Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion Chapter 78
The reason Jin Cheon was in such a hurry was because a lot of time had already been delayed.
They should have rushed to the Divine Spirit Tree immediately after dealing with the Hui Dragon Emperor, but a whole day had passed, meaning they had wasted too much precious time.
With the touch-and-go situation where the Divine Spirit Tree could be destroyed at any moment, Jin Cheon had no choice but to use the Great Heavenly Demon Restoration Grand Art.
“See! You have a knack for attracting attention, don’t you? And you still say you’re not an attention seeker?!”
“This is not the time for jokes.”
“What’s the rush?”
“Let’s talk on the way.”
With time being of the essence, there was no time to kindly explain things to the Blood Qilin.
“I will guide you.”
“Yes, Senior Brother.”
Wi Mu-rin took out several talismans, chanted an incantation, and then began to walk ahead.
“Everyone, follow Senior Brother Wi.”
“As you command.”
Jin Cheon led the martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and followed Wi Mu-rin.
The speed of Jin Cheon’s party heading towards the Divine Spirit Tree was incredibly fast.
Thanks to the sorcerer Wi Mu-rin deploying Shrinking the Earth, it was possible to move so fast that the surrounding scenery flew by just by walking.
“Who do you think are the ones trying to destroy the Divine Spirit Tree?”
“Wouldn’t it be the Demonic Devil Cult?”
Wi Mu-rin answered Jin Cheon’s question.
“……Is that so.”
“Do you not think so, Senior Brother Wi?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure.”
“I would like to hear the reason.”
“Isn’t the Demonic Devil Cult a group that worships the founder of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? It’s just that it’s suspicious that they would try to tarnish the achievements of the founder.”
Wi Mu-rin’s words carried considerable persuasive power.
No matter how much the Demonic Devil Cult did not acknowledge the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, it was hard to understand from a common-sense perspective that they would even try to destroy the Divine Spirit Tree, an achievement of the first Heavenly Demon.
“Hearing you say that, I think you have a point, Senior Brother Wi.”
“Of course, we shouldn’t be certain until we see it with our own two eyes.”
“I think so too.”
However, Jin Cheon was convinced that the ones trying to destroy the Divine Spirit Tree were the Demonic Devil Cult.
‘Who on earth could it be?’
If it wasn't the Demonic Devil Cult, they wouldn't even know about the Divine Spirit Tree, and he couldn't think of a third party being involved.
Of course, as Wi Mu-rin said, they would find out when they got there.
***
The distance from the Black Bamboo Forest to the place where the Divine Spirit Tree was located took at least two periods of two hours.
Even that was thanks to being able to move quickly due to Wi Mu-rin’s sorcery; if not for that, it would have taken a whole day longer.
“The Divine Spirit Tree is beyond that.”
Wi Mu-rin pointed beyond a low hill.
“The spiritual power I feel is immense. Someone is definitely tampering with the Divine Spirit Tree.”
“Yes, I think so too.”
Jin Cheon also felt the signs of sorcery and nodded.
However…….
‘I don’t feel any demonic qi.’
Jin Cheon was quite flustered by the fact that he couldn't feel any demonic qi from beyond the hill.
If the ones trying to destroy the Divine Spirit Tree were a group from the Demonic Devil Cult, it would be normal to feel demonic qi.
But from beyond the hill, instead of demonic qi, a very pure energy was felt.
‘Don’t tell me it’s a Taoist school?’
Strangely, the energy of the spiritual power was similar to that of a Taoist sect.
There was no way Jin Cheon, who had been dealing with Taoists ad nauseam for a long time, would fail to recognize the energy of a Taoist school.
‘Is it the Righteous Heavenly Alliance?’
The reason Jin Cheon could only think of that was because the absolute majority of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance were Taoist sects.
The current Nine Sects One Gang consisted of Shaolin, Wudang, Qingcheng, Kongtong, Zhongnan, Hainan, Diancang, Moshan, Emei, and the Beggar's Gang, excluding the destroyed Kunlun and Mount Hua Sects.
Among them, excluding the Buddhist Shaolin and Emei, the Beggar's Gang made of beggars, and the Hainan Sect made of secular martial artists, the remaining six sects had their roots in Taoist temples.
In other words, it was no exaggeration to say that the mainstream of the current Central Plains Murim was the Taoist sects.
“We need to get closer and find out their strength and identity.”
“That’s the plan.”
“I will go myself.”
“Then let’s go together. A sorcerer knows a sorcerer. There are many sorcerers among them, so my insight will be needed.”
“Understood.”
Jin Cheon and Wi Mu-rin immediately moved their bodies and headed for the Divine Spirit Tree.
“Wait.”
Wi Mu-rin blocked Jin Cheon’s path.
“Wait a moment. It’s a sorcery that announces the approach of an enemy.”
Wi Mu-rin said so, then took out a talisman and chanted an incantation to break the sorcery the enemies had set up.
“Unlike martial artists, sorcerers do not rely solely on their senses. Do you see here? You can see places where the surrounding objects are subtly unnatural.”
“I see them.”
“You have to be careful of things like this. In a normal situation, martial artists would think they approached stealthily, but the sorcerers would have known in advance and prepared.”
“Thank you for your teaching, Senior Brother.”
Jin Cheon performed a fist-and-palm salute to Wi Mu-rin.
Teachings like this would be very useful knowledge for a martial artist, and furthermore, for anyone living in the Jianghu…….
“It’s fine now, so let’s go further.”
“Yes, Senior Brother.”
Soon, they crossed the hill and arrived at a place overlooking the Divine Spirit Tree, and Jin Cheon and Wi Mu-rin were greatly surprised to finally confirm who the culprits of this incident were.
“It’s not the Demonic Devil Cult. They are……”
“The Qingcheng Sect and the Moshan Sect.”
Jin Cheon recognized their identity at a glance and said.
The Taoists wearing robes with a red sunset embroidered on the left sleeve and a blue cloud on the right sleeve could only be from the Qingcheng Sect.
And next to them, the ones wearing light purple robes were the Taoists of the Moshan Sect, who would be offended if they were called second best in sorcery in the Central Plains.
In other words, the ones attempting to destroy the Divine Spirit Tree were not the Demonic Devil Cult but the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
“How did they?”
“The information must have leaked.”
“This is not easy. Information about the Divine Spirit Tree is top secret even within our cult……”
Wi Mu-rin’s expression became serious.
The fact that information about the Divine Spirit Tree had leaked was no ordinary matter.
It was a situation where it would not be strange to think that a spy from the Righteous Heavenly Alliance had infiltrated deep into the cult.
“We can just catch the top dog and ask, can’t we?”
“That’s true, but.”
“It would be best to go back and prepare for an attack first.”
As Jin Cheon said that, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
The Moshan Sect was one thing, but as long as he had discovered the Taoists of the Qingcheng Sect, it was impossible to suppress his murderous intent.
The Qingcheng Sect.
The number one Taoist sect in Sichuan.
It was a sect with deep knowledge not only in martial arts but also in alchemy, medicine, and even sorcery, currently enjoying its greatest prosperity since its founding.
But none of that mattered.
What was important was that the Qingcheng Sect was Jin Cheon’s enemy.
Wasn’t the Qingcheng Sect the home sect of Jin Cheon’s sworn enemy and irreconcilable foe, the Great Divine Physician of Immortals?
Furthermore, even when he was imprisoned in the Demonic Prison, the ones who performed the most biological experiments on Jin Cheon were the Taoists of the Qingcheng Sect.
Therefore, it was only natural that Jin Cheon could not suppress his murderous intent.
Since one of Jin Cheon’s goals was to one day annihilate the Qingcheng Sect.
“Let’s go back and prepare for an attack.”
“Yes.”
After completing their reconnaissance mission, Jin Cheon and Wi Mu-rin rejoined the martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Be careful. There will be cultivators nearby helping them.”
The Fox Immortal of the Sea of Trees, who had been watching quietly, warned Jin Cheon’s party.
“For example?”
“The Ghost King of the Sea of Trees would be a prime example.”
“Ah.”
“It could be a trap.”
The Fox Immortal of the Sea of Trees' warning was very plausible.
It was unlikely that the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees, who had fled from the Black Bamboo Forest, had not informed the Taoists of the Qingcheng and Moshan Sects.
It was highly probable that they had set a trap and were just waiting for Jin Cheon’s party to arrive.
A dilemma.
They were in a situation where they feared a trap if they attacked, but were concerned about the destruction of the Divine Spirit Tree if they left it alone.
But Jin Cheon had no intention of backing down.
“We still have to go.”
“It could be a trap.”
“Sometimes, you just have to walk into a trap yourself.”
Jin Cheon said so and looked back at Wi Mu-rin.
The command authority currently lay with Wi Mu-rin…….
“What will you do?”
“Hmm.”
Wi Mu-rin pondered for a moment before making a decision.
“As you said, it’s an unavoidable situation, so we’ll have to risk the trap. We attack immediately.”
“Yes, Senior Brother.”
At Wi Mu-rin’s decision, the Fox Immortal of the Sea of Trees shook her head and said.
“Then there’s no choice. Phew, my fate.”
Jin Cheon fully understood why the Fox Immortal of the Sea of Trees was grumbling.
Her goal was to be freed from the Sea of Trees.
From her perspective, helping Jin Cheon’s party was an act that went against her own goal.
Rather, helping the Qingcheng and Moshan Sects would be most in line with achieving her objective.
Nevertheless, the reason she was helping Jin Cheon’s party was surely to not betray their trust…….
“I’ll keep my promise, no matter what it takes.”
“Can I trust you?”
“Of course.”
Jin Cheon said forcefully.
He had overcome crises thanks to the Fox Immortal of the Sea of Trees more than once, so it was no exaggeration to say that he owed her his life.
He had ended up in a position where he had to repay her kindness one way or another.
“We’ll see about that.”
“You won’t be disappointed.”
Jin Cheon said so and looked back at Wi Mu-rin.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Wi Mu-rin took a step forward.
***
The sorcerers of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, specifically the Qingcheng and Moshan Sects, were surrounding the Divine Spirit Tree, engrossed in breaking the seal.
Incantations flowed endlessly from their mouths, their hands moved restlessly, forming various hand seals, and the number of talismans exceeded hundreds, reaching into the thousands.
The seal of the Divine Spirit Tree was created by the first Heavenly Demon with the help of the most outstanding sorcerer of his time, the Great Sorcerer, so the process of breaking it was by no means easy.
Meanwhile, the martial artists of the Qingcheng and Moshan Sects, that is, those who were not sorcerers, guarded the surroundings like an iron wall.
It was in the middle of this grand ceremony to destroy the Divine Spirit Tree.
Hwareureureu!
A sudden flame erupted and swept through the Taoists of the Qingcheng and Moshan Sects.
“Enemy!”
“Enemy attack!”
The Taoists of the Qingcheng and Moshan Sects responded to the encroaching flames with agile movements, as if they had been waiting.
But the flames were just the beginning.
Swaaaaaaa!
A rain of swords and blades poured down on their heads from the sky, and along with a white flash, lightning struck down.
The attack of Wi Mu-rin and the sorcerers of the Evil Spirit Guardian Clan had begun.
In the meantime.
“Annihilate the enemies.”
“As you command!”
As soon as Jin Cheon’s order fell, the martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult threw themselves at the enemies.
“What a windfall is this? To think I’d get to fight all the long-noses of the Central Plains at the main cult? Huhuhu.”
The Blood Qilin moved forward with a chilling smile.
“Are you excited?”
“Of course.”
The Blood Qilin replied to Jin Cheon’s question as if it were a silly thing to ask.
“Is there anything more fun than tearing the enemy to pieces?”
“Haha.”
Jin Cheon laughed.
“Yes, kill them to your heart’s content.”
“Huh?”
The Blood Qilin looked at Jin Cheon again as if something was strange.
“You’re a bit different from usual. You don’t usually say things like that.”
“Today is different.”
Jin Cheon replied as he moved ahead of the Blood Qilin.
“And you’d better move quickly.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“For some reason, I have a feeling that there won’t be any left for you, Senior Brother.”
“……?”
“Well then, I’ll go first.”
Jin Cheon said so and threw himself forward like lightning.
“Huh? Hey! Let’s go together!”
The Blood Qilin hastily followed after Jin Cheon.