The Return of the Legendary All-Master

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 274

"Skill."

<Skill?>

"Yes. I want to enhance the skill I possess."

A reward equivalent to an unknown power.

It was the enhancement of the skill Jeong-hoon had.

[Transcendent of Humanity Lv.3]

- Type: Unique Evolution Title

- Grade: Celestial

- Automatically utilizes the mana of nature and recovers magic power periodically.

- Can permanently annihilate dungeons. (However, high-grade dungeons cannot be annihilated.)

- Partially unaffected by the influence of Transcendents.

The skill currently in possession: [Transcendent of Humanity].

The skill's level is 3.

Transcendents are classified by "rank."

No matter how exceptional a human may be, they are powerless before the "rank" of a Transcendent.

And the only method to narrow this gap in rank is through this title.

It was a title naturally obtained upon reaching the celestial realm.

The title's level increased as Jeong-hoon's "rank" rose by defeating Transcendents.

However, Level 3 was still insufficient.

‘With this, I can't reach the ultimate power.’

Ultimate power, an unknown realm that no one had ever reached.

To secure that power more definitively, the title had to be enhanced to elevate his "rank."

Being unaffected by a Transcendent's influence meant that he wouldn’t be suppressed by their "rank."

<Hmm, when you say enhancement, to what extent are you referring?>

"At least to the same level as the Lords."

<Haha, for that, this title’s grade would need to rise by at least one level.>

One level.

In other words, it had to ascend beyond the Celestial grade.

"If it rises by one level, would that make it equivalent?"

<Not exactly. It might bring you closer to what you couldn’t even reach before.>

"Really?"

Jeong-hoon's face contorted.

Even if a Celestial-grade title rose by one level, it still wouldn’t allow him to stand on equal footing with the Lords.

What level of "rank" did those beings possess?

<So, you want to enhance that skill?>

"Yes."

<Unfortunately, upgrading by one grade is impossible. But I can raise its level to 10.>

"That’s more than enough."

Once he attains ultimate power, the title’s grade will naturally rise.

For now, even raising the title’s level would suffice.

<Alright. But be aware that the difficulty of the trial will match the reward.>

"Understood."

Jeong-hoon's vision went dark.

When his vision returned, Jeong-hoon found himself standing at the center of the first-floor lobby of a mansion.

‘A familiar place.’

It was indeed a place he recognized.

This mansion was the residence of the Martial King that Jeong-hoon had visited when he transitioned into the Infinite Sovereign class.

But why was this part of the trial?

With a lingering question, Jeong-hoon began to walk.

[The trial begins.]

At that moment, the mansion doors burst open, and martial artists clad in uniforms poured in.

"Do you even know where you are?!"

"Capture him!"

Out of nowhere, they declared Jeong-hoon an intruder and surrounded him.

"What’s this about?"

Jeong-hoon tilted his head in confusion.

The martial artists were all between Levels 250 and 300.

At over Level 500, Jeong-hoon was far beyond their match.

‘There must be something more to this.’

It was then that the notifications came.

[Your level is temporarily reduced to 100.]

[You are now possessing the ‘Poison-weakened Martial King.’]

[The martial artists are in an ‘Invincible’ state.]

[You cannot defeat the martial artists.]

Damn it.

It was a system where direct combat against the martial artists was impossible.

To pass the trial, it seemed Jeong-hoon would need to endure their interrogation.

[What?! Master! You can’t kill those things?!]

‘Nonsense.’

Mukho and Anima were outraged.

But a trial was a trial.

Unless Jeong-hoon gave up, he would have to endure their questioning to pass.

"Take him away!"

"If you resist, your remaining family members won’t remain safe."

Though weakened, the Martial King was still the Martial King.

The martial artists handled him with caution.

‘I think I understand why the mansion where the Martial King resided was left so abandoned.’

It was the Martial King, and yet, the title seemed meaningless. The mansion was in such disrepair it looked like it might collapse with a single touch.

For reasons unknown, it appeared that the Martial King had been ostracized by the martial artists of the time.

"Why are you taking me away?"

Jeong-hoon asked in the Martial King’s stead.

The martial artists saw Jeong-hoon as the Martial King.

"Heh, have you finally lost your mind?"

"Martial King, evidence has surfaced of your collusion with the Heavenly Demon Cult to seize control of the martial world."

"The Poison King has been gradually poisoning you. Rest assured and take him away."

"The Poison King."

Jeong-hoon let out a dry chuckle.

Colluding with the Heavenly Demon Cult?

He’d heard that the Martial King once sparred with the Heavenly Demon Dokgo Jun, but this was the first time he’d heard accusations of collusion with the cult.

‘A false charge.’

Cough!

Suddenly, a searing heat surged from within him, and he spat it out.

It was black blood.

It seemed that possessing the Martial King had left his body in a dire state.

The martial artists smirked, mocking him openly.

"Ha! So pitiful that it’s laughable for you to be called the Martial King."

"See what happens when you tread the wrong path."

Jeong-hoon was dragged out of the mansion by their hands, unable to resist.

***

The Martial Alliance.

Underground Prison.

Escaping from the martial artists outside the mansion was impossible.

Jeong-hoon’s magical and divine powers were locked, rendered as rigid and immovable as stone. Poison coursed through his veins, and blood continually seeped from the wounds within his body.

The Martial King’s body, honed to an extreme, was barely holding on, but it wouldn’t have been surprising if he died at any moment.

However, his rapidly deteriorating condition worsened under the tortures that followed.

"Martial King, how did you end up like this?"

An old man gazed at Jeong-hoon through the iron bars with sorrowful eyes.

The Martial Alliance Leader, Jang Yong-baek.

If the Martial King was Nak Jin-cheon, Jang Yong-baek was the Alliance Leader and known as the Sword King or Sword Sovereign.

"…Let me ask you one thing."

Jeong-hoon struggled to speak.

Even with his iron will, maintaining sanity in a state of near-death was no easy feat.

Jang Yong-baek’s lips twitched.

The sadness he wore moments ago vanished, replaced by eyes gleaming with greed.

"You can still talk? Truly remarkable."

"What’s the reason for framing me?"

"Framing you… Do you really want to claim innocence?"

"Heh, there’s no one else here but you and me. Let’s be honest with each other."

As Jeong-hoon said, this underground prison was the deepest part of the Martial Alliance’s dungeons, reserved for those awaiting execution for grave crimes.

When Jang Yong-baek entered, he had sent away all the guards stationed nearby.

Now, only Jeong-hoon and Jang Yong-baek were present.

"The Divine Scripture. Where is it?"

Jang Yong-baek brought up the Divine Scripture.

Of course, Jeong-hoon knew nothing about it.

"Ah, so it’s because of some cursed book that I ended up like this."

"A cursed book? It’s the only power that can save the world!"

"Quite ambitious for someone as exalted as the Sword Sovereign."

Jeong-hoon sneered, even in his weakened state.

"Hand it over quietly. If you do, both your life and your family will be spared."

Jeong-hoon smirked and raised his middle finger.

"Screw you."

"…I don’t understand the meaning, but it feels rather insulting."

"Yeah, because it’s a curse."

He had no idea what the Divine Scripture was, but he had no intention of giving it to someone like Jang Yong-baek.

Jang Yong-baek suppressed his rising anger and asked again, his tone colder.

"Are you determined to stay silent to the end?"

"Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you."

"How absurd."

At that moment—

"Alliance Leader!"

A martial artist descended into the underground prison in a hurry.

"What is it?"

"Just as I reported, we found this hidden away!"

The man handed over a book—one that radiated a dazzling, otherworldly light.

Jang Yong-baek’s lips curled upward as he took the book in his hands.

"Well done."

"Thank you. By the way, what should we do about him? Shouldn’t we finish him off for good?"

"Leave him be."

"Understood."

The martial artist departed, leaving only Jang Yong-baek and Jeong-hoon in the prison again.

Jang Yong-baek’s eyes curved into crescent moons as he gazed at Jeong-hoon.

"So, you went to great lengths to hide this only for it to be found."

"…"

"Let’s see what’s written inside…"

Jang Yong-baek’s face contorted as he flipped open the book.

The pages, where text should have been, were completely blank.

Jeong-hoon let out a derisive laugh.

"What’s wrong? Didn’t find what you were looking for?"

"…What did you do to this book?"

"I have no idea."

"You’ve already mastered it, haven’t you?! You wretched brat!"

In a fit of rage, Jang Yong-baek tore the book to shreds.

It wasn’t unheard of for certain martial arts manuals to have their text vanish once their techniques were learned. The Divine Scripture must have been one of them.

"I told you, I don’t know."

"Argh!"

Fuming, Jang Yong-baek stormed out of the prison.

Shortly after, the martial artists who had tortured Jeong-hoon returned.

The hellish torment was about to begin anew.

Come on, bring it.

A faint glimmer of defiance flickered in Jeong-hoon’s otherwise lifeless eyes.

"I’ll endure this cursed trial and claim the power I seek."

***

[You have passed the trial.]

The trial finally ended after nearly a week of agony.

When Jeong-hoon regained consciousness, he found himself no longer in the underground prison but inside a temple.

The goddess statue, which had vanished before, was now before his eyes once again.

So I succeeded…

A blinking exclamation mark hovered above the statue, confirming the completion of the quest.

What a tormenting ordeal it was.

Never before had he experienced such cruel torture.

His fingernails and toenails had been ripped off. Every strand of hair, including body hair, had been plucked.

Scalding water was poured over his body, leaving his skin burned and blistered.

Although his body was exceptionally trained, it had been weakened to the brink of collapse by poison.

One of his eyes had been gouged out, and all his teeth had been pulled, leaving him unable to eat.

Jeong-hoon had frequently drifted in and out of consciousness, enduring waves of excruciating pain.

And amidst that suffering, the world fell to ruin.

The signs had been there long before.

The impending destruction couldn’t be stopped, and the martial world descended into chaos.

Jang Yong-baek, desperate to bring order to the crumbling martial world, had fixated on the Divine Scripture. But by then, it was too late—certain penalties had already exceeded their limits.

Perhaps during that process, Nak Jin-cheon was partially stripped of his memories and repurposed as an NPC.

Jeong-hoon began piecing the situation together in his mind.

This trial had essentially been a test of his endurance—an ordeal where he could choose to end the pain by giving up, albeit failing in the process.

Approaching the goddess statue, Jeong-hoon heard the clear, melodious voice again.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

<How remarkable. You possess an extraordinarily strong will, human.>

"It wasn’t easy."

This trial had taught him just how many forms of torture existed in the world—horrors beyond explanation.

Without the promise of a reward, not even Jeong-hoon could have endured it.

<As you may have guessed, this trial was tied to the source of your power.>

Jeong-hoon nodded.

As expected, the Divine Scripture symbolized the power of the Martial Emperor.

…The Martial Emperor represents limitless potential. But it’s not a path I’d recommend. Most humans can’t even reach the end of a single path they choose. Trying to pursue too many leads only to ruin.

Nak Jin-cheon had once viewed the Martial Emperor’s path with skepticism.

By mastering the techniques of the Divine Scripture, he had realized its extreme highs came at the cost of equally extreme lows.

Thus, Nak Jin-cheon had steered others away from the Martial Emperor’s path, guiding them toward the path of the Fist King instead.

In essence, it was all a form of testing.

But Jeong-hoon, having chosen the Martial Emperor’s path, passed that test.

Nak Jin-cheon, fulfilling his role, had relinquished his power and achieved enlightenment.

"Now then, it’s time for my reward."

<A promise is a promise.>

[You have completed the quest.]

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]