Written by: Loki
After they finished the Apprenticeship Ceremony, Jeonglak seemed pleased. Well, understandable. He had waited 600 years, carefully looking for a suitable heir for his martial arts.
If the world knew of this golden opportunity, they would probably do anything to be chosen by this remnant will. An inheritance of a Heavenly Demon, revered until now by the lunatics of the Heavenly Demon Cult who only care about strength, is definitely worth it.
A martial art that survived and even reigned in that kind of environment is no doubt exceptional. It is like a nest of every type of ferocious beast—and then, there is that one beast so exceptional that it makes the other ferocious beasts not just follow him but revere him as a God. In that environment, do you think that beast just got there because he is powerful? Yes, but not just that. He got it all, power and wits. Maintaining your position as a God means you're powerful enough that no one ever dares to question you. Powerful enough that every word of yours is a divine revelation. That is what the Heavenly Demon Cult is.
You're scared to be stabbed in the back and betrayed by your people? Then be powerful enough that it will be a mere trick in your eyes. You're afraid that your throne will be seized? Then be strong enough that no one would dare even try it. You only have one choice and that is to be the strongest.
A sect where madmen gather and band together—that is definitely where Lucian belongs.
Just like that, the two of them became master and disciple. Lucian didn't understand how lucky he was or how rare this opportunity was. Maybe the deity indeed pitied him.
Together with Lucian's natural talent for the sword and his hardworking nature, he would definitely achieve greatness.
Jeonglak didn't need to see Lucian's swordsmanship. He had watched him for more than two years in this cave, practicing his swordsmanship. And through it, he understood the nature of this child and also what made him eager to pass on his inheritance to him. His swordsmanship is deadly and made for killing; there is nothing righteous about this child's technique. What he wanted to see was this child's cultivation technique.
"Show me your cultivation technique," Jeonglak said, but Lucian just stared at him, looking dumbfounded.
"What cultivation technique?"
The will of Jeonglak was also dumbfounded.
"Don't tell me you don't know of a cultivation technique? Ha... Well, I guess you're indeed lucky to meet me as your master! HAHAHAHAHA~" the will said, as if he had found a perfect blank paper he could paint however he liked.
Because once you learn a cultivation technique, you need to stick to it—or find something stronger and similar to it if that cultivation technique is inferior for advancing your level. But Lucian is like a blank paper; he can learn the most powerful cultivation, and he won't even need to bother changing it if it comes from a powerful person like Jeonglak himself.
Jeonglak began to explain the cultivation he painstakingly revised until it was perfected, and this cultivation technique is what helped him ascend to a level no one else did. It is not an exaggeration for others to think that he ascended to heaven itself. But this cultivation technique is dangerous and has a strict requirement: only a true madman deprived of sanity will bring out the true value of this cultivation technique.
And who is Lucian? He definitely fits this requirement. Jeonglak, who had watched him for two years, was clear on this. He assessed that Lucian was a person who had reincarnated; after all, he had been yelling again and again in this cave, and Jeonglak was not stupid enough to miss that. He knew that this child is a madman—one that can't be cured.
"This is the Heart-Devouring Demon Scripture," a ghostlike figure appeared out of nowhere from that corpse. He had the look of a young man in his twenties, straight long black hair, and eyes just like Lucian's. Deprived of sanity and already turned red with all the killing intent it held, just looking at it made everyone shiver—but not Lucian. Why? Well, he too was just like him; he could look this man straight in the eyes. Maybe birds of a feather stick together.
"What? You don't look anything like that corpse... I thought you were an old man," Lucian said after witnessing his master's true form, handing him a book.
"Dumbass, who told you that was me? That was your own assumption. Anyways, as the name suggests, it will eat your heart and take all your sanity in exchange for insane power. But to people like us, this is nothing, as we have already lost them." He laughed.
"Learn it well and practice yourself. I already wrote it word by word, and it's not like you're dumb enough to still need my instruction, right? You only have one chance; you need to return that scripture to me today~" he said sarcastically.
Although he offers his inheritance to Lucian, it is solely up to him if he learns it or not. If he doesn't understand it, then it's simply not for him, and Jeonglak's remnant will definitely kill him.
Lucian nodded. "Alright, thanks."
This master and disciple had a weird relationship, unlike other master and disciple pairs. Lucian didn't seem particularly polite when talking to his master, as if he were just talking to someone his own level. That is understandable, since he was once an emperor who managed to reunite the whole continent as one.
He sat in the corner and began reading it, and strangely enough, he understood the scripture even after seeing this language for the first time. After reading the concept, he was drawn to it. "Such an impressive technique! It can actually make me use sorcery just in exchange for mere emotions?" he muttered aloud, making Jeonglak proud of his creation. Of course, that was only the perspective of these two lunatics gifted with heaven-defying talent.
If it were a normal cultivator, they would lose all reasoning and even kill themselves in the process. Although it only looks like you need to exchange your sanity for power, that is only the perspective of these two. No one else would be able to understand them. You need insane talent to back up your insanity before you can benefit from this cultivation technique. And these two? It is simply too perfect for them.
After reading it just once, he already understood and memorized it. But to make sure, he read it again one last time. He already understood the methods of cultivation in this scripture and even had his own insight into how to use it effectively. After confirming he had grasped every essence of it, he handed it back to Jeonglak.
"Hmm? Done already? It seems I picked a fitting successor. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! As expected of me~" while he used a technique comparable to fire and burned the scripture as if saying: no one can learn of this except you.
He then told Lucian to cultivate and explained that in this world, you need not just good sword technique but also an accumulation of qi. Lucian sincerely thanked his master and began cultivating.
He cultivated every night and did physical training every morning. He was fascinated by the fact that after cultivating, he never seemed hungry; in fact, his body became sturdier and more refined, with all the impurities driven out of his body.
"HA! IMPRESSIVE!" he said, not even hiding his compliments.
Jeonglak laughed maniacally. "I, Jeonglak Cheonma, am such a character! You seem to understand my greatness now, you brat!~"
Drawn to this new experience, he cultivated like a lunatic while also practicing his swordsmanship. Jeonglak never taught him swordsmanship techniques. Why? He already had refined and amazing swordsmanship. That is to be expected from a genius of swordsmanship. Geniuses don't need inventions from other geniuses, as they will create their own. All they need is guidance or basic knowledge. Normal people won't ever understand.
Just like that, five years passed as if nothing had happened. Lucian had already learned everything he needed and was already near the level of Jeonglak in his prime. Jeonglak, proud of himself, cursed Lucian; he had never seen anyone more talented than himself, and this was quite a blow to his pride.
"Hmph, it is because of my teaching, after all. It is to be expected that you reached this level," he said, trying to heal his wounded pride.
But Lucian appreciated this remnant will, and inside, he had already accepted him as his master.
"Thank you for your teaching, master!"
Jeonglak's remnant will was stupefied; he never expected this brat to thank him.
"Hmph! As you should! Now make a name for yourself like you always wanted, and don't you dare shame my name, or I will haunt you."
The remnant will of Jeonglak dissipated after he finally fulfilled his purpose. Before he dissipated, he gave his amusing disciple that gave him his last joy a one last gift. He gave him all the qi his main body gave him to Lucian.
And just like that, Lucian set out for his new goal.
"Hmmm... I wonder what makes my master stay at the Heveanly Demon Cult~"
Unseen by the world, a new predator had stepped beyond its den, ready to seize control of their world.