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

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

-----

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!]

-----

[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.

-----

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!]

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.

-----