novelraw Chapter 172 : Chapter 172
Chapter 172 : Chapter 172
Chapter 172. Do Not Mind It
“How could I fathom the miserable feeling of losing a husband?”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God spoke.
“Moreover, with your only daughter hovering between life and death, how terrible must it be?”
“Cult Leader...”
“This seat will take responsibility and save Yu-ra, so do not worry. This is a promise as the Cult Leader of this Cult.”
“Your grace is immeasurable, simply immeasurable. Sob, sob sob.”
Bukgung Seol finally could not hold back her tears and wailed upon receiving the warm consolation of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God was the supreme being of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and an existence revered as a god.
In such a worst-case scenario, she would be the one and only object to lean on as a faith.
“This seat will personally examine Yu-ra’s condition. So relieve your mind and wait.”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God comforted Bukgung Seol once more and immediately moved her steps inside the Human-Saving Manor.
“Considering the situation, please compose yourself even if it is difficult. I will also do my best to mobilize all means and methods to save Senior Sister.”
Jin Cheon said this and followed the Iron-Blooded Demonic God to the sickbed where Cheol Yu-ra lay.
Cheol Yu-ra was fast asleep wearing the Nine-headed Dragon Robe that Jin Cheon had taken off for her, and her appearance was like the figure of the dead.
Also, for some reason, dozens of talismans that seemed to have been attached by Wi Mu-rin were stuck on her, so she looked in bad shape at a glance.
“How is the condition?”
“Her Primal Spirit is greatly damaged, making it burdensome even to maintain life.”
The Human-Saving Demonic Dao Gongson Chaek answered the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s question.
“You mean she is barely holding on?”
“Yes, thanks to the Nine-headed Dragon Robe, the crisis has passed, but if Primal Qi is not consistently replenished from the outside, survival by her own power is impossible.”
“The talismans... do they mean the Ghost Gate has opened?”
“It is judged that because the Primal Spirit was damaged and the Upper Dantian was completely opened due to the grand art, she has become in a state good for souls to enter and exit.”
“Worst case.”
Jin Cheon, who was listening silently from the side, flinched at the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s words.
Didn't the mention of ‘worst case’ from none other than the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s mouth mean that Cheol Yu-ra’s condition was even more serious than what was visible to the eye?
“How long will she last?”
“It is judged to be possible for a while. The sorcery is blocking miscellaneous ghosts trying to enter and exit the Ghost Gate, and if Primal Qi is continuously replenished from the outside, the judgment is that a maximum of one month is sufficient.”
“One month. There isn't absolutely no time.”
“It is considered to be due to good initial response.”
“Initial response means... indeed.”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God looked back at Jin Cheon.
“Yes, it was you again this time. You saved Yu-ra.”
“I did not save her.”
Jin Cheon shook his head.
“I only prevented her from dying; Senior Sister has not woken up yet. It is all because I am lacking.”
Jin Cheon truly thought so.
If he had been stronger, and thus suppressed Dokgo Seong just a little earlier, Cheol Yu-ra would not have reached this state...
“Just keeping her from dying is amazing in itself. Isn't it thanks to that that the chance to save her still remains?”
“I want to save her.”
Jin Cheon spoke in a strong tone.
“I request that you give the order so that the Seventh Young Master Jin Cheon can complete the mission.”
“An order...”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God contemplated for a moment before speaking.
“Since this is the first time for this seat as well, I need some time to think. Seventh Young Master Jin Cheon, come to the Cult Leader’s Hall.”
“Your command.”
Thus, Jin Cheon moved with the Iron-Blooded Demonic God and had a private audience in the Cult Leader’s Hall.
Since it was a story entangled with Dokgo Seong, the content would be troublesome if a third party heard it, and as the Iron-Blooded Demonic God mentioned, a little time to think was needed.
* * *
After moving locations.
“So, what happened?”
“...And thus I was able to annihilate one of Dokgo Seong’s fragments.”
Jin Cheon reported in detail about the events that had occurred.
“It seems heavenly luck followed you.”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God also had the same thought as Jin Cheon.
That Jin Cheon was able to execute Dokgo Seong was purely a coincidence, and it was a fact that heavenly luck had followed.
After all, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God was the person who knew about Dokgo Seong better than anyone else...
“Now two remain.”
“Wouldn't that be so?”
“The remaining two will not be easy.”
“Still, I will definitely execute them.”
Jin Cheon revealed his will strongly.
Currently, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God was in a position where she could not step forward personally, so executing Dokgo Seong would be Jin Cheon’s share no matter what anyone said.
“That heart is delightful. However, your achievement is still lacking. Without completing the next stage, you will not be able to achieve the great cause.”
“Yes, I realized my limits.”
“Since you realized them, you just need to overcome them.”
“...!”
“Discussing the next realm starts immediately after accurately recognizing one’s own limits, so it is not an exaggeration to say it starts from now. I will open the path. But overcoming the wall or not depends solely on you.”
“I will devote myself to achieve complete mastery.”
Jin Cheon burned with determination.
Unless he achieved the Demonic Emperor and polished himself until he reached his limit even after that, he would never be able to erase Dokgo Seong from the human world...
“By the way, how can Senior Sister be saved?”
“The essences of Water, Fire, and Spirit are needed.”
“The essences of Water, Fire, and Spirit...”
“The essence of Water is in this Cult’s Forbidden Land, the Eternal Island; the essence of Fire is in the Scorching Hell located halfway up Sky Mountain; and finally, the essence of Spirit should be at Heavenly Demon Peak.”
Eternal Island, Scorching Hell, and Heavenly Demon Peak.
Along with the Sea of Trees and the Demonic Ghost Cave, these were places belonging to the Five Great Forbidden Lands of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
That meant every one of them was a place fraught with danger.
Just the Sea of Trees alone was teeming with strange and powerful beings that would throw not only the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult but the world into chaos...
“It will not be an easy journey.”
“It does not matter.”
He had no intention of backing down, to begin with.
It was a matter of saving his Senior Sister, Cheol Yu-ra.
Jin Cheon did not forget the promise he made to Bukgung Seol.
“However, once you pass through that arduous journey, there will clearly be something you realize.”
“Are you saying I can... overcome my limits?”
“The places this seat mentioned earlier are places difficult to break through with your current realm. Especially in the case of Heavenly Demon Peak, even approaching might be difficult. If you succeed in obtaining the essences of Water, Fire, and Spirit, you will be able to ascend to the realm of Demonic Emperor.”
“Yes, I will definitely obtain and bring back the essences of Water, Fire, and Spirit.”
Jin Cheon thought it was rather for the best.
Even at this moment, Dokgo Seong would be plotting resurrection somewhere and constantly getting stronger.
When every day was urgent, hoping to ascend to the next realm by leisurely practicing martial arts would be an overly complacent action.
Indeed, to overcome limits, one must stand precariously on the boundary between life and death, and ultimately survive to gain enlightenment.
Since rapid growth for a martial artist was something achievable in an extreme environment where death lurked, there was no reason to refuse.
If one was born with the Heavenly Demon’s Physique and couldn't even achieve the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi Demonic Emperor quickly, how insignificant of a talent would that be?
Jin Cheon was a person who shouldn't remain merely as a once-in-a-millennium genius.
If he was one destined to become the apex of the Demonic Dao, rapid growth was indispensable.
In addition to that, since he had the teachings of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, the Best in Ancient and Modern Times, Jin Cheon was not in a position to refuse an extreme choice to break his limits.
“I will give you a few days' reprieve. During that time, receive teachings from this seat, then go to the Scorching Hell. That is the only way to save your Senior Sister.”
“Your command.”
Jin Cheon knelt on one knee toward the Iron-Blooded Demonic God and took a pose of respect.
* * *
Meanwhile, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance was in a terrible state after the Demonic Prison incident.
The Righteous Heavenly Alliance, which had reigned as the hegemon of the Central Plains for some forty years since the last Righteous-Demonic War, had already lost its status and glory.
Following Shaolin, the withdrawals of the Emei Sect, Sichuan Tang Clan, and even the Wudang Sect were truly massive blows to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
Moreover, since about three hundred minor sects related to Shaolin, Emei, Tang Clan, and Wudang also withdrew from the Righteous Heavenly Alliance all at once, it was at the point where it could no longer be seen as ruling the Central Plains.
At this, the Alliance Leader, Sword Saint, made a truly drastic decision to reorganize the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
Excluding the sects that withdrew from the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, the Sword Saint proceeded to form a new alliance composed of the Zhongnan Sect, Qingcheng Sect, Kongtong Sect, Diancang Sect, Mount Mao Sect, Hainan Sect, Beggar's Sect, Moyong Clan, Jaegal Clan, Hebei Peng Clan, Hwangbo Clan, and Guyang Clan.
The name of the new alliance, the successor to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, was called the Heavenly Dao Alliance, and it raised the banner of spreading the Righteous Dao to the world under the teachings of Taoist sages.
They thoroughly denied the Demonic Prison incident and engaged in fierce public opinion warfare while setting up confrontation angles with the sects that withdrew from the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
Also, perhaps having made some secret agreement with the Imperial Family, they received full support and transformed into a form almost close to government troops.
Like that, the Central Plains entered an era where tension was rampant as if walking on thin ice due to the formation of the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the conflict between the sects that withdrew from the existing Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
A volatile situation was created where a civil war of killing each other might start between sects that had eaten from the same pot for hundreds of years under the name of Righteous Heaven.
‘Neither side will be able to move carelessly. Because the damage would be immense.’
Jin Cheon received a report on the situation of the Central Plains from the Bat Squad and saw that unless something special happened, the tension would continue for the time being.
It was an undeniable fact that the Demonic Prison situation was serious, but he anticipated that total war would not break out rashly due to various realistic problems.
‘They have too much to lose on both sides. They will be concerned about this Cult too. For a while, they will only growl while sharpening their knives at each other.’
Judging so, Jin Cheon comfortably focused on cultivation while receiving the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s teachings.
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God told Jin Cheon the interpretation of the contents of the latter half of the Heavenly Demon Scripture and also gave many teachings regarding the Oppression Suppression Divine Qi.
But even the Iron-Blooded Demonic God did not know the method to unleash the Oppression Suppression Divine Qi with demonic qi.
Since the Oppression Suppression Divine Qi originally had to be commanded based on pure internal energy, trying to operate it based on demonic qi left no choice but to reinterpret the martial art itself from the beginning and re-establish it.
Of course, if the Iron-Blooded Demonic God wanted to figure it out, there was nothing she couldn't figure out, but that was an extremely dangerous task.
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God was shouldering an immense burden just teaching Jin Cheon right now.
“...Master.”
Jin Cheon flinched in surprise looking at the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
Looking at the Iron-Blooded Demonic God again after turning his gaze for a moment, her form had become translucent as if disappearing from the world, then became clear again.
“Do not mind it.”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God smiled as if it was nothing special.
“I am holding on well, so just focus on learning.”
“However...”
“The only person who can fill this seat’s empty spot is you. Even if I ascend, how could I leave with a comfortable mind if I do not complete you?”
“T-that word is...”
Jin Cheon did not know what to do because he was so awestruck.
“It does not simply mean a successor. Among this seat’s disciples, there are no children who cannot lead this Cult. Even the Sixth, even that child possesses sufficient capability to shoulder that heavy responsibility.”
“Ah.”
Jin Cheon truly marveled at the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s insight.
After the Iron-Blooded Demonic God and the resurrected First Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong mutually annihilated each other and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult perished, who performed the duties of the Cult Leader and led the cultists?
It was not an exaggeration to say that practically only Jin Cheon knew the story that a mature Blood Qilin could capably lead the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
But the Iron-Blooded Demonic God had seen through such potential in the Blood Qilin from decades ago.
The person whom everyone in the Cult considered a rare scoundrel...
“Jin Cheon, my disciple.”
“Yes, Master.”
“This seat wishes for you to become the most solid barrier and the sharpest sword protecting this Cult, so completing you will be called the last heavenly mandate given to this seat.”
The gaze of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God looking at Jin Cheon was truly special.