I went through a lot, more than I had imagined.
Awakening those old memories, further combining my two "selves," and at the same time, letting loose of all those negative emotions.
When they merged with my Chaos Ki, they became incredibly powerful, a power I simply could have never achieved otherwise.
It felt so… good to let it all out.
But at the same time, once I realized what was happening, I felt afraid of my own strength.
And how I could end up harming my own friends if I went berserk.
Is this why the Heavenly Demon prefers to be alone?
His powers are like those of a Berserk; the more he releases them, the more he loses his own sense of self by “being himself truly.”.
Does that mean I am also mad?
What made me that way? My traumas? Perhaps.
But there must have been something else.
My previous life? I don’t know.
Perhaps all my interactions with the Constellations and the Void Rulers.
Or maybe everything combined.
No, if I were insane, I would have probably gotten even stronger; let’s be fair there.
Honestly, I’m as sane as you can ask a person that has gone through everything I did could be.
I can’t pretend I’m mentally well, nor pretend I am insane either.
Baihe? And not my brother?
I mean, I miss him too, but why did her name come out first?
Is Baihe becoming more important in my heart than my brother?
I guess I really do see her as a little sister, huh?
Yeah, let’s imagine it is that way for now.
It’s not like I can afford to do anything else.
This world, this universe, it’s fucked up.
I can’t give myself the time for anything else than to grow stronger.
The responsibility of Earth weighs on my shoulders.
Suddenly, a voice echoed inside my head.
“I’m you, Anna. Calm down.”
Are you going to start talking inside my head now?
I’m really schizophrenic now, isn’t it?
“It’s not like that; this is not a mental issue; it is just a manifestation of your fragmented ego and soul. But I guess… You can think that way too, whatever.”
It’s not that easy to shrug off!
“Anyways, listen to me… To you.”
“You’re not going to take the weight alone. We are not doing it alone, Anna. Baihe, you remembered her right away. Annabelle too. Your brother! Kevin! Henrietta! Hilda! Sara! The chairman! Scarlet! All those friends you’ve made—they're your allies! And even in this world, or in the other… Like Isaac and Inferna! They’re waiting for you; they’re going to help too!”
“I don’t know much; I’m you after all. But just be more optimistic, okay? I know the heavenly demon’s doctrines hit home really well; he does make a lot of good points. But that is only from the perspective of a single, bitter man. Learn from him, but don’t try to become like him.”
The voice didn’t answer after that.
I should trust my own ego and just nod at that.
I’ll learn from my master; I’ll use his powers, but I can’t follow his doctrines at 100%.
I will also learn from the Heavenly Empress too!
So maybe both Hatred and Peace will balance each other? For now, I’ll concentrate on mastering as much as I can this power.
Yeah, let’s look at things optimistically!
No more self-loathing for now.
“Alright, good morning, sunshine!”
I quickly leaped off my bed, opening the window to be greeted by the morning wind.
Violet, Snow, and Shiro welcomed me happily.
“Hey guys! Time for breakfast? Alright.”
I took out their food from my inventory and fed them.
At the same time, I sensed Fang Shuan; he was guarding my door outside.
And he was Cultivating too… I felt the Holy Nether Essence I gave to him before being slowly depleted.
His entire body was glowing as he refined his body and soul slowly yet steadily.
He’s really a genius if he managed to figure out a cultivation method using Holy Nether Essence.
To be expected of the “Golden Emperor,” I guess!
After feeding my pets, I went to the bathroom and took a warm, refreshing bath.
There, I got the time to inspect my body.
And oh boy, it sure changed.
“I got buffier again…”
My body was slightly more muscular again, and I got taller as well, at least three to five centimeters taller. Aside from my cute face, I no longer looked like just a “baby sister” anymore.
“Not bad… I want to get buffed and tall!”
I liked looking cute, but quite honestly, a strong and tough body was much better in these times.
There was something else in my body.
A lot of them actually.
Starting from my arms, and legs, and chest.
They were black, red, and blue.
They had Chinese marks; I think they represented something? Probably the Five Sealed “Sins” within me.
“Hatred, Sorrow, Frenzy, Desire, and Frustration…”
Frustration and Desire were on my left and right hands.
Sorrow and Frenzy were on my chest and stomach.
And then, Hatred, on my back.
“Five out of Seven, does that mean I must let out two more of these things to complete the technique? Yikes…” I didn’t mind the tattoos, but I bet my brother and Baihe were going to make a fuss about it. “Hm?”
However, with a mere thought, they suddenly turned invisible.
And then they returned to be visible.
It looks like they aren’t made out of actual ink but of “Ink Ki” or whatever; it responds to my emotions and commands.
“So it gets all glowy whenever I want to, gotcha.”
[The System has done their best to stabilize and harmonize their functions and specifications with the ever-growing Spiritual Body of the user and all abilities that cannot be properly connected.]
[Although the Status of the Spiritual Body cannot be seen, as your Physique, Martial Core, and Cosmic Core are already good representatives of their actual progress, the existence of the Black and White Heavenly Threads cannot be registered either.]
Huh, so the System has been struggling this whole time to somehow “assimilate” this power into a Skill or something?
“Don’t worry, you don’t need to assimilate everything.”
[Command from the Master has been heard.]
It has become chatty, or is that my idea… The System has a personality or something, I wonder? I mean, it sure is intelligent if it can manage everything and all of that.
The System came in the form of a System Seed planted inside my Soul directly by [], which I assume is the Author.
I don’t know what to think of him yet; even now, I am in a mix of gratefulness but also a lot of hatred.
Yesterday I let out all my anger and frustration against him; it made me mad how there was some bastard controlling everything.
But the very reason why I remembered my previous life memories now means something.
He wants to change what he wrote, and now, somehow, he’s letting me rewrite it?
I can’t let those negative emotions decide my true goals; what I talked or screamed wasn’t me in my best state.
[Registration complete…]
[You have successfully learned the {Divine Martial Arts}: [Demonic Seven Cursed Seals Arts (5/7): Tier 1]!]
[Currently, you have unlocked and sealed the following Demonic Cursed Seals: [First Seal: Hatred (Tier 1)] [Second Seal: Sorrow (Tier 1)] [Third Seal: Frenzy (Tier 1)] [Fourth Seal: Desire (Tier 1)] and [Fifth Seal: Frustration (Tier 1)]!]
[Each Seal has their own Level of Mastery, once all Seals reach the same Tier, the whole Martial Arts will increase in that Tier, and the stronger their Power and your Control over them will become.]
“Interesting, this is good, thanks! It was a big confusing, but this sure makes things more manageable.” I nodded.
No response, I guess that’s that!
Now, let’s see its information, so I can better understand what this is all about.
[Demonic Seven Cursed Seals Arts (5/7): Tier 1]
[Comprehension Progress]: [10%/100%]
A Demonic Martial Arts created by the Heavenly Demon of the Murim World of Bestia, Han Zhenye. These Unique Martial Arts Techniques work differently than any other ever created in his world, or perhaps in any Murim Worldline ever.
By cultivating the Negative Emotions that have traumatized the disciple and combining them with Ki, it is possible to refine “Demonic Seals” into the user’s Body, which accumulate, harbor, and fester these energies to make them even more potent.
The more Negative Emotions the disciple harbors, such as Hatred, Sorrow, and Desire, the stronger their Martial Arts will become. This is a power that is said to be able to grow indefinitely, and it can take upon a myriad of forms and shapes depending on each Negative Emotion and the Trauma of the disciple.
From Fist Fighting, Palm Techniques, Kicks, Headbutts, Movement, Long-Range Attacks, Defense, Cursing, Paralyzing, Poisoning, and even Flying, there’s nothing this Demonic Martial Arts cannot do, but it is usually extremely hard to cultivate, and only a chosen few who have experienced both terrible traumas and also possess incredible resolve can properly learn and then master it.
The Seven Seals will always be unique between each wielder of this Demonic Martial Arts; even though the Master might also possess a Sorrow Demonic Seal, their disciple’s Sorrow might manifest completely differently than them.
Available Demonic Seals:
[First Seal: Hatred (Tier 1)]: Release the {Flames of Hatred} that burn through everything, dulling your pain senses in the process and enhancing your Attack Power and Defense Piercing in exchange for your Life Force.
[Second Seal: Sorrow (Tier 1)]: Unleash the {Cold Phantom of Sorrow}, which can enhance your Movement Speed and Perception of your surroundings while draining away the Life Force and slowing down enemies.
[Third Seal: Frenzy (Tier 1)]: Lose control of your own self and become consumed by the Frenzy of Madness, making you go {Berserk}, enhancing your Attack Power and Movement Speed in exchange for your own Sanity and Defense.
[Fourth Seal: Desire (Tier 1)]: Steal the Lifeforce and Ki of your opponents by covering them on the {Poisonous Fog of Desire}, and absorbing it back to regain your energies, but you will grow addicted to the feeling.
[Fifth Seal: Frustration (Tier 1)]: Explode with {Volcanic Frustration} and become the embodiment of your pent-up anger, sacrificing your Lifeforce and Defenses to gain explosive volcanic prowess.
[Sixth Seal: ???]: Yet to be unlocked.
[Seventh Seal: ???]: Yet to be unlocked.
Huh, alright, they’re really weird, huh? But interesting at the same time, I have to admit it.
But I want to try using them now… Even if it might make me go a bit mad, with the Heavenly Demon as a training partner, it shouldn’t be an issue.
As I finished changing to fresh new clothes, I quickly checked my inventory. I got a lot of stuff I should use already and get a bit stronger.
It was mostly the rewards from the previous Quests, which I’ve been ignoring because I am so busy:
[Ki Enhancing Pill (S Rank)] x10
[Skill Level Elixir (S Rank)] x10
[Random Martial Arts Scroll (A Rank)] x5
[Black Heaven Ki Pearl (SSS Rank)] x1
[White Heaven Ki Pearl (SSS Rank)] x1
[Heavenly Demon of Bestia’s Themed Treasure Chest (SSS Rank)] x1
The first two items should be easy to consume quickly. I’ll get more Ki and a few Skills will Level Up, so that’s pretty good.
As for the Martial Arts Scroll, I guess I should use them anyways, right?
The more Martial Arts, the better. I’ll simply combine their effects or let the Celestial Golden Dragon Martial Arts absorb them.
And the Themed Treasure Chest seems like a no-brainer—just more free items.
However, what’s mysterious to me are the Pearls.
The White Heaven Ki Pearl and the Black Heaven Ki Pearl.
What the hell are these things?