How the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult Lives Chapter 107 : Backlash

Chapter 107: Backlash

Many people lived together in this world. Because of that, even within a single organization, people of many different thoughts gathered.

The Bright Cult was no different.

They, too, had gathered more than one hundred thousand people, so diverse perspectives naturally existed when looking at the sa matter.

Among them, three particularly distinct factions existed. This was not a matter of origin or race, but rather—true to the Bright Cult—the tendency of the martial arts they practiced.

The people of the Bright Cult called these three groups the Demon Army, the Bright Army, and the Red Army.

The Demon Army consisted of those who cultivated what could be called orthodox demonic arts.

These were martial arts that originated from the Cult Leaders of the Bright Cult, from the Heavenly Demon through to the Eighth Cult Leader.

The Four Sacred Arts of the Heavenly Demon, which only the Cult Leader was permitted to learn, belonged here, and so did the exclusive martial arts practiced by the Five Demons.

If one counted the Cult Leader and the Five Demons, that made six. If extending to the Eighth Cult Leader, that would be eight individuals—so why were only six types of martial arts spoken of?

It was because the martial arts of the Second Cult Leader, the Blood Demon, and the Fourth Cult Leader, the Wheel Demon Emperor, were not passed down within the Bright Cult.

In the case of the Wheel Demon Emperor, his direct descendant lost the competition for the next Cult Leader and left the Bright Cult, causing the art to be severed.

As for the Blood Demon, he himself chose not to leave his martial arts to later generations from the very beginning.

Instead, he left behind a single prophecy that sounded almost like legend.

To be honest, over the thousand-plus years that passed, the Bright Cult had faced existential crises more than once. Each ti, there had been hope that the Blood Demon’s arrangent would reveal itself—but it never did.

For that reason, within the Bright Cult, the prevailing opinion was that the Blood Demon’s prophecy was false.

It felt as though the story had strayed off track. In any case, since these were those who practiced the martial arts of the Eight Cult Leaders who laid the foundation of the early Bright Cult, their influence within the Cult was absolute.

They monopolized the positions from Cult Leader and from first to fifth rank within the Council of Elders.

The next faction was the Bright Army.

These were the martial arts of demonic beings who had been moved by the Bright Cult and submitted to it.

For the most part, they were descendants of those who had been captivated by the Heavenly Demon’s might during his era of activity and had pledged their loyalty with sincere devotion.

In practical terms, even now, the Bright Army constituted the largest number within the Bright Cult.

Because it included many people, a wide range of martial arts—high and low—fell under the Bright Army’s classification.

The final faction was the Red Army.

As their na—Red Army—suggested, their disposition was fierce.

Most were descendants of demonic beings who had been defeated by successive Cult Leaders and forcibly subjugated.

Naturally, their practices consisted largely of unspeakable training thods and cruel, vicious martial arts.

Not all, but a significant number of their martial arts were bound under the Forbidden Demon Art—this was also characteristic of the Red Army.

The Dream Faction, who had once kidnapped children and entered Unsealing Training, only to be annihilated at the hands of Yul Han, also belonged to the Red Army.

As might be expected, dissatisfaction within the Red Army had recently reached its peak.

Unsealing Training had effectively been prohibited.

After the Dream Faction incident, no one dared to step forward to cultivate the Forbidden Demon Art.

Fearing that the Unsealing Training period—which ca only once every thirty years—would pass by unused, so asked the Cult Leader whether they might conduct Unsealing Training.

The answer that returned was affirmative.

Their expressions brightened at once.

Then the Cult Leader added,

Upon hearing that, their faces darkened again.

Those who claid to be loyal followers of the Vice Cult Leader had already spread throughout the Bright Cult. No matter how carefully they tried to conceal it, it would inevitably be discovered.

In other words, the Cult Leader’s answer was no different from saying it was impossible.

Because of that, they could not proceed with Unsealing Training. They fretted and hesitated, and half a year passed.

The Unsealing Training period for this generation ended.

The situation was serious.

During the Unsealing Training period, they should have properly cultivated successors through the Forbidden Demon Art—but they had failed to do so.

To wait for the next Unsealing Training period ant waiting another thirty years. And if, at that ti, the Vice Cult Leader’s thinking remained as it was now—and he was still vigorous?

There was a high possibility that the lineage of those who practiced the Forbidden Demon Art would be severed.

Anxiety bred dissatisfaction, dissatisfaction gave rise to anger. And that anger was driving them toward actions they would never have dared even imagine before.

After receiving the petition from the Guardian of the Faith, Yul Han headed toward the Military Farm Village.

He intended to confirm personally whether it was truly the children and their parents who had volunteered, or whether the Lord of the Training Hall or soone else had exerted influence.

As Yul Han left the Main Fortress, there were those who watched him with sharp eyes.

They were known as the Monster Faction and the Soul Faction.

The Monster Faction practiced the Forbidden Demon Art called Male Blood Martial Aberration, while the Soul Faction practiced the Forbidden Demon Art called Three Blood Soul Net.

The leaders of these factions turned their gaze away from Yul Han, who was leaving the Main Fortress, and looked at one another.

Soon, the two nodded and vanished.

It was ghostlike Lightness Skill.

Judging purely by their Lightness Skill, there appeared to be little difference between them and those who had reached the Transformation Realm.

At the spot where the two faction leaders disappeared, the Profound Demon revealed himself.

Standing there, he silently watched Yul Han walking far ahead.

Then he, too, disappeared.

As Yul Han passed through the Mountain Foot Village on his way to the Military Farm Village, the Profound Demon suddenly appeared beside him.

Yul Han glanced at him sideways and smiled.

“It seems you were busy. I didn’t see you for a few days.”

“There were a few things I needed to confirm.”

“Were there results?”

At Yul Han’s question, the Profound Demon looked at with a complicated gaze before asking,

“Have you never considered that I might be preparing to harm the Cult Leader?”

“I have. I told you to do so—why would you not?”

At my answer, the complexity in his eyes deepened slightly.

“Do you perhaps wish for the Cult Leader’s death?”

At that sudden question, the thought, Is that truly the case?, flickered through my mind and vanished.

If that were so, I would not be teaching the Cult Leader the Demon Wall Five Absolutes every morning as if my life depended on it, nor training together with him as I had been doing.

Yes. One of the reasons I taught the Cult Leader the Demon Wall Five Absolutes was because of the Profound Demon.

After learning the Demon Wall Five Absolutes, the Cult Leader would beco even stronger than he was now.

So then……

“As if.”

At my reply, the Profound Demon nodded. He had already guessed why I had recently been devoting myself to training in the Demon Wall Five Absolutes together with the Cult Leader.

“I thought as much. That is why you are training so desperately in the Demon Wall Five Absolutes alongside him.”

“I’m sorry. From my position, I had no choice.”

“I understand. Our agreent never included a clause forbidding you from making the Cult Leader stronger.”

Instead, there had been a condition that the Cult Leader must not be inford. I had faithfully kept that promise.

How did I know?

Because if he learned of it, given his temperant, he would never have endured it.

To him, the seed of discord had to be cut at the sprout, its roots dug out and crushed, then burned so that not even the faintest possibility of revival remained.

My dissuasion?

No matter how much the Cult Leader cherished , that part would not change.

The Profound Demon, who had watched the Cult Leader from his side for a long ti, knew.

If such people were left alone, the Cult Leader would judge them a danger to his junior disciple.

And so he would undoubtedly act more boldly, more ruthlessly.

Yet the Cult Leader remained quiet.

That ant he still knew neither the Profound Demon’s identity nor his true intentions.

Seen that way, it ant that no matter the situation, I was a man who kept his word once given.

As if persuading himself of that justification—that I was simply that kind of person—the Profound Demon spoke.

“There are a few unruly ones.”

“There always are.”

“It is not so simple. They are preparing to act.”

Even as he said that, I rely smirked and continued walking. The Profound Demon said,

“You do not seem to believe it is serious.”

“I do. That is why I am waiting even now.”

At my words, his eyes widened slightly.

“You knew?”

“Rather than knowing, it was only natural. Whether right or wrong, there are those who have suffered loss. To think nothing would happen would be foolish.”

“Then……?”

“If they swallow their dissatisfaction and seek a new breakthrough, I would be grateful. If they seek an outlet for their anger through action, then I must accept it.”

As I spoke, a dense killing intent poured from my eyes—so thick it was difficult to et my gaze.

It ant I had resolved to kill.

With that level of resolve, it was those coming who should be worried. And yet, for so reason, the Profound Demon’s feet did not readily move away.

As if trying to conceal his troubled heart, he spoke needlessly.

“That is fortunate, then.”

As he walked silently beside , I asked,

“If what you have been confirming concerns those dissatisfied with , and you ca personally to tell , then it ans they will soon descend upon us. Should you not return?”

“I doubt their target is .”

“According to rumors circulating within the Cult, the Profound Demon is said to be my most fervent supporter. You are aware of that, are you not?”

He had been attached to my chambers as part of the Vice Cult Leader’s Pavilion and had followed closely for quite so ti.

“I have ears. How would I not know?”

“Then why remain beside ?”

If he was recognized as a supporter of the Vice Cult Leader, he would naturally be attacked as well. He knew that—so why stay?

To that, the Profound Demon replied,

“I wished to witness the Vice Cult Leader’s martial arts from up close.”

I watched his profile in silence, and a faint smile brushed past my lips.

“It is not concern?”

At that question, his expression startled slightly. In the end, he said nothing.

Only now had he realized why his steps had been so reluctant to part from mine.

After walking so ti like that, we left the Mountain Foot Village.

Between the Military Farm Village and the Mountain Foot Village lay an open field of about ten li.

It had been created upon the advice of experts who said that, if expansion were considered in the future, a proper distance should be maintained.

Among the newly converted believers of the Bright Cult were quite a few architectural specialists.

There had even been an urban planner who once served in the Imperial Family.

For such people to have flowed into this distant frontier showed how severe the Great Famine had been—and how incompetent the Governnt Office’s response.

As I walked across that open field born of such circumstances, my gaze grew cold.

“They are coming.”

No sooner had I spoken than various projectiles tore through the air—daggers, throwing stars, even arrows and crossbows of the sort used by Governnt Troops.

While the Profound Demon busied himself neutralizing the projectiles aid at him with dazzling movents, I employed a slightly different thod.

Unbelievably fast—and considerably more violent.

Slash!

Behind the hundreds of projectiles flying toward us, a group of martial artists rushed in.

Their plan was simple.

While we were occupied defending against the projectiles, they would strike directly.

Given the abilities of the one they targeted, they did not expect great success. But they believed the tactic would at least reduce the number of initial casualties until they could close the distance.

But—

“Cough—!”

One martial artist of the Monster Faction, glancing at the crimson Sword Energy that had swept across his chest, stared in utter disbelief.

He had clearly seen it.