Chapter 210: A New Journey Begins (Beginning of Book 3)

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Inner Martial Cores.

It is the specialty of most Murim Worlds and where Martial Artists truly begin the cultivation of their more “supernatural” side of things.

Basically, they’re the crystallization and materialization of Ki and various other essences they might gather. Depending on their elemental affinities, these Cores can take on a variety of colors.

However, the usual color is golden or white, representing the golden essence of Ki, which is always gold unless it is transformed using other elemental essences.

Every cultivator begins by first developing and cultivating their physique, and once they have mastered and learned many martial arts and have gathered enough Ki within their bodies, they can take a further step.

And refine these cores within their bodies. Usually, this is where Ki diverges and becomes something more than just “physical energy."  Being able to interact with the elements of nature can create what is often seen in most Xianxia stories.

Where martial art masters shatter mountains, unleash seas of flames with their sword attacks, and release lightning strikes with their palm attacks.

It all begins once they can finally obtain an Inner Martial Core! Of course, we get that ahead of time here thanks to the System, Skills, Magic, and Constellation Sponsorship.

Although I have my own personal system, there’s also another system. This truth is revealed later on in the novel, but every person has already been assimilated by a “General System” which is a part of The Root itself.

The reason why I can see the stats of people and their skills in a similar fashion to a status is... Well, surprise, because they actually do have a status!

Although, unlike me, their status is not a personal system implanted into their souls, but a generic ability they obtain once awakening.

What my brother and I have are many special Systems, personal Cosmic Relics imbued into our souls that are copies of the Akashic Records of The Root, further improved with an Essence Absorption Ability, which is the “EXP” and “Leveling” functions.

Anyways, to start truly rising my Ki Stat to higher levels and also gaining the ability to further unleash the power of Martial Arts and the more advanced Spiritual Arts, I need to get a Core.

I already have a core, though, the cosmic one, so I don’t know how those two things will interact. But for now, I’ll quickly use the scrolls I have saved until now. Oh! I also still have a Murim’s Relic Treasure Box, might as well open that too while we are at it.

FLASH!

[You have used the [Random Martial Arts Scroll (B Rank)] x3! You have learned three Random Martial Art Techniques.]

[You learned the [Wild Boar’s Tusks: Tier 1] Martial Arts!]

[You learned the [Golden Dragon’s Scales: Tier 1] Martial Arts!]

[You learned the [Abyssal Spider’s Threads: Tier 1] Martial Arts!]

[The [Golden Dragon’s Scales: Tier 1] Martial Arts have been assimilated by the [Celestial Golden Dragon Divine Fist: Tier 3 (Core Martial Arts)]!]

[The [Celestial Golden Dragon Divine Fist: Tier 3 (Core Martial Arts)] has become stronger.]

[You have opened the [Murim’s Martial Treasure Relic Box (S Rank)] x1!]

[You received [Martial Soldier’s Ring Of Protection (S Rank)] x1!]

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[Martial Soldier’s Ring Of Protection]

{Item Type}: [Accessory] [Ring] [Martial Relic]

{Item Quality}: [S Rank]

{Item Requirement}: [Possess Ki and Physique]

{Item Durability}: [5.000/5.000]

{Item Effects}

[HP]: [+1.000] [KI]: [+2.000] [STR]: [+1.000] [VIT]: [+1.000] [AGI]: [+1.000] [LUC]: [+2.000] [CHM]: [+2.000]

{Item Abilities}

[Martial Soldier’s Legion Protection]: By imbuing the Ring with a decent amount of Ki and by sacrificing -250 Durability, summons a protective Aura Barrier around the wielder, in the shape of hundreds of Murim’s Martial Soldiers. These soldiers will not only negate 30% of all damage taken but also attack any foe nearby, dealing +50% Damage based on your Ki Stat. Barrier Durability based on Ring’s Durability x10. Duration: 10 Minutes. Cooldown: 1 Hour.

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A single ability, but it seems useful enough! Though with my shield, I doubt I’ll find much use for it. I could even give this to Fang Shuan if I could bring him along. But for now, I’ll equip it for the extra stats. You never have enough stats.

Now, moving on, let’s create that damned Core and then get ready for the Class Rank Up Trial. I have to get it done by this week before next week comes, and we’re already at the weekend! Next week is the big expedition to Fenrir’s original dungeon, so I need to be strong.

That place was already S Rank, and I can already imagine it could have gotten even stronger over time… And I also need myself an overpowered Class to deal with whatever insanity is coming in the Second Awakening.

Alright, let’s do this.

I entered the Purgatory Realm and walked inside the Murim Abandoned Temple area, sitting over the restored ruins, which I restored using my World Architect power. Sitting cross-legged in a similar formation, I quickly asked the Death Apostles to place themselves over each node.

At the same time, I began channeling Demonic Energy, Death, and Darkness Essence into my body, gathering it into my chest at the same time as imbuing it with Ki.

Slowly yet steadily, a crystallization of the energies started to emerge. And with the Martial Arts Core being the Celestial Golden Dragon Divine Fist Martial Arts, the combination was ready.

However, as one last ingredient, I added a small amount of Cosmic Energy, knowing it could ruin everything, but I had to gamble with it.

FLASH!

Although I felt some pain as the energies crystalized, at the end of the day, I got what I wanted. A black and blue-colored pearl was now formed in my chest; it was in front of my cosmic core.

[Congratulations! You have successfully formed your {Inner Martial Core}: {Umbral Black Star Core: Tier 1: Rank 1}!]

[You gained +500 Ki!]

[You gained +500 Cosmic Energy.]

[Your Death, Darkness, and Demonic Essences are growing stronger, you can now more easily combine them with Ki!]

[Your Cosmic Energy has also improved permanently by a slight amount!]

[You learned the Skill: [Umbral Star: Lv1 (B)]!]

Both seemed slightly interconnected with threads of Ki and Cosmic Energy, so what I wanted to create worked perfectly. And yes, I didn’t make myself a Martial Core of Light; I wanted one of Demonic Essence, Darkness and Death instead.

Why? So it can further balance my Physique, and so I can further improve that side of my powers as well. I also learned a new Skill, just like when I forged my new Physique. For my Physique it was Sunshine, and for my Inner Martial Core, it is Umbral Star, interesting.

“Now, time for you guys to train a bit!” I smiled, giggling evilly. “You can talk now too.”

“Ah! I can finally talk! You monster! YOU UTTER BEAST!” Astaroth was the first to speak; he was in his slightly big black dragon form right now. “How could you make us silent for so long?! YOU’RE WORSE THAN A DEMON!”

“Ahem… Well, this is awkward.” Sighed Agares. “I had grown used to just staying silent for a while now.”

“CRAAAAH! LET US GO!” Neberius groaned, trying to peck my head but failing to do so, incapable of harming his master. “Y-YOU LITTLE BRAT! CRAAH! CRAAH!”

“Yeah! What the damned crow said!” Aim roared, looking like a cute golden cat. “Hey, when are you returning me to my original form?! Do you think I like being a little kitty?!”

“Why did you allow us to speak? What are you planning now, girl?” Asked Bael. “I know you’re strong, incredibly so. You have just developed even more powers in front of us. What’s your deal? Where does your game end? And why do you prefer to keep us prisoners instead of just killing us like you did with Uroboros?”

Ah, the big guy went straight to the important questions. The other guys are a bit sillier, I suppose.

“Well, I know that at this point, all of you must know you can’t escape your current predicament.” I smiled. “You’re trapped with me. For all eternity. Or until I die! But you can’t do anything to help me die, either. So you’re with me for all eternity anyway.”

“Huh…” Agares laughed. “It is not as if we haven’t lived for thousands of years, young humans. We can simply outlive you, and once you die, we’ll free ourselves and unleash disasters in your world. Do you truly believe you’ve overcome our wills? We demons fight for eternity as well. We will never give up until we restore our world.”

“Do you all come from the same world?” I wondered curiously, ignoring his stubbornness.

“Of course we don’t, dumb brat!” Neberius almost bit me again. “CRAAAH! We all come from different, yet similar, worlds! All the word lines are interconnected. There are 999 Hells! Despite coming from different worlds, we are all survivors, brothers! CRAAAH!”

“Well, not so much... That bastard of Beelzebub used us all.” Astaroth groaned, crossing his arms. “We ended up becoming nothing but fodder just to entertain his enemies. We sure went to a new low there…”

“For fuck’s sake…” Agares groaned. “Would you two stop talking?! You shouldn’t answer her questions!”

“Does it even matter?” Aim said. “Our worlds are gone; our chances to get a new one are gone. We are her slaves, pretty much.”

“Hey! I don’t take slaves. You are simply paying for all the sh*t you’ve done. You know you’ve killed many innocents? That usually is paid in jail, and this is your jail.” I spoke. “Usually, you would just get killed right away, but I am giving you the chance to redeem yourselves. I don’t want to kill you. And later on, when I get strong enough, I will also free you.”

“Wait, you will?!” Astaroth opened his eyes wide. “Really?! Maybe you’re not so bad then! Hahaha!”

“Oooh! If that’s the case, then tell us what we should do!” Aim wagged his tail.

“CRAAAH! I am all ears!” Neberius agreed.

These three guys are seriously the dumbest of them and also the most gullible, but they’re, honestly, quite an endearing bunch. Despite Astaroth literally killing me once and becoming some sort of nemesis of mine, I’ve grown attached to this stupid, hulking demonic dragon. Neberius loud cries and voice and his very brainless tactics make him very funny, and Aim... he just likes speed.

“You trio of idiots! Why are you listening to her so eagerly?! She’s obviously tricking you!” Bael groaned; the former owner of Gram was the smartest of the bunch.

“Hmm, yeah, she’s definitely sus.” Agares nodded; he was the second smartest.

“Milady, I am not the one to talk here, but I believe your decision might have only worsened things…” Jeremias said at my side.

“Don’t worry, Jeremias, I got this.” I smiled. “Alright, those that help me will get to govern a part of the world I will once govern over! I will also let you spread your demonic powers and revive your demon-kind.”

“Really?!” Astaroth said. “Maybe I can finally revive my Demonic Dragon Tribe if given the opportunity! I would love to just… sit down and get back the life I once lost.”

“Craaah… My family, everything…” Neberius sighed.

“My wife and my children.” Aim looked down, melancholic.

I suppose they’re all the last survivors of their Demon Worlds. They might have had their own families, even. Their own tribes and the people they cared for. But because of the Apocalypse and the Awakenings, all these things were taken away from them.

“That’s… you guys, don’t open that much with her.” Agares sighed. "We have all gone through our own hells. But that doesn’t mean we’ll just listen to whatever sweet offer she has for us.”

“Anna, was your name right?” Bael looked into my eyes. Both Bael and Agares resembled black and red knights, with multiple arms and legs. “Do you understand what you’re trying to do now? We, the Death Apostles, decided to walk these paths to become the end of civilizations. We are designed to destroy. We invade other worlds and take away what we want. We might even be worse than monsters. You can use us as tools now, but are you trying to negotiate with us and even attempt an alliance? You know what happened with Heisenberg and Beelzebub already, so why even try? We will one day, or another, backstab you. It is within our nature.”

“Nah, it is not within your nature.” I sighed. “You’re just people at the end of the day. You’ve done horrible things too, but you’ve also gone through horrible things as well. You were all once born as innocent children. You belonged to tribes; you had families. Your ultimate goal is to simply revive your former worlds? It shouldn’t be too hard once I attain enough power and we advance together through the Awakenings.”

“Your overconfidence only sounds foolish to me.” Bael sighed. “But your honesty shines with the brightest light; how annoying.”

“What a pain; we might as well just go along with her, not like we can fight back anyway." Agares sighed. “Sure, whatever, Anna. What do you want anyway?”

“You’ll help me, you’ll tell me information I need to know, and above all, you’ll imbue your demonic essence into my martial core.” I said. “Can you do this for me? If you help me now, I promise you I won’t ever silence you again. How about that for a starter?”

“R-Really? Okay!” Astaroth nodded immediately.

“Well, if you put it that way…” Aim said.

“CRAAAH!” Neberius nodded.

“Hmph, so you’re risking us speaking all the time now?” Laughed Agares. “We could tell all sorts of things to your friends! We could tell them your secrets! Yet you trust us?”

“Sure, what else can I do?” I shrugged.

“…” Agares remained in silence, looking back at Bael.

“How do we do it?” Bael asked.

“Just stay where you are and imbue the demonic energy in small strands.” I said. “If you try to harm me through this method, you’ll get a backlash before it even gets to me, so be careful not to harm yourselves trying to do something funny, alright?”

They nodded obediently as the process began. The strands of power and not only demonic energy, but each Death Apostle’s corrupted elemental essence flowed into my core, quickly filling it up.

FLASH!

[Your Inner Martial Core has gained a large quantity of Elemental Demonic Essence!]

[The powerful amounts of Essence are constantly helping your Core grow stronger; you’re rapidly refining everything with your amazing mastery over these energies!]

[Your [Martial Core]: [Umbral Black Star Core (Tier 1: Rank 1)] has Ranked Up to Tier 1: Rank 2!]

[Your [Martial Core]: [Umbral Black Star Core (Tier 1: Rank 2)] has Ranked Up to Tier 1: Rank 3!]

[Your [Martial Core]: [Umbral Black Star Core (Tier 1: Rank 3)] has Ranked Up to Tier 1: Rank 4!]

[Your [Martial Core]: [Umbral Black Star Core (Tier 1: Rank 4)] has Ranked Up to Tier 1: Rank 5!]

[Your Total Ki has increased by +4.000!]

[Your Total Cosmic Energy has increased by +1.000!]

[Your Inner Martial Core has grown exhausted; you will be unable to further grow for a while.]

“Nice! It worked! I gained Cosmic Energy so easily! Hahahaha!”

I laughed evilly, so evilly that the Death Apostles were shocked, stepping back.

Abusing the core’s ability to connect with the Dao Branches and its unexpected affinity with cosmic energy, I was able to create a connection with my cosmic core itself.

Meaning that as the inner martial core develops, so does my cosmic energy, even if a bit, one thousand cosmic energy is a lot!

And that’s without even mentioning four thousand more Ki!

I am swimming in power now…

“I think this is enough, yeah. I am ready.” I nodded. “Thank you, guys. If the trial allows it, I’ll summon you once I am there.”

I decided to spend the rest of the day with Baihe, going from place to place with her, shopping, eating, laughing, and overall having a wonderful time together.

Once we returned home quite late at night, and I left her sleeping on her bed because she was very tired, I went to my bedroom.

“Alright, it’s time. Access Trial Dungeon.”

Ding!

[Accessing Trial Dungeon… Loading.]

[Loading Success.]

[You’re now qualified to enter a “Trial Dungeon” to Rank Up both your Class and Subclass simultaneously.]

[Once you enter the Trial Dungeon, you will be faced with your Main Quest, the amount of time you have to do it, and the rewards you could acquire.]

[Bear in mind that the difficulty of such Trials will continuously rise with each Rank Up.]

“Continuously rise… Seriously? You’re not even giving me a break.” I sighed. “Good thing I’ve grown way stronger than before. So bring it on.”

[The user has accepted to enter the Dungeon Trial. A Dungeon Trial Portal has been opened.]

[If you cannot complete the Dungeon Trial within the estimated time, you will be expelled from it, and you will be unable to access it for the next 24 hours, when you’ll be able to retry.]

[If you die inside the Trial Dungeon, you will remain dead.]

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I know… Let’s do this. I’ve prepared more than enough.”

A portal of black and white colors spiraling together opened before me. Without hesitation, I stepped in. This was my only way to continue growing stronger, and I wasn’t going to waste it.

FLASH!

The moment I stepped forward, I felt as if my body trespassed through various spatial boundaries, thin membranes that separated worlds and dimensions from one another.

And when I finally felt cold air and an open area, I found myself in the middle of a beach, the blue ocean before me slowly washing over the shore.

The slightly golden and blueish sky was rather beautiful, and there were two suns above the heavens, one red and the other yellow.

And above all, I felt a large quantity of Ki flowing everywhere in this world.

“A Murim worldline…?”

I felt my Mana and most of my Skills that rely on Mana beginning to weaken, almost feeling completely sealed after just a couple of seconds of just admiring my surroundings. Not like I cared; I had already prepared for this situation.

“But… Where the hell am I?”

I flew into the skies, scanning my surroundings.

And then I realized what was going on.

I was on a island.

In the middle of an endless azure ocean.

But this world...

It was strange.

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