A month ago, before Lucian entered the Heavenly Demon Archive.
"Since you're now the Heavenly Demon, you need to learn the Heavenly Demon technique. There's a book in the deepest part of the Heavenly Demon Archive, you can also see the sword marks of the founder there. As a cult leader now, you must learn it, cult leader." Ma'wang explained.
Lucian's ascension to Divine God was too sudden, and he even declared war after he became one, so he never actually learned it. And as a Heavenly Demon Cult leader, how could he not learn it? Ma'wang never had a chance to bring it up before since he had already decided to conquer the Murim world all of a sudden.
After hearing about it, Lucian's interest was piqued. He saw Ma'wang's technique and knew learning it would make him far stronger than he was currently. So of course, he had to go there. He gave Ma'wang instructions on what to do with the newly forcibly recruited members, and since he was the previous leader, Lucian entrusted the command to him, making him vice leader before entering the cave.
The Heavenly Demon Archive is a secret cave that only the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult is allowed to enter. It's a huge cave hidden inside the Cave of Demons; the huge pavilion out of the six pavilions inside Mount Tianluo actually has a cave entrance underground. After finishing all his preparations, he went in.
Eerie yet familiar darkness welcomed him inside the Heavenly Demon Archive, but strangely enough, he knew where to go despite not seeing anything. After walking for what felt like a month, he finally found a light in the vast darkness. He followed it and entered what looked like a cave. Inside was a small bed made of stone, a chair and desk made of stone, and a book placed on it. It was labeled "Heavenly Demon Cult Founder: Superbia."
"Huh? Heavenly Demon Cult Founder: Superbia? Did Ma'wang lie to me?" I asked myself. But since this was identical to Heavenly Demon Art, I still picked it up, sat on the stone chair, and began to read it. I noticed that this wasn't a technique but more like a diary of a person's life. "Is this the diary of the founder?"
1st day, the year of Zenith:
Earlier, those disgusting chicken wings invaded our territory again. How laughable. Why can't they just stay in the sky where they belong? Creatures born to flap and crawl, yet daring to step on my domain. Next time, I will definitely pluck those wings and remind them who truly stands above all.
5th day, the year of Zenith:
How could this be? My sister Luxuria is actually killed. Hah… understandable, she has never been as good as me, but still! How dare those bastard chickens kill my little sister! Today, I will wage war together with my little brother Ira and kill those chicken bastards!! I will wipe their existence even if it means angering the Creator himself. Let the heavens tremble—my power of Shadow does not forgive.
20th day, the year of Zenith:
Unbelievable! My little brother died too! What is this joke?! This is not true! What kind of power did they wield? Did the Creator favor them more instead of us and grant them more spiritual energy? No… the Creator never interfered with our fights. Don't tell me… those bastards discovered something? They discovered something before me? HAHAHAHAHAHA! I don't believe it. No one is allowed to stand ahead of me.
25th day, the year of Zenith:
I killed five of those chicken bastards today. I finally figured it out. Their leader discovered something that made the Creator happy and was rewarded with more spiritual energy. This is not right! How come it wasn't me who discovered it first?! They must have tricked the Creator! If not, how could they even best me? Me, the master of Shadow? The embodiment of shadow itself?
60th day, the year of Zenith:
Only me and Invidia are left now. This is unbelievable. I will not stand this! Even if only I was left in this world, I would still kill those bastards!!! I alone am enough.
79th day, the year of Zenith:
Invidia that bastard!!! He dared betray his own kin and succumb to those chicken bastards?!!!!! I will kill them… I will wipe their existence!!! I swear on the Creator, I will erase those chicken wings from this world and from history itself!
150th day, the year of Zenith:
I'm actually fleeing… Me? Shadow master? No, that's impossible. It's not that I'm fleeing… I'm merely preparing and strengthening myself in secrecy. Yes, that's it. There's no way I would flee because of those chicken bastards and that traitor!!!
300th day, the year of Zenith:
The Creator reached out to me. He said he'll help me go to the lower realm. There's another world besides ours? No… that's not the point. I'm now heavily injured. I only have 100 years to live… Ha… how can I, master of Shadow, be pushed back like this? Even time dares to mock me.
310th day, the year of Zenith:
I accepted the Creator's offer and I'm now in the lower realm… These creatures are weak. Pathetic. They're like ants crawling under my feet. How can someone be this weak? Well, understandable… after all, they're not me.
30 days in the lower realm:
I founded a group. I'm calling it the Heavenly Demon Cult. This is actually fun. These people were weak and exploded when I taught them my power, so I made a lesser version that suits these creatures. I called it "Heavenly Demon Art." But I don't know why, some of them still explode even after my efforts of lowering it. What a weak fellow. Even my mercy kills them.
80 years in the lower realm:
I'm now a Divine God here, it seems they're not aware of the Creator. The living beings of this world started calling me a Master of Darkness. I mean, there's nothing wrong with it. After all, it's me, master of Shadow. It's only natural that they kneel.
90 years in the lower realm:
I only have 10 years to live now. This is saddening. I didn't even manage to extract my revenge. But today, I picked up a useful kid. He said his name is Jeonglak. HAHAHAHA! This brat is surprisingly powerful for a human. I began to teach him personally and he actually didn't explode!!! What an unbelievable kid. Sadly, I only have 10 years to live. But maybe… this kid can help me with my revenge. I will nurture him with the remaining years I have. Even in death, my will must continue.
98 years in the lower realm:
My eyes didn't betray me. Fifty years more and this Jeonglak brat can break the limitations of this world. Maybe… he can really avenge me. HAHAHAHAHA! This is so fun! Even fate will move according to my design.
99 years in the lower realm:
I can feel it… I'm slowly fading. The Creator is calling me already. I will leave this diary in the lower realm to Jeonglak, that brat… If he sees this, I'm sure he'll avenge me.
Even if I disappear, my Shadow will not.
"So... there's really more worlds? Breaking the limitations of this world?" I looked at the next page, but there was nothing written on it. But the last page looked strange, as if it was calling me. I reached out my hand and it went through the book. When I took my hand back, there was already a book in it. "Heavenly Demon of Shadow"
"Heavenly Demon of Shadow?" I read the label out loud. When I opened it, a technique was written inside. It was hard for me to understand, as there were unfamiliar terms. I didn't understand a damn thing at all. "What in the world is this book talking about?!" I said in confusion but still kept the book inside my robe.
After searching the cave, every corner of it, I found nothing more. I even broke the stone bed and chair in case something was hidden, but it was just a normal bed and chair. I decided to leave, since there was nothing left here. Once I stepped out, the whole place crumbled, and I was sent into a space full of books with techniques.
"Huh? Where did that cave go?" I said, looking around. The familiar darkness from earlier was gone. This place was full of light stones. This was actually the Heavenly Demon Archive; if so, what was that place I entered earlier?
I was a little confused but moved on quickly; after all, those I cannot control aren't worth dwelling on. I explored the place and finally saw the technique Ma'wang mentioned. "Hmm..." I began reading the Heavenly Demon Art. After reading it, I finally understood some of the words written in "Heavenly Demon of Shadow."
I buried myself inside the Heavenly Demon Archive, studying the sword marks of the founder while also understanding the two books in my hand. I was so immersed that I didn't notice a year had passed outside.
When I emerged, I had already mastered the Heavenly Demon Art, but I still hadn't fully learned "Heavenly Demon of Shadow". Though I comprehended a small tip, it was still a success. I brought the book outside with me.
"GLORY TO THE DIVINE GOD!" Ma'wang was outside the secret door when I got out.
"How many days has it been since I went inside, and what's the situation?" I asked calmly.
"It's already been exactly a year since you went inside the Heavenly Demon Archive, cult leader."
"What?" I frowned. What year? I just spent a week inside… Don't tell me this is the doing of that strange cave?
"And as for the report… some people from the evil factions and righteous alliance formed an alliance and started a rebellion three months after you went into the Heavenly Demon Archive. We already wiped them out." Ma'wang reported as we walked toward the hall.
"Good. How about our forces? How are the new recruits doing? How many survived?"
"In a hundred thousand people, only ten thousand managed to reach the 3rd rate and grasp the technique… the rest went crazy and killed themselves, and some suffered qi deviations and died." Ma'wang said truthfully.
"Useless. Replenish them." As we arrived at the hall, I walked to my throne and sat there. All the heavenly realm martial masters and Bao Feng greeted me in unison.
"GLORY TO THE DIVINE GOD! GLORY TO THE DEMONIC CULT!"
I just nodded. "I have decided, I will hold a tournament next month, and the one who wins will receive the Heavenly Demon Art!" I declared.
Immediately, I heard an objection from Ma'wang, but I used an advanced whispering technique on him.
"The Heavenly Demon Art you're using is nothing but a lesser version of the original. What's the point of dwelling on such a failed technique?"
Ma'wang, after hearing this, felt complicated inside. "What does the cult leader mean by lesser version? I haven't even fully mastered it yet… And he claims it's actually a lesser version?" he thought to himself.
"Now, all the demonic peak martial masters and above can participate. To learn the Heavenly Demon Art, you just need to emerge victorious until only you are left." I dismissed them but told Ma'wang to stay.
After everyone left, I used a sound barrier technique to prevent our conversation from leaking outside.
"Are you happy to be in this world and play king in front of these weak people, Ma'wang?" My tone was loaded with meaning.
"What do you mean, cult leader?" Ma'wang asked, confused.
"I'm asking if you're satisfied with being here, or do you want to surpass this world and go to another dimension just like my master? The third Heavenly Demon Cult leader, Jeonglak Cheonma?" I had already been in this world for more than a year after making a name for myself, yet no one stepped up and claimed to be my parents… That could only mean they're not here. After thinking about it, it's time to go to another world—what Superbia called the higher realm. And to do so, I need to learn about "Heavenly Demon of Shadow" and bring at least five people with me. I need to make them powerful enough so they won't be a burden.
"Are you serious, cult leader?" Ma'wang's eyes showed excitement and doubt. Excited because there really is another world, doubtful because it seems impossible.
"If you do, then I'll bring you with me. But if you don't, then you shall continue reigning the Heavenly Demon Cult while I go to challenge myself and surpass our limitations as a human!" My eyes glimmered with determination.