Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Renewed Day by Day
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“Young Cult Leader! Are you all right?”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
As I returned to reality, the spirits all came rushing over.
Their faces were filled with worry and concern.
It had been none other than an incarnation of King Songje.
Of course they’d be shocked.
Especially since they were all souls who should have gone to the afterlife by rights, the presence of King Songje must have felt all the more overwhelming.
“Any injuries?”
“N-No, sir… it seems not.”
“Right answer.”
“B-But—”
“King Songje is known as the strictest among the Ten Kings of Hell. It’s said that no departed soul who stands before him ever returns unscathed, so how—”
This seemed like a good time to add a little flair(?).
No spirit had seen just how flexible my back was anyway.
“Who am I? The Ghost King, of course. Naturally, I was showered with praise.”
“Ooh!”
“As expected—”
“He said that everything I’ve done looks so impressive that he came in person to commend me. And this is the proof.”
I proudly showed them the spirit orb left behind by King Songje.
“M-My eyes! It’s too dazzling!”
“To receive commendation from one of the Ten Kings of Hell himself!!”
“As expected, your brilliance reaches even to the heavens and the underworld!”
Ooooh!
The spirits prostrated themselves on the ground like someone who’d received a treasure chest, pouring out exclamations of awe.
In particular, the spirits of the Sixteen Tiger and North Sea Sect—who had even worshipped King Songje as a god—wore faces full of shock and ecstasy.
“It’s the first time since the founding sect leader met the god and was chosen as his incarnation!!”
“The birth of a true sect leader!”
“What are you waiting for? Bow again, quickly!!”
At the Sixteen Tiger’s shout—which seemed perfectly timed—the North Sea Sect spirits prostrated themselves once more.
If before it had been half-hearted due to the Sixteen Tiger’s coercion, now they seemed to truly accept me as their sect leader from the heart.
Well, returning from a personal meeting with an underworld king—and with a gift to boot—anyone would be astonished.
I was confident that few, if any, shamans had experiences like mine.
“Young Cult Leader! Please forgive this ungrateful wretch!!”
Just then, Onma flew over swiftly and slammed its head into the ground.
The sight of the bird folding its wings back and standing at attention was somehow bizarre.
What was this sudden overdrive?
“In truth, this one feared that you had been dragged before King Songje as punishment for breaking the laws of reincarnation!!”
…Hm?
“So please sternly rebuke this disloyal wretch for worrying that you might not return to the living world!”
Onma was steeped in profound grief.
It looked like a repentant sinner.
It was true, in fact.
If not for living so flawlessly as Tang Un-hwi, I should have been dragged to the afterlife by the laws of reincarnation.
But I had rejected that fate and revived, so from the underworld king’s perspective, it was only natural to be outraged.
Dragging me off right then would have been no surprise at all.
Of course, not knowing how King Songje would react, I had prepared an escape plan.
But hearing it from Onma like this really drove home just how perilously I’d escaped danger.
“Onma, you still don’t fully understand me. Naturally, I had already accounted for all of that even when dragged before King Songje.”
“Ooooh!”
“But I didn’t run away. Do you know why?”
“M-May we ask the reason?”
I reverted to a solemn expression and lowered my voice gravely.
“In my current situation, I could not abandon you all who follow me always, nor the remaining faithful on this land. That was why I saw this moment as an opportunity and went to negotiate.”
“Ah!”
“If I had fled then, I would have spent the rest of my days running like a coward. Even in this lowly state, I am the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. I could not do that. The position demands I always stand tall. That was why I sought to persuade King Songje and win his favor. And I succeeded, allowing me to return like this.”
“W-We had no idea you harbored such grand intentions—”
“Do you need to grasp all my thoughts? I am content so long as you, my faithful, can live at ease upon this land.”
“Young Cult Leader!!”
“You are all we have!”
Onma burst into sobs and slammed its head down again.
The other spirits followed suit, pressing their foreheads even deeper into the earth.
“Somehow it feels like we’re falling for the Young Cult Leader’s silver tongue—”
A few sharp-eyed spirits muttered, but they quailed under my glare and averted their eyes.
“Anyway, it seems we’ve wrapped things up here, so let’s be off.”
“As you command!”
“As you command!”
I donned my lion mask once more and kicked off the ground.
Soon, a small spark ignited where I had stood, incinerating the entire demon lair root and stem.
The night sky was exceedingly bright.
* * *
The next day, I dispelled my fatigue with the Heavenly Demon Tiger Heart Technique and summoned Ilno.
Flinch!
But Ilno’s usual brisk steps halted briefly at the threshold—just like always.
His face was caught in shock.
The gaze he fixed on me mixed astonishment and admiration.
“Heavenly Demon Supremacy! Roar of Ten Thousand Demons—”
He suddenly tried to prostrate himself, but I swiftly seized control of his body with Void Grasping.
I also deployed a barrier to block all sound.
“Have you already forgotten who’s here? Planning to spread my identity far and wide?”
Feeling the qi forcing him down, Ilno trembled.
Tears welled in his eyes.
“As I thought…! You’ve achieved Three Flowers Gather at the Summit! Congratulations!!”
Manifesting one’s qi externally into tangible form for physical manipulation—Void Grasping—is typically the benchmark of the Transcendent Realm.
Only after Ilno’s rapture subsided did I release the grasp and smile.
“I still have a long way to go to recover my Little Heavenly Demon achievements.”
“Even so, it’s a monumental step! Congratulations upon congratulations! This is the auspicious sign heralding the Divine Cult’s revival!”
Unlike with the spirits, Ilno’s exaggerated reaction didn’t burden me at all.
No, it felt good.
He was, after all, the very first follower of the Dark Demon Divine Cult I had gained.
It was as if all the absent faithful were celebrating my achievement alongside him, lifting my spirits.
‘Truly, you’ve endured so much.’
It felt like the words my master had spoken when I once ascended to the sacred law realm and became the Ghost King.
I remembered that touch as so very warm.
“This is no time to sit idle. Allow me to showcase my skills after so long—”
“No need for that. Could you just go to the guest hall and fetch one person?”
“Which vile criminal is it? Give the order, and I’ll bring back their head this instant—”
I couldn’t fathom why everyone’s minds worked that way.
“No, nothing like that. Just politely say I’m asking for them and bring them here. But have Onma watch to ensure they don’t try anything foolish.”
Flutter!
Onma perched on Ilno’s shoulder at some point.
Ilno’s face turned solemn as he nodded.
“Give the command. Who shall I escort?”
“The Cult Scholar.”
“You mean Mount Kongtong’s One Heart Engraving Sword?”
I nodded silently.
Onma’s eyes widened instantly.
「Are you planning to head straight to Mount Kongtong!?」
Its voice brimmed with excitement.
I shook my head.
“No. It won’t be that simple right away. It’s too far, and besides, ‘Tang Un-hwi’ needs to head to the Tang family stronghold soon. And… we’re supposed to meet someone there, right?”
「Ah!」
Two of the Kunlun Three Elders were bringing the Bloodsucking Ghost Horse to the Tang stronghold.
My master’s whereabouts were crucial, but securing the faithful’s safety took priority now.
“So first, I’ll cast a divination. If there’s anything there, we can dig deeper.”
「Understood!」
“What in the world is on Mount Kongtong that—”
Ilno asked cautiously.
Onma glanced at me, and I nodded.
Onma opened its beak.
「Traces of the Cult Leader have been found on Mount Kongtong.」
“W-What!!”
「It came from interrogating the North Sea Sect Leader, so it should not be false.」
“!!!”
Ilno trembled violently.
“This wretch… since descending Heavenly Mountain… never has there been a day like today… so overwhelming with emotion…!”
I burst into laughter.
“Didn’t I tell you from the moment I took you in? From here on, there will only be reasons to smile. That is the sect leader’s duty.”
“…This wretch has no regrets even in death!”
“No. Not yet. The true sect leader’s path still stretches far ahead, so speak not such words.”
“This wretch has been remiss.”
Ilno rose, his face full of solemnity.
“I will fetch the Cult Scholar.”
After Ilno left the room, I swept my gaze around.
Unlike my eyes, my qi sense extended beyond the room to envelop the entire estate.
Far more sensitive and precise than before.
The range had widened too, allowing me to sense everything within the estate.
Even the distant sound of fallen leaves crumbling.
Three Flowers Gather at the Summit.
Combined with the Millennium Ice Crystal and the North Sea Sect Leader’s absorbed essence.
Less than a day after achieving this technique, the Heavenly Demon Tiger Heart Technique had already advanced to three layers, illuminating everywhere.
And those who sensed it reacted in unison.
* * *
“So if you, Sect Leader, head to the sacred city and remain absent for an extended period, our sect’s command structure would proceed in this manner…”
Han In-su trailed off, tilting his head.
The Lion Beast King—who had been blankly listening to his report—suddenly turned toward the window.
Is something the matter?
Heh!
The Lion Beast King grinned ferociously, baring his fangs fully.
It was the exact same look he wore when facing a mortal enemy that ignited his predatory instincts.
Han In-su couldn’t help flinching.
“Hahaha! It’s been ages since our bout, and now this level of progress! Truly, if ‘renewed day by day’ isn’t for times like this, then when is it!!”
“Sect Leader? Sect Leader!”
Ignoring Han In-su’s calls, the Lion Beast King flung the window open with his qi and leaped outside.
Thud thud!
The Lion Beast King landed atop the building’s roof.
He wasn’t alone.
High-level experts emerged not just from the guest hall but from all around.
“Who could have such an aura…!”
“It feels like a storm wind?”
Lee Cheolsan and Tang Ye-won leaped up.
Tension and admiration filled their faces.
“I never imagined any junior besides Lee Cheolsan would possess such qi.”
Flying Heaven Tiger.
“That position… could it be the sub-branch leader?”
Tang Gon.
“Monsters, every last one? Haha!”
“Does the Nine Dragons Branch Family house nothing but monsters?”
Other renowned figures as well.
“……”
Tang Ho-san too.
Arms crossed, his gaze toward the white-clad figure churned fiercely.
They were all Transcendent Realm experts, stepping beyond human limits to wield their own martial arts.
Their achievements, paths, and pursuits varied wildly, but in this moment, one thing united them.
Predatory instincts.