Heavenly Demon Cult: Rise of Cheonma

***

Chapter 3: Control

"It's time to head to the meeting room now, Your Holiness."

With Demonic Mind's words, I quickly headed back inside the room.

"Wait a moment."

Once I went there, I'd have to meet the masters of the Five Great Demon Cults. I needed to check once more.

"Ah, ah. Voice check, all clear. This Holiness is Cheonma, the Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult."

There were no problems with my manner of speech either.

The issue was my internal energy... I needed to be able to shift this seemingly unmovable internal energy; only then would I feel somewhat at ease going to the meeting room.

'This Holiness is Cheonma, the Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult.'

Acting was all about being immersed. If I thought of myself as Cheonma, I'd be able to engross myself more. I started to throw myself into the role of Cheonma, thinking that I truly was Cheonma him. As I got more and more into character, the energies within my body began to stir.

Wriggle, wriggle.

'This Holiness is Cheonma, the Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, so you must obey my words.'

When I stimulated the forces wriggling in my center of energy, they began slowly, very slowly moving in the direction I desired.

'It moved.'

While it was very slight, it was still a success. But as soon as I recognized that I'd moved the energy, it stopped.

'Why?'

I couldn't understand why my internal energy had stopped moving. I began to focus again.

'Internal energy is the energy within my body. Even if I don't know the method, I can use it if I want to. Because I'm currently possessing the Cheonma. Move. Move!'

Soon, I'd have to go meet the masters of the Five Great Demon Cults with Demonic Mind. To avoid getting caught by them, I at least had to exhibit the energy of the Cheonma. Only then could I showcase some dignity.

'Please, move!'

Has my desperate will reached my internal energy? It began moving again.

Spark!

The moment I opened my closed eyes...

Whoosh!

Immense energy began pouring out of my entire body.

***

Boom!

"Your Holiness! What's happening now?!"

Demonic Mind, who'd been waiting outside, hurriedly rushed into my quarters amidst the sudden burst of energy. Upon entering, he saw me exuding an imposing energy.

Pant...

It was an immense demonic aura, so strong it was hard to approach too closely.

"Y-Your Holiness... why are you...?"

"It is nothing."

'It doesn't seem like it's nothing—you appear to be quite upset,' but Demonic Mind couldn't bring himself to say that out loud.

"I see, Your Holiness. Let us proceed."

"Let us go."

"Are you planning to go at this state?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Please calm your anger..."

***

It was enough to drive me crazy.

I wasn't angry at all; I just couldn't control this energy. Somehow, I'd succeeded in releasing the energy gathered in my chest, but putting it back in was more difficult than releasing it. It seemed like it would take more time to learn how to gather my energy. Though it was quite a difficult situation for me internally, I didn't let it show on my face and replied,

"I am not angry, so let's just move to the meeting room."

Demonic Mind seemed uncomfortable but he did not defy my words.

Clomp, clomp.

He kept his distance and walked ahead of me. When I asked why he was doing so, he repeatedly rattled off,

"I have committed a mortal sin."

I didn't understand Demonic Mind's reaction but continued walking with as indifferent an expression as possible. And so, I arrived at the meeting room where the masters of the Five Great Demon Cults were gathered with Demonic Mind. As I entered the meeting room, all the masters except for the Fist Demon Master looked at me with grim eyes.

'Wow, they all look so scary.'

The Sword Demon Master, Saber Demon Master, the Spear Demon Master, and the Sound Demon Master. Each carried their weapons, making it easy to recognize who was who. When I entered the meeting room, I made eye contact with each of them. From now on, I had to act as Cheonma without getting caught by them.

***

The Sword Demon Master, Ak Seomun, raised his energy shield the moment I entered the meeting room.

'The Leader is incensed.'

To him, Cheonma, who normally didn't reveal any energy, exuding such a demonic aura was a clear indication. An indication that if someone attacked him like the Demon Fist Master, he'd kill them.

"What is the topic of today's meeting?"

"..."

No one in the meeting room could answer his words; everyone was busy trying to block his demonic aura.

"Why's no one speaking?"

With my low question, the Spear Demon Master, Tak Hunyuan, spoke with difficulty.

"Your Holiness... please forgive me, but it is possible that you withdraw your demonic aura...?"

They couldn't proceed with the meeting like this. No matter how angry he might've been because of Fist Demon Master, this was really too much. As the current Leader of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, Cheonma's martial arts were said to reach the heaven. Beyond heaven, above heaven. This was the reason why the masters of the Five Great Demon Cults couldn't dare covet Cheonma's position.

"Demonic Mind, proceed with the meeting."

However, I didn't listen to them at all. With my words, Demonic Mind spoke with difficulty.

"Today's meeting topic is about the Demon Dragon Academy's graduation ceremony and the Council of Elders."

***

The Demon Dragon Academy's graduation ceremony... Listening to Demonic Mind's words, I confirmed that the current timeline was during the early chapters of the Possession of the Martial God.

'Since Demonic Mind said he sent his subordinates off, I will meet him soon.'

On the day of the Demon Dragon Academy's graduation, the protagonist possessed an illegitimate child of the Sword Demon Master named Pung Seomun. He sensed danger in the Sword Demon Cult and attempted to escape. And during his escape, he'd gain an opportunity and acquire the Martial God's martial arts skills.

'After that, Pung Seomun, who becomes the Martial God, will come to kill me.'

I needed to prevent that at all costs.

"If Your Holiness could personally say a few words at the Demon Dragon Academy's graduation ceremony..."

As I recalled that I might be killed, my face naturally twisted. Demonic Mind asked carefully upon noticing my expression,

"If it makes you uncomfortable, Your Holiness, I'll remove it from your schedule."

"No, include it."

Due to the Cheonma's personality, he often participated in such events. It seemed he actively moved within the Demonic Cult to elevate his own status.

"Ah, yes, understood. The next item is..."

As Demonic Mind discussed the next item, I thought about the previously mentioned academy. The Demon Dragon Academy was an institution to train demon warriors. Out of the hundreds of talented individuals admitted, only ten would survive and graduate. Those ten would later make a notorious name for themselves in the martial world. If I could make such individuals my allies in advance, they could be of great help in the future.

'I should recruit them in advance.'

I hoped that Pung Seomun would still be on the Heavenly Demon Cult, but he might've already escaped. If he had, it would be troublesome to catch him. Therefore, I had to meet this batch of academy graduates to hear about him.

If their appearances matched the descriptions I saw in the Possession of the Martial God, I'd be able to identify the people who'd have a deep relationship with the Martial God. So, while I got lost in thought, the meeting progressed. As it went on, the faces of the four masters and Demonic Mind began to pale.

"Ah, I really can't stand it anymore!"

Just then, a woman wearing tight-fitting clothes that revealed her figure stood up. She was the only female among the masters of the Five Great Demon Cults. It was the Sound Demon Master, Yeo Gongsun.

"Sound Demon Master, calm down."

As she flared up, a middle-aged man with a gentle appearance and a sword at his waist tried to calm her down. It seemed to be the Sword Demon Master, Ak Seomun, Pung's father, the protagonist of the Possession of the Martial God.

"Enough. I really can't stand it anymore. Your Holiness, even if Fist Demon Master did you wrong, isn't this too much?!"

I stared at a fuming Yeo Gongsun.

"What's the problem?"

'What have I done wrong?'

I was the one who was feeling tense right now. It wasn't easy enduring the grim looks of each master.

"Well, it's because of Your Holiness..."

"Sound Demon Master, stop."

The one who interrupted Yeo Gongsun's words was a very tall man.

'He carries a spear.'

It seemed this man was the Spear Demon Master, Tak Hunyuan stood up from his seat and bowed respectfully.

"Your Holiness, please calm your anger!"

'Huh? What anger? I'm not angry.'

As the Spear Demon Master bowed first, Demonic Mind also shouted after him.

"I've committed a mortal sin, Your Holiness!"

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Holiness, won't you withdraw the demonic aura you are exuding?"

With the mention of energy, I glanced at the energy stirring around me.

'Ah, that's why.'

It appeared as though I was angry because I was exuding massive demonic aura.

'But... what should I do?'

I managed to move and release the demonic aura, but I had no idea how to gather it back.

"I beseech you."

"We request this."

Following the Sword Demon Master's words, a middle-aged man with a sharp look and a scar on his face, Saber Demon Master Damchun Hahu, also supported Tak Hunyuan and Yeo Gongsun. I inadvertently made all the leaders bow their heads.

'No, I'm telling you I can't.'

I was aware that my demonic aura was leaking out, but without knowing the right method, controlling it would require more practice. I sighed inwardly and tried to gather the energy radiating out of my body.

'Internal energy or whatever you are, please listen to me.'

If I didn't withdraw this energy right now and ended up in a fight with the masters, I might actually die. I closed my eyes and pretended to be contemplating something in my seated position. In reality, I planned to focus as I had when I moved my internal energy before.

'Internal energy...'

When I learned breathing techniques, I also learned about blood meridian points Thankful for my good memory, I recalled the meridian pathways leading to my center of energy. I was thinking that if I envisioned the pathways, it might be easier to move my internal energy.

'Leading from the qihai meridian to the juque meridian... no wait, it's the opposite.'

I needed to lead the energy that was radiating from my whole body back into its center, only then could I calm it.

'Let's do this.'

This was a chance to practically utilize the knowledge I'd acquired from martial arts novels. From my head to my shoulders, waist, thighs, and legs, I led the energy radiating from various parts back into the center.

'I earnestly ask you, body of the Cheonma, the master of your body is me, so obey my words!'

I was probably the only martial artist that had to plead with his internal energy. As I did so, a strange phenomenon occurred.

Sizzle...

The energy that had emitted like smoke started to seep back into my body. The energy that had overwhelmed my surroundings like a thunderstorm began to subside...

Boom!

"Holiness?!"

All of a sudden, the energy began pouring out like a waterfall. The energy, now stronger than before, made the four leaders and Demonic Mind envelop themselves with their energy shields.

'This isn't right.'

The storm of energy began to whirl even more intensely, almost as if a dam had burst. It seemed like my life might just end right here.