Chapter 45

To enter a faction, players had to pass a simple test.

"So every sect has a different one."

Through the viewers' explanations, Seo Jun checked what each test involved.

First of all, the Mount Hua Sect's test was cutting falling plum blossom petals.

There had been no such tests or training methods in his previous life, but having already been exposed to media from this world, Seo Jun thought Mount Hua's exam sounded cliché yet fun.

"And the Namgung Clan's is just pure grinding."

Swinging a sword a thousand times in perfect form.

The game was practically forcing gamers into actual martial training.

Seo Jun let out a dumbfounded laugh.

-Seriously too ridiculous, that's why I picked Mount Hua lol

-They complain even when the game trains them

-If your posture is too sloppy, the count resets

-This is what it means to walk the righteous path!

-No cheesy tricks allowed

"If your form is wrong, it doesn't count?"

Then it might genuinely become real training.

Damn it, he was convinced.

"And the Beggars' Sect is really something else."

Begging NPCs in the village for money.

As expected from a sect made up of beggars, it made players do actual fieldwork.

"And they confiscate the money after you bring it back? Wow. This is supposed to be the righteous faction?"

As he climbed the stairs, Seo Jun shook his head in disbelief.

-Don't insult our Beggars' Sect

-Has the wandering beggar arrived?

"And the Tang Clan test is throwing daggers?"

The Tang Clan was a family that specialized in poison and hidden weapons.

They were usually portrayed as part of the Orthodox Sect, but because of the brutality of their methods, games sometimes classified them as part of the Unorthodox Sect, like now.

In the memories of his previous life, the Tang Clan had firmly belonged to the Orthodox Sect.

'Though they only joined because of profit.'

Considering they could switch over to the Unorthodox side at any time, the interpretation fit surprisingly well.

"At least it's throwing daggers. I thought they'd make you poison someone."

-Who would make players poison people LOL

-You can't poison newcomers before they even join

-So you're saying they do it later?

-The people who join the Tang Clan end up looking for poison themselves anyway lol

I see.

Still, he didn't understand why the world from his previous life existed here as nothing more than "martial arts fiction."

'Maybe there were others like me.'

There was no rule saying he alone remembered a previous life.

Seo Jun looked upward.

As he chatted with the viewers about the various sect tests, the summit had started coming into view.

Confirming he was almost there, Seo Jun turned his head and read the chat again.

"Green Forest's test is holding up a boulder for a long time? That's certainly…"

The Green Forest—written with the characters for green and forest—was a bandit faction.

The moment Seo Jun read the chat about their test, he immediately thought it sounded exactly like them.

And lastly, the Assassin Hall's test involved finding a disguised Assassin Hall member hidden somewhere inside the village.

After hearing all of them, choosing the Demonic Cult seemed like the right decision.

The scenery, which until now had consisted of nothing but stairs, finally began to change.

At last, the sect came into view.

After reaching the summit, Seo Jun turned around and looked back down the path he had climbed.

"That took a whole five minutes."

Five minutes inside a game was a long time.

And while hearing the time alone might not sound impressive, whatever processing the game used made the mountain genuinely feel high.

The village below spread out perfectly beneath him.

"Why is it so high? Wait, what? You can use Qinggong? Then why are you only telling me that now… no, never mind. What was I expecting from you people anyway?"

Seo Jun laughed bitterly.

How had not a single person told him while he was climbing all the way up?

Their teamwork was incredible.

-Ah LOL we thought you'd figure it out yourself

-You wasted five minutes, right? Mad as hell, right? LMAOOO

-He complains even when nobody backseats him lol

-A stream where both the viewers and streamer try to screw each other over!

Yeah, fair enough.

It was his fault for not asking sooner.

Giving up, he turned back around.

The gates of the Demonic Cult entered his sight.

"There aren't any guards at the entrance. Can I just walk in?"

Arrogant.

That was the first impression he got from the wide-open gates, as though daring anyone to enter.

But the viewers seemed to interpret it differently.

-LMAOOOO Demonic Cult keeps the gates open because nobody ever comes anyway

-"Please just come in. Please, somebody join us…"

-What's the point of giant gates when nobody's there?

"Come on, aren't you guys being too harsh on the Demonic Cult?"

Every comment was a fatal blow.

To think the Demonic Cult was treated like this by people.

A sight unimaginable in his previous life.

Only he himself had ever been allowed to treat them this way.

The Heavenly Demon really needed to see this.

-You little…

He thought he heard a voice, but Seo Jun ignored it.

He was streaming right now—how dare someone interrupt with chatter?

Chuckling to himself, Seo Jun walked through the gates.

The inside was enormous. It was practically a city unto itself.

'The Demonic Cult was closer to a massive faction than a single sect to begin with, so having an entire city isn't strange.'

NPCs and players with usernames floating above their heads filled the streets.

"Heavenly Demon! No, Seo Jun!"

Someone ahead waved enthusiastically at him.

The ID floating above their head read:

FirstSwordUnderHeaven.

-It's the guy from yesterday LMAOOO

-Sword Guy… you're joining the Demonic Cult too…?

-Free guide acquired, let's go

"Hello, Swordmaster."

Seo Jun approached and greeted him.

"Heavenly Demon—uh, I mean Seo Jun-nim, hello to you too."

"Call me whatever's comfortable. By the way, are you joining the Demonic Cult too?"

Since the other person had also left the beginner zone yesterday, it was a reasonable assumption.

"Yes. Actually, I already joined."

"Why?"

Wasn't it supposed to be bad?

'Well, obviously because the Heavenly Demon is going there! If I end up fighting against you, Heavenly Demon-nim, it'd be really awfu— I mean… difficult.'

Swordmaster trailed off awkwardly.

-The streamer really is awful though LMAO

-His intelligence stat is maxed

-That guy's wise

-It took the viewers over a week to realize this, and he figured it out after one day LOL

"I figured you'd pick the Demonic Cult, so I joined early and waited while watching the stream too."

"…I see."

"You're going to take the entrance test now, right?"

"Yeah."

"Come this way. I'll guide you."

Seo Jun followed behind Swordmaster.

The test location was nearby, and they arrived quickly.

Seo Jun spotted a player swinging a sword on a martial stage while an NPC stood before him watching closely.

The Demonic Cult's entrance exam consisted of demonstrating martial arts before Baek Wi-Gang, an elder of the Demonic Cult.

The "martial arts" here didn't refer to in-game system skills, but literally wielding a sword in real life, with the NPC personally judging and assigning a grade.

"I tried it once too, and he called me third-rate. They still let you in even if you're third-rate, but I'm planning to retake it. This time I'm going to follow the strategy guide I prepared."

-FirstSwordUnderHeaven (Third-Rate) LMAO

-Why'd he stop acting cool all of a sudden?

-You can only keep up the act when you've got the skill for it

"LMAOOO."

"A strategy guide?"

"Yeah. People compiled sword forms that can supposedly get you up to Peak Realm if you copy them."

"Ahh."

If that was the case, then it seemed possible to figure out the AI's judging criteria.

"They say even if two people perform the exact same form, the grade changes depending on the person using it. Apparently it's all pretty complicated."

While Seo Jun nodded and listened to Swordmaster's explanation, a loud voice rang out from the martial platform.

"You are first-rate! Now get lost already!"

The NPC gave off the vibe of a thoroughly unpleasant old man.

"Heavenly Demon-nim, mind if I go first?"

"Sure."

Seo Jun crossed his arms and watched Swordmaster walk toward the arena.

Swordmaster performed a fist-and-palm salute, and Baek Wi-Gang stroked his beard as he spoke.

"You again? I already told you your level clearly. You want to retake the test?"

"Yes."

"Then let me see it."

Swordmaster seemed to struggle recreating the form from the guide.

After barely finishing the demonstration with awkward movements, Baek Wi-Gang clasped his hands behind his back and spoke.

"Oh ho. Your fundamentals aren't even worthy of first-rate, but you do seem to have talent for constructing forms."

-Oh?

-He's praising him?

-That form is a verified one though

-It was literally built by countless players together

-Is he getting Peak Realm?

-So what's the result?

"Second-rate!"

-LMAOOOO he only went up one rank

-Congratulations!

-Is the Demonic Cult always like this? LOL

-Baek Wi-Gang gives me PTSD…

-Me too… I got third-rate…

"Pfft."

When Seo Jun made eye contact with Swordmaster as he came down, he barely managed to suppress his laughter.

The guy looked way too devastated.

"Swordmaster-nim, it's okay. Really. It's not like a low rank actually affects gameplay that much, right?"

Higher grades gave bonus benefits at the start, but all of them were things lower-ranked players could eventually earn through normal gameplay anyway.

The only real issue was the title next to your name.

[Second-Rate Demonic Cultist]

It was practically a public humiliation.

"And if you really hate it, you can always retake it again."

"True. Yeah. True… Haha. Seo Jun-nim, if you use this form, you'll probably get Peak Realm, right? Your fundamentals are good."

"Probably? Want me to try?"

"Yes. Please show us once."

"Alright."

Seo Jun headed toward the martial platform.

"Wait. I don't need to explain the forms to you first?"

"Nope. I memorized them already."

Step. Step.

As Seo Jun climbed onto the platform, Baek Wi-Gang waited for him there.

"You're new. Have you come to join the Demonic Cult?"

"I have."

"So you wish to take the test?"

"Correct."

"Very well. But why are you speaking casually to me, an elder of this cult?"

"Because this seat is the Heavenly Demon."

"Impudent brat!"

-He just immediately declared himself the Heavenly Demon LMAOOOO

-I mean, his nickname really is Heavenly Demon lol

-This lunatic seriously LOL

"I truly am the Heavenly Demon."

Without even blinking, Seo Jun fully committed to the act.

Imitating the Heavenly Demon really was…

fun.

"Damn it. Some strange bastard has entered our cult. Hurry up and show me your martial arts already."

"Very well. I shall graciously grant you the opportunity to broaden your horizons through witnessing my martial arts."

"Haa…"

Seeing Baek Wi-Gang stop reacting altogether, Seo Jun figured it was finally time to begin.

First, he drew the basic sword hanging at his waist.

Then, recalling the forms Swordmaster had shown him, he slowly began to move.

What exactly was a sword form?

The things one could do with a sword were simple.

Thrust.

Slash.

And sword forms merely added descriptors to those simple actions.

Vertically.

Horizontally.

Quickly.

Heavily.

'The deeper you go, the more complicated forms become.'

Deceiving the enemy's eyes while suppressing their attack and cutting them down.

Thrusting toward positions the enemy was forced to evade.

Blocking in ways that naturally led into offense.

Yet even these forms were not omnipotent.

'The deeper one's understanding of the sword becomes, the more flaws one sees in every form.'

There was no such thing as a perfect form.

Only better forms.

The forms Swordmaster had shown him were no exception.

So—

Seo Jun began to move.

'They need refinement.'

Only slightly.

Narrowing the sword's angle by a tiny amount.

Taking one extra step.

Lowering his stance.

Small details.

Yet these changes, infused with the insights of his previous life, transformed the sword into something entirely different.

A sword without an opponent was incomplete.

And yet, the sword Seo Jun displayed into empty air was perfect.

'Even the Heavenly Demon himself understood the sword less than I did.'

Could an AI even comprehend this?

Or perhaps it had already surpassed such a level?

He was genuinely curious.

Soon, Seo Jun completed all ten forms Swordmaster had shown him.

He sheathed his sword and looked toward Baek Wi-Gang.

"Huh…"

Baek Wi-Gang stared blankly at Seo Jun.

He seemed so shocked that he could not speak for a long while.

Seo Jun addressed him.

"So then, how were this seat's sword forms?"

At that moment, a system notification rang out.

"You are…"