NOVEL NEXT Chapter 169 - Purgatory (6)
Chapter 169
Purgatory (6)
A meeting of the Transcendents.
The main topic of the meeting was to schedule the dates and the number of participants for the matches held in the upper league.
Occasionally.
If a problem arose in the Central League, they’d convene to resolve it. Almost every meeting had a similar outcome.
“Wasn’t it concluded in the last meeting that matters occurring in the central league should be resolved within the central league?”
Some of the transcendent beings agreed with the opinion voiced by one of them.
“It’s not just once or twice that living beings have come in. We’ve always handled it well on those occasions, haven’t we?”
“We’re not flesh-crazed, except for the Mid-League kids who are, but that’s technically the fault of the guy who entered Purgatory alive.”
“Do we really need to discuss this any further?”
As one-sided opinions were being voiced.
One of those seated on the opposite side spoke up against it.
“The guy I was going to sacrifice and eat when I rise to the upper leagues, got eaten by them.”
“That’s mainly because you didn’t manage the sacrifice properly. If they’re weak enough to be defeated by such mediocre beings, they wouldn’t even be worth eating.”
“What?”
“Why? If you’re upset, why don’t we settle it with a match?”
Seeing that they were arguing, Mushin intervened.
“Enough.”
Mushin looked at the Transcendents and opened his mouth.
“The rats that have entered this time seem to have come in intentionally, not by chance.”
“They figured out how to get into Purgatory?”
“The average skill level of their group is at the Advanced Expert level, but the people they’ve chosen to fight against are at the Master level.”
A fight that seems like a losing battle to everyone.
The ones with exceptional skills even in the central league were those who had accumulated experience in the Purgatory for a long time.
Skilled individuals capable of challenging the transcendent beings in the upper league by just crossing one wall.
But now, those who had just entered Purgatory were arranging a match against them.
Several had already fallen victim to them.
A transcendent being with red hair spoke up.
“But if they’re so eager to come up in the first place, doesn’t that mean they’re going to challenge the upper leagues?”
“They’re the living ones who entered, aren’t they? They might not climb up and instead hop out.”
In response to someone’s answer, the person with red hair nodded.
“Is the situation more serious than we thought?”
Those who entered Purgatory alive would automatically be forced to leave after twenty days, and by the time they left, the Central League would be in ruins.
A Central League that was empty at the very top.
The challengers to the transcendent beings won’t be seen for a while, and even the transcendent beings will be forced to stay low for a while.
“Still, I’m against it. Time is something we have in abundance anyway. In time, the Central League will recover, right?”
The bald Transcendent shook his head and said bluntly.
At that, Mushin nodded.
“You’re not wrong about that.”
Then someone asked a question.
“But what if they make it to the upper leagues?”
“Then we can kill them.”
The balding Transcendent answered, and the furthest away Transcendent chimed in.
“Even now, they’re still beating up people with a huge disparity in skill. Are you sure you can beat them?”
“You’re the one who’s a loser, dumbass.”
“What? You’re a funny guy. Shall we settle this with a friendly match?”
“Enough.”
Mushin mediated the dispute once more.
“Let’s decide by a vote. If you choose to remain neutral as usual, raise your hand now.”
At Mushin’s words, six Transcendents raised their hands. With a majority, there was no need for further discussion.
Mushin nodded his head and continued.
“That concludes the matters concerning the Central League, and we shall move on to the next order of business.”
Mushin turned his gaze to the swordsman to his right.
“The leader of the Rats has applied for the Upper League. You’re the one he’s up against. What do you think?”
“Since they’ve crossed over into our world, it would be best if I cleaned them up.”
“That would be great.”
“When?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
The Sword Saint nodded.
“I’ll see to it then.”
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Moonlight Sword.
The swordsmanship that could be called the Sword Saint’s ultimate technique.
Combining the early and mid-stages of his own style, the Sword Saint broke through his limits and advanced from the central league to the upper league.
The fundamental structure was the same as the beginning.
Experience gained through combat.
He learned the Moonlight Sword through the Academy run by Sam, but even Sam only knew about the Moonlight Sword’s form and couldn’t explain everything.
-You can only learn through combat.
So he fought like crazy.
Fighting in the Central Clan League, where his strength was improving, he became familiar with the Moonlight Sword, and as a result, he was able to reach the realm of Life and Death.
[The Wall of Illuminated Realm collapsed].¹
He has been waiting a long time for this message.
*Shhhhh!*
A wave of intense heat surged around his body. The heat quickly subsided, replaced by a chilling coldness that seeped into his body.
The cold that entered his body was replaced by heat, and the cycle was repeated over and over as it began to transform and reform him.
A constant repetition of Cold and Heat.
Wisps of steam rose around him.
The mana from the wispy steam floated around his body.
*Hiss.*
The steam flowed into his nostrils, mouth, eyes, and ears. As the mana spread in all directions, it stimulated the meridians and strengthened the skin.
*Crackle!*
*Snap!*
Bones shattered and regenerated, skin split and new flesh emerged. There was no pain felt during the process of transformation.
[You have reached the Realm of Life and Death].
Life and Death Realm
A stage beyond the limits of mortality.
Having crossed the boundaries of the human category.
“Huu….”
As he exhaled, he gathered the energy within his body. His body felt incomparably light compared to before.
Clenching his fist, he stretched it out lightly.
*Pow!*
The sound of a burst of wind assaulted his ears.
A clear and distinct difference from before was now visible.
Also.
The size of his mana hole, which had been steadily nurtured by the Archmage’s desire, had grown to more than double its size. He took out the sword strapped to his waist.
*Oooh!*
The mana coalesced and flowed smoothly into the sword.
The blue aura blade, which was formed in an instant, turned transparent. An aura blade that cannot be seen with the eyes, only felt with one’s heightened senses.
If one is not of a similar level, they would not know it was there and would be decapitated.
He retracted the aura blade and re-sheathed his sword.
“I don’t feel cold or hot, huh?”
A body maintaining a constant temperature. As he was about to head to the arena, his lips curling at the side effect.
[You’ve broken past the Wall of Pinnacle ].
[You can dream a new dream].
“Dream….”
A skill he possessed.
[Phalaenopsis Dream (S)]
A cheat skill that allowed him to quickly develop additional abilities or enhance his proficiency related to a designated dream.
“The dream of ascending to divine status.”
Path to Divinity.
One who crosses the Divine Realm.
A state of being called a Grand Master.
At the very least, in order to fight on equal footing with a Demon God, he must attain this level.
[Dreaming of ascending to divinity.]
[Would you like to dream this dream?]
“Yes.”
[You can dream a new dream after 1,054 days.]
Though it would take a little longer.
He was sure there’s a way to shorten it.
He could use one of his remaining copying skills.
In addition,
By competing here and consuming experience orbs, he could reduce the number of days required.
“Time to head to battle.”
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Resting near the blue clock tower, he could get information even if he was just sitting still.
Who was making waves.
Who pulled off a comeback and won.
Who moved up in the ranks.
It was all there in the conversations of those watching the game as they walked back and forth between the clock tower and the stadium.
There was still time before his match began.
He found a spot near the clock tower and sat down, pretending to meditate.
“I heard there’s been a major upheaval in the central league this time?”
“All the top ranked competitors were killed.”
“Who did it?”
“The ones wearing black hoods.”
A conversation between two people, a man and a woman.
The black hooded men in their conversation were Demon Church cultists. The cultists who had entered into Purgatory had taken out all the top ranked talents in the Central League.
Four of the top ten ranked fighters in the Central League were dead, and they continued to set up matches against the remaining six.
The magnitude of the event was so significant that it couldn’t go unnoticed.
Although he wanted to watch the match.
He was busy training at the Shadow Sovereign’s Academy and the Dragon Lord’s Academy, undergoing various forms of training.
“Wow. Where did those guys come from?”
“Rumor has it, they’re all living people.”
“Really?”
When rumors circulate about the living ones among the dead.
They rush to possess the body.
However, the Demon Cultists have already killed the top talents and eaten their experience orbs.
So even if they know they’re alive, their target is hard to catch.
“Oh, right. And I heard there’s going to be a match in the upper league this time?”
“The upper league? I heard matches there are rare since they only compete once a year, right?”
“That’s right. But it looks like one of the guys from the Central League has applied.”
“Who?”
“That Supernova.”
“Oh, the guy who first came out wearing a black hood?”
“I heard he challenged Sword Saint to a fight.”
This was the first time he had heard this story.
Opening his eyes slightly, he watched them as they stopped talking and moved to enter the clock tower.
Inside the clock tower.
He followed them as they headed toward the Central League stadium.
*Whooosh!*
The surrounding area changed and the Central League Arena appeared. He followed them down the hallway, continuing to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“Is what you said earlier really true?”
“Sword Saint?”
“Uh.”
“Before we came in here, did you see the door to the Upper League was open?”
“Yes.”
“Then that means the match is about to happen. The rumors must be true.”
“Soon, the Sword Saint and the Apostle will face off.”
It seemed like it would be enjoyable to watch the match.
This way, he’ll be able to see with his own two very eyes how the Sword Saint wields the Moonlight Sword.
However,
Since the Apostle had decided to do battle, it was likely that they would have a trick up their sleeves.
The fact that the Demon Church cultists were taking out Central League rankers was abnormal, and the Apostle would have something more than that.
“Can we watch the match then?”
“Only the top 100 rankers of the Central Leagues.”
“Why?”
“I heard, they only allow the top 100 rankers to know the date and time of the match, so everyone else can’t watch even if they want to.”
“Can’t we just queue up?”
“If they don’t let us in, it’s going to be a bust.”
And with that, the two couples disappeared into the bleachers.
As he watched them leave, he turned his gaze toward the stadium.
Top 100 in rankings.
He had no idea where he was in terms of rank, but he’d heard that the opponent he was going up against was pretty high up.
Moving to the waiting room, he waited for his match.
“Time to go.”
As he walked out into the arena with the official, he noticed his opponent enter the arena.
Wearing a black hood.
Not an apostle, but a cultist.
The corners of his mouth curved upwards.
“Redin, you are the final one.”
** ** **
TL/N:
1. (The Pinnacle of Martial Arts Cultivation) In the context of martial arts and cultivation, it refers to reaching the highest level of mastery and understanding in martial techniques and spiritual cultivation.
It encompasses the pursuit of power, enlightenment, and self-improvement on the path of martial arts and inner growth