Chapter 153
"Wow! Things are going more smoothly than I thought."
"I thought it would be difficult to mine because it's a special mineral... but it's going like clockwork."
"By the way, wasn't the North Sea side not supposed to interfere with the mining? I can't tell if we're the miners or they are."
"What does it matter? The more they help, the more our share increases. It's a blessing, a blessing. Kekekek!"
Haewol Ice Mountain—
It was the place where So-ah had once defeated the Snow Mountain Giant and obtained its inner core, and it was the point where the most ice spirit stones were buried in the North Sea.
The work of the Moyong family's dispatched team, which had started at Haewol Ice Mountain, was flowing smoothly as if a sail had been set on a favorable wind.
Kwang—
Kwa-kwa-kwang—
Not only the sledgehammers, but also various mining equipment made of sturdy iron blocks, burst out with metallic sounds and created sparks.
Haewol Snow Mountain was an ice mountain that held a harsh cold and a cold wave.
But the workers did not cower in the cold.
No, they didn't have time for that.
'Every piece I mine is money, money!'
'It's the truth to row when the water comes in! That's right!'
'Let's just suffer for a year. Then I can set up a small thatched-roof house in a small fishing village and buy a fishing boat to support my wife and children, right?!'
As the work intensified, the wit of So-ah and Yuk Jeong-ran, who had adopted the unique wage system called the 'performance-based system', shone.
If it weren't for that, how could the workers have voluntarily given up their rest and worked like crazy in this harsh cold...
Besides.
The Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Wang Bang-tae, and Wang So-yeong supported the workers of the Moyong family both materially and spiritually.
They dispatched masters to protect the workers from various wild animals and other dangerous elements of the snow mountain, while also destroying strange stones and ice stones that were difficult to cut and slice even with various equipment, thus preparing the groundwork for smooth mining.
"Hey, everyone! Shall we call it a day?"
"What are you talking about! We have to do more, man!"
"Hey, Mr. Jang! Are you obsessed with money or something?"
"Hey, Mr. Oh! Do you feel like resting? If we suffer for just one more shichen, we'll have several bags of rice!"
"Indeed."
"Let's make money!"
"Let's go!"
It was a moment when the shouts of the workers warmly heated up the evening cold wave that had descended with the sunset.
***
Meanwhile.
The chief steward of the Moyong family and Yuk Jeong-ran were spending busy days.
"Now! You all understand the wage system, right? In other words, you earn as much as you work. Of course, in the case of natural disasters, for example, if an irregular situation arises such as a climate change or a breakdown in negotiations with the North Sea side, we will unconditionally guarantee the wages you usually receive, so you are not taking any risks. Besides, since it is a long-distance trip, we will provide external support such as doctors, laborers, and cooks, as well as pay a certain amount in advance so that your families can make a living during the work period."
Currently, at the Cheong-a-ru, a whopping two hundred mining experts had gathered from all over the Central Plains.
Yuk Jeong-ran and the chief steward, who had cashed in all the goods that So-ah, who had seized Eunuch Han's entire fortune, had entrusted to them, were planning to form a second mining team and dispatch the workers to the North Sea again, exercising a lightning-fast driving force.
"Is it that good of a condition?"
"Hah! In my 30 years of mining, this is the first time I've seen such a good condition..."
"Indeed! Ice spirit stone is a special mineral that is more valuable than gold. Even with this, it will be a profitable business. Kehkehkeh!"
As expected, the reaction of the workers was explosive.
Seeing their eyes glittering with greed, Yuk Jeong-ran and the chief steward smiled with satisfaction.
"Hohoho! That's right. It's an exceptional condition. This is all a wage calculation method devised by Young Master Jin of the Moyong family. It is his theory that a person who has a record in the Moyong family, whether a martial artist or a laborer, should receive the best treatment."
At that.
"Waaaaah!"
"Long live Young Master Jin!"
"Long live the Moyong family!!"
The crowd of people burst into a strong shout all at once.
A bright smile bloomed on the faces of the chief steward and Yuk Jeong-ran.
'Hohoho! It's a pity that our young master is not here.'
'Hohohot! Young Master Jin. With this additional dispatch of workers, our dream will be one step closer!'
At this moment, the minds of the chief steward and Yuk Jeong-ran were.
...filled with the imagination of playing with a thousand gold coins.
***
The place So-ah had arrived at was a spacious open area located in the highlands of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
As if someone had artificially created it for martial arts training, the ground was flat, and it was truly strange that there was not a single small obstacle around the surroundings.
Suddenly, feeling a sense of doubt, So-ah opened his mouth.
"Brother Chan. The mountain terrain of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains is extremely rugged. But this place... it looks like someone has artificially carved it."
"That's right, So-ah."
"Pardon?"
"It is a kind of training ground where I sometimes train with my direct unit, the Heavenly Spirit Unit. For that purpose, the mountain terrain, topography, and ground have been carved."
"..."
"..."
In an instant, So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi were so dumbfounded that they were at a loss for words.
What?
My direct unit?
What on earth is a direct unit?
Is that something you eat?
Just the fact that he had his own direct unit made them feel as if they had been deceived, but as if that wasn't enough, he had even carved the mountain terrain, topography, and ground in advance?
Once again, the two keenly felt the difference in their and Wi-ji Chan's circumstances and trembled with envy.
In that moment.
Suddenly, at the amplification of a huge ki wave that was encroaching on the surroundings, goosebumps suddenly appeared on the bodies of So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi.
"...!"
"..."
They soon realized that the source of the ki wave was Wi-ji Chan.
"So-ah... as you know, among the secret arts of our headquarters, the martial art that boasts the most tyrannical and powerful killing power is the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. But if I were to face you, I would not unfold the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Because the Heavenly Demon Divine Art itself is bound to show a poor efficiency in terms of compatibility with the Ten-Second Invincible Arts."
Wi-ji Chan's one sentence, which he had opened his mouth to say out of the blue, came as a somewhat incomprehensible statement to Jeon Woo-chi.
But So-ah, upon hearing those words, as if he had gained some realization, was just silently nodding his head.
And.
Wi-ji Chan put his hand to his waist and drew his sword.
'It's to the extent that the words 'the strongest sword' are not an exaggeration!'
Admiration was in Jeon Woo-chi's eyes.
Since he had seen the real 'Heavenly Demon Divine Sword', which was called the divine object of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it was inevitable...
Just then.
'Gasp!'
'N-No!'
So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi, who had been intently staring at Wi-ji Chan's actions, opened their eyes wide and could not hide their great astonishment.
"Brother Chan..."
It was because the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword, held in Wi-ji Chan's right hand, was defying physics and floating in the air on its own.
At the same time, an even more surprising thing unfolded.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Sword, which was stepping on the air on its own like an organism that had been given life by a god, was letting out a sword cry, a typical aspect of the unity of body and sword.
The wail of the sword.
That sound drew a mournful sound and dug into the ears of So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi.
At the same time, Wi-ji Chan continued to speak.
"That's why I pondered. How on earth should I face the Ten-Second Invincible Arts? And... this is my conclusion, So-ah!"
It was from that moment.
That the real surprise began.
If dozens of thunderbolt bombs were to be detonated at the same time, could such a sound be produced?
In an instant, a roar of heaven and earth breaking apart burst out in the open area of the mountain range, which was so vast that it was difficult to even gauge its end.
Along with that, Wi-ji Chan's Heavenly Demon Divine Sword, which was swimming in the air, created a whopping hundreds, thousands of clones and covered the sky with sword shadows.
"Wow..."
"It's to the point of being ecstatic!"
So-ah and Jeon Woo-chi could not help but let out a sigh of admiration before that solemn spectacle.
Just then.
"So-ah. Look carefully. Your Ten-Second Invincible Arts are an all-weather, ruthless bare-handed combat essence that is unfolded without distinction between offense and defense. Therefore, the moment your body touches my body, I will become nothing more than a mere, lowly human before a typhoon. But this sea of swords, which holds thousands of clones, will completely block the path of retreat and seal the Ten-Second Invincible Arts with an infinite attack. Humans are but dust before nature. No matter how much of a martial art of the Ten-Second Invincible Arts it is, if you fall into the middle of the sea of swords, you will never be able to be safe."
With a somewhat low.
...but a voice filled with a strong will and determination, Wi-ji Chan spoke to So-ah in a low voice.
Simultaneously.
Thousands of sword shadows struck the ground of the open area.
Then, as if an earthquake had occurred, the ground of the area began to shake, and due to the gust of wind created by the sword strike, the ground was dug out by a whopping five feet.
"C-Crazy!"
Jeon Woo-chi doubted his own eyes.
Because the current situation was like a mirage, so much so that it was difficult to understand even with a hundred concessions.
If the sword strike of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword had simply ended with digging deep into the ground, it would be another matter.
Since the martial world was so filled with mystery, he might have just taken it as it was.
But what was surprising was the radius of the sword strike.
From Jeon Woo-chi's perspective, the sword-controlling art just now, considering the attack range, was so vast that it could take the lives of at least a hundred people without a trace.
The possibility of a human surviving in such a sea of swords with such a formidable killing power?
'None!'
It was Jeon Woo-chi's thought that it was really impossible.
But then, suddenly.
'But why is he revealing his hand before the duel even begins? Is he perhaps underestimating So-ah? If he does that, he'll really shit his pants.'
Weren't So-ah and Wi-ji Chan here to gauge each other's martial arts?
But before it even began, Wi-ji Chan was preaching his 'Ten-Second Invincible Arts countermeasure' (although it was unknown whether it would be a countermeasure or not) to So-ah himself, so it was only natural that he was dumbfounded.
But.
"I saw it well, Brother Chan."
Jeon Woo-chi soon realized that his thoughts were short.
"Now it's my turn, right?"
It was because an unexpected one sentence had flowed from So-ah's mouth.
"Yes."
"Then, here comes the Ten-Second Invincible Arts!"
'Huh? What? Weren't they going to have a cool fight?'
It turned out that So-ah and Wi-ji Chan had no intention of fighting from the beginning.
It was their intention to compare each other's martial arts by just showing their specialties.
In that moment.
"Brother Woo-chi. Why the face?"
"Huh? Ah... it's nothing. Haha."
"What is it? Brother Woo-chi. Surely you didn't think that Brother Chan and I were going to fight, right?"
"Huh? No! What fight? I'm not a child. Hahaha!"
"It seems so."
"I said no!"
"Hehehe."
'He's really a ghost-like brat. Maybe he really has learned mind-reading!'
Watching So-ah, who was looking through his inner thoughts, Jeon Woo-chi clicked his tongue.
"Hahaha. Scholar Jeon Woo-chi. You must have expected an interesting sight. I'm sorry that it didn't meet your expectations. In fact, I also want to have a cool fight with So-ah, but we two can't fight even if a sword is at our throats."
"Pardon? Ah... Young Leader Wi-ji. I said it's not like that... haha. But why do you say you can't fight even if a sword is at your throat?"
Jeon Woo-chi asked with wide eyes.
The answer came unexpectedly from So-ah's mouth.
"A last will."
"Huh?"
"Just before my grandfather and Grandpa Wi-ji passed away. It was when they were sharing a drink as they entered the state of a final burst of life. The two had aimed for the empty name of 'number one in the world' their whole lives, but they told us that at least we two should never fight over such a useless thing."
So-ah, who said that, was smiling with distant eyes, as if he had recalled the last moments of his two deceased grandfathers.
Simultaneously.
"But it doesn't suit us to do the funny thing of gauging our studies with something like a desultory sword discussion. So, we have no choice but to show our martial arts in this way."
As soon as his words ended, a change occurred in So-ah's body.
His face was dyed with the color of a jujube, and a blue-green light flashed in his two eyes.
'Hah! That... I think I've seen it somewhere...'
In an instant, Jeon Woo-chi searched his memory.
'Yes! When So-ah took the <Vajra Bronze-Man God Core> in the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons! It was just like that!'
Until then, Jeon Woo-chi did not know.
That the red face and the blue-green eye light were the power of the <Great Purity Limitless Divine Core> and the <Vajra Bronze-Man God Core>, and furthermore, the state of 'awakening' that occurred when the Supreme Meridian Energy was simultaneously exploded.
In other words, the process of entering the state of a superman.
And...
So-ah's one fist was aimed at the sky.
In that instant, the faces of Wi-ji Chan and Jeon Woo-chi were filled with astonishment.
(End of Chapter)