In Sangha County, a region of hundreds of thousands, such strength marked a true high-level martial figure—worthy of both fear and reverence. Experts at that level were central to every major clan, family, and school's strategic power.
But it was precisely because of this old man lying before him that Han Ri had been forced to hide his true strength. Not only could he not continue to openly advance in his martial path, but he had to conceal his real stage—5th Layer, Mortal Body Stage to avoid arousing suspicion and fear in the old man.
This sickly relic had become a roadblock in Han Ri's path to greatness.
The more he thought about it, the more Han Ri's fury surged.
His eyes swept across Baek Kang-Hyun's motionless face and then shifted to Gu Mo, who stood silently to the side like a withered leaf. Without warning, Han Ri's foot lashed out viciously.
Bang!
Gu Mo's frail body was flung across the room like a sack of bones, crashing into the far wall. There was a sickening crack as the back of his head struck the timber, leaving a splatter of blood. He slumped over, unconscious, blood trailing from the corner of his lips.
"Are you really going to keep pretending, old dog?"
Han Ri stepped forward, looming above Baek Kang-Hyun. His voice dropped to a venomous whisper.
"You don't want to die? Then hand over the rest of the Everlasting Pulse Art. Or I'll send you down to hell to keep that servant company."
Kang-Hyun's gaze flicked toward Gu Mo's crumpled form in the corner. Then back to Han Ri—his so-called medicine disciple, now revealed as a vicious, traitorous beast.
A son of destiny? Gold-grade luck?
So what?!
A slow-burning madness sparked in the depths of Kang-Hyun's eyes, his breath quickening as he clenched the edges of his bedding.
You want death that badly? Then fine. I'll grant your wish.
At that moment, the attribute panel shimmered again before his sight.
[You may infuse Martial Luck into your martial arts to gain proficiency.]
Kang-Hyun's eyes sharpened. 200 points of Muun.
Would it be enough to break through the next layer of the Everlasting Pulse Art?
No… that art focused on nurturing Ki and body over time. Even reaching the 7th Layer wouldn't give him immediate combat ability.
His mind raced.
Then he made his choice—infuse Muun into Blue Sun Palm.
The numbers on the panel ticked downward from 200. In the martial arts list, the characters for Blue Sun Palm flickered.
Suddenly, Baek Kang-Hyun felt his consciousness pulled into a dark space.
Only a circle of light remained—illuminated by countless radiant strands, like beams shining through clouds.
Inside the circle stood a martial artist clad in green robes, face obscured. The warrior raised his hand and began demonstrating the palm technique slowly and powerfully under the heavenly light.
One motion after another. Each strike filled with profound intent, every transition containing depth and precision.
Then, a progress bar appeared in front of Kang-Hyun.
The red bar surged forward in sync with the warrior's movements.
30%... 40%... 90%...
Like an unstoppable tide, it filled the meter in an instant—until the red color engulfed the entire bar.
Blue Sun Palm, mastery achieved—Perfection level.
As Baek Kang-Hyun exited the dark vision realm, the murky wooden ceiling of the shack returned to his sight. The glowing attribute panel in his view shifted once again.
[Mid-Tier Martial Art – Blue Sun Palm: Perfected]
[Remaining Muun (Martial Luck) Points: 20]
Lying still on the straw-covered board, Kang-Hyun felt the changes coursing through his body.
The once-sluggish blood and Ki now surged vigorously through his meridians, washing away lingering decay and stagnation. The decrepit shell that had once felt like a dying tree was now blooming with renewed vitality, like spring returning to dead roots.
Though the system had already removed all poisons and damage, his body had still been worn down by time. His old muscles had long grown stiff, and the rhythm of his blood had slowed to a crawl.
But now—after returning to the 6th Layer of the Mortal Body Stage —his frame pulsed with newfound power. His limbs regained weight and heat. His breath deepened.
It was as if his old bones had been reforged in fire.
"Hey, old bastard! Are you even listening?!" Han Ri's furious voice echoed through the wooden hut.
Baek Kang-Hyun turned his head and calmly met Han Ri's gaze. From this angle, he could see the fury dancing behind the younger man's eyes. The yellow of his pupils was tinged with a poisonous hue—pure killing intent, raw and unchecked. His lips twisted in rage, his face contorted like a vicious mutt ready to rip flesh.
"You've got three breaths left. If—"
"I said," Kang-Hyun muttered.
Han Ri blinked. His words caught mid-sentence.
"What did you—?"
"I said," Kang-Hyun interrupted again, voice steady, eyes cold.
Han Ri froze in disbelief. Then his mouth split open in joy.
"Haha! Good! That's more like it! Go ahead, old man. Speak—tell me the formula!"
"Come closer," Kang-Hyun said softly, his expression flat and unreadable.
Han Ri scoffed. He didn't even hesitate. In his heart, this old fool had nothing left. He stepped right up, closing the gap between them in a flash.
Less than half an arm's reach.
Kang-Hyun kept his gaze low, calmly calculating the angle. Perfect.
"What was that?" Han Ri leaned in further.
"I asked you," Kang-Hyun said slowly, his voice sharp as a blade unsheathing, "do you really want to die that badly?"
Han Ri's pupils shrank into pinpricks.
But before he could move—
Baek Kang-Hyun erupted from the bed like a coiled dragon awakening. His skin flushed deep azure as blood surged with unstoppable momentum, and his entire frame ignited with martial intensity.
The veins across his right arm bulged and pulsed. The muscles swelled unnaturally, and his palm—glowing with condensed blue Ki, like an infernal ember—slammed straight into Han Ri's exposed chest.
"Blue Sun Palm—Perfection."
CRACK—!
A thunderous sound rang out. The air burst open with force.
Han Ri was hurled backward like a ragdoll, smashing into the far wall. His eyes rolled as blood spurted from his lips. His entire chest caved in from the blow.