Chapter 31: Internal Core (2)

The day of HeavenlyDemon, Yu Sowol, was so simple it bordered on monotonous.

Sitting on the jade throne, the seat that only the heavens can occupy, as the highest figure of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

From that place, browsing the gallery and organizing her enlightenments.

That was all.

She did not need to sleep or bathe.

Due to her level of cultivation, she always maintained her body in optimal condition.

That is why every day she sat in the chair browsing the gallery.

Someone might say what kind of lifestyle is that, but reality is reality.

Seeing this, someone might ask a question like this.

Title) Does HeavenlyDemon have a job?

If she does, what does she do more or less?

I’m curious.

ㄴA job? That old woman who spends all day in the gallery, what job would she have lol

ㄴIf she has one, it’s probably just unemployed by concept

ㄴFrom the way she speaks, she sounds like some kind of advisor or something

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) I sit on the jade throne.

ㄴIs that all?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Just by doing that, my dignity stands out.

ㄴThen you’re just unemployed lol

ㄴHow is that different from an unemployed shut-in? lol

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Do not compare me with those who abandon their duties and shut themselves in. At least I am venerated like the heavens.

ㄴLook at the nonsense she says lol does she think she’s a god or what?

ㄴWon’t she get arrested for blasphemy?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Those who mock me, I usually personally crush their heads.

ㄴWow, maintaining that character seriously isn’t easy;;

ㄴLeave her, she’s always been like that.

Doesn’t the Heavenly Demon Cult treat HeavenlyDemon as if she were the heavens?

Isn’t that the same as an unemployed shut-in?

In reality, the problem is that they literally venerate her as the heavens.

And what is the heavens?

A place that has existed since humanity was born, a symbol of the divine.

Very few can stand face to face with such an existence and ask it to fulfill their desires.

Even if they tried, they would first have to pass through the true ruler of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Demon Brain.

At first glance, he might seem like a figurehead director.

But it is the opposite.

Even the Demon Brain would not come out unscathed if he provoked the displeasure of the Heavenly Demon.

The moment you fall out of favor with the Heavenly Demon, who has surpassed the realm of Transformation and reached the Mysterious Realm, everything is over.

Title) By the way, can usernames be duplicated?

Many active users have pretty simple names.

Especially HeavenlyDemon, they say it’s famous in Zhongyuan.

Has no one taken that name until now?

ㄴNames cannot be duplicated. But semi-registered ones can

ㄴBut if a registered user already took it, you can’t use it as semi-registered either

ㄴWhat’s the difference between semi-registered and registered? The yellow icon next to it?

ㄴThat too, but registered users can use the auction house and make personal trades

ㄴThough the moderator can also track their location lol

ㄴAn old moderator did that and killed someone, ended up in jail

ㄴThat’s scary

ㄴSo HeavenlyDemon registered the name and that’s why no one else can use it

ㄴYes, exactly

ㄴWas there never anyone who registered the name HeavenlyDemon before?

ㄴThere were probably some, but all as semi-registered. Who would be crazy enough to register HeavenlyDemon as a name? lol

ㄴNow the moderator is a good person, but one of the previous ones used to sell addresses for money lol

ㄴWhat if she actually turned out to be HeavenlyDemon?

ㄴThen the Heavenly Demon Cult would be ruined in another sense

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) There is no need to worry. As long as I exist, the Heavenly Demon Cult will not fall.

ㄴThat is exactly the problem, sir.

ㄴIf someone like that were HeavenlyDemon, I’d have an existential crisis lol

ㄴHow can she be browsing the gallery 24 hours a day?

Although there were many rumors and mockery, the truth was that Yu Sowol was completely absorbed in the gallery.

Especially recently, she had met someone who could be called an opportunity of fate.

Fearing that something might happen to that person, she remained always in the gallery.

So she could respond immediately when that person posted something.

Most matters of the Heavenly Demon Cult were handled by the Demon Brain, so she had nothing to do.

“Hmm.”

As always, it was time to check the gallery.

Yu Sowol was sitting on the jade throne, looking intently at something.

A small sphere held between her delicate fingers.

A red sphere.

It was the object that WildGrills, her benefactor and opportunity of fate, had sent her to confirm whether it was an internal core.

For someone who had surpassed the realm of Transformation and reached the Mysterious Realm, identifying it was simple.

‘It is an internal core.’

The red sphere that Grills gave her was indeed an internal core.

Although it looked like a common sphere, the energy it contained was not ordinary.

‘But it has many shortcomings.’

As an internal core, it was quite deficient.

First, the absolute amount of qi was low.

Normally, consuming an internal core would allow a martial artist at the absolute peak to enter the realm of Transformation.

But this one only had enough energy for someone at the peak level to ascend to the supreme level.

It probably belonged to a spiritual creature that had lived hundreds of years, not thousands.

‘It’s not bad.’

For Yu Sowol, who had already reached the Mysterious Realm, it was little more than a tonic beneficial to the body.

But that was only from her perspective.

For anyone else, it was an invaluable treasure.

Considering that even masters who reach the supreme level are rare, it is easy to imagine its value.

If this reached the market, especially the gallery’s auction house, it would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar.

‘It is too much for my benefactor to consume. What a pity.’

But Yu Sowol was not worried.

There was something more important.

Grills had barely learned an internal cultivation technique.

Although by accident he had opened the middle and upper dantian, he was still inexperienced.

If he consumed an internal core now, in the worst case his body could explode.

Even if he survived, he would suffer fever for several days.

It is not an appropriate method for someone whose priority is survival.

But she could not leave the internal core unused either.

The energy of an internal core disperses over time.

After all, it originally came from inside the body of a spiritual creature.

‘What a strange forest. A fish with an internal core can be caught so easily.’

The New Moon Spirit Herb, an adult mandrake, and now a fish with an internal core.

Any one of those things alone would cause shock in the world.

But in the Forest of the Four Seasons they were abundant as if it were nothing.

Even so, entering that forest is practically suicide.

The space constantly changes and one cannot even access the gallery.

Grills survives because, curiously, he can access the gallery.

A normal person would not last even two days.

‘That is what the Demon Brain explained.’

Yu Sowol looked at the internal core and then accessed the gallery.

She had already confirmed its quality.

Now all that remained was to tell Grills.

Since they had just traded it, she could not return it.

But she was not worried.

There were ways to preserve the energy of the internal core.

Title) Look at this

HeavenlyDemon

I have confirmed the authenticity of the internal core as you requested. It is genuine.

ㄴIsn’t this a scam?

ㄴShe probably wants to sell it for a high price lol

ㄴNow even internal cores are showing up lol

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Believe it or not, I do not care. I have not told a single lie.

She ignored all the useless comments.

What mattered to Yu Sowol was Grills.

Though it was not bad to entertain herself a little.

Unlike her, who was always in the gallery, Grills had many things to do.

While joking with the users, Grills’ comment finally appeared.

ㄴWildGrills) Oh. Is it really real?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Yes. What do you plan to do now?

ㄴWildGrills) What would happen if I eat it?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) In the worst case your body could explode. Even if not, it is very likely that you will suffer fever for several days.

ㄴWildGrills) Then basically I have to give it to someone else.

ㄴIf it’s real give it to me. I’m stuck at first level because I have a blockage

ㄴNo no no, give it to me. I’m stuck at intermediate expert

ㄴGive it to me give it to me give it to me give it to me give it to me

ㄴDemon demon demon demon demon!

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) What a pathetic spectacle.

Grills did not comment for a while.

Perhaps something had happened to him in the meantime.

HeavenlyDemon waited silently.

She could already imagine what comment would appear.

‘He will surely choose to give it to me or to someone else.’

ㄴWildGrills) Then eat it yourself, HeavenlyDemon, or give it to someone close to you.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Is there something you desire from me?

ㄴWildGrills) Yes, there is something. Could you give me more fasting pills?

Just as she had expected, that comment arrived.

Grills’ proposal to exchange the internal core for fasting pills.

At that proposal, Yu Sowol smiled without realizing it.

It was a smile worthy of a painting, but unfortunately no one saw it.

In the audience hall there was only HeavenlyDemon sitting on the jade throne.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) An internal core is a very valuable spiritual elixir. And although this one is somewhat deficient, it is still an internal core. Even if it takes time, it would be better for you to consume it yourself.

ㄴWildGrills) We don’t know when that will be. If necessary, I can catch another one.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Hm? There is another?

ㄴWildGrills) I just caught one. I don’t know if it has an internal core, but since it looks the same, it is quite likely.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) What a curious forest.

ㄴYou caught another one? Seriously?

ㄴWildGrills) Yes. Maybe I will set up a fishing trap soon.

ㄴWon’t the trap break?

ㄴWildGrills) Then I will ask the dwarf for help.

ㄴDwarfPassingBy) Why me?

ㄴWildGrills) Can you make a barrier?

ㄴDwarfPassingBy) I forgot lol

ㄴWildGrills) Damn bitch

ㄴPassingDwarf) What?

ㄴWildGrills) …I guess I shouldn’t say that, right?

ㄴLook how shameless he is hahahaha

ㄴThis guy is crazy hahahahahahaha

ㄴhahahahaha

Fasting pills…

Yu Sowol fell into thought.

She had already given him a whole pouch of Bigokdan before.

Could it be that he was already running out?

Probably not.

Even if he ate three per meal, she had given him quite a lot.

He was likely saving them as emergency rations.

That would be logical.

‘There is also the matter of the sloth.’

With one more mouth to feed, consumption would increase faster.

Grills was surely preparing for that.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Wait. I will go ask a nearby subordinate.

ㄴWildGrills) Thank you. If it is difficult, you don’t have to do it.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) It is your request, so I cannot refuse. If it cannot be done, I will make it possible.

ㄴWildGrills) I feel a bit pressured. But if it turns out to be difficult, don’t push yourself too much either. I don’t want to end up making you dislike me.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) What do you plan to do if it is difficult?

ㄴWildGrills) Then I will have to negotiate with someone else. Or put it in the auction house.

ㄴThe auction is going to explode lol

ㄴAre you sure that’s a real internal core?

ㄴIf we consider the adult mandrake, it’s 99% certain

ㄴThey could also be working together with HeavenlyDemon

ㄴThen they would just be scammers lol

ㄴBut Grills really has no reason to scam

A strange anticipation began to spread through the gallery.

After all, just two days earlier the incident of the adult mandrake had occurred.

That is why many comments began to appear saying that the internal core was surely real and that they also wanted one.

‘How exaggerated.’

Yu Sowol let out a mocking laugh as she saw it.

No one had even said they would give it away, and they were already getting excited.

In fact, seeing those comments made her even more determined.

Somehow she would exchange the internal core for fasting pills.

Just in time, the Demon Brain was an expert between the supreme level and peak supreme.

It would be a good exchange.

[Oh Demon Brain. Are you listening?]

Yu Sowol called the Demon Brain through mental transmission.

Since he was surely busy, it was better to call him this way.

[I have something to tell you. Come before me.]

There was no response.

The audience hall was quite far from where the Demon Brain was.

Since she reached the Mysterious Realm, Yu Sowol’s senses had ceased to belong to the human domain.

Her vision was not like that of human eyes either.

It was more like looking down from the sky.

‘And even so they say the Forest of the Four Seasons is difficult. Nature really is something mysterious.’

At the same time she understood how impressive nature was.

The closer one got, the farther it seemed.

That was the impression Yu Sowol had of nature.

‘But leaving that aside…’

She continued browsing the gallery while waiting for the Demon Brain to arrive.

Since reaching the Mysterious Realm, not only had her reverence for nature increased.

‘Is there no way to intervene in the gallery?’

The question of whether it was possible to intervene in the gallery.

No one interfered with the structure of the gallery except the main moderator.

She wanted to intervene somehow, but it was like crashing into a wall.

‘Connecting is not difficult. Who the hell created this civilization?’

The Unified Continent Gallery had an unknown origin.

Some said it had existed since ancient times.

Others claimed it had appeared recently.

While watching posts appear in real time, Yu Sowol thought.

‘To help my benefactor…’

Normally it would be something she would not care about at all.

But since she had received help from Grills, things had changed.

Somehow she wanted to interfere in the gallery to help him.

Although she could not fully understand its structure, intervening was not completely impossible.

‘Secondary moderator was that what it was called?’

Just as Yu Sowol extended her hand toward that unknown territory she should not touch—

[Oh heavens. I have responded to your call.]

From outside came the respectful greeting of the Demon Brain.

As soon as Yu Sowol heard it, she closed the gallery and spoke calmly.

“Enter.”

It was not Yu Sowol as a human.

It was the command of Yu Sowol as Heavenly demon.

At that command, the great doors of the audience hall began to open slowly.

When the doors opened, a young man dressed in the robes of the Heavenly Demon Cult appeared.

The Demon Brain.

Perhaps he was nervous, because he slowly raised his head with a stiff expression.

Before him was the sky of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Heavenly demon sitting majestically on the throne.

“I greet the sky of the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

“Receive it.”

Yu Sowol ignored the formal greetings and threw the internal core.

As if he had anticipated it, the Demon Brain caught it easily without raising his head.

Then he slowly lifted his gaze, showing confusion.

“Oh heavens… this is…”

“It is an internal core. Although it is somewhat deficient, it belongs to a spiritual creature that lived several hundred years.”

“……”

The Demon Brain showed clear surprise.

He examined the red internal core for a moment before speaking in an uneasy tone.

“It is… definitely an internal core. Where did you obtain it?”

“I received it in a trade. That is why I ask you.”

“Give your order, oh heavens.”

“The fasting pills I received for training. How many more can you prepare?”

Yu Sowol went straight to the point.

There was no need for explanation.

The Demon Brain seemed to think for a moment before answering cautiously.

“The fasting pills that were prepared for you… were made with very valuable herbs.”

“I know.”

“If you are referring to those, then it is possible.”

“How long will it take?”

“The ingredients must be gathered and the quantity will be large, so it will take approximately one week.”

“Good. Prepare them. The internal core will be yours.”

“Thank you for your grace, oh heavens.”

The Demon Brain bowed deeply in gratitude.

Fortunately, his head was lowered.

Otherwise, it would have been noticeable how his lips were moving.

Shortly after, the Demon Brain left the audience hall.

Naturally, Yu Sowol was left alone.

Sensing that he had left, Yu Sowol immediately connected to the gallery again.

[Title: Ah. Shit. Why do I have a fever?]

“Hm?”

As soon as she entered the gallery, she saw that title.

It was a post by Grills.

Yu Sowol quickly entered the post.

Title) Ah. Shit. Why do I have a fever?

WildGrills

(photo of a fish from which he even ate the bones)

Why did I get a fever right after eating this?
Could it have been poisonous?

‘This is bad.’

Yu Sowol realized immediately.

Spiritual creatures do not concentrate all their energy only in the internal core.

The spiritual creature itself is practically like an internal core.

Every piece of meat contains a large amount of qi.

‘I was careless.’

Yu Sowol hurriedly wrote a comment.

She was worried that something bad might happen to Grills.