Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Inheritance (1)
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Sin Bihyeong immediately stepped into the training room.
He stripped off his clothes, changed into something comfortable, applied the talismans provided in the training room, and sat in the lotus position amid the heightened density of energy.
'Demon Core.'
The moment he pictured it in his mind, demonic power surged.
Crackle.
At that instant, his spiritual power tried to rise from its crouched position within his body, but he forcibly suppressed it.
This wasn't the moment when he needed it right away.
'Rise up.'
His demonic power obeyed his command and headed toward the yang energy clogging his heart. Soon, that flow split into eight streams.
Before long.
Sizzle─!!
With that sound, steam erupted fiercely from Sin Bihyeong's entire body.
Whoosh.
Swoosh.
'Hot... and cold.'
A contradictory sensation, where heat and chill alternated in tormenting him.
Yet it wasn't painful enough to be unbearable.
How much time passed like that?
Sin Bihyeong realized that none of the blocked meridians in his heart remained.
"I cleared them all!"
But then why hadn't the story completion message appeared?
"...What went wrong this time?"
As Sin Bihyeong scratched the back of his head awkwardly,
Ding─!
The notification he'd been waiting for rang out.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Derived Story, 'Nine Yang Severed Meridians', has been completed. As reward, you acquire 'Nine Yang Divine Body'……. Ooh!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ […Failure. Nine Yang Divine Body will not form.] "……?"
A question mark exploded above Sin Bihyeong's head.
What nonsense was that?
"...Not formed? Then why does the story exist, and why did I clear it?"
As Sin Bihyeong's murmur echoed softly through the training room.
'Huh?'
Sin Bihyeong sensed a foreign 'change' in his body.
'This... yang energy and yin energy?'
Two energies began circulating through his body.
Just like in his lower dantian, the two energies didn't clash or fight each other.
Instead, they chose coexistence, not encroaching on each other's domains while maintaining their own speeds.
A message appeared before Sin Bihyeong's eyes once more.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The yin energy of the Demon Core mixes with the Nine Yang Severed Meridians. This is a non-existent route. Achievement, 'Perfect Neutrality', intervenes. With those words,
Crunch!
Such sounds began echoing from Sin Bihyeong's flesh.
'No way... body reformation?'
Realigning the skeleton and shedding the fetal membrane.
Something he'd only seen in wuxia novels or games was now happening to him directly.
Crack!
'Oof. That sound is brutal.'
Crunch!
Crack crack!
Every time the yin energy passed, bones snapped and muscles tore.
Then yang energy followed, realigning the shattered bones and muscles even stronger and tougher.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Due to the intervention of Achievement, 'Perfect Neutrality', a unique route has been pioneered. Derived Story, 'Nine Yang Severed Meridians', is deleted from stories. Derived Story, 'Nine Yin Severed Meridians', departs from stories. Specific conditions achieved. Unique Story stirs. 'What?'
The unique story was stirring again?
'It's not been long since I got Night Parade of One Hundred Demons...'
Sin Bihyeong swallowed hard.
'If that sprouts, what ability will it grant me this time?'
He was intensely curious about it,
but since it wasn't something he could get right away, he pushed it aside.
Instead, it was better to focus on his still-transforming body.
'The body reformation is ending.'
The crunching sounds gradually faded.
Looking at the floor, his shed skin lay scattered like a snake's molt.
Ding!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Yin and Yang realign your body. 'Yin-Yang Incarnation' is created in the constitution category. Without even reading the floating message, Sin Bihyeong closed his eyes and savored the changes his body was undergoing.
'The yang energy that blocked the heart's meridians enters the dantian under the guidance of yin energy.'
It merged into the solar yang in his lower dantian, expelling all impure energies and leaving only pure yang.
'The larger the dantian grows, the faster the circulation speed becomes.'
The previously blocked Conception and Governor Vessels melted before the scorching heat of yang energy and shattered under the icy chill of yin energy.
Surpassing the Lesser Heavenly Circuit to the Greater Heavenly Circuit.
As the energies swirled through his body, his meridians gradually widened and toughened.
Finally, when yin energy bit the tail of yang and yang bit the tail of yin, seamlessly filling his bloodstreams without gaps.
Amid a brilliant glow, Sin Bihyeong opened his eyes.
"...Yin-Yang Incarnation? What's this?"
A constitution he'd never seen before.
Even Sin Bihyeong, a veteran of Solo Biography,
didn't know of it, sparking his curiosity.
'Not even in the developer comments.'
It was probably key that a unique route had been pioneered.
'My story broke from the existing framework the moment I accepted Mina into Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.'
That must prove it.
Sin Bihyeong immediately checked out Yin-Yang Incarnation.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ 【Yin-Yang Incarnation】 Category: Constitution Description: A constitution that commands yin-yang, subjugating their energies. The two energies clash at times, join hands at others, birthing countless possibilities. A vessel capable of containing that infinite potential. "……."
Sin Bihyeong was speechless at the description of Yin-Yang Incarnation.
Out of disbelief?
No.
'This... is the most overpowered constitution I've ever seen?'
He was simply awestruck.
'Infinite potential. Has any constitution ever been described like that?'
Even the so-called Tier 1 Heavenly Martial Body or Five Elements Prodigy only had descriptions like 'excels in close combat' or 'shows aptitude across all five elements.'
Words like 'potential' implying limits, or the boundless 'infinite,' were nowhere to be found.
'Meaning, the more I master yin-yang energies, the more my body keeps growing?'
Sin Bihyeong was convinced.
If it had a rank, it would be at least EX-grade.
'It even has the Nine Yang Divine Body's effect of yang energy growing with every breath.'
That growing yang naturally stimulated the yin energy.
To not be outdone, his demonic power began drawing in ambient energy from the air, gradually refining it into pure demonic power.
The two energies, rivals determined to best each other, had chosen coexistence.
'A body that can contain yin and yang...'
Sin Bihyeong's eyes sparkled for a moment.
Then, couldn't it contain 'that' thing from earlier too?
The moment Sin Bihyeong tried to test it.
'Hm?'
His lower dantian.
A small change began where the Demon Core and sun coexisted.
'What's that?'
The abyss of yin energy stagnated like a shadow.
Above it floated only the sun emitting bright light.
That had been the original state.
But now, in that place,
'...A membrane formed?'
Something utterly out of nowhere had appeared.
It enveloped the lower dantian, looking like a translucent membrane to anyone watching.
Or perhaps like an eggshell just before a creature hatched.
'What's happening in my dantian?'
Was it his imagination?
─Thump!
It felt like a heartbeat from his lower dantian.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In the end, he couldn't uncover the secret of his dantian.
No matter how much he observed, there were no other changes besides the membrane.
Sin Bihyeong wrapped up the day with a mindset of 'I'll know when the time comes.'
Whether the yokai nature was plotting something or not, he now had the confidence to control it.
Sin Bihyeong went to bed, got a good night's rest, and rose.
"Let's head to the forbidden zone today."
Regular classes started next week.
Meaning he had to return from the forbidden zone by this weekend.
"First, the Demon Blade. The spear... should I bring it?"
It was better than nothing, so he did.
He handed the items to Eoduk in the shadows.
-There's still plenty of room, sir!
Sin Bihyeong chuckled at Eoduk's boastful voice and packed his bags here and there.
"Change of clothes, toiletries. Oh, and the universal panacea just in case."
-S-Sir?
As the luggage kept growing and Eoduk sounded flustered, Sin Bihyeong waved it off with a giggle.
"That's enough. We're good."
-...Phew.
"Now, shall we go meet Mina?"
-...Pardon? Why meet Miss Mina?
Why did he call Mina—who joined Night Parade of One Hundred Demons later—'Miss'?
"Well, anyway, I want to meet Mina to test something."
-Test something?
"Whether Mina can enter the shadows like you. That's it."
Sin Bihyeong's lips curled up. It was a rather wicked smile.
"If that works... we can game the system, right?"
With that, Sin Bihyeong left the dorm and contacted Mina,
and soon met her as she came running.
"Mina. Want to try entering my shadow like Eoduk?"
"Huh? The shadow?"
Mina was understandably confused at first but complied without argument.
And the result was.
-...This is inside Bihyeong's shadow? Oh, Senior Eoduk's here too.
-Sir! Miss has entered the shadow!
A resounding success.
-But sir, can you tell us now? What do you plan to do with Miss in the shadow?
'Oh, that? Just a simple experiment.'
Sin Bihyeong's lips twitched.
'If I can enter the forbidden zone with you two in my shadow, won't the rewards double?'
He'd get his reward with Mina in the shadow acquiring it together, and vice versa for hers.
-But you don't know if you can enter my shadow, Bihyeong?
'We can test it later. Worst case, I wear the Goblin Cap and push it.'
He didn't know how far the forbidden zone was,
but if he asked Mina to guard him and rested... he could make it?
'If not, oh well.'
He was raiding the treasure vault this time, so no need for other forbidden zones yet.
Unless they had goblins like there too.
'I've already scouted what's in the graveyard. I'll tell you later, so dig those up mainly.'
As a veteran, he shared because he didn't need them himself,
but Mina seemed to misunderstand, her voice choked up.
-B-Bihyeong...!
Her instinct screamed she might burst out and hug him any second!
Sin Bihyeong hurriedly soothed her and picked up his phone.
'F-First, let's go. The sooner we go and come back.'
He sent a message to the academy about entering the forbidden zone,
and a reply came soon after.
"A map?"
The message, with an attached photo, read:
-This is a one-time path to the forbidden zone. If Cadet Sin Bihyeong walks it, the path will close and vanish behind you.
"They sure treasure it."
And he was about to trespass there now.
Sin Bihyeong felt a thrill at the fact.
-Whoa. Bihyeong looks a bit evil.
-Miss, sir is a yokai, so of course!
-Is that so? Then it's cool.
Ignoring the duo's chit-chat from the shadows,
Sin Bihyeong followed the map provided by the academy.
His light steps were much faster than before.
Even without learning any lightness skill or movement technique.
'...After getting Yin-Yang Incarnation, my body feels incredibly improved.'
How to put it.
No stat increases, but he could now better utilize his 'yokai' and 'human' aspects?
-What do you mean, sir?
'The efficiency of spiritual or demonic power in my body has changed.'
Subjectively, nearly double.
Perhaps as a half-demon, he'd been suffering penalties until now.
'Impressive.'
Though only Hierarchy Rank 2, at nearly Rank 3 speed,
Sin Bihyeong traversed the academy grounds and arrived where the forbidden zone lay.
Shoooo...
Looking back, the path he'd run fogged away like mist.
Now he understood what 'one-time path' meant.
-Bihyeong! I made it in too!
Mina had successfully hidden in the shadow and entered the forbidden zone.
A smile spread across Sin Bihyeong's lips.
'Jackpot.'
If others saw this, they might ask why no one tried this before,
but the shadow hiding Night Parade of One Hundred Demons was linked to Sin Bihyeong's dantian and 'existence.'
Combined with Impenetrable Seal's uniqueness and the Goblin Cap erasing presence.
He could proudly claim no one else could replicate it.
'Double forbidden zone rewards. Can't pass that up.'
Sin Bihyeong hummed cheerfully, thrilled, as he walked into the forbidden zone.
The deep mountainside resembled a stretch of ancient hanok village.
Though night hadn't fallen, the forbidden zone's interior was pitch black without a single light.
At that moment,
a voice spread low over the dim expanse.
"[Hoh. Fine song.]" "[Pure joy without desire. You're thrilled!]" "[Hey! Sing more, more, more!]" With that, faint blue flames began spreading bit by bit.
'...As expected.'
A flame color all too familiar to Sin Bihyeong.
Ghost fire. In other words, goblin fire.
'Goblins are here.'
The Hundred Ghosts were plentiful.