Heavenly Demon Cultivation Simulation-Chapter 551: Search Projects

The Cult was, quite literally, in an uproar.

Large and small meetings were held almost daily, and key figures met every day.

My action of naming the next Cult Leader must have come as a great shock to them.

Originally, the Heavenly Demon’s disciples were created to cultivate successors. Naturally, the public assumed the selection was with the next Cult Leader position in mind.

Breaking that convention and pointing to Yu Pae was, for them, like a lightning strike from a clear sky.

Those who had been positioning their followers were at a loss about what to do.

‘The more chaotic, the better.’

There was work that could only be done comfortably while things were this noisy.

And I came today to do that work.

“Here it is.”

On the third day of that confusion.

I stood in front of the Demonic Cult Cave.

High ceilings and smooth walls.

The floor engraved with mysterious patterns caught my eye.

“It’s much larger than I thought.”

It wasn’t hard to find this place.

From the start I thought there would be documents about the secret cavern in the Cult Leader’s office.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have embedded formation arrays powerful enough to affect Profound Demon-level warriors merely in the office.

When I searched the Cult Leader’s office, as expected there was a document noting its location.

“I had a rough idea, but I didn’t expect something like this inside the valley.”

A location that could confuse even with a map because of natural features like the massive waterfall and sheer cliffs.

“Everything must have started from here.”

Living as an Earth Demon, I had various experiences. I infiltrated the System’s interior through time-binding abilities and there met a peculiar god beyond the Siming Star.

Through that old man, I was able to return from being a god to being human.

And now I stood before the fundamental cause by which the System could arise in this world.

Why the monster Jang Dal appeared, and why the Demon Lord obtained the System.

It was here, the Demonic Cult Secret Cavern.

“Come out.”

Sensing someone, I shouted at the doorway.

After a moment a sound came slowly from inside, and three figures wrapped in cloth prostrated themselves flat.

“We pay respects to the Cult Leader.”

Their voices were muffled and cracked.

They bore signs that suggested they had lived trapped in darkness for a long time.

‘These kinds of people lived their whole lives here.’

Being an extremely secret and forbidden place, I had guessed they would have taken some measures.

But I hadn’t expected they would imprison people in darkness and force them to live only here.

Isn’t this worse than the Head of Supreme Pavilion’s black decree?

“You will leave this place as of today.”

“……”

“……”

“……”

They hesitated for a moment, looking at each other in bewilderment.

I continued speaking.

“I won’t say it twice. Leave as you are. You will probably find it hard to adapt to the surface. If you have nowhere to settle and live properly, stay in Crimson Demon Hall’s dungeon. I will give prior notice for that.”

Those who had been exchanging glances at my words soon bowed their heads.

“To the dungeon…”

“I will go too…”

“Thank you… I will go.”

They each spoke in trembling voices.

Then they crawled out cautiously on their hands and knees.

Seeing them move slowly as if afraid of light was not pleasant.

“Ssss.”

After they disappeared, I took a deep breath.

Then I blew the stone gate away at once.

Kwang.

I entered without hesitation.

Gathering firecraft in both hands, I blasted through as soon as I saw the door.

The iron door shattered far too easily.

I went even deeper inside.

“…Is this it?”

As the damp air cleared, it became visible.

Rows upon rows of bamboo slips lining the walls. Secret martial arts books stacked densely to the ceiling. Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands.

Each bamboo slip was faintly suffused with a red aura. Demonic qi. No, something even more ominous.

‘These must have devoured people.’

“I’ll erase it completely.”

I drew upon the most powerful force producible from the primal Profound Demon state. My internal energy surged throughout my body.

A pain like my meridians burning overwhelmed me, but I didn’t care.

I squeezed out all my strength and unleashed it into the cavern.

Kuwaaaang!

A series of massive explosions erupted.

The bamboo slips burned. The red aura writhed and vanished as if screaming. Walls collapsed and the ceiling caved in.

I did not stop.

I smashed everything completely, erasing all traces. I was determined to leave not a single fragment.

Just in case, I planned to blow away even the mountain ground around here.

‘This is the end.’

Kuwaaaang!

Using Absolute Supreme Demonic Arts I shattered part of the mountain. The ground shook like an earthquake.

The entire valley collapsed.

Dust and rock fragments filled the sky. The waterfall changed its course and began to flow differently.

The final chapter of the Demonic Cult Cave ended here.

It was that evening.

“Cult Leader.”

A message came that a familiar person had come to the office.

“Show them in.”

I naturally walked to the desk, sat, and waited.

Drreuk.

Soon the door opened and the person who appeared bowed respectfully in front of me.

“I am Yu Pae.”

“Very well. Sit.”

He sat down cautiously and with composure.

It had been a long time since I saw Yu Pae.

But his face was always pleasant to see.

His nature, his will and thoughts.

Above all, a man whose direction in life was admirable.

‘You were always there.’

Of the countless people I’d met, few remained unchanged like Yu Pae.

He was strong enough to keep his principles, yet paradoxically.

That was why it was also harder for him.

“What brings you here?”

Yu Pae looked clearly uncertain where to begin, so I asked first.

“I don’t know where to begin…”

He hesitated a bit more, then opened his mouth, his clenched fist trembling slightly.

“Recently I heard that I should inherit the Cult Leader position. I’m still confused and feel it’s too overwhelming.”

One cannot bluntly say no in front of the one who appointed them.

He spoke each word cautiously. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

“And I even doubted whether that was truly the case.”

“It is true.”

“…?!”

“I announced that you would take the Cult Leader position.”

When I said it casually, Yu Pae stiffened.

As if his breath stopped, he closed his eyes briefly to compose himself, then spoke again.

“May I dare to ask the reason?”

“…Because you are the most suitable for that position.”

I met his gaze and continued.

“You can distinguish public duty from private matters, you have broad character and capacity, and you desire the Cult’s prosperity and inclusion rather than senseless wars. You observe caution and etiquette, know what owed favors mean, and are rational and impartial.”

“……”

“Shall I say more?”

Yu Pae seemed like he wanted to object.

He moved his lips but no words came, and he fell silent.

“Yu Pae.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

I rose from my seat.

Yu Pae still sat awkwardly. Of course — he’d never thought about becoming Cult Leader.

“You know it well — what it means to suddenly inherit the Cult Leader position. I won’t deny the objections, and you’d probably want to list hundreds of reasons you shouldn’t become Cult Leader. Isn’t that so?”

Perhaps because I eased the burden.

“…Honestly, that’s true.”

Only then did he reveal his true feelings.

I asked again.

“On the other hand, there are almost no reasons you should become Cult Leader. Indeed, there may be not a single reason. Right?”

“…Yes.”

As Yu Pae took a deep breath, his shoulders sagged.

I walked to the window.

And looked out at the wide panorama beneath the main hall.

“This time I’ll ask it like this.”

I spoke calmly.

“If you do not become Cult Leader, and if I step down from the Cult Leader position…”

I paused briefly, then turned to look at Yu Pae.

“Have you thought about what would happen afterward?”

“…!”

For a moment, Yu Pae’s eyes widened.

In that fleeting instant.

Countless battles of succession unfolded in his mind.

The main hall soaked in blood, brothers killing each other.

The Cult collapsing.

Absolute chaos.

“Th-that kind of situation…”

His face slowly paled and his voice cracked.

“It will come. Without a doubt. My disciples won’t stand by.”

Yu Pae’s pupils trembled. I looked at him again and spoke.

“Endless wars, a slow attrition of forces. Some will use treacherous stratagems to lure enemies, others may employ sorcery to unleash ancient spells. You can roughly imagine what will remain in the end, can’t you?”

Yu Pae’s eyes sharpened. He perhaps felt it even without me saying it.

“Why did I choose you? That’s why. I need someone to prevent and restrain that, not to fill their personal greed.”

I spoke seriously toward Yu Pae’s subtle expression.

“For the Cult, to prevent countless deaths, can you… sacrifice yourself?”

Sacrifice.

I reminded him once again that being Cult Leader requires responsibility more than overwhelming power.

Drreuk.

Yu Pae slowly stood. His expression was complicated, but resolve was starting to show on his face.

Then, as if decided, he bowed respectfully.

“…I will do it. I will stop it.”

His voice trembled but carried conviction.

I nodded.

‘As expected, it’s Yu Pae.’

A man who values principle. I believed he would accept if it was to prevent the misfortunes to come.

“I will entrust the Cult to you.”

I walked slowly and stood before him, speaking.

“And one request.”

“Please tell me anything.”

“In the Western Regions at Black Venus House there is a woman named So Ryeong. Will you help her seek revenge?”

I brought up the matter of her.

In many past lives I had not properly helped her. At least in this life I wanted to properly repay So Ryeong.

“I will.”

“There are a few more.”

I listed all the people who came to mind.

Lee Sook, a former member of the Flying Squirrel squad, Jum-yeong and starting from him, Strange Being Troops’ Songhwa.

Sa Yu-kang, and the Squad members and secret weapons that may be somewhere out there.

“Help them just enough so they won’t suffer mishaps.”

“I will.”

Perhaps sensing I was trying to put things in order, Yu Pae asked me after answering.

“Might… Cult Leader, are you going somewhere?”

I nodded.

“Yes. There is someone I need to find.”

“……”

“They may or may not exist in this world…”

I turned my gaze away.

A warm, vague feeling about him rose anew.

So I murmured to myself.

“If my guess is right, they might exist in this world.”

Yu Pae looked curious but did not ask.

He simply paid his respects.

So this time I spoke to him.

“Will you ask them?”

“Yes?”

“Who that person is.”

Even if they aren’t in this world, I wanted someone to remember them.

I hoped there would be someone besides me searching for that person.

“Who is it?”

I shook my head at Yu Pae’s question.

“In truth I don’t even know the name. I don’t know where they live. I only have one clue, and I’m going to go around the country following that clue.”

“What’s the clue?”

I snorted at Yu Pae’s question.

I thought his act of asking so well, even though he wasn’t really curious, was amusing.

“Heavenly Killing Star.”

A brief silence followed. Then I added words that only he and I in the world knew.

“That child was born with Heavenly Killing Star. I have things to tell that child. Many things…”