Chapter 1228

<Chapter 1228> The Path of Ascension to Radiance

I had returned to the Demon Training Facility.

The third trial had concluded.

The top ten performers were granted a spiritual pill. It was the Horse Essence Pill this time. Unlike before, I decided not to give it away and instead consumed it myself.

Afterward, the monotonous routine began once more. Still, I fared better than most. After all, I had Ximen Xiaolier, who could be considered my sex partner, and at night, I could visit Lian Yeha to ravish her.

Lian Yeha seemed somehow changed. I couldn’t quite pinpoint what exactly had shifted. She was such an expressionless woman that it was hard to tell. Nonetheless, she had become more proactive lately. Without being told, she would do extra things—like when she sucked my dick or moved her hips on top of me in ways she hadn’t before. Though Lian Yeha herself probably hadn’t noticed the change.

Anyway, as time flowed onward, we eventually reached the day of the fourth trial.

This was also the final test of the Demon Training Facility. Passing it meant being assigned to one of the units of the Celestial Demon Sect to work. Where you’d be assigned depended on your performance.

“The fourth trial requires you to retrieve the Black Target Pearl hidden within the Demon Training Cavern.”

Demon Training Facility Commander Pei Tai Zhou announced this to the remaining trainees.

Out of the original group, only 130 trainees remained for this fourth trial. According to the instructors, this was above average.

The Demon Training Cavern referred to an artificial cave beneath the Demon Training Facility. This cave was only opened during the final test each year.

“You will enter the Demon Training Cavern through separate entrances. Inside the cavern, there are 30 Black Target Pearls hidden. Out of the 130 of you, 100 will receive the lowest score. However, rest assured; even if you receive the lowest score, you won’t be expelled from here.”

None of us were unaware that receiving the lowest score still meant our grades would be utterly ruined.

“Anything goes inside the Demon Training Cavern. You may kill each other. You can steal the Black Target Pearls. Form alliances with your comrades—it doesn’t matter. Your sole task is to bring back the Black Target Pearl by any means necessary. Show us your strength within the Demon Training Cavern. Remember, we’re watching you.”

Pei Tai Zhou cast an intimidating gaze around the area before continuing.

“In one hour, the fourth trial begins. Follow the instructors’ orders.”

The instructors tightly controlled the trainees, not even allowing them to converse with each other.

It was pointless.

Everyone already knew about the fourth trial. Since the final test was the same every year, how could we not?

Those planning to form teams had likely done so already.

And that included me. Team One. Centered around Tian Youyun, our group of five decided we’d move together even inside the Demon Training Cavern.

“Trainee 123. This is your starting point.”

The instructor pointed to the ground where “One Hundred Twenty-Three” was marked.

“When the time comes, the entrance will open. Simply enter the Demon Training Cavern through the hole once it does.”

With that, the instructor left with the other trainees.

I quietly stared at the ground. The fourth trial was unfolding exactly as it did in the original story.

‘The method of entry differs from the original, so the interior of the Demon Training Cavern might also have slight variations. I heard they’ve placed dangerous yokai inside.’

Since the entrance wasn’t opening immediately, I decided to sit and wait.

Keeeeeeeng!

A sharp sound rang out from the floor as the entrance slowly began to open.


I took a glance inside. There were no stairs. Instead, there was a smooth slide that looked exhilarating just by looking at it, but its end was nowhere to be seen.

“If this follows the original, it’s probably over 10 meters deep, huh?”

I don’t feel fear from something as trivial as a slide. Without hesitation, I slid into the pit. As I descended on the slide, it was initially pitch black, and I couldn’t see anything. But after riding for a while, an exit with light became visible.

Emerging from the exit and landing gracefully on the ground, I quietly surveyed my surroundings while staying alert.

It was the interior of a cave.

The ceiling was about 4 meters high, and the width around 5 meters, making movement seem convenient. There were paths leading both forward and backward, and the ceiling emitted a soft glow, likely due to some sort of spellcraft.

“I need to find the Black-Eyed Liquor hidden somewhere around here… stealing it would probably be easier.”

With my sword already drawn in hand, I advanced toward what seemed like the front. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if this was actually the front. I simply walked, hoping something would appear.

A fork in the path appeared.

Right or left.

“Kruuuu…”

The sound of a beast breathing came from the left. It wasn’t a real animal—it must be a demon.

I headed toward the left path where the demon was. The chances of finding the Black-Eyed Liquor near the demon were higher. Sneaking quietly, I arrived at a chamber. In the center stood a massive wolf. A wolf so large it could swallow a human whole in one bite.

“You’ve managed to capture such a brute.”

The wolf, which had been keeping its eyes closed, suddenly opened them upon sensing my presence.

“Grurrrrrr!”

As if asking what I was, the wolf growled menacingly.

I pointed my sword at the wolf. No way I’d run scared from some mutt.

The giant wolf’s forepaw, capable of reducing a human to mush in an instant, lunged at me.

‘The ones who have secured their place in the Heaven Horse Cult, including those who practice the Mouth Demon techniques, are likely observing the current state of the Demon Mouth Cave. So under no circumstances will I use the Heaven Horse Divine Skill or Thunder Sky Flow.’

While dodging the giant wolf’s forepaw as I charged forward, the wolf’s claws scratched the ground, leaving long scars behind.

“ROOOAAARRR!”

The giant wolf roared. Thanks to my cultivation of inner energy protecting my hearing, I avoided major damage, though my legs still wobbled slightly.

The giant wolf’s forepaw attacked again. Retreating, I narrowly avoided it.

‘What kind of claws are these, sharp enough to rival a blade?’

While marveling at the strength of the demon, I swung my sword.

Demon-Slaying Sword Technique: Evil Slash.

I inflicted a large wound on the wolf’s foreleg. The giant wolf let out a scream of pain, quickly turning that agony into rage as it wildly swung its forepaws at me indiscriminately.

‘Better for me. Completely giving in to anger has made its attacks one-dimensional. Truly, despite its size, its intelligence is only at beast level.’

Dodging all of the giant wolf’s forepaw attacks, I approached close range. The giant wolf immediately opened its mouth and lunged at me.

Spinning in mid-air to evade its attack, I simultaneously thrust my sword into its right eye.

“ROOOAAARRR!!”

With a cry filled with anguish, the giant wolf went berserk. Gripping the hilt tightly, I clung onto its face as it thrashed, driving the sword deeper and moving it around.

BOOM! BANG! BANG!

The giant wolf started pounding its own head with its forepaws. Even with skillful dodges, there was a limit to how much I could avoid. One of its forepaws struck my back hard.

I winced. If I take a few more hits like that, I’ll be in critical condition.

‘Just now, I got a sense of where I am thanks to that attack. Jumping off is the best option here.’

I pulled out my sword and leaped off its head.

Realizing I’d jumped off, the giant wolf stopped hitting its own head. Its head was a mess—one eye gone, blood gushing from its snout, and most of its teeth shattered. More than half of the damage was self-inflicted.

Beating its own head like that and remaining unscathed would be strange.

“Grurrrrrrr…”

The giant wolf growled and charged at me.

Remaining vigilant, I calmly responded. It lost one eye, meaning it can’t see on one side.

‘I’ll thoroughly exploit that blind spot…’


I shall use it!

With sword in hand, I pressed the counterattack. The giant wolf, lacking visible eyes, relied on its sense of smell and hearing instead.

But its reaction speed was too slow.

It couldn’t block or dodge my attack aimed at its blind spot.

There was no need to rush.

I slowly gnawed away at the giant wolf. Even small wounds, when they pile up, become fatal. The blood pooling from the giant wolf grew larger, its movements slower, its ferocity fading.

KOOOONG!

The giant wolf’s head hit the ground.

“The moment has come.”

In a panic, the giant wolf attempted to lift its head. I didn’t miss this chance—I leapt onto its head and plunged my blade into its forehead between its upright ears.

“GUH… GGGRRRAAAHHH…!”

After a few futile struggles, the giant wolf collapsed lifelessly, its breathing ceased. It had met its end.

That giant wolf was more troublesome than I anticipated. If we weren’t in a cave but rather an expansive grassland, I would’ve suffered greatly.

“But since that beast is dead, such assumptions are meaningless.”

I slowly scanned my surroundings. If my guess was correct, the Black-Eyed Pearl should be here.

After a few more looks, I found it—lodged in the abdomen of the giant wolf’s corpse. Only after slicing open the wolf’s belly with my sword could I finally grasp the bloody Black-Eyed Pearl.

As its name suggests, the Black-Eyed Pearl was a bead made of black wood, as hard as steel, though otherwise unremarkable.

“With this, if I return, the fourth trial will be over.”

I headed back the way I came. There should’ve been a hole in the ceiling, but upon closer inspection, it was sealed. Despite attacking it with my blade’s energy, all I managed was a mere scratch.

“There must be another exit.”

Just as I suspected.

Sighing, I began moving to search for the exit.

On the way, I encountered someone else—a sturdy-faced man wielding one hatchet in each hand.

“…Number 123.”

“You’re Number 61, right?”

I knew he was the only one in the Demon Fang Sect who used hatchets, and that Number 61 belonged to Team Two.

“…I smell blood. Did you battle a demon?”

“How did you know?”

“Anyone can see the fur on your shoulder—it’s not human.”

“Ah.”

I brushed the fur off my shoulder. Number 61 watched me intently.

“Number 123, have you found the Black-Eyed Pearl?”

“Not yet.”

“It should be with the demon.”

“Why do you assume demons have it?”

Number 61 smirked and pulled out the Black-Eyed Pearl from his robes—the same black wooden bead as mine.

“I just defeated a demon too. It was a serpent demon. The Black-Eyed Pearl was tied to its back.”

“…What about that demon?”

“I quietly threw my hatchet while it slept and killed it.”

“I went through hell fighting a giant wolf…”

“That’s unfortunate, Number 123. I know you have the Black-Eyed Pearl.”

“You and I both possess the Black-Eyed Pearl. There’s no reason to fight. Let’s search for the exit together. With you and me, we can successfully find the exit and get out. We can beat Number 88 and take first place.”

“Number 61, there’s no reason for me to reject your proposal.”

“Are you accepting?”

I nodded and approached Number 61. I took out the Black-Eyed Pearl from my robes to show him, and he grinned.

“Where do you think the exit is?”

“Hmm… I don’t know yet. For now, I plan to go straight ahead. We need to familiarize ourselves with the path… Guh?!”

I stabbed my sword into Number 61’s chest. Caught off guard, he fell to the ground.

“Number 123…! W-why…?! You have no reason to kill me…!”

“Don’t act like you’re my equal when you’re weaker than me. You were truly arrogant.”

“Y-you’re insane…!”

Number 61 died. I snatched the Black-Eyed Pearl from him and tucked it into my robes.