Prologue: The Profound Realm and Transcending Demonic Influence

Martial arts can broadly be divided into two categories: Righteous and Unorthodox. At some point, the origin of martial arts split into these two branches, and they repeatedly fought each other in a cycle of revenge, washing blood with blood. Over time, the initial reason for their conflict became unclear. The Righteous sects saw the Unorthodox as enemies and would go to any lengths to kill them, while the Unorthodox held the same animosity toward the Righteous.

The Righteous martial arts grew from the two true scriptures, "Yijinjing" and "Xisuijing," which were spread by Bodhidharma in the Central Plains. Most of these arts came from Buddhist or Daoist traditions. Even the so-called Five Great Families were founded by exceptional disciples from the Nine Sects and One Clan. Over time, as new sects emerged from those families, the original branches became less distinct.

Ancient martial arts began by imitating the actions of wild animals. The famous "Five Animal Forms" of Shaolin were modeled after the movements of the tiger, leopard, snake, monkey, and crane. Similarly, sword techniques passed down from Daoist traditions were also inspired by animal behavior. These techniques—swordsmanship, saber techniques, spear techniques, staff techniques, fist techniques, and palm techniques—are collectively referred to as External Martial Arts.

In contrast, Internal Martial Arts originated from breathing techniques, specifically the methods of dantian breathing and the art of "Tuna" (exhaling and inhaling breath). Through years of practice from a young age, practitioners accumulate an invisible force within their bodies known as internal energy. Internal Martial Arts involve channeling this energy into fists, palms, or swords. As this internal energy builds up, it circulates through the body, amplifying its strength. Various breathing and energy techniques emerged depending on how this energy was directed through different meridians.

In the Righteous sects, internal energy accumulates gradually over time. Without receiving true internal energy from another or consuming elixirs, it generally takes years of constant practice to reach the level of a master. Most practitioners reach the peak of their skills after the age of 40, and only a few exceptional ones become grandmasters after 60. While there are some who rely on innate physical strength to master external techniques, it is difficult to enter the ranks of peak masters without strong internal energy.

Even within the Righteous sects, there are various methods for accumulating martial prowess, but none use the extreme methods seen in the Unorthodox sects to hastily gather internal energy. The Righteous sects are made up of many renowned schools, most of which are Buddhist or Daoist, and they have produced many exceptional martial artists. Due to this, these schools are often referred to as prestigious families. However, the true strength of the Righteous sects doesn't lie with these elite families but with the numerous smaller sects that collectively boast large numbers.

These smaller sects typically focus on teaching External Martial Arts due to the lack of superior internal energy techniques. In contrast, the prestigious families pass down true internal energy to their successors or give them elixirs to accelerate their internal energy cultivation. These descendants, known as legitimate disciples, receive the pure martial arts of their respective sects. Non-legitimate disciples, who lack such internal energy training, are said to exert significantly less force, even when using the same techniques.

When transferring true internal energy to another, the one providing the energy experiences immense pain, so it is rare to pass it down, even to a close relative. Additionally, there is a risk involved when receiving such energy. If the donor's internal energy comes from a similar practice, the transfer is safe. However, if it originates from a different form of training, it may clash with the recipient's internal energy, leading to harmful results unless they had no prior cultivation.

Internal energy can also be transmitted to others for healing or attacking purposes. In these cases, the energy dissipates within the recipient's body over time, and the donor's energy is eventually restored.

The experts of orthodox martial arts who have honed their inner energy to an extraordinary level are called the Masters of the Three Realms. Once a martial artist becomes a supreme master, the level of their inner energy and martial arts skill become closely linked, making it nearly impossible to find an opponent at the level of the Masters of the Three Realms.

The First Realm is called the Harmony Realm. This refers to masters who have harmonized the energies of heaven, earth, and man, as well as the five elements: water, wood, metal, fire, and earth. These masters are known as those who have attained the peak of combining these energies. At this level, the practitioner undergoes a transformation known as "Rebirth through Change," where their entire body reaches its optimal state for martial arts, experiencing the effects of reversed aging. It is said that at this level, one can kill with sound and bring down small mountains with a flick of their finger. There are currently eight living masters of the Harmony Realm, referred to as the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns. While they possess similar levels of martial arts, the distinction between the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns is partially due to their age difference, with the Three Emperors being slightly more advanced in their martial arts. In contrast, the martial artists of the orthodox sects refer to the four most outstanding martial artists from the Asura Blood Sect as the Four Heavenly Kings, reflecting their subtle pride over these unorthodox figures.

The Second Realm is the mysterious state of the Divine Realm, also known as the Profound Realm. Upon reaching this stage, the practitioner undergoes further physical enhancement, making their body impervious to all poisons. Additionally, their body reaches a state where their inner energy becomes invisible, and those who reach this realm can kill with the energy emitted from their body alone. Only one person in martial arts history has reached this level, the Divine Sword Hero Gu Hui, who founded the First Under Heaven Sect. This is considered the highest realm ever achieved by humans.

The Third Realm is the true divine realm of immortality, called the Life and Death Realm. It is believed to transcend life and death and to provide complete insight into the laws of the universe. However, no one has ever come close to achieving this realm. It is considered a completely unknown world, and some even dismiss it as a mere fabrication by those who like to indulge in fantasy.

While orthodox martial arts follow the ideal described above, unorthodox martial arts take an entirely different path. Unlike the techniques brought over by Bodhidharma, unorthodox martial arts developed naturally within the central plains. They use a different method to cultivate inner energy, particularly in groups like the Green Forest, which consists of bandits and pirates. These groups tend to lag behind the orthodox sects in terms of inner energy techniques, so they compensate by developing techniques to counter their opponents' martial arts or by creating strange and unusual moves. As a result, external martial arts have become the mainstream in unorthodox sects, allowing practitioners to become fairly skilled in a relatively short time, though not reaching the level of supreme masters. However, due to the inexperience of many orthodox masters, these techniques are still considered highly dangerous. Unorthodox martial artists also use a variety of unconventional weapons and hidden weapons to gain practical advantages in battle.

Among the unorthodox sects, however, one stands apart: the Asura Blood Sect. This sect has a long history and tradition, with highly systematic methods of cultivating inner energy. Their chosen method is reverse blood energy cultivation, a technique that allows practitioners to accumulate inner energy at an extremely fast rate. By reversing the natural flow of energy in the body during the cultivation process, they can rapidly build up inner energy. This method has produced many masters within the sect, and over time, a variety of reverse blood energy techniques have been developed, along with numerous devastating martial techniques.

While this method has many advantages, it also carries significant risks, the most serious being the danger of falling into the state of inner demons. The faster the cultivation technique, the higher the probability of this happening. For this reason, martial artists in the Asura Blood Sect initially use the fastest methods to accumulate inner energy but switch to safer methods as they become more advanced. The sect has developed a systematic set of cultivation techniques suited to each level of mastery, as failing to do so would not only result in the loss of all the inner energy they have cultivated but also cost them their lives.

However, the benefits of this technique are so great that the risks are often overlooked. In the Asura Blood Sect, it is possible to become a supreme master in one's twenties and reach the level of a transcendent master in one's thirties. The masters of the sect favor inner energy techniques over external martial arts, using methods like palm wind, finger wind, sword wind, and sword qi to attack their enemies. In particular, the sect has developed aggressive palm wind techniques, which are among their most formidable methods.

The second problem with this method was the danger of energy dispersion. This involved losing all accumulated inner energy in an instant, accompanied by excruciating pain. The more inner energy one had, the longer the pain lasted, with transcendent masters suffering the most. However, this wasn't much of an issue for the Demonic Sect since energy dispersion usually occurred when one was old or sick and close to death. For this reason, Demonic Sect masters longed for a peaceful death like their orthodox counterparts.

Another issue was that after reaching a certain level, they hit an invisible wall, preventing further progress. Demonic Sect practitioners called this the "invisible wall." Breaking through it allowed one to enter the highest realm of the demonic path, the Realm of Extreme Demon. Like the Realm of Harmony in orthodox martial arts, those who reached the Realm of Extreme Demon experienced physical rebirth, transforming their bodies into the perfect state for martial arts.

Masters of the Realm of Extreme Demon were feared for their ability to cause terror with the demonic energy radiating from their bodies. Those with weak energy lost their will to fight, and ordinary people could die just from being near them. However, they could also completely suppress their demonic energy if they wished. The four current masters of the Realm of Extreme Demon are called the Four Demon Emperors or the Four Heavenly Kings, and they are greatly feared. Normally, they keep their demonic energy hidden, but when angered, they unconsciously release it, terrifying their subordinates.

The second demonic realm is called the Realm of Transcendence. This is the highest level a demonic practitioner can achieve. Those who reach this level become impervious to poison. Since no one has ever reached the Realm of Transcendence, it is speculated that it might be similar to the Profound Realm. The name "Transcendence" comes from the belief that those who achieve this realm will not experience energy dispersion, something all demonic practitioners fear. Some believe that the Realm of Transcendence might correspond to the Realm of Life and Death, as both paths—orthodox and demonic—ultimately converge at the same end. However, since no one has ever reached the Realm of Transcendence, orthodox sects dismiss this as mere fantasy.

The Beginning of Fate

The leader of the Asura Blood Sect brought up an unusual proposal at the once-a-year gathering of elders and high-ranking members. The current leader, Han Joong-gil, known as the Black Demon Emperor, had reached the pinnacle of demonic cultivation, specifically the Extreme Demon state. Because of this, he appeared to be in his late twenties despite being much older. Although he could hide his demonic energy, he preferred to emit it subtly. His mastery of the Violet Lightning Demon Technique caused his entire body to radiate a faint purple glow, unsettling anyone who looked at him.

"Our sect, the largest among the unorthodox factions, boasts nearly twenty thousand skilled practitioners. However, excluding the underlings stationed across various regions, we barely have ten thousand warriors we can consider competent. Of those, maybe five thousand could be called elite. Compared to the righteous sects, we are always outnumbered. Does anyone have a good solution for this?"

At this, the elder Sawmyeon Inma, also known as Elder Xiao Wu-myeon, raised an objection. He was ranked 15th within the sect and was in charge of the Violet Star Myriad Demon Squad, one of the five major military units. His title came from his three distinct personas: during battles with the righteous sects, he showed madness, cruelty, and bloodlust; to ordinary civilians, he was a figure of compassion, like a living Buddha; and within the sect, he was known for being strict yet caring. This combination made him a popular figure among the lower ranks.

"With our current forces, we are more than capable of dealing with the righteous sects. Why do you say we lack skilled practitioners?"

In response, Elder Wang Ji-young, known as the Crimson-Browed Enchantress, spoke on behalf of the leader. She was ranked third among the elders and sixth within the sect, an impressive feat for a woman. Known for her seductive appearance and revealing clothing, she was a master of the Crimson Blood Asura Technique, which caused the ends of her long eyebrows to glow faintly red. Besides her martial prowess, she was a cunning strategist, earning her the favor of the sect leader—both in matters of strategy and in more intimate settings. Thanks to her advanced internal energy techniques, she maintained the appearance of a sultry woman in her mid-twenties. She also led the Three Secrets Squad, the sect's intelligence division.

"Hmph, I will explain the reason. Although it is still at an early stage, we have detected movements from the Asura Blood Sect."

At the mention of the Asura Blood Sect, the Supreme Elder, known as Demon Sword Phantom Yeo Jeol-pa, asked with confusion, "What is the Asura Blood Sect?"

Elder Wang Ji-young replied respectfully, "It is the successor of the Blood Sect. They've only changed their name."

The room grew silent as the memories of the fierce battles with the Blood Sect from eighty years ago returned.

"Hmm..."

Elder Wang Ji-young continued, "If it were just a confrontation with the righteous sects, it wouldn't be much of a problem. However, if the Asura Blood Sect becomes involved, things will not be so easy. Have you forgotten the war against their predecessor, the Blood Sect? Back then, we lost 40% of our strength in a direct clash with them. It took us fifty years to recover from that blow. And we must also consider the movements of the Dark Demon Sect. While their activities remain elusive, it's better to remain cautious."

The Blood Sect was known for creating powerful beings like jiangshi and soul-dwelling figures, compensating for their inferior martial skills with various evil techniques. It was the orthodox faction's intelligence agency that first detected the movements of the Blood Sect. However, ordinary warriors were no match for the destructive power of the jiangshi or other evil techniques. Only martial artists with at least sixty years of inner energy could even hope to inflict damage on these beings. To avoid being ensnared by the Blood Sect's techniques, a martial artist would need immense internal strength, so the orthodox faction schemed.

The orthodox factions subtly manipulated events, pushing the Demonic Cult to clash with the Blood Sect, knowing they didn't have enough elite martial artists to handle the threat themselves. Even though the orthodox faction pretended to assist during the battle, it was the Demonic Cult that bore the brunt of the damage.

It was likely the first time the orthodox faction and the Demonic Cult had ever formed a joint front. The orthodox faction only sent their top martial artists to help, and after the battle, both sides issued orders of silence. The collaboration between the orthodox faction and the Demonic Cult became an event forever buried. Without the orthodox faction's help, the Demonic Cult's losses would have been far worse.

Another group that emerged was the Dark Demonic Cult, seen as the illegitimate offspring of the Demonic Cult. After the battle with the Blood Sect, some members of the Demonic Cult, inspired by the Blood Sect's techniques, suggested they adopt similar methods. Among them was the vice leader, Jang Ingeol, who, after being ignored by the cult leader, took his followers and the books they had seized from the Blood Sect and left. He later renamed himself the Black Death Emperor and founded the Dark Demonic Cult. This new group combined the martial arts of the Demonic Cult with the evil techniques of the Blood Sect, forming a unique organization.

After hearing this, Elder Lee Cheong, ranked 14th in the Demonic Cult and leader of the King Yama Squad, cautiously spoke up. "What if we focus on training new elite warriors?"

The cult leader showed some interest. "I would like to train more warriors, but what method do you suggest?"

"Contact the branch leaders and abduct a large number of children under the age of ten to train. If we abduct around 3,000 children, that should suffice. Any more might draw the attention of the authorities or the orthodox sects."

Elder So Moomyeon, the Three-faced Demon, strongly opposed this idea. "We typically abduct about 300 children annually, outside of those born into the cult, and train them as warriors. Suddenly increasing that number tenfold to 3,000? Not only would it be difficult to kidnap that many, but where would we train them?"

Elder Wang Jayeong, smiling sweetly, answered in place of Elder Lee Cheong. "I'll answer that. Even if we abduct 3,000 children, we know from experience that at least 1,000 of them will perish during the early stages of inner energy training. After going through martial training, we'll be lucky to find 500 capable enough to be of use. So we don't need a massive training ground for 3,000. A shabby living space for them will suffice, along with a training area large enough for about 2,000 to undergo basic training. The 500 or so who make it through can be trained at our current facilities."

The cult leader seemed intrigued by her reasoning. "Now that I hear it, it makes sense. So, General, when can the children be ready?"

"We'll need about five months to gather suitable candidates. The abductions aren't the problem, but getting them here without anyone noticing is."

"You'll handle that, General."

"Understood."

"Elder So Moomyeon, you'll oversee the construction of the training ground for this operation."

"Understood."

"Elder Lee Cheong, you'll be responsible for the training. Remember, the future of our sect depends on the abilities of the warriors we train this time. Put all your effort into it."

"Understood."

"And... While we do have an assassination squad directly under my command, I feel it's insufficient. I'd like to create an additional 50 assassins and name them the Black Death Squad. Now, who should lead them...?"

At that, a subtle hint of desire and hope lit up the eyes of the elders. It was clear that any group formed directly by the cult leader would be the elite of the elite, and being in charge of them would significantly elevate the status of whoever was assigned. After scanning the room, the cult leader spoke again.

"Yes, it would be best if the General commanded them. As for the others, we'll decide based on skill or the situation at the time."

After the meeting ended, as the martial artists left the room, the cult leader called Elder Wang Jayeong, leader of the Three Armies, to stay behind.

"Have you found the main base of the Asura Blood Sect?"

"Not yet, but we are gradually identifying their forces. They're carefully expanding their influence, so gathering information has been difficult."

"When do you estimate they'll take action?"

"At the earliest, perhaps ten years. But it's still uncertain."

"And what about the Dark Demonic Cult?"

"We're tracking their movements as well, but nothing significant has come up yet..."

"Is there a chance that the Asura Blood Sect and the Dark Demonic Cult will form an alliance?"

"Highly unlikely, but it's not something we can rule out entirely. We're conducting research and investigation just in case."

"So, no major concerns for now? Ah, one more thing. Do the orthodox factions know of their movements?"

"Perhaps the Beggar Sect or the Shadowless Sect—those known for being the largest intelligence groups in the martial world—might have some idea, but... it was only by chance that we picked up on it ourselves."

"What if we repay the orthodox sects for what they did to us?"

"Repay them? How do you mean?"

"We let them find out about the Asura Blood Sect's movements. If we can provide them with the location of their main base, all the better."

Her brow furrowed slightly at his words.

"Hmm... So you're suggesting we let them benefit from the conflict?"

"Do you remember how badly we were hit in the battle against the Blood Sect? Instead of fighting among ourselves, we should show those orthodox fools the true terror of the unorthodox sects."

"But if the Asura Blood Sect prioritizes unifying the unorthodox factions again, we should prepare for battles like before."

"That's why we need to make them realize that it's more advantageous to launch a surprise attack on the core forces of the orthodox sects rather than engage directly. If they strike first, it will take them at least 10 years, if not 30, to recover their strength. During that time, we must prepare ourselves. Do they think it only takes one or two years to train a powerful warrior?"

"While the thick-headed members of the Beggar Sect may be easy to deceive, that cunning old woman, the Jade Flower Martial Emperor from the Shadowless Sect, will be hard to fool. Her subordinates are well-trained as well..."

"Only share a little information with the Shadowless Sect. That old woman will handle the rest herself."

"If they scheme like before, we might find ourselves in trouble."

"Just subtly inform the Asura Blood Sect about the forces and defenses of the Nine Factions and the Five Great Families. The Asura Blood Sect isn't foolish; they'll realize it's better to ambush the weaker bases of the orthodox sects than our stronghold. Once they launch the ambush, we can lead them into a full-blown war with the orthodox sects afterward."

"Understood. I will do my best."

"Then you must be busy; you may leave now. By the way, do you have time this evening?"

Receiving the cult leader's slightly mischievous gaze, she discreetly rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I'll see you this evening."

Plots and more plots... In a martial world where no powerful faction could emerge, various schemes ran rampant. Every martial artist dreamed of a unified martial world, but in reality, it remained nothing more than a dream. In a realm where each faction boasted formidable powers, it was impossible for a single group to rise to supremacy. Cultivating a large number of top-tier warriors in just one faction was also a difficult task. If such information leaked, the opposing factions would either prepare for it or desperately work to sabotage it.