Chapter 175
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: Sun-Moon Corporation (3)
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If the martial art I dangled as bait hadn't been the Heavenly Demon Divine Art...
I probably would have kept up the impenetrable Geum Sihyeon mode indefinitely.
Why are demonic arts called demonic arts in the first place?
Most techniques branded with that name had utterly bizarre cultivation conditions that defied all reason.
Of course, according to what Master told me, most of those demonic arts had been shelved long ago.
The ones who broke off shouting "Long live the Blood Cult's independence!" had taken them all with them, at least.
A prime example would be the Heart-Devouring Demonic Art.
True to its name, it was a trash-tier technique that grew stronger the more hearts you chomped on like some deranged beast.
But...
"The Heavenly Demon Divine Art, you say?"
"Yeah."
"To me?"
"Who else? You're my Geum hubby, after all."
The sheer resonance of those four words—"Heavenly Demon Divine Art"—felt as grand and booming as my own inner energy reserves.
It was the signature technique of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, after all.
Cheon Luri's Heavenly Demon Ppoppak or her Heavenly Demon Death Beam—they were all powered by the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
Honestly, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous watching her use them.
Thanks to the Northern Bright Divine Art, I wasn't twisted up inside about it, but cheat skills are always more reassuring when you stack a bunch of them, right?
Suddenly...
Right before starting my fourteenth Murim life in my past incarnation—the Geum Sihyeon life—a strategy post I'd seen flashed through my mind.
[Title: (1.31 Version support) Complete Guide to Raising Your Murim Character]
[……
……]
Remember exactly 3 inner arts.
Dharma Reversal Meridian Scripture – Orthodox Start
Heaven-Rending Chaos Origin Art – Evil Faction Start
Heavenly Demon Divine Art – Demonic Cult Start
Of course, the Dharma Reversal is Shaolin exclusive, so yeah, insane performance but the minor downside of only unlocking the ascetic ending.
If you hate that, just tech into Purple Mist Divine Art for Mount Hua route or whatever.
That's the bare minimum to hit Flower Realm by sophomore year.
Any other random tech tree? You're looking at early junior year at best for Flower Realm.
Otherwise, it's YOU DIE ending, gg.
Remember this.
'Divine Arts' never lie.
[……
……]
Even as a second-year soul-possessed player who'd devoured countless guides...
Thanks to the Divine Mountain Ghost Vessel, my memories of that past life were still crystal clear.
Truth be told, after reading that guide and getting hyped about how broken the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was, I made a Demonic Cult bastard character... then scrapped it and U-turned to Geum Sihyeon.
Anyway.
What are Koreans like?
The victory-obsessed nation that has to win every game.
The efficiency-chasing nation that min-maxes even casual play.
Good character performance? Character collector nation.
Someone mocks your playstyle? Account nuke nation.
From that perspective...
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art...
"Well, uh, is there some kind of price? A favor or something?"
There was no reason not to learn it.
For free?
"Hmm. A price, you say."
A subtle smile played on Cheon Yuri's lips.
"If I had to name one... granting me a single wish?"
"No thanks."
I shot it down flat and stood up from my seat.
What wish? As if.
She could wish for something insane like, 'Now that you've learned the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, go burn the world and unify it under the Demonic Cult!'
Or, 'You've mastered the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, so you're officially the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's consort now. No harem tolerated.'—Cheon Yuri lays down the law, then Cheon Luri giggles and clings to me.
That'd be a nightmare.
Besides, in negotiations, you always seize the high ground first.
"Wait, hold on!"
I slipped into Buddha-mode Geum Sihyeon—desireless, selfless, empty-minded—and cleared my head in an instant.
Cheon Yuri was the one who lunged instead.
"The Heavenly Demon Divine Art! You don't want it?"
This felt weirdly familiar.
Master had definitely thrown similar flirting my way back then.
What did I say again?
Me! Great! Whatever!
...Nah, not that.
Something about how I was the Sword Demon, so learning swordplay from me was whatever, while pounding her chest.
"......"
"......Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Felt like your desperation was lacking. Guess I'll be going."
No chest-pounding? Might as well string her along a bit more.
Even as she watched Geum Sihyeon turn away with the transcendent air of an immortal detached from worldly desires...
Cheon Yuri couldn't wrap her head around it.
If it had been any other technique, she might have understood the rejection.
But this was the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
A peerless technique passed down solely to the cult leader, blossoming only in the hands of one with demonic talent across generations—destined to forge that era's Heavenly Demon.
And he rejected it just like that?
"......Luri. Is he always like this?"
"No. Geum Sihyeon. Greedy. Pig."
"Then why?"
"Dunno."
Even Luri, the mastermind behind the plan, furrowed her brow and blinked in wide-eyed confusion, as if she hadn't seen this coming.
No leaks beforehand, then.
And besides...
"The Heavenly Demon Divine Art... isn't that a supreme technique of vital importance to the Demonic Cult—no, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? Is it really okay to teach it to Sihyeon?"
Even Myo Narang, Luri's demure friend who'd been quietly listening in the background, couldn't hide her shock as she spoke up.
"I could teach you the incantation too, you know?"
"Huh?"
"Hee hee. No need to be so shocked. Anyone can learn the incantation, but cultivating it? Tricky business. You or Narang would probably hit Qi Deviation the moment you tried."
Her surprise lasted only a moment.
"......You're really going to teach something that dangerous to Sihyeon?"
Myo Narang had maintained her respectful demeanor as Luri's mother all along, but even she snapped with uncharacteristic venom, her face twisting.
A bit presumptuous for a mere late First-Rate novice addressing the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's leader.
Still, the affection for Geum Sihyeon bleeding through softened it, so Cheon Yuri decided to respond generously.
"It won't be dangerous for Geum Sihyeon, at least. Demonic qi is already dwelling in his body. Thanks to Luri."
"Yeah."
"......In that case......"
Myo Narang still looked unconvinced.
But with both Cheon Yuri and Cheon Luri vouching for his safety, she couldn't press further.
Ah, youth...
To stake your life on pleading for a man's sake...
Shaking off those brutal, cult-leader-worthy thoughts, Cheon Yuri organized her mind.
As she'd explained to Myo Narang...
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art held no meaning on its own.
Sure, with a name like "Ruler of Ten Thousand Demons," its raw power could surpass any divine art.
But the prerequisites...
One must have accumulated demonic qi oneself.
And resist being consumed by demonic nature.
Fail those, and Qi Deviation was inevitable during cultivation.
Yet from what Cheon Yuri had observed of Geum Sihyeon's inner world, he'd already met them.
However...
To reclaim the Heavenly Demon Divine Art's true power...
Not just endless training, but...
"I hope the Heavenly Demon Cave is intact."
"Pardon?"
"Hee hee, nothing. The master is away, so shall we call it?"
Each breakthrough in the Heavenly Demon Cave elevated the art's realm.
Thus, anyone who learned it would inevitably make cave breakthroughs their life's goal.
That was Cheon Yuri's true aim.
Use the Heavenly Demon Divine Art as bait.
The Heavenly Demon Cave to hook Geum Sihyeon for good.
But if he refused...
"Luri. How do we change his mind?"
"Hmm."
As they left the garden...
Cheon Yuri asked Luri.
After tilting her head and pondering...
"Force him."
Luri's answer.
"Hmm."
To Cheon Yuri, it wasn't a bad idea at all.
Right after returning to her quarters...
The mother-daughter duo put their heads together and began plotting to force Geum Sihyeon to his knees and implant the Heavenly Demon Divine Art into his dantian.
"Hee hee."
A wicked idea worthy of the Demonic Cult.
"......?"
Something cosmic just sent chills racing up my spine.
Maybe regret over passing on the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?
Why no?
I like love without strings
Forced wishes are meh
Um
I subtly hammered home my true feelings via Murim Talk.
"Phew."
Then tackled my backlog of work.
Gotta do what needs doing...
There were Geumhyeonmun matters too, but...
Student council president duties piled up during my absence outnumbered them by far.
I hated bringing overtime home like some corporate slave, but with this much to review, no choice...
If not for this...
I could've used the Heavenly Demon Divine Art as an excuse for some mother-daughter...
No, what am I thinking?
Slap!
Snap out of it, Geum Sihyeon!
I slapped myself to banish the filthy thoughts invading my mind, then dove back into the paperwork mountain.
And...
"Hm."
I spotted one important item.
Final selection for the school trip destination.
After all the effort with Seo Master and Ri Yeon, it wasn't Lake Dongting after all.
......Well, after that mess, pushing ahead with Lake Dongting would've drawn endless protests anyway.
Thus...
Our destination was...
"......What the hell? A school trip to Gyeongju?"
Mount Hua.