Chapter 81: It's Shameful to Run Away, but It Can Save Your Life

It was something that happened from time to time.

There were times when you felt like a person had completely changed for some reason.

No matter how much you beat someone, they wouldn't change.

People can't be fixed.

'It's about the opportunity.'

With the right opportunity, people could change.

Some seemed to change due to opportunities, while others didn't.

People were meant to change as long as they had the will to improve.

And the younger they were, the more trivial the opportunity might seem.

"Can you teach me?"

Those were Seon Woohyeon's words.

It wasn't the provocative look that he usually gave me.

A mix of various emotions like resignation, self-contempt, enlightenment, and disheartenment.

A gaze filled with all sorts of emotions.

It was nothing special.

When I split the internal elixir I made in half, divided one half into ten pieces, and told the others to consume it, Seon Woohyeon spoke to me.

"What?"

"…Various things."

Seon Woohyeon was sparing with his words.

It seemed he didn't want to discuss the Heaven-Surrendering Godly Technique here.

I looked at Seon Woohyeon.

He was a regressor.

That was certain.

But I didn't understand.

'The Celestial Gods—Why did they have him regress?'

There didn't seem to be anything particularly special about him.

Reversing time was an act with much greater risks compared to the return.

But did they really have to send Seon Woohyeon back?

'There are plenty of other kids.'

I didn't call Seon Woohyeonn a lower rank in our class for no reason.

He was strong and had his talents, but…

'How to explain…'

Should I say he had a talent for disappointing expectations?

How about Yoo Eunchae, in comparison?

She was able to handle all traits while managing their compatibilities.

But she also caused the most trouble.

'This is more important than I thought.'

Her actions were unpredictable even to me—truly unexpected.

Whether in a good or bad sense, she did such things without a care.

Yoo Eunchae was hard to predict.

And if I found her hard to predict, others would, too.

She would be quite an interesting variable.

'When she first caught White-Faced Golden Fur, she did something quite interesting.'

Right before coming here, I saw them fighting.

To be more precise, I read the 'record' of their fight.

With my eyes closed for a moment, I could feel Seon Woohyeon's emotions.

I sensed his anxiousness.

After considering for a moment, I nodded.

"Let's do that."

"…!"

Seon Woohyeon looked at me with a surprised expression.

"But you won't be able to learn the Heaven-Surrendering Godly Technique that I have."

"…What do you mean I can't learn it?"

"This is something that even the guy specialized in copying couldn't master."

"…?"

Seon Woohyeon tilted his head in confusion.

Did he not mention his power?

'Has it changed?'

That guy used to boast about his power proudly.

When he was in the martial world, he would directly 'copy' others' martial arts and break their mental strength.

So his nickname was Thieving Martial God.

He stole all sorts of techniques—a master at stealing others' martial arts.

I was called the Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor or the Blue-Eyed Martial Emperor, but before that, I was known as a playboy.

'…I should have acted that way from the start.'

If I had, I wouldn't have become an enemy of the orthodox sects by being called a 'pretty-faced playboy' or whatever.

Well, it was rather meaningless now, though.

"The Heaven-Surrendering Godly Technique I possess… requires at least someone talented in both magic and martial arts."

"Well, despite how I look, I do have talent…"

"No, you don't."

I said, looking at Seon Woohyeon.

"Someone with talent by my standards is someone who can become a transcendent based on talent alone."

"…That's…"

That was what it meant to be talented, by my standards.

Someone talented in magic or martial arts.

Even with a basic technique found on the streets or a simple circle method, someone could walk the path of transcendence.

That was what I called talented.

'There are more than you'd think.'

After awakening my Heavenly Eyes, I realized that countless people couldn't walk the path of transcendence simply because they chose the wrong aptitude.

They couldn't rise higher because they lacked effort or resources.

Many could try, but they could only reach as far as their talent allowed.

And as I see it, Seon Woohyeon is.

'Neither here nor there.'

To some, Seon Woohyeon was known as the Chosen One.

It wasn't wrong.

To ordinary people, he was indeed a chosen person.

He knew both sword and magic and could wield them simultaneously.

At first glance, it looked really cool.

'In reality, he isn't proficient in either.'

For someone like him, he lacks willpower and tenacity.

If you were challenged once, you had to do it no matter what, and if you aimed to see the end, you had to see it no matter what.

But this guy was a mess in everything.

After being challenged just a few times, he becomes compliant after getting hit.

Even when he tried to see something through to the end, his finish was sloppy.

So I was puzzled.

'What on earth did Yoo Eunchae see in him to call him a psychopath?'

He seemed to have something done something.

But in the end, he was an empty shell.

That was my evaluation of Seon Woohyeon.

"Well, I'll let you know about that later."

I threw the ashen granules to Seon Woohyeonn.

"For now, just take the elixir."

Only then can we proceed to the next step.

I distributed the elixir.

I made sure everyone took their turn, one by one.

"But this is that person's blood and…"

"If you don't want to take it, then don't."

"No, I'll definitely take it!"

Yoo Eunchae made a disgusted face but quickly took the split elixir.

The elixir's effect is extraordinary.

Normally, splitting something like this reduces its potency to less than half, and splitting it into ten pieces makes it almost ineffective.

'But it's me, right?'

The elixir originated from me.

Great Sky Dancing Divine Mantra.

The purest qi from the Great Sky.

It was much better than I had thought.

[The Fragment of ???? (A)

]It contains the most pure qi of heaven and earth.Split in half, then divide into ten pieces again.The effect is extremely minimal compared to the original.

Magic power +5 increases.

The body transforms harmoniously.

Trait, Golden Ratio Body (A) is created.

Trait, Pure Magic (A+) is unlocked.

If there is no magic power, Pure Strength (A) is gained.

Split in half and divided into 10 pieces.

It still exhibited this level of effect.

According to Yoo Eunchae, pure magic is an A+ grade trait but is far better than most S-grade traits.

[Pure Magic (A+)]

Obtains the purest magic power.

The efficiency of all magic-related powers doubles.

Simple, but its effect wasn't simple.

'But I can already feel it.'

Rather, it was a bit puzzling.

Only twice as much?

'Is it because it's A-grade?'

The effect wasn't as good as expected.

Anyway, I looked at my elixir.

A half-split ashen elixir.

This is the effect of a half-elixir.

[The Divided Energy of ???? (S)]

It contains only the purest qi of heaven and earth.

It has been split in half.

The effect is minimal compared to the original, but it is still an irreplaceable elixir.

- Magic power +20 increases.

- The body is newly transformed.

- Trait, Lightning of Destruction (S+) is unlocked.

'Lightning of Destruction.'

It seemed to bring the power of Divine Thunderbolt.

'Do I need this?'

These days, a new concern has arisen.

My vessel was really large, causing it to be difficult for it to become filled.

However, my Unique Trait, Eternity, and the traits I possess were enough to fill that capacity.

To be precise, it was just a judgment based on the appearance of my body.

'Honestly, if I awaken each one, there shouldn't be any problem.'

Just like when I obtained Space Blade, I'll think about that later.

'First, let's take the elixir.'

I swallowed the elixir.

[You have acquired the trait Lightning of Destruction (S+).]

"Are you awake?"

When I quietly woke up after taking the elixir, I saw a man who looked like a hearty fellow.

'Did they say he serves the God of Lightning?'

He was quite a noticeable figure.

He had a decent level of talent and was memorable because he stood out.

"I have something to tell you about this incident."

"What?"

"There must be many things you want to ask, but what Professor Han Seojin desires is compensation, right?"

Zeronis went straight to the point.

"First of all, the Celestial Gods want you. No matter which temple you go to…"

"That's not necessary."

"…I thought so."

I looked at Zeronis with surprised eyes at his quick concession.

Usually, those who serve gods in temples tend to be quite stubborn.

"First, I would like to ask you something. Do you desire honor, or do you desire something more practical?"

Zeronis's words reeked of cunning.

Still, I was going to hear him out.

"What is it?"

"The Celestial Gods are satisfied with your accomplishments. If you desire compensation, they will surely provide ample rewards."

"Aha."

Hearing that much, I roughly understood.

"They're going to handle it here and give me additional compensation?"

"…Yes, that's correct."

Zeronis said apologetically.

But I welcomed it.

'I might end up with more enemies anyway.'

If it were known that I resolved everything here, there would be plenty of people finding fault.

Humans were beings trapped in preconceptions more than you think.

'They might say I used some strange trick.'

This was a world where many people refused to accept the truth, no matter what evidence was presented.

And those who picked a fight, claiming they didn't believe it at all.

Those types decreased as you went higher up, but they weren't absent.

"I'll choose practicality."

I stood up.

"Handle the reward as you see fit."

"Understood. And there's one more thing."

"What is it?"

"The principal contacted me."

"The principal? Why would the principal…"

Instinctively, I felt like I was about to get involved in something extremely troublesome.

'Is it because of that place?'

Eyes that distinguished heaven and earth.

They were the highest evolutionary form of the Heavenly Eyes.

In that state, I saw certain the Celestial Gods.

And Duke of Extermination and Heavenly Demon.

'There were also plenty of transcendent beings.'

It seemed like even the Dukes of the Empire might be there.

And I think I saw that subordinate from the Martial Arts World, from the Ming Cult.

'…If worse comes to worst, I should flee quickly.'

No matter how influential the principal was, she wouldn't be able to protect me from all of them.

And there was another problem.

The Heavenly Demon and the Duke of Extermination.

If those two met, who knew what kind of chaos would unfold?