Redemption of a Born Demon

Chapter 243 - 208: Danger Looms: The World Unites to Expose Him (Part 1)

Tanaka Shoukichi stated calmly.

On the other end of the line, Beichuan Tian’s expression faltered.

"Yes, I understand. I will cooperate with your every move."

Hearing that Tanaka Shoukichi intended to act personally, Beichuan Tian’s attitude shifted dramatically.

Even though the man was stooped with age, as long as he was willing to act, there was no problem that couldn’t be solved.

Tsuchimikado Kazai had forged a "Deity," but it was merely an illusion. In the eyes of those connected to the Japan Martial Arts Realm, this man was the true, physical embodiment of a god.

"His presence can no longer be sensed."

A white-haired old man said softly.

"According to the Military Department, they dispatched a large number of reconnaissance drones but found no suspicious individuals on Celestial Imperial Mountain. We still can’t confirm if he’s even there anymore."

The middle-aged man in the black suit said.

"This man has exceptional concealment abilities. If he’s hiding intentionally, conventional methods will never find him."

Another elder of the Saint Realm said.

"His style is incredibly brazen. He publicly posted a video to provoke us and declare war, appeared on a Shinkansen train, and didn’t even try to hide his tracks after defeating Guan Shanjun."

"But now, he’s suddenly gone into hiding. This means the Secret Technique he used during the battle at the Heaven-Reaching Lodge must have caused him considerable harm. He probably won’t show his face again until he has recovered."

The white-haired elder said.

"Contact Mr. Ju of the Nine Chrysanthemums Sect. We’ll proceed as planned."

"I have lived a long life, and I am quite interested in purging this young man’s ’Celestial Demon Soul’."

"However, when the time comes, I may need a bit of your assistance. You won’t hold it against this old man for seizing the spoils of the Great Trend, I hope?"

Tanaka Shoukichi said calmly.

The other senior Saint Realm experts fell silent for a moment.

Before the battle at the Heaven-Reaching Lodge, they had been quite interested in Yi Beidou. After all, defeating him would have granted them an immense blessing from the Great Trend.

But after that battle, they had all abandoned the thought.

Even if they still projected an air of confidence, a deep-seated fear had taken root in their hearts.

The terrifying power Yi Beidou had displayed with the Sixth Layer of Reverse Chaos had left them profoundly shaken.

He had even swallowed the Tsuchimikado Clan’s Ultimate Shikigami whole—a creation a thousand years in the making.

They had initially reasoned that with only a few years left to live, they could risk it all in a desperate struggle using a Forbidden Secret Technique. But now, it seemed that even if they fought to the death, they would be no match for that young man.

Besides, none of them wanted to die such a pointless, humiliating death.

This wasn’t Tanaka Shoukichi "stealing the kill," but rather risking his own life in a desperate gamble. Of course, no one would object.

After all, none of them wanted to watch that young man tear through the entire Japan Martial Arts Realm. What would become of their schools’ honor?

"Since no one objects, it is settled. Lord Da Pu, I’ll trouble you to film a short video for me and post it online."

Tanaka Shoukichi looked calmly at the tall, middle-aged man in a black suit beside him.

"Yes, sir!"

The middle-aged man’s expression faltered for a moment upon hearing the command.

「Meanwhile.」

Half an hour had passed since the livestream went dark, and a chorus of lamentation swept across Japan’s internet.

"He swallowed the Deity whole! He’s a real Great Demon King! The Japan Martial Arts Realm can’t possibly defeat a monster like that on its own."

"Yi Beidou, from Donghua, reached the Saint Realm at twenty-seven. He recently defeated Saint Realm masters from several nations who had entered Donghua. Even the powerful experts from the Starry Sky Country fell before him. He’s the strongest human in the world!"

"Confirmed! The Heaven-Reaching Daoist Lord, Tsuchimikado Kazai, is dead! The greatest Yin Yang Master lineage is finished!"

"We of the Yamato Race should respect such a powerful figure. We should emulate him, learn from him, and in doing so, strengthen ourselves. I believe the Emperor himself should come forward and welcome Mr. Yi with the highest honors."

"I agree! He may have attacked our nation’s Martial Arts Realm, but he never harmed a single civilian. This just proves how decadent our own Martial Arts Realm is! We should learn from Donghua! Learn from the strong!"

...

The tide of public opinion on Japan’s internet was shifting rapidly. Yi Beidou had committed several acts that could be considered "terrorist attacks." However, due to the immense power he had displayed in battle, he was starting to gain a surprising number of supporters, and even admirers, online in Japan.

This was a peculiar trait of the Japanese people. Years ago, the Starry Sky Country had blasted open Japan’s gates with ironclad ships and powerful cannons, forcing them into unequal treaties. This should have been a national humiliation. Instead, later generations in Japan came to view the commander of that fleet as a hero who had awakened their nation, even erecting a monument in his honor.

Now, the overwhelming power Yi Beidou displayed was beginning to awaken this deep-seated worship of strength in the bones of many Japanese people.

Internationally, the livestream footage of the battle was also spreading like wildfire, sparking intense reactions.

"The Japan Martial Arts Realm probably can’t take much more. I wonder if they’ll deploy the military?"

"I’d love to see if the Great Demon King can actually stand up to a modern army."

"That’s a bit of a stretch. If he could really pull that off, how would he be any different from a real deity?"

...

The international discussion focused more on the sheer combat prowess Yi Beidou had displayed.

Meanwhile, the people of Donghua Country were celebrating wildly. Inside the Dechang University Martial Arts Club room, the sound of cheering was so loud it caused students passing by to turn and stare.

However, not everyone was so optimistic.

Inside the Special Security Bureau, Wei Cheng, Meng Qianyuan, Zhao Ping, and numerous other high-ranking Bureau officials were gathered in a conference room, having just watched the entire livestream of the battle at the Heaven-Reaching Lodge.

Yi Beidou’s display of power was indeed world-shattering, but with their keen eyes, Wei Cheng and the others could easily tell that he must have used some kind of Secret Technique during the fight.

"That kid is likely in a bad spot," Wei Cheng said, taking a deep breath. "The backlash from a Secret Technique like that must be severe. The most dangerous part of his trip to Japan is about to begin."

"Surely it’s not that bad?" Meng Qianyuan asked. "Mr. Yi devoured the Deity that the Tsuchimikado Clan worked so hard to forge; he must have gained something from it. Besides, with his power, who in Japan can possibly stand against him? Would an Ancient One really make a move in front of the whole world?"

"An Ancient One won’t need to make a move. Both Guan Shan Dayou and Tsuchimikado Kazai were extremely powerful Martial Artists, but they were far from the strongest in Japan’s current generation."

"The real trouble lies with those old monsters left over from Japan’s most glorious era. The head of the Twelve Martial Saints... as much as I hate to admit it, that man was a terrifying figure who once dominated an entire generation," Wei Cheng said grimly, his mind seemingly drifting back to that turbulent era.

That man had once been a shadow looming over the Donghua Land, a nightmare for countless Martial Artists.

"You mean..." Meng Qianyuan began to ask.

"Everyone, new intel! A video just hit the top of the trending list on Japan’s internet."

Before he could finish his question, a staffer nearby who had just received an update quickly projected a video onto the main screen.

A stooped, wizened old man appeared in the video.

"Yi Beidou, Martial Artist from Donghua," the old man began. "A retired old fool like me shouldn’t interfere in the affairs of the younger generation. But you have gone too far. You have killed Japan’s Martial Artists and destroyed the foundations of schools with a thousand years of history. Your crimes are heinous. Since you insist on acting so wantonly, don’t blame this old man for picking on someone so much younger."

"You have defied the Yamato Race. I will kill you."

Tanaka Shoukichi’s eyes were cloudy with age, but the moment he spoke the word "kill," a terrifying, murderous glint flashed within them. Even through the screen, it felt sharp enough to slit the throats of everyone watching.

Watching the video, Wei Cheng took a sharp breath.

’Soul Devourers... So you remnants of Japan’s old era are finally making your move?’