Chapter 1076: Scorched World.

After the storm passed. Amidst the silence of many people, I prepared alone.

I could feel the gazes continuously. Ah, damn it. It wasn’t easy to ignore them.

The feeling of murmuring voices whispering.

Curiosity, envy, and jealousy. These were emotions I was all too familiar with.

“Who could it be?”

“They look young. What family’s child are they?”

“……If not from a noble house, perhaps a sect disciple.”

“What on earth do they possess for that Pedestal Lord to want them as a disciple?”

“They don’t look like much…… Ah, but their face is scary-looking. Hiiik-!”

I glared at the bothersome words, and the man flinched.

This is annoying, really.

Feeling this after a long time, I let out a deep sigh.

‘Like a damn old geezer.’

Of all times, this happened just as I was trying to quietly find something out. Is this really a coincidence?

From my perspective, it doesn’t seem like it.

“Haaah……”

I ran my hand through my hair.

‘What did they feel?’

What did the Pedestal Lord feel upon seeing me? They wouldn’t have felt the Two-Clawed Heaven-Piercing technique within me.

As soon as I felt the resonance, I hid it. I’m certain the Pedestal Lord didn’t feel it.

So, it wouldn’t be the resonance issue. Then what remains is.

‘The body from Transcending Mortal Transformation.’

My visibly young age, and the body shed during Transcending Mortal Transformation. I know that’s what the Pedestal Lord had been searching for so desperately.

That’s why they tried so hard to find me and take me as a disciple.

So then.

‘Is it like this again?’

I don’t know how they figured it out from afar, but that seems to be the reason they suddenly approached and fiddled with my body.

However.

‘Can they really know this just by touching my forearm?’

What could they have possibly learned just by touching my arm? They didn’t even send any energy.

They really just touched it. The Pedestal Lord seemed to have felt something.

‘Sseup.’

This is troublesome.

If the Pedestal Lord becomes obsessed with me, it would be truly troublesome.

‘What should I do? Should I change my identity again?’

I could change my face or body as much as I wanted, and changing my identity was also possible using my powers.

This part isn’t a problem, but.

‘The timing is the problem.’

Entering the Martial Alliance. That was the issue.

I heard that today was the last day for the entrance exam. Meaning, if I miss it today, I won’t be able to join until next year.

Changing my identity now would be too much.

‘Or perhaps…….’

Should I steal the identity of another Martial Alliance member and disguise myself?

That would be a method, if it’s considered one.

As I was contemplating various things for a moment.

“Next. Step up.”

A voice came from the front. I lifted my head and saw someone standing on the martial stage with a nonchalant expression.

That is the Alliance’s first entrance exam.

Besides that person, I could see people standing on several other martial stages.

The first part of the exam is simple.

You engage in a martial bout with the examiner up there. The examiner, after testing you through a few exchanges, determines your pass or fail.

It was a truly simple exam.

And.

‘An easy exam to corrupt.’

It was also an exam designed to be impure. Meaning, it’s the best situation to pass using appropriate bribes or connections.

‘As expected.’

If it were the Martial Alliance I know, it would already be full of bribes and requests.

I wondered what the current Alliance would be like.

‘Still, would it be different during the era of the Sword Saint?’

The golden age of the Martial Alliance.

Wouldn’t things be different during this time when the Sword Saint sits as the Alliance Leader?

I looked at the martial stage with such expectations.

‘Hm?’

I didn’t notice because I was thinking.

My assigned examiner.

‘I’ve seen that face somewhere?’

It looks familiar. It seemed like a face I knew. Who is it?

I squinted and looked, but I couldn’t recall.

As I was staring intently at such a person.

He looked at me this time too. When our eyes met, the man contorted his face and said.

“Step up.”

‘Ah.’

Was it my turn? I went up onto the martial stage.

Then the examiner looked at me with a strange gaze.

That look felt nakedly like, ‘Someone like this caught the Pedestal Lord’s attention?’

“Kuhm.”

He then cleared his throat briefly and spoke.

“I am Beomdong of the Flying Dragon Unit.”

“Ah.”

I widened my eyes upon hearing the introduction.

No wonder it seemed familiar. So it’s that guy?

It was the guy who acted cocky towards me and got beaten.

“What’s wrong?”

Beomdong in his youth. He looked like he wasn’t even twenty years old (이립이 안 된).

Perhaps sensing my strange reaction, Beomdong asked with a peculiar look.

“Ah, no. You just resemble someone I know.”

“Hmm. Really? It’d be hard to find someone who resembles me. If you were about to mention regional ties, restrain yourself.”

Beomdong said nonchalantly. He exuded an aura of never accepting bribes or improper requests.

Strange.

‘Was that guy like this back then too?’

Beomdong is someone I remember as having fallen deeply into corruption, but he looks strangely different now.

As I watched him with curiosity.

“As the rules stated, you just need to defeat me or earn my acknowledgment. Or…….”

Beomdong suddenly grinned and said.

“You could offer something to make acknowledgment easier.”

“……”

As he spoke, he joined his index finger and thumb to form a circle.

Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes.

“Haha. Just kidding.”

Kidding? No way. More than half of that sounded like the truth.

‘I got my hopes up for nothing.’

It was ironic, considering I thought he might have become corrupt due to the many impurities he’d accumulated throughout his life. I could guess that Beomdong was originally this kind of guy.

I felt relieved.

Just then.

“Don’t be too scared.”

Ssssk.

Beomdong drew his sword and said to me.

“I’ll go easy on you. I don’t intend to do anything to someone at the level of a late-stage disciple (후기지수).”

Beomdong, saying that, didn’t seem much older than me.

Judging by his mention of the Flying Dragon Unit, he seemed to have been affiliated with them from this point on.

His cultivation level is…….

‘Peak level (절정)?’

A level that just barely surpassed the Peak.

It’s certainly outstanding for his age.

Moreover, the Beomdong I knew was also a Martial Mirror (화경) realm expert, so his talent must be exceptional.

“What weapon do you use?”

“I don’t use things like that.”

“So you’re a martial artist. Good.”

Beomdong gestured with the tip of his sword pointed at me.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“……”

I quietly stared at the sword.

“I, I’ll yield the first move-“

Thump.

Beomdong, mid-sentence, collapsed onto the floor.

“Huh?”

“……Eh?”

“What the……?”

At that sight, the onlookers gasped in surprise. I nudged the fallen Beomdong aside with my foot, sending him rolling away.

“He said whenever I was ready.”

I approached and finished him with a strike to the jaw.

I wanted to smash his face in, but there were too many eyes watching.

With a smirk, I moved Beomdong aside and asked the examiner.

“Do you need further confirmation?”

“……Y-yes.”

The examiner, flustered, said to me.

“Baek Yangcheon (백양천) of the Baek Family of Gwangdong (광동백가). P-pass… you pass.”

I passed the first test.

It was only natural.

---

I immediately went for the second test. Fortunately, they didn’t try to stall or anything.

Upon arriving at the next destination, those who had already passed were sitting and doing something.

Looking closely, I saw papers placed on tables. Most people seemed to be racking their brains.

“Are you a passer?”

An examiner inside asked.

“Yes.”

“Sit here.”

I approached the indicated spot. Similarly, paper and brushes were placed on the table.

After sitting down and checking.

‘This.’

It’s literally a test.

It was filled with questions about demonic beasts (마물).

“Write the answers to the questions. The time limit is half a shichen (반 시진).”

“……”

I quietly looked at the document. Most were questions about green and blue ranked demonic beasts, and occasionally, there were questions about red ones.

The number of questions was extremely small.

That makes sense.

‘Because this isn’t the era when red demonic beasts appear.’

It was a time when attacks by demonic beasts had stabilized, and a relatively systematic structure had been established. With these issues resolved, this was the period when conflicts between people began to increase.

“Hmm.”

I quietly looked at the questions.

But.

‘This is easy.’

The questions were too easy.

‘I did rank first (수석) in my class, after all.’

For the top student of the Dragon Shrine (신룡관).

This was nothing.

I picked up the brush, scribbled the answers, and shortly after, raised my hand towards the examiner.

“Hm?”

Seeing my raised hand, the examiner chuckled.

“Try a little harder; giving up already…….”

“I’ve finished.”

“What……?”

My answer made the examiner’s eyes widen.

“You… finished?”

“Yes.”

“……That’s absurd.”

They gave a time limit of half a shichen. Yet, not even half a gakk (반각) passed. But hearing I finished it all seemed to fluster him greatly.

“Sloppy answers are worse than no answers.”

“I didn’t. Just check it.”

“……”

With a doubtful look, he snatched the document and checked it.

After a brief moment.

“Ha…….”

He let out a short, sharp breath.

“……You got them all right?”

Not a single one was wrong.

“Can I go now?”

“No……”

How could this be possible? The examiner, after pondering for a moment, nodded as if realizing something.

“……I see. What kind of person is it this time?”

“Huh?”

“No… Ha. It’s no use explaining. Go on.”

He said with a somewhat chilling gaze. His expression was full of displeasure.

Seeing that, I also realized.

‘Ah, this guy.’

Because I finished too quickly, he probably suspects I bribed someone to get the answers. He seemed to be harboring such suspicions.

Moreover, judging by his current words.

‘What kind of person is it again?’

It must mean someone else has already caused trouble.

‘Hmm.’

It’s absurd to be misunderstood, but.

I passed anyway.

So, I turned my back and headed straight outside.

‘The third one…….’

If I just finish the last test, will I be admitted to the Alliance?

‘Seriously.’

To think I’m taking tests and stepping into a place I so desperately wanted to avoid in my past life (전생).

It’s ridiculous.

Just as I was scratching my cheek and about to move.

“Excuse me.”

“Hm?”

Someone called me.

I turned my head.

“You. Are you leaving after passing just now?”

It was a low, cold voice for a woman. I looked to see who it was.

Then.

“……Huh?”

Seeing the person who spoke to me, I couldn’t help but react strongly.

It was a beautiful woman.

Though her eyes had somewhat cool-looking corners and she carried an undeniably cold impression. She was someone who would undoubtedly be called a beauty anywhere.

She looked barely past her youth (약관), and her presence reminded me of the cute one (애교쟁이) from the Moyong family, but.

Putting that aside, I knew this woman.

“If so, I have something to propose-“

“Madam Mi (미 부인)……?”

“……What did you say?”

At my words, the woman.

Mi Hyoran (미효란) of the Baekhwa Merchant Guild (백화상단) frowned.