Chapter 340: A New Era (1)
A week had passed.
Though it was a short span of time, the Heavenly Demon Cult had gone through such an upheaval that it would not be an exaggeration to say the cult had been turned upside down.
Golden Demon Pavilion had been pouring gold without rest for months, taking the lead in planning the succession ceremony.
Demonic Pavilion had scoured the past day and night, searching through historical precedents, since it had been centuries since the cult had welcomed a female Cult Leader.
The Thirty-Four Demon Squads had fortified the entire Ten Thousand Mountain Range, preparing for the possibility of spies infiltrating.
Except for a few, the entirety of the Five Great Halls, the Nine Demon Halls, and the Seventeen Parties had pushed themselves to the brink for this succession ceremony.
And so, on the day of the succession ceremony—
The moment I saw the crowd gathered around the Ascending Demon Seal, one of the Eight Demon Seals, I felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs.
“Feels like I’m watching the siege of a fortress or something.”
Just a week ago, during the grand tournament held by the Cheon Clan, the crowd had been overwhelming, but what stood before me now was on an entirely different level.
A hundred thousand? Two hundred thousand? No, perhaps even more.
It felt as though every single cult member, even those who had been active outside, had gathered here to witness the rise of the new Cult Leader.
“Whistle! Not even the coronation of the Emperor of the Central Plains could match this. Look at how packed it is!”
Beside me, Jin Yeowoon let out a whistle.
I had never seen a royal coronation myself, but judging by this overwhelming sight, I could easily agree with his words.
Just then, Jin Gun-ak appeared, his face beaming with a wide smile.
“Uh-huh-huh! My Lord! Did you sleep well?”
“Father.”
I was no longer officially a member of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.
Thus, Jin Gun-ak was treating me not as his son, but as one of the Cheon Clan’s senior figures.
Of course, this was only on the surface. Jin Gun-ak was undoubtedly busy scheming in his mind, wondering how he could expand his clan’s influence through me.
Hmm… I felt a bit sorry for him, but the future he hoped for would never come.
The other Five Great Demonic Clans were no different.
I intended to dedicate all of my efforts to strengthening Cheon Yura’s authority.
Whether Jin Gun-ak knew this or not, he kept patting my shoulder, offering various words of blessing.
Time passed like that for a while.
“My Lord, it is time.”
Heavenly Observers from Demonic Pavilion approached and bowed respectfully.
“Alright.”
I followed their lead and headed toward the highest altar.
Standing halfway up the Ascending Demon Seal, I slowly began my ascent toward the summit.
The crowd outside was already impressive, but even here, there were no fewer than a thousand formidable figures gathered.
And most of them were key players who held the reins of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Near the entrance leading to the altar stood the later-generation disciples of the Six Great Demonic Clans and those who had ties with me.
Among them were familiar faces like the Six Demon Dragons, the Four Demon Squads, San Dojeon, and Ma Jinseong, who had once stood alongside me.
“My… my Lord!”
“Sniff…!”
Some of them began to shed tears uncontrollably, overwhelmed with emotion.
Hmm….
It had already been several years since I had taken them under my wing, yet I had spent so much time wandering outside that I hadn’t properly looked after them. I felt nothing but guilt.
Well, I could start making up for it from now on.
“Congratulations, My Lord.”
“Congratulations.”
The later-generation disciples of the Six Great Demonic Clans approached me and paid their respects.
Perhaps they had realized the outcome was already decided.
Rather than showing competitive spirit, they seemed more eager to get on my good side.
I casually waved my hand in response to their greetings.
“Hmph!”
“Hmmm….”
Of course, there were still some later-generation disciples from the Cheon Clan who looked at me with eyes full of discontent or displeasure.
I walked a little further up the path, and there stood the true future leaders of the cult.
First among them, Pa Yeongyeong, the Young Head of the Pa Clan, approached with her younger sister, Pa Seolyeong.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Young Mistress.”
“You’ve really become someone untouchable. You were always out of reach, but now… we can’t even cross swords anymore. How sad.”
It was a greeting that was very much in her style.
I smiled broadly and replied,
“You are always welcome. Visit me whenever you like.”
“Oh? Really? You mean it? I’m not one to speak empty words, you know.”
Given her personality, she might really show up unannounced.
If she did, I should take the chance to surprise her by showing her the Sacred Grounds.
After Pa Yeongyeong stepped back, her sister Pa Seolyeong pouted slightly and spoke.
“Well, congratulations. In the end, you abandoned my sister and went to the Young Cult Leader.”
“…….”
I had neither abandoned nor dated her in the first place.
Saying something like that on a day like this might cause unnecessary misunderstandings, so I wished she would refrain.
“My father seemed very disappointed, you know. But if you still have second thoughts, you can always let me know in secret.”
To think she could utter such a blood-soaked threat with a playful wink.
She truly was a bold woman, worthy of holding sway over one of the Six Great Demonic Clans.
‘A bold woman… is that really the right word?’
My mind started to spiral when yet another familiar face appeared.
“Ma Chulsoo.”
Ma Chulsoo, the Young Head of the Ma Clan, approached with a sour expression.
Seeing his face, I asked cautiously.
“Uh… is that place… alright?”
At my words, Ma Chulsoo’s face twisted fiercely.
“Because of who, do you think!?”
“So… it’s not alright?”
After all, he had been kicked in his vital parts twice….
Had I unintentionally cut off the Ma Clan’s bloodline?
“That’s not the problem!”
Ma Chulsoo pressed his forehead as if his head ached.
“The technique you showed me that day… I still can’t get it out of my mind.”
In our rematch, I had displayed Ma Seoyeon’s Ten Thousand Violent Blood Seas.
To think an outsider, not even of the Ma Clan, could perform the Blood Dragon Heaven-Slaying Sword Art, which only the Heaven-Slaying Star could master. The shock must have been immense.
Ma Chulsoo clenched his fists and shouted.
“Just wait. I’ll catch up to you soon!”
I felt like telling him to talk after breaking through to the Extreme Demon Realm first….
But ruining his spirit on such a joyous day seemed a bit too cruel.
“…Well, sure. Do your best.”
Having passed Ma Chulsoo,
this time, the Young Mistress of the Sa Clan, Sa Biyeon, approached me.
For some reason, her expression did not seem joyful but rather clouded with mixed emotions.
However, those emotions did not last long.
“Congratulations, My Lord. The Young Cult Leader… no, I should say Cult Leader now. Please, continue to take good care of the Cult Leader in the future.”
Covering her face with her sleeve, she bowed deeply.
“Well then, I shall take my leave.”
For some reason, she hurriedly walked away without waiting for my reply.
“……?”
I had thought we might at least exchange a few words as friends.
That felt a little disappointing.
Well, all that remained were the Illusion Clan and the So Clan.
It would have been strange if the Illusion Clan showed up.
The So Clan was still behind closed doors.
In the case of the So Clan, Murder Demon had secretly sent me a letter of congratulations through So Soryu.
…Though I had performed a ridiculous inspection, checking the letter multiple times to make sure it wasn’t laced with poison.
Regardless.
I continued ascending the peak.
Now, the Elders of the Six Great Demonic Clans and the Cheon Clan began to appear in earnest.
Each one was a key figure in their respective clans, and together, they numbered quite a few.
Unlike the others, they didn’t offer congratulatory greetings.
Partly because stopping to exchange greetings with all of them would take too much time, and partly because they seemed to be scrutinizing me, the man who had suddenly emerged at the forefront of the cult’s power structure.
After passing them and nearing the altar—
I found the Seven Elders of the Cheon Clan and the heads of the Six Great Demonic Clans waiting for me.
The Sword Demon wore his usual stiff expression.
Saber Demon looked visibly displeased but seemed resigned.
Jin Gun-ak, who had arrived first, still wore his ever-present grin.
Sa Myeongnin, much like his daughter, had a complicated expression.
And surprisingly, Murder Demon So Mun-yak had also broken his closed-door silence and appeared at the gathering.
Unlike with the lower Elders, I took the initiative to greet them and showed my respect.
After exchanging greetings with the familiar clan heads, I turned to the Seven Elders and bowed.
Except for two, all the Elders looked at me with clear disapproval.
Among the two exceptions, I addressed one of them first, bowing respectfully to the Third Elder, Cheon Rain, and spoke,
“It has been a while, Third Elder.”
Cheon Rain let out a dry cough and glanced away as I approached with unexpected familiarity.
“C-Cough! Yes, it has, My Lord.”
At that, the other Elders began exchanging curious glances between the two of us.
“When the opportunity arises, I hope to serve you again, Third Elder. Though next time, it will be as part of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, not the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.”
“Ha… Haha… I-I look forward to it, My Lord.”
Cheon Rain nodded with a cold sweat on his brow.
‘So he hasn’t fully made up his mind yet.’
Back at the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, I had made Cheon Rain a proposal.
While a more ambitious man might have seized it immediately, Cheon Rain, being someone who prioritized self-preservation, had continued to hesitate.
I had told him to take his time to think it over, and for now, he had left the matter unresolved.
‘But he’s still considering it, it seems. He hasn’t told the other Elders about my proposal.’
Judging by the other Elders’ expressions, it was clear that Cheon Rain was still playing both sides.
‘Well, that won’t last much longer.’
If someone were hesitating whether to jump off a cliff to pluck a flower, I just needed to give them a little push.
After a light exchange with Ilro,
I passed them and finally reached the summit of the altar.
“Welcome. I have been waiting.”
Three people stood there waiting for me.
Only three people were qualified to stand at the top of this altar.
One was Cheon Yeongha, the Great Elder representing the Cheon Clan and all cult members.
Another was Neung Biseon, the Grand Heavenly Observer and Master of Demonic Pavilion, overseeing this succession ceremony.
And finally, as the representative of the ‘previous generation’, the one who would drape the black dragon robe over the shoulders of the new Cult Leader to declare the change of era—
“…….”
Cheon Mujae, the Master of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.
“Hohoho! How wonderful it is to meet you again, My Lord.”
“…….”
Though I had heard about him from the Cult Leader not long ago, seeing him in person felt strange.
Who would have thought that the man standing before me, whose name was hardly known to the world, was the Master of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion?
Cheon Mujae smiled and gestured to me.
“Come, come this way. Let us greet the Cult Leader’s ascension together.”
Though the Heavenly Demon Pavilion had the least influence among the Five Great Halls, its martial strength surpassed all others.
Realizing that, I now understood why the Cult Leader had kept him under constant surveillance, and why he had instructed me to do the same.
At the summit of the altar, two thrones had been prepared.
One was painted in dark crimson, symbolizing the color of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art.
The other was painted in plain black, appearing simple at first glance.
However, I could sense someone’s consideration in that black throne.
Not long after—
“Wooooooaaaaah!!”
From all directions, the thunderous cheers of the cult members echoed through the Ten Thousand Mountain Range.
Just from the sound alone, I knew who had arrived.
From below, leading the Left and Right Guardians and the Guardian Lions,
appeared a woman in a black dragon robe.
Cheon Yura began her ascent toward the altar, retracing the path I had taken.
With every step she took toward the summit, the roaring cheers grew even louder, as if they could not grow any louder.
Receiving the admiration and reverence of countless cult members, she finally arrived at the summit of the altar.
With her usual calm expression, she spoke to me.
“Sit.”
“…Alright.”
Following behind her, I took my seat on the black throne next to hers.
Once we had taken our places, the Master of Demonic Pavilion mustered all his strength and let out a lion’s roar to announce the start of the succession ceremony.
And so, today—
The Heavenly Demon Cult welcomed its twenty-ninth Cult Leader.