Chapter 361: Upheaval (4)

To split one’s consciousness into countless fragments, or to take in the consciousnesses of countless others into one’s own.

A mental collective refers to a formless mental entity born through either of those processes.

Of course, whether it’s the former or the latter, the moment one engages in such an act, their essence becomes so distorted that they can no longer be considered human…

For some reason, one figure surfaced in my mind at that moment.

None other than the Death King Enforcer, Cheon Jumun.

‘Even in his previous life, he must have set out to kill Cheon Juchun after the Cult Leader ascended.’

With Cheon Jumun’s martial prowess, unless a horde of awakened beings attacked him en masse, he would never suffer a wound.

More than anything, he was the one who led the Demonic Ghost Execution Squad, a group of assassins.

In battles fought in darkness, he would be more adept than anyone.

‘And yet, the fact that his communications were cut off afterward…’

In the end, there was only one conclusion.

Cheon Jumun’s death in battle.

‘If he truly chose to abandon his physical body, then that kind of ending makes sense.’

No matter how elite an assassin he was, if he didn’t understand such a concept precisely, it would be near impossible to find the true form of his enemy.

‘Surprisingly troublesome, this Cheon Juchun might be.’

An opponent powerful only in terms of authority, strength, or influence could be dealt with somehow.

But the most annoying kind of enemy was the one who, though weak, was nearly impossible to uproot.

This was a truth I had learned repeatedly in past battles.

‘Even so, his main body must still exist somewhere in this world.’

Finding where he hid it would be the key to the battles to come.

“I’ve heard your opinion. But there’s a flaw.”

“…What?”

The Evil Refining Sect Leader frowned and abruptly raised his head.

Judging by how he grasped the true nature of the enemy, he must have had considerable mastery over sorcery, but even so, wasn’t he overestimating this Cheon Juchun?

“No matter how skilled, a mere sorcerer can’t control another’s body from a distance this remote, which borders on the supernatural.”

That was something I confirmed during our first encounter.

He was able to invest his consciousness into the awakened bodies he had created, but there was definitely a limit to the range.

“At most, maybe the size of a single province? Of course, that’s already an incredible feat, but even then, the whole of the Central Plains is beyond his reach.”

If his sphere of influence truly spanned all of the Central Plains, then there would essentially be no way to kill him.

‘That’s absolutely impossible. In my previous life, only the Mad God could pull off something like that.’

The Evil Refining Sect Leader scowled and asked,

“…Then what was that figure I saw—the one called ‘Teacher’?”

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Let’s call it a clone, granted with a certain degree of autonomy.”

“A… a clone…?”

“Hard to believe, sure, but if they’ve already made artificial humans, a clone shouldn’t be that surprising.”

To people of this era, such a concept might be difficult to grasp.

Even to a sorcerer who had approached the truth of the world to some degree.

“Anyway, it seems I’ve gotten all the information I need…”

I aimed my sword at his neck.

“Any last words?”

I had no intention of letting him live from the start.

Since he dared to challenge the Cult itself, letting him live after giving up some intel would make no sense.

As if expecting my stance, he muttered weakly,

“Since the Great Evil Spirit abandoned us… no matter what I do, it’s all meaningless.”

He had even imprisoned his own master to claim the seat of Sect Leader, and yet he surrendered so easily.

Was that a sign of how heavily he relied on Yorang?

Then, he suddenly lifted his head and curled one corner of his mouth into a smirk.

“The one who told you the location of the sacred relic… it was your master, wasn’t it?”

“And if it was?”

“Heh… That man must have given you a warm welcome on the surface. Probably handed over some decent information, too. But deep down, he was hoping that you’d lose control, unable to endure the aura of the Great Evil Spirit. In the end, he wanted us all to perish together.”

“……”

An old man, on the verge of death, did such a thing?

“The only reason your master bowed to your demonic cult was because he lacked strength. Outwardly, he posed as a moderate faction member, hiding his fangs for all that time, never once baring his teeth, thoroughly lowering his head…”

“Hmph…”

I fancied myself fairly perceptive, but if that was true, then I had been thoroughly deceived.

“But his wish didn’t come true. He never imagined that someone would not only absorb the relic’s energy entirely, but also be chosen by the Great Evil Spirit.”

Indeed, the fact that I took in Yorang was something none of them could have expected.

“Kill me. You’ve taken all my hopes—there’s no point in living.”

With that, he bowed his head, as if truly releasing all attachments to life.

“……”

I swung my sword and severed his neck.

After the Evil Refining Sect Leader died, his subordinates… didn’t exactly go quietly.

“Everyone, run!”

“Scatter and regroup later!”

Two high priests, presumably the top of the sect, shouted commands to the remaining cultists.

If they managed to scatter in all directions, it would become quite the hassle…

So Soryu raised her hand with a bloodthirsty smile.

“Going somewhere?”

The Underworld King Unit, already surrounding them, greeted the escapees.

A high priest might’ve been able to break through the encirclement, but…

“W-What the hell? Why is a demonic cultist using Mount Hua’s sword techniques?!”

Dragged here against his will, Han Mubaek displayed Mount Hua’s dazzling swordplay and held the high priests at bay.

‘As expected, his skills are quite impressive.’

I couldn’t help but be a little impressed watching Han Mubaek bind two of them with such ease.

Though in his past life he was nothing more than a beloved punching bag for Cheon Yura, looking at him now, he could easily be considered peak master level.

‘At this rate, I’d have to assume he hid his true abilities right up until the end in his past life.’

Comparisons to the other Spirits—Han Muyeon of the First Order or Cheong Museong of the Third Order—weren’t even worth making.

Maybe the only one who could overpower him purely through martial arts was Ak Baekho, blessed with the Heavenly Martial Physique… but if Han Mubaek hadn’t removed the blood of the divine beast, it’s hard to say how the fight would’ve gone.

Before long, not a single Evil Refining Sect member remained alive.

“Behead the Sect Leader and the high priests cleanly and send their heads to the Cult first.”

“By your command.”

“We’ll spend the next two days searching the area. Look for any remnants. Be thorough.”

And once all the follow-up work on the Evil Refining Sect was complete—

–Fwoooom! So it’s finally over?

Yorang yawned and subtly leaned her face in.

‘What the hell is this creature?’

The gap between what I first experienced when I met her and now was so large that I couldn’t adapt.

While I was still confused, Yorang suddenly said something.

—By the way, you’ve awakened your spirit eye, yet you have no intention of developing it into Eye Arts?

“Eye Arts, huh…”

Spirit Eyes, which allow one to see ghosts, spiritual essence, or things beyond the ordinary, are mostly innate.

If one cultivates and refines them, the eyes themselves can become a special medium capable of manifesting arts.

Those arts performed through the eyes are called Eye Arts…

“I never learned spell arts, so I don’t know how to use Eye Arts.”

—Well, that seems obvious. To have awakened such a transcendent sense and still be in that pathetic state—there’s a limit to putting pearls on a pig.

“…You gluttonous spirit. Do you want to die?”

I grabbed Yorang by the scruff of her neck and glared at her.

But the pitiful look in her eyes didn’t change.

—With your eyes, it would be natural to know instantly whether that halfwit removed the blood or not. Even if you didn’t possess the origin essence.

“Ugh!”

Her ruthless probing struck true, and I frowned slightly.

After glancing over my reaction, she finally brought up the real topic.

—If you wish, I can awaken the Demonic Saint’s Eye for you.

“The Demonic Saint’s Eye?”

—It’s an Eye Art that only those born with the so-called Divine Demonic Physique can awaken. It has several useful abilities, but most importantly, it lets you clearly discern those who possess the power of Cheonak.

“So that means…”

Does that mean I could identify awakened beings pretending to be ordinary people more effectively?

But there’s no way that bastard would reveal something this useful without a catch.

“What’s your angle?”

At my question, Yorang’s expression shifted once more to one of pure contempt.

—Angle? The Demonic Saint’s Eye should’ve awakened naturally when you first faced your inner demonic nature. But because some ‘light’ from outside thoroughly protected you, it paradoxically robbed you of the chance to awaken it.

“……”

—I’m only telling you this because if things continue like this, you’ll keep abusing the origin essence endlessly, you dumb human.

“……”

I was speechless like a mute who’d swallowed honey.

Since when could this thing talk so fluently?

“Well, since you’re offering, I’m not planning to refuse.”

Suddenly, a thought struck me.

“When you said it awakens upon confrontation, does that mean it can awaken just by facing the demonic nature itself?”

—That’s right. Though it has nothing to do with you now, the awakening of the Demonic Saint’s Eye usually signals danger.

Then Yorang said something that sent a chill down my spine.

—To awaken the Demonic Saint’s Eye means you’ve either overcome your demonic nature, or you’ve been devoured by it. There’s no third outcome.

***

Deep within the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

“Congratulations on completing your grand cultivation, Cult Leader.”

Second Elder of the Council of the Seven Elders bowed respectfully toward Cheon Yura, who was seated on the jade throne.

“……”

“Because the Cult Leader devoted more time to your cultivation than expected, many in the Ten Thousand Mountain were concerned for your well-being.”

“……”

Cheon Yura did not respond to Second Elder’s words.

She simply rested her chin on one hand and looked down at him indifferently.

Second Elder wasn’t the only one puzzled by her demeanor.

‘Something’s off.’

The three Guardians of the Guardian Hall near Second Elder, who were observing Cheon Yura, also sensed something strange in her changed demeanor.

‘She definitely broke through the wall. But this eerie aura… what is it?’

‘It’s not Qi Deviation. But something fundamental, like her intrinsic temperament, seems to have changed.’

‘When is that bastard of a Demonic Faction Lord coming?’

Cheon Yura, having emerged from a month-long self-isolation that was practically a closed-door training, was clearly different.

Sharper, more ominous, more eerie.

To be precise—

Though her energy had amplified, her presence had become unstable.

Second Elder, too, vaguely sensed that, but he deliberately ignored it and continued speaking.

“The reason I came to you, Cult Leader, is to deliver a resolution recently made by the Cheon Clan…”

“Oh, I see.”

Suddenly—

Cheon Yura cut him off.

“Now I can see.”

“Pardon? What do you…”

Second Elder couldn’t finish his sentence.

Before anyone realized it, the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword drawn by Cheon Yura had pierced straight through Second Elder’s heart.

“C-Cult Leader!”

“W-What are you doing?!”

Even the Great Guardian Mujeong couldn’t react in time—it was a speed of transcendental level.

But what was even more shocking was that Cheon Yura had attacked Second Elder without any reason, delivering a fatal blow.

“Ku, kuhluk!”

As blood gushed up from Second Elder’s mouth, a soft arc formed at the corner of Cheon Yura’s lips.

“C-Cult L-Lead… what is… this….”

Still in a daze, Second Elder heard Cheon Yura let out a small chuckle close to his ear.

“Ah, ahaha! So this is it. Now I can see it clearly—the essence of that power you gained by selling your soul!”

“……!”

The moment he heard those words, Second Elder’s eyes widened as if they would rip apart.

With a face filled with joy, she continued speaking.

“Father must have seen the same thing I do. I can’t understand why he let trash like you roam free.”

“C-Cult Leader… y-you’ll… regret… you’ll regr…”

“Regret is a word meant for the likes of you, who dared covet my rightful position.”

Squelch!

Cheon Yura yanked the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword out of Second Elder’s heart with brutal force.

A violent spray of blood burst forth from Second Elder’s chest.

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