Fortress of the Red Mountain
Foothills of Blood Flame Mountain, 2 PM
Jin-ho looked up at the massive red mountain. Blood Flame Mountain, as it was called, was completely shrouded in crimson energy. It was a bizarre sight, as if the entire mountain had been stained with blood.
'So this really is the Blood Flame Sect's headquarters.'
Jin-ho recalled the information he had shared with the Blood Heaven Great Emperor. For 3,000 years, this place had been a sacred site where followers of the Blood Heaven Great Emperor gathered.
'Are you nervous?'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor's voice echoed in his mind.
'A little... what if I get caught?'
'Don't worry. I'll help you. But you'll have to handle the basic acting yourself.'
Jin-ho took a deep breath and steadied his mind. From now on, he had to play the role of the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's successor.
『Disguise Mode Activated』『Blood Energy Control: Enhanced』『Eye Expression Change: Coldness Added』『Speech Adjustment: Arrogance Increased by 20%』
Jin-ho's overall atmosphere subtly changed. He was still himself, but somewhere a cold and dangerous aura had been added.
'Good. Now let's go up.'
Blood Flame Mountain Mid-slope, 1st Checkpoint
"Who goes there!"
Two warriors in red robes blocked Jin-ho's path on the mountain trail. They were outer guards of the Blood Flame Sect.
"How dare you trespass on Blood Flame Mountain!"
Crimson energy emanated from their hands. They regarded Jin-ho as an enemy and were preparing to attack.
Jin-ho calmly replied.
"I am Kang Jin-ho. Successor of the Blood Heaven Great Emperor."
"What?"
The two guards were flustered. A successor of the Blood Heaven Great Emperor—this was the first time anyone had said such a thing.
"Don't lie! There was never any news that the Blood Heaven Great Emperor had a successor!"
"Then can you still say that after seeing this?"
Jin-ho raised his hand. Pure blood energy emanated from his palm. But this was not ordinary blood energy.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle...
Crimson patterns began to form in the air. It was the unique emblem of the Blood Heaven Great Emperor.
"Th... this is!"
The guards fell to their knees. This pattern could only be created by the Blood Heaven Great Emperor himself.
"Forgive us! We failed to recognize you!"
"Rise. Lead me to your superior."
Natural authority was contained in Jin-ho's voice. It was thanks to the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's assistance.
'You're doing well. This should be more than enough to get through.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor encouraged Jin-ho.
Blood Flame Sect Main Hall, 1 Hour Later
"Successor of the Blood Heaven Great Emperor?"
Blood Poison (血毒), one of the Blood Flame Sect's three great elders, looked at Jin-ho suspiciously. He was a man in his mid-fifties with toxic energy swirling around his entire body.
"Suddenly appearing and saying such things. Do you have proof?"
Jin-ho replied coldly.
"Is the Blood Heaven Emblem I showed at the entrance not sufficient?"
"That much... there are those who could imitate it."
Blood Poison was still suspicious.
Then another elder intervened.
"Blood Poison, enough. There are few in this world who can perfectly recreate the Blood Heaven Emblem."
It was Blood Dragon (血龍), the Blood Flame Sect's first great elder. He was an old man in his sixties, but his eyes were sharper than those of a young man.
"But it is concerning. The Blood Heaven Great Emperor never mentioned having a successor."
'Now's the time.'
It was time for Jin-ho to use the information he had heard from the Blood Heaven Great Emperor.
"The Blood Heaven Great Emperor left a prophecy about his successor through Kang Cheon-hyeol 113 years ago."
"A prophecy?"
Blood Dragon's eyes flashed.
"'When the descendant of Blood Heaven awakens at the end of despair, true succession shall begin.'"
This was a fake prophecy that the Blood Heaven Great Emperor had just made up. But because of Jin-ho's serious expression and accurate blood energy manipulation, it sounded plausible.
"Awakening at the end of despair..."
Blood Dragon muttered.
"Then what was the despair you experienced?"
Jin-ho was silent for a moment. Then he showed a truly pained expression. It wasn't acting—it was a genuinely painful memory.
"I was... betrayed by my companions."
"Companions?"
"The senior brothers I trained with at Heavenly Sword Sect, and the special constitution inheritors I met recently."
Jin-ho unfolded his story based on actual experiences.
"At first, I truly believed. I thought they were companions I could risk my life for."
Real betrayal was evident in his voice.
"But when crisis came, they all abandoned me. One of them even sold us out to the enemy."
Blood Poison and Blood Dragon exchanged glances. Jin-ho's emotions were too genuine to doubt.
"That's when I heard the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's voice. 'Humans ultimately live only for themselves. True power comes from standing alone'..."
'Perfect. Now they'll be convinced.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor said with satisfaction.
"And I realized. The only thing I can truly trust is the Blood Heaven Great Emperor and the Blood Flame Sect."
Jin-ho declared confidently.
"I want to join the Blood Flame Sect. I want to help fulfill the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's will."
Blood Dragon stood up.
"Good. There's a way to verify if your words are true."
"I'll do anything."
"If you're the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's successor, you should be able to perform the basics of Blood Flame Divine Art."
Blood Dragon extended his hand.
"Demonstrate Blood Flame Divine Art 1st Form, Blood Fire."
This was a test Jin-ho hadn't expected. Blood Flame Divine Art was the Blood Flame Sect's secret martial art, which he had never learned.
'What do I do?'
Jin-ho panicked.
'Don't worry. I'll help you. Lend me your body for a moment.'
『Blood Heaven Great Emperor Temporary Control Mode』『Jin-ho Consciousness: Observer Mode』『Blood Flame Divine Art Data Loading...』
Instantly, Jin-ho's body began to move under the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's control. However, his consciousness remained intact, allowing him to observe everything.
"Blood Flame Divine Art 1st Form, Blood Fire!"
Perfect blood flames bloomed from Jin-ho's hands. They were purer and more powerful than what Blood Dragon could produce.
"Th... this is!"
Blood Poison was shocked.
"Perfect Blood Fire! And this purity is..."
Blood Dragon couldn't hide his amazement either.
"It's the same level as the Blood Heaven Great Emperor!"
『Demonstration Complete』『Jin-ho Consciousness Restored』
Jin-ho regained control of his body.
'Now they'll believe.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor said with satisfaction.
"I'm sorry for doubting you!"
Blood Poison knelt down.
"You truly are the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's successor!"
Blood Dragon also bowed his head.
"Welcome to the Blood Flame Sect, successor of the Blood Heaven Great Emperor!"
All the Blood Flame Sect members in the main hall knelt in unison. Jin-ho had instantly become one of the highest beings in the Blood Flame Sect.
"What can we help you with from now on?"
Blood Dragon asked respectfully.
Jin-ho thought for a moment and then answered.
"First, I'd like to know about the Blood Flame Sect's current situation. And..."
He hesitated for a moment and then continued.
"I'm also curious about news of other special constitution inheritors. Especially the Ice Soul, Thunder Lightning, and Shadow constitution inheritors."
"Ah, you mean them?"
Blood Dragon nodded.
"I heard there was a big commotion at Heavenly Sword Mountain a few days ago. Four constitution inheritors gathered but experienced betrayal and division..."
Jin-ho's heart sank. The rumors had already spread.
"Do you know their current locations?"
"We know some of them. According to our intelligence network..."
Blood Dragon began explaining.
"The Ice Soul constitution inheritor fled north, and there was news that the Thunder Lightning constitution inheritor is engaged in battle with Thunder Lightning Gate in the south."
'Seol Hwa-rin and Noe Jin-woon...'
Jin-ho's heart became complicated.
"The Shadow constitution inheritor has gone silent."
'Where did Eum Mu-geuk go?'
"Do you... have plans to seek them out personally?"
Blood Dragon asked cautiously.
Jin-ho pondered. Honestly, he wanted to see how those who had betrayed him were doing, whether they really all had their own reasons. Especially whether Eum Mu-geuk's story about his 12-year-old sister was true... And whether Seol Hwa-rin and Noe Jin-woon were truly trustworthy.
"Not right now. I'll first understand the Blood Flame Sect's situation."
"A wise decision."
"But there's one more thing I'd like to ask."
Jin-ho brought up the core question he had heard from the Blood Heaven Great Emperor.
"I'm curious about the Blood Flame Sect's relationship with other sects. Especially regarding the revival of the Ultimate Great Demon God..."
Blood Dragon and Blood Poison showed surprised expressions.
"How do you know that...?"
"The Blood Heaven Great Emperor shared some memories with me."
Jin-ho answered calmly.
"He also told me that the Four Great Sects are actually allied."
"Indeed... you knew everything."
Blood Dragon was impressed.
"That's right. We pretend to be enemies with Ice Soul Palace, Thunder Lightning Gate, and Shadow Society on the surface, but we're actually cooperating toward a common goal."
"The revival of the Ultimate Great Demon God?"
"Correct. When all four constitution inheritors awaken to their highest level, we can completely revive the Ultimate Great Demon God through the Four Elements Unity Art."
Jin-ho's prediction was right. Eum Mu-geuk's words were true.
"But the incident a few days ago has disrupted our plans."
Blood Poison added.
"The four suddenly split apart."
"How do you plan to handle this?"
"Each sect has agreed to recapture their respective constitution inheritors. After that, we plan to individually induce awakenings."
Jin-ho was internally shocked. This meant all his companions were in danger. No matter how much they had betrayed him, in the end, weren't they children in the same situation as him? They were all being used by the Four Great Sects... He felt a strange sympathy.
'How should I use this information?'
"Then is there anything I can help with?"
Jin-ho proactively stepped forward.
"As the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's successor, I'd like to participate in this plan."
"Oh, thank you for saying that!"
Blood Dragon was delighted.
"Actually, the most urgent thing right now was securing the Death Blood constitution inheritor... ah, forgive me. It was securing you as the successor, but since you came directly, it's perfect!"
"What about the other constitution inheritors?"
"Ice Soul Palace will handle the Ice Soul constitution inheritor, and Thunder Lightning Gate will handle the Thunder Lightning constitution inheritor respectively."
"What about the Shadow constitution inheritor?"
"Shadow Society is searching. But that child's stealth techniques are so exceptional..."
Jin-ho felt relieved internally. At least Eum Mu-geuk seemed to still be safe.
"I have a proposal."
Jin-ho said carefully.
"How about I directly verify the other inheritors? Since we were in the same situation, I might better understand what they're thinking."
Blood Dragon's eyes lit up.
"An excellent proposal! But won't it be dangerous?"
"It's fine. I have the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's power."
'Perfect. Now I can legitimately go find them.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor said with satisfaction.
『Double Agent Operation Initiated』『Surface Purpose: Securing Constitution Inheritors for Blood Flame Sect』『Real Purpose: Confirming Truth of Betrayal and Personal Revenge』
"Then I'll start tomorrow."
Jin-ho said with determination.
"Where will you start looking?"
"Starting from the closest... I'll look for Noe Jin-woon first."
Complex emotions crossed Jin-ho's mind. What should he say when he meets Noe Jin-woon? Was there really an unavoidable reason, or did he simply abandon him...
'I need to verify it myself. Whether Eum Mu-geuk's sister story was real, what kind of people you all really are...'
Next Preview: Jin-ho sets out to find Noe Jin-woon while posing as the Blood Flame Sect's successor. But Noe Jin-woon is already engaged in fierce battle with Thunder Lightning Gate... Can Jin-ho save Noe Jin-woon? And how will Noe Jin-woon receive Jin-ho?