Chapter 454

Chapter 454 – They Live According to Their Desires (1)

"Arrogant thing. How dare she humiliate her master."

Dan Un-hyang ground her white teeth.

After returning from Dongting Lake, her heart was filled with rage. She needed to vent the anger accumulated in her chest somewhere, but unable to find such a place, her fury only grew.

She wanted to visit her lover and the Divine Cult's leader Cheok Gwan-hyeol, but she couldn't. Cheok Gwan-hyeol was on the verge of completing his great cultivation. If Dan Un-hyang visited at such an important time, the great cultivation would be delayed or completely ruined. So she had no choice but to quell her anger alone.

"Yu-kyung, that insolent thing. She took the sacred object's martial arts?"

Clearly Eum Yu-kyung said she'd only taken part of the sacred object's martial arts. Yet she'd displayed martial prowess equal to her own. Proof the sacred object's martial arts were far superior to her estimation.

No matter the phrase "the student surpasses the master," she had not a speck of intention to be surpassed by a former disciple. So she couldn't easily quell the rage surging in her heart.

If she'd had leisure to think calmly, she could have noticed something was strange, but right now Dan Un-hyang had no such coolness or reason.

That was when.

"May I come in briefly?"

A familiar voice came from outside. Instantly delight appeared on Dan Un-hyang's face.

"Come in."

When her permission fell, a shabby-looking old man entered. The moment she saw his face, a smile appeared at Dan Un-hyang's lips. Because the old man was Blood Elder, the only being she trusted and relied on.

"Perfect timing. I couldn't bear my depressed heart."

"Oh dear? May I hear the reason?"

"I recently met a wicked disciple who abandoned our cult at Dongting Lake."

Dan Un-hyang told the story of meeting and clashing with Eum Yu-kyung. Then Blood Elder's eyes changed ominously, but Dan Un-hyang didn't notice that fact.

Finally after hearing all of Dan Un-hyang's story, Blood Elder opened his mouth.

"Then they found the sacred object and even learned the martial arts inside."

"Certainly."

"Then they'll be a great threat."

"Right. We can't leave it like this. We must move forces immediately to capture and kill that woman. I should mobilize Middle Heaven right now."

"I'll handle that matter."

"Blood Elder personally?"

"That's right."

"It's fine. I'll do it myself."

"Demon Mother need not concern herself with such trivial matters. Demon Mother should handle more important work."

"Important work?"

"Yes!"

Instantly Dan Un-hyang's eyes gleamed.

When Blood Elder spoke like this, it was only when something truly important existed. Following his words always brought good results, so she had to concentrate.

"What is it?"

"Erecting an altar."

"Altar?"

"Yes! A great altar to enshrine the Venerable One. Erecting a great altar that all people under heaven will look up to and regard as holy ground, proclaiming the Divine Cult's majesty to the world."

Instantly Dan Un-hyang's eyes grew hazy.

"Where will you erect the altar? Here at Yueyang?"

"Originally headquarters and altars aren't erected in one place. That way there's no point in erecting an altar. It must be erected where the energy under heaven is best."

"Where energy is best?"

"That's right. A place where once erected, an altar lasts a thousand years. Under heaven there's only one such place."

"Where?"

"Mount Song!"

"Surely you don't mean that place where Shaolin Temple is?"

Dan Un-hyang's pupils shook.

The five great mountains encompassing the world, among them the sacred mountain where Shaolin Temple was located was precisely Central Peak Mount Song.

Blood Elder continued speaking without blinking.

"Shaolin Temple could continue its thousand-year history because it established itself on Mount Song. Do you think the reason was simply that Shaolin Temple's martial arts were powerful?"

"Isn't it?"

"Bodhidharma saw. The pure yet massive energy gathering at Mount Song. That energy sustained Shaolin's glory for a thousand years."

"Glory continuing a thousand years."

"Our cult can be the same. Like Shaolin Temple, our cult too can continue a thousand years of glory. If only we erect an altar on Mount Song. Erect our cult's altar atop the monks' corpses. Place the heads of Martial Alliance warriors there and hold rites, then our cult's glory will continue eternally, and all people under heaven will worship the Cult Leader and Demon Mother."

Blood Elder's voice was very rough and ominous. But to Dan Un-hyang's ears it sounded sweeter than any honey.

Dan Un-hyang had devoted her life to the Divine Cult's revival. When the position of Holy Maiden felt restrictive with many constraints on reviving the Divine Cult, her nature was aggressive enough to abandon it without hesitation.

"Erecting an altar on Mount Song. An altar symbolizing the Divine Cult?"

"And holding a great rite that will remain long in the Divine Cult's history. Naturally the officiator will be Demon Mother."

"Ah!"

"Imagine all people under heaven witnessing that scene. It will be recounted forever from mouth to mouth. And the Divine Cult will be deeply imprinted in their minds. And they will believe in the Divine Cult."

Dan Un-hyang fell into Blood Elder's whispers. And imagined.

The great altar to be erected atop Mount Song.

Herself and the Divine Cult's masters holding rites there. And finally the Cult Leader Cheok Gwan-hyeol ascending the altar to provide the grand finale.

A smile unknowingly appeared at Dan Un-hyang's lips as she imagined with closed eyes. And Blood Elder smiled strangely watching such Dan Un-hyang.

What Blood Elder did was merely clear a path so the desire inherent in Dan Un-hyang's heart could naturally raise its head. That alone was sufficient.

As always until now, everything would flow naturally. Anything is difficult to start, but once you break through the blockage, it flows on its own to gather at the sea. That was Blood Elder's philosophy.

"I'll handle Eum Yu-kyung, so Demon Mother should rush to Mount Song right now."

"I should. I must erect the most splendid altar under heaven on Mount Song."

"The Cult Leader will be pleased too when he emerges."

"Ah!"

Dan Un-hyang unconsciously let out an exclamation. Her face was full of undisguisable desire.

Blood Elder watched such Dan Un-hyang briefly then quietly went outside.

"Is all work here now finished?"

Blood Elder made a relieved expression.

He prided himself on possessing the world's strongest patience. But even to him, the past decades had been years of endurance.

He'd spent the past decades with a farmer's heart raising crops. Enduring, caring, nurturing, preparing, he moved without resting a single moment. And soon he'd receive compensation for his efforts.

Blood Elder glanced at Dan Un-hyang's quarters.

Already he could feel her moving diligently. Middle Heaven's cultists would help her. No more work existed for him here.

Blood Elder walked outside with hands clasped behind his back.

He had no luggage to take.

He came empty-handed, so naturally leaving empty-handed was proper.

He passed through the headquarters' main gate outside.

He walked without looking back. Though seeming to walk leisurely, he'd already passed through Yueyang city arriving near Dongting Lake. Truly ghostly footwork.

Blood Elder briefly stopped to gaze at Dongting Lake's picture-like scenery.

The vast lake reminiscent of the sea, numerous boats floating atop it, and people enjoying water play.

Mount Song was in chaos from battles between the Martial Alliance and Demon Cult, yet this place seemed a completely different world. Courtesans sold laughter from midday, and idlers bought them with money. The sight of so-called poets leisurely reciting poetry seemed like living in another world.

"Peaceful. Too peaceful!"

Blood Elder slightly frowned like someone displeased. Then the wrinkles filling his face wriggled like earthworms.

That was when.

"Seems you don't like peace."

Suddenly a heavy bass voice came. Though surprising, Blood Elder smiled as if he'd anticipated it and turned around.

A huge man entered view. He didn't feel huge just from size alone. The atmosphere and gaze the man possessed made him appear like a giant.

Under heaven only one man possessed such a unique yet domineering atmosphere.

Geom Yul-cheon, he had appeared at Dongting Lake's shore.

Blood Elder wasn't surprised by Geom Yul-cheon's appearance. He looked at Geom Yul-cheon with a benign smile as if he'd known beforehand.

Behind Geom Yul-cheon, Shin Mu-wol and Eum Yu-kyung were visible. They looked at Blood Elder with eyes full of tension.

Though they'd known of Blood Elder's existence, this was their first time seeing him directly. They who'd designated Blood Elder as the mastermind tried to obtain information about him through various channels. But surprisingly, they couldn't obtain any information.

They couldn't find past records, nor did records about him exist. He seemed to have dropped from the sky. Like someone who never existed originally, everything about him was hidden behind thick curtains.

Not knowing the bottom, not knowing what his true appearance hidden behind that smiling face was made them tense.

Blood Elder's gaze first swept past Eum Yu-kyung and Shin Mu-wol. The moment they received his gaze, both unknowingly trembled.

It was a gaze showing no hostility whatsoever. Rather it felt filled with goodwill. Yet it was chilling.

Wrinkles formed in Blood Elder's eyes. He was smiling.

"Holy Maiden, Ghost Sword Duke, and Geom Yul-cheon. I've heard much but this is my first time seeing you directly. Pleased to meet you."

"Seems you know us all."

Geom Yul-cheon opened his mouth representing everyone.

"How could I not? Even someone with the dullest nerves would look back if someone chased sniffing like a dog."

"Seems we sniffed correctly. Since you're not denying it."

"Tsk! You were born wrong. If you'd been born as hunting dogs instead, you'd have been much loved by your master."

At Blood Elder's words, Geom Yul-cheon and the others' expressions hardened. Though speaking softly, he was implicitly comparing them to dogs. But they too were veteran warriors who'd experienced everything, so they quickly composed their expressions.

Geom Yul-cheon approached Blood Elder and asked.

"Are you the Heavenly Evil Cult's leader?"

"Correct! I created the Heavenly Evil Cult."

Unexpectedly, Blood Elder answered honestly. Then Geom Yul-cheon, Eum Yu-kyung and others were more surprised. Because they'd thought Blood Elder would deny it. But contrary to their expectations, Blood Elder readily revealed his identity.

Crack!

Momentarily white light flickered around Geom Yul-cheon's body.

A storm was swirling in his pupils.

Finally he'd found the man existing at the terminus of all this situation. To find this man, he'd devoted all his youth. Naturally he couldn't help being agitated. But he forcibly suppressed his excitement.

He knew nothing about his opponent. What purpose he had for reviving the Heavenly Evil Cult in this era, or why he was instigating conflict between the Martial Alliance and Demon Cult.

Geom Yul-cheon asked.

"Who are you?"

"Well! Who am I? I'm curious too."

"Iron-Blooded Martial God Lee Gwan! Isn't it?"

"Ho! You approached that far?"

"Is it correct?"

"I am Blood Elder. And also Nameless One. I have countless other names besides. I can't guarantee none of them are connected to Lee Gwan."

It was ambiguous speech like grasping clouds.

Geom Yul-cheon's eyes narrowed.

From his entire body flowed domineering momentum as if crushing the world. Geom Yul-cheon's momentum was overwhelming enough to create the illusion of a huge mountain before one's eyes. But Blood Elder showed no intimidation whatsoever, rather looking at Geom Yul-cheon with interested eyes.

"As expected, you've learned Heavenly Demon Divine Art."

"That's right!"

"Though you haven't learned it long, to already achieve that degree. Your martial talent is truly worthy of being called foremost under heaven. Not many have surprised me this much. You may think yourself commendable."

"I have no intention of hearing your wordplay."

"Is that so? Unfortunate! I'm speaking sincerely yet you think it's wordplay."

"What is your true purpose? What do you gain by instigating chaos?"

"Think of me as a kind of farmer and you'll be comfortable."

"Farmer?"

"That's right! To obtain autumn fruit, I prepared land in winter and diligently sowed seeds in spring, so what else can I be called but a farmer."

"Is the conflict between the Divine Cult and Martial Alliance your sown seeds?"

"It's certainly the biggest seed I sowed."

That moment, Shin Mu-wol who'd been quietly listening stepped forward.

"Elder brother, no need to listen to this crazy old man's talk anymore."

His face was flushed bright red as if about to explode any moment. He felt terrible hostility and rage toward Blood Elder who spoke as if transcendent.

Blood Elder smiled looking at such Shin Mu-wol.

"To achieve greatness, you must first fix that impatient temper. Otherwise you'll find it hard to leap over walls."

Snap!

Instantly the thread of reason Shin Mu-wol barely held in his mind broke.

"Iyaaat!"

He drew two swords and rushed toward Blood Elder.