Chapter 57: Blood Cult

Blood Demon Mountain.

Not even the Beggars’ Sect or the Hao Sect, the most renowned intelligence organizations of orthodox and unorthodox factions, knew its location.

No, they did not even know of its existence.

In this secretive place stood the main altar of the Blood Cult.

Beyond a district lined with pavilions more splendid and towering than the imperial palace, if one entered deeper, into the innermost heart as though into a labyrinth, the surroundings were shrouded in a crimson mist so dense that it was impossible to distinguish even an inch ahead.

It was the aftermath of dozens of bizarre grand formations stacked upon one another, protecting the master of the Blood Cult.

And within the grand hall of the main palace, a gathering of Demonic Practitioners was underway.

“Hm. Then it seems the only ones yet to arrive are the First Elder and the Tenth Elder.”

Second Elder, Blood Brain Gui Yeongja, his ghostly eyes glimmering with eerie light, addressed the remaining four elders.

Of the Ten Elders who supported the Blood Cult, as many as five were gathered in one place.

Yet for some reason, excluding Gui Yeongja, the moods of the other elders appeared greatly unsettled.

“……Amitabha. It is one thing for the three Envoys performing missions in the Central Plains and the Outer Regions to be absent, but why do those two dare keep this humble monk waiting?”

“My thoughts exactly, monk. That pitiful blind bastard dares keep me waiting?”

When Fifth Elder Dead Buddha furrowed his brow and spoke, Seventh Elder Asura Twin Fiends followed his lead.

Though it was only a minor delay in attending a meeting, terrifying killing intent seeped out from the elders.

For before being Blood Cultists, they were Demonic Practitioners—men who would take lives and trample others for reasons far more trivial.

Then Gui Yeongja spoke with a meaningful tone.

“Heh-heh, I imagine the Tenth Elder is clinging to the First Elder’s leg, denying his own end. That must be why they are so late.”

“……!”

“Ah.”

The other elders, realizing his implication, let out exclamations.

On their faces arose blatant ridicule and contempt directed at the Poison Demon.

“What do you mean? End? Clinging to a leg? What are you talking about?”

Only one man, a young one who looked about thirty, tilted his head in confusion.

It was Ninth Elder, White Yaksha Heo Sochang.

He had cut down the former Ninth Elder and succeeded his position most recently, and already boasted mastery of the Transformation Realm.

But despite his overwhelming martial talent, he was known to be sorely lacking in intelligence.

“Explain yourself! What do you mean by ‘end’?!”

“Click, how pitiful. To be this stupid.”

“-!”

Eighth Elder, Black Bone Witch Yao Yirim, clicked her tongue and mocked Heo Sochang.

“Rumors abound within our sect that the Poison Demon, acting on his own, ended up not only blind but also one-armed. Why else would the Sword Demon have gone to meet him separately?”

“……”

“Isn’t it to tell that worm he is being expelled from the Elders’ ranks today, brat? Hmph, I said from the beginning that letting a brainless brawler like you become an elder was a mistake.”

“Say one more word. I’ll tear your filthy tongue right out.”

“Hmph. You think such petty tricks can scare me?”

Ssshh!

Kwa-gak!

In an instant, the two released fierce demonic qi, engulfing the surroundings.

The Nine Great Demon Sects that composed the Blood Cult—

the two sect masters leading the Yaksha Sect and the Ghost Bone Sect seemed ready to clash at any moment.

Creeeak—!

Suddenly, the tightly shut doors of the grand hall opened.

The First Elder, Sword Demon Jo Yangpung, stepped inside.

“What is going on here?”

“!!”

His voice, laced with wrath, rang out.

At that instant, Heo Sochang and Yao Yirim froze stiff, though they had been ready for a battle to the death.

Not only they, but the other elders also showed surprise.

But the cause was not the Sword Demon.

It was the being who entered alongside him.

“Kihihih, kihihi. To stop me from watching a fight?”

“What a shame. I almost had new material for Corpse Poison.”

It was a madman, cloaked in black robes that hid his form, cackling with a grotesque laugh.

From him poured out a vicious poison qi beyond anything they had ever seen, incomparable to the last time they had faced him.

It was the Poison Demon Yeo Seung.

‘How is this possible??’

‘……His poison arts have advanced that much?’

The Poison Demon, long considered the weakest among the Elders, no longer fit that title.

From his body surged a lofty aura easily surpassing that of White Yaksha.

The poison qi radiating from him carried the mastery of the Transformation Realm—at its peak, near its utmost limit.

Since poison arts were generally considered a tier higher than ordinary martial arts, this meant he was already gazing at the threshold of the Manifestation Realm.

Moreover, though poison arts often fell into stagnation, making progress difficult for life—once that wall was broken, growth would accelerate at a runaway pace.

If fortune favored him……

‘……In a year, he might reach full mastery of the Manifestation Realm.’

He could possess martial might incomparable to before, a transcendent force.

At once, the elders all thought the same.

The unchanging hierarchy of the Ten Elders was about to be shaken to its core.

‘Damn it! This makes no sense…!!’

Heo Sochang could not hide the turmoil on his face.

And with good reason.

In but an instant, he had fallen to the lowest rank of the Ten Elders, beneath the Poison Demon.

At that moment, Gui Yeongja, finishing his calculations first, greeted the Poison Demon with a smile.

The mockery he had shown before was completely gone.

“Congratulations on your breakthrough, Elder Yeo. I did not realize your seclusion was for training.”

“Kihihi, shut up.”

“…What?”

“The sound of you scheming is too damn noisy, you piece of trash.”

“-!”

At the insult, Blood Brain’s face stiffened with cold rage.

Another clash seemed inevitable—

But then Sword Demon Jo Yangpung spoke words none had expected.

“If you want to make a commotion, postpone it. The time has come to receive our guest.”

“Kihihih. Yes, yes.”

Slowly stepping back was the Poison Demon, but the other elders were bewildered.

Reception?

Within the Blood Cult, the only one worthy of such an honorific was their master, the Blood Demon himself.

That was why they were puzzled.

Six months ago, the Blood Demon had entered closed-door training to perfect his new divine art.

He had declared to them that his training period would last a year.

There was still half the time remaining before it ended…

Kugugugu!

Gwaaaaaah!

“!!”

“!!!”

A wave of energy like the collapse of heaven and earth swept through all directions.

The pupils of the five elders, except for the Sword Demon and the Poison Demon, shook violently as if struck by an earthquake.

The elders, who had been seated, shot to their feet in alarm.

Cheok!

Cheocheok!

And then, without anyone prompting, they all prostrated themselves flat against the ground.

At that moment—

[The Lord of Ten Thousand Demons has descended!]

[All disciples, bow and worship your god!]

Two voices, distinct yet united, thundered across the hall.

The might in those voices was so overwhelming that the elders, even while prostrated, nearly coughed up blood.

Kugung!

Kugugugu!

At once, overwhelming demonic qi of the Manifestation Realm’s peak swallowed the hall.

Appearing then were Right Guardian Blood Wheel Asura and Left Guardian Gu Eum Majon.

The elders broke into a cold sweat.

Unlike themselves who led the Nine Great Demon Sects, the mission of the two Guardians was singular.

That was—

Ssshhh!

Kwa-gagaga!

—to protect their master.

A force that made even peak Manifestation Realm demonic qi seem pitiful exploded across the hall.

Tremble.

The elders, their former pride gone, now shuddered in fear.

It felt as though all control over their own bodies had been stolen.

They dared not lift their heads, but they sensed the presence clearly.

‘Khuek!’

‘Huff, huff!’

They had not seen him enter, yet upon the high dais at the center of the grand hall…

Their master, the Blood Demon, was seated.

The moment they realized this—

“Blood Demon’s Second Coming! Ten Thousand Demons Bow!”

“Demonic Dao under Heaven! Divine Cult Eternal!”

The elders cried out with bloodthirsty voices.

Yet within their hearts, turmoil churned endlessly.

‘……Why now?’

It was not merely his descent that shocked them.

It was because the Blood Demon had broken his own decree.

—A year later, the grand undertaking shall begin.

Never before had he broken his word.

Now his eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, as though piercing through the unseen.

While the others pressed their heads to the ground, only the Poison Demon knelt on one knee.

“How dare—”

“You fool!”

The two Guardians erupted with fury, yet they dared not move recklessly.

For their master had not spoken.

But it was unnecessary.

Pusshhh!

The Poison Demon suddenly spewed blood from all seven orifices and collapsed.

“Kihihih, so this is as far as I go, for now.”

He crumpled to his knees, muttering with eerie amusement.

The Blood Demon, watching with cold, emotionless eyes like winter frost, spoke softly.

“He is to be restored.”

“…By your command.”

Pabat!

At once, Blood Wheel Asura leapt, seized the Poison Demon, and carried him out.

As his figure vanished, the Blood Demon murmured to himself in a voice none else could hear.

“…So, it began there.”

The six remaining elders trembled in terror.

Then, regarding them like mere tools, the Blood Demon spoke once more.

“The great plan shall be advanced.”

“It shall be as you command!!”

No elder expressed shock or worry.

No one dared ask why.

For all believed their master’s words carried reason and wisdom.

‘Kill them all!’

‘Blood! Only blood!’

Only joy surged within them—the ecstasy that they would see bloodshed sooner.

“Our Lord, give the command.”

“Speak, and we shall destroy them all.”

All bowed their heads, awaiting their master’s words.

As they prostrated, the Blood Demon gazed beyond the crimson mist with abyssal eyes.

“White Yaksha.”

“Yes!”

“Go to Kaifeng.”

“By your command!”

“!!”

The Lord of Ten Thousand Demons had just named the place where the great plan would begin.

The elders were shaken to their core.

For Kaifeng, located in Henan Province, was none other than the seat of the Murim Alliance itself.

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