Chapter 28: The Awakening of the Demonic Heart

Demonic arts cannot be mastered through normal means.

The demonic aura only blooms from the darkest emotions: human suffering, despair, and rage.

Relying solely on one’s own will to push oneself to the extreme is inefficient and has clear limits.

The demonic aura cannot fully grow from internal pain alone.

This is why practitioners of demonic arts torment others so,

ruthlessly to extract the deepest darkness from their victims.

The deeper the despair and fury,

the more the demonic aura takes root and flourishes.

No one understood this better than the Blood Demon, the Grandmaster of the Blood Sect.

Thus, he created the Blood Tube.

Through countless humans exposing their pain in real time, their despair, rage, and suffering spread like wildfire, amplified by the algorithm.

The emotions emanating from the screens transformed into Blood Demon Energy,

strengthening him even further.

The Blood Demon spoke:
“Swallow it.”

Cheon Yeoul’s vision was still impaired,

but Baek Soul’s horrified reaction gave her a clue.

A wriggling sound followed.

“Kyaaah! It’s a bug!”

“This is called the Blood Spirit Parasite. ”

“Anyone who wishes to become a disciple of the Blood Sect must consume it.”

The Blood Spirit Parasite.

A grotesque creature enhanced with mystical rituals, capable of affecting human consciousness.

It served as both a tool of control ensuring the loyalty of the Blood Sect’s followers and a crystallization of Blood Demon Energy,

incomparable to the lesser concoctions distributed to Blood Tube’s channel operators.

But the Blood Demon’s gift was something else entirely.

“This particular one,” he said, “is an Inverse Blood Spirit Parasite,

a spiritual beast forged from the intense demonic energy accumulated from over hundreds of millions of views. ”

“It contains the despair, suffering, and tears shed by humanity, distilled into its essence. ”

“I prepared this especially for you, my disciple, who shall one day become the Blood Sect’s heir.”

“You… want me to eat this? A bug?”

“Your speech lacks decorum,” the Blood Demon said coldly. “When addressing your master, show respect. ”

“A master is as the heavens, and the disciple, the earth. ”

“Without reverence, your path in the martial arts will drift aimlessly like a ship without sails.”

Cheon Yeoul resisted the urge to scoff.

He was forcing her into this disciple role how could he expect genuine reverence?

Not to mention, villains and monsters were the very entities she loathed most.

She had idolized No Name, the greatest hero of this era,

and the idea of bowing to a villain like the Blood Demon was utterly revolting.

“When the Inverse Blood Spirit Parasite burrows into your heart,” the Blood Demon continued,

“you will feel as though ten million venomous insects are gnawing at your flesh.”

” This excruciating pain will naturally awaken the Blood Demon Energy within you. ”

“Only those who endure such agony with patience and resolve can become true martial artists. ”

“If you accept this parasite and overcome the torment, you will gain the right to rule this world as the Blood Sect’s heir.”

“Senior! Don’t listen to him!” Baek Soul protested. “There’s no way eating that thing is safe!”

“Silence,” the Blood Demon snapped. “I’ve also prepared a parasite for you. ”

“However, since your devotion to my disciple is so admirable,

I shall grant you the privilege of offering your parasite to her as well. ”

“Consider it a token of my recognition for your loyalty.”

“This is madness!” Baek Soul cried. “You’re nothing but a tyrant!”

“Hmph, your insolent tongue remains intact. Thanks to it, my disciple’s meal has now increased to three parasites.”

Baek Soul immediately clamped her mouth shut.

Cheon Yeoul realized there was no point in arguing further.

Nothing she said would stop this cruel man.

He was more villainous than any villain she had encountered.

Was this what it meant to be a demon practitioner?

In his gaze, she saw nothing but pure malice, a twisted pleasure in others’ suffering.

He resembled a tyrant savoring the tragedies he orchestrated with his own hands.

“Uwaaah! Senior, I’m so sorry! Because of me, you have to eat three of those bugs! Waaah!”

“Soul, don’t worry. It’s not your fault.”

The real culprit was that man.

Cheon Yeoul swallowed hard.

The writhing of the bug drew closer,

so close that she could feel it brush her fingertips.

Her entire body froze, cold as ice.

‘Do I really have to eat this thing?’

But there was no denying it this Blood Demon was the real deal.

Her memories of childhood were hazy, but she knew enough.

No Name.

Even compared to that legendary hero,

the aura emanating from this man was overwhelming.

Resistance wasn’t an option.

The bug finally reached Cheon Yeoul’s lips.

She had no choice but to open her mouth.

There was no alternative.

“Kyaaaah! Senior, no! Don’t eat it!”

“Kahahaha! Yes, swallow it in one gulp!”

In the end, Cheon Yeoul slowly opened her mouth.

The bug slithered inside.

Instantly, an awful sensation spread through her mouth.

It was hot yet slimy and sticky.

She felt every moment of it sliding down her throat, vivid and visceral.

She didn’t even need to swallow.

The wriggling bug moved on its own, crawling slowly down her throat as though it were alive.

As it descended, Cheon Yeoul had to endure the overwhelming disgust.

The bug was making its way to her heart.

Finally, when the bug reached its destination, she paused.

‘What’s this?’

Cheon Yeoul was bewildered.

The Blood Demon had said she would experience the excruciating pain of ten million insects devouring her flesh.

She had consumed three Blood Spirit Parasites,

one of which was the legendary Inverse Blood Spirit Parasite.

By his words, the agony should have been unbearable.

‘Why do I feel nothing? No, it’s more than that it feels like the bug is trying to help me.’

‘Based on the Blood Demon’s explanation, it sounded like a parasite… but this feels more like… symbiosis?’

Cheon Yeoul didn’t know yet.

It was the moment when the blessing of the angel revealed its effect.

Initially, the Blood Spirit Parasite had intended to consume its host.

However, the ruthless and vicious solitude of the Blood Cult,

which had once terrified the central martial world, found itself overpowered by the pure power embedded within Cheon Yeoul’s body.

It lost the will to resist and instead, in submission to her divine energy, became docile and peaceful.

Rather than overtaking her, it chose to defy its own instincts and harmonize with her.

The sensation of a spiritual being.

If she did something wrong,

she had a foreboding feeling that an unimaginable entity would exact punishment on her.

If she didn’t do the right thing, something terrible would happen.

“Now, my disciple is in a position where she cannot betray the sect even if she wanted to. ”

“No matter what entity it is, once the Blood Spirit Parasite is implanted, control can be easily maintained. ”

“If you stray from your path, you will once again feel the pain of millions of insects devouring your flesh,

and I can even command the parasite to burst your heart. Everything is in my hands now.”

But, contrary to Blood Demon’s words, there was no pain.

Her body was brimming with energy, and it felt as if her vitality was being rejuvenated.

Cheon Yeoul instinctively knew.

She didn’t need to forcefully draw out the demonic energy,

as the Blood Spirit Parasite would provide it for her instead.

Moreover,no matter how hard Blood Demon tried to command the parasite,

it would never obey since it had already harmonized with Cheon Yeoul.

‘What’s going on? Is he even a real teacher?’

Villains are all strange.

There’s not a single normal human among them.

Although she couldn’t see his face, as her vision was still obscured,

she could sense a faint excitement in his voice.

“How does it feel? The pain must have already started. Tell me what you’re feeling.”

Cheon Yeoul paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts.

‘What should I do?’

In truth, there was no pain.

She couldn’t tell Blood Demon the truth, though.

‘If I don’t show some pain, he’ll only get more suspicious… I’d better pretend to be in pain.’

She flinched awkwardly and let out a fake groan.

“Ugh… Ugh. My heart is getting hot… It feels like something is boiling inside me.”

“Kahahaha! ”

“Normally, at this point, the pain would be so intense that one would roll on the ground, begging for death,

yet here you are, answering my question with such composure!

Hahaha, it seems I do have some good fortune with disciples in my later years.”

” A disciple with such spirit!”

This situation repeated itself.

“No! You’ve already memorized the entire Blood Demon Secret Art after hearing it only once?”

Blood Qi Solidification, Life and Death Transmutation, Yin and Yang Unity, No Boundaries Between Inside and Outside.

Yin and Yang Reversal, Heaven and Earth Collapse, All Things Reversed, Demonic Energy Running Wild.

Soul Refining, Spirit Destruction, Immortal Demon Heart, Eternal Life Without End.

Heaven’s Destruction, Earth’s Reversal, Infinite Destruction, God’s Demise and Return to Nothingness.

Reversed Meridians, Flow of Qi Reversed, Internal Energy Leaks, Tendons Severed, Bones Cracked.

Demonic Qi Through the Bones, Bones Like Iron and Stone, Qi Like Black Flame, Rash Spreading Through the Body.

Blood Soul Assimilation, Blood as Deep as the Sea, Soul Like Mist, Demonic Qi Overflowing the Sky.

Heaven and Earth Stained with Magic, Magic Qi Invades, Darkness Covers the World, Shadows Block the Sun.

Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Heart.

It was strangely easy to memorize.

She had only heard it once, but was able to recite it right there, causing Blood Demon to be utterly shocked.

Not only that.

“No! You’ve already mastered the Blood Heaven Demon Qi naturally?”

Slowly, Blood Demon raised his hand and drew a circle in the air, invoking the Blood Heaven Demon Qi.

Cheon Yeoul did the same in front of him.

A crimson energy swirled in the air, following her finger’s motion.

She didn’t fully understand what martial arts were,

but under Blood Demon’s tutelage, from the basics, it wasn’t that difficult.

And most importantly, the Blood Spirit Parasites in her heart,

which had already synchronized with her,

were helping her manipulate the Blood Heaven Demon Qi with all their power,

making her learning process incredibly fast.

“No! How long has it been since you started learning the Reverse Blood Great Luo Heart Method? ”

“And yet, you’re already breaking the balance of Yin and Yang, and starting to walk the path of the Demonic Body?”

Cheon Yeoul blinked, confused.

“Heh, could it be that my disciple has a pure bloodline?! This incredible achievement could only be explained by a pure bloodline.”

” Truly, could you be the kind of talent that the White Lotus Sect Leader would covet?”

It just… worked.

Cheon Yeoul couldn’t understand why Blood Demon was so impressed by something so simple.

Demonic arts.

They weren’t anything special.