The Heavenly Demon Raises Her Realm (2)

Peak Realm, huh. I had been thinking I'd reach it someday. After all, I figured it would be better to keep at least a minimum amount of strength ready for the various incidents that would surely come. That said, since having too much power would ruin my own fun, I planned to linger comfortably somewhere between the Peak Realm and the Transcendence Realm. That was the scheme, at least.

But as I busied myself with one thing and another, it naturally got pushed to the back burner. There were several reasons for that. The first that comes to mind is that I've spent my time learning all sorts of things from Baru in order to master Taoist magic. Instead of absorbing the surrounding inner energy and performing energy circulation as I originally would have, I've been receiving her teachings, so progress was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bound to be sluggish. The fact that I haven't felt any particular need to raise my realm until now is another reason. Since I can solve most matters with my current body, the whole concept of realms stopped seeming important.

In truth, those are all just excuses. The most crucial issue lies elsewhere. It is that I have already walked the path of the Peak Realm once before. The species known as martial artists each have their own reasons for obsessing over realms. Some seek higher stages to obtain greater power. Others desire realms for the sake of their martial arts' completion. Still others crave them for fame or status. This is not a discussion of what is right or wrong. It is simply that every martial artist has their own reasons.

My own reasons were varied. In the beginning, I pursued the realm involuntarily, without even understanding why. I had no choice; I was gripped ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by the terror that I would die without knowing the reason if I did not. Afterward, I sought it for revenge. I cultivated my strength in the hope that everyone would fall into the same miserable state as I had. Once everything was over, I moved forward driven by curiosity. Simply wondering what might lie at the end of the path I had walked until now, I stepped forward again and again. It is the same even now. I remain a traveler pioneering a road out of pure curiosity. My footsteps can only head toward places I have never trodden. Why, then, would I take any interest in a path I have already passed? Following a road whose every step is already known would be utterly dull.

Naturally, I did not share any of this with Baek Hwaryeong. It would only annoy the fellow walking far ahead if I spoke of such things.

The words I spat out, instead of my complicated feelings, were a frivolous joke. After all, I had already died once as the price for running my blood points wild and then returned.

Baek Hwaryeong, who had been smoking her long pipe, raised one eyebrow at the remark and let out a snort along with a puff of smoke.

Three things are generally required to reach a martial realm: internal energy, the body, and enlightenment. If asked which is most important, most would answer enlightenment. Internal energy can be sufficiently supplemented through other means, and the body can be trained. Enlightenment, however, does not work that way. It is purely a matter of talent. No matter how outstanding the martial art learned, no matter how powerful the master, without talent one cannot cross the wall of a realm. In the murim world, even someone expected to become the next sect leader and given full support can end up a cripple for failing to attain enlightenment. For martial artists, enlightenment is inevitably both an object of longing and an object of hatred.

Yet I am infinitely free from such worries. As I said earlier, it is a path I have already walked. As long as I replenish the internal energy in my dantian, I can raise my realm as much as I wish.

When I said that with a laugh, Baek Hwaryeong answered as if spitting the words out.

Staring at that smile brimming with heat and greed, I could no longer hold back my chuckle. Yes. This is how it should be. Anyone who uses the Heavenly Demon Divine Art ought to be exactly like this.

After escorting Baek Hwaryeong back to the Heavenly Demon Cult, the thought occurred to me, so I decided to raise my realm. To prepare for the various events that would come. And to avoid dying every time an incident occurred because I had to press my own blood points. Although this body could be used and discarded, turning into a terminal case with every major fight was not exactly pleasant.

With that lighthearted mindset, I asked Seol-ah if there was a suitable method to increase my internal energy.

If I simply absorbed the surrounding energy with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and performed energy circulation, I would soon reach the Peak Realm. How could I not know that? Yet that would only mean walking the same path again. There was no urgency, so I had no desire to repeat the exact same route. Since I had already become a bizarre existence that did not belong in the original murim, wouldn't it be more entertaining to use an equally bizarre method that suited me?

When I explained it roughly that way, Seol-ah let out a wry smile.

"There are a few methods used among Hwaryong Muin users."

The primary way players of Hwaryong Muin increased their internal energy was through quests. The word itself was familiar. The quest that had led me to Mount Hua, and the one I received when heading to the ronin inn for my Taoist magic training last time, had both been quests. Even now, without checking, I was sure a mountain of them had piled up.

Whoa. It already felt fresh. Normally when people spoke of increasing internal energy, it involved consuming elixirs or performing circulation. But quests? And not even traveling around performing training, but simply repeating the most efficient task in a single location. Haha. Just what did these people think murim was? It was game-like, to be sure, but from a martial artist's perspective it felt like something that might make one want to curse.

If I had not been a user like Seol-ah, I might have actually said something. While I was smiling at that thought, Seol-ah continued.

Seol-ah's explanation went like this. I could accept nearly any request. No matter what difficulty appeared, I possessed the ability to overcome it. So what was the problem? It was simple. It was the karma I had accumulated in the world of Hwaryong Muin so far.

I was the one who had overturned the Murim Alliance last time. There had been justification, the target of my revenge had been clear, and the damage inflicted had not been excessive, so we had not officially become enemies. But that was the extent of it. Our relationship was already beyond repair. Me receiving a request from the Orthodox faction? Impossible. I'd be lucky if they didn't attack me on sight. Hiding my name, changing my face, and switching the martial arts I used might make it possible, but since there were other options, there was no need to go that far.

Even before meeting me, and even after, Seol-ah had been an extremely enthusiastic girl when it came to the world of Hwaryong Muin. To the point that Harin had gotten fed up, calling her someone who played while shaving away her lifespan. Consequently, Seol-ah knew a great deal about Hwaryong Muin. That repeatable quest was surely one of her pieces of special knowledge.

After listening to Seol-ah's explanation, I nodded, thinking it did not seem particularly difficult.

My viewers were fellows with many twisted sides. If I reached the Peak Realm without saying anything and then showed myself, they would definitely cause an uproar. It was something I had experienced several times before. By now I could clearly picture exactly what nonsense they would spout.

Seeing the girl look at me with sparkling eyes, a helpless chuckle escaped. Yes. I understand your heart well. In the future as well, I shall do my best to roll you around properly.

"And so, today's broadcast is from Hwaryong Muin."

I stroked Baru, who had taken up position near my neck. I had not originally planned to bring her. The task I was about to do seemed likely to be tedious work. It was not a novel experience, nor could I feed her delicious food, so there was no point in waking Baru from her sweet sleep.

However, contrary to my expectations, Baru had approached me first. Asking where I thought I was going alone. Seeing the usually indifferent fellow cling to me like this, it was clear that the story about Neungneung-i last time had stimulated her jealousy. I wondered if this was what the kids these days called push-and-pull. It was more enjoyable than expected.

Watching Baru, who had been nodding off and then lifted her face the moment my hand touched her, a laugh slipped out.

I would finish this quickly and treat Baru to something delicious. So please refrain from saying it is not fun or that you are disappointed simply because I will be proceeding with a serious expression.