—The one who kills the most Masters of Great Righteousness will become the candidate for successor to follow the Divine Demonic Emperor!

Most of the Ten Demonic Successors below the altar were filled with shock and astonishment. They were Ten Demonic Successors who had mastered the supreme arts of the Ten Demonic Sects but had been ostracized by the factions within each sect and the existing successors. Yet, the Divine Demonic Emperor’s successor was to be chosen from among them?

Deung Ryun continued in a low voice, “As is known, the Divine Demonic Emperor has not yet decided on a successor. That is why he initiated the Ten Demonic Successor plan.”

Another shocking revelation came from Deung Ryun’s mouth.

“He desires a successor who possesses the martial arts of the Ten Demonic Sects but can evade their influence.”

The Demonic Palace was a coalition of the Demonic Path, with the Ten Demonic Sects as its core. For generations, the master of the Demonic Palace had been selected from among the successors of the Ten Demonic Sects. However, the current Divine Demonic Emperor was completely unrelated to the Ten Demonic Sects. Despite holding the position of the Number One in the Demonic Path, he could not completely ignore the influence of the Ten Demonic Sects.

“Each of you has learned the supreme arts of the Ten Demonic Sects, but you cannot be considered their disciples. In other words, you will not be recruited or swayed by the factions rooted in the Ten Demonic Sects.”

Deung Ryun glanced at Bu Eunseol, who stood silently at the very back.

“Of course, there are those who have managed to escape that restriction.”

Those…

A short flash of light sparked in Bu Eunseol’s eyes. Judging by Deung Ryun’s words, it meant there were others besides himself who had obtained the position of successor to a Ten Demonic Sects.

That could be true.

If so, the reason for the significantly reduced number of attending Ten Demonic Successors was explained to some extent.

At that moment, Yeong Mun-ho stepped forward and inquired, “You mentioned that the one who slays numerous Masters of Great Righteousness can become a candidate to succeed the Divine Demonic Emperor. Does that imply that there are more candidates for succession besides us?”

“Of course.”

Deung Ryun explained calmly, “The orthodox successors of the Ten Demonic Sects naturally become candidates to lead the Demonic Palace. Additionally, one can become a candidate with the recommendation of the Council of Elders. And…” Taking a deep breath, Deung Ryun continued, “If the Divine Demonic Emperor deems someone worthy of leading the Demonic Palace, they too can become a candidate for succession.”

In the end, it meant that even if they dealt with many Masters of Great Righteousness, they would be given the qualification of a candidate, not the successor itself.

Nevertheless, a hot fever flashed in the eyes of several young men.

Candidate for successor to the Divine Demonic Emperor. It was a status on a different dimension from the treatment they were receiving now.

“Are there any more questions?”

Just as Deung Ryun swept his gaze below again and opened his mouth, Bu Eunseol raised his voice and asked, “If we are not bound by method, are we also not bound by time?”

It was a question that pierced the core more than any other asked so far. If they were not bound by time, there would be no need to forcibly contend with the Masters of Great Righteousness.

“Of course not.”

Deung Ryun looked at Bu Eunseol and smiled coldly.

“The maximum time you can hold out without killing a Master of Great Righteousness is four months.”

Inhaling briefly, he continued, “If you do not fight a Master of Great Righteousness within that time, the masters of this Palace will cripple your martial arts for the crime of insubordination.”

“If we fight a Master of Great Righteousness within four months, can we earn another four months?”

“That is correct.”

Deung Ryun smiled faintly.

“However, if you fight a Master of Great Righteousness and achieve a single victory, such leeway will not arise.”

All the Ten Demonic Successors, including Bu Eunseol, nodded at those words. If they killed a Master of Great Righteousness in the name of a Ten Demonic Successor, they would never be able to hold out leisurely for four months after that.

Ten Demonic Successors versus Masters of Great Righteousness. That full-scale collision would eventually result in an unstoppable bloody battle.

“Any other questions?”

He waited for a while, but no one stepped forward.

At that, Deung Ryun spoke in a solemn and heavy voice.

“The Divine Demonic Emperor’s order is effective as of now. Four months from now. Within that time, you must dispose of at least one Master of Great Righteousness.”

Sweeping his gaze over the Ten Demonic Successors once more, he left a short parting word.

“Then, I wish you martial fortune.”

And turning his body again, he disappeared into the door filled with darkness.

“……”

Deung Ryun had left, but a silence like death still flowed within the great hall.

Although they say the Murim is a place where one cannot see an inch ahead, something entirely unexpected had happened.

“Fortunately, we aren’t enemies this time,” Yoo Woon-ryong’s arrogant voice shattered the prolonged silence. “We don’t need to engage in a bloody battle like on Hell Island.”

Seok Woo-haeng couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth in response. “You’re more naive than I had anticipated.”

“What did you say?”

“Killing a Master of Great Righteousness is difficult, but eliminating competitors is easy.”

“What does that mean?”

When Yoo Woon-ryong shouted with blazing eyes, Seok Woo-haeng closed his eyes and opened them, speaking, “What if I assassinate you one by one after today? I would become a candidate for successor without lifting a finger.”

If anyone else had said this, everyone in the great hall would have taken it as a joke. But Seok Woo-haeng was the Ten Demonic Successor of the Extreme Assassination Pavilion. He had mastered bizarre and wicked secret assassination techniques said to be most optimized for killing people.

Assassinating a master superior to oneself was not impossible for him.

“Seok Woo-haeng. Do you think you can become the successor of the Demonic Palace after doing such a thing?”

“Such a thing?”

“I’m asking if the Divine Demonic Emperor would tolerate such a thing.”

Looking into Yoo Woon-ryong’s bloodshot eyes, Seok Woo-haeng wore a hollow smile.

“Yoo Woon-ryong. Now that I see, you just have a nasty temper, but you’re quite naive.”

“What?”

“The position of Divine Demonic Emperor, looking down on the Demonic World, is a seat one can only ascend to by piling up mountains of corpses—not just of enemies, but of allies too. Do you understand what I mean?”

—The Divine Demonic Emperor also ascended to that position by defeating competitors.

Seok Woo-haeng was saying this.

When Yoo Woon-ryong, at a loss for words, bit his lip and fell silent, Yeong Mun-ho sighed and spoke.

“It’s nothing new.”

He wore a languid smile and swept his gaze around.

“We’ve had an ill-fated relationship since Hell Island anyway.”

At those words, loneliness flowed from the eyes of several Ten Demonic Successors.

First, to become a Ten Demonic Successor… And now, to become the successor of the Demonic Palace, they had to glare at each other.

“It seems we are fated not to live under the same sky anyway.”

Sighing deeply, Yeong Mun-ho turned and walked out of the great hall. At that, the remaining Ten Demonic Successors also left the hall one by one.

Now, only Yoo Woon-ryong and Bu Eunseol remained inside the massive great hall.

“Bu Eunseol.”

“Do you intend to do it here?”

Bu Eunseol looked at Yoo Woon-ryong with an indifferent expression. After all, he had been radiating killing intent at him ever since they met at the Demonic Palace.

“No… I won’t.”

Yoo Woon-ryong bit his lip.

“Originally, I intended to fix your habit… but now I know my skills are lacking.”

“……”

“I will build up my skills more for four months. And I will defeat the Masters of Great Righteousness… and you.”

As Seok Woo-haeng had said, Yoo Woon-ryong was merely violent in personality; his thoughts and actions were very simple. Bu Eunseol actually smiled at that simple tenacity.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“Hmph.”

Leaving a cold snort, Yoo Woon-ryong also left the great hall.

All the Ten Demonic Successors had left, but Bu Eunseol still stood tall in the empty hall. He was staring blankly into the darkness where Deung Ryun had left, as if searching for something. Staring intently into the darkness for a while, Bu Eunseol suddenly gathered his hands calmly toward that direction.

“I will take my leave now.”

And as he turned his body—

“Ho ho ho.”

Accompanied by old laughter, a black shadow moved slowly from the darkness toward where Bu Eunseol was.

Swish.

The darkness that had been spread on the floor soared into the air and soon transformed into the appearance of a clean-looking old man.

“To think you discovered this old man’s presence. Truly surprising.”

The old man, who had appeared as if conjured from thin air, took a cautious step closer to Bu Eunseol. Despite his diminutive stature, about five feet tall, his eyes radiated an intensity that seemed to contain an unending torrent of lightning. Behind him, a tempestuous storm appeared to be brewing.

Suffocating.

It was the aura of one with absolute martial prowess… similar to when he had seen Elder Jeok Bung angry.

“Your name.”

At the old man’s question, Bu Eunseol opened his mouth.

“I am Bu Eunseol, the Ten Demonic Successor of the Wolf Fang Pavilion.”

“Bu Eunseol.”

The old man wore a faint smile. But his gaze was so sharp that it seemed a fiercer momentum was rising instead.

“How did you discover that this old man was here?”

“I did not discover you.”

Bu Eunseol spoke cautiously.

“I merely guessed that the Soul Extinguishing Squad Captain did not plan this.”

“This?”

“I mean the Soul Extinguishing Squad Captain summoning the Ten Demonic Successors to the Demonic Palace.”

As if interested in Bu Eunseol’s words, the old man nodded. “Continue.”

“The Soul Extinguishing Squad Captain said he called us to designate Masters of Great Righteousness and talk about the Demonic Palace successor candidate… but I thought there was another reason.”

“Another reason…”

“Yes.”

Looking into the old man’s eyes, Bu Eunseol took a deep breath. “If there is someone who decided to make the Ten Demonic Successors face the Masters of Great Righteousness, he would surely want to see the Ten Demonic Successors with his own eyes.”

“So… you guessed that this old man would be here?”

“That is correct.”

The old man stared intently at Bu Eunseol. That gaze was indescribably deep and sharp, so much so that Bu Eunseol nearly drew up his internal energy instinctively.

“Bwahahaha!”

Suddenly bursting into hearty laughter, the old man nodded and said, “The Wolf Fang Pavilion has obtained a truly outstanding Ten Demonic Successor.”

“Thank you.”

“But you lied to this old man.” The smile disappeared, and the old man’s appearance abruptly transformed from that of a celestial being to a devil. “You could not have known of this old man’s existence with just that deduction.” Cold air seemed to emanate from the old man’s voice. “I will ask once more. How did you discover this old man’s presence?”

Bu Eunseol finally spoke honestly. “Because you intentionally made a light sound, Elder.”

“Why? Why would this old man make a sound?”

“Perhaps… you made it intentionally to test if there was anyone among the Ten Demonic Successors who could detect such a presence.”

“This old man tested you?”

A flash of light sparked in the old man’s eyes.

But Bu Eunseol calmly received that gaze and bowed his head.

“If not, how could I have detected the traces of the Darkness King, Elder?”