Recruitment (1)
"My word... To think poison could be combined in such a manner."
"I never could have imagined this."
"A prodigy? No, this is a genius that appears once in a generation."
"Indeed. It is quite literally a gift from the heavens."
"Why has such a child only appeared now...?"
"..."
These were the elders who supported the Dang Clan from behind the scenes, offering counsel and guidance.
Several of them were currently expressing their awe, utterly speechless.
"Good heavens..."
"Unbelievable."
Sichuan, and by extension, the entire Murim.
And taking it a step further, this Tower was home to countless players.
Even if they remained secluded in Sichuan, one had to climb the Tower to wield mana.
As such, the Dang Clan had witnessed their fair share of players.
In particular, because the Dang Clan practiced a system of adopting sons-in-law, talented players frequently passed through their gates.
This meant the clan elders had evaluated countless prodigies.
Consequently, they wouldn't even bat an eye at ordinary talent.
Yet, the talent of the girl before them was so immense that every single one of these elders was letting out sighs of admiration.
"To think someone with such talent was wandering outside the family..."
"But did she not return with the status of a Ranker?"
"Indeed... It was a close call. If we speak of talent alone, she easily surpasses the Young Master..."
"Ahem...!"
"...My apologies, Supreme Elder."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Yet, no one dared to deny the statement.
The impact of her presence on the Dang Clan could not be described by the simple word 'genius.'
Supreme Elder Dang Gun-hyup stroked his beard and stood up.
"Poison is inherently a tool to weaken or kill an enemy. This child has maximized that utility."
"To extract the magic and curses of a Banished Constellation and fuse them with poison..."
"Still, comparing her to the Young Master is a bit..."
Slam!
The moment the Young Master was mentioned, someone slammed their hand on the table and interrupted.
She was the sole female elder of the Dang Clan.
A Ranker hailed for decades as the finest in the Murim when it came to weaponry, execution, and especially assassination using threads.
She was the Poison Spider, Dang Yeong-hwa.
"Do not make me laugh! This child analyzed the formulas we accumulated over hundreds of years in just a single month, and completely rewrote them in her own style!"
Dang Yeong-hwa pulled out a small throwing vial hidden in her robes and tossed it onto the table.
"She reduced the traditional ingredients to a third while doubling the efficacy. Furthermore, she minimized the bodily reaction so that it cannot even be detected by poison-sensing techniques."
"She even incorporated a delayed antidote for treatment."
"...That is a technique only those approaching their fifties in the Dang Clan can hope to formulate."
"A child like this has never appeared since the founding of the Dang Clan."
The elders fell silent.
The poisons they had formulated, experimented with, and created through endless failures while climbing the Tower in the past were nothing more than 'basic steps' in Dang So-wol's eyes.
"That is not all."
At Dang Yeong-hwa's gesture, two disciples brought forward a box, revealing a strange mechanism inside.
Hiss. Clang!
"What is this...?"
"It is a new type of poison engine designed in collaboration with the dwarves. Every single needle inside is coated with a curse and a poison that restricts mana."
"Restricts mana? That transcendent power derived from the Tower?"
"Yes. It is a weapon that allows even non-players to subdue players."
"...!"
Players.
Those who challenged the Tower and wielded mana.
Because one had to control mana to use superhuman strength, they essentially held the status of absolute rulers within the Tower.
Yet, a non-player could subdue them?
"If ordinary people can subdue players..."
"If this weapon is placed in the hands of players—and specifically, our Dang Clan members!"
Dang Yeong-hwa smiled.
It was a chilling smile, burning with ambition.
"What do you think will happen to the Tower?"
Thanks to Dang So-wol, modern firearms, grenades, and sniper rifles had now become the secret weapons of the Dang Clan.
She hadn't simply imported the equipment; she had redesigned them as 'hidden weapons,' making them look like the Dang Clan's own unique armaments.
It did not matter if they weren't recognized as 'items' because they lacked the Tower's system designation.
They were weapons designed to disrupt and pierce the opponent's mana and items regardless.
"Take it away."
Having shown sufficient proof, Dang Yeong-hwa gestured to her disciples.
Creak... Thud.
Once she confirmed the disciples had left with the items, Dang Yeong-hwa erected a barrier of energy to block out sound.
"Therefore, I 'dare' to propose. If this child becomes the next head of the Dang Clan, we will not merely be the kings of Sichuan."
Dang Yeong-hwa spoke firmly and decisively.
Instead of her usual boredom, a powerful conviction gleamed in her eyes.
"We will shroud the entire Tower in our poison and rule over it."
"She is right. What is there that our Dang Clan cannot achieve?"
"Indeed, considering the prestige of our clan, Sichuan is far too small."
The reformists, led by Dang Yeong-hwa—elders who prioritized 'strength' above all else—unanimously voiced their agreement.
It wasn't that they completely disregarded bloodline and tradition.
However, through dozens of blood tests and mana verifications, Dang So-wol had been proven to be the daughter of the current clan head.
Though she was not born to the main wife, she was undeniably of the clan head's bloodline.
With this level of talent, combined with her standing and strength as a Ranker, she was more than qualified to vie for the position of clan head.
"But the current Young Master has also contributed greatly. Has he not firmly protected the clan?"
"Indeed. And it has been ten years since the Young Master assumed his position. To suddenly..."
"There are procedures to follow. No matter how skilled or qualified she may be, how can we appoint an outsider as the Young Master all at once?"
The conservatives, who prioritized bloodline and tradition over raw strength, countered.
"Until recently, the child named Dang So-wol belonged to the coven led by the Witch of Fall."
"Is that place not deeply connected to the Demonic Cult?"
"How can we trust such a person...?"
The conservative elders made a valid point.
"But has she not already returned to the Dang Clan?"
"She has proven herself over the past six months. Are you saying we must verify her yet again?"
"Is this not going too far?"
"We can stop the verifications, but the position of Young Master is a bit..."
"Now, now! That is enough!"
The Supreme Elder waved his hand, cooling the heated atmosphere.
"This does not seem like a matter we should decide among ourselves."
"Then..."
"Let us present this as a formal agenda to the Clan Leader."
"Peep!"
"Did you sleep well?"
"Peep, peep!"
Sichuan.
High up in a certain mountain.
At a gathering place for the lay disciples of the Mount Emei Sect—one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang of the Murim Alliance—a long-eared elf smiled as she fed seeds to a bird.
"First of all, he isn't my husband yet."
The elf, Kaelion, sighed.
"You said you've watched Jin-hyuk longer than I have. And yet you still don't trust him?"
[The Constellation 'Surtr' snorts and turns his head away.]
[The Constellation 'Surtr' looks at you intently.]
[The Constellation 'Surtr' expresses anxiety, asking if you still haven't seen the player 'Lee Jin-hyuk'.]
Honestly. I wonder if he's really a Myth-grade Constellation or not.
It seems even the Constellations can't find Jin-hyuk.
Seeing this reaction, it was true that she felt a lingering sense of unease.
The final moments of the 9th floor.
Even putting the Ice-Sinking Ghost aside, a slash containing the power of a cluster of stars had clearly rent the space apart.
This meant a Constellation had intervened.
It signified that a 'Holy War'—an event ordinary Rankers might never witness in their entire lives—had taken place.
"Well, it's not like we have any proof that Jin-hyuk is dead. Right?"
"Peeeeeep!"
Kaelion smiled as she watched Elruin peacefully eat seeds and lean against her shoulder.
It had been a month since they ascended here from the 9th floor.
Quite a bit of time had passed, yet Lee Jin-hyuk had not arrived.
This floor is just that vast, after all.
They had promised to meet here in Sichuan if they were separated by any unforeseen circumstances.
In the meantime, Kaelion had taken refuge with the Mount Emei Sect, exchanging mutual aid with them.
A month had already gone by like this.
However, seeing that his pet, Elruin, was alive and well without any issues, Lee Jin-hyuk was bound to be in good health.
Besides, she knew he wasn't the type to be easily defeated anywhere.
"Shall we go train?"
"Peep!"
"Have you arrived, Lady Cheon-ryeong?"
"Hello."
Kaelion, the one chosen by the heavens.
Fittingly, the disciples of the Mount Emei Sect addressed Kaelion as Lady Cheon-ryeong.
Although their rules had relaxed somewhat after integrating into the Tower and connecting with numerous worlds, the Mount Emei Sect still maintained strict discipline.
Nevertheless, from the Mount Emei Sect's perspective, Lady Cheon-ryeong Kaelion was receiving immense hospitality.
Almost like a newly admitted lay disciple.
It makes sense.
We are fortunate to have Lady Cheon-ryeong here.
She was one chosen by the heavens—which, in the Mount Emei Sect's terms, meant an Apostle chosen by a Constellation.
This alone was reason enough for her to be respected and welcomed.
On top of that, Kaelion was a Master-realm expert.
Martial artists fundamentally revered the sword, martial arts, and strength.
Since a Master-realm expert was someone who had reached a true 'realm' of the sword, she would be welcomed anywhere.
Furthermore, the fact that Kaelion was a woman played a significant role.
The Mount Emei Sect was, at its core, a sect composed entirely of female martial artists and nuns.
"Well then. Shall we begin today as well?"
"Yes, please."
"Let us begin, Lady Cheon-ryeong."
Since arriving here, Kaelion had lived according to a set routine.
"As your seniors have likely told you, the most important part of swinging a sword is the lower body."
"It's true that women generally have less physical strength than men. But we are players, aren't we? We can overcome this with stats."
"And it's not just stats. If you properly utilize mana—or what has traditionally been called qi here..."
What Kaelion taught was, in fact, close to the basics that everyone already knew.
However, she was exceptionally good at teaching those basics.
She helped them strengthen the natural foundations they already possessed.
A deep-rooted tree always absorbs nutrients better.
Though it had only been a month, the basics Kaelion taught were of immense help to the female swordswomen of Mount Emei.
There were several reasons for this.
It was safe to say that no one had honed the basics of swordsmanship as thoroughly as Kaelion.
She had been trapped on the 6th floor for a staggering twelve years, doing nothing but refining her 'basics.'
Her situation was entirely different from other players who were solely focused on rushing up the Tower.
Although she had done other things during that time, it was true that she had focused most on the fundamentals.
In the process, she had learned from countless others and taught just as many.
Moreover, most of those in the Mount Emei Sect were Third-class or Second-class martial artists.
At best, they were First-class experts.
Kaelion, who understood the sword several times better than they did, had plenty to teach and correct.
Yet, Kaelion wasn't just giving away her knowledge for free.
The swordsmanship of the Mount Emei Sect was inherently one of restraint and moderation.
For Kaelion, who possessed the ability to pierce the flow of energy, this swordsmanship and cultivation method were also of great help.
After all, she was in a position where she had to maintain her own flow.
Restrain emotions, and calmly grasp the flow.
Sssss...
Purify and repurify the power of the flames I possess, transforming them to suit me.
In this regard, Surtr's lava, which purified turbid energy, and the Emei Heart Method were quite compatible.
"Whew... Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you for your hard work!"
Mutual benefit.
Literally helping each other, Kaelion and the Mount Emei nuns got along quite well.
"Lady Cheon-ryeong, you have worked hard."
As the training drew to a close, a woman dressed in a neat gray robe quietly approached Kaelion.
She had an impeccable posture and neatly tied white hair.
She was the Upper Immortal Dharma Lord of the Mount Emei Sect, Daoist Master Hwajeong.
She was a figure who rarely showed herself even to the lay disciples.
At her appearance, the other disciples tensed up and clasped their hands in respect.
"Do you have a moment to spare?"
"Yes, Dharma Lord."
With a subtle furrow of her brow, she led Kaelion to a detached villa.
It was a quiet space, far removed from any clamor.
"I have a favor to ask of you, Lady Cheon-ryeong."
"A favor...?"
In the room where the scent of incense drifted softly, Daoist Master Hwajeong spoke carefully.
"Please pay a visit to the Sichuan Dang Clan. The very clan that reigns supreme with poison, hidden weapons, and medicine. And there..."
Slide.
"Approach Dang So-wol, the one hailed as the greatest talent in the history of the Dang Clan."