Chapter 1217 – 1217. Ascending To The Light
Fifteen days passed, and we returned to the Heavenly Demon Church. The task of wrapping up things at Baeksan Fortress was left to the Baeksan branch of the Heavenly Demon Church. We had practically spoon-fed them everything, so unless they were utterly incompetent, they would successfully take control of Baeksan Fortress.
The results of this trial were announced on the day we arrived at the Training Grounds.
“I will announce the squads that have completed their missions and accumulated the most merits. Squad 1, Squad 4, Squad 11…”
Training Grounds Chief Bae Taek-ju calmly called out the squads. No one opposed his decisions. Especially when Squad 1 was called first, everyone understood.
Squad 1 was a gathering of the best among the first group. They had received much more difficult missions than other squads, and Yeon Ye-ha’s performance in the war was remarkable, with 567 battles.
Due to that, Yeon Ye-ha even earned a new nickname.
The Baeksan Witch. It was a nickname given to her for killing enemies while scattering white sword energy in Baeksan. The inclusion of “witch” in her nickname also meant that she was fully recognized as a member of the Heavenly Demon Church.
“Next, I will announce the squads that have fallen below standards. Squad 15, Squad 19, Squad 21… A total of 17 squads will be demoted. Among them, 46 will be dismissed. I will announce them now.”
Bae Taek-ju called out the numbers. The trainees who were called lowered their heads. They would be leaving the Training Grounds today.
They could leave the Heavenly Demon Church and join a decent sect, or they could join another Heavenly Demon Church unit and work as a church member.
The latter was overwhelmingly more likely. Once they had tasted the power of the Heavenly Demon Church, no other mediocre sect would catch their eye. And if they had endured half a year at the Training Grounds, other departments of the Heavenly Demon Church would easily accept them. In a way, this was also one of the intentions behind the Heavenly Demon Church establishing the Training Grounds.
I only moved my eyes to look around.
‘There are about 300 people left in the Training Grounds.’
Now, there was only half a year left of training. When it was time to graduate from the Training Grounds, there wouldn’t even be 100 people left.
‘According to the original story, it won’t even be more than 50… but I can’t be sure it will go according to the original story.’
I didn’t think much of it.
Unless the protagonist or a significant supporting character of the original story died, if I didn’t interfere and left it alone, most of it would go according to the original story.
“This trial was special. Although it was a trial, you worked for the church. The church does not forget favors and grudges. I will bestow elixirs, starting with those who have achieved excellent results. Number 567, come forward.”
Yeon Ye-ha stepped forward. Bae Taek-ju opened the wooden box he had received from the instructor for everyone to see.
Inside the box was a single black pill. A pure demonic energy was felt along with a pungent scent. Everyone swallowed hard.
“I will bestow the Demonic Crystal Pill to the top 10 performers, including number 567, and the Ghost Shadow Pill to the rest.”
The Demonic Crystal Pill increased the amount of internal energy and purified the murky demonic energy to some extent.
The Ghost Shadow Pill was an elixir about three levels below the Demonic Crystal Pill. It increased internal energy when consumed.
“Number 88, number 366, number 123, number 290…”
Bae Taek-ju called out the numbers. Everyone in Squad 1, including me, received the Demonic Crystal Pill.
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the Demonic Crystal Pill in the wooden box.
‘To be honest, it won’t be of much help to me.’
I was on the verge of reaching the Three Perfections Realm. I just needed to cross a wall that wasn’t even solid or high, but it wasn’t easy. An elixir like the Demonic Crystal Pill wouldn’t help me.
‘I’ll pretend to eat it and give it to someone else. It’s a bit much to give it to Namgung Seol or Namgung Rin. The Demonic Crystal Pill is an elixir specialized for martial artists who have mastered demonic arts.’
After thinking for a while, I decided how to use the Demonic Crystal Pill.
***
The trainees were given a week of rest.
They could go outside the Training Grounds, or they could train inside the Training Grounds. Most went outside to relieve stress.
Now, after half a year, the instructors’ surveillance had also become lax. The trainees and instructors had become accustomed to each other. There were hardly any trainees who would cause trouble at the Training Grounds now. There was only half a year left until graduation. No one wanted to cause trouble here and have their grades reduced.
Anyway, the important thing was that the instructors were also given a break, and surveillance had become lax.
I called Seo Mun-so-ryeo to the back of the training grounds, a place where there were no people.
Hidden by Yeon Ye-ha’s beauty, Seo Mun-so-ryeo was also a beauty who wouldn’t be outdone anywhere. She was tall, about 5cm shorter than me.
Her arms and legs were long. Her lower body was longer than her upper body. Her chest was about a C cup, a size that overflowed when held in one hand. Her hips were more developed than her chest.
She had a ponytail, her abundant black hair tied up. It came down to her thighs.
Her face was neat. Her skin was clean and white, and her features were distinct. Her bangs were parted 8 to 2, revealing her forehead. She was a woman with an attractive forehead.
“Number 123. What is this important thing you wanted to say?”
When I kept my mouth shut and remained still, Seo Mun-so-ryeo opened her mouth first. There was a slight sharpness in her voice. But it wasn’t messy, it was clean. She would be well-suited to be a news anchor.
“I have a proposal.”
“A proposal? Let’s hear it.”
“Number 290. This is a proposal that you might find somewhat unpleasant. I’ll say it in advance. If you reject my proposal, I will step back and forget about this.”
“Yes. Speak.”
Seo Mun-so-ryeo said with a blank face.
At first glance, you might mistake her for a woman like Yeon Ye-ha, but I, who knew the original story, knew that she was a passionate woman. She was a heroine more suited to the righteous sects than the Demonic Church.
The reason Seo Mun-so-ryeo joined the Heavenly Demon Church was because she was a woman and had no roots in any sect. She had received martial arts from a hidden master. Only martial arts. And it was demonic martial arts.
“I want to hold you.”
Seo Mun-so-ryeo’s face turned cold.
“…I knew you liked alcohol and women. But this is crossing the line.”
A wind blew around Seo Mun-so-ryeo. It was a wind generated by rapidly raising her internal energy. I didn’t retaliate. If I used my internal energy here? That meant we were trying to kill each other.
Instead, I took out two wooden boxes from my pocket.
“Of course, I’m not just saying it. I’ve prepared a price.”
I opened the wooden boxes.
Two elixirs exuded their presence.
One was the Wisdom City Pill. It was the most necessary elixir for Seo Mun-so-ryeo, who was on the verge of reaching the Threshold of Understanding.
The other was the Demonic Crystal Pill I had received yesterday.
Seo Mun-so-ryeo gasped. Her momentum was dampened by the amazing items.
“…Number 123. Are you out of your mind? The Wisdom City Pill and the Demonic Crystal Pill… You could buy several brothels just by selling them.”
“But you’re not in those brothels. I want to hold you.”
“……Ha, this is absurd.”
Of course. There would be no madman in this world who would give the Wisdom City Pill and the Demonic Crystal Pill just to hold a woman. Especially in the case of the Demonic Crystal Pill, it was like a treasure to martial artists who had mastered demonic arts. And the more treasures, the better. Although she had already received the Demonic Crystal Pill, greed would arise. As proof, she was now seriously considering my proposal.
If it had been Seo Mun-so-ryeo a month ago, this proposal would not have worked.
But it was different for Seo Mun-so-ryeo now. She was now craving power.
‘She was stimulated by Yeon Ye-ha’s performance in the Baeksan War. Since that day, Seo Mun-so-ryeo has been working hard at training every night. The reason she didn’t go outside the Training Grounds during this rest period was also for training.’
The probability of her accepting my proposal now was about 70%. Unlike Yeon Ye-ha, she had no background. There was no reason for her to keep her chastity.
“…I’m curious why you’re offering the Demonic Crystal Pill. You need to eat it to get stronger, right? Moreover, you’ve even mastered the Great Absorption Technique. You need to purify the demonic energy.”
“Are you worried about me?”
“I’m just asking because I don’t understand.”
“I have a better compatibility with the Great Absorption Technique than you think. The instructors who were watching how I used the Great Absorption Technique were surprised. And I’m not so weak that I absolutely need the Demonic Crystal Pill. I want you more than that.”
“……Are you serious?”
“I can give them to you right here.”
“What if I take the elixirs and pretend not to know you?”
“The you I know is not that kind of woman.”
“…You’re foolish. What do you know about me… But I feel good, though.”
“Then are you accepting my proposal?”
“……”
Seo Mun-so-ryeo stared at the Demonic Crystal Pill and the Wisdom City Pill with greedy eyes. She quietly shook her head as if cutting off her greed.
“I’m too precious to sell my life for just two elixirs. My value is more than that.”
“I agree. Instead, let’s change the condition. One month. Be my woman for 30 days.”
“……What is your purpose?”
“Are you dissatisfied?”
“Of course not. It’s a good condition for me. It’s so good that it’s suspicious.”
“It’s not because I have a special purpose. I’m confident that I can conquer you and make you my woman within 30 days.”
“……”
Seo Mun-so-ryeo’s expression went blank for a moment. Then, she curled up one corner of her mouth and chuckled.
“Number 123. I didn’t know you were such an interesting person.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment. So, are you going to accept my proposal?”
“……I need time to think.”
I approached her and handed her the wooden boxes.
“As I said before, I’ll wait for your answer in this place, at the same time tomorrow. If you refuse, give the elixirs back to me.”
“…You’re really entrusting the elixirs to me… You trust me.”
“I told you I trust you.”
“……I’ll be sure to give you an answer tomorrow.”
I turned around without any regrets. It would only backfire if I lingered around her.
Seo Mun-so-ryeo would definitely come tomorrow.
***
Back in her room, Seo Mun-so-ryeo placed the three elixirs on her desk and stared at them.
Two Demonic Crystal Pills. One Wisdom City Pill.
For her, who was at the 10th stage of the Entry Realm, the Wisdom City Pill was the most necessary elixir. Using the Wisdom City Pill would increase the probability of reaching the Threshold of Understanding and prevent any unforeseen circumstances like qi deviation, making it safe.
Threshold of Understanding.
A realm where one emits energy to the outside and imbues their will into the energy.
People called martial artists who had reached the Threshold of Understanding masters.
Seo Mun-so-ryeo unconsciously reached out her hand towards the Wisdom City Pill, then stopped.
‘…If I eat the Wisdom City Pill… I’ll become a prostitute. A prostitute who sold her body for elixirs, not money.’
She gritted her teeth.
Throughout her life, no matter what difficulties she faced, she had never sold her body. There were many who aimed for her chastity, but she had protected it by fighting back or running away.
‘No. I can’t fall here.’
She shouted no in her heart, but she couldn’t take her hand back, which was still suspended in the air.
