Chapter 24: Heart Demon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 24: Heart Demon
“Brother Namgung. What is all this?”
Baek Woon looked a little flustered.
This was supposed to be a reconnaissance team to gather information on the 100,000 Great Mountains.
In reality, it was a special detachment coveting the spirit beasts within.
The problem was that Namgung Yeon had gathered far more people than he had expected.
“Isn’t it better to have as many people as possible?”
“Still, this is…”
“Besides, there are more spirit beasts than any one person could handle anyway.”
Baek Woon reluctantly nodded.
If Namgung Yeon was right, there would be such a massive number of spirit beasts that they wouldn’t have to worry about sharing.
Baek Woon was simply astonished by Namgung Yeon’s resourcefulness.
While most of them were small fry, he could spot a few masters he’d seen around before.
Among them, the most conspicuous masters were those sent from Sichuan.
“How on earth did you convince the Tang Clan?”
“It wasn’t easy to get them here. They’ll be a great help. Especially Hero Dilopho.”
“…Brother Namgung. Is it right to call that thing a ‘Hero’?”
Baek Woon glanced at the beast locked inside a cage.
“Kraaaaaaaahk!”
The massive beast suddenly let out a roar.
Startled by the sound, the dumpling-haired girl trembled in fear.
“Eek! I-I’m sorry. I’ll take off the muzzle soon…”
Baek Woon watched the scene with a pitying gaze.
“Hmm, since it’s not fully grown yet, perhaps it’s more fitting to call it a Young Hero. It’s not like we could bring a fully grown adult from the Tang Clan, after all.”
“That’s not what I… Ugh, forget it. I’m sure it’ll work out somehow.”
Baek Woon had a feeling it would take far too long to explain the sense of unease he was feeling.
At the same time, a question arose in his mind.
Was it really a good idea to bring a spirit beast to hunt other spirit beasts?
What would they do if that spirit beast from the Tang Clan teamed up with the others and attacked them?
Even if they managed to subdue it, it would surely lead to a dispute with the Tang Clan.
As Baek Woon mulled over his concerns, Namgung Yeon spoke to him in a suggestive tone.
“Baek Woon. You know you can’t just consume an inner core as soon as you get it, right?”
“Hah. Do you take me for a fool who doesn’t even know the basics? Isn’t that the premise under which we all gathered? Surely you don’t think I, Baek Woon, would try to steal an inner core for myself?”
Baek Woon didn’t hide his displeasure.
Namgung Yeon waved his hands dismissively and quickly added, “That’s not it. I’m just worried you might fall prey to a Heart Demon.”
“A Heart Demon?”
“Yes. Consuming an inner core or a spirit herb doesn’t guarantee an increase in internal energy. The more potent the elixir, the more likely a Heart Demon will follow.”
“A Heart Demon, you say. I admit, I’d like to experience it at least once.”
“Heh heh. You rascal.”
“If a Heart Demon appears, overcoming it would allow one to advance to an even higher realm, would it not?”
Was he just young and naive, or was he overflowing with confidence?
Namgung Yeon managed his expression and replied, “It’s not that easy. In that moment, you gain power that makes you feel like you can destroy anything. Far from thinking about higher realms, most people become drunk on that power and lose their reason.”
“Have you ever met someone who fell to a Heart Demon?”
“From a distance, I once saw someone on the verge of succumbing to it. They possessed overwhelming power, but their growth ended there. No, you couldn’t even call it growth. They would soon fall into Qi Deviation and lose their life. Even if they somehow managed to survive, they would never be able to advance to the next realm.”
“Hmph. I’m stuck at a wall myself.”
Baek Woon was desperate.
Within a year of entering the Murim, he had become a Second-Rate master, and within two years, he had reached the First-Rate realm.
As the rising star of the Mount Zhongnan Sect and its most anticipated prospect, every martial artist knew his story. Baek Woon had thought their attention was only natural.
With his good looks and outstanding skills, he never doubted that he was the one who would bring a new wind to the stagnant Murim.
But that was where it ended.
Ten years had passed since he reached the First-Rate realm, yet he still hadn’t reached the Peak Realm.
All that remained for him was the glory of his past.
The pressure to break through to the next realm was suffocating him.
“You’re almost there. You’ll be able to reach the Peak Realm soon without taking such a dangerous gamble.”
“Hmph…”
Just as their conversation was about to conclude, the dumpling-haired girl cautiously approached them.
“E-Excuse me.”
Baek Woon shot her a sideways glance.
She was definitely from the Tang Clan.
“What is it?”
“Hero Dilopho seems to be in a bad mood… Do you know how much longer it will be until we arrive at the 100,000 Great Mountains?” the dumpling-haired girl asked, her eyes filled with anxiety.
The reptile’s rampages were getting worse with each passing moment.
Baek Woon sensed something was off.
If they were going to send a spirit beast, shouldn’t the person managing it be a master of corresponding skill?
This girl was timid and weak-willed.
And it seemed she didn’t even know where the 100,000 Great Mountains were.
At best, she was Third-Rate.
“Even if we travel as fast as possible, it will take half a month.”
“Half a month…?”
Thud.
The girl from the Tang Clan collapsed.
She had no confidence she could appease the hideous spirit beast for another fifteen days.
“…Brother Namgung. Did you do something to offend the Tang Clan?”
Why would they send a girl like her to such a dangerous place?
Baek Woon couldn’t fathom the intentions of the Tang Clan or Namgung Yeon.
*
【Green Basilisk】 can evolve into:
1. 【Green Iguana】
2. 【Sea Iguana】
3. 【Giant Girdled Lizard】
4. 【Thylacine】
5. 【Dimetrodon】
Let’s look at the options.
1. Green Iguana.
A standard, run-of-the-mill choice.
The color and body shape are similar.
I’d just be a big Green Basilisk.
They’re mostly herbivores, so I could probably survive on grass alone, but…
It’s too boring.
Pass.
2. Sea Iguana.
An iguana that lives in the sea, I guess.
I’d probably be a better swimmer, but I’m not interested.
I don’t even know if there’s an ocean nearby, and besides, I already have the Soaring Dragon's Ascension Steps.
3. Giant Girdled Lizard.
This one is famous.
Just as a sunflower faces the sun, this lizard also faces the sun.
That’s how it got the nickname “Sun Gazer Lizard.”
It’s basically an upgraded version of the Armadillo Girdled Lizard.
Not a bad choice.
Gaining armor-like scales would cover my weaknesses.
And it looks cool.
I’ll keep it in consideration for now.
So far, these are the normal choices.
The next ones were the problem.
4. Thylacine.
Why did this one suddenly pop up?
It was completely random.
If it’s a special evolution, it means I met some condition, but I have no idea what it could be.
Come to think of it, unlike last time, the conditions for the special evolution aren’t listed.
Let’s think about the advantages of a Thylacine.
First, as the name suggests, it’s a mammal.
That means it’s a warm-blooded animal, not cold-blooded.
In terms of survival, being warm-blooded is better than being cold-blooded in many ways.
I was human, after all.
It’s just too random, but looking at the choice itself, it’s not bad.
I’ll put this one on hold, too.
Now for the last one.
5. Dimetrodon.
The long-awaited Dimetrodon.
This one is just as well-known.
A creature that represents the Permian period and the synapsids.
It’s the one that’s always included in books about dinosaurs.
The one that looks like a lizard with a large neural spine sail on its back.
It’s often depicted basking in the sun in a swamp.
The surprising thing is that the Dimetrodon is not a dinosaur.
It’s a synapsid. A synapsid!
I remember how shocked I was when I learned that fact.
It was like the shock I felt when I realized Pteranodons weren’t actually dinosaurs either.
Anyway, let’s focus.
In terms of combat power alone, Dimetrodon is overwhelming.
Despite its appearance, it was one of the top predators of the Permian period.
I believe its body length was around 5 to 6 meters.
It was large enough to fight a Piranha Caiman right now.
While the Thylacine has the advantage of being warm-blooded, the Dimetrodon can also regulate its body temperature with the organ on its back.
Yes.
Let’s go with Dimetrodon.
I have to evolve into the species with the most combat power.
My eyes are closing.
For me, who cannot close my eyes, this means evolution is beginning.
I hope Dimetrodons have eyelids.
I can feel my body slowly changing.
I’ll become a Dimetrodon now.
I’ll live by the water, regulating my body temperature with the sunlight.
After defeating the caiman and becoming the king of the swamp, I’ll feast on fish.
I’ll keep going until I become the strongest dinosaur, the Spinosaurus…
……Spinosaurus?
I see a swamp.
A single dragon, swimming gracefully.
That dragon, with its massive crest, roars.
It is an overwhelming presence that can be called the strongest among dinosaurs.
Spino…
….
My head felt like it was about to split open.
The Spinosaurus is the strongest dinosaur.
Crack.
The image of it breaking the neck of a weak T-Rex with its massive jaws was vivid in my mind.
Yes, the Spino is truly the one to be called the king of the dino—
….
…….
Spino.
A pseudo-dinosaur that just eats fish.
Spino.
A loser that fled to the water.
Spino.
A scrub that loses to a T-Rex in weight class alone.
Spino.
A plague of popular media.
Spino.
The very reason I was dropped into this world.
The Spino is a loser of its era, defeated by the T-Rex.
Did I want to become a Spino?
No, that can’t be right.
Flash.
My eyes flew wide open.
A pure white egg enveloped me.
Vile things, trying to make me fall to a demon.
If I stay like this, I’ll evolve into a Dimetrodon.
Dimetrodon is strong.
Perhaps even stronger than the caiman.
But something hot deep in my chest is rejecting it.
I cannot accept this.
[「%! Self-■□ 」is activated.]
Crack, crackle!
The egg surrounding me shattered.
My action was purely instinctual.
I have no idea what side effects might occur from stopping an evolution midway.
But images suddenly flashed through my mind.
An inspiration, perhaps?
They made me decide.
This evolution was wrong.
There’s no way I would choose Dimetrodon so easily.
There’s no way I’d walk the path of a giant pelican.
My breathing becomes easier.
The internal energy deep within my dantian slowly circulates through my body.
My once-clouded mind cleared in an instant.
[You have escaped the Heart Demon.]
The status window shone serenely.
Heart Demon.
Yes, what just happened was, without a doubt, a Heart Demon.
I almost strayed down the wrong path.
[New choices are given.]
Is this a reward for overcoming the Heart Demon?
With a heart full of anticipation, I looked at the choices.
【Green Basilisk】 can evolve into:
1. 【Green Iguana】
2. 【Sea Iguana】
3. 【Giant Girdled Lizard】
4. 【Water Monitor】 (Requires 「Soaring Dragon's Ascension Steps」, consumption of a high-grade inner core fragment)
5. 【Crocodile Monitor】 (Requires 「Dragon's Claws」, consumption of a high-grade inner core fragment)
Right. Now these are proper choices.