Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion Chapter 109
For a Taoist of a Taoist sect, and an old Taoist with graying hair at that, to speak of opening the precept of killing would be an extremely unusual event.
Moreover, wasn't Jeok Song-ja, Peng King Jin-in, a renowned master of the previous generation in the Central Plains?
Nevertheless, the fact that he openly threatened to kill them was proof that his anger was immense.
“Heh.”
The Blood Qilin laughed.
“Old man, there’s no need to get so worked up. Why are you blaming us when your disciple died because he was weak?”
“Is that so?”
“Well, he was a pretty useful guy.”
“Are you talking about his martial arts?”
“Of course not.”
The Blood Qilin answered with a demonic grin.
“I didn’t have a proper place to sit, but then I saw your disciple’s corpse, so I used it as a cushion. It was soft and the seating comfort was quite excellent…”
“Don’t say things you don’t need to.”
Jin Cheon hastily cut off the Blood Qilin’s words.
It was obvious that Jeok Song-ja was already angry, and there seemed to be no reason to provoke him further.
“Ah, why. This is all part of the plan. If he can’t control his anger, it’s an advantage for us.”
It seemed his intention was to disturb Jeok Song-ja’s state of mind through provocation, but Jin Cheon’s thoughts were different.
“That kind of thing doesn’t work on the Nine Sects One Gang bastards. Especially on the old masters who are well on in years.”
“Why???”
“That’s just how the martial arts of the righteous sects are.”
The way demonic arts and righteous arts used the middle dantian was not just different, but on a completely different level.
Demonic arts actively utilized the middle dantian.
To maximize the effects of emotional changes, getting angry often strengthened the power of their martial arts.
Of course, there was the side effect that their judgment would be clouded, and they would gradually lose their reason and might cause demonification.
On the other hand, righteous arts are mostly designed to minimize the role of the middle dantian.
As a result, after training in righteous arts for a long time, one becomes extremely indifferent to emotional changes, and their composure is rarely broken.
It's not for nothing that masters who have practiced righteous arts for a long time are said to have reached the state of enlightenment.
“Is that so? I just ran my mouth for nothing. Tch.”
“Stop with the nonsense and step back.”
Jin Cheon stepped forward.
“I don’t want to.”
The Blood Qilin, on the contrary, took a step forward and blocked Jin Cheon’s path.
“I’ll deal with that old geezer, so our cute youngest can just watch from the back. Huhu.”
“He is not an easy opponent.”
“Are you worrying about me, or are you looking down on me?”
“Of course, I’m worried.”
“Then just watch from the back and get some rest. It’s broad daylight, but he seems manageable.”
“Yes, well. I understand.”
When the Blood Qilin came out like this, Jin Cheon conceded the fight against Jeok Song-ja.
If it were the usual Blood Qilin, he would have been watching from the back with his hands behind his back, but since he wasn't, it seemed there was some reason.
And that was probably…
‘He must have wanted to test himself.’
Jin Cheon thought he knew why the Blood Qilin had stepped forward despite the hassle.
Just as Jin Cheon had grown stronger through his training in the Black Bamboo Forest, the Blood Qilin who had returned from the Western Regions had also progressed to an incomparable level.
For that reason, he must have had the desire to check his own skills, and a suitable opponent had just appeared.
Of course, since Jeok Song-ja was a master who had reached the Realm of Transformation since the First Righteous-Demonic War, he was by no means an easy opponent.
‘For now, I have no choice but to let him do as he pleases.’
Jin Cheon decided to leave the Blood Qilin alone, even though he knew what the outcome would be.
“Hoho.”
Jeok Song-ja gave a cold smile.
“You’re having a pointless squabble. The result will be the same no matter who comes at me first. Why don’t you both come at me at once?”
“If necessary, we will do so without you telling us.”
Jin Cheon also replied coldly.
“Well then, you go first. I’ll watch from here.”
“I’ll be back.”
The Blood Qilin said so and approached Jeok Song-ja.
* * *
“Come quickly.”
“I was planning to, even if you didn’t say so.”
The Blood Qilin leaped.
Kang, kaang!
The Blood Qilin’s hands, dyed red with the Blood-Dyeing Hand, the family martial art of the Sacred Blood Clan, and Jeok Song-ja’s sword, imbued with a powerful qi resembling sunlight, clashed head-on.
Soon, a fierce close-quarters battle unfolded between the Blood Qilin and Jeok Song-ja.
It was a very fast exchange, with five or six blows exchanged in the blink of an eye.
Well, since it was a fight between the Blood Qilin, who was skilled in close combat based on Claw Arts and Capturing Arts, and Jeok Song-ja, a master of the Diancang Sect famous for his quick sword, it was only natural that a fast exchange would occur.
‘He’s definitely gotten stronger. Incredible. To have made such progress at that age.’
Jin Cheon was amazed as he watched the Blood Qilin’s movements.
To be skilled enough to face Jeok Song-ja despite being less than thirty years old, it would be no exaggeration to say that his talent was beyond the label of a genius and was one of the best in the world.
Though it was a mystery why such a person usually acted the way he did…
‘He won’t last long. The opponent is too bad.’
Jin Cheon thought that the Blood Qilin wouldn’t last long, and the reason was that Jeok Song-ja’s skills were far more formidable than he had expected.
Jeok Song-ja’s martial arts were fast, but far from flashy.
However, his extremely practical sword skills had no openings, and his attacks and defense were clean.
Although it was somewhat biased towards a quick sword, it was a sword without any flaws… from the opponent's perspective, it would surely be beyond frustrating and suffocating.
‘Yes, masters like that are what makes the Righteous Heavenly Alliance fearsome. There are countless masters like that.’
Just as Jin Cheon was thinking that and wondering when he should intervene.
“Hoho. To think my junior uncle was already here.”
“I’ve finally found you.”
“I will display your heads in front of our sect’s mountain gate.”
Three Taoists dressed in robes embroidered with the Eagle Eye Emblem appeared and made threats.
‘To think even the Three Swords of Diancang would appear.’
Jin Cheon recognized the figures who had appeared at a glance.
The Three Swords of Diancang.
They were also masters of the previous generation of the Diancang Sect, who had been active in the First Righteous-Demonic War like Jeok Song-ja.
The Diancang Quick Sword Clouded Void Sage.
The Diancang Thrusting Sword Cloud Sword Sage.
The Diancang Heavy Sword Cloud Sea Sage.
He had heard a story that they had washed their hands of the martial world and gone into seclusion around the time Jin Cheon entered the Heavenly Martial Academy a few years ago, but to think he would meet them like this.
“I heard you washed your hands of the martial world?”
To Jin Cheon’s words, the Three Swords of Diancang replied.
“How dare the Demonic Cult bastards harm the disciples of our sect? How could we not pick up our swords again?”
“If it weren’t for you bastards, we would have done so.”
“A greenhorn demon head dares to speak so informally!”
Jin Cheon found their answers absurd.
Commonly, washing one's hands of the martial world meant completely retiring from the affairs of the martial world, no matter what happened, right?
If it were a simple seclusion, it would be one thing, but to come crawling back like this after going through the grand ceremony of washing their hands of the martial world, it was clear that they had no shame.
“Anyway, they’re still acting according to their own whims.”
Jin Cheon clicked his tongue and drew his sword.
“I’m in a hurry as it is, so let’s not waste any more time.”
After saying so, Jin Cheon leaped towards the Three Swords of Diancang.
Hwaaaak!
Jin Cheon's appearance changed.
His hair turned completely white, his two eyes shone with a clear purple color, and his skin had a faint, pale luster.
It was the activation of the third stage of the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi, Demonic King.
* * *
The reason Jin Cheon quickly activated Demonic King and entered the fight was because time was short.
A swift and decisive battle.
If it were just Jeok Song-ja, it would be one thing, but with the appearance of the Three Swords of Diancang, he could no longer afford to be leisurely.
He had to sort out the situation as quickly as possible and leave the place, so activating Demonic King and using his full power was an extremely correct judgment.
The problem was that the Three Swords of Diancang were by no means easy masters.
As befitting of seasoned masters of the previous generation, they blocked Jin Cheon’s fierce attacks with very skillful movements and counterattacked.
‘They say no master can withstand the combined attack of the three swords. It wasn’t just a rumor.’
The combined attack of the Three Swords of Diancang was so exquisite and precise that even Jin Cheon was amazed.
Not two, but three people moving as if they were one body was enough to make him marvel.
It was to the point where he even had the illusion of facing a monster wielding three swords.
Well, it was a fairly famous story that the Three Swords of Diancang had executed one of the elders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult with a combined attack during the First Righteous-Demonic War.
However…
‘That’s as far as you go.’
Jin Cheon's eyes shone fiercely.
The combined attack of the Three Swords of Diancang?
Of course, it was great.
But Jin Cheon knew every detail of the martial arts used by the Three Swords of Diancang.
When he was researching demonic arts in the Demonic Prison, he had also studied the martial arts of the Diancang Sect, so he knew not only their strengths and weaknesses but also their weak points.
‘Now.’
Jin Cheon momentarily stretched out the index finger of his left hand, which was not holding the sword.
Taang!
Soul-Chasing Finger Powerful Qi pierced through the dantian of the Diancang Quick Sword Clouded Void Sage.
Because he knew every detail of the Diancang martial arts, he didn't miss a momentary opening and fired the finger powerful qi to inflict a fatal blow.
“Heok!”
Clouded Void Sage, whose dantian was pierced, let out a gasp and collapsed on the spot.
The dantian is the source of power for all martial artists who use internal martial arts.
The powerful true qi that had been flowing through his entire body’s meridians was cut off in an instant, so it was not strange at all for him to collapse.
“……!”
“……!”
The faces of the Diancang Thrusting Sword Cloud Sword Sage and the Diancang Heavy Sword Cloud Sea Sage showed shock at the scene.
But Jin Cheon did not allow them time to be surprised.
Swissssh!
The Heavenly Demon Sword Art, Zeroth Form, Sword Control Arrow, which stretched out like a ray of light, aimed for the face of the Diancang Heavy Sword Cloud Sea Sage.
Puk!
Jin Cheon's sword pierced the center of Cloud Sea Sage's face and stuck in a tree behind him.
Jin Cheon didn't stop there.
No sword?
It didn't matter.
With the Heavenly Demon Fighting Soul Martial Art, the greatest close combat art under heaven, what did it matter whether he had a sword or not?
Pabak, pababak!
Jin Cheon’s fists and kicks rained down on the remaining one of the Three Swords of Diancang, the Diancang Thrusting Sword Cloud Sword Sage, like a heavy downpour.
“H-heot!”
Cloud Sword Sage, without even having the time to react to the deaths of his senior brothers, was too busy defending against Jin Cheon’s fierce assault to catch his breath.
If he made a single mistake, his life would be over like Clouded Void Sage and Cloud Sword Sage, so he had no mental energy to spare for anything else.
But that was also brief.
Kwaang!
Jin Cheon’s Heavenly Thunderclap Palm exploded on Cloud Sword Sage’s chest.
“Keok!”
Cloud Sword Sage, who let out a single scream, was sent flying into the distance.
He couldn't get up.
His chest had been completely caved in by the Heavenly Thunderclap Palm, and even his heart had been crushed.
‘The situation is urgent, so even if I get an earful from my senior brother later, it can’t be helped…’
Just as Jin Cheon was thinking that and turning his gaze in the direction where the Blood Qilin and Jeok Song-ja were fighting.
“……!”
Jin Cheon's face froze over like frost.
Puk!
Jeok Song-ja’s sword pierced the very center of the Blood Qilin’s chest, right through his heart.
The thrust of the Diancang Sect’s divine ultimate art, the Sun-Piercing Sword Art, had perfectly exploited the Blood Qilin’s opening.
However…
“I told you not to be reckless.”
Jin Cheon said indifferently with a frown.
That was not a reaction one would show after seeing their senior brother’s heart pierced, but there was a reason for it.
Because the Blood Qilin was not dead.
“Ugh.”
The Blood Qilin clutched his chest, from which blood was gushing, and slowly stood up.
Surprisingly, despite having his heart pierced, he was not dead but was moving around perfectly fine.