Chapter 53: The Star Tower's Test (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53: The Star Tower's Test (1)
Three days ago.
After my maternal grandfather, Ha Seong-un, woke up, I began telling him the story of everything I had experienced until now.
I started from the beginning—how I was treated like a degenerate and kicked out of the Yikyang So family after my mother passed away.
[That black-haired bastard So Ik-heon! How dare he!]
Grandfather could not contain his rage at that part of the story.
Who could have imagined that his own grandson would be treated like that by his own family? Furthermore, hearing that I had been cast out after my dantian was destroyed only fueled his fury.
[So, what happened after you were kicked out?]
[...I was kidnapped by the Blood Cult.]
[What? Kidnapped by the Blood Cult?]
It was only natural for him to be shocked. As far as he knew, the Blood Cult and its various branches, including the Flying Moon Hero Sect, had been wiped out after the Great Orthodox-Evil War.
[You mean to say they are still alive?]
[Yes.]
[How could this be... No, wait. If you were kidnapped by the cult, how on earth did you recover your dantian?]
Grandfather was curious about that point.
I recounted the events in order, starting from when I was about to be trained as a low-rank warrior, only for my master, Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon, to appear and snatch me away.
[Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon? That man is alive too?]
[You know of him?]
[How could I not? On the day I promised to meet the Namcheon Sword Guest for a duel, that man appeared and caused a scene, provoking the Namcheon Sword Guest and demanding a fight.]
'Ah...'
That was news to me. It seemed my master had been quite desperate to defeat the Namcheon Sword Guest. Of course, he never managed to achieve that dream.
[It seems... quite coincidental.]
With those words, I drew the Namcheon Iron Sword from its scabbard and showed it to my grandfather. His eyes widened in genuine shock.
[Is this not the sword of the Namcheon Sword Guest? How do you have this?]
I explained that after the Namcheon Sword Guest died in a duel with a mysterious master, Hae Ak-cheon found the body, and I eventually ended up learning his martial arts.
At that, Grandfather’s expression brightened for the first time.
[I see! Now it makes sense. Since you inherited the legacy of the Namcheon Sword Guest, it’s no wonder you possess such outstanding martial arts at such a young age. Hahaha!]
The Namcheon Sword Guest was a man who had been renowned as a candidate for the next generation of the Eight Great Masters. Grandfather seemed delighted that I had learned his sword techniques.
However, his expression quickly shifted when I mentioned becoming Hae Ak-cheon’s disciple.
[You... you became the disciple of that bizarre freak? Is he not a Venerable of the Blood Cult?]
Grandfather had likely assumed I escaped the Blood Cult after inheriting the Namcheon Sword Guest’s legacy. He let out a heavy sigh upon learning I had become the disciple of one of the cult’s Four Venerable Ones.
[To think my grandson became the disciple of a Blood Cult Venerable...]
According to Grandfather, Baek Cheon-gang, the first leader of the Flying Moon Hero Sect, had left the Blood Cult and even changed his surname because he disagreed with his father, the Blood Demon.
As someone carrying the bloodline of the Flying Moon Hero Sect, the fact that I had become a disciple of a Blood Cult Venerable seemed to be quite a shock to him.
The problem was, that wasn't the end of it.
I told him about meeting the Divine Healer of Ten Thousand Ailments to recover my internal energy, joining the faction of Baek Ryeonha—one of the two candidates for Cult Leader—and how I fell off a cliff while escaping an attack from martial artists under the Martial Alliance.
[Wait, you inherited the legacy of the Dagger-Killing King as well?]
Grandfather looked utterly dumbfounded when he heard that I had met and inherited the legacy of not just the Namcheon Sword Guest and Hae Ak-cheon, but the Dagger-Killing King as well.
Though they weren't part of the Eight Great Masters, they were all peak experts of the martial world. Learning the martial arts of such figures was nothing short of a miraculous stroke of luck.
[I simply cannot fathom how such things keep happening to you.]
[...It’s not over yet.]
[Whew. What else happened?]
I went on to tell him about my connection with Sama Yeong, the daughter of Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak—one of the Four Great Villains—and how I participated in the Successor's Martial Discussion hosted by the Martial Alliance shortly after to steal the Blood Demon Sword.
[Wait. So you went there as a spy?]
[That’s... one way to put it.]
[Good heavens.]
Grandfather’s sighs were endless. Anyone could see how dangerous it was for a member of the Blood Cult to enter the headquarters of the Martial Alliance.
[The mission must have failed. The Martial Alliance is a coalition of the Orthodox factions. Stealing the Blood Demon Sword from such a place is impossible.]
[No. I succeeded.]
"!?"
I pulled the Blood Demon Sword from the scabbard at my waist and showed it to him. Grandfather was rendered speechless. Who would have expected to see the legendary demon sword, rumored to have tasted the blood of tens of thousands, right before their eyes?
[Th-this is the Blood Demon Sword? How can you hold it?]
[...Because I am the Blood Demon.]
Grandfather’s expression froze instantly.
Believing that showing was better than telling, I opened my Upper Dantian, closed my left eye, and underwent the Blood Demon Transformation.
[The Blood Demon Sword has recognized me as its master.]
Seeing me in my transformed state, Grandfather’s jaw dropped in sheer horror.
[How... how can this be...]
He even clutched his chest, groaning in pain. The fact that I had become the Blood Demon—the pinnacle of the Blood Cult—seemed to be too much of a shock for him.
It took a long time for him to calm down.
I told him everything I had been through, excluding the fact that I had regressed and the details regarding the Sword Immortal.
Aside from the swords, it was the first time I had shared my circumstances with another person.
After hearing the whole story, Grandfather remained lost in thought and didn't sleep a wink until the next day.
'.........'
The Lesser Conversation Sword was right. It was probably wrong of me to expect him to accept it easily.
It wasn't until early morning that Grandfather finally spoke.
[The fate that our founder fled from has finally come full circle in your generation. If this is all destiny, then I shall accept it.]
His voice sounded transcendent, as if he had come to terms with everything.
[Grandfather...]
[However, there is one thing I wish to tell you.]
[What is it?]
[A sword can kill a person with its sharpness. However, that same sword can also protect and save someone.]
[.......]
[The ancestor of our sect was always sorrowful—sorrowful that his descendants had to shoulder the blood and hatred held by the first Blood Demon. Even if fate has led you to become the Blood Demon, the path the previous Blood Demon walked is not your destiny.]
[Ah...]
[Even if you have become the Blood Demon, do not let it trouble you. Walk the path you wish to walk. I will dedicate the rest of my life to you.]
I felt glad that I had opened up to him. I, too, had no intention of being bound by the title of Blood Demon.
Peerless Fortress.
I had only heard rumors of it before my regression; I had never actually visited. The scale of the fortress, which was even more massive and grand than the Martial Alliance, was inwardly surprising.
As I entered the fortress, I felt glad I had followed Grandfather’s advice to disguise myself.
Among the crowds of martial artists, I saw familiar faces. Quite a few of them were young experts who had attended the Grand Martial Assembly hosted by the Martial Alliance.
If I hadn't borrowed the human skin mask used by Moon Evil Sword Sama Chak from Sama Yeong, many people might have recognized me. It wouldn't be good for the Martial Alliance or Baek Hye-hyang’s side to know I was here.
It’s a precaution in case I suddenly have to open my Middle Dantian. Do you think I’m not uncomfortable?
At first, it was hard to keep my balance and I felt dizzy. But after wearing the eye patch for three days while practicing my sword, I’ve mostly adjusted.
Hey, it’s not like I’m wearing this for fashion. Why are you complaining? Honestly, this Lesser Conversation Sword gets obsessed over the weirdest things.
Just then, another voice echoed in my head.
The owner of this voice was one of the swords I was carrying.
Since bringing the Blood Demon Sword into Peerless Fortress was too risky, and I couldn't easily show the Namcheon Iron Sword now that I had gained fame as one of the Twin Heroes, I had bought this sword from a blacksmith to use temporarily.
However, ever since this fellow realized he was being used as a temporary replacement, he hadn't stopped flattering me.
When the Lesser Conversation Sword scolded him, the new sword grew dejected.
Stop picking on him. If you keep doing that, I’ll feel bad when I have to sell him back to a blacksmith later.
'......What a bunch of jokers.'
Based on the voice alone, you’d think he was bowing to the floor. Anyone watching would think you’re the one in charge, Lesser Conversation Sword.
In any case, I had left the Blood Demon Sword with Sama Yeong and coated the Namcheon Iron Sword in black iron powder just in case, so there shouldn't be any major issues.
'Whew. Tell me about it.'
As the Namcheon Iron Sword said, there were too many martial artists. Who would want to miss the chance to become the successor of the Merciless Wind God, one of the Eight Great Masters?
A sigh escaped me at the thought of competing with this many people.
...I’m doing this because I can't do that.
My biological father, Merciless Wind God Jin Seong-baek, was said to be at the top of the Star Tower. He had declared he wouldn't meet anyone until a successor was decided, so there was no other way to see him.
I had no choice but to win the competition step by step.
Still, so far, there didn't seem to be any rivals worth worrying about.
'Huh?'
Just as the Lesser Conversation Sword noted, people were moving away from the entrance of the Star Tower. Was someone coming out?
Curious, I approached the area, only for my brow to furrow at the sight of familiar backs.
As I pushed through the crowd toward the entrance, people began whispering.
"Is he really going to compete with them?"
"Does that guy not know they are the descendants of the Eight Great Masters?"
'Descendants of the Eight Great Masters?'
At that moment, one of the two people standing in front of the Star Tower turned around.
Ah...
I didn't expect to see him here.
Correct. It was Jin Yong, the grandson of the Ardent King Hegemon. He was looking at me with a look of utter disdain.
The person next to him let out a deep sigh and then happened to glance at me. A strange light flickered in his eyes.
'Lee Jeong-gyeom?'
How is he here?
I was inwardly quite flustered by the unexpected presence of these two. I could see why the other martial artists were standing back and grumbling.
How should I know?
However, the surprising one wasn't Jin Yong, but Lee Jeong-gyeom. He was the disciple of the Martial Alliance Leader and held the position of a young expert representing the Alliance.
It made no sense for someone like him to come all the way to Peerless Fortress to seek the succession of the Merciless Wind God.
Just then, Jin Yong spoke to me.
"I see you intend to take this test as well."
Perhaps because so many people were watching, he maintained a polite tone despite his arrogant gaze. I suppose I should answer, though I doubted his personality had changed.
"Ahem. That is correct."
I intentionally deepened my voice. Even though I was wearing a human skin mask, I was slightly anxious since we had met once before. I wondered if he might recognize me.
Fortunately, he didn't seem to recognize my voice, as he shook his head and spoke.
"You must not know who I and my friend here are."
Look at this guy. He hasn't changed a bit since the first time we met. Should I play along since people are watching?
I cupped my fists and bowed politely.
"How could I fail to recognize Young Hero Jin Yong, the grandson of the Ardent King Hegemon, and Young Hero Lee Jeong-gyeom, one of the Twin Heroes whose fame is renowned throughout the Orthodox world?"
At my words, Jin Yong’s expression twitched slightly. It seemed he wasn't a complete idiot.
I had phrased it to imply that Lee Jeong-gyeom was famous for his own merits, while he was only known as the grandson of one of the Eight Great Masters.
"Pfft."
Some people who caught the nuance let out muffled snickers. However, they didn't last long under Jin Yong’s fierce glare.
He spoke with a voice laced with irritation.
"With your skills, it looks like you'll struggle to even reach the first or second floor, let alone the top. Why don't you stop wasting your time by going in with us and come back later? Ah... though there might not be another chance later."
He was intentionally provoking me. His intention was obvious: know your place and back out.
It was only natural. When we met before, I had only opened my Lower Dantian and was merely at the beginning of the Peak Realm, so he looked down on me. Now, I was at the beginning of the Supreme Peak Realm and had concealed my energy, so he likely couldn't sense my true strength at all.
On the other hand, Lee Jeong-gyeom was different. He was staring at me with great interest.
'It seems so.'
Lee Jeong-gyeom was also concealing his energy, but his aura felt even more pure and powerful than when I saw him at the Martial Alliance. They said he was a genius that appeared once in a century, and his growth rate was indeed extraordinary.
Regardless, I had to respond to the provocation.
"Thank you for the advice. But since I’ve come a long way, I’ll give it a try."
At my polite response, Jin Yong’s lips curled, and he let out a snort before turning around, as if I wasn't even worth dealing with. If there hadn't been people around, he probably would have attacked me immediately.
It didn't matter. There was no reason to fall for such a petty provocation.
At that moment, a muscular middle-aged man standing with his arms crossed in front of the entrance to the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect’s Star Tower spoke.
"It seems there are no more participants. You three, come inside."
Creeeeeak!
The massive gates of the Star Tower opened with a metallic screech. I slowly walked inside, following Jin Yong and Lee Jeong-gyeom.
Once I was inside, the men standing behind the gates slammed them shut.
Thud!
The tower was sealed so tightly that not a single ray of light entered from outside; the interior was lit only by torches.
'It looks like a grand hall.'
The inside was empty of furniture, consisting only of a stone floor that looked like a training ground. The floor was covered in cracks and bloodstains. Seeing how fresh the blood looked, it seemed many martial artists had already attempted the test.
'How is this going to proceed?'
I had heard that the first test involved climbing the floors. Each floor was said to be guarded by experts of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect. Since there were eight floors, I assumed it would get progressively harder.
Just then, twenty men in gray martial robes swarmed out from a door on the opposite side. Surprisingly, they were all experts.
'Huh?'
Surely they didn't expect us to fight all of them?
As I was wondering, a middle-aged man with a mustache stepped forward from the group in gray.
"I am Yun Ja-seo, in charge of the first floor. I represent the Terrain Fist Style of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect."
At this, the three of us, including myself, cupped our fists to him. Yun Ja-seo nodded and continued.
"The Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect is divided into eight styles: Fist, Palm, Leg, Finger, Claw, Saber, Sword, and Spear. There are experts of each style on every floor. The first test is to either survive fifty moves against them or defeat them to proceed to the top."
As soon as he finished speaking, three of the gray-robed experts stepped forward. They were all Peak Realm experts. The strongest among them had come forward.
'......Is their goal really not to find a successor?'
At this rate, I wondered if anyone would actually pass. If one had to face Peak Realm experts of each style on every floor, anyone would eventually get exhausted. It made me wonder if their goal from the start was simply to increase their numbers.
Yun Ja-seo spoke.
"These men will adjust their internal energy to match your skill levels, so do not complain of unfairness."
Contrary to my concerns, it seemed they intended to conduct the test fairly. I suppose if they didn't, the participants would be full of complaints.
"I will give you one last chance to forfeit now. If you fail the test, you must stay as a guest of this sect for three years, as per the agreement."
Yun Ja-seo looked at each of us in turn. Lee Jeong-gyeom scratched his head and asked.
"If I pass, can I go up first?"
"It does not matter."
"That’s a relief. I was worried I’d have to wait."
At those words, Jin Yong glanced at me and sneered.
"Indeed. It’s a relief we won't have to wait for someone who falls behind."
Does he think Lee Jeong-gyeom is talking about me? Based on his sarcastic tone, it seemed so.
"If you are ready to take the test, stand before the expert of the style you choose."
As if he had been waiting for this, Lee Jeong-gyeom stood before the man on the far right. He was the strongest of the three. Jin Yong glanced at the remaining two and stood before the one whose energy seemed the weakest.
Then, he looked at me and smirked, as if telling me to enjoy my struggle.
'What a clown.'
Ignoring him, I approached the remaining expert and stood before him. He was a man with long hair, and he looked disappointed as he stared at me. It seemed he was upset he didn't get to fight one of the descendants of the Eight Great Masters.
Yun Ja-seo raised his hand and spoke.
"I welcome you all to the test of our sect. Now, begin! Open!"
With his shout, the test began.
Crack!
Jin Yong cracked his knuckles and unwrapped the lute-shaped black cloth at his waist. From within, a uniquely shaped scabbard was revealed. It was the Rending Saber, the signature weapon of the Ardent King Hegemon.
Shring!
Drawing the saber, he spoke loudly enough for me to hear.
"I don't know if you'll make it, but take your time coming up."
Whoosh!
With that, he lunged toward his opponent. The Terrain Fist Style expert, who had been in a starting stance, dodged the swinging Rending Saber and launched a fist technique. In an instant, the two exchanged about three moves of saber and fist.
The long-haired Terrain Fist expert in front of me gestured for me to come at him.
"I’ll give you the first move, Young Hero."
Was there any reason to refuse?
"Thank you for the courtesy."
I smiled thinly, bowed politely, and walked forward. When I didn't take a starting stance or use any body lightening methods, the Terrain Fist expert frowned, looking offended.
"Engage in the duel properly—"
Flash!
Before he could finish his sentence, I instantly closed the distance and entered his guard.
"!?"
Startled by my sudden approach, he threw a punch toward my brow. I tilted my head slightly to dodge it and drove my fist straight into his abdomen.
"Gah!"
Hit in the stomach, he gagged and fell to his knees. I bowed politely to him.
"I engaged properly."
"You... you’re an expert..."
I wasn't the one who let my guard down and treated my opponent like an amateur. You were. Or perhaps your mistake was believing the strength I projected while concealing my energy.
In any case, the match was decided in a single exchange.
I looked to the side and saw Jin Yong still clashing with his opponent. I called out to him.
"I’m going ahead. Take your time coming up."
"What?"
At my voice, he whipped his head around, unable to hide his shock.