Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: What Kind of Spectacle Is This?
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The Chen Clan was one of China's most venerable families renowned for their spear arts.
The current head, Chen Ziyi, had tirelessly reinterpreted and advanced the ancient Yang family spear techniques.
[We acknowledge your achievements.]
About thirteen years ago.
When the world changed and everyone awakened to their unique abilities.
[You have acquired the unique ability 'Pear Blossom Spear.']
The elderly patriarch couldn't help but feel ecstatic.
"Ah, this is my chance! Opportunity has finally arrived!"
In modern times, martial arts had dwindled in relevance.
Reduced to mere physical training exercises.
But now, they had been elevated all the way to the ends of the universe.
Dungeons had appeared.
A world where fists took precedence over laws had dawned!
A world where people sought martial arts manuals instead of exam prep books!
[You are using 'Pear Blossom Spear.']
[The skill '□■■□■' (S-rank) has been upgraded by one level.]
[You have acquired the skill '□■■□■' (SS-rank).]
[The relevant skill has room for further growth.]
Even as a hunter, he wielded his spear.
He fused his spear arts into his unique ability and developed it even further.
"I worked hard for this."
The whole world already knew of his efforts.
How could they not?
Spear King.
He had built such fame that the Chen Clan's spear arts were hailed worldwide as the "King of Spears." He had honed his skills to that level.
A spot in the world top ten couldn't be claimed without effort.
"But."
That only fueled his ambitions.
He wanted to elevate his clan even higher.
He yearned to raise the Chen Clan's spear arts to greater heights.
That was how he had found Judgment Spear Zhang Wei.
A genius born of the continent, a young hunter with a spear-related unique ability.
"I poured everything I had into teaching him."
The Spear King had intended to pass on everything he knew to Zhang Wei.
Along with the entirety of the clan.
"That's why."
His mood soured.
Was it because he was the head of such a storied family?
In truth, he had always been deeply ingrained with Sinocentric ideology down to his bones.
The belief that Chinese culture was supreme, that China was the center of the world.
Was that the reason?
"Hmm."
When the Spear King laid eyes on the man before him, he grew unusually agitated, unlike his usual self.
"Someone who could easily rank in the top hundred, and he's my disciple's friend?"
That meant.
Until just before joining the trials, he had been merely a ranker candidate!
"Impossible."
It couldn't be.
Could a mere ranker candidate acquire such presence in less than three months?
"That's why I asked if he was a judge when we first met."
But his disciple's response rang in his ears.
- Master, he truly was remarkable!
- My friend wields a spear as well. It was utterly different from our Pear Blossom Spear, yet undeniably powerful. There was much to learn!
"You fool...!"
He didn't understand his master's feelings.
After learning the Pear Blossom Spear that his master had researched his entire life, he praised another spear art?
A thousand worms writhed in his chest.
So he picked up his spear.
He knew full well how pathetic his actions were, but he couldn't hold back.
The man before him.
Hadn't witnessed the true Pear Blossom Spear.
"This is just a lesson."
That there are heavens beyond heavens.
That the world beyond the well is vast and boundless.
And the greatness of the Pear Blossom Spear.
He had only meant to show him a glimpse...
"Krahaha!"
When the madman from the remote peninsula appeared.
"You skewer geezer! Why hesitate? Come at me! Charge! Should I go first?"
The hothead infamous even within China, drawing endless controversy.
Berserker Jang Dae-woong.
He was spouting nonsense about "little brother" and radiating hostility toward him.
And then.
"Hey! Hold up! Berserker!"
With a roar.
Someone dropped from the sky.
"Calm down. Calm down! The opponent's the Spear King! World rank ten!"
The broad-framed white hog, Yu Sang-don.
"Berserker! I agree! You just said it yourself! This could spark a national dispute! Both the Spear King and you, please rein in your auras for a moment!"
Black Sword Lee Seon-ah lowered her blade and positioned herself between them.
"Is this some kind of conflict?"
"It's not too late, right?"
Behind them, Gi So-yul and Ki Pa-rang took their places.
"Hmm."
The Spear King narrowed his eyes.
"Are you telling me to ignore the Berserker's challenge?"
Rumble!
A scorching energy began to boil from Chen Ziyi's body.
"Urk!"
Overwhelmed by the immense mana, the rankers grimaced and lowered their stances.
"Me, the Spear King? What do I lack to fear this?"
He was world rank ten.
He was confident he could crush them all with raw power.
"Ju Dong-hoon is your own nation's ranker!"
Lee Seon-ah stepped forward.
"Didn't the Spear King raise his spear against your own nation's ranker first? The Berserker merely responded! Besides! What good would come of provoking us, Spear King? We have the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult!"
"Heavenly Demon Divine Cult..."
Chen Ziyi's brow furrowed deeper.
"That copycat guild where barbaric eastern tribes from the fringes steal Chinese heritage?"
"What did you say?"
Lee Seon-ah glared furiously.
"Can you... take responsibility for those words...? And originally, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's roots lie in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains at the Vietnam border, so it's not purely Chinese!"
"What nonsense is that? Vietnam was originally part of China."
"Pardon?"
"And not only that. Aren't Korea's roots essentially Chinese too? More precisely, you were barbarians briefly parasiting on Chinese soil."
"What kind of lunatic...?"
Finally, Lee Seon-ah could hold back no longer and charged.
"H-Hey?! A real fight? For real?"
Yu Sang-don panicked.
"Just let it slide! Think of it as the ramblings of some old Chinese fogey!"
"Krahaha! See? We're gonna fight anyway, so just fight! No need to measure up! If they provoke? Just take the bait!"
The Berserker grinned contentedly and jeered.
"Plus, with my little bro—who pushed his limits and grew beyond expectations—watching, how can big bro sit idle?"
He stepped forward.
Whoosh!
A gale whipped up behind him.
"Even at rank five hundred, I fought the three hundreds. At rank one hundred, I challenged the two digits. Now's no different! Krahaha!"
His laughter cleared the chest like a burst of fresh air.
Boom!
His footsteps gouged the ground as he charged.
In response, the Spear King slowly raised his spear.
"...Moths drawn to the flame, knowing full well it's fire?"
The Spear King stared ahead with sunken eyes.
An archer ahead was nocking her bow, and an assassin was approaching.
"Fools."
It was laughable.
With a single spear thrust, their hearts would be pierced, their brains shattered.
Yet they fought on, knowing this?
"For the likes of him?"
He glanced sideways at the man.
Muttering to himself.
As if seeing a ghost, staring into empty space and mumbling alone.
The disciple's so-called friend.
Yes, all the better.
If he was a genius the continent couldn't produce.
If he surpassed the continent's promising stock.
Then just kill him.
That way.
His disciple could remain the world's genius unchallenged.
Whoosh!
The Spear King's spear spun gracefully.
"Come."
Thud!
As his aura spread like spiderwebs to bind the rankers.
"No! Master!"
"...!"
Someone blocked the Spear King's path.
His disciple, Judgment Spear Zhang Wei.
"As your disciple, I must say! My skill judges the thoughts in your heart as 'evil'...! Please, stop this!"
"..."
"'Serve your master as you would your parents—with utmost respect and courtesy.' While one must revere and bow to one's teacher as kin, I beseech you to spare us this tragedy where I must judge you with my own hands!"
"...What?"
"Your power is immense, Master. You could sweep these people away with one hand. No doubt! But if you do, this disciple... will have no choice but to break the Pear Blossom Spear."
"You insolent fool...! Don't you know this is all for your sake?"
"The Pear Blossom Spear I pursue is one of 'good'! Do you truly wish to threaten the friend I deem worthy?"
"..."
The Spear King scowled.
What?
Threaten?
Ah, truly.
Not a single ally here?
Moreover.
Though his disciple tried to stop him, it was too late.
"Krahaha!"
The madman's punch, with no backing down, was already flying toward the Spear King's face.
"..."
Whoosh!
The Berserker's fist engulfed the Spear King's face.
The Spear King looked annoyed.
"Too slow."
Swoosh!
The Spear King's movement was a fraction faster than the Berserker's fist.
He casually tilted his head to deflect it, and his spear shaft struck the Berserker's abdomen dead-on.
KABOOM!
A thunderous boom shook Mystery Island entire.
"Hup!"
The Berserker was flung back, tumbling across the ground.
"Krghaaaaahaha! Good! Yes! That's how it should be for fun!"
But he didn't fall.
Even as he flew, he regained his balance and steadied himself.
And he kept laughing.
Drool dripped from his grinning mouth, madness oozing from his eyes.
It showed why the Berserker ranked twentieth worldwide—his unbreakable spirit.
"Master!"
"Silence!"
The Spear King barked.
"This master isn't causing a ruckus!"
He growled, spitting the words.
"I'm merely answering the challenge!"
His spear sliced the air, piercing the world.
"As a fellow ranker, how could I ignore such spirited provocation!"
Rumble!
A long spear beam extended from Chen Ziyi's spear.
Aura coalesced into visible spear energy—a spear qi beam.
The realm every spear master dreamed of.
And that beam brimmed with killing intent.
The Spear King clearly intended to take the lives of these Korean hunters in earnest.
"...!"
Judgment Spear squeezed his eyes shut.
The power of world rank ten was truly immense.
With a mere thought, he could sever the necks of Korea's rankers in an instant.
It was heartbreaking.
If his master truly killed here?
Could he continue learning the Pear Blossom Spear?
Why had his master, who had never shown killing intent before him, changed now...?
But.
No one could stop the Spear King's rampage now.
World rank ten was world rank ten.
A top-tier ranker no different from a god.
Yet Korea's hunters were brave.
They charged without flinching at his outburst.
Just as the clash was about to erupt.
"What's all this commotion?"
Thud!
It was then—the world seemed to freeze, space halting.
"Hup!"
Even Judgment Spear's breath caught.
Some overwhelming aura crushed his entire body.
"I couldn't resist coming when I heard a treasure had emerged for Delaila, but heavens. What kind of spectacle is this—high rankers putting on such a disgrace before the juniors?"
With a floral fragrance filling Mystery Island entire.
The Spear King's aura.
The Berserker's aura.
All the other rankers' auras.
They all withered away in an instant.
'Crazy?'
Judgment Spear was stunned.
Who?
What being could do this...!
Subduing world ranks ten and twenty.
And countless other rankers in one fell swoop?
Swish!
At that moment.
Space tore open, and a fair-skinned Western woman appeared.
'Her...?'
[Who is she?] He didn't need to wonder.
Olena, watching rigidly from afar, gaped and shouted.
"M-Magic Tower Lord?! How is the Tower Lord here?!"
Indeed.
The one who had quelled the mighty rankers' auras in a breath.
Was none other than Sophia Silverstone.
World rank four, dubbed Oxford's Sage.
The ultimate sovereign of all earth's mages had arrived.