The Inner Core (Part 2)

The daily routine of Yu Sowol, the Heavenly Demon, was monotonous to the point of utter simplicity.

It began and ended with sitting upon the obsidian jade throne of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—a seat reserved strictly for the one revered as the Sky. There, she would lounge, surfing the Gallery, occasionally organizing the martial enlightenments that drifted through her consciousness. That was the entirety of her day.

She had no need for sleep, nor did she need to bathe. Having attained a realm far beyond mortal limits, her physical form naturally purged all impurities and maintained itself in pristine perfection. And so, day after day, she sat upon that grand throne, endlessly browsing the forum.

One might scoff and ask what kind of absurd lifestyle this was, but reality was reality. Naturally, an onlooker seeing her online activity might raise a curious question.

Was the Demonic Cult not an order that revered the Heavenly Demon as the Sky? From an outsider's perspective, her lifestyle differed little from an unemployed shut-in. Yet the true predicament was that they did not merely treat her like a recluse; they worshipped her, quite literally, as Heaven itself.

And what was Heaven? Since the dawn of humanity, the sky had existed as the eternal symbol of the divine. Across the vast lands of the Central Plains, only a handful of souls possessed the right to stand before such an entity and present their petitions. Even if one dared to plead a case, it had to pass through Mano, the cult's chief strategist and practical administrator.

To a casual observer, she might have seemed like a glorified figurehead, but the reality was the polar opposite. No matter how brilliant or powerful Mano was, crossing the Heavenly Demon meant instantaneous death. The moment anyone fell out of favor with a monster who had transcended Harmony to attain the Profound Realm, their life was forfeit.

Idle gossip churned back and forth across the threads, but it was undeniable that Yu Sowol had become utterly captivated by the Gallery. More importantly, she had recently encountered a true benefactor—a living serendipity. Terrified that something might go wrong with him in that lethal wilderness, she remained logged into the network at all times, poised to reply the instant he shared an update. With Mano overseeing the administrative burdens of the cult, she had plenty of leisure time on her hands.

"Hmm."

As was her habit, she was perusing the active boards while lounging lazily upon her obsidian seat, closely scrutinizing an object held between her porcelain, jade-slender fingers. It was a tiny bead, distinguished by a rich crimson luster.

This was the very item Wild Grylls—her savior—had sent through the private trade interface, asking her to verify whether it was an authentic inner core. Having transcended Harmony to tread the supreme Profound Realm, discerning its nature took mere seconds.

It is indeed an inner core.

The crimson bead was genuine. Though it appeared no different from a polished stone at first glance, the condensed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spiritual energy pulsing within was unmistakably extraordinary.

Yet it leaves much to be desired.

Evaluating it strictly by the standards of legendary artifacts, it fell short. The absolute quantity of internal qi was simply too meager. Typically, consuming an authentic spirit beast's inner core allowed a martial artist at the Transcendence Realm to shatter their mortal limits and ascend to Harmony. This core, however, held only enough spiritual essence to propel someone from the Peak Realm into the Transcendence Realm. It clearly originated not from a mythical beast that had cultivated for thousands of years, but from a minor spirit creature with merely a few centuries of growth.

Still, not terrible.

To Yu Sowol, who stood at the apex of the Profound Realm, this core was little more than a nourishing tonic. But that assessment applied strictly to an absolute sovereign like herself; to anyone else across the dimensions, it was a priceless treasure surpassing comprehension. When one considered how scarce masters of the Transcendence Realm were—to say nothing of Harmony—its true worth became obvious. If this item were released onto the open market, particularly through the Gallery Auction House, an apocalyptic bidding war would erupt.

Alas, it is far too potent for my benefactor to ingest. What a pity.

Yu Sowol set aside her appraisal of its value and focused on what truly mattered. Grylls was a novice who had only just learned the fundamentals of an internal cultivation art. Though anomalous fortune had blown open his middle and upper dantians, his meridians remained fragile and unrefined. Should he attempt to digest this inner core, his physical vessel might very well burst from the surplus Yang energy. Even if he survived the rupture, he would suffer agonizing qi fevers for days—an unbearable vulnerability for someone fighting for survival in the wilderness.

Yet leaving the core untouched was equally unwise. The essence of an inner core inevitably dispersed over time once extracted from its host beast.

A truly marvelous forest. To think a fish carrying an inner core could be hooked so casually...

First the Crescent Moon Spirit Grass, then an Adult Mandrake Root, and now a spirit fish harboring an inner core. Any single one of these items was enough to throw the entire continent into turmoil, yet they seemed to scatter across the Forest of the Four Seasons like common pebbles. Entering that forest, however, remained suicidal. The shifting biomes defied natural law, and standard access to the Gallery was impossible. Grylls survived solely because his connection was an inexplicable anomaly; any ordinary person would perish within two days.

At least, that was how Mano explained it.

Gazing down at the crimson bead, Yu Sowol accessed the Gallery's posting interface. Having evaluated its quality, she needed to relay the truth to Grylls. Since the trade interface locked an item after an exchange, she could not immediately return it, but she possessed various secret arts to seal and preserve its essence, leaving her unconcerned.

Yu Sowol brushed aside the useless chatter. Her attention belonged solely to Grylls. Still, indulging the lesser commenters for a brief moment helped pass the time; unlike her, who possessed all the time in the world, Grylls had to fight relentlessly for his survival. Just as she was exchanging dry banter with the regulars, Grylls finally appeared in the thread.

Grylls did not reply for some time. Perhaps he was carefully deliberating, or perhaps something had suddenly demanded his attention at the shelter. Yu Sowol waited in quiet patience, already anticipating the direction of his thoughts.

Undoubtedly, he will choose to bestow it upon This Lady or another contact.

The reply matched her expectations to the letter. Grylls was proposing to trade a genuine inner core for a batch of Inedia Pills.

A faint, breathtaking smile curled across Yu Sowol's lips. It was a smile of peerless elegance, resembling a masterpiece painted upon silk, yet none were present to witness it. In that vast audience chamber, the Heavenly Demon sat entirely alone.

Inedia Pills. Yu Sowol pondered the request. She had previously dispatched an entire sack of pills, yet he was already running low? That seemed improbable. Even if he consumed three per meal, the quantity had been generous. Most likely, he viewed them as essential emergency rations.

Or perhaps he feeds that sloth creature as well.

With an extra mouth to feed, provisions would naturally deplete faster. Grylls was merely preparing for future hardship.

Restless anticipation was already spreading across the Gallery. Just two days prior, the miraculous appearance of an Adult Mandrake Root had shaken the entire user base. Naturally, users assumed this inner core was authentic as well, and threads begging for a chance to claim it flooded the boards.

Fools getting ahead of themselves.

Yu Sowol scoffed faintly. No one had promised to give it away, yet they were already drooling over the scraps. If anything, their clamoring only hardened her resolve. She would secure those Inedia Pills for him, no matter what it took. Fortuitously, Mano's cultivation currently hovered between the Peak and Transcendence realms; granting him this core in exchange for master-grade pills made for an ideal transaction.

Focusing her consciousness, she initiated a Sound Transmission across the expanse of the cult's fortress.

No immediate answer returned. The distance between the supreme audience chamber and Mano's administrative pavilion was vast. Ever since Yu Sowol broke through to the Profound Realm, her senses had long surpassed the biological constraints of mortal humans. Her perception was no longer tied to her physical eyes; rather, it was akin to looking down upon the world from the highest heavens.

Even with such senses, deciphering the Forest of the Four Seasons remains impossible. How terrifying nature truly is.

She was struck once again by the unfathomable depth of the primordial wilderness. The closer one reached toward it, the farther away it seemed. Such was her honest assessment of the great forest.

Speaking of which...

While waiting for Mano's arrival, the Heavenly Demon continued her exploration of the interface. Ascending to the Profound Realm had not merely deepened her reverence for the natural order.

Can This Lady truly not interfere with the structure of this Gallery?

It was a question that frequently lingered in her mind. Aside from the Main Moderator, the Juddak, no user had ever demonstrated the authority to alter the architecture of the Continental Unified Gallery. She had sought paths to influence it, but it felt like striking a stone wall with bare fists.

Accessing it is effortless. Yet who under heaven created such an artifact?

The origins of the Continental Unified Gallery remained shrouded in myth. Some claimed it was an ancient relic from prehistoric times; others argued it was an anomaly born only recently. Watching threads update in real time across countless realms, a sudden thought crossed her mind.

If I am to properly aid my benefactor...

Normally, she possessed no interest in administrative authority. But everything changed after receiving Grylls's salvation. She desired to reach into the mechanisms of the forum and provide him with direct support. Though the overarching foundation remained incomprehensible, meddling at the edges was not entirely out of reach.

A 'Deputy Moderator'... was that what they called it?

Just as Yu Sowol began extending her intent toward the forbidden unknowns of the network, a respectful voice echoed from beyond the massive chamber doors.

"The Sky of the Cult! Your humble servant answers your call!"

Hearing Mano's arrival, Yu Sowol smoothly closed the holographic interface and composed herself into an aura of unapproachable majesty.

"Enter."

It was the decree not of the woman Yu Sowol, but of the Heavenly Demon. At her command, the colossal iron doors of the audience chamber groaned open. Stepping through was a sharp-featured young man clad in the flowing, embroidered robes of the cult: Mano.

Tense and visibly disciplined, Mano kept his gaze lowered before slowly raising his eyes, meeting the peerless sovereign seated upon the throne of the heavens.

"I pay my respects to the Sky of the Demonic Cult."

"Take this."

Yu Sowol bypassed customary pleasantries and casually flicked the crimson inner core through the air. Anticipating the gesture, Mano bowed slightly and caught the bead in his palm with practiced ease. Slowly lifting his head, confusion surfaced in his eyes.

"The Sky of the Cult... what might this be...?"

"An inner core. Though somewhat modest in refinement, it originated from a spirit beast that cultivated for several centuries."

"...!"

Mano's expression froze in utter astonishment. Hurriedly bringing the crimson sphere closer, he inspected the roiling, condensed spiritual veins running through its translucent surface. A tremor crept into his voice.

"It is... an authentic inner core without doubt. Where did you obtain such a treasure, O Sky?"

"It was acquired through a trade. Now, This Lady has a inquiry for thee."

"Please bestow your command."

"The Inedia Pills crafted for This Lady's seclusion cultivation. How many more canst thou produce?"

Yu Sowol drove straight to the point, signaling that further explanations were unnecessary. Mano fell into contemplation for a moment before replying with measured care.

"The Inedia Pills prepared specifically for the Sky are compounded using exceedingly rare spiritual herbs..."

"This Lady is well aware."

"If you speak of those, their production is indeed possible."

"How many days wilt it require?"

"Between procuring the raw ingredients and the delicate compounding process, it will require approximately one week."

"Splendid. Prepare them immediately. As for that inner core, thou mayest consume it thyself."

"I am profoundly grateful for your boundless grace, O Sky!"

Mano bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the obsidian flagstones. It was fortunate he remained bent low; had he raised his face, his sovereign would have spotted his lips twitching in overwhelming, barely suppressed euphoria.

Turning on his heel, Mano hurried out of the grand chamber to execute the orders, leaving Yu Sowol alone once more. Feeling his presence vanish beyond the outer gates, she instantly reopened her holographic interface.

A new thread title immediately caught her attention on the board.

"Mm?"

It was an update from none other than Wild Grylls. Surprised by the frantic phrasing, Yu Sowol tapped into the post without hesitation.

Oh no.

A cold chill pierced through Yu Sowol's chest as realization struck her like a thunderbolt. A spirit beast did not concentrate its spiritual essence solely within its inner core; the entire creature was effectively an extension of that core! Every morsel of its flesh and sinew was saturated with immense, unrefined spiritual qi.

How could This Lady have been so careless!

Panic surging through her, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Heavenly Demon began typing frantically, her heart seizing with dread that her savior might meet his end from a single meal.