Chapter 117. I Have Found It.

“Wh-why would the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult want to meet the sect leader of a fallen sect?”

“You’ll know when you hear it from him. It’s a bit difficult to say it here.”

“I cannot do that.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in shook his head.

“Our sect and the Demonic Cult have been sworn enemies for generations. Moreover, wasn’t it the Demonic Cult that destroyed our sect? How can I have a conversation with the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult?”

“Child, do you think you have a choice right now?”

“Are you threatening me now?”

“Yes.”

Seop So-yeon nodded as if she wouldn’t deny it.

“Don’t make me angry, and just listen to me nicely.”

“Did I not say that I cannot do that.”

“You’re so foolish.”

Seop So-yeon clicked her tongue.

“There is nothing absolute in the world. It might be different for individuals, but between powers, there are no eternal enemies or allies.”

“Hmm.”

“You’ve fallen so far to be in this state. What do you have to lose to refuse such an opportunity?”

“If I face our enemy, how can I stand before the spirit tablets of our ancestors?”

“Well, that’s not wrong either. But you’re the leader of a sect, aren’t you? You should know how to put aside your personal feelings.”

“Th-that is.”

“Don’t be stubborn and just meet him once. He’s an easy person to talk to. You can come to the special room at Moon Howl Pavilion tonight.”

After leaving those words, Seop So-yeon vanished, and the remaining Azure Cliff Jin-in fell into deep contemplation.

‘The Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult wants to meet me. What is his intention?’

Since Azure Cliff Jin-in couldn’t guess his intention at all, he was just confused.

‘The fact that he sought out our already destroyed sect means there must be a reason. As she said, there would be no harm in meeting him.’

Azure Cliff Jin-in, whose business acumen had improved considerably from dealing with the high-ranking officials who had recently been visiting him, judged that this meeting would by no means be a loss.

As they say, a thirsty person digs a well; didn’t he come because there was something he wanted?

‘For now, I have no choice but to meet him.’

In the end, Azure Cliff Jin-in decided to meet the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult at least once.

Although it was true that the Demonic Cult was a sworn enemy of Kunlun, there would be no meaning in dwelling on such things now.

That evening.

Azure Cliff Jin-in visited Moon Howl Pavilion.

In the special room there, Azure Cliff Jin-in was able to face Jin Cheon, who had removed his disguise and revealed his original appearance.

‘Good heavens. To think such a young man is the Unrivaled New Demon.’

Azure Cliff Jin-in was greatly shocked upon seeing Jin Cheon sitting in a relaxed posture, drinking alone.

His handsome features, which revealed his demonic nature, were one thing, but to think that the great demon head, the Unrivaled New Demon, who had recently shaken the world, was only of a prodigy’s age…

If it were anyone else, he would have dismissed it as an absurd story.

Because it was absurd that someone of a prodigy’s age could split the legend of the Diancang Sect, Bungwang Jin-in, in two.

He would have surely thought that it was a master who had either reverted to youth or learned the art of preserving one’s youthful appearance, pretending to be a prodigy.

However, Jin Cheon was a disciple of the world-renowned hero, the Azure Heaven Divine Warrior, and had a history of studying at the Heavenly Martial Academy, so his identity was very certain.

He had reached such a realm before even reaching the age of thirty.

“Are you Azure Cliff Jin-in?”

“I am.”

“Sit.”

Jin Cheon offered Azure Cliff Jin-in a seat.

“How about a cup of grain tea?”

“I’m fine.”

“Afraid I might have poisoned it?”

“With your martial arts, killing an old Taoist like me would be no trouble at all. Why would you bother with the trouble of poisoning it?”

“You know well.”

“I have just met the enemy of my sect, so I am merely refraining from unnecessary actions.”

As Azure Cliff Jin-in spoke, an undisguisable hostility was present in his eyes.

It was something like an instinct.

Because the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Kunlun Sect had been sworn enemies who had fought for hundreds of years…

“Well, I won’t force you.”

“What is the reason you wanted to see this Taoist?”

“I need information.”

“Information…?”

“Have you ever heard of the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art?”

“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“You must have heard the story that the first Heavenly Demon, Dokgo Seong, once stole a few of the Kunlun Sect’s treasures.”

“I have heard of that.”

“One of the treasures stolen at that time was probably the secret manual of the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art.”

“I see.”

“Could you perhaps look for records of it?”

“Why should this Taoist do that? Our sect and your Cult are sworn enemies.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in said in a cold voice.

“Besides, there is no data to look for. Weren’t you the ones who burned the vast secret manuals and scriptures that our sect possessed? And now you’re asking me to look for data? How can that be reasonable?”

A blue killing intent glinted in Azure Cliff Jin-in’s eyes.

Now that he was face to face with Jin Cheon, as the sect leader of the Kunlun Sect, he could not suppress his resentment.

* * *

‘Yes, that’s right.’

Jin Cheon fully understood Azure Cliff Jin-in’s reaction.

No matter how deep a Taoist’s cultivation was, it would not be an easy task to talk with the enemy of his sect.

After all, the one who destroyed the Kunlun Sect during the First Righteous-Demonic War that happened just thirty years ago was, no matter what anyone said, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“Of course, it is true that our Cult destroyed the Kunlun Sect. But that was something that happened under the reign of the previous Heavenly Demon.”

“What kind of sophistry is that?”

“Literally. Our Cult, under the rule of our newly enthroned Cult Leader, has long since changed its principles.”

“Are you telling me to believe that now?”

“Of course, whether you believe it or not is your freedom.”

“Hah.”

“And strictly speaking, from the Kunlun Sect’s perspective, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance would be more hateful than our Cult, wouldn’t it? Am I wrong?”

“……That is.”

“Wasn’t it the Righteous Heavenly Alliance that threw the Kunlun Sect as bait for our Cult while promising to send reinforcements?”

“That is correct.”

“So, I’m suggesting we cooperate. Our Cult’s goal is to defeat the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and prevent the resurrection of the previous Heavenly Demon. There should be no reason for the Kunlun Sect not to agree to this, right?”

“That is true, but… the resurrection of the previous Heavenly Demon? What do you mean by that?”

“You must know the fact that the Heavenly Demon has ruled for hundreds of years through reincarnation, right?”

“I do.”

“The secret to how the Heavenly Demon was able to reincarnate like that seems to be the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art I mentioned earlier.”

“……!”

“That’s why I’m looking for information on the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art. From your perspective, since it’s a matter of preventing the resurrection of the Heavenly Demon, the very person who destroyed the Kunlun Sect, I don’t think there’s any reason not to cooperate with our Cult.”

“Hmm.”

After hearing Jin Cheon’s words, Azure Cliff Jin-in fell into thought for a moment.

However, no matter how many hundred or thousand times he thought about it, there was no flaw in Jin Cheon’s words.

It was true that the first Heavenly Demon and the previous Heavenly Demon were his practical sworn enemies, and it was also true that the Righteous Heavenly Alliance was more hateful than the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“If you find information on the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art, I will reward you handsomely for it.”

“A reward…”

“You must know that our Cult isn’t doing this just because we like the Kunlun Sect. Just as you hate our Cult, our Cult also hates the Kunlun Sect.”

There was no lie in that either.

Had the Kunlun Sect only been unilaterally beaten by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?

Historically, it was the Taoists of the Kunlun Sect who had killed the most warriors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Wasn’t there a time during its golden age when even the Heavenly Demon could not easily touch the Kunlun Sect?

“Good. Since you propose a deal, let’s hear it out. If this Taoist finds the data on that Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art, how will you reward me?”

“Commander Dan.”

At Jin Cheon’s call, Danmok Cheong, who was on standby, brought books wrapped in fine silk and showed them to Azure Cliff Jin-in.

“What is this?”

“You’ll know when you unwrap it.”

“It looks like a secret manual… Huh.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in trembled as if he had been struck by lightning.

“Th-this is, don’t tell me.”

“Yes, that don’t tell me is right.”

“The interpretation of the Taiheo Dragon-Slaying Sword Art… and written by Elder Master Hyeoncheon himself… aah!”

Azure Cliff Jin-in couldn’t come to his senses.

The Taiheo Dragon-Slaying Sword Art was a divine ultimate art that had been evaluated as being on par with the Heavenly Demon Sword Art since ancient times, and Mysterious Heaven Jin-in, who had produced the interpretation of the secret manual, was the greatest master the Kunlun Sect had ever produced.

To think it was a secret manual that fully contained the enlightenment of the number one swordsman under heaven, against whom even the Heavenly Demon could not guarantee victory, it was not unreasonable for Azure Cliff Jin-in to be half-fainting.

“The Taiheo Dragon-Slaying Sword Art… I thought it was lost forever… Primal Celestial Venerable, Primal Celestial Venerable. Ah, the Celestial Venerable has looked down upon us.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in repeatedly chanted the Taoist name.

‘The deal was sealed.’

A gentle smile appeared on Jin Cheon’s lips.

No matter how much the Kunlun Sect considered the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult an enemy, how could they not agree to a deal when presented with the secret manual of the lost Taiheo Dragon-Slaying Sword Art?

“Of course, this isn’t all.”

“……!”

“I found quite a few secret manuals of the Kunlun Sect’s martial arts in our Cult, including the Cloud Dragon Great Nine Forms. There are also quite a few secret manuals on various sorceries.”

The Cloud Dragon Great Nine Forms was a secret art of the Kunlun Sect that had been evaluated as the greatest movement art or lightness skill under heaven since ancient times, so its value would be as immense as the Taiheo Dragon-Slaying Sword Art.

“I’ll return them all. Along with the Dragon-Slaying Sword.”

The Dragon-Slaying Sword was a divine weapon included in the Five Great Famous Swords Under Heaven, and was a sacred treasure of the Kunlun Sect.

“In addition to that, I will arrange for a hundred-year mutual non-aggression pact between our Cult and the Kunlun Sect so that you can return to Mount Kunlun.”

“Hah.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in couldn’t come to his senses.

To receive back the sect’s divine ultimate arts, the Taiheo Dragon-Slaying Sword Art and the Cloud Dragon Great Nine Forms, in addition to the Dragon-Slaying Sword, and even be able to return to Mount Kunlun?

‘This is… a golden opportunity to rebuild our sect, isn’t it?’

It was truly absurd that the Demonic Cult, which had been their enemy for hundreds of years, would make such a proposal, but for Azure Cliff Jin-in, this was not the time to be picky.

An opportunity to rebuild the great Kunlun Sect had come. How could he miss it?

“Good.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in nodded as if he had made up his mind.

“If you keep your promise, I will look for the data on the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art. But I cannot guarantee it. There are too many lost secret manuals and scriptures, and our sect does not have much now.”

“That’s your problem. Our Cult is ready to pay the price at any time, so the rest is up to you.”

“Of course.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in nodded.

“I will return and look for the data on the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art.”

“If you find it, let me know right away. We’ll set up another meeting then.”

“I will do so.”

Thus, Jin Cheon safely concluded his deal with the Kunlun Sect’s leader, Azure Cliff Jin-in.

* * *

Jin Cheon stayed around the Kunlun Taoist Temple for a while, waiting for word.

“Will we really be able to find a clue about that great art?”

“It will be difficult.”

Jin Cheon answered Seop So-yeon’s question.

“I’m not expecting much. It’s just a matter of grasping at straws.”

“Really?”

“When the Kunlun Sect was destroyed, they must have been busy just getting out with their lives. When would they have had time to pack things like secret manuals?”

“That’s true.”

“But just in case, we have to try to make contact. Since it’s a great art that the Kunlun Sect possessed, we have no choice but to start by investigating the Kunlun Sect.”

A few days after that.

Jin Cheon met with Azure Cliff Jin-in again.

“My lord, Azure Cliff Jin-in has come to see you.”

“Let him in.”

“As you command.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in, perhaps because he hadn’t slept for a while, did not look like a person at all.

His eyes were hollow, his cheeks were sunken, and his lips were not just bluish but almost stained black.

His skin was so rough that it was pathetic to look at.

It was clear that he had not eaten or slept properly for several days after his meeting with Jin Cheon.

And the first thing such a Azure Cliff Jin-in said upon seeing Jin Cheon was…

“I have found it.”

A smile appeared on Jin Cheon’s lips.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep