The vast, low-lying canyons and the towering, jagged rocks between them were a sight to behold. Scattered throughout were pavilions, nestled like mushrooms in the crevices of rocks and trees.

Some of these pavilions seemed to serve as bridges connecting the canyons, making the most of the expansive Onya Valley without being confined to a single gorge. The densely packed, chaotic canyons didn’t obstruct but rather served as natural fortifications for the grand expanse of Heukya Palace.

The martial arts alliance envoys, taken aback by the sheer scale, found themselves momentarily frozen as they gazed upon the palace’s vastness.

Even from just one side, the scale was enough to overshadow most major sects, and it seemed to rival the martial alliance’s own headquarters.

“They didn’t just build according to the terrain, did they?”

“Really? To me, it looks like they just filled every available space with pavilions.”

Watching the puzzled expression on Paeng Ho-yeon, Jegal Myeong shook his head and continued.

“Even the five watchtowers we just passed weren’t just built on high ground. Their positions were determined by the principles of strategic formations.”

Mu-jin, who had been listening to their conversation, added his thoughts.

“The Hwasan Sect also built according to the rugged terrain, but Heukya Palace feels entirely different.”

While the Hwasan Sect seemed to harmonize with the volcano, Heukya Palace felt as if it was imposing its will on Onya Valley. The difference in how a sect chooses its location spoke volumes about its identity.

Seong-hui, who had been mostly silent, surveyed the surroundings with a somber gaze and spoke.

“Demons.”

It was only natural to encounter demons within Heukya Palace, yet the martial alliance envoys couldn’t help but tense up. Surrounded by unfriendly gazes, they were acutely aware of being deep in enemy territory.

“Amita Buddha.”

Feeling uneasy with the pervasive demonic energy, Seon-un clutched the hem of his robe, embroidered with a Taiji symbol, and murmured softly.

“You will be staying in this pavilion,” a demon guide announced.

In front of the pavilion, beautiful women awaited the martial alliance envoys.

“I am Hong-ryeon of the Miya Division. If you need anything, please let us know. Anything at all,” she said, emphasizing her words with a bewitching smile that seemed to ensnare the men. Mu-hwi narrowed his eyes at the sight.

The women, including Hong-ryeon, were not only stunning but each possessed a unique allure. Their presence captivated onlookers, even drawing admiration from Mu-hwa, a woman herself.

It wasn’t just their appearance; the women exuded a mysterious aura.

“They’ve all mastered demonic arts.”

It seemed they had learned seductive, enchanting techniques. Observing them, Mu-hwi was convinced that Heukya Palace hadn’t shown its full strength during the Xianxi Blood Incident. Despite facing various demonic arts, they hadn’t encountered practitioners of these seductive techniques.

“Perhaps it was wise to come in person.”

As they were assigned rooms, Mu-hwi suddenly asked Hong-ryeon, “You mentioned the Miya Division. Is that a subordinate organization of Heukya Palace?”

Hong-ryeon, unfazed by the unexpected question, replied openly, “Rather than a subordinate organization, the term ‘sect’ might be more fitting. Various demonic arts derived from the Heukya Divine Art have formed sects that continue to this day.”

“How many of these sects are there?”

“Miya, Gwiya, Chimya, Hongya, Manya, and Jinya. Six in total.”

“You’re quite forthcoming.”

“The Lord has already granted permission, so I merely follow orders.”

Mu-hwi smiled at her candidness. “So, during the Xianxi Blood Incident, which of the six sects were involved? And was the palace lord who died truly the palace lord?”

At this, Hong-ryeon hesitated for the first time, her shoulders slightly stiffening. She opened her mouth as if to speak but then closed it, merely bowing her head in silence.

Mu-hwi’s eyes turned cold as he looked at the top of her head. Though he didn’t receive a direct answer, he felt his suspicions were confirmed. Satisfied, he entered his room without further questions.

Hong-ryeon slowly raised her head, staring intently at the door Mu-hwi had entered.

Meanwhile, in the Banya Hall, demons were prostrated, delivering their reports.

“The Overlord has just arrived, accompanied by the Ilwang Squad and the young lord. The Overlord will be escorted to the Banya Hall in one shichen.”

“One shichen… I just met with the Alliance Leader and the Heavenly Lord, and I’m already weary.”

“Shall we adjust the schedule?”

“No need. But the Ilwang Squad…”

The Ilwang Squad was the top-ranked force among the Overlord’s elite units.

“Each faction has brought their strongest forces. It will be quite a spectacle.”

As the demons reported, a voice emerged from the shadows at the end of the Banya Hall, as if darkness itself was speaking.

Above the dais where the voice originated, darkness obscured the upper body of the Heukya Palace Lord, as if a curtain had been drawn.

“Shall we proceed with the schedule as planned?”

“Yes, let’s do that. We’ll watch the young talents’ performances and then meet with the leaders.”

As the subordinates withdrew, the Heukya Palace Lord spoke to the darkness behind the dais.

“Master, it’s been a while. Did you come for the sect’s inauguration?”

“You’ve created quite an intriguing gathering.”

The mere sound of the gentle voice caused the darkness around the Palace Lord to ripple, yet he showed no outward reaction.

“Indeed. Who else could gather both orthodox and unorthodox factions in one place? Did you enjoy your travels?”

“I dealt with the aftermath of the second disciple. The successor is Amje. Amje hasn’t managed to properly consolidate the Heavenly Kill Sect, so their power is uncertain.”

“The second senior’s association has fallen into Amje’s hands. Amje is rising quickly. Ah! The one who beheaded the second senior is said to be here at Heukya Palace.”

“The Hwasan Sword Saint, you mean.”

The Palace Lord smiled subtly as his master showed interest.

“The first senior died to the combined attack of the Sword Saint and the Sword Demon, and the second senior fell to the Sword Saint’s disciple, the Hwasan Sword Demon. Now that disciple has become the Hwasan Sword Saint. For him, the terms ‘Sword Saint’ and ‘Sword Demon’ are almost like a curse.”

When the master remained silent, the Palace Lord spoke again.

“Master, what should I do now? Should I avenge the second senior?”

The surrounding darkness receded, and a voice, growing fainter, whispered in the Palace Lord’s ear.

“Do as you wish.”

As the darkness vanished, revealing the Palace Lord fully, he stroked his beard with an inscrutable smile.

About to speak to himself, the Palace Lord instinctively closed his mouth. His master might overhear, and knowing the master’s limits was impossible, so the Palace Lord had made discretion a lifelong habit.

“An inscrutable old man.”

The Palace Lord leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. Slowly, the darkness crept back, enveloping him and the dais once more.

* * *

Onya Valley was home to various types of canyons, including some that were round and wide like a gourd.

In the center of one such canyon, steep cliffs rose in a circle, with dozens of steps carved into the rock, extending along the canyon’s length.

Those gathered in the canyon used these steps as seats, sitting and watching the wide open space in the center.

The martial alliance, the Heavenly Sect, and the Overlord’s forces each had their designated areas on the steps, sitting separately.

The arrangement of people along the canyon’s steps, all focused on the central expanse, made it easy to guess the canyon’s usual purpose.

“It feels like we’re in an arena.”

At the murmured observation of Unha Sword Dragon, Baek Li-sang, the other young talents nodded in agreement. The rocks forming the canyon were all a pale gray, but the center was a different color.

It was a dark, almost black hue with a reddish tint, likely stained by the blood of countless individuals over the years.

“A foreboding place.”

Jeon Un-bi, the Heavenly Dragon, muttered as he fiddled with the Taiji symbol on his robe. Listening to the young talents’ conversation, Mu-hwi suddenly looked up.

High above the canyon steps, a hole had been carved into the cliff, creating a vantage point where a middle-aged man in a black robe appeared.

“That’s the Heukya Palace Lord.”

Mu-hwi squinted, trying to determine if this was the same man who wore the black mask in his past life, but he didn’t think they were the same.

Despite the distance, the Palace Lord seemed to sense Mu-hwi’s gaze, looking down and smirking at him.

The Palace Lord then casually shifted his gaze, observing Kang Ho-baek, the Heavenly Sect Lord, and the Overlord, who were near Mu-hwi.

He then turned his gaze back to the crowd, taking in the multitude of martial artists filling the valley, beyond the three main factions.

“To the esteemed members of the Martial Alliance, the Heavenly Path Sect, and the Overlord’s Fortress, I extend my gratitude for gracing the inauguration of the Black Night Palace with your presence.”

His voice, though seemingly light, carried the weight and resonance of a true master, echoing gently throughout the valley.

“Honestly, he seems pretty ordinary,” Mu-hwa whispered beside him. “I expected something more terrifying, like a fearsome dark lord.”

Mu-hwi chuckled softly. “You never know. Those sleepy eyes might be hiding something no one can see.”

Those who seek to rise above others must find a position that matches their capacity. Especially if that position is at the pinnacle of the demonic path, anything less than exceptional ability would be insufficient.

To Mu-hwi, the seemingly ordinary and light demeanor of the Black Night Palace Lord felt like just another form of deception.

“I invited you all here to break the fixed notion that any demonic sect appearing in the martial world must be eradicated as a public enemy.”

The Black Night Palace Lord continued, meeting the eyes of the leaders of the three factions.

“I simply wish for the Black Night Palace to be recognized as a legitimate martial sect.”

Kang Ho-baek, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“Your words don’t add up, Palace Lord. How do you explain the bloodshed in Shaanxi, and the recent attacks on Mount Hua, Zhongnan, and the Nine Sword Sect? I hear Zhongnan suffered greatly.”

Unlike the calm voice of the Black Night Palace Lord, Kang Ho-baek’s voice filled the valley like a sudden thunderclap.

“Those were the burdens of the previous lord, and they did not reflect the will of the entire Black Night Palace. If we had truly acted with intent, the three sects in Shaanxi would no longer exist. As for the recent attacks, consider them a settling of old scores in the way of the demonic path.”

The Black Night Palace Lord smirked and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, while Kang Ho-baek’s eyes, visible through the bamboo leaves, glinted with a cold, ominous light.

“The way of the demonic path… sounds like you’re just doing as you please. But it doesn’t matter. In this world, power is what allows you to do as you wish, isn’t it?”

A gruff voice from the opposite side drew the Black Night Palace Lord’s attention.

“As expected, the Overlord is straightforward.”

The leader of the Heavenly Path Sect, who had been watching with a twitching lip, finally spoke.

“Every demonic sect that has emerged in the martial world had a purpose. Bloodshed, domination, the return of the Heavenly Demon. So, what is your goal?”

“We simply dream of harmony with the martial world.”

“Harmony? That’s something only fools would say. The demonic path of today is truly disappointing. No fun at all.”

The Black Night Palace Lord responded to the Heavenly Path Sect leader’s sarcasm with a gentle smile.

“No fun… I hear the Heavenly Path Sect and the Overlord’s Fortress are eyeing Hunan. The Martial Alliance might struggle to hold them off alone. What do you say, Alliance Leader? Would you accept a helping hand from the Black Night Palace, or will you stubbornly fight alone for the sake of righteousness? If the righteous and the demonic join hands, wouldn’t that be true harmony in the martial world?”

The Black Night Palace Lord lacked the imposing presence one might expect from a leader of the demonic path. Yet, he exuded a peculiar aura that made those facing him feel uneasy and foreboding.

His low laughter echoed through the valley, and the leaders of the three factions each wore different expressions as they looked at him.

The Overlord appeared irritated, the Heavenly Path Sect leader amused, and the Martial Alliance leader conflicted.

Seeing their reactions, the Black Night Palace Lord smiled broadly.

“Overlord, don’t glare so fiercely. Perhaps we could join forces with the Overlord’s Fortress instead of the Martial Alliance. Who knows, the Black Night Palace might aid in your grand ambitions.”

The Overlord raised an eyebrow, and the Heavenly Path Sect leader burst into laughter.

“Haha! The Palace Lord is quite the bat, isn’t he?”

Despite the valley being filled with demonic practitioners, the Heavenly Path Sect leader spoke his mind without hesitation. Yet, no one dared to challenge his words.

Clap!

The Black Night Palace Lord clapped his hands, the sound reverberating like a drumbeat through the valley. Though his demeanor was light, the power behind it was anything but.

Having shifted the atmosphere with his applause, the Black Night Palace Lord surveyed those gathered in the valley.

“Now that we’ve discussed enough about me, let’s foster some camaraderie.”

He looked over the younger generation present, finally resting his gaze on Mu-hwi.

“In gatherings like this, it’s best to praise the skills of the younger generation to lighten the mood, don’t you think?”

Meeting the Black Night Palace Lord’s gaze, Mu-hwi smirked.

“You want the younger generation to fix the mood you ruined? Truly a despicable demon.”

Mu-hwi’s voice, as powerful as any of the faction leaders, swept through the valley like a gale.

The Overlord and the Heavenly Path Sect leader watched Mu-hwi with interest, while the demonic practitioners glared at him, their killing intent barely concealed.

Rising from his seat, Mu-hwi gestured at the Black Night Palace Lord, beckoning with a finger.

“Isn’t it the host’s duty to liven up the party? Come down here.”