Climbing the Tower with Multidimensional Avatars - Chapter 162

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 162. Galaxy Martial God Hall – Commendation (1)

The moment we returned from the field trip, the school issued a closure directive for one week.
It was a natural response to such a grave incident.
During the closure, a joint funeral service was held for the teachers who had died, and although attendance wasn’t mandatory, I went to pay my respects—they had given their lives protecting us students, after all.
Usually when disasters of this magnitude occur, the media descends like rabid dogs, trampling over the dignity and rights of both victims and survivors alike.
But this time, the news coverage barely lasted a single segment—likely because everyone was wary of the Cheon Family Clan.
Even powerful institutions rarely escape the media’s jaws, but the Family made a declaration: any news outlet that published secondary victimization reports would be treated as a co-conspirator in the incident. The threat silenced them all.
If classified as a co-conspirator, prosecution falls under Martial Law rather than civil jurisdiction, which means the news outlet is reclassified from a civilian corporation to a Martial Faction.
In the distant past, the custom of Mutual Non-Interference between government and martial world had prevailed, but modern Galaxy Martial Arts operates under the Martial-Civilian Non-Interference Law—a legal prohibition against martial and civilian domains infringing upon each other.
So what happens if you’re classified as a Martial Faction?
The Cheon Family Clan can legally treat the news outlet’s executives and owners as Martial Artists.
And what, then, is a Martial Artist?
A Martial Artist is someone who, if stabbed on the street, is the one getting called an idiot for getting stabbed.
In other words, it becomes perfectly legal for the Cheon Family Clan to beat a news outlet to death with physical force.
Of course, the news outlet can also stab a Cheon Family member in return.
One for you, one for me.
How wonderfully barbaric and exhilarating.
That is, assuming a news outlet could possibly land a blade on the Cheon Family Clan.
Not that this approach works in every case.
If it did, the Cheon Family Clan would be classified as Heterodox, not Orthodox.
What makes it possible is clever legal interpretation and overwhelming power.
This situation worked because minors and a school were involved, which gave the Family legal grounds for that stance.
Even those affiliated with Martial Factions and actively training in Martial Arts occupy an ambiguous position if they’re legally minors.
They can’t be treated as true Martial Artists without forfeiting protections under most assault and homicide laws, yet to call them civilians is absurd when they walk around as living weapons.
The highest court of the Galaxy International Court has ruled that legally minor members of Martial Factions are not classified as Martial Artists.
The reasoning: minors still lack the judgment and responsibility necessary for their own actions.
Because of this, minors cannot receive official Martial Artist registration.
Martial Artist registration—imperfectly enforced though it may be—refers to registering with the government or an equivalent body.
Typically, joining a legitimate Martial Faction automatically confers registration status.
But regardless of what the law says, custom dictates that even minors are often treated as Martial Artists.
In our kidnapping incident, it was precisely this ambiguous status of students that allowed the Cheon Family Clan to construct legal grounds for pressuring the news outlet.
I’d only picked up the broad strokes of the legal reasoning from internet posts; understanding the finer details would require reviewing the actual statutes.
In any case, as a victim of the attempted kidnapping, I’d been required to undergo psychological counseling provided by a Family-appointed therapist, and after various conversations and even a brain-wave examination, the evaluation came back clean.
So I was spared additional psychiatric treatment—just the mandatory counseling sessions.
Four days after returning from the field trip.
A man in a black suit rang our doorbell.
“Pardon the intrusion. Is this the residence of Cheon Ji-woo?”
The aura emanating from the sunglasses-wearing man was anything but ordinary.
Could he possibly be in the Xian Realm?
Let me check with the Appraisal Glasses.

[Name: Kang Han-so / Age: 165]
[Strength: 76 / Agility: 74 / Stamina: 75 / Intelligence: 41 / Mana: 75]
[Status: Normal]
[Ability: Martial Arts Lv 75]

Level 75 Martial Arts—is that Xian Realm or Hwa Realm?
His age of 165 with a middle-aged appearance suggested Xian Realm.
Even with Bone Restructuring in the Hwa Realm, the aging process remains the same as for ordinary humans.
But once you reach the Xian Realm, I’ve learned that aging slows by at least two to five times.
Considering that someone reaching the Hwa Realm from a Major Sect is typically in their late seventies, a middle-aged appearance nearly ninety years after Restructuring meant he’d ascended to the Xian Realm.
“Yes, that’s correct. May I ask who you are?”
At Siu’s question, the man produced an ID Card from his jacket.
“I’ve been sent by the Family. I’m here on the Family Head’s orders to bring Cheon Ji-woo.”
Siu’s expression grew guarded at his words, and the man quickly retrieved an Official Document to show her.
Once Siu examined the anti-forgery seal, her caution eased.
“The young master is currently recovering from the shock of recent events and needs rest. Would it be acceptable if I accompanied him?”
At Siu’s words, the man paused briefly before nodding.
“If the Family Head wishes for a private audience, I’m afraid I cannot accompany you then. Otherwise, I may join you.”
“Understood.”
No one was listening to my opinion anyway.
Then again, how could a clan member refuse when the Family Head himself wanted to see someone?
“Ah, the neighboring house belongs to Cheon So-yeon, doesn’t it? Since the Family Head has summoned her as well, you should all go together.”
And so, with Siu as my guardian, I found myself heading with Cheon So-yeon to the heart of the Cheon Family Clan—the Family Head Hall.

* * *

After driving for about two hours, a massive gate crafted from iron bars appeared in what resembled a city wall of stone.
At the gate stood a martial artist of the Cheon Family Clan in uniform, standing guard with military precision as he filled out the visitor’s register.
“Wow, even the guard at the Family Head Hall entrance is at the Supreme Peak level.”
Normally, even the highest-ranked would be First Class, yet this person—capable of serving as a squad leader in an elite military unit or even in the regular forces—was merely doing guard duty.
Passing through the gate and crossing the well-maintained gardens for about twenty minutes, an enormous palace-like residence came into view in the distance.
“We’ve arrived.”
As the martial artist acting as driver opened the door, an elderly man dressed like a butler approached us.
What realm of cultivation was this old man at that I couldn’t sense it?
“It is an honor to meet you. Cheon So-yeon, Cheon Ji-woo. I am Cheon Richard, serving as the Secretary-General of the clan’s secretariat.”
In martial arts terms, the clan secretariat was essentially equivalent to an inner hall, so the Secretary-General held a position akin to the head of such an organization.
Of course, he certainly wasn’t powerless.
When I glanced at Cheon So-yeon asking silently if she could sense his realm, she shook her head slightly.
It was said that those reaching the Hwa Realm ascended to the Returning to Origin stage, making it difficult to discern one’s cultivation level through ordinary means. Still, by observing one’s aura and the flow of Qi surrounding the body, it was entirely possible to gauge someone’s realm.
But this old man’s realm was completely unreadable.
If the driver who brought us here was at the Xian Realm, then this Secretary-General’s realm was likely at minimum the Life-Death Realm.
It could even be the Natural Realm.
The seemingly kindly old man before my eyes might actually be a monster of the Natural Realm, what was called semi-cosmic horror?
The thought sent a chill down my spine.
“The Family Head awaits inside. Please, all three of you, follow me.”
As the Secretary-General led the way, I quietly slipped on my Appraisal Glasses.
It was good I’d kept them in my pocket rather than storing them in my inventory.
It might seem odd to suddenly put on glasses, but I decided to satisfy my curiosity for now.

[Name: Cheon Richard / Age: 427]
[Strength: 88 / Agility: 86 / Endurance: 89 / Intelligence: 55 / Mana: 87]
[Status: Normal]
[Ability: Martial Arts Lv 88]

The Secretary-General’s Martial Arts level was 88. The structure of the Tower became roughly clear to me.
Apparently, it was divided in tiers of ten levels up to the Supreme Peak, then in increments of five levels thereafter.
Following the Secretary-General deeper inside, the Family Head’s personal guard made us pass through a special security checkpoint.
Fortunately, the security system didn’t detect that my glasses possessed any special power.
As we passed through the checkpoint, Cheon So-yeon spoke.
“The procedure is simpler than I expected.”
“Well, you are guests invited by the Family Head, after all.”
So if the Family Head hadn’t summoned us, we would have had to go through complicated procedures?
After today, I doubt I’ll ever see the Family Head again.
“But why did he call for us?”
At my question, the Secretary-General smiled kindly and replied.
“I’m afraid I don’t know. Perhaps the Family Head himself will tell you.”
From his reaction, it seemed he knew but was deliberately refraining from saying.
Was he being considerate, letting the Family Head tell us directly?
Beyond the security checkpoint, we were shown into a waiting room.
What is this? An audience waiting room?
The Secretary-General spoke as he boiled water in a kettle.
“The Family Head wishes to conduct individual interviews with each of you. First, I shall escort Cheon So-yeon to the reception room. Cheon Ji-woo, I’m afraid I must ask you to wait here for a moment.”
The Secretary-General steeped fragrant black tea with the hot water, placed it before me alongside some refreshments, and then led Cheon So-yeon toward the reception room—or rather, the audience chamber.
“It seems array formations that interfere with Qi sensing are laid out throughout this place.”
The Qi I unconsciously released wasn’t returning to me at all.
In response to my words, Siu, who stood behind me, answered.
“Well, this is the most important facility in the family, after all.”
“Why don’t you sit down too, Siu?”
“No, thank you. I’m comfortable like this.”
Is it my imagination, or does it feel like she’s always ready to grab me and run at a moment’s notice?
“Will the family try to harm me?”
“…That’s possible.”
In response to my question, Siu glanced carefully around before answering slowly.
From her reaction, it seemed there was surveillance.
I held the teacup and tapped it lightly with my index finger, communicating in Morse code.
‘The Family Head is an expert of the Seongwol Realm. If he wanted to harm me, there’s no way he’d be stopped.’
Understanding my message, Siu tapped the sofa I was sitting on to reply.
‘An individual’s martial power cannot be overcome, but a group is different. A group always necessarily has gaps within it.’
‘Isn’t that being overly cautious?’
‘I simply consider all possible situations for your safety.’
Her cautious reaction was unlike Siu.
Had she perhaps been detained by some group in the past?
“Man, these pastries are delicious.”
In the waiting room, all I could hear was the sound of me sipping black tea and eating pastries.
‘Relax. Once we have the private meeting anyway, we’ll be separated. What are you going to do then?’
Siu didn’t answer.
With no choice, I passed the time eating pastries.
These things really are good though. Where do they sell them?
After waiting about thirty minutes or so, the secretary returned with Cheon So-yeon.
“Next is Cheon Ji-woo… I’ll help tidy your appearance for a moment.”
Seeing crumbs from the pastries around my mouth and on my clothes, and the greasy shine of butter on my hands, the secretary wiped my hands with a handkerchief and gently brushed away the crumbs.
“Were you pleased with the pastries our pastry chef made? I’ll have some prepared for you to take with you.”
Ah, so they weren’t sold to the public after all.
“Thank you. They’re really delicious.”
“The pastry chef would be delighted to hear that. There, all done. Please follow me.”
I gave Siu a reassuring nod before following the secretary toward the reception room.
The reception room was quite close to the waiting room.
The secretary knocked and spoke.
“Family Head, I’ve brought Cheon Ji-woo.”
The secretary was using the respectful form of address.
Come to think of it, it would have seemed odd to use honorifics toward a young boy with barely a drop of blood in him while addressing the towering figure of the Family Head.
When permission came from within to enter, the secretary opened the door and stepped inside.
Following her in, the Family Head—whom I’d only ever seen in photographs online and in newspapers—looked at me and smiled.
In response to my greeting, the Family Head gestured for me to sit on the sofa and spoke to the secretary.
“This is a private family meeting, so you may withdraw.”
It looked odd seeing a man who looked like he was in his twenties address the white-haired secretary so casually.
Then again, it was rare for anyone in the family to be older than the Family Head.
Even those called elders, it was said, rarely exceeded six hundred years of age.
“Please call if you need anything at all, sir.”
The secretary bowed deeply and carefully stepped out the door.
The Family Head had me sit right beside him and spoke with a subtle smile.
“It’s good to meet you this way. My great-grandson.”

(To be continued in the next part)

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