The Descent of the War God
"How did you do it?!" Jo Pacheon roared at the top of his lungs.
"Nothing about Im Bukjin’s performance so far has been normal! If he has fallen into a state of Demonic Possession, this is a grave matter! I am not requesting an investigation because I refuse to acknowledge him, but to protect the fairness and justice of this Academic & Martial Arts Competition!"
"He’s right!" Dongbang Jeon shouted in agreement.
Entering the Mara was no trivial matter. It was a situation of extreme gravity. Gu Cheon, sitting in the spectator stands, also added his voice to the fray.
"I support this! I officially request an investigation!"
Many instructors from various academies began making similar demands. Even Im Ji, a renowned expert among Unmong City’s new generation, and Bukjin’s sister, Im Jin, had only reached the level of five-cauldron strength. For a notorious scoundrel like Bukjin to suddenly display such meteoric improvement and perform these impossible feats raised countless questions.
Cho Heun, Ryu Gye-hae, and Ban Oe-min sprang from their seats, fiercely opposing the investigation. However, their voices were drowned out by the overwhelming clamor of those demanding a probe.
"Silence!" Lee Cheong-hyeon shouted, waving his hand.
The surroundings fell quiet in an instant. Lee Cheong-hyeon turned toward Bukjin, speaking with a hint of hesitation.
"Student Im. Are you willing to accept an investigation?"
Bukjin replied calmly, "In my opinion, the Golden String Array installed in this hall is operating perfectly. Furthermore, there isn't a shred of evidence that I’ve committed any foul play. Demanding an investigation based on the mere assumption that I used a trick is nothing short of an insult."
"Hah! Are you lacking confidence, then?" Jo Pacheon sneered.
Bukjin didn't even spare Jo Pacheon a glance. Instead, he scanned the people in the hall and spoke.
"You all look like frogs in a well who have never seen the sky or the sea. With your narrow vision and shallow minds, you doubt everything that exists outside your little hole."
At those words, some hung their heads in shame, while others continued to sneer. Bukjin continued.
"You want an investigation? Fine. I will utterly shatter that narrow perspective of yours."
Wearing a cold smirk, Bukjin turned toward the center of the testing ground.
"Lord Lee. You are renowned for your fairness and impartiality, are you not? I will not cause you any further trouble. I accept the investigation."
Having said that, Bukjin’s aura suddenly shifted. "But one thing! Before we proceed, I must clarify something. This portion of the test evaluates physical strength. As long as I do not use Hyeongi, there is no issue with using the strength of my own blood, vitality, and skeletal structure, correct?"
A gentle expression appeared on Lee Cheong-hyeon’s face. "That is correct. As long as you do not employ Hyeongi, any means you use within the limits of your own body does not violate the rules."
"Excellent," Bukjin replied. "Then let the investigation begin."
Without a flicker of emotion, Bukjin walked toward the five stacked cauldrons. He channeled strength into his arms, lifted the stack, and marched toward the sixth cauldron.
The expressions of everyone watching froze.
'What is that fellow doing now?'
'No way... Is he going for six at once?'
'If he does that, the weight will be 10,500 jin...'
'Ten thousand jin! Has he lost his mind?!'
Under the watchful eyes of the entire assembly, Bukjin let out a sharp shout and began to draw upon every ounce of his physical power to lift the cauldrons.
CRACK—! CRACKLE!
Massive fissures began to spiderweb across the stone slabs beneath Bukjin’s feet. The six stacked cauldrons slowly began to rise from the ground.
The spectators felt a wave of dizziness wash over them. The only sound in the hall was the screeching of breaking stone and the groaning of the floor. Even the shoes Bukjin was wearing burst apart under the pressure.
The sleeves of his robe shredded, exposing his arms and shoulders. Beneath the torn fabric, bulging muscles and skin as smooth as polished jade were revealed. The sculpted muscles rippling across his frame boasted a terrifyingly beautiful physique, looking as if a master sculptor had used his finest chisel to create a masterpiece with his entire soul.
A faint, bloody radiance began to shimmer around Bukjin’s body. By then, he had already hoisted the six cauldrons completely over his head. His upper garment had disintegrated, the tattered remains hanging below his waist.
His handsome face, the beautifully defined muscles, his long black hair fluttering in the wind, and the shredded clothes... everything combined to make Bukjin look like a War God descended from myth. It was an overwhelming sight that made the onlookers feel faint.
An atmosphere as if a legendary deity of battle had manifested enveloped the hall.
"Aren't you going to investigate?!" Bukjin roared.
Only then did the people snap out of their trance.
"Qu-Quickly! Begin the investigation...!" Lee Cheong-hyeon shouted.
Even the experienced examiners were flustered, their minds reeling at the monstrous divine might of a boy who could speak normally while holding ten thousand jin over his head. Snapping to attention, the examiners approached Bukjin, carrying their various Dharma treasures and array equipment.
The investigation began.
Numerous mystic array devices and alchemical tools scanned every inch of Bukjin’s body. It took the time of ten breaths before the process was finally complete.
Lee Cheong-hyeon lowered his equipment, his face filled with disbelief, and spoke urgently.
"I-It is finished! Student Im! It’s done, so put the cauldrons down at once!"
Upon hearing those words, Bukjin set the six stacked cauldrons back onto the ground. As he moved his body, he suddenly felt a strange emptiness around his legs. Only then did he realize that his pants had torn at some point, allowing a cool breeze to circulate freely through the gaps.
Bukjin turned his head and looked toward Jo Pacheon.
"You. You’re paying for my pants."
By that point, Jo Pacheon was frozen in place like a stone statue, unable to utter a single word. He looked like a man who had lost his soul, failing to react to anything happening around him despite the commotion.
"Ahem!" Lee Cheong-hyeon cleared his throat.
Immediately, every eye in the hall focused on him.
Lee Cheong-hyeon set down the measuring tool and announced the verdict. In that moment, the hall was plunged into a profound silence. Only the echoes of his dignified voice remained.
Investigation result: No abnormalities. Results are valid.
What did that mean? It meant that Bukjin truly possessed the Strength of Ten Thousand Jin.
'My god!'
'Could it be that he was born with Divine Strength?'
The Strength of Ten Thousand Jin was a level of power that even those who reached the Martial Warrior Rank through training could never achieve, unless they specifically tempered their bodies or mastered specialized physical cultivation techniques.
Bukjin clutched his torn pants and looked toward Im Ji and Dongbang Jeon.
"You two idiots, just you wait. You’d better hope you don't run into me when we duel on the martial stage. Lord Lee, I must go and change my clothes."
Having finished his piece, Bukjin grabbed the seat of his pants and began to head outside. He realized he had acted a bit too impulsively and had shown off to an excessive degree. Because of that, his clothes were shredded, leaving him half-naked.
Bukjin moved quickly, trying to cover his exposed skin. It was quite a comical sight.
Seeing Bukjin like that, the corners of Lee Cheong-hyeon’s mouth quirked up. "Pfft!"
Ya Mi-ang also burst into laughter despite herself. Her smile was as soft and warm as a spring breeze. Her small chuckle broke the suffocating silence that had filled the hall.
The tension finally dissipated. Many female students began to smile, covering their mouths as they blushed at the sight of Bukjin’s bare skin. The male students were no different, letting out involuntary chuckles at the sight.
Just moments ago, when Bukjin lifted the six cauldrons, he had looked like a wild, overwhelming figure full of martial spirit. But now, as he scurried out clutching his pants, he looked cute and strangely approachable.
The atmosphere softened considerably. The lofty, god-like image Bukjin had projected had vanished, replaced by the image of an ordinary boy his age. While the feat of lifting the cauldrons had made people feel a sense of distance—as if he were a different breed of human—his current antics made them feel closer to him than ever before.
Except for a few individuals like Jo Pacheon, Im Ji, and Dongbang Jeon, most of the students felt ashamed of themselves for having jealously demanded an investigation just moments ago.
Watching the shift in the hall, a slender smile appeared on Im Jin’s beautiful face. As she smiled, it felt as if the entire room brightened, as if struck by a sudden ray of brilliant sunlight.
"Hahahaha! Do you three laymen have anything else to say?" Baek Geum-un shouted toward Jo Pacheon and the others, jumping up and down in excitement.
The three of them were utterly speechless. Even if they had ten mouths each, they wouldn't have known what to say. Jo Pacheon forced a sneer, but his eyes were filled with a murderous glint. It was impossible to tell what he was plotting. Dongbang Jeon and Im Ji hung their heads low, looking like turtles retreating into their shells.
"Everyone, quiet!" Lee Cheong-hyeon announced loudly. "We will continue the examination."
Outside the hall.
Once he stepped outside, Bukjin was no longer under the influence of the Golden String Array, and the Hyeongi within his body began to circulate again. The first thing he did was cast a healing spell on himself. Immediately, his depleted vitality and strained muscles began to recover at a rapid pace.
A moment later, Cho Heun and Ban Oe-min came running from somewhere. When they returned, they were carrying a 3rd Academy uniform.
It wasn't exactly a perfect fit, but they helped Bukjin put it on. The jacket was particularly large on him, making Bukjin look a bit like a clown in the oversized clothes.
"You rascal! How on earth did you do that?!" Cho Heun asked, his voice dripping with curiosity.
"Do what?" Bukjin feigned ignorance.
Cho Heun barked, "You little brat! Out with it! Tell me the truth, right now!"
Ban Oe-min’s face was also alight with intense curiosity.