Chapter 13
"If Mr. Lee Seong-jun, the returnee, accepts my request to handle the E-rank gate, I will provide double the usual compensation - 30 million won in cash."
This amount, double the average pay, would have smaller guilds rushing to bid for the gate's rights if offered to them.
For Lee Seong-jun who needed money, it wasn't a bad offer.
'I shouldn't let myself be pulled around for just 30 million won.'
As mentioned before, Lee Seong-jun knew how to increase his own value.
And the most important thing in raising one's value was not showing any weaknesses or gaps to the other party.
If they found out he was currently short on money, they would try to use that in negotiations to cleverly lower his price.
So Lee Seong-jun kept his expression stiff as he spoke.
"Is that all?"
Shadows fell across Jo Gang-hyeon's face at Lee Seong-jun's calm reaction.
'He's caught on properly. He's more skilled at negotiation than I thought.'
His instincts, honed from meeting countless returnees over many years, were telling him.
'Lee Seong-jun is not just some fool who blindly built up strength in the other world.'
He possessed at least above average political sense and negotiation skills as well.
Lee Seong-jun should absolutely not be treated as a fool or taken lightly.
At this point, it didn't even matter if his actual combat abilities were somewhat lower than expected.
'I don't know how many years he spent in the other world, but he has experience that can't be underestimated. That alone will clearly be a big help to us.'
He was a talent that absolutely must not be lost to the Returnee Association.
'And if on top of that, his skills turn out to be at the level that Seong-hun kid mentioned...?'
He felt his mouth go dry without realizing it.
Given that the other party was a returnee, it was quite likely.
'He's a big fish. A historically big fish.'
Having firmly imprinted that fact in his mind, Jo Gang-hyeon bowed his head deeply once again.
"I apologize that the compensation offered is somewhat lacking. Given my current position as team leader, this is the limit of what I can offer. However, I promise you this - I will stake everything I have, and if Mr. Lee Seong-jun successfully passes this test, I will report to my superiors to ensure you receive proper compensation."
At Jo Gang-hyeon's clearly changed attitude, Lee Seong-jun pondered with his hand on his chin.
'I'm not thrilled that the compensation can't be clearly determined, but I think I've squeezed out as much as I can here.'
Given the Hunter Association's status, they would likely provide decent compensation.
In any case, it was an ideal situation for raising his value.
The deadline set by the Hunter Association was 7 days, and going over that would mean failing the test.
Conversely, the more the deadline was shortened, the more his value could skyrocket.
Seeing Lee Seong-jun's lips curving into a smile, Jo Gang-hyeon cautiously asked.
"Do you accept?"
He had been planning to go hunting at gates anyway.
And now he could get additional compensation, as well as obtain a private hunting ground overflowing with monsters.
Moreover, depending on the results, he could even raise his own value.
There was no reason to refuse this proposal that offered three benefits in one.
"Please send the gate location and information on the monsters inside via text message."
* * *
Having finished his conversation with Jo Gang-hyeon, Lee Seong-jun was hurriedly making his way back to the house he had just left.
'It looks like today will be more grueling than I thought.'
This was inevitable, as he needed to firmly grasp the opportunity that had come his way.
Jo Gang-hyeon had given a 7-day deadline to clear the E-rank gate.
Naturally, Lee Seong-jun had no intention of using all 7 days.
To gain the upper hand in future negotiations and raise his value, it was best to clear it as quickly as possible.
Of course, he had no plans to move rashly out of blind greed.
'I'll finish preparations thoroughly today, and clear it by tomorrow.'
This wasn't baseless confidence.
Entering his room and sitting cross-legged, Lee Seong-jun slowly regulated his breathing.
As the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique activated, his inner energy began to move.
Even though he had raised it to what could be considered his current limit, he felt no strain on his body.
'I should be able to reach 3 stars in the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique.'
Lee Seong-jun's intense efforts and arduous training up to now had not been in vain.
'As they say, martial arts are mind, technique, and body.'
To advance in the ascension of martial arts, balance between the three elements of inner energy as the mind, techniques as the skill, and the physical body was crucial.
This was only natural.
Even with inner energy and techniques to efficiently utilize martial arts, it would be meaningless without a body that could withstand them.
But at first, Lee Seong-jun, not trusting the system, had used all his bonus points from leveling up to increase only inner energy and blood energy.
However, there was no need for regret or despair.
Given that efforts to become stronger and arduous training were like daily life for him, it wasn't too difficult to make up for the somewhat lacking physical aspect.
In fact, Lee Seong-jun had been training without missing a single day since returning to Earth.
'Now is the time to reap the fruits of all that labor.'
Lee Seong-jun immediately closed his eyes and began reciting the mantra of the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique.
'All things are creatures made of blood, so even though high and low may exist, through the power of blood they can become one...'
As he recited the mantra from his distant memories and continued breathing, energy began to move from the lower abdomen, the dantian.
The violent inner energy created through the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique, that energy begins rotating from the Shengjiang point just below the mouth to the Changqiang point below the tailbone.
This is what's commonly known as opening the Ren and Du meridians.
The rotating blood energy forcefully pounds at the blocked meridians caused by turbid qi.
Bang-!
'Nnngh-!'
Lee Seong-jun forcibly suppresses the scream trying to escape.
And once again he rotates the blood energy.
Bang-! Bang-!
The repeated impacts, pushing out the turbid qi settled in the body, was by no means an easy task.
If Lee Seong-jun hadn't tempered his body through training, his physical form would have collapsed unable to endure.
And so the terrible pain continued several times over.
There was no getting used to it.
The pain of striking one's own meridians was always novel, no matter how many times it was experienced.
But he didn't think it would be impossible.
Through prior training, he had already expelled some of the body's waste to some extent, creating a stage for the blood energy to run wild.
In fact, the blood energy rotating due to the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique started out moving somewhat slowly, but soon began to pick up speed like a sports car racing down a well-paved road.
Whoosh-!
It was when the sound of the blood energy rotating through the body began to resound like a fierce wind.
An explosion erupts in the meridians that were tightly blocked by turbid qi.
Bang-!
Compared to the loud noise, it's just a tiny pinhole.
However, the blood energy doesn't miss that gap and quickly begins to burrow in.
This is completely different from simply pushing out the body's waste.
Although it's called turbid qi, it is still energy, and because its power and resistance are inevitably strong, the difficulty itself was bound to be higher compared to simply breaking through waste.
That's why it was something only possible for martial artists of at least first-class level in handling inner energy, and an essential condition for reaching 3 stars in the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique.
But Lee Seong-jun was different - he possessed the memories of being the Blood Demon and Demon God called the greatest under heaven.
Therefore, with a solid and stable body, and the powerful inner force of the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique, he could be confident in raising the technique to 3 stars regardless of his current level.
And this confidence soon became reality.
First, the fiercely rotating blood energy succeeded in completely driving out the turbid qi blocking the space between the Shengjiang and Changqiang points.
But he couldn't let his guard down.
The turbid qi that suddenly lost its dwelling place could settle in vital organs like the heart or brain in an instant, leading to a terrible death.
Therefore, he had to capture the turbid qi trying to wander freely through the body and lead it outside.
Though his body was wet with sweat pouring down like rain, Lee Seong-jun's concentration did not waver in the slightest.
Until the very last moment, he completely expels the turbid qi to the outside.
'It's finally over.'
At last, the inner energy that had been moving through unnecessary meridians began to move quickly through meridians stretched out in straight lines.
"Phew..."
At that moment Lee Seong-jun exhaled, and all the meridians for energy circulation rapidly changed.
A bright smile spread across Lee Seong-jun's face as he naturally opened his eyes.
"Good."
And just then, a familiar alarm rang in his ears.
Ding-!
[Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique has reached 3 stars and evolves to SS-rank.]
[New changes occur in your body.]
[The Ren and Du meridians have been opened!]
[All stats (Strength, Agility, Vitality, Blood Energy) increase by 5.]
[Inner energy usage efficiency greatly increases!]
[You absorb ambient energy much faster, Blood Energy stat increases periodically!]
[Status]
Name: Lee Seong-jun
Job: None
Title: None
Level: 10
Strength: 12, Agility: 11, Vitality: 12
Blood Energy: 15 (+5)
Available bonus points: 4
Active Skills:
SS-rank, Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique 3 stars.
Active Skills:
E-rank, Ghost Shadow Step, Blood Flow Explosion, Blood Monster Fist, Blood Hunting Grasp.
F-rank, Blood Flow Control, Blood Flow Acceleration.
Special Notes:
1. You have reached level 10 and can undergo 1st job advancement. [Do you want to advance? Y/N]
Light shone from Lee Seong-jun's eyes as he looked at the green hologram system window.
'I didn't know this kind of growth would be reflected in the stats...'
Once again he was amazed at the system's capabilities.
It didn't just end with the Blood Shadow Asura Divine Technique rising to 3 stars, but accurately detected the internal changes and immediately reflected them as stats.
'Well, opening the Ren and Du meridians is different from simply clearing blocked meridians of waste.'
Since all the meridians through which energy flows were changing, it was natural that physical growth would accompany it.
In fact, even in the Thousand Continent, just opening the Ren and Du meridians allowed one to advance from a first-class martial artist to a peak expert.
Of course, since he didn't have the same physical preparation as back then, he couldn't reach the level of a peak expert, but there were definite results.
'...I've reached the level of a second-class martial artist.'
He had reached a level where he could introduce himself as a martial artist even in the Thousand Continent.
Though it couldn't be considered a high level or an amazing expert.
However, it wasn't a level that could be easily looked down upon.
In the past, when he first fell into the Thousand Continent, it took a full 2 years to grow from a third-class to a second-class martial artist.
He never imagined he would reach the level of a second-class martial artist in less than ten days.
It was an unbelievable rate of growth even to himself.
If he only had experience and memories, it wouldn't have been this fast.
It was possible because the bonus points gained from leveling up accelerated his growth.
'If I keep growing at this rate...'
He could confidently say he would reach the level of a first-class martial artist, a level where he would be treated as a true martial artist, within a month.
A wry smile crossed his lips as all his past efforts and time invested to reach the level of a first-class martial artist flashed through his mind.
'Amazing.'
But this was just the tip of the iceberg.
Moreover, the system's abilities weren't limited to immediate reflection and comfortable growth through bonus points.
Job advancement, an ability called the system's authority.
The ability was worthy of being called an authority.
After reaching certain levels like 10, 40, 80, just by undergoing job advancement, one gains a job and learns skills fitting for it.
As this was information that had long been established as common sense in the current Earth, Lee Seong-jun nodded without hesitation.
'Y.'