Chapter 416: Chapter 416

A light touch of a finger was all it took for Number 27 to become as helpless as a butterfly caught in a spider's web.

"At last, we meet again," the Blood Demon said, staring intently into Number 27's eyes with his own jewel-like red ones.

He didn't gather his inner qi or activate the Blood Demon Eyes, yet under that gaze that seemed to pierce right through him, Number 27 almost confessed all his secrets on the spot.

If that was my first time meeting the Blood Demon, if my qi center hadn't been destroyed and I hadn't been cast out from the Blood Dragons, if I hadn't anticipated that the Demonic Strategist would one day discard me after I had served my purpose... I might have been mesmerized by that gaze, confessed my sins, and begged for forgiveness.

Fortunately, the current Number 27 hated the Blood Cult to his very core. He bit his tongue hard. Blood trickled down his throat, and the pain snapped his dazed mind back to clarity.

The Blood Demon's eyebrows, which looked as if someone had drawn them with a brush, rose slightly in interest.

For a long time, the two men stared at each other without saying a word. Meanwhile, the Demonic Strategist and the Blood Dragon Captain, who were watching from the side, were more flustered than the two men themselves.

The Demonic Strategist eyed Number 27 with displeasure and suspicion. He was the type of person who couldn't stand not knowing something. "Cult Leader, why would you deign to pay attention to such an insignificant being?"

Trembling with emotion, Number 27 asked, "Do you...remember me?"

Blood trickled out the moment he opened his mouth, but no one paid it any mind. Everyone fixated on the languid smile playing on the Blood Demon's lips.

"Weren't you one of the Blood Dragons?"

The Blood Dragon Captain immediately prostrated himself. After hearing the Cult Leader's words, he recalled Number 27's face. "He served under the command of the previous, traitorous Blood Dragon Captain. I understand his qi center was destroyed from reckless training, and he was expelled from the Blood Dragons."

The Blood Dragon Captain now had been the vice captain when Number 27 was in the Blood Dragons.

Several years ago, the previous Blood Dragon Captain, whom Number 27 had reported to, was executed for attempting to assassinate the Cult Leader. He was a man so upright and loyal that people said he would have become a hero if he had been born in the orthodox sects, yet he was framed as a traitor and executed overnight on false charges.

The Blood Demon knew, yet he stood by and watched as a martial artist who had served and protected him for nearly twenty years was executed...

Back when he was in the Blood Dragons, the Blood Dragon Captain was the only person who treated Number 27 like a human being. The man's wrongful death was one of the reasons he had decided to betray the Blood Cult.

"Cult Leader, this man is no longer a Blood Dragon. He's not worthy of your time." The Blood Dragon Captain glared at his former subordinate with contempt, as if looking at a stain on clean clothes. "Why are you here, you bastard?" he roared, looking ready to strike Number 27 down on the spot if he couldn't provide a proper reason.

Before Number 27 could explain, the Demonic Strategist stepped in to mediate. "Blood Dragon Captain, please calm yourself. I was the one who summoned him. I knew he had a peculiar history, but his presence here today is purely a coincidence."

The suspicion and displeasure in the Demonic Strategist's eyes toward Number 27 had vanished. It seemed he assumed that the Cult Leader was interested in Number 27 simply because he had once been in the Blood Dragons.

He had no idea that the connection between them was not so simple.

"You were born with a very special destiny, with two possible futures. In one, you will become the cornerstone necessary for our cult to achieve world domination, and in the other, you will ignite the flames that will destroy our cult."

Baek Suryong clearly remembered those words, but Number 27 did not.

The Demonic Strategist continued, "Cult Leader, why have you personally graced this humble place with your presence? Had you summoned me, I would have rushed here in an instant..."

The Blood Demon slowly tore his gaze from Number 27 and looked at the Demonic Strategist. "I simply walked where my feet took me. Perhaps fate led me here."

The Blood Demon was known for his eccentricity. The underlying meaning behind his words and actions defied comprehension. If that were all, he would have been treated as a simple madman, but he was hailed as the strongest martial master in the history of the Blood Cult and a sorcerer who wielded arcane powers. Every single word he uttered felt profound to the cultists, and the elders were no different.

The Demonic Strategist said with a deeply moved expression, "Seeing that you've wandered here to me today, Cult Leader, I'm now certain that the Grand Plan I've prepared will surely succeed!"

The Demonic Strategist began rambling about things the Cult Leader hadn't even asked about. He also explained why Number 27 was there.

"This man is currently serving as a martial arts instructor, nurturing the future pillars of our cult. His qi center is destroyed, making him useless as a martial artist, but his talent for teaching is quite remarkable. I've therefore entrusted him with an important mission."

"What kind of mission?"

The Demonic Strategist was notorious among the Blood Cult elders for his cunning and viciousness, but before the Blood Demon, he was just another loyal and fervent zealot.

"...And so, I've devised a plan to sweep away all those who stand in the way of our Cult's unification of the murim!"

After explaining his entire plan, the Demonic Strategist slammed his forehead to the floor in a gesture of complete submission. The Blood Dragons bodyguarding the Blood Dragon Captain and the Cult Leader did the same. They even competed with one another to demonstrate their loyalty by dropping to their knees and striking their foreheads against the ground over and over again.

Only Number 27 remained standing, staring at the Cult Leader stiffly. However, even that was only because the Blood Demon had not allowed him to move. An unprecedented power bound his entire body and rendered him immobile.

Baek Suryong sighed as he watched the scene unfold. Fucking crazy religious fanatics.

The Blood Demon's presence made it all possible. A presence that transcended humanity enveloped the entire space.

"Second Elder, I look forward to the success of your plan," he remarked lazily.

It was a brief response that seemed insincere compared to the lengthy, passionate explanation, yet the Demonic Strategist appeared content. His prostrate body trembled as he praised the Blood Demon. "It's an honor that you trust me with this!"

At that moment, Baek Suryong realized a chilling truth. Huh? Wait a minute... the Blood Demon has no interest in conquering the murim!

This was a truth that would have horrified the Demonic Strategist if he knew, no, it was a truth that no one in the Blood Cult would believe. Still, Baek Suryong was certain. He would even bet on it.

Back then, this thought would have never occurred to me...

He could only realize it now because he neither deified the Blood Demon nor held him in awe. After clearing away the emotions that had clouded his vision, he saw only a very bored absolute being. The leader of demonic masters dreaming of murim conquest, as mentioned by the entire jianghu, was nowhere to be seen!

It's not just conquering the murim. He has no interest in anything at all.

Others might not have known, but Baek Suryong could tell that the Blood Demon was not at all interested in the Demonic Strategist's story. His eyes were fixed on something else, not on the cultists who followed him blindly.

Then what does he want?

In retrospect, there were more than a few strange details. The Blood Cult enjoyed the greatest success in its history during this period. All the unorthodox forces revered the Blood Cult as their leader, and the orthodox murim were constantly anxious about when they might invade.

They had more than enough power to attempt to take over the entire murim, yet he did nothing.

The Blood Demon gave no orders to the cultists who would jump into a pit of fire at his command. He simply stood by, knowing that the Demonic Strategist and the other elders were concocting all sorts of schemes and were ready to receive his command at any moment.

"Be patient and wait. The time will soon come."

Lies! You're just giving them false hope! What in the world is your goal?

Even Baek Suryong could not fully understand the Blood Demon. The man existed beyond the scope of common sense, understanding, and conventional wisdom.

The Blood Demon's voice snapped Baek Suryong back to his senses. Refocusing his vision, he saw the Blood Demon staring intently at him again.

He was confused. Is he looking at my past self right now, or is he speaking across time and space to the current me? I can't tell...

"Since you've been working hard for the cult, I'll give you a reward too."

"I don't deserve such an honor. Please retract your offer..."

"I'll grant you access to the Ancient Archives."

Number 27 shut his mouth.

Puzzled, the Demonic Strategist stammered, "C-Cult Leader, when you say the Ancient Archives, are you referring to..."

He didn't dare question his lord disrespectfully, but his face revealed his surprise at such a great reward being bestowed upon a mere instructor.

"Consulting the books in the Ancient Archives should assist you in researching the martial arts of the imprisoned masters."

"You're correct, but that place is..."

"Enough, Demonic Strategist! I wasn't speaking to you."

The Demonic Strategist's face paled. He immediately prostrated himself and begged for punishment. "P-Please kill me!"

Number 27 waited, but the Blood Demon did not punish the Demonic Strategist.

Baek Suryong gritted his teeth. He's not even angry, because he doesn't give a crap about the Demonic Strategist to begin with.

No, the Blood Demon's crimson eyes were fixed on the weakest and most insignificant being present—himself.

The perfectly shaped lips curved subtly in a grin. "If you're lucky, you might find what you're looking for there."

"...I'll ensure the grand plan succeeds and repay your grace, Cult Leader," Number 27 replied in a trembling voice, having finally come to his senses.

"I look forward to what lies ahead."

The Blood Demon turned away, leaving behind an enigmatic smile. No one could speak until he completely disappeared from view.

The Ancient Archives was one of the oldest places in the Blood Cult. It was a graveyard of martial arts that had been discarded long ago, including martial arts deemed useless, abandoned midway through creation, or judged to be inefficient.

Still, any martial artist of the Blood Cult would, at one point or another, have been curious about the Ancient Archives, the same thought running through their minds: Who knows? Maybe I can find a martial art hidden by a previous Cult Leader in the Ancient Archives?

The reason for this was that the creators of the martial arts here were mostly former cult leaders or unparalleled masters who had made their mark in the Blood Cult's history. As such, the Ancient Archives were designated a forbidden area within the Blood Cult, and only those with the Cult Leader's permission could enter.

"The Ancient Archives? Haven't you heard that nine out of ten martial artists who go in there end up dead?"

"Doesn't that mean one in ten obtains a divine art?"

"No, it means one in ten become crippled from learning some faulty martial art."

Even during his time in the Blood Dragons, he had heard about the Ancient Archives several times, though most of the tales were more like horror stories.

"I heard there are all sorts of experimental martial arts there. From martial arts meant to be learned by beasts to martial arts that mix sorcery and martial arts to martial arts that can be performed with a destroyed qi center..."

"Did the peerless masters have nothing better to do than create random shit like that?" Read complete versıon only at NoveIꜰire.net

"How the fuck should I know?"

"I'd like to go in at least once..."

"Forget it. You'll never get to go in there in your lifetime. It's probably been ten years since anyone last entered."

Recalling the words of his senior from the Blood Dragons, Number 27 stepped into the Ancient Archives.

Inside the archives, layers upon layers of dust had accumulated over time. There were countless books, scrolls, and scribbles scrawled on torn pieces of paper.

Number 27 was briefly taken aback by the completely disorganized interior. "There might be a way to restore a destroyed qi center in here," he muttered, unable to hide his excitement.

He immediately began searching through the archives, praying that his last hope would be found in this place.

Baek Suryong glanced around the Ancient Archives, recalling the old memory. In reality, he had obtained what he wanted and more from this place.

Back then, this was where I found the Heaven Defying Divine Art. Right now, I might be able to find what I missed back then.