Chapter 53 – Heavenly Palace Tournament Preliminaries

“As expected, the Tomb Tiger was the promising candidate Jeong Daehan.”

Lee Hanseong muttered as he confirmed the Tomb Tiger’s identity.

Jeong Daehan was born with a Five-Star Vessel, but his growth was slow for a promising candidate because he contracted with a Four-Star Spirit during his first Spirit Contract.

He joined the Gale Guild and slowly but steadily accumulated achievements.

After his Three-Star Awakening, during his second Spirit Contract, which took place after filling more than 12 Empty Stars, he finally shone by contracting with the Seven-Star Spirit Sima Yi.

“I hadn’t heard he had a Four-Star Awakening. It seems he awakened once more recently.”

What Taigong Wang obtained during his third Spirit Contract after his Four-Star Awakening must have been it.

Contrary to initial expectations, when another Seven-Star Spirit appeared, Lee Hanseong was also startled, but in the end, Park Seongcheol’s group grasped victory as he had believed.

Of course, if the situation had become truly dangerous, Lee Hanseong would have intervened to lead them to victory, but then controlling the Black shadow envoy and Puppet he had placed in the Black Market would have become difficult.

‘If that had happened, the hidden formation Baekto had would have eventually been revealed as well.’

It was fortunate it didn’t come to that.

Swish.

As the formation inside the Reverse World was released, the figures of his comrades who had finished the fight were revealed.

Lee Hanseong greeted them in congratulations.

“Congratulations. Seongcheol.”

“……?”

“Chungmugong can now be considered to have reached Half-Step 8-Star, right?”

Although the transcendence to 9-Star was undone, and from the Third awakening skill onwards, they reverted back to Awakening Skills, so from Jajungjiran Parangyeohae to “Seek Life and Live, Seek Death and Die” were currently sealed.

However, the Polarity Reversal of the 1st and 2nd Awakening Skills, which had originally been embodied as Legendary Skills, remained even after the transcendence ended.

That’s why Park Seongcheol was able to unleash Samcheokmyeolcheon Sanhajeongsaek when he increased his Synchronization Rate through Second Stage Transcendence.

“Ah. Thank you. It’s all thanks to you.”

Since the catalyst for newly realizing Polarity Reversal was thanks to Lee Hanseong’s Second Stage Transcendence, Park Seongcheol expressed his gratitude.

The other three sealed Polarity Reversals were ultimately just not usable immediately; if Chungmugong continued to be promoted, they could be unlocked right away.

If Chungmugong reached just 8-Star, he would soon reach Half-Step 9-Star.

“Let me know if you need Historical Alteration.”

“I will. But not now.”

“Why?”

“Raising Chungmugong to 8-Star should probably be done after I’ve become familiar with the Polarity Reversals I currently possess.”

Mirinae, who was beside Lee Hanseong, nodded her head in apparent satisfaction at Park Seongcheol’s words.

“It’s good that you know.”

“Do you know what kind of premonition I felt?”

At Park Seongcheol’s question, knowledge about ancient cultivation methods flowed from the Constellation’s mouth.

Ancient cultivation methods, unlike current methods, did not divide stages in detail like 7-Star, 8-Star, 9-Star.

They were simply collectively referred to as one stage: Demi-God.

The stage where the power cultivated in the mortal stage (1-Star~6-Star) reaches its limit and one learns Polarity Reversal, peering beyond that great extreme.

That was the Demi-God.

“If one intends to stop at Demi-God, that’s one thing, but to ascend to Quasi-God, the method Steward Park has chosen is correct.”

“By Quasi-God, you mean 10-Star, right?”

To ascend to the Quasi-God stage corresponding to 10-Star, one must overcome two major walls.

The first wall is mastering all six Polarity Reversals to their limit.

The second wall is simultaneously unleashing the Polarity Reversals that have reached that limit and the Skills embodied from existing Awakening Skills to achieve Synthesis of Opposites.

Upon hearing the two conditions, Park Seongcheol shook his head.

“It seems my premonition wasn’t for nothing.”

If he immediately raised Chungmugong to 8-Star now, it would have become difficult to increase the Proficiency of the 1st and 2nd Polarity Reversals.

The flow of Starlight tends to be forced onto new paths.

Upon reaching 8-Star, Starlight would concentrate on the two Skills embodied at 8-Star, and the speed of increasing Proficiency for previously embodied Skills would have become very slow.

“So, increasing the Proficiency of the 1st and 2nd Polarity Reversals is most efficient while still at 7-Star.”

“That is so.”

“Thank you for the teaching.”

Park Seongcheol bowed his head in gratitude for Mirinae’s teaching.

As if it were their own business, Yu Sehee and Lycan, who were listening to the teaching beside Park Seongcheol, also expressed their gratitude following him.

Then, with a tired expression, she brought up a topic.

“Now, can we rest a little?”

“Yeah. Go rest. There shouldn’t be any more major problems today anyway.”

Realizing that Yu Sehee’s combat fatigue was not insignificant, though she was holding on with <Sleeplessness>, he permitted rest.

At least until tomorrow when the location of the Heavenly Demon Medallion would be revealed, it was okay to rest.

However, once Lee Hanseong gave permission, Yu Sehee naturally settled down near him and lay down.

“If I have a dream again, you have to help me.”

Saying that, she fell asleep quickly.

Following that, Lycan also released Myriad Fire Transformations, entered his room, and fell asleep lying down in wolf form. As Park Seongcheol also headed to his own room, the inside of the Reverse World became quiet.

But Lee Hanseong couldn’t sleep.

He had to monitor the state of Baekto hidden in the formation on the outskirts of the Black Market, and he couldn’t ignore the fights between the Tomb Tiger alliance and individual Mid-Rank Awakeners taking place in the Black Market.

* * *

Meanwhile, the slaughter taking place throughout the Black Market was almost reaching its conclusion.

“Kkeuek!”

Crunch!

A low-rank Awakener who had become a Corpse faced a second death from an Awakening Skill of a manifested Seven-Star Spirit and was banished to the Underworld.

It was the moment the last remaining Awakener of the Tomb Tiger alliance was dealt with.

“If this guy is the last one, then the hunt is over now.”

Thanks to the Black Market information brokers selling information on the low-rank Awakeners belonging to the Tomb Tiger alliance, all except those who fled early were hunted by the Mid-Rank Awakeners.

If the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult hadn’t remained, the atmosphere was such that the hunt would have continued directly among the Mid-Rank Awakeners without it being strange.

Amidst the strong smell of blood and an air of excitement, eyes gleaming with desire shone upon each other.

‘Will you make a move? If we fight among ourselves now, only the one with the Heavenly Demon Medallion will benefit.’

‘We can’t trust the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult either. They said they aren’t targeting the Heavenly Demon Medallion, but we can’t say that’s not a lie.’

‘Let’s postpone settling the score until after we have the Heavenly Demon Medallion in hand.’

After exchanging glances containing roughly these meanings, the Mid-Rank Awakeners who had reached a negotiation withdrew while warily watching each other.

At that moment, one of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult members who had crossed over to reality returned to the Black Market.

“What’s the matter?”

“It wasn’t in reality either.”

They had failed to find any trace of the Heavenly Demon Medallion in reality as well.

“This means Lee Hanseong has the ability to hide the Heavenly Demon’s power contained in the Heavenly Demon Medallion.”

“So we can’t know whether he’s in reality or in the Black Market.”

“Therefore, for now, we wait here and aim for when the location is revealed tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

Following the evil spirit’s instruction to not waste energy and aim for a sure opportunity, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s course of action was decided.

As the situation in the Black Market reached a lull, Lee Hanseong, who had been observing the situation from within the Reverse World, turned his gaze elsewhere.

Towards Jin Yuseong, who remained in reality.

* * *

On the other hand, in reality, the schedule for the Promising Candidate division preliminaries of the Heavenly Palace Tournament had begun.

Over two weeks, promising candidates to participate in the main tournament would be selected from countries around the world.

Then, over the next two weeks, the unlimited overall division preliminaries would be held.

In other words, the main tournament, called the real Heavenly Palace Tournament, was about a month away.

Jin Yuseong had come to the stadium to participate in the preliminaries.

“Group A.”

The Heavenly Palace Tournament preliminaries were divided into a total of 8 groups from A to H, selecting 2 people per group.

Usually, about 6~8 people were grouped together to compete, and the last two standing would advance.

And Jin Yuseong had been assigned to Group A, which would compete first.

“Huh, are you already thinking of participating in the Heavenly Palace Tournament?”

Someone spotted Jin Yuseong and spoke to him in a sarcastic tone.

“A rookie who hasn’t even been out of the Training Center for a month seems too confident.”

“I believe my qualifications are sufficient.”

The Promising Candidate division allowed participation even for those who hadn’t awakened, as long as they were Mid-Rank Awakeners who had contracted with a Seven-Star or higher Spirit.

Clearly knowing that and still picking a fight could only be seen as jealousy towards Jin Yuseong, who achieved ultra-fast 2-Star Awakening and contracted with a Seven-Star Spirit.

“Haha! As expected of a rookie, you know one thing but not two. Not all Mid-Rank Awakeners are the same.”

“I know that too.”

Even among Mid-Rank Awakeners, an Awakener with a higher Star Rank, or a Contractor who has contracted with more Seven-Star or higher Spirits, is naturally stronger.

With his True Body’s Grade being 2-Star and having only one Seven-Star Spirit, Jin Yuseong appeared to be in the lower ranks among Mid-Rank Awakeners.

“But I didn’t come here to lose either.”

By raising his body’s Grade to 3-Star with the Golden Ring and transforming to 5-Star, two stages higher, with Myriad Fire Transformations, his low True Body Grade could be sufficiently resolved.

Additionally, the penetration skill contained in the Boots of Wind or the Black shadow envoy gloves he received last week would also act as useful variables.

The new application method of the Golden Giant skill realized through the Apostle dreams he’d been having recently was also one of the things he trusted.

However, the opponent, unaware of the source of such confidence, seemed to think Jin Yuseong’s confidence stemmed from ignorance and, with a sneer, kindly informed him of his situation.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know who’s in the same group as you? Baek Seongjae and Baek Woohyeon are also in Group A. If you think you can beat those two with your skills and advance to the main tournament, that’s a big delusion.”

“I think I know those two better than you do?”

Jin Yuseong was also well aware of the two people mentioned by the opponent, as they were famous as favorites to win the Promising Candidate division.

Baek Seongjae was the representative promising candidate of the Aurum Guild, which serves the Golden Constellation, a 6-Star Awakener born with a 6-Star Vessel, and a Contractor of two 7-Star and two 8-Star Spirits.

A person also called Little Lee Hyeonseong because he contracted with the same Spirits as Association Head Lee Hyeonseong.

‘I fought him once when sparring with the Association Head, so I know his Spirits well.’

Sword Demon Cheok Jun-gyeong, Martial God Guan Yu, Conqueror Xiang Yu, Hero Hercules.

Thanks to Lee Hyeonseong not summoning a 9-Star Spirit during the spar, he only fought against the exact Spirits Baek Seongjae possessed.

However, at that time, Jin Yuseong wasn’t alone, and the opponent didn’t use Awakening Skills, so they could compete to some extent.

If he faced Baek Seongjae alone, Jin Yuseong would surely lose.

‘But the preliminaries aren’t one-on-one, are they?’

The preliminaries were individual matches where multiple people fought at once, so it was sufficient to create variables.

Especially since Baek Woohyeon was a Mad Faith devotee of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and though brothers with Baek Seongjae, they were known to be at odds, so if he pitted them against each other, he calculated he could at least knock one out and take their place.

Baek Woohyeon was a 6-Star Awakener with a 5-Star Vessel, a Contractor of the famous 7-Star non-human Spirits Shuten-doji and Hong Haeya contracted by Elder Choi Sangguk, and an 8-Star Yaksha.

‘If they clash in the same group, they will definitely fight.’

By aiming to profit from their conflict, advancing to the main tournament was sufficiently possible.

However, he shouldn’t only pay attention to those two.

About half of the remaining Mid-Rank Awakeners participating in the preliminaries had also awakened up to 6-Star and contracted with at least two 7-Star Spirits.

They were also formidable opponents in a one-on-one fight.

However, if there was one easy opponent in Group A, it was Kim Cheoljung, who was picking a fight with him right now.

A lucky guy born with a 3-Star Vessel who, upon reaching 4-Star, luckily contracted with a 7-Star Spirit during his attempted second Spirit Contract.

Perhaps that thought showed in his eyes, as Kim Cheoljung made a displeased expression.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Seems like you’re also aiming to profit from the conflict. Wake up from your dream. A lowlife like you is the first one I’ll take care of.”

“……”

Judging by his saying ‘also,’ it seemed Kim Cheoljung was also aiming to profit from the conflict.

But upon hearing he was being targeted, Jin Yuseong inwardly laughed at his opponent.

If it were another opponent, maybe, but the fact that Kim Cheoljung, the only one he considered easy, was acting like this just made the situation laughable.

* * *

A short while later.

In the stadium where a protective barrier was installed for the participants’ safety, the Group A match began.

The first to move was the favorite Baek Seongjae.

“Baek Woohyeon! Let’s settle the score this time!”

“That’s my line.”

Whoosh!

Baek Seongjae, rushing towards Baek Woohyeon, summoned all four of his Spirits at once.

In response, Baek Woohyeon also summoned his three Spirits and clashed.

Baek Woohyeon was at a numerical disadvantage, but their previous win rates, ascertained through the Dark Web, were almost equal.

That was because Baek Woohyeon possessed the Stigma of the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation.

《Blessing of the Heaven-Slaying Star》.

The Stigma of the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation, which grants overwhelming martial talent in exchange for vicious Killing Intent and a cruel, ruthless nature.

This was a Prerogative granted only to those who swore loyalty to the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord.

Whoosh!

Heaven-Slaying Gang Qi in the form of black flames bloomed around the Spirits summoned by Baek Woohyeon.

The even more ferociously transformed appearances of Shuten-doji, Hong Haeya, and Yaksha.

“Did you betray your country, your family, just for this measly power?!”

“That’s laughable. In this world, power is everything! The justice you speak of is ultimately something you can talk about because you have power, isn’t it?!”

Boom! Crash! Rumble!

Every time the 7-Star and 8-Star Spirits of the two clashed, roars and shockwaves continuously resounded.

A battlefield where Awakening Skills and Polarity Reversals ran rampant.

Around it, other participants also pretended to fight moderately while looking for an opportunity to profit from the conflict.

However, Kim Cheoljung was different.

“I told you, didn’t I? I’ll eliminate you first!”

As he said before the match started, he was sincerely attacking, targeting Jin Yuseong.

He didn’t want to expend energy so early, but since the opponent came at him like that, he had no choice.

“Well. We’ll have to see who gets eliminated.”

Jin Yuseon summoned Jeon Woochi to deal with Kim Cheoljung’s 7-Star Spirit, then began pulling out ten strands of Black shadow envoy one by one from the fingertips of his gloves.

He intended to test the performance of his new equipment while directly facing Kim Cheoljung.