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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Divorced Heavenly Demon
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The clear, vast sky and the scorching sun beat down. Hyeok Mu-rin once again made his way to the Heavenly Martial Pavilion. The Heavenly Martial Pavilion was a private training room that only the Cult Leader could use; others were forbidden from entering, so no one could ever know what happened inside. Already spending his days on the same routine for a month, he was consuming most of his time within these walls.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "From now on, this is the true starting point."
Simply returning to the past didn't mean everything would go smoothly.
Rather, declaring the divorce had only rapidly worsened his relationship with the Cheon Clan.
He still had no followers, and his own martial prowess was still severely lacking.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"In the end, the only thing I can rely on is martial strength."
He couldn't just rely on the advantage of having lived through the future.
The Heavenly Demon Cult was a place that ran on the logic of power, so in the end, the only way to survive was to cultivate his own martial might.
Click.
After locking the door, Hyeok Mu-rin moved his limbs lightly, stretching them out.
Since it was the Cult Leader's private training room, the floor was paved with blue stone, making his body's movements much more natural.
"This should be enough for now."
Having loosened his body up to a certain degree, Hyeok Mu-rin headed to the center of the training room.
After sitting down and assuming the lotus posture, he closed his eyes and began circulating his energy.
After repeating the same actions for a month, Hyeok Mu-rin was finally able to sense a change.
The Demonic Arts energy he had accumulated little by little every day showed signs of breaking through the Laogong acupoints in his palms and the Yongcheon acupoints in his soles.
Hoo—
He took a deep breath and concentrated all his energy toward the Laogong acupoints in both hands.
Then, the meridian leading to the Laogong acupoint was pierced, if only slightly.
'Don't hold back, move straight to the next step.'
Leaving only a thread-like amount of Demonic Arts energy to keep the passage open, he moved his remaining power straight to the Yongcheon acupoints in both feet.
Then, the trembling meridian was also broken through and pierced.
From the first meridian he had pierced, the Baihui acupoint, to both hands and both feet.
The five-pointed star meridians in his body had all been opened.
And in that moment, a wave of Demonic Arts energy rippled through his entire body.
It undulated like a wave for a moment before soon calming down.
Hoo—
Hyeok Mu-rin exhaled and slowly opened his eyes.
Having formed the周天火符 (Heavenly Fire Talisman), he looked down.
'It's done.'
Even though he had stopped circulating his energy, he could feel his flesh resonating with nature on its own, accumulating energy.
From now on, he wouldn't need to deliberately practice energy cultivation; his energy would naturally accumulate, so his lower dantian would always be filled with Demonic Arts energy, even while sleeping or eating.
Of course, the amount was negligible compared to sitting in the lotus posture and circulating his energy, but the fact that he could accumulate energy without any effort was a tremendous advantage.
More is always better; his internal energy was always what was lacking.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Purifying Soul Divine Demon Art (Level: Reached a New Stage)
Passive energy accumulation has been enabled. The efficiency of Demonic Arts energy has increased.
"As expected, demonic arts are demonic arts."
To think that such an absurd accumulation of energy was possible just by reaching a new stage.
If he continued to cultivate the Purifying Soul Divine Demon Art, he couldn't help but anticipate what kind of development the next stage would bring.
'But it's still not enough.'
No matter how superior the purity of his Demonic Arts energy is compared to ordinary Demonic Arts, considering the tasks ahead, the total amount was still far from sufficient.
He needed more power to stand against the Seven Great Demonic Houses on his own, without the backing of the Cheon Clan.
"I'll have to come up with a plan."
He was about to get busy soon; he couldn't just spend all day focusing on circulating his energy like this.
Improving his internal energy.
'Among those methods, the most effective one is... that thing in the Elixir Valley, isn't it?'
It was dangerous, but since he had learned the Purifying Soul Divine Demon Art, it was worth attempting.
Just as Hyeok Mu-rin was about to recall the details of that matter while holding his chin...
Knock, knock—
Jang Wi knocked on the door, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Enter."
At Hyeok Mu-rin's response, Jang Wi opened the door and bowed his head.
"Cult Leader, Elder Cheon has come to see you."
So he has finally arrived.
"Understood. I will finish my preparations and head over, so wait at the Jeongcheongeak."
"I shall obey your command."
It seems his patience ran out after a month.
Since the other party is in a hurry, there's no need to head straight to the Jeongcheongeak.
He had sweated from training, so he should take a bath, slowly have breakfast, and then go.
With a faint smile, Hyeok Mu-rin leisurely walked out of the Heavenly Martial Pavilion.
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The Seven Great Demonic Houses.
Seven renowned families that received teachings from the First Heavenly Demon and were granted divine weapons by him.
Since the founding of the Heavenly Demon Cult, they have served as the core forces, firmly supporting the central axis.
Among these Seven Great Demonic Houses, the one that sits at the top and wields immense influence is the Cheon Clan.
And currently, the patriarch of the Cheon Clan and an elder of the Great Heavenly Demon Cult, Cheon Jung-ak, was sitting in the Jeongcheongeak with a stiff expression.
"..."
Cheon Jung-ak, who was known as the Iron-Blooded Demonic Emperor due to his usually cold demeanor and merciless nature toward his enemies, turned his head.
He gazed intently at the sunlight shining in from outside the window.
Even though the angle of the sunlight had changed considerably since he first arrived at the Jeongcheongeak, the Cult Leader had yet to show his form.
Feeling no presence at all, Cheon Jung-ak clenched his fist tightly and grumbled in an irritated voice.
"He's late."
After sending a message over a month ago with no reply, he had ordered his subordinates to find out the circumstances, feeling suspicious.
But then...
—Um... I heard that the Cult Leader burned the Patriarch's letter.
He never expected to receive such a nonsensical report.
"If it weren't for my daughter, I wouldn't have even come here."
His daughter was about to be divorced out of the blue, so he had no choice but to meet his son-in-law and speak with him directly.
Even so.
"To think he would make me, Cheon Jung-ak, wait."
He had placed a clueless novice on the position of Cult Leader, and now the man had not only slapped his father-in-law in the back of the head but was making him wait here plainly.
It was clear he had been intoxicated by power.
Having suddenly gained the position of Heavenly Demon, the world must have seemed like his own for a moment.
Thinking about the Cult Leader for a moment, his anger surged again, and the muscles on his face twitched. He suppressed his anger and closed his eyes tightly to regain his composure.
Just then, footsteps were heard from outside.
Thud.
"You've made me wait."
Hyeok Mu-rin, who entered through the opened door, greeted him lightly.
"...You seem quite busy."
"Isn't that what the position of Cult Leader is like? Please understand generously."
Cheon Jung-ak subtly revealed his displeasure, but Hyeok Mu-rin, pointing at the stacked documents and brushing past the matter naturally, sat in the seat of honor.
Cheon Jung-ak, who had only expected him to sit opposite him, had his pupils tremble slightly.
"How about some tea?"
"No need. We aren't in a position to do that right now, are we?"
"A position, you say."
Their gazes met in midair.
After a moment of silence, the first to speak was Cheon Jung-ak.
"I heard from my daughter. You suddenly spoke of divorce."
"I judged that now is the right time for us to part ways."
"You mean now, when we've been married for not even half a year?"
"That's right."
At that answer, Cheon Jung-ak furrowed his brow.
So there was no particular reason; he had simply taken the position of Cult Leader by riding on the prestige of the Cheon Clan, and now he wanted to cut ties. Wasn't that what he was saying?
"It's hard to accept. I cannot tolerate my daughter's name being dragged through the mud."
Oh?
He thought he was opposing the divorce simply for his own power, but it seemed that wasn't the only reason.
'Come to think of it, Cheon Seo-hee is his only daughter, isn't she?'
It wouldn't be strange if he poured all his love into raising her since she was his only child.
He could feel the father's heart wanting to avoid anything that would tarnish Cheon Seo-hee's name.
'Well, but it can't be helped.'
He was doing this to survive as well.
He absolutely could not compromise on the divorce.
"Even if it's hard to accept, you must accept it. What I said back then wasn't a discussion, but a notification."
At those words, the atmosphere instantly turned cold.
Cheon Jung-ak, who was glaring intently at Hyeok Mu-rin, soon lowered his voice chillingly.
"Then the Cheon Clan can no longer be the Cult Leader's friend. Can you handle that?"
If the backing of the Cheon Clan disappeared, the fierce pressure from the other clans would surely flood in.
Attempting to deal with that alone was no different from suicide.
However, Hyeok Mu-rin smiled faintly and answered.
"Handle it? That's an interesting thing to say. Where has the Heavenly Demon ever been in a position to watch for others' reactions?"
"...!"
"Also, if I lose a friend like me, it can't be said that the Cheon Clan isn't hurt either, can it?"
No matter how prestigious the Cheon Clan is, they also have things they desire, which is why they joined hands with the Hyeok Clan.
If the alliance between the Hyeok Clan and the Cheon Clan were to break, they might remain among the top tier of the Seven Great Demonic Houses, but they would have to give up their seat at the top.
It was only because they added the small authority of the Hyeok Clan, which belonged to the Seven Great Demonic Houses, even if it was at the bottom, that they rose to the top.
"You speak insolent words."
Cheon Jung-ak raised one corner of his mouth as if to sneer.
In the end, the difference in scale, power, and authority was clear.
If you divided it into the Hyeok Clan and Hyeok Mu-rin versus the Cheon Clan, it was crystal clear which side was at a loss.
That rascal had forgotten his roots after taking the position of Heavenly Demon in just three months.
'I need to show him his place.'
After taking one blow, he'd cower his tail and become obedient.
Cheon Jung-ak extracted an无形的 Demonic Arts energy from his body and added his own sharp killing intent to it.
He wouldn't inflict physical wounds.
Instead, he would deliver a psychological shock that would be difficult to overcome for the rest of his life.
Surrounding himself with malevolent Demonic Arts energy, he soon shot it straight at Hyeok Mu-rin.
However.
"..."
There wasn't the slightest change in Hyeok Mu-rin's expression.
He wasn't affected by Cheon Jung-ak's aura in the slightest, calmly brushing it aside.
At that sight, a crack appeared on Cheon Jung-ak's cold face.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
The meaning behind those words was simple.
It was a firm order to leave.
Cheon Jung-ak rose from his seat.
"...We shall see. Do as you please."
"Thank you for your expectations. Then I will see you again at the regular meeting of the elders soon."
Thud—
The door closed with a heavy sound.
"..."
After Cheon Jung-ak left and his presence completely disappeared from outside, Hyeok Mu-rin let out a faint sigh of relief.
Hoo.
That was dangerously close.
In fact, he had also reached his limit, but he had pretended to be indifferent and ordered Cheon Jung-ak to leave.
If it had been a few days ago, he wouldn't have been able to withstand his aura completely.
But today, he had reached the stage of the Purifying Soul Divine Demon Art, so he was barely able to endure it.
Hyeok Mu-rin carefully calmed the energy that had been about to boil up inside him.
"Still, it's different from before."
It was precarious, but he managed to endure it.
If it had been his past life, he would have become like a mouse facing a snake, unable to move at all the moment he felt that killing intent.
At least now, he wouldn't be suppressed by their aura alone.
Hyeok Mu-rin, who had raised the corners of his mouth pleasantly, got up from his seat and turned his gaze.
"By the way, the documents have piled up again."
He had practically abandoned the Jeongcheongeak for a month, so the documents had piled up to twice the amount compared to before, overflowing from the desk and stacking up on the floor like a mountain.
It was already a lot to begin with, so piling up a little more didn't make much difference.
He didn't have time to worry about that right now.
"Hmm?"
But in Hyeok Mu-rin's vision, a single letter came into view.
The letter, lying alone in the center of the desk as if it had been tossed there, inexplicably captured his gaze.
Hyeok Mu-rin, as if mesmerized, picked it up and slowly unfolded it.
The contents written inside were something no one could have predicted.
The sender was none other than Sa Ma-geuk, the Great Commander of the Heavenly Demon Cult, and the core content was simple.
I hereby resign from the position of Great Commander. — Sa Ma-geuk
"..."
After confirming the contents, Hyeok Mu-rin stared down at the resignation letter.
Hwook!
And then, he ignited his inner energy and lightly burned the letter.
"This time, you won't be able to quit so easily."