Chapter 29. Come out at once!

The young man’s features were handsome and elegant, making him look more like a learned scholar than a martial artist.

He was wearing a Daoist robe instead of a martial arts uniform, suggesting that he was a sorcerer rather than a martial artist.

The place where he stopped his steps was none other than the Cult Leader’s Hall, the throne hall where the Iron-Blooded Demonic God resided.

“I greet the Third Young Master.”

A maid guarding the front of the throne hall bowed to the young man.

Third Young Master, Wi Mu-rin.

The third disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

He was from the Evil Spirit Guardian Clan, the only sorcerer family among the Seven Demonic Families, and a talent who had become a disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God despite being a sorcerer, not a martial artist.

This meant that the talent and ability Wi Mu-rin possessed in various sorceries had already reached a level of mastery.

Otherwise, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God would never have taken a sorcerer as a disciple.

“I wish to have an audience with the Supreme One.”

“Please wait a moment.”

After a short wait, the doors of the throne hall opened, and Wi Mu-rin prostrated himself before the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, who was seated on the throne.

“Heavenly Demon reigns, the Demonic Path rules the world, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years. I greet the Supreme One of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

“Yes, are you here to report the results of your mission?”

“Yes, Your Supremacy.”

“The results.”

“As a result of inspecting the barriers of the six forbidden places, there were no particular abnormalities. However, perhaps due to the influence of the spiritual energy of Sky Mountain running rampant a month ago, the barriers were weakened, so appropriate measures have been taken.”

“I see.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God gave a slight nod at Wi Mu-rin’s report.

“Since there were no matters of great concern, for the time being, keep a close watch on the situation. You have worked hard.”

“As you comm—”

Just as Wi Mu-rin was bowing his head.

Drrrrrrrrrrrrrr……!

The aftershock of a sudden earthquake shook the throne hall.

“…!”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God rose from her throne.

Startled, Wi Mu-rin hastily raised his head to look at the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, but she was already gone.

“…Is it starting again?”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God, who had climbed a high pavilion, looked at the towering Sky Mountain in the distance.

Goooooooooooooooooo—!!!

Centering on the peak of Sky Mountain, spiritual energy was swirling in a spiral.

Was that all?

The summit of Sky Mountain.

The place known as the most dangerous among the six forbidden places.

The area around the sacred ground of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Heavenly Demon Peak, was dyed in a sinister red light.

Seeing the red light spreading more and more intensely, it was clear that something unusual was happening.

Pitter, patter.

Swaaaaaaaah!

Raindrops that fell one by one began to pour down fiercely, turning into a heavy downpour.

Flash!

Rumble, craaack!

Thunder and lightning rained down.

Bad weather… the summit of Sky Mountain must have been no different from a hell made of natural disasters.

“Your conjecture is.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God asked Wi Mu-rin, who had belatedly followed her.

“My knowledge is shallow, so I cannot be certain, but what is certain is that Heavenly Demon Peak’s…….”

“Enough.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God cut off Wi Mu-rin’s words.

“I will go and see. You and the sorcerers of the Evil Spirit Guardian Clan, re-inspect the barriers of the remaining forbidden places.”

“However.”

Wi Mu-rin was about to say something, but the Iron-Blooded Demonic God had already vanished.

Her body would reside where her will reached.

It was clear that the Iron-Blooded Demonic God had already reached a state free from the constraints of space.

“Why is Heavenly Demon Peak, which has been quiet for 30 years…….”

A clearly questioning monologue flowed from Wi Mu-rin’s mouth.

* * *

“Y-Young Master Jin.”

Danmok Cheong’s voice trembled.

Jin Yeong-in was approaching very slowly, like an incarnation of death itself.

Danmok Cheong was frozen on the spot, unable to move a muscle.

In the face of the overwhelming demonic qi emanating from Jin Yeong-in, there was nothing Danmok Cheong could do.

It was as if it was engraved in his instincts, as if it had been promised from the beginning that he could not resist like this.

“Y-…….”

Jin Yeong-in parted his lips.

“…!”

Danmok Cheong trembled in fear, not knowing what terrible words would come out of Jin Yeong-in’s mouth.

“You’ve worked hard. Don’t tell me you’ve been standing guard all this time?”

Jin Yeong-in scratched the back of his head as if apologetic.

Thud!

Danmok Cheong, whose tension had completely dissipated, collapsed where he stood.

“What’s wrong?”

“Heok, heok!”

“Brother Dan?”

“D-don’t scare people like that!”

“Hmm?”

“I really thought I was going to die… Ugh!”

Danmok Cheong shuddered as if the mere thought was horrifying.

‘The effect of the first Small Heavenly Cycle must have been too great.’

Jin Yeong-in finally deduced the circumstances and gave a bitter smile.

He didn’t know for sure, but in Danmok Cheong’s eyes, Jin Yeong-in’s appearance after finishing the first Small Heavenly Cycle must have been no different from a harbinger of death.

Besides, because he had thought of the Great Divine Physician of Immortals, his middle dantian had reacted, and his demonic qi had briefly run rampant, had it not?

“I’m sorry about that. You seem very startled, are you alright?”

“Young Master Jin, what on earth is your identity?”

Danmok Cheong couldn’t bring himself to take the hand Jin Yeong-in offered and looked at him with a confused gaze.

“You still don’t know me? Jin Yeong-in. The disciple of Heavenly Hero of the Sky. A third-year at the Heavenly Martial Academy who converted to our cult…….”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Danmok Cheong said in a somewhat angry tone.

“The Reverse Heaven Heart Art… is it really the first time you’ve learned it?”

“Yes, it’s the first time.”

Jin Yeong-in felt no guilt.

Because in this life, this was the first time he had learned the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.

“I can’t believe it.”

“What is the reason?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“Haha.”

Jin Yeong-in could only brush off Danmok Cheong’s question with a laugh.

How could he not know?

Everything would have been different.

But he couldn’t tell the truth.

“I was surprised too. I didn’t know I had a talent for demonic arts.”

“….”

Danmok Cheong was at a loss for words at Jin Yeong-in’s answer.

Jin Yeong-in’s achievement was too great to be dismissed as mere talent.

If one had to define it…….

‘Was Young Master Jin a prodigy of the ages that I’ve only heard of in stories?’

There was probably no expression more cliché and common in the world, but in the current situation, it was no exaggeration to say that there was no more appropriate modifier.

“I’m feeling a bit hungry, would you like to have a late-night snack together?”

“I… I’m fine. I’ll get some rest.”

Danmok Cheong’s face as he said this was pale.

His stomach was already upset from the memory of the slaughter committed by the Blood Qilin, and now with Jin Yeong-in causing a big incident, he was in a state where he would lose sleep at night, let alone have an appetite.

“Ah, then you should rest. You worked hard standing guard.”

“Not at all. Ah, and.”

Danmok Cheong added.

“Is it alright if I report Young Master Jin’s achievement to the higher-ups?”

“If I were to say not to report it, would you do so?”

“….”

“I fully understand your position, Brother Dan. It’s fine to report it.”

Jin Yeong-in had no intention of hiding his achievement.

This was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

If he showed his ability, he would be given opportunities and rewards accordingly, so there was no reason not to reveal himself.

Of course, there would be envy, jealousy, and checks coming his way, but would one not make soybean paste for fear of maggots?

Jin Yeong-in was used to such things.

He had experienced discrimination based on his background and the baseless slander that followed it to the point of being sick of it during his time at the Heavenly Martial Academy.

* * *

Swaaaaaaaah!

Flash!

Rumble, craaack!

What awaited Jin Yeong-in when he went outside was a heavy downpour and thunder and lightning that were pouring down like crazy.

He looked at the towering Sky Mountain in the distance.

“…!”

The area around the summit of Sky Mountain was dyed red, and lightning fell like rain.

Gooooooooo!

The sacred energy of Sky Mountain, its spiritual energy, swirled in a spiral.

Thump, thump.

His heart pounded.

Woong!

The demonic qi that had subsided began to boil again.

A strong pull was felt from the towering Sky Mountain in the distance.

It was the same phenomenon he had experienced when he first set foot in the Divine Land.

‘The mountain is calling me.’

An instinctive attraction captivated Jin Yeong-in.

He felt like he had to go.

He felt like he had to climb to the top of Sky Mountain right now.

Hesitate, he was about to take a step as if possessed, but stopped in his tracks.

‘Let’s not be deluded.’

Whatever the reason, a rash approach was forbidden.

Not only did he not know what was at the summit of Sky Mountain, but moving as if possessed by something did not seem like a good idea.

No matter if he had the Heavenly Demon’s Physique, he had no intention of surrendering his body to instinct.

‘I will shake it off.’

Jin Yeong-in went back into the room and sat down in a cross-legged position.

After finishing the first Small Heavenly Cycle, the true qi that had been less than a coin’s worth had grown to about a handful.

This amount was comparable to the internal energy of a third-rate martial artist, so it was practically the same as taking a low-grade spiritual medicine.

‘Clear Mind Heart Art.’

Jin Yeong-in circulated the demonic qi according to the formula of the Clear Mind Heart Art taught to him by his master, Heavenly Hero of the Sky.

Originally, the true qi of the Clear Mind Heart Art was very close to pure natural energy, and the true qi Jin Yeong-in now possessed was high-purity demonic qi, but Jin Yeong-in did not mind.

The Clear Mind Heart Art had no risk of qi deviation even when circulated with completely different properties of true qi, and was rather a heart art that achieved an appropriate harmony accordingly.

Jin Yeong-in had always felt that the nature of the Clear Mind Heart Art resembled the character of his master, Heavenly Hero of the Sky.

‘It’s comfortable.’

His pounding heartbeat subsided, and the boiling demonic qi calmed down.

The strong pull he felt from the distant Sky Mountain also felt like it was gradually fading away.

‘Yes, this is how you control it. Just like when I was trapped in the Demonic Prison.’

Whenever his demonic qi boiled and his madness soared, Jin Yeong-in would circulate the Clear Mind Heart Art to control himself, and thanks to that, he was able to maintain his reason and avoid becoming a madman.

It was the secret to how he was able to maintain a sound mind despite researching demonic arts in the Demonic Prison for twenty years.

* * *

The next morning.

“Brother Dan, good morning.”

“Yes, good morning.”

Danmok Cheong’s eyes were hollow, as if he had barely slept.

“Hmm?”

Danmok Cheong suddenly realized that Jin Yeong-in’s atmosphere had changed.

From his walk, his hand gestures, his footwork, his expression, his gaze, his speech, his voice, everything had changed.

If before he had a very restrained feeling, this morning’s Jin Yeong-in seemed endlessly free and full of confidence.

That was not the only change.

His skin, which had been rough perhaps due to the aftereffects of qi deviation, was now as white as jade and radiant.

His hair was as glossy as ebony, and the color of his lips was smooth.

“Young Master Jin seems to have changed.”

“…I agree.”

Danmok Cheong nodded at Baek A-rin’s whisper.

For a person to change overnight was one thing, but this was to the point where it would be no exaggeration to say he was a completely different person.

‘Was what I taught him really the Reverse Heaven Heart Art?’

The reason Danmok Cheong couldn’t help but think that was because the only change that had happened to Jin Yeong-in overnight was his initiation into the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.

So he re-examined the formula of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art, but there was nothing particularly different.

‘This is unbelievable. Does it make sense for a person to change just by learning one Reverse Heaven Heart Art?’

Of course, they could change.

In the early stages of initiation, one is not accustomed to controlling demonic qi, so it was common for one’s personality to become more explosive than usual and to have difficulty calming down excitement.

But Jin Yeong-in didn’t seem to be experiencing such side effects.

Aside from the personality aspect, the Reverse Heaven Heart Art had no effect of enhancing the practitioner’s appearance.

‘What should I report to the Outer Chief Steward…….’

Crash!

The main gate was smashed to pieces, and a group of martial artists poured in.

They were wearing martial arts uniforms with a deep green background and the characters for ‘Ghost Soldier’ written in red thread.

Ghost Soldier Corps.

They were the same ones who had had a friction with Jin Yeong-in at the Body-Fortifying Prescription two days ago.

And the leader who led those Ghost Soldier Corps martial artists was, as expected, Jang In-geol.

“Disciple of Jang Guk-pyeong! Where are you hiding! Come out at once!”

Jang In-geol, holding a torch, shouted at the top of his lungs, calling for Jin Yeong-in.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep