I Became the Genius Mage of the Martial Academy

Chapter 168 : The Bloodline of the Heaven-Shattering Demon (3)

"Was the Heaven-Shattering Demon really named Pa? That's just a title."

I knew that he hadn't revealed his real name since the time he was active.

"You wouldn't know. Only we, the true successors, know his esteemed name."

It was an answer without a moment's hesitation. Considering that there was no mention of the Heaven-Shattering Demon's bloodline in the original story, it seemed the leader of the cult had brainwashed him properly.

"Do you have proof?"

"This sword. Just like the formless sword you have, it was left behind by my grandfather when he was alive."

Just as Pa Eun-seong was speaking, looking at the scabbard that had been taken from my side, I felt a presence from behind.

“Is it okay for you to be here already?”

“It’s my mission to protect you.”

It was Go Du-gyeong. After emergency treatment, he had come this far, riding one of the few remaining giant insects.

Upon hearing Pa Eun-seong's identity, Go Du-gyeong's brow furrowed.

“I thought he was unusual, and as expected, he was the child of that monster.”

“How dare you!”

Although Pa Eun-seong raised his voice, Go Du-gyeong calmly continued his story.

“I heard that among the disciples of the Heaven-Shattering Demon in the past, there was one who was excommunicated. He was a madman who even changed his own surname out of excessive admiration.”

“Nonsense!”

Although Pa Eun-seong glared, he was just bound by Go Du-gyeong's giant insect while his blood points were suppressed.

“Let’s go back soon.”

I said, looking at the sailboat that the mountain keepers were sailing towards from a distance.

By the time the power of the demonic pill wore off, I felt a sense of exhaustion throughout my body.

“By the way, a formless sword. I never thought it would be in your hands.”

On the sailboat, Go Du-gyeong looked at my side and let out a cry of admiration.

“You mean the sword that the Heaven-Shattering Demon used?”

I had thought it was just a setting in the story, but to think I would acquire it in the Ghost Cave like this.

“But there’s no blade?”

“In his later years, he had reached the realm of the heart sword, so he didn’t really need a blade. But when he held the formless sword, those who faced him felt as if there was a sword.”

At those words, just in case, I tried to imbue the formless sword with mana or internal energy, but it didn't work.

Go Du-gyeong, who had been watching my attempt with tension for a moment, soon let out a sigh and added.

“I think it would be better for us to return to the Martial Academy like this. Since the successor has been captured, the leader of the cult will also make a move.”

“Is he strong?”

“I’ve only heard the stories of the previous leader, but it would be better to think of him as a master above the academy head.”

It meant he was a monster. If we faced him with our current strength, that would be the end.

It seemed I would have to postpone killing the guy directly. Because I couldn't afford to incur the grudge of such a master.

And so, just as we were about to head to the Martial Academy quickly. The mountain keepers who had finished their interrogation inside approached one by one and began to report to me and Go Du-gyeong.

Most of the matters were as expected. They had stolen useless things like shoes related to the Heaven-Shattering Demon as a disguise, and the items that seemed to be really important had already been moved first through a fast-footed cult member.

But there was one peculiar point among them.

“But there was a strange testimony among the words of some of the cult members. They said they were not the Heaven-Shattering Faction. They called themselves the Macheon Cult.”

“The Macheon Cult?”

I asked back for a moment.

I had heard of the Macheon Cult.

As an unorthodox faction that newly emerged after the Heretic Alliance was dismantled in the original story, it was a group that had also confronted the Shaolin Temple in the Henan and Shaanxi regions.

In the original story, I had thought of them as a pawn of the Demonic Cult and had moved on, but looking back now, the meaning came to me differently.

‘Wait a minute, what if the Heaven-Shattering Faction guys were acting under a false name?’

I immediately changed my destination.

“We’re going to the Shaolin Temple.”

“Pardon?”

The mountain keepers, who were momentarily flustered by those words, soon began to turn the bow of the boat.

“What’s wrong?”

When Go Du-gyeong asked, only then did I reveal my inner thoughts.

“I’ve thought of a way to sell that troublemaker at a high price.”

***

In northern Henan, upon arriving at the Shaolin Temple, I was immediately invited to the VIP room where the abbot was.

“So the person you entrusted to us is the young leader of the Macheon Cult?”

“Yes.”

At the answer, Ma Won-hyeon laughed as if he was in a good mood.

“This is great! The Macheon Cult guys were a thorn in my side! Heh heh!”

It was a reaction that could come out because he didn't know what level the leader of the Macheon Cult was yet.

‘Let’s hand him over now.’

With a decision, I opened my mouth.

“Although we caught him, in the end, the affairs of Henan are under the jurisdiction of Shaolin, aren’t they? I’m thinking of entrusting that ruffian to you, Abbot, what do you think?”

“Of course. Thanks to you, we can make their power falter a bit. It seems we’re always receiving help.”

It seemed he was in a good mood. Now was the time.

I naturally brought up the main point.

“Do you happen to know Baek Hasin, who visited here with me before?”

“Of course I do. Didn’t that child come with you today?”

“That is…. That friend couldn’t accompany me because he went missing along with the destruction of his family.”

“What?! How did that happen?”

I explained the whole story. The conflict between the Baek family and the Seohwi family, the Manjeon Merchant Guild that was behind it, and the story of Baek Hasin being abducted by the Black Dragon Unit afterward.

“I don’t know why the Demonic Cult targeted that friend. It must be because they coveted the child’s talent. What kind of wicked trick will they pull.”

Bong Cheol-hwan, who was lamenting. I held out a gratitude token in front of him.

“I plan to rescue Baek Hasin from the Demonic Cult in the future. Please lend me your strength then.”

“Heh, I’m sorry, but it’s difficult to move since it hasn’t been long since we fought a big war in a row…”

I appealed to the abbot, who was about to refuse right away.

“Then please allow at least the Luohan Hall.”

Even if all of Shaolin didn't step up, if just the members of the Luohan Hall, where Bong Cheol-hwan was, participated, it would be a reliable force.

Ma Won-hyeon's expression hardened.

“That’s not such a simple problem. The man called the Heavenly Demon is someone even the Martial Alliance Leader is wary of.”

I leaked a part of the plan that had been modified for external use.

“Actually, I have a spy in the Demonic Cult. The Heavenly Demon is currently ahead of a grand ritual. He is said to be leaving the Ten Thousand Mountains with the executives of the Demonic Cult next year. I will aim for that time.”

“You have a spy in the Demonic Cult?”

“Yes. I will go to rescue Baek Hasin, aiming for the gap where the Heavenly Demon and the core forces are gone, so please don’t worry.”

At the end of the silence, Ma Won-hyeon opened his mouth with a serious face.

“Hmm. Leaving aside the reliability of the information, with just you and us…”

“What if the Martial Alliance, the entire Martial Academy, the Zhuge family, and the Huashan Sect are added?”

At those words, the abbot swallowed dryly.

“It’s not just a simple rescue. You’re saying you want to wage a war against the Demonic Cult.”

“Yes.”

The abbot, who had been contemplating for a moment, finally gave his permission.

“If, as you say, the rest of the forces express their intention to participate, the Luohan Hall of the Shaolin Temple will also be allowed to participate.”

The negotiation was over. A conditional permission. Since it was a difficult matter in terms of situation and justification, this much was satisfactory.

‘All that’s left is the Martial Alliance, the Huashan Sect, and Cheon Mu-jin, huh.’

The task of persuading three huge forces remained, but it was something that could be done step by step over the next year.

First, to get the matter officially notarized, as soon as I left the VIP room, I met Bong Cheol-hwan and conveyed this story.

“Of course I have to participate! Just leave it to me. Benefactor!”

Fortunately, Bong Cheol-hwan, who was showing his enthusiasm. Seeing him swing his one arm, it seemed his rehabilitation had also been completed safely.

“Is the story over?”

Just then, Go Du-gyeong, who had finished guiding Pa Eun-seong, approached this side.

“Yes, let’s depart soon.”

Then Bong Cheol-hwan said, as if he was disappointed.

“Are you leaving right away? The night is deep, why don’t you stay until tomorrow.”

“My schedule is quite tight.”

Moreover, it seemed the Heaven-Shattering Faction would track us, so.

By now, they must have noticed that something had happened to Pa Eun-seong and the others.

If they examined the route we had moved, they would know that we had stopped by the Shaolin Temple in the middle.

‘Since I deliberately brought the captured hostages in bonds, the Heaven-Shattering Faction will not have a hard time noticing that Pa Eun-seong was captured by the Shaolin Temple.’

Judging by the abbot's attitude, the Shaolin Temple might have even announced that fact.

Because there was nothing like capturing the enemy's leader to sway public opinion and show victory during a war.

Afterward, we left the Shaolin Temple, being seen off by Bong Cheol-hwan.

To protect the academy's sacred mountain, the mountain keepers, except for Go Du-gyeong, decided to send them with the Shaolin Temple martial artists and the Wudang Sect guests who happened to have business in Hubei.

‘If the Heaven-Shattering Faction attacks them, it would be like making an enemy of both Shaolin and Wudang at once.’

Although I had heard that the scale of the Macheon Cult was quite large in the original story, it was not at a level to fight with the two leading sects of the Nine Great Sects at the same time.

I turned my steps to the west.

Perhaps because I had dealt with a big hurdle earlier. I felt much more at ease.

“What are you going to do now?”

“I’m heading to Shaanxi.”

This time, it was time to visit the Huashan Sect.

***

We arrived at the Huashan Sect in less than half a day. The main reason was that since it was just me and Go Du-gyeong, we had flown.

Because of that, I had consumed quite a bit of mana, but since I could shorten the travel time, it didn't matter. It was also safer this way.

When I knocked on the main gate of Huashan, a martial artist who seemed to be a third-generation disciple came out and asked.

“What brings you here?”

“I would like to see the sect leader.”

I took out the silver gratitude token from my bosom and brought up the matter.

“Huh! The sect leader’s gratitude token?!”

Since it was a much more important item than the one I had taken out at the Shaolin Temple, the reaction was clear.

A commotion arose at the entrance, and soon a superior came out from inside.

“What’s wrong?”

What appeared with an unexpected voice was Cheong Ah-hyun.

The best sword in Shaanxi. The self-proclaimed and publicly recognized best swordsman in Shaanxi said.

“The sect leader is not here. Talk to me first.”

“Yes.”

Similarly, upon arriving at the VIP room, I explained the situation and the reason for my visit.

Cheong Ah-hyun, who had been listening to this while drinking tea for a while, finally put down her teacup.

“To lead such a force, you need justification and qualifications. What do you have?”

Cheong Ah-hyun's gaze fell on me.

I have neither.

Saving Baek Hasin is a personal justice, but it's hard for it to become a great cause. Then what about dealing with the Demonic Cult.

It is a great cause. But it was a hollow justice.

Because although all the orthodox factions knew that they were bad guys, they couldn't touch them because they were afraid of their strength.

And I was not strong enough to dismiss that anxiety and make everyone understand.

“I’m sorry, but no matter how important the favor is, I can’t start a reckless war. So…”

Just before the words of refusal fell, I opened my mouth.

“It’s a possibility.”

“What?”

“I have that much potential for growth. If you trust and watch over me, I will prove it within a year.”

So all that was left was guts.

“You’re too bold.”

Cheong Ah-hyun frowned slightly and then shook her head. And then she put down her teacup as if to get up from her seat.

“No matter how much it’s a gratitude token, I can’t get involved in such a matter without any certainty. I’m sorry, but…”

“Until just a year ago, I was a scoundrel who wasn’t even at the second-rate level.”

For a moment, she, who was about to get up, stopped her movement.

A very slight curiosity. That was enough. To continue the story.

“Until half a year ago, I was weaker than the peak-level Baek Cheong. To the point where I couldn’t even be a sparring partner.”

“What? You?”

She asked back as if she had misheard. It was understandable, as I was now a rising star with the strength of the top-tier of the super-peak level.

“But now I can suppress him in one move. No, I can win even without drawing my sword.”

And then I made a purple powerful qi form on my fingertips. Although it was a gamble, it was unavoidable to give weight to my words.

“Zixia Divine Art! How do you know that??”

“I’m self-taught.”

I told a little lie. To inflate my talent. Of course, I had bluffed that I had obtained the ancient book recorded by the Heaven-Shattering Demon.

“The Zixia Divine Art is not a martial art that can be implemented with just a few oral instructions.”

“You may have heard from Baek Cheong, but I am a genius who learned the Six Harmonies Sword and the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword at a glance.”

Although it seemed like I was gilding my own face, it was true that this body had that much talent.

Cheong Ah-hyun looked at me with a slightly annoyed gaze for a moment and then fell silent.

As Baek Cheong's master, she must have heard about me at least once. Of course, she must have thought it was an unbelievable story.

But that person himself was standing in this place.

A slight possibility. It was enough to be able to recall that.

Finally, Cheong Ah-hyun opened her mouth.

“Then show me your potential. Within a month. I can’t watch over you for long.”

And then she left the VIP room, walked through the courtyard, and then picked up a plum blossom branch that had fallen on the ground.

Before I knew it, the tip of the sword that had been drawn from her other hand was pointing at me.

“For the next month. If you can break the plum blossom branch from my hand even once, I will lend you my strength, at least personally.”

“I accept. That bet.”

I answered, drawing the Demon-Slaying Sword in response.

(End of Chapter)