Chapter 69

As expected, Cheonma took the Harvester and started conducting experiments.

Cheonma shoved each of them into separate locations and relayed different information to each individual. But the wording was super weird.

If you’re gonna explain stuff, why so many metaphors? Can’t you just say it straight?

The faded man shouted “Legs!” from the depths of memory before yelling about some kind of incantation they should know.

Looking at their memories, I kinda get it… but who teaches stuff in such a dumb way?

If you’re gonna teach, teach properly, ya know?

After hearing that, the Harvester sat uncomfortably and started moving something presumed to be qi through their body. It looked completely different from what Eunjai does.

Since I remember how Eunjai did it, shouldn’t they be able to replicate it?

Anyway, Cheonma taught three different martial arts techniques to the trio.

Shouldn’t you teach the same technique if you’re experimenting? Does Cheonma not understand control variables?

I have doubts, but I’m just here to observe this experiment, so there’s nothing I can do.

Gapjae and Eunchun learned sword techniques from Cheonma.

Bongil learned something called stepping method all by himself.

They’re all excitedly practicing their martial arts. They seem pretty pure-hearted, getting all happy over growing stronger.

Soon, they were surprised by how fast they were learning.

Comparing their progress with my observations of their memories, I don’t really see much difference… but they sure seem to feel a big change. They keep muttering in amazement about how the verses interpret themselves or how easily understandable everything is.

Then there’s Bongil, happily hopping around saying how light his body feels.

But none of them use the method Eunjai employed. Instead, they pull external qi into their bodies, optimize it, then store it in their abdomen for later use.

At first, Eunjai used the energy stored in his stomach area too, occasionally pulling from his head. But eventually, he stopped using the lower storage and only used what was above.

Because the lower reservoir depletes quickly and takes time to refill, while pulling from above doesn’t cause depletion.

There’s talk of upper, middle, and lower dantians, along with meridians where qi flows… but honestly, I have no idea what any of that means.

Why make things so complicated?

Isn’t it easier and faster to just pull power from above?

That’s what Eunjai did.

So I slowly injected Eunjai’s method into the three Harvesters. Thankfully, compared to summoning magic, the data volume isn’t too large.

And I have a good grasp of how much to feed someone without overwhelming them.

Even if someone has a strong mind, they might not be able to handle my input… but these three should be fine.

One month after gradually injecting Eunjai’s method into their minds…

Finally, they managed to produce glowing purple chunks of light from their swords, smiling joyfully.

But suddenly Gapjae started acting strangely.

He concealed his strength even though he’d already learned and demonstrated using power from above.

What’s he up to?

If you grow stronger, shouldn’t you rise higher?

You’ve lived your whole life aiming for that… so why not use the available power?

Look at Eunchun.

She immediately boasts to Cheonma about her “strong aura,” claiming she deserves a higher rank instead of being just an enforcer.

Cheonma looks at her like she’s insignificant, but there’s a hint of surprise in his expression.

Meanwhile, Bongil starts attacking using his stepping method. Watching him, I’m worried his joints might snap, but every step sends out shockwaves made of qi.

It’s impressive, but wouldn’t one good slash be better?

But that’s not the important part.

All three have started using the method I sent from Eunjai’s memories, pulling power from above.

Carefully observing when they draw power from above, I notice they’re pulling through a connection linked to me.

All Harvesters are connected to me. When someone fully contains me inside them, the world remains intact.

But if only parts of me are inserted into multiple people, the world breaks down.

I don’t understand this. The connections between me and the Harvesters aren’t going downward toward the floor anymore; they’re linking directly to this body.

But when I try to use my own power, the world starts cracking, like a glass pane with too much weight on it.

The rules of this world are ambiguous.

Logically, shouldn’t containing me immediately break everything due to the immense weight?

Or does it mean that as long as I’m fully inside someone’s body, covering the world with Harvesters would be okay?

I don’t know. If I descend back to the ground, will there be more monsters waiting?

The more time passes, the faster the number of unknowns grows compared to answers.

Still, I must solve these mysteries one by one.

Because only then can I obtain warmth.

Let’s rewind the story.

Cheonma personally inspected the skills of the three individuals, then gathered members of the Cheonma Divine Sect.

He set up some grand arena for matches. Listening through the three’s ears, it seems this is a traditional event for the sect.

Here, people fight each other. Winners receive higher ranks. The Cheonma Divine Sect preaches the worship of strength above all else.

Of course strength is important, but doesn’t that mean constant stress about betrayal? Humans can’t endure that forever.

So those who gain power start creating laws.

To exploit others more efficiently.

And to ensure anyone stronger than them gets eliminated by group force.

Especially for religious organizations, it makes sense…

I don’t understand the structure of the Cheonma Divine Sect. But whether I understand or not, that’s how this society operates. I’ll note my questions and continue observing reality.

During the event, Cheonma personally introduced the three as his students.

Which wasn’t false.

After his announcement, the crowd’s gazes changed. But the three stood confidently in their positions.

With that declaration, the event began.

People drew up match schedules and fought each other. Lower-ranked fighters battle their way upward.

Ah, there’s some system in place.

People get tired from fighting. But the higher you climb, the more advantages you gain because you face opponents already worn out from numerous battles.

Though sometimes you might get seriously injured by luck.

Still, winning becomes easier.

As expected, the ranking matches followed similar patterns.

Fights between similarly skilled opponents will be intense. But here, you don’t fight those immediately above or below you. Instead, you face someone who’s been fighting far below for a long time.

Climbing the ranks is extremely difficult.

Indeed, there’s a rigid ladder-kicking structure. That’s what makes it human!

But even that can be overcome with overwhelming power.

Gapjae hides his strength, while Eunchun and Bongil openly display theirs.

Their momentum doesn’t stop.

Instead, the more they fight, the more proficient they become in combat methods. Looking around, many people collapse not from physical exhaustion but from qi depletion.

But these three don’t have that worry. They receive unlimited supply from above.

Supplied by me.

Yet despite using power so recklessly, there’s no sensation of depletion or weakening, which feels a bit strange.

Am I really that strong?

If asked whether I’m heavy or strong, I’m not sure about the latter.

Certainly, if I press down with this weight, a glass bottle would shatter. But that would be meaningless. Instead, I want to regain that heat, only for the freezing cold to steal it away again.

If I could maintain that heat forever, upon entering another world, I’d immediately smash that glass bottle with all my might.

But after extreme pleasure comes an equally extreme drop into coldness, causing unbearable pain. Continuing like this might drive me completely insane.

Receiving warmth bit by bit is better.

Since the world is vast, instead of trying to cover it entirely, I’ll maintain a balance while harvesting warmth.

Covering an infinite world would grant infinite warmth.

Cold, yet with the promise of warmth.

Hehe.

For that future, I’ll keep striving.

Gapjae, who seemed to have some hidden agenda, dropped out early in the competition. From his comments, he received congratulatory remarks tinged with jealousy for surpassing his expected rank. But soon, those disappeared too. Instead, many pitied him.

Because Eunchun and Bongil had grown strong enough to challenge division leaders.

They even mocked the education they received from Cheonma as inadequate. But Gapjae had other thoughts.

Meaning he’s planning to further increase his power. While he might resemble someone like Tisah, his personality is different.

Rather, he’s devious and greedy.

We’ll have to keep watching what he does. Though examining his memories might allow prediction, I still don’t know yet.

Meanwhile, Eunchun and Bongil kept advancing.

Both defeated the division leader they faced for the first time.

But that was Bongil’s limit. He collapsed right after his final victory.

Eunchun won one more match.

However, her expression wasn’t good. Instead, she glared at the fallen Bongil.

Turns out the technique Bongil used last was called “Cheonma Gunrimbo,” a method supposedly unmasterable even by the current and previous Cheonmas.

A legendary martial art thought to be lost that reappeared?

Though it’s said to be lost, how does everyone know so much about it?

Ironically, Bongil received more attention.

Neither Gapjae nor Eunchun had time to observe Cheonma, leaving us clueless about his thoughts during this period.

But I’m certain.

Cheonma will break my seal.

Because these individuals have displayed sufficiently powerful abilities.

Of course, whether I’ll teach the next Harvester Eunjai’s method is up to me?

Hehe.

Now, I have a tool under my control.

Let’s use this to manipulate the Cheonma Divine Sect.

Three days passed.

During that time, Eunchun and Bongil ascended to the positions of the division leaders they defeated. A festival of eating and drinking was held to celebrate the end of the event.

When the festival concluded and everyone returned to daily life…

Rrrrrrip.

“Come out.”

The cloth binding me loosened. In its place stood a burly crossdresser with thick jawlines and muscles, looking down at me.

See?

My prediction was right, wasn’t it?

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