How the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult Lives Chapter 108 : Annihilation

Chapter 108: Annihilation

The Vice Cult Leader’s figure vanished before their eyes and then suddenly appeared in front of them as if he had exploded into existence.

In truth, what I used was Hidden Flash, one of the Demon Wall Five Absolutes.

Hidden Flash possessed a terrifying speed comparable to One-Flash Form, another of the Demon Wall Five Absolutes.

On top of that, it thoroughly exploited blind spots beyond human perception.

That stealth footwork made my figure appear as though I had teleported through space.

To accomplish that, I made three movents.

First, I slipped sideways at a terrifying speed, escaping the range of the thrown weapons.

Second, from that position, I moved onto the sa line as those following behind the projectiles.

And third, after shifting from the position where I had evaded the thrown weapons, I cut back in and burrowed once more into the enemies’ front.

If one were to trace the path, it ford a perfect ‘ㄷ’ shape. After those three movents combined, I seized my first target.

However, because those movents were executed with Hidden Flash—making full use of blinding speed and blind spots—the martial artists of the Monster Faction were rely under the illusion that I had leapt across space itself.

Carrying that illusion with them as they collapsed, they were trampled beneath , and my sword, like a ravenous maw, thirsted for blood.

There had originally been twelve in the vanguard assault team.

Those twelve—who prided themselves on being unmatched in speed within both the Monster Faction and the Soul Faction—were cut down and left sprawled as corpses before they even understood what had happened.

My speed had been so great that by the ti Profound Demon blocked all the incoming thrown weapons, my crimson charge had already ended.

He was not the only one startled by that speed.

The martial artists of the Monster Faction and the Soul Faction, who had been rushing forward to support the vanguard, halted with stunned expressions.

It was because the Vice Cult Leader had already annihilated the assault team and stood there.

The martial artists of the Monster Faction and the Soul Faction glanced at one another, but all they could do was shake their heads.

Not a single one of them had properly seen when or how the Vice Cult Leader had appeared.

The difference in skill was absolute.

They realized their choice had been wrong—but it was too late to turn back now.

“Attack!”

The mont the order fell from the head of the Monster Faction, their martial artists charged. Soon after, an order reached the ears of the Soul Faction martial artists, who looked at their leader with shaken eyes.

“Kill him!”

The Soul Faction martial artists joined the charge.

Though the absurd situation of dozens against one had unfolded, the battle was one-sided.

There was not even a gap for Profound Demon to intervene.

The Vice Cult Leader moved so savagely that if he were to be swept up in it, even he might have been in danger.

Beginning with Asura Sword Form, passing through Half-Moon Asura Slash, the Lightning Cloud Blade erged, and even the Sun-Moon Sword was unleashed.

It was a field of devastation drenched in Force Energy and lightning.

The savage Force Energy and Lightning Energy tore across the ground, carving furrows into the earth—furrows that were soon filled entirely with blood.

After the cold wind of Xinjiang swept across the open plain, only Profound Demon, his face stricken with shock, and I, sheathing my sword and blade, remained standing.

No one else had survived.

Nearly eighty masters of the Monster Faction and the Soul Faction had beco corpses in an instant, strewn across the field.

Watching that scene, Profound Demon could not suppress his trembling.

Each of them had been regarded as masters even within the Bright Cult.

Perhaps one-on-one he could have managed, but among them were quite a few who would have troubled him even two-on-one.

And yet they had been annihilated within the span of a few breaths.

I had not swung my blade twice at a single person.

It had been, quite literally, one strike—one kill.

Having witnessed the Vice Cult Leader’s true combat power without restraint, Profound Demon even felt fear.

‘And I dared to target soone like that?’

The fact that he was still alive felt like a miracle.

Still frozen from shock, he turned when I looked back at him.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing that my expression was unchanged and my breathing perfectly steady, he felt dizzy.

‘Is this what lies beyond the heavens!’

So awestruck that he could not answer, he was jolted by my impatient voice.

“I said, let’s go.”

Only then did he return to his senses.

“Y-Yes? Ah! Yes. We’re going, we’re going, Vice Cult Leader.”

His tone and posture were unmistakably more respectful than before.

After Profound Demon and I departed, several figures appeared on the open plain shortly thereafter.

They silently gazed at the corpses of the fallen Monster Faction and Soul Faction martial artists before exchanging looks.

All of them were leaders of factions belonging to the Red Army.

The Soul Faction and the Monster Faction had been known to possess power ranking within the top five even among the Red Army.

And yet they had all watched from hiding as those factions were slaughtered in an instant.

To be honest, none of those who had hidden and observed had believed they would succeed.

If they had, they would have lent their strength to the Monster Faction or the Soul Faction.

They had anticipated failure. The problem was that they had never imagined it would be this one-sided.

This was not even a contest.

Because of that, heads slowly shook side to side.

One by one, they disappeared, their faces heavy with deep despair and resignation.

Only when we entered the outskirts of Gunjeon Village did Profound Demon fully regain his composure and ask—

“What was the reason for letting them go?”

“What do you an?”

“I know you were aware that there were people hiding and watching.”

At Profound Demon’s words, a faint smile finally brushed across my lips.

“They did not raise a banner of rebellion. They rely ca out to watch. There is no need to reprimand them for that.”

“They stood by while Your Excellency’s safety was threatened.”

“I believe you also only stood and watched, Profound Demon.”

At my words, panic rose onto Profound Demon’s face.

“T-That was because your movents were so fierce that I feared I might only get in the way….”

“I know. It was a jest, so do not be so startled.”

When he saw the slight smile passing over the Vice Cult Leader’s lips as I said that, his expression returned to normal.

He realized it truly had been a joke.

“I thought my heart would drop out.”

I rely laughed. His reaction, subtly changed from before, amused .

Then his voice continued.

“So you did not leave them be without reason, did you?”

“No, I did not. I left them so they could see. ‘I can do this much. Now, what will you choose?’ Sothing like that.”

The murderous smile that followed those words sent a chill through Profound Demon.

He understood that if this unfathomable transcendent being ever faced open rebellion, I had resolved to slaughter them all—Red Army or not.

It felt as though he was once again confronting the ferocity that had long been hidden behind my gentle words and actions.

After all, I was the man who had slaughtered nearly two thousand in brutal fashion because they had killed my lover.

It was as though he had glimpsed a fragnt of that destructive nature.

Perhaps because of that, fear surged up in him once more.

He was afraid that I might suddenly change my mind and declare, ‘Descendants of the Blood Cult? Kill them all!’ and raise my blade.

In such a case, could he survive?

No.

Could he even flee?

Impossible.

That was Profound Demon’s assessnt after witnessing the battle just monts ago.

‘A being that must never be made an enemy!’

That was the judgnt that engraved itself once more in his heart.

By the ti Profound Demon, swallowed in fear, had reached his own conclusion, we had arrived at the entrance of the Military Farm Village, where an Instructor of the Guardian Division ca running out.

“Welco, Vice Cult Leader.”

“Where is the Guardian Venerable?”

“He departed again for Sichuan to direct missionary work.”

“I heard the atmosphere among the Hundred Paths has been turbulent of late. Will he be all right?”

“If we stop because it is difficult, then it is not missionary work. That is what the Guardian Venerable said. We agreed.”

In the Instructor’s words, I sensed the spirit of a true religious devotee—one grounded in boundless sacrifice and self-restraint. A satisfied smile ford on my lips.

“Good. I hope that resolve does not waver.”

“We will strive for that.”

Nodding at his answer, I asked,

“Previously, the Guardian Venerable submitted a petition regarding the Entrance Training Examination. Are you aware of it?”

“Ah! Yes. I know of it. Before he left, the Guardian Venerable instructed to oversee it carefully.”

“I see. May I et those who desire it?”

“Of course. However, they are currently working at the Military Farm, so you would need to go there—”

“We will see the parents at night. May I et the children?”

“Yes. That is possible. At this hour, they should be at the academy.”

“Can you guide us?”

“Certainly. This way, Vice Cult Leader.”

With the Instructor leading the way, Profound Demon and I moved.

The academy.

A kind of educational institution established not only in the Mountain Foot Village but also in the Military Farm Village.

It was one of the initiatives I had pushed forward while newly constructing the Military Farm Village—sothing that had not existed in the Bright Cult before.

In fact, after establishing it in the Mountain Foot Village and the Military Farm Village, an academy was also built in the Main Fortress.

The instructors at the academy were scholars who had taken refuge under the Strategist, serving in rotation.

Encouraged by the opportunity to teach learning to the people of the Bright Cult, the scholars had volunteered of their own accord.

At the Main Fortress academy, their enthusiasm was so great that even the Strategist himself had taken charge of certain subjects.

Strangely enough, there were more martial artists than children at the Main Fortress academy.

Partly because there were few children living in the Main Fortress to begin with—but also because rumors had spread that in order to pass the Vice Cult Leader’s examination, one required mastery of unit command, strategy, terrain analysis and utilization, and a comprehensive understanding of tactics and strategy.

The rumor had effectively been proven when even the Lord of the Ten Thousand Swords, after failing the examination, began diligently attending the academy.

For their sake, advanced courses in tactics and strategy had been established at the Main Fortress academy.

Another subject had also been introduced—one to aid in the comprehension of classical texts. This was created at the request of all Bright Cult martial artists, regardless of realm or rank.

Ordinary martial artists needed help understanding the newly introduced, high-level elder-grade martial arts.

Too many secret manuals had been written in exceedingly difficult language.

When it ca to the Four Sacred Arts of the Heavenly Demon disclosed to the elders, the texts were nearly riddles.

A literal translation alone made comprehension impossible.

There was more.

Although the Four Sacred Arts of the Heavenly Demon had been released in the common tongue, originals written in Sanskrit and Oracle Bone Script also existed.

The Cult Leader had permitted those qualified to learn the Four Sacred Arts of the Heavenly Demon to view the originals if they so wished.

Rumors spread that sothing of the true essence might be lost in transcription into the common tongue, and so so sought to examine the originals.

The problem was that Sanskrit and Oracle Bone Script were maddeningly difficult.

Crooked and twisted—the characters looked little more than children’s scribbles at a glance.

Thus, courses in Sanskrit and Oracle Bone Script had even been created.

What was interesting was that all of this had arisen from the desires of the Bright Cult martial artists themselves.

Naturally, their zeal for study was worlds apart from those forced to learn out of obligation.

The atmosphere had completely changed from the early days, when people grumbled about what use an academy was when there was not even enough ti to train martial arts.

These days, within the Bright Cult, there was a pervasive sentint that if one did not learn, one would be left behind.

Even if my sword were faster and my blade stronger, if my opponent surpassed in intellect, I might be forced to bow my head.

The fear of that possibility spread among every Bright Cult martial artist.

And they believed that if that happened, they would die of rage.

Thus, they concluded that they must study.

Interestingly, even in such circumstances, there were those who showed not the slightest interest—Iron Demon, Profound Demon, and Ghost Demon.