Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Scroll
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I pulled out a pigeon from the Radiant Ascension Scroll and tossed it aside.
In the original story, the protagonist eats the pigeon and marvels at how delicious it is. That's because it had been inside the Radiant Ascension Scroll, making its meat quality far superior to that of an ordinary pigeon.
'Eating pigeons gives you diseases.'
No matter how tasty they claimed it was, a pigeon was still a pigeon. I had zero desire to eat one. A chicken, maybe, but not this.
'Now that I have the Radiant Ascension Scroll, I should test it out. What to put in first...'
I pondered.
The Radiant Ascension Scroll could hold anything you could hold in your hand. Even a tree bigger than my body—if I could lift it—would fit inside this small painting.
'...I'm thirsty.'
Fighting those minions and running around had left me pretty drained. I desperately craved some cool water.
I took a canteen out of my inventory. I was about to drink straight from it when I spotted the Radiant Ascension Scroll.
'Water should enhance quickly.'
I held the canteen up to the center of the Radiant Ascension Scroll—the beam of light descending from the sky—and rubbed it lightly. The canteen and my hand sank inside. Once it was fully in, I pulled my hand out.
A picture of the canteen had appeared in the center of the Radiant Ascension Scroll. The scroll's light began enveloping it.
'Can't take it out in this state.'
I had to wait until the enhancement finished. It was done when the light faded.
'How many minutes will it take? The plastic might make it over ten.'
The Radiant Ascension Scroll could only hold one item at a time. You could put things in a box and insert that, but it reduced efficiency. It took longer, and the results were underwhelming.
It also had a one-time enhancement limit per item. You couldn't put an already enhanced item back in.
'The longer the enhancement time, the better the effect.'
Even the same item didn't always yield consistent results. It might take longer sometimes. More time was good—it meant a superior upgrade.
The Radiant Ascension Scroll could enhance anything you could fit inside—water, fire, whatever.
'But not living things.'
More precisely, nothing with a soul. The pigeon had worked because it was already a dead corpse.
'Why was the pigeon in there? Either the previous owner put it in to make it tastier, or it flew into the scroll, died on impact, and its body got sucked in by coincidence. One of the two.'
I preferred to believe the latter.
Such an incredible treasure couldn't afford to be exposed.
'Yeah, the latter. In the original story, no one knows about the Radiant Ascension Scroll except the protagonist who gets it.'
I stared at the Radiant Ascension Scroll, lost in thought.
My original plan had been to take it back to reality.
'Items with special powers lose effectiveness in reality. This scroll would be the same.'
To use its full power, I had to do it here in this world. Bring items from reality, enhance them here.
'Some enhancements take days, months, even years... Better to do it here.'
This world extended your lifespan with higher realms. There were even items that boosted longevity.
'Plus, in reality, months-long enhancements could finish in seconds here thanks to auto-progress.'
All things considered, using the Radiant Ascension Scroll was best done in this world.
"Oh."
The light around the canteen in the painting faded. Enhancement complete. It had taken about ten minutes.
I reached into the Radiant Ascension Scroll and pulled out the canteen. It looked identical to before—no visible changes.
I unscrewed it and gulped down the water.
"Grrraaah!"
The taste was unreal. It felt like pure spring water seeping into every part of my body.
'Cooking ramen with this or making drinks would be a goldmine.'
The canteen emptied fast. I squeezed the plastic bottle. It crumpled with a crunch.
'Tougher than a regular one.'
Not surprising, as expected.
'In the original, the protagonist uses it early on for herbs.'
Put herbs in, and there's a low chance they become spirit herbs infused with spiritual energy. Low-grade ones, at best.
Withered or rotten herbs come out as high-quality ones. Low-grade spirit herbs upgrade to better ones.
'Protagonist grinds herbs early game.'
Digging them up daily from mountains and enhancing via the scroll. Eat the spirit herbs himself, sell the rest for cash.
'Do that tedious crap every day? Hell no.'
Stealing herbs and spirit herbs was way easier and more efficient.
'First up, enhance the Hwaranbi Sword. It's my most-used and cherished weapon.'
I placed the Hwaranbi Sword inside the Radiant Ascension Scroll. Its image appeared in the painting, enveloped by light.
It would take a while. It wasn't ordinary.
'Days? Maybe months.'
I rolled up the Radiant Ascension Scroll and tucked it into my pocket. Not the inventory—time stops there, halting enhancement.
'Test that later just in case... For now, search the minion's hut for anything useful.'
Stuck for two hours due to the formation, I was bored.
At the hut, I was disappointed.
'Fitting for a beggar bastard—mostly trash.'
A few items with faint yin energy caught my eye. Probably for sorcery.
'Grab 'em anyway. Sell for pocket change.'
More money never hurt.
I took what was worth taking and left. Spent the remaining time reading the novel, then returned to the Meteor Sword Sect.
A special mission has been generated! You are currently at Entry Posture 5th Dan. To save the heavens, you must grow stronger quickly, but you have no intention of doing so. Thus, I propose the following. Reach Entry Posture 6th Dan within 100 days. Success Reward: Strong Body Pills x3
Strong Body Pill
Makes your body more robust. Consuming it enhances physical abilities.
Back at the Meteor Sword Sect, I went about my routine.
Mornings training Silver Star Sword with Seong Ji-gon, afternoons banging the female servants. I wanted to hit Hunan's streets for debauchery, but house arrest wasn't lifted yet.
'When will the Hwaranbi Sword enhancement finish?'
Five days passed. Auto-progress meant only five real hours, but not using my go-to weapon made me antsy.
I checked the Radiant Ascension Scroll. The light around the Hwaranbi Sword showed no sign of fading.
'...Seriously months?'
As I shook my head to leave—
A computer-game alert popped up before my eyes.
??? (Already styled above)
My eyes lit up at the alert.
Strong Body Pill!
First time hearing it, but the effect screamed spirit pill.
'Entry Posture 6th Dan in 100 days? Not easy.'
This world divides realms into 1st to 10th Dan.
1st Dan: Entering the realm. 10th Dan: Peak, prepping for the next.
'Dividing by Dan is vague.'
Hard to tell visually. Might mistake 1st for 2nd, 5th for 6th.
'That's why they use Initial Dan, Middle Dan, Upper Dan, etc.'
Masters gauge exactly by feeling the opponent's energy inside.
'Entry Posture builds energy inside. Exit Intent expels it outward. Five Qi forms an inner core and handles five energies.'
Various ways to distinguish, but instinct works too. Like me.
'To hit Entry Posture 6th Dan... Need more energy accumulated.'
Qi—mana. I'm good at handling it; just need more stored.
'Answer's spirit pills.'
Radiant Ascension Scroll eases it, but it's busy with the sword.
'Can't pull the sword early... Prep for when it's done.'
Meteor Sword Sect has sect leader-approved zones.
One's the Medicinal Herb Garden.
The Medicinal Herb Garden grows herbs and spirit pills.
Essential for growth here. Pure sword swinging has limits. Big sects all have them.
'Original protagonist only stole a few when the sect fell. I'm different. Steal every herb there.'
I can.
I've got inventory, unlike the protagonist.
'Heh... Enhance stolen spirit pills right away. Can't wait.'
???
House arrest ended.
I didn't rush to the city. Aimless partying would get me busted again.
'Gotta play diligent.'
Reduce city trips. Train diligently five days a week, party two. Sect leader and elders would buy it.
To fake diligence, I trained with Seong Ji-gon. He's the sect's model of hard work. Just being with him boosts my rep.
'The elders don't know he bangs servants daily. Or collects virgin pubic hair as a hobby.'
Lately, he joins me in the city for women.
'Seong Ji-gon. Total perv.'
Oddly, he prefers older commoner women over young pretty courtesans. Still likes beauties, being a guy.
Once I asked.
"Why avoid courtesans? Not hot enough?"
"Don't hate 'em. Just... feels less exciting knowing any guy with cash can have them."
"Yet you bang married women fine."
"Different vibes."
"Most your types are old."
"Mature women turn me on. Young ones? Meh. Virgins bleed too—blood on my dick... Ugh, hate it."
He likes pretties but doesn't discriminate. If she fits his taste, even ugly gets it.
"Looks matter less than pussy. Tight's nice, but a bit loose feels better."
"Weirdo."
"You're weirder, Yu-jin."
Good for me. Different tastes mean no fighting over girls. He always yields virgins to me.
And lets me go first.
"You first? Fine by me. Why?"
"You skip 'em after I cum inside."
"No girl's that hot post-creampie."
"Watching you fuck gets me going too."
100% perv confirmed.
And tonight.
Seong Ji-gon and I headed to the city. Booked an inn room, ate and drank till night. Then back to the room, donned masks.
Eating there was alibi. Dumped booze discreetly, drank water. Can't risk drunken mishaps on a job.
"Yu-jin, where tonight?"
"Where'd we hit last week?"
"Farmhouse outskirts."
"Yeah, that daughter's virgin pussy was tight. Tonight, Ban-eun Merchant Group steward's house."
I hadn't forgotten getting house arrest over Ban-eun Merchant Group.