Chapter 16
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 16
Meanwhile, the first group's exam began.
The moment its shackles shattered, the demon ghost lashed out in a frenzy at the sight of Kang I-tae's face—only to immediately turn and hurl itself in the opposite direction to flee.
It didn't get far. The creature crashed into an invisible wall right where the floor patterns ended, tumbling hard to the ground.
Kwieeeeek!
A spiritual energy barrier. That was the true nature of the formation carved into the floor—it trapped not only the demon ghost, but the applicants as well.
Emboldened by the sight of the shrieking, terrified demon ghost, the applicants hesitantly stepped forward, one by one.
Even without awakened spirit roots, these were individuals who had pushed their physical bodies to the absolute limit to enter the Great Martial Dao.
Having successfully surrounded the beast, the applicants swung their weapons in unison.
Surely, as long as they coordinated properly, a mere low-grade demon ghost like this would—
Squelch! Crimson blood sprayed through the air alongside the sickening sound of slicing flesh.
"Aaaarrgh!"
The price of their overconfidence was paid in an agonized scream.
With a single swipe of its razor-sharp claws, the demon ghost had severed the wrist of the charging applicant. It then vaulted over the fallen youth, attempting to flee once more.
The applicant with the severed hand collapsed, weeping hysterically as tears and snot streamed down his face. He quickly forfeited the exam and was dragged outside.
"Head to the Medicine Hall. They can reattach it for you."
The result: total failure for the entire group.
While the examiners rescued the injured applicants crawling on the floor, Kang I-tae expressionlessly stuffed the demon ghost back into the Nether Ghost Prison.
The exam continued.
Groups containing applicants who had awakened their spirit roots managed to put down their demon ghosts, one way or another.
However, the warning that this was a 'real' exam proved to be no empty boast. Applicants lost limbs. Others had gaping holes punched right through their torsos. A few were killed instantly by a single blow.
"...They really died."
The real problem started after that.
Witnessing actual death was a profound shock to the young cultivators. Paralyzed by tension before their turns even began, the injury rate skyrocketed.
"It doesn't seem to be random after all."
His teammates turned toward Ise at his quiet mutter. Their faces had been stiff with tension, but seeing his extraordinarily calm expression paradoxically helped them relax.
"At the end of the day, it's just a low-grade demon ghost. Relax, everyone. A ten-year-old could handle a thing like that."
"Are you really joking in a situation like this...?" Seol Ryeong asked. "Aren't you nervous at all?"
Ise shook his head and continued.
"The demon ghost's strength roughly matches the combined spiritual energy of the applicants in each group. It seems that dharma artifact selects a beast tailored to the group's level."
"Wait a minute, then we..."
Seol Ryeong's face turned pale at the realization.
"Even so, there must be an upper limit," Ise added.
The highest number rolled on the dice so far was fourteen. All the demon ghosts brought out until now were low-grade variants with a Grade 9 threat level.
He figured their opponent would likely be one of the top-tier beasts among the Grade 9 demon ghosts.
"Next. Ise, Hae Un-chan, Seol Ryeong, Pi Ga-ram."
The ritual bell dice spun rapidly. The result was fourteen. Just as expected.
Imprisoned inside the Nether Ghost Prison was a monkey-like monster with gleaming eyes, blue skin, and a fiery red mane.
"It's a Mokgwang."
A Mokgwang—a Grade 8 demon ghost.
"It's a Lustful Ghost!"
Recognizing the creature's true identity, Seol Ryeong looked appalled. It was unfair enough that they had drawn a Grade 8 demon ghost, but of all things, it had to be this vulgar creature.
"It looks weak, though," someone noted.
"It's far trickier than the demon ghosts we've seen so far," Ise warned. "And much more aggressive."
Kiki! Krikkk!
Just as Ise said, unlike the previous demon ghosts that had cowered in fear upon release, the Mokgwang thrashed threateningly against its shackles. Its gaze snapped directly toward Seol Ryeong.
"Seol Ryeong, be careful."
"Don't worry. If worst comes to worst, I'm ready to just try again next year."
The Lustful Ghost was another name for the Mokgwang. Whenever men and women were present together, it would unconditionally rush the woman first, ruthlessly tearing at her clothes with its razor-sharp claws.
It was one of the few demon ghosts known to violate humans.
In fact, legend had it that if a woman bathed alone in a pond, a Mokgwang was guaranteed to appear.
Its glaring red eyes thoroughly swept over Seol Ryeong's body.
"Ugh... repulsive."
Seol Ryeong shuddered.
"Its weapons are swift movement, razor-sharp claws, a thundercloud that strikes with lightning, and blade-like gusts of wind launched from a distance. Stay calm."
His teammates looked at Ise in surprise as he smoothly rattled off the beast's characteristics the moment he saw it.
As they took their positions and gripped their weapons, Ise elaborated further on its attack patterns—and in that exact moment, the Mokgwang's shackles snapped open.
Screeching, the Mokgwang lunged forward in a blur.
Simultaneously, Hae Un-chan and Ise leaped forward to meet it.
Hae Un-chan's sword and Ise's axe—both imbued with spiritual energy—slashed inward from opposite sides.
Yet in a flash, the Mokgwang's silhouette vanished, slipping right past the pair.
An arrow flew toward its torso, but the Mokgwang casually swatted it away with its claws, bearing down directly on Seol Ryeong.
Seol Ryeong let out a sharp cry and swung her ritual bell staff. The heavy impact against the Mokgwang's claws sent her flying backward through the air.
Just as the beast's demonic hand reached out to grab her, Ise closed the distance, slamming his axe into the Mokgwang's back.
A harsh, screeching sound echoed—like iron grinding against iron.
The Mokgwang had blocked Ise's axe with its claws. Seizing the opening, Hae Un-chan rushed in like a bolt of lightning and viciously kicked the creature away.
"Its claws are as tough as black iron. Be careful," Ise warned.
The Mokgwang screeched violently, infuriated that these two men had dared to stand between it and Seol Ryeong.
A moment later, thick black smoke billowed from its mouth, floating up into the air to form a dark storm cloud.
The cloud drifted slowly at first before suddenly accelerating, stopping directly above Ise and Hae Un-chan.
"Dodge!"
Ise shouted and threw himself aside. Hae Un-chan reflexively rolled in the opposite direction.
In the very next instant, a bolt of lightning struck the spot where they had just been standing, scorching the stone floor black.
Immediately after, the Mokgwang flailed its arms, launching blade-like gusts of wind straight at Seol Ryeong.
Seol Ryeong hurriedly spun her ritual bell staff to deflect the wind blades, but her robes were shredded in several places. Blood began to flow from shallow cuts.
Had Pi Ga-ram not provided prompt covering fire with his arrows, she might have suffered a fatal injury.
"It's relentlessly targeting only Seol Ryeong. Want me to lend you something to cover up?"
Ironically, Hae Un-chan's clothes were ripped to far worse shreds. His upper body was practically bare, accentuating his sun-bronzed, muscular chest.
Instead of answering, Seol Ryeong tore a strip from the hem of her robes and bound her torn clothes tightly together.
"Forget it. I'm not even shredded that badly. You should fix your own clothes—I'm embarrassed just looking at you. Anyone watching would think the Lustful Ghost was targeting you."
"...It's not that bad."
"Enough," Ise interrupted. "For now, let's surround Seol Ryeong, buy time, and create an opening."
At Ise's command, the three formed a protective circle around Seol Ryeong, shielding her from the beast's view.
"Its weakness is fire-attribute dharma spells. Do you happen to have any related dharma artifacts?"
Given her specialization as a Shaman, she likely possessed a decent collection of artifacts.
"I have Fireball Talismans," she replied. "Three uses."
Just as he expected.
A basic fire-attribute offensive talisman. Three uses would be plenty.
"Hae Un-chan, take the front and keep the Mokgwang occupied. Pi Ga-ram, prepare that formation you mentioned earlier. I'll cover Seol Ryeong. Seol Ryeong, maintain your concentration as best as you can. When I give the signal, unleash the fire."
Ise had no intention of using the Meridian-Severing Blade.
It was an item worthy of being called a precious treasure. Flaunting such a valuable artifact in front of so many spectators was bound to invite envy and greed.
He took even the most mundane nagging from Mongryeon's teachings to heart.
Hae Un-chan courageously charged forward to engage the Mokgwang, leaving his sword sheathed.
At his current cultivation realm, he couldn't channel spiritual energy into a weapon. It was far better to fight barehanded, infusing his physical body directly with spiritual energy.
The lightning bolts and wind blade attacks launched from a distance were seamlessly blocked by Ise's shield.
This shield had withstood attacks from a Grade 6 demonic beast.
Though technically an ordinary shield, its durability was so impressive that calling it a dharma artifact wouldn't be a stretch.
While it might seem like he was relying on superior equipment to shine, the examiners themselves had instructed them to spare no means or methods.
The equipment one prepared was just as much a reflection of their strength.
Deciding to handle the annoying Hae Un-chan first, the Mokgwang shifted the brunt of its assault onto him.
Steadily pressed back under the fierce onslaught, injuries began to accumulate across Hae Un-chan's body.
"Fire!"
Just as Hae Un-chan fell into dire peril, Seol Ryeong's talisman erupted with flames, forcing the beast back and saving him.
Confirming that Hae Un-chan had managed to fall back safely, Ise called out to Pi Ga-ram.
"Is the formation ready?"
"It's set!"
Just in time, Pi Ga-ram had finished laying his formation.
"Hae Un-chan! Fall back!"
Hae Un-chan, who was fast approaching his limit, bounded off to the side.
Deprived of its obstacle, the Mokgwang instantly charged straight for Seol Ryeong.
It was a trap. The moment it stepped into the intentionally left opening, the Confinement Formation deployed beneath that very spot flared with brilliant light.
The Mokgwang's body instantly froze in place.
"Fire!"
A second burst of flame roared fiercely through the air.
While the Mokgwang thrashed in a frantic effort to dodge the incoming flames, Ise closed in rapidly using Dokkaebi Footwork.
A blazing fireball on one side; an approaching human on the other.
Caught in a dilemma where evading one meant leaving itself completely vulnerable to the other, the Mokgwang's glowing eyes darted frantically back and forth.
In the end, it chose the human, perceiving him as the greater threat.
As Ise closed the gap, the Mokgwang gnashed its teeth and violently thrust out its claws.
Perhaps owing to Pi Ga-ram's inexperience, the confinement formation wasn't absolute.
Thud! Claws collided with the shield, and the creature's monstrous strength tore the heavy defense right out of Ise's grip.
However, the incoming fireball caught onto the beast's body, its flames spreading rapidly.
Ise reached out barehanded to grab the beast's torso as it squirmed like a burning eel.
"It's dangerous!"
The synchronized shouts of his comrades pierced his ears.
Yet, he did not pull back his hand.
The beast possessed no means to extinguish the flames. By dragging out the fight and playing it safe, they could certainly hunt it down with far less risk.
However, what mattered to Ise right now was making an impact.
An overwhelming display of prowess—one magnificent enough to secure him first or second place in the exam.
Thus, he had to slay it now, in a single, decisive strike.
In that fleeting instant, time seemed to stretch out like a revolving lantern.
Ise projected his intent toward the spiritual energy and demonic energy flowing through his body, issuing a silent command.
Extend.
Even if you do not move, I will move. And if I die, you too will lose your master and vanish into nothingness.
Instantly, as if responding to his fierce willpower, both the spiritual energy and demonic energy surged competitively toward his fingertips.
Ise's hand locked onto the Mokgwang's arm. The moment flesh touched flesh, the two opposing energies crossed into one another, completely binding the beast in place.
Sensing that something had gone terribly wrong, the monkey-like monster thrashed violently in panic.
Ise's axe struck down like lightning, biting deep into the demonic beast's neck.
Crunch! Applying crushing force, he drove the small axe—already buried halfway into the creature's flesh—downward with another brutal strike.
Squelch.
At last, the Mokgwang's head was severed from its body, rolling across the stone floor.
In the heavy silence that followed, only the sound of Ise's ragged breathing could be heard.
He squared his slightly hunched shoulders and regulated his breath.
Glancing around, he saw his teammates frozen in utter shock at how rapidly the fearsome beast had been slain.
Ise stared intently at his left hand—the one that had dropped the shield.
He reflected once more upon the breakthrough realization he had achieved during the battle.
Perceive the energy within.
Imbue it with will.
And dominate it as desired.
A golden spiritual energy swirled across his entire palm before vanishing. In its place, a dark demonic energy flickered into existence with a rough, jealous intensity before dissipating as well.
2-Star Qi Refining.
He had crossed the threshold that had plagued him for days in a single bound.
An indescribable emotion, bordering on pure ecstasy, welled up from his heart.
Someone might scoff and ask what the big deal was over reaching the mere 2-Star Qi Refining realm, but for Ise, this was the very first growth he had achieved entirely on his own, without anyone else's help.
It was a small step, yet more than enough to feel like a giant leap.
Ise impaled the beast's severed head with his small axe and held it high in the air.
At this grotesque display of triumph, utter astonishment filled the eyes of everyone watching.