'This is definitely not Murim.'
The thought echoed in her mind as she stood by the window of her room.
The winter morning light slightly illuminated her face as she looked down at the streets below. She quietly drank the water from the bottle she was holding before sighing to herself.
There were tall buildings made from glass and metal, reaching halfway to the heavens. The architecture was vastly different from the housing designs in her former world.
Mortals—a lot of them, without any speck of spiritual qi—crowded the streets.
And then there were those metallic carriages that didn't need horses to pull them or spirit crystals to power them. They probably moved using another source of energy.
It was a rather weird and mundane scene.
Seol Hwa suddenly fell out of sync with what she was witnessing.
"Could this be the future? A future where martial arts have fallen due to the massive decline of heaven and earth energy or the absence of Heaven's Will?" She speculated while touching her chin with a thoughtful expression.
She couldn't exactly rule out all the possibilities of her new reality. What she lacked was information.
Preparation and information were important factors for survival. She also knew variables could exist even when she was sufficiently prepared. The green monster was a prime example.
What kind of powers are there in this world?
Closing the blinds behind, she walked to her desk and took a seat.
She picked up the small gadget and immediately the screen lit up.
"Huh? Screen unlocked?" Seol Hwa arched her brows, intrigued by the phone's mechanism.
'It responded to my face and opened by itself. How magical. Is this what the people of this world have achieved without martial arts?' She mused, directing her gaze at the larger screen sitting on the desk.
'Can this small, rectangular window also do something like that? Maybe I can find information about this world.' She looked down at the keyboard and deliberately pressed a random key.
The screen brightened, displaying various small icons that Seol Hwa could read but didn't understand. Not knowing something gave her the rush of wanting to know. She wanted to learn. To absorb the knowledge of this world.
Ignorance might be bliss to some, and the only way to eliminate ignorance was through humility and diligence.
"Browser…browse…" She squinted her eyes as she tentatively typed in the search window. She was familiar with the term. Her instincts told her that was what she was looking for.
Google. Those words greeted her.
In the blank space, she typed maps.
A scalable virtual map appeared.
There were some words at the bottom of the page. Current location: Queens, New York, US.
'So, I'm in a region called Queens, and New York is like the province and the US, probably the empire.' A look of understanding reflected on her face.
Within a few clicks, she came to intuitively know how to use the gadget known as a laptop. And the smaller one was called a smartphone.
She memorized the map of Queens, finding it quite easy and baffling.
In the murim, maps were important strategic treasures.
Having a geographical advantage over the land's layout placed you ahead of your opponents during wartime. Every detailed map was closely guarded by various empires, powerful sects and clans.
Acquiring one involved either paying a heavy price or shedding blood.
'Yet, in this world, this organization called Google has all the detailed geolocation information.' She gently shook her head.
"Neither the Beggars Sect nor the Hao Clan involved in information brokerage were this efficient." Seol Hwa couldn't help but compare this world's information network against murim.
She continued to research, and many things further cemented her idea that she was not in a martial arts world but a technological civilization.
The mortals who were like ants had improvised, adapted, and built the current world. They could even fly using airplanes without the need of spiritual qi. They could even travel to space, outside their native world.
It was fascinating to Seol Hwa, but there was one aspect of their advancement that made her adopt a serious expression. Their offensive weapons.
This world, Earth, as they called it, had grown through multiple phases of international wars.
"Nuclear warheads, hydrogen bombs, tactical nukes…tsar bomb?" As she quickly read the description and history of these mortal creations, she frowned even more.
"Very strange yet interesting tools of destruction. I would be decimated along with hundreds of thousands the moment I'm within its explosion range."
'Individually, the mortals are weak, but when they pool their resources and minds together, they can even threaten me with a nuclear warhead.' The thought of it was laughable.
'In my prime—' Seol Hwa instantly stopped herself, before leaning back on her seat.
As proud as she was, there was no use clinging to past glory and power.
At the present, she was weak, her body weaker than an average man.
The mortals had already condensed laws of destruction and fear. The Heavenly Demon couldn't trail behind.
Since there was no recorded information about the orthodox alliance, heavenly demon divine cult or Heaven's Will, she had to treat herself as the only cultivator.
However, beyond the mortal weapons, she had a feeling the world's power hierarchy wasn't as simple as it seemed.
The green monster whom people called the Hulk was a prime example of bizarre powers, together with a special group of individuals tagged as mutants.
Her expression hardened despite the excitement building up within. "I can't die again. This world may have what I have been looking for if I continue exploring."
She clenched her hand, feeling the fragility of her mortal bones. 'Flesh is weak.'
It was time to rectify that by laying a foundation and discarding her feeble, sick physique.
The time was around ten-thirty in the morning when she stepped away from her chair. Her investigation was finalized.
Time was of the essence.
She sat in a lotus position on the floor, ignoring the coolness seeping into her pajamas.
She closed her eyes and started her meditation.
The outside world ceased to exist as she focused on her soul consciousness. A single speck of the lively, eternal origin energy writhed around her soul space.
The golden-red energy was her last card.
Paradoxically, the closer you get to perfection, the further you get from it. It was a type of enlightenment experienced by cultivators who had opened their eyes to a new world.
I opened my eyes to the realm of eternal origin, yet I couldn't grasp it tightly.
Was it a dead end? No, it couldn't be.
Heaven's Will's act of denying my transcendence proved I was heading in the right direction. And this golden-red energy shows me the path I must deduce further.
It was a necessary tool to rewrite her own biology. It had to be sacrificed.
Under her conscious control, Seol Hwa used her will to command the eternal origin energy.
The raw energy fragmented into microscopic particles that diffused to every inch of her body.
BOOM!
It was like a supernova went off in her mind. She gritted her teeth, rooting herself to wakefulness.
Falling unconscious from the pain would only result in all her efforts being wasted.
And she could die.
CRACK!
The metamorphosis began with the bones.
They snapped, broke, creaked against her being, sending jolts of pain into her brain. It was like billions of bullet ants were burrowing into her marrow cells while a hammer was being used in tandem to reshape her bones.
Pain was inevitable as the process of creation and destruction continued.
She clenched her jaw, rivulets of hot sweat and blood rolling over her body and soaking her pajamas. She was boiling and cooling from within.
As her muscles writhed against her skin while undergoing strengthening, vapor steamed off in dramatic waves.
Black, sticky sludge oozed from her pores, carrying with it cellular waste, toxins, and all the garbage the former host had consumed in her lifetime.
Seol Hwa suppressed her disgust for the gut-wrenching odor.
It smelled worse than even Heaven's Will's shit.
With her bones and every inch of her body purified and remodeled, Seol Hwa started reconstructing a network of Primordial Eternal Origin Demonic Meridians.
All 360 acupoints were unblocked and reinforced.
For the final step, Seol Hwa meticulously concentrated on her lower abdomen, about 3 inches from the navel.
At first, it was just an outline of a micro-dimension. Then it was a dot. Eventually, it became a fist-sized sub-space. Her body trembled.
The dantian creation was completed.
Even her former dantian when she started martial arts cultivation wasn't that size. Whatever the bone metamorphosis had done, Seol Hwa knew she was going to enjoy the benefits later.
The foundation was supremely solid, simply unprecedented compared to her former self.
There was infinite potential for more.
Now, the mortal vessel was no longer unworthy of the heavenly demon.
Seol Hwa exhaled heavily, the tension melting away instantly.
It had been a multi-step process, but she had succeeded.
She inspected her inner changes. The meridians were wider and stronger, augmented to handle any form of energy that could possibly exist. It was a law imbued in them during reconstruction.
The blood was vibrant with a golden sheen of unmistakable vitality circulating smoothly all over her body. The heart thudded anew, made as efficient as all the muscles.
A beautiful grin formed on her lips as she smoothly inhaled the qi present in the atmosphere.
"I feel like a brand-new person."
"Second rebirth, I guess," she whispered, opening her eyes only to find the mess she had caused. Her cute pajamas were now dark and greasy.
It was the resultant waste of her biological change.
Damn impurities. So embarrassing.
"How revolting." She briefly gagged before rushing to the bathroom. Further examinations could wait.
That stench…
---<>---
"Mmmh," Seol Hwa moaned in relaxation and contentment as the shower sprinkled her with hot water.
She wished she had something similar in the murim.
All the residual sludge on her skin had been washed away, leaving her refreshed.
Currently, she was just indulging herself, not wanting to part with the shower's novelty.
When you reach a certain realm in your martial cultivation, things like showering become merely a hobby since one could just use their qi to cleanse themselves.
Even at the peak of her power, Seol Hwa still preferred occasionally bathing.
A few minutes later, she stood in front of the mirror. She wiped the condensation off and was pleased by her reflection.
Her previously dull amber eyes were now mesmerizing, like dripping honey tinged with specks of red.
Every scar or blemish on her skin was erased, leaving it as smooth as milk. Like polished jade, pure and radiant.
The muscles were toned with perfect proportions. She couldn't help tracing her finger down her flat stomach all the way to her narrow waist.
"I like it like that." She grinned in satisfaction as she turned from side to side, subtly shaking her butt.
While superficiality was inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, Seol Hwa was also a woman at heart. There was no reason she wouldn't want to be beautiful.
Soon, she wore an oversized comfy t-shirt and shorts. They felt comfortable and cozy.
She looked at the time on her phone. It was already six-thirty in the evening.
Her lips curved into an 'O', mildly surprised. She had lost all sense of time during the body reformation.
GRRRR!
Her stomach suddenly grumbled in protest.
"I crave some meat." She left for the living room. Surprisingly, she didn't make any sound when she walked.
Every movement was controlled.
'Mother…hmm, mom is still deeply asleep.' Seol Hwa's senses felt sharp. She could hear her steady breathing even with walls around them.
She grabbed an apple from the vegetable basket and took a bite.
She finished it within a minute. It wasn't enough. She wanted something heavy.
She surveyed the open fridge, the coldness feeling natural against her skin.
There was milk, some vegetables, some… STEAK.
Her eyes stayed glued to that thick piece of meat. Her stomach growled once again, confirming the choice of her dinner.
Anticipation showed on her face as she took the steak out. Then she thought of Min-Seo. She was no longer alone.
'I guess I'll cook for us.'
Cooking was among the many things she enjoyed doing when she was roaming the world. That, and experiencing various delicacies and cultures.
When you have a lifespan of hundreds of millions of years, boredom is one of the last things you'd want.
Cooking was also an aspect of the Dao.
Seol Hwa uncertainly gazed at the modern tools like the cooker, oven, and microwave.
"Google sect. Eh, Google is just fine," she corrected herself, smiling at her own ancientness.
She watched a couple of cooking videos in just three minutes, not bothering to watch them fully.
'Oh, it's like that.'
Each ingredient had its own distinct characteristics.
Seol Hwa didn't overdo it with the ingredients, even when she had a lot of options. With just the smell, she opted for salt, pepper, and some coriander leaves.
Soon, a tantalizing scent spread through the kitchen. It was heavenly, downright addictive.
With her back facing the living room, Seol Hwa sensed someone had already woken up.
Min-Seo was drawn by the scent of her cooking. She smirked.
She couldn't wait to see her reaction as she took the two plates and placed them on the dining table.
SNIFF!
"What's that absolutely mouth-watering smell?" Min-Seo's voice drew closer, followed by her footsteps.
"Seol… Hwa?" Her words caught in her throat.
"Where's Seol Hwa?" Min-Seo comically asked, her eyes scanning every detail of the changes on her daughter.
Was she still her daughter?
Because the person standing before her was the most radiant woman she'd ever seen.
"She's here, mom." Seol Hwa wore a small smile, amused by her wide-eyed reaction.
"What happened to you? What happened to your skin? What did you apply to it?"
"I had a nice warm shower. It worked wonders."
Min-Seo stepped closer, hesitantly hovering her hands near her daughter's face.
"Can I?"
Seol Hwa nodded, smiling down at her. She didn't mind if it was her.
Her touch was warm as she played around with her cheeks. "So soft. This is unbelievable."
"The fever is also gone. You look so supernaturally healthy. I don't think any type of skincare routine or spa treatment can reach this level," she said in an envious tone.
"So…can you tell me about your secret, sweetheart?" Min-Seo asked, retracting her hand.
But then she saw what was on the plate through her peripheral vision, and she couldn't just ignore the heavenly aroma of the steak.
GRRRR!
Her stomach echoed her hunger. She remembered she hadn't eaten anything yet. And hunger debt had to be paid.
They both briefly looked at each other, humor surfacing in their eyes.
"You know what? You look amazing. But that isn't important right now." Min-Seo was the first to break her gaze as she made herself comfortable on the seat.
"I've got certain priorities, honey." She shrugged shamelessly, pulling her plate closer.
Seol Hwa also took her seat.
"Smells nice."
She took the knife and sliced a medium-sized piece, the juices deliciously spilling.
"Uuumm." The fork entered her mouth, the steak melting like butter as the flavors exploded.
She closed her eyes to savor the taste. It was better than even her cooking.
How?
Seol Hwa watched her in amusement. Min-Seo's face told her what she wanted to know.
How could she hope to compete against someone with centuries of experience?
There were only two people she had ever cooked for in her life.
And they were the Plum Blossom Sword Empress, Yeon Mi, and the Healing Immortal Maiden, Jeonghwa.
'Mother would be the third.' A reminiscent look appeared on her face as she also took a bite of the steak she'd cooked.
"You will be cooking all the meals from now on, Seol," Min-Seo suddenly said in a serious tone.
"I'm retiring as your personal cook." She smiled when she said that, almost pleased with herself.
Seol Hwa chuckled at her antics. "I see no problem."
It was ridiculous though.
The Heavenly Demon cooking for a mortal? Who would have thought?
The people in murim would have killed to eat even her leftovers.
"And also…" Min-Seo had a thoughtful expression on her face. "What do you think about going to school tomorrow since you look better?"
She took a sip of water, worry in her eyes. She didn't want to rush her.
That's why she needed her opinion.
Her observations already showed Seol Hwa was healthier than she'd ever been.
"Sure," Seol Hwa nodded.
High school. A place for brats, but she was curious about the knowledge they shared.
The Heavenly Demon would finally have to go to school, which bore resemblance to a sect.
Min-Seo sighed in relief, proud of her.
But on second thought, she was once again reminded that Seol Hwa had changed.
It was evident from the confidence and certainty that were deeply ingrained in all her actions, even the most insignificant ones.
She loved her very much, nonetheless.
----<>----
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