Heavenly Demon Cultivation Simulation-Chapter 550: Search Projects

The year after I left the Demonic Cult, I returned there.

My destination was not where the subordinates lived, but the headquarters.

‘It’s right to eliminate uncertainty.’

The succession struggle that began under the Cult Leader’s orders was originally carried out under the System designed by Jang Dal.

So it might have no relation to the current Cult Leader.

‘But I can’t say that with absolute certainty.’

The current Cult Leader might intend to retire, or he might choose a successor for amusement.

The problem was not now, but later.

If he retires without naming a successor, the struggle will erupt among his disciples.

‘Let’s make it certain before that.’

Pa––aht.

Time stopped.

The guard’s sword at the headquarters entrance hung suspended in the air.

The patrolman’s feet were lifted off the ground, frozen in place.

The Profound Demon state that rules over time.

I leisurely made my way to the top of headquarters.

No one, no being, could see me.

Tuuk.

I released the time-binding in front of the Cult Leader’s office door.

Under the lantern, the Cult Leader was reading an unknown book.

I waited a moment.

And not long after.

“Amazing.”

He spoke for the first time.

He still didn’t take his eyes off the book.

True to someone who had attained Profound Demon, the Cult Leader had sensed my intrusion.

“Not only did you sneak into the headquarters, you even came into my office.”

He spoke as he slowly turned the page.

His tone was leisurely, but his fingers trembled slightly.

He knew.

That my existence was a potential threat to him.

“Indeed. Someone like you should be perceptive.”

I revealed myself from the darkness.

The Cult Leader lifted his head from the book.

His sharp gaze swept over me.

“Who are you?”

A low, resonant voice filled the room.

“I don’t have a well-known name, so even if I told you you wouldn’t know.

Just know I’m someone who came to offer an opportunity.”

His expression hardened.

One who offers opportunities.

It sounded arrogant and presumptuous in a way, especially in front of the Demon Sect’s Cult Leader.

But he was still the Cult Leader.

He asked me a question without flinching.

“So, what opportunity have you come to offer?”

“Your life.”

“My life?”

“Yes.”

I continued calmly.

“Tell me now when you’ll retire, whether you’ll open the succession competition if you retire, or whether you’ll appoint a specific person.”

“…Why should I tell that to you?”

“Because that’s how you keep your life.”

“…!”

This time there was a reaction—deep creases formed between his brows.

Drreuk.

He slowly rose from his seat.

Then he put his hands behind his back and spoke leisurely.

“A warrior like you coming all the way here must have a reason… May I ask?”

“It’s the way for everyone to live in peace.”

“Hmm. Peace…”

The Cult Leader pursed his lips and continued.

“Have you come to the wrong person?”

He continued, looking at me.

“Everyone in our school has trained relentlessly under the law of ‘survival of the strong.’

In that process they get injured, and sometimes even die.”

His gaze darkened further.

His expression was serious.

“Telling those of us who have grown with the goal of becoming stronger to stop fighting and live peacefully… what nonsense is that?”

“I’m not saying there should be a slaughterhouse where everyone must die.”

“That too is what they chose.”

The Cult Leader showed no intention of stepping back.

His voice was full of conviction.

This was not a mere argument; it was his life’s compass.

“Demonic nature manifests that way.

And to overcome that demonic nature, one must fight.”

Taking a step forward, he continued.

“Whether a succession struggle or conquering the central plains, dealing with demonic qi is rough and cruel.

That’s our path, our essence.”

As expected, words could not persuade him.

I changed the subject.

“I came to see the future of the succession struggle you set in motion.”

“…!”

The Cult Leader’s body stiffened slightly.

Whether it was because I said I saw the future, or because I mentioned the succession struggle.

“Even if those who die do so by their own will or for a purpose, there were deaths of those who didn’t need to be involved.

Among them were people who should never have died.

Though it might be a place to prove oneself to someone…”

I glared at him and spoke clearly.

“For some, it’s endless tragedy.

Too many have died unjustly, in vain, and meaninglessly.”

“Then those aren’t ‘demons’!”

The Cult Leader raised his voice.

His tone sharpened.

“If you’re a martial man, you must fight!

You grow stronger internally, accumulate experience, and become stronger—that’s a warrior!

Isn’t that a ‘demon’ then?!”

His voice was so agitated saliva spat.

He pointed at me and twisted his mouth.

“Don’t tell us not to fight because of unjust deaths and those petty emotions?

I wanted to hear what nonsense you’d say… now I see you’re an idiot.”

I understood his reaction.

‘I didn’t know back then, but this is a side effect of Profound Demon.’

When one attains Profound Demon, emotions collapse.

No—more precisely, emotions related to one’s own convictions become sharper, while other emotions dull.

Empathy fades, and one’s belief becomes the absolute truth.

‘Profound Warrior was a bit different.’

If Profound Demon makes one hard and perfect, Profound Warrior became flexible and gentle.

At least I was free from that isolated emotion for a time, and I felt a momentary gratitude toward the Wudang Sect that taught me the Taiji.

“…That’s fortunate.”

“What nonsense now?”

I smiled at his anger.

“At first I thought I should eliminate you.

Then on the way here I pondered: could I persuade you, what to do if you were someone who could be reasoned with.”

I took a step forward.

“But meeting you in person made it clear.

You’re someone who shouldn’t be here.

You have no will to prevent this chaos—neither in will nor in temperament.”

Piiiiiing.

An unseen turbulence of qi rose.

Firstly, surrounding objects floated into the air.

Books on the desk fluttered up, and a candlestick tilted and froze in midair.

Ink overflowed from an inkstone, forming black droplets in the void.

From within that, I spoke again.

“So I’ve made a decision.

If it’s like this, it’s better to just kill cleanly and begin.”

“What? Kkkk… Hahaha!”

Even amid the clash of qi, the Cult Leader burst into laughter at my words.

It was a mad laugh.

And when his laughter stopped.

A tremendous storm of qi swept from all directions.

Wall ornaments shattered and flew apart.

With a clatter, pottery broke.

The candles went out at once, and darkness surged in.

“Uh…?”

Dudududuk.

The floor trembled.

The walls shook.

It felt as if the very space warped.

And I recognized it immediately.

‘This is…!’

It was the formation shape elders of the Mount Hua Sect once used—a surrounding array implanted in buildings to isolate space and trap an opponent.

But the difference from back then was.

“You bastard.”

The Cult Leader’s voice echoed from everywhere.

Direction couldn’t be determined; it overlapped like an echo.

“Why do you think I spoke to a bastard like you?

It was to buy time!”

Everything inside the space was swallowed by darkness.

Even if you reached out you couldn’t see.

One by one the senses dulled.

‘He never intended to listen to me in the first place.’

Everything had been to buy time to deploy this formation.

As he said, he never intended to be persuaded from the start.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

In the darkness, sounds of something moving echoed.

No—many things.

A murderous intent pressed in from all directions.

‘Is this… the Black Hole Formation? A whispered secret formation in the Cult Leader’s office.’

I recalled what I remembered from the secret writings I’d seen at the Heavenly Library.

A formation that twists space to imprison an opponent in a void.

It was written to block the senses, make one lose direction, and be an inescapable absolute domain.

“Interesting.”

But I knew this formation’s fatal weakness.

To be precise, I was at the level where I could exploit that fatal weakness.

‘The caster is also trapped in the darkness.’

The one who sets the formation is equally trapped in the darkness.

They only have an advantage because they know the formation’s structure, not absolute superiority.

Piiiiiii—

A space where sound was quietly suppressed in the dark.

Nothing could be seen.

Sound, smell, and sensation seemed to vanish.

But the time-binding was still in effect in that situation.

The pinnacle of an absolute domain that stops time.

What use is darkness when even time has stopped?

“…”

In the halted time, Cult Leader Cheon Wol-seong’s form appeared.

Three feet behind me, he was frozen in a sword-swinging stance.

‘You once broke through my time-binding.’

But then and now were different.

I had grown stronger; my realm deepened.

Now it was my turn to repay him exactly.

Shaaak.

My sword grazed his throat.

No resistance, no scream.

In a world where time is stopped, even pain cannot be felt.

Yet he would realize at the moment of death.

That despite my movement, he could do nothing.

Thud.

Time released.

Kwarrrr.

At once the formation crumbled.

Darkness lifted and the lantern’s light on the floor illuminated the room.

Clack. Rollllll.

Beside it, the Cult Leader’s head hit the floor with a thud.

His end was very brief.

‘Now it begins.’

I looked down at his corpse.

From now on, there would be no succession struggle.

We would install a new Cult Leader and create a new order.

After eliminating the Cult Leader, I held the Great Assembly wearing his likeness.

A Great Assembly that, when nothing special occurred, might not convene for years.

That’s because this rite convened mainly for discipline and appointments, not festivities.

So the heads of administrative offices and key officials were all present, along with the elders’ council and even some reclusive masters.

‘Through them, the secluded ones will be informed as well.’

The vast assembly hall.

Nearly a hundred people filled the hall densely, and all eyes were on me.

“I’ll say only what must be said and finish.”

I looked down from the dais and poured inner force into my voice.

“First, I will not take any questions.”

A moment of silence passed.

I broke it and continued.

“If anyone asks a question despite that, I’ll have them executed on the spot.”

Swoosh.

A slight ripple spread.

Some frowned, some pressed their lips tightly.

It was necessary to prevent needless commotion and to block those who sought to steer the mood.

‘From now on it’s important.’

“From today, in five days, I will step down from the Cult Leader position.”

Murmur murmur.

Sounds of astonishment rose from all sides, though not loudly.

Everyone held their breath and awaited the next words.

Perhaps understandably—they couldn’t make a fuss at the Cult Leader’s words.

“Then I will announce here the successor who will inherit my post.”

For a moment the hall froze.

Not even a breath was heard.

Everyone strained to listen—some clenched fists, others swallowed.

‘A designation, not a competition.’

Everyone knew how significant this moment was.

“It’s the Yu Pae.”

A short phrase.

The moment that name rang out, the hall stirred—surprise, confusion, relief.

A mix of emotions.

After that brief word I stepped down from the dais.