I Became the Genius Mage of the Martial Academy

Chapter 154 : Advanced Student Promotion Exam (5)

"A suspicious person? Where are they now?"

"This way. I've suppressed all their blood points, and Go Su-bin is guarding them, so it should be fine."

Bong So guided the way.

There weren't many beings who would conduct suspicious transactions on this island.

‘It’s probably the guy who distributed the demonic pills.’

Bong So and Go Su-bin had played an unexpected role.

“If there’s no fear of suicide or escape, we should deal with the remaining remnants on the island first.”

According to the priority of the mission, we dealt with the remaining remnants and then immediately headed for the place Bong So had mentioned.

“Keo-heok!”

There were five men who had collapsed with their blood points suppressed.

“There were bills and a jar on the boat they were about to take.”

When Go Su-bin lifted the cloth of the boat, what was revealed was a considerable amount of bills and a container containing demonic pills.

‘So they were the distributors of the demonic pills.’

It seemed we had luckily attacked on the day they were making a contact.

To cross-verify their testimonies, we separated them far apart and then asked them one by one.

“Where do you belong?”

“We have no affiliation!”

The guys who were denying it.

Then, Jeong Muk, the instructor specializing in torture, took them one by one to the edge of the bushes.

“Aaaaargh!!”

Soon, a desperate scream was heard from a distance. I asked the guy who was looking up this way with trembling eyes.

“Really?”

“Please spare me!! I-I really don’t know!!!”

Even when I asked the other guys, the answer was the same.

“We just did as we were told!!”

The guys who were denying it with tears and snot.

‘It seems like they’re cutting their losses.’

The demonic pills were originally from the Demonic Cult. However, due to the closed nature of the Demonic Cult, they wouldn't use their own people for the distribution and sales, which were the easiest to get caught.

The guys who were caught now were just subcontractors used for a one-time job.

But in the end, since the point of transporting the money was set, it wasn't that there were no clues.

“Where were you supposed to deliver the bills?”

“That’s the cape where the Hanjing River and the Yangtze River meet, east of Wuhan!”

Now that we had found out the contact point, all that was left was an ambush.

“Cooperate with us. If you do as you’re told, we won’t kill you, and we’ll help you hide your identity and escape.”

“But, my f-family!”

As befitting the Demonic Cult, it seemed they had even taken their families hostage. I calmly told the guys the reality.

“It’s obvious that if they find out you’ve been caught, your families will also be disposed of. We’ll rescue them before the enemies do, so lend us your strength.”

“H-how can we believe that?”

“If you don’t believe it, do you have any other choice? You’re not in a position to set conditions.”

We are not saints. It meant there was no reason to be dragged around by the circumstances of a criminal suspect, such as illegal drugs.

I recited their options in a chilly voice.

“Will you die here at our hands and let your families die as well to keep them quiet? Or will you put your hope in the orthodox faction that is fighting the unorthodox faction? Even if you’re just a simple seller, you should know that this item is not ordinary, right?”

The opponent, who had been contemplating, finally closed his two eyes tightly. Soon, a word of affirmation flowed from his mouth.

“I will cooperate. My family, at least…!”

No matter how much the orthodox faction was said to be talkative and not clean, in the end, it was a more reliable group than the unorthodox faction.

The difference between upholding justice, at least in name, and not, was bound to be reflected in their image.

“A good thought.”

Now that the persuasion was over, all that was left was to go to the contact point. But just then, I heard Jeong Muk's words.

“You guys should return soon. The second exam is over with this. Everyone has passed.”

He wasn't wrong. In the first place, the reason we had come this far was to take the promotion exam.

“When the investigation is over, we’ll include you later. We can’t let such an item be distributed.”

At those words, Jeong Muk nodded his head as if he understood.

“I understand. As befitting an orthodox faction member.”

Of course, it wasn't for such a commendable reason. Because I knew who was behind them.

‘Manjeon Merchant Guild.’

It was one of the six great merchant guilds of the Central Plains and a subordinate group of the Demonic Cult disguised as an orthodox faction. Since their tail would be caught with this, a large-scale investigation would soon be carried out.

I couldn't miss that opportunity.

‘When the Manjeon Merchant Guild falls, I’ll have to loot it.’

I needed money after the Demon-Slaying Sword anyway.

And so, after leaving the pursuit of the mastermind and the investigation to the instructors, including Jeong Muk, we returned to the Martial Academy.

When the 6 of us arrived at the empty training ground for the 3rd exam, Gu Ja-beom appeared.

“This is the last exam.”

At the news that the end was finally in sight, a stream of relief flowed from the surroundings. But only I clicked my tongue inwardly.

Now, an exam that was close to a bad custom remained.

The final exam, where information was hardly spread even among the students because of its viciousness.

“From now on, you just have to endure for one da-gyeong (15 minutes).”

While the people who didn't know what he meant were just raising their guard, footsteps were heard from a distance.

“Who are those people?!”

With Bong So's muttering, what appeared were the advanced students within the 6th rank, including Cheon Ga-seong and Cho Min-ha.

Soon, Gu Ja-beom's declaration was heard.

“The final exam is to survive from the advanced students!”

“What?!”

“Isn’t that too harsh?”

Even if they were in the same top-tier, the gap between an advanced student and an intermediate student was absolute. They were no match for them at all.

“The enemy doesn’t go easy on their opponents.”

With those words, the advanced students blocked our path one by one.

“It’s been a while.”

“Have you made any progress in the meantime? Baek Hasin.”

On one side, Baek Hasin and Cheon Ga-seong aimed their swords at each other.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen the sword of the Shaolin Sect.”

“Then I can’t show you a weak side.”

In another area, Cho Min-ha and Bong So were confronting each other.

And this side's opponent was….

“I heard the scoundrel was making a lot of noise, calling himself a Great Mage! I’ll thoroughly trample a guy like you who’s an advanced student.”

It was Zhuge Pae-gang.

“Do it if you can.”

“I plan to, you arrogant thing!”

He was still ignoring this side. No matter how great an achievement I made, no matter how high I raised my realm, in the end, this type of person sees others as they see them. People are often like that.

So I had to show him properly. That the Cheonwu in front of you is not the same Cheonwu as before.

I took a step forward and drew the Demon-Slaying Sword.

“How funny.”

“What?”

As if to counter this, Zhuge Pae-gang also drew his sword.

He was also an existence who had reached the super-peak level. Although he was not an easy opponent, I had also grown no less than him.

Soon, powerful qi formed on the sword blades that were aimed at each other, and then the two people's figures disappeared.

Kaaaaang!

With a sword cry as if the atmosphere was being torn, we stepped back exactly one step each.

I could grasp it with just one exchange.

He was at the same proficient super-peak level as me.

“Nothing special.”

“Ha, to be so conceited after blocking just one move! Bring out that strange sorcery of yours! In the end, all you can rely on is tricks anyway!”

This duel was just to endure for 15 minutes. But to break that gaze of contempt that still hadn't disappeared, a special measure was needed.

“I’ll face you with just swordsmanship.”

“You bastard!!”

Zhuge Pae-gang rushed in roughly, enraged.

He had no choice but to be angry. Since his opponent had declared that he would defeat him without using his main weapon.

As much as he was conscious of the title of Great Mage, this side's attitude was enough to bring him a sense of humiliation.

“A guy who couldn’t even make eye contact dares!”

Zhuge Pae-gang's sword blade flashes. The secret technique of the Zhuge family, the Great-Heaven-Star-Sword-Art.

Soon, sword strikes of a mathematically and highly calculated trajectory poured out in succession.

Ka-ga-ga-gang!

But what blocked this was a purple sword qi that drew a graceful sword path. The Zixia Divine Art.

At the sight of the sword strikes that had been thrusting with great momentum being deflected instead, the opponent's expression contorted for a moment.

Although it was a superior martial art that had undergone numerous analyses and improvements after the liberalization of martial arts, that was all. It was no match for a divine art.

“Impossible!”

“It’s reality.”

I immediately thrust my sword and stared at the guy. Before I knew it, the superiority of the swords had tilted, and my sword was in a position to strike him down from above.

“How can this be…!”

I swung my sword again at the guy who was desperately blocking the attack.

Zhuge Pae-gang, whose body was gradually tilting back, began to be pushed back step by step.

Although their realms were similar, the difference between a natural talent and a superior martial art was clear. To the point where the gap was widening in real time.

Above all, their mindsets were different.

While the opponent's sword path, who was looking down on me and denying reality, was blurring, my sword strikes were gradually becoming clearer.

A purple trajectory pressures the guy. Now, the opponent's clothes were being cut indiscriminately. It was proof that he couldn't respond properly to the moves.

“I-I can’t believe it!”

Zhuge Pae-gang, who was shouting with his two eyes wide open. But I was already right in front of the guy.

“You’re still the same. That’s why you lose.”

“Cheonwu!!!”

With his shout, he put his strength into his sword qi and thrust. For a moment, I felt a sensation as if the world had slowed down.

The trajectory of the Demon-Slaying Sword drew a residual image and slowly changed, and then it pressed down on Zhuge Pae-gang's sword blade diagonally.

Ki-gi-gi-gi-ging!

As the sword qi sparked like a flame, the Demon-Slaying Sword dug in front of the enemy.

Soon, it crossed with Zhuge Pae-gang's sword, which was completely cutting through the empty air, and fell diagonally on his neck.

“No way.”

With that futile word as a background, the Demon-Slaying Sword stopped.

“You only know how to deny. You’re pathetic to the end.”

Leaving Zhuge Pae-gang, who was standing there as if rooted to the spot with his neck aimed at, I withdrew my sword.

“The winner is Zhuge Cheonwu! The final exam is a pass!!”

Gu Ja-beom, who had approached between us before I knew it, notarized the result with a loud voice.

I had finally defeated Zhuge Pae-gang. And with just swordsmanship.

‘The original owner, Zhuge Cheonwu, would be happy with this.’

Thinking so, I put away the Demon-Slaying Sword.

“To think he defeated Zhuge Pae-gang, who is the 4th seat among the advanced students!”

“That student is incredible. Is there even a point in taking the exam?”

Before I knew it, Mo Yonghan's side, where the match had been decided, was bustling.

‘It’s about time.’

Mo Yonghan, Go Su-bin, and Namgung Bihwa were already finished.

It was inevitable.

To endure for 15 minutes against a master of a clearly higher rank was, in modern terms, like not getting KO'd for all 3 rounds against a professional athlete who was several weight classes above and technically superior.

“Keok!”

Finally, Bong So also collapsed from Cho Min-ha's sword-back strike, and the match was decided.

Naturally, our gazes turned to the center of the training ground, where the most intense battle was taking place.

Ka-ga-ga-ga-ga-gang!

A black sword qi scraped the ground, carving it, and they clashed with each other.

It was a fierce battle that was hard to believe was a battle between students.

A scene as if professors were fighting each other.

But unfortunately, Baek Hasin's opponent was not good.

Since he was fighting Cheon Ga-seong, who was about to step into the realm of Transformation, the result was obvious.

“Keuk!”

In the end, Baek Hasin also suffered internal damage and was pushed back.

Since they were both using the same Heavenly Demon Sword Art, the difference in their realms was clear.

“Give up. You can’t win.”

“To stop with something like that, the opponent I’m chasing is too fast.”

Baek Hasin corrected his grip on the Black Moon Sword into a vertical stance. Soon, a stream of qi, as if he had compressed his entire body's powerful qi, rose.

“I will overcome it in this place.”

The moment the blade of the Black Moon Sword was slowly turning towards the enemy, and Cheon Ga-seong was also about to turn the tip of his sword, which he had lowered, towards Baek Hasin.

“Stop! Time’s up.”

I heard Gu Ja-beom's voice.

“I will announce the results.”

The air changed in an instant. Although it was a sharp progression, there was nothing more to see in the content of the exam.

In this place, only two had endured the final exam to the end.

Among them, since I was the only one who had won against an advanced student, the results of the rest were as clear as day.

In the tense atmosphere, he continued.

“Zhuge Cheonwu, Baek Hasin, Bong So, Namgung Bihwa, Mo Yonghan. I congratulate the 5 of you on your promotion to advanced students.”

“Pardon?!”

“Is that true?”

All but one had passed. Of course, the final exam was originally an impossible challenge to pass.

What they wanted to know through this was perseverance and will.

How an individual would respond and act in a situation that was impossible to solve.

Although it might seem trivial, the difference is decisive.

A student who had shown everything they could do with their best effort would pass.

On the other hand, those who were pushed back by the momentum and couldn't display their skills properly or showed a relatively inadequate appearance would fail.

“When your name is called, come forward. First, Zhuge Cheonwu!”

To me, who was the only one to have defeated an opponent, the advanced student uniform was given first.

“Those who have passed, please change your clothes and head to the advanced student building for additional procedures.”

Gu Ja-beom guided so and then called Baek Hasin next.

However, there was one thing that was intentionally omitted from those words.

‘Now all that’s left is the ‘ritual’, huh.’

The existence of the Ghost Cave, which was the most important exam.

(End of Chapter)