The Martial God with Psychic Powers

Would they still strut around so arrogantly… if they knew about Yeon Woo Jin, their new lord?

The thought of Yeon Woo Jin brought Ma Ryong unexpected peace of mind.
They’ll never conquer the Central Plains—not as long as Yeon Woo Jin exists.
Ma Ryong’s faith in Yeon Woo Jin bordered on the divine.

He was, in truth, a devout believer in the cult of Yeon Woo Jin.
The old man who had brought the vagabonds to the training ground nodded, and the martial artists beside him began distributing something.
“These are Mahoendan. They’ll convert the internal energy you have into demonic energy. Now that you’re members of the Heavenly Demon Cult, your bodies should reflect that as well, no?”

Another crisis.
What do I do now?
Should he try to extract himself right here?

But escaping openly might cause them to relocate.
He decided: I’ll pretend to take it, then quietly sneak away tonight.
“Once you receive it, take it immediately and begin circulating your energy. Heh heh heh. Consider yourselves lucky—you’re gaining a power most can’t obtain in a lifetime.”
Ma Ryong looked at the crimson pill for a moment, then tossed it into his mouth.

Or pretended to.
The pill slipped into his sleeve.
And like the others, he began to circulate his internal energy.

Or pretended to.
He focused on sensing the others around him.
Fortunately, once they saw everyone ingesting the pill and beginning their cultivation, they seemed to lose interest.

They believed their job was done.
“Once they wake up, let them rest fully today. Training begins in earnest tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir!”

“With this, my quota is complete. Hah hah…”
“Congratulations.”
“Heh heh heh. Once the world is under the Heavenly Demon’s heel, it’ll be ours. Be glad.”

“Of course, sir.”
The warriors standing beside the old man were clearly cult members from the start.
“All the humiliation we’ve endured over the years… we’ll repay it twofold, threefold.”

“Indeed! We absolutely will.”
Hearing their conversation, Ma Ryong made up his mind.
I need to escape tonight—no matter what.
He wanted to gather more intel, but just discovering that the Demonic Cult was regrowing, and locating their stronghold, was already a massive success.

He had to get this information to Yeon Woo Jin—immediately.
That was the most important thing now.
 

****
That evening.
While the others slept soundly, Ma Ryong slipped out.

Maybe because it was such a remote area, but there didn’t seem to be much of a guard presence.
Still, he moved cautiously to make his escape.
As he moved, he took mental note of the layout.

That must be the main hall. The number of pavilions looks to be… around eighty? No, wait—those are just the ones under construction. Judging by the cleared land in the back, they plan to build more.
Judging by the scale alone, the place was even grander than Mushincheon.
The materials likely came through Tianzhu—he’d seen merchants from there earlier.

And the architecture resembled not Central Plains structures, but temples from Tianzhu.
They probably claimed to be building a temple in order to purchase materials.
It was just speculation—but it made sense.

Making his way out under the cover of night, Ma Ryong finally slipped free of the compound.
After confirming the area was clear of people, he prepared to take to the skies with his lightness skill.
“Where do you think you’re going?”

A chilling voice rang out.
Ma Ryong whipped his head in the direction of the voice—and there stood a strikingly handsome man, flashing a white-toothed smile.
“Bit far for a bathroom break, isn’t it?”

Ma Ryong tensed.
He hadn’t sensed him approach from behind at all.
Someone this strong was here?

“Are you… the Heavenly Demon?”
“What? Pwahahahaha!”
The man burst into laughter.

“You’re hilarious. Calling me the Heavenly Demon?”
Still chuckling, the man curled up one corner of his lip.
“The Heavenly Demon is someone so far above me I don’t even dare look upon his face. And you compare me to him? Hah… I’m flattered, but that’s blasphemy.”

A being so powerful even someone of this man’s caliber couldn’t bear to meet his eyes?
Ma Ryong swallowed hard.
“Don’t worry—I don’t plan to kill you. Right now, every single person is valuable.”

“You think I’ll just let myself be captured?”
“Heh. You really aren’t ordinary, are you?”
Whoooom—

Demonic energy surged from the man’s body.
Ma Ryong felt it sting like electricity and quickly raised his own internal energy in defense.
He’s strong—but not completely overwhelming. Is he using a special technique to conceal his presence?

Only one way to know.
Strike first. Victory comes to the one who moves first.
Ma Ryong drew his sword and launched the attack.

Tukakaka—!
A fierce sword energy carved across the ground, racing toward the man.
Chaejang—!

The man slapped the ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) flying blade aura aside with his bare hand and then lunged forward.
“Heh heh. This is fun. Really fun.”
Darkness welled up in the man’s hand, swallowing all surrounding light.

Ma Ryong knew immediately—
If that hits, I’m done for.
His body moved on instinct.

Whoosh—
The man’s dark hand brushed past Ma Ryong’s side.
If he’d been a moment slower, it would’ve hit.

Throb—!
Even a mere graze sent a wave of pain surging through his arm—as though his muscles were being twisted and crushed.
The man admired him.

“Wow. You actually dodged that?”
It was clear now—he hadn’t used his full strength earlier when releasing his demonic energy.
Ma Ryong had hoped, but…

“This is great. You’re fun to play with. Let’s go another round.”
Instead of replying, Ma Ryong gripped his sword tighter.
I should’ve brought my saber…

His main discipline wasn’t sword arts, but saber arts.
His epithet was Hellfire Severing Saber.
He’d opted for a sword to avoid drawing attention, never expecting things would turn out like this.

“What’s wrong? You not fighting?”
The man looked like he was genuinely enjoying the fight.
Maybe… maybe he’d agree if he asked to switch weapons?

Ma Ryong tried.
“You enjoying this fight?”
“Yeah. A lot. I was bored to death out here.”

So you really are from the Demonic Realm…
No wonder the Demonic Cult was feared.
It was full of things like this.

Ma Ryong swallowed and asked, “Then wouldn’t it be more fun to fight me at full strength?”
“Huh? You’re not going all out?”
“I don’t usually use a sword.”

“Oh?”
“Do you know the saber?”
“Of course. Ah—so your main art uses a saber.”

“It does.”
“Why didn’t you say so sooner?”
The man reached into empty air.

A massive saber emerged from nowhere.
Ma Ryong’s eyes widened.
The man grinned at the look on his face.

“Amazed? This isn’t something just anyone can do. Take it. Even in the Demonic Realm, this saber is well known.”
So he really is from the Demonic Realm.
Ma Ryong took the saber—and was stunned.

“This is…”
A terrifying power lay dormant within it.
“That’s the Hellfire Demonflame Saber.”

Ma Ryong’s breath caught.
The blood-red blade looked like it might unleash hellfire at any moment, and the aura emanating from it was anything but ordinary.
A divine weapon—no, a demonic relic.

And he was just handing it over?
The man gave him plenty of time to examine it.
“That saber once belonged to the Hell King. He vanished after challenging the Heavenly Demon, leaving only that behind. It hasn’t awakened once since—until now.”

“…It’s magnificent.”
“Heh. Now entertain me. If you do, I’ll let you keep it.”
“One more question.”

“Ask away.”
“Who are you?”
“Heh. Curious, huh?”

“I want to know—who could be this strong?”
“Heh heh. Alright, I’ll tell you. Listen well. I am Balho, Third Corps Commander of the Heavenly Demon’s personal guard.”

“You’ll see soon just how great a being you’re about to serve. The Heavenly Demon commands four corps. Each corps has several battalions, and every battalion commander is terrifying. And beside him, stronger than even me—are the Three Demons. So? What do you think of this overwhelming power? The human world will fall in the blink of an eye.”
Balho spoke excitedly.
“You’ve appeared in the world before, haven’t you?”

At Ma Ryong’s question, Balho’s expression twisted.
“Don’t remind me. That was a disgrace. If the fissure had been just a little wider, we would’ve emerged in our true strength.”
“So… this time is different?”

“Heh. It is. Though it’s still not full power. Compared to the Demonic Realm, we’re weaker here.”
Insane.
How strong are they, really?

These monsters were spilling into the world?
Even someone like Ma Ryong felt fear.
His thoughts turned to Yeon Woo Jin.

Could he… stop them?
He knew Woo Jin was powerful—but against this many monsters? Could he last?
Would he burn out?

“I’ve answered all your questions. Now come—entertain me.”
Ma Ryong looked down at the Hellfire Demonflame Saber.
...Yeah. I won’t give up.

With this blade, maybe he could defeat the thing before him.
Grrrrk—
Ma Ryong gripped the saber tightly and took his stance.

Balho clapped his hands with a grin.
Clap clap clap—
“Come at me!”

Fwoooosh—
Hellfire burst from the saber.
“Oho!”

Balho let out a sound of wonder.
“That’s it! That’s more like it!”
Ma Ryong thought of Yeon Woo Jin.

I will return to you, young master.
With blazing eyes, Ma Ryong drove the saber toward Balho with all his strength.
 

****
Thud—
Ma Ryong’s knees hit the ground.

His clothes were in tatters. There wasn’t a single uninjured part of his body.
Crimson blood trailed from the corner of his mouth.
He was barely holding himself up by leaning on the Hellfire Demonflame Saber.

He should’ve collapsed by now—but he held on.
And held on again.
Balho found himself even more impressed.

“My eyes didn’t lie. You really are incredible.”
Ma Ryong saved even the strength it took to speak, preparing his final strike.
The enemy was truly strong.

He’d grown up hearing legends about the Demonic Cult—but to think they were this strong.
He had to get the word out.
He had to reach the young master.

But his strength was draining rapidly.
“Don’t push yourself. You’ll die if you keep this up. I told you—I’ll take you in.”
“I… serve only one lord.”

“Heh. Serving a mere human? If you followed me, I’d make you vice-commander. What do you say?”
“You think I’d ever follow you?”
Ma Ryong stood, using the saber for support.

“That will never happen.”
Gritting his teeth, Ma Ryong forced out the words.
Balho clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk. So stubborn… though I like that. If you’d submitted so easily, I’d have been disappointed.”
Balho slowly walked toward him.
Ma Ryong gathered his strength again.

He was waiting for the perfect moment to strike—when the bastard got close enough.
Just a bit more… ten more steps…
Balho walked with his hands behind his back, either unaware or unconcerned with Ma Ryong’s intent.

Now!
Ma Ryong summoned all the strength he had left and swung upward from below.
Whooom—

The saber drew a half-moon through the air, aiming to cleave Balho in two.
Tap—
With a casual flick, Balho caught the Hellfire Demonflame Saber mid-swing.

It was over in an instant.
He smiled, pleased.
“I gave it to you so you’d use it well—and you really did. I’m proud.”

Then, grabbing Ma Ryong by the head, he muttered:
“Heh heh. It’s been a long time since a human pleased me this much. I will make you mine.”