Chapter 23
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Martial Emperor
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New World had hidden classes.
These were classes obtained through a slim chance based on actions after choosing an initial job.
With so many diverse players, numerous hidden classes had already emerged.
Their ranks ranged from Common to Unique.
Thus, one needed to know both the hidden class and its rank.
Except for Martial Artist.
No hidden classes for Martial Artist had appeared yet.
This contributed to the poor evaluation of the job.
Even when expanded worldwide, no Martial Artist hidden classes had surfaced until they became a reality.
Now, one such hidden class stood before Jeong Hoon.
Even with just the standard promotion, Ive climbed to their level.
Starting with a hidden class would further increase the chances of altering the future.
Jeong Hoon accepted the quest without hesitation.
The question mark above the old mans head vanished, replaced by new text.
Lv.60 Fragment of the Soul
At the same time, he thrust out his fist.
Jeong Hoon sidestepped instinctively, dodging the punch.
Taking him down is the quest this time.
This Martial Artist was level 40: As senior by 20 levels.
It wasnt just the level.
Even as a fragment of the Fist King, he was a fist master at the pinnacle.
Even a portion of his power carried decades of cultivated inner energy fused into his body.
Was that why?
The Martial Artist summoned by Fist Sage had been easy to subdue, but Fist King was different.
Every attack was ferocious, with no openings visible.
Thud! Thud!
The fierce exchange continued.
Myeongwang Fist Technique, 1st Stage.
Thats...?!
As the Myeongwang Fist Technique unfolded, the Fist Kings eyes wavered.
Seizing that gap, Jeong Hoon chained into the 2nd Stage, pressing the assault.
Boom! Thud!
Yet the Fist Kings guard held firm.
Incredibly tough for level 60.
True to the hidden class quest, the difficulty exceeded imagination.
Jeong Hoon and Fist Kings fists clashed again, the brawl persisting.
The higher-level Fist King allowed weak attacks while landing blows on Jeong Hoons openings.
Thud!
Fist Kings damage was brutal.
Health drops sharply.
Using Basic Healing.
Basic Healing level rises.
Martial Artist exclusive skill, Unyielding Will activates.
Acquired skill Tanking (Normal)
Unyielding Will fuses Indomitable Body and Tanking.
Indomitable Body (Normal) reaches level 7.
Myeongwang Fist Technique level rises.
But Jeong Hoon was growing in real time.
Having faced far stronger foes before his regression, he adeptly managed his skills to hold against Fist King.
Myeongwang Fist Technique, 3rd Stage.
He couldnt reach beyond 2nd Stage earlier due to level limits, but the recent level-up enabled 3rd Stage.
Myeongwang Fist Technique was a combo skill.
1st Stage, then 2nd, then 3rd.
2nd had been his max so far; this was his first time hitting 3rd.
A darker black aura gathered more vividly on Jeong Hoons fist.
Whoosh!
In that instant, Jeong Hoon deflected Fist Kings punch with his forearm.
Fist Kings stance faltered ever so slightly.
Jeong Hoons eyes gleamed as he drove his fist into the side.
Urk!
Fist King grimaced from the side blow.
The damage was heavy, but more importantly, it shattered his balance.
Jeong Hoon stomped Fist Kings left foot while striking the side, then grabbed his wrist with his right hand.
Thud! Thud!
Jeong Hoon pummeled the side mercilessly.
Fist King tried to shake him off with his free right hand and legs, but Jeong Hoon didnt flinch.
He pressed even harder.
Basic Healing level rises.
Without constant healing, death loomed.
You bastard...!
Fist Kings face flushed red with pain and humiliation.
Known as the pinnacle of fist arts, to struggle against this challengerhow shameful.
Strange... too strange... He shouldve fallen by now.
No matter how much he struck, Jeong Hoon showed no signs of breaking.
Only the pain in his gripped wrist intensified.
Deep down, Fist King admired Jeong Hoons tenacity and gaze.
Hed seen such eyes once before in life.
It was killing intent.
But never this intense.
What kind of life forged those eyes?
Then, Jeong Hoon released the wrist.
Hes hit his limit.
Even as a fragment of power, it was more than enough to overpower Jeong Hoon.
In a head-on fight, Jeong Hoon collapsing first was inevitable.
Hmph.
But Jeong Hoon hadnt broken.
Myeongwang Fist Technique 3rd Stage wasnt over.
He spun, loading his body weight into a fist slammed into Fist Kings abdomen.
Gahk!
Fist Kings waist folded as he flew back.
The damage was severe; he couldnt rise easily.
Ugh, that hurt. You pass...
No need to watch furtherFist King had lost.
Thank you for your efforts.
Only then did Jeong Hoon deactivate Myeongwang Fist Technique.
The black aura faded from his fist.
Whew, truly... I never imagined youd unleash that fist art to 3rd Stage.
Fist King rose slowly.
Both Fist Sage and Fist King knew of Myeongwang Fist Technique.
You know it well.
Of course. Dokgo Jun is the one man I couldnt defeat.
I see.
Fist King had clashed directly with Dokgo Jun.
That explained the title Myeongwang.
...Dokgo Jun, for the first time, I envy you.
Fist King muttered bitterly.
The question mark above his head had turned to an exclamation point.
Quest complete.
Good call sticking to fist arts.
Jeong Hoon had used only Myeongwang Fist Technique against him.
To earn recognition from the fist art pinnacle, pure focus on fists beat tricks.
The gamble paid off.
He went easy a few times mid-fight.
Had Fist King gone all out, Jeong Hoon would still be struggling.
His skill was the real deal.
A mere fragment was this strong... Peak Fist King was unimaginable.
Completed Hidden Promotion Quest.
Select your desired Hidden Promotion.
1. Fist Saint: Legendary
2. Martial Emperor: Legendary
Two hidden classes for Martial Artist.
First: Fist Saint.
Fist Saint leads to mastery of fist arts. Steady growth could place you my equal one day.
Fist Saint was Legendary rank.
Legendary at first promotion?
Proof of potential higher hidden ranks later.
But Jeong Hoon had no interest in Fist Saint.
Before regression, hed become All Master.
Fist Saint focused solely on fists, far from All Master.
And Martial Emperor?
...Martial Emperor signifies infinite potential. But I dont recommend it. Most humans cant reach the end of even one path. Pursuing many leads to ruin.
No, thats exactly why Martial Emperor.
Jeong Hoon sought not the end of martial arts, but the games end.
To swiftly reach All Master and beyond, he needed Martial Emperor over Fist Saint.
Ill take Martial Emperor.
...No regrets? Fist Saint guarantees the pinnacle.
Fist King regretted it.
One who wielded such fist arts choosing Martial Emperor over Fist Saint.
Same Legendary, but growth difficulty was worlds apart.
Yes. No regrets.
At Jeong Hoons resolve, Fist King nodded.
Understood.
Selected Martial Emperor.
Promoted to Martial Emperor (1st) .
Skills categorized by type.
Categories.
Martial Emperor paved the way to All Master.
Thus, skills sorted by weapon type.
Knuckles for fist arts.
Swords for sword arts.
And so on.
It might seem minor, but Jeong Hoon disagreed.
Easier to organize.
All Master required countless skills used situationally; categories simplified management.
Trivial for Jeong Hoon who memorized all, but better than nothing.
Hidden Class perk granted.
Can use Blind System. Activation displays job as Low-Grade Martial Artist (1st).
First to promote to Martial Artist Hidden Class.
Hidden Achievement! 20,000 Achievement Points awarded. Check rewards.
Hidden classes thrilled the world.
New World added an option.
Blind.
Blind hid it from others.
Attention-seekers might skip, but Jeong Hoon preferred low profile en route ahead.
Activate.
Blind activated.
Jeong Hoons job now read Low-Grade Martial Artist.
Hidden class, yet Low-Grade Martial Artist.
Looked like standard promotion.
Indeed, unlike Fist Saint, Martial Emperor 1st unlocked no new skills, resembling regular Martial Artist.
But over time, the gap would become heaven and earth.
The reason: Unyielding Will.
Unyielding Will rank rises to Epic.
Skills from Unyielding Will adjusted in rank.
Unyielding Will to Epic upgraded acquired skills from Normal to Rare.
Pre-upgraded Immune to Poison (Rare) stayed Rare but maxed level.
Perfect.
Typical Martial Artist promotion unlocked martial passiveactive skills.
But Unyielding Will wouldnt budge past Rare.
Why high-level Martial Artists called it trash.
Jeong Hoon had tried everything pre-regression, failed.
Forced to grind external skills slowly, but now unnecessary.
Martial Emperor uniquely raised Unyielding Wills rank.
Jeong Hoon clenched his fist.
Congratulations. Youve promoted to Martial Emperor.
The sole job mastering all martial arts to extremes.
This was Martial Artists hidden class.
Then, a rainbow question mark appeared above Fist King.
Whats that?
Curious, Jeong Hoon touched it.
Secret Quest: Guardian of Origin Village
- Limit: Acquired Hidden Class Title Contributor to Origin Village
- Reward: Title Guardian of Origin Village
- Description: Upgrade Title Contributor to Origin Village to Title Guardian of Origin Village.
An unexpected bonus.
Jeong Hoon grinned.
Not just hidden class, but the title from the alchemist visit upgradable too.
Completed Secret Quest.
Title Contributor to Origin Village upgraded to Title Guardian of Origin Village.
First to acquire Title Guardian of Origin Village. 10,000 Achievement Points awarded.
Original Contributor to Origin Village only boosted healthmana by 1...
Guardian of Origin Village
- Type: Evolved Title
- Rank: Rare
- All attack power 1.5.
- EXP gain 1.
Guardian of Origin Village had different options from Contributor.
Not game-changing, just Rare.
But an evolved title.
Evolving per village could yield massive effects later.
Martial Artist hidden class wasnt planned.
Now, another path to strength opened.
Jeong Hoon clenched his fist.
The path of martial arts has no single answer. Dont rushfollow your own way.
Fist Kings eyes were warm.
Like gazing at a cherished disciple.
Yes. Thank you.
Jeong Hoon nodded and left the mansion.
Time to go.
Alone, Fist King emerged from the chamber, wandering the long-ruined mansion with bitter eyes.
Fist King Nak Jin-cheon.
A man obsessed with fist arts his whole life, ascending to Fist Saint.
Blind to all else, he ignored faction splits from succession strife, incompetent as heirs fell to underlings, overseeing gradual ruin.
None saw him that way, but he judged himself so.
You feel like you could reach where I couldnt.
This mansion, clung to despite martial erosion.
Having seen a successor, no lingering attachments remained.
I leave it to you.
After touring mansion and garden, Nak Jin-cheon vanished without trace.