Chapter 418: Chapter 418

"I heard you spent day and night at the Ancient Archives for three months and then suddenly stopped going. Did you achieve something?" the Demonic Strategist asked, a calculating smile playing on his lips.

He kept a close eye on Number 27's every move, tracking where he went, who he met, and what he did. If possible, he would have tried reading his thoughts, too. After all, if Number 27 harbored other intentions, the one would suffer most would be him, the architect of the Grand Plan.

As such, Number 27 faced suspicion over the smallest things and constantly had to prove his loyalty. Even now, he needed to appease the Demonic Strategist.

Number 27 knelt before the Demonic Strategist and replied expressionlessly, "Yes, I achieved satisfactory results."

"Oh, really? Is that true?" The Demonic Strategist raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued.

Number 27 considered his words carefully. He was walking on thin ice every day, but he knew that the Demonic Strategist's eyes and ears couldn't reach two places: the prison where his masters were being held and the Ancient Archives.

"Thanks to the Cult Leader's grace, I found a way to improve upon the masters' martial arts."

"What?" The Demonic Strategist stared at Number 27, dumbfounded by his boldness and confidence.

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"Of course, I wouldn't dare lie." Number 27 raised his head and began explaining how to improve his masters' divine arts, confidence overflowing from his eyes.

Despite his claims, he wasn't the one who had improved upon these martial arts, but rather his imprisoned masters. Even though they were unable to do any training, they had all advanced beyond their former levels through theory alone. However, he lied to the Demonic Strategist, making it seem like he'd discovered these methods himself in the Ancient Archives.

"Incredible! You are truly talented. Who would've thought you'd find such methods in the Ancient Archives?"

The Demonic Strategist was one of the Blood Cult's greatest masters. He had more than enough ability to determine whether Number 27's claims were baseless or genuine ways to enhance divine arts.

"You overestimate me. The books left by former cult leaders helped greatly."

"Haha! They must have found your loyalty commendable!"

The suspicion cleared from the Demonic Strategist's face, replaced by a satisfied smile. Of course, he still didn't trust Number 27 completely. That day would never come.

For now, though, this was enough. He couldn't carelessly cast out a martial arts instructor who could refine even the jianghu's ultimate martial arts. Of course, Number 27's influence would grow, and he might even make demands, but he would accept them if they were reasonable.

"Elder, may I make a request for our great cause?"

"I permit it." The Demonic Strategist nodded in approval, as if he'd generously grant almost any request.

"Ten years is a long time, but it's difficult to say if that's enough time to fully research the ultimate martial arts , even more so if I waste time teaching the cult's youngsters."

"Please reconsider the martial arts experiment," Number 27 pleaded. Having just promised improved martial arts, he judged he could make this request in return. Logically, there was nothing wrong with it, and it wasn't difficult.

Contrary to his expectation, however, the Demonic Strategist shook his head. "That's impossible. I'll grant a different request."

"I can't overrule something the Cult Leader himself commanded."

"I understand." Number 27 lowered his head. In the Blood Cult, the Cult Leader's authority was unquestionable. The moment he doubted it, the Demonic Strategist would kill him.

"That's actually why I called you. About the young ones who'll learn martial arts from you... there's been a change in the circumstances."

"What do you mean by 'changed'?" Number 27 asked, puzzled.

Infusing his voice with inner qi, the Demonic Strategist shouted at the door. "Let them enter."

Moments later, four boys and girls, who appeared to be in their mid to late teens, opened the door and entered.

Number 27 scrutinized the kids' bone structure the moment they entered. This was a habit he had developed since becoming an instructor. Soon, his eyes widened.

"Elder, are you sure about these kids..."

[Are you trying to say they're too talented to be experimental subjects?]

Number 27 nodded silently. Since he was unable to use inner arts, he could not communicate telepathically.

The Demonic Strategist smiled mysteriously. [They're prodigies our Cult found by scouring the world. Had they been lucky, they might have become candidates for Young Cult Leader... but they're not.]

No wonder they all have excellent bone structures and appear intelligent.

Most of the children raised in the Blood Cult had spiteful, hateful looks in their eyes. This was natural, as they had to survive fierce competition from an early age.

However, these children were different. Although they looked anxious, there was also confidence in their eyes, and they even glanced at Number 27 with curiosity.

"Still, why are you giving them to me?"

[This too was the Cult Leader's order.]

The Young Cult Leader was typically chosen from among the children of the Eight Great Families, the Elders or prominent cultists, but they also sought out talented children from outside. These children were made to compete against each other, and the most outstanding candidate became the Young Cult Leader.

However, the current Cult Leader rejected all of these traditions.

[The Cult Leader declared he wouldn't accept an heir unless they possessed the Heavenly Yin Severed Meridians. Even after scouring the world, we couldn't find anyone with them. Hoping he might change his mind, we found outstanding prodigies from everywhere and presented them to the Cult Leader, but none caught his eye.]

The Demonic Strategist explained in more detail than usual, perhaps to compensate for denying Number 27's request.

The four boys and girls standing nervously before them had also been rejected in this manner. However, the Demonic Strategist made it clear that they didn't know this.

[They don't have the Heavenly Yin Severed Meridians, but they're prodigies who can learn at least five more things for every one you teach them. While they haven't been trained in demonic arts, our Cult's techniques and body reformation have laid the groundwork for them to instantly learn any martial art.]

In other words, these children were the kind of talent that anyone would covet. Many elders coveted them, but it seemed that the Cult Leader was intrigued by the Demonic Strategist's plan and sent them to him.

[Do you understand? Your mission is not just to conduct a martial arts experiment. You are responsible for raising martial artists who will one day stand by the Cult Leader's side and help him achieve the great cause of world domination.]

Number 27 didn't express his discontent outwardly, but instead quietly clenched his teeth. Regardless of his true feelings, he knew there was only one answer he could give.

"Your best isn't enough. This is a mission you must accomplish by staking everything."

"I will succeed at all costs."

Only then did the Demonic Strategist nod with satisfaction. Turning to the boys and girls who'd been listening anxiously, he said, "From now on, think of the instructor here as your master and serve him. Do you understand?"

""Yes, Elder!"" The children replied confidently.

Number 27 was unsure how to feel looking at the children. They were fundamentally different from him, who had started from the very bottom.

Physically, he didn't have much talent for martial arts. He'd honed himself by toeing the line between life and death countless times.

"The day you complete their martial arts training, our Cult's great cause will begin!"

Number 27 interpreted the Demonic Strategist's words as follows: The day you complete their martial arts training and become useless, I'll kill you!

He looked at the boys and girls emotionlessly. At their excitement over the prospect of soon learning the ultimate martial arts.

"I'll provide you with secure lodgings and a training ground. Devote yourselves fully to your training."

"Good. You may all leave."

"I'll be on my way now." Number 27 bowed to the Demonic Strategist and left.

The four boys and girls followed quietly behind him.

On the way to their new lodgings, Number 27 didn't say a word.

"What kind of martial arts will we be learning?"

"We heard from the Elder that we'll be learning incredible martial arts..."

Number 27 didn't answer, so the boys and girl began whispering amongst themselves behind him.

A short while later, they arrived at the lodgings that the Demonic Strategist had mentioned. As he had guaranteed, it was a place with tight security. They passed through several checkpoints on the way. It was quite far from the heart of the Cult, which was good for maintaining secrecy.

"Oh! This place is really nice."

"The building is new."

"The training ground is spacious, too."

The boys and girls looked around the accommodations with flushed faces, filled with excitement and anticipation. This place lacked nothing.

Number 27 glanced around the training ground and nodded as if satisfied. Just then, a faint, dissatisfied voice came from behind him.

"About that instructor, though... can we really trust him?"

"I heard his qi center is destroyed..."

"Really? Then can he even teach martial arts?"

"Shh! He'll hear you."

"Nah, that cripple won't be able to hear us whispering without inner arts."

Number 27 ignored them and strode into the training ground. On one side was a wall where weapons hung. He picked up a whip, spun around, and swung it at the speed of lightning.

CRACK! WHIP! WHIP! WHIP!

The whip tore through the air, eliciting shrieks of pain wherever it landed. Clothes were torn and blood was splattered. Flesh split open and desperate pleas for mercy echoed throughout the lodgings.

Still, Number 27 didn't stop. He flogged the children so fiercely and brutally that they couldn't even think of resisting. Only after the training ground floor was soaked with blood and the screams had turned into broken sobs did he finally put a stop to the whipping.

Staring at the children writhing on the floor, Number 27 said in a low, monotone voice, "First rule, don't open your mouths unless I ask you a question."

"Second rule, you will obey my commands without question."

"We'll establish the other rules one by one." Number 27 wiped the blood splattered on his face with the back of his hand , but his expression remained impassive. "I don't care how you've been treated in the cult until now. From today on, I'm the one who decides who lives and who dies. Make sure you remember that."

""U-Understood..."" The children stammered with terrified expressions, finally realizing what kind of man they would be learning martial arts from.

"......" Baek Suryong sighed. Such was his first meeting with his former trainees. Powerless to intervene, he could only stand by and watch his trainees' faces distort with terror and rage again and again.

Several years passed quickly.