[November 10, H.Y 680 – The Cult of the Eternal Devil]
I was reincarnated as the heir of the Eternal Devil Cult.In my previous life, I was a corporate slave—one of those who worked without eating or drinking. In the end, my body and mind couldn't take it anymore, and I died.
Now, I was born as one of the heirs of the Eternal Devil Cult.
Even though I was too young to walk, from what I gathered from my surroundings, the first Holy Devil had stepped into the "Heavenly God" realm and ascended to the upper world.
What he left behind were the "White Flame Meditation" and the "Holy Blood Arts," but since no one could pass the Holy Devil's trials, no one could inherit his legacy, and over time, both the legacy and its location were lost.
Right now, no one knows where the real White Flame is. Our cult currently uses the Crimson Flame Meditation.
The Crimson Flame Meditation was created over time by those left in the lower world after the Holy Devil ascended to the upper realm—a mere imitation of the White Flame Meditation.
[March 1, 686]
A few years passed, and as soon as I started crawling, I began gathering information about the White Flame Arts from everywhere.
From time to time, I would escape from the cult to explore the surroundings. I had to find the White Flame Meditation.
Because whichever meditation technique you start with, you must continue with it—switching to another technique requires breaking your Qi center and starting from scratch.
Practicing one technique while using another causes Qi deviation, and you have no other option but to either live disabled for the rest of your life or die.
[April 6, 690]
Today, using the secret records in the library that I had accessed in secret, along with the legends I had heard from around, I was searching the areas surrounding the cult.
I snuck into the forbidden zone behind the Holy Devil's palace. Normally, only the Holy Devil and those he accepts can enter here, but since I started crawling, I had been learning concealment arts.Although I couldn't hide from high-level masters like my father, I had learned enough to avoid detection by low-level guards.
While wandering in the forest, I found a ruined structure underground, its entrance covered in strange scribbles.
After a week of research, I learned that they were actually the now-lost talisman arts.
Since the talisman arts were lost, there was no way for me to learn them, so I tried to decipher the words.
After several long and exhausting weeks of work, I discovered that the door could be opened by anyone from the main bloodline.
I dripped my blood onto the door, and it slowly opened.
Inside looked more like a castle than a trial ground. The walls were decorated in black and red, with gold and silver carvings, and there was a circular platform.
I had no idea how I would pass when even adults couldn't, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that since we began our training from a very young age, anyone could attempt the trials.
As the name suggests, the White Flame Meditation allows you to create white flames.
But its greatest advantage is that it allows you to control the Black Flame—a treasure of the cult.
However, to do that, you must reach the Earth God stage.
In this world, the power levels are divided into 7 stages: Qi Refinement, Marrow Cleansing, Body Regulation, Master, Sky Master, Earth God, and Heavenly God.
Each stage has 7 sub-levels, and to surpass the Heavenly God stage and ascend to the upper realm, you must overcome the 49 Heavenly Tribulations.
On the platform, you must drip your blood onto the altar to determine your potential and see whether your body can handle the White Flame Meditation.
Only if you meet the requirements can you proceed to the second trial.
When I dripped my blood, a stone rose from the ground, displaying the ranked potentials of all those who had entered the trials before.
I was ranked first. I froze on the spot when I saw it.
My potential had surpassed that of the Celestial Devil himself—I could hardly believe I was such a monster.
Just as I was deep in thought, black flames rose from the stone.
"Young one whose potential surpasses even mine, I shall give you the true White Flame Meditation. My own body could not withstand it, so I have always searched for someone with higher potential than me. This way, after the Heavenly God realm, you will not face just 49 tribulations, but you will be able to summon 56. You are my grandchild; I will leave you all the knowledge I deem necessary, my true martial arts, and a few trinkets. Once you ascend to the upper realm, find the Eternal Devil Cult."
After these words, all the flames went out, and the cave lit up. The altar began to shake and quickly descended underground.
Below was a massive training ground, with a sword in the corner engraved with the words "Divine Demon" and countless pills I didn't recognize.
Without wasting any time, I began learning the White Flame Meditation.
In a short time, I completed the initial cycle and reached the 1st level of Qi Refinement.
[January 1, 698]
Today, I reached the Earth God stage. The true White Flame Meditation consists of 53 levels, and I have reached level 28.
Right now, there is no flame in this world I cannot control. In the Blood Arts, I have reached the Divine level with the Divine Demon Sword, and the Earth level in the remaining arts (Palm, Kick, Fist, Spear, Bow…).
Among the knowledge left to me by the Divine Demon was also the alchemy arts, though I have not started learning them yet.
Alchemy requires the true flame, and I have not yet strengthened my soul power.
In this training area, there is a formation that crushes the soul and reforms it. He told me to use it only if my soul and willpower could withstand that pain.
The formation was from ancient times and had long been lost, but from the 8 trigram marks on it, I could tell that 6 of them represented "SOUL."
[April 6, 710]
My soul power has reached the 7th level, and at the same time, I have reached the 5th stage of the Heavenly God realm. My White Flame Meditation has reached level 39.
I have reached the Heavenly stage in all Blood Arts. It was finally time to leave.
When I emerged back into the forest, I looked down at the underground with a sense of emotion as the entrance to the ruin closed.
I had spent 20 years in that ruin and had already turned 30.
A 30-year-old at the 5th stage of the Heavenly God realm—yes, I could accept that I was truly a monster.
Normally, when someone reaches the Heavenly God stage, they are over 300 years old.
Even geniuses reach it between the ages of 170–230. The latest recorded Heavenly God in history was the Divine Devil, who reached it at the age of 80.
Now, the record has a new holder—Grandfather.