Chapter 100: Glad Tidings
Of the Five Demons, three still retained their Elder positions. Of course, in the case of the Ghost Demon, he had failed the test set by the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
However, as various matters had been erupting all at once, the matter of stripping his position had rely been postponed for the ti being.
The Poison Demon was also retaining his post, but he was still in the midst of taking the examination.
Seen that way, only the Fourth Elder, Demon Flower, had passed the Vice Cult Leader’s test and was properly maintaining her Elder position.
Perhaps because of that, she had been leading from behind the curtain as the temporary head of the Council of Elders.
“So you are saying that the martial arts obtained from the Demon Wall are of such a level that they warrant the disclosure of the Heavenly Demon Scripture?”
At Demon Flower’s question, Yul Han answered.
“To be honest, I cannot say that the martial arts of the Demon Wall surpass the Heavenly Demon Scripture. But neither can I say they fall short.”
“It sounds as though you are saying they are comparable. In that case, does simply discovering the martial arts of the Demon Wall truly justify revealing the Heavenly Demon Scripture?”
“It seems you are mistaken about sothing. Disclosing the Heavenly Demon Scripture does not an that those who ascend to the Cult Leader’s seat will refrain from learning it.”
“That is precisely the issue. To publicly reveal the martial art learned by the Cult Leader to ordinary martial artists would fundantally shake the law of Might Makes Right…….”
“The strong do not rise by learning sothing different. They rise by learning the sa thing and attaining greater enlightennt.”
At the Vice Cult Leader’s words, which cut across her own, Demon Flower nodded.
“That is a just statent. However, Vice Cult Leader, reality is…….”
“I know. That reality. Which is why the Demon Wall Five Absolutes will still be restricted to the Cult Leader alone.”
“But does that not remain unchanged—that the Heavenly Demon Scripture stands shoulder to shoulder with the Demon Wall Five Absolutes?”
In other words, it ant a situation could arise in which no gap in skill existed between the Cult Leader and ordinary martial artists.
In the Bright Cult, which held Might Makes Right as its supre law, they had never even imagined a Cult Leader who was not stronger than themselves.
If mishandled, it was a matter that could shake the Bright Cult itself.
As if aware of Demon Flower’s concerns, Yul Han spoke.
“They are the sa, yet different. The Heart thod of the Demon Wall Five Absolutes, the Half-Demon Heart Art, does not consu Internal Energy when using Internal Martial Arts.”
All Internal Martial Arts are completed through the consumption of Internal Energy. Therefore, Internal Martial Arts must necessarily harmonize with a Heart thod.
In other words, when executing an Internal Martial Art, the Heart thod must operate together to supply Internal Energy.
Naturally, in such a situation, the Heart thod itself does not separately consu Internal Energy. It rely supplies it to the Internal Martial Art.
So then…….
“That is only natural. It is common knowledge that all Heart thods do not separately consu Internal Energy…….”
“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I am not saying that the Heart thod does not separately consu Internal Energy when executing Internal Martial Arts.”
“Then what do you an……?”
“I an that the Internal Energy used in Internal Martial Arts is not consud. More precisely, it is replenished almost simultaneously with its use.”
“Are you saying that the emission of Internal Energy and the accumulation of energy occur at the sa ti?”
At Demon Flower’s visibly shocked expression, Yul Han nodded.
“That is correct. One who possesses Internal Energy that does not run dry no matter how much it is used, versus one who does not. It is clear who holds the advantage. And decisively, the Cult Leader will also learn the Heavenly Demon Scripture. In other words, one would have to face a Cult Leader who has mastered both the Heavenly Demon Scripture and the Demon Wall Five Absolutes.”
At Yul Han’s words, the Council of Elders erupted into commotion.
A fierce debate followed. Though the argunts of both sides were sharp, unlike before, the debate now included concessions, persuasion, and discussion aid at finding common ground.
To state only the conclusion reached behind the curtain after half a day: full disclosure of the Heavenly Demon Scripture was denied.
Nevertheless, the Cult Leader and the Vice Cult Leader readily agreed to that conclusion because, although full disclosure was denied, partial disclosure was permitted.
First, the Heaven-and-Earth Great Shift Divine Art, which symbolized the Heavenly Demon, was completely excluded from the list of martial arts to be disclosed.
The prevailing opinion was that its symbolic significance was excessively high.
Even the Cult Leader nodded at that reasoning, so Yul Han accepted the Elders’ opinion.
Among the remaining three martial arts, Half-Moon Asura Slash was restricted to disclosure only to the Elders.
The primary reason was that fifteen years ago, when the Vice Cult Leader had turned Kongtong into a sea of blood, he had used it—earning it reverence as the most destructive Demonic Art in one-against-many combat.
It had co to embody the representative martial art of the Demonic Path used to chastise the duplicitous Hundred Paths.
In exchange, the Elders proposed that they would disclose all of their own martial arts, and they secured Yul Han’s agreent.
Thus, in the expanded behind-the-curtain eting that included the Cult Leader, the Vice Cult Leader, and even the Strategist, it was decided that from the Heavenly Demon Scripture, Asura Sword Form and Slaughtering Demon Art would be disclosed even to ordinary martial artists.
Of course, the scope of disclosure included the exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons, as well as the ultimate techniques held by Elder-level martial artists.
When this fact was announced, the three mbers of the Five Demons, including the long-waiting Iron Demon, rushed in shock.
It was because of the decision made behind the curtain that their exclusive martial arts were to be disclosed to ordinary martial artists.
“Have you lost your minds!”
At Iron Demon’s shout the mont he barged in, Demon Flower smiled bitterly.
“I knew Elder Brother would react like this.”
“You knew and still reached such a conclusion!”
“Doesn’t your throat hurt? Instead of shouting, why don’t you sit down first?”
At Demon Flower’s words, as Iron Demon fud, the Profound Demon stepped forward in his place.
“Sitting can wait. First, explain. Why was such a conclusion reached?”
At the Profound Demon’s question, Demon Flower explained the argunts that had taken place behind the curtain.
After hearing it all, Iron Demon suppressed his anger and asked,
“So in other words, you took Half-Moon Asura Slash and handed over our martial arts?”
“That may be how it appears on the surface, but you will also be able to train in Asura Sword Form and Slaughtering Demon Art. Those two martial arts can be learned by anyone in the Bright Cult who has completed their internal energy training.”
Ask any martial artist of the Bright Cult, and they would answer that Asura Sword Form and Slaughtering Demon Art surpass the exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons.
In other words, since one could learn superior martial arts, there was no need to stubbornly cling to the exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons.
Moreover, the Poison Demon, who had been quietly listening, added his own opinion.
“One more thing. No one is telling you to abandon the exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons. It ans you can learn them together. That’s all. And we can also learn Half-Moon Asura Slash.”
At those words, even the Profound Demon, who had remained negative until then, nodded.
It ant they should understand this as an opportunity to learn martial arts of an even higher realm in addition to their own exclusive arts.
Furthermore, Half-Moon Asura Slash could be learned only by the Elders.
Since it was a martial art that drew involuntary admiration every ti the Vice Cult Leader executed it, it could not help but whet their appetites imdiately.
Unlike when they had rushed in, Iron Demon and the Profound Demon withdrew with subdued expressions. The Ghost Demon, who had remained behind, asked Demon Flower,
“Let ask just one thing.”
“Yes, Elder Brother Ghost Demon.”
“Unless you have resolved to earn the Vice Cult Leader’s displeasure, I do not understand why you convened the behind-the-curtain eting. What was the real reason?”
“As expected, Elder Brother Profound Demon sees broadly, but when it cos to seeing deeply, Elder Brother Ghost Demon is the best.”
“So there was another aning.”
“I am a woman who wishes to live long as well. I had no intention from the start of raising the matter of a behind-the-curtain eting again in front of the Vice Cult Leader.”
In truth, when she had stepped forward to convene the eting, she had thought her head would be severed in a single stroke by the Cult Leader, who had rushed over like the wind.
That was, had the Vice Cult Leader not arrived even faster than the Cult Leader.
“Then……?”
“It was the Strategist’s request.”
“The Strategist?”
“He said the risk of the Heavenly Demon Scripture was too great and that it should be dispersed. I agreed with that opinion as well.”
“Then the Strategist should have stepped forward himself. Why you?”
“If he stepped forward, the Vice Cult Leader might misunderstand it as the Cult Leader’s will. So he asked to take the lead instead.”
At Demon Flower’s reply, the Ghost Demon nodded.
Indeed, the Strategist and the Cult Leader were inseparable. It was to the extent that ordinary martial artists even called the Strategist the ‘Cult Leader’s wife.’
Even as he understood, he could not help but worry.
“Even so, it was dangerous. If the Vice Cult Leader had misunderstood…….”
“To be honest, I was not without concern. But the Strategist said this: that if it were the Vice Cult Leader, he would perceive the matters beneath the surface. So I should trust him.”
At those words as well, the Ghost Demon had no choice but to nod.
The Vice Cult Leader he had observed at close quarters was indeed soone capable of that.
“So, as expected of the Strategist?”
“We tease him by calling him the Cult Leader’s lapdog, but his head truly works well.”
“Indeed. Very well.”
As the Ghost Demon turned to leave after saying that, Demon Flower called out to him.
“By the way, Elder Brother.”
“What is it?”
“So rather than being upset about having to disclose the exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons, you rushed here because you were worried about ?”
“Th-that is…….”
As the Ghost Demon failed to answer readily, Demon Flower’s eyes sparkled.
“Elder Brother, could it be……?”
“D-don’t spout nonsense. I rushed here because of the order to disclose my martial arts, and I simply asked out of curiosity! I’m leaving.”
With only those words thrown behind him, he hurried away as if fleeing. Demon Flower watched his retreating figure with an enigmatic smile.
A Proclamation was posted in the Bright Cult.
It stated that among the martial artists of the Bright Cult, those who had undergone basic training and completed foundational Heart thod training would be granted the opportunity to train in the exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons: Iron Crushing Mad Blade, Black Demon Art, Black Cloud Phantasm, Close-Range Projection, and Yin Phantom Poison Palm.
The ordinary martial artists also knew that the behind-the-curtain eting had blocked the Vice Cult Leader’s proposal to disclose the Heavenly Demon Scripture.
To claim they had not salivated would have been a lie.
Yet no one truly believed that the Heavenly Demon Scripture would be disclosed.
Throughout martial history, whether of the Demonic Path or the Hundred Paths, there had never been a precedent of such supre techniques being revealed to ordinary martial artists.
Perhaps for that reason, the martial artists of the Bright Cult cheered rely at the disclosure of the exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons.
By common understanding in the martial world, a martial art that allows its practitioner to reach the Peak Realm upon achieving Perfection is called an ultimate technique.
The reason martial arts that have produced masters of the Super-Peak Realm—higher than Peak Realm—are transmitted only to sect masters or clan heads and not taught to outsiders lies in that very fact.
Moreover, the martial arts of the Five Demons, many of whose practitioners had reached the Transcendent Realm, were legendary martial arts.
To be able to train in them alone was no different from encountering a fortuitous opportunity.
Of course, reaching the Transcendent Realm required trendous effort and ti. Yet it was clear that their level of attainnt was higher than martial arts that stopped at Peak or Super-Peak no matter how much one struggled.
In other words, ordinary martial artists were now granted a genuine opportunity to challenge for Elder-level positions.
It was only natural that the martial artists of the Bright Cult—who would leap from their beds at the re ntion of superior martial arts—erupted in cheers.
As if pouring oil upon the fire, the martial arts possessed by the Blood Sword Unit Commander, the Red Blade Unit Commander, the Lord of the Ten Thousand Swords, and the Lord of the Training Hall were also disclosed.
Though they did not reach the level of the exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons, their arts too were legendary martial arts that had produced masters of the Transcendent Realm.
Moreover, the disclosure of their martial arts was greatly welcod for expanding the range of choices available to ordinary martial artists.
The exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons were powerful, but their characteristics were so distinct that they were unsuitable for every martial artist of the Bright Cult to learn.
In contrast, the martial arts of the Blood Sword Unit Commander and the other Elder-level masters bore comparatively less unique coloration.
Since many martial artists were swordsn or blade-wielders, their arts were far more accessible than those of the Five Demons.
For that reason, there were even more who chose these over the exclusive martial arts of the Five Demons.
Amidst this situation, yet another piece of glad tidings was added for the ordinary martial artists of the Bright Cult.
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