Chapter 97
Chapter 97.
The central area of Ten Thousand Demon Battle, which had been desolate except for the Sacred Fire and Heavenly Mandate Tower.
At least there was a residential area for the Lowest Grade Disciples to the north, but even that was just houses made of wooden boards.
'Stone flooring has been laid out completely.'
Around the central area where the Sacred Fire was located.
Flat stone flooring had been laid out completely.
This kind of floor construction didn't seem like something that could be done in just a week.
Moreover,
'One more building has been constructed.'
One was a circular building erected right near the Sacred Fire.
The building with pure white walls and reddish energy rising from it, giving off an ominous feeling, wasn't very large - about the size that would be packed if five or six people entered.
When Lee Ganghan went inside to take a look.
[Heavenly Fire Altar Lv.1]
An altar where offerings were made to maintain the Sacred Fire's flames during the early days of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
The Sacred Fire's firepower increases.
A building description appeared that he had never built before.
'Heavenly Fire Altar.'
It said it was an altar where offerings were made.
There's no particular mention of making offerings, just that the Sacred Fire's firepower increases.
'A strengthening effect without any cost... That's a good building?'
Lee Ganghan looked around the interior of the Heavenly Fire Altar.
When he couldn't find any particular unusual features, he went outside.
And when he walked to the central area where the Sacred Fire was located.
Hwareureuk...!
White flames burning more intensely than before caught his eye.
Last time, the firepower had been weakened because of the Lowest Grade Disciples.
The flames had noticeably strengthened in the span of a week.
"This level isn't a 'Dim Flame' anymore, is it?"
The Sacred Fire's current stage.
When Lee Ganghan said this while recalling the 'Dim Flame'.
Ttiring.
[Have you arrived, Heavenly Demon Lord.]
The Sacred Fire's message appeared before Lee Ganghan's eyes.
"The fire has gotten stronger?"
[Yes. The Heavenly Demon Divine Sect has achieved great development over the past week. Tremendous power descended from the Heavenly Demon Lord, allowing us to recover our firepower, and the construction of the Heavenly Fire Altar became possible. Also, through this, we were able to distribute work to the Lowest Grade Disciples more efficiently.]
When the Sacred Fire's firepower strengthened, new buildings like the Heavenly Fire Altar were built automatically.
And on top of that, the Lowest Grade Disciples could be worked even harder.
"The work distribution is why the floor was completely laid with stone like this?"
[Yes. Though it's still far from sufficient, we are striving to find an appearance befitting the main altar of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.]
"But what do you mean tremendous power descended from me... The Heavenly Demon Sacred Blood Formation was absorbed into my body, is it because of that influence?"
[Yes. That and the development of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art had a great influence on strengthening the Sacred Fire.]
"Hmm..."
[At this rate, the Sacred Fire will soon grow one more stage beyond the 'Dim Flame' stage.]
So the development of Heavenly Demon abilities directly affects the Sacred Fire too.
Lee Ganghan was nodding his head.
Suddenly, he recalled the 'star' he had seen before.
'Does the Sacred Fire perhaps know about that star?'
The 'star' he had seen while cultivating the Heavenly Demon Divine Art inside the Heavenly Demon Sacred Blood Formation.
Lee Ganghan asked the Sacred Fire if it knew anything about this, but.
[I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to. However...]
"However?"
[I don't know if I should express it this way, but it feels very nostalgic.]
Nostalgic.
The Sacred Fire?
"You feel nostalgic about that terrifying star?"
[Yes. I don't understand myself either.]
"Hmm."
Had the Sacred Fire always been this emotional?
When he saw the messages before, it felt businesslike and just efficiently administered Bone-Splitting Muscle-Tearing Torture.
'This must also be the influence of the Heavenly Demon Sacred Blood Formation.'
Lee Ganghan thought this way and then asked about his original purpose for coming here.
About 'Occupation Reservation'.
However,
[I'm sorry. I don't have any information about towers.]
The Sacred Fire seemed to be an expert only on the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect and Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
It was ignorant about tower-related information.
"Then do you have any information about the currently active Divine Maiden? She carved Ma on my chest."
[I don't have any information about the currently active Divine Maiden either.]
The Sacred Fire had no particular knowledge about Divine Maiden Yoo Doa either.
Instead.
[Shall I summon Lowest Grade Disciple Cheon Gahyeon?]
"Cheon Gahyeon?"
Cheon Gahyeon, who claimed to be a descendant of the Cheon clan, the Heavenly Demon's family.
And tried to steal the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect from Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
She might know something.
"Yes. Let me ask her."
[Understood.]
Not long after Lee Ganghan gave the instruction.
"...Why did you summon me, Heavenly Demon Lord."
Cheon Gahyeon walked over with an expressionless face.
Perhaps because she had received a lot of Bone-Splitting Muscle-Tearing Torture from the Sacred Fire, she was speaking respectfully in words.
But the venomous look that occasionally showed on her face remained the same.
"I met a Divine Maiden in reality. Do you know anything about her?"
"Divine Maiden? You saw a Divine Maiden...?"
"Yes."
Cheon Gahyeon made a surprised expression at Lee Ganghan's question.
"That's impossible. There's no way the Divine Maiden's lineage still remains..."
She shook her head while denying this.
"Why? The Cheon clan exists, so why wouldn't there be a Divine Maiden?"
"The Divine Maiden is a traitor to the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect!"
"Huh? You're saying the Divine Maiden is a traitor?"
"Yes. It was the Divine Maiden who led the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect to destruction. She led the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect to ruin and burned her own body... The Divine Maiden's lineage was cut off long ago."
So the Divine Maiden destroyed the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
Lee Ganghan frowned upon hearing this unexpected story.
'This is completely unbelievable.'
The last Divine Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect was the Divine Maiden ghost, Cheon Seran.
The one who had been a great help to Lee Ganghan, calling him Heavenly Demon Lord, Heavenly Demon Lord.
Turns out she was actually a traitor?
He couldn't imagine her betraying at all.
"How do you know that?"
"Because the Divine Maiden is the enemy of the Cheon clan! The family teaching has been passed down for generations not to forget the sect's enemy, the Divine Maiden. If not for her, the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect would have continued to prosper..."
"Really? But the last Divine Maiden was also a Cheon."
"What, what? What nonsense are you spouting!"
At Lee Ganghan's words.
Cheon Gahyeon, who had been trying to speak respectfully, burst out yelling.
"If you're going to insult me, just kill me instead!"
"You don't believe me even when I tell you the truth."
"Truth?! How can you spout such nonsense that the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect's thousand-year enemy, the Divine Maiden, is from the Cheon clan!"
Cheon Gahyeon became so excited her eyes rolled back.
[How dare she show such disrespect to the Heavenly Demon Lord... Shall I administer Bone-Splitting Muscle-Tearing Torture?]
"Never mind. Just send her home."
[Understood. I'll administer punishment there.]
"Retract what you said immediately! Heavenly Demon...!"
Whether the idea that the Divine Maiden was a Cheon was such a sore point.
Cheon Gahyeon kept yelling until the end.
Hwareureuk...!
Pure white flames blazed up and engulfed her entire body.
Her figure disappeared in an instant.
"You didn't kill her, right?"
[Yes. I sent her home.]
"Good job."
His original purpose for coming to Ten Thousand Demon Battle was to find out about 'Occupation Reservation'.
But somehow he ended up hearing an unexpected story.
Lee Ganghan recalled his original purpose for visiting Ten Thousand Demon Battle and decided to visit the residents of Ten Thousand Demon Battle.
'Karana is at the Orc Shaman's Altar.'
Karana, who was usually around the Sacred Fire.
However, perhaps because she brought Gershu Empire Orcs a week ago.
She seemed to be diligently attempting evolution at the Orc Shaman's Altar.
Since she was in the middle of concentrating, it would be rude to disturb her.
'I should ask that guy first.'
Lee Ganghan's gaze.
Turned toward the sword of light stuck near the Sacred Fire.
When he approached the sword.
Sssss...
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword with sleepy eyes revealed itself.
***
"Chief Disciple... It's been a while. Haven't you been entering towers lately...?"
"I was trapped somewhere for a week and couldn't go. I'll have to go again starting tomorrow."
"Ah... You weren't summoning me at all, so I thought... you switched to another weapon..."
The spirit nodded at Lee Ganghan's words and was about to go back into the sword.
"Wait. I have something to ask."
"Yes? Haam... I'm sleepy though..."
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword was yawning and rubbing its eyes.
"Today, 'Occupation Reservation' was placed on humanity's towers?"
When the topic of Occupation Reservation came up.
Its eyes widened.
"Occupation Reservation... So you've been formally incorporated into the Universe..."
"Yes. Do you know what this means?"
"I do know... But there's a prohibition, so... I can't tell you."
Even with formal incorporation, it can't speak because of the prohibition.
When Lee Ganghan was disappointed at not being able to get any useful information.
"But Occupation Reservation... How many races placed it?"
"18 races - 9 from Reserve and 9 from Prime."
"18 races...? Wow. So popular... Race 'Humanity' must look like complete pushovers..."
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword clicked its tongue when told that everyone except 1st place in Prime had placed reservations.
Though he had a feeling when other races were competing to place Occupation Reservations.
No matter how you looked at it, humanity seemed to be perceived as the weakest.
"Now, Chief Disciple... Tell them to support you more definitively at the national level..."
"Who? Me?"
"Yes... Tell them to bring out all the good swords... At least S-grade or higher..."
"You said you liked the Angel's Sword."
"No matter how delicious the food is... if you keep eating it, you get tired of it..."
So the reason it kept telling him to get national support was.
It wanted to get into good swords and come out.
"Then... I'll go to sleep..."
In the end, he couldn't properly hear about occupation-related stories because of the 'prohibition'.
The Spirit of Heavenly Sword went back into the sword.
'This makes it difficult to hear occupation-related stories from Ten Thousand Demon Battle summons.'
The tower's prohibition.
It still applies even after formal incorporation into the Universe.
Lee Ganghan decided in this situation.
He'd just drop by the Black Market to recover some items and go back.
Paaaaaat...!
When he opened a portal and entered the Black Market.
"Heavenly Demon Eternal! Ten Thousand Demons Prostrate!"
The Goblin Chief bowed first as always.
"Yes. Have you been well?"
"Yes! Oh, Heavenly Demon Lord! With the TP you entrusted to me last time, I purchased high-grade items!"
Saying this, the Goblin Chief guided Lee Ganghan to the warehouse.
The items he showed were B-grade spears and shields.
Lee Ganghan examined one of the items.
[Human Race Exclusive Hero's Spear]
Grade: B (B+ when equipped by Human race)
A long spear characterized by a sturdy spearhead and balanced shaft.
A spear used by an unnamed human hero.
When equipped by race 'Human', thrusting speed and accuracy are greatly improved.
B-grade human-exclusive items all with the 'Hero' modifier.
"Even if it's B-grade, since it's human-exclusive, there aren't few races that use it, so the price was somewhat high."
"Other races can equip it too?"
"Yes. There are disadvantages that the grade upgrade effect doesn't apply and the equipment size doesn't change to fit the race... But at B-grade level, many still use it considering those factors."
At B-grade level, other alien races still have some demand for it.
The Goblin Chief said the price was set at 50,000 TP each.
Still, this was a cheap price even considering other races would use it.
'At B+, I'll make even more than the 10x profit from last time.'
Lee Ganghan smiled with satisfaction and put the items in his inventory.
"This time I'll entrust you with 1 million TP."
"Yes, yes! Understood!"
When the TP entrusted jumped from 100,000 to 1 million.
The Goblin Chief asked cautiously.
"Then... shall I try purchasing items of higher grade than B next time? Or shall I focus on the quantity of items?"
"Hmm... Let's prioritize high-grade items. If there's something useful, I might equip it myself."
"Understood!"
Lee Ganghan decided to prioritize quality over quantity.
Moreover, if useful equipment came out, he planned to wear it instead of selling it.
After finishing a series of instructions to the chief.
The scenery of the Black Market recently caught Lee Ganghan's eye.
"There are noticeably more Goblins in the market."
"Ah. There were suddenly many today. Perhaps... was there formal incorporation into the Universe?"
"Yeah. I entered today. Is there a connection between that and the market activation?"
"Well..."
The Goblin Chief scratched his head.
Then continued speaking.
"The newly arrived merchants were saying a new race entered Universe 101, betting on how many months they'll last."
"Really?"
"Yes. They asked us to create a space where betting was possible, so we were setting up that environment..."
Goblin merchants.
Coming all the way here, instead of trading, they were gambling.
But betting on how many months humanity will last...
"Let's go take a look."
"Well... Yes. Understood. I'll guide you."
The Goblin Chief, who hesitated for a moment, provided directions.
Soon Lee Ganghan could see a gambling den set up outdoors.
Goblin merchants gathered in larger numbers than anywhere else.
"Kikkik... This won't make for a proper bet?"
"Let's make within 1 month, within 2 months too!"
Listening to the merchants' words and moving forward.
On a huge billboard made of wood.
[Universe 101 New Race 'Humanity' Elimination Possibility]
[Destruction within 3 months - 94%]
[Destruction within 6 months - 5%]
[Survival - 1%]
'Within 3 months?'
The opinion that they would be destroyed within 3 months.
Held an overwhelming majority.