Chapter 454: A New Sky (5)
“Ke-heok!”
The reason he coughed up blood was none other than this.
As the sorcery was canceled, its backlash returned straight to his old body.
“H-How can this be….”
Even in his dazed state, the Heavenly Researcher looked up at me with trembling eyes.
“I-I knew you had entered the Supreme Demon Realm, but to already dominate space so effortlessly….”
A faint trace of fear lingered in his eyes.
“Which part of my proposal did you find disagreeable?”
“……”
“Why must I be discarded by you?!”
The Heavenly Researcher had read my thoughts with perfect clarity.
“Though it was unintentional, I’ve become a disposable pawn—but someone like you cannot be left alive.”
I slowly walked toward the Heavenly Researcher and reached out my hand.
“If I acknowledge your merits and let you be, you will one day surpass even your own progeny and become another Grand Heavenly Lord.”
“……!!”
The Heavenly Researcher shouted in a fit of desperation, shock plastered across his face.
“You can’t do this to me!”
“Yes. Ordinarily, I would have recognized your efforts and rewarded you accordingly. But.”
I grabbed his throat and lifted him into the air.
“No matter how I think of it, leaving you alive during Yura’s reign would only invite catastrophe.”
I would do anything for Yura.
I could repay any favor with enmity, and I could reverse the notions of good and evil as I pleased.
“To strike down the Grand Heavenly Lord… don’t you need my help?”
Even as his neck was gripped, the Heavenly Researcher flailed and tried to offer me a deal.
“There are things only I can do… things the Illusion Clan cannot… I must stop the Grand Heavenly Lord’s ritual….”
“No, there’s no need for that.”
I coldly cut off the Heavenly Researcher’s words.
“You die here.”
“Uwaaaaaah!!”
The Heavenly Researcher’s aged body began to exude immense sorcerous power.
“Ugh!”
The aftermath caused a massive gust to surge through the underground chamber, and the First Elder, who had lost his inner arts and mobility, was unable to respond—he was blown straight back.
“Am I to end this meaninglessly?!”
The Heavenly Researcher’s mouth began to chant something at high speed.
-■■■■■■!
Even as his airway was blocked, his tongue kept moving—suggesting that the chant itself was a form of sorcery.
‘Is that the power of a magic artifact?’
Near his body, something gem-like emitted a faint glow.
Considering how sorcerers invested heavily in equipment, a sorcerer of the Heavenly Researcher’s level would naturally possess at least a magic artifact.
However.
“I forbid the activation of all sorcery.”
“Guh!”
The Heavenly Researcher’s outburst was once again futilely halted.
“It’s no use. All laws of this space are under my control.”
“A m-monster… beyond even the Cult Leader!”
I let out a bitter smile as I looked down at the Heavenly Researcher, who had begun to tremble in fear.
“Not yet. Who knows what I’ll become in the future.”
To say I had surpassed Cheon Taejong now would be an overstatement.
At every level, the gap between the beginning and the end was always at least twofold.
“I should at least apologize.”
I said, tightening my grip on his neck.
“I’m sorry.”
“N-No…!”
Crunch!
The Heavenly Researcher’s cervical spine snapped cleanly.
Perhaps because he was so aged, his breath ceased immediately, and his body began to go limp.
“Hmm….”
The First Elder wore a conflicted expression at the sudden death of the Heavenly Researcher.
Though from a different faction, the three disciples he had raised had all left deep legacies within the Divine Cult.
Regardless of his character, he was exceptionally capable….
“As expected, he won’t go quietly.”
“Huh? What do you mean….”
I did not miss the squirming presence within the corpse’s head.
“Exceptional sorcerers usually carry at least one method to evade death.”
That was something Hwan Jeong had once told me.
Figures like Hwan Pyeong or Hwan Yul met their end because the opponent and the circumstances didn’t favor them, but sorcerers of supreme demonic rank usually had at least one hidden trump card in such situations.
I opened my spiritual eyes and examined the corpse.
And immediately, I found something.
“Is it Insect Sorcery?”
The parasite treated through sorcery.
Heavenly Researcher had implanted it into his own brain.
“Cheon Juchun’s case was especially unique, but normally, switching bodies that easily is a miracle not easily permitted in this world.”
Thunk!
I shattered his skull and extracted a small, wriggling centipede.
‘So this wasn’t the main body from the start.’
No—the body was real, but the soul was parasitically residing in a different vessel.
“Sorry, but I won’t let you escape so easily.”
I grabbed the centipede and expanded my senses to their fullest.
In an instant, my range of perception spread across the entirety of Ten Thousand Great Mountain, and before long, I found the place resonating with his sorcery.
Then, I lightly swung my hand in that direction.
Bright Net Martial Sword
The true heart-sword flew across time and space to somewhere far away.
And shortly after—
-Kyaaaah!
The centipede in my hand began to scream in spiritual speech.
-How, how, how?! How did you instantly find where I am?! No, more importantly, how from such a distance…!
“As expected, you had one foot still tethered.”
The place I had traced Heavenly Researcher’s reaction to was the northern part of Ten Thousand Great Mountain.
Effectively the lair of the demonic beasts tormenting our Cult—and a place still not fully purged.
“Whoever he’s possessing, it’s probably not a human. A normal human body would suffer severe qi-body-mind imbalance.”
I reopened my spiritual eye and stared directly at the target struck by Bright Net Martial Sword.
“……”
The target was none other than a demonic beast—half-human in the upper body, and spider-like in the lower body.
‘Gu Chil said he killed something like that when saving Myeong-oh, but I guess there was more than one.’
Regardless.
“Good thing I killed it. If I’d let it live, it could have become a major threat.”
That spider monstrosity was the one who had imprisoned Cheon Yura under the Grand Heavenly Lord’s orders.
And I had nearly spared someone associated with such a being.
That would’ve been a grave mistake.
-Mercy…!
Only then did Heavenly Researcher, through the centipede, start begging for his life. But as if that would work?
Splurt!
Not long after, the centipede I had pulled from his head suddenly went limp.
Total death—the connection had been fully severed.
“It’s over.”
“……”
“Let’s finish it for good.”
I incinerated Heavenly Researcher’s corpse with Samadhi True Fire.
Then completely annihilated even Do Cheol, who wore the face of Cheon Juchun.
The First Elder, who had watched the whole sequence, looked at me with uncontainable admiration.
Even though he had not reached the Transcendent Demon Realm and had lost his martial arts, his perceptiveness from reaching the edge of the Extreme Demon Realm was still intact.
“To think I’d see the true Heart Sword again. Hahaha… living long does bring surprises.”
“The former Heavenly Demon once showed it?”
The First Elder nodded softly.
“Yes. That was one of the reasons the Cheon Clan feared him. Whoever he wished to kill—no one in Ten Thousand Great Mountain could escape his reach….”
“I see.”
His eyes bore a look of nostalgic emotion.
Perhaps there had been someone who died like this after resisting Cheon Taejong within the Cheon Clan.
“In any case, it feels good to have resolved what could’ve been a huge future calamity.”
Now, I could manage our Cult’s situation without burden and finally turn my eyes outward.
Thanks to Cheon Hyeonbaek managing things well, the Cheon Clan no longer came at me.
They formally swore their allegiance.
“Watch over them, First Elder.”
Before leaving the Cheon Clan, I summoned a few Guardian Lions and assigned them to him.
“What danger could there be for this old man?”
The First Elder slowly rose from his chair—
And bowed deeply toward me.
“Please, save this world.”
“……”
Not the Divine Cult, but the world, huh.
“Well.”
I smirked lightly and turned my body away.
To people who said things like that, there was only one thing I could say.
“If Yura is unharmed, she’ll be saved as a bonus.”
A few more days passed.
At last, the restructuring of the Divine Cult was officially declared.
Several matters were announced, but the most noteworthy were three.
First, the Five Great Halls, which had been established by the former Cult Leader Cheon Taejong, were reverted to the Four Great Halls.
The Heavenly Thunder Corps, having lost both its Leader and Vice-Leader, was dismantled and absorbed into the Golden Demon Hall and the Heavenly Demon Pavilion respectively.
“There’s no reason to keep the Heavenly Thunder Corps.”
Though Cheon Jumyeong had disappeared, nightmares from my previous life involving him still occasionally surfaced.
The Heavenly Thunder Corps’ organizational structure was perfectly suited for corruption.
I had considered keeping it as a counterbalance to the Elders’ Hall, but in this era, the Elders’ Hall could never possess authority surpassing mine or Yura’s.
If the child born between Yura and me were to become the next Cult Leader, reviving it then wouldn’t be too late.
Second, the Six Great Demonic Clans were reorganized into the Seven Great Demonic Clans.
The Yoo Clan, once known as the Pure Heaven Clan, and the Heavenly Illusion Clan, previously expelled for treason, made a splendid return, reclaiming their place among the Seven Clans.
The Heavenly Illusion Clan still retained its main force, so they would likely regain their past glory within a generation. But the Yoo Clan….
“H-H-Hyung-nim, can I really do this?”
Yoo Cheong, holding tightly to the Yucheong Sword left by his master, asked me with a trembling voice.
The boy was practically on the verge of tears.
“Hold your shoulders high. You must become a man worthy of that sword.”
“U-Uugh!”
Though discouraged by my stern words, Yoo Cheong tried his best to straighten his back.
“By following Hwan Jeong, I’m sure you’ve learned at least something about what kind of existence a Clan Head of a great family must be.”
“W-Well, that’s true…”
I gently patted Yoo Cheong’s bowed head.
“And there’s no need to worry too much. I’ll give you firm support. There won’t be much you’ll need to do.”
Behind Yoo Cheong and me followed dozens of scholars in silence.
But these were no ordinary scholars.
They were the elite members of the Heavenly Thunder Corps, now merged into the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.
“There aren’t many who can match them in building and organizing a faction. Leave it to them—they’ll form the Yoo Clan’s structure and erect its pillars.”
The Heavenly Thunder Corps had been forged by two geniuses: Cheon Jumyeong and Cheon Eunryeong. But their achievements alone didn’t explain everything.
Still—
What concerned Yoo Cheong now wasn’t the clan.
“E-Even so… the meetings are just too overwhelming… uugh!”
“……”
I sighed inwardly at the sight of Yoo Cheong gagging.
For someone who hadn’t even reached the Transcendent Realm, attending the Heavenly Demon Pavilion and Elders’ Hall meetings—gatherings only for those above Extreme Demon Realm—was clearly taxing.
As the new Seventh Elder of the Cult, he would now have to attend every Elders’ Hall meeting. But if he was like this already….
“That too, you needn’t worry much about.”
“…W-Why not?”
“Because unlike before, from today, there’ll be quite a few familiar faces.”
Creak!
I lightly opened the door to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion’s audience chamber.
Then, those seated on either side stood up simultaneously.
Normally, the most honored seats would be occupied by the Sword Demon, Saber Demon, and Jin Gun-ak.
But just for today, an entirely different scene unfolded.
“You’re all here.”
“We greet the Supreme One.”
A dozen figures at the Extreme Demon Realm level bowed deeply to me.
I looked over each of their faces.
First Elder Proxy: Pa Clan Young Mistress of the Extreme Saber Clan, Pa Yeongyeong.
Second Elder: Lord of the Blood Dragon Demon Clan, Blood Dragon Heavenly Sword Ma Chulsoo.
Third Elder: Head of the Hidden Shadow So Clan, Murder Demon So Munyak.
Fourth Elder Proxy: Young Master of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, Fist Demon Immortal Beast Jin Yeowoon.
Fifth Elder: Lord of the Black Gold Sa Clan, Thunder Queen Sa Biyeon.
Sixth Elder: Lord of the Heavenly Illusion Clan, Divine Illusion Demon Hwan Jeong.
And the Seventh Elder: Lord of the Pure Heaven Yoo Clan, Yoo Cheong.
In addition, the Eighth Elder seat was held by Blood Flow Spear Yang So-byeong, and the Ninth Elder by Yama Blade Mu Jin.
The Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Elder seats were filled by those from the Six Great Demonic Clans who had made great contributions.
And finally, the Thirteenth Elder seat—
Was held by the newly emerged Lord of the Ten Thousand Mountain Clan, Ak Cheon-ho.
More than half of the Elders’ Hall had been filled with fresh young blood.
A truly new sky had opened.