Chapter 188

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Translator: uly

Chapter: 188

Chapter Title: Painting of Radiant Ascension

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My body twitched.

Painting of Radiant Ascension.

The title made it sound vaguely like wuxia, but in reality, it was a xianxia novel that was all the rage in China right now. Similar to wuxia, but not quite the same.

'Fuck. Why the hell did this get picked? I haven't even finished reading it.'

I'd assumed only the stories I'd seen all the way through would get selected. Or maybe not, since this was the Random Mix Ticket doing the choosing.

"Fuck. Heavenly Demon what...?"

It was so ridiculous I could barely speak. Why the hell were four of them Heavenly Demon stories?!

"......"

My eyes shook.

I'd figured I'd end up in a wuxia world someday.

With the problem I had with my Heavenly Demon Divine Art, I thought maybe I could fix it in a wuxia world.

But entering one like this? That wasn't part of the plan.

'No. If the base world is Painting of Radiant Ascension... it's not even wuxia.'

Mu Wang Online especially was basically just fantasy dressed up as wuxia. Celestial clans fighting demon clans and all that jazz.

'Mu Wang Online's that webgame that shut down a few years back. I got baited by the sexy artwork and played it for like two days...'

I couldn't remember a damn thing about the story besides the celestials-versus-demons bit.

Not surprising. The plot was garbage, so I skipped every single line of text. And the gameplay was your standard shitty Chinese webgame.

'Six creations smashed together. This world's gotta be a total clusterfuck.'

I glared at my smartphone. This Playful World was hell. Pure hell.

'Even if I auto-play to the ending, I have to snag the Painting of Radiant Ascension.'

Painting of Radiant Ascension.

It was the title of the novel and the name of a certain artifact inside it.

'It's the protagonist's treasure from the very beginning.'

The Painting of Radiant Ascension depicted the heavens and mountains. And it had a special power: you could store items inside the painting to strengthen them.

Stick an elixir in, and its effects got boosted. Put in a sword or spear, and it became tougher and sharper.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

'Hell, even a damn pebble would get strengthened.'

I had to have that treasure. No question.

I knew where the Painting of Radiant Ascension was. The problem? That world was massive.

Like dozens of times the size of Earth.

'Can't set a character. Probably gets randomized.'

Worst case, I start somewhere absurdly far from it.

'Could take decades... no, centuries to get there.'

And by then, the protagonist would've claimed it first. Snatching it from him wouldn't be easy—he'd be ridiculously overpowered by the time I caught up.

'......If it's too far, just bail on this world.'

Still, worth a shot. The Painting was that tempting. Even if its powers got nerfed bringing it back to reality.

???

I was surrounded by pitch darkness. I tried to move, but my body wouldn't respond properly.

'What the hell is this right as I enter the Playful World.'

I strained to open my eyes wide. ...No clue if they were even open. My senses were faint. Was I lying down? Standing?

Irritation bubbled up just as things refused to go my way.

-Vessel chosen by the heavens...

A woman's voice echoed.

Mysterious yet compassionate. No form visible, but the owner had to be a knockout beauty.

"......"

I tried to speak, but my mouth wouldn't move. Not even a mumble.

-Catastrophe looms over this world...

That snapped me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alert.

I'd seen something like this before.

'......Mu Wang Online's opening! Yeah, no doubt!'

-You alone, chosen by the heavens, are this world's hope.

Light bloomed from somewhere, wrapping around me.

Slap, slap.

Someone lightly patted my cheeks. I frowned and opened my eyes.

"Hey. Hey. Yu-jin. What're you doing? Why're you dozing off here?"

"...Huh?"

A boy in dark blue training robes stood before me. Sunken cheeks, looked about fifteen. Pretty well-built for a kid his age.

"Who're you?"

"Still half-asleep? It's me. Sung Ji-gon."

"......Sung Ji-gon?"

"Yeah. Instructor Jong'll be here soon. Get up already."

I pushed myself to my feet.

Sung Ji-gon was the protagonist's half-brother in the original Painting of Radiant Ascension.

'If Ji-gon's here... this is the original starting point, and the location's Flowing Star Sword Sect to boot. Heh. Luck's on my side. Gotta find the Painting quick and head back to reality.'

I scanned my surroundings. Boys around Ji-gon's age, all in training robes with wooden swords at their waists.

'......Did I get de-aged too?'

I looked down at myself. Same training robes and wooden sword as the others. My body was a kid's.

'Smartphone's safe in my pocket at least...'

I shook myself out. Smaller than my real body, but otherwise unchanged.

'No penalties even as a kid?'

Unlike the Baekhwan world, maybe because here I was set up as a martial artist.

"Why're you acting all weird suddenly? You sick or something?"

Ji-gon eyed me like I'd lost my mind while I checked myself over.

"Just waking up. Where's Sung Cheon-oh?"

Sung Cheon-oh.

The protagonist of Painting of Radiant Ascension.

"Sung Cheon-oh? Who's that?"

"......Who else? The 38th kid of Sung Go-dan."

Sung Ji-gon was the 37th child of the Flowing Star Sword Sect's leader, Sung Go-dan. Who, for the record, had seventeen wives and concubines.

"Sung Go-dan... Hey, what kinda son calls his dad by name like that? And the 38th kid's you. Seriously, what's your deal today?"

"I'm... Sung Go—er, Father's 38th kid?"

"You messing with me right now?"

"Is my mom's name maybe Wang Gi-so?"

"You know damn well and you're asking? Yeah, you're messing with me. You little shit!"

Ji-gon flicked my forehead. Caught off guard, I took it without dodging. Didn't hurt much.

'My name's Sung Yu-jin. No Cheon-oh... I'm Sung Go-dan's 38th kid... Did I become the protagonist of Painting of Radiant Ascension?!'

Situation wasn't half bad. Fewer things to worry about, really.

'Original starts from boyhood too... so this must be the starting point.'

I had zero plans to enjoy this Play. Just grab the Painting and bail. This world was dangerous. Arguably worse than the God's Atlantis world.

Then the dojo doors swung open, and a man stepped in. Training robes, but a real sword at his waist.

The boys around me moved in perfect unison, forming ranks. I glanced around and fell in behind Ji-gon.

Jong Seok-hong. The man they called Instructor Jong.

He taught the Flowing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Star Sword Sect's basic sword art, Yin Star Sword, to the boys in the Silver Sword Division.

He swept his gaze over us once, then addressed the group.

"Today, as I mentioned yesterday, we'll gauge your skills. Sung Ji-gon. Step forward first and demonstrate the Yin Star Sword."

Ji-gon strode out confidently. Bowed to Instructor Jong, drew his wooden sword, and began the form.

'Fuck.'

Cold sweat beaded. I knew jack shit about Yin Star Sword.

Ji-gon was doing it up front, but mimicking after one look? Impossible. I wasn't that much of a genius.

"Well done. Sung Ji-gon. As expected of the sect leader's son. Next, Sung Yu-jin."

I clicked my tongue inwardly, stepped forward, and managed a clumsy bow. Jong Seok-hong's brow twitched. But he said nothing, just watched me.

'Fuck it.'

I recalled what Ji-gon had done and swung away.

It was so pathetic it barely qualified as swordplay. I could've nailed Eternal Heaven Style no problem, but Yin Star Sword after one glance? Looked like a toddler flailing with a stick.

"Enough."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Instructor Jong's voice dropped cold. I lowered my sword and met his eyes.

His face was flushed purple-red.

"Sung Yu-jin... You trying to pick a fight with me?"

His aura made me flinch. From the pressure rolling off him, I could tell: Jong Seok-hong was stronger than me.

"N-no. I just... suddenly forgot..."

"Suddenly forgot? You've trained Yin Star Sword for five years since age ten. Forgot? Is this a challenge?"

"N-no, sir! I really just suddenly..."

"Excuses are done. Seems you think I'm unqualified as an instructor. Draw your sword, Sung Yu-jin."

He snatched Ji-gon's wooden sword and pointed it at me.

"I'll check myself if you're really that skilled."

"Instructor, just calm down a sec..."

"Hah! Take your stance! Sung Yu-jin!"

He swung. Not at a vital spot—aimed for my arm, so maybe not totally berserk. I raised my sword and blocked.

'If I'd just taken it, he'd bitch even more... I'll spar lightly and back off.'

His wooden sword moved again. Faster and heavier than before. I deflected, felt numbness shoot through my arm.

'Haven't even mapped the situation and this bullshit starts. Annoying as hell.'

Power surged into my sword. Mana writhed inside me.

"...Hoh. So you know how to handle qi. That's your arrogance's source! But you're far off! To use qi right, wield Yin Star Sword!"

Couldn't use Eternal Heaven Style. Would complicate shit—they'd peg it as some rival sect's art.

I stuck to basic swings, sparring Jong Seok-hong for a full hour.

"Hah... hah..."

Breathing ragged. Body trembling. Sweat dripped onto the dojo floor. Muscles at their limit.

Jong Seok-hong, not a drop of sweat, glanced at me and lowered his sword.

"That's it. Sung Yu-jin. If you don't wanna learn Yin Star Sword from me, then get out."

"...Yes, sir. I'm gone."

I dropped stance and walked straight out of the dojo.

"Yu-jin!"

"......"

I ignored Ji-gon calling from behind.

'Actually worked out better. Better they think I'm just rebelling than suspect I'm someone else.'

Way better than play-acting the good boy.

"Argh..."

Outside the dojo, I scratched my head.

'......Where the hell do I go?'

Buildings everywhere, dense forest-covered mountains beyond.

Wanted my room, but no clue where it was.

???

Asked some servants and made it back to my room. Immediately stripped—the sweat was gross.

'No idea where the baths are, so wet cloth for now.'

Mid-wipe, I froze. Black tattoo on my left shoulder: "Heaven."

'A tattoo? Pretty sure the original protagonist didn't have one of these...'

The moment my finger rubbed the "Heaven" character.

Ding!

A bowl of Golden Creation Pills materialized in midair and clattered to the floor in front of me.

I ignored it, glaring at the text only I could see.

'Mu Wang Online was one of the mixed creations. So it applies like this.'

Considering the voice from my dream before logging in, it was certain.

I was the protagonist of Painting of Radiant Ascensionand of Mu Wang Online.

"...Which means the protagonists from those other four creations are out there somewhere in this world too."

A chuckle escaped my lips.

Because the protagonists of those other four creations were all Heavenly Demons.

1. Fallen Heavenly Demon = Reincarnated Heavenly Demon.

2. Otherworldly Heavenly Demon = Transmigrated Heavenly Demon.

3. Heavenly Demon's Revenge Saga = Regressed Heavenly Demon.

4. I Woke Up and I Was the Heavenly Demon = Possessed Heavenly Demon.

5. Me = Player Heavenly Demon.

"Heavenly Demons fucking everywhere! Why not just go full Power Rangers Heavenly Demon squad?! Fuck!"