Too Strong, Far Too Strong!
Ya Mi-ang continued, her expression still excited. "Actually, the written exam only accounts for about 20% of the main competition score. Because of that, it's hard to create a significant score gap with just the written exam. Therefore, what's truly important is the practical exam."
Bukjin said nothing. It was exactly what he had expected. The annual tournament also had a similar weighting between written and practical components. This world definitely valued individual combat prowess more.
Ya Mi-ang, exuding the air of a leisurely older sister with nothing to do, continued to explain to Bukjin.
"The practical exam is largely divided into three parts. The first part is the individual test, which assesses various aspects like swordsmanship, movement techniques, strength, Mystic Energy, Mystic Network, elixirs, and history. The second part is the combat trial. As the name suggests, it's a test that evaluates individual martial prowess through duels, and it's designed to select the ten strongest genius students in all of Unmong City. The third test is the Flag Capture Battle. The ten genius students selected in the second test each choose their teammates to form five-person teams and compete in a group battle."
"Form teams?" Bukjin couldn't suppress his curiosity after hearing Ya Mi-ang's words.
"How are the teams formed?"
Ya Mi-ang replied, "Naturally, they choose people they deem suitable from among the students who advanced to the main competition."
Bukjin asked again, "What if all the strong people form one team? If five people in the top 5 formed a single team, wouldn't they be invincible?"
Ya Mi-ang shook her head. "That would be against the rules. No team can have more than one genius student from the top 10. And no team can have more than two genius students from the top 20."
"Wow, the rules are quite strict!" Bukjin was in a hurry to find Cho Heun. Because of that, he showed little genuine emotion, merely offering a casual exclamation of admiration.
Hearing Bukjin's words, Ya Mi-ang adopted a serious expression. "Actually, they're not that strict. You could say it largely depends on luck in various aspects. Although students in the top 10 can't be on the same team, if the 1st-ranked student, the 11th-ranked student, and the 21st-ranked student form a team, there's still a possibility they could dominate the Academic & Martial Arts Competition based on their superior skills."
Considering her words, Bukjin realized that it truly could happen. In fact, he was a little surprised. The Academic & Martial Arts Competition was a major national event, with a deep history and tradition. It was unexpected that such a loophole existed within its rules.
Ya Mi-ang narrowed her eyes and smiled. "In truth, it's no exaggeration to say that the outcome of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition depends on the capabilities and charisma of the top 10 geniuses. While this might seem unfair on the surface, it can actually be considered the most fair. This is because it reflects the reality of much of this world. For a person to rise to a position of immense power, reaching almost heavenly heights, it's not enough to simply have high martial prowess or extensive knowledge. What's even more necessary is that person's charisma, their ability to gather and lead comrades, and to fight alongside them to achieve victory."
Hearing her words, Bukjin exclaimed with profound realization. "Excellent. Those are wise words." Indeed, countless historical tales and many movies he had learned about in his past life on Earth already demonstrated this very principle. Simply put, exceptional people gathered around other exceptional people to achieve even greater things.
Ya Mi-ang seemed invigorated by her conversation with Bukjin. However, Bukjin could no longer endure her chatter. He quickly said to her, "Junior Sister Ya, I have urgent business with Teacher Cho Heun. I must take my leave now. I hope we can have another good conversation when time allows."
With that, Bukjin hastily departed. Ya Mi-ang stood in the temple square, quietly watching Bukjin's retreating figure. After Bukjin disappeared, lively young priestesses quickly rushed out and surrounded Ya Mi-ang.
"Senior Sister Ya, how was it? How was it?"
"Student Im is so handsome!"
"Senior Sister Ya! You can do it!"
The clear laughter of the girls echoed. The young priestesses were praising Ya Mi-ang for having a long conversation with Bukjin.
Ya Mi-ang, full of confidence, said cheerfully, "No problem! The stories I just shared with Student Im about the main competition of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition were all things the High Priestess usually tells me, so he wouldn't have heard them anywhere else! This was a perfect opportunity to make a strong impression on Student Im!"
Iron Head Weaponsmith.
"Finally... it's complete...!" Yang Chim-ju gazed at the pale golden prosthetic arm before his eyes, his expression filled with excitement.
Ban Oe-min, who was using a Mystic Network formation to fan the flames of a bellows nearby, also held his breath and asked, "Did you succeed?"
Cho Heun, unable to wait any longer, said, "We'll know if it succeeded once I put it on!"
The pale golden prosthetic arm lying before them looked like a mechanical arm made by joining metal plates. It had no muscles or blood vessels, and its joints were made of different metals, intricately connected using various mechanical techniques like bending, cutting, and fitting. It was, in essence, an artificial joint synthesized through metal refining. The elbow, wrist, palm, and finger sections, in particular, were crafted with astonishing precision.
However, due to the relatively tight production schedule, Yang Chim-ju hadn't yet been able to apply his engraving techniques to depict muscles or refine the overall shape of the metal arm.
Cho Heun, unable to contain his impatience, picked up the metal arm and attached it to his right shoulder. Six metal rings connected naturally to his shoulder, armpit, and back, securing the prosthetic.
Cho Heun endured the surging pain. After finishing the attachment of the metal arm, he carefully drew upon his Mystic Energy and injected it into the arm, his heart brimming with hope.
Whoosh—!
A subtle vibration occurred. A faint golden glow spread over the metal arm. Cho Heun manipulated his Mystic Energy to move the arm in the direction he willed.
Click—! Click—!
The sound of metal joints engaging and moving could be heard. The elbow, wrist, and fingers... all began to move slowly and normally. At first, the movements were slow and awkward, but they gradually became more natural.
Cho Heun raised his arm, lightly moving the metal fingers, bending, straightening, and curling them repeatedly. He even made a fist and flicked his fingers.
Trembling with emotion, Cho Heun whispered, "It's a success!"
Ban Oe-min shouted excitedly, "It worked!"
Yang Chim-ju was also overcome with emotion. It was astonishing that such an intricate and incredible metal prosthetic arm had been born from his own hands. Now, Yang Chim-ju's name would become famous throughout the entire empire.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves..." Yang Chim-ju tried to calm his excited heart. "This is still just a prototype. The true Heavenly Horse Meteor Arm described in the blueprint is said to have bones, muscles, and skin like a real human arm, move without any sound from the joints, and perform martial arts no differently from a real human arm."
Ban Oe-min said, "Brother Cho Heun. Why don't you test the arm's power?"
Cho Heun moved the metal arm, looking at it from various angles, then burst into laughter. "Chief Ban. Try to take my punch!"
Whoosh—!
Cho Heun threw a punch forward.
Bang—!
True Qi erupted, and the sound of air exploding could be heard. At a glance, the power contained in the punch was extraordinary. A surprised Ban Oe-min raised both hands to his chest and gathered his Mystic Energy. The light of Mystic Energy flashed in his palms, and he struggled to receive the metal fist.
Bang—!
At that moment, Ban Oe-min couldn't fully withstand the force contained in the metal fist and was sent flying backward. Ban Oe-min was instantly thrown all the way to the weaponsmith's front door.
A moment later, Ban Oe-min, who had been thrown outside, returned to the shop with Bukjin.
"You rascal! Skipping class again?!" Cho Heun, spotting Bukjin, angrily raised his newly acquired 'hand' to smack Bukjin on the head.
"Aargh! Are you trying to smash my head in?!" Bukjin quickly flashed his body, dodging the blow.
Cho Heun then realized that he had been overly excited and was about to hit Bukjin's head with a steel finger.
"Try it with this." Yang Chim-ju handed Cho Heun a few failed swords.
Cho Heun gripped a sword and applied a slight force.
Crack—!
The blade shattered into pieces. He then picked up a shattered sword fragment and squeezed it tightly in his hand. The sword fragments crumbled like tofu in his grip, falling through his fingers.
Seeing this, Bukjin's expression was one of shock. Yang Chim-ju and Ban Oe-min also looked stunned.
'Such power...'
It was the kind of power a strong individual at the peak of the Martial Warrior rank might display. Cho Heun himself seemed unable to believe the scene that had just unfolded before his eyes.
"The power of this Heavenly Horse Meteor Arm is too strong, far too strong! To crush steel like tofu! If I were to punch someone directly, their body would simply explode!"
Hearing that, Ban Oe-min's blood ran cold. He realized that he had been lucky to receive Cho Heun's punch earlier because Cho Heun was still unfamiliar with the arm. He was certain that if the power just demonstrated had been directed at him, he would have been severely injured.
Bukjin was surprised by the power of the Heavenly Horse Meteor Arm, but also felt a little envious. It somehow reminded him of 'Astro Boy' from Earth, whom he had watched as a child.
'Too strong, far too strong!'
Bukjin even had a sudden thought: if he cut off his own arm and replaced it with the Heavenly Horse Meteor Arm, wouldn't he become truly invincible? But it was just a thought.
"When will the other arm be completed?" Bukjin asked with a curious voice.
Yang Chim-ju thought for a moment before replying, "The main body and joint sections of both arms should be completed before tomorrow night. However, the more detailed processes will require a bit more time. Such work is like sculpting a statue; it needs to be slowly and carefully refined and improved."
"Before tomorrow night? That's perfect!" Cho Heun said with a laugh. "As long as I can use it, that's all that matters. The detailed processes and improvements can be done slowly! Just make it usable enough before the opening ceremony of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition!"