After changing into the black uniform, the place I headed to was the advanced student building located at the edge of the sacred mountain.

Following the instructor’s guidance, I entered, and at the end of the hallway was Cheon Mu-jin.

“Follow me. There are remaining procedures.”

“What are these procedures?”

When I asked formally, he answered while tapping the wall at the end of the hallway in sequence.

“There is a ritual performed when becoming an advanced student. You’ll know when you get there.”

Ddddd-

Soon, one side of the wall opened, revealing another space. There were stairs leading down to the basement.

As I descended the dark stairs, a thick iron door revealed itself.

“First, you must prepare here.”

He unfolded his Geumnasu and grabbed both of my hands.

“Keuk!”

I knew it was coming, but it was a considerably rough touch.

“What are you doing?”

Woooong-

Instead of an answer, internal energy came in, so I blocked the intrusion. Power was rapidly depleted in the sudden internal energy battle.

His explanation came.

“Here, you must enter with all your internal energy emptied.”

It was an internal energy battle initiated by a Transformation Realm master. My internal energy was being consumed like crazy.

Since this was also part of the ritual, I couldn’t refuse.

The internal energy, of which nearly half remained even after fighting Zhuge Pae-gang, disappeared in an instant.

“Is this enough?”

“No. Not just your dantian, but also that power in your heart.”

‘I’ve been caught.’

I tried to hide my mana by wrapping my uniform’s interior with shadows, but at such close range, I was bound to be detected.

Considering Cheon Mu-jin was a top-tier master even among Transformation Realm practitioners, it was a natural result.

I poured out all my mana on the spot. It had been a while since I had spewed out pure mana like this, since practicing with the Daoist Scholar’s Fan.

“Hoo, is this much enough?”

A moment later, as I spoke with a sigh, Cheon Mu-jin quietly nodded his head.

“It’s sufficient.”

Cheon Mu-jin inserted a key into the metal door and injected his internal energy, and the entrance opened with a faint noise.

Beyond it was a cave from which the dense power of the earth’s veins was slowly flowing out.

“Enter this place and pass through without losing consciousness.”

‘Is this the Ghost Cave?’

A baptismal ritual that one must undergo to become an advanced student.

The moment I stepped inside, my vision blurred.

Auditory hallucinations, like laughter, were heard amidst the eerie airflow.

‘The space itself is interfering with the mind. This cave is a natural formation.’

There was a reason for sending me in with my internal energy deliberately emptied.

It was a trick to make me more susceptible to the illusions of the Ghost Cave.

Even now, I could hear a murmuring as if whispering in my ear. I knew about it roughly through the original story, but it was fascinating to experience it like this.

Of course, this kind of hallucinatory debuff didn’t work on [Extreme Will].

Kwoong-!

Soon, the iron door that blocked the entrance to the Ghost Cave closed, and the inside was completely submerged in darkness.

Only the occasional glow of phosphorescent moss lit the view, but the gloomy atmosphere of the dark interior remained.

‘With the dense energy, hallucinations, and complex structure, a normal martial artist would lose their mind.’

It was a space that applied mental pressure.

Small caves were dug here and there as if to say ‘run away’, and the path forked like a maze or was divided into floors with lowered heights.

However, if you unconditionally entered only the wide paths, you would reach a dead end, a cave designed to make you wander.

I walked leisurely inside.

The cave you enter or the path you take changes depending on your psychological state under mental pressure.

Especially in cases of high notoriety or a corrupted mind, one could go mad or get completely lost, so it was more than fitting to call it a ritual.

The name Ghost Cave itself was given because one could see hallucinations or ghosts due to the energy filling the air.

That was the reason the academy sent newly promoted advanced students here.

‘They even conduct personality assessments in a martial arts-like way.’

Since I felt no pressure, I explored the area moderately and moved forward.

‘At this rate, I should be able to find the exit without any trouble.’

Just then, there was something on the ceiling of the cave. It was a space like a stain on the ceiling.

A gap that wouldn’t be visible if one’s vision wasn’t wide. A place one wouldn’t even be conscious of if they weren’t at ease.

Although my internal energy and mana were completely depleted, I began to climb the wall without hesitation.

As I reached the crevice in the ceiling along the slippery yet rugged groove, there was a small path leading upwards that was not visible from below.

As if possessed, I went inside. Finally, as I raised my head at the end of the hole, what came into view was a small stone monument illuminated by a glowing stone. And on top of it, a sword hilt was placed.

“What’s this?”

I approached the monument and picked up the hilt.

Dddddd-

Then the ceiling opened, and sunlight poured in.

‘The sky?’

Beyond the vertical hole that stretched to a dizzying height, there was a sky that had shrunk to a dot.

‘What a strange place for an exit.’

Since there was nothing else to see in the cave, I soon took only the sword hilt and began to climb along the hole.

It was a considerable height, so I had to climb for a long time even with my physical body.

And so, having reached the exit, I finally set foot on the ground.

“Where is this?”

It was the summit of the sacred mountain, the Heavenly Lake with a large lake. Just then, I heard a familiar voice from behind.

“I never thought a student would come out this way.”

It was the King of Insects, Go Du-gyeong. His reaction was unusually surprising, so I wondered if there was a special meaning and asked back.

“Does this have a meaning?”

“The Ghost Cave guides students to different exits depending on their qualities. The more outstanding their talent and its manifestation, the closer the exit is to the upper part of the sacred mountain. But in history, you are the only one who has come out from the summit of this sacred mountain, the Heavenly Lake.”

It was the first time I’d heard this. In the original story, only Baek Hasin could do it, so it was hard to notice something like this.

It seemed he knew a lot, as he was the person in charge of the sacred mountain.

‘If so, he might know about this too.’

I took out the sword hilt I had just obtained and showed it to Go Du-gyeong.

“I got this from the Ghost Cave, do you know what it is?”

“That is?!”

He made a rarely seen surprised face and then, after a brief emotional moment, answered.

“That is the sword of the Heaven-Shattering Demon.”

It was a more precious item than I thought.

However, that was only historically speaking; in terms of practical use, it didn’t seem very valuable. The most important part, the blade, was missing.

“It’s just the hilt.”

“You might think so. You don’t know what that item signifies.”

“No.”

I’d never seen it before, so it was natural. Go Du-gyeong glanced around and then gestured for me to hide the sword hilt.

“You know why this academy was founded, right?”

“Because of the Heaven-Shattering Demon’s wish.”

I recalled the very orthodox-like wish to eliminate the great evil that would one day cover the Central Plains.

“That is an item passed down to the student acknowledged by the Heaven-Shattering Demon. In other words, the one who can fulfill the Heaven-Shattering Demon’s wish. That is you, Zhuge Cheonwu!”

“I’ve already heard that story from the academy head. You’re asking me to fulfill it for him, aren’t you?”

Isn’t that why I’m receiving various support, including access to the underground library? But the words that came from the King of Insects’ mouth were on a different level.

“Until now, it was just a matter at the academy level. But now that evidence of inheriting the Heaven-Shattering Demon’s will has appeared, the situation changes.”

With those words, Go Du-gyeong cupped his fists towards me.

“Endless talent and the Heaven-Defying Heart Art, and on top of that, the Heaven-Shattering Demon’s Formless Sword! You have proven your qualifications at the academy all this time. From now on, I, Go Du-gyeong, and the other mountain keepers will regard you, Zhuge Cheonwu, as our leader as long as we share the same will.”

“Thank you… wait, what?!”

I accepted the shocking declaration at first and then asked again.

“Aren’t the mountain keepers affiliated with the Martial Academy?”

“Protecting the sacred mountain and carrying on its will is the duty of the mountain keepers. Nominally, we are under the academy, but in reality, we are no different from an independent organization. You don’t need to worry.”

Come to think of it, during the war with the Blood Cult, Go Du-gyeong and the other mountain keepers did not participate because they were protecting the sacred mountain.

‘Amazing. To think it would turn out like this.’

With this, one of the major factions within the academy had completely come into my hands.

Go Du-gyeong and the other mountain keepers possessed a power comparable to the elite units of a decent large sect, so they would be of tremendous help.

He flicked a ladybug at me with his finger and said.

“From now on, a communication bug will be attached to you. If you’re in danger, press it with your internal energy, and I’ll come to support you wherever you are.”

After receiving a biological security device, I felt like I had become a top-priority protection target.

“I’ll contact you when I need your strength later.”

“Gladly.”

With that answer, the King of Insects disappeared into the bushes. Seeing him descend the mountain right away, he seemed busy in many ways.

After looking at the direction he had disappeared for a moment, I stood at the summit of the sacred mountain and stared at the entrance I had just come out of.

Before I knew it, a hidden mechanism was operating and closing the gap of the hole.

It seemed to be a structure that automatically closed after a certain period of time if the presence of a person who had come out through this side was felt.

After waiting for a while longer, a whirlpool suddenly formed in the lake of the Heavenly Lake, and from its center, Baek Hasin broke through the water’s surface and raised his head.

“Oh.”

After hearing the King of Insects’ story, I was curious and waited, and it seemed to be a record-breaking growth.

It wasn’t just talent, but its manifestation and mental growth also affected the altitude.

“Cheonwu?”

Baek Hasin, after soaring out of the water once, landed on the ground and showed his surprise.

He must have meant ‘why are you here’. I didn’t think I needed to tell him the truth, so I expressed my impression.

“I’m higher.”

“What?”

The sunken Heavenly Lake of the sacred mountain and the summit of the mountain peak. In terms of altitude, this side was higher.

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s go down.”

Instead of an answer, we descended the sacred mountain.

Before we knew it, the sun was setting beyond the mountain ridge in the distance.

***

On the day our promotion was confirmed, we all moved our lodgings to the advanced student building.

A single room, more spacious and luxurious than the intermediate student rooms.

After finishing my meal and training, I was about to lie down when I felt a presence beyond the doorway.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

The door opened, and the one who came into the room was Baek Hasin.

“What’s up?”

“The vacation is starting soon. Do you want to come over to my house?”

An invitation to the Baek family. It was an unexpected proposal, so I pointed out a part I was subtly concerned about.

“Is it okay for me to go to your house?”

“Yeah! The family is looking forward to your visit too.”

Judging by his reaction, it didn’t seem like he had called me for no reason.

‘Was the Baek family in Shaanxi?’

The distance wasn’t that far. Besides, Cheong Ah-hyun had also mentioned that I should visit once, saying she would teach me later.

‘There’s no better master to learn the Zixia Divine Art from than her.’

Of course, it would be troublesome if it was discovered that I had learned the Zixia Divine Art, but since I was a lay disciple and a benefactor, she wouldn’t be rough.

I could just use the excuse of the secret library and the divine object, the White Plum Blossom. They couldn’t do anything about me learning it on my own.

In terms of timing and geography, it wasn’t a bad proposal in many ways.

“Alright.”

I was also curious about the path Baek Hasin had chosen for himself.

‘It would be good to know.’

What his position was in the Baek family now, and what he wanted to do in the future.

“So you’re coming?”

At my answer, Baek Hasin asked back with a strangely excited expression. It was understandable, as he had no decent friends since his teens.

I thought to myself that a day like this wasn’t bad and asked about the schedule.

“Yeah. So when are we going?”

“We’ll depart early tomorrow morning. Be up by the hour of the tiger (3-5 AM)!”

“…What?”

He then waved his hand and closed the door with an excited expression, like a child before a picnic.

He really deserved to have no friends.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep