Chapter 450: A New Sky (1)
Outskirts of the Soaring Demon Peak.
Hundreds of sorcerers of the Heavenly Illusion Clan were pouring all their strength into suppressing the ritual taking place at the peak of the mountain.
“L-Lord!”
“The figures within the formation are stabilizing!”
“At this rate, the ritual appears to be naturally dismantling.”
At the successive reports from the Elders, Hwan Jeong wiped the cold sweat off his brow.
“Fortunately, nothing catastrophic has occurred.”
Roughly one ik ago, a pitch-black entity had broken through the outer formation and intruded inside.
For the Heavenly Illusion Clan, who were fully devoted to maintaining the formation, they had no strength to prevent the intrusion of that entity.
They had merely been praying that nothing disastrous would happen… and thankfully, it seemed their worries were unfounded.
“The ritual is beginning to dissipate.”
“Do your utmost until the very end so that no remnants spread to the surroundings.”
“Of course, Clan Head.”
The sorcerers of the Heavenly Illusion Clan squeezed out their final reserves of strength and began cleanup operations.
Just as everyone was bustling around, one of the Elders, an elderly man among them, approached Hwan Jeong.
“Clan Head.”
“What is it, Elder Gon?”
Hwan Gugon, one of Hwan Jeong’s close confidants.
Even within the clan, he belonged to the cautious faction and had often obstructed the rampages of the previous Clan Head, Hwan Pyeong.
“This time, our Heavenly Illusion Clan has truly accomplished a great deed.”
“Indeed.”
As he said, the Heavenly Illusion Clan had severed all ties with the Heaven-Defying Society and poured everything into Jin Yeomyung.
They had once even assaulted the royal palace to capture the Grand Heavenly Lord, and from Luoyang until now, had sacrificed countless resources to support him.
“Can we really reap the fruits of this labor?”
“Yes, we can.”
“What makes you so certain?”
“Because an absolute being like the Grand One would never break a promise.”
There was not a shred of doubt in Hwan Jeong’s expression.
“I too do not question his credibility. However, even so…”
“What is it that unsettles you?”
After a moment of deep breathing, he quietly muttered.
“If one does not become the final victor, then does any of this matter?”
“……”
Hwan Jeong fell silent.
“Look at the sky, Clan Head.”
Hwan Jeong lifted his head.
And upon seeing the color of the sky, he swallowed hard.
“…It’s red.”
It felt as if facing a sunset just before the sun vanished.
Hwan Gugon wasn’t finished.
“Now take a light breath.”
As told, Hwan Jeong gently inhaled and exhaled.
“How does it feel?”
Hwan Jeong answered truthfully.
“It’s comfortable.”
“Yes, quite comfortable.”
Hwan Gugon looked around with fading eyes and spoke.
“But will this comfort… feel the same to those who know nothing of martial arts or sorcery?”
“…!”
Only then did Hwan Jeong realize what he meant.
“The concentration of qi mingling into the natural world… has increased significantly.”
“Yes, in fact, the main reason our clan’s sorcerers have been able to endure until now without difficulty is due to this.”
“Hmmm…”
“The world is about to be overturned. Soon… a world will come where mere survival will be difficult for common folk.”
The change in the world they had warned of so many times.
Now, the time was approaching where anyone could feel it in their skin.
“It’s already far too late to speak of such things.”
“……”
“We’ve already bet everything on the Grand One’s victory, and live or die, we must entrust ourselves to it.”
Hwan Jeong looked around at the gathered members of the Heavenly Illusion Clan with firm eyes.
“No, rather, this crisis might turn into an even greater opportunity for our clan.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Whatever it may be, it is now his era. Perhaps, for the first time, a Cult Leader not born of the Cheon Clan… no, the Heavenly Demon may descend upon this world.”
“…!”
“We will return to the Six Great Demonic Clans under the prestige of such a one, but to reclaim our original glory, even several generations may not be enough.”
The return of those who had once betrayed.
No matter what accomplishments they claimed, no other among the Six Great Demonic Clans would welcome the return of a rival.
Normally, they would endlessly check and stalk us from behind, scheming to bring about our downfall once more.
But what if everything was in chaos like it is now?
“If it’s us, can we not deploy a sorcery formation to forcibly lower the concentration of qi?”
“…Are you saying?!”
Hwan Jeong smirked.
“The Six Great Demonic Clans will surely desire our assistance. Because they’ll have no other choice.”
The scenery of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, once almost indistinguishable from reality, vanished as if it had all been a lie.
The peak of the Soaring Demon Peak, which had effectively become otherworldly due to the ritual, began returning to its original state.
I stood alone in the center of the altar where, under normal circumstances, Cheon Jumyeong would have held his enthronement ceremony.
“It’s over, but not truly over.”
The situation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had now calmed, but the true final battle was yet to come.
If we lost that final battle, everything would end.
‘I’m still alright. There’s still one last resort left…’
Even if something truly irreversible occurred, there was still one chance to reverse it.
‘The remaining time… is about half a year, perhaps?’
If time flowed normally, the moment of maximum effectiveness to hold the Bongseon Ritual would be in about half a year.
But the Grand Heavenly Lord would surely blockade the area near Mount Tai and unleash demonic beasts to accelerate the timeline.
‘For now, I should tidy up Our Cult and begin the expansion into the Central Plains… hmm?’
Just as I was contemplating what lay ahead, I sensed a sudden presence some distance away from this place.
‘Who is it?’
I suppressed my presence as much as possible and headed toward where the presence had been felt.
If it was a remnant of the Heaven-Defying Society, I intended to show no mercy….
“……”
A hunched figure wrapped in rags was carrying an old woman with utmost care, leaving the Soaring Demon Peak.
‘Those two….’
I confirmed the unconscious old woman’s appearance.
Once shimmering with near-white silver hair, her locks were now completely dull, pure white.
Her once taut skin had become wrinkled, befitting that of an old woman.
Usually, those who lost their martial arts and fell into ruin ended up like this.
But for some reason, a faint smile lingered at the lips of the unconscious old woman.
‘She lived.’
I respectfully offered a clasped hands greeting toward the two disappearing toward the north.
“May the Demon God's blessing guide your path.”
Nine Yin Blood Claw Wang Garak.
It was the exit of Gwang Rahi Yeo Jin.
After watching the two depart,
I descended from the Soaring Demon Peak and slowly walked toward somewhere.
Around me, battles still raged on and blood continued to flow in torrents.
But I ignored it all and kept walking.
As I continued, gradually, people began to follow behind me one by one.
Starting with the Sword Demon Ma Seonghwan, the Murder Demon So Munyak, the King of Asura Jin Gun-ak, and now even Hwan Jeong, newly elected as the Illusion Demon…
After walking for about two hours, the number of those following me had surpassed one thousand.
And still, I kept walking.
Regardless of who was behind me, I walked on.
The place I eventually arrived at was where the Heavenly Demon Pavilion had collapsed, and in its place now stood the newly built Heavenly World Pavilion.
Crash!
I swung my hand and shattered the plaque inscribed with ‘Heavenly World Pavilion.’
Then, I walked directly into the inner sanctum.
Perhaps because every artisan and laborer of Our Cult had been poured into its construction, the pavilion had reached near completion even within a short time.
At the deepest heart of the pavilion.
Though it now differed from my past memories, a grand audience chamber still greeted me with its magnificence.
I walked toward the highest seat in the audience chamber.
The throne upon which the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult sits.
Step. Step.
Over a hundred people had entered the chamber, yet not one made a single sound.
The only noise that could be heard was the sound of my own footsteps.
I climbed the steps and briefly examined the throne.
And then, I sat upon it.
“……”
“……”
“All be seated.”
Only after my command did those at the entrance begin entering one by one and take their seats.
The Clan Heads of the Six Great Demonic Clans, the Captains of the Thirty-Four Demon Squads, the Elders of the Five Great Halls and Nine Demon Halls who fought at my side.
Though not everyone had gathered yet, this would suffice.
“From this moment forward, I, Jin Yeomyung, shall become the Thirtieth Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Great Master of the Demonic Faction.”
There was no dissent.
I continued speaking.
“And furthermore, from this moment forth, I shall reign as the Fourth Heavenly Demon of Our Cult.”
Ziiing!
The Heavenly Demon Seal and the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword floated before me, radiating immense Demonic Qi.
“Grrhk!”
Those who had not reached the level of Extreme Demon Realm struggled under the oppressive aura emitted by the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword and the Heavenly Demon Seal.
“These two artifacts shall testify to my status, but by the principle of the Strong Dominating the Weak, I will accept any challenge from those with objections.”
“……”
“The position of Cult Leader is only temporary. The moment the Twenty-Ninth Cult Leader Cheon Yura returns, I shall step down and resume my original position as the Demonic Faction Lord.”
At the place where all gazes were fixed upon me, I solemnly issued a warning.
“Anyone with objections may challenge me at any time. However, remember well that due to the current situation, I cannot guarantee your survival.”
Once again, I called for challengers… but as expected, no fool stepped forward to declare one.
“No one? Then, as the Fourth Heavenly Demon of Our Cult, I shall issue my first command.”
Many looked toward me with either anticipation or unease.
“First and foremost, the structure of the Six Great Demonic Clans will be reorganized.”
“……!!”
Some showed joy, some revealed mild irritation.
Others had concern etched upon their faces.
At that moment—
“The Six Great Demonic Clans will be reorganized into the Seven Demonic Clans.”
“……?!”
The Seven Demonic Clans.
The form that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was originally meant to take.
But naturally, the shock of hearing the term ‘Seven Clans’ was far from minor.
“No way, could it be the Cheon Clan…?”
Just as someone was about to make a grave assumption with a serious expression—
“That’s not it.”
Jin Gun-ak, who had some understanding of the circumstances, sneered.
“The Opposing Clan. Or rather, should we now say the Yoo Clan?”
“The… Yoo Clan?”
Some who did not know the history of Our Cult looked at one another in confusion.
I declared to them.
“The Pure Heaven Yoo Clan. The ones who left us a thousand years ago shall now be brought back into the fold of Our Cult, and we will reorganize into the Seven Clans. The Clan Head of the Pure Heaven Yoo Clan shall be Yoo Cheong, the last surviving member of the Yoo Clan, and all future restoration and funding of the Yoo Clan will be jointly covered by the Six Great Demonic Clans and the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.”
Though the Six Clans would suddenly incur enormous expenses, they wouldn’t have the leisure to complain now.
After all, a seventh pillar had just been added to the thousand-year-old foundation.
I continued to hammer down commands.
“Clan Head of the Heavenly Illusion Clan, Hwan Jeong.”
“Yes, Heavenly Demon.”
“In recognition of your merits in aiding me in expelling the Heaven-Defying Society, the Heavenly Illusion Clan shall be reinstated as one of the Six Great Demonic Clans. Furthermore, the Clan Head Hwan Jeong shall be acknowledged as a member of the Council of Elders and shall succeed the former position of Fifth Elder, which previously belonged to Hwan Pyeong. Are there any objections?”
“Would I dare to object? I swear anew to Our Cult’s cause.”
Hwan Jeong bowed his head in deep gratitude.
“There shall be a large-scale reform of the Council of Elders. Particularly, aside from Yama Blade and Blood Flow Spear, all elders below the seventh seat will be replaced. Keep this in mind.”
“……!!”
“From the conclusion of this meeting onward, anyone who brings me the head of the White-Faced Demon General shall be given priority to ascend to Elder.”
In an instant, greed began to ripple through the assembly.
White-Faced Demon General Jang Gil-san.
The bat who betrayed Cheon Yura and sided with the Heaven-Defying Society.
Naturally, there wasn’t even a thought of letting him live.
That was the extent to which I was offering such unprecedented rewards in exchange for his head.
But at that moment.
Murder Demon So Munyak, who had remained silent until now, opened his mouth with a reluctant look.
“That bastard.”
“…?”
“I already killed him…”
“……”
“……”
“So what happens now?”
“Ah, that clueless bastard…”
Jin Gun-ak sighed in a whisper so low it barely registered.
And immediately after that statement, So Munyak had to withstand a bloodlust that surpassed tenfold what he faced when battling the forces of the Jongnam Sect.