Yong Yu-jong stood at the center of an array formed from blood, his entire body covered in the scales of a crimson serpent.
His demonic energy surged rapidly. With his legs restored, he was once again able to walk.
Yong Yu-jong rose to his feet, a faint smile playing on his lips as he cast a gaze toward Yuta—a look brimming with both confidence and malice. Moments later, the signs of old age began to fade from his face.
His graying hair transformed into a deep, bluish-black hue, tipped with crimson. The locks, which reached the middle of his back, regained their dark, blue-black color in an instant, while his eyes shifted into the slit-pupiled, demonic gaze of a serpent. His body gradually reclaimed its youth and vitality; his skin smoothed, erasing every wrinkle, and his hunched back straightened.
After a few minutes, Yong Yu-jong appeared as a man in his thirties. His attire left much of his chest and abdomen exposed, revealing a physique that—while appearing moderate in build—possessed immense, latent power. He cast aside the robe covering his upper body, unveiling the scales that now blanketed his entire form. Short, sharp claws protruded from both his hands. Yuta's face broke into a faint, amused smile as he watched, clapping his hands enthusiastically: *clap... clap... clap...*
"Young Yu-jung, you truly live up to your title, the 'Great Demonic Venerable'! Did you honestly think I was unaware that you possess the 'Blood Demon Gu' and the 'Demonic Heart Gu'? Tell me, am I really that foolish?"
A flicker of shock crossed Young Yu-jung's face; he hadn't expected Yuta to know about those two specific Gu.
The Power System of This World
The power system in this world was vast and diverse. It encompassed fundamental forces like Aether, Ki, and Qi, alongside magic—or 'mana'—and aura. There were also distinct paths for 'refiners' (such as 'Gu Masters' or conventional refiners). Yet, underlying all of this was a single, unifying framework:
Mana Users (the primary system) are categorized into 12 ranks. Each rank is further divided into four stages: (F- Unstable), (F Stable), (F+ High), and (F++ Peak). The ranks are as follows:
Rank G: Ordinary Human. F-Class
E-Class
D-Class
C-Class
B-Class
A-Class
S-Class
SS-Class
SSS-Class
MA-Rank
MA∞-Rank
Under a unified classification system, a hunter ranked "F (Unstable to Stable)" is equivalent to a fighter of "G-Rank," while a fighter ranked "F (High to Peak)" is equivalent to an "F-Rank" fighter. This applies to all systems that utilize *Ki* or *Qi* as a foundational energy.
*Ki* and Aura: A type of energy without a formal ranking system; the strength of its users is determined by their destructive capacity.
Refiners (Type I – Standard/Immortal Refiner): The path of a Refiner consists of three fundamental stages:
First: Choosing a refinement path (either Righteous or Demonic).
Second: Selecting a refinement method via "scrolls" (or manuals), which are categorized into nine levels (e.g., the "Lotus Petal Scroll" or the "Spring and Autumn Scroll").
Third: Choosing a specific refinement medium (such as blood, chess, music, poetry, or novel-writing, etc.).
The developmental progression for this type is divided into several stages:
Stage One: Body Refinement (strengthening the physique; enhancing bones, muscles, and endurance; purifying the blood to increase its potency and energy-carrying capacity; and tempering the bones to become as resilient as steel).
Stage Two: Energy Gathering (absorbing the energy of Heaven and Earth; increasing the purity and density of the energy; reaching the peak of *Qi* accumulation; and preparing to break through to the next stage). Stage Three: Foundation Building (Establishing a cultivation base—weak, average, or ideal—and strengthening the foundation by expanding energy channels and internal energy capacity).
Stage Four: Core Formation (Creating an energy core within the Dantian, and refining it to enhance its quality—Ordinary, Golden, or Celestial).
Stage Five: Nascent Soul (The birth of a miniature soul within the body, which grows until it becomes relatively independent).
Stage Six: Sovereign Transformation (Merging the soul with the laws of the universe; a divine transformation marking the initial grasp of these laws).
Stage Seven: Tribulation Crossing (Facing the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation as a test of life, leading to transcendence).
Stage Eight: Immortality (Earthly Immortality, Celestial Immortality—existing as a being beyond humanity—and True Immortality).
Stage Nine: Beyond Immortality (Optional) (Saint/Exalted—mastery over the laws; Cosmic Lord—exerting influence over entire worlds; Absolute/Transcendent—existing beyond time and space).
(Notes: Each stage is subdivided into Early, Middle, Late, and Peak phases. The quality of refinement is more important than speed; breakthroughs often require rare treasures, the endurance of tribulations, or the comprehension of universal laws.)
Gu Masters (Type II – Gu Refiners): This path relies on the power of the user's Gu and the concentration of Qi within their Primeval Sea as a foundational pillar. Practitioners choose between two paths: Righteous or Demonic. Gu Master cultivation levels consist of 9 ranks, each divided into 4 stages (early, middle, late, and peak). As a Gu Master advances through these stages, their strength increases, and the color of their primeval sea changes:
Rank 1: Silver-Iron.
Rank 2: Red-Steel.
Rank 3: Brown-Copper.
Rank 4: Bright-Silver.
Rank 5: Yellow-Gold.
Rank 6: Gray-Platinum.
Rank 7: Green-Jade.
Rank 8: Blue-Diamond.
Rank 9: Crimson-Emerald.
Gu Ranks:
Rank 1: Primeval Gu (for beginners; weak effects; suitable for mortals).
Rank 2: Low-tier Gu (possesses clearer and stronger abilities).
Rank 3: Mid-tier Gu (marks the emergence of true combat-oriented Gu).
Rank 4: High-tier Gu (rare among mortals; capable of turning the tide of a battle).
Rank 5: Peak-mortal Gu (the highest level that mortals can control).
Rank 6: Immortal Gu (unique; linked to the laws of the world—this is where the realm of immortality begins).
Rank 7: Advanced Immortal Gu (possesses a deeper command over the laws).
Rank 8: Supreme Immortal Gu (legendary treasures capable of altering the fate of an entire world).
Rank 9:Legendary/Celestial Gu (absolutely unique; linked to higher concepts such as fate, time, life, and death—its very existence is considered a cosmic catastrophe).
(Note: There are four types of Gu: offensive, defensive, auxiliary, and—from Rank 5 onwards—conceptual.)
Among these is the "Blood Demon Gu" (a Rank 9, legendary celestial Gu). It can manipulate the very concept of time, reverting its refiner to their youth and granting them eternal youth. Furthermore, it allows for the manipulation of blood to drastically enhance strength, speed, and endurance, while also providing a shield so formidable that even warriors of the "Sovereign Ruler" rank would struggle to break it. However, the refinement process requires pure blood—either from beings of an inherently pure nature, such as elves (light or dark) or demons, or from creatures possessing "sacred" blood, like dragons or celestial beings. This is why Yong Yu-jung would kill infants and use their blood to refine the Blood Demon Gu.
There was another, even more demanding condition: one must either kill a loved one or witness them being tortured. When Yuta launched his first attack on Yong Yu-jung's grandson, Yong Su-lu, by hurling the corpse of a subordinate at him, Yong Yu-jung could have intervened—but he chose not to. He saw it as the perfect opportunity to refine his Gu; the greater the refiner's suffering, the purer and more potent the resulting power becomes. Yong Yu-jung had allowed Yong Su-lu to die, knowing he could have restored his own legs long ago—thanks to the "Gluttonous Demon Pill," which can regenerate severed limbs and temporarily boost a cultivator's strength by an entire rank. In terms of cultivation level, Yong Yu-jung stood at the peak of the 9th stage, with his spiritual energy reaching the late phase; under the unified classification system, he was considered a "Master Sovereign." Yet, the conditions required to activate the pill were blatantly immoral: it demanded the blood of a creature that had died in agony—and the followers Yuta had killed had all perished in such torment. Yong Yu-jung felt no remorse; to him, the death of one of his own descendants was entirely inconsequential. After all, he had already cold-bloodedly slaughtered his own children, their wives, and the only woman who had ever truly loved him—a woman who had looked upon him as a father—all to craft the Gluttonous Demon Pill and various other elixirs and concoctions.
Yong Yu-jung stood before Yuta Casiral, calm and unmoving, his features devoid of any emotion—a state mirrored by Yuta himself. With a sharp snap of his fingers, Yuta caused them both to vanish from the spot.
Several galaxies away, on a desert planet, Yong Yu-jung and Yuta hovered in the sky, demonic energy surging from their bodies like roaring, incandescent flames. "So, you knew that I intended to kill Young Su-lo? And you also knew about the Gluttonous Demon Pill, the Rank 9 'Blood Demon Gu'—which grants the user immunity to the very concept of time—and the Rank 8 'Demonic Heart Gu,' which manipulates biological laws to transform its cultivator into a demon?" Young Yu-jung's tone was calm, yet carried an inquisitive edge.
"Yes, I knew," Yuta replied, his voice indifferent—as if the entire situation were nothing more than an absurdity, unworthy of the effort required to even think about it.
Yu-jung's demonic energy surged, intensifying to such a degree that it obliterated the surrounding mountains and rocks. He shot toward Yuta at the speed of light, intent on launching an assault: "Let's see whether your arrogance stems from actual strength, or simply from an inflated ego!"
Yuta's expression remained cold and utterly unconcerned by the incoming attack. Just as Yu-jung reached him and threw a punch toward his chest, a gaping hole suddenly appeared in the left side of Yu-jung's own abdomen! Yong Yu-jong stood stunned for a few seconds, blood gushing from his mouth, as he retreated several meters away from Yuta. He immediately set about healing his wounds using the "Blood Demon Gu"—which drew upon the blood he had collected over the course of his 965-year life—and accelerated the recovery process with a Rank 6 "Divine Purity Gu." The latter granted its user the ability to absorb surrounding life force to mend injuries; it could even regenerate severed limbs, while also shielding the user's soul and lifespan from any harm.
A look of shock gripped Yong Yu-jong's features. He had suffered an identical injury 946 years earlier, when he challenged the human hero Daniel de Molliar—a confrontation that ended in a humiliating defeat. Yet, the very next day, he had managed to acquire both a Rank 8 "Demonic Heart Gu" and a Rank 9 "Blood Demon Gu."
Suddenly, Yong Yu-jong's shock gave way to a sinister laugh as he fixed his gaze on Yuta. "I don't know how you pulled that off, but let me tell you—it's all in vain..."
Before he could finish his sentence, another gaping hole tore through his chest—piercing the left side and extending into the right—dangerously close to his heart! He could not comprehend it.
To this moment, Yong Yu-jong remained utterly unable to grasp or fathom how this was happening. How could he be sustaining such wounds without a single attack—of any kind—being launched at him? Drops of sweat began to stream down his face, and blood trickled from his mouth. He wiped the blood away, glancing around with a sense of unease and anxiety; the healing process was draining 19% of his *Qi*, while the "Blood Demon Gu" consumed 20% of his primordial *Qi* every five minutes—and ten minutes had already passed since he activated it. Only 22% of the energy in his primordial sea remained.
He shifted his gaze toward Yuta, only to find him gone from his previous spot. Suddenly, Yuta appeared right in front of him, delivering a powerful punch to his face that sent him flying back several meters. Without a second's hesitation, Yuta lunged at Yoo Jung again, grabbing him by the legs and driving them toward his own face, slamming most of his body deep into the ground!
Yoo Jung's body began to liquefy, turning into a pool of blood that started to spread away from the point of impact. Watching Yoo Jung attempt to escape, Yuta scooped up a handful of the blood and placed it into a small glass vial. Yoo Jung moved a few meters away, reforming his body—now composed entirely of blood—into his own likeness.
Yoo Jung spoke in a mocking, arrogant tone: "You won't be able to land a single blow on me as long as I possess the Blood Demon Gu!"
A faint smile appeared on Yuta's face as he looked at him, then raised a glass container holding a small, crimson serpent—marked on its head with a pale white infinity symbol (∞). Yong Yu-jung's expression shifted to one of fear and shock upon seeing Goh with his opponent—and, even more alarmingly, he found that no matter how hard he tried, he could no longer summon him!
"How and when did you do this, you scoundrel?"
Yuta's expression was filled with malice and evil. He chuckled inwardly as he observed the pathetic state of Young Yoo-jung. "I took the Gu when I stabbed you in the abdomen, and placed it in a glass container when I stabbed you in the chest. This container maintains the connection between the Gu and its user, but..."
Yuta snapped his fingers, and the "Blood Demon Gu" inside the container exploded, dying instantly!
Deprived of the Gu, Young Yoo-jung's body could no longer sustain its current form and reverted to its true state—only to begin slowly dissolving. Young Yoo-jung felt no pain; it was a strange, indescribable sensation—a feeling of weightlessness.
This was a side effect of the Gu's death while he was in that form, leading to a slow, gradual demise—a painless, yet cruel, way to die.
"You scum... we shall meet in hell..."
Yuta did not let him finish; he unleashed a fiery assault, incinerating him completely.
Young Yoo-jung's screams echoed through the otherwise desolate, creatureless expanse. "This is your due, Young Yoo-jung! You must pay the price for everything you have done!"
Yuta then vanished, as the round featuring Ruichi and Beatrice was fast approaching—only ten minutes remained. He returned to the secret chamber, which was entirely empty, save for himself. He stood still for a few seconds before heading into a corridor on the underground level, having reverted to his original form (with the blood on his clothes now vanished).
Yuta walked through a hallway strewn with blood and the corpses of the Scorpion Organization's subordinates—those whom Gowther and Rikudo had slain while he was occupied in conversation with Young Yu-jung and her grandson, Young Su-lo.
His expression was as cold as frost, devoid of any emotion, as he stepped upon the bodies, reducing each one to a dark, purplish dust. He made his way toward the gate leading to the ground floor:
"Humans are hypocritical by nature. They feign love for one another—whether it be romance, family, friendship, partnership, leadership, tribes, clans, guilds, or sects—it all boils down to a single motive: mutual interest or exploitation."
A deep, heavy sigh escaped Yuta's lips, laden with a profound, buried sorrow as he surveyed his surroundings—a place drenched in blood.
Then, vanishing like a mirage, he departed to rejoin his team, his face still bearing a trace of that lingering sadness.