The Sun Moon Divine Demon, who was leaning in the bathtub, weakly raised his hand.

“Closer.”

It was a gesture to beckon someone closer.

Even making that simple gesture seemed difficult for his massive body.

One might expect servants attending the bath or some dispute, but inside there was only the Sun Moon Divine Demon alone.

According to what Yi-gang knew, he never allowed anyone to be near him when receiving medical treatment.

The Black and White Fiend Duo who protected his body might be hiding somewhere, though.

Yi-gang considered secretly releasing his intangible energy to detect them but gave up.

Even if not at the Supreme Demon Realm level, acting dangerously in front of the Sun Moon Divine Demon who had reached the Unrestrained Demon Realm was unwise.

“Come closer.”

Even as he was approaching, the Sun Moon Divine Demon urged him on.

Hiding his disgust, Yi-gang approached.

The condition of the Sun Moon Divine Demon seen up close was worse than what he had heard.

His physique was massive but his skin lacked elasticity.

The flesh on his face sagged as if candle wax had dripped down.

His left arm, extended outside the bathtub, was connected to a tube made from a deer’s artery.

An unknown liquid was being infused through it.

Yi-gang sensed a sweet scent cutting through the smell of blood.

“Frankincense?”

With his knowledge of medicine and herbs, Yi-gang discerned the nature of the scent.

It seemed to contain all kinds of herbs with pain-relieving effects. Moreover, it was presumed to include dangerously narcotic substances.

“His condition is worse than I thought.”

What troubled him most were the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s eyes.

They were pale and glazed over like those of a frozen fish.

It made him question if he could see properly ahead.

However, contrary to Yi-gang’s thoughts, his eyesight appeared unaffected.

“Hmm… Your expression is not good.”

“Are you afraid?”

His eyes did not seem to see through Yi-gang’s acting.

Nor did he realize that Yi-gang was hiding his martial arts level.

“The bathtub isn’t filled entirely with the blood of young men and women. Half is deer blood, half is human blood. Then an equal amount of water was mixed in… and various medicinal herbs were brewed into it.”

The Sun Moon Divine Demon said so.

“…What was the name of this physician?”

“I’m simply called Tae Pyeong-sa.”

“Ah… I see. I don’t worship the Evil cult’s evil arts… nor do I enjoy doing such things.”

The cult leader of the Demon Cult is not someone who justifies his actions to others.

Nonetheless, the Sun Moon Divine Demon spoke in a hoarse voice.

“It was a suggestion from a physician I invited before. My energy has weakened due to a lack of pure essence. I was told… to replenish it with deer blood and the blood of young men and women.”

Whether deer blood was mixed or the physician ordered it.

It was true that he killed boys and girls and soaked his body in their blood.

The sight of the Sun and Moon Demon Lord making excuses was nothing like that of a Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

To think that someone presumed to be one of the world’s top ten masters was such a disgrace.

Yi-gang could only involuntarily compare him to the Divine Monk or the Sword Emperor.

Perhaps his disgust showed on his face.

The Sun Moon Divine Demon suddenly asked.

“So, what does the physician think?”

“Are you referring to the treatment method?”

“Yes. Do you think it will be effective?”

Yi-gang answered carefully so as not to sound too firm.

“I believe it is a useless act with no effect. Human blood contains essence, but soaking your body in it cannot restore that essence.”

“Even if they are young men and women, the souls of the murdered inevitably carry evil energy. It causes more harm than good.”

Yi-gang spoke only the facts.

“I see, that explains it.”

The Sun Moon Divine Demon surprisingly showed little reaction.

“I thought his words sounded somewhat dubious. Do you know what happened to him?”

When Yi-gang shook his head, the Sun Moon Divine Demon raised his blood-soaked, shriveled fingers and pointed to one side.

Yi-gang flinched, showing surprise.

“He was beheaded and hung on the wall. There was no improvement for fifteen days.”

There hung the severed head of someone who was once a physician.

“If this act is meaningless, then it must stop. You must show your true skill.”

If so, the Sun Moon Divine Demon had chosen this cruel act himself.

“Begin taking my pulse.”

Though not a physician himself, the Sun Moon Divine Demon declared.

As he rose, blood splattered noisily.

The droplets dripped down onto Yi-gang’s forehead.

Yi-gang did not blink.

The Heavenly Demon and Zhang Sanfeng were also watching the scene intently.

「How vile and disgusting.」

「Kill him. Kill that filth.」

Disgust and contempt were palpable.

Even subtle anger could be sensed in the Heavenly Demon’s words.

「For such a scoundrel to be the Cult Leader. A man who claims to control demonic energy so arrogantly soaks himself in rotten blood to extend his life.」

The Heavenly Demon was someone who tore his own soul to experience death for revenge.

To him, the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s desperate attempt to extend life was understandably repulsive.

「Indeed, that’s why he handed over the entire sect to the Evil Cult.」

The Heavenly Demon wanted to kill the Sun Moon Divine Demon immediately.

But everything must be done in order.

Yi-gang and Ha-jun were in a very dangerous situation.

They had to eliminate the Sun Moon Divine Demon, seize the Cult Leader’s sacred artifact he possessed, and head to the hidden space.

They must not cause a commotion in the process.

In other words, they had to kill a master at the Unrestrained Demon Realm instantly.

Though he was ill, it was no easy task.

Among the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s titles, “Sun Moon” also symbolized Yin and Yang.

As he drew forth extreme Yang energy.

Shu-u-uuk—

The blood on his body evaporated all at once.

Dressed in a splendid robe, he sat on the grand throne.

「That filthy man sits on my grand throne.」

Apparently, the throne was also an artifact over three hundred years old.

「The necklace he wears is the Cult Leader’s sacred artifact.」

Yi-gang examined the metal necklace hanging around the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s neck.

It bore a purple gem of unknown origin, an unexpectedly beautiful item.

“I will check your pulse.”

The Sun Moon Divine Demon extended his wrist.

Yi-gang carefully held the wrist and placed his fingers on the pulse point.

The physicians who treated him must have had a hard time.

His pulse was extremely irregular.

Moreover, thick fat covered it, making it difficult to feel the pulse.

Having grasped the pulse point, he could have launched a surprise attack.

‘Not yet.’

But just holding the wrist pulse point did not mean he could kill him instantly.

Yi-gang released his grip to wait for a better opportunity.

“It seems you have taken a tonic that supplements Yang energy.”

“Yes.”

“When the original essence is weak, excessive Yang energy can be toxic. Balancing it is important.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

Yi-gang was not fabricating his words.

He was diagnosing using his medical knowledge.

“For a moment, acupuncture combined with qigong treatment seems necessary…”

The Sun Moon Divine Demon casually removed his grand robe.

Yi-gang took out several long silver needles from the acupuncture kit Ha-jun had brought.

It would have been good if poison was applied to these.

But to poison a master at the Unrestrained Demon Realm instantly would require an extremely potent toxin.

Without help from the Sichuan Tang family, obtaining such a toxin quickly was impossible.

“One moment…”

The silver needle in Yi-gang’s hand gently pierced the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s skin.

Tap, tap, poke.

Yi-gang skillfully inserted the needles into the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s body.

The Sun Moon Divine Demon remained still as if unaffected.

A drop of sweat trickled down Yi-gang’s cheek.

「What are you doing? Why aren’t you using your hands?」

The Heavenly Demon expressed irritation.

There were at least three chances to ambush the Sun Moon Divine Demon while inserting the needles.

Though it was uncertain if he could kill him instantly…

「Zhao Guang, don’t be impatient. Trust Yi-gang’s skills and wait.」

Zhang Sanfeng scolded the Heavenly Demon.

Yi-gang did not respond and focused.

For some reason, he felt a strong intuition not to act rashly.

And this strong intuition had never betrayed Yi-gang.

Yi-gang placed his hand on the exposed back of the Sun Moon Divine Demon, on the Mingmen acupoint.

‘This time…’

The Mingmen acupoint was the most vital among vital points.

If he used the Inner Strike technique instantly, he could break the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s spine and damage his internal organs.

There would be no cleaner assassination method than that.

But at that moment, a warning bell rang in Yi-gang’s mind.

Instead of acting, Yi-gang used another method.

He very discreetly released intangible energy around him.

Though the Sun Moon Divine Demon might sense it, Yi-gang risked it and used intangible energy to enhance his senses.

Then he sensed something.

An ominous evil energy.

Dense evil energy had been flowing in this room from the start.

He thought it was coming from the blood-filled bathtub, but it was not.

The evil energy was emanating from the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s body.

And its meaning was…

「This guy’s vessel is already broken.」

ㅆhe Heavenly Demon spoke, reading Yi-gang’s thoughts.

The Sun Moon Divine Demon’s condition had reached an incurable level.

The vessel containing his original essence was broken.

It was like a cracked earthenware pot with a broken bottom.

Evil energy flowed because the contents were forcibly poured in before the pot was emptied.

That meant the Sun Moon Divine Demon would die even if he did nothing…

“You, come closer.”

The Sun Moon Divine Demon called Ha-jun, who was standing politely nearby.

Ha-jun hesitated briefly but then approached.

Yi-gang and Ha-jun’s eyes met briefly.

“You have a good gaze. Are you the physician’s disciple?”

“…Yes.”

Ha-jun answered politely for now.

“Give me your hand.”

Ha-jun did not extend his hand.

Because Yi-gang, standing behind the Sun Moon Divine Demon, shook his head.

The Sun Moon Divine Demon neither got angry nor urged again.

After a long silence, he burst into laughter.

“Kuhuhu, huhuhuhu.”

Only after the laughter subsided did he speak.

“…The High Spirit Palace Master betrayed me.”

It was an unexpected statement.

“He planned to restore the Heavenly Demon Divine Scripture to heal my body, but he left for the Central Plains.”

Yi-gang quietly raised his guard.

He still had his hand on the Sun Moon Divine Demon’s Mingmen point.

The situation where he could kill the opponent instantly had not changed.

“There are no Black and White Fiend Duo here. A magical barrier was set to block outside sounds. I trust no one… even the Demon Brain knows this.”

“That’s why I’m confused. Whether the assassin was sent by Demon Brain… and why send someone with such pure demonic energy.”

The Sun Moon Divine Demon’s voice was hoarse.

He was mistaken.

“Or did the True Demon Palace Master send you He has grievances against me… or perhaps that wolf-like Four Heavens Palace Master?”

He believed the palace masters sent assassins to kill him.

“Won’t you answer?”

Instead of answering, Yi-gang acted.

He fired a secret strike with full power.

The Sun Moon Divine Demon’s whole body trembled and collapsed forward.

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

However, the attack aimed at instant death was not very effective.

His spine was not broken; instead, he was thrown forward.

Then he grabbed both of Ha-jun’s wrists and leapt up.

Yi-gang realized what had happened.

「He shifted his acupoints!」

Like the Great Blood Demonic Skill, he moved his acupoints using demonic arts.

It was astonishing because no one had heard of one moving major meridians like the Mingmen acupoint.

Indeed, the Sun Moon Divine Demon had some skill.

Ha-jun, who tried to fight back, was instead caught by both wrists by the Sun Moon Divine Demon.

The Sun Moon Divine Demon pulled Ha-jun back with beast-like strength.

“It wasn’t Demon Brain who sent you. He must have noticed I possess the Great Star Absorbing Art!”

Great Star Absorbing Art.

A legendary demonic skill that absorbs the energy of those with lower cultivation.

From that, Yi-gang understood how the Sun Moon Divine Demon was still alive.

He had prolonged his life by absorbing others’ energy.

“To meet someone with such pure demonic energy. Hahaha!”

The Sun Moon Divine Demon tried to absorb Ha-jun’s True Qi.

Those struck by the Great Star Absorbing Art quickly wither like a dried deer.

The Sun Moon Divine Demon’s Great Star Absorbing Art, secretly refined, had already reached the Twelve Stars level.

Ha-jun grimaced and groaned.

Yi-gang, who was rushing forward with a ghostly expression, suddenly stopped.

「How ridiculous.」

It was the Heavenly Demon’s sneer that stopped him.

「See? Those who recklessly rely on such shabby techniques meet such ends.」

In truth, the Sun Moon Divine Demon should not have been so complacent.

Instead of greedily trying to absorb Ha-jun’s energy, he should have fought with full effort or called for outside guards.

「Using the Great Star Absorbing Art on one who possesses demonic energy is like a thirsty dog trying to drink seawater.」

The Sun Moon Divine Demon stood stiffly, holding Ha-jun’s wrists.

Upon closer look, his body was trembling.

Cold sweat streamed down, and his previously plump flesh visibly shrank.

Zhang Sanfeng gasped.

「He’s actually losing his energy!」

That was exactly the observation.

The energy of the Sun Moon Divine Demon trying to absorb Ha-jun’s energy was instead flowing into Ha-jun.

And the reverse flow was at a level even the Sun Moon Divine Demon could not stop.

Yi-gang stood before the stiffened Sun Moon Divine Demon.

The Sun Moon Divine Demon, Cheon Mu-do, struggled to move his eyes.

Yi-gang slowly opened his mouth.

“Did I ask who sent you?”

His voice was surprisingly cold and indifferent.

“The Heavenly Demon sent me.”

Then Yi-gang’s hand swept through the air.

Cheon Mu-do’s head spun and flew through the air.