Chapter 2586 – 2586. The Ascent To The Light

I had achieved my goal by killing the Hexagonal Demon King.

I looked around the city. Though it wasn’t the dead of winter, the city was frozen due to the Hexagonal Demon King’s Yin energy. The ground was as hard as ice, and the frozen vegetation didn’t sway even when the wind blew. It was in a state of perfect flash-freezing, but… it had been completely robbed of its vitality. Even if the ice melted, it would remain dead.

‘The remaining monsters in the city and our soldiers have frozen to death.’

Eighty-one soldiers had died. They were the ones who had been watching the battle relatively nearby.

‘Sometimes, when you watch high-level martial artists spar, you can gain some insight. The dead soldiers must have been greedy, hoping to gain something from watching my battle with the Hexagonal Demon King.’

But they had paid for it with their lives.

On Commander came running towards me, having realized that the battle was over.

Shudder, shudder.

He was protecting himself with his protective aura, but he couldn’t hide his trembling.

“Even though the Hexagonal Demon King is dead, the Yin energy hasn’t disappeared. It’s a very potent Yin energy. Are you alright, General?”

“The Cloud Dragon Armor given to me by His Majesty is protecting me from the cold. It’s thanks to His Majesty’s grace. Are there any enemies left?”

“The Hexagonal Demon King and his disciples are all dead. All the main enemies of the Hexagonal Demon King’s forces are dead. There may be some low-level monster soldiers left in the cities and villages ruled by the Hexagonal Demon King, but they won’t dare to attack us. Congratulations, Thunder General. You have pacified this entire area.”

“Pacified, huh? Should we occupy it?”

“That’s not a good idea. There are powerful monsters and forces in the Kaleidoscope, besides the Hexagonal Demon King. The Hexagonal Demon King was one of the weaker ones. That’s why he was pushed out of the center of the Kaleidoscope and ended up fighting us.”

I was just saying it. I had no intention of seriously occupying it. That would take a considerable amount of time. There was no need to go through unnecessary hardship.

‘And the Emperor wouldn’t allow it either. The Emperor’s goal isn’t to pacify the Kaleidoscope. Rather, the monster army of the Kaleidoscope is necessary to maintain the current level of the army.’

It would be difficult to win against two or more monsters of the Hexagonal Demon King’s level. I turned and gave an order to Commander On.

“We’re returning to Jimang Fortress.”

• • •

I ordered the soldiers to clean up the mess in Jimang Fortress and used teleportation to return to the Imperial Palace.

I had carried out the Emperor’s orders, so I had to report. I had an audience with the Emperor and showed him the Hexagonal Demon King’s core as proof of the subjugation. The air in the audience chamber froze due to the core’s potent Yin energy. The Emperor nodded.

“Well done. Thanks to your efforts, the north is now peaceful. But the monsters of the Kaleidoscope always require caution. General, do not be complacent and continue to protect the north.”

“I will obey Your Majesty’s command.”

“Those who have rendered meritorious service deserve proper rewards. I shall bestow upon Thunder General the Hexagonal Demon King’s core, 3,000 Heavenly Jades, and 1 million taels of silver.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!!”

“I look forward to your future endeavors.”

The audience was over.

I met the Imperial High Priest, Shin Yu-go.

“I never thought I would see you again so soon, Thunder General.”

“I was lucky. I was able to kill the Hexagonal Demon King and his disciples before the effects of the Jade Pill wore off.”

“Haha. Your humility is remarkable. The Jade Pill is just a pill. It was entirely your skill that allowed you to subjugate the Hexagonal Demon King. Do you know that the Imperial Palace is buzzing because of you? Everyone is rejoicing at the appearance of a great general. His Majesty the Emperor is also very pleased.”

“I’m glad I could be of service to the Empire. By the way, when can I receive the Heavenly Jades?”

“I am sorry to say, General, but it will take a few days to prepare 3,000 Heavenly Jades.”

“Are there so few Heavenly Jades that I have to wait?”

“Heavenly Jades are used in many places. Just maintaining the Imperial Palace’s barrier consumes dozens of Heavenly Jades every month.”

“Can’t you just make Heavenly Jades?”

“It’s not easy. Several conditions are required to make Heavenly Jades. Special training and techniques, a place full of spiritual energy. If you make Heavenly Jades frequently in one place, it damages the spiritual veins. The maker also consumes their vital energy when making one Heavenly Jade, so they need to rest for at least a few months to a few years. Of course, there are makers with special constitutions who don’t need rest, but it’s impossible to produce Heavenly Jades in large quantities.”

“If I were to learn how to make Heavenly Jades, could I make them?”

“It’s impossible. I’m not disregarding your abilities, General. Making Heavenly Jades requires a special technique that manipulates pure natural energy.”

“…I understand. I’m too specialized in thunder energy to handle pure natural energy. Moreover, I’m also learning demonic arts.”

In reality, the probability of me being able to make Heavenly Jades myself was zero. I cleanly gave up on making Heavenly Jades. It would only give me a headache to cling to something impossible.

After that, I stayed in the Imperial Palace for five days. I didn’t want to get involved in politics, so I stayed in the palace I was assigned to.

With the 3,000 Heavenly Jades I received this time, I now had 4,161 Heavenly Jades.

‘I need 8,000 Heavenly Jades to level up to the next VIP level. I’m halfway there.’

Before ending my vacation, I moved to Nakwol Mountain.

Today.

Mireyeong is finishing her preparations to challenge the Harmony Realm. I was a little worried since she had failed before.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Yes, Master. Where is Mireyeong?”

“She’s taking a bath and then adjusting the barrier. I don’t know much about it, but it’s a barrier that temporarily amplifies the spiritual energy of the spiritual veins. She should be ready by now. Shall we go?”

“Is Yang Hong-ye still holed up in the smithy?”

“That girl is always there. She seems a little crazy.”

I followed Wi Yu to where Mireyeong was. As we walked, I asked Wi Yu.

“Master, do you think Mireyeong will succeed?”

“Usually, if you fail to ascend, you either die or become a cripple. Even if you’re lucky enough to be fine, the experience of failing once becomes a mental demon. Mireyeong is overcoming her mental demon and trying again. She will succeed.”

We soon met Mireyeong.

“You’re here! Please watch carefully! I’m really going to reach the Harmony Realm this time!”

She was speaking cheerfully, but I could tell she was nervous.

“How about we have sex to relieve your tension?”

“Then I won’t be able to do it today. Today is an auspicious day for me. I can’t miss today. I’ll start now, so please take care of me.”

My role and Wi Yu’s role weren’t just to watch and cheer her on. We were preparing for any unforeseen variables. A monster or an uninvited guest could suddenly appear and interfere. It was a kind of protection.

‘Well, since Wi Yu is here, I don’t really need to be here.’

Mireyeong took a pill she had prepared in advance.

The Tranquilizing Pill.

It was a spiritual medicine that helped when ascending to the Harmony Realm. It stabilized the spiritual energy flowing through the body, increasing the probability of ascension by about 5%.

Mireyeong, having swallowed the Tranquilizing Pill, sat cross-legged in the center of the barrier. She began to circulate her energy with her breathing. Six fox tails appeared behind her back, glowing faintly with spiritual energy. Heat emanated from her, filling the cave.

Heat haze rose inside the cave. Just as the cave floor began to turn red and melt, blue foxfire blazed from Mireyeong’s body. The clothes she was wearing instantly burst into flames. They didn’t even leave ashes behind.

But she was fine. Her hair and fox tails were fine too. Mireyeong didn’t even flinch as the floor she was sitting on turned into lava and began to flow. Mireyeong was floating in the air.

I took a step back. It was hard to withstand the heat coming from the barrier. Even now, I was wearing the Cloud Dragon Armor.

“The heat is no joke. It’s so intense that even I can’t withstand it.”

“It’s the result of having a good bloodline, a strong mind, and a powerful technique. A treasure that miniaturized the Eight Trigrams Furnace… was it called the Eight Extremes Refining Furnace? It seems she gained some inspiration from its Six Divine Fires and even achieved enlightenment. She’s a genius, though not as much as you.”

I had lent the Eight Extremes Refining Furnace to Mireyeong. It seemed she hadn’t just used it for refining pills. Just as I had gained enlightenment from the furnace’s flames and obtained the Thunder Eye Golden Essence technique, Mireyeong had also gained new enlightenment.

How many hours had passed? The heat that had filled the barrier was sucked into Mireyeong’s body. Mireyeong’s fair and smooth skin cracked. Blue flames flowed out from the cracks.

Soon, Mireyeong’s entire body was engulfed in blue flames.

The cracked skin burned away. In its place was skin as smooth as a baby’s. The blue flames that had transformed her body moved to her back, taking the form of new tails. Not just one. Two more were added. A total of eight tails were burning blue behind her back.

Soon, the blue flame-like tails returned to their original white and fluffy fox tails.

Immediately after, blue spiritual energy burst from her body, passing through the cave ceiling and soaring into the sky. Not stopping there, the energy of nature began to respond, pouring down on the entire Nakwol Mountain. It was a sight no different from a blessing from the heavens.

Sway, sway.

Mireyeong opened her eyes, swaying her tails. She landed on the floor naked, smiled brightly, and ran to me, hugging me.

“Honey! Did you see?! I’m now at the 3rd stage of the Harmony Realm!”

“I saw. It’s amazing that you finished it in just one day, and to start at the 3rd stage of the Harmony Realm. It’s a bit unfair.”

“You’re the last person who should be saying that!”

I touched Mireyeong’s buttocks and tails in my arms. The tails were fluffy, and her buttocks were large and firm. Her skin had become a little softer. Her body temperature also seemed to have increased. There must be changes in her appearance as well.

“The 3rd stage of the Harmony Realm… It seems that the enlightenment was more deeply ingrained because you failed once. Anyway, it’s your talent and your blessing. But don’t be too arrogant.”

“The people around me are so amazing that I can’t be arrogant even if I wanted to. When I was in Guyugok, no one could match my talent.”

Mireyeong grumbled softly. I felt the sexiness in her voice and reversed the summoning of the Cloud Dragon Armor. And I hugged Mireyeong with all my might. Then, I buried my face in Mireyeong’s large chest.

“Aah. Do you want me that much?”

Indeed, Mireyeong’s body temperature had increased slightly. It wasn’t hot, but warm. It was a body temperature that made you feel good when you hugged her.

“Don’t overdo it and come back.”

Wi Yu said indifferently and returned to the mansion.