Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: The Mountain of Cultivators (7)
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Yi Sa-baek's test appeared simple at first glance, but it was anything but.
A single punch infused with enough internal energy to pulverize steel into powder.
Even using every possible resource in the given environment for a thorough defense fell short.
'Tools, barriers, even using people as shields—I've seen it all.'
The methods were free-form.
Build a wall, erect a barrier, or prop up another person as a shield.
There had even been challengers who tried binding Yi Sa-baek in a sealing formation to immobilize him.
But none of that mattered.
As long as they blocked the punch and survived, they passed.
Of course, there were plenty who overreached in bravado and met pointless ends.
Like the man standing before him now.
"Let's begin."
"...Begin?"
Yi Sa-baek's expression hardened.
Did the punch he'd just blocked with his body-protecting aura seem laughable?
True, it hadn't been his full power.
But that only spoke to the exceptional quality of the challenger's aura.
Arhats capable of deploying such a flawless body-protecting aura were rare even on this mountain.
The energy was spread meticulously and densely, without a single flaw.
Yet Yi Sa-baek's vast internal energy was powerful enough to shatter wrought iron.
It even possessed piercing penetration through the tiniest gaps.
In short...
'Either he's brainless, or he's got real confidence.'
Whichever it was, Yi Sa-baek felt no excitement.
He was merely the examiner.
Strike with the same force and internal energy—that was his role.
Yi Sa-baek nodded.
And then—
Whoosh!
Internal energy gathered in his fist.
One cycle's worth. The amount of energy an ordinary practitioner needed sixty years to accumulate shimmered blue as it enveloped his right fist.
The ideal target: the softest spot, the abdomen.
Tender flesh without bone, housing vital organs.
Instinctively trying to block meant instant disqualification.
They had to endure in their starting stance.
But as living beings, facing Yi Sa-baek's fist should naturally trigger survival instincts.
Would this challenger prove any different?
Screech!
As he drew his arm back, his muscles contracted.
The challenger remained utterly composed.
Not a twitch.
His spirit alone deserved recognition.
Assuming the most perfect stance, Yi Sa-baek thrust his retracted arm forward.
Crack!
'...Crack?'
A sound that should never have rung out echoed from the tip of his fist.
Yi Sa-baek immediately tilted his head.
It was the sound of his extended fist bending, bones snapping.
The sensation of striking something incredibly solid.
Meanwhile, his opponent?
If Yi Sa-baek's bones had shattered, the challenger should have been pulverized.
'......Unscathed.'
Not a single mark.
His stance unchanged.
No impact whatsoever.
A full cycle's internal energy rendered useless.
How?
Did that mean the challenger's defense surpassed his own attack power?
Granted, it was only a moderate strike, but this was impossible.
His attacks pierced through opponents.
Even the previous challenger's body-protecting aura had taken some shock.
Meaning his fist penetrated the aura itself to land a blow.
Shields and armor? His strikes hit true regardless.
Yet...
Not only had he blocked it—this time, Yi Sa-baek's fist had shattered.
An opponent like this was a first.
Someone who passed his test so perfectly.
'......Unbelievable.'
Yi Sa-baek eyed Park Chan-woo with a peculiar gaze.
Thanks to Chiu taking the test first, Park Chan-woo had finished all his calculations.
He now knew the examiner's approximate power level.
'Roughly level 80 strength.'
He'd meticulously observed the flow of energy and muscle movements to gauge it.
Attack power ranged between 8,000 and 9,000.
The way it pierced the body-protecting aura suggested high "physical penetration" too.
Other potential variables like auto-triggered spells, divine powers, or blessings showed no signs of activating.
A pure clash of physical force? He had a shot.
'My defense is nearly 10,000.'
Defense was always harder to raise than attack power.
Even a 3:1 ratio of attack to defense was considered excellent.
Yet his defense was 1.5:1 compared to his attack.
Ragnarok.
The legendary cheat armor that boosted defense by over 5,000 on its own.
With his gear invisible, he awaited the examiner's fist.
If his calculations held, he'd endure.
But if they were off, or the penetration exceeded expectations, it would be fatal.
A gamble.
And the gamble paid off spectacularly.
'Needs over 26% physical penetration to hurt me.'
Even lower attack could deal damage via penetration, but he had a whopping 26% "physical resistance."
And Park Chan-woo had never encountered anyone with over 26% penetration except Dragon God Sepiro.
"...You pass."
Yi Sa-baek withdrew his extended fist and declared.
Then realigned his broken bones, swung his wrist a few times.
"Top marks. An absolute monster among the 'non-selects.'"
He grinned, clearly pleased.
The base of the mountain was in an uproar.
Word had spread that a monster had appeared in Yi Sa-baek's entry test.
"Yi Sa-baek gave top marks?"
"Two passers?"
"And both 'non-selects'?"
"From a hidden realm, they say?"
Non-selects from a hidden realm!
More than enough to spark buzz among the arhats.
Plus, Yi Sa-baek had never given "top marks" before.
Not even upper-grade scores, really.
Yet both had passed with upper-grade or better.
Naturally, questions arose.
"They might make it to mid-mountain."
"The question is how long it'll take."
"True, plenty of arhats get stuck at the base."
Non-selects from hidden realms usually reached mid-mountain without issue.
But timing and duration were the problems.
The remaining two tests were no joke.
Nothing like the simple entry exam.
Hence the nickname "Death's Noose," leaving everyone frustrated at the base.
It wasn't that they were weak and content here.
Some base-dwellers were stronger than mid-mountain arhats.
The reason they couldn't ascend was singular.
"The newbie hunters will move."
"Those scum..."
Yulla, the examiner for the second test, eyed Park Chan-woo and Chiu.
"I've heard the news. Some solid arhats finally entered. Yi Sa-baek didn't hold back on the praise."
Yulla was a rare werewolf.
A half-beast who gained extra power under full moons.
Even normally, the wolf ears made identification easy.
"Proceed with the test, or forfeit midway. Staying at the base gets you nothing, but we won't kick you out."
Once entered, staying was free.
But expect nothing from the base.
Build your own shelter, forage your own food.
Mountain benefits started only at mid-mountain.
Reach it, and you're recognized as a true Pantheon arhat, with perks galore.
With luck, a high clan might select you, gifting secret manuals.
Recognized talent? Treated as core talent, personal instruction.
But such beneficiaries were rare.
First hurdle: escape the base. Most arhats never did.
"The test is simple. Draw one of the 'Eight Trigrams' from this box and keep it. Head to the designated area, compete with other challengers, collect all Eight Trigrams, and you pass."
"Lose your trigram, and you're out?"
Chiu asked, and Yulla nodded.
"Lose it, auto-fail. Retest? Spend a year at the base doing labor."
Stay free, but labor for retest.
Sounded like exploitation.
Arhats handled everything the mountain and Pantheon needed.
"Each trigram has attributes. Powerful enough to force wins if played right, but flashing it invites backlash."
Rock-paper-scissors, basically.
Use attributes for advantage—or disadvantage.
"Win, take one of their trigrams. Collect all eight attributes, pass."
"No need to use the trigrams directly?"
"Nah, method's up to you. Kill 'em, make 'em submit, trade, form alliances and split by attribute. Whatever."
Like Yi Sa-baek's test.
Results mattered, not how.
But far from simple.
Lawless chaos.
Raw power alone wouldn't cut it.
"I'll go first."
Chiu stepped up.
He plunged his hand into the chest at his waist without hesitation.
Contents invisible.
Powerful barrier ensured only one trigram per draw.
Soon, Chiu pulled one out.
"Dui."
Chiu didn't hide it.
Publicly revealed his draw.
"...A strong one. But you sure? Even with ironclad confidence, publicizing here isn't recommended."
"Doesn't matter."
If they came at him, smash them.
Besides, him as bait was ideal.
Yulla wasn't alone here.
...Eyes watching from afar.
Scouts checking draws, potential targets.
Over ten, openly or covertly.
Chiu had declared war.
I have the Dui trigram.
Park Chan-woo approached the chest slowly.
'The test has already started.'
He sensed it.
Drawing from this chest marked the beginning.
Likely no even distribution of trigrams.
Duplicates would eliminate competition.
Yulla said as much—Chiu's was a good one.
Eyes closed, he focused.
Which was the most special?
Soon, Park Chan-woo drew a slip.
"Qian."
"......!!"