Chapter 347: Five Great Halls Conference (4)
‘The Four Great Heavenly Demons!’
The moment those words were spoken, the entire hall was swept by shock.
In truth, only a very small number of people knew that she had the potential to ascend to the position of Heavenly Demon.
“W-What? The Fourth Heavenly Demon?!”
“Don’t tell me… is she planning to challenge the position right after succeeding the previous Cult Leader?!”
“H-Hahaha…”
Most of those unaware of the circumstances showed expressions of utter disbelief at Cheon Yura’s declaration.
“We do know that the Cult Leader’s martial arts have reached the Extreme Demon Realm, but…”
“Isn’t it still far too early to declare her ascension as Heavenly Demon?”
The title of Heavenly Demon was something truly special.
Since the era of the Heavenly Demon Ancestor, the cult had seen twenty-eight Cult Leaders come and go, yet aside from the ancestor himself, only two had ever risen to the position of Heavenly Demon.
Throughout history, there had been several Cult Leaders who reached the Transcendent Demon Realm, but all of them had failed to claim the title of Heavenly Demon.
To truly take the position of Heavenly Demon, one must surpass even the realm of demons!
“Silence.”
With just that single word from her, the noisy hall fell completely silent.
“I do not speak empty words.”
“……”
“I am also aware of your concerns. The position of Heavenly Demon allows only two outcomes—either ascend, or die. There is no third path.”
Indeed, there had been several Cult Leaders who reached the Transcendent Demon Realm and attempted to ascend as Heavenly Demon, only to meet a sudden death.
And every time that happened, the cult had to endure turmoil both internally and externally, having lost its leader.
Cheon Yura looked around the hall and made her declaration.
“Exactly three years from now, I shall reach the Supreme Demon Realm and have my position as Heavenly Demon recognized. Should I fail…”
Her gaze turned toward Ilro.
“Ilro, you will take charge and oversee the selection of the next Cult Leader.”
“…Are you serious?”
Even knowing it was rude to question her, Ilro couldn’t help but ask.
“Wasn’t that what you were hoping for?”
“…I-I would never dare.”
Ilro hastily regained his senses and lowered his head.
At her declaration, even Sword Demon, Saber Demon, Great Elder Cheon Yeongha, and Ilro… all looked at her with stunned expressions.
Only I, the sole one in this hall who believed in her potential, continued to gaze at her without the slightest wavering.
She seemed to notice my unwavering gaze, gave me a faint smile, and then gracefully seated herself once again on the throne.
“Let us move on to the next agenda.”
“Yes.”
While everyone else was still reeling from shock, I smoothly moved on to the next item.
“Before we address the Cult Leader’s internal policy, we first need to prepare a response to external matters. I grant everyone here permission to speak freely on this topic.”
Only then did the others slowly turn their attention toward me.
“First… let’s begin with Evil Overlords of Heaven.”
“……!”
Evil Overlords of Heaven.
The organization that the Heaven-Tearing King, Gu Yomyeong, had cherished and built up for over thirty years.
“As you all know, Evil Overlords of Heaven recently lost their leader, his successor, and all of his other disciples.”
“…Hmm.”
It wasn’t just the first disciple, Gu Hwanggun Geum Jeoksan, who had died.
All of his other disciples had also been wiped out after Heaven-Tearing King Lee Jaseong took over as the new leader.
“While it’s certain that Evil Overlords of Heaven still has many sympathizers, we won’t know the full picture until their organizational restructuring is complete.”
Simply killing the leader did not mean one could easily take over such a massive organization.
Many, realizing this fact, nodded in agreement.
This wasn’t some backwater bandit group or third-rate sect. In an organization of that size, the death of a leader typically only fueled their determination for revenge, rather than submission.
Especially when the killer wasn’t even a renowned martial artist but some no-name youngster.
“Evil Overlords of Heaven has maintained a somewhat neutral relationship with us since the war thirty years ago. However, it would be far too optimistic to think that their new leader holds any goodwill toward our cult.”
“……”
“No, it’s possible they might even ally with the Orthodox factions to oppose us.”
Looking back through history, this was a very real possibility.
The Murim Alliance of the Orthodox and Demonic factions.
And since I was certain that the Heaven-Defying Society was backing them, the likelihood was even greater.
At that moment, a few people raised their hands.
Among them, a man with luxurious clothing but a face and body covered in scars, radiating a fierce and vicious aura, was granted permission to speak.
He spoke bluntly.
“What about launching a surprise attack?”
“……”
Of course.
It was predictable that someone from our cult would suggest something this reckless in a situation like this.
Leaving aside the sheer audacity of proposing an immediate all-out assault…
Honestly, with the cult’s current military strength, it wasn’t entirely impossible to destroy Evil Overlords of Heaven in a swift, decisive battle.
Surprisingly, the man didn’t seem to be speaking without a plan. He had brought a tactical suggestion.
“If we utilize our ally, the Black Lotus Hall, we might be able to prevent the Orthodox factions from intervening.”
Murmur…!
“That battle-crazed Homadaju actually came up with such insight?”
However, one of the sect leaders of the Seventeen Parties, the head of our external intelligence group, Biseondang, raised a hand to oppose the idea.
“Though I find Homadaju’s proposal appealing, now is not the time.”
“What?”
“The remnants of the Illusion Clan are still lurking in the north, and more importantly, we’ve received troubling reports about ‘them’, who have recently settled near Qinghai.”
“By ‘them’… you mean?”
“The Evil Refining Sect.”
The ones who, along with the Blood Demon Alliance near Sichuan, were considered true, unorthodox demonic cultists.
“You are all aware that we’ve had no contact with them for several years now.”
The expression of the Hall Leader of Flying Immortal Hall grew grave.
“Even Gwangmyeolseung Noya of the Cheon Clan, who has ties to them, attempted to make contact, but they outright refused and even attacked Noya instead.”
The atmosphere in the hall immediately turned to anger.
“…How dare they?”
“Those Evil Refining bastards, have they lost their minds?”
While the Evil Refining Sect had once maintained a somewhat friendly relationship with us, it was only because they had approached us humbly.
It was much like how major sects would never truly associate with mere bandits.
“Considering the current unstable situation with the Evil Refining Sect, launching a direct assault on Evil Overlords of Heaven right now would not be wise. If we mishandle our forces, we risk getting stabbed in the back at any moment.”
In terms of raw power alone, the Evil Refining Sect was, at best, barely comparable to the weakest of the Nine Orthodox Sects.
Honestly, in the current situation, even that level of power couldn’t be ignored so easily.
“…Hmm.”
“A complete deadlock.”
If we attacked Evil Overlords of Heaven, we would have to mobilize significant forces from our cult as well.
Making a half-hearted move with insufficient numbers would be nothing short of a disaster.
At that moment, Saber Demon, sitting at the high seat, spoke with a displeased expression.
“So? Are you saying we should just sit back and watch?”
“Absolutely not.”
The Hall Leader of Flying Immortal Hall quickly shook his head at Saber Demon’s words.
“The elites of Biseondang are thoroughly scouring the Dae Desert and the area around Qinghai, tracking their movements. I promise we will have good news soon.”
“……”
“Ahem!”
“How did our cult end up being toyed with by the likes of the Evil Refining Sect…?”
At once, murmurs of dissatisfaction began to spread throughout the hall.
If I left this discontent unchecked, it would eventually be directed at Cheon Yura, our Cult Leader.
I released a faint wave of qi toward them, pressing down.
“Everyone, quiet down.”
“Gasp!”
“Urgh!”
Though they were all high-ranking members of the cult, most of them hadn’t even reached the Supreme Demon Realm, let alone the Peak Master Level.
Naturally, there weren’t many who could endure my pressure without faltering.
Once the atmosphere had been forcibly subdued, I threw the bait.
“I know that there’s a lot of noise directed at us from outside the cult. But that won’t last long.”
“How can you be so sure?”
It was none other than Sword Demon who raised the question.
I looked at Sword Demon and raised three fingers.
“Three years from now.”
“……”
“When the Cult Leader ascends as the Fourth Heavenly Demon.”
“And if she does?”
“Immediately afterward, our cult will once again march to conquer the Central Plains.”
“……!!”
Conquering the Central Plains.
The moment those words came out, the once tense atmosphere began to heat up with excitement.
I handed the next part over to Cheon Yura.
“Cult Leader.”
“Yes.”
She stood up once again.
“Our last expedition to the Central Plains ended in vain due to the passing of the previous Cult Leader.”
“…Hmm!”
Many expressed their regret at those words.
In truth, that war had been stalled by Yura herself to avoid unnecessary bloodshed until I arrived. But few had ever realized that.
Step. Step.
This time, she stepped down from the throne and walked to the center, speaking solemnly.
“Though I would like to personally lead the charge to conquer the Central Plains, our cult has already expended too many resources in the previous campaign.”
A war could shake the very foundation of a nation’s finances even through preparation alone.
“So, three years.”
It would take considerable time and manpower to recover from that loss.
“Not just me. All of you must prepare thoroughly and sharpen your skills over the next three years.”
This bait was certain to stir them greatly.
“And should any among you achieve great merit in the upcoming war against the Orthodox factions…”
Should they…?
“Perhaps.”
A deep smile formed on her lips.
“Someone among you here might fill the empty seat of the Heavenly Illusion Clan.”
“……!!!!”
Silent shock and disbelief swept through the hall like a storm.
The Six Great Demonic Clans.
An impregnable fortress that had never left a single seat vacant in over a thousand years.
For a thousand years, that fortress had refused entry to anyone outside of the six clans, and now, for the first time, its gates might open to others.
“Impossible!”
“That’s absurd!”
At that moment, the elders of the Seven Elders of the Cheon Clan all stood up in opposition.
“The Six Great Demonic Clans were founded by the disciples of the Great Heavenly Demon Ancestor! Their uniqueness and symbolism are what have allowed them to endure for over a thousand years!”
“No matter how high your authority as Cult Leader may be, offering other clans a chance to join the Six Clans shakes the very foundation of our cult!”
“Withdraw that statement at once!”
Cheon Yura looked at the rebelling elders with disinterest.
“Is that so?”
She spread her arms wide and said,
“Then go ahead. Say that again… right in front of them.”
“…!”
“…!”
The elders of the Cheon Clan flinched for a moment.
With cold, emotionless eyes.
The heads of countless clans that had failed to join the Six Great Demonic Clans were all staring at them.
Overwhelmed by their presence, the elders of the Cheon Clan turned toward their allies for support.
“What are you all doing?!”
For a thousand years, the Cheon Clan and the Six Great Demonic Clans had been at odds with each other.
But that rivalry had always been confined within the boundaries of those seven clans.
Even if they fought among themselves, when someone from outside tried to enter, they would always unite to drive them out.
However…
Saber Demon, picking his nose with his finger, spoke nonchalantly.
“Why does it matter anymore?”
“W-What did you say?!”
The elders of the Cheon Clan were visibly shaken by Saber Demon’s words.
“If they have the strength, they should be allowed in. Personally, I’d like to see the Sword Clan join.”
“S-Sword Demon! You too?!”
And that wasn’t the end.
“As long as they don’t invade the Sa Clan’s domain, I don’t care.”
With a displeased expression, Sa Myeongnin clicked his tongue.
“I’ve always hated those spell-casters acting all high and mighty just because they’re part of the Six Clans. If someone else is worthy, I’d welcome them.”
When even Jin Gun-ak spoke in agreement, the elders of the Cheon Clan looked to Murder Demon So Mun-yak sitting next to him as their last hope.
But Murder Demon… simply ignored their gaze and continued to sharpen his dagger in silence.
“……”
“……”
The faces of the Cheon Clan’s elders turned pale.