Chapter 127
The original reason for heading towards the Gate was for growth.
There was no reason to refuse consuming the elixir, which could be considered a shortcut. Moreover, the person who came looking to sell it was Jazan.
He was an outstanding barrier artist, to the extent that heads of state or wealthy businessmen would request barrier construction for enormous sums of money.
In the past, even Lee Seong-jun, who couldn't pay much attention to worldly news due to financial struggles, had occasionally heard this name.
It meant that Jazan had considerable fame and connections in the current world.
There was no way such a big shot would bring a common medicinal product. He must have brought something that could truly be called an elixir.
Therefore, Lee Seong-jun turned around without hesitation and immediately arrived at the Hunter Association located in Yeouido.
"...The Vice President is waiting with him."
Guided by Jo Ganghyeon who came out to greet him, it didn't take long to reach the Vice President's office.
"You came much faster than I expected. This is Jazan, whom I mentioned earlier on the phone."
As Lee Seong-jun shifted his gaze following Go Taehyeon's introduction as he stood up from his seat, Jazan's figure came into view.
"You move diligently, unlike the youth these days. I like that very much."
In the past, Lee Seong-jun had only heard about Jazan in passing, so he didn't know much about him.
But now, the green skin, small stature of about 1 meter, and finally the long protruding nose visible to his eyes were unmistakably the appearance of a perfect goblin.
Although it was somewhat surprising, having met elves and beastkin before, Lee Seong-jun was able to accept Jazan's appearance calmly.
'A goblin... There's no need to worry about the quality of the supreme elixir.'
Like elves who handle spirits and beastkin born with superior physical abilities, each race had their own characteristics.
And what intelligent goblins like Jazan possessed was a sharp eye for value.
To be very precise, it wasn't just sharp.
Goblins' ability to appraise was so accurate in determining the value of objects that it could be called a supernatural power without exaggeration.
This meant that the elixir Jazan had brought now was certainly an item of definite value.
Naturally, a glint appeared in Lee Seong-jun's eyes.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Lee Seong-jun."
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Jazan."
Right after exchanging brief greetings, a small exclamation escaped Jazan's lips.
"I see... You're not one of those common rankers with no ability but high pride. No wonder the long-ears and furball praised you so much."
"Long-ears and furball?"
"You know, those two selling medicine at Dongmyo."
"Do you mean... Mokuru and Parenhof?"
"I think those were their names, but that's not important right now. Let's move on."
Jazan lightly waved his hand and maintained a relaxed expression while fiddling with the ring on his finger.
Woong.
With a resonating sound, Jazan reached into the subspace that appeared and pulled out a small wooden box, which he held out to Lee Seong-jun.
"You came to buy the elixir, so check the item first."
Lee Seong-jun carefully received the wooden box and asked:
"May I open it?"
After Jazan nodded readily, Lee Seong-jun opened the box without hesitation.
Click-
Along with the sound of the lock being released, a cool and clear light like the blue sky spread out.
A radiance so bright it dazzled the eyes spread throughout the area.
Just as Lee Seong-jun was feeling considerable admiration for the appearance of the blue sphere engraved with patterns that could only be described as brilliant and majestic, a smile spread across Jazan's lips.
"This is the Ten Thousand Year Divine Water, an elixir made by extracting only the freshest leaves from the World Tree that elves value more than their lives, then aging it in a special container made from the World Tree's branches. What do you think? Isn't it amazing?"
Having directly felt the vast energy of the elixir in his palm, Lee Seong-jun could answer immediately without any need for deliberation.
"It's excellent."
It was a top-grade elixir, an item that any martial artist would covet.
Right now, no small amount of desire was welling up in Lee Seong-jun's eyes as well.
"How much are you selling it for?"
"I don't intend to sell it for money."
"...?"
As Lee Seong-jun tilted his head in question, Jazan moved his lips.
"I'll be straightforward. I want to test if you have the skills matching your rumored reputation. If you pass proudly, I'll hand over this elixir without complaint. In simple terms, think of it as buying your abilities. What do you say, will you accept my offer?"
The proposal Jazan made was certainly understandable.
However, a new question took its place.
"May I ask why you're making such an offer?"
Judging by the energy felt from the Ten Thousand Year Divine Water, it was a high-priced elixir that could be sold for at least hundreds of billions.
Yet he was saying he would give away such a precious item just for passing a test.
It could be said there were some unsettling points to simply accept without any thought.
"Originally, mages are the type who feel at ease only after preparing and being ready."
"Then... what are you preparing and getting ready for?"
"I don't know exactly either. It's just preparing for the uncertainty of the future."
There was not a hint of wavering in Jazan's eyes, meaning there was no lie.
That's why it was even more incomprehensible.
But it wasn't that he couldn't understand.
'Bihyeong said something like this too.'
Mages are beings who always need to be prepared and ready, even for things that don't happen, for the uncertainty of the future.
He said to just think of it as a mage's mindset.
Since there was no particular malice, Lee Seong-jun could nod readily.
"I accept your offer, Jazan."
"I thought you would."
Jazan nodded as if it was natural and opened his mouth once more.
"Then let me show you the task."
Reaching into the subspace, Jazan pulled out a red cube the size of his palm.
"It's called the Dragon Reversal Test. It's a barrier made using drake blood as a catalyst and the heart as the core. It's one of my masterpieces among the ones I've created."
After confidently introducing the red cube, the Dragon Reversal Test, Jazan uttered what could be called the main point.
"The passing condition is simple. Destroy the core and break through the Dragon Reversal Test."
"What about the method?"
"Free. Choose whatever conditions are comfortable for you."
Lee Seong-jun smiled and lightly stretched by cracking his wrist joint.
"It seems you've decided on a method... Shouldn't we move outside first?"
"I don't think there's any need to move unnecessarily."
Lee Seong-jun grasped the Dragon Reversal Test in his hand.
Kuguuung!
Blood energy that rose explosively engulfed his body, and naturally, Lee Seong-jun's eyes took on an alluringly red color.
"Oh ho."
An admiring voice flowed from Jazan's mouth.
Even when they first met, he knew Lee Seong-jun was clearly different from the rankers he had seen occasionally, but now he had become a being literally on a different level from them.
It felt like facing a ferocious Asura.
He couldn't help but feel awe.
'This is exciting.'
It wasn't just himself, Jazan.
Everyone gathered in the room was looking at Lee Seong-jun with expectant eyes.
However, Lee Seong-jun himself, the person in question, didn't mind at all.
Or more accurately, he had no room to care about such gazes.
'Quite an excellent barrier.'
He understood why Jazan made such an outrageous offer and introduced the Dragon Reversal Test in such a confident tone.
The barrier held in his hand, the Dragon Reversal Test, could be said to embody the fundamental presence of the dragon race.
'Beings below a certain level wouldn't even dare to attempt an attack.'
Even if they did attack, it was surrounded by a defense barrier solid enough to nullify the attack immediately.
It was an excellent barrier that could be counted among the best not only on Earth but also in the Thousand Continents.
If it were an ordinary barrier, even he, Lee Seong-jun, would have had quite a hard time.
In other words, there was no reason for him to struggle now.
That's because the catalyst for the barrier, the Dragon Reversal Test, was drake 'blood'.
For Lee Seong-jun, who dealt with blood energy, breaking through a barrier using blood as a catalyst wasn't a difficult task.
'...I can see it.'
As he drew out his blood energy, the internal structure of the barrier, which had seemed like a red fog, was clearly revealed.
Naturally, a path that could be called a living gate opened, allowing him to reach the core of the barrier in one go, but it wasn't over yet.
'I need to destroy the core.'
Whether it could be called the final hurdle, numerous protective barriers were spread around the core of the barrier, the drake's heart.
This too had a defense strong enough that ordinary rankers wouldn't even dare to attempt, but it wasn't a problem for Lee Seong-jun, who had already attained power reaching the highest ranks.
Wooong-!
With a resonating sound, the space inside the barrier shook, and the red cube began to move erratically.
Lee Seong-jun continued to condense the blood energy gathered in his hand so that not even a bit would be wasted.
The barrier distorted and began to break around his clenched fist.
As his curled fingers began to feel stiff, Lee Seong-jun clenched his fist tightly without hesitation.
'Ten Thousand Bloody Demon Seas, Asura's Cruel Kill, Infinite Great Striking Spear.'
It wasn't just Lee Seong-jun's own power.
The drake's blood protecting the core was shaped into sharp spears following Lee Seong-jun's will.
"Wh-What?!"
Jazan exclaimed in shock, his eyes wide open at the sudden change in the barrier's appearance, but this was just the tip of the iceberg.
The true beginning of the Infinite Great Striking Spear was now.
Whoosh-!
The spears formed of blood and blood energy were fired all at once towards the core of the barrier, the drake's heart.
Crackle-!
The barriers surrounding the center of the core sparked as they tried to block the fired Infinite Great Striking Spear, but it was a meaningless struggle.
The spears created by the Infinite Great Striking Spear were made by condensing blood energy.
There was no way barriers that could only withstand attacks from low-ranking rankers at best could block this attack.
Crack-!
The Infinite Great Striking Spear, which had torn through the surrounding barriers with its fierce attack, continued to shoot forward and pierce through the drake's heart called the core.
Psssh-!
The red cube held in his hand crumbled into red powder.
It meant he had proudly passed the test.
"...As promised, I'll take the Ten Thousand Year Divine Water."
"Impossible..."
Jazan was just muttering words that sounded like nonsense, but that was enough of an answer.
"It seems you have no more business with me, so... I'll be going now."
Having said his piece, Lee Seong-jun left without lingering.