Chapter 132: 27th Floor. Murim (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 132: 27th Floor. Murim (1)
[Title: Ah, this is so healing...]
[Yeah. This is exactly the kind of world I wanted... It feels like a dream come true.]
[Cheongjeo (33rd Floor): It’s a floor filled with the spirit of the continent. I wish it would come up more often. It’s no fun when it’s just a constant stream of those strange Western worlds.]
[Clement Rit (35th Floor): That just means our worlds are that much larger and more developed. It means your worlds are that much smaller and weaker.]
[Cheongjeo (33rd Floor): What? What do you big-nosed bastards know!]
[Pham Minh Duc (35th Floor): Here they go again. Anyone want to bet if the comments pass a hundred this time?]
[Olivia Turner (53rd Floor): I’m betting on two hundred.]
* * *
[Active Skill: Immovable Stance]
[Rank: Mid-Rank]
[Proficiency: F]
[Cooldown: 24 Hours]
[Effect: Maintains the current posture for 1 second. Unaffected by any external forces.]
Immovable Stance.
It was an active skill frequently used by the high monk Milarepa.
It fixed one's posture in its current position for exactly one second. Even if a nuclear bomb were to detonate nearby, the body would not budge an inch. It was an incredibly useful skill.
To those who envied him, Milarepa would simply chuckle and say:
— Then you should have achieved a Perfect Clear on the 26th floor.
It was a special skill that only Milarepa possessed, obtainable only by achieving a Perfect Clear on the 26th floor.
And now, Kang Jun-hyeok had obtained it.
It was a very strange feeling.
The title awarded to the Perfect Player was Mental Resistance. Unfortunately, it wasn't particularly useful. He summoned Pixie and passed on the memory of the floor.
[You madman.]
Pixie spoke flippantly and handed him 100 Starlight. Since the floor could be cleared just by standing still, there probably wasn't much Starlight to give.
During the remaining time, Kang Jun-hyeok practiced the profound principles of the Master of All Weapons he had newly acquired.
"Whew."
He steadied his breath and moved his body slowly. He circulated his internal energy, gathering the accumulating power into a single point.
Then, he thrust his fist forward.
BOOM!
A powerful shockwave exploded. The vegetation was violently pushed back, and the undergrowth snapped and broke.
Self-Power Unification.
The second profound principle of the Master of All Weapons, which involved controlling one's own power to make it one. Kang Jun-hyeok muttered to himself.
"It really is strong."
By gathering the force of even a light movement, he could unleash power close to his full strength. It was a miraculous martial art that eliminated any loss of power.
The problem, as expected, was the difficulty.
Kang Jun-hyeok moved his body forcefully. At that moment, the flow of internal energy broke, and his body wavered.
"Hmm."
He could gather power at the level of light movements. However, the moment his movements became even slightly intense, the principle immediately shattered. It was nearly impossible to use in actual combat.
"This is seriously ridiculous."
[Your distribution of power is clumsy. Integrate the flow of internal energy with your physical body. Move as if you are one.]
"I'm telling you, that's the hard part."
Kang Jun-hyeok clicked his tongue.
His talent for martial arts wasn't extraordinary. He wasn't the kind of genius who could reach a high realm just by hearing a few words of instruction from the Master of All Weapons.
He needed a teacher.
'I guess I really have to enter the 27th floor.'
Kang Jun-hyeok organized his thoughts and continued his martial arts training. Although he didn't achieve any eye-catching results, the repetitive practice made him more proficient than before.
And finally, he entered the 27th floor.
The setting was a mountain.
Brown trees stretched toward the sky, and green leaves swayed in the wind. The sound of insects chirping echoed from all directions.
[27th Floor Quest]
[Travel the world for one month and achieve accomplishments.]
The 27th floor had begun.
The quest was to travel the world. There had been several floors where he had to travel across a world, but the 27th floor was definitely special.
Kang Jun-hyeok emerged from the vegetation and stepped onto a road. He descended from the mid-slope of the mountain valley toward the flat ground.
Before long, a group blocked his path.
"You there! Halt!"
They were dressed in tattered leather clothes. The garments were so worn and ruined they looked like they wouldn't help with warmth at all. Their skin had turned yellow, likely from not washing for a long time, and a foul stench wafted from them. Their hair was disheveled, and their beards reached down to their chests.
They were bandits. Their leader chuckled and pointed a chipped sword at him.
"What strange attire! Are you a peddler? Leave everything you have and go, and I might let you live."
"And who are you guys?"
"Haha! To think you'd try to cross this mountain without knowing who I am!"
The fattest bandit bared his yellow teeth and raised his sword.
"Open your ears and listen well! As for me! I am the White Tiger Stronghold Leader of the Eighteen Strongholds of the Green Forest, Jeon Hwan!"
The special thing about the 27th floor...
This world was, indeed, the world of Murim.
* * *
Almost all the worlds Kang Jun-hyeok had encountered while climbing the tower so far were close to high fantasy.
The Tomb of the White Sword Sect could be considered a Murim setting, but since he couldn't go outside, it wasn't a proper world. In contrast, the 27th floor was a full-fledged Murim world.
The Master of All Weapons made a sound of interest.
[Ho. So this is the setting of the 27th floor.]
"What's with you! Hey!"
When Kang Jun-hyeok remained silent and didn't react, the White Tiger Stronghold Leader's face contorted.
"How dare you ignore me! You've got guts! I was going to spare your life, but you're rushing to your grave! Men! Kill him!"
"Waaaaah!"
The subordinates charged at Kang Jun-hyeok with their weapons raised.
Kang Jun-hyeok lightly reached out his hand.
Snap.
A chipped axe snapped against his bare hand. The bandit's neck twisted as his eyes went wide.
Crack. Crunch.
The bandits collapsed like puppets with their strings cut. The White Tiger Stronghold Leader realized something was wrong too late and gasped. He turned around, attempting to make a hasty escape.
Thud!
Naturally, he didn't get far. Kang Jun-hyeok grabbed him by the back of the neck and slammed him into the ground.
"Gah! Ack! I-I am the White Tiger Stronghold Leader of the Eighteen Strongholds of the Green Forest! If you touch me, the Eighteen Strongholds will—"
"You're not part of the Eighteen Strongholds of the Green Forest, are you? Where would you find a stronghold leader who can't even use martial arts? Tell the truth."
"......I'm just a bandit! Please spare me! Great Hero!"
The bandit confessed immediately. Kang Jun-hyeok asked in a low voice.
"Just answer my questions. The Eighteen Strongholds of the Green Forest do exist, right?"
"Yes! Though not in a remote place like this!"
"Then do the Five Great Families or the Nine Great Sects and One Clan exist?"
"Ye-yes? What are you talking about..."
"What about the Heavenly Demon Cult?"
"It's my first time hearing of it..."
The bandit's eyes darted around. He looked like he had no idea what Jun-hyeok was talking about.
'As I thought, they aren't here.'
The universe is vast. There were quite a few planets that took the form of Murim. However, among them, there was only one planet where the symbols of Murim—the Five Great Families, the Nine Great Sects and One Clan, and the Heavenly Demon Cult—all existed.
The star of Murim where those three groups resided. In terms of planets, it was likely the strongest place in the universe.
"The place where those three groups exist is your hometown, right? Master of All Weapons."
[Indeed. You know it well.]
The Master of All Weapons replied with a voice full of nostalgia.
"I wonder how those things became known even on Earth. It's quite fascinating."
[Your planet is small. And it is isolated. It is highly likely that a powerhouse of the universe spoke of it while traveling, and the word spread.]
Regardless, those three groups did not exist here. Having finished his confirmation, Kang Jun-hyeok asked about something else.
"Then, by any chance, do you know about Faded Heaven Supreme?"
[Faded Heaven Supreme?]
This time, the Master of All Weapons sounded as if he was hearing the name for the first time. It was only natural. Faded Heaven Supreme was someone who existed on the planet of the 27th floor.
"......Huh?"
"You don't know this either. You're useless."
Kang Jun-hyeok clicked his tongue. The bandit's face turned deathly pale.
"P-please spare me! I'll turn over a new leaf and live a good life!"
"There's no need for that."
Kang Jun-hyeok grabbed the bandit's shoulder, pulled him up, and gave a thin smile.
"First, hand over everything you have. Then, lead the way to the nearest city."
* * *
Kang Jun-hyeok headed toward the city with the bandit leading the way.
A fairly large, Oriental-style city came into view. The gatekeeper guarding the entrance saw him and raised a spear.
"Who are you!"
"I've brought a gift."
Kang Jun-hyeok pushed the bandit forward and handed him over to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper's eyes widened in surprise.
"This guy! He's the wanted criminal who's been banditry in the nearby mountains!"
"Hieeeek!"
The bandit cowered. The gatekeeper signaled hurriedly. Soldiers arrived and dragged the bandit away.
"Ho ho... and who might you be?"
The initial wariness disappeared from the gatekeeper, replaced by a faint sense of goodwill. Kang Jun-hyeok replied calmly.
"I am a wanderer traveling the world. While crossing the mountain, this fellow came and demanded money. I thought there might be a bounty on him, so I caught him."
"Haha. That fool touched a tiger's tail! Please, enter the city! I will see to it that you receive the reward!"
Kang Jun-hyeok entered the city under hospitable treatment. The Master of All Weapons muttered as if impressed.
[There is no city that would accept a man without a single identification tag. You built goodwill by catching a bandit to enter the city naturally. You are skilled. I wonder where you gained such experience.]
Countless people welcomed Kang Jun-hyeok as he entered the city. Peddlers were coming and going. Street food was visible, and in a building that looked like an inn, people were eating noodles and dumplings.
[There is an inn over there. Why not try a dumpling?]
"You seem strangely excited."
[It has been a long time since I've seen such a landscape. I suppose I am nostalgic.]
There was a hint of longing in the Master of All Weapons' voice.
Kang Jun-hyeok went into the inn and ordered dumplings and tea. As he sat on a chair and looked around, the Master of All Weapons asked.
[The goal of this quest is to achieve accomplishments while traveling the world.]
There were no other restrictions. Whether he escorted someone, exerted influence, or acted as a merchant, he would clear it as long as he achieved results in some way.
[I know your goal. It is to train in my martial arts, is it not?]
The martial arts of the Master of All Weapons. He would find someone here who could help him train.
Kang Jun-hyeok nodded.
"That's right."
[It is not a bad method. However, there is a major problem. Do you think there is anyone in this world capable of training you in my martial arts?]
The Master of All Weapons spoke. Even if one searched the entire planet, there would be no one who could understand his martial arts. His words were filled with such confidence.
It wasn't arrogance. The martial arts of the Master of All Weapons were just that special and difficult. Kang Jun-hyeok had once learned the Taiji Wisdom Sword from the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect, but the martial arts of the Master of All Weapons defied comparison.
[Even one called the greatest in this world would not be able to understand my martial arts. Your aim was good, but it seems likely to fail.]
"Normally, that would be true."
However...
"I happen to know that there is one special person in this world."
[A special person?]
The 27th floor. The world of Murim. The name of that planet was Cheonwi.
There had been quite a few players who had visited Planet Cheonwi. And there was one being they all spoke of in common.
That in this world, there was once a genius. One who had attained enlightenment in all martial arts, but who had succumbed to illness, unable to overcome fate.
"Here you go!"
The waiter approached with the food.
"Thanks. Can I ask you something?"
"Of course! What is it?"
"By any chance, do you know of someone called Faded Heaven Supreme?"
Kang Jun-hyeok asked leisurely.