The World Turned Upside Down
1st-floor clear goblin. Short, ugly, the epitome of trash mobs that hide in bushes and harass awakeners with poison needles. They're the tutorial monsters on the Tower's 1st floor, with pathetically weak combat power. Just watch out for their sneaky, underhanded tricks like poison needles or traps, and their tendency to swarm in packs, and hunting them is a breeze. Even an ordinary adult man could take one down easily with just a club... or so it should have been.
"What the hell are you?"
"Kruk."
Its appearance matched exactly what I'd seen in internet videos, government-issued guides, and field mob response manuals. About a meter tall, with sly eyes. Pointed ears. Saw-like teeth peeking between its lips. Physically, it was the goblin I knew.
But the expression was different. The trash mob's face, which should have been brimming with mischief and malice, overflowed with arrogance. As if declaring itself a chosen being.
"...The world's gone upside down."
A sigh escaped me naturally. I'd seen it in a concept post on the Xianxia Gallery.
Monster Cultivator. A term for beasts, yokai, or strange entities that coincidentally gained Spirit Qi.
"Kiruk, kiruk. Kiruk."
Incredibly, the goblin in front of me, smirking with the gaze of a predator eyeing prey, was a Monster Cultivator.
Heavenly Human Qi seedlings, listen up. Especially you Qi Refinement folks. Just don't step outside the sect. If your skills are lacking, don't meddle in other people's business. Why do you keep sticking your noses in and dying left and right...?
But the world doesn't bend to my will. So etch this into your minds. This post might save your lives.
Here are the threats you young juniors need to watch out for when first venturing into the world.
1. Don't let your guard down around fellow humans. Especially kids, women, and elders. You especially—ugly as sin and women are fawning over you? 100% a demon trying to suck you dry. Wash your face with cold water.
2. Yo-ma (Monster Cultivators)
Yeah, yo-ma. Vile beings that target cultivators' essence. Also called Monster Cultivators. The scummy types that drag even secluded spirit beasts into disrepute.
Most yo-ma are lowly beasts that luckily formed a dantian through some fluke. There are natural-born ones too—they're like natural disasters, so I'll cover them later.
Anyway, these guys ignore the Dao and wreak havoc on instinct. But their abilities aren't weak, so stay sharp...
"Heavens. What did I do to deserve this?"
I hadn't asked for much. Just 1kg of mana stones a month. That's 10 million won exchanged. That was my goal. Pretty modest, right? 1kg is the weight of a liter of water. Super light.
Other C-rank awakeners make more, so my target seems humble. But is the world itching to torment me?
"Kruk."
The green monster smirked slyly and reached into its robes. Dressed neatly in cultivator garb, no less.
The world really is upside down.
A Monster Cultivator is a yo-ma type cultivator. Meaning this thing was at least an entry-level Qi Refinement practitioner. Probably 1-star. Anything higher would be crossing the line.
"Hoo. No choice, then."
I lowered my stance to match the goblin's movement. The die was cast—if I wanted to live, I had to kill it. Surprisingly, my heart wasn't racing. Did the cultivation art boost courage?
I vividly remembered the vibrant Spirit Qi surging when I first entered 1-star, so I should have been tense... Whatever. As long as I wasn't shaking, it was fine. And since it was just the 1st floor, it couldn't be that hard—
At that moment, the goblin sucked in its cheeks and spat something from its mouth.
Pew-!
Wait, what was the hand in the robe for? A feint?
Thanks to my lowered center of gravity, I dodged the attack just in time. Glancing down, the floor was cratered where it hit. That power could've broken bones. The weird part? I had no idea what it spat... No way?
"Fuck. It's Wind Breath!"
Pew-. Pew-!
The goblin grinned mockingly and fired air bullets in rapid succession. It was using wind arts—techniques compressing and shooting air. Luckily, the projectiles weren't too fast to dodge. Qi Refinement 1-star, I guess?
Anyway, no problem. Perfect for an ambush kill—
My life never goes that way. I shook out my hands and stepped forward.
Pew-! Pew pew-!
The bastard kept firing its sneaky air bullets. But once I got the hang of it, a quick head tilt was enough to evade. Not as tough as I thought?
"Gruk?"
The goblin hesitated in surprise. Time for it to taste my rage. My grand plan to breeze through on hard mode and feast for free was ruined. A Wind Breath goblin on floor 1? What the hell?
"Gruk!"
Realizing ranged attacks weren't working, the goblin drew a dagger from its robes. The dark blue liquid on the blade hinted at nasty poison.
"You've got it all."
"Graaak!"
It howled ferociously and charged. My first real combat, facing killing intent for the first time. Armed with a sharp weapon, no less. Yet my heart stayed calm. I didn't remember being this bold.
But as I circulated my Spirit Qi, power welled up and courage bloomed. Hyeonmaeng's Red Lotus Refinement Art, tempering the body with fire Qi. Cheongsim's Myriad Meridian Self-Genesis, boosting recovery and vitality, making meridians tough as tree roots. Myeolgeuk's Intertwined Lotus Flame, igniting pure flames in succession.
All named with "Art" instead of "Method" or "Formula"—probably because they include mental cultivation. My Dao Heart, built alongside the dantian, stood unshakeable like a rock in a gale.
Dochi called this another form of clarity of mind.
And so, now. I grinned back at the charging, roaring goblin and clenched my fist.
Kruk-.
Flame Fist (from Red Lotus Refinement Art)
As my five fingers closed, flames erupted. One of the techniques from the Red Lotus Refinement Art: Flame Fist. Reinforcement and explosion were its hallmarks.
Meanwhile, the goblin hurled the dagger in its hand and drew another with its free one. Wind affinity made its movements nimble.
Swish-.
I sidestepped diagonally, dodging the face-aimed dagger. My lowered stance. Instant stop. The recoil from the abrupt halt traveled from my toes, up my legs, through my waist, to my right hand.
Then, the uppercut.
Splat-!
Unlike me, the goblin couldn't change direction—my flaming fist smashed its face.
"Kroong!!"
Its twisted mug and the sparks flying from my fist made a beautiful harmony. A perfect counter punch, timed like a script. The direct hit launched the goblin into the air.
Brief airtime. Our eyes met.
I smirked.
"Ki, kirik. Kiririk."
Grinning widely, I raised my leg and whipped it like a lash.
Thud-!
My body moving exactly as intended gave an intoxicating thrill. Like switching from a compact car to a sports car. I could probably pull off those comic-book moves now.
Fuck. This is it!
Electric. Refreshing. Tingling through my body like current. Chills overflowing, dizzying euphoria flooding my brain.
In that moment, conversations with the gallery folks flashed through my mind.
And Cheongsim summed it up.
That's why? Just confirming my abilities and feeling my growth pushed my realm up.
"Qi Refinement 3-star!"
My Spirit Qi purified in real time, senses expanding. Vision sharpened. The earthy scent thickened in the air filling my lungs. Touch grew keener, wind rustling leaves sounding closer. My bouncing body felt light. I could feel physical abilities and senses improving with the realm.
It was an uncontrollable joy.
Heavenly Tribulation? Whatever. No worries. I'm a Heavenly Seedling, after all.
But what are you doing?
While I pondered my growth, the goblin pulled a cute stunt.
"Grong!!"
It had somehow gotten rabbit ears and was pressing a dagger to the white nape. Threatening me, apparently. The rabbit's wide eyes welled with tears, body trembling pitifully, stirring sympathy.
"Kuk. Kruk."
The goblin curled its lip in a vile grin, as if asking if a Dao-seeking cultivator could sacrifice innocent life.
"Sorry, but I'm no sage."
Flame Orb
At 3-star Qi Refinement, my now-proficient Flame Orb incinerated the goblin's head. Simultaneously, the trembling rabbit popped—poof!—into a paper scrap.
What a cheap trick. I hadn't fired without hesitation because I was heartless. My sharpened senses at 3-star detected no life in it.
Honestly, even if it were real, I'd have blasted it anyway.
"Not easy."
Just the 1st floor, tutorial zone. If the Wind Breath goblin had ambushed from hiding, I'd have been done for. Plus paper puppetry. Climbing the Tower won't be as simple as I thought.
"My life's never easy..."
But encouragingly, rewards match hardship. Caught a Monster Cultivator goblin? Easy peasy. I'll admit it. Comparable Tower monsters? Goblin shamans on floor 7. This was blatant overbalance. At 1-star, I'd have struggled.
Yo-ma's Secret Realm Swamp Chapter #1 CLEARED
The awaited system alert rang. Clutching my pounding chest, I waited for rewards. Mana stones would spawn any second—
"...Huh?"
A big letdown for me, expecting blue mana stones. Low-grade Spirit Stones. Pretty rocks worth 10,000 won per kg.
That was my clear reward.
"Wahhh!"
I heard my grand dreams crumbling. Farewell, penthouse. Farewell, strawberry delight yogurt blended with all the toppings. Farewell, flex life...
But you never know till the end.
First Clear Bonus Granted
◈ Removes impurities, cleanses meridians.
◈ Excellent for skin care and anti-aging, rich folks go crazy for it.
"Huh? Pu-Purity Pill?!!!"
1 billion won per pill skin care (sorta) in my hands.
"Jackpot!"
And that wasn't all.
Astonishing record: Ranked #1!
Blessing of Valor granted as reward.
Whoa. Sweet as hell?