With the match ended, the final round resumed and the winner of the tournament was none other than Yang Kyung-min, who graciously accepted the win.
He was given the choice between three awards: the Azure Pearl—A rare sea pearl said to enhance mental clarity and increase spiritual energy flow, the Moonshadow Kelp—this kelp can refine one's qi, making it smoother and more adaptable and perfect for defensive cultivation techniques, and finally, the Crimson Lotus Incense; A treasured incense, rumored to make the mind more persuasive and resistant to deception.
Although Kyung-min was the winner in the tournament, all everyone could talk about was the amazing fight between Heo Eun-woo and Song Baerin, where he was able to advance. He was officially the youngest person to reach grandmaster level as a righteous martial cultivator. The other person who earned that title was the male lead of My Charming Demon Lord—Baek Junghwa. Speaking of demon lords, Wooyun couldn't help but wonder where he might be.
This was around the time where he would make his entrance and where Seo-yoon would meet the demon lord for the first time. His eyes scanned the arena, but he couldn't see anyone who could fit his description. Perhaps this was another change in the book due to his influence. Maybe he wouldn't show up here. So many things had changed since his arrival that he wouldn't be surprised if the demon lord suddenly became a woman.
That thought made Wooyun frown. "I was really looking forward to seeing what he looked like."
"Seeing what who looks like?" A voice called beside him. Startled, Wooyun snapped his head around and was met with a pair of light brown eyes.
He brought his hand to his chest, glaring daggers at the man that made him almost get a heart attack. "You, I told you to say something when you show up. Seriously, what's with you people and your inability to make a sound?"
Eun-woo furrowed his brows, but there was a glint of mirth in his eyes. "You people?" He echoed.
"Yeah, you people. Anyway, congratulations on advancing. That was a great fight. I didn't know you were able to use fire like that." He said, changing the subject.
Eun-woo gave him a knowing look, and although his face remained impassive, there was a ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips—barely perceptible. "cultivators master all five elements when they start their training." Eun-woo explained.
"The elements? As in fire, water, earth, wind…" Wooyun started.
"…and lightning. The one people often start with is wind qi said to be the easier and end with lightning since it's the trickiest. Once you've mastered all five elements, the heavens will choose the one that most suits you. I use fire when I fight and as you saw with young master Song, he specializes in wind since he has an affinity with wind-qi."
"I see." This world really is amazing.
Just as Wooyun was about to voice his agreement, a commotion erupted below the stands. The two men glanced in the direction of the commotion but were unable to see anything. That's when Eun-woo stilled and his face became pale. Wooyun looked at him and was about to ask him what was wrong when he felt it, too.
A strong, imposing and menacing energy surrounded the coliseum, making all the cultivators present pale just from the faint feeling. Their hairs on the back of their necks stood on end, and their bodies became tense. The sect leaders who were spectating from the VIP area immediately stood at attention, their eyes moving in the direction the energy had come from.
"No way," one of them said, their eyes widened in disbelief.
"It can't be," another said. "This energy…it's without a doubt the Demon Lord."
A hush fell over the coliseum. Even those who had never encountered the Demon Lord before instinctively knew—they were in the presence of something far beyond mortal comprehension. The oppressive energy slithered through the air like an unseen beast, coiling around their throats and pressing against their chests.
Wooyun's breath hitched. His hands clenched at his sides as his body instinctively reacted to the sheer weight of the presence. His mind raced. Just when I was thinking about him, he appears.
Beside him, Eun-woo exhaled sharply, his usual confidence visibly shaken. He turned to Wooyun, voice tight. "Stay close to me."
Before Wooyun could reply, a slow, deliberate sound echoed through the coliseum—the unmistakable click of boots against stone. Each step reverberated in the unnatural silence, a cruel reminder that the Demon Lord had arrived on his own terms.
The crowd parted instinctively like the red sea, creating a path whether out of fear or some primal sense of self-preservation. Then, through the dispersing figures, he came into view.
Baek Junghwa.
Draped in flowing black robes, his presence was like a tear in reality itself. His hair, black as the void, cascaded down his back, framing a face that was both ethereal and terrifying in its perfection. His pale, almost deathly skin stood in stark contrast to the deep crimson tint that glowed within his cold, unreadable eyes.
He did not speak. He did not need to. The surrounding air crackled with power, and the coliseum itself seemed to bow beneath the weight of his presence.
Then, as if the moment demanded it, he lifted his gaze—straight towards Wooyun.
Wooyun's heart stopped. He wasn't sure if he was imagining it or not, but it felt like he had purposefully singled him out, as if he was the one he was looking for.
Wooyun quickly shook his head, finding the idea absurd. Why would the Demon Lord be looking for him? They hadn't met before, and he was no longer the female protagonist. This love at first sight nonsense wouldn't work here. Not now, not when he was no longer the beautiful Han Seo-yoon.
"I see all the fun has started without me," he spoke. Though his eyes were unreadable, there was a ghost of a smile hanging on his ashen lips. The man standing next to him—who wore black and red robes, his dark hair cut bluntly above his shoulders gave him a side glance. His expression seemed to say—"you've been here all this time, what did you miss exactly?"
His statement was correct. Baek Junghwa and Lee Jaha had arrived at the coliseum when the tournament began. They were still in disguise and could mask their energy throughout the entire match. No one could sense their presence and could detect anything wrong with him. In fact, he was seated right next to the leader of the righteous sect, and the old man didn't notice a single thing was amiss.
His gaze moved to the old man, whose mouth was still hanging in shock. The first guardian had to resist the urge to laugh in his face.
The righteous sect leader, finally recovering from his initial shock, cleared his throat and straightened himself as he faced the demon lord. "Lord Baek, what a surprise. I didn't expect someone like you to be interested in the dealings of the righteous and neutral sects." He said. Though his tone was polite, it carried a hint of degradation, as if insinuating he had the right to be here since they're supposed "evil" sects didn't participate in these kinds of events.
Jaha's jaw tightened, and he had half a mind to blast the man right then and there, but he knew things wouldn't look good for his lord if he were to do that. Although Baek Junghwa was the strongest man here, he was still just a man. He couldn't face off against so many powerful powerhouses all on his own. So he bit his tongue, but silently cursed the old man in his thoughts.
A light smile appeared on Junghwa's face as he faced the sect leader. "How could I not attend such a tournament during my visit to the eastern region?" He said casually, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness which the sect leader disliked. "It would've been a shame to miss it."
A tight smile appeared on the sect leader's face. "I see. I was not aware that the esteemed demon lord was currently in the city. Had I known, I would've invited you out for some tea."
Everyone went still as the two men stared at each other without saying anything. It was only after a minute had passed that the sect leader spoke up. "Well, I hope you enjoyed the tournament. I'm sure many of us are happy to know you were in attendance ."
The smile on Junghwa's face stretched; a glint of amusement danced in his eyes as he looked at the sect leader nonchalantly. "I enjoyed it. In fact, I was surprised to see there were so many rare talents amongst the neutral, rogue, and," he paused. "Righteous sects."
The sect leader's eye twitched. He didn't miss the purposeful pause Junghwa made when he mentioned the righteous sect. He wanted nothing more than to tell him off for daring to look done on them, but he composed himself as there were many eyes on them. Though the two sects didn't get along behind closed doors, they thrived to maintain a cordial relationship in front of the public, as that was what any righteous sect should do. Strive to be kind and welcoming, even to those they didn't agree with.
"I thank you for the praise, Lord Baek. I hope there were a few people who were able to catch your eye."
Junghwa's gaze scanned the participants in the crowd, his eyes shining with mild interest, though none of them really seemed to catch his attention. The participants flinched under his gaze, and Kyung-min felt his body tense as he looked at the demon lord. It was his first time seeing him in the flesh, and words couldn't even begin to describe how fearful and captivated he was to be in his presence.
A powerful man who could reach the divine emperor stage at such a young age. Not even his master could reach such a high level, and he was three times his age. The greedy and ambitious young man couldn't help gazing at him with envy. It was a level of mastery he wished to attain while he was still young. It was every aspiring cultivator's dream to be recognized by someone powerful—even if that someone was the Demon Lord.
Kyung-min secretly hoped he was one of the few who had caught his eye, but Junghwa barely lingered on the gathered participants. His interest was fleeting. That was until his gaze moved up towards the almost emptied stands. He settled on one figure—one that seemed out of place among the warriors and ambitious sect heirs. It was the same young man he had met at the market. The same lad who had the nerve to stand up to him and speak to him as if he were just another person.
Even if he didn't know his true identity, he didn't cower when faced with his overwhelming energy. A small smile appeared on his lips, but this one was genuine.
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Junghwa's inky eyes, so quick that only those truly watching him would have noticed. He tilted his head ever so slightly, as if assessing a curiosity rather than a person. To anyone else, his gaze seemed casual, but Wooyun felt the weight of it settle on his skin like an invisible chain.
Eun-woo's reaction was immediate. He placed himself in front of Wooyun the moment he felt the demon lord's gaze. Some of the more observant elders in the crowd followed Junghwa's gaze, their expressions shifting from confusion to quiet scrutiny.
Why, of all people, was the Demon Lord sparing a second glance at this unknown young man?