Heavenly Demon Cultivation Simulation - Ch 420
For the past ten years, Du Jong-ack’s life had been smooth sailing.
His misfortune was only losing his entire family when he was young, and after that, his life was unimpeded.
Led by an old man, he entered the Demonic Cult and never missed first place in all the tests at Training Hall.
Moreover, he achieved outstanding results at the Martial Arts Island, allowing him to join the Shadowless Ghosts, and he easily obtained the position of captain at the First Division.
Most importantly, a month ago.
Even when the highest cliff in the gorge unexpectedly crumbled, he sensed the danger in advance and managed to save his life.
Ultimately, he was selected as the 10th member of the Twelve Guardians.
Although, to be fully confirmed, he still needed to succeed in his first mission.
‘But how did that guy even get in?’
The sole survivor from the Third Division.
He became a Shadowless Ghost Twelve Guardian in less than a day after joining the Shadowless Ghost group.
Number 9, at that.
Among the four vacant positions, he was assigned the highest number.
Well, that was fine.
It could be understood if he was acknowledged for his exceptional skills.
However, from what Du Jong-ack observed, there were many bothersome aspects about him.
Firstly, he had the habit of talking to himself while on the move. Whether it was a mental issue, he continuously talked to himself and answered his own questions.
Of course, expressions of admiration or serious looks were a bonus.
Secondly, his reactions were slow and he was leisurely about everything.
The main duty of Shadowless Ghost Twelve Guardians is basically guarding.
In other words, to be vigilant and protect the Lord.
It was one of the countless things heard at the training center—If danger is sensed, one must deal with it even at the cost of their life.
He wondered if anything could be done properly with such a sluggish response.
The third was the chick hanging at the tip of the sword.
It was bothersome.
No, very… very bothersome.
The constant chirping when bored, and the uttering of unknown terms, were just as bothersome.
“We must prepare to head to the Hidden Demon Hall.”
And then, this morning, when the first mission was finally assigned.
Du Jong-ack could not help but break out in a cold sweat after hearing the mission’s details.
The Hidden Demon Hall was not a place where the unretired martial artists of the main cult could tread freely.
It was so dangerous that even the elders of the main cult had to seek permission to enter the designated areas.
“This mission is extremely dangerous, so you must never act recklessly.”
There were even rumors that the Third Disciple, Fang Spirit, supported by the Hidden Demon Hall, only went to designated areas.
In such a situation, First Disciple End Demon broke the rules and sent Hyang-gae, the person guarded by Du Jong-ack, directly.
“Oh, this sounds interesting.”
That madman spewed nonsense again this time.
The fortunate thing was that he said it when they were alone, without seniors around.
However, Du Jong-ack was a person with his own sense of loyalty. He explained it once, thinking the other might have misunderstood.
“The place we’re going, Immortal Upper Valley, is known as the most dangerous area in Hidden Demon Hall. It’s said that there are a few retired supreme level warriors, and it’s crawling with experts specialized in certain dark arts.”
“Hmm. That is a bit of a problem.”
“Finally, you’re starting to understand.”
He thought it was okay until then, if he hadn’t heard the following words.
“Don’t be too scared. I’m right here beside you.”
“You take what I’m saying too lightly……”
Peep.
‘Ah, damn.’
Du Jong-ack gave up here.
After seeing the innocent eyes and the chick protruding from the sword hilt, he realized that this person could not be persuaded any further.
“I’m going in.”
With that, he received Hyang-gae’s orders and took his first step into Hidden Demon Hall.
The formation of the Shadowless Ghost Twelve Guardians was divided into three units.
The first unit consists of four of the Twelve Guardians. The most skilled individuals guard beside Hyang-gae.
This time, their role was to carry the palanquin that Hyang-gae was riding on their shoulders and move.
The second unit consists of four of the Shadowless Ghost Twelve Guardians. Those who sense danger and have the next level of martial arts skills stand on alert around the first group.
Du Jong-ack was assigned to the third unit.
A position to identify who is coming from afar or to sense danger and send a signal in advance to the others.
“Third unit patrol, stay alert around the area. If you sense any presence, do not engage. The person we are meeting is beyond your capability to handle.”
Upon hearing the words of the First Guardian, the leader of the Shadowless Ghost Twelve Guardians, Du Jong-ack began to assess the terrain by stepping on the trees first.
The four who became the Shadowless Ghost Twelve Guardians this time were already scouting the path ahead while maintaining vigilance around Hyang-gae.
“Why is that guy acting like that again…?”
Du Jong-ack looked at the Ninth Guardian, who was also on watch with him, and once again felt puzzled.
Unlike himself, who was stepping on branches and scanning the surroundings, the Ninth Guardian was leaning leisurely against a tree.
Even in a dangerous situation where a blade could fly at any moment, he was casually gazing at the distant mountains as if it were a pastime.
“Hey. How’s the watch on that side going?”
Then, perhaps sensing Du Jong-ack’s gaze, he waved his hand in acknowledgment.
In the end, he called him out during a short break and warned him in a serious tone.
“I heard you survived by luck and became a Shadowless Ghost Twelve Guardian. And that you became Ninth, not Twelfth, because someone favored you.”
“Oh. Was there such a rumor?”
As the other scratched his head, Du Jong-ack felt even more frustrated and continued speaking.
“You seem unaware of the importance of this mission… This is my last warning. Here in the Hidden Demon Hall, a sword can fly at any moment. If you continue to take it lightly, you might die an untimely death.”
It was not a statement to elicit a response but the last piece of advice he could offer.
So, he turned away without regret.
“You, you’re a good kid?”
“…….”
“Alright. You are to be deleted… No, I will make sure to protect you.”
He realized further persuasion would not work.
Seol-Hwi had many conversations with Shin Yaja.
Starting with where to go to meet Siming Star, and many other things.
One surprising fact he learned during their conversation was that Siming star was located in a place called the Demonic Cult’s Secret Room.
A place he had been searching for a long time and had momentarily forgotten.
It was mentioned to be a place that holds the Absolute Demonic Martial Arts and opens only with a secret key.
– The Demonic Cult’s Secret Room doesn’t have a fixed location. It changes with each player and each time a player regresses.
The location changes anew each time. This was another intriguing story.
Doesn’t it mean that the map he knew changes after he dies?
“Then do I have to gather all the keys again to find it?”
– Not necessarily……. There’s a much easier way than that.
“What is it?”
– Kill the Demonic Cult leader and become the leader. Then you can easily find out where it is.
When Seol-Hwi thought about it, it was such an obvious statement.
Since the cult leader is the master of this place, he should either ask him (though he wouldn’t tell Seol-hwi) or have it reported to him formally once he rises to that position.
– But is it because of the removal? Many things are different from what I knew.
Additionally, he talked about him and the future.
Especially the situation of being selected for the Twelve Guardians and receiving the mission to go to the Hidden Demon Hall was something even Shin Yaja’s memory didn’t contain.
Seol-Hwi couldn’t avoid explaining how Earth Demon came under the First Disciple.
Of course, to the question, “How did Earth Demon do such a thing?” He vaguely said it just happened, which was a bit different.
Due to the ‘removal’ ability, group education disappeared, and many things changed.
“So, is this the mission of that Valley?”
– That’s right.
“If we summarize it simply, the system’s task here is to persuade the ultimate martial arts warriors. However, since we don’t know their exact location, we have to rummage around.”
– You understood well.
“It’s puzzling. If it’s as you say, isn’t it dangerous at the level of Shadowless Ghost Twelve Guardians? I see some elders who have reached the First Stage around us…”
From Seol-Hwi’s perspective, the martial prowess of Shadowless Ghost Twelve Guardians here is at the First Stage and Peak level.
Of course, First Guardian, who seems to be the leader, appears to be at the level of Ma Tae-ryong or Cheol Gon-seong from the past, but the ones incorporated this time have not reached the First Stage.
– This is deliberately enduring losses.
“What do you mean by that?”
– It might harm the hidden warriors’ bodies. So, they make those inferior to them conduct the search.
“Isn’t that a problem that can be solved by bringing the top masters from the First Disciple?”
No matter how sudden the attack, someone of that level of skill wouldn’t be caught off guard, Seol-Hwi thought.
– If you bring in a large number of such high-level experts, there will be a gap in the forces. Although it won’t have a significant impact on the current situation, the real problem is the old man named Dam Cheon, whom we are trying to persuade. He doesn’t welcome such a situation so easily.
“It seems like you’re saying one should be prepared to lose valuable talents just to meet him.”
– To be precise, it’s a way of saying don’t come. Also, even if you insist on meeting, the subject must not be a Supreme Warrior but only at the beginner warrior level. In other words, the persuasion shouldn’t be done by Hyang-gye, but by one of the Twelve Guardians.
“Then just send the Twelve Guardians. Why did Hyang-gye come along?”
– Because if the persuasion fails, we must be killed.
“……?!”
– Anyway, although the First Disciple guy puts forward persuasion and recruitment, ultimately, their aim is set on beheading and eliminating any opponents. The only variable in this current war situation is the hidden warriors.
Hyang-gae is already a warrior ranked 10th in the sect.
No matter how skilled the hidden warriors were, there were hardly any who could fight against him.
“This is… after hearing it, it’s not an easy mission, is it?”
– That’s why the Simulation Lv3 is in this place.
Seol-Hwi felt it.
The difficulty of this mission was no joke.
Currently, he was beyond the state of Profound Demon, so it didn’t apply to him.
With the qualification of having reached Peak Demon, sometimes he had to persuade the Supreme Warriors through combat.
Of course, it was possible to hide one’s skills in front of a Supreme Warrior if one had reached Talma.
The problem was that the prerequisite level was too high.
“Search the surroundings.”
As soon as they entered the ship, the official mission was delivered.
At the command of Hyang-gae, the third unit of the Twelve Guardians moved quickly.
It was during the time that Seol-Hwi was searching the surroundings.
‘Hmm?’
He sensed a presence. In fact, it was in the direction where Du Jong-ack was.
“Don’t go over there.”
When Seol-Hwi approached and spoke, startled, Du Jong-ack asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“There’s something laid under the bushes there. If you touch it, they’ll hear a sound in that building far away. And then a surprise attack will unfold suddenly.”
“……Hey. You’re saying there’s something laid on the ground here. And even if there is, there’s no way the sound could reach over there……”
“You already stepped on it!”
“What?”
Du Jong-ack was momentarily flustered. Seol-Hwi slightly raised his head.
“They’re coming.”
“What? Nothing’s happening though……”
It was then. A sharp dagger came flying at tremendous speed.
The moment Du Jong-ack saw it, he had an intuition.
‘I’m going to die.’
The dagger’s sharpness and speed were not something he could defend against.
Swoosh.
However, someone stood in front of him. And they caught the flying dagger with ease.
“Hey, Tenth Guardian.”
“…Ah, yes.”
“I’ll handle things here… so step aside for a bit.”
And where Du Jong-ack turned his head.
Two people, shrouded in cloth, were standing on a tree.
Seeing them, Seol-Hwi spoke.
“Gwi-gwi, Gwi-heo. Isn’t that right?”
He flashed a grin at the two elders.
They were the figures surrounding Dam Cheon, as mentioned by Shin Yaja.