Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 212

The Hyuk-ryeon family left.

Baekji stood up from his seat and walked towards the outside of the great hall.

With each step he took, the space wavered, and a light emanated from Baekji's entire body.

When he went outside the great hall, he was engulfed in a bright halo, as if he were a heavenly god.

"Oh! Oh!"

"The 'Heavenly Demon' has descended!"

The cult members who filled the square in front of the Cult Leader's hall all prostrated themselves.

'Father, you should at least enjoy this much.'

Baekji thought to himself.

His father, the Cult Leader, who had ascended to the 'Heavenly Demon' alone in the deep underground 'Heavenly Demon Cave'.

It was the nature of martial artists to desire a higher realm. But how many would choose a life of abandoning everything and focusing solely on martial arts?

If one were in a position to enjoy everything, one would be even more reluctant to let go.

That was why, in the thousands of years, only two 'Heavenly Demons' had appeared.

To others, it might have seemed like an obsession for ascension.

That was why his heart ached even more.

He could feel it as he received the 'esoteric teachings' of the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' from his father, the Cult Leader, through 'body-to-body transmission'.

If one were to learn it from the beginning, no matter how outstanding one's 'five senses' were, the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' was a martial art where the achievement of the second and third stars was the limit.

His father, the Cult Leader, had mastered the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' and had made great efforts for a long time to pass it on to him.

Even his own child had only just learned of his intentions, so who would know? There had even been a subtle complaint that the Cult Leader was neglecting the sect because he was only obsessed with ascending to godhood.

If things continued like this, he would be recorded as a Cult Leader who had died while training in seclusion in the 'Heavenly Demon Cave'.

That could not be.

―The 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' is to borrow the power of heaven. With power comes responsibility. To abandon a hundred thousand cult members and to only take the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art'? That is impossible!

His father had entrusted the sect to him as he had passed on the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art'.

Fearing that he would betray his intentions, he had even replanted So Ya-hu's soul.

He wanted to make his father's intentions known.

Baekji, who had transformed into the appearance of the Cult Leader, fully manifested the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art', which had reached the 'realm of harmony'.

The bright light that emanated from Baekji's entire body pushed back the darkness of the night, and the wide square became brightly lit.

"Ah...!"

The successors, including Shi Fengsheng, who were looking at the 'Heavenly Demon', were overwhelmed with emotion.

Even So Jeong-hu, who knew the inside story, felt his heart become heavy and his eyes become hot...

Only Jian Yi, who was following behind Baekji, was smiling.

'Keu-heu-heu. This is all thanks to me noticing that the Young Lord had reincarnated.'

Baekji said to the cult members who were gathered in the square, "I will correct the unfortunate events. The 'Great Successor War' will be held as scheduled, but the method will be changed."

"..."

"From now on, there will be no such thing as a pledge of submission in the 'Great Successor War'!"

"―!"

"All cult members are equal under me, the 'Heavenly Demon'! Everyone will be guaranteed a chance to participate in the 'Great Successor War'."

"―?"

The minds of the prostrated cult members were in confusion.

Anyone could participate in the 'Great Successor War'? Isn't that the case now?

When the selection of the successor was announced, anyone could stick a torch with their name written on it in the brazier in front of the Young Lord's hall.

"All successors who step forward for the 'Great Successor War' will be protected by the sect. The duel will be held fairly among all candidates, even if it takes several days, to determine the final one."

"..."

A moment of silence flowed.

Would the sect protect the successors?

The cult members could finally understand Baekji's intentions.

Until now, anyone could participate, but in reality, they could not. Even if the candidate's own talent was outstanding, the candidate of a large family would take the pledge of submission by putting forward their power, or they would be eliminated by force.

The perception that the one who survived was strong, with the long-standing virtue of 'the strong survive', had dominated for a long time.

That was why the talents of the small and medium-sized families could not dare to stick their torches.

Although the method was fair, in reality, the large families had no choice but to monopolize the opportunity... but if it were as Baekji said?

"Wa-a!"

"Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!"

The cult members all cheered. Even the ordinary martial artists who could not step forward for the 'Great Successor War' had felt extremely uncomfortable watching the 'Great Successor War', which had been monopolized by the large families, who had crushed them with the power of their families.

But

Now that everyone could get a fair chance.

They could not help but cheer.

Baekji's words did not stop.

"I will take away the privileges of the twelve guardian families. If you truly want to be recognized as a guardian family... you will have to build up merits worthy of it."

"...?"

"..."

At the sudden declaration, the cult members were surprised, and the people of the twelve guardian families' faces hardened.

It was the twelve guardian families, who had virtually ruled over the other families with all sorts of special treatment and privileges.

They could not help but be shocked at the sudden removal of their privileges.

The next declaration was even more shocking.

"The Elder Hall is disbanded!"

'No!'

The elders hastily swallowed the words that were about to burst out.

If they were to defy the 'Heavenly Demon' in front of thousands of cult members, they would die right away.

But they could not even hide their dissatisfied expressions.

Originally, the elders were the masters of the sect and had carried out the Cult Leader's orders. But at some point, they had become independent under the name of the Elder Hall and had checked the Cult Leader's solo run.

'You're saying you're going to be a dictator!'

A few of the elders were thinking of protesting, even if it meant risking their lives, but Baekji's words continued without hesitation.

"Instead, a family council will be established, and the representatives of all families will exercise their will!"

"Wow!"

All the cult members, except for the twelve guardian families and the other families that had produced elders, all cheered.

On the other hand, the families that had produced the existing elders had faces the color of dirt.

The interests they had had while controlling the Elder Hall were all about to disappear.

Go-o-o-o!

The light that was around Baekji's entire body became even thicker.

It was a light that was strong enough to break the energy of the opposing forces in one go.

At Baekji's will, which would not tolerate a single word of opposition, the square became as bright as day.

Baekji said to the elders and the leaders of the main headquarters who were lined up on one side, "Establish a new sect manual with my will!"

Then he turned his body and entered the Cult Leader's hall.

"Wa-a! Cult Leader!"

"'Heavenly Demon's Descent', ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!"

The square in front of the Cult Leader's hall was crowded with cheering cult members all night.

* * *

"This is really... what are you going to do? The pledge of submission has become a piece of scrap paper."

Wu Wen-sheng gently teased.

The main hall where the successors of 'Shi Fortress' were gathered.

Baekji, who had entered to treat his internal injuries, had called everyone after three days.

The successors of the twelve guardian families were also still unable to recover from the shock of the Cult Leader's declaration.

The prestige of the twelve guardian families within the sect was absolute. But to have to give up all their privileges and special treatment...

But among the same twelve guardian families, there was a gap in ranking, and Wu Wen-sheng, who belonged to the lower ranks, was overjoyed.

It might have been a natural reaction for Wu Wen-sheng, who had felt more of the sorrow he had received from the upper-ranking families than the privileges his family had enjoyed.

"There are already dozens of people who have stepped forward for the 'Great Successor War'. I don't know how they have endured it for so long. At this rate, won't a successor come out from a family we have never even heard of?"

"Wu Wen-sheng! Don't act up. How can a tradition that has been passed down for hundreds of years change overnight? It will be refined as it is made into a sect manual!"

Shen Yu of the Shen family glared at Wu Wen-sheng.

"Don't glare at me with those eyes. I have no intention of going to the 'Great Successor War'. I know my place. Hehehe."

Weizhi Shouchuan also looked at Wu Wen-sheng with a displeased eye and then said to Bi Jun-hua, "What is the reason for gathering today?"

"I don't know either. But, I know one thing for sure."

"What?"

"Who will become the successor."

"..."

At Bi Jun-hua's words, everyone closed their mouths.

The overwhelming martial prowess that Baekji had shown when the 'Mingshan Sect' had invaded.

That was on a different level.

"Young Master So is not interested in the 'Great Successor War'."

"Who said that? Young Master So knew that things would turn out like this. He knew that the Cult Leader was alive. They are of the same So family. They must have had a premonition."

Hearing Bi Jun-hua's words, it really seemed so.

"Since you won't be ascending to the position of Cult Leader in this life, just protect your family well. Now that the privileges are gone, there will be families that will try to climb up."

She was certainly a realistic Bi Jun-hua.

"I'm a little late. I'm sorry."

Hong Wu-yeol of the Hong family came in last.

Bi Jun-hua stood up from her seat.

"I will tell Young Master So that everyone has gathered."

* * *

Baekji opened his eyes.

After the 'Heavenly Demon's Descent' in the appearance of the Cult Leader, he had immediately returned and had circulated his energy for three days in the identity of So Baek-cheon.

After the 'Heavenly Demon's Descent', Baekji's 'heavenly nature' had quickly recovered.

'I almost washed the Cult Leader's hall with blood.'

If he had done as So Ya-hu's memory had told him, he would have killed all those who had participated in the rebellion, including Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu, on the grounds of 'strict punishment and a hundred punishments'.

And it was clear that he would have gone to the Hyuk-ryeon family to catch the old soul that was hiding there.

The one who had suppressed that impulse was thanks to the 'heavenly nature' that had been manifested while living as Baekji.

'Meeting my master was truly a heavenly fortune.'

He was grateful to Yang Soryeong anew. After So Ya-hu's memory had come in, he could feel how tiring a life he had lived.

It was the same for the life of his father, the Cult Leader, which he had felt as he had inherited the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' through 'body-to-body transmission'.

Although it was a position above ten thousand people that everyone looked up to, his life as an individual was the same as not existing.

'To live, looking only at the back of the heads of the brats who are kneeling...'

After living as the Cult Leader for a short time, he missed Yang Soryeong, Ah-jok, Senior Oh, and Zhang San. The coquetry of the Seven Plums, including Bang-bang, the cooking of the head of the family, the blunt Nangong Zhao, the elegant and bold Tang Yunseol... even the chatterbox Quan Bai and the simple-minded 'Cho-bu'...

The faces of the ones who were waiting for him in the Central Plains flashed by.

Although the Heavenly Mountains was the hometown where he had been born and had grown up, he realized that his home was now the 'Yang-Bai Merchant Sect' in Sichuan.

'I wonder if the Alliance Leader has returned safely.'

He had now almost approached the true nature of the old soul.

He was a more persistent and cunning brat than he had thought.

Although he had thought that he had taken over Hyuk-ryeonjong's body to aim for the 'soul spirit art', now it seemed that he had been aiming for the sect for hundreds of years.

Seeing that the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' and the 'soul spirit art' had been leaked, it seemed that he had even ascended to the position of Cult Leader in the body of Hyuk-ryeon Ju-pae.

No, looking at Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu's 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' and 'soul spirit art', it was certain.

'He would have learned the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art' and the 'soul spirit art' at that time... why did he approach the Hyuk-ryeon family again?'

He could not know.

If he caught the old soul that was hiding in the Hyuk-ryeon family, everything would be revealed, but he could not just rush in.

Just as he had escaped from Hyuk-ryeonjong's body in the past, he could hide somewhere.

'To draw that brat out... this side has to look easy...'

To correct the wavering sect and to confirm the prestige of his father, the Cult Leader, he had even shown the 'Heavenly Demon's Descent'.

At this, he was worried that that brat would be surprised and would hide.

'Should I pretend the Cult Leader has ascended? To ascend as soon as he comes out? That doesn't make sense either... aigoo. At this rate, I'll be spending an endless amount of time.'

Although he was curious about what had happened in the Central Plains, he had to completely resolve this side first.

It was a good opportunity to catch the 'soul division'.

If he caught just one, he would be able to know how many he had been divided into and where he was holed up.

As Baekji was thinking of a way to catch the old soul, Bi Jun-hua's voice was heard from outside.

"Young Master So, everyone has gathered."

Baekji stood up from his seat, opened the door, and went out.

"You're fine."

Bi Jun-hua winked one eye and, with a bright smile as if she were relieved, 'chak', clung to his side and pulled him.

"I will escort you."

'I-geu... as expected of a fox of the Bi family...'

Baekji pushed Bi Jun-hua's smiling face with his finger.

"Get off!"

"A-i, really. This is troublesome. I'm holding back from revealing the Young Lord's identity..."

Yes. Even a threat?

Then a thought flashed through his mind.

'Me? I have to leave my mark, right?'

So Ya-hu, who had been said to have died in an unknown mountain after running wild due to 'cultivation deviation' while training in a 'divine art'.

'That's not right.'

So Ya-hu's fading memory flared up.

(End of Chapter)