Chapter 7
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Abandoned Dojo
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Myeongwang Dokgo Jun had finally achieved enlightenment, and Jeong Hoon, having completed his business, left the dojo.
Not long after, someone knocked on the dojo's door.
It was the Bow Master, Lee Hwarang.
"Is this the place?"
Lee Hwarang's instincts were telling him.
This was the spot where something lay dormant that would shore up his weakness.
He opened his inventory and pulled out a tattered piece of paper.
Preservation magic had been cast on it, making it easy to hold and read.
Myeongwang Dokgo Jun
The paper chronicled the life of Myeongwang Dokgo Jun.
'If this is real, I can learn the fist technique he used.'
It was a paper he'd received from a hidden quest.
According to it, Dokgo Jun had spent his entire life in this dojo.
When he briefly left the dojo to spread his fist technique to the world, no one could stand against himearning him the moniker Myeongwang.
Anyone could see this was an item linking to the next hidden quest.
Lee Hwarang had scoured the land based solely on the paper and finally tracked down the dojo.
"Hidden away in a corner of Origin Village... no wonder it took so long..."
But who had come and gone?
The rundown dojo had been thoroughly cleaned, and a damp gourd sat in the corner.
Lee Hwarang's eyes turned fierce.
"No way someone snatched it already?"
No, that couldn't be.
The paper from completing the hidden quest was a one-of-a-kind item in New World.
It must've just been some beginner using it as a temporary shelter.
Denying reality, Lee Hwarang searched every inch of the dojo.
All to learn the fist technique left behind by Myeongwang Dokgo Jun.
At the same time.
Jeong Hoon stepped out of Origin Village.
He was heading to the holy site of Martial Artists.
The Hall of Martial Arts.
One more reason Martial Artists suck
-You have to hunt monsters to get to the Hall of Martial Arts lol. For real. Unlike other jobs, the training hall is kinda far from the village, and there's a field in between.
Slimes and goblins in that field, so hunt 'em on your way . Die and you're locked out for 24 hours, so play it safe.
Just as the post said, monsters roamed the fields in packs.
'That's why the Hwarang Dojo was even more essential for Martial Artists.'
The basic passive skills available at Hwarang Dojo.
They were outdated versions of the body skills Jeong Hoon already hadpretty uselessbut to a beginner with nothing, they were like rain in a drought.
Without Hwarang Dojo, Martial Artists would've died several times en route to the Hall of Martial Arts.
Jeong Hoon stepped into the field.
Sharpening his senses, he felt the auras of lurking monsters.
Lv.1 Slime
And up to...
Lv.3 Goblin
Goblins like the ones from the tutorial dotted the area.
'I won't hunt unless they come at me.'
In New World, they said level was law.
Higher levels meant wider activity range and more item opportunities.
With stats being absolute, leveling was essential.
"Of course, not these guys."
Hunting slimes and goblins wouldn't level him up.
Jeong Hoon was currently level 11.
Naturally, the ones unaware of his true nature had no intention of letting him pass unchallenged.
Four goblins blocked his path.
"Kerruk, human. Want to pass? Hand over food."
"Or we'll kill you here. Kerruk."
Jeong Hoon didn't reply.
He simply stepped up to the goblins and threw a punch at the one on the right.
Thud!
"Kyaak!"
One punch caved in the goblin's head.
This was Myeongwang Fist Technique at 1 Star.
A punch leagues beyond what he'd unleashed in the dojo.
Myeongwang Fist Technique 1 Star
-Proficiency: 100
-Fist damage 25
-Low chance to ignore defense
-Dynamic vision 30 within 5m radius
-For 5 minutes after use, enter a state of extreme concentration.
The numbers alone proved it was a cheat skill.
When he first got it, 1 Star's power wasn't this much.
Damage 10, dynamic vision 15.
No extreme concentration option.
The short time it'd shot up this high was thanks to his title.
Disciple of Myeongwang
-Type: Unique Title
-Grade: Legendary
-Myeongwang Fist Technique proficiency 100.
-Body-related passive skill effects 10.
After getting Disciple of Myeongwang, Myeongwang Fist Technique's proficiency maxed out instantly.
"Ke, kerruk...?"
With their comrade dead in one hit, the remaining three goblins panicked.
"You started it."
Jeong Hoon massacred the rest.
The fight ended in under a minute.
"Whoa... what the hell?"
"So freaking badass?"
Beginner users hunting slimes nearby gawked at Jeong Hoon's slaughter, bursting into admiration.
New World had tons of users, so fields teemed with beginners.
Jeong Hoon pushed past them and reached the Hall of Martial Arts.
"Halt."
Two instructor NPCs stood before the Hall of Martial Arts.
Proving their Martial Artist creds, they wore white doboks, wrapped fists, equipped knuckles, and old rubber shoes.
"I'm a Martial Artist."
"Level 11, Martial Artist. Confirmed. You may enter."
With the instructors' approval, the sealed doors of the Hall of Martial Arts swung open.
Inside, about sixteen Martial Artist users trained under instructors.
"Do you know what we martial artists need most?! Stamina and spirit!"
The instructor was drilling the users mercilessly.
Even in a VR game this realistic, with a stamina stat, users were dying inside.
"F-Fuck... go easy!"
"Give us some EXP and skills already!"
"Ugh... bleeech..."
One even started puking on the spot.
"Hmph, collapsing after this? I'm disappointed in you trainees."
The instructor shook his head in pity.
"Fuck, this is bullshit."
"Better learn from another instructor. Repeating this crap for one rare skill? Hell no, even if it kills me."
The users ditched the instructor for others.
"Hah, another batch that knows nothing of the martial way. We'll get mocked by the sword wielders again."
The harsh instructor retreated with a gloomy face.
'There he is.'
Jeong Hoon eyed him.
Among all instructors in the training hall, the only one offering a rare-grade skill as reward: Altio.
Naturally, visiting users flocked to him.
But all quit his brutal training for easier instructors.
Altio despised their soft methods.
A martial artist can't train easy!
A strong body houses a healthy spirit, spurring growththat was his motto.
"Instructor."
Jeong Hoon approached Altio.
The gloomy instructor glanced over.
"Hm? Business with me?"
"Yes. I'd like training."
A white question mark hovered over Altio's head.
Normal Quest: Altio Instructor
-Restriction: Unchanged Martial Artist
-Reward: Skill Healthy Mind (Rare)
-Description: Spirit is key! Complete all training under Altio Instructor.
Rare skills made low-level users drool.
Jeong Hoon was no exception.
Healthy Mind (Rare).
A rare-grade skill beyond what Unyielding Will offered.
Passive skill values even stacked.
A spirit-boosting passive was a must-have.
"Oh! Really?!"
Altio's gloom vanished, replaced by delight.
"Uh, shouldn't we stop him?"
"Training under that psycho? Total madness."
"Nah, he'll quit soon anyway."
Users pitied Jeong Hoon, nodding knowingly.
"Yes. We can start now."
"Good! First up, 300 push-ups?"
Altio's first training task.
At this moment, Altio gazed at the trainee before him with emotion.
300 push-ups.
300 sit-ups.
500 burpees.
200 arm walks.
300 leg raises.
300 squats.
Insane volume that'd make anyone call it crazy.
Yet Jeong Hoon completed every set Altio assigned.
Standing steady, waiting for the next.
He must be exhausted... Finally, a proper talent.
'Whew, it's been ages since I felt this beat.'
Jeong Hoon wiped sweat from his brow with his sleeve.
Even as All Master, enduring Altio's training at level 11 wasn't easy.
Good thing he'd grabbed Indomitable Body before entering.
'Indomitable Body' level has increased.
Pushing his body to the limit leveled the skill naturally.
Indomitable Body
-Type: Passive
-Level: 2
-Grade: Normal
-Base stamina 16. (Not shown in stats)
-Base defense 16. (Not shown in stats)
-Reflexes 16. (Not shown in stats)
-Movement speed 16. (Not shown in stats)
-Agility stat 2 bonus.
-Stamina stat 2 bonus.
Without it, stamina would've forced him out midway.
"No way... he did all that?"
"Whoa..."
"What a beast. Total beast..."
"That rare skill worth it?"
Hearing trainees chatter, Altio seethed inwardly.
Quitters who'd bailed after a fifth, now judging?
Absurd.
He hadn't planned full completion from the start.
Showing mental grit despite physical limits would've sufficed.
"Can you do more?"
"Yes."
Jeong Hoon's body trembled all over.
Physical limit reached.
Yet his voice stayed steadycalmer, colder than at the start.
What kind of spirit is that?
"Hoo..."
Altio had never seen such endurance since joining the hall.
"Training over?"
"Yes... You've earned this."
Altio's question mark turned to an exclamation.
Quest complete.
Normal quest completed.
-Acquired 'Healthy Mind'.
-'Unyielding Will' fuses 'Concentration Enhancement' and 'Healthy Mind'.
-Acquired 'Bright Mind'.
-'Bright Mind' reacts to holy power.
-Changed to 'Holy Mind'.
Perfect.
Two skills fused into Bright Mind.
Holy power upgraded it to Holy Mind.
Excellent result.
Holy Mind
-Type: Passive
-Level: 1
-Grade: Rare
-Spirit 3 bonus.
-On level up, low chance mana stat 1 extra.
-On level up, low chance holy power stat 1 extra.
-Comprehension 5.
-Application 5.
-Sentence decryption 10.
-Brain fatigue recovery increased.
Nice.
Jeong Hoon clenched his fist.
This was why he needed holy power.
New World skills auto-upgraded via mana or holy powerlike this Holy Mind.
"...And one final training remains."
A purple question mark appeared over Altio.
Epic quest, above normal grade.
'Finally.'
Jeong Hoon smiled inwardly.