Chapter 147
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 147.
While mastering the secret book of the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique, a sub-skill was added to the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique skill.
[Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique (S, 1★)]
—A part of the fist technique said to have been used by the Martial God of the past, refined by a master of exceptional talent. It allows the use of a fist technique with destructive power.
*Heavenly Aura: Wraps the body with a powerful energy imbued with the aura of the heavens. The energy greatly enhances physical abilities and strengthens the skills of the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique.
Heavenly Aura.
Yoo Baek-jun examined his body.
A clear, blue energy enveloped his entire body, and within it, something resembling a dragon slithered about.
Like a dragon frolicking among the clouds.
‘This damn dragon pops out at everything.’
The Dragon Fang Spear Technique was like this, and now the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique too.
Perhaps the Martial God who created these martial arts was an obsessive dragon enthusiast.
In the East, dragons have always been regarded as divine and sacred creatures.
‘My body feels refreshed.’
It was as if he were standing on the clear, mid-slope of a mountain—a sensation of invigorating freshness.
The Aura flowing through his body activated his physique, making him feel incredibly light.
It felt like he could fly at any moment.
“Hmm.”
Yoo Baek-jun gave a faint smile.
Then, he hastily deactivated the Heavenly Aura.
‘It consumes magical power like crazy, this thing.’
Even with an A+ rank in magic power and possessing Magical Veins, he could feel the strain of magical depletion.
Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue.
‘I need to increase my magical power reserves.’
Whether by mastering traits or finding some other means.
Yoo Baek-jun glanced at Ja-yeon across from him. After stepping out briefly, she now looked composed.
“I showed you something I shouldn’t have.”
“No, there’s no need to say that.”
“To be honest, I’m astonished.”
Ja-yeon stared intently at Yoo Baek-jun.
“To think it had that level of power.”
“Though I’ve completed it, there are still many shortcomings. Compared to what the Martial God used…”
“I think it’s absurd to even compare yourself to him.”
Ja-yeon smiled gently.
But she wasn’t wrong.
If it were the Martial God, he would have mixed this Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique with other techniques he created during battle.
‘And on top of that, he used other weapons too.’
A monster so fearsome it made one click their tongue.
Yoo Baek-jun felt that with each additional weapon he used, it became harder to raise his proficiency.
He lifted his head.
‘Maybe it’s time to settle things properly.’
Yoo Baek-jun retrieved a box from his subspace.
Before Ja-yeon could ask what it was, he opened it in front of her.
Inside were secret books.
Those obtained from the Tower of the Martial God.
“What exactly are these books?”
“Secret manuals.”
“Secret manuals?”
“Yes, left behind by the Martial God…”
Ja-yeon’s eyes widened to their fullest.
“They contain martial techniques he created to teach past masters and trainees. Techniques for weapons other than the sword.”
“These… do they still exist?”
“They did.”
Ja-yeon’s gaze at Yoo Baek-jun held a faint trace of suspicion.
“How did you find these, young master?”
“That…”
Yoo Baek-jun took a sip of tea.
Not because he was thirsty, but to buy time.
“I’ll tell you when I become the family head.”
“……”
At those audacious words, Ja-yeon could only fall silent.
Her trembling eyes turned to the box.
‘With just these, we can change the family.’
Unlike other Grandmasters, Ja-yeon believed the current Sword Saint family was flawed.
Their blind worship of the sword alone.
How many talents within the family had gifts for things other than the sword?
‘For a family founded by the Martial God, of all people, to fail to embrace such individuals…’
It was unthinkable.
Wasn’t this a place that once held knowledge of countless martial arts and taught them?
With these, they could return to those days. A more balanced family, unlike the present.
“I made a promise to the family head, but…”
Ja-yeon closed her eyes.
She exhaled a long, sigh-like breath.
“Now, I have no choice but to break that promise.”
When Ja-yeon opened her eyes again, they shone with resolute determination.
She bowed her head.
“If you swear to use these for the family’s sake… I vow to do everything in my power to ensure you become the family head.”
There was no room for hesitation.
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.
“I swear it.”
* * *
Ja-yeon’s support was a great help.
From the start, she had enjoyed nurturing talented disciples, so many instructors and disciples followed her.
And her own martial prowess was unmatched among the grandmasters.
‘Ja-yeon, Cheon Jong-won, Jeon Dae-kwon, and Lee Gun-mo.’
Of these, Ja-yeon was an ally, and Cheon Jong-won supported Yoo Jung-yeon, making him a quasi-ally.
Jeon Dae-kwon and Lee Gun-mo were enemies.
‘Now the numbers are balanced.’
But there were other concerns.
“If the Sword Saint family falters, the branch families might try something…”
Surprisingly, the Sword Saint family had branch families.
Before the bloody successor disputes of today, multiple branches had formed.
After the disputes became stained with blood, new branches rarely emerged, but one had been created relatively recently.
‘Yoo Moo-hak’s younger sister.’
During the succession dispute, Yoo Moo-hak indiscriminately slaughtered his competitors.
She was one who groveled, begged for her life, and cooperated to survive.
After everything ended, Yoo Moo-hak spared her life but exiled her from the family.
‘Should I say sparing her was merciful…?’
Regardless.
Given that backstory, she harbored a terrifying hatred for the main Sword Saint family.
If the family weakened, she would surely extend her reach.
‘I’ll need to keep an eye on her too.’
Just then, a sound came from outside the window.
Knock, knock.
Someone was tapping on the window. Yoo Baek-jun approached and examined it.
“Yo—young master… it’s me…”
A trembling voice came from outside.
Opening the window, he saw Jeon Soo-yeon, dressed in Intelligence Division attire, shivering.
“Come in.”
“Y-yes. Phew, I was worried someone might see me…”
“Should the Intelligence Division really be worried about that?”
“W-well, that’s true, but I don’t have much experience, so I can’t help but worry…”
Jeon Soo-yeon hesitantly entered.
“Wow! As expected of the young master’s quarters, the room is huge. I’m jealous.”
“Where do you live?”
“Me? The dormitory…”
Her expression darkened.
“A cramped, dark dormitory…”
“Work hard to escape the dormitory.”
“Yes.”
Yoo Baek-jun seated Jeon Soo-yeon across from him.
“So, you came to report something?”
“Right. Um… there are two things. First, regarding the Intelligence Division’s internal affairs.”
“Go on.”
Ahem, ahem. Jeon Soo-yeon cleared her throat.
“Well, um. I’ve been recruiting people within the Intelligence Division one by one. So far, I’ve brought in five.”
“Already? Can I trust them?”
“Th-they wouldn’t betray…”
Yoo Baek-jun silently stared at her.
She confidently opened her mouth to reply but then shut it.
“…Probably not?”
“What do you mean, ‘probably’? Be certain.”
“R-right. So, with Min Yi-jae’s help, I’m investigating. For now, I’m keeping their connection to you hidden and assigning them less critical tasks.”
“Good. Keep it tight.”
“Yes.”
Five people. Not bad.
Though he spoke critically, he trusted Jeon Soo-yeon’s ability to recruit within the Intelligence Division.
So far, there had been no issues.
“And the other thing?”
“Ah, yes. Regarding the Busan matter… Yoo Tae-rang, Jeon Dae-kwon, and Lee Gun-mo are preparing for the disaster that will strike Busan.”
“Are they gathering people?”
“That too. Um… it seems they’re trying to mimic what you did in Seoul.”
They were setting up defensive facilities, much like Yoo Baek-jun had done. Likely deploying defensive forces through the Busan branch as well.
“Seems like my dear brother is saving me a lot of trouble.”
“Huh?”
Jeon Soo-yeon looked puzzled.
“They seem to be anticipating a situation similar to Seoul. Right?”
“Y-yes, it seems so.”
Well, it wasn’t wrong.
After all, countless monsters would appear, much like in Seoul.
The difference was—
‘The Night of Death event doesn’t end by blocking waves but by killing the mastermind behind it.’
If Yoo Tae-rang went through all the trouble of preparing defenses?
That wasn’t bad.
While he dealt with the monsters, Yoo Baek-jun could handle the mastermind.
‘Who contributed more?’
Simply dealing with monsters wasn’t everything. And in truth, above all—
‘I have no intention of falling behind in handling the monsters either.’
Yoo Baek-jun smirked.
“Keep monitoring Vincent and the Cult of Resurrection’s movements. Min Yi-jae probably told you, right?”
“Yes, Min Yi-Jae’s in charge of that for now. Once we’ve got enough people, we’ll take over…”
“Good.”
Yoo Baek-jun stood up from his seat.
“Then I’ll take care of some overdue business.”
The Elf village he’d been putting off.
First, he needed to recruit workers from there.
* * *
There was a valley in Gangwon-do.
Originally a remote place few visited, it became even more deserted after monsters appeared.
Splash!
“Young master! There are too many monsters!”
“I know!”
Yoo Baek-jun and Han Seong-ah fought through the endless waves of monsters.
All sorts of Elemental water type monsters appeared, making the battle arduous.
“Why is it like this here?”
“Because manpower issues left it neglected!”
Long ago, when monster habitats formed, they settled here.
But these monsters never left their habitat—the valley—and weren’t aggressive unless provoked.
Because of this, the habitat was left alone.
“Hunters just…!”
“Left it. No bounty, no reason to hunt.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
With this many monsters,
Unless there was a reward, why risk their lives?
If they wanted to hunt monsters, there were far safer places.
—Kyaaooong!
Seol-yeong darted around, taking down massive toads that spewed poison.
Yoo Baek-jun beheaded a fishman and checked if he was on the right path.
“Good, just keep going this way.”
The deeper they went, the terrain grew harsher. The thick foliage made it seem like a jungle.
Yoo Baek-jun cut through it all, reaching the valley’s deepest part.
“Found it.”
There, he found what had been left behind.
A rift emitting ominous light. Yoo Baek-jun sighed and stood before it.
‘The gate to the Elf village.’
Where he would recruit workers.