Corpse Blood Valley is a deadly training ground where the Heaven-Earth Society gathers young members of affiliated martial clans and kidnapped children to undergo brutal, life-or-death trials.
History[]
A century ago, during the era of the Blue Spirit, no such abomination as Corpse Blood Valley existed. The martial world of that time, though far from peaceful, knew no systematic slaughterhouse designed to grind the young and ambitious into weapons. This hellscape only emerged after her death, forged by the ruthless reforms of the Heavenly Vein usurpers, a regime built on control, indoctrination, and the deliberate cultivation of expendable killers.
Every time the test was held after this, there were numerous casualties. Despite its horrifying mortality rate, Corpse Blood Valley never lacked for volunteers. Young, ambitious martial artists from the unorthodox path willingly threw themselves into its blood-soaked trials, driven by the promise of power and status within the Heaven-Earth Society. Each step deeper into the valley's horrors came with a grim reward, surviving a trial meant guaranteed advancement through the faction's ranks.
But the true lure lay at the end of the gauntlet: the chance to become a Direct Disciple of one of the Society's feared executives. For small sized or even middle-sized clans, and those born without any form of backing, this was more than an opportunity, it was the only path to real power and better life.
The valley became a twisted meritocracy where talent and brutality trumped lineage, where a nobody could rise to prominence if they were strong enough, cunning enough, or simply lucky enough to survive. Yet this system served the Society's darker purposes. It didn't just produce elite warriors, it forged fanatical loyalty. Those who emerged from the valley were often hollowed-out husks of their former selves, their past identities erased, replaced by an unshakable bond to the faction that had "elevated" them.
Even after Mok Gyeongwoon (Jeong) became Cheon Ma and founded the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it was similar, but there is a possibility that it changed in the direction of reducing casualties after the second Cult Leader.
Exam Order[]
The order of the Corpse Blood Valley test is as follows:
First Gate[]
일(一) 관문 The first test is usually to find a numbered marble. If you pass, you survive, but the rest who fail to find the marble are killed by soldiers who have been given the order. Anyone who questions or picks up a marble without a number can be killed by the soldiers.
Second Gate[]
이(二) 관문 The second test is to be near the flags on the mountain. And that's before sunrise. The total number of flags is usually 30 or more but less than 50, and the number of people who can be near the flags is 6 or more but less than 10.
Just like the first gate, it looks easy, but they need to be protected by the shaman magic spell hanging on the flag because the Corpse Blood Valley side releases the Demons and monsters.
In this works, there were 40 flags on the mountain and 8 people who can be near the flags.
Those who pass the First Gate but fail Second Gate will be assigned to a Lower-Class Warriors.
Those who pass Second Gate are given the qualification to become Intermediate Warriors.
Third Gate[]
삼(三) 관문 The third test is to create a Sword Evaluation. But rather than simply create it, you must eliminate your competitors. However, killing is prohibited. It seems that passing the three gates qualifies you to become a High-Class Warriors.
Fourth Gate[]
사(四) 관문 The fourth test is to avoid traps set up in the dark and get out through the exit. If you pass before one third of the incense sticks burn out, you pass.
When you pass through the Four Gates, you gain the qualification of a Prospective Brigade Leader (예비 단주) of the Heavenly-Earthly Society.
This test later became the Sealed Demon Cave test (5-stage test) of the Demonic Academy.
Last Gate[]
마지막 관문 The final test is revealed to be a sort of martial arts competition to determine which of the Heavenly-Earthly Society's masters (Least Peak Transcendent or higher) you will become their disciple.
Facilities and Place[]
Valley[]
Mountain[]
Master's Office[]
Martial Training/Contest Ground[]
Cadet Dormitory[]
It appeared after the first and second tests. It appears that the dining venue is also located in this building.
Precious Repository[]
비급 보고 Remnants of the old murim and various martial manuals are gathered. In particular, there are books related to the martial arts of the ascending order. However, when Mok Gyeongwoon and Blue Spirit discovered that the originals were actually there.
The repository's rules state. You are only allowed to take one secret/martial arts book here, and even that must be written down.
In a certain direction on the first floor, there is a room with a red line drawn on the entrance. Something is sealed there.
This place was later inherited as the Precious Library of the Demonic Academy.
Trivia[]
- The reason why Jo Uigong was shocked when he heard the news that Mok Gyeongwoon was being dragged to Corpse Blood Valley seems to be because of the cruelty of the first and/or second test.