Creating martial arts was not as simple as it sounded.

This rule also applied to Kang Jin-Ho. As Wiggins had suspected, Kang Jin-Ho was facing a massive wall right now.

The name of this wall was ‘Satisfaction’.

Kang Jin-Ho didn't really want to admit to this since it was a bit anticlimactic, but the act of conceiving a new martial art was much easier than he thought. Which was unsurprising, considering his level of cultivation.

To survive his second life, Kang Jin-Ho had no choice but to master martial arts and become stronger. And he eventually reached that goal.

Even if one's strength mattered the most in the demon cult, an outsider joining in would always be treated differently than someone who started their life as a cult member. To overcome the disadvantage of being an outsider, Kang Jin-Ho tried to deepen his mastery and understanding of demonic cultivation. So he could become an expert that surpassed everyone else!

Whether it was the modern era or ancient Zhongyuan, no one boasted a deeper understanding of demonic cultivation methods than Kang Jin-Ho. This story should remain the same even if the experts of the eras before Kang Jin-Ho's time were included in the consideration.

So, creating a new demonic cultivation method should be a stroll in the park for Kang Jin-Ho. But one factor kept turning this stroll into a slog, and that was his own satisfaction.

Nothing under the sun was new. Everything was a continuation of the past. For instance, a never-seen-before revolutionary concept could only come about from the efforts to overturn the old concepts. Stunning innovation could only exist because people found the previous breakthroughs inadequate and lacking in some ways.

Everything was connected to the past. In that sense, Kang Jin-Ho had plenty of pointers to recall from his past. His brain was filled with the most important and invaluable demonic arts to ever exist in the history of mankind, after all!

But the act of taking one extra step from here proved incredibly difficult.

The question was, what could possibly satisfy him? That would be… 'progress'.

There was no point in keeping things the same as the past. A brand-new way to cultivate? That wouldn't mean anything if all he did was conceive a cultivation method that was largely on the same level as what had come before it.

The whole point of this brain-racking exercise was to create a more advanced demonic cultivation method.

Kang Jin-Ho had already decided on the foundation, which was Mara Blood Flame Qi. He initially planned to enhance the stability and safety of this cultivation method and call it a day. However, as things progressed, he kept sensing that something wasn't right.

So, Kang Jin-Ho dug a little deeper to see why. Little by little, he dug.

By the time he regained his senses, Kang Jin-Ho had completely disassembled Mara Blood Flame Qi. It was as if he had completely broken apart a high-precision instrument right down to its individual components.

As it turned out, merely updating Mara Blood Flame Qi a bit wouldn't be enough. No, he had to rebuild it from the ground up. After laying out countless components in his mind, Kang Jin-Ho quietly closed his eyes and sunk deeper into his subconsciousness.

Just like that, time ticked by. One day went by. Then, one day became two. Two became three.

The old Kang Jin-Ho wouldn’t have over-agonized himself to this extent. He’d have only pursued the ways to increase the destructive power and nothing else. That was how Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor operated, after all!

It was the case of High Risk, High Reward. The more risk he took on, the greater the destructive power would get. However, what about those who got left behind? Wasn't that obvious? It would be the end of the road for them.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor didn't bother to drag along those who couldn't keep up. After all, he believed that only those who passed his trials were qualified enough to stand behind him. Indeed, that was what Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor… No, Kang Jin-Ho used to think in the past.

However, what about now? In the end, the world was led by a select few people. Kang Jin-Ho’s thoughts on this matter hadn’t changed.

People capable of changing the world, people capable of leading everyone from the front… were too few in number, but that didn't mean they should be pitied or handled with kiddie gloves. To such people, incredibly risky martial arts with richer rewards could be a better choice.

However, not everyone was required to become the next leader.

Yes, leaders were destined to change everything. However, they wouldn't be able to do anything without the forward momentum created by the people they were in charge of.

People were supposed to walk together in life's journey, after all.

This was Kang Jin-Ho’s third try at life. And he must live as Kang Jin-Ho, not Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor. That was what he learned during this not-that-long life.

He shouldn't forget about the people who were there to gently push him from behind. He must remember how comforted he felt by being with them.

If he lived his third life like the second one, the current 'Kang Jin-Ho' would not have existed. Either he'd have reverted back to Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor who greedily tried to devour the entire world… Or live as a recluse with absolutely nobody around him.

Would that have been enough to satisfy Kang Jin-Ho? Definitely not.

Kang Jin-Ho's life didn't solely consist of him alone. And now, he couldn't even imagine a life without his family, friends, and comrades of the Martial Assembly.

Because they existed, Kang Jin-Ho finally became… complete. And they were not burdens at all.

Before Kang Jin-Ho could notice it, people he believed he must carry on his shoulders became dependable allies pushing him from behind. Even if he faltered, those people would be there to support him.

Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor said that Kang Jin-Ho had too many things to protect. That those things would drag him down.

‘But you’re wrong.’

Kang Jin-Ho could confidently say that now. Those were not people he must protect. No, they were companions who would walk alongside him on this journey. People who’d support him from behind.

Back when he was Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor, Kang Jin-Ho constantly walked on the lonely and unforgiving path where falling off would mean the end of his story. It was an extreme and dire struggle where one mistake could lead to his death. Once he reached the top, Kang Jin-Ho was able to look down on everyone. However, what did that get him?

‘Yes, I don’t regret that life, but…’

Even if Kang Jin-Ho didn't regret it, he still had nothing to show for his troubles. During the final moments of his second life… He realized he had acquired nothing from life. No one could even begin to imagine how that felt.

Maybe this choice would force Kang Jin-Ho to reach out to Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor of the past. However, he didn’t mind it. Even if he were to die today, he still had acquired far, far more than the entirety of his second life, after all!

That was why… There was no need to hesitate anymore!

Inside Kang Jin-Ho’s mental space, a massive pillar rapidly descended. This pillar was utterly devoid of any color.

Kang Jin-Ho silently stared at this pillar, and it soon began changing its colors. At first, it turned ashen-white. Then, it became pitch-black before turning bright red. Its colors kept shifting with every passing second.

Constructing this pillar signaled the start of, well, everything. In that case, what color should this pillar be?

‘There’s no need to choose.’

Why? Because all these things—these colors—represented Kang Jin-Ho.

Those colors represented the orthodox cultivation Kang Jin-Ho mastered first, then the demonic cultivation that shaped his life, and finally, the pulsating, burning passion deep inside him…

All these things formed the various parts making up Kang Jin-Ho.

He didn’t have to throw his past away to move forward. He should actually face up to his past and embrace it if he wanted to open the path to his future.

Three colors began enveloping the colorless pillar. As if they didn’t want to blend into one, the three bitterly fought and shoved each other back in a desperate struggle.

However, Kang Jin-Ho didn't try to restrict their vicious responses. He believed they would blend in eventually as he had already accepted them all as a part of him. That was why he had no doubt that the trio of colors would blend into one and create a form that had never been seen before.

As if to prove him right, the colors blended into one. The pillar shed its pillar-like appearance and began growing taller and taller.

Not everything unfolded as Kang Jin-Ho wanted it to. As if to say Kang Jin-Ho's real identity would always be a demonic cultivator, the blended colors rapidly became inky-black. However, it was still fine by him. Kang Jin-Ho wasn't going to reject the life he had lived until now.

Even if his inside was corrupted by demonic cultivation… Wasn’t that also who he was?

The pillar became a massive tree, then its branches began spreading in all directions. They spread at an alarming speed as if their role was to engulf everything in this imaginary world.

The tree that resembled everything Kang Jin-Ho knew and contained everything he possessed extended its branches to the rest of the world.

-Do you think this will change anything?

Kang Jin-Ho furrowed his brow.

‘What an unpleasant voice that is…’

That voice sounded like it was ridiculing Kang Jin-Ho. Maybe jeering him, too. However, he couldn't be sure. Didn't that voice belong to Heavenly Crimson Demon Emperor slumbering deep within his subconsciousness? Or was it the voice of all the doubt in his heart?

After all, he wasn’t sure if any of this was correct. Was he walking toward the right direction? Would he even reach his goal by staying on this path? Kang Jin-Ho… had no idea.

Although, he was still certain of one thing. He needed to at least give it a shot, otherwise nothing would change. Failure could only happen by attempting to do something. So, not even trying guaranteed that one would be spared from the pain of failure.

However, shying away from his challenges because he was afraid of failing? That was simply not how Kang Jin-Ho operated.

So, he took a step forward. Even if this step resulted in him falling to the lowest depth of the netherworld, Kang Jin-Ho still stepped forward without a moment’s hesitation.

He wasn't worried about falling anymore. After all, he now had people who'd grab his hand and help him back to his feet.

The tree stopped spreading its impressive array of branches and began sprouting leaves next. The foliage grew thick and dense. And then, these dark leaves enveloping the entirety of the imaginary world… began falling and dancing like the petals of the cherry blossom tree.

Black snow now fell. Kang Jin-Ho's imaginary mind's space became a world of fantasy in an instant.

Kang Jin-Ho slowly extended his hand within this space filled to the brim with bizarre phenomena that could never exist in the real world.

There was no one here to hold his hand, yet Kang Jin-Ho still reached out. He reached out before anyone else could…!

Even though all he did was reach out to the emptiness, the crucial thing here was that… He had reached out first.

Kang Jin-Ho quietly closed his eyes.

“Can you reach out to the others, Jin-Ho?”

That voice rang in his mind like an illusion. It wasn’t the same voice Kang Jin-Ho heard a few moments ago. Rather than mockery, this voice was warmer. Nostalgic. And…

Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly raised his head. And a splendid smile that would’ve moved anyone who saw it was gently spreading on his face.

***

“Maybe… he’s dead?”

Lee Hyeon-Su muttered to no one in particular while staring at the firmly-shut doorway.

Of course that couldn't be it. He could sense a person's presence inside the Assembly Master's office, after all. Even if Lee Hyeon-Su was only a pseudo-martial artist, his perception wasn't rubbish enough to miss the hints of a person's life emanating from behind a door.

However, he couldn’t help but think that way because his frustration was getting the better of him now.

‘Just how many days has it been?’

Today was the fifth day since Kang Jin-Ho locked himself in his office. Even Wiggins began making slightly worried expressions when he last dropped by the doorway to the Assembly Master's office.

“Hmm. It’s not good to take this long…”

Listening to Wiggins gave Lee Hyeon-Su the impression that creating new martial arts was like a sink-or-swim affair. It could be completed in the blink of an eye before anyone could notice it, or it might take the figurative forever if something went wrong somewhere.

Also, Kang Jin-Ho wouldn't be able to stop himself in the middle if he had entered a deep trance.

‘Dammit. Why does it have to be now…?’

Of course the current situation necessitated the birth of a new martial art. But Kang Jin-Ho needed to act as the core of the Martial Assembly. With him secluded in his office for an extended period, who would control the unruly demonic cultivators now?

What if those people decided enough was enough and started rampaging? Just imagining it alone was making Lee Hyeon-Su shudder in dread.

“That’s why… Please hurry up, Assembly Master.”

That was when…!

Clack!

Lee Hyeon-Su's head snapped back toward the doorway. He could clearly hear the sound of the doorknob turning. His wide-open eyes zeroed in on the metal doorknob.

Claaack…

The doorknob… was slowly turning! And then, slowly, oh-so-agonizingly slowly, the door opened.

“Ah…!” Lee Hyeon-Su stared at this scene in stupefaction. After the door slowly creaked open, Kang Jin-Ho revealed his slightly haggard face.

For some reason, Lee Hyeon-Su felt his emotions swell up. He had never seen Kang Jin-Ho make that expression before. That expression was… genuinely relaxed. As if he was at peace with himself.

That expression alone was enough to tell Lee Hyeon-Su what he wanted to know. Kang Jin-Ho had achieved something incredible. Something that the likes of Lee Hyeon-Su wouldn't even begin to fathom!

A gentle smile spread on Kang Jin-Ho’s face after he discovered Lee Hyeon-Su in the corridor. That smile was so gentle that it didn’t really suit Kang Jin-Ho. And then, he leisurely raised his voice.

Lee Hyeon-Su waited in great anticipation. He had a feeling that Kang Jin-Ho wanted to make an epoch-changing declaration. Like… Like Buddha declaring to the world that only 'I' existed in the whole universe!

Since Kang Jin-Ho had emerged from his lengthy seclusion after opening a new martial path… He might say something deeply moving and…

Kang Jin-Ho gently asked Lee Hyeon-Su. “Is the cafeteria still open?”

“…”

“Is it open or not?”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s expression crumpled indescribably.