Chapter 20

Chapter 19. The Mysterious Masters (1)

[You have obtained a piece of the treasure map. 7/7]

"Damn brat."

Seohui frowned as he looked at Guyeom, who was slumped over.

The last one was really tough.

He could somehow understand hiding it in the soles of shoes or the crotch.

But putting it in the buttocks or anus was something he couldn't help but curse about.

[<Completed> You have collected all 7 pieces of the Muwandao treasure map.]

Swish.

As Seohui laid all the pieces of the treasure map on the floor, another message appeared.

He didn't know how this guy managed to get it, but the map clearly showed the locations of the treasures in seven buildings.

After putting six pieces into his tool box, Seohui examined the map of this place.

"Huh? Now that I think about it..."

His head naturally turned to the side.

The current location.

If he wasn't mistaken, there was a treasure mark under the wardrobe.

"Aha, that's why I was struggling here."

Only then did Seohui understand why he had been struggling here.

The map clearly indicated there was a treasure, but there was none, only a piece of candy.

"Someone must have taken it quickly."

Seohui put the map into his tool box.

He did this to prevent any unfortunate accidents like losing or damaging it while carrying it around.

Even if he failed this time, he wanted to keep it safe for the next life.

This time, the bamboo piece of the body (身) he obtained from Guyeom did not go into the tool box.

It would have been great if it did.

Still, he managed to get one piece of the body (身) bamboo.

* * *

The first treasure was found in Room 6, centered around the third-floor staircase.

[You have obtained the "Secret of Transmitting Sound into Secrets" manual.]

The treasure was a secret manual.

In a life-or-death situation like this, a secret manual is usually not very good.

It takes time to master.

However.

Swish.

In Seohui's mind, the structure and method of using the secret sound transmission technique naturally came to mind.

The speed of learning itself was an absolute stroke of luck.

[You have mastered "Secret of Transmitting Sound into Secrets."]

'Wow!'

Seohui was simply amazed.

If the conditions were met, no matter how complex the martial art, he could master it instantly.

Skipping the process of learning martial arts.

In such a situation, a secret manual was definitely a great help.

* * *

The second treasure was in Room 9 on the third floor.

This was a martial arts manual hidden behind a wardrobe.

[You have obtained the "Iron Horse Poison Technique" manual.]

This time, it was a method for making poison.

Although he didn't think it was very necessary in the current situation,

[You have mastered the "Iron Horse Poison Technique."]

he still learned it because it was useful to have.

Seohui moved to the next room.

* * *

The third treasure was in Room 12, the last one.

It was in a really hard-to-find spot.

It only fell down after breaking through the ceiling.

[You have obtained the "Advanced Fist Devil Combat Armor" (拳魔鬪鉀).]

'Advanced?'

Seohui was momentarily puzzled.

If it's a treasure, it's a treasure, but what's an advanced treasure?

Is it better than the others?

"It definitely looks a bit extraordinary..."

Light emitted from the treasure several times, befitting its advanced status.

Seohui picked up the Fist Devil Combat Armor.

It was a bit different from the usual hand combat armor that protects the wrist and knuckles.

It had a shape like silver scales, extending from the fingers and wrist to the forearm.

The color was a faint silver, and the material felt like layers of scales.

It was also flexible.

It seemed to stretch to fit the hand.

"Should I try it on?"

Seohui, who had been considering just putting it in the tool box, put on the Fist Devil Combat Armor.

He wanted to know what "advanced" meant.

At that moment.

[You have learned the basic skill "Fist Wind."]

[Your understanding of "Heat Palm" has increased.]

"This feels like I've discovered something incredible..."

Seohui quickly turned his gaze to the detailed view window.

Just in case there was any content.

Fortunately, there was a detailed view.

[Fist Devil Combat Armor]

Description: [Advanced Treasure]

Currently ranked 34th in the Black Sect. A prized possession of the Green Jade Pavilion Master.

40 years ago, it became famous for deflecting a strike from the Huashan Spicy Sword Master and breaking his neck during the Zhengma War.

It was voluntarily offered for the Muwandao initiates.

"Wow... What the hell!"

Seohui was amazed.

He knew there were treasures, but he never imagined there would be something like this.

This was not just a treasure.

The Green Jade Pavilion Master was a figure in the current Black Sect headquarters.

An old man known to be a powerful figure there.

"Are they investing this much to prepare initiates who are ready to die at any moment?"

Seohui briefly thought about Muwandao.

If one had the courage to risk their life and could survive, this place offered the best conditions to become a master.

Now he understood why the treatment of Muwandao graduates was so good.

"Let's move quickly."

According to the treasure map, there were a total of 4 treasures on the third floor. One had already been taken, so he could only get 3.

Seohui was not satisfied with this.

Now was the time to obtain all the treasures.

There were still 3 treasures on the second floor of this building waiting for him.

* * *

When he entered the far right from the second-floor staircase.

Because the building had a 匸-shaped structure, there was no sign of anyone at first, but the sound gradually became noticeable.

Fortunately, the door was open. When he entered, he found someone engaged in a confrontation.

Surprisingly.

There were 4 people.

"Don't bother and go somewhere else, okay?"

"We've learned the qualifying technique. We think it's worth a fight."

"From the looks of it, you're from the Demon Horse Academy. Don't you know their qualifying technique is mediocre?"

"You might really die. If you're not careful, your life could be over."

Each of them spoke in turn.

As Seohui approached a bit more, their stats appeared.

[State Summary, Status Brief Summary]

Wujing [Demon Horse Academy Seven Dragon Team Member]

Health 2,305/2,305

Internal Energy 2,510/2,510

Ganja [Demon Horse Academy Seven Dragon Team Member]

Health 3,203/3,203

Internal Energy 2,920/2,920

Seotae [Red Demon Academy Demon Dragon Team Member]

Health 2,901/2,901

Internal Energy 1,620/1,620

Salyu [Red Demon Academy Demon Dragon Team Member]

Health 4,500/4,500

Internal Energy 4,670/4,670

Demon Horse Academy and Red Demon Academy.

Two of the four pillars supporting the Black Sect headquarters.

Since the Red Demon Academy had the Taihuang Pavilion and the Wuqian Pavilion, they were part of the upper division.

'So that's why they are much stronger than Jie Ming.'

Each member was stronger than Jie Ming, the Black Moon Captain of the Taihuang Pavilion.

Especially Salyu had quite high stats compared to the others.

They were in a standoff.

'Damn, the treasure is right there...'

Seohui was in a dilemma.

He could see the treasure box between them.

Unlike a hidden or casually discarded treasure box, this one looked extraordinary.

It was definitely of a different quality from ordinary treasures.

'What should I do...'

Seohui pondered.

His abilities were definitely higher than theirs.

But not to the point of overwhelming them.

If he was unlucky, he might be taken down before he could defeat them.

Especially those who had learned the qualifying technique would be even more troublesome.

'Hmm.'

Seohui opened his status window to check.

[Value, Stats]

Health 7,306/7,408

Internal Energy 6,800/6,800

With these stats, it was ambiguous.

If attack and defense stats were shown, he could calculate more deeply, but it was disappointing that they didn't appear unless something special happened.

'Huh?'

At that moment, a fight broke out.

One of the Red Demon Academy members made the first move.

"Where are you going!"

Clang!

But the Demon Horse Academy member easily blocked it. Then another one attacked.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sudden fight.

Their movements were gradually speeding up, indicating they were fighting seriously.

'I want to take them all down myself. Is there a way...?'

Seohui thought more.

Theoretically, it was better to act strategically rather than just charging in.

He could just circle around and kill them separately.

But he couldn't easily leave.

Without taking risks, he couldn't become stronger than he thought.

This was Seohui's realization after several deaths.

"Ugh!"

Just then, one of them staggered and grabbed his shoulder.

It was the Demon Horse Academy member marked as "Ganja" in the status window.

And at that moment, something unexpected appeared before his eyes.

[A Perfect Opportunity! You have found a weakness in the Seven Dragon Team Member "Ganja." How will you respond?]

▶ Attack.

▷ Use a martial art.

▷ Use the tool box.

▷ Approach the opponent's vicinity. (New)

'F*ck!'

A curse slipped out.

When Ganja fell, he momentarily thought, "What if now?" and this appeared.

The weakness window appearing now was even more confusing.

'But what's this?'

Seeing the list to approach the opponent's vicinity, Seohui's gaze was drawn to it.

But he had no time to think.

...6 ...5

'I have to choose something.'

Time was still passing, and if he didn't choose anything, it would activate.

Seohui quickly calmed himself.

'Even if I choose to use a martial art and take out one of them, it's only one. There are 4 enemies. Plus, using internal energy will draw all their attention.'

...3 ...2

The more time passed, the more anxious Seohui became.

Even if he attacked, he couldn't guarantee he would take them down in one hit.

'Ah, f*ck! I don't know. Let it be!'

As he lowered his gaze, the choice was naturally applied.

<You have chosen to 'Approach the opponent's vicinity.' [East][West][South][North] Which direction will you move to?>

'Huh? Which direction...?'

Seohui was momentarily stunned by the sudden change.

Time was still frozen.

The 4 enemies were motionless, not even breathing.

There was a peculiar change in the air.

'Hmm. What's this?'

Ganja, who was staggering and holding his shoulder.

Four blue cylinders rose from the ground around him to the ceiling.

'Am I supposed to choose one of these 4?'

It seemed so.

There was a '▼' arrow where Seohui's gaze landed.

And light was emanating from the central pillar.

As if asking him to designate the position he wanted to move to.

'Wow, could this... allow me to move instantly?'

A chill ran down his spine.

The positions were indeed spread out in the four directions.

'Think about it.'

Seohui, relieved that there was no set time, began to carefully examine the surroundings.

From Ganja's position, to the west.

Ten steps away, Salyu was there.

With his superior stats, he had just struck Ganja and was calmly retrieving his sword.

From Ganja's position, to the north.

Wujing, Ganja's teammate, was there.

Seeing his teammate hit, he was extending his sword toward Seotae on the opposite side.

'The east and south directions are stable positions, but...'

East and south.

They were a bit away from Salyu and Seotae, and also about five steps away from Wujing, his teammate.

But choosing a stable position might lead to a cornered situation.

Once he realized his strength, they might suddenly team up and attack.

'I need to kill two of them from different backgrounds simultaneously. That will create confusion.'

The best way to minimize variables.

If one member from each background survived, they wouldn't attack recklessly.

They could turn on each other at any moment.

'Let's go north.'

In the end, he chose a position with some risk.

<You have chosen the 'north direction.' It will proceed immediately.>

In the blink of an eye.

Seohui was already next to Ganja.

"......!"

Ganja turned his head toward Seohui a moment later.

By then, it was too late.

Seohui stabbed him precisely in the chest.

<Perfect hit! The opponent has taken 3,203 critical damage.>

Ganja [Demon Horse Academy Seven Dragon Team Member]

Health 0 (↓3,203)/3,203

He finished him off in one hit.

'...Wow, this...'

Seohui was honestly surprised.

He didn't expect to get so close and so quickly.

And it seemed the others were equally surprised.

"Ugh!"

"Huh!"

"Ah!"

The three of them were startled.

Seohui, pulling his sword out of Ganja's chest, was on guard.

He thought this fight was doable.

No, he was confident.

The special 'divine luck' that had been bestowed upon him.

It was exceeding his expectations.

▶ [A Perfect Opportunity! You have found a weakness in the Seven Dragon Team Member "Wujing." How will you respond?]

▷ [A Perfect Opportunity! You have found a weakness in the Demon Dragon Team Member "Seotae." How will you respond?]

▷ [A Perfect Opportunity! You have found a weakness in the Demon Dragon Team Member "Salyu." How will you respond?]

It was creating an incredible opportunity.