Chapter 129
Unlike before, when one controlled energy through breathing and internal energy techniques, being able to control energy through willpower alone meant that one could achieve空中攝物 (空中摄物, Levitation), which only masters above a certain level could handle.
It meant being able to exert a kind of telekinesis-like superpower.
Moreover, these changes didn't just affect the development and power of internal energy.
The speed of accumulating internal energy in the body also doubled. The blood energy that had been increasing by about 3 per month now increased by as much as 6.
'It means I can increase 6 status points for free every month.'
He could now build up an unbelievably enormous amount of internal energy.
It meant that he could achieve tremendous growth not just now, but also in the future.
However, the being who had reached the realm of demonic divinity had no intention of being satisfied with just this.
'Still... not enough.'
The strong ones and boss monsters he had faced so far were just the tip of the iceberg.
The Guardians, the World Returner Alliance, the named monsters reigning as kings.
Although he hadn't faced them directly and didn't know the details of their strength, he couldn't simply ignore them considering the reputation they had built up so far.
'There may be those who have reached the same realm as me, the Hyeongyeong realm... or perhaps even the realm of Life and Death.'
It meant that countless threats were lurking on Earth right now.
Moreover, what was visible now wasn't everything.
As long as the mysterious gates existed, huge threats could appear.
There were countless variables, in other words.
'I may not be able to suppress all of these...'
At the very least, he needed to enter the realm of Life and Death, and thoroughly prepare for the visible threats.
'Unlike in the past, in the Thousand Continent era, it doesn't require tremendous effort and hard work.'
As he had already walked this path, he knew clearly how to walk it, and there were helpers to facilitate growth, such as the Force system and the spirit medicines.
'In the end... it's just a matter of time.'
In the eyes of Lee Seong-jun, who was wearing a relaxed smile, a strong desire for power was rising.
* * *
Flame Emperor Divine Fist (炎皇神拳), Tae Sang-cheon.
As the successor of the mysterious Flame Divine Fist Sect, a single-lineage sect existing in the Mueon Continent, which is now called the Other World on Earth, he had lived a life worthy of being called a Hegemon.
There was no dialogue or compromise; he ruled over the surrounding families and sects using only overwhelming power and authority.
Nevertheless, no place in the continent dared to rebel against Tae Sang-cheon.
This was because Tae Sang-cheon, equipped with effort, talent, ambition, and spirit, as well as cruelty, was a martial artist who had earned the title of the World's Number One (天下第一人) of his generation.
Of course, in the beginning, some families and sects did rebel.
However, they all met their demise, disappearing from the world as they were engulfed by the terrible flames Tae Sang-cheon unleashed.
After that incident, Tae Sang-cheon was able to reign as a perfect absolute ruler in the Central Plains continent.
This reign of Tae Sang-cheon didn't stop just in the Other World, the Central Plains continent.
It was the same after returning to Earth, which could be called his hometown.
In just 10 years, the executives of the Korean Returner Alliance, who could be called the existing privileged class, fell to Tae Sang-cheon's fists, and finally, even Kim Seung-ji, the former leader of the alliance, was burned.
However, Tae Sang-cheon's ambition didn't stop there.
The world called Earth was wide and had too many things to take. Therefore, Tae Sang-cheon kept running forward endlessly.
Just like in the Central Plains continent, no one could stop Tae Sang-cheon.
In fact, after Tae Sang-cheon took the position of the Korean Returner Alliance leader, he never failed to satisfy his desires.
He took everything he wanted and achieved everything he desired. Moreover, he was certain that he would be able to live like that in the future as well.
However, the Korean Returner Alliance, which was supposed to fulfill his plans and long-cherished dream, collapsed.
To be more precise, it would be correct to say that not even a trace remained.
Perhaps because it was such an unreasonable thing?
A small laugh escaped from Tae Sang-cheon's lips as he leaned back in the main seat of a spacious karaoke room sofa in a small underground karaoke in Sinsa-dong.
"So, while I was in closed-door training, this greenhorn called Lee Seong-jun invaded the alliance and turned all the executives there into cripples... and you bastards betrayed the alliance to survive, is that right?"
In response to Tae Sang-cheon's words summarizing the rather long story, Hwang Tae-su hurriedly waved his hands.
"How, how could that be, betraying the alliance? We were just hiding temporarily to deliver the news to the Alliance Leader, until you came out of your closed-door training."
"..."
Tae Sang-cheon didn't say anything, he just scanned Hwang Tae-su's appearance with a chilling gaze.
To be precise, he didn't need to say anything.
The trembling eyes, as if an earthquake had occurred, were evidence that Hwang Tae-su was telling an absurd lie.
No, if they truly hadn't betrayed the alliance, they wouldn't have been able to live with their bodies intact like this.
The Korean Hunter Association or Lee Seong-jun would have dealt with them long ago.
But what was important to Tae Sang-cheon now wasn't the truthfulness of Hwang Tae-su's words.
"I understand that the chief of staff and other major executives were defeated, but Baek Mu-jin... surely he wasn't defeated by Lee Seong-jun as well?"
"No! He's just currently unreachable as he's carrying out a special mission from the World Returner Alliance!"
Tae Sang-cheon nodded slowly.
It could be seen as something that happened because Baek Mu-jin wasn't there in the first place.
If Baek Mu-jin had been protecting the alliance at that time, it would have been Lee Seong-jun who became a cripple, not the alliance executives.
"Well, fine. The executives except for Baek Mu-jin were all just trash full of greed anyway... I'll generously forgive this betrayal."
"Th-thank you!"
As Hwang Tae-su, who had inwardly swallowed a sigh of relief, carefully raised his head, it was at that moment.
Tae Sang-cheon's eyes, emitting cold anger, entered his sight.
"However, I simply cannot forgive your incompetence in not coming up with any countermeasures while the Korean Returner Alliance was collapsing."
Tae Sang-cheon had ruled and governed the Korean Returner Alliance with a thoroughly meritocratic system. In other words, it meant he was a person with a cold temperament who mercilessly cut down those lacking in ability.
To survive, one had to prove their necessity by any means necessary.
"Just give the order! I'll complete any task with my life on the line!"
"I don't need someone who's all talk... prove it with your ability."
Tae Sang-cheon, who had been staring at Hwang Tae-su with a chilling gaze, quietly opened his mouth.
"Bring that greenhorn Lee Seong-jun, the source of all this trouble, before me."
"Th-that..."
Unlike his earlier determination, Hwang Tae-su couldn't easily accept Tae Sang-cheon's order.
To be very honest, it was an order he absolutely didn't want to accept.
It couldn't be helped because even the major executives of the Returner Alliance, who were quite renowned in Korea, couldn't handle Lee Seong-jun.
Moreover, he didn't defeat them one by one, but took down about twenty people at once.
Currently, for Hwang Tae-su, Lee Seong-jun was a wall he couldn't even dare to think of overcoming, a being he couldn't help but fear.
However, Tae Sang-cheon before him was the absolute ruler of the Korean Returner Alliance and fear itself.
What should he do? Was there no other way?
As two existing fears were confusing Hwang Tae-su's mind, it was then.
Tae Sang-cheon's bleak voice penetrated Hwang Tae-su's ears.
"Don't try to deny even the reason why I should keep you alive."
Fear rising in one corner of his mind devoured his consciousness.
Although Lee Seong-jun was frightening, he wasn't present right now.
However, the Alliance Leader, Tae Sang-cheon, was standing right before his eyes.
In the end, it meant that the choice Hwang Tae-su could make now was already decided.
"I'm... I'm sorry! I'll bring him right away!"
Hwang Tae-su, who had hurriedly stood up, gave a deep bow to Tae Sang-cheon, and then immediately left the place, leading his team members.
In the eyes of Tae Sang-cheon, who was looking at the door Hwang Tae-su had left through, a chilling killing intent flowed out.
Of course, he didn't think they would succeed in bringing Lee Seong-jun.
Rather, he thought they would fail with more than 90% probability.
But it didn't matter, because even that would be enough to clearly convey his intentions to Lee Seong-jun.
'If that happens... Lee Seong-jun will eventually come on his own.'
It meant he could clearly convey to the current government and the Hunter Association that Tae Sang-cheon had become the true absolute ruler of the Korean Returner Alliance.
"I'm already looking forward to seeing what kind of reaction he'll show, kuk kuk."
Tae Sang-cheon's chilling laughter filled the room.
* * *
In the early evening, Park Seon-woo, who was escorting Lee Su-hyeok on his way home from work, couldn't hide his surprise inwardly.
'To think you've grown again...'
The appearance of his master, Lee Seong-jun, whom he had briefly encountered last night coming out to meet Lee Su-hyeok on his way home from work, was markedly different from when he had met him just a few days ago.
'I couldn't feel your aura at all.'
It felt as if he was facing an ordinary person.
It meant he had perfectly concealed his power, and in terms of martial arts, it meant he had reached the realm of Half-Concealment.
It meant he had achieved the realm of Hyeongyeong, a state that martial artists can only aspire to and long for.
'It means you've attained power that wouldn't be out of place even if you faced the members of the Guardians, of whom there are only nine in the world.'
Considering the growth he had shown so far and his excellent abilities that made one's tongue click in admiration, it was easy to guess that he would soon reach the realm of Hyeongyeong.
However, he never imagined that he would cross that wall in less than a week.
'This is... not just fast.'
It was literally unprecedented growth, something that had never happened before and would never happen again.
Therefore, he could be certain.
'The realm that Master achieved in the Thousand Continent is as high as to make the word "lofty" seem inadequate.'
It meant that this current growth wasn't all, but that he could maintain this tremendous growth rate in the future as well.
It meant he could stand above the nine hunters currently praised as the Guardians.
He would become a being beyond the heavens (天外天).
He couldn't help but feel awe and respect.
However, he couldn't just be happy about it.
Rather, he felt uneasy on one hand.
'...His standards will be as high as his excellent abilities.'
To satisfy Master's standards, one had to become a near-perfect human being.
It meant that not only his own training and growth but also his mission, which could be called escort duty, had to be carried out perfectly.
It was then, as Park Seon-woo, who had firmly made up his mind, was scanning the surroundings of Lee Su-hyeok who was walking.
Not far away, a group of hunters looking at Lee Su-hyeok with hesitant postures caught his eye.