Ultimate Martial Venerable - Chapter 57

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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 57. I’ll Take That
Yuk Beom stared down at the Youmyeonghwa struggling in his palm,

writhing with dark flame.
Black fire surged between his fingers. The heat and repelling force were fierce, yet Yuk Beom’s hand remained steady.
Han Pung alternated his gaze between his own reddened palm and Yuk Beom’s unmarked one.

“It’s a little hot, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I thought my hand was getting burned?”
“Aren’t you simply weaker than average?”
“Youngest. If your senior gets hurt, you should be worried—not looking for chances to jab at him every opportunity you get.”

Han Pung cried out as if aggrieved, but his gaze never left the book lodged deep within the Youmyeonghwa.

“But can you pull that out now?”

Yuk Beom thrust his hand into the flame.
The Youmyeonghwa convulsed more violently. Black fire climbed his wrist and licked at his sleeve, but the Fusion Strong Energy

shoved the heat back immediately. Yuk Beom grasped the book’s edge and drew it out slowly.
Thwack.
The instant the book came free, the Youmyeonghwa scattered like a phantom.
Han Pung closed in as if he’d been waiting for exactly this moment.

“What is it? A Spirit Grade treasure?”

Yuk Beom read the characters written on the cover.

“Flowing Light Body Method.”

“Look at the back. The back matters more than the cover.”

Without waiting for an answer, Han Pung snatched the book and opened the final page. There, two lines of azure patterns were engraved side by side.

“Two lines. Middle grade of Spirit Grade, then.”
“You categorize techniques by their patterns?”
“Every martial art in the academy has a mark. Yellow, azure, crimson, gold. One azure line is lower grade Spirit Grade, two lines are middle, three are upper. From crimson onward, that’s Divine Grade.”

Han Pung clicked his tongue, dissatisfied.

“It’s not bad, but after climbing all this way, leaving with middle grade feels like losing to the stairs themselves.”

Yuk Beom shared the sentiment. The Flowing Light Body Method looked serviceable, but time remained. When he factored in Young Yo’s share, there was no reason to settle for the first book he’d claimed.
The moment he reached his hand toward the Youmyeonghwa again, the White Silver Marionette standing at the center

turned its head.

“One person may claim only one martial art per floor.”

Han Pung’s face hardened.

“Wait. That’s it? Just because we pulled it out?”
“If you do not wish it, discard it. Once the art returns to Youmyeonghwa, you may choose something else.”
“Then that settles it.”

Han Pung quickly returned the book to Yuk Beom.

“Youngest, throw it. Don’t hesitate. A true martial artist doesn’t let his heart be stolen by middle-grade Spirit techniques.”
“A moment ago, you were staring at that cover like you wanted to taste it. You’re hardly the one to lecture me.”
“I was appraising its worth. A discerning eye knows what to discard and what to keep.”

Yuk Beom was about to fling the book when two voices erupted from the side simultaneously.

“Wait!”

They were the man and woman who had arrived on the 5th Floor earlier.
The man stepped forward. His knuckles were swollen and red from repeated burns while handling the Youmyeonghwa, yet his chin remained raised with stubborn pride.

“I’m Geum Bi Wu of Thunder Pavilion Academy. This is Bong Hwa from Gongdongwon. You’ve heard our names, surely?”

Yuk Beom studied the two for a moment.

“I haven’t.”

Han Pung let out a dry chuckle from beside him.

“If someone were truly famous, they wouldn’t need to announce it themselves, would they?”

Bong Hwa shot Han Pung a cold look. Geum Bi Wu made no effort to hide his displeasure, but he swallowed his retort, perhaps recalling that Yuk Beom’s hand had withstood the Youmyeonghwa.

“Which branch are you from?”
“Ilwon Academy. I’m Yuk Beom. This is Han Pung, my senior.”
“Ilwon Academy?”

Geum Bi Wu couldn’t help but repeat it.
Bong Hwa too ran her eyes over Yuk Beom and Han Pung from head to toe.

“Ilwon Academy people can enter the Training Tower?”

Han Pung snorted through his nose.

“The door opened of its own accord when it saw us. Did you two have to bore through the wall to get in?”
“Han Pung.”
“What? I’m simply answering their question courteously.”

Geum Bi Wu decided to ignore Han Pung and turned his gaze back to Yuk Beom.

“Your branch doesn’t matter. You’ve reached the 5th Floor, so you have some skill. If you can endure the Youmyeonghwa, help us with something.”
“What would that be?”
“Retrieve two Spirit Grade martial manuals for us.”

His tone was more command than request.
Geum Bi Wu continued as though this were obviously a reasonable proposal.

“I’m not asking you to do it for nothing. Whatever you want in return — medicine, money, anything — I’ll pay fairly. Coming from Ilwon Academy, you likely lack resources, so this wouldn’t be a bad deal for you.”

Bong Hwa stepped closer beside him.

“Geum Bi Wu and I both rank in the top thirty of the Martial Artist Ranking. If you ever find yourself in trouble at the academy, our names will open doors. Get us those two manuals, and we’ll repay the favor when the time comes.”

It was less an appeal than a declaration.
Yuk Beom answered briefly.

“I don’t need it.”
“Pardon?”
“I need neither money, nor medicine, nor your assistance.”

The faces of both Geum Bi Wu and Bong Hwa hardened at once.
Han Pung continued picking at his nose as he spoke.

“If you’re finished talking, get out of the way. We don’t have time for this. Yuk Beom, forget that mid-grade junk and find us something high-grade.”

Bong Hwa’s voice turned cold.

“You might want to reconsider while I’m still being nice about it.”
“Was I not being nice?”

Han Pung glanced down at his fingers.

“To my ears, it sounded like a beggar picking up a sword and barking orders to do charity work.”
“Watch your tongue.”
“My tongue is my own concern. You’d better watch your hands instead—and try not to char the next batch in the flames.”

Bong Hwa’s face flushed red.
Yuk Beom had no patience for either of them. He hurled the Flowing Light Body Method into the air, and black flames from all around converged to envelope the book. In an instant it transformed into a new Youmyeonghwa, rising toward the ceiling.
That was when Geum Bi Wu seized Yuk Beom’s arm.

“Wait. You’re really going to make enemies of both of us?”

Yuk Beom’s eyes dropped to the hand that gripped him.

“Let go.”
“You think you can handle two people ranked in the top thirty of the Martial Artist Ranking all at once?”

Fusion Strong Energy exploded from Yuk Beom’s arm.
Geum Bi Wu’s hand was thrown back, and his body skidded three full paces across the floor. He grabbed his wrist—now flushed and burning—and stared at Yuk Beom with disbelief written across his face.
Yuk Beom spoke without emotion.

“First, you are not a strong one.”

Geum Bi Wu’s face twisted.

“Second, when a person asks for help, they don’t grab the other’s arm and threaten them.”

Yuk Beom tilted his chin toward Han Pung.

“So I will do as he says. If you need martial arts, take them yourself.”

Han Pung burst out laughing.

“This is why he’s the youngest. The way he talks—I’ve taught him well indeed.”
“I’ve never received such teaching.”
“The virtue of a senior is that you learn it naturally just by standing beside him.”

Geum Bi Wu ground his teeth.

“You’ll regret this.”

Yuk Beom was already studying the Youmyeonghwa suspended in the air above.
Bong Hwa bit her lip, but the Flowing Light Body Method had already dissolved back into flame. Calculating the time remaining, she swept her sleeve and headed down to the lower level.

“We’ll see about that.”

Han Pung shouted after her retreating figure.

“That’s right, watch closely! Next time you’ll have to pay to see this show!”

Geum Bi Wu did not leave. Instead, he watched Yuk Beom’s every move, while Yuk Beom and Han Pung treated him as if he didn’t exist.
Yuk Beom leaped into the air and caught two Youmyeonghwas simultaneously with both hands. Han Pung swiftly unfolded the book he’d pulled from the flames and checked its grade.

“Two blue lines. Mid-grade again.”

The other book was the same.

“Mid-grade again! Where exactly is a Spirit Grade treasure hiding?”

Yuk Beom discarded both volumes without hesitation. The books transformed back into Youmyeonghwas and vanished into the black flames. The same cycle repeated several times over. Yuk Beom would catch, Han Pung would unfold and check, and if mid-grade, he’d send it back at once. Each time the blue marks appeared in pairs, Han Pung cursed as though the world were collapsing.

“Two lines again! Did it really take that much ink to draw that third line?”
“Your shouting won’t make one appear.”
“The martial arts should recognize a person’s desperation.”

Nearly an hour had passed.
Yuk Beom’s gaze fixed on a single flame moving with unusual speed. The way it wove between other Youmyeonghwas, evading his grasp, was remarkable.
He pushed off the ground and launched himself skyward.
The flame twisted and fled. Yuk Beom created a subtle breeze beneath his feet and pushed upward once more in mid-air. It was a movement that borrowed ever so slightly from a Flame Practitioner’s techniques.
His hand snatched the Youmyeonghwa with precision.
Before Yuk Beom could even extract the book, Han Pung came rushing over.

“The swift one is the good one. I’m certain of it. Let me see!”

Yuk Beom pulled the book from the flames. Without bothering to check the cover, he opened it from the last page.
Three blue lines.
Han Pung thrust both arms up.

“Found it! Finally a Spirit Grade treasure!”

Greed flickered across Geum Bi Wu’s eyes as well.
Only then did Yuk Beom check the cover.

“Dragon Yang Body Refinement Art.”

It was martial cultivation meant to temper the body itself.
Yuk Beom’s brow tightened slightly. He already possessed the Blazing Gold Body, and he had the Dragon bloodline’s membrane and scales as well. What he needed now was not another body-refinement technique layering on defense, but a fist method that could merge with the Limitless Evolution Formation and amplify his striking power.

“Body refinement is unnecessary for me.”
“Wait.”

Han Pung took the book almost roughly.

“A Spirit Grade treasure, and you say you don’t need it? One must read the contents and judge accordingly.”

He turned through the pages rapidly. His eyes, serious at first, suddenly froze as he read a particular passage.

‘It invigorates the vital essence and fortifies the Yang force. Upon mastery, one will not collapse even facing a hundred opponents throughout the night.’

Han Pung’s eyes widened.
He looked between the book and Yuk Beom, then clutched it tightly to his chest.

“Youngest.”
“Yes, what is it?”

“I’m taking this.”
“But you said you didn’t need Yeon Che Gong?”
“When did I say that? Yeon Che is the foundation of every martial artist. A strong body gives birth to a strong spirit.”

Han Pung tucked the book deep into his robes, afraid someone might snatch it away.

“As your senior, I wanted to yield to you, but this art chose me. To defy destiny is to invite heaven’s wrath.”

Yuk Beom glanced once at the page Han Pung had opened.
Then he looked away without a word.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s nothing, sir.”
“You were definitely thinking something strange.”
“I was thinking it’s a martial art that suits you perfectly.”

Han Pung’s face brightened.

“I knew you’d recognize it!”

He turned his body so no one could see where he was putting the Dragon Yang Body Refinement Art. A moment later, the book had vanished, yet his robes showed no sign of disturbance.
Yuk Beom didn’t ask where he’d hidden it. Learning the answer would only sour his mood.
Now that Han Pung had secured his martial art, he dusted off his hands with satisfaction.

“Well then, shall we head down and pick up another technique from the 4th Floor? Since there’s one book per floor, if I can grab a Movement Technique for escaping downward, that would be perfect.”

Yuk Beom’s eyes traced the staircase leading upward, not down.
They’d spent half a double-hour reaching the 5th Floor, then another hour searching for the martial arts. Time remained, though not abundantly.

“I’m going to the 6th Floor.”

Han Pung’s laughter died.

“Where are you going?”
“The 6th Floor.”
“Youngest, when your eyes are blinded by a superior art, you lose all judgment. Don’t you feel the energy emanating from those stairs?”

Above the staircase, a fierce wind howled. As they drew closer, the hem of their robes whipped violently.

“I do feel it.”
“And you’re still going up?”
“We have time.”
“You sometimes say the craziest things with such calm that it startles me.”

Yuk Beom drew out the Weaponless Heavy Sword and strapped it across his back.

“Wait here for me, sir.”
“Wait for what? I have to check the techniques on the lower floors too. But if things get dangerous, come back down immediately. Life comes before any art.”

Hearing Han Pung speak with unusual gravity, Yuk Beom gave a short nod.
Geum Bi Wu, watching from the side, let out a bitter laugh.

“The 6th Floor is not a place for you to go.”

He pronounced “Ilwon Academy” with particular clarity.

“If you go up without knowing your place, you’ll be driven out with injuries instead of any art. It would be better to know your station as someone from Ilwon Academy and settle for what’s reasonable.”

Yuk Beom looked at Geum Bi Wu once.
There was no need to answer.
He stepped onto the first staircase leading to the 6th Floor.
Whoosh!
As if waiting for him, a violent gale erupted. The hem of Yuk Beom’s robes and his hair whipped backward with brutal force. His body slid back half a step, yet his feet remained planted on the stone.
Yuk Beom braced himself against the ground with the Weaponless Heavy Sword and straightened his stance.
Then he lifted his foot toward the next step.

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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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