Almighty God of War - Chapter 168

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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168

 

O Gwangnyeo looked around at his surroundings.

 

Even if the Gunma Alliance joined forces with the Heavenly Death Department, they would still be at a disadvantage against the Changcheon Martial Alliance, the Six Great Families, and the Renowned Masters.

 

If they fought with force, it was clear they wouldn’t fare well.

 

No matter how much he and the Head of the Heavenly Death Department were masters who had reached the early stage of the Transformation Realm, their opponents like Ju Jaryeom and Mok Jin were also Transformation Realm masters no less skilled than them.

 

‘I have no choice but to accept.’

 

Though he was reluctant, the internal energy contest wasn’t necessarily disadvantageous to them.

 

Since it was a competition of pure internal energy strength, numbers didn’t matter.

 

If things went well, several high-ranking members from the Gunma Alliance could emerge.

 

Moreover, O Gwangnyeo was reputed to have strong internal energy even among the Gunma Alliance elders.

 

‘With this method… at minimum I’ve secured one Spirit Pills, and if things go well, I might get my hands on three.’

 

Having made up his mind, he spoke.

 

“Fine, let’s go with that method.”

 

The Head of the Heavenly Death Department also seemed to share the same thought, nodding as he spoke.

 

“I agree as well. If it’s an internal energy test, I’ll accept it.”

 

A faint smile appeared on Jegal Ryong’s lips.

 

“A wise decision.”

 

O Gwangnyeo looked at Jegal Ryong with sharp eyes and asked.

 

“But who will measure the depth? Surely you’re not saying your side will do it? If our alliance and the Heavenly Death Department said we’d measure it, your side couldn’t accept that either, could they?”

 

Jegal Ryong seemed to have something in mind, not hesitating as he looked around at the Gun-ung and asked.

 

“Is there anyone who has no intention of participating in the contest?”

 

His intention was clear.

 

He meant to select someone with no desire for the Spirit Pills to serve as judge.

 

People only looked at each other, but no one stepped forward.

 

There couldn’t be anyone who wanted to give up the rare Spirit Pills, and everyone remained consistently silent.

 

The silence grew long.

 

But there was an exception.

 

Guyang Cheongang stepped forward and spoke calmly.

 

“I will give up.”

 

Everyone’s gaze turned to him at once.

 

The young warrior wearing a bamboo hat was the one who had realized the secret of Hongnyeom-ro and saved hundreds of lives.

 

And everyone had seen him deploy Protective Body Energy in the flames, which was a symbol of Transformation Realm masters.

 

It was unbelievable that such a master would give up the Spirit Pills.

 

A smile appeared on Jegal Ryong’s lips.

 

“That great hero has tremendous abilities but doesn’t belong to any faction. How about we entrust it to him?”

 

Though Guyang Cheongang looked young, he dared not call him a young hero.

 

A supreme master who had reached the Transformation Realm couldn’t be a young hero.

 

The Gun-ung nodded.

 

Everyone knew he was someone who couldn’t be ignored, and moreover, if he had no ties to any faction, he would be fair.

 

O Gwangnyeo asked Guyang Cheongang sharply.

 

“Who are you, great hero?”

 

“I am called Guyang Cheongang of the Nanchang Guyang Family.”

 

Everyone looked puzzled for a moment.

 

It was a name they had never heard before.

 

One old man among the Renowned Masters muttered.

 

“The Guyang Family… isn’t that where the Divine Physician of Life and Death stayed when he created the Byeoksa Sindan?”

 

Though it was a murmur to himself, all the warriors present were masters who could hear an ant crawling ten zhang away.

 

Murmurs spread instantly.

 

“The Divine Physician of Life and Death?”

 

“That legendary physician?”

 

Regardless of orthodox or unorthodox paths, there was no one who didn’t know about the Divine Physician of Life and Death who had defeated the Black Death, and all held him in reverence.

 

He was the medical saint who had saved All Under Heaven.

 

Namgung Gyeol nodded and spoke.

 

“I didn’t know such a supreme master as yourself was residing in the declining Guyang family. In any case, if you’re from that family, we can trust your fairness.”

 

Ju Jaryeom also agreed.

 

“I also support that person serving as judge.”

 

O Gwangnyeo raised no further objections, and the Head of the Heavenly Death Department also expressed agreement through silence.

 

Jegal Ryong looked at Guyang Cheongang and gave a cupped fist salute.

 

“We’re causing you trouble, Great Hero Guyang.”

 

Guyang Cheongang frowned.

 

He had no desire to get involved in the conflicts of the Gun-ung, but having already stepped forward, it was difficult to refuse in this situation.

 

He swallowed a sigh inwardly and stepped forward.

 

“Understood. I’ll take charge.”

 

He walked to the front of the cliff and ran his hand over the surface.

 

It was smooth and solid rock, and it didn’t look easy to leave marks with internal energy.

 

Guyang Cheongang looked around at the Gun-ung and spoke.

 

“Then let’s begin.”

 

Jegal Ryong stepped forward again.

 

“Then let’s start. The order is free. Anyone can come forward and test.”

 

Mokjin Han Cheonsinsu stepped forward.

 

“There’s also a saying that it’s better to take the beating first, so this old man will go first.”

 

Standing facing the cliff, he took a deep breath and pressed his widely spread palms against the wall.

 

Huuuuung-

 

When Mok Jin removed his hands, Guyang Cheongang stepped forward.

 

He carefully examined the palm prints left on the cliff.

 

The marks of each finger were clear, and the depth was consistent.

 

It was sufficient evidence to show the precise internal energy control of a Transformation Realm warrior.

 

Guyang Cheongang brought his hand to the marks and drew out his internal energy like thread to measure the depth.

 

‘One ja, seven chi, three pun.’

 

He shouted.

 

“Han Cheonsinsu Mok great hero, depth of one ja, seven chi, three pun!”

 

The Gun-ung stirred.

 

A depth of over one ja – the internal energy of a Transformation Realm warrior was indeed tremendous.

 

But Mok Jin’s expression was far from bright; rather, he looked somewhat bewildered.

 

He was quite surprised by something, and so his face was full of thought.

 

There weren’t many things that could surprise someone who had reached the Transformation Realm.

 

Having roamed Gangho for decades and experienced all sorts of strange events, he possessed an unshakeable mind that wasn’t disturbed by ordinary matters.

 

But now was different.

 

The moment he circulated his internal energy to leave marks on the wall, he realized.

 

His internal energy had become clearer, purer, and more powerful than before.

 

‘Hongnyeom-ro… wasn’t simply a trial.’

 

Mok Jin now realized the true meaning of Hongnyeom-ro.

 

That place wasn’t meant to kill people but to temper them.

 

It was a pill furnace that burned away impurities and refined internal energy.

 

Following him, O Gwangnyeo stepped forward.

 

Standing before the cliff, he pressed his palms against the wall and poured out his internal energy.

 

Kwaaaaak!

 

His internal energy was violent and intense, befitting one who had cultivated demonic arts, making the cliff vibrate.

 

After O Gwangnyeo removed his hands, Guyang Cheongang approached to check.

 

“Elder O, depth of one ja, six chi, and two pun.”

 

The Gun-ung exclaimed in admiration.

 

Though not as good as Mok Jin, they had confirmed internal energy that was not far behind his.

 

“Hehehe.”

 

A laugh filled with satisfaction flowed from between O Gwangnyeo’s lips.

 

Following him, warriors including Ju Jaryeom, Jegal Ryong, and Namgung Gyeol stepped forward in turn.

 

Next, the leader of Cheonsa Bu, who had been wearing his hood pulled low, stepped forward.

 

He slowly removed his hood.

 

Instantly, surprise appeared on the faces of the Gun-ung.

 

His face was pale as if he hadn’t seen sunlight for a long time, and his lips were dark blue.

 

A sinister light flowed from his sunken eyes.

 

“It’s Talbaewoosa Yugaryeong.”

 

Someone muttered in a low voice.

 

Talbaewoosa Yu Garyang was one of the top masters in Cheonsa Bu with the rank of elder, and was notorious for his cruel methods.

 

Yu Garyang stood before the cliff without changing his expression and injected his internal energy into the wall.

 

Swoooosh-

 

After Guyang Cheongang confirmed the depth, he shouted.

 

“Elder Yu, one ja, six chi, and one pun!”

 

The contest continued.

 

When only the four disciples of the Ice Palace remained, Seol Hyang-yeong approached Guyang Cheongang and said.

 

“Young Master, we will forfeit.”

 

She smiled bitterly and continued.

 

“Our martial arts are only at the peak realm. With over ten masters at the Transformation Realm level, there’s no possibility of us making the rankings. It would be better to forfeit and at least preserve our dignity.”

 

Guyang Cheongang looked at them.

 

It was a wise choice, knowing their own limitations.

 

“Understood.”

 

The Three Individuals of Seol Hyang-yeong stepped back and stood to one side.

 

Jongnoeu, who had regained consciousness not long ago, wasn’t even thinking of stepping forward.

 

After the contest ended, the rankings of the top ten were announced by Guyang Cheongang.

 

Mok Jin was first place, and Ju Jaryeom, Namgung Gyeol, Jegal Ryong, O Gwangnyeo, Yu Garyang, and others were all included.

 

Notably, among the survivors of Hongnyeom-ro, there were over ten young men and women included, but they didn’t make it into the rankings.

 

A brief commotion arose as congratulations, regret, and jealousy intersected.

 

However, no one raised any objections.

 

Because they trusted Guyang Cheongang’s judgment.

 

Jegal Ryong stepped forward and said.

 

“Now that the rankings are decided, we’ll distribute the spirit pills. Starting from first place, you can take the spirit pill you want in order.”

 

Just as he was about to walk toward the altar, O Gwangnyeo interfered again.

 

“Wait.”

 

Jegal Ryong turned around.

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“Who’s going to distribute the spirit pills? Surely you’re not saying you’ll do it?”

 

At his continued interference, anger finally appeared on Jegal Ryong’s face as well.

 

But O Gwangnyeo didn’t bat an eye and smirked.

 

“If you distribute them, couldn’t you possibly tamper with or switch the spirit pills?”

 

Jegal Ryong’s face contorted and turned red.

 

“Such nonsense…”

 

Yu Garyang also interfered.

 

Cheonsa Bu also agrees. We cannot accept the Murim Alliance side touching the spirit pills.”

 

Tension rose again.

 

It was a situation where they couldn’t trust each other.

 

Then Mok Jin spoke up.

 

“Then how about we entrust the distribution of spirit pills to Hero Guyang as well?”

 

Everyone’s gaze turned to Guyang Cheongang at once.

 

“Hero Guyang is unrelated to any faction, has already given up on the spirit pills, and handled the contest fairly. If we entrust the distribution to him, we can avoid unnecessary disputes.”

 

Everyone nodded in agreement.

 

Guyang Cheongang frowned once again.

 

‘They’re dragging me into this again.’

 

[Since you’ve already taken on the role of judge, it can’t be helped, Doctor.]

 

‘Akasha, aren’t you enjoying this a bit too much?’

 

[Not at all.]

 

‘Now you even know how to act innocent.’

 

Guyang Cheongang swallowed a sigh inwardly and stepped forward.

 

“Understood. I’ll take on this task as well.”

 

He walked toward the altar.

 

Ten jade boxes were placed in a row, and from each box, spirit pills emitted a subtle light while giving off a mysterious fragrance.

 

Guyang Cheongang stopped in front of the jade boxes.

 

‘Akasha, analyze these spirit pills.’

 

[Already in progress, Doctor.]

 

Tens of thousands of invisible nanobots flowed out from Guyang Cheongang’s body and spread toward the spirit pills.

 

They scanned the surface of the spirit pills, analyzed their molecular structure, and identified their components.

 

[These spirit pills are made from hundreds of types of spirit medicines. Tianshan Snow Lotus, Ten Thousand Year Polygonum, Blood Mushroom, Dragon Flame Grass… all are rare spirit herbs and spiritual objects. However, some materials cannot be identified.]

 

‘Cannot be identified?’

 

[Yes. They contain substances that cannot be analyzed even with modern science. Considering the time when Pungnimgok was created, they are likely objects that existed in ancient times. They are probably extinct or undiscovered now.]

 

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes deepened.

 

‘What about their effects?’

 

[These spirit pills have no effect on enhancing internal energy.]

 

‘What?’

 

Though Guyang Cheongang didn’t show it outwardly, he was genuinely surprised inside.

 

The spirit pills that the Gun-ung risked their lives to covet had no internal energy enhancement effects.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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