Purity Pill Payday and the Swamp Goblins
I'd been down in the dumps yesterday. But today? I was on cloud nine.
Fathers Auction Gangbuk Branch. The Purity Pill you consigned has sold. Proceeds have been deposited into your account.
...What the hell? How many zeros is that? My chest swelled with pride on its own. Who am I? A broke-ass NEET owning a cool 180 million won. This is the life.
"Yeehaw!" I spun around in a circle and threw up a victory sign.
Gotta share this joy with the cultivators. Climber Gallery later. Right now, I just wanna bask in pure happiness.
Cheongsim had told me that. Avoid greasy stuff, stick to spiritual meals. But later it turns into fasting? "No need to eat" sounded like giving up gourmet joys for cultivation. But I can't ditch burgers and cola. A bland life like that? No thanks.
No replies after that.
"This world's lore is brutal. No talent? No value. Human rights don't exist, huh?" What even is the Dao?
Mentioning the Demonic Path drew out the lurkers.
And the debate exploded.
"Both sides are the same bullshit." Righteous seeing people as ants, Demonic as health food—felt no different. By age or realm, they might be right and me wrong. Maybe it's perspective. But who cares? Their world's another dimension from Earth. All I know is...
"Money and gallery trolling reign supreme." Materialism. Dopamine supremacy. Five thousand years of civilization prove cash and thrills are the ultimate dignity. Upper Realm who? I'm Earthling through and through. Time to grind for more dosh. Gotta flex.
"Entry!" I shook off the heavy thoughts and stepped into the Tower. Where's Myeolgeuk, though? Busy? Lol
Entering Tower Floor 2 (Yo-ma's Secret Realm)
Terrain: Swamp
Combat begins in 60 seconds
I blinked, and the same swamp from yesterday stretched out. The damp grassy scent tickling my nose felt almost nostalgic. Not that I'd get used to it.
"What's coming this time?" Tower's iron rule: Difficulty ramps up per floor. This stage's foes: at least two. Maybe three. Attributes could differ too. Xianxia staple: Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Eight Trigrams. Yesterday was wind—today probably something else. Even a slacker like me could guess that.
"Krack." Sure enough, alongside the 1st floor's wind goblin, one dipped its feet in the swamp's edge. Wearing a blue robe.
"Water today, huh..." I sighed. Life's tough. That fishy grin—is it racial? Pissed me off for no reason.
"Pew!" Combat kicked off with a clean ambush. Colorless, odorless air bullet. Only tell: the whoosh of slicing wind. But I'd prepped—head tilt. Dodged easy.
Need to learn a detection spell. Just floor 2. Higher up, all sorts of scum await. Prep early, stay smart.
Look at that goblin whipping water into a spear! Gimme back my basic bitch goblin!
"Krack!" Water goblin reared back like hurling a javelin, rubber-banding forward with a brutal water spear toss. Sharp harpoon aimed at my heart. Air bullet as bonus. Upgraded from scrub, but still sneaky goblin trash.
Raw power crushes all. Two Refining Energy Realm 1-stars? No diff. I'm 3-star mid-stage.
Flame Nourishing Fist
Snagged the heart-piercing water spear right up close. Steam rose from flame-wrapped palm. Sneaky air bullet slipped through.
"Ack!" Dodged the air bullet too—could've evaded the spear easy. But curious.
Feels like this. Water differed from fire: sharp yet yielding. Flow. Unique: spear kept seeping into my palm. Spell-made to infiltrate wounds on hit. Add poison?
"Water Realm hospitality sucks." Felt its kill-or-be-killed vibe digging into my hand. Monster cultivator thing? Or Water Realm norm?
"Krawrack!" Ranged failing, wind goblin charged. Zipping blind spots, scattering focus—smart tactics, shitty for my mood. Wind closed distance, water harassed. Water preps big move? Wind covers with bullets.
"Where's my basic goblin?" Their teamwork drew a dry laugh. Higher floors loomed. So I met 'em head-on. To gauge their strength.
Fireball
Fist-sized fireball canceled incoming spear. Steam cloud billowed. Leapt through, cocked fist at waist. Vision cleared—wind goblin's mug. Bullet-speed punch to its sleazy face. Annoyed me.
Thwack! Dull impact, head engulfed in flames. Hair crisped, flesh-stink wafted.
"Krawrack!!" Perma-frizz goblin raged. Fine body, bad hair day? Korean hospitality: cry and get extra. One-two hook combo gift.
Wind goblin crumpled, cheeks puffed. One down. Sneaky water left.
"Repeat after me: you're dead."
Poking water streams from afar—hated it from jump. Casters are melee DPS's nemesis.
Fireball
Reminder: I'm no caster. Comparing me to those scum? Rude. Noble hybrid here.
"Kronk!" Caster popped a sleazy shield. Round blue water dome.
"Kirik. Kirik." Water goblin grinned fishily. Yeah, I know. Fire weak to water.
But wildfire endures three days of downpour. Counters mean jack—class decides.
Flame-wrapped fist smashes jelly-like blue barrier.
Shield shattered like pudding on impact, exposing squishy innards.
"Kr... krack?" Goblin panicked. No escape—dashed for swamp. "Where?!" Grabbed its head, slammed ground.
Thud! "Kronk!!" Swamp-side, so soft ground cushioned. Tougher than expected.
But caster letting melee close? Doom.
"Take this!" Mounted, rained fists. Goblin sank deeper per hit. No dust cloud—nice.
"Be good next life." Buried deep, invisible. Tossed pebble in crater. Amen.
Sha Seng's Swamp Chapter #2 cleared
Reward: Spirit Stones 200g
Purity Pill x2
"Knew it!" Another 180 mil. Fees suck, though. Better way?
"Yes!" Dopamine surged. Joy overload. But still hungry. Stage's rich Spirit Qi boosted me, 1st floor blessing amped combat power. Post-fight realm: Refining Energy Realm 3-star late.
"To floor 3." Clean 4-star, then home.