Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion-Chapter 69 : Chapter 69

Chapter 69: It Seems a Dog is Barking Somewhere.
"You can't live in this world alone."
Jin Cheon said.
"I need you. I want you to be useful to me, so stop talking nonsense and eat up."
Those were by no means empty words.
Living in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Jin Cheon had keenly felt the need for a faction.
He had vaguely realized that although an individual's strength was important, forming a faction was also a power that could not be ignored.
In that sense, the members of the New Demon Squad were incredibly precious beings to Jin Cheon.
Since he had no faction to speak of, he needed at least a few strong subordinates.
"If you insist......"
Danmok Cheong carefully approached Jin Cheon, knelt on one knee, and respectfully accepted the Soma Pill.
"I will break my bones and grind my body to powder in the future to surely repay your grace, my lord."
"We will break our bones and grind our bodies to powder!"
The members of the New Demon Squad all knelt on one knee towards Jin Cheon and paid their respects.
"Yes, get stronger quickly. So that I can work you to the bone."
Saying so, Jin Cheon distributed the Soma Pills to the members of the New Demon Squad.
The number of the Seventh New Demon Squad he commanded was a total of twenty, including the commander Danmok Cheong.
After distributing one to each, four Soma Pills remained in Jin Cheon's hand.
"Cheong, guard me."
"Yes, my lord."
As soon as he asked Danmok Cheong and the members of the New Demon Squad to guard him, Jin Cheon assumed the lotus position, threw the four Soma Pills into his mouth, and swallowed them.
A little time passed, and as the medicine took effect, his stomach felt cool and his demonic qi surged.
Jin Cheon circulated the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi and focused on absorbing the energy of the Soma Pills.
Then, his dantian greedily sucked in the energy of the Soma Pills as if it had been waiting.
As a Heavenly Demon’s Physique absorbed demonic qi using the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi, the absorption rate was truly amazing.
'Incredible. Senior Brother Wi was right. It's even better than what I ate before.'
The time it took for Jin Cheon to absorb all the energy of the four Soma Pills was only two hours.
"Hoo."
After finishing his qi circulation, Jin Cheon got up and dusted himself off.
"How was it?"
"Two and a half cycles of sixty years."
"Pardon......?"
"Just as I said. I gained about two and a half cycles of sixty years' worth of internal energy."
Jin Cheon already possessed about half a cycle of sixty years' worth of internal energy.
But now, with the addition of two and a half cycles from taking the Soma Pills, he had a total of three cycles of sixty years' worth of internal energy.
"Did you really gain two and a half cycles of sixty years' worth of internal energy?"
"Yep."
"Was the Soma Pill such a great spiritual medicine?"
"No."
Jin Cheon shook his head.
"A Soma Pill is a Soma Pill, not a particularly great spiritual medicine. It's just that my absorption rate is good."
"Haha, hahaha......"
Danmok Cheong let out a hollow laugh.
Not only was it unbelievable that he had gained two and a half cycles of sixty years' worth of internal energy by eating four Soma Pills, but he couldn't even imagine how it was possible.
"If you really gained two and a half cycles of sixty years' worth of internal energy...... how about digging up a few more roots and taking more Soma Pills?"
"Impossible. My dantian is already saturated."
"Saturated...... is that possible?"
"Because I haven't undergone body reformation yet."
"Ah?"
"Once I reach the state of Extreme Demon and undergo body reformation, the capacity of my dantian will also increase, so I won't have to worry about internal energy until then."
The Extreme Demon was a state equivalent to the realm of harmony, or Realm of Transformation, in the orthodox sects, and it was estimated that currently, there were less than five people in the cult who had reached the Extreme Demon.
Since there were countless people who could not even get close to the Extreme Demon or Realm of Transformation even if they polished their martial arts their entire lives, Jin Cheon had realistically acquired the limit of internal energy that could be accumulated.
In terms of the stages of the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi, the third stage, the Demonic King, corresponded to the state of Extreme Demon, and Jin Cheon had no intention of leaving this Black Bamboo Forest until he had completed the Demon King Transformation.
He needed to be at that level to be confidently recognized for his skills within the cult, and furthermore, to be able to point the blade of revenge at the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
"Extreme Demon...... I can't even imagine it."
"Why can't you imagine it? You'll reach it someday too, Captain Dan."
"Pardon......?"
"If you're my right-hand man, you should naturally reach the state of Extreme Demon."
Jin Cheon retorted as if asking what kind of question that was.
"Have some confidence."
"But......"
"I'll help you."
"......!"
"Just trust me once."
"Yes, my lord."
At Jin Cheon's confident attitude, Danmok Cheong thought that perhaps reaching the state of Extreme Demon was not just a dream.
Jin Cheon, while he was at it, called the members of the New Demon Squad together.
"Come one by one, starting with Captain Dan. I will help you absorb the Soma Pills."
"Yes, my lord."
Starting with Danmok Cheong, Jin Cheon even helped the members of the New Demon Squad absorb the demonic qi of the Soma Pills without any loss.
Since those who were not of the Heavenly Demon’s Physique had a considerable loss rate when absorbing demonic qi, it was very inefficient.
But it was a different story when Jin Cheon, a Heavenly Demon’s Physique, helped with the absorption using the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi.
With Jin Cheon's help, Danmok Cheong and the members of the New Demon Squad were able to absorb the demonic qi of the Soma Pills completely, and thanks to that, they succeeded in gaining a considerable amount of internal energy.
To put it one way, they saw the same effect as eating two Soma Pills with just one.
"Thank you, my lord."
"Thank you!"
Danmok Cheong and the members of the New Demon Squad did not know what to do with themselves at Jin Cheon's grace, and their loyalty deepened even further.
***
Spurred on by taking the Soma Pills, Jin Cheon and the members of the New Demon Squad pushed themselves even harder in their training.
Then one day.
As Jin Cheon was circulating the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi as usual, Danmok Cheong rushed in and ed.
"My lord, you need to come out for a moment."
"What is it?"
"Forest Killing Ghosts are swarming."
"Is that possible?"
Jin Cheon frowned.
And for good reason; the Black Bamboo Forest was protected by a formation, so beings beyond human could not enter freely.
They had somehow managed to enter up to the place where he had saved the Sky Mountain Panda before, but due to the effect of the formation, they could not approach any further.
"Ah, to be precise, it's on the outskirts."
"I see."
"The squad members encountered the Forest Killing Ghosts while fetching water, and their leader has requested a conversation with you, my lord."
"The leader of the Forest Killing Ghosts...... the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees?"
"There is a high possibility."
"Alright."
When he went to the outskirts of the Black Bamboo Forest, nearly a few hundred Forest Killing Ghosts had gathered.
They were standing still in front of a place where the grass was not growing in a straight line on the ground, which was proof that the formation was functioning properly.
Since the effect of the formation began from that boundary line, the Forest Killing Ghosts could not approach any further.
"We greet you, my lord."
The members of the New Demon Squad who were confronting the Forest Killing Ghosts paid their respects to Jin Cheon.
'There are an incredible number of them.'
Jin Cheon observed the situation without panicking.
Since the Forest Killing Ghosts could not cross the formation, there was no need to be scared.
Soon, a man walked out from among the Forest Killing Ghosts and faced Jin Cheon.
'As expected, he's not human.'
He was wearing a tattered and torn robe, had dark, dead skin, and eyes that had turned white from being half-rotten.
Also, a cold, ghostly qi was flowing from his entire body.
"A few days ago. A few of my subordinates disappeared near here. At that time, I thought they had just failed in their hunt, but it seems that was not the case. Was it your doing?"
A voice mixed with a metallic sound flowed from his mouth.
'The taboos were not for nothing.'
Jin Cheon keenly realized why he had been told not to come into contact with the beings of the Sea of Trees.
Although he had discovered a field full of hundred-year-old fleeceflowers by saving the mother Sky Mountain Panda and her baby, he had ended up forming a bad connection with the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees, the king of the Forest Killing Ghosts.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Are you going to lie in front of this king?"
"King?"
"That's what everyone calls me."
"Ah, I've heard of it. They said there was someone called the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees, so that was you."
"Now that you know who this king is, it would be best for you to confess."
"I told you. I don't know."
As Jin Cheon once again feigned ignorance, a ghastly blue ghost fire flickered in the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees' eyes.
"I came here knowing everything. To tell such an obvious lie."
"I swear, I don't know."
"Silence."
The Ghost King of the Sea of Trees seemed to be convinced that Jin Cheon's party was the culprit who had killed his subordinates.
Of course, that was the truth…….
"Stop your nonsense and pay the price in blood."
"The price in blood......?"
"Hand over three people. Then I will let it slide just this once."
"Captain Dan."
Jin Cheon turned to look at Danmok Cheong.
"What is that old ghost saying now?"
"It seems a dog is barking somewhere."
"So that's what he says."
As Jin Cheon said this nonchalantly, a ghastly blue ghostly qi appeared on the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees' face.
"It seems you are one who will only shed tears when you see your coffin."
"That won't happen, so stop your nonsense and get lost."
"How dare you."
As the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees revealed his anger, his ghostly qi intensified, to the point that its coldness could be felt on the skin.
"Do you think you can insult this king in the Sea of Trees and get out alive?"
"Of course."
"Insolent fool. I declare, not a single one of you will leave here alive."
"We'll have to see about that."
Despite the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees' threat, Jin Cheon didn't bat an eye.
As long as he didn't step outside the formation on his own, he didn't have to worry about being killed by the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees.
"You are arrogant, trusting in that pathetic little formation."
"It seems the one who can't cross a single pathetic little formation is you."
"You truly......!"
"It seems like a waste of time for us to be growling at each other face to face, so let's just stop. I don't know if that day will ever come, but if the day comes when blood will be shed, let's talk again then."
Jin Cheon turned away as if there was nothing more to see.
"You will regret today's events."
"Yes, yes."
Regardless of what the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees was spouting, Jin Cheon walked away without any lingering attachment.
***
A few days later.
Jin Cheon told the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, who had come to give him teachings, about the incident with the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees.
"So that's what happened."
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God nodded as if she understood.
"He is a man like a hungry ghost. A foolish being who, even in life, was greedy and eventually became an incarnation of avarice."
"Do you know the Ghost King of the Sea of Trees?"
"It has been hundreds of years since he became the king of the Forest Killing Ghosts, so how could we have a connection? I have only heard of him through various accounts."
"Ah."
"He is a persistent one, so he will try to get his revenge one way or another. So you will need to be careful."
"I will take that to heart. By the way, what kind of place is the Sea of Trees?"
Jin Cheon asked, suddenly curious.
"Is there any deep mountain or secluded valley in the world that is not so, but this Sea of Trees has long been a place of practice for those who pursue the path of cultivation."
"By cultivation, you mean......"
"I mean practicing with the goal of ascending to immortality."
Ascending to immortality, that is, surpassing the state of divinity and reaching the true realm of gods.
"As it is a place full of spiritual qi, all beings who aimed for ascending to immortality gathered here in this Sea of Trees. All kinds of spirit beasts, strange creatures, demonic beasts, and even us humans. The problem is that aiming for ascending to immortality is prone to becoming a slave to desire."
"Desire...... you say?"
"How can one aim for ascending to immortality without an unimaginable desire and craving?"
"Aah."
"Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the vast majority of the beings in this Sea of Trees are slaves to desire. Since it is a place teeming with such beings, it is only natural for it to be dangerous."
"You mean it is a place teeming with beings like the Heavenly Demon. Who would stop at nothing for the sake of ascending to immortality."
As Jin Cheon said this, recalling that the Heavenly Demon's goal was to become a god, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God nodded.
"Yes, the Sea of Trees is a place where beings like him are gathered."
"Is it alright to leave them be?"
A worried expression appeared on Jin Cheon's face.
If the beings of the Sea of Trees were to come out into the world, it was as clear as day that the world would be thrown into chaos.
And the ones who would experience that chaos first would be the cultists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, so it was not unreasonable for Jin cheon to be worried.
Why?
Because now, more than anyone, Jin Cheon sought the peace, prosperity, and security of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.