Chapter 168
While Yeo Un-hwi-hwi ascended to the position of the new Heavenly Demon in the Ten Thousand Demon Palace, and the Four Great Protectors and Divine Maiden Wi Seollin swore their heartfelt loyalty to him,
“Ah, Father!”
Second Young Master Gwak Heo-won and his subordinates, who had arrived at Fengshan Palace, were utterly aghast.
They had just discovered the corpses of Cult Leader Gwak Cheon-hu and the Ten Great Demon Stars.
For a long time, they stood there, dumbfounded and lost in shock.
“This can’t be...”
It was unbelievable.
How could such a thing have happened?
They knew the strength of Gwak Cheon-hu and the Ten Great Demon Stars better than anyone, so the scene before their eyes was utterly incomprehensible.
Furthermore, Gwak Cheon-hu was one of the Twelve Venerables.
Yet...
He couldn't even begin to imagine what had transpired here while he was away.
Had a culprit invaded?
But no trace of any culprit's presence could be found, no matter how hard they looked.
It was as if not a human, but the heavens themselves, had delivered punishment.
It was truly a baffling and eerie situation.
Gwak Heo-won’s face was a mask of confusion, and he didn't know what to do.
What in the world was he supposed to do about this...?
“Second Young Master. This is an opportunity.”
*At that moment, the Green Bamboo Ghost Demon, who had long served as a Strategist and attended closely to the Second Young Master, spoke up.*
Gwak Heo-won immediately questioned him, as if asking what he meant.
“An opportunity?”
“Yes. Didn’t the Cult Leader already show favoritism towards the Third Young Master in the Young Cult Master succession competition? We were in a very disadvantageous position, after all.”
“That... that’s true.”
It was true.
That was precisely why Gwak Heo-won had felt suffocated recently, and why he had briefly left to try and compose himself.
And if he had simply lost the Young Cult Master competition, it wouldn’t have been long before everyone who followed him, including the Second Young Master himself, would have been purged.
It had always been that way.
But then, this calamity occurred.
“We don’t know who the culprit is, what faction they belong to, or what happened here, but they seem to have left for now. You must resolve and take control of this situation as quickly as possible. And only you, Second Young Master, can do that right now.”
“How am I supposed to resolve a situation like this?”
Gwak Heo-won asked again, his face contorted.
Then, an unimaginable suggestion suddenly burst from the Green Bamboo Ghost Demon’s lips.
“You must ascend to the position of Cult Leader *right now*.”
“*Me*?”
At the Green Bamboo Ghost Demon’s words, Gwak Heo-won’s eyes widened impossibly.
But the Green Bamboo Ghost Demon nodded, his face more serious than anyone else’s.
“Indeed. If not you, Second Young Master, then who else could it be?”
With Cult Leader Gwak Cheon-hu having died so suddenly, this was no longer a situation where they could debate who would become the Young Cult Master.
The position of Cult Leader was now vacant, and either the Second Young Master or the Third Young Master would inherit it.
In that case, the one who moved first would have the advantage.
Fortunately, the Third Young Master had already departed for Hebei, leading the Ten Great Demon Stars.
This was nothing short of a heaven-sent opportunity.
They had to act as quickly as possible, without a moment’s delay.
The Green Bamboo Ghost Demon’s eyes gleamed once more as he spoke.
“Second Young Master. Please, use this crisis as an opportunity. You must not miss it.”
Gwak Heo-won wore a bewildered expression, having never considered such a possibility.
*Do I become the Cult Leader?*
And am I not surpassing that damned younger brother of mine, not in the distant future, but right now?
He trembled unconsciously.
Just the thought of it sent a thrill through him.
How long had he waited and yearned for such a moment?
Soon, Gwak Heo-won’s eyes flickered with greed.
His face was not one that had just lost a father.
However, there was one thing that bothered him before that.
“We don’t know how the four Ten Great Demon Stars who left with my brother will react, do we?”
“The principle has always been that the Ten Great Demon Stars do not interfere in the Young Cult Master succession competition, so they are still neutral.”
The Green Bamboo Ghost Demon continued, as if to say that wasn’t something to worry about.
“Naturally, they will serve whoever treats them better and offers them more. So, you simply need to prepare gifts for them in advance.”
He would give them everything—not just Elixirs or gold and silver treasures, but even people to indulge their cruel and depraved tastes.
“If you do that, upon their return, the Third Young Master’s faction will find the matter decided before they even grasp what’s happened. I repeat, this is a heaven-sent opportunity. You must seize it.”
By now, the Green Bamboo Ghost Demon’s face was also flushed with excitement.
He had long ago staked his life on the Second Young Master, Gwak Heo-won.
So, whether Gwak Heo-won lived or died, someone had to be with him.
*But Gwak Heo-won-won becomes the Cult Leader?*
*At that moment, the Green Bamboo Ghost Demon’s life would undoubtedly change as well.*
Thus, this moment was a golden opportunity for him too.
“Yes. So that’s how it is.”
The man who had been bewildered by the loss of his father vanished, replaced by an ambitious figure grinning with a greedy smile.
The worst-case scenario had been completely reversed.
Just as his subordinate said, things would surely come to pass, and more.
Therefore, there was no longer any reason to hesitate.
“Good!”
Gwak Heo-won looked at his subordinates and declared in a solemn voice, unlike his previous tone.
“From this moment forth, I shall personally ascend to the position of Cult Leader!”
“We greet the Cult Leader!”
“Hahaha! Yes. Yes!”
Before long, everyone who followed Gwak Heo-won wore expressions of overwhelming excitement.
They had no idea.
Both the Third Young Master and the Ten Great Demon Stars, who had headed for Hebei, were no longer of this world.
Perhaps it was due to their vision being clouded by the chaotic situation.
They failed to see.
The Heavenly Road was calmly shimmering with a golden light above their heads.
It was then.
*Rumble.*
A heavy sound echoed from somewhere.
A secret door, never seen before, appeared on one side of Fengshan Palace.
And soon, a group of people emerged from it.
*Hmm? Was there such a secret door here?*
Gwak Heo-won wore a puzzled expression.
He eyed the newly appeared group warily.
But that didn't last long.
He spotted Divine Maiden Wi Seollin among them.
Seeing her bright face, Gwak Heo-won twisted his expression into a scowl.
It seemed to him that while his father, the Cult Leader, had died at the hands of some unknown assailant, and the Demonic Heavenly Cult's Main Headquarters was in this state, Wi Seollin had merely hidden with her people to save her own life.
He was extremely displeased by that fact.
“Divine Maiden. You managed to survive, I see.”
As soon as Wi Seollin saw Gwak Heo-won and his group storming into Fengshan Palace, her face hardened coldly.
Every descendant of Gwak Cheon-hu was arrogant, cunning, and cruel.
Naturally, Gwak Heo-won was no different.
Gwak Heo-won failed to recognize Yeo Un-hwi and the Four Great Protectors as enemies.
Because he didn't sense any particularly formidable aura from them.
And it wasn't as if he knew every Warrior in the Demonic Heavenly Cult's Main Headquarters.
So, without the slightest fear, he walked towards Wi Seollin.
To hear what in the world had happened here.
*“Who is that?”*
*“He is the deceased Cult Leader’s second son.”*
For some reason, Yeo Un-hwi didn't speak aloud but asked via telepathic message, and the Divine Maiden responded in kind.
“He seems to have had quite a few children.”
“They engaged in Fratricidal Strife to become the Young Cult Master. And now, only he remains.”
Unless something happened to change the Cult Leader’s lineage, it was customary for one of the children to inherit the position.
But even that was a horrifying sight to behold.
The children, inheriting the Cult Leader’s blood, killed each other again and again.
And ultimately, the one who survived until the end became the Young Cult Master.
In this generation, there were a total of nine candidates, and Second Young Master Gwak Heo-won and Third Young Master Gwak Un-do survived until the end.
Ultimately, Gwak Un-do lost his life at Yeo Un-hwi’s hands, and now Gwak Heo-won was the only one left.
Even so, it was not appropriate for Gwak Heo-won, who hadn't even become the Young Cult Master yet, to treat the Divine Maiden with such disrespect.
Yet, Gwak Heo-won wore a confident expression.
The Green Bamboo Ghost Demon, who was standing behind Gwak Heo-won, spoke as Gwak Heo-won-won stood facing the Divine Maiden.
“The Second Young Master has now ascended to the position of Cult Leader. Therefore, show proper respect.”
At his words, the Divine Maiden’s brow furrowed.
“What are you talking about? I understand the Second Young Master hasn’t even become the Young Cult Master yet, so how could he suddenly be the Cult Leader?”
“Since the Cult Leader has passed away, it is only right for the Second Young Master to become the Cult Leader, as the Successor. Or do you dare to object to this matter?”
The Green Bamboo Ghost Demon fiercely unleashed his Aura, attempting to intimidate Wi Seollin.
Gwak Heo-won then extended a hand to stop him.
“The Divine Maiden must be surprised by this sudden news, so that’s enough.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
Wi Seollin couldn't even bring herself to laugh at their behavior.
Soon, Gwak Heo-won lowered his voice, feigning solemnity, and spoke to Wi Seollin.
“Never mind the rest; tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“What in the world happened here while I was away?”
As the Divine Maiden stared silently at him, Gwak Heo-won scoffed.
“Why are you silent? Or are you ashamed that you hid to survive alone?”
“What a stubborn woman. Yes, the Divine Maiden’s position must have been too burdensome for you. Very well. From today, I shall assign you a different role: that of attending to me at night. Once you are in my arms, you will find the courage to speak. *Heheheh*.”
By now, Gwak Heo-won was raking his greedy eyes up and down Wi Seollin.
Wi Seollin trembled with shame.
It was then.
“I can’t listen to this any longer.”
Yeo Un-hwi, who had been quietly observing the situation until then, stepped forward.
When he appeared, Gwak Heo-won’s face twisted.
“What is this? How dare a mere Warrior interrupt when I, the Cult Leader, am speaking.”
“Cult Leader, I will handle this.”
The Green Bamboo Ghost Demon stepped forward.
“Sever all his limbs and tendons, and throw him to the wild dogs.”
“Yes. I will do as you command.”
The Green Bamboo Ghost Demon grinned maliciously and moved to approach Yeo Un-hwi.
But then,
“Is that so?”
Yeo Un-hwi let out a small, derisive laugh.
And then,
*CRASH!*
In that instant, an immense pressure, accompanied by four colossal Auras, surged towards the sky.
“To commit sacrilege against the Heavenly Demon Lord.”
“For that sin, death is too good for you.”
And suddenly, all of Gwak Heo-won’s subordinates, including the Green Bamboo Ghost Demon, collapsed to the ground.
Their heads had all been severed, without anyone even seeing when.
*Gasp!*
Gwak Heo-won’s eyes widened as if they would tear.
Before he knew it, the four men and women who had been behind Wi Seollin were now surrounding him.
Gwak Heo-won’s eyes bulged at the Aura emanating from them.
This was an Aura comparable to that of his father, the Heaven-Shattering Demonic Emperor Gwak Cheon-hu.
And there were four of them.
It was unbelievable.
But what shocked him even more profoundly was
*H-Heavenly Demon! Did they say Heavenly Demon?*
He had clearly heard them say exactly that.
Only then did Gwak Heo-won notice the Heavenly Road on the ceiling.
The Heavenly Road was brightly shimmering with golden flames.
Gwak Heo-won looked at Yeo Un-hwi with trembling eyes.
Yeo Un-hwi spoke to him with an icy gaze.
“I watched to see if you were even fit to be a puppet, but it seems you’re not even good enough for that.”
Gwak Heo-won’s face turned deathly pale at that gaze.
Only then did he realize that something was terribly, terribly wrong.
But it was already too late.