Master nodded and spoke again.

[Then this master will stay back and observe.]

As expected, Master finds it a hassle.

Jin Cheonhee replied cautiously.

[Still, if someone’s about to die, please step in. My calculations say ten should be enough.]

[So that’s why you planned to watch? You’ve already ensured enough to subdue the Asura Blood Demon Jiangshi. But Hee-ya, I understand you want to save lives, but must you always do so?]

At that moment, Master spoke aloud, not via sound transmission.

“Even if he’s a villain, must you save him?”

The shift to spoken words meant Master had a point to convey.

Jin Cheonhee swallowed his response.

“Heh heh heh. Think it over. This master would say, save if it benefits, otherwise let it be.”

“That’s…”

“I know it doesn’t align with your values. But is a physician not human? You need to protect yourself more.”

As the master and disciple conversed, Sama Hyeon approached silently, like a cat. Of course, Jin Cheonhee and Zhuge Rin noticed despite his stealth.

“Sure, sure. Hyung, you’re too uptight~ You can think more flexibly,” Sama Hyeon interjected, catching that their talk was about Jin Cheonhee.

Sighing, Jin Cheonhee furrowed his brow and replied, “Don’t you ever think that’s how you survived?”

“What? I was a good kid back then, not doing anything bad~ So you risked your life for me, right?”

He implied that Jin Cheonhee saved him because he was a good kid, or else why risk his life? A complete 180-degree misunderstanding.

‘This guy’s got it all wrong.’

Peeling faces for fun, setting temples ablaze, clashing with the Heavenly Demon—a true villain. Jin Cheonhee saved him not because he was good, but hoping he’d become good.

Sighing, Jin Cheonhee didn’t respond.

“I see. Our Hee risked his life to save this fellow. I hadn’t heard that story,” Zhuge Rin said, feigning ignorance despite knowing the gist.

“Hyung put his life on the line for me, so how could I not repay the favor~? A life-saving debt must be repaid with life—that’s the martial world’s code,” Sama Hyeon declared.

“Hoh… admirable,” Zhuge Rin said, his mouth smiling but his eyes not.

At that, Jin Cheonhee wanted to clutch his head and curl up like a bear. Just then, he saw Minor Cult Leader Green Mist, Martial Righteous Alliance Leader Ak Jin, and Unorthodox faction Leader Technique Emperor heading toward the stone sarcophagus.

“There’s only a simple spell on it… There’s a formation too, but it seems to sustain the spell,” Green Mist said.

“What kind of spell?” Ak Jin asked.

“A Preservation Spell[1]. Usually used for food storage…” Technique Emperor replied.

Watching from afar, Jin Cheonhee thought, ‘There’s such a spell? It’d be perfect for storing medicines like penicillin…’

While formations preserved using geomantic energy, exploring other methods was tempting. He quietly resolved to study sorcery, observing the trio’s conversation.

“A Preservation Spell. Simple but not easily used, from what I know…” Green Mist said, revealing to Jin Cheonhee that it wasn’t a common spell.

Despite his knowledge as Minor Pavilion Master, Jin Cheonhee had never heard of it, even in the remote Wan-nong region where such sorcery wasn’t taught.

“I’m hearing of such a spell for the first time,” Ak Jin admitted.

‘Even the Martial Righteous Alliance Leader doesn’t know it?’

Jin Cheonhee listened intently.

“Tch tch tch. How many spells do you even know? Youngsters these days are so ignorant, obsessed with martial arts and ignoring sorcery. Back in my day…” Technique Emperor rambled, launching into tales of his glorious past.

Despite his youthful appearance from rejuvenation, it felt like a scene from a cheap sitcom.

‘Maybe I’ll ask Elder Technique Emperor to teach me the Preservation Spell later…’

As Jin Cheonhee focused, Zhuge Rin spoke.

“Hee-ya, you’re not thinking of bargaining with Technique Emperor to learn the Preservation Spell, are you?”

*Ouch—*

Master’s mind-reading was uncanny, and Jin Cheonhee couldn’t deny it.

“Hyung~ Elder Technique Emperor may seem reckless, but he’s an old fox of the martial world. And you don’t seem to realize how valuable you are…” Sama Hyeon chimed in.

“Listen, if we had that spell, storing medicines would be easier, and transport…” Jin Cheonhee argued.

Formations relied on geomantic energy, limited by terrain and with clear constraints. If sorcery was simpler, it could aid his research.

As Jin Cheonhee methodically pitched the spell’s utility, Zhuge Rin just smiled broadly.

“The pavilion can figure out and install that itself. So don’t worry,” he said, as if saying, “We’ll buy an industrial fridge for home.”

Jin Cheonhee began to worry for Elder Technique Emperor instead.

Meanwhile, the three masters seemed to have concluded their discussion.

“Shall we open it?” Technique Emperor raised his staff and struck the sarcophagus.

Rumble!

A powerful wave of qi surged from the sarcophagus.

‘Here it comes.’

In the novel ‘Supreme Heavenly Demon’, the sarcophagus was fated to unleash the Asura Blood Demon Jiangshi. When the Light Martial Emperor was the world’s greatest, he believed his successor must stand at the pinnacle of dominance, crushing all with overwhelming power. Similar yet distinct from the Heavenly Demon’s demonic path, his legacy demanded defeating the Asura Blood Demon Jiangshi to claim the manual.

Now, his trap sprang to life.

Crash!

The sarcophagus exploded, and a jiangshi, cloaked in potent protective aura, leaped out, floating in midair, scanning the crowd.

[Hoh… so that’s the Asura Blood Demon Jiangshi? On par with the Profound Realm.]

[Yes, but a half-baked Profound Realm. It lacks reason, ignoring defense for attack.]

Master and disciple continued via sound transmission.

“Hyung, judging by your reaction, you knew something was gonna pop out, didn’t you~?” Sama Hyeon teased.

“Hahaha…” Jin Cheonhee laughed awkwardly.

“Hmm… we’ll talk about this later~”

Ignoring Sama Hyeon’s knowing look, Jin Cheonhee focused on the fight.

***

‘That cheeky brat knew! I ought to… ugh, he’s cute and talented, so I’ll let it slide as a joint disciple.’

Technique Emperor, using a special spell, had overheard Jin Cheonhee’s words. Though not the sound transmission, Sama Hyeon’s remarks tipped off the seasoned martial artist. Spinning absurd logic, he turned his full attention to the enemy.

‘Looks like… an Asura Blood Demon Jiangshi, alright.’

As a sorcery grandmaster, Technique Emperor was versed in jiangshi arts, though not as deeply as the Jinzhou Eon Clan’s divine arts. Still, he recognized the legendary Asura Blood Demon Jiangshi, wielding Profound Realm power.

He recalled meeting one of the Three Venerables, a Profound Realm master preparing for ascension—the Sage Venerable[2]. Comparing that encounter to the corpse, he thought, ‘The Sage Venerable… definitely stronger. A mere corpse can’t fully wield Profound Realm power.’

The corpse floated a foot off the ground, defying gravity, its body wreathed in pulsating red aura that cracked and shattered the floor it grazed.

True Protective Aura[3].

Unlike standard protective aura, which shields the body, True Protective Aura was an invincible technique of offense-defense unity. Encircling the body, it obliterated anything it touched into ash. Its drawback was rapid qi consumption—even a master with five cycles of qi would exhaust it in a quarter-hour.

But would a Profound Realm corpse burn out so quickly?

‘At the Profound Realm, the Harmonization of Heaven and Earth[4] minimizes qi consumption, granting near-infinite qi…’

Technique Emperor recalled the Sage Venerable’s words. This corpse likely shared that trait.

If it rampaged with True Protective Aura for an hour, everyone below Transformation Realm could be annihilated. Calculating swiftly, Technique Emperor cursed.

“Damn it! If we don’t stop this, the kids are done for! All who can wield aura, get out here!”

Only aura could counter True Protective Aura. Realizing only Transformation Realm masters could fight, Technique Emperor roared.

Leaders and top elites from each faction stepped forward. From the Martial Righteous Alliance: Leader Ak Jin, Jinzhou Eon Clan Head Eon Kwon, Qingcheng Sect Leader, and Kongtong Sect Leader—four Transformation Realm masters.

From the Unorthodox faction: Technique Emperor, Yellow River Yangtze Pirates Captain Leader, and Golden Blood Chamber Leader from Hao Sect—three masters.

With the Demonic Cult’s Black Cloud waiting outside, Green Mist, Iron Demon of Slaughter[5] from the Demonic Six Families, and Blood Ghost Sword Demon stepped up, balancing the count.

Ten Transformation Realm masters in total!

And they clashed.