Chapter 51. Are You That Confident?

About forty days ago from now.

When Jin Yeong-in had an audience with the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, there was something he had brought up with difficulty.

“By any chance… may I spread the heart art I created throughout our cult? If I have spoken out of turn, I apologize.”

Jin Yeong-in’s tone as he said this was extremely cautious.

And for good reason, as creating and spreading a heart art was no exaggeration to say it was the privilege of a great martial artist who had reached the level of a generational master.

As the heart art was the foundation of internal martial arts, one could not dare to create and spread it without its stability and effectiveness being verified.

“It is fine, so speak. What kind of heart art have you created?”

“It is based on the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.”

“The Reverse Heaven Heart Art?”

“Yes, the Reverse Heaven Heart Art can be said to be the most perfect heart art for learning demonic arts. However, I believe that is only the case for practitioners with a Heavenly Demon’s Physique or a few others with constitutions suitable for demonic arts.”

“That is correct.”

“So, I have modified and improved the Reverse Heaven Heart Art so that anyone can easily and safely be initiated into demonic arts.”

“Is that also a result of the research you conducted before you regressed through the past?”

“Yes.”

“Is there a manual?”

“I have not made one separately.”

“Bring paper, a brush, ink, and a book.”

As a handmaiden brought paper, a brush, ink, and a book, Jin Yeong-in immediately wrote down the incantations and the circulation of the true qi for the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi.

“Here it is.”

Jin Yeong-in respectfully offered the manual for the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi to the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

“To reach the extreme of demon regardless of one’s innate talent… It is a good name that suits the purpose for which the heart art was created.”

“You praise me too highly.”

“I shall examine it and give you my answer.”

“I am nothing but grateful.”

Jin Yeong-in truly did not know where to put himself.

For the greatest master of all time to look at the martial art he created was nothing short of a great honor.

‘Wait.’

But then, a thought suddenly crossed Jin Yeong-in’s mind.

‘There is no way the Cult Leader does not know the pros and cons of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art, so why has she allowed such an unstable heart art to be taught until now?’

As if she had read his inner thoughts, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God opened her mouth.

“Let me tell you, my body was not born with the Heavenly Demon’s Physique. For that reason, I could not create a heart art to replace the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.”

Jin Yeong-in was quite, and to be honest, greatly surprised by the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s words that she did not have a Heavenly Demon’s Physique.

Then what was the reason for her purple eyes, and what was the reason she could not devise a heart art to replace the Reverse Heaven Heart Art despite having reached the pinnacle of all time?

‘There must be some other reason.’

Jin Yeong-in was convinced that the reason the Iron-Blooded Demonic God had not created a new heart art was not simply because she did not have a Heavenly Demon’s Physique.

Why?

Because there was no way the greatest master of all time could not fix a single unstable heart art.

* * *

Since that day.

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God, who had said she would examine the manual, had not sent a single word.

Jin Yeong-in thought that there might have been some serious flaw or weakness in the heart art he created, the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi.

‘Well. Although I created it, its long-term stability and effectiveness have not been proven, so it would be difficult to introduce it rashly.’

Since the person who reviewed the heart art was none other than the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, it was possible that in her eyes, the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi seemed full of flaws.

‘Perhaps it was my arrogance.’

The previous Heavenly Demon was no fool, so he must have known the shortcomings of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.

Seeing that a new heart art had not been introduced for the past several hundred years, there must have been some reason.

But to announce the introduction of a new heart art so suddenly, on the last day of the Blood Wolf Corps…….

Such an unconventional decision by the Iron-Blooded Demonic God was more than enough to push everyone into a crucible of chaos.

“N-no way.”

“You want us to learn a heart art created by a defector from the Righteous Faction?”

“Heh.”

Not a single person understood the introduction of the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi.

To discard the heart art they had learned as a basic skill for the past several hundred years overnight?

Even more, to learn an unidentified heart art created by a mere defector instead of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art?

This was such a radical introduction that even Jin Yeong-in, the creator of the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi, would shake his head.

“Everyone, be quiet! How dare you run your mouths while the Blood Wolf Corps Leader is reading the Cult Leader’s decree!”

As Yi Gyu’s voice thundered out, the hall instantly fell silent.

“……Starting with this cohort, the new heart art, the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi, will be introduced. I, myself, vouch for the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi, so there is no need to hesitate in learning and training it.”

Even after Yi Mu-baek finished reading the decree, only a heavy silence lingered in the hall, and no one opened their mouths.

The content of the decree was so shocking that everyone was half dazed, just blankly watching each other.

‘If you distribute it like this, what am I supposed to do?’

For the first time, Jin Yeong-in resented the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

He had presented the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi solely out of a desire for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to prosper and for the initiates of demonic arts to be safer; he had not wanted anyone to recognize him for it.

He did not have the slightest desire to attract unnecessary attention by having it known to the whole world like this.

‘You should have just announced that you created it yourself!’

If she had done that, there would have been no unnecessary controversy, and it went without saying that everyone would have nodded their heads, saying, ‘As expected of the Cult Leader!’

“However, the Cult Leader has not forced you to learn any particular heart art.”

Yi Mu-baek conveyed the will of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God to the Blood Wolves.

“According to the decree, if you still wish to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art, you may do so. Goro, those who wish to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art, stand to the left. On the other hand, if you wish to learn the new heart art, the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi, stand to the right. I will give you one hour from now, so decide after careful consideration.”

Leaving those words, Yi Mu-baek stepped aside without any further comment.

Since that was the will of the Cult Leader, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, Yi Mu-baek, as the Blood Wolf Corps Leader, found it difficult to add his personal opinion.

Murmur, murmur!

As soon as Yi Mu-baek stepped away, the Blood Wolves were thrown into great confusion.

“Was Brother Jin that amazing?”

“Did I hear that correctly?”

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

Thanks to this, Jin Yeong-in ended up in an incredibly awkward situation.

“Brother, what on earth happened?”

“Is it really a heart art that you created?”

“Did you truly receive the Cult Leader’s recognition?”

As the Blood Wolves rushed forward to bombard him with questions, Jin Yeong-in’s predicament was beyond words.

‘Surely, she didn’t do it on purpose?’

Jin Yeong-in was deeply suspicious of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s intentions.

* * *

“……I happened to gain enlightenment and created a heart art, and it seems the Cult Leader saw it favorably. The rest I do not know. Since the Cult Leader personally reviewed it and said it was fine, I am simply honored.”

Jin Yeong-in had no choice but to answer that way.

How could he say that the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi was actually something he had created for fun in the Demonic Prison before his regression?

To Jin Yeong-in’s answer, the Blood Wolves showed reactions of two extremes.

“No way.”

“I don’t believe it. No matter if it’s Brother Jin, is he some kind of heaven-sent talent?”

About eighty percent of the Blood Wolves showed a skeptical reaction and expressed their rejection of the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi.

Not only was Jin Yeong-in’s background what it was, but they could not accept that a heart art created by someone who was at best the age of a prodigy could be superior to the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.

‘Well. Even I wouldn’t believe it.’

Jin Yeong-in fully understood the Blood Wolves’ reaction.

Even thinking from the perspective of the creator of the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi, he had to admit that such a reaction was extremely common-sensical and rational.

“Just how much of a genius are you?”

“As expected! I knew from the start that you were a once-in-a-millennium genius!”

It reached a point where the Blood Wolves who showed a positive reaction seemed like idiots who couldn’t judge the situation properly.

‘What are you guys basing your claims of genius and once-in-a-millennium talent on? Sheesh.’

Thinking that the Blood Wolves who supported him were the perfect targets for scammers, Jin Yeong-in inwardly shook his head.

“Useless chatter is forbidden! Discuss which heart art you will learn!”

As the atmosphere became too chaotic, the instructors stepped in to control the Blood Wolves so they could choose their heart art.

“Little Brother, have you been well?”

“Greetings to the Great Guardian.”

As Great Guardian Yi Gyu casually struck up a conversation, Jin Yeong-in clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute.

Thanks to him, Jin Yeong-in was finally able to escape the barrage of questions from the Blood Wolves.

“It hasn’t been long since you joined the cult, yet you’re already causing such a stir. Heh heh.”

“I am only sorry.”

“It seems you took that as a reprimand. That’s not it; I was merely expressing my pure surprise.”

“…Is that so?”

“You, what is your true identity?”

“Pardon?”

“The Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi. I too have read the manual, and it truly is a remarkable heart art. And it’s not just me, is it? If the Cult Leader personally reviewed it and decided to introduce it, the verification is as good as done.”

“Haha….”

“I cannot understand. How long has it been since you encountered demonic arts, to be able to create such a heart art? Is it not the general consensus that the creation of a heart art is only possible upon reaching the rank of a generational master?”

“…”

There was no flaw in Yi Gyu’s words.

Creating a heart art, and by extension, a martial art, was by no means an easy task.

Most of the renowned martial arts in the world were the works of star-like masters who had at least dominated an era.

Were such individuals not called generational masters, leaving their names to be respected for hundreds of years, generation after generation?

For instance, Bodhidharma, who could be called a generational master of Shaolin, created the Muscle-Tendon Changing and Marrow-Washing Classics, laying the foundation for Buddhist martial arts, and the founding ancestor of Wudang, Perfected Person Sam-pung, established the mysteries of Taiji to create the number one Taoist school in the world.

Judging from these examples, the creation of a new martial art was worthy of such high praise.

Moreover, to have created a new heart art in a sect with such a long history as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was no exaggeration to say that one had achieved a great feat that would leave a name for hundreds of years to come.

“It was just a chance enlightenment that came to me.”

“Heh heh.”

Yi Gyu let out a hollow laugh at Jin Yeong-in’s answer as if he found it absurd.

However, the reason he had to accept it even though he knew it was a ridiculous story was that there were rare cases where someone with unremarkable martial arts created an outstanding divine technique through a chance enlightenment.

“Anyway, thanks to the heart art you created, not only the Council of Elders but also the Senate has been turned completely upside down.”

“Hahaha….”

The Council of Elders was a meeting composed of the leaders who led the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and the Senate was a group made up of retired great demons of the previous generation.

In other words, it meant that the actual powers that led the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the elders with enormous influence had all risen up.

“Of course, since it was the Cult Leader’s decision, no one dared to raise an objection, but it is true that there is a lot of talk here and there. Thanks to that, all the leaders of our cult are now paying attention to you.”

“…”

At Yi Gyu’s words, Jin Yeong-in’s mind went blank.

Just imagining how many troublesome things he would get involved in because of this incident was dreadful.

He wanted to live quietly if at all possible…….

“What do you think? Do you think the heart art you created will establish itself as the basic art of our cult?”

“Hmm.”

Jin Yeong-in thought for a moment and then spoke.

“It will probably take some time, but I predict that as time passes, the population learning the Post-Heaven Extreme Demonic True Qi will increase exponentially.”

“Are you that confident?”

“Yes.”

“Hah. Well then, I shall watch. I, too, am very curious about the result. In theory, it is flawlessly perfect, but the important thing is the result when the first Small Heavenly Cycle is achieved, is it not?”

Yi Gyu’s gaze shifted to the Blood Wolves who were splitting left and right, choosing the heart art they would learn.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep