After all the executives of the Heavenly Demon Cult heard this, there were various reactions. Some found it exciting that someone as young as Lucian dared to challenge their cult leader. Was it because this young brat had suddenly gained fame after winning the Dragon and Phoenix Competition and was now confident after being called the Peerless Little Demon Lord?
Others, however, felt anticipation after hearing that this brat was actually the only disciple of Jeonglak Cheonma, their 3rd-generation Heavenly Demon. As the disciple of such a powerful and mysterious leader—one who was revered even among past Cheonmas—and with Ma'wang Cheonma himself admitting that Jeonglak might have been the strongest leader in the cult's history, his words carried weight. After all, Jeonglak had managed to break free from the limits of being human. Their proof was his remnant will, which Lucian had encountered.
Because of this, most of the cult felt a strange sense of joy. It was as if one of their gods had truly proven that it was possible to break the shackles of mortality and perhaps even attain immortality. This wasn't mere exaggeration—after all, Lucian, who once united and ruled his previous world, had been given a second life. Maybe there truly existed a path, a pattern one could trigger to achieve true immortality.
Still, there were those who doubted Lucian. What he claimed was almost impossible. Jeonglak's era had ended six hundred years ago—was what he said really the truth, or was he merely exaggerating to steal the current position? After all, in their eyes, he was only seventeen years old.
And of course, there were those who remained loyal to the current Cheonma and openly despised Lucian. Especially if what he said was true. The battle for the position of leader was always a brutal one—the victor would decide the fate of the defeated. If Lucian truly stood on equal ground with Ma'wang Cheonma, and if he were to win and choose to kill him to eliminate any future threat… what could they possibly do?
It was a fear of losing their leader, hidden beneath the pretense of hatred toward the challenger.
Thus, the debate among the members of the Heavenly Demon Cult spread across all their hidden bases like wildfire, to the point that even people unrelated to the cult had heard of it. Rumors began to circulate uncontrollably, shaking the entire martial world.
This was also part of the scheme of both Ma'wang and Lucian. They wanted the world to know of the greatness of their cult. To Ma'wang, it was an opportunity to spread their prestige and authority. Meanwhile, for Lucian—who was planning to conquer this world—it was the perfect chance to spread his name if he were to win. With his fame established, he could easily subdue those weaker sects and clans.
Both of them had their own agendas, so naturally, they agreed to let this battle—and the information about Jeonglak's achievements—spread throughout the world.
Outskirts of Mount Tianlou – makeshift camps, bloodstained grounds
"HAHAHA—did you hear the news?! The Young Leader actually challenged the Divine Demon!"
"Good. Finally something interesting."
"Tch, seventeen years old and already bold enough to aim for godhood."
"That's because he's Jeonglak Cheonma's disciple, you idiot."
"…The Blood Divine Demon?"
"Who else? The third-generation Divine Demon himself."
"No wonder. I was wondering why the brat felt so wrong when he passed by. My killing intent almost went berserk."
A group drinking demon wine
"So it's real? The Divine Demon admitted Jeonglak might've been stronger than Him?"
"Yeah. Heard it straight from a senior executor."
"HAHA—so even gods can have seniors now?"
"That just makes it better."
"If the Young Leader wins, we get to serve a new god."
"And if he loses?"
"Then we get to watch a Divine Demon kill a Divine Demon's successor."
"…Either way, we win."
Training pit, two cultivators beating each other half to death
"I don't care who wins."
"Liar. Everyone cares."
"Tch. I just want to see how far Jeonglak's legacy really goes."
"They say Jeonglak broke free from being human."
"Then his disciple should at least be half-monster."
"If he isn't, he doesn't deserve the title of Young Leader."
Veteran demonic cultivators lounging on corpses
"Six hundred years, huh."
"Long enough for myths to rot."
"And yet the Divine Demon acknowledged it."
"Which means it's not just a rumor."
"So what do you think?"
"I think one of them is about to prove what divinity really means."
A crazed disciple, eyes shining
"I hope the Young Leader kills Him."
"…You want the Divine Demon to die?"
"Of course! That's the only way he becomes worth worshipping!"
"Hahaha… you're insane."
"This is the Heavenly Demon Cult. That's the minimum requirement."
Black-robed executors watching from a cliff
"If the Young Leader truly stands equal to the Divine Demon…"
"…then this isn't a challenge."
"It's an offering."
"An offering of one god to create another."
Low-ranked disciple, laughing nervously
"So… who are we supposed to be loyal to?"
A senior replied, grinning: "To whoever survives."
While the inside also goes wild, so does the outside world!
A bustling teahouse in the Central Plains
"Have you heard? That Peerless Little Demon Lord is actually Jeonglak Cheonma's direct disciple."
"…The Blood Heavenly Demon?"
"Who else? The one who disappeared six hundred years ago."
"That explains everything. No normal brat could dominate the Dragon and Phoenix Competition like that."
"They say Ma'wang Cheonma himself admitted Jeonglak was stronger than him."
"…You're telling me the current Heavenly Demon acknowledged someone above him?"
"Tch. That's why everyone's nervous."
Two wandering martial artists resting by the roadside
"I don't buy it. Six hundred years is too long. How could a disciple still exist?"
"That's what I thought too, but they say Lucian encountered Jeonglak's remnant will."
"Remnant will… so the old demon really left something behind."
"Not just something. A method."
"A method for what?"
"For surpassing human limits."
"…So the rumors about immortality are real?"
Market gossip among commoners
"They say the Heavenly Demon Cult found the path to eternal life."
"Eternal life? You've been listening to nonsense again."
"Then explain why a seventeen-year-old dares to challenge Cheonma."
"…If he loses, he dies."
"Exactly. So why would he do it unless he's confident?"
Orthodox sect disciples whispering at night
"Our elder attended the alliance meeting."
"What did the Righteous Heavenly Dragon say?"
"He said: *'This is not a matter of demonic arrogance, but of something left unfinished six centuries ago.'*"
"…That's all?"
"He didn't laugh. Didn't deny it either."
"So even Zheng Tianlong believes Jeonglak's legacy might be real."
Private hall of the Righteous Alliance
"Jeonglak Cheonma was not merely a tyrant."
Zheng Tianlong spoke calmly, yet his brows were furrowed.
"He was a cultivator who touched a realm beyond human comprehension."
"And his disciple appearing now?"
"…Is either a miracle, or a disaster."
Hidden chamber of the evil faction
"A successor to the Blood Heavenly Demon…"
The figure behind the dark veil smiled faintly.
"How nostalgic."
"Shall we eliminate him before he grows?"
"No."
A low chuckle echoed.
"Let the world test him first."
Common people in a tavern
"So what happens if Lucian wins?"
"Then the Heavenly Demon Cult gets a leader backed by a legend."
"And if Ma'wang wins?"
"Then even Jeonglak's name becomes history."
"…Either way, we're screwed, right?"
"Obviously."
Back in the Cave of Demons, Lucian is staying at one of the vacant rooms there after gaining the title of young leader similar to Matheus. After all, he's now verified to be the desciple of the previous Divine Demon.
"There, there, Master~ I know you're happy. Your disciple is working hard to spread your greatness, you know~" I laughed as I gazed at the moonlight outside the window of the room I was staying in.
"Tomorrow… I'll begin my goal and rule this world! I'll spread my name so far that if Mother and Father truly are in this world… they'll be able to find me."
And Mo Haryun was given one of the rooms inside one of the five pavilions. After all, he was qualified to be there after killing one of the senior executives and snatching his authority. That is the kind of place this is. No one will care about you if you're weak.
In this battle, only the executives are invited to the main base on Mount Tianluo. These are the five generals of the Heavenly Demon Cult and their right- and left-hand disciples. Only fifteen people are invited. Each of them is comparable to the leaders of powerful sects in either the righteous or evil factions—or even more powerful.
The night passed quietly, too quiet for the event to be held tomorrow. Although the world was quiet, the world was frantic over this news. Normal people could only hope that prayers would save them.