The Eighth Floor Trial (Part 1)
"Wow."
Looking at the community board, Eike marveled.
"As expected of Jin-hyuk hyung-nim."
"Why? Did something happen?"
Zinkwax, who was nearby, asked as he compressed the Flowing Gold back into a sphere and retrieved it.
"Do you see this? Wow..."
"What, the community board?"
Swipe.
"Dominated all the doppelgangers... Only a Lord should be able to do that, right?"
A sudden shiver ran down their spines.
"What is this? Why do I feel a chill?"
"If you're going to talk nonsense, just pack up your gear, chatterbox," Namgung Hun smirked, shaking the blood off his sword.
"Do you really think he wouldn't handle it on his own?"
"Exactly! Brother Jin-hyuk can do anything, can't he?"
"Mind your own business, kid."
"Hehehe."
Numerous wyvern carcasses lay before them.
Having hunted enough trolls and ogres in the northern continent, they were now searching for even stronger prey.
"Well, from the sixth floor up, it's where I was born and raised."
"Where exactly did you grow up, Brother Hun?"
"The tenth floor, to be precise. Though... I did visit the eighth floor occasionally."
"The eighth floor," Zinkwax stroked his chin. "What's there?"
"Well, a few divine beasts? Compared to the ninth floor, it's practically heaven."
"Hahaha..."
Eike laughed heartily. Meanwhile, Zinkwax felt an inexplicable chill as he read the contents of the community board.
What is this? Is it just my imagination?
Swipe.
Why do I feel like the number of competitors has increased...?
You have cleared the Main Quest.
From now on, you may challenge the 8th floor trial at any time.
*There are Constellations showing interest in you!
Presenting the list of Constellations who desire you.
Predictable.
Deciding there was no need to even look at the Constellations anymore, Lee Jin-hyuk swiped the window away.
A multitude of Constellations are outraged by your shameless attitude!
You have not entered into a contract with any Constellation.
Skip all this.
Swipe.
Check rewards.
You have acquired 5,000 points.
Along with the pitifully small reward for clearing the seventh floor, Lee Jin-hyuk looked at Kaelion.
"Shall we head up now?"
"Yes."
"Go ahead... I'll..."
Erandir waved her hand, her expression and body drooping as lazily as her tone.
"...handle things here on my own..."
"Alright."
After patting Erandir on the head, Lee Jin-hyuk looked up at the sky and spoke.
"I challenge the eighth floor trial."
Moving to the 8th Floor Trial Waiting Room.
Boom—! Boom, boom!
Rumble!
Boom—!
The moment they arrived on the eighth floor.
"New players are entering!"
Waaaaah—!
The massive sound of drums, and a roar of cheers far greater than the drums, began to envelop the area.
Soon, Lee Jin-hyuk found himself standing in a massive martial arts arena.
"Jin-hyuk. What is this?"
"Yeah," he replied, looking around. "It's an arena."
It was a stage for martial duels.
It was vastly different from the Colosseum on the third floor, both in its structure and in the fact that it strictly adhered to one-on-one combat.
Furthermore, the ones watching the players arrive one after another were not Lizardmen, but humans.
That is, people of the Murim.
"Now, now! Those who have received the quest, please come this way! We will guide you."
"We'll guide you over here!"
The players moved forward under the guidance of people dressed in martial robes.
Watching them, Lee Jin-hyuk and Kaelion locked eyes.
"..."
Ignoring the chaotic banter of the Constellations, they joined the crowd of players.
As they did, a holographic window naturally materialized.
Main Quest: The 8th Floor Trial
▶ Objective: Defeat the instructor in a duel using a martial art learned on the 8th floor.
🎁 Reward: 5,000 points
⚠️ Failure Penalty: You will be sent back to the 7th floor and must retake the 7th floor trial.
The 8th floor, the Righteous Heaven Bright Realm.
A place diametrically opposed to the 7th floor, its name signified securing righteous order under the heavens.
It was a realm that claimed to value law, order, and justification above all else.
Of course, it wasn't perfect.
Though it was based on the Murim, it was ultimately a floor created solely for the trial.
Namgung Hun said he came here often. Ever since he was a kid.
After a quick glance around, Lee Jin-hyuk set off with Kaelion.
"Jin-hyuk."
"Yeah?"
"Have you thought about which sword technique you want to learn?"
Here in the Righteous Heaven Bright Realm, one could learn any sword technique they desired.
Of course, there was a limit of three, along with the ambiguous condition of having to meet the 'requirements.'
However, Lee Jin-hyuk had already planned everything out.
"Yeah."
"Hmm... is there a sword technique that would suit me?"
"I recommend the sword techniques of the Mount Hua Sect, which are known for their flashy movements."
"The Mount Hua Sect... Mount Hua..."
"Specifically, the Twenty-Four Movement Plum Blossom Sword Technique will suit you well."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Since you can read and manipulate the flow of energy, techniques that rely on trickery or illusionary swords will be advantageous in this situation."
A heated discussion between Kaelion and Lee Jin-hyuk continued after that.
"Thank you for telling me."
"Don't mention it. We decided on it together."
At Lee Jin-hyuk's smile, Kaelion abruptly turned her head away.
"...Don't smile like that."
Huh?
Unable to read her expression, Lee Jin-hyuk merely tilted his head in confusion.
"Good luck."
"Yes. I'll be back."
With that, the two split up.
The types of sword techniques or martial arts they needed and wanted to learn were simply too different.
Alright.
Putting the quest window away, Lee Jin-hyuk smirked as he walked forward.
The unexpected stroke of luck he encountered on the 7th floor—the Doppelganger Lord, Erandir.
Thanks to the skill he obtained through his connection with her, he was now able to learn a far superior martial art than he had originally planned.
Shall we go?
A multitude of Constellations are watching you.
"Hmm."
"*Yawn...*"
"No one's going to come here, right?"
"Of course not. They wouldn't meet the requirements in the first place."
The 8th floor, the Hebei Peng Clan's training ground.
On the surface, they claimed they would teach any sword technique to anyone.
Even if they came from an unrelated floor or even the Demonic Cult.
At least, they wouldn't stop anyone from entering.
But once they actually chose a sword technique, things changed.
"They really lack a sense of adventure."
"Come on, isn't that obvious, Young Master? If they come here and fail to meet the requirements, they waste one of their chances."
"...True. The sword techniques taught here aren't things just anyone can learn."
This was the catch of the 8th floor trial.
Among the sword techniques, there were occasionally those that could only be learned by inheriting the bloodline of a specific clan or possessing unique physical conditions.
Yet, if players blindly challenged them just because they looked powerful and cool?
They would only end up throwing away their chance to learn a martial art.
What's worse, they would have to return to the hellish 7th floor, so they were extremely reluctant to take reckless risks.
During their final ten days there, they couldn't rest, wash, or sleep properly due to the constant threat of the Haomun and the Salmak.
"Besides, the players who make it to the 8th floor move based on this kind of information."
"They know bloodline is crucial, so they don't come asking for the Peng Clan's unique sword techniques. The same goes for the Dang Clan or the Namgung Clan."
"It's a pity. Especially since the Young Master of our Peng Clan is personally instructing here."
"Stop flattering me."
The Young Master of the Hebei Peng Clan, Peng Do-hwan.
Though he hadn't become a ranker yet, he was a player who had reached the level of a 'First-class expert' at a young age.
Setting aside his objective strength within the Tower, his mastery of the Peng Clan's unique sword techniques was top-tier.
"Well, what can we do? It's impossible in the first place unless they carry the blood of our Peng Clan."
"Still, if they do come, couldn't you teach them a decent, standard sword technique?"
"Right. There are a few techniques that can be learned even if they aren't of our bloodline."
Thus, unlike other places, this area was incredibly quiet.
Because no players came.
"Huh? Young Master?"
"What is it?"
"Someone is coming."
"Hmm? Someone from the Peng Clan?"
"...No. He looks even bigger than our Peng Clan members."
"Bigger than a Peng Clan member? Is he a giant?"
"His muscle mass is also impressive."
"Did he take a wrong turn trying to go next door?"
"I don't think so... Wait, that man!"
"Do you know him?"
"You know, Lee Jin-hyuk!"
"...!"
At the appearance of the most talked-about player these days, Peng Do-hwan's eyes widened.
The rumors say he might be a Peak expert... a powerful player!
The history Lee Jin-hyuk had written while climbing the Tower would take days to recount.
From the tutorial to the 7th floor.
One could tell just by how many fans he had even in the Righteous Heaven Bright Realm.
For someone like him to come to the Peng Clan?
It was certainly unprecedented.
"What a waste... He's going to leave empty-handed. He must have lacked information."
"According to the community board, they say he dominated the 7th floor..."
"But if he fails, he'll have to wait thirty days to return, right?"
"Nothing we can do about it."
Listening to his retainers, Peng Do-hwan simply shrugged.
"I'll just have to break the bad news to him and tell him to look for another sword technique."
Step. Step.
Without wearing the rumored 'mythic-grade armor,' the large, black-haired man offered a greeting.
"Hello."
He was a player visiting after a long time, highly renowned, and polite to boot.
Even if they had to tell him he couldn't learn the technique, there was no reason to be rude.
"Greetings."
Peng Do-hwan clasped his hands in a martial salute, and Lee Jin-hyuk returned the gesture.
"What brings you here?"
"I came to learn a sword technique."
"Ah."
Hearing the expected answer, Peng Do-hwan wore a look of pity.
He was genuinely sorry.
"..."
"If you truly wish to learn, I can teach you a decent, standard sword technique. It will be more than enough to pass the trial."
"There is a specific sword technique I want."
Lee Jin-hyuk said, drawing his sword.
"The Tiger Step Sword Technique."
"...!"
"Please teach me this."
"Are you... serious?"
"Yes."
"..."
"..."
Peng Do-hwan and his retainers exchanged glances.
"The Tiger Step Sword Technique is unique to the Peng Clan. It is a technique that cannot be learned unless you carry the bloodline of our Peng Clan. This is regardless of talent, current realm, or effort."
"..."
"Do you still wish to learn it?"
"Yes."
Judging by his past actions, the current situation, and his attitude, it didn't seem like he would back down.
"*Sigh...*"
Since the instructors on the 8th floor of the Tower had no right of refusal, they had no choice but to teach him if he insisted.
"Very well, then. You must not regret this."
"Don't worry."
Watching Peng Do-hwan draw his sword opposite him, Lee Jin-hyuk calmly analyzed his stance.
Peng Do-hwan did not know.
That Lee Jin-hyuk, as a Peak expert, could learn almost any sword technique.
And that thanks to the effects of his skill, even those bloodline restrictions had vanished.