The Wizard Who Endured the World of Murim - Chapter 59

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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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Surviving in the Martial Realm as a Mage: Episode 59
Before Ilhyang entered the Upper Realm.
Gong Jeol-gang had properly learned magic from him.
To be more precise.
He had been taught Circle Magic.
The mana that had previously filled his dantian.
In other words, using the celestial spiritual energy (天地靈氣) he had accumulated throughout his lifetime, he had created his first circle.
“Hehehehe, Master said this was his first time creating a circle in the dantian as well.”
Though he had fortunately succeeded on his first attempt.
Ilhyang did not stop there, and immediately had him consume the Great Restoration Pill he had received from the Namgung Clan, elevating Gong Jeol-gang to the 4th Circle in one breath.
“The grace of my master is truly as vast as the heavens.”
Due to his lifespan, he had no choice but to determine the outcome in a short time.
Unlike spiritual energy, mana had little relation to immortality, he had said.
However, it seemed that mages too experienced rejuvenation of their bodies and slowed aging each time they transcended a realm.
Gong Jeol-gang thought he did not quite understand what the difference between the two was.
“Phew.”
Taking one deep breath and exhaling, Gong Jeol-gang smiled.
Four circles rotating ‘automatically’ within his dantian.
Every time he saw this, Gong Jeol-gang thought he had truly made an excellent choice in changing his path.
Until the moment when he nearly lost Sam-mi-ho at the Liu Chang River at the very beginning, the world had seemed hateful and full of resentment.
But not anymore.
‘Hehehehe, who am I? Am I not a 4th Circle mage!’
A new secret that did not exist in this world.
Magic.
This could not be perfectly compared to the Celestial Watcher stage and its levels.
But Master had acknowledged his current rank as intermediate in the Accumulation stage.
This was a realm he should have ascended to the Upper Realm long ago.
Yet remarkably, no heavenly response came down from the sky.
This simply meant.
He could rule as a king in the Lower Realm.
“Is not the head of a snake better than the tail of a dragon?”
Originally, since there were no more resources for growth in the Lower Realm.
He would have struggled by any means to ascend to the Upper Realm.
But since the great Master said he would bring spiritual creatures directly from the Upper Realm.
He need only trust and wait for Master.
“But can he truly come down?”
He did not know.
For now, he could only trust and wait.
Gong Jeol-gang took out a small monkey figurine (Dae Heuk-sung) from his bosom and tossed and caught it in the air.
Today as well, he diligently read through the ‘papers’ Master had left behind from time to time.
Ordinarily, I would have asked for the knowledge to be stored in a jade slip and transferred all at once.
But for some reason, my Master deeply disliked such methods of knowledge transmission.
“One must experience failure for knowledge to truly become one’s own,” he would say.
Strangely, in this regard, my Master possessed the stubborn convictions of someone from an older age.
Yet if I could learn magic, I was willing to endure such minor inconveniences without complaint.
Currently, Gong Jeol-gang’s cultivation stood at the Fourth Circle, but the magic he could practically wield was merely at the mid-First Circle level.
There was simply too much to learn.
“The vessel is sufficiently complete, but I have not yet mastered the cultivation method,” he had said.
That was fine.
Had I not honed my cultivation methods to the point of calluses forming from constant practice?
Though the system of magic was admittedly unfamiliar.
It would come quickly enough.
Gong Jeol-gang sat in the office at the center of Sungwha Island, humming softly as he read through the thesis.
Then.
Knock, knock—
“Administrator.”
“What is it?”
One of the Water Bandits handling menial tasks outside reported in a tense voice.
“Bing Baek Ma-gun has come to visit directly.”
Gong Jeol-gang’s face, which had been wearing a subtle smile, creased slightly.
Bing Baek Ma-gun Gu Sang-hak.
Currently the person I found most troublesome.
He had drawn near, yet I sensed nothing of his presence.
‘Truly a master of the Transformation Realm.’
A cultivation level equivalent to the Fourth Circle.
Bing Baek Ma-gun had reached the Transformation Realm quite some time ago.
It was possible he might ascend to the Upper Realm in the near future.
“Show him in.”
“Yes, understood.”
Shortly after.
Bing Baek Ma-gun Gu Sang-hak entered Gong Jeol-gang’s office with his characteristic leisurely and composed expression.
He glanced at Gong Jeol-gang’s desk, which was cluttered with complex documents, and then.
Without waiting for an invitation, he settled comfortably into the sandalwood chair before him and spoke.
“I heard from the current leader of Cheonsa-ok that you’re also from Cheonsa-ok like him. Is that true?”
A question without preamble or conclusion.
His manner was overbearing, yet Gong Jeol-gang felt no anger.
The man had the right to conduct himself as he did.
Besides, I had already been thinking it was time to clarify our relationship once and for all.
So Gong Jeol-gang nodded with surprising candor, even surprising himself.
“That is correct.”
“Remarkable. The Cheonsa-ok’s hidden strength is quite formidable. Now that I think about it, I believe I’ve heard your name in passing once or twice. They say you have considerable talent in the magical arts.”
Bing Baek Ma-gun Gu Sang-hak of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
His reputation shook all of Tianxia.
Even the Martial Arts Alliance, despite their hostile stance, never dared to make a move against Gu Sang-hak alone—they universally recommended immediate retreat upon any encounter with him, such was his status as an absolute master.
“While the master of this place is absent, it seems we need to establish our respective standings. What are your thoughts on the matter?”
His speech was direct, cutting straight to the point without preamble.
Gong Jeol-gang was doing his best to maintain a composed expression.
Yet from all sides, an overwhelming pressure bore down upon him, and cold sweat streamed down his back.
‘If I engage now, I will lose without question.’
Normally, there should be no difference in cultivation between himself and this renowned master of the Transformation Realm, Bing Baek Ma-gun.
But Gong Jeol-gang understood his own condition well.
He was merely taking his first steps as a mage, having only recently begun his proper initiation into magic.
To face the absolute master before him at such a level?
‘That would be madness.’
He dared not even entertain such a blasphemous thought.
Gu Sang-hak was a genuine master.
Even within the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, famous for its rigid hierarchy,
he was an obstinate master who openly declared that he recognized no one above him save the sect leader himself.
He belonged to no family, commanded no faction.
Yet he had become a legend—a single man who constituted a force unto himself.
Because of this, the rumor that those within the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect without any backing, much like Gu Sang-hak himself, revered the name Bing Baek Ma-gun as an idol had spread far and wide throughout Tianxia.
‘But.’
Gong Jeol-gang clenched his teeth firmly.
Regardless, he could not afford to be overwhelmed one-sidedly here.
This was partly a matter of his own pride,
but given the nature of the duties my master had entrusted me with, I could accomplish nothing if I were to be subdued by a subordinate.
So Gong Jeol-gang tensed his lower abdomen and, suppressing the tremor in his voice with all his might, replied.
“While my master is absent, I am the one responsible for this place.”
“Ah, I acknowledge that much. So you’re that monster’s disciple, then?”
“Indeed. His only disciple at present.”
Gu Sang-hak narrowed his eyes as he regarded Gong Jeol-gang.
Despite clearly knowing of his reputation, the man stood against him with considerable resolve, did he not?
The fear evident in his voice was so palpable,
yet he possessed quite remarkable spirit.
Was that why the young monster had chosen him?
Just as interest flickered in Gu Sang-hak’s eyes,
a faint presence was sensed from beyond the office window.
‘That Bloodfiend, then.’
A Bloodfiend that could speak.
An ancient legend of the Mansizong, seen only in old texts of the past.
That suspicious creature—could it be a Jiangshi?
‘Was his name Ilho?’
That wretch was now covertly observing the interior of the Office.
To be more precise: Bing Baek Ma-gun Gu Sang-hak.
He was ‘monitoring’ my actions.
The spider-web-like divine sense that Ilho subtly emanated tickled Gu Sang-hak’s perception.
‘Truly an audacious creature.’
A mere Jiangshi daring to measure himself against me?
By my nature, I wanted to rise immediately and beat both Gong Jeol-gang and Ilho to death.
‘Restrain yourself. That won’t do.’
Bing Baek Ma-gun Gu Sang-hak had come to find Gong Jeol-gang today not to kill him.
Merely to display his strength subtly.
So that only the children of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect under his command would not be conscripted into mindless forced labor—tower construction.
His reputation was at stake, after all.
“Your Master hasn’t made it clear how to use this person, you see. One can’t simply have them idle about doing nothing.”
As Gu Sang-hak lowered his momentum and subtly retreated a step.
Gong Jeol-gang quietly released the tension from his clenched fist.
And drawing one deep breath.
The situation finally began to come into focus.
“Why would the General of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect concern himself with such trifles?”
“How could I not be concerned? Your Master is quite exceptional, after all.”
“That much is true.”
In this moment, Gong Jeol-gang became certain.
Of what the Bing Baek Ma-gun’s visit truly meant.
From here on, it was best to feign helplessness and accede to his demands.
Seeing how my Master had brought him here intact.
He must have brought him intending to use him somehow later.
There was no need to create a grudge with someone I’d be seeing for a long time.
“The General and the masters of the Demonic Sect shall oversee surveillance of the Water Bandits. However, personnel from other factions must go out to field operations.”
As Gong Jeol-gang divided the duties with considerable tact, Bing Baek Ma-gun finally smiled faintly and spoke.
“Those fellows are none of my concern. My! Now that I think of it, you must be busy yourself—I’ve needlessly intruded. Please, continue with your work.”
Bing Baek Ma-gun swiftly concluded his business.
And without even a cup of tea, he rose from his seat immediately.
At his straightforward and hearty demeanor, Gong Jeol-gang released an inward sigh of relief, seeing him off from his seated position.
Not rising from his seat was, from Gong Jeol-gang’s perspective, a timid form of resistance.
“Phew.”
As Gong Jeol-gang sank deep into his chair and wiped his brow with his hand, sweat came away in beads.
Clearly, I had been quite tense.
Shameful as it was, I consoled myself that handling the notorious Bing Baek Ma-gun to this degree was a respectable showing.
“Still, it went well.”
Just as Bing Baek Ma-gun Gu Sang-hak had done.
Gong Jeol-gang too had already grasped Ilho’s presence through his divine sense as the young man stood at an angle by the office window.
So he muttered to himself, speaking toward the window.
“You’ve probably gathered the gist of it, but your workload and that of your friends will be decreasing. That’s fortunate, isn’t it? You’ll have more time for cultivation.”
“…Understood.”
Hearing Ilho’s voice, still somewhat stiff and formal.
Gong Jeol-gang’s mind flickered with a sudden thought—could he and that Jiangshi have stood against the Bing Baek Ma-gun if they had charged together?
But he quickly swept the thought away and let out a soft chuckle.
“I wish Master would arrive soon.”
Now that he thought about it, someone from the Namgung Clan would be arriving shortly.
The prospect of taking charge of protecting someone suspected to be the imperial princess already made his stomach churn with unease.

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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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