Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion-Chapter 27 : Chapter 27

Chapter 27. Reverse Heaven Heart Art.
Reverse Heaven Heart Art.
A heart art that could be called the foundation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's internal martial arts, the most basic of basics.
Furthermore, the heart art that served as the foundation for all demonic arts in the world was none other than the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.
Therefore, the formula of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art itself was quite widely known.
Especially here in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, if one wanted to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art, it would be no exaggeration to say that the difficulty of obtaining it was the lowest of the low.
Jin Yeong-in was not ignorant of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art either.
Having spent his past life trapped in the Demonic Prison researching demonic arts, it was no exaggeration to say that he had mastered it.
However, he had kept quiet because if a new convert learned the Reverse Heaven Heart Art on his own without being taught, it would be highly susceptible to misunderstanding.
In any case, since the final process of the Blood Wolf Corps was to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art, Jin Yeong-in's plan was to focus on external arts training through the body-fortifying methods for the time being.
Nevertheless, the reason Jin Yeong-in changed his plan was because of the incidents he had experienced earlier.
The time remaining until the Blood Wolf Corps opened was three months.
If people who held a grudge against his master, Heavenly Hero of the Sky, continued to seek him out during those three months, he thought he might die without even getting to join the Blood Wolf Corps.
Just a handful of true qi.
Jin Yeong-in's judgment was that he needed to possess at least a minimum amount of internal energy to protect himself.
However, Danmok Cheong flatly refused Jin Yeong-in's request.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot teach you the Reverse Heaven Heart Art."
"What is the reason?"
"It is too dangerous."
The reason Danmok Cheong said that was because of the stability of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.
As if to prove that it wasn't named 'Reverse Heaven' for nothing, the Reverse Heaven Heart Art was an extremely unstable and dangerous heart art.
Generally, the probability of a demonic art beginner completely learning the Reverse Heaven Heart Art was at most around thirty percent.
If ten people started training, three would die, two would be crippled, one would go mad, and another would undergo demonification and never be able to return to their former self.
"It's not that those who wish to become martial artists of our cult don't know the formula of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art and thus don't learn it."
"Then…?"
"The Reverse Heaven Heart Art is an extremely unstable heart art. To begin without the help of those who have deeply studied and researched the Reverse Heaven Heart Art is to leave one's life purely to fate. That's why everyone applies to the Blood Wolf Corps and tries to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art there."
"What's different about learning it there?"
"The Blood Wolf Corps has many instructors who have mastered the Reverse Heaven Heart Art."
For a moment, Jin Yeong-in had to barely suppress a burst of laughter.
‘The title of master is not something that can be so easily uttered, Brother Dan.’
To Jin Yeong-in, it was a truly laughable story.
Twenty years of being dedicated solely to the research of demonic arts as someone with the Heavenly Demon's Physique.
The person who had truly mastered the Reverse Heaven Heart Art was not the instructors of the Blood Wolf Corps, but Jin Yeong-in, who stood right in front of Danmok Cheong.
"If you learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art under the guidance of the Blood Wolf Corps instructors, the probability of successfully starting the heart art increases to fifty percent. Even if you fall into qi deviation, the worst-case scenario of becoming crippled is at least…."
Jin Yeong-in let Danmok Cheong's words go in one ear and out the other.
The Heavenly Demon's Physique had no difficulty whatsoever in learning the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.
It was like breathing; all one had to do was guide the true qi according to the formula.
Danmok Cheong must have been explaining out of concern…….
Jin Yeong-in was not unaware of that, so he pretended to listen attentively to Danmok Cheong's words.
"Brother Dan's words are a hundred times right. It would be the safe path to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art after completing the Blood Wolf Corps."
"That's right."
"But I am not in a position to choose the safe path right now."
"That is…."
"I don't know what the Sixth Young Master will do, and I don't know when and where those who hold a grudge against my master will come for me. I've been lucky to get by so far, but there's no guarantee it will be the same next time."
"Hmm."
Danmok Cheong could not refute Jin Yeong-in's words.
Even the Three Fiends of Eastern Expanse were not people Jin Yeong-in and Danmok Cheong could handle.
And who knew when the Seventh Team Leader of the Ghost Soldier Corps, Jang In-geol, would show up and try to take one of Jin Yeong-in's eyes?
"There are three months left before I join the Blood Wolf Corps. I am not confident I can survive those three months without a single handful of internal energy."
"That is certainly true, but learning the Reverse Heaven Heart Art without a Blood Wolf Corps instructor is too reckless a choice."
"Isn't it the same whether I die this way or that way?"
"Then how about looking for someone who can help you learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art?"
According to Danmok Cheong, not only the Blood Wolf Corps instructors but also some of the high-ranking officials in the cult could help guide the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.
Jin Yeong-in refused Danmok Cheong's proposal on the spot.
There was no need to go to the trouble of seeking out high-ranking officials for something he could just learn.
"I don't want anyone's help. Although I am just a common disciple, I too am a proper member of this cult. How can someone who wishes to become a martial artist of this cult be afraid to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art, which is the foundation of demonic arts?"
"Young Master Jin…."
"If you won't teach me, I will find out the formula myself."
"If that is Young Master Jin's will… I will to my superiors first and then teach you."
Danmok Cheong finally gave in.
Without knowing that there was no need to worry in the first place.
* * *
“How reckless.”
Outer Chief Steward Yi Ja-yeong was quite surprised to hear the news about Jin Yeong-in from Danmok Cheong.
No matter how much he felt his life was threatened, to try to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art just three months before joining the Blood Wolf Corps…….
"So, I have promised to tell him the formula tonight, but I thought I should to you, Outer Chief Steward, so I have come to see you like this."
"I need time to think, so please wait for a moment."
"As you command."
Yi Ja-yeong left Danmok Cheong behind and immediately requested an audience with the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
A breathtaking silence heavily descended upon the throne hall.
"Heavenly Demon reigns, the Demonic Path rules the world. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
Yi Ja-yeong prostrated herself before the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
"I have a matter to urgently, thus I have requested this audience."
"What matter is it?"
"The convert, Jin Yeong-in, wishes to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art."
"I heard he applied to join the Blood Wolf Corps."
"Yes, Your Supremacy. However, it seems he has had a change of heart due to recent events."
Yi Ja-yeong ed to the Iron-Blooded Demonic God about the events that had transpired.
"He finds it difficult to protect his own body. Yes, that would be so."
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God nodded as if in understanding.
In reality, Jin Yeong-in's life was as precarious as a candle in the wind.
As the Iron-Blooded Demonic God had a connection with Jin Yeong-in's master, Heavenly Hero of the Sky, she would know this fact better than anyone.
"He is one who has trained in orthodox arts. To learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art without anyone's help is practically a suicidal act."
"And so?"
"If you would permit it, your humble servant will find someone to help him…."
"It is not permitted."
"...!"
"From the moment he converted, he should have expected to walk a path of thorns. The law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. That is the law of this cult. Furthermore, if one wishes to live as a martial artist of this cult, that level of danger is to be expected."
Just because she approved his conversion, there would be no special treatment.
That was how Yi Ja-yeong interpreted the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's words.
"His wish to convert to our cult. His wish to learn the Reverse Heaven Heart Art. All of it was his own choice, so it is right that he should bear the consequences himself."
"As you wish."
Yi Ja-yeong's mind was in a turmoil as she bowed her head.
She understood the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's will.
It was the correct doctrine.
It would be strange for the supreme leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to be ed to and concerned about the every move of a single convert.
Nevertheless, Yi Ja-yeong's mind would not clear up.
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God she knew was not one to form connections lightly, nor was she one to bestow favors without a clear cause and effect.
As befitting the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the supreme being who guided the Demonic Path, wasn't there always an intention hidden in even her casually thrown words that was difficult for mortals to fathom?
‘Even though she had a connection with Heavenly Hero of the Sky, she not only gave him the Black Dragon Plaque but also approved his conversion. That in itself is an extraordinary event.’
Yi Ja-yeong could not understand why such an Iron-Blooded Demonic God would stand by and watch Jin Yeong-in's initiation into demonic arts.
Of course, it was impossible to fathom the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's intentions in the first place…….
* * *
"The approval has been given."
As soon as he returned home, Danmok Cheong told Jin Yeong-in about the decision made by the higher-ups.
"However, they said they cannot assign someone to help you guide the true qi of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art. In my personal opinion, it seems they are conscious of the issue of fairness."
"Hmm."
Upon hearing Danmok Cheong's answer, Jin Yeong-in fell into thought for a moment.
‘Why did they make such a decision?’
Jin Yeong-in was not unaware that his existence could be an excellent means of propaganda.
A prodigy who felt disillusioned with the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Central Plains Murim becoming an outstanding demonic practitioner after converting would be a boon for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
It would be a perfect material to belittle the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Central Plains, and it would surely be useful in strengthening internal unity.
Conversely, for the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Central Plains Murim, there would be no greater humiliation.
For a promising prodigy to become a running dog of the Demonic Cult would be a truly shameful event.
From that perspective, it would have made sense for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to provide Jin Yeong-in with full support.
They could have assigned him an excellent master and fed him all sorts of spiritual medicines to raise him into a master first, then use him for propaganda.
‘Could it be that person’s will?’
Jin Yeong-in thought that the decision from the higher-ups might be the will of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
If so, what could be the reason?
"It's a shame, but it seems they won't make an issue of you finding someone on your own who can help you guide the Reverse Heaven Heart Art. So why don't you try asking the Fourth Young Master?"
"I believe that matter is already settled."
"…."
"I don't need anyone's help. The formula, please recite it."
At Jin Yeong-in's firm and unhesitating attitude, Danmok Cheong recited the formula with a sense of resignation.
‘It's just the basic art.’
The formula Danmok Cheong recited was the same as the one Jin Yeong-in knew.
The most basic of basics.
From the most fundamental breathing method, the Breathing Technique, to the flow of true qi, it was identical without a single word being different.
Originally, Danmok Cheong was a martial artist belonging to the Bat Squad, an intelligence agency active in the Central Plains.
As he had to hide his demonic qi as much as possible while on duty, it seemed he had not learned any other advanced heart arts derived from the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.
"Young Master Jin, please reconsider one more time…."
"It won't happen, but if I need help, I'll call you. Please rest."
Jin Yeong-in once again refused Danmok Cheong's proposal, closed his eyes, and began to breathe according to the Breathing Technique of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art.
"Hoo."
Danmok Cheong watched Jin Yeong-in, who had entered the Breathing Technique training, and let out a deep sigh.
Since the person himself was so stubborn, Danmok Cheong had no proper way to stop him.
All he could do was watch.
‘I hope nothing bad happens.’
Danmok Cheong inwardly prayed for Jin Yeong-in's martial fortune and stood guard around him.
He couldn't bring himself to leave, feeling like he was watching a child left by the water's edge.
In Danmok Cheong's experience, people who were not compatible with the Reverse Heaven Heart Art often had nosebleeds or, in severe cases, even fainted right from the Breathing Technique training…….
"Hoo, haa. Heup."
Whether he knew Danmok Cheong's feelings or not, Jin Yeong-in continued to repeat the Breathing Technique, engrossed in accumulating qi.