The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Ebon Akrest was still seated at his desk. It might seem like only a short while had passed, but in reality, he had been there for an entire day. Throughout that time, he had been lost in deep thought, even pushing away his meals despite feeling hunger.

There were several major issues at hand. Aside from the need to expel the demonic energy that had infiltrated his body, the most terrifying fact was that Bloodshadow Pavilion had been nearly destroyed.

Of course, the organization itself still remained. Not all Bloodshadow Pavilion warriors had been massacred. However, both Kieran, the Vice Lord, and Ezekiel the Bloodshadow Pavilion Lord, had perished.

"...And even the Dark Emperor."

The one who had once been called the Dark Sovereign before the Sword Sovereign arose. A master of the Peak Realm, capable of assassination even at such heights... And yet, he had died at the hands of the Everstone Clan.

It was an outcome no one had expected.

The rumors spread to the world claimed that he had lost in battle against Great Master Thorne of Mount Suncrest. There was nothing suspicious about the information.

It was a fair duel, not an ambush. Besides, Great Master Thorne was already at a higher level than the Dark Emperor. Meeting a stronger opponent in an unfavorable situation naturally led to his downfall.

However, something felt off.

The Vice Lord was dead. The Lord was dead. And now even the Lord's master, the Dark Emperor, was dead.

Adding to the turmoil was the uprising of demonic remnants in Eastern Mountain and the sudden defection of Valen Flamestrike.

At the center of all these grand events, one name constantly emerged.

Vera.

The girl who had defeated Theron and made a name for herself.

The so-called dragon of Mount Suncresthad risen to prominence almost overnight.

Ebon Akrest gazed quietly out the window.

The atmosphere in the household was frigid, solemn, and rigid.

That was because the visit of the Sword Sovereign had been announced.

"...Father is coming at a time like this."

The moment they met, his father would surely sense the demonic energy within him. Of course, he would help expel it, but...

He would also look at him with those eyes.

Those contemptuous eyes full of disappointment.

His stomach churned at the thought.

He could already feel the single shard of demonic energy embedded in his core seething violently.

It was undoubtedly a heart demon, an early symptom of energy Deviation.

He had tried to deal with it on his own, but he knew well enough that his own skills were insufficient.

"Haah…"

There were the Iron Fist Sect's Great Pills stored in the family treasury, along with Thousand-Year Fire Lotus Core and even the legendary Eternal Flame Lotus Core.

However, even as the head of the prestigious Akrest Clan, he could not easily use such treasures.

Moreover, those miraculous medicines were practically reserved for Theron.

Theron possessed a talent that surpassed even the Sword Sovereign.

If given the right divine medicine at the right time, his father's dream of passing down the position of Unity Leader would become reality.

Not through him. But through Theron.

And if he dared to use those treasures just to purge a mere shard of demonic energy from his body?

The Sword Sovereign's wrath was predictable.

He would likely receive an even harsher look of disdain than he would for simply being weak.

He couldn't bear that.

So far, Theron had not outright crossed the line with him…

But the boy was already fifteen.

Soon, he would come of age.

At the Skyward Assembly, their swords would be revealed to the world.

The prodigies of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Noble Clans would gather to undertake missions under the Murim Unity.

That was the moment when the future leaders of the martial world would be decided.

Ebon Akrest recalled his younger days.

Unfortunately, he had failed to place among the top ranks at the Skyward Assembly.

Which meant...

He had never been recognized as a true prodigy.

Though he had participated in the rites merely as the most competent young direct descendant of the Akrest Clan, he had always lagged behind.

He vividly remembered those moments.

Those truly gifted never acknowledged his presence.

He had been left behind, abandoned, ignored.

And he couldn't blame them.

Had he been in their position, he would have despised an unqualified fool riding on his clan's prestige just as much.

It was truly a nightmare that had haunted his entire life.

A problem he could never fix, a wall he could never overcome—

The curse of talentlessness.

Those without talent were forever doomed to flounder in the shadows of those blessed with it.

His entire life had been spent in that futile struggle.

Endless effort. Inevitable failure.

Then, suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.

A voice that sent shivers down his spine.

—Do you desire talent?

Ebon Akrest froze.

That voice...

He had heard it before.

He could never forget it.

'The Heavenly Demon lives.'

It was the same voice he had heard from the Sealed Head of the Demonic Cult's Young Lord not long ago.

Right now, deep beneath the estate, buried under layers of seals and formations, that very head...

Was speaking to him.

He couldn't believe it.

"...Damn it. I must be more exhausted than I thought."

—Do you find it hard to believe?

"...Shit."

He wanted to dismiss it as mere hallucinations.

But it was useless.

The voice was real.

It seemed that the voice was flowing through the single shard of demonic energy embedded deep within his core.

Every time the voice of the Young Lord of the Demonic Cult resonated in his mind, a strange movement stirred within his core.

— I ask you again. Do you desire talent?

Scarlet Crown Chamber, the residence of the Sect Leader of Mount Suncrest.

Behind the main hall stood an annex.

Originally, it was nothing more than a storage room for miscellaneous items.

But now, after some minor renovations, the Young Lord had taken up residence there.

As the word miscellaneous implied, it was a place that no one cared about.

A place untouched by others.

After all, miscellaneous items were often deeply personal belongings.

And no disciple dared to lay their hands on the Sect Leader's so-called "personal belongings."

Of course, the Young Lord did not particularly enjoy this new dwelling.

More than anything, the fact that he was being treated as the Sect Leader's "discarded object" surely made his blood boil.

Still, that had nothing to do with the prank he had pulled using Aetheris.

Of course...

Sect Leader Gideon had no way of knowing that.

Which was why he was now knocking on the door of the junk storage.

"Enter, if you wish."

The Young Lord responded indifferently.

Gideon was visibly irritated.

And for good reason.

The morning rumors had prompted him to personally visit the underground cavern beneath Nambong.

What in the world did you do?"

"What do you mean?"

"The corpse of Aetheris was nowhere to be found."

The Young Lord merely shrugged, feigning ignorance.

Then, he nonchalantly lied.

"How would I know? Demonic energy works in strange ways. Neither truly dead nor truly alive."

"You expect me to believe that you of all people know nothing about demonic energy?"

Gideon frowned so deeply it was almost unsightly.

Yet, the Young Lord maintained his smile.

Then, with a sly grin, he replied,

"In any case, I wouldn't know a thing."

"Hah. Keep up that uncooperative attitude and see where it gets you."

Under normal circumstances, such an insolent remark would have earned an immediate punishment.

But now was neither the time nor the mood for that.

Yesterday, he had successfully manipulated Aetheris's body.

Though the corpse had already begun to rot, making certain movements impossible...

A dead martial artist's core typically scattered its internal energy upon death.

Yet, he had overcome even that.

The moment he revived the body, he forcibly circulated the unrotted meridians, accumulating enough internal energy to sustain it.

A domineering method.

But the reverse flow of the Clear Mind Technique had worked.

Even if it had utterly destroyed the already deteriorating meridians...

The corpse had only ever been a one-time tool anyway.

And thanks to that, he had encountered Vera.

Though his decayed eyes could not see clearly, and his ruined throat could not produce sound...

He had recognized her instantly.

It was the same eyes as the Heavenly Demon, the unmistakable Celestial Blade Star.

Refined, chilling killing intent.

A bottomless abyss hidden within those black pupils.

An immeasurable darkness, swirling within a bottomless chasm.

Any martial artist connected to the Heavenly Demon would instinctively recognize it.

Yet, the Young Lord was certain—the Heavenly Demon was not dead.

He alone knew the clear evidence, circumstances, and truth.

So, did that mean there were two Heavenly Demons under the same sky?

No.

There could only be one chosen representative of the Abyssal God.

If the Heavenly Demon had truly perished, the Young Lord would have already manipulated Vera, shaping her into the next candidate.

"…That would be unnecessary."

"What are you mumbling about?"

Hearing the Young Lord's mutter, Gideon frowned and asked.

But the Young Lord merely waved his hand dismissively.

"Forget it."

"You sure have a lot of secrets."

"Do you really wish to know about the Heavenly Demon?"

At those words, Gideon's body tensed for a brief moment.

Then, he turned to look at the Young Lord.

"...You know something, don't you?"

"As the Little Heavenly Demon, it wouldn't make sense if I didn't know what the Heavenly Demon was doing."

"Hah. Are you going to tell me?"

"Obviously not."

Gideon's face twisted with frustration.

Yet, the Young Lord paid him no mind.

There could only be one Heavenly Demon beneath the heavens.

But if there were two with the right qualifications, one would inevitably become the challenger.

It was best to cut off any potential usurper before they could grow.

If he remembered Great Master Thorne correctly, and if the disciple and descendants of Great Master Thorne were anything like him...

Then one day, they would use everything to their advantage.

Most of all, the talent of that girl.

To reach the Absolute Peak at merely fourteen.

To unleash a nearly invincible sword aura through ingenious techniques.

That level of skill...

It was an undeniable threat.