Chapter 54: 9th Floor. White Sword Sect (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54: 9th Floor. White Sword Sect (4)
The strength and speed with which Kang Jun-hyeok lunged at Baekhwa were nothing short of beastly. The distance between them vanished in an instant as his blade sought Baekhwa’s throat.
“Impressive!”
Baekhwa marveled even as a realization struck him.
Kang Jun-hyeok had been holding back his strength throughout the fight. It had all been a ruse for this single surprise attack.
He had come here with the intent to kill from the very beginning. Baekhwa bared his teeth and gripped his sword.
Clang! Screeeech!
Steel shrieked against steel. Baekhwa’s body was forced back. Kang Jun-hyeok immediately pressed the advantage, stepping forward as Baekhwa raised his blade.
Sh-sh-sh-shing!
A hundred swords bloomed all at once, pouring toward Kang Jun-hyeok in rapid, overlapping trajectories.
The signature sword technique of the White Sword Sect.
Kang Jun-hyeok knew exactly what it was.
A hundred blades formed from internal energy were manifested simultaneously. However, not all of them were real; most were mere illusions. The counter was to distinguish the illusions and block the genuine attacks hidden among them.
The problem, however, was that there was no way to tell them apart through ordinary means. Even when the Number One in Murim used this technique, countless martial artists had failed to identify the real blades.
‘How did that guy say he cleared this test?’
He briefly searched his memory.
‘He said the real one hidden among the illusions was visible to his senses.’
Following that thought, Kang Jun-hyeok stared at the hundred swords. But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't tell them apart.
“Hmm.”
He didn't possess the same monstrous talent as the Number One in Murim.
So, he would keep it simple. Kang Jun-hyeok poured raw strength into the swords held in both hands.
Clang! Clang! Crash!
His blades moved with violent precision. He struck, collided with, and blew away the hundred pouring swords. As a path opened in the air, Baekhwa let out an exclamation.
“Instead of distinguishing the real ones, you’re striking down the illusions as well! Such marvelous physical ability! Are you perhaps the legendary Heavenly Martial Body?!”
Kang Jun-hyeok dashed toward Baekhwa. The Sect Leader raised his sword, his blade moving in a bizarre fashion, parrying and reflecting all of Kang Jun-hyeok’s attacks.
Clang!
Kang Jun-hyeok sheathed his sword and gripped his greatsword with both hands. Stepping forward, he channeled every ounce of strength into his arms.
A full-power downward strike.
It was the strength of a Player, capable of splitting boulders and crushing steel bars.
“Whew.”
In the face of such overwhelming power, Baekhwa calmly caught his breath and raised his sword. Internal energy gathered within the blade.
Boom!
The greatsword and the sword collided.
Based on pure strength alone, Baekhwa should have been crushed instantly. But he wasn't. In fact, the opposite happened. The force of the impact began to move in a strange, unnatural direction.
White Sword Technique. Force Redirection Technique.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s own strength was turned against him, pushing him back.
Thud!
Kang Jun-hyeok slid back but quickly regained his stance, evading the hundred swords pouring down on him once more.
‘As expected.’
Based on physical ability alone, he should have defeated Baekhwa long ago. But Baekhwa possessed internal energy and sophisticated sword techniques—power more than enough to offset the stats Jun-hyeok possessed.
That was the essence of martial arts.
In other words, clearing this floor meant he could make the power Baekhwa was currently wielding his own.
A fierce desire flickered across Kang Jun-hyeok’s face.
* * *
He couldn't defeat Baekhwa with physical strength alone. However, physical strength wasn't the only thing he possessed.
Kang Jun-hyeok raised a finger.
[Judgment of the Law.]
“Ugh!”
As the skill activated, Baekhwa realized immediately that his movements had slowed. Kang Jun-hyeok rushed in instantly. Baekhwa tried to draw out his internal energy to block as he had before, but even his internal circulation was noticeably sluggish.
Judgment of the Law.
Its effect was the reduction of all speeds for those who did not follow the law. This didn't just refer to physical movement; it affected brain processing speed, the flow of internal energy, and the casting of mana. It affected everything.
Clang! Clang!
Kang Jun-hyeok pressed his attack fiercely against the visibly slowed Baekhwa. However, the Sect Leader did not back down easily.
Swish!
White Sword Technique. White Sword Path Obstruction.
Swords manifested from all directions, surrounding Kang Jun-hyeok and pouring down simultaneously. He could block them if he wanted to, but striking down all hundred swords would consume too much energy, and he would eventually fall into Baekhwa’s rhythm.
Therefore, he didn't block them manually.
[Block.]
The Block skill activated. Kang Jun-hyeok’s body moved according to the System’s power. It distinguished the illusions and perfectly defended against the real blades. Baekhwa’s eyes widened.
Kang Jun-hyeok planted his feet and lunged with a savage thrust. Baekhwa swung his sword in response.
Sword Swarm Formation.
The swords overlapped and merged to create a single, massive blade. The power dwelling within it repelled Kang Jun-hyeok.
Boom!
Kang Jun-hyeok’s body was sent flying. Baekhwa aimed for that opening.
[Balancing.]
Kang Jun-hyeok’s body regained its posture in an instant. He counterattacked Baekhwa, who was about to strike. Baekhwa hurriedly gathered his internal energy.
Clang!
“Urgh!”
He succeeded in defending, but it wasn't perfect. His body skidded backward.
[Stealth.]
Baekhwa, hurriedly regaining his stance, flinched. Kang Jun-hyeok’s presence had been literally erased. After a moment of confusion, Baekhwa hurriedly spun around, but Kang Jun-hyeok was already behind him.
[Thrust.]
Crrrash!
A powerful force pierced toward Baekhwa. He barely managed to defend, but it was a desperate, poor move. Once again, a powerful force struck him. This time, Baekhwa couldn't block it and went rolling across the ground.
[Instant Acceleration.]
Kang Jun-hyeok’s body blurred. He pressured Baekhwa with a speed far greater than before.
“Gah!”
Unable to block all the attacks, a laceration appeared on Baekhwa’s left shoulder. His body slid backward.
“...What a strange... power! To think such a power exists in this world! It is as if you are a being from another realm!”
Baekhwa was genuinely astonished. As one of the renowned Ten Great Masters of Murim, he couldn't understand the power Kang Jun-hyeok wielded at all. But one thing was certain: if this continued, he would be defeated.
Baekhwa made his decision.
“I cannot allow the legacy of my sect to be defiled by an anomaly like you! Even if my soul is extinguished here, I will kill you!”
With a shout, Baekhwa’s eyes glowed white. Internal energy erupted from him like a geyser. Then, an innumerable number of swords swallowed the space. Swords rose up, filling every gap until the entire area was packed.
The final secret technique of the White Sword Technique.
Blooming of a Thousand Swords.
Floating in the air, Baekhwa murmured softly.
“Perish, buried in white.”
With those words, the swords poured down all at once. Kang Jun-hyeok swung his sword violently.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He moved frantically, striking down the incoming blades, but it wasn't enough. There were literally a thousand swords filling the space, and every single one of them was real.
Stab! Slash!
He defended desperately, but eventually, a sword broke through his guard and lodged itself in his body. After that, like a hole in a dam, the swords poured through his defenses and pierced his flesh.
A moment later, Kang Jun-hyeok’s figure was hidden behind hundreds of embedded swords.
It was over. Judging as much, Baekhwa slowly descended to the ground. Just as he was about to retrieve his swords, he felt something strange.
“...Hmm?”
The swords wouldn't return. It was as if something was resisting. The hundreds of swords piercing Kang Jun-hyeok’s body began to tremble.
And then.
K-boom!
The swords shattered, and Kang Jun-hyeok revealed himself. There wasn't a single wound on his body.
“...How?!”
Baekhwa was truly horrified. The swords had clearly pierced his entire body, yet there wasn't a single scratch!
His reaction was inevitably slowed by shock. Kang Jun-hyeok’s body vanished.
[Rift Movement.]
Thwack.
Emerging from a corner of the wall behind Baekhwa, Kang Jun-hyeok pierced through the Sect Leader’s chest. Baekhwa’s body shook violently.
Whoosh!
His body began to scatter like dust. Due to the excessive consumption of internal energy and the impact of the blow, he could no longer maintain his physical form. Kang Jun-hyeok retrieved his sword.
“That was more dangerous than I thought. You are indeed strong.”
The damage from the swords that had lodged in him at the end was beyond his imagination. If he hadn't healed himself with the Grace of Benevolence, he might have died.
Baekhwa, who had returned to a spirit form and remained silent, soon let out a hollow laugh.
[Why does a monster like you seek the legacy of the White Sword Sect?]
“Because it is something I absolutely need.”
[Does the secret technique of our sect have meaning even to someone like you? I don't know whether to be happy or sad.]
Baekhwa groaned. He stared silently at Kang Jun-hyeok before speaking.
[You have no talent for martial arts or the sword. But... you overflow with other talents.]
Baekhwa could tell. Kang Jun-hyeok had calculated everything for their battle. It was admirable. Even Baekhwa, who had fought countless experts in Murim, had never seen anyone calculate so perfectly.
And that was why it was a pity.
[Even if you obtain our sect’s martial arts, it will be meaningless.]
Kang Jun-hyeok’s talent was mediocre. Even if he obtained internal energy, it would be impossible for him to understand and wield the White Sword Technique. It would be for nothing.
However, Kang Jun-hyeok replied nonchalantly.
“That’s not necessarily true.”
He had the System’s correction.
“So, you can leave in peace.”
[Insolent brat.]
Baekhwa chuckled.
[But I made a promise to you. A man’s word is his bond. I cannot break my promise.]
Baekhwa’s body grew increasingly faint. Just before he vanished from this world, he spoke softly.
[I, Baekhwa, the 8th Sect Leader of the White Sword Sect, declare: All the legacy here shall be passed to you. Everything of the White Sword Sect is yours, 9th Sect Leader.]
[Level Up.]
• Stamina +30
• Strength +2
• Speed +1
• Feat +1
• Greatsword Technique proficiency has increased significantly.
• Swordsmanship proficiency has increased significantly.
• Sword Ki and Sword Wind...
“Whew.”
It was over. Kang Jun-hyeok caught his breath.
Baekhwa was stronger than he had expected. To think he had to use every single skill to win.
“So this is one of the Ten Great Masters.”
A warrior who was counted among the top ten in the vast world of Murim. Even though most of his internal energy had vanished and his body was unstable, his power was still marvelous.
But in the end, he was the victor. With a rumbling sound, the cave began to open. A passage appeared, and as he walked through it, the rewards were visible at the end.
Two old books. And a silver pill.
Kang Jun-hyeok reached out and took the rewards.
[9th Floor Quest Cleared.]
• Rewards are determined based on your performance.
• Checking achievement rate...
• Check complete.
• Achievement Rate: 100%
• Perfect Clear. Congratulations! Additional rewards will be granted.
• The effect of the Title: Perfect Player has been added.
• 3,012 Gold has been granted.
[Perfect Clear Reward [Weapon: White Light Sword] obtained.]
[Perfect Clear Reward [Passive Skill: White Sword Technique] obtained.]
[Perfect Clear Reward [Passive Skill: White Sword Mental Method] obtained.]
[Perfect Clear Reward [White Sword Sect Pill] obtained.]
• Players who have Perfect Cleared the 9th Floor: 2.
• Universe Announcement. Please offer your congratulations! Everyone in the universe! A Perfect Player of the 9th Floor has appeared.
• Feat +2
Kang Jun-hyeok’s body returned to Earth, along with the two old books and the brilliantly glowing silver pill.