Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Noisy Bastard (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The eighteen warrior monks representing Shaolin Temple took their positions atop the training ground.
Their solid chests and shoulders were like armor forged over long years of training, while their sturdy thighs and waists resembled pillars tempered from steel.
These eighteen monks, who exuded an overwhelming pressure that could crush a man with their physiques alone, were Shaolin's famed Eighteen Arhats.
"Hah... Now I see why everyone makes such a fuss about Shaolin."
"Are they insane? All of them are transcendent masters?!"
"There's a reason they call Shaolin the leader of the righteous sects!"
The martial artists staying as guests at Shaolin for various reasons clicked their tongues in stunned disbelief.
They had come to catch a rare glimpse of the Eighteen Arhats, who seldom appeared in public, only to be hit with a massive shock and sense of intimidation.
"Transcendent isn't even the half of it."
"Mm. Hard to gauge precisely, but they seem to have at least reached the completion stage."
While martial realms were commonly divided into third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, peak, transcendent, and enlightened, finer distinctions included entry, completion, and pinnacle.
Entry level: those who had newly attained the realm but hadn't fully grasped its insights.
Completion: those who had fully internalized the realm's insights and cultivated their arts accordingly.
Pinnacle: those who had embodied every insight of the realm and now gazed toward the next.
Of course, even transcendent entry was a level only the most elite in the Central Plains could reach.
But the Eighteen Arhats stood even higher.
All eighteen warrior monks had reached transcendent completion.
No wonder the guests were left speechless.
"And aren't Shaolin monks stronger than their peers even at the same level?"
"Indeed. They freely wield both external and internal arts, plus formations on top of that."
In the current Central Plains, external arts were dismissed by all, but Shaolin had never neglected their study.
Thanks to this, the Eighteen Arhats had reached a level where even average masters of their rank were tricky opponents.
"But who the hell is supposed to fight all of them? Did some enlightened master visit Shaolin?"
"Has to be. Otherwise, they wouldn't even step out."
As the guests' curiosity thickened, Kang Moo-jin strode onto the training ground—a man with a physique like Mount Tai personified.
"Hm?"
"Another Arhat?"
Seeing a young man with a build similar to—no, even more massive and sturdy than—the Arhats, the guests mistook him for one of their own.
But the illusion didn't last.
Unlike the Arhats, Kang Moo-jin had long, flowing black hair.
"No way that young guy is...?!"
"Nah, impossible. Shaolin would have to be crazy to pit a kid like that against them..."
The guests shook their heads in denial, faces etched with disbelief.
"They wouldn't, right?"
"Of course not. Unless they were trying to kill him."
Kang Moo-jin stood facing the Eighteen Arhats and cupped his fists in salute.
Only then did realization dawn on the guests.
This young man was about to spar against the Eighteen Arhats.
"Sh-shouldn't we stop this?"
"You idiot, you wanna interfere with Shaolin's event? Wanna get kicked out?!"
"B-but..."
The guests fidgeted anxiously at the sight of what was surely the youth's defeat—or worse, severe injury.
Amid the guests' certainty of defeat, shared even by Shaolin's monks...
Kwak—
Kang Moo-jin clenched his fists tight.
'Not bad.'
Kang Moo-jin's lips curved upward as he eyed the Arhats.
For monks, they radiated a thick fighting spirit that set his blood boiling.
'Out of everyone I've seen here, these are the most martial-like.'
After dealing with nothing but weaklings, facing properly forged warriors made his own aura surge uncontrollably.
Heat rising in his body, toes twitching—he wanted to charge in right now and throw down.
"Then let the spar begin!"
At that moment, Martial Affairs Leader Hye-mo, officiating as referee, declared the start.
Pabat—
The Arhats moved with fluid, organic precision, encircling Moo-jin as they stepped into formation.
Kuwoong—!
The instant their sturdy legs pushed off the ground, an overwhelming force made the earth crater inward.
"..."
It was as if gravity had multiplied several times over—the air itself pressed down on Moo-jin's body.
The Eighteen Arhats Grand Formation, usable only when all were assembled, had been deployed.
'The rumors weren't exaggerated. If anything, they fell short.'
In that instant, Moo-jin's thighs—pillars of steel—trembled faintly.
The combined might of eighteen warrior monks bore down on him as one.
"Impressive."
Moo-jin felt invisible hands pressing on his head and shoulders, trying to force him to his knees.
"It's over already?"
"Tch. He was careless. The only way to beat them is to crush them before the formation sets."
"Yeah. Done for. No breaking that."
The guests clicked their tongues at Moo-jin with disappointed eyes.
They'd secretly hoped he'd humble Shaolin, but it had gone as expected.
Just like the Mount Hua Sect leader of old, he'd be pinned by the formation, admit defeat without a fight.
"Golden Ghost Indestructible Kang Moo-jin! Admit your defeat!"
"Don't resist and risk grave injury."
"Swallow your pride and accept it!"
The Arhats called out to him with impassive faces.
Even as they poured immense inner energy into Shaolin's Supreme Great Ability, they had the leisure to speak.
They hadn't unleashed the formation at full power yet, lest Moo-jin suffer serious harm.
"That's all you got?"
"What?"
Moo-jin scratched the back of his head leisurely, raising a hand.
"This doesn't even feel refreshing. Not like when Ma Du-gwang massages my shoulders."
"How dare you...!"
"If you're gonna do it, make it hurt more."
The Arhats' faces twisted in unison at Moo-jin's calm taunt.
Showing such leisure under the Eighteen Arhats Grand Formation?
They couldn't let it stand. This was Shaolin's humiliation.
"Haaaa!"
"Haap!"
Stung in their pride, the Arhats summoned oceanic inner energy, crushing down on Moo-jin's body.
The golden wave took the shape of Buddha's palm, slamming him downward,
Kwajijik—
Cracks spiderwebbed across the training ground floor, shattering as Moo-jin's body slowly sank into the earth.
"Th-that...!"
"We have to stop them!"
Shaolin's division leaders couldn't hide their alarm at the Arhats' unexpectedly ferocious pressure.
How could they push so hard—did they want to kill him?!
"Th-this is too dangerous...!"
The Guest Affairs Leader half-rose from his seat, wondering if he should intervene.
But right then—
Kwaaaang—!
A tremendous energy erupted from the palm-shaped crater like an explosion.
Jjeojeok—!
The golden aura crushing the earth from the heavens tore apart in shreds, vanishing in an instant.
The massive energy Moo-jin had unleashed in a single burst had overwhelmed and utterly shattered the Arhats' power.
"...!?"
"...!!"
The Arhats couldn't believe their eyes.
What kind of martial art could smash the Eighteen Arhats Grand Formation so easily?!
How insanely powerful must it be?!
"Hoo."
Kang Moo-jin emerged from the earth with a nonchalant expression.
'Definitely improved.'
Moo-jin clenched and unclenched his fist contentedly.
The Immortal Diamond Qi Art, which had brought him to the pinnacle in the Linked Qi Realm.
Though he'd lost all his attainment upon returning to the mortal world, months of training had restored some of it.
The aura wave he'd just shown was a sudden burst of that art's power.
'Satisfying progress.'
Slower than before, but Moo-jin was pleased with his current level.
Cultivating the Immortal Diamond Qi Art was like stacking a stone pagoda on bare ground.
Better to build a massive one slowly than a small one quickly, for the long term.
This level was already enough to leave few in the Central Plains who could oppose him anyway.
"What... what was that art?!"
One Arhat, still reeling from the shock, asked Moo-jin.
He'd never seen or even heard of such a martial art in his life.
It was hard to believe anything so overwhelmingly powerful existed.
"Immortal Diamond Qi Art."
Moo-jin stated the name plainly.
Asking about another's art was taboo; no one ever answered.
"Immortal... Diamond Qi Art?!"
"Yeah. That was just releasing the level I've built up."
But Moo-jin didn't care for such trivial etiquette.
'What're they gonna do, knowing it?'
It wasn't something they could counter even if they knew, so why not?
"Hah... Remarkable."
Overwhelming might matched by brazen demeanor.
The Arhats, despite the humiliation, found themselves smiling at Moo-jin.
His manly bearing had captivated them.
"Well done. Fine combined assault."
"...Thanks."
"Learned a thing or two."
"Beyond the rumors! Shattering our formation with a shout."
As the Arhats' praises flowed, Kang Moo-jin's face twisted like a vengeful spirit.
"Hold on. You damned...!"
Seeing the torn shoulder of the monk's robe, he spat fury—then softened instantly.
On second thought, it wasn't his robe.
"My bad. Not my clothes."
"..."
The onlookers fell into even greater shock than before.
The Eighteen Arhats Grand Formation had been broken.
By a single young warrior.
Both the Arhats who formed it and the guests certain of Shaolin's victory were plunged into shock.
But none were as stunned as Shaolin's division leaders.
"..."
"..."
The leaders guiding modern Shaolin froze solid.
The shock disrupted their breathing techniques; they stood rigid, barely breathing.
"This... what...?"
"D-does this... make any sense?!"
No one had foreseen this outcome.
The Eighteen Arhats emerging meant Shaolin's will would prevail.
Especially against not a major sect leader or prestigious family head,
but a mere twenty-five-year-old from a third-rate escort agency?
"Incredible."
"Heh... Never knew Golden Ghost Indestructible was such a master."
"We'll be hearing Kang the hero's name often soon."
True to their monastic composure, the leaders quickly recovered, praising Moo-jin's prowess.
Not everyone, though.
"No... impossible."
Martial Affairs Leader Hye-mo, hit harder than most, trembled visibly, face still stiff.
'How?!'
How could a third-rate escort brat wield such profound arts?!
And why were those idiots smiling warmly after losing?!
Hye-mo couldn't comprehend any of it.
He wanted to erase this farce and boot the wretch from Shaolin's grounds right now.
But...
'Too many eyes watching.'
These guests were notable figures in the Central Plains.
Causing a scene before them would shatter Shaolin's millennium of reputation.
'Damn it... Namu Amida Butsu... Fucking hell!'
Muttering sutras, Hye-mo's fist clenched so hard his prayer beads cracked.
And then.
"Congratulations, Kang the hero. Truly superb arts. They say Golden Ghost Indestructible's skills are peerless—rumors confirmed."
Arhat Leader Hye-ryo approached Moo-jin with a gentle smile.
"Thanks. So, can I enter the Penance Cave now?"
Hye-ryo nodded with a bright smile.
"Of course. You've proven your worth. We'll open the path once you're recovered. Let's see... three days should do?"
At Arhat Leader Hye-ryo's words, some guests tilted their heads.
Kang Moo-jin had just sparred against the Eighteen Arhats' formation.
No physical wounds since no direct clash, but breaking it must have drained his inner energy considerably.
A week minimum for recovery was normal.
'Isn't that too short?'
'He needs a month of rest.'
As the guests murmured doubtfully,
words from Kang Moo-jin plunged them into further shock.
"One day is plenty."