Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion Chapter 60
According to the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's explanation, the Heavenly Demon Scripture was the work of the 2nd Heavenly Demon.
The 2nd Heavenly Demon skinned the corpse of his past life, the First Heavenly Demon, and created a manual, naming it the Heavenly Demon Scripture.
For some reason, it was said to be possible because the Heavenly Demon's corpse did not rot even after death.
Just before his death, the 2nd Heavenly Demon recorded the enlightenment he had achieved throughout his life in the Heavenly Demon Scripture, and it was inherited by the 3rd Heavenly Demon.
The 3rd Heavenly Demon, like the 2nd, also skinned his past life, the 2nd Heavenly Demon, and added to the contents of the Heavenly Demon Scripture.
In other words, the Heavenly Demon Scripture was a manual made from the human skins of the First to the 6th Heavenly Demons, excluding the 7th Heavenly Demon who was executed by the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
It was a treasure among treasures that contained a complete record of the enlightenment the Heavenly Demon had gained through repeated reincarnations.
Of course, whether a demonic book made from the human skins of successive Heavenly Demons could truly be called a treasure, I did not know…….
‘Good heavens.’
Jin Cheon could hardly believe that the manual of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, which he had only heard of in words, was in his hands.
Wasn't the Heavenly Demon Divine Art the pinnacle of all demonic arts in the world?
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God's words that there was no need to learn the martial arts in the Demonic Scripture Pavilion were by no means an empty boast.
Since he would be learning the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, learning other martial arts would be nothing but a waste of time…….
“May I ask just one thing?”
“Of course.”
“Did the senior brothers also learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?”
“Those children could not learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”
“Could not learn means……”
“The Heavenly Demon Scripture itself is a demonic object, so those who are not a Heavenly Demon’s Physique cannot read it.”
“S-such a thing.”
“Is that all? If an untrained person reads it, they will die on the spot, bleeding from the seven orifices, and a trained martial artist will fall into qi deviation and go mad.”
I wondered to what extent it was, for the Iron-Blooded Demonic God to call it a demonic object, but just hearing about it was enough to make my mind go blank.
“Then can't it be passed down through oral transmission?”
“The Heavenly Demon Scripture was engraved by the First Heavenly Demon with his own soul as a Heart-voice, so it is impossible to convey it in any language or expression. Only those who have read the Heavenly Demon Scripture can discuss it among themselves.”
“How can that be……”
“That is why it is a demonic object, and why none of your senior brothers could learn it. I was originally about to destroy the Heavenly Demon Scripture, but my connection with you led me to leave it like this.”
“Forgive my impertinence, but you once said, Cult Leader, that you are not a Heavenly Demon’s Physique. Then, were you also unable to read the Heavenly Demon Scripture?”
Jin Cheon carefully asked the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
“Cheon-ah, my disciple.”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God looked down at Jin Cheon with her haughty gaze.
“Who do you think I am? I am the Cult Leader of this cult, and also the Heavenly Demon of this era. Do you think such a person as I could not have read the Heavenly Demon Scripture?”
Indeed, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
As if to prove she wasn't the greatest master of all time for nothing, it seemed she could read the Heavenly Demon Scripture despite not being a Heavenly Demon’s Physique.
“Please forgive my rudeness.”
“It is fine. It was a perfectly reasonable question, so do not take it to heart.”
“Yes, Your Holiness, the Cult Leader.”
“From today, read the Heavenly Demon Scripture and receive my teachings.”
“I obey your command.”
“Open it.”
Under the supervision of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, Jin Cheon carefully opened the Heavenly Demon Scripture.
The feeling of turning the page made from the human skin of the First Heavenly Demon was truly bizarre.
Just by turning the page, it felt as if I was being bewitched by something evil, to the point where I could only think of it as a demonic object.
Rustle, the first page of the Heavenly Demon Scripture was opened.
“Th-this is.”
As soon as he saw the first page of the Heavenly Demon Scripture, Jin Cheon could understand the meaning of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's words.
There was nothing written on the first page of the Heavenly Demon Scripture.
Only the yellowed leather surface made of human skin was visible; not a single character could be found.
Nevertheless, Jin Cheon was able to read some information from the first page of the Heavenly Demon Scripture.
Indeed, as the Iron-Blooded Demonic God had said, the formulas of the Heavenly Demon Scripture were recorded in an indescribable form.
Rustle, rustle.
Jin Cheon continued to turn the pages of the Heavenly Demon Scripture, imprinting the formulas contained within one by one in his mind.
Of course, that did not mean he could understand the content.
Just as an ordinary martial artist cannot understand the manual of an advanced martial art, Jin Cheon also could not understand the contents of the Heavenly Demon Scripture.
Even the immense martial arts knowledge he had accumulated since the Demonic Prison was of no help in interpreting the Heavenly Demon Scripture, so its abstruseness felt like an impregnable fortress.
As if reading Jin Cheon's expression, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God advised.
“It is natural not to understand, so there is no need to be disheartened. The Heavenly Demon Scripture contains the enlightenment that the Heavenly Demon gained through repeated reincarnations. How could one understand the enlightenment that a single soul has built up over hundreds of years?”
“Aah.”
“The only ones who can fully interpret the contents of the Heavenly Demon Scripture are the Heavenly Demon himself and I.”
“I understand what you mean.”
“The contents of the first half are the heart art of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, so do not try to understand, but focus only on memorizing.”
“I obey your command.”
Following the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's advice, Jin Cheon spent the whole night reading the Heavenly Demon Scripture, focusing on memorizing the heart art of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
About four hours later.
“Will you be able to circulate your qi?”
“I will try.”
Enjoying the luxury of being guarded by none other than the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, Jin Cheon tried to move his true qi according to the formulas of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Woooong!
Soon, the demonic qi filled all the blood vessels of his entire body, even the fine meridians, and began to strengthen Jin Cheon's interior.
‘N-no way!’
Jin Cheon was appalled.
The heart art of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art displayed immense power just by circulating qi.
He could feel not only his entire body's blood vessels but also his muscles and bones hardening, making him feel as if he had achieved a Diamond Indestructible Body.
After the first qi circulation was finished.
“It is beyond my expectations. I had my doubts, but I did not expect you to be able to circulate your qi right away.”
“You praise me too much.”
“Your aptitude is excellent. Continue to train diligently in the future.”
“I obey your command.”
A smile appeared on Jin Cheon's lips.
To be guarded by the greatest master of all time, and even be praised?
It would not be an exaggeration to say that there was no greater luxury for a martial artist.
“You may withdraw for today. I will call for you again tomorrow.”
“Yes, Cult Leader. I will take my leave now.”
From that day on.
Jin Cheon began to visit the Cult Leader's Hall every day and receive teachings from the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
***
In fact, without his knowledge, Jin Cheon had become a topic of unprecedented interest within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
And for good reason; over the past few months, Jin Cheon had made a name for himself, knowingly or unknowingly, by being involved in all the major incidents that had occurred in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The fact that a promising prodigy of the orthodox sects had defected was enough to draw attention, but Jin Cheon was also the disciple of the Azure Heaven Divine Warrior, who was respected by many even in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Moreover, at the time of Jin Cheon's defection, hadn't the Cult Leader, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, swept away the Righteous Heavenly Alliance at the Yangtze River and displayed her divine might?
On top of that, rumors had spread far and wide that he had not only achieved excellent results in the Blood Wolf Corps but had also played a major role during the attack by the Demonic Devil Cult.
Furthermore, with the story that he had been visiting the Cult Leader's Hall every day since becoming the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's disciple, it was only natural for the people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to be on high alert about Jin Cheon's every move.
And this phenomenon was no exception, even for the leaders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Before the meeting began.
The leaders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, who had arrived at the meeting hall early, were chatting about this and that over refreshments.
Since the meeting had not yet officially begun, the conversations were mostly about personal matters.
It was then that someone mentioned Jin Cheon…….
“I've heard an interesting rumor.”
Sa Ha-ryeong, the head of the Sacred Blood Clan, spoke up.
As the mother of the Blood Qilin, she was a beautiful middle-aged woman with blond hair and red eyes, just like her son.
“Is it true that the youngest disciple the Cult Leader newly took in has been visiting the Cult Leader's Hall every day?”
“……”
For a moment, silence fell over the meeting hall.
Currently in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Jin Cheon's very existence was a subject that could not but be taken very sensitively.
Although the First Young Master had solidified his position as a candidate for Little Cult Leader, the recent actions of Jin Cheon, who had newly become the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's disciple, were unusual.
Moreover, as Sa Ha-ryeong had mentioned, Jin Cheon visiting the Cult Leader's Hall every day was a very exceptional event.
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God had never given daily teachings to any of her disciples before, so it was enough to be seen as her favoring Jin Cheon.
Even the First Young Master, Cheon U-jin, had never enjoyed such a luxury…….
“Is that really true? This is the first I'm hearing of it.”
Yeom Tak, the head of the Demonic Armament Yeom Family and father of the Fourth Young Master, Yeom Bi, tilted his head as if he didn't understand.
“As expected, Clan Head Yeom is ill-informed about the cult's news.”
“Listening to various rumors only distracts the mind. Rumors aren't always true, are they?”
“But this rumor is an undeniable fact. Isn't that right? Clan Head Cheol?”
Sa Ha-ryeong asked Cheol Ja-ryang, the father of Cheol Yu-ra and the head of the Frigid Iron Clan.
Cheol Ja-ryang showed a slightly uncomfortable expression at Sa Ha-ryeong's question, but he did not remain silent.
“I know it is not a groundless rumor. That fellow Jin Cheon…… no, the Seventh Young Master has been seen coming out of the Cult Leader's Hall by more than one or two people.”
At Cheol Ja-ryang's words, So Yong-mo, the head of the Puppet So Clan, and Wi Ji-sang, the head of the Evil Spirit Guardian Clan, also added a word each.
As parents who also had a child who was a disciple of the Cult Leader, they seemed to have a considerable interest in Jin Cheon.
“Anyway, his aptitude seems to be truly great. Didn't he develop a heart art to replace the Reverse Heaven Heart Art, which can be called the foundation of demonic arts?”
“With such aptitude, it would not be strange for the Cult Leader to hold onto him and impart her teachings.”
However, Sa Ha-ryeong's gaze was directed not at them, but at another person.
Cheon Bo-seong.
The head of the Demonic Dao Cheon Family, which boasted the greatest power among the Seven Demonic Families, and the father of the First Young Master, Cheon U-jin.
However, despite the ongoing conversation, he remained silent without a single flicker of emotion.
At Cheon Bo-seong's silence, Sa Ha-ryeong asked directly.
“What do you think? Clan Head Cheon?”
“About what.”
“Don't you think the Cult Leader is overly fond of the new disciple she has taken in?”
“I am not sure.”
Cheon Bo-seong said flatly.
“As he is the last disciple she has taken in, I believe she is just giving him a little more attention.”
“But giving him teachings every day is a sacred grace that even the First Young Master has not received.”
The tone of Sa Ha-ryeong's words was distinctly provocative.
However, Cheon Bo-seong showed a relaxed attitude as if he didn't care at all.
“If we are to talk about receiving the Cult Leader's sacred grace, isn't the Sixth Young Master the foremost?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The generosity the Cult Leader has shown to the Sixth Young Master so far is as vast as the sea, is it not? According to the laws of our cult, the Sixth Young Master would have already become dew on the execution ground or been thrown into the Demonic Ghost Cave and then some, would he not? The Seventh Young Master is but a drop in the bucket compared to that, so Clan Head Sa, please do not be too upset.”
“Are you finished talking?”
Sa Ha-ryeong's eyes blazed red.
She had tried to provoke Cheon Bo-seong but had ended up getting more than she bargained for; however, while other things could be tolerated, she could not endure insults to her child.
“Why are you taking it so sensitively? I was only saying that the Cult Leader cherishes the Sixth Young Master.”
“Fine. I admit it.”
Sa Ha-ryeong sneered with a bitter smile.
“The Cult Leader does cherish my son. As Clan Head Cheon said, she has shown great generosity.”
“My unworthy son has not received such great grace from the Cult Leader; I can only be envious.”
“What Clan Head Cheon should be envious of is not my son, but the Seventh Young Master, wouldn't you say?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Because the Cult Leader has bestowed the Nine-headed Dragon Robe upon the Seventh Young Master.”
“……!”
Hearing Sa Ha-ryeong's words, Cheon Bo-seong's face froze over like frost.