Chapter 118. Great Cause.

“How?”

Jin Cheon asked abruptly.

Honestly, he hadn’t been expecting anything, so he couldn’t help but be surprised that he had found the information.

“Weren’t most of the books you had either burned or left behind?”

“Of course, that is so, but that is not the only way our sect stores information.”

“……?”

“The information about that great art was in here.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in took out a rolled-up bamboo slip, that is, a book made by weaving together pieces of bamboo.

Though called a book, a bamboo slip was a recording method with so little space that it could only hold about a single letter’s worth of content.

So, Jin Cheon was puzzled as to how information about the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art could be recorded on a bamboo slip.

“It is called a Hundred-Year Slip.”

“A Hundred-Year Slip…?”

“It is a Dharma treasure of our sect. It is called a Hundred-Year Slip because this small bamboo slip can contain a hundred years’ worth of information.”

“Was it made with sorcery?”

“That is correct.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in nodded.

“They say the sorcery of Kunlun was the greatest under heaven. It seems that was not an empty boast.”

“What is there to say? The great Kunlun was a place that encompassed sorcerers, Taoists, and martial artists.”

As Azure Cliff Jin-in spoke, a deep pride for his sect, the Kunlun Sect, was evident in his voice.

“I felt like I was going to die after looking at the Hundred-Year Slip for a few days, but it’s all good since I found it, right?”

“That’s right.”

Jin Cheon nodded as if in agreement.

“If you can rebuild your sect with that much hardship, isn’t that a profitable business?”

“Wouldn’t I do it a hundred, a thousand times?”

“Yes, so what is the information you found?”

“The Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art… it was a truly evil sorcery.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in closed his eyes tightly as if just imagining it was gruesome.

“In detail.”

Jin Cheon urged Azure Cliff Jin-in.

“The Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art is… a method of splitting the soul.”

“Splitting the soul?”

“The great art begins with the caster making a human sacrifice of the vital blood of ten thousand young boys and girls during their lifetime.”

“……That’s insane.”

“That is correct. It is a method that no one but a madman would dare to attempt.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in continued.

“When the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art is completed, a crack forms in the caster’s soul. This has no effect until the caster dies.”

“When the caster dies?”

“The soul splits into five and scatters in all directions. And each one finds a suitable target to possess. In other words, it is no exaggeration to say that as soon as the caster dies, they are resurrected not as one, but as five.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Jin Cheon understand the whole situation.

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God had said that she had killed the Heavenly Demon two more times after executing him, and she had judged that the Heavenly Demon was attempting to resurrect through repeated possessions.

But that was not the case.

The resurrection of the first Heavenly Demon had already taken place.

Circumstantially, he was growing somewhere, avoiding the eyes and ears of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“Can you explain in more detail?”

“Of course. That great art is…”

Azure Cliff Jin-in continued to explain the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art.

1) A split soul is completely annihilated if it loses its body, and cannot be revived by any means.

2) A split soul will eventually grow to its full potential.

3) Theoretically, if all the split souls grow to their full potential, it is also possible for five of the caster to exist in the same era.

4) The split souls are hostile to each other and can become stronger by consuming one another.

5) Once the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art is cast, no further reincarnation is possible.

‘Three more to go. Does that mean I just have to kill three more?’

According to Azure Cliff Jin-in’s explanation, that was the only way to completely annihilate the first Heavenly Demon, Dokgo Seong.

If he found the remaining three and executed them, the second coming of the first Heavenly Demon would not happen.

Now, only one problem remained.

“Is there a way to find the split souls?”

Jin Cheon asked the crucial question.

Even at this very moment, the three split souls would be growing and attempting a complete resurrection. How on earth would he find them?

“There is.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in answered.

“There is a Dharma treasure called the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box.”

“The Heaven and Earth Treasure Box?”

“That is correct. A Dharma treasure of insight that encompasses heaven and earth.”

“Where can I get that?”

“According to the records, the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box is made by combining three Dharma treasures.”

“Three Dharma treasures?”

“It is said that the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box can be completed by combining the Heavenly Principle Trigram, the Earthly Center Trigram, and the Wind and Cloud Trigram. The Heaven and Earth Treasure Box is a Dharma treasure that allows one to track anyone, so it is said that it will be able to find even the split souls of the first Heavenly Demon.”

“Where can I get the Heavenly Principle Trigram, the Earthly Center Trigram, and the Wind and Cloud Trigram?”

“I have heard that the Heavenly Principle Trigram is in Shaolin, the Earthly Center Trigram is in the Mount Mao Sect, and the Wind and Cloud Trigram is held by the Qingcheng Sect.”

“Shaolin, Mount Mao, and Qingcheng.”

Jin Cheon repeated those names.

All three sects were members of the Nine Sects One Gang, and were no different from enemies to Jin Cheon, the Seventh Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

“It won’t be easy. To complete the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box.”

“Isn’t it close to impossible?”

“Still, I have to complete it somehow.”

Jin Cheon said flatly.

“If the first Heavenly Demon returns, not only our Cult but the entire world will be in danger. The completion of the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box is the great cause.”

“That is correct.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in found it absurd that the words ‘great cause’ were coming from the mouth of the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult, but it was hard to deny it.

The first Heavenly Demon, Dokgo Seong.

He was the enemy of all, regardless of whether they were righteous, unorthodox, or demonic.

* * *

After signing an agreement with Azure Cliff Jin-in, Jin Cheon fell into deep thought.

‘Shaolin, Mount Mao, and Qingcheng. It certainly won’t be easy.’

The Heavenly Principle Trigram, the Earthly Center Trigram, and the Wind and Cloud Trigram were great Dharma treasures in their own right.

As such, stealing them would not be an easy task.

Frankly, even if a Righteous-Demonic War broke out and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Righteous Heavenly Alliance waged an all-out war, it seemed close to impossible to steal all three trigrams.

‘Shaolin seems like it could be reasoned with if things go well, so I’ll set it aside for now.’

The reason Jin Cheon thought so was because Shaolin was not on very good terms with the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.

As the Righteous Heavenly Alliance was a group led by Taoist-affiliated sects, the influence of the Buddhist-affiliated sects, Shaolin and Emei, was not what it used to be.

Also…

‘Shaolin would never dream that Great Monk Gongheo is imprisoned in the Demonic Prison.’

Was it just Great Monk Gongheo?

The Righteous Heavenly Alliance was also kidnapping figures from the righteous sects who opposed them, throwing them into the Demonic Prison, and extracting their martial arts.

If that fact became known, a split would occur within the Righteous Heavenly Alliance…

However, Jin Cheon had no intention of attacking the Demonic Prison right away.

‘There is still time. The more important the card, the more it should be played at a decisive moment.’

Since Shaolin could be negotiated with regarding the matter of Great Monk Gongheo’s person, securing the Heavenly Principle Trigram seemed the easiest for now.

The problem was the Earthly Center Trigram in the Mount Mao Sect and the Wind and Cloud Trigram in the Qingcheng Sect.

‘It’s not easy to just storm in and steal them, and even if I succeed, it might become known that I’m after the Heaven and Earth Treasure Box. Is there no way to steal them secretly, without anyone knowing…’

As Jin Cheon was lost in thought, Danmok Cheong approached and asked.

“My lord, what are you contemplating so deeply?”

“I’m trying to figure out how to steal the Earthly Center Trigram and the Wind and Cloud Trigram from the Mount Mao Sect and the Qingcheng Sect.”

“It certainly does not look easy.”

Danmok Cheong showed a look of difficulty.

“If we were to lead our Cult’s top elite martial arts groups and storm in, it might be possible somehow, but to steal them secretly, unless it’s a great thief like the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief…”

“The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief? Ah.”

Jin Cheon recalled that title and nodded.

The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief was the most famous thief in the world, a figure known for being able to steal anything.

He was an old master who had been active for nearly a hundred years, and it was said that he could freely use the greatest movement art and disguise art in the world to steal whatever he wanted.

“It wouldn’t be impossible for the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief. If his reputation is not in vain.”

“Yes, with him, it seems possible to steal at least one.”

“What is that person up to these days?”

“We will have to find out.”

“Is it possible to contact him?”

“It will not be easy. He is an extremely elusive person…”

“Well. It wouldn’t be easy to contact someone like the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief. Why else would he be the greatest thief in the world?”

“Shall we first request information about him from the Bat Squad?”

“Do that.”

Jin Cheon nodded.

“If we can get the help of the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief, things might be easier.”

“As you command.”

As soon as Jin Cheon’s order was given, Danmok Cheong sent a carrier pigeon to the nearest secret branch to request information about the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief.

That night.

“My lord, information about the current whereabouts of the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief has come in.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it is said that he recently sent an official warning note to the Shijiazhuang family.”

The warning note mentioned here was a kind of warning letter that the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief sent before stealing something.

Befitting his reputation as the greatest thief under heaven, the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief had a peculiar habit of giving a warning in advance before stealing something.

“To the Shijiazhuang family?”

Jin Cheon was surprised.

Wasn’t the Shijiazhuang family known as the greatest merchant family under heaven, a great merchant family that was said to have grasped half of the world’s wealth?

To steal from such a Shijiazhuang family was amazing enough, but to think he would confidently send a warning note as well…

“What does he want to steal?”

“The Shijiazhuang family has not yet revealed that, so we do not know, but it is clear that the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief will attempt a theft.”

“Hmm.”

Jin Cheon thought for a moment.

‘The Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief. If I can get his cooperation, he would be the best helper.’

However, how easy would it be to contact a person so elusive as to send a warning note to the Shijiazhuang family?

“Commander Dan, what do you think.”

“How about at least trying to contact him? If we can just get his help, he will be of great help to you in the future, my lord.”

“Let’s do that.”

Jin Cheon made his decision.

“We will go to Shijiazhuang as soon as possible and attempt to contact the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief.”

“As you command.”

Jin Cheon’s party immediately left Hunan Province and headed for Hebei Province, where the Shijiazhuang family was located.

* * *

The influence of the Shijiazhuang family in the Central Plains was truly great.

Befitting their reputation as the greatest merchant family under heaven, the wealth they had accumulated over several generations was incomparable to anything else.

Historically, even when the dynasties of the Central Plains changed, the Shijiazhuang family remained intact, which was a clear fact that their underlying strength and financial power were beyond imagination.

Such a Shijiazhuang family began to stir right after a warning note from the world’s greatest thief, the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief, arrived.

As soon as the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief’s warning note arrived, the Shijiazhuang family bolted the gates of its huge manor and tightened its internal security, while at the same time requesting help from various places.

As befitting of the Shijiazhuang family, which had held the wealth of the Central Plains for the past several hundred years, it was no exaggeration to say that their connections spanned the entire Central Plains.

As soon as the Shijiazhuang family requested help, Hebei Province began to be so crowded with people that there was no room to even set foot.

From prestigious great sects to small and medium-sized factions, those who had connections with the Shijiazhuang family or wanted to make connections flocked in, creating a human sea.

Thanks to that, regardless of the type of business, places with guest rooms such as inns, taverns, and brothels were packed to the brim, and many people were stamping their feet, unable to find a place to stay.

So, those whose pockets were not well-off or who did not have any particular connections were even enduring sleeping on the streets because there were no rooms.

However, this was completely irrelevant to Jin Cheon’s party.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had large and small secret branches all over the world, and that was no exception even in Hebei Province, where the Shijiazhuang family was located.

‘This seems like a losing move for the Shijiazhuang family.’

Jin Cheon thought so as he looked down at the street from the top floor of the tavern run by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

‘If so many people gather, it will be easier for the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief to hide himself in the crowd.’

It might have been good when they were requesting help, but if people gathered like this, the congestion would increase, making it difficult to pick out the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief.

Of course, as there were many people, it would be more advantageous to form an encirclement.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep