Chapter 51: 9th Floor. White Sword Sect (1)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 51: 9th Floor. White Sword Sect (1)

Kim Tae-yeon stood before a massive, roiling crowd.

Their faces were flushed with rage, veins bulging in their necks as they screamed at her.

"What do you think you're doing, Kim Tae-yeon!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"How can you just dissolve the guild out of nowhere? What are we supposed to do now!"

"You promised you would protect us!"

Kim Tae-yeon listened to their rebukes in silence. She didn't try to defend herself; their words were entirely justified.

The Verdant Guild, which she had founded, was built on the singular promise of protecting the weak. Countless people had joined her, placing their faith and their lives in those words.

Yet now, she was announcing its dissolution.

It was an undeniable betrayal of their trust.

Normally, their vitriol would have torn her heart apart. But she had already steeled her resolve. Kim Tae-yeon bowed her head politely, her voice steady.

"I am truly sorry. I have led you all astray. This is entirely my fault."

"Do you think an apology fixes this?"

"You have to take responsibility!"

"I will, of course, take responsibility," Kim Tae-yeon said calmly. "To those who are prepared to climb the Tower—those who are ready to risk their lives—please come find me. For those people, I will provide every bit of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠assistance I can offer."

The full support of one of the top ten players in the world.

It was an incomparable benefit, a golden ticket to survival. However, the people looked bewildered.

"What?"

"No, that’s not what we meant..."

Amidst the stuttering crowd, someone shouted, "Climb the Tower? What are you talking about! We aren't going to climb the Tower!"

"Th-that's right! You said we didn't have to!"

"That is no longer an option." Kim Tae-yeon shook her head. "The situation has changed. If you do not climb the Tower, only a miserable death awaits you. I can only help those who have made their choice."

"...You liar!"

"You promised we’d be safe!"

"You may criticize me as much as you like. It was my mistake to give you false hope. But there is nothing else I can do for you now. In truth, I simply do not have that kind of power."

Kim Tae-yeon gave a bitter smile.

"Those who have found their resolve, come find me. To those who haven't... I am truly sorry, but I can do nothing more."

The crowd was stunned by her attitude.

Kim Tae-yeon had always been kind. She was gentle, warm, and soft-hearted—someone who found it difficult to refuse requests and always wore a vague, accommodating smile. Because of that, people often mocked her behind her back, saying she wasn't cut out to be a leader.

But not now. With eyes full of cold determination, she stated her position clearly.

"Is there anything else you wish to say? If not, I will end the discussion here."

* * *

[Title: Has anyone cleared the 9th floor?]

* * *

Kang Jun-hyeok arrived on the 9th floor.

The area was essentially a massive cave. Looking up, he saw endless cliffs rising toward the sky, disappearing into the mist. It was a cavern tucked deep inside a precipice.

A small stone monument stood at the cave's entrance. As he approached, he saw characters carved into the stone. They were Hanja.

[This is the tomb of the White Sword Sect.]

[To those who possess the qualification, the White Sword Sect shall bestow its all.]

[But those without qualification, do not set foot here.]

[For you shall not find what you seek in this place.]

Kang Jun-hyeok smirked.

A hidden cave beneath a towering cliff, containing an ancient tomb.

'Classic.'

Kang Jun-hyeok placed his hand on the monument. The stone began to glow, and the cave entrance opened with a heavy, grinding rumble.

[It begins.]

The voice of the Master of All Weapons sounded uncharacteristically excited.

[Now, show me.]

Your value.

Prove your words.

Kang Jun-hyeok stepped inside.

The interior was roughly the size of a small park. A massive gate stood before him, engraved with more Hanja.

[First Gate]

[Ooh.]

Someone was waiting for him inside the cave.

It had a human shape—an old man with a long, flowing beard wearing a traditional martial arts uniform. But he wasn't human. The old man's body was translucent, shimmering like a ghost.

The old man stroked his beard and gave a bright, beaming smile.

[A visitor! After all these years! What is your name, lad?]

"I am Kang Jun-hyeok."

[Kang Jun-hyeok. A fine, sturdy name! It is a pleasure to meet you!]

The old man let out a hearty, booming laugh.

[I am the 8th Sect Leader of the White Sword Sect, Baekhwa!]

* * *

Kang Jun-hyeok gave a calm nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

[Hmm. Usually, those who face me are startled or scream at me to get away, calling me a ghost. You are bold! Yes, a man should be exactly like that!]

Baekhwa laughed heartily before asking, [How did you come to find this place?]

"I lost my way. Then I slipped off a cliff. When I came to, I was here."

He offered a plausible story. Baekhwa nodded vigorously, looking delighted.

[You have stumbled upon a fortuitous encounter!]

"A... fortuitous encounter?"

[Indeed! This is the tomb containing the legacy of the White Sword Sect! To explain, our sect follows a single-successor transmission! Each and every one of us was a peerless master! My master, the 7th Sect Leader, was one of the Ten Great Masters of the Murim! And I was no different!]

"Is that so?"

[I was the 8th Sect Leader! I built my reputation wandering through the Murim! It was a glorious time.]

Baekhwa spoke with immense pride. Kang Jun-hyeok observed him quietly.

"But you don't look like you're alive."

Baekhwa's body was translucent, his feet blurred and invisible—the classic appearance of a spirit. The old man's expression instantly turned gloomy.

[...That was the great problem. As the 8th Sect Leader, I had to find a successor. I traveled the Murim and sought out many talents, but... none were to my satisfaction. None possessed the true qualifications. I considered just picking anyone, but I simply couldn't allow the lineage to be tainted. I searched for decades until my strength failed me, but in the end, I never found the one.]

"Didn't you say the White Sword Sect is a single-successor sect?"

[That is correct. If a successor isn't found, the lineage of the great White Sword Sect is severed forever. But I could not compromise. As a result, I devised a solution!]

Baekhwa's eyes sparkled.

[I built this massive tomb to house the sect's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entire legacy! If a worthy challenger enters, I shall name them the next Sect Leader! Fortunately, I was able to complete the tomb before I drew my last breath!]

"Then you are..."

[The spirit of the 8th Sect Leader, Baekhwa! I have bound my soul to this place to welcome challengers and guide them!]

"I see."

Kang Jun-hyeok nodded in understanding. He turned his head to look at a corner of the cave. "Then is that corpse your original body?"

There lay a skeleton, the only physical remnant of a man. Baekhwa confirmed it with a wave of his hand.

[A mere remnant of the past. It is meaningless now, so do not pay it any mind.]

The premise of the 9th floor was simple. A sect leader of a dying Murim lineage had built a tomb beneath a cliff to find an heir. Passing the trials within was the objective.

Kang Jun-hyeok asked something he had been curious about since his past life.

"But why did it have to be under a cliff? If your goal was to be found, wouldn't it have been better to build it on a quiet mountain where people could actually visit?"

[Well... you know how it is. The legends of fortuitous encounters always involve falling off a cliff. I built it with that in mind... but I think I made a mistake. Hardly anyone ever falls down here.]

Baekhwa groaned. Kang Jun-hyeok let out a hollow laugh. The reason was even more ridiculous than he had imagined. Baekhwa glanced at Kang Jun-hyeok, his tone turning expectant.

[So, what do you intend to do? Do you plan to challenge for the position of the White Sword Sect's successor?]

There was a hint of pleading in Baekhwa's voice. It was only natural; according to him, visitors were incredibly rare. He was desperate for a candidate.

"I have one question."

[Hmm. Ask anything!]

"If I accept, what do I stand to gain?"

[First, you will undergo a test! And if you pass, I shall give you everything the White Sword Sect possesses!]

As Kang Jun-hyeok showed interest, Baekhwa spoke excitedly.

[The peerless sword techniques and superior mental methods of our sect! And I shall even grant you the Restoration Pill that the White Sword Sect has treasured for generations!]

"A Restoration Pill?"

[Yes! A very special Restoration Pill! Infused with our secret arts, it allows one to gain a vast amount of internal energy! Not only that, it has one very special characteristic!]

"What is it?"

[It allows someone like you to obtain internal energy! Normally, one can never gain internal energy unless they have trained in mental methods since childhood. However, by using our Restoration Pill, you can build internal energy starting now and become a master of the Murim!]

Kang Jun-hyeok's eyes gleamed.

That was the true reward of the 9th floor.

Currently, he only had three stats: Strength, Speed, and Feat. But that didn't mean those were the only ones available.

In the process of climbing the Tower, a player could acquire new stats one by one, gradually increasing their versatility. Mana, Psychic Powers, Nature Affinity, Divinity, Demonic Energy...

And Internal Energy.

Countless other stats existed. In his past life, he had possessed over thirty different types. Each one was powerful and unique; if even one had been lacking, Kang Jun-hyeok would never have reached the summit.

The 9th floor was the gateway to obtaining one of the most vital ones: Internal Energy.