Chapter 190
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Trial of the Demon. Tower Trial Survivor Reaches Level 10.
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‘If the current Heavenly Demon hears in his ear that I’ve succeeded ten times, that’d be a problem. I need to be positioned as his successor. I’m not someone who can challenge him right now, but someone who might inherit his power only in the next generation.’
After succeeding in the Trial of the Demon ten or more times, if you don’t hide that fact, the current Heavenly Demon will kill you.
That’s the game setting. It probably works the same way here.
In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, where the strong reign supreme, the hierarchy of power is even more ruthless.
They spare the budding sprout because it takes time to grow, but if it looks like it’ll soon become a deadly spear aimed at their heart, the Heavenly Demon won’t leave it alone.
The Trial of the Demon continued at my will, over and over.
Passing 20, then 50, then 100, before I knew it, I’d surpassed 200.
The Tower Trial Survivor's level has increased by 1.
Level 9 → Level 10.
‘Man, the higher it goes, the worse the efficiency gets… Maybe I should stop now…’
I mentally sorted out the rough leveling pattern I’d pieced together.
1-5 attempts = up to level 5.
10 attempts = level 6
20 attempts = level 7
50 attempts = level 8
100 attempts = level 9
200 attempts = level 10.
‘Is 200 the limit? I don’t feel any stronger at all anymore. Feels like a waste of points.’
Current attempts in the Trial of the Demon: 214.
I’d been grinding points little by little in the Tower’s second floor, Battlegrounds 2, to keep trying, but it seemed like time to call it quits.
Up to 200 attempts, each try gave me at least a tiny sense of getting stronger.
But past 200, I couldn’t feel even the slightest bit of growth.
I’d kept experimenting just in case…, but I judged any more would just be a pointless waste of points.
“I’m done now.”
“““Yes, as you command.”””
As soon as I announced I was stopping, the physicians overseeing the Trial of the Demon prostrated themselves and pledged their loyalty.
In their eyes right now, I must look like a god among gods, a monster among monsters.
“…Hmm, was my line of sight always this high? Feels a bit different… Did I get taller, by any chance?”
“Indeed, my lord.”
“Really?”
“You have undergone forced marrow cleansing multiple times, my lord. You have truly become the Heavenly Demon’s body bestowed by the heavens. This is heaven’s blessing and the Divine Cult’s great fortune. The return of the Heavenly Demon brings prosperity to all demons…!”
“““The return of the Heavenly Demon brings prosperity to all demons…!”””
“““The return of the Heavenly Demon illuminates the world…!”””
“““The return of the Heavenly Demon—eternal glory…!”””
“Hey, hey, quiet down, all of you. Shut your mouths. Don’t pull that crap in front of others. I’ll kill you. Just treat me like a guy who succeeded five times. Got it?”
“““Your will be done…!”””
Considering the current Heavenly Demon’s personality from the game settings, if he finds out I succeeded ten or more times, my life’s in danger—five times is the safe line.
Succeeding five times is perfect: claim the Young Heavenly Demon position and rise to Heavenly Demon much later.
That way, the current Heavenly Demon will see me as his successor and even arrange a meeting with his pretty daughter.
Honestly, that’s the biggest perk.
The Heavenly Demon’s daughter is drop-dead gorgeous.
She’s one of over 40 heroines in the game.
‘The one downside is that it’s an old-school wuxia game, so the Heavenly Demon isn’t a woman.’
If the Heavenly Demon were a modern-trend pussy-packing bitch, mother-daughter double rice bowl would’ve been on the table…!
Too bad.
Martial arts surpass first-class to the absolute strongest, but the pussy’s third-rate garbage—that’s the modern Heavenly Demon rule….
Of all things, it’s an old-ass boomer classic game, so the Heavenly Demon’s a dignified middle-aged male character, the black and final boss.
Still, one upside of old-school wuxia vibes is the protagonist gets a shit-ton of beautiful virgin heroine girls.
And they’re all pure, untouched maidens.
In a root-deep orthodox wuxia world, heroines being virgins is a natural truth.
“My lord, there is one thing that concerns us.”
“What?”
“Your body is now the Heavenly Demon’s body itself, bestowed by heaven… However, there is an inherent issue with this ‘Trial of the Demon.’ Though it may not be a true flaw—more like a minor side effect or backlash. Your body has risen to the peak through synergy, but your mind has not. Yet this is precisely the Heavenly Demon’s body that the Trial of the Demon seeks to create…”
“No, fuck. Why do you keep beating around the bush? Spit it out. What’s the problem?”
“This is the inherent effect of the ‘Trial of the Demon.’ Originally, it artificially manipulates the lifelong honing of the body by talented martial artists to grant the same benefits even to the untalented. The multiple marrow cleansings are for that reason. Our Divine Cult wields the power of ‘defying heaven.’ And this Trial of the Demon is defiance upon defiance, so while the body grows mighty, the mind and intellect—paths to enlightenment—are filled with demonic energy, shrinking one’s wisdom pathetically…”
“Summarize in three lines or I rip your mouth off. Three-line summary. Now.”
“…Th-three lines, my lord? Well… Demonic energy infiltrates the brain, dulling judgment and patience, making one greedy, violent, arrogant, jealous, lustful, slothful, distant from ultimate martial enlightenment—ascension to immortality nearly impossible. That’s summary one. Summary two: this ‘issue’ doesn’t always act negatively, so it’s not truly a flaw or side effect. While the righteous fools chase half-baked enlightenment and ascension nonsense, you, my lord, will reach the pinnacle of the demonic and paths, creating a world of the Heavenly Demon’s return in reality.”
“No, fuck. What kind of three-line summary is this wall of text? This bastard doesn’t even know what a summary is… If I hadn’t gone through the Trial of the Demon because of you pricks, I’d really rip your mouth off.”
“…Th-thank you, my lord. I’ll make the third shorter. The third is… You now have the ultimate body and the worst intellect, but they are one and the same. In exchange for forsaking the path of enlightenment and nirvana that all pursue, you’ve gained the ultimate defiance of heaven. All bodily commands come from the brain, so demonic energy must infiltrate it for your body to truly become that of the Heavenly Demon.”
“…Hmm, so basically. Demonic energy’s in my brain, affecting me. But it’s not necessarily bad. Body? Got way better anyway. Right?”
This quack physician bastard dragged it out so much I almost couldn’t follow, but I got the gist.
So demonic energy in the brain isn’t just a side effect—it’s like upgrading the visual and neural systems for combat, right?
The downside is getting a bit violent and arrogant, but that’s minor.
People naturally turn that way when they get strong.
If a strong guy’s too humble and wimpy, that’s not virtue—it’s being a pushover.
And even without demonic energy, getting strong turns you into the school bully or an alpha male in society, doesn’t it?
“Got it. Anyway, you’re dismissed. Don’t explain shit in front of me next time. Get someone else.”
“Yes, my lord.”
I booted the guy who sucked at summarizing.
No more explanations from him.
I pointed at another and asked about my current state.
The height thing from earlier was bugging me most.
“Hey, earlier you said I got taller?”
“Yes, my lord. Indeed. You’re noticeably taller than when you first arrived.”
Hearing that, I stepped out of the Tower for a sec.
Back in reality, I went into the bathroom of my one-room and checked the mirror….
“No, fuck!! Who the hell is this…?!!”
My original face wasn’t bad to begin with…,
(Friends called it a genetic blessing.)
Now it was flawless—nowhere to be embarrassed showing it off.
No, at pre-Tower standards, this was world-top-tier… hell, beyond that for a guy’s looks.
Sure, now with the Tower catastrophe and all these survivors, everyone’s looks have leveled up a ton….
‘Whoa, fuck. Even I’m stunned by this face. Power of multiple marrow cleansings? …Damn, this is like that American guy who cleared Very Hard—maybe even better?’
Honestly, I used to be the ugliest in my family.
Not anymore.
I’d shot up to mom, sisters, little sister level.
And my height exploded.
How much taller did I get, exactly?
I wanted to measure with a proper machine.