Chapter 1: The Fall of the Heavenly Demon

“What… what?”

“Se… seriously… did the Heavenly Demon really fall?”

The being turning to ash and disappearing before their eyes.

The absolute powerhouse who caused a bloodbath against the entire martial world,

And the symbol of terror that became the centripetal force binding the martial sects that repeatedly formed and dispersed.

The Heavenly Demon,

Thus, in front of the strongest experts selected from the Martial Alliance, he put an end to the countless bloody histories he had written and disappeared.

And at this moment.

A man standing in front of the remains of the Heavenly Demon who met his end like that.

The new world’s number one who fought on equal terms with the Heavenly Demon, whom even the supreme martial artists here could only face with a smile,

And finally succeeded in defeating him.

Unascended Dragon Yang Soyu let out a rough sigh and slumped down on the spot.

“Huk… huk…”

Yang Soyu, covered in blood from the Heavenly Demon’s body, breathing roughly.

However,

While looking at him who defeated the Heavenly Demon, the public enemy of the entire martial world and the symbol of death,

The five experts excluding Yang Soyu present here.

The slender-featured handsome young master, called the strongest sword of the Martial Alliance, Heavenly Dragon Namgung Tae-hyeon.

And, along with him, the four women martial artists with outstanding beauty, called the Four Heavenly Flowers who participated in the Heavenly Demon subjugation.

They couldn’t purely rejoice at the current situation.

‘Ho… how could this happen.’

‘I can’t believe it. Why did the Heavenly Demon have to fall to that guy…’

The person who displayed tremendous power cutting off the Heavenly Demon’s breath right before their eyes, and at the same time, the man who reigned as the world’s number one.

Yang Soyu.

But, at this moment, the faces of the five who witnessed the birth of the new world’s number one were extremely complicated.

All of them were owners or heirs of renowned prestigious families and sects representing the martial world.

However,

Unlike these five,

Yang Soyu who defeated the Heavenly Demon was not a martial artist from a renowned prestigious family affiliated with the righteous faction, but a person from the lowly evil faction with unknown roots.

Because of his unpleasant background, he was constantly called by the derogatory name Unascended Dragon, and originally, his participation in such a subjugation wouldn’t even be tolerated.

Nevertheless, the reason he could be here was,

Partly due to Yang Soyu’s own strong desire, who had achieved an undefeated myth against the demonic cults so far,

And more importantly, because the Martial Alliance decided that stopping that Heavenly Demon by any means was the priority now.

The judgment of the higher-ups that they needed to increase the chances of victory even if it meant the extreme measure of employing someone from the evil faction.

As a result, Yang Soyu, feeling like an extra, barely managed to participate in this subjugation.

Of course, regardless of this decision, most people were wary of the actions of Yang Soyu from the evil faction, and expected him to only play a supporting role to make the prestigious experts shine appropriately.

If they exterminated the Heavenly Demon infamous across the Central Plains, the Martial Alliance could surely elevate its tarnished honor and create a new leap forward.

For that, naturally, martial artists from the righteous faction showing great performance and taking the Heavenly Demon’s head was the correct answer, and they judged the possibility was very high.

However.

The operation that the Martial Alliance put all its effort into,

Contrary to everyone’s expectations.

The Heavenly Demon, whom even all the selected top experts couldn’t defeat when ganging up,

Ended up being defeated by that lowly martial artist from the evil faction…

It concluded with an ending that no one thought of or wished for.

And at this moment,

While witnessing a result they couldn’t believe even seeing with their own eyes,

The martial experts started feeling their minds complicated not with the joy of victory, but with suddenly arising worries.

‘Damn… that Unascended Dragon guy had such martial arts.’

‘I can’t believe it. How did the Heavenly Demon fall to that guy… Ah… no. More than that. This means from now on, that man Yang Soyu becomes the world’s number one…’

‘Ha.. f*ck… why that guy we happily harassed until now… Ma.. maybe because of that, he’ll screw me over later? Damn… if I knew, I should’ve been less arrogant.’

‘Should I just bow my head quickly here? Or give a friendly congratulation at least…’

The situation where the martial artist from the lowly evil faction, whom they had looked down on and mistreated, suddenly rose to the pinnacle.

Thus, the five from prestigious families here started worrying about how to act while recalling the misdeeds they had done to Yang Soyu so far, and began checking others’ reactions.

But then…

“!”

‘Wait, that b*tch?’

Among them who were suppressed by the atmosphere and couldn’t rashly step forward, one person suddenly started running out.

The next head of the Jang family controlling the commerce of the Central Plains, a Hwajeong realm martial artist named Flame Emperor.

A beauty with reddish-brown hair and glamorous looks.

Jang Seon-hwa,

At this moment, with a bright smile on her lips as if truly happy, quickly approached Yang Soyu who was still breathing roughly.

“You did it, Hero Yang! You finally defeated the Heavenly Demon!”

Jang Seon-hwa shouting while embracing the blood-soaked Yang Soyu.

At this moment, she started expressing thanks to him in a voice like welcoming a husband back alive from the battlefield.

Even attaching the honorific Hero Yang that she had never used before.

“Thanks to Hero Yang’s performance, we all could survive! How can I repay this grace. Really… really thank you, Hero Yang!”

With those words, Jang Seon-hwa starting to rub her ample chest against Yang Soyu’s body.

While watching her behavior,

The remaining four realized they were preempted and for a moment started frowning slightly.

‘That cunning woman in this way…’

‘She herself enthusiastically harassed Yang Soyu all along, shameless.’

‘Disgusting b*tch, as expected, merchant to the bone regardless of ability…’

‘No choice, it’s late but now at least…’

While inwardly criticizing Jang Seon-hwa who showed a face like plated with iron,

Anyway, the remaining four followed the path she opened and approached Yang Soyu, showing bright smiles on their lips.

“Good work, Hero Yang, you saved us all.”

“Really thank you. I will never forget this grace.”

“You worked hard. I’ll repay this debt later.”

“Um… so… we’re sorry until now. Honestly, we suspected Hero Yang all along…”

Saying that while looking at Yang Soyu held in Jang Seon-hwa’s arms, as naturally as possible conveying congratulations.

Honestly, even at this moment, their minds were filled with thoughts of why things turned out like this,

Nevertheless, no one could openly show that right now.

Although tired and injured from the battle, the man before them was the powerhouse who defeated the Heavenly Demon.

Moreover, they themselves had their bottoms shaken by the Heavenly Demon earlier, so their conditions were bad.

There were parts they didn’t like in many ways, but for now, they needed to praise his achievement, avoid any potential threat, and connect ties to build positive relations in the future.

The five martial experts trying to create a seemingly amicable atmosphere with such thoughts.

But…

“What? These bastards?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

The man’s cold voice suddenly ringing in their ears.

And…

-Thud!!

“Keuk!”

“Keoheok!”

The next moment,

The five experts there collapsed to the ground, unable to maintain their posture under the overwhelming pressure crushing their bodies.

“Keuk!”

“Ya… Hero Yang? What is this…”

Showing bewilderment at his unexpected action,

Especially Jang Seon-hwa, who was embracing Yang Soyu until just now, was bounced off his body and rolled on the ground.

Tremendous inner energy felt despite the body being in tatters from the battle with the Heavenly Demon.

While looking at them prostrated, unable to even control their bodies under that immense might.

The man…

Yang Soyu said in a cold voice.

“What? As soon as the job’s done, you switch attitudes like that? What are you, Udyr?”

Mentioning a name they heard for the first time, Yang Soyu showing a deep contemptuous expression like looking down at bugs.

Thus, in the hearts of the five experts collapsed there, a deep fear started to bloom.

Heart shrinking, breath shortening,

Sensation like the eyes going dark.

It was like…

The terrifying feeling as if facing the mighty Heavenly Demon’s might head-on approaching them.

“Ya.. Hero Yang! Why… why are you doing this? Anyway, since the Heavenly Demon is defeated, isn’t this good? Of… of course, we were a bit rude until now. Let’s use this chance to resolve the grudges and start over from the beginning…”

Jang Seon-hwa trembling in fear, forcibly raising her body, hurriedly speaking.

While looking at her, Yang Soyu showed a truly fed-up expression and stood right in front of her.

And…

-Slap!

“Kyaaak!”

Yang Soyu slapping her cheek without hesitation.

Jang Seon-hwa’s face started to show clear shock at the man’s unexpected action.

While looking at her, Yang Soyu said in a sharp voice.

“What? Start over? Don’t bullshit, you b*tch! Your nagging to cook even at the demonic cult entrance is still vivid in my ears, and such crap comes out of your mouth?”

“Th… that was… because Hero Yang cooks the best among us…”

“Ah~ yeah? Then, did you ever bring even a ladle of water to me who prepared every meal diligently? Don’t spout lame excuses now for the sh*t you did to harass me!”

Jang Seon-hwa unable to say anything more, overwhelmed by Yang Soyu’s icy words.

It was then that he shut the mouth of her, who was the most talkative among them.

“Ya… Hero Yang, isn’t this too much no matter what? No matter what, such rudeness to comrades who fought together…”

“Haha comrades?”

“Keuk!”

Yang Soyu coldly laughing and increasing the level of inner energy on Namgung Tae-hyeon.

Thus, Namgung Tae-hyeon’s body, which was barely trying to rise, slammed back to the ground.

“You so-called comrades… how many times did you survive thanks to me on the way here, have you ever said thanks even once? Receiving such sh*tty treatment, paving the way here, and even giving the Heavenly Demon’s head, now with rotten expressions saying good work, those are comrades?”

“…”

Yang Soyu speaking as if exploding the accumulated resentment until now at Namgung Tae-hyeon’s words.

At his unrestrained words, those present moved their lips to make some excuse, but in the end, they couldn’t find proper rebuttal.

Honestly, it was true they found Yang Soyu unpleasant.

Because of that, during this operation, no, even before, constantly checking and depreciating his outstanding actions,

Even when he saved their lives, not thanking but dismissing as mere coincidence and only complaining,

All were clear facts with no room for excuse.

Although nevertheless, Yang Soyu had always shown a calm smile and behaved meekly despite their insults and mistreatment,

At this moment, expecting the same tolerance and patience from him seemed impossible.

“Don’t spout dog sh*t and just shut up. At least considering the tiny bit of affection until now, I was going to let you go quietly, but these bastards scratching my insides openly at the end?”

Thus, while looking at Yang Soyu expressing anger unrestrained unlike until now.

In their hearts, anxiety started to grow bigger whether this man would harm them like this or in worse case take their lives.

Then.

“Haa…”

“!”

“Ah…”

The next moment, Yang Soyu stopping the inner energy emanating from his body.

Thus, they who were prostrated on the ground unable to move could barely stand up.

“What… ever… anyway, the Heavenly Demon is dead and everything is over. Now we won’t see each other in this world anymore.”

“Ya… Hero Yang?”

Yang Soyu speaking coldly, showing deep emptiness and subtle sense of achievement.

At this moment, while looking at him as if enlightened,

The five felt the life threat from earlier disappeared, but instead, some subtle atmosphere started flowing from him.

His appearance as if dealing with people he won’t see again.

However.

Before they could say something about it.

Yang Soyu looked at the five before him and threw a sincere word.

“It was filthy being with you, let’s never see again, you bastards!”

With those words, the new world’s number one literally evaporated and disappeared before them.

Thus, those present just stared blankly, unable to take their eyes off the spot where Yang Soyu disappeared for a while.