Heavenly Demon Cultivation Simulation

He spent the next three days eating and sleeping. Every morning, a healer would come to check on his condition and a young man—a servant or helper of some sort—would deliver his food.

On the fourth day his body was feeling lighter as he recovered.

[Status] Seol-Hwi [Vice-Leader of the Hidden Truth Squad] Health: 110k/110k Internal Energy: 110k/110k Combat Power: 400k

On the fifth day, he was able to get out of bed. He’d devoted his time to studying combat and cultivation and the AI.

“The change in swordsmanship I saw… The combat power…” Seol-Hwi couldn’t get the memory of the AI fighting out of his head. It was more than inspiring, especially since the AI didn’t even use all of the techniques Seol-Hwi had.

- You hide in the land between the dead and just watch. You know what you really need right now?

It wasn’t something he could understand right then.

- You need greed.

Mad, desperate greed.

Maybe it would be different if he’d died in a better place, or had better martial arts. But now? It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime chance. He didn’t just want to get strong. Seol-Hwi wanted more.

“Combat power and martial arts aren’t important.”

Seol-Hwi examined himself in the mirror.

Coins: 4 [Four lives]

Paradoxically, his lives had increased but his desire to live had decreased. With so many lives, he felt like he could take risks; with one life, he had to make the best of what he had. His mental strength had weakened.

“He said three years.”

After three years of being a normal member, the Earth Demon had told him, he’d be made vice-leader.

“Before that, I’ll work with the AI and do well, even in areas no one is paying attention to.” He clenched his fists and looked down at the short sword lying at his side.

“But…” Seol-Hwi looked around. He could feel something outside.

To the right of the bed was a window. To the left was a mirror and a table. On the wall opposite to the window was a small table with a jade box under it, and there was a cupboard by the door.

Just as he pushed himself out of bed, a window popped up.

<Do you want to save? Yes/No.> ◻ Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 2-1: Three Choices from the Earth Demon. ◼ Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 2-15: [Becoming a Core Warrior] The final opponent after failing the martial arts island. ◻ Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 2-20 [Become a Core Warrior] The last part.

Usually, the save prompt appeared when he resolved some sort of situation; it was impossible to save otherwise.

Also, if he replaced one would it permanently disappear?

He chose the second slot; unlike the first and third, the second save wasn’t important.

<Are you sure you want to overwrite this save? Yes/No.>

I-it works?

◻ Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 2-1: Three Choices from the Earth Demon. ◼ Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 3-1: [Became a Core Warrior] Three years of rapid growth (Bonus Story). ◻ Year 95 of the Heavenly Calendar, Chapter 2-20 [Become a Core Warrior] The last part.

Three years of rapid growth? It seemed this was a golden opportunity to grow his skills.

“Should I head out?” After spending a few days in bed, his body ached. Seol-Hwi wanted to clean up and practice. So he got up and went over to the door, but then he stopped again.

<Please set a schedule for the 9th month of year 95. (1/36)> ▶ Learn martial arts ▷ Accept a mission ▷ Warrior training ▷ Walk around

What is this? This window was both unexpected and too specific. He couldn’t just ignore it, either—time had stopped.

The 9th month of the 95th year… That sounded about right. And he had three years?

Seol-Hwi went back to examining his options.

▶ Learn martial arts

That was fairly self-explanatory. Since he joined a new squad, he might be able to learn something brand-new.

▷ Accept a mission

Maybe there’d be a mission on the level of killing Shin Birant or similar. The rewards would be…

▷ Warrior training

What does this mean? It said “training,” but that didn’t seem quite right. If it was, it would be like the martial arts option. So this wouldn’t be the sort of training you did in one place, but practicing something where he would have to move around.

▷ Walk around

Walk around? It looked so trivial—did it hold some secret? If he compared it to the other options, it surely couldn’t be so insignificant.

Seol-Hwi ended up going back to the first option.

<What would you like to learn?> ▶ Hidden Truth Squad's Iconic Demonic Martial Arts <Beginner> ▷ Theory of Tracking Technique <Beginner> ▷ Understanding Blood Points <Beginner> ▷ Guidance of Management <Beginner>

Seol-Hwi’s eyes sparkled If I learn all of this… He didn’t know exactly what they were, but he had the feeling something great would happen. He’d be much stronger than before.

Also,

[Back]

He wasn’t committed to learning martial arts yet.

<Please set a schedule for the 9th month of year 95. (1/36)> ▶ Learn martial arts ▷ Accept a mission ▷ Warrior training ▷ Walk around

First, I’ll look at all of them. He selected the second choice.

<Who would you like to receive the mission from?> ▶ Earth Demon (4^th disciple of the Heavenly Demon) ▷ Heukgu (Leader of Hidden Truth squad) ▷ Jeokpa (Hidden Truth squad head instructor) ▷ Doctor who treated Seol-hwi. ▷ Servant who brought meals.

That was not an easy choice.

<Please set a schedule for the 9th month of year 95. (1/36)> ▶ Learn martial arts ▷ Accept a mission ▷ Warrior training ▷ Walk around

The third choice, this time.

<Where would you like to train?> ▶ Cheong Hae ▷ Gam-suk ▷ Sacheon

Outside… That was fun. Two locations were outside the sect; the other was in Jianghu.

He went back to look at “Walk around.”

<Where would you like to go?> ▶ The fourth disciples house ▷ Garden ▷ Squad-leader’s dorm

Well, now I get it.

He wound up choosing “Learn martial arts” like he was planning to do from the start.

<What would you like to learn?> ▶ Hidden Truth Squad's Iconic Demonic Martial Arts <Beginner> ▷ Theory of Tracking Technique <Beginner> ▷ Understanding Blood Points <Beginner> ▷ Guidance of Management <Beginner>

Seol-Hwi chose the Iconic Martial Arts—he had to, in order to become a true member of the squad.

<Hidden Truth Squad’s Iconic Demonic Martial Arts: Learn “One-Hit-Kill Demonic Martial Arts.” >

As soon as he made his choice, the door opened as if someone had been waiting for him to finish.

“Are you Seol-Hwi?”

“Yes…”

“I am Jeokpa,” the skinny middle-aged man told him. “I am the head of training and education here. Starting today, you will learn our iconic martial arts.” His face was flushed pink. “Follow me.”

As he left, Seol-Hwi took a peek around, checking to see if anyone else was there.

“What are you doing?”

Seol-Hwi followed Jeokpa out.

<You have mastered One-Hit-Kill Demonic Martial Arts [Imitation]>

- How can he learn it all on the first day?

<Your understanding of the martial art is increasing.>

- I can’t believe it. How can you understand it so quickly?

<Your understanding of the martial art is increasing.> <Your understanding of the martial art is increasing.>

- Are you saying you have the ability to imitate swordsmanship?

<Your understanding of the martial art is increasing.> <Your understanding of the martial art is increasing.> <Your understanding of the martial art is increasing.> Imitation → Basic

…

Seol-Hwi blinked and found himself in the hallroom. A month’s worth of training flooded into his head.

<One-month training results.> Health increased by 10k. Internal Energy increased by 10k. Combat Power increased by 20k. [Status] Seol-Hwi [Vice-Leader of the Hidden Truth Squad] Health: 120k(↑10k)/120k Internal Energy: 120k(↑10k)/120k Combat Power: 420k(↑20k)/420k

His abilities went up, and he got a new martial art.

[Martial Arts] <White Palm Demonic Martial Arts> Imitation <Red-Hot Palm> Intermediate <Explosive Flaming Force> Intermediate <One-Hit-Kill Martial Arts> Basic (New) <Four Peaks Demonic Martial Arts> Basic

This was no dream—he’d legitimately spent a month learning martial arts with Jeokpa.

<Please set a schedule for the 10th month of year 95. (2/36)> ▶ Learn martial arts ▷ Accept a mission ▷ Warrior training ▷ Walk around

(2/36) instead of (1/36); 10th month instead of 9th month. A month had passed in the blink of an eye.