Chapter 50: The Heavenly Demon (6)
Xinjiang is a region located in the far northwest of Zhongyuan (Central Plains). It marks the starting point of the trade route known as the Silk Road.
This route connects Central Asia, Western Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean in Africa—commonly referred to as the Western Regions—allowing for the exchange of countless races and civilizations’ wondrous artifacts.
It’s the largest trade hub linking East and West.
Naturally, immense wealth and vested interests are at play in this region.
And the one that dominates Xinjiang is none other than the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Although there is an official government presence, it’s merely for show, as the actual government functions became ineffective long ago.
In Zhongyuan, the Heavenly Demon Cult is disparagingly referred to as the “Demonic Cult,” and its members are depicted as brutal and savage demons.
They are believed to steal the life force of young men and women to gather internal energy and to consume human hearts in order to learn cruel demonic martial arts.
It’s commonly thought that the cult exploits the blood and sweat of the residents of Xinjiang solely for the benefit of the sect. As a result, it’s assumed that the people of this region are always poor and starving.
However, the residents of Xinjiang were actually wealthier and more liberated than those in other regions.
Merchants from Xinjiang, as well as those from foreign lands, could trade freely as long as they paid a modest toll.
Even the tolls were much cheaper compared to the bribes needed to pay off military officers in other regions.
The Heavenly Demon Cult was not foolish enough to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs.
They aimed to make trade in the Xinjiang region even more prosperous, thereby increasing overall profits.
Contrary to what the people of Zhongyuan believed, the residents here admired and followed the Heavenly Demon Cult, dreaming of becoming cult members and feeling proud of it.
It was only natural that the Heavenly Demon Cult grew stronger over time.
Today, it was more powerful than ever.
This was not simply because they had more money or stronger martial arts.
What mattered most was the people.
The current leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, Cho Mujin.
Among all the previous leaders who competed for the title of the strongest in the world, Cho Mujin was considered the most powerful.
In most places, the elderly are seen as vulnerable and in need of protection, but in the martial world, the old are the most feared.
This is because they can overcome physical decline and grow stronger with the immense internal energy and cultivation accumulated over time.
The current elder monk of Shaolin, who competed with Cho Mujin for the title of the world's strongest, was still going strong at over eighty years old.
There was a rumor that when he used the 'Hundred-Step Divine Fist' last year, an entire mountain peak disappeared without a trace.
But Cho Mujin was merely in his fifties this year.
//Having reached the 'Flower Realm' in his thirties due to his unprecedentedly rapid progress, he had already attained the 'Profound Realm' in his forties, becoming one of the 'Five Greats'—the five most powerful individuals in the world.
It had already been ten years since Cho Mujin reached the Profound Realm, and no one could fathom how much stronger he had become since then.
Thus, some enthusiasts speculated that Cho Mujin had already surpassed the elder monk.
It's no wonder that just hearing his name made the martial artists of Zhongyuan shudder.
Unfortunately for Zhongyuan, Cho Mujin was also known for his exceptional wisdom, matching his immense strength.
Like a needle in a pouch.
A talented and capable person’s abilities will inevitably show, no matter how much they try to hide them.
Those who envied him or felt their positions threatened tried to nip Cho Mujin in the bud when he was young.
But each time, Cho Mujin displayed ghostly strategies and keen insight, defeating all his rivals.
The fact that the powerful yet unique martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Cult were united under one banner was also thanks to his abilities.
However, today, even Cho Mujin faced an unprecedented event that left him baffled.
“It’s true. This is really the Heavenly Demon’s sword.”
At Cho Mujin’s declaration, the gathered cult members let out gasps of awe.
“This is a miracle! Has the Heavenly Demon Sword, which was lost for a thousand years, finally returned to the cult?”
“The time for the prophecy to be fulfilled has finally come. This is the most auspicious sign.”
When Cho Mujin lightly flicked the blade of the Heavenly Demon Sword with his finger, a clear, resonant sound echoed through the room.
Ping!
It was a simple resonance, with no internal energy mixed in.
But those present reacted intensely.
“Oh!”
Every member of the Heavenly Demon Cult practices the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art'.
From the lowest-ranked martial artist to the cult leader.
This might be the reason why the Heavenly Demon Cult is considered the most powerful organization.
In martial arts, the most important aspect is the internal energy foundation.
In other sects or clans, the core internal energy cultivation techniques are usually passed down only to key figures, while the rest are taught inferior techniques.
But in the Heavenly Demon Cult, everyone is equally taught the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art'.
The resonance from the Heavenly Demon Sword stimulated the internal energy they had cultivated.
Reactions varied.
Some had expressions of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from their chests, while others grimaced in apparent discomfort.
But the common reaction was that all of them instinctively bowed their heads before the power of the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Did Cho Mujin feel the same way after hearing the sword’s resonance?
After showing a subtle expression, he fastened the Heavenly Demon Sword to his waist.
While everyone was feeling disappointed that the sword was no longer visible, Cho Mujin spoke to Hyun Suho, who was standing before him.
“Your name is Dokgo Jeong?”
“Yes.”
“I heard rumors that a gang of bandits raided your family recently, bringing misfortune upon you. Is that true?”
The annihilation of the Dokgo family was rumored to be the work of bandits seeking their wealth.
The sudden disappearance of a powerful family, one that had even held official positions, was certainly strange.
Although many found it odd, no one delved deeper.
After all, it wasn’t their concern.
“It’s not true! The Mount Hua Sect attacked my family. They did it to obtain that Heavenly Demon Sword.”
Everyone was shocked by Hyun Suho’s words.
Contrary to the praise they receive from most people in Zhongyuan, the Heavenly Demon Cult despises the 'Nine Great Sects'.
Hypocrites who are different on the outside from who they truly are.
But no matter how much they disliked them, it was hard to imagine that they would commit such an atrocious act.
Even Cho Mujin asked cautiously, “Do you have any proof?”
In response, Hyun Suho untied the sword he was carrying and threw it, still in its scabbard.
Typically, such a rude action would have immediately caused an uproar among the surrounding members, as Cho Mujin was revered almost like a king in the Heavenly Demon Cult. However, everyone remained silent, shocked by the gravity of the situation.
Tak.
Cho Mujin caught the sword without any visible reaction and unsheathed it.
Srrrrng!
As expected, the sheath and the sword seemed mismatched. Although they had changed the scabbard to conceal its identity, the sword was unmistakably of the style used by the martial artists of Mount Hua Sect.
Most decisively, the plum blossom engraving on the hilt was irrefutable evidence.
This confirmed Hyun Suho's claims.
In a calm tone, Cho Mujin spoke, “Thanks to you, our cult’s thousand-year wish has been fulfilled. I will grant you a wish within my power. Do you seek revenge? Do you desire the complete annihilation of the Mount Hua Sect? If you wish, I will erase the Mount Hua Sect from the map.”
The current Heavenly Demon Cult possessed the power to easily wipe out the Mount Hua Sect. However, that would essentially be a declaration of war.
If the Heavenly Demon Cult moved, the Martial Alliance would respond.
Moreover, the annihilation of one of the Nine Great Sects and Schools like the Mount Hua Sect would immediately ignite the Great War between the righteous and demonic factions.
In the past, whenever the Great War between the righteous and demonic factions, or the righteous and evil factions, occurred, mountains of corpses and rivers of blood were the norm.
Each time, these were monumental events recorded in history books.
Yet, Cho Mujin spoke of it as casually as if he were discussing a neighborhood outing, and the other cult members watched as if it were only natural.
This scene showcased Cho Mujin's powerful leadership.
Now, all that remained was Hyun Suho's decision.
[If the quest's target is truly the leader of the Mount Hua Sect, this could be easily resolved.]
It was something Hyun Suho could never accomplish on his own. However, with the help of the Heavenly Demon Cult, it could be achieved all too easily.
‘That’s the real problem. Even if the difficulty level has dropped, it's still a 5-star quest. There’s no way it would be completed this easily.’
All Hyun Suho had done was find the Heavenly Demon Sword and bring it to the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Although he had solved a few riddles along the way, it wasn’t enough to overcome a 5-star difficulty.
‘On the contrary, this confirms it. The quest's target is definitely not the leader of the Mount Hua Sect.’
In that case, using the wish he could make for bringing the Heavenly Demon Sword to the cult on such a matter would be a waste.
Thinking quickly, Hyun Suho brightened his eyes and shouted, “The enemies who killed my parents, siblings, and all the members of my family are my irreconcilable foes. Therefore, I wish to personally carry out my revenge.”
“Then, what is it that you want?” Cho Mujin asked.
“I desire the powerful strength that would allow me to erase the Mount Hua Sect from this world!” Hyun Suho exclaimed, kneeling before Cho Mujin.
“Take me as your disciple!”
Hyun Suho's words shocked everyone.
Currently, Cho Mujin had six disciples.
Each of them was an extraordinary martial talent, often described as geniuses.
Moreover, their backgrounds were also remarkable.
Most of them were members of the martial families that supported the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Becoming a disciple of Cho Mujin meant being considered a candidate for the next cult leader.
For those who were already preparing for the next generation, such a statement was incredibly sensitive.
Hyun Suho was well aware of the situation, but...
‘There’s no other way.’
He still didn’t know who the target was.
It could be a righteous martial artist or a member of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The worst-case scenario would be if the target was Cho Mujin himself, but Hyun Suho judged that possibility to be low.
‘Even with a 5-star rating, that level of difficulty wouldn’t make sense.’
There had to be a reason why the system had sent him to the Heavenly Demon Cult.
If the target wasn’t the leader of the Mount Hua Sect, there was a high probability that it was a high-ranking member of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
‘To deal with them, I would at least need to become Cho Mujin’s disciple.’
This was the extent of Hyun Suho's calculations.
Cho Mujin's eyes sparkled with interest at Hyun Suho's words.
Just as he was about to speak, someone else stepped forward.
“May I say a word?” asked a man in his early twenties.
Dressed sharply, his slender eyes emitted a cold gleam.
He was Cho Mujin's third disciple, Hyeok Ri-gwang.
Cho Mujin gave a slight nod and said, “Speak.”
“While bringing back the Heavenly Demon Sword is indeed a remarkable achievement, isn’t it difficult to adapt to our cult with just that?” Hyeok Ri-gwang remarked.
“Then what is necessary?” Cho Mujin asked.
“Strength, of course.”
The Heavenly Demon Cult values martial prowess.
While it wasn’t as primitive as “the strongest person takes everything,” possessing significant power was essential to holding a high position.
Becoming the cult leader's disciple meant immediately ascending to the second-highest rank in the cult.
For someone like Hyun Suho, who had no background, this would be a daunting position.
Hyeok Ri-gwang's argument was essentially this.
Of course, Hyeok Ri-gwang wasn’t saying this out of concern for Hyun Suho.
He simply disliked the idea of an outsider being placed on the same level as him.
Cho Mujin saw through everything and spoke leisurely, “How could that be proven?”
“Hm... How about this? A duel with me.”
“A duel? The age difference is quite significant, isn’t that too unfair?”
"I'm not suggesting we determine victory or defeat. But wouldn’t everyone acknowledge him if he can endure just ten of my moves? No, even just five?"
He wore a broad smile on his face, but his eyes radiated a murderous intent.
Hyeok Ri-gwang was known as the most brutal and bloodthirsty among the cult leader's disciples.
His eyes seemed to be telling Hyun Suho to back off if he didn’t want to die.
With his usual calm expression, Cho Mujin asked Hyun Suho, "You heard him. What do you think?"
Even if Hyun Suho simply insisted on becoming his disciple, the cult leader would likely agree. Bringing the Heavenly Demon Sword was an extraordinary achievement, after all.
However, Hyeok Ri-gwang had already set the stage. If Hyun Suho rejected the challenge now, he would be branded a coward in the Heavenly Demon Cult, where martial strength was highly valued, and he would become a laughingstock.
That was not something he desired at all.
So, Hyun Suho replied, "Fine, but I have two requests."
"Speak," Cho Mujin said.
"I need time to recover. My family was slaughtered, and I've been moving non-stop since then," Hyun Suho explained.
"Very well. You have ten days. And the other request?" Cho Mujin asked.
"I wish to learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art during that time."
"Agreed."
With that, Hyun Suho had secured a tentative position as the cult leader's disciple.
---
For the next ten days, Hyun Suho stayed at the cult's training hall.
Although he wasn't confined, and could come and go as he pleased, there was no reason to leave. The facilities provided everything he needed—food, lodging, and even advanced amenities for rest.
After ensuring no one was around, Hyun Suho took out the Celestial Blue Essence from his pocket.
'Chalang.'
He had yet to drink the Celestial Blue Essence, a potent elixir that could grant decades’ worth of internal energy in one dose.
However, to fully utilize it, a superior internal energy cultivation method was necessary.
The Dokgo family’s inherited internal energy method was excellent, but it paled in comparison to the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
And now, Hyun Suho held the secret manual of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in his hands.
“This is the legendary Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Let’s see what makes it so special.”
Hyun Suho began to carefully read through the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
From the first page, he couldn’t help but be amazed.
The internal energy method described in the book was based on entirely different concepts and principles from traditional martial arts.
Most internal energy methods focus on storing more and purer energy within the body.
It’s not a wrong approach since, for martial artists, internal energy serves both as power and life force.
However, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was different.
It didn’t just aim to increase internal energy; it described a method to elevate the practitioner themselves to a higher state of existence.
As Hyun Suho read further, he felt a strange familiarity with the approach described in the manual.
“This… feels like the Hunter System.”
Lakshmi had explained that the Hunter System, with its status window and stats, was ultimately a tutorial process to awaken divinity.
Surprisingly, Hyun Suho felt that same vibe from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
He realized that by training in this method, it was indeed possible to attain divine power.
A martial art that had existed for over a thousand years, and yet…
“The talk about the Heavenly Demon being resurrected isn’t complete nonsense.”
Hyun Suho flipped to the last page of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, still in awe.
But something was off.
“What the…? Is this incomplete?”
The content that should have been there was missing.
At first, Hyun Suho thought they had given him an incomplete manual, but soon he realized that wasn’t the case.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art was originally designed to be incomplete.
It was a martial art meant to be finished by the practitioner themselves.
That’s why, even though everyone from the lowest martial artists to the cult leader had learned the same Heavenly Demon Divine Art, they all possessed different types of internal energy.
Depending on how one completed the latter part, the same Heavenly Demon Divine Art could vary greatly in power.
“So, what do I do…?”
To consume the Celestial Blue Essence, Hyun Suho first needed to complete the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Faced with this unexpected dilemma, Hyun Suho fell into deep thought.
