The Young Heavenly Demon Patriarch's eyes flickered. He shook his head and said, "You turned yourself into a heart-devil and planted it in her dao-heart. You should know, if she refines you, you'll be paving the way for her advancement."
Whether she refines me or I take control of her, in the end, we will become one.
The voice of Cult Master Tyson Li came: "Good or bad, it was my choice. When I decided to marry her, I knew deeply that she was my heart-devil, the one I had to eliminate. Only by removing her could I pursue the dao wholeheartedly and advance further. Teacher, please allow it."
Quinn Shepherd's heart skipped a beat. He looked toward the Young Heavenly Demon Patriarch.
He had long known that Granny Sue harbored a powerful heart-devil within her—a heart-devil so fierce that even the Zen staff master Xiqi Luo of Great Thunderclap Temple couldn't refine it.
Only now did he realize that this heart-devil was none other than the former Cult Master, Tyson Li.
Granny Sue killed Tyson Li, but Tyson Li turned into a heart-devil and planted himself in Granny Sue's dao-heart. The two battled for control over one body.
In his heart, Quinn naturally wanted to help Granny Sue refine Tyson Li. But the Young Heavenly Demon Patriarch was clearly impartial and wouldn't see it that way.
Whether Granny Sue refines Tyson Li or Tyson Li takes over Granny Sue's body, either outcome is good for the Young Heavenly Demon Patriarch. He has no reason to interfere.
After a moment, Granny Sue returned to normal, still smiling as if nothing had happened.
Quinn could see that, in truth, many of the Hall Masters and elders of the Holy Cult didn't treat Granny Sue well. Likely, it was because she killed Li Tianxing, leaving the cult without a leader for forty years—a scattered mess that missed countless opportunities. So, some harbored resentment toward her.
This time, Granny Sue came to attend the enthronement ceremony mainly because of Quinn.
She feared the cult members would bully her, so even if she had to endure their cold stares, she came to support Quinn. As for passing down the Grand Unification Art, she wasn't concerned—her only worry was Quinn.
The Young Heavenly Demon Patriarch sighed. The phrase 'calamity beauty' was made for women like Granny Sue—she was simply too beautiful. Even if she committed no evil, others would do evil because of her.
This vulgar world cannot tolerate such beauty.
Tyson Li was worldly, the Young Heavenly Demon Patriarch was worldly, and so were all the others.
To survive in this world, she could only be Granny Sue—never reveal her true face, not even her real voice.
After the enthronement, the young Patriarch called Quinn to walk with him, introducing the sights of Sacred Descent Mountain: Heart-Free Terrace, Phoenix-Landing Pavilion, All-Under-Heaven Tower, Fish-Watching Pond.
He spoke at length, recounting much of the Holy Cult's history—some so ancient that, if left unsaid, would be lost forever when he died.
"Patriarch, why does the Holy Cult Master call it 'enthronement'?"
Quinn asked, "Isn't 'enthronement' a term only emperors can use?"
The young Patriarch glanced at him and shook his head. "At the Holy Cult's peak, we ruled six countries, and all six emperors were subjects of the Holy Cult. For the Cult Master to use the word 'enthronement' is actually flattering to emperors. Times have changed—now a country is the greatest sect. A sect can hardly make everyone a disciple, but a country can make all within its borders citizens."
Quinn pondered this.
The young Patriarch led him up the mountain. "Sacred Descent Mountain is our headquarters. Entering the headquarters is still difficult for you. This time, the Hall Masters of the Three Hundred and Sixty Halls activated the teleportation flags, but as Cult Master, you must have your own way to enter alone."
Quinn followed, watching as the young Patriarch led him into a large hall on the mountain. The hall itself was plain—nothing like the lavish Golden Palace of Loulan—just blue bricks and red tiles.
Inside, the furnishings were equally simple—just a single statue of a saint.
The young Patriarch lit a few sticks of incense before the saint statue. Quinn bowed beside him. The Patriarch said, "Many elders and Heavenly Kings of the Holy Cult are skilled in teleportation arts and can return to Sacred Descent Mountain. The method is carved on the walls of this hall—take your time to study it."
Quinn looked at the walls and saw that they described a treasure-refining method—the method for forging teleportation flags, along with the formation runes used in their crafting.
The young Patriarch said, "Every hall in our Holy Cult has different arts carved on its walls. Disciples are not forbidden from learning or practicing them. There's no need to hoard treasures—what is learned is true skill. You must have generosity and breadth of mind."
Quinn agreed.
The young Patriarch continued, "Everything in the Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra can be spread—there's no need for secrecy. How much they comprehend is their own fortune. In the cult, minor matters are handled by the Hall Masters, major ones by the elders, greater ones by the Heavenly Kings. Overseer Envoys patrol the halls, Enforcer Elders enforce the law, Transmission Elders pass on arts. You won't need to do much yourself—just guide the overall direction of the Holy Cult."
He looked at Quinn. "As Holy Cult Master, what's the first thing you plan to do?"
Quinn thought for a moment. "Open primary schools in every hall and establish a Three Hundred and Sixty-First Hall—the School Hall. The Imperial Preceptor of Everpeace reformed the system, founding primary and higher academies and opening new paths for people. So our Holy Cult must add a new hall. We have three hundred and sixty halls; I want to build three hundred and sixty primary schools to teach disciples the way of cultivation."
The young Patriarch nodded. "You can summon the Left and Right Dharma Envoys and give them the order. They'll discuss with the Hall Masters, select teachers, and organize the schools. That's how you set direction and delegate. If you try to do everything yourself, you'll wear yourself out and hinder your progress in cultivation."
Quinn was deeply impressed.
The Young Heavenly Demon Patriarch turned, bowed, and said, "Holy Cult Master, stop here."
If the Everpeace Empire is a sect disguised as a country, then the Holy Cult is a country disguised as a sect!
The Young Heavenly Demon Patriarch leapt from the mountain's foot, the Enforcer Elder following. Both vanished into the vast sky.
Three hundred and sixty halls, each with its own role, covering every trade and profession. Disciples in each hall had their own livelihoods. Overseer Envoys patrolled the halls, Guardian Elders and Town-Sect Heavenly Kings formed the army against external threats, while the Left and Right Dharma Envoys represented the cult's inheritance.
With millions of disciples, the Holy Cult could rival a small nation.
Of course, the Holy Cult's disciples didn't call themselves the Cult of the Heavenly Demon, but rather the Cult of the Heavenly Saint.
"There's one more thing."
The young Patriarch grew solemn and admonished, "I know you like to dismantle things. I had Libationer Barrett keep an eye on you, but he failed—you dismantled the Scholars' Quarters again. That building can be taken apart, but you must never dismantle anything on Sacred Descent Mountain. Every hall and temple here is an ancient site, filled with marvelous arts carved within."
Quinn blushed, mumbling, "I don't take things apart that often."
"I know. You were at the Imperial Academy for less than eight days and dismantled things two or three times, then went out Beyond-the-Frontier to do it again."
The young Patriarch walked out of the hall. The Enforcer Elder was waiting outside with a travel pack. The Patriarch waved to Quinn. "I'm leaving. Cult Master, there's no need to see me off. This parting is forever—no matter how far you go, there's always a final farewell."
Quinn shook his head, insisting, "Even if it's forever, escorting you is my heartfelt wish."
The young Patriarch nodded and strode down the mountain.
Quinn followed closely behind.
He hadn't spent much time with the young Patriarch—not like the elders in Oldridge Village who watched him grow up. But in that brief time, he saw qualities in the Patriarch that were different from those elders.
Quinn learned a lot.
In Oldridge Village, he'd always been a child—a kid who would never grow up in the eyes of the Village Chief and Granny Sue.
But with the Patriarch, he learned how to grow.
Now, he was an adult.
Escort a friend a thousand miles, but parting is inevitable. Sacred Descent Mountain wasn't a thousand miles from peak to foot, but at last, they reached the end.
The young Patriarch turned, bowed, and said, "Holy Cult Master, stop here."
Quinn halted, a wave of sadness rising in his heart. He bowed deeply. "Farewell, Patriarch!"
The young Patriarch leapt from the mountain's foot, the Enforcer Elder following. Both vanished into the vast sky.
Quinn didn't rise for a long time. After a while, he slowly straightened, looking up at the sky. He knew he might never see this youthful old man again.
When the Enforcer Elder returns, he'll probably bring nothing but the young Patriarch's ashes.
What is there to say of death?
Let my soul become one with the mountain.
Perhaps the young Patriarch's final wish was to be like Sacred Descent Mountain itself.
He had lived out the Heavenly Demon's creed to the end.
Suddenly, banners whipped in the wind atop Sacred Descent Mountain. The Hall Masters of all Three Hundred and Sixty Halls departed. Quinn called Fox Ling'er and returned to the pine and cypress tree, where several Guardian Elders remained. Seeing him approach, they all smiled, "Holy Cult Master."
Quinn returned the greeting. There were few people left on Sacred Descent Mountain—just these old men and women. Granny Sue had already gone, likely to see the Patriarch off.
Quinn found the Left and Right Dharma Envoys and discussed founding the School Hall. The envoys were two middle-aged men, one in black, one in white. They exchanged glances. The Left Envoy asked, "What does the Holy Cult Master want the schools to teach?"
Quinn replied, "All arts and techniques from the Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra can be taught. Also, besides the schools, we need a Heavenly Record Tower on Sacred Descent Mountain to gather the best knowledge from all sects for disciples to study. The simplest way is to copy the archives from the Imperial Academy's Heavenly Record Tower and bring them here."
The Left and Right Dharma Envoys took note.
Quinn added, "Do any of our brothers hold official positions in the court? Have them record the court's arts and send them to the Heavenly Record Tower as well."
"As you command."
The envoys asked for details, then rose to leave. The black-robed and white-robed men lifted their robes, covering themselves, and vanished—likely teleporting away from Sacred Descent Mountain.
"Our Holy Cult's teleportation arts are truly formidable."
Quinn couldn't help but marvel, hurrying with Fox Ling'er toward the great hall to study the teleportation arts carved inside. Without mastering them, he couldn't leave!
As Holy Cult Master, he couldn't shamelessly beg someone to take him away, could he?