A week passed after that duel, and the rumors had already spread everywhere. With this, I had achieved a few steps of my plan, and now it was time to execute it.
Now, I can finally proceed with my plan.
Lucian sat on the Divine Demon Throne and summoned the advisor of the sect.
"Glory to the Divine Demon!" he greeted me. "I am Shuo Tian. The outside world calls me the Shadow Sovereign—the Pavilion Master of the Shadows and the advisor of the Heavenly Demon Cult."
I nodded. "Call the other four generals. I have something important to discuss." I said plainly.
"Understood, Master."
Thirty minutes later, all five of them were now in the hall.
"GLORY TO THE DIVINE DEMON!" they greeted in unison.
The Poison Pavilion Master, Yao Lian, also known as the Poisonous Empress.
The Shadow Pavilion Master, Shuo Tian, also known as the Shadow Sovereign and the cult advisor I had called earlier.
The Iron Wrath Pavilion Master, Han Zhe, also known as the Fist Emperor.
The Pavilion of Resonant Screams, ruled by Ling Yue, also known as Silent Death, a renowned beauty.
And lastly, Ma'wang, formerly known as the Heavenly Demon Saint Emperor. Now only a general, the Cheonma in his name had been stripped away. He currently managed the Pavilion of Moonlit Blades.
That pavilion was previously ruled by Zhan Xuerong, also known as the Night Reaper. However, he was a loyal subordinate of Ma'wang, and after seeing that the new Divine Demon had no intention of killing Ma'wang, he made an official request to me to let Ma'wang become the Pavilion Master instead.
I didn't care who ruled what. As long as they were my subordinates, it made no difference.
So I allowed it.
That was why Ma'wang stood here instead of Zhan Xuerong.
Lucian looked down at them from the throne, as if measuring their strength. Of course, even if the four generals combined their combat prowess, they still wouldn't be in the same league as Ma'wang and Lucian.
But they weren't bad at all. In fact, they were far better than Mo Haryun, so Lucian was quite satisfied.
"Hm…"
He slowly rose from the throne.
"I gathered the five of you here because I plan on ruling not just the Heavenly Demon Cult… but the entire world."
The declaration resounded through the hall.
Yet none of them dared to laugh—nor even question it.
For the past 7 days, I buried myself in books, learning everything about this world from the information gathered by the cult and the real power structure of this world.
"I already sent a subordinate to the Hao Clan along with my letter, and asked them to deliver it to each clan and sect in this world, whether they are righteous or not."
Four days ago, I sent Mo Haryun and Matheus to the Hao Clan after learning about them—an information agency that can freely exchange information with the three ruling factions. They are perfect for the job I requested: to send my letter to every clan and sect, big or small.
Ma'wang spoke. "May I know why you are so eager to conquer the world, Master?"
I furrowed my brows. "...My master passed me his only wish. That is for his successor to conquer the world in his stead." I replied, shamelessly using Jeonglak's name for my own goal.
Well, the dead can't object, so who cares if I use his name.
To move the hearts of these insane people, I mixed lies with truth.
"After reading the history of our Cult, I was in deep awe of our founder, who wished to reunite the murim under our rule. But looking at our situation right now… I am a bit disappointed. As time went by, our grasp on the world has loosened, and I even heard nonsense about the two factions being able to rival us. Looking at you all, I can't calm my anger after hearing such a ridiculous claim! How can you let our Cult be looked down upon to this level?!"
My voice roared, killing intent enough to choke them seeping through their bones.
"As the Eight Heavenly Demon, and as per the request of my master, I will unite the whole world under our rule again. This is my burden as your new Leader! Now, inform and gather all our members within a month!"
I said shamelessly before dismissing them.
Deeply awed by the founder? My master's request? It was all a lie. I don't give a damn about either of them—this was just a method to effectively control them.
Just by slandering the entire cult and saying it had become weak, I fueled their desire. The desire to prove that the cult they followed hadn't declined at all.
Those people's pride can't be toyed with, especially Ma'wang… He's the previous Heavenly Demon after all. Isn't it basically blaming him for the sect's decline?
And even if he's mad, can he even be mad at me? His superior now? No.
And if he really did attack me… forget about whether he's certain he can win—wouldn't that just mean he admitted my claim was true?
The Heavenly Demon Cult members are insane people who threw away their humanity in exchange for strength. To tell people like that that they are weak… isn't that the same as telling them to just die already?
How could they ever accept that?
And since they can't blame me, the only place they can vent their anger is the Righteous Alliance and the Evil Factions.
Immediately, they called all the cult members. Forget about a month—they swarmed and gathered outside the main base after only three weeks. Of course, those stationed closer to the main base arrived almost immediately; the only reason the others took three weeks was because they were far away.
I gave them a month since it would take a month by horse without resting to come here, but they did it in just three weeks. This shows how fired up they are.
For the past few weeks, Mo Haryun and Matheus already came back and completed my task. The letter I sent out was crazy—anyone who read it would think I was insane.
"I, LUCIAN, THE NEW DIVINE DEMON, HEREBY DECLARE THIS TO THE WORLD.
THE HEAVENS WILL FALL, AND THE EARTH WILL KNEEL BENEATH MY NAME.
I GRANT YOU MERCY—A MERCY YOU DO NOT DESERVE.
BOW YOUR HEADS, RAISE MY BANNER BEFORE YOUR GATES, AND YOU MAY LIVE AS MY SUBJECTS.
RESIST… AND I SHALL ERASE YOUR CLANS, YOUR BLOODLINES, AND YOUR VERY NAMES FROM HISTORY."
That was what was written in the letter.
The clans and sects in the murim world were divided into three after receiving the letter personally sent by the new Heavenly Demon.
The first were those who were weak and closer to our base, who immediately submitted and hung our banner at their gates.
The second were those who were weak but closer to either the Righteous Alliance or the Evil Factions' territory, who did not hang our cult banner. The reason was simple—if they did, they would be targeted and wiped out by the Righteous Alliance and the Evil Factions before we could even invade them. They were the most pitiful among the three.
And lastly were those with real power, who reacted with strong disdain to my declaration.
In front of Mount Tianluo, a massive crowd had gathered.
Around 500,000 low-ranking demonic martial artists (3rd rate or lower), 300,000 elite-ranking martial artists (1st–2nd rate), 10,000 peak-realm martial masters, 30 in the Heavenly Realm (including the four generals, Mo Haryun, and Matheus), and 2 in the True Immortal Realm—the highest rank this world could attain (Lucian and Ma'wang).
As I arrived and climbed onto the large platform at the front entrance, the entire cult greeted in unison.
"GLORY TO THE DIVINE DEMON!!!"
I looked down at them quietly, as if observing animals in a cage.
"We gathered here today for a very simple reason," I said calmly. "Because strength exists to be used. And anything that cannot withstand it has no reason to exist."
My killing intent seeped out, steady and cold.
"Prove that you are demonic martial artists and run wild. Not for glory. Not for revenge. But because this is what you were born for."
The sound-enhancing technique activated, my voice reaching every corner of the mountain.
"If you must die, then die proving your value. If you die weak, then your life was nothing more than wasted potential. If you live, then you have proven that the world has made the correct choice in letting you exist."
I smiled faintly.
"Take a thousand lives before you fall—or don't fall at all. Either outcome is acceptable. Both are natural."
My gaze hardened.
"Emerge victorious. Spread the name of our Cult. Not because it is righteous… but because nothing in this world has the right to refuse it."
I raised my head.
"Strength does not need justification. Strength does not need permission. Strength simply decides what remains."
My eyes met theirs.
"And today, you will decide."
"GLORY TO THE DIVINE DEMON!!!! GLORY TO OUR DIVINE CULT!!!!"