Ultimate Martial Venerable - Chapter 60

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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 60. I’ll end this first
“That’s fine fist technique.”

Before Yuk Beom could finish his praise, Hwan Wol’s palm struck his back.
Slap!

“Fine? What’s fine about it? You stand there with your eyes closed for ages—what am I supposed to do?”
“I was studying the Formless Fist

technique.”
“I can tell by looking. You’ve got yours now, and here I am with empty hands.”

Hwan Wol seized Yuk Beom’s shoulder and forced his body to turn.

“You’re rested now, right? Let’s go again.”
“I just took a sword of light.”
“That’s why I asked—if you were rested.”

Yuk Beom checked his internal state. His Fusion Strong Energy was recovering swiftly. Nearly half had returned in the brief interval, but the residual impact lodged in his scale-armor had not entirely faded.

“If I wait a little longer—”
“What if your four hours end while you’re waiting?”

Hwan Wol rolled up her sleeves.

“This time I’ll draw faster. I know the trick now.”
“Even last time, I said we were almost done. Several times.”
“When people undertake great deeds, their calculations can slip a little here and there.”

Hwan Wol dismissed it casually and glanced up at the Martial Arts Star River

above them.
Yuk Beom could not delay any further. The time remaining to him was not infinite like hers. After drawing out her martial art, he still had to choose one to give to Young Yo on the level below.

“Please draw it faster this time.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll pick something bigger than last time.”
“Are you listening to what I’m saying?”
“Yes. Pick something good fast.”

Hwan Wol broke into a wide smile.
Yuk Beom abandoned explanation and raised the Weaponless Heavy Sword.

Black and white light bloomed at Hwan Wol’s feet. As Yin-Yang Energy surged up, red Strong Energy wrapped her entire form, transforming it into a lotus-like defense. Petals like those layered by flame wrapped her shoulders and waist, and intricate patterns writhed across their surface.

Yuk Beom’s eyes shifted.
Hwan Wol’s momentum had far surpassed the first or second tier of the External Force Realm.

At least the third tier. Her growth in scarcely half a year was almost unbelievable.

“Why are you staring like that?”
“Your realm has risen considerably.”
“Finally figured it out?”

Hwan Wol lifted her chin.

“You’d better stop underestimating me.”
“I’ve never called you that.”
“You can start now.”
“I’d rather not.”
“How petty. And no manners either.”

Hwan Wol grumbled, though she couldn’t hide her pleased smile. As she swung her hand, a crimson whip made of Gangjing drove deep into the star-river.
This time, the star she’d chosen was larger than the previous one.

“Got it!”

The moment the whip wrapped around the star, a vortex erupted across the entire Martial Arts Star River.
Yuk Beom immediately raised his Weaponless Heavy Sword like a shield.
Dozens of swords of light poured down.
Clang-clang-clang!
The attack pattern matched the first time—a frontal assault, then part of it splitting left and right to strike from behind. Having experienced it once, Yuk Beom didn’t panic. He blocked the frontal strikes with his Weaponless Heavy Sword, twisted his body, and caught the returning blade-strikes with the broad side of the blade.

“Hwan Wol, hurry.”
“I’m pulling!”
“Your hands should move faster than your mouth.”
“Want to get hit?”
“I’m already getting hit plenty.”

Hwan Wol clenched her teeth. The black and white light grew brighter, and the red whip pulled taut. The edge of a book began to emerge rapidly from within the star.
The swords of light wheeled back again.
Instead of retreating behind Hwan Wol, Yuk Beom swung his Weaponless Heavy Sword in a wide arc, batting away all the blade-strikes coming from behind in one motion. His arm went numb from the impact, but this time he didn’t need to give ground.

“You’re blocking well this time!”
“You’re a bit faster this time too.”
“A bit?”
“It’s a compliment.”
“We’ll talk about it when this is over.”

Hwan Wol pulled the whip with all her strength.
The book tore free from the star completely.
The swords of light vanished at once, and the roiling star-river returned to stillness. Hwan Wol gathered in the whip and caught the book in her hands.
Her eyes gleamed as she saw the cover.

“Divine Spirit Thousand Phantom Secret.”

As Hwan Wol flipped through the pages, the corners of her mouth climbed higher and higher.

“Excellent. This one’s mine.”
“Is this the Movement Technique you were looking for?”
“Not just the Movement Technique. There are methods here for distinguishing illusion from true spirit-form as well.”

Hwan Wol opened to the final page and examined a line of red characters.

“Designated Martial Art grade, and this tower has something worth using after all.”

Yuk Beom extended his hand.

“You’ll need to unfold it to study it.”
“Who said I’m studying it here?”

Hwan Wol cradled the book against her chest.

“I’m taking it with me.”
“Designated Martial Arts can’t be brought outside the tower, can they?”
“So I just need to get permission.”

She unwound a pristine jade pendant from the crimson thread binding her wrist.

Its surface was densely carved with intricate formation patterns.
When Hwan Wol channeled her Strong Energy into the pendant, a hazy face materialized above it.
An old man with a weathered, lined face.
Hwan Wol called out without hesitation.

“Old Master! I found the martial art. Can I just take this with me?”

The old man inside the pendant exhaled deeply.

“If you wish to learn, study it there and then. Why must you take the manual with you?”
“I don’t like it when other people use exactly what I’ve learned.”
“The Academy’s martial arts are not your private property.”
“I’ll return it once I’ve mastered it.”

Hwan Wol continued without so much as blinking.

“Maybe.”

Deep creases formed across the old man’s brow.
Yuk Beom studied the face inside the pendant carefully. Something about it felt familiar, as though he’d seen it somewhere in the Academy before, but Hwan Wol gave him no opening to ask, her words tumbling out relentlessly.

“I can teach my younger brother, show it to the pigs we raise at home. Good things should be shared, right?”
“You intend to teach the pigs your Designated Martial Art?”
“They might learn faster than I do.”

The old man finally shook his head.

“Do as you please.”

A beam of light shot from the pendant and sank into the Divine Spirit Thousand Phantom Secret.

The crimson pattern carved on the final page rose into the void and vanished without a trace.
Hwan Wol smiled with satisfaction.

“Exactly. Communication works.”

When she pressed the manual against the crimson thread at her wrist, the Divine Spirit Thousand Phantom Secret was sucked straight in.

It appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary thread, but it was unmistakably a Void Item.

Hwan Wol tapped the Golden Marionette’s head a few times with her foot.

“That’s everything. Let us out now.”

Yuk Beom stopped her immediately.

“Not yet.”
“What? You got what you wanted, and I got what I wanted.”
“I need to select a few more volumes from the lower floors.”

Incomprehension flickered across Hwan Wol’s face.

“Spirit-rank martial arts? Why would you want those?”
“I have a use for them.”

There were plenty of people in the clan who could make use of it. Above all, he’d promised Young Yo that he would choose a martial art for her. He couldn’t simply take only his and Hwan Wol’s selections and leave.
Hwan Wol stared at Yuk Beom’s face for a moment, then waved her hand dismissively.

“Fine, I’ll come with you. I can’t bear to watch you spend all day deliberating.”

She jumped down from the Golden Marionette’s head, then suddenly paused.

“Oh, that’s right.”

Hwan Wol pulled a gleaming jewel from the Void Floating Repository and tossed it to the Golden Marionette.
The marionette caught it awkwardly.

A Formation Treasure Stone.

“Your head may be round as a melon, but you listen well, so here’s a gift. Practice shaping your form before we visit next time.”

The Golden Marionette’s eyes fixed on the jewel.

“Is this for me?”
“Return it if you don’t want it.”

The marionette immediately placed the stone in its mouth. As golden light swept across its entire body, it rose to its feet and bowed deeply toward Hwan Wol.

“I await your next visit.”
“See? Give it a gift and suddenly it speaks prettily.”

Hwan Wol laughed loudly.
Yuk Beom was at a loss for words—the shift in the marionette’s demeanor was striking, given that she’d been stepping on its head moments before.
The two descended to the lower level. Unlike their ascent, the path down held no barriers or oppressive force.
Upon reaching the 5th Floor, Yuk Beom began searching through the Dark Underworld Fire collection.

“What are you looking for?”
“A martial art well-suited for a woman to cultivate.”

Hwan Wol’s eyes narrowed.

“For whom?”
“Young Yo.”
“Ah, that woman from before?”

A playful smile tugged at Hwan Wol’s lips.

“You even made a promise?”
“I told her I would choose a martial art for her.”
“That’s all?”

Yuk Beom didn’t answer.

“Not answering means there’s more.”
“Time is running short.”

Hwan Wol chuckled even as she genuinely helped him select a martial art. After examining several texts, the two found the Mystic Sound Secret, which suited Young Yo’s natural talent for music.

Yuk Beom placed the book in the Void Floating Repository.
Hwan Wol tilted her head quizzically.

“You’ve already picked one for Young Yo. What, you’re going back down?”
“I need to bring something back to my family.”
“Your family doesn’t have Spirit-rank martial arts?”
“The highest technique in our family records is only low-grade Spirit-rank.”

For Hwan Wol, such a grade might have been unremarkable. But for Yuk Beom, it was different. A single martial art could reshape the strength of his family and the futures of those who came after him. This wasn’t something that ended once he alone had grown strong.
Hwan Wol regarded Yuk Beom for a moment, then turned and descended the stairs ahead of him.

“Then choose quickly. I’ll carry the heavier ones for you.”

On the Third Floor and 4th Floor, they each claimed another Spirit-rank martial art. On the 4th Floor, they encountered Bong Hwa, who had yet to acquire any technique and was still searching. When Yuk Beom selected a martial art with ease under Hwan Wol’s assistance, Bong Hwa’s expression froze cold.
Yuk Beom said nothing.
The two of them checked the remaining time, then headed directly toward the tower’s exit.
White light enveloped their bodies.
His vision shifted, and the cold air of the outside world brushed against his face.

“Yuk Beom!”

A desperate cry struck his ears.
Yuk Beom turned his head.
Young Yo stood held fast by Yeon Yeon. Nyeong Han was laughing beside them, and an unfamiliar man held the Jade Water Long Sky Sword in his hand, running his fingers along the blade.

A short distance away, Han Pung lay collapsed in a pool of blood.
The smile vanished from Yuk Beom’s face.

“Young Yo. Han Pung.”

He approached Han Pung and helped him to his feet.
Han Pung was conscious. But the moment he saw Yuk Beom, he pointed at the stranger’s hand before his own wounds.

“Yuk Beom… my Jade Water Long Sky Sword.”

Yuk Beom pressed a Healing Pill into Han Pung’s hands and stood.

“Who are you?”

The man flicked the flat of the blade with his finger.

“Oo Shim.”

A clear, bright ring sang from the steel.

“The sword pleases me. It’s mine now.”

Hwan Wol’s eyebrows rose slightly.
Nyeong Han stepped forward as if he’d been waiting for this.

“Yuk Beom. You took longer than expected.”

His gaze swept across Yuk Beom’s Void Floating Repository and then to Hwan Wol.

“You have two choices. Either hand over everything you obtained in the tower and all your possessions, and kneel.”

His smile deepened.

“Or have your limbs broken here.”

Yuk Beom looked around. This wasn’t the Plaza in front of the Training Tower. It was the exit at the rear of the tower, and not a single other disciple was visible anywhere.

“I’ve heard there are instructors patrolling Gambo Mountain.”
“Out front, yes.”
​
Nyeong Han shrugged.
​
“This exit is known only to those who’ve passed through the Training Tower. Even if you screamed, no one would come running.”
​
He gestured toward Oo Shim.
​
“And this gentleman ranks nineteenth on the Martial Ranking List. I’ve heard you defeated Jogrwal, but that changes nothing at this level.”
​
Nyeong Han’s gaze shifted to Hwan Wol.
​
“As for the young lady, I’d suggest you step back. Blood is so difficult to wash from fine garments.”
​
He smiled and extended his hand.
​
“If you’re frightened, stand behind me. I’ll protect you.”
​
Hwan Wol smiled in return.
But her eyes held no warmth whatsoever.
​
“Yuk Beom.”
“Yes?”
“Can I hit that one?”
​
She jerked her chin toward Nyeong Han.
​
“Listening to him talk makes my skin crawl.”
​
Yuk Beom drew the Weaponless Heavy Sword.
The blade’s edge scraped across the floor with a low, grinding sound.
​
“Do as you wish.”
​
Yuk Beom’s gaze locked onto Nyeong Han.
​
“But I’ll be the one to finish this first.”

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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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