Chapter 358: Things Revealed

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Shin So-sul, whose eyes met Cheol Ryu-heun’s, was newly seized by a peculiar feeling.

It was a sensation difficult to explain in detail with words.

The cause was one thing.

It was because of Cheol Ryu-heun’s ethereal intangible Aura/Aura/bearing.

It was like that when he first saw him too, but it felt somewhat like encountering an unprecedented existence transcending the mortal realm.

It was mysterious.

Even setting aside the series of indifferent attitude as something ingrained in him, he had never seen such unconcerned eyes in his entire life.

Two pupils truly devoid of any light of emotion.

How could a person be like that…

Cheol Ryu-heun’s gaze was a fathomless abyss.

It was quiet and profound.

The more he looked, the more inexplicable wonder swirled in his chest.

Was he a transcendent who had reached an otherworldly realm having seen through the principles of all creation?

Then again, looking at the amazing things he had accomplished so far, such an expression would not be unreasonable.

Due to such unpredictable talent and ability, that ethereal intangible Aura/Aura/bearing came across as even more mysterious.

Shin So-sul, who had been inwardly admiring, was reminded of Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon Ba Hun, the previous Supreme Hegemon of the Jianghu who had once subdued him.

He too had boasted an impressive intangible Aura/Aura/bearing at the time.

The mysterious wonder and awe he felt then remained as vivid memories even now.

But then.

Cheol Ryu-heun was beyond that.

His fundamental Aura was simply different.

At that moment.

KKIIIK-

The old house’s door groaned as if being pushed again.

Immediately after, young men and women walked outside.

It was the entire group of White Peak Sword Sect guests, including Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon.

Following that, Namgung Heon-rin and Mun Bin also came out behind.

Each was not yet asleep, having been chatting about this and that before the great work ahead.

And soon, among those who had previously taken refuge, South Lake Sword Sect’s Great Lake Sword Elder Byeok Woo-ham, Crow Pattern Sword Hall’s Flash Blade Tyrant Do Woo-pung, and Dokgo Family’s New Province Sword Saint Dokgo In-wang also showed themselves.

Cheol Ryu-heun, having put his hands behind his back, asked the guest group in a curt tone.

“Are you owls? Why aren’t you sleeping but creeping out?”

Namgung Sang-rin at the front scratched the back of his head.

“Ah… actually, we too were curious about the story…”

At that, Hae Su-yeon, Cui Lan and others beside him nodded.

Byeok Woo-ham, who had approached nearby, also quietly added his words.

“I came out because sleep especially wouldn’t come tonight. Hmm, if only he were here too… I can’t easily shake off my worry.”

As he said that, the image of one person flashed through his mind.

A middle-aged man with a fine beard.

It was Hoon-sol, whose epithet was Red Yellow Iron Saber, the gate master of Iron Shadow Blade Gate, an Orthodox martial organization within the Guangdong region.

He was particularly close to him because of their usual acquaintance.

However, they lost their way and became separated from each other.

Since then, the whereabouts of the Iron Shadow Blade Gate party had been uncertain.

Though he had hoped Byeok Song-ha would find them during her search, they remained unknown, and he was in a half-given-up state.

Probably the possibility was high that they had become slaves of the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.

That’s why he was all the more worried.

Whether he might have to cross swords if he met him again.

Cheol Ryu-heun, having turned his gaze, responded expressionlessly.

“What has already happened can’t be helped. So please steel your heart.”

Byeok Woo-ham responded with a heavy look.

“Yes… those words are right. Since it’s difficult for us to save everyone.”

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun’s gaze went upward.

It was none other than above the dilapidated house’s roof.

“You should join in too, shouldn’t you?”

At the briefly thrown question, someone’s voice was heard.

“I suppose.”

Simultaneously, Byeok Woo-ham, Do Woo-pung, and Dokgo In-wang were surprised.

The owner of the voice was Heavenly Demon Cult Grand Prelate Gun Mu-ak.

No one knew since when he had been on top of the roof.

Except for some personnel including Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon.

PEOLLEOK-

Gun Mu-ak descended gently to the ground while fluttering his robe.

Shin So-sul, looking at him, muttered inwardly.

‘So the same goal…’

Suddenly, he was reminded of the conversation he had exchanged with Cheol Ryu-heun.

-Keuheut… In principle, the demonic crowd… can never… be trusted.

-You can trust them. Because I made the proposal first and brought them.

-…!

-I promise on my name, the Heretic Cult will return to your embrace. Ah, of course, the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan will be cleanly dealt with. The Heavenly Demon Cult party’s goal is also the punishment of Heuk Ma-yung’s group. I’ve already confirmed everything. Don’t look down at me so carelessly.

-…!

-Looking at you, it seems to be some kind of Severed Meridian Disease, I’ll completely cure it for you. After that, I’ll make you reborn as this era’s greatest master of sorcery. How about it, doesn’t that make your ears perk up?

‘Right, I should believe in him. Even factoring in the Heavenly Demon Cult’s danger…’

He was someone who had been selected by Cheol Ryu-heun, who was leading this series of plans.

That was why he was trying to believe.

Having thus steeled his heart, Shin So-sul quietly opened his mouth.

“Sect Master Cheol, you probably heard the basic story before the main account?”

“That’s right. Seven years ago, you were betrayed by two disciples. Snake-Robed Hwa-rang and Snake-Robed Hwa-nong, was it?”

“Yes, that’s right. Those two had secretly joined hands with the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan. Thus they gathered a group, led the rebellion, and stole my position.”

Thus began Shin So-sul’s story.

The Heretic Cult had been sealed in the past by Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon Ba Hun.

The cause of the incident had been the research by Cult Leader Shin So-sul, called the Defying Heaven Evil Wind.

It was specifically related to unknown sorcery that artificially combined the various formations of Nature existing within the Shiwan Mountains to open a gate to a world beyond heaven.

Ba Hun had happened to obtain that information and immediately headed for the Shiwan Mountains.

Shin So-sul, absorbed in that research, displayed hostility and stood against him.

Then he was brought to his knees in defeat, and afterward, through Ba Hun’s persuasion, came to realize that his research results could bring about complete sect destruction.

Repenting of his wrongs, he walked a new path along with declaring the sect’s closure and sealing the incomplete sorcery.

From darkness toward light.

By doing so, he wanted to end the bleak history of the Heretic Cult, which had been completely classified as evil and heretical and ostracized by both Orthodox and Unorthodox factions.

Thus he strove for a long time to keep his promise with Ba Hun.

And finally, results appeared.

A mystical application was born that possessed sorcery attributes yet benefited the masses.

It was the result of tirelessly reconstructing everything day by day after completely revising the foundational mental method.

His heart was full of pride.

At last, the entrance to advancing toward the light was visible.

If he spread this, it would just be a matter of time before the Heretic Cult’s great transformation.

However, an unexpected incident occurred.

The rebellion of the two disciples, the Snake-Robed Hwa-rang and Snake-Robed Hwa-nong siblings.

When a large-scale group sympathizing with them also joined in, Shin So-sul found himself at a disadvantage despite being a sorcerer of unequaled rank.

Eventually, he suffered serious internal injuries.

Due to the wave attacks of the turned subordinate groups.

And in his injured state, he was imprisoned in a place called a forbidden zone.

Heavenly Stem Formless Prison.

It was a place where Nature’s wondrous formation power was combined with sorcery, a space where escape was practically impossible.

External help was needed to leave.

At that time, Shin So-sul grasped the situation.

The fact that a behind-the-scenes force existed that had induced the betrayal of his subordinate personnel.

At that point in the story, Gun Mu-ak opened his mouth expressionlessly.

“The timing matches exactly.”

At that, Cheol Ryu-heun likewise asked expressionlessly.

“The timing when the Darkness-Craving Blood Clan betrayed?”

“Correct.”

Gun Mu-ak, having nodded slightly, spoke while looking at Shin So-sul’s face.

“Did Heuk Ma-yung appear around that time?”

“Correct.”

Shin So-sul, meeting his gaze, opened his mouth again.

“About ten days after I was imprisoned… Heuk Ma-yung entered the Heavenly Stem Formless Prison and mocked my state.”

His story continued to the encounter with Heuk Ma-yung at that time.

-Heh… Nice to meet you. This seat is Heuk Ma-yung, the Four Dharma-Protecting Kings of Heavenly Demon Cult.

-Guardian… Four Kings? Wasn’t that an abolished position?

-It was revived in this generation.

-If so, then you’re…!

-Yes, one of the mysterious blood clans.

-…!

-Darkness-Craving Blood Clan.

-How could…!

-They call me the Bat Demon Great King.

-You schemed this!

-I appeared before you to tell you precisely that. Hoohoo.

-Kuk… You filthy…!

-You raised the two children very well. Look, they can even manipulate their skills to enter and exit this place. I heard it had only been three years since they entered the sect, but both have genius qualities. They’ll be a great help on the path I walk going forward.

-Shut up! Ugh… If only I weren’t injured… I would…

-Foolish. Even if your body were normal, could you defeat this seat? Even the famous Abbot Sect Master of Shaolin Temple isn’t of any concern.

-Who ordered this! Was it the Grand Prelate!

-You don’t need to know. No need to know if it was him either.

-You bastard! Kuk… Tell me!

-If you rage and thrash about like that, your internal injuries will worsen. I just stopped by for a light greeting.

-Hurry and reveal the truth! What sweet words did you use… to trick my sincere disciples?

-Do you think that sincerity proves their true nature?

-What…!

-It was your misjudgment that caused this.

-What do you…

-The two children had bigger dreams than you.

-Big dreams…?

-It means their interest in the incomplete sorcery research you had once forsaken was tremendously great.

-…!

-So, I gave them a bit of help. People’s souls, that is. By sacrificing countless slaves.

-Don’t tell me…

-Do you understand now? The two children have been conducting research in secret. While deceiving their master’s eyes. Then by chance, they made contact with us, and formed an alliance. For the same goal, to open the gate to the other world.

-No… No! That will bring our cult’s destruction!

-No, that won’t happen. Rather, that Jianghu will be destroyed.

-Insane…! When you don’t even know what’s beyond that…

-Now stop being concerned. You should just think about surviving here in the forbidden zone, right?

-Rather… kill me!

-I cannot do that. Because you’re material in case of emergency.

-?!…

-You seem puzzled as to what it means. Hoohoot. There is such a thing.

-Immediately… stop the research. Keuk…! I too was once absorbed in the unknown realm. But… I realized the danger of the result through the Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon.

-That’s why you’ve ended up like this.

-…

-Had you completed the research, you would have achieved Heretic Cult hegemony. But you veered off course, saying you’d advance toward the light.

-With great difficulty… I finally completed the new studies… And now at this point…

-Hoot, if you’re a member of the evil and heretical, you should act like evil and heretical. Well then, I’ll be going. I’ll stop by again when I’m bored.

-Kuk… Stop there! You bastard… I will absolutely survive! I will somehow survive and… set right all that has gone wrong!

-I said earlier, didn’t I? You asked if I know what’s beyond that.

-…

-I know. It’s where a great demon god resides. One who has never before existed in this mortal world…

-De… mon god…?

-The moment the gate opens, this world will greet a new history. I will accomplish it together with those two children. No matter how many years it takes.

Cheol Ryu-heun, who had been listening quietly, let out an indifferent voice.

“A demon god, huh… A divine being from the other world? Well, we can just smash it before it opens.”