Chapter 145
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: The Ordeal
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When he opened his closed eyes, the interior of a familiar cave came into view.
This is where I did my first job change.
It was the cave where he had undertaken the first job change quest at the time.
Jeong Hoon slowly moved his steps forward.
A waterfall cascading down behind his back.
The area still pitch-black without a single ray of light, illuminated by the torches embedded in the walls, blazing fiercely.
And then, a familiar old man slowly revealed himself.
The Azure Flame Fist Emperor.
He was still sitting in his chair, reading a book.
Hmm?
However, unlike the first time, he now lifted his gaze from the book and looked at Jeong Hoon.
Long time no see.
Why are you back so soon?
The Fist Emperor clicked his tongue in amazement at Jeong Hoons growth speed.
The cases where otherworlders returned to him were right before their potential exploded and bloomed.
It inevitably took a considerable amount of time to reach that stage.
Yet the Jeong Hoon before him had reached it several times faster than others.
Is that so? I feel like I came a bit slower than I thought.
And you call that slow? You basically did everything on your own, huh?
Well, thats not wrong.
Jeong Hoon readily admitted it.
He had done most of it himself, which was why he could grow this fast.
Puhaha! Well done! You did great!
The Fist Emperor even clapped his hands in delight.
If he could, hed rush over and plant a kiss on that face.
Who said martial artists were in decline?
You sneaky bastards.
Did you see that?
Thats true martial prowess!
So, can I start the third job change right away?
Hmm The Martial Emperor class youre handling currently has limits in certain areas. Breaking those limits wont be easy.
Yes. I know.
The second job change had come easily through an event, but hidden class advancements were actually several times harder than normal ones.
Moreover, this was Jeong Hoons first time with the hidden Martial Emperor quest, so he had to tackle it without future knowledge.
Itll be quite difficult. To release the Martial Emperors limits, youll need recognition from someone on that level.
Im prepared for that much.
Seeing Jeong Hoons serious gaze, the Fist Emperor soon nodded.
Good. That should be enough.
With that, he snapped his fingers.
A portal generated beside the pile of rocks.
You have completed the quest.
You can now undertake Job Change Quest: Ordeal (12).
A question mark blinked above the Fist Emperors head.
Job Change Quest: Ordeal (12)
-Restriction: Clear Job Change Quest: Unlocking Power.
-Reward: Can undertake Job Change Quest: Ordeal (22).
-Description: You have met the qualifications. The time has come to awaken the dormant power.
Jeong Hoon accepted the quest and said.
Do I just go through that portal?
The Fist Emperor nodded.
May you have good fortune in battle.
Yes.
After Jeong Hoon entered the portal, the Fist Emperor closed his book and silently stared at it like a statue.
Soon after, the portals color turned black.
Seeing that, the Fist Emperors mouth gaped open.
No Of all things.
The portals color indicated the difficulty.
White: Easy.
Blue: Normal.
Orange: A bit hard.
Purple: Hard.
Red: Very hard.
And black: Hell difficulty.
Just how tough of a trial are they throwing at him.
A black portal meant passing the test was virtually impossible.
It targeted the ordeal-ers deepest painful memory, shattering their mind.
No matter how peerlessly talented he was, could he truly have the mental fortitude to overcome his own trauma?
All I can do is watch.
He prayed for the slim chance of success in the job change.
So that the brain-dead idiots shoving swords or spears at people.
The bastards sniping with bows from afar to piss you off.
The sneaky fuckers blasting with gunfire.
The utterly outrageous bastards wielding freakish magic to tear, burn, and melt peoplemay he crush them all.
Once Jeong Hoon unleashes all his power, youre done Chant it: youre dead meat soon.
The Fist Emperor smirked, then suddenly tilted his head.
Hmm? Come to think of it, was that trace of another weapon my imagination?
.
Probably not.
It was just yesterday he confidently declared hed walk the path of true martial arts.
No way hed touch a sword or bow.
Jeong Hoon was the Disciple of Myeongwang, successor to the Myeongwang Fist Technique.
He reflected on briefly doubting Dokgo Juns disciple.
He passed through the portal.
It was a vast plain.
Woooong
At its center, not his clone but a green stone floated in the air, vibrating faintly.
Whats that?
Jeong Hoon approached the stone.
An exclamation mark blinked above it.
You have completed the quest.
You can now undertake Job Change Quest: Ordeal (22).
The first stage of the quest had been ridiculously simple.
At the same time, Jeong Hoons expression hardened slightly.
What? Why the long face?
Looks like things are going too smoothly Or not?
Mukho and Anima asked, seeing his expression.
Yeah. Usually, if the first stage is easy, the second is insanely hard.
New World never gave easy quests.
Especially for hidden job changes known to be twice as hardthis steady progression meant the final stage would be brutally tough.
Is it true hidden classes have different advancement processes?
-Then you do the quest without any guides?
Yeah, thats what they say.
Fucking insane Getting the hidden class wasnt the end.
Its just gambling lololol
Martial Emperor was a hidden class even Jeong Hoon was experiencing for the first time.
So he had no idea what quest would come.
A question mark blinked above the stone again.
Job Change Quest: Ordeal (22)
-Restriction: Clear Job Change Quest: Ordeal (12).
-Reward: Third Job Change
-Description: You have met the qualifications. The time has come to awaken the dormant power.
How would it proceed?
As Jeong Hoon accepted the quest, his vision went dark.
When it brightened again, he stood in a familiar space.
Wheres this?
Before regression, Jeong Hoon had successfully completed his third job change after a grueling battle with his clone.
Hed even achieved Epic grade results.
But this Martial Emperor ordeal was completely different.
The place Jeong Hoon stood was his school library.
What an odd place?
Master, where is this?
This familiar spot was the library where Jeong Hoon had studied during school.
The library at the school I attended.
School? Whats that?
Hah, you idiot. He means his sect.
Jeong Hoon chuckled and descended the stairs to the first floor.
A fake world manifesting subconscious memories on the surface.
Yet it felt utterly real, without any dissonance.
Hmm?
As he went down the stairs, a familiar man appeared on the first floor.
Hey? Isnt that you, Master?
Mukho recognized him instantly.
It was none other than Jeong Hoon.
Indeed. The auras different, but its me.
Even Anima acknowledged itthis man who looked exactly like Jeong Hoon was waiting for the elevator.
Ah, I think I get what kind of test this is.
Jeong Hoons lips curled slyly.
When he advanced to Martial Emperor, the grade of Unyielding Will had risen.
This will was the mind.
In other words, the system was testing his mind to release the Martial Emperors limits.
The time has come.
Synchronization begins.
And the message floating before Jeong Hoon.
Normally, this message would broadcast through every electronic device worldwide.
Hah.
Kugung. Kuguung!
Huge vibrations echoed repeatedly from outside.
Jeong Hoon hurriedly exited the library.
And witnessed it.
Uwaaaack!
Save us!
Its the Black King Tiger?! Why is that here?!
People screaming and fleeing,
Human! Kill!
Kill them!
And tiger-like monsters chasing them.
Exactly the scene Jeong Hoon had seen before regression.
Manifesting a fragment of the desperate memory.
First test begins.
The third job change ordeal was simple.
Complete missions in a backdrop based on horrific memories.
What a devilish bastard.
Whoa A devil even worse than Master appeared!
Dragging out the horrific memories and forcing you to face them Truly filthy tactics.
Mukho and Anima clicked their tongues at the ordeals content.
Everyone has memories they never want to recall.
Facing trauma by dredging them upwho could easily challenge that?
Even for Jeong Hoon, who remembered everything, it was no easy task.
Will you give up?
If you give up, re-entry is impossible for 7 days.
Giving up once meant no retry for 7 days.
And repeating the same task.
No way.
He was building power to change these horrific memoriesgiving up wasnt an option in his mind.
Jeong Hoon checked the time.
It was 2 PM.
His mothers workplace building would also be under attack.
He had no time to dawdle.
Lv.155 Black King Tiger
Eliminate all Black King Tigers.
You must eliminate all monsters to proceed to the next zone.
But to pass here, he had to wipe out the Black King Tigers.
Ha, fuck.
Jeong Hoon spat a curse, drew Anima, and nocked an arrow.
Pewwoook!
The arrow pierced the Black King Tigers forehead.
Kyaeng!
The vital-hit Black King Tiger died instantly.
To level 203 Jeong Hoon, it was effortless prey.
Grrrrowl! Human!
A human using power here!
Kill it!
In an instant, the Black King Tigers targets shifted from the crowd to Jeong Hoon alone.
They turned and swarmed him like bees.
Jeong Hoon set Anima aside and prepared the Myeongwang Fist Technique.
Grrrrowl!
One Black King Tiger bared its fangs and charged Jeong Hoon head-on.
Jeong Hoon channeled the 1st stage energy of Myeongwang Fist Technique and uppercut its jaw.
Kyaeng!
It screamed, flew into the air, and crashed to the ground.
Thus, the massacre began.
The level 155 Black King Tigers crumpled one by one whenever Jeong Hoon dashed with his movement technique and punched.
Before even enough time to cook cup ramen, all became cold corpses.
All Black King Tigers eliminated.
You may proceed to the next zone.
Time was short.
Wow What was that?
He totally toyed with the Black King Tigers Insane.
Hey, whats going on? Am I dreaming?
Huh? Status opens!
What?! Its real? Why is the New World system?
The fleeing people had stopped to gawk at Jeong Hoons fight.
But nothing registered in Jeong Hoons eyes.
Only advancing to the next zone mattered.
He hurriedly dashed forward with his movement technique.
But soon, a barrier blocked him.
A portal shimmered ahead.
Ride the portal through?
Jeong Hoon quickly decided and entered.
The destination was a small park near his mothers company.
It said partial manifestation, so this is fine.
Full manifestation wouldve taken longer to reach the company.
Jeong Hoon looked ahead.
Lv.221 Corrupted Black King Tiger
More ferocious monsters than before lurked there.
Eliminate all Corrupted Black King Tigers within 5 minutes.
Failure ends the test automatically.
A new mission appeared.
With a 5-minute time limit, no less.
5 minutes? Ill finish in 2.
Leviathan was already in Jeong Hoons hand.
Form 1: Stance activates.