Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Entry into the Cult - The First Rising Star Always Shines
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The Heavenly Demon Cult's initiation ceremony.
A trial undertaken by those faithful to the Heavenly Demon to dedicate themselves to the cult.
To be blunt, it's a job interview.
The Heavenly Demon Cult is one massive community.
To maintain its structure, it needs all sorts of positions and personnel.
That's why they hold this event called the "initiation ceremony" from time to time to select talent suited for various duties.
One of the goals is also to acclimate promising young talents from the cult early on and help them grow splendidly.
To participate in the initiation ceremony, one must either receive a recommendation from a reliable figure or pass a test proving their status as a cult member.
The process is so rigorous that many don't even make it through the door.
This means that those who do participate are already vetted talents, and upon completion, they're assigned positions in one way or another.
Those who prove their martial prowess become warriors, those who prove their faith become priests, and those who prove their wisdom become administrators.
From high-ranking division leader positions down to the lowest ranks, they serve the cult accordingly.
One problem, though: the process is so brutal that casualties are inevitable every time.
Even late-stage disciples well-versed in martial arts shy away from its dangers and strictness.
However.
'This is too easy.'
Geum-gang was smashing through all the trials with her body.
The Heavenly Mountains are filled with all sorts of mysteries.
One such mystery is the Demon Paths.
A labyrinth of unknown origin—whether discovered or created by ancient demonic cultivators—brimming with artifacts that test one's faith in the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Doors that open only when the right scripture is recited, altars requiring precise rituals.
Or mechanisms that must be broken through with martial arts.
Once the trial begins, one of the countless Demon Paths in the Heavenly Mountains is designated, and candidates—those aspiring to join the cult—enter through different entrances.
They must progress through the path to the examiners' satisfaction or escape entirely to pass... but.
Ha Jin's disciple had no way of knowing any of this.
'Fuck. What the hell is this?'
[The Other-Transformation Freely Sovereign spake thus: Honesty is man's instinct and virtue...]
So dull and pedantic.
Geum-gang had tried racking her brain for a puzzle or two, but this was just too much.
"Nope. This ain't it. No way."
So, Geum-gang started bulldozing through the Demon Path in the way she did best.
Bam. Bam.
'Ahh. Feels good.'
A person should stick to what they're good at.
Thud... Thud...
As the loud noises kept echoing from inside, an examiner waiting outside asked his senior.
"What's that sound?"
The examiner who seemed a bit higher in rank than the newbie casually raised his sword, as if it were routine.
"Looks like they triggered a trap wrong. More deaths this time, too."
Bam... Bam...
The successive crashing sounds worried the newbie.
"Is that okay? If casualties pile up, the Cult Leader's order is to intervene..."
As the rookie fidgeted, the senior glared fiercely and launched into a lecture.
"Listen, newbie. Don't butt in. That's how initiation has always been. You think positions are won like gambling? Initiation is always brutal—you have to stake your life..."
Bam. Bam. Bam.
'Hm?'
Had such massive booms ever rung out one after another like this?
Kaboom. Kaboom.
"It's unusual, sure. But as examiners, we have to get used to things like..."
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The relentless sounds seemed to be drawing closer.
'Hm?'
"It's getting louder again, Senior."
"Wait. Something's off..."
BAM-!
A tremendous crash approached right up to their noses, shaking the Demon Path's exit.
"Newbie! Draw your sword!"
"Y-Yes?!"
Startled by the dire situation, the two examiners swiftly drew their blades into combat stance.
And amid the settling dust and smoke, a golden-haired girl burst through the wall.
"Whoa, I'm out already."
Geum-gang had solved the problem in the way she knew best.
With her body.
The walls of the Demon Path that seemed unbreakable.
They might resist techniques infused with inner energy, but as mere stone walls against raw physical power, they were nothing.
To Geum-gang, who could now bend steel like taffy, they posed no issue.
Thin, light walls crumbled with a single kick.
Thicker ones collapsed after a few punches.
Not that Geum-gang intended it, but smashing dozens of walls taught her the trick of targeting structurally weakened spots for maximum effect.
Thus, treating it like training, Geum-gang diligently pulverized her way forward.
Her stomach felt warm now and then, but she chalked it up to her hearty meals.
She burst through the final door in high spirits, only to face two examiners with swords pointed at her.
"Hello?"
She tilted her head politely, but it wasn't exactly a friendly greeting situation.
Examiners had drawn their swords, after all.
Come to think of it, she'd escaped the Demon Path via a rather cheeky shortcut, so punishment might follow.
'Geum-gang, when you're in a bind...'
But Geum-gang knew just how to handle this.
"Ha Geum-gang, disciple of the Radiant Light Left Envoy. I have now proven my faith."
'Sell out your master! Hard!'
'Radiant Light Left Envoy's'
'disciple'
'Ha Geum-gang'
Rumors had spread far that the Left Envoy's disciple had inherited her surname—a mark of exceptional favor.
For such a disciple to invoke her master while claiming to have passed the trial.
"The Left Envoy's...!"
If she truly was the Left Envoy's disciple, even examiners couldn't treat her lightly.
Outside the initiation, they'd have to show respect.
'But this is the Heavenly Demon Cult...!'
Such tricks wouldn't fly.
Besides, one of the examiners here was the Wind Demon Division Leader.
Famous for his strict adherence to rules.
So, handle this at my level...
"Your method cannot be ack—"
"Passed. Fastest time yet. Deep faith, it seems."
The Wind Demon Division Leader hastily cut him off, adopting a solemn demeanor as he handed Geum-gang a golden plaque.
"Hehe, thank you."
'Senior?'
'Shut it. Please.'
If she was indeed the Radiant Light Left Envoy's disciple, who knew what kind of powerhouse she'd become?
And her temper...
Disciples take after their masters, after all.
One wrong look here, and your life's over.
Don't touch this.
"Senior?"
"Some things in life can't be helped..."
Leaving the Wind Demon Division Leader sighing deeply at the sky, Geum-gang skipped off merrily.
The second trial took place near Heavenly Peak, the heart of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
True to the examiner's words about record time, Geum-gang had to wait ages at the next venue.
Thanks to that, she spent the spare time rolling around the village to her heart's content.
"Hmm, skewers, candy, and juice, please. Whoa! Dumplings too. Dumplings!"
Geum-gang floated about, ransacking every stall—this being her first outing for the initiation, she was buzzing with excitement.
A golden-haired, golden-eyed beauty stuffing her face while wandering around was a rare sight even in the freak-filled Heavenly Demon Cult.
"My god, what a beauty. Still takes my breath away every time."
"She's young enough to be your daughter, you perv."
"Does beauty have an age?"
After Geum-gang yeeted the first lech into the woods on day one, no one approached directly, but the furtive stares kept multiplying.
With her hypersensitive senses, Geum-gang couldn't miss it.
She wanted to hurl them all, but...
'Touch not those who haven't learned martial arts. 'Tis uncool. Unbeautiful.'
Spot on, a hundred times over.
Bullying the weak is wrong.
And not beautiful.
Yep. Yep.
Geum-gang endured the irritation that way.
"Hmph. So fine."
"Wish I could touch her just once. Ungh."
'Ugh, fuck.'
But unvented annoyance turns to anger.
Just as Geum-gang's fury peaked, trouble inevitably brewed.
As other warriors gathered for the initiation, one man beckoned her.
"Wench."
What?
First time hearing that.
Wench?
Her radiant golden hair symbolized the Left Envoy.
Who'd dare call her that seeing it?
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. Golden-haired wench. So pretty. Hips look fertile. Good for bearing kids."
Ah, a lunatic.
But if he's not a martial artist...
"Huh."
Spear.
He's a martial artist!
Holding a spear!
"Yah-hoo!"
"Hm? Why so excited..."
Before the man could react, Geum-gang planted her fist in his face.
Martial artists are fair game to beat.
"What the hell are you—!"
No need to listen to his yapping.
Once you decide to punch, you go all in—that's the Heavenly Robe Sect way.
Drained of momentum by her first strike, the man just took the endless beating.
Even as his lackey tried to intervene, Geum-gang kept punching, smashing, snapping.
"Wait! Do you know who I am? I'll kill you!"
Nope.
Try stomping this time.
Hngh.
"Stop, stop! I'm the Eighth Elder's..."
Can't hear you!
Hmm, open palm.
Like Master did.
"Stop! Enough!"
Whether from his desperate cry or sensing he'd die if she continued, Geum-gang halted.
"Why?"
She asked crookedly, as if he'd made some absurd demand.
She was in the groove of thrashing him.
"Why?!"
"I'm Dam-mok Hyeon, grandson of Eighth Elder Dam-mok Gon. You wanna die?!"
Bloody and gasping, Dam-mok Hyeon still spat threats.
Looking ready to grab his spear and fight again.
Eighth Elder—Dam-mok Gon, the Spear Ghost?
Master had said he was beneath her, right?
"Do you know who I am?"
To Geum-gang's question, Dam-mok Hyeon replied brazenly.
"Left Envoy's disciple, aren't you? You acted all high and mighty banking on your master's name!"
"You sold out your grandpa first."
One cheeky bastard.
He knew she was the Left Envoy's disciple and still pulled this shit?
Too shocking—Geum-gang punched him again.
Straight to the nose, her least favorite asymmetry.
"Argh!"
"Oops. Sorry. Reflex."
"I'll kill you!"
Furious now, he drew his spear and began channeling inner energy.
Even Geum-gang could tell Dam-mok Hyeon's aura was fierce.
If he'd fought properly from the start, he wouldn't have been so helpless.
As Dam-mok Hyeon charged with his spear swinging, a burly man grabbed it.
"Enough."
"Who the—!"
Dam-mok Hyeon, blazing with rage, meeked out upon seeing the man's face.
"Jin-gwang Group Leader...!"
The ten group leaders of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Delegated autonomy over their groups by the Cult Leader, they wielded authority akin to elders.
In a word, they held the cult's military power.
Among them, the Jin-gwang Group Leader was renowned for his solemn, weighty demeanor.
"Eighth Elder, your grandson's quite the hothead."
"Kuh..."
"No disturbances near sacred Heavenly Peak, where the Heavenly Demon resides. You're the Left Envoy's disciple? Be careful."
The Jin-gwang Group Leader was also famed for his fanatical faith.
His differing attitudes toward Geum-gang and Dam-mok Hyeon stemmed from loyalty to the Heavenly Demon.
The Eighth Elder leaned more toward the Cult Leader than the Heavenly Demon.
But the Left Envoy heeded only the Heavenly Demon's commands.
It was natural for the Jin-gwang Group Leader to hold the Left Envoy higher.
"Here."
He tossed some salve to Dam-mok Hyeon and ascended the dais.
"Those seeking initiation, gather in the square!"
His voice boomed loud enough for the whole village to hear, amplified by profound inner energy.
As aspiring warriors gathered one by one, the Jin-gwang Group Leader announced the trial's start.
"The second trial begins! Prove your martial prowess!"
Geum-gang counted roughly a hundred candidates.
Each holding plaques of different colors.
"After escaping the Demon Path, you received gold, silver, or bronze plaques. For the next ten days, wear them visibly—hiding one means disqualification."
As the Jin-gwang Group Leader finished, candidates hurriedly pinned their plaques on.
Geum-gang, having already clipped hers to her side because it sparkled so prettily, lounged leisurely.
"Hm. Total of 103. Quite a few passed. Here's the rule."
The Jin-gwang Group Leader unveiled a trial that would turn the peaceful village into hell.
Fight each other from now on.
"Collect plaques. Three gold, five silver, or ten bronze for a pass. Ten days. Scores assigned by order of completion."
"What if we have none after ten days?"
"Fight me for your score. Confident? Come at me now."
The Jin-gwang Group Leader exuded a ferocious aura as he spoke.
A hellish king's crushing pressure.
Most candidates, overwhelmed, just eyed each other's plaques warily.
Who'd choose a duel with a group leader when safer paths existed?
You could die.
As he withdrew his aura, they began peeking at others' plaques.
Gold plaque holders: roughly thirteen or fourteen.
Among them, a familiar indigo-haired girl.
The first trial tested faith.
Theological knowledge mattered more than martial skill for the Demon Path.
Thus, plaque color didn't correlate much with prowess.
Even top-ten candidate Dam-mok Hyeon had silver.
So, others would likely target golds over harder-to-collect silvers or bronzes.
Geum-gang felt the stares from fellow candidates.
So blatant, even after seeing her thrash Dam-mok Hyeon.
Their thoughts were transparent.
Tiny girl...
Exaggerated rumors...
Something like that.
She could already foresee the headache of the next ten days.
'Ugh, I really hate this stuff.'
Guarding against attackers for ten days, shooing off lurkers.
Even while eating or washing, someone might bother her.
Geum-gang's head already throbbed; sighs poured out.
To break this hassle, one way.
Yeah.
For a relaxed mind, the body must toil.
Geum-gang crumpled her gold plaque in her hand, tossed it casually to Dam-mok Hyeon, and marched up to the dais.
"Hm?"
"Ha Geum-gang, disciple of the Radiant Light Left Envoy."
"Hm? What is it?"
Before the slightly flustered Jin-gwang Group Leader, Geum-gang clasped her hands in salute.
"With no plaques, I request a duel with the Group Leader."