<It will take “30 days” to meet the Earth Demon again. Would you like to continue?>
While Seol-Hwi was on his way back to the temporary barracks, this phrase came into his sight.
What is this?
Wasn’t it the atmosphere where the confusion had just ended and a drinking party was being put up? Then what is this question?
Thirty days, there’s no need to waste time.
Seol-Hwi thought for a moment, and then he turned around. It seemed like something suddenly just happened, but he did not want to spend too much time to confirm it.
It would take a huge amount of time just to sort out the series of incidents he had experienced this time and to make a choice which benefited him.
Kiik-
He returned to the place like that, but strangely, there was this unpleasant feeling in his heart.
Just what is all this?
-If you get too strong, the system will intervene and make things difficult for you. So it is important to show less force.
The words of the AI, that was what came to his mind.
The changes in the future is roughly…
Seol-Hwi drew the overall picture on a grand scale. Now that the Third Disciple and the Second Disciple were dead, the last one remaining was the First Disciple.
But there will be no war with them any time soon because the Earth Demon had the winning force.
Currently, the Earth Demon’s forces were winning thanks to the efforts of Seol-Hwi. Now their morale was so high that they held 15 to 20 points instead of the usual 10.
So, objectively, the End Demon’s forces, despite being stronger, would not willingly fight. When the enemy’s forces were sharp, avoiding pointless fights was a part of the plan.
Seol-Hwi did not know how the First Disciple would think, but if his advisors were not fools, they would not be plotting to go against the Earth Demon who had higher morale.
Rather than that, it would be much more beneficial to absorb the remnants of the Second Disciple who would be confused.
I am sure this side is waiting for that too.
Of course, the Earth Demon’s forces would not just let the End Demon get an increase in his troops. They would move as well.
However, even so, it would not turn into an all out war where the key leaders would have to step in. Here, a peaceful time would come up.
What is happening?
But then, a sudden time progression?
Seol-Hwi did not like this. What if the AI suddenly got stronger and the system intervened?
Then, it would be better to prepare in advance than to get hit by it later.
Just in case.
He chose an existing state.
<Profound Demon [OFF]>
When he chose to turn off the flow of the nature’s energy, this came.
<Supreme Demon [ON]> <Supreme Master[OFF]>
After lowering his level one by one, he laid down.
“Let’s get some sleep and start it.”
And so he laid down on the bed and fell asleep in peace.
It was possible to relieve the tiredness in the body with cultivation, but what Cheon Miryo said was that he needed a proper rest. She said that real sleep was needed for the mind and the body to calm down. Now that he had reached a new level, she said it was important for him to clear his mind.
<Thirty days have passed.>
Words that came to sight in his dreams.
This was coercion. It was also a story that one could escape from that they had to pass 30 days.
Seol-Hwi also thought the system had stepped in.
Swish!
The Earth Demon was sitting in front of him. In the process, he had already been to the residence of the Earth Demon.
“Sip.”
Taking a short sip of the tea, the Earth Demon’s expression was stiff. It was like there was a problem that had arisen.
“Earth Demon. Is there something to talk about?”
Seol-Hwi initiated the conversation as the Earth Demon could not talk about it. Then the Earth Demon finally said,
“That… we actually have a pretty huge problem.”
Well, looking at his expression, it seemed like that. However, it was a serious matter in this situation. Could it be that someone died?
As Seol-Hwi wondered and waited, the Earth Demon sighed as he said,
“Great sahyung did something unexpected. I thought it was odd that he hid so tightly and did not even move, but I cannot believe it was like this…”
“What…?”
The Earth Demon got up from his place. Then he unfolded a scroll which was hanging on what looked like a large board.
Chaaak
And, Seol-Hwi who saw the map was a bit embarrassed. The reason the Earth Demon spread it open was because it was the map of the entire central plains.
“Great sahyung has taken over the outside world. While we were collecting the troops of the Second Demon, he dragged his force and headed for the Central Plains.”
“Central Plains… ah!”
It was only then that Seol-Hwi had something pass through his mind.
The Mount Hua Sect—
The End Demon had a history of planning with them, exchanging the things he needed, and allowing them to settle down.
However, if they invaded the Central Plains—
“Could it be that they attacked the Nine Great Sects?”
When Seol-Hwi asked, confused, the Earth Demon nodded.
“Right, starting with the Emei Sect, Southern Edge, and Kunlun. In just 30 days, there were six sects which have been destroyed.”
“This.”
Seol-Hwi’s expression went stiff.
Taking down six sects which are revered as the strong ones! And in just 30 days!
As a member of the Demonic Sect, just hearing about it felt like a huge achievement. If the opponent was not an enemy, it would be good news.
From the thoughts of those involved, the succession struggle was a fight between the disciples of the Heavenly Demon, an internal struggle to be the next leader.
But, attacking the sects was something that every person in the Demonic Sect dreamed of. No matter how active the Earth Demon had been in the internal struggle of the Demonic Sect, the appearance of the First Disciple capturing the outside world was an ambition of the entire sect.
Based on this achievement, the forces of the First Disciple could gain support within the sect. No matter how hard the Earth Demon and Seol-Hwi tried, the entire plan would tilt and turn impossible to change.
“How… how did they do it in such a short amount of time?”
Seol-Hwi was shocked and asked.
The opponent was the Nine Great Sects and one union. It was a sect with history. It was hard to believe that such people were dealt with in just 30 days.
Is this not enough to take Kangho with only the forces of the First Disciple alone?
“Not sure, but it looks like he used an unlikely means. The great sahyung must be working with Mount Hua. I think they used them to create divisions.”
“Divisions…”
“The Nine Great Sects collapsed. There are small and medium sects with whom they usually have fights with in their territories.”
Since the start, when great sects collapsed, there had always been internal and external turmoil. It was the same this time too.
Large sects such as Emei, Southern Edge usually had great influence over small and medium sects closeby. They just succumbed to the power, and there were many sects who rebelled. And then, Mount Hua intervened.
They were trying to expand their power this time around, and they would take the land forever. The reason why this was possible was because Mount Hua was favored when the Demonic Sect appeared.
While it was not known, they moved ahead and solved the crisis. As a result, the small and medium sects were nervous about the news and raised their guard against the other great sects.
Since the Mount Hua Sect allied with the Demonic Sect, it was a series of wins in the eyes of those who did not know of the past. There was no one who doubted the spying of Mount Hua.
And the strong alert nature of small and medium sects was noticed by the other great sects. All of a sudden, in an instant—
This bloody atmosphere continued, not knowing what war would come. The Nine Great Sects did not know why, and suddenly fearing the worst situation of civil war would happen, they projected their strength outside, and the First Disciple’s troops infiltrated them during that time.
The main base of the Nine Great Sects. In terms of the Demonic Sect, it was a surprise attack by setting fire to what was known as the base of great sects.
“Then… didn’t the End Demon come forth?”
“Right, externally the Mount Hua Sect is moving forward.”
“Hmm.”
Seol-Hwi struggled with the Earth Demon’s words.
Apparently one of the advisors of the End Demon was amazing at strategizing. The move they just did now showed their power when concerned.
When it was thought that we would win, it was rare to see a person prepare for such a contingency. Because that would be a waste of resources.
And so far the End Demon always held an advantage over the other disciples. While Seol-Hwi was coming back to life again and again, no one doubted the End Demon being the next leader even for a second.
Then, the person who made such things happen, terrifyingly so, that Seol-Hwi would make this outstanding performance this time.
If this was an intervention of the system, he would have goosebumps.
“Hmmm.”
Seol-Hwi seriously thought about it again. The current situation could not be contained anymore. Then, what should they do going forward?
And how to look at the battlefield from now.
“But, Shaolin. And there is no Wudang left?”
And he talked about the sects which were not mentioned during the discussion earlier. Shaolin, the center of the sects union. And the fact that Wudang did not fall yet, meant the entire Central Plains had not been dominated.
Above all, the first one. the Beggars Union.
“This is the important point now. Shaolin or Wudang. If only one of the two fall, then it will be hard for us to do anything anymore. Then it will get clear of how far we get pushed back later.”
This was an obvious thing to say. Even if the Earth Demon’s forces were getting good thoughts from the sect, it could not be compared to the evaluation and comparison with the the End Demon and his progress in the Central Plains.
By any chance, if the End Demon’s forces defeated Shaolin or Wudang, and then they suddenly turned and continued the trend with a battle against the Earth Demon, the forces under the Earth Demon will step back or be resented for not understanding the goal of the sect.
The conquest of the Central Plains was something that the Demonic sect wished to be a part of so the entire sect would turn into their enemy.
“That… what do we do?”
Seol-Hwi went to the main point. What should he do in this situation now?
The Earth Demon must have something he was aiming for.
“Three paths.”
The Earth Demon expressed his thoughts.
“First. To go to Shaolin and save them. Second, head to Wudang. Historically, Shaolin and Wudang are the core of the Nine Great Sects, so unless they collapse the Central Plains will continue. That will buy us time.”
This was true.
If they had a chance now, with Mount Hua and the First Disciple together, Seol-Hwi needed to save them.
The reason why they did not touch Shaolin and Wudang was because they were not sects which could be defeated that quickly.
“Then the last one?”
To the question of Seol-Hwi, the Earth Demon responded with a few simple words.
“Mount Hua Sect.”
“…!”
Seol-Hwi was shocked, unable to think.
Right, this too. The center of the enemy, the core of those who moved with the End Demon was Mount Hua.
If they were taken down, this entire force would fall from within.
“But I don’t know how strong they are though. The efficiency is important, but I cannot guess where and how much troops should be put in with this information…”
“…”
Block all three directions at the same time.
The Earth Demon’s grand plan was just to win all around.
Throw all the forces he had and scatter the impact the First Disciple was trying to achieve. It was a decision to give up the upper hand, but it could not be helped.
Because the opponent was already in such a position.
“How reliable is the information?”
Seol-Hwi made an important point. Since there was a major disturbance in the Central Plains, there was a chance that the information was misrepresented in the process of collecting information, or that it was just exaggeration.
If misjudged, the most important war around them would turn into nothing.
“That… honestly my strength in the Central Plains is quite weak. The information being sent now from the Central Plains was coming through the Lower District Sect which we purchased.”
It was the limitations of the Fourth Disciple’s power.
Unlike armed troops, intelligence sects took years to build. An intelligence network was something which was obtained through money and loads of manpower.
But such a thing was a weakness for the Earth Demon who had not been investing in it as heavily. Of course, there were people who got information for him from the Central Plains.
Now, even if Seol-Hwi and those he recruited participated in the war, their military strength would get stronger, but a good intelligence network could not be created like that.
It was an extension of the common story that a new power which suddenly obtains a great deal of strength could not defeat a giant which had been around for a long time. They might win a battle but never the war.
“Seol-Hwi. Your role has become even more important. I have no choice but to go and figure out the situation by myself. If we cannot stop them this time, it will be the doom of us.”
Seol-Hwi understood it.
This case was a situation which he had to take.
“Then…”
That was when Seol-Hwi tried to talk.
<Final mission. What will Seol-Hwi choose?>
The phrase came up like it was waiting for that moment.
As if to decide his fate, his eyes went to the words which said “final mission.”
