Ultimate Martial Venerable - Chapter 25

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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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Chapter 25. An Apology After Three Strikes
As Yuk Beom walked toward the center of the Plaza, every eye in the crowd followed him.
Kkamangi, perched on his shoulder, seemed to relish the attention, lifting its tail high. Each time it locked eyes with someone, it bared its teeth, which sent one child in the front row scrambling behind their mother in alarm.

“Stay still.”

Yuk Beom pushed his finger against the creature’s forehead.
Kkamangi huffed in displeasure but stopped menacing the onlookers.
Above the Tea House, Yuk Ho gripped the railing tightly.

“Will it be alright to let him go in like that?”

Yuk Ho Yeon did not answer. His eyes remained fixed on Yuk Beom, but his other hand still rested on an unopened case.
Yuk Beom entered the test grounds as promised the night before—without asking for anyone’s help.
Yuk Ho Yeon withdrew his hand from the case.

“Still, we cannot know what Gwak Jin Hyeok might do.”
“That’s precisely why we’re watching. If he falls, we catch him. If he stands, we trust him to the end.”

In the Observation Room of the Mak Family across the way, the mood was entirely different.
Mak Rim leaned against the railing with a sneer.

“He actually came. Walked right in to bring shame upon himself, all for the sake of protecting family wealth.”

Just then, Mak Un Bi entered the Observation Room with a man dressed in white robes.

“Father, I’ve brought the Flame Practitioner.”

It was Jo Uk.
Mak Cheon extended his hand in greeting, but Jo Uk looked past the gesture, his gaze dropping to the Plaza below.

“Is that Yuk Beom?”
“It is.”
“His energy is… peculiar.”

Jo Uk’s eyes narrowed. The force resembled a Martial Artist’s Gangjing, yet its texture was different.
Mak Cheon smiled and spoke.

“He’ll be expelled soon enough. No need to concern yourself with him.”
“Expelled?”
“Instructor Gwak will handle it.”

Mak Cheon gave a slight nod toward Gwak Jin Hyeok in the Plaza below.
Gwak Jin Hyeok, seated beside the Black Stone, caught the signal. He turned his gaze to the two instructors beside him.

“His energy doesn’t seem quite normal, does it?”

The two men exchanged a glance.
Yuk Beom had not yet touched the Black Stone. There was no basis on which to judge what was normal and what was not.
But the intent of the selection administrator was unmistakable.

“It’s certainly unlike ordinary Gangjing.”
“There’s a possibility of murky energy mixed in, wouldn’t you say?”

Gwak Jin Hyeok’s mouth relaxed into a smile.
Yuk Beom wrote his name at the reception desk and waited his turn. When he set Kkamangi on the ground, it settled at his feet, watchful of its surroundings.
The Black Stone of the previous applicant displayed “Soft Body Realm, Sixth Stage,” though applause was sparse. The crowd’s attention remained fixed on Yuk Beom at the end of the line.

“He beat Jang Wol Ham at the Seoshan hunting competition, so he’s surpassed the Soft Body Realm Ninth Stage, hasn’t he?”
“Jang Wol Ham had already developed Gangjing by then, though.”
“So Yuk Beom has also reached the Inner Gangjing Realm?”

“A year ago he was at the third stage of the Soft Body Realm. Does that make any sense?”

Whispers rippled through the crowd, feeding on themselves.
Jang Wol Ham watched Yuk Beom’s back, her lips pressed tight. His presence was far more formidable than when they’d met in Seoshan.
Finally, the official called out another name.

“Next, Yuk Beom!”

The Plaza fell silent.
Yuk Beom stepped toward the Black Stone. Countless eyes drilled into his back, but he kept his gaze fixed on the center of the rock alone.

Kkamangi let out a short cry from behind him.
Yuk Beom waved once in the creature’s direction, then extended his fist.
Not even the sound of parting air could be heard.
Crack!
Black fissures spiderwebbed across the stone from the point of impact.
In the next instant, the Black Stone blazed with blinding golden light. Those in the front rows shielded their eyes with their arms, and even the instructors rose from their seats.
But the character denoting the Realm did not appear within the light.
When the golden radiance faded, the Black Stone lay completely shattered, its surface webbed with cracks.
Someone swallowed hard.

“The character… it didn’t show up.”
“Does that mean there’s no Realm?”
“After shattering the stone like that?”

An elderly martial artist in the front shook his head.

“The stone couldn’t read it. That boy has already surpassed the Soft Body Realm.”

Those words became kindling.

“He’s reached the Inner Gangjing Realm!”
“Yuk Beom has manifested Strong Energy!”

The tea cup shattered in Mak Cheon’s grip.
Mak Un Bi stepped closer toward the Railing. Even he had barely crossed the threshold of the Inner Gangjing Realm with Jo Uk’s elixir, yet Yuk Beom stood there as if it were nothing.
Jo Uk beside him muttered something low.

“That’s not the simple presence of the Inner Gangjing Realm…”
“What did you say?”

When Mak Cheon asked, Jo Uk did not answer.
Yuk Myeong gripped the Railing with a rigid expression. His doubts from the night before wavered in the face of the stone’s golden light.
Yuk Ho Yeon burst into laughter first.

“Hahahaha! The Yuk Clan has given birth to another martial artist of the Inner Gangjing Realm!”

His laughter was followed by cheers from the Yuk Clan members.
Yuk Beom withdrew his fist from the fractured Black Stone. He hadn’t used much force at all. The threshold of the Inner Gangjing Realm was already ground he had left behind.
Gwak Jin Hyeok’s hand pressed the Medicine Bottle hidden in his robes.
Any applicant who manifested Strong Energy before turning eighteen passed without further examination. With this many witnesses, he couldn’t force a failure without putting himself in danger.
Gwak Jin Hyeok rose from his seat.

“Wait.”

The cheers gradually subsided.
Yuk Beom turned as if he’d expected this.
Gwak Jin Hyeok descended the stairs and spoke.

“So you’re Yuk Beom?”
“You already knew that, didn’t you?”

Laughter rippled through the Plaza.
Gwak Jin Hyeok’s mouth tightened.

“Last year you were at the third stage of the Soft Body Realm, I heard. Yet in just one year you’ve reached a stage even the Black Stone can’t read?”

Something shifted in Yuk Beom’s gaze.

“You say you’re seeing me for the first time, yet you know my realm from last year quite well.”

The laughter swelled louder.
Mak Cheon’s face darkened. With a single sentence, Yuk Beom had exposed the fact that Gwak Jin Hyeok had received information from the Mak Family.

“Stop playing with words.”

Gwak Jin Hyeok circled slowly around Yuk Beom, ostensibly examining him.

“Your energy is impure. There’s something mixed in with it besides a martial artist’s Gangjing.”

Yuk Beom read what Gwak Jin Hyeok intended to create before understanding what he actually saw.

“So you’ll call it Sorcery?”

Gwak Jin Hyeok’s steps halted.

“I’m simply going to verify the possibility.”
“Do you have evidence?”
“Do you have evidence that such growth in a single year came from proper cultivation?”

Gwak Jin Hyeok raised his voice so the crowd could hear.

“There are any number of forbidden methods—blood sacrifice, stealing another’s strength, and more. The Martial Arts Academy does not admit such people.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd. The martial artists who had witnessed the Seoshan hunting competition directly pushed back at once.

“Would someone who only inflated his body with Sorcery have defeated Jang Wol Ham?”
“Making accusations without proof.”
“Is this what an Academy instructor should do?”

Yuk Beom stepped forward instead.

“How do you plan to verify it?”
“Properly built Gangjing is solid and has deep roots. Once you take a genuine Inner Qi Realm martial artist’s attack, it will be clear whether your strength is just a shell or real.”

Gwak Jin Hyeok gestured to an instructor beside him.

“Withstand Three Moves from Instructor Wan Je. If you endure, I’ll acknowledge your talent.”

Just as Wan Je rose from his seat, Yuk Beom raised his hand.

“Why have someone else do it?”

A sneer flickered in Gwak Jin Hyeok’s eyes.

“Already frightened?”
“It’s Gwak Jin Hyeok you suspect, isn’t it?”

Yuk Beom looked squarely at Gwak Jin Hyeok.

“Come out here yourself.”

A brief silence fell across the Plaza.
Yuk Beom didn’t stop there.

“And if I withstand three strikes, you must retract what you said about sorcery yourself.”

Gwak Jin Hyeok’s eyes turned cold.

“You want an apology?”
“Everyone heard you.”

Yuk Beom glanced around once.

“If I’m wrong, you should apologize.”

Gwak Jin Hyeok surveyed the crowd filling the Plaza, then forced a smile.

“Fine.”
“You’ve made a promise.”
“If you’re still standing after three strikes, I’ll apologize myself.”

People stepped back in all directions.
Yuk Ho Yeon’s expression grew grave.

“Gwak Jin Hyeok is at the ninth stage of the Inner Qi Realm.”
“Yuk Beom challenged him first.”

Though Yuk Ho spoke those words, his knuckles where he gripped the railing had gone white.
Across the way, Mak Un Bi laughed.

“Gwak won’t take it easy from the first strike.”

Mak Cheon flicked a piece of broken teacup onto the table.

“Will three strikes even be necessary?”

Jang Am quietly asked his daughter.

“Can Yuk Beom hold out?”

Jang Wol Ham hesitated before answering.

“Gwak isn’t weak.”

In the end, Jang Wol Ham spoke only of her opponent’s strength, not of Yuk Beom’s chances.
In the center of the Plaza, Gwak Jin Hyeok rolled up his sleeves.

“Draw your Strong Energy.”

Blue light swirled across his forearms.

“I’m an instructor at this Academy. I won’t take your life.”

But contrary to his words, the gathered energy held no mercy. He meant to knock Yuk Beom down with the first strike and prove himself right.
Yuk Beom summoned his Fusion Qi
Strong Energy
instead drawing the Weaponless Heavy Sword
from his back.

Thud!
The moment the blade’s tip touched the stone floor, the ground caved inward.
The instant Yuk Beom grasped the hilt and stood, the roaring Plaza fell silent. There was no flashy display of power, yet the air grew heavy—as though a colossal mountain had descended upon the very center of the ground.
Kkamangi sensed the danger and retreated.
Gwak Jin Hyeok’s brow trembled slightly.

‘If I don’t break him now, this will surely come back to haunt me.’

Gwak Jin Hyeok pushed aside his hesitation.

“First move!”

Gwak Jin Hyeok swept through the empty air from ten paces away.
A blue fist-wind roared forward. Dust and stone fragments erupted together, engulfing Yuk Beom.
From Yuk Beom’s body, milky-white flames of Fusion Qi bloomed upward.
He raised the Weaponless Heavy Sword in both hands.

Heavy Sword First Form,
Wind-Splitting Strength!

The dark blade split the wind before him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The compressed fist-winds burst in succession. The split currents poured past Yuk Beom’s sides, scraping the stone floor.
Yuk Beom’s feet dug deep into the ground, yet his upper body never wavered.
As the dust settled, he lifted the blade’s tip.

“One.”

The single word struck Gwak Jin Hyeok’s face like a lash.
Gwak Jin Hyeok launched himself from the ground.
The distance of ten paces vanished in an instant. A fist wrapped in blue Strong Energy crashed directly into the broad face of the Weaponless Heavy Sword.
Clang!
The metallic ring shook the Plaza.
The blade held, but the impact traveled through the hilt into Yuk Beom’s arm and chest. Just as the layered force threatened to shake his meridians, Yuk Beom released his grip.
The Weaponless Heavy Sword spun through the air and drove itself into the stone floor. Half the blade disappeared underground.

“He’s dropped his sword!”

Yuk Ho lurched forward.
A smile spread across Mak Un Bi’s face once more.
But Yuk Beom had not retreated—he had simply released the sword to let the impact pass through him harmlessly.
In exchange, his chest lay completely open.
There was no reason to waste such an opportunity.
Gwak Jin Hyeok did not pull back his fist after the second strike. He spiraled Strong Energy along his entire arm and drove half a step deeper into the gap.

Third move! Splitting Wind Spiral Circular Fist!

A wind that roared like a tiger rose up.
The spiral fist-force bore down upon Yuk Beom’s chest. He had no weapon, no room to fall back.
But in the moment he broke free from the Weaponless Heavy Sword’s weight, the Fusion Qi that had been compressed inside his body was detonating.
Milky-white flames swept across his entire frame in an instant.
Yuk Beom did not dodge.
Instead, he stepped forward and drove his right fist straight ahead.

“Destruction Collapse Mountain Fist.

”

Just before the two fists collided, his power compressed into a single point.

“Burst!”

The Plaza floor exploded outward.
The shockwave rippled in concentric rings, and half of the Black Stone that had already been cracked crumbled to dust. People in the front rows screamed and tumbled backward.
From the center of fire and dust, two shadows emerged.
Yuk Beom stood rooted to his spot.
One step back.
And then another.
The one driven backward was Gwak Jin Hyeok.
His shoes scraped a long mark across the stone floor.
Mak Un Bi’s lips parted.

“That’s impossible…….”

Jo Uk leaned against the Railing. The unease he’d felt moments ago was no mistake.
Yuk Ho released the breath he’d been holding, and Yuk Myeong watched Yuk Beom in silence.
Yuk Beom slowly lowered his fists. He’d poured nearly all of his Fusion Qi out in a single strike. He couldn’t have repeated the same attack immediately.
But it was enough to survive the Three Strikes.

“Three Strikes, complete.”

Gwak Jin Hyeok looked down at his own feet, his face hardened.
He—at the ninth stage of the Inner Qi Realm—had failed to strike down a mere applicant. In that final collision, he’d been driven back in front of everyone.
He gritted his teeth and pulled a Purple Jade Token from his robes, flinging it down.

“Your Admission Token.”

Yuk Beom caught the token.

“Bring that to the Academy, and you’re in.”

Gwak Jin Hyeok turned without lingering. His mind burned with fury toward the Mak Family. He’d never heard mention of an opponent like this.
The moment he took a step, Yuk Beom’s voice caught him at the back.

“Instructor Gwak.”

He stopped.
Yuk Beom held the Admission Token in his hand, watching him.

“It’s not over yet.”

The gathered crowd fell silent again.

“You owe me an apology.”

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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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