Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Chapter 9 Qualification for Transcendence
[You have successfully unblocked the Governing Vessel.]
[No impurities remain in your body to expel.]
[The energy of the Conception and Governing Vessels strengthens your blood and qi.]
[Skill: Reinforcement Circuit (Lv1) acquired.]
The moment the Conception and Governing Vessels were unblocked, an intense shiver ran down my spine.
Normally, energy would expel impurities, cleansing the body—but since I had already obtained the ‘Yeong-min Body’, my physique was already in a state of perfect purity.
Instead, a new skill formed, reinforcing my blood and qi even further.
'Strengthening blood and qi... I can push the Dawn Divine Art’s output even higher now.'
Just then, a voice tinged with irritation reached my ears.
"Haa... Did you really have to do this now?"
Disrupting energy circulation mid-training could cripple a martial artist.
But I wasn’t worried—because I trusted Estelle.
I was certain she would never harm me.
"Only because it’s you. Would I do this in front of others?"
"Haa... I don’t know what kind of relationship we have, but as long as you know not to do this in front of others, that’s enough."
Her tone was cold, but to me, it sounded different.
"Not in front of others" means... It’s fine if it’s just you, Estelle?
"Ugh... Do whatever you want!"
Her face flushed red as she hurriedly stepped away.
Watching her retreating figure, I couldn’t help but laugh.
'She’s cute. Seriously.'
That angel.
She was definitely adorable. Extremely adorable.
*****
Year 30 of the Tutorial.
"Finally... It’s complete!"
Before me stood a massive structure.
Not just a simple shelter—it was a grand mansion, almost like a small fortress.
[Han Yeong-min’s House (Unique): A house crafted by Earth’s artisan Han Yeong-min, forged from the byproducts of various monsters and minerals with exceptional skill, then enhanced with magitech. Further modifications are possible.
① Sanctuary of Rest:
While inside, all recovery speeds receive a very high-level correction.
② Defensive Barrier:
Generates a barrier in response to external threats. Continuously regenerates by consuming mana.
③ Access Control:
Only those approved by Han Yeong-min may enter. (Currently approved: Estelle)
④ Anti-Magic Cannon:
Expends mana to intercept external threats or unauthorized intruders.
⑤ Reinforcement Zone:
Approved individuals within a 1km radius receive a moderate correction to physical abilities.]
Originally, I had planned to build this once my Blacksmithing and Magitech Engineering reached Intermediate Lv1, but the creation of the Dawn Divine Art had delayed it.
Now, with time to spare, I had finally completed it.
Unlike previous projects, which were simple combinations and fusions, this one utilized magitech and material properties to their absolute limits.
[You have successfully crafted an artifact of Unique-grade or higher.]
[Trait: Artisan (B) acquired.]
"Oh, a new trait? Nice."
For someone who had started with no traits at all, even a B-rank trait was a blessing. I immediately checked the details.
[Artisan (B): A trait granted to craftsmen of exceptional skill.
① Unique Artificer:
Receives a high-level correction when crafting artifacts. Slightly increases the probability of creating Unique-grade or higher artifacts.
② Unique Mastery:
Receives a high-level correction to performance and proficiency when using self-crafted artifacts.]
'...Wow. This is broken.'
The first effect wasn’t just about faster crafting or higher success rates—it increased the very possibility of creating masterpieces beyond the Unique grade.
But the second effect was even more absurd.
A high-level correction to performance and proficiency when using my own creations? Since I’d naturally be using my own gear, this was insane.
"Then... Should I test it?"
I pulled out ‘Sword Infused with Ogre’s Might (Heroic)’ from my inventory.
Swish. Swish.
The moment I gripped it, I felt something fundamentally different. Every swing felt sharper, more balanced—like the weapon had become an extension of myself.
Then, I switched to a basic sword provided by the tutorial and performed the same techniques.
'...The difference is obvious.'
At the very least, my abilities had improved by 1.5 times.
"This is broken..."
Now I understood why, even after training for a year in the tutorial, it had been so hard to catch up to others who had trained for just a month.
Sure, some might have started without traits like me—but most had at least one from the beginning.
I had begun with no traits, no talent.
'But now, things are different.'
I was changing. I was growing stronger.
"I won’t stop."
All that was left was to keep running forward.
"What are you doing, standing there being cringe all by yourself?"
A familiar voice came from behind.
Turning, I saw Estelle, arms crossed, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Same as always."
Honestly, if it were anyone else, I might have been embarrassed.
But with Estelle, it didn’t matter.
She already knew everything about me.
"Haa... Still as ridiculous as ever."
Despite her words, a faint smile flickered across her lips.
Then, belatedly noticing my master piece—no, my house—her usually expressionless face twisted in shock.
"Did... you make this?"
"Yep. My masterpiece."
I really put my all into this.
"An Intermediate Lv1 crafting a Unique-grade artifact...? And not even a weapon—a house?"
"...Calling my baby 'just a house' is cruel, don’t you think?"
This was my pride and joy, the culmination of all my effort.
"Haa... I swear, not a single day goes by without you giving me a headache."
Estelle sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples.
But her eyes betrayed her curiosity.
"How did you make this?"
I had expected that question.
So I already had an answer prepared.
"Is it really so surprising that an Intermediate Lv1 could craft a Unique-grade artifact?"
She gave me a look that said, "Obviously."
"Estelle. I’ve been thinking—is Intermediate Lv1 really the absolute limit for growth in the tutorial?"
She nodded.
"System-wise, yes."
Snap!
I pointed at her.
"That’s the problem! 'Intermediate Lv1' is just the system-imposed limit—not an absolute one. The tutorial’s corrections stop there, but that doesn’t mean training beyond it is impossible."
Estelle’s expression turned complicated.
"That’s... highly inefficient. Corrections are the will of the world. Ignoring them means your progress slows drastically. Besides, once you ascend the Tower, you’ll have to rebuild your proficiency from scratch, so why bother—?"
"But think about it."
I met her gaze steadily.
"Between two people who’ve reached Intermediate Lv1 in the tutorial—one who stopped there, and one who trained 10,000 hours more—who do you think will grow faster after ascending?"
Even a dog could answer that.
"...The latter, I suppose."
Estelle reluctantly conceded.
Smiling, I continued.
"That’s all I need. Even if the system’s corrections don’t support me now, my efforts won’t disappear. They’ll just keep piling up."
She still seemed doubtful, but the Han Yeong-min she knew had always turned the impossible into reality.
"...So, what now?"
"First, let’s tour the house. Aren’t you curious?"
After a brief hesitation, she nodded.
Apparently, even she couldn’t resist curiosity.
"...I am."
In that instant, I scooped her up and placed her on my shoulders.
"Wha—!?"
Her flustered cry.
But the fact that she—someone who could easily dodge—didn’t... meant she tacitly allowed it.
"I’ll explain everything. Just enjoy the ride."
"Put me down!"
"No."
"Han Yeong-min!"
As she squirmed, face red, I began introducing her to my greatest creation.
And, surprisingly, Estelle stayed on my shoulders the entire time.
****
After the house was completed, my quality of rest improved drastically. Thanks to that, my training efficiency increased, and five years later—I acquired another trait.
[All basic skills have reached Intermediate Lv1.]
[All basic skills have merged into All-Mastery (Lv1).]
[A great achievement, unprecedented since the dawn of time. This achievement becomes your strength.]
[Trait: All-Master (S) acquired.]
Honestly, I had expected this.
At some point, I had started feeling something condensing inside me every time I learned a new skill or raised my proficiency.
I had a hunch that once all my basic skills reached Intermediate Lv1, they would merge—and sure enough, I was right.
Even though Magic and Holy Arts didn’t suit me, I had built a solid foundation—apparently enough to qualify for All-Mastery.
'I expected this much, but...'
[The path you have walked thus far proves your worth.] ‘
[You have acquired the Qualification for Transcendence.]
[Limit-Breaking skills can now be acquired.]
[Skill: Transcendent Mind (Lv1) acquired.]
[Transcendent Mind’s level has increased.] ×9
[Transcendent Mind’s proficiency has reached its maximum.]
[Mental Strength has increased by 20.]
[Skill: Transcendent Strength (Lv1) acquired.]
[Transcendent Strength’s level has increased.] ×2
[Physical Strength has increased by 6.]
And that was just the beginning. Below that, new abilities like Transcendent Reflexes, Transcendent Stamina, and Transcendent Intelligence had also appeared.
'Clear it all.'
Rather than sorting through the flood of system messages, it was easier to just check my status directly.
Besides, thanks to my training with Estelle, I already knew my body’s condition like the back of my hand.
I could feel how much stronger I had become—no numbers needed.
I moved lightly.
My senses were sharper, my muscles coiled with explosive power, responding with precision to every motion.
If I exerted myself now, the difference would be incomparable. Still, I decided to check the numbers.
"Status."
[Name: Han Yeong-min]
[Title: None]
[Age: 31]
[Constellation: None]
[Stats]
- Strength: 26
- Stamina: 26
- Mental Strength: 40
- Reflexes: 40
- Intelligence: 40
- Magic: 20
[Traits]
- Yeong-min Body (S)
- Grand Master (S)
- Artisan (B)
- All-Master (S)
[Skills]
- Dawn Divine Art (Lv4)
- Fist of the Shattered Sky (Lv9)
- Legs of the Heavenly Asura (Lv9)
- Flowing Clouds of Chaos Evasion (Lv9)
- Reinforcement Circuit (LvMAX)
- Deep Insight (LvMAX)
- Intermediate Comprehensive Resistance (Lv1)
- Intermediate All-Mastery (Lv1)
- Martial Arts (Details)
- Magic (Details)
- Holy Arts (Details)
- Limit-Breaking Skills (Details)
'It’s all compressed now.'
Skills that had once been separate—Blacksmithing, Alchemy, Medicine, Cooking, Tailoring, Acupuncture—had all merged into All-Mastery.
And it wasn’t just compression.
They synergized, complementing each other, elevating their overall performance exponentially.
"Four traits now... Han Yeong-min, you’ve hit the jackpot, man."
I laughed to myself.
Compared to when I first fell into the tutorial, I was a completely different person now.
The me from back then wouldn’t even stand a chance against the current me.
And despite being seven years older, I looked even younger than before entering the tutorial.
"Estelle."
"What?"
Back then, she would’ve politely responded, "Yes, did you call for me?" Now, it was just a blunt "What?"
Seeing how she had changed, it was clear our relationship had grown closer.
"Do I look different today?"
I struck a model-like pose, but Estelle just gave me a tired look.
"You’ve grown stronger—probably awakened a new trait. And... Huh?"
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
She wasn’t just giving a perfunctory answer.
She scrutinized me carefully, then muttered in disbelief.
"Player Han Yeong-min... Don’t tell me you’ve obtained the Qualification for Transcendence?"
"I don’t know what that is, but apparently, yes?"
Honestly, the name alone sounded extraordinary.
Transcendence.
That word alone carried a weight that stirred something deep in my chest.
In gacha games, "transcendence" was what elevated a character’s power exponentially.
"It’s something only a mortal who constantly pushes themselves beyond their limits can achieve... Looking back, I suppose it makes sense for you."
Walls had been a daily occurrence for me. If even a goblin had once been my wall, that said it all.
"You forced growth in a tutorial where progress was artificially restricted.
You created traits, crafted Unique-grade artifacts, invented a peerless divine art, and mastered every basic skill to its limit."
Looking back at my journey, it made sense that I’d qualify for Transcendence, whatever that was.
"Even other races who’ve trained for centuries outside rarely obtain the Qualification for Transcendence. The tutorial’s unique environment might have made it easier for you. You’re likely the first to ever obtain it at the Peak realm."
Being the first made it even better.
I was now the first man in the universe to obtain the Qualification for Transcendence at the Peak realm.
"But... what’s so good about it? If it’s this hard to get, it can’t just be about stat increases."
Sure, a total of 72 stat points at once was insane, but races that trained for centuries would have even higher stats.
The fact that they still sought the Qualification for Transcendence meant there was something more.
"It literally means the qualification to transcend. Your body breaks free from mortal limits, your lifespan approaches infinity, and your mana capacity expands beyond stellar constraints. That is Transcendence. Without this qualification, no matter how strong you become, you can never enter the realm of Transcendence."
In short, it was the qualification for a mortal to become a Transcendent—like gods or Demon Kings.
"What about angels? I heard they have infinite lifespans—are they all Transcendents?"
Estelle shook her head.
"Angels have infinite lifespans, but their bodies and mana remain bound by mortal limits. Similarly, dragons can infinitely expand their mana but have physical and lifespan constraints, while giants surpass physical limits but are bound elsewhere."
Basically, all of them were cheat-tier races.
"These races are called Transcendent Species. Blessed races born with a fragment of the Qualification for Transcendence."
"Isn’t that too broken?"
Estelle neither confirmed nor denied.
"Indeed, some dragons, giants, and even angels—like the Archangels—possess power comparable to Transcendents. But ironically, very few actual Transcendents come from Transcendent Species. Do you know why?"
It wasn’t hard to guess. These things usually had obvious answers.
"...Probably because Transcendent Species struggle to obtain qualifications beyond what they were born with."
Estelle looked surprised, then nodded quietly.
"Correct. The more one is born with, the harder it is to transcend further. Especially Transcendent Species—whether by design or nature, most are lazy or lack ambition."
There had to be some downside, or else these races would dominate everything.
"And among them, only those who strive beyond their birthright—like Dragon Lords, Giant Kings, and Archangels—can reach true Transcendence."
I only knew one Archangel.
"...Like you, Estelle?"
She flinched. Then, almost shyly, lowered her head.
"That wasn’t my intention, but..."
'So cute.'
Suppressing a laugh, I returned to the main topic.
"So, can I transcend?"
"Right now, you’ve only obtained the qualification. If you grow stronger and meet other conditions... You may one day reach true Transcendence."
I had already obtained the qualification.
So, the rest couldn’t be that hard.
"Then, I’ll just train more. Got more work to do."
I stretched casually, muttering to myself.
Since all my stats had hit 20, I had stopped physical training, leaving Strength and Stamina slightly behind.
Now that all basic skills had merged into ‘All-Mastery’, I could focus solely on reaching Transcendent Peak and further refining my body.
"Really... You’re something else."
A familiar reprimand.
But this time, it carried a mix of resignation and something almost... affectionate.
Preparing for tomorrow, I took another step forward.
All to become a version of myself beyond today.