Chapter 89:The Temple beyond Time

The last phantom creature dissolved into crimson mist.

Without hesitation, Lucifer stretched out his hand.

"Sin of Gluttony."

Black tendrils erupted from beneath his feet, devouring every fragment of spiritual essence left behind.

The energy surged through his meridians like a tidal wave.

Boom.

The earth trembled.

Another barrier shattered.

His cultivation rose once more.

Saint Realm... Ninth Layer.

Lucifer slowly opened his eyes as a satisfied grin spread across his face.

"So this place really is a treasure."

Chirin floated beside him.

"Or a death sentence."

Ahead stood an enormous structure hidden beneath countless ancient trees.

Its pillars pierced the heavens.

Its roof had collapsed in several places, yet it radiated an indescribable majesty.

Unlike every tomb Lucifer had explored...

This place felt alive.

"Is it another tomb?" Chirin asked.

Lucifer shook his head.

"No."

"It's a temple."

"You can tell just by looking?"

Lucifer nodded.

"Tombs glorify the dead."

"Temples glorify something still worshipped."

His crimson eyes examined the countless carvings decorating the outer walls.

Gods.

Stars.

Dragons.

Unknown constellations.

None resembled anything recorded in Murim.

"The architecture..."

"It's older than every civilization I've seen."

They stepped inside.

The instant Lucifer crossed the entrance—

Everything changed.

The ruined temple vanished.

Broken pillars repaired themselves.

Dust disappeared.

Golden lanterns ignited one after another.

The entire temple returned to its former glory.

A warm breeze brushed past them.

Chirin's eyes widened.

"What..."

"What just happened?"

Lucifer looked around calmly.

"Faith."

"The power accumulated from centuries of worship."

"It restored the temple the moment someone entered."

Chirin swallowed.

"Does that mean..."

"It accepted us?"

Lucifer shrugged.

"Or it's preparing to kill us."

"Either way..."

"It's interesting."

The moment those words left his mouth—

Reality cracked.

The floor disappeared beneath his feet.

His vision blurred.

His consciousness sank into endless darkness.

When Lucifer opened his eyes...

He was lying on a luxurious chair.

Warm sunlight bathed his face.

Birds chirped peacefully.

A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of blooming flowers.

Behind him—

Soft fingers massaged his shoulders.

Sue smiled gently.

"You've worked hard."

"You deserve some rest."

Yu Ming placed fresh fruit before him.

Tang Ock poured him tea.

Elizabeth stood nearby with a faint smile.

Tsuru.

Lei Xin.

Zhong Yu.

Everyone was there.

No blood.

No war.

No enemies.

Only peace.

Lucifer stared silently.

Then...

He smiled.

"I know this is fake."

"But..."

"I like it."

Time passed.

Or perhaps...

It didn't.

No battles.

No killing.

No responsibilities.

Only warmth.

Only happiness.

For the first time in countless years...

Lucifer closed his eyes.

"...Maybe just a little longer."

Outside the illusion—

The heavens exploded.

Hundreds of flying warships emerged from dense black clouds.

Their shadows swallowed the forest beneath.

Thousands of Murim Alliance soldiers stood upon iron decks.

Formation masters activated countless arrays.

Spiritual cannons glowed crimson.

At the front—

A colossal flagship towered above all others.

Upon its throne sat a single man.

His aura alone distorted the sky.

The Great Elder—

Vermilion Bird.

His scarlet robe fluttered violently.

Cold eyes overlooked the ancient forest.

"Destroy everything."

The command echoed across heaven.

Hundreds of cannons fired simultaneously.

The world disappeared beneath endless light.

BOOOOOOM!!

Entire mountains vanished.

Ancient forests burned.

The forbidden land shook violently.

The temple itself trembled.

Golden barriers rose around it.

The bombardment continued.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Cracks spread across the divine protection array.

Unable to withstand the assault—

The temple redirected every ounce of energy toward its outer defenses.

The illusion sustaining Lucifer...

Collapsed.

His peaceful world shattered like broken glass.

Lucifer blinked.

"...What?"

"I was just getting to the good part."

Chirin nearly exploded.

"YOU IDIOT!"

"The Murim Alliance is trying to bury us alive!"

Lucifer sighed dramatically.

"What terrible timing."

The temple shook violently.

Stone debris rained from above.

Cracks spread through every corridor.

Lucifer glanced around.

"...Interesting."

"The space here is unstable."

Chirin nodded.

"And time."

Lucifer frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"How long were you inside that illusion?"

"...Maybe five days."

"It hasn't even been five minutes."

Lucifer blinked.

"...Seriously?"

Chirin sighed.

"I've given up questioning this place."

Another explosion echoed.

The entrance collapsed completely beneath countless tons of rock.

"So..."

"We're trapped."

Lucifer scratched his head.

"Guess we'll have to find another exit."

They rushed deeper into the temple.

The deeper they went—

The stranger reality became.

Gravity disappeared.

The walls floated.

Stones drifted like feathers.

Finally...

They reached the central hall.

Lucifer stopped walking.

Even he couldn't hide his surprise.

"...Beautiful."

The hall floated within an endless sea of stars.

Space itself had shattered.

Invisible cracks stretched endlessly through the void.

Countless silver threads stitched reality together.

Time itself had frozen.

Stars remained motionless.

Even drifting dust refused to fall.

It felt as though the universe itself had stopped breathing.

Lucifer reached toward one of the silver threads.

His fingertip barely touched it.

Ripples spread across reality.

"Interesting..."

Chirin looked at him.

"You literally manipulate space."

"Why are you impressed?"

Lucifer smiled.

"Creating something..."

"And appreciating someone else's work..."

"Are completely different things."

Then—

He saw them.

At the center of the hall.

A man.

A woman.

Frozen forever.

One wielded a blade wrapped in moonlight.

The other held a sword blazing like the sun.

Their expressions remained locked in the instant before their final clash.

Princess Daxia.

Chunma.

Still alive.

Yet untouched by time.

Lucifer slowly narrowed his eyes.

"So..."

"The legends were true."

A calm voice answered behind him.

"They never died."

Lucifer turned.

Standing quietly behind him—

Sword Demon.

He had arrived without making even the slightest sound.

Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

"You've been following me?"

Sword Demon shook his head.

"The Heavenly Demon sent me."

"He knew you couldn't fight the Murim Alliance..."

"...and uncover our founders' secret alone."

Chirin suddenly understood.

"So that's why Lucifer's disciple token still existed."

Sword Demon nodded.

"It doubles as a tracking artifact."

Lucifer clicked his tongue.

"So the old man doesn't trust me."

Sword Demon smiled faintly.

"You're wrong."

"He worries."

Lucifer looked away.

"...That's even worse."

Another explosion rocked the temple.

Sword Demon drew his blade.

"I'll hold them outside."

"You save our founders."

Before leaving—

He placed a hand on Lucifer's shoulder.

"The Heavenly Demon truly values you."

Then—

He vanished.

Lucifer stared after him.

"...Being cared for by another man..."

"Leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

Chirin groaned.

"Focus."

Lucifer sighed before raising Chirin.

A single slash flashed across eternity.

Cleave.

The Sun Crystal shattered.

The Moon Crystal shattered.

Time...

Began moving again.

Daxia inhaled sharply.

Chunma opened his eyes.

The first thing both siblings saw...

Was each other.

Neither hesitated.

Both raised their weapons simultaneously.

Lucifer slowly pinched the bridge of his nose.

"...Of course."

Outside—

The Murim Alliance prepared one final bombardment.

Spiritual cannons glowed brighter than miniature suns.

"Fire."

The flagship shook.

A beam capable of erasing mountains descended toward the temple.

Before it could strike—

A single sword rose.

One slash.

Silence.

The beam split cleanly in half.

The shockwave sliced through dozens of warships behind it.

Flames engulfed the sky.

Every Murim disciple stared in horror.

Standing alone before the entire fleet...

Was Sword Demon.

His sword pointed calmly toward heaven.

Great Elder Vermilion Bird slowly closed his eyes.

"...Retreat."

"No one here..."

"...can stop him."

Inside the temple...

Past and present collided.

Outside...

Two legends prepared to wage war.

And caught between them—

Lucifer smiled.

"Looks like..."

"The real fun is finally beginning."