Chapter 27: Thousand-Day Pass (5)

I couldn’t do it alone?

“The Main Flow was originally designed for groups,” said the Pavilion Master of the Thousand-Day Pass as he extended the fingers of his right hand.

“Five. To be exact, including you, gather six people.”

Six people, huh.

I understood what that meant.

“Training in the Main Flow is fundamentally done in units of six. I don’t need to explain why six, do I?”

I nodded.

“The Six Great Demonic Clans.”

“Exactly. The Thousand-Day Pass was originally created by the First Heavenly Demon himself, to train his close aides—the founders of the Six Great Demonic Clans, the Six Demonic Deities. That tradition has continued in the Main Flow of the Thousand-Day Pass.”

However, unfortunately, the original formation techniques and training methods used to train those Six Demonic Deities hadn’t been passed down to the present day.

The so-called Main Flow was merely a shallow imitation of that ancient system.

Yet, even then, the pass rate was said to be less than one percent—meaning it was extremely dangerous and grueling.

“The time limit is half a year. Gather five others within six months. Well, since it’s in multiples of six, it doesn’t matter if it’s more than that.”

More than that.

The meaning behind those words was clear.

“If I gather more than that, does that mean you wouldn’t mind if I took the talents of the Thousand-Day Pass for myself?”

The Pavilion Master’s lips twitched ever so slightly.

“Wasn’t that part of your purpose in the first place?”

“I didn’t expect you to allow it so openly.”

“There’s already a precedent—Ma Chulsoo, the second son of the Ma Clan. Nothing says it can’t happen again.”

So, Ma Chulsoo must have taken a large number of talents with him after graduating from this place.

“Besides, if it’s the Six Great Demonic Clans, I don’t particularly care. That’s practically an open path to advancement.”

That was true.

Being affiliated with the Six Great Demonic Clans right from the start—even as a mere gatekeeper—meant skipping several levels compared to other competitors.

“However, all of that is contingent on you passing the test of the Thousand-Day Pass.”

The Pavilion Master’s eyes looked at me as if he were watching an amusing toy.

“The training in the Thousand-Day Pass is harsh. Even that child of the Ma Clan spent the first year here looking practically dead.”

I let out a dry chuckle inside.

Saying all that and only giving me half a year—it was practically a taunt.

“You needn’t worry about that.”

My eyes met the Pavilion Master’s.

“You’ve given me the authority to scout talent. I’ll make sure you regret it.”

By then, people throughout the Cult would be wailing at the Pavilion Master, asking where all the people had gone.

“Kuahaha! I’m looking forward to it!”

The Pavilion Master laughed heartily.

* * *

By the time I was assigned a dormitory, all the other placements had already been decided.

As I followed the instructor through the dormitory buildings, the scenery around me caught my eye.

‘There really are a lot of female martial artists.’

Given the Heavenly Demon Cult’s nature of valuing strength over gender, it wasn’t surprising that there was a high proportion of strong women.

In fact, among the top-tier families rivaling the Six Clans, there were even some that were entirely matriarchal.

I suddenly chuckled, recalling a memory from the past.

‘There were so many idiots who flirted with female experts only to lose a limb.’

During my time as Inner Administrator, these types of incidents popped up constantly in reports whenever things got boring.

There was even one instance where a male warrior took a Qi strike to the groin, which not only destroyed his “seeds” but also shattered the Dantian in his lower abdomen.

I heard he later regained his martial arts by cultivating the Virgin cultivation Technique. Or so the story goes.

‘Well, I guess even those are memories, huh?’

After I lost actual authority to the Heavenly Thunder Corps, these kinds of trivial matters were all I handled.

‘Maybe I should look around and see if any of them have potential?’

This cohort had a total of ninety-eight people. Of those, sixty-six were male recruits, and thirty-two were female.

‘I’m not aiming for talent like the Pa Clan twins or Sa Biyeon. If I can secure just a few truly promising ones, that’s a success.’

Still, among the Thousand-Day Pass recruits, quite a few were from clans other than the Jin Clan, even if they had the Six Clan’s support.

Even with the Jin Clan’s influence, realistically, there wouldn’t be too many worth recruiting.

Clack!

The moment I opened the door to my assigned dorm—Dormitory One—I felt several gazes turn to me all at once.

Then, the sounds of conversation abruptly died down.

“Ji, Jin Yeomyung.”

“The Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan…”

Only a few who recognized me whispered among themselves, while the rest were clearly watching me with caution.

The moment I reached my designated spot, those nearby instinctively stepped away, widening the space around me.

‘Well, I guess this’ll be convenient.’

But it didn’t feel good—like being an animal on display in a zoo.

At that moment—

“Jin Yeomyung of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.”

A shadow fell over my eyes as I sat on the bedding.

‘Oh?’

Someone was standing in front of me, radiating hostility.

But despite the animosity, the presence wasn’t very intimidating.

‘Who is this kid?’

He looked about fifteen. Still clearly in the middle of growing.

If he was showing such overt hostility, then he either had a grudge against the Six Clans or was affiliated with them.

“My name is Ma Jinseong.”

“Blood Dragon Demonic Clan?”

He wasn’t wearing the traditional long robe of the Ma Clan but ordinary martial garments, so I was slow to recognize him.

“That’s right! The one you cowardly injured with tricks—Ma Chulsoo—is my sixth cousin!”

“Oh?”

I examined the boy who introduced himself as Ma Jinseong carefully.

Being a sixth cousin to the direct line Ma Chulsoo would mean he had at least some standing in the clan.

And yet he had come to the Thousand-Day Pass?

‘Either there’s something wrong with him, or like me, he volunteered to come here.’

Maybe both.

“So, what business do you have with me?”

“Nothing in particular. I just wanted to make sure you recognized my presence!”

Ma Jinseong thumped his chest with his fist and made a bold declaration.

If someone like Jin Yeowoon—big and burly—had done that, it might’ve been intimidating, but coming from such a small guy, it was just… cute.

“Well, I’ll look forward to it.”

“Wh-what?! That’s all you have to say?”

“That’s it.”

“……”

Disheartened by my anticlimactic response, the kid had nothing more to say and slinked away.

He was still just a child full of youthful recklessness, lacking the skill to sustain a long conversation.

‘Maybe I can use that kid to get some insight into the current state of the Ma Clan?’

* * *

Heavenly Demon Pavilion, Lesser Demon Hall.

One of the cult’s subordinate halls, the Lesser Demon Hall, was already engulfed in a violent black storm from early morning.

A rough and savage force that was hard to believe had been unleashed by a single sword.

The one who had unleashed that power, the Young Cult Leader, Cheon Yura, ended her final sword move and slowly returned to her stance.

“Phew…!”

Cheon Yura exhaled after finishing her sword dance.

The floor of the training ground had long since been reduced to tatters.

That this much destruction had been caused by residual force alone was clear proof that Cheon Yura’s skills had matured to the Master Level.

And watching her closely from the side, the Cult Leader, Cheon Taejong, murmured coldly.

“Still far from enough.”

His evaluation was merciless.

“Not only is the transition between movements unrefined, but even the internal circulation of your Qi is lacking. Especially in the segment where it flows from the Middle Heavenly Point to the Sacred Convergence Point—your control falters.”

Sa Biyeon, who was watching nearby, couldn’t help but be impressed.

A true expert could certainly pick out flaws in movement.

But to observe the internal flow of Qi and diagnose it precisely? That wasn’t something any human should be capable of.

Cheon Taejong’s words to the silently standing Cheon Yura continued.

“It’s only natural that your body, which hasn’t fully matured, cannot yet absorb the domineering energy of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art. However, had you at least fully wielded the Heaven-Slaying Qi, you wouldn’t have been overpowered by a mere elder of the Azure Star Sect.”

“T-that’s because…”

“You’re still afraid of falling into demonic nature?”

“……”

“You think you might kill Biyeon or that child from the Jin Clan with your own hands?”

Cheon Yura’s shoulders flinched slightly.

Ordinarily, “falling into demonic nature” would refer to Qi Deviation, but for practitioners of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art, it carried a slightly different meaning.

“Yura.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

“It’s been a thousand years since the First Heavenly Demon founded our cult.”

With his hands behind his back, Cheon Taejong continued.

“The Six Demonic Deities who served him established the Six Great Demonic Clans. A thousand years later, they now wield influence over the entire cult.”

“And do you know why that was possible?”

Cheon Yura answered immediately.

“Because of the strength of the countless bloodlines they’ve produced over the past thousand years.”

“Exactly. You see clearly.”

Cheon Taejong nodded.

“In the current era, each of the Six Clans has at least a hundred individuals considered direct lineage. Inheritance rights aside, that’s the scale of their core bloodlines.”

Most of them held important positions within or outside the clan, forming the backbone of the cult.

“But in the Cheon Clan, only you and I are considered direct lineage—even though our numbers are not inferior to the other Six Clans. Do you know why that is?”

Cheon Yura lowered her head, cautiously gauging his reaction.

Because she already understood where he was going with this.

“Because only you and I are compatible with the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art.”

“Precisely.”

Being born into the Cheon Clan didn’t automatically mean one could cultivate the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art.

Only a rare few, acknowledged for their compatibility, could learn it.

And mastering that art meant—

“Yura, you possess the qualities to become a Heavenly Demon.”

Heavenly Demon.

A title not granted once per generation, but perhaps once in several generations. Since the founding of the cult, only three people—excluding the First Heavenly Demon—had ever reached that status.

But now, in this generation—

For the first time in cult history, a Heavenly Demon might be born in succession from the same bloodline.

“So do not doubt your potential.”

Cheon Yura lowered her head in shame. Though his tone was gentle, she knew all too well that it was, in essence, a rebuke.

“I’m sorry, Cult Leader.”

“Being swayed by demonic nature is for the ordinary. Those like us must instead learn to master our demonic nature. Even if it means losing something precious in the process.”

This was the burden borne by all cultivators of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art, whether they became Heavenly Demons or not.

“I will remember your words.”

“Good. You must never forget them.”

Having finished his rebuke, Cheon Taejong changed the subject to lighten the mood.

“By the way, Biyeon. That young son of the Jin Clan really did enter the Thousand-Day Pass, didn’t he?”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

Though phrased as a question, it was really just a confirmation.

There were hardly any secrets within the Ten Thousand Mountains that the Cult Leader wasn’t aware of.

“Tsk, tsk. I can more or less guess what’s going through his head.”

“……”

“He’s probably trying to avoid you.”

Cheon Yura’s face immediately contorted.

Just moments ago, she had seemed downcast, but now a hint of killing intent flickered across her expression.

Seeing that, Sa Biyeon was taken aback.

‘The Young Cult Leader reacting so sensitively to someone else’s affairs?’

She had always been someone who focused solely on martial arts, advancing with singular focus.

Even the exchange ceremony had only happened because the Cult Leader urged her into it.

It had been surprising that the Jin and Ma Clans had survived, but she assumed Cheon Yura would soon lose interest.

“It was just a joke.”

Cheon Taejong, perhaps sensing this, stroked his beard and added with a smirk.

“Jin Yeomyung, was it? Do you like him that much?”

“Not particularly.”

“But your words and actions suggest otherwise.”

Cheon Taejong’s expression, as he looked at the speechless Cheon Yura, had turned icy cold.

“Of course, one day you’ll have to marry and continue the Cheon Clan’s lineage. But at least for now, don’t let your attention stray. Focus solely on achieving mastery.”

That expression—it was more alien than any either Cheon Yura or Sa Biyeon had ever seen on him before.

“The day you master the Heavenly Demonic Divine Art, no one will be able to stand against you.”

“Y-yes, Cult Leader.”

Both Cheon Yura and Sa Biyeon instinctively lowered their gazes.

‘What…? Didn’t the Cult Leader seem fond of Jin Yeomyung?’

Sa Biyeon was confused by the contradiction in Cheon Taejong’s attitude.

‘No… more than that…’

It felt more like he valued Cheon Yura’s martial completion above any personal attachment or sentiment.

‘What is the Cult Leader really thinking…?’

As both Sa Biyeon and Cheon Yura wrestled with their confusion—

“They are not to be taken lightly.”

“……!!”

Cheon Taejong dropped a bombshell over their heads.

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