Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Path
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“Seong Ji-gon, pass! Next, Sung Yu-jin! Come up unarmed!”
The voice of the Third Elder, Seok Juk, who was overseeing the duel, boomed across the arena.
I stepped up onto the dueling platform. My eyes met those of Seong Ji-gon as he came down. He seemed convinced I would pass.
Countless gazes stabbed into me from all around.
Today's initiation ceremony was a rare event that only happened once every few years, so it drew almost everyone from the Flowing Star Sword Sect, including the sect leader, Seong Go-dan.
Seong Go-dan sat in the highest seat. To his left were the elders, and to his right sat his seventeen wives and concubines. They looked like a garden of flowers.
Whoa. Every one of them is a knockout.
Seong Go-dan's wives were all of high status—daughters of famous clans from neighboring cities or nobles' families.
Unlike his wives, his concubines were of lower birth. Some had even started as servants.
I looked around and offered fist salutes to the crowd. Everyone here outranked me. Skipping the courtesy could get me marked.
“Seong So-jeong of the Flowing Star Unit! Come up to the dueling platform!”
Seong So-jeong, known as the sect's top beauty, gracefully ascended the platform. She wore the signature white training robes of the Flowing Star Unit.
Whoa. A flower walking on two legs.
She had snow-white skin and delicate, pure features. Her long, jet-black hair was tied back, exposing her forehead.
She was tall with a slim, toned figure free of any excess fat, befitting a martial artist. Her breasts were a modest B-cup, a bit disappointing.
I wonder if her skin down there is as pristine as her face.
After offering fist salutes to the crowd like I had, Seong So-jeong turned to me and did the same.
Clack!
“Pleased to duel you, sister.”
“Likewise.”
Seong So-jeong smiled brightly at me.
I'd known for days that she was my opponent.
I'm known as the top prodigy among my peers right now. And Seong So-jeong isn't just a beauty—she's one of the sect's standout young geniuses!
The higher-ups, deeming me exceptionally talented, had called her in specifically to face me.
Win or lose didn't matter. The point was to show my skills.
We drew our swords and took our stances.
They were different. Mine was the basic Silver Star Sword stance; hers was from the Flowing Star Sword technique.
This duel heavily favored Seong So-jeong. She knew the Silver Star Sword, while I was clueless about the Flowing Star Sword technique.
Above all, she'd recently broken through to the first stage of the Manifestation Realm.
True to her genius reputation, the sect had backed her heavily, allowing her to reach that realm at just twenty-three.
“This is a show for the crowd. Keep that in mind.”
The Third Elder, Seok Juk, warned us. In short: no dangerous strikes.
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
Seok Juk nodded at our responses and raised the flag high overhead.
Sorry, but... I have to win this.
After researching the original work Radiant Ascension Path in the real world and thinking it over deeply, I'd decided to reveal a portion of my abilities.
To get the sect's support, I need to show some skill.
Besides, pretending to be weak didn't suit me.
“Duel begins!”
Seok Juk dropped the flag and declared.
Seong So-jeong charged first. Most disciples my age would freeze in front of such a crowd for their first public duel. This was her courtesy.
Or maybe she just wants to knock a nobody like me down quick and get off.
Crackle.
Blue lightning sparked from my sword.
I deflected her blade with mine. The lightning arced along her sword to her body. She flinched in surprise and hastily retreated.
No shock, huh. Well, I held back on purpose.
I scanned the crowd with a serious expression.
Everyone watching was stunned. Sect leader Seong Go-dan and the elders had shot to their feet, eyes wide.
Fire, water, wood, metal, earth.
Lightning qi wasn't one of the basic five elements—it was spirit qi. Only through special techniques, spirit pills, or innate talent could one wield it.
Seong Go-dan and the elders must think I'm innately gifted with thunder spirit. Heh.
In this world, people born with affinity for specific energies appeared rarely, called spirit bearers.
Fire spirit for fire qi, ice spirit for ice qi, and so on.
“Sister, aren't you coming?”
“......How do you use lightning qi?”
“It just kinda worked out.”
I'd keep it vague about the lightning. Let them think I'm a genius.
“If you're not coming, I will.”
I wrapped my sword in lightning and charged her.
Can't overdo the lightning. Too strong, and they'll suspect me instead of calling me a genius.
Seong So-jeong focused on dodging rather than parrying, thanks to the lightning on my blade. But she couldn't evade forever. She started blocking.
I could see her fearing my sword.
I stepped in with Silver Star Sword footwork. As she swung in surprise, I threw a punch instead.
Thud!
“Guh?!”
My fist nailed her abdomen. She gritted her teeth and swung at me.
Clang!
Her arm twitched. A bit of lightning had conducted through, shocking her. Her focus was shaken from the prior hit.
No reason to stubbornly use Silver Star Sword when she knows it inside out.
Genius or not, she was only twenty-three. Unlike real-world hunters, she'd been pampered in the sect, fed elixirs, and trained nonstop—no real combat experience.
“Sister, on your right.”
I whispered to her. Her eyes flicked right.
Heh. Naive girl.
I kicked left with my right foot. She couldn't dodge.
“My right, that is.”
“You! Where did you learn tricks like that?! It's like...”
“The unorthodox sects? Say what you want, sister. I'll beat you by any means.”
“......!”
Seong So-jeong ground her teeth and stood. She slashed at me, fury in every swing. Faster, but sloppier.
She's only fought fair her whole life.
I didn't play fair. Feint attacks to bait retreats, lies to confuse her.
Ten minutes in, her sword flew from her grip.
“...Sung Yu-jin, pass!”
Seok Juk declared. He knew my tactics were dirty but allowed it. The glare he shot me said he wanted her to grow from this.
I sheathed my sword and saluted the crowd.
The audience buzzed in shock. Before descending, I glanced at Seong So-jeong, staring blankly.
Now they've got me etched in their minds.
???
“When did you start wielding lightning qi?”
The bearded middle-aged man—sect leader Seong Go-dan—questioned me. Five elders watched intently.
“Not long ago.”
“Why didn't you tell the sect?”
“Wanted to beat sister Seong So-jeong with a trump card.”
“......”
I wasn't even thirty yet. They'd understand.
“How far can you control it?”
“What I showed in the duel was my all.”
“Show us again.”
“Yes.”
I raised my right hand. Lightning crackled to life. Seong Go-dan and the elders studied it closely.
“......No special technique. No inner energy flow at all. This lightning isn't from any method or tool.”
First Elder Seong Dam said.
“Meaning...”
“Sect leader, it's innate. Definitely thunder spirit.”
“......I see. What do you think we should do?”
“Support him fully. With thunder spirit, he'll outpace others even from the Manifestation Realm.”
“......”
Seong Go-dan eyed me with complicated eyes.
I could guess why.
Jealous, huh.
For all his power, Seong Go-dan had a petty heart. Greedy and envious. If I weren't his son, he might try to kill me.
The Flowing Star Sword Sect claimed righteousness, but its leader was just a false gentleman.
“......We'll need a meeting. Sung Yu-jin, you're dismissed.”
“Yes!”
I saluted and left.
As I exited, Seong Go-dan and the elders began conferring.
My support was guaranteed. No way they'd waste talent like me. Their debate was just how much to give.
Heh. Cough up the good elixirs and weapons.
???
A few days after the initiation.
The Crimson Lotus Blade's upgrade was finally done.
I eyed the Crimson Lotus Blade I'd pulled from Radiant Ascension Path.
No visible changes. Red blade, black hilt—same as ever.
I swung it to test. Sharper edge, tougher durability. And now a special ability.
Crackle!
Lightning on the blade turned red, not blue. Crimson thunder was far more destructive than mine.
“Damn, that's badass!”
After a few swings, I fed it an elixir into Radiant Ascension Path.
The sect's gift was Thunder Purification Pills—low-grade, but rare due to their lightning qi.
“Only this elixir, though.”
Not on Seong So-jeong's level of support. But shine more, and they'd give more.
I wasn't disappointed. Part of my plan was stealing the sect's herbs and elixirs.
“I'll take it all.”
???
Medicine Garden.
Where the Flowing Star Sword Sect grew herbs and refined elixirs.
It was deep in the sect, the most guarded spot. Entry required approval from Garden Master Seong Do-chun or sect leader Seong Go-dan.
Seong Do-chun was second only to Seong Go-dan, at first stage of the Five Qi. Also his nephew.
I surveilled it with modern tech. A tiny drone with a camera, slipped inside unnoticed.
Impossible to sneak in directly.
Formations detected people or animals instantly. The drone suggested non-living things slipped through.
The eight inside were sect elites. Direct assault meant my death.
Disguise won't work either.
Servants delivered supplies regularly, watched hawk-eyed by the guards.
Seong Do-chun. Never comes out.
He'd skipped the initiation, holed up inside.
Can't steal with normal methods.
I pondered while living my routine.
Nothing special: teasing servants with Seong Ji-gon, hitting the city now and then to bed women.
Training Flowing Star Sword technique, sparring Seong So-jeong occasionally.
She'd been shocked by her loss and approached me for spars. We got closer.
The Thunder Purification Pills enhanced in two weeks; I consumed them.
One step. Just one more step...
Couldn't quite hit Entry Form sixth stage.
Rob the garden, gobble elixirs—Entry Form sixth for sure.
『Special Mission Time Limit: 21 days, 2 hours, 35 minutes, 11 seconds』
Seeing the countdown, anxiety hit. Fail, and no three Reinforced Body Pills.
......No choice. Only that way.
No matter how I thought, one method stood out for safely looting the garden.
Poison the well.