Demonic Cult

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Demonic Cult
Alias(es)	Demonic sects; demonic path followers
Affiliation	A collective designation for multiple demonic sects, including the Ghost King Sect and, historically, the Refining Blood Hall 14 42
Occupation/Role	Cultivation factions pursuing forbidden arts, spiritual treasures, intelligence, and powerful beasts
Status	Active; its operations continue after the Nine Yin Mountain incident 42 54
First Appearance	Demonic sect disciples are reported near Nine Yin Mountain 13

Background / History

The Demonic Cult is not presented as a single uniform sect. During the Nine Yin Mountain operation, Su Changqing identifies a joint force of several demonic sects by the differing decorations on their otherwise black robes. Their disciples conceal their faces with black masks and operate under separate sect authorities while pursuing a shared objective. 14

At Nine Yin Mountain, the Ghost King Sect Master orders allied disciples to construct Spirit Trapping Arrays at several possible emergence sites for the Ancient Fierce Beast Kui Ox. These locations include Nine Yin Mountain, White Jade Mountain, Prajna Mountain, Congqing Mountain, six additional mountain ranges, and Flowing Waves Mountain in the East Sea. 15 The operation is overseen locally by Qiu Buping, who uses rewards and severe punishments to force rapid completion. 15 16

The Nine Yin operation is compromised when Su Changqing infiltrates the workforce by killing a disciple named Old Chong and assuming his identity. After Old Li exposes him, Su Changqing kills Old Li and escapes with intelligence on the arrays. Qiu Buping subsequently determines that a righteous sword cultivator infiltrated the group, but cannot identify him. 14 16 17

Following the operation's failure and the Qingyun Sect's intervention, Qiu Buping is punished by the Ghost King Sect. He later infiltrates Qingyun Sect with Song Dong to investigate whether Su Changqing is the mysterious swordsman responsible for the Nine Yin losses. 44 45

The Cult later resurges around Kong Sang Mountain's Wanfu Ancient Cave, the former headquarters of the Refining Blood Hall. Qingyun Sect believes its members may be searching for the legendary Blood Devouring Pearl and the cave's rumored cache of evil scriptures and treasures. 42 43

Organization and Practices

Structure

• The Cult functions through multiple sects rather than a visibly unified organization; disciples from different sects cooperate in joint operations. 14 15
• The Ghost King Sect directs the Nine Yin Mountain array project and offers rewards to participating sects. 15
• Qiu Buping serves as a Ghost King Sect branch master and was assigned as the Nine Yin Mountain formation steward. 44
• The former Refining Blood Hall was one of the five major powers of the Demonic Cult before its defeat by the righteous path centuries earlier. 42

Discipline and Secrecy

• Qiu Buping executes a Longevity Sect disciple for slacking during the Nine Yin operation, establishing fear among the workforce. 15
• Disciples who reveal protected secrets are bound by a restriction that can summon a lethal black shadow of light against the betrayer. 46 47
• The Cult has placed an undercover agent inside Qingyun Sect, though Song Dong does not know the agent's identity. 46 47
• Its agents conduct surveillance and infiltration even within Qingyun Sect territory. 44 47

Identifying Features

• Ordinary field disciples wear black robes and black masks that conceal their faces. 14
• Robe decorations differ by sect, allowing observers to distinguish that multiple demonic sects are present. 14
• Their forces range from Qi Refining disciples to Core Formation leaders and Spirit Transformation-level experts. 14 15 21

Activities and Objectives

Objective	Method	Known Result
Capture the Ancient Fierce Beast Kui Ox	Construct Spirit Trapping Arrays at suspected emergence sites across several mountain ranges and at Flowing Waves Mountain 15	The Nine Yin Mountain operation is exposed and disrupted after Su Changqing infiltrates the workforce 16 17
Secure the presumed Nine Yin Mountain heavenly treasure	Move into Nine Yin Mountain after anomalous lightning and spiritual-energy activity is mistaken for a treasure descent 13 18	Qingyun Sect initially believes the Cult seized a lightning-attributed Sword Dao treasure; later investigation concludes the supposed heavenly treasure was fabricated or misidentified 18 25
Identify the righteous swordsman at Nine Yin Mountain	Qiu Buping and Song Dong secretly enter Qingyun Sect and monitor Su Changqing 44 45	Song Dong is captured; Qiu Buping escapes using the Blood Burning Escape Technique 46
Search the Wanfu Ancient Cave	Gather near the former Refining Blood Hall headquarters, possibly seeking the Blood Devouring Pearl 42 43	Qingyun Sect, Tianyin Temple, and Fenxiang Valley dispatch disciples to oppose the operation 43
Investigate Su Changqing	Monitor his unusually rapid advancement and assess him as a potential calamity to the Cult 54	Bi Yao and her aunt You caution against direct involvement with him 54

Abilities, Techniques, and Formations

Spirit Trapping Arrays

The Cult deploys large-scale formations to restrain the Kui Ox at predicted emergence points.

• Constructed by large groups of disciples in caves and mountain sites. 15
• Used as a preemptive measure because the Cult lacks reliable intelligence on the Kui Ox's location. 15
• Completion is enforced through a sect-wide reward-and-punishment system. 15

Ghost Demon Three Claws

A demonic claw technique used by Old Li.

• Produces ghostly claw shadows infused with demonic energy. 16
• Old Li considers it his signature technique and expects it to overpower a lower-realm opponent. 16
• Su Changqing observes the technique and improves it into Ghost Demon Nine Claws through Unrivaled Insight. 16

Blood Burning Escape Technique

A Ghost King Sect secret art used by Qiu Buping to escape Little Ink.

• Activated by burning the user's heart's blood. 46
• Leaves almost no trace of the user's escape, apart from charred clothing fragments. 46
• Its severe cost allows Su Changqing to recognize it as a particularly profound demonic secret art. 46

Sect Restriction

A binding restriction imposed on Cult disciples to prevent betrayal.

• Activates when protected Cult secrets are exposed. 46
• Manifests as an immense black shadow of light capable of pursuing the betrayer from afar. 46 47
• Its attack threatens both the betrayer and anyone nearby. 46

Known Members and Associated Sects

• Ghost King Sect — A leading member sect that directs the Nine Yin Mountain array operation. 15
• Qiu Buping — Ghost King Sect branch master and Nine Yin formation steward; a Core Formation cultivator who later investigates Su Changqing inside Qingyun Sect. 15 44 46
• Song Dong — Core Formation demonic cultivator who accompanies Qiu Buping to Qingyun Sect; reveals the existence of a Cult spy under interrogation. 45 46
• Old Li — Qi Refining Seventh Realm disciple who discovers Su Changqing's disguise and attacks him with Ghost Demon Three Claws. 16
• Old Chong — Qi Refining Fourth Realm disciple killed by Su Changqing, whose identity is used to infiltrate the Nine Yin workforce. 14 17
• Poison God — A Spirit Transformation-level demonic expert who clashes with Tian Buyi and Shui Yue during the Nine Yin confrontation. 21 23
• Bi Yao — Daughter of the Ghost King; her connection to Su Changqing draws concern because the Cult is already investigating him. 54
• You — Bi Yao's aunt, who warns her that Su Changqing may become a major threat to the Cult. 54
• Refining Blood Hall — A formerly dominant Demonic Cult sect whose abandoned Wanfu Ancient Cave becomes a focal point of renewed Cult activity. 42 43

Relationships

• Qingyun Sect — Principal righteous-path adversary; their conflict centers on Nine Yin Mountain, Cult infiltration, the hidden Cult spy, and the Wanfu Ancient Cave expedition. 18 43 47
• Tianyin Temple and Fenxiang Valley — Righteous sects that answer Qingyun Sect's warning by sending disciples to stop Cult activity at Kong Sang Mountain. 43
• Su Changqing — Identified as a major threat after infiltrating the Nine Yin operation, defeating Qiu Buping and Song Dong, and advancing rapidly. 16 45 54
• Kui Ox — Target of the Cult's multi-site Spirit Trapping Array operation. 14 15

Notable Quotes

“If you are the last to complete the array, you will not receive rewards, but rather punishments from your respective sects.” — Qiu Buping 15

Trivia

• The “heavenly treasure” that initially drew Qingyun Sect to Nine Yin Mountain was caused by Su Changqing testing divine abilities, not by a confirmed treasure descent. 14 25
• Qiu Buping's fear-based management causes his own disciples to fear him almost as much as enemy cultivators. 15 16