."

"The finale."

He raised his hand.

The blood scattered across the battlefield responded, rising into the air as countless crimson blades took shape above the ruined valley.

Every survivor instinctively stepped backward.

No one spoke.

No one interfered.

The battlefield belonged to only two people now.

White Tiger gathered every remaining ounce of his strength.

Lucifer looked toward him with the same confident smile.

"Let's see whose conviction is stronger."

The mountains trembled as both techniques were unleashed.

A blinding light swallowed the battlefield.

When the dust finally cleared, everyone rushed toward the center.

The first thing they saw was the towering silhouette of the White Tiger Dharmic Body.

Murim disciples erupted in cheers.

"Our elder won!"

But the cheers slowly faded.

The giant phantom cracked apart.

White Tiger remained standing for only a heartbeat longer before his sword slipped from his grasp.

He fell to one knee.

Then to the ground.

Standing atop the shattered battlefield was Lucifer.

His robes fluttered silently in the wind.

No celebration.

No boast.

Only a quiet smile.

At that moment, a familiar voice echoed inside his mind.

System Prompt

Great feat accomplished.

Massive Karma Points awarded.

Title Unlocked: King of Death.

Passive Effect: Death follows in your wake. All combat attributes increased by 20%.

Lucifer glanced at the notification before looking toward the stunned crowd.

The silence that followed was louder than any victory cry.

A new legend had been born.