The Hunter Association's test began with an offer. Clearing an E-class gate within seven days would bring thirty million won in cash—double the standard reward. To most guilds, this sum was a fortune, enough to make them scramble for the right to hunt. But to Lee Seong-jun, it was far too little. He knew the value of his strength and the danger of revealing weakness. If he allowed others to see desperation for money, his worth would be lowered, and future negotiations would always lean against him.
His refusal to act impressed Jo Kang-hyun, the seasoned team leader who had faced countless returnees. The man quickly realized that Seong-jun was no fool who had grown strong only through blind effort. This was someone with keen political sense, one who could see through shallow bait. A big fish had appeared, and the Association could not afford to let him slip away. With a bow and a softened tone, Jo Kang-hyun promised greater compensation once results were proven, hinting that higher authorities would be forced to recognize his value.
Seong-jun remained calm. The terms were not perfect, but he had drawn enough from the exchange. A gate was already on his hunting plan, and now it came with private grounds, additional reward, and a stage to raise his ransom further. He agreed, requesting the details by message.
That evening, he returned home with resolve. The deadline was seven days, but he intended to finish in one. The faster the completion, the higher the weight of his name in negotiations. Yet he did not rush in blindly. Preparation came first, and his method was clear—strengthen the body and advance the art that defined him.
Seated cross-legged, he activated Blood Shadow Sura Shingong, one of the deadliest demonic techniques in existence. Internal energy surged, flowing like violent torrents through his meridians. He was already at the limit of his current stage, but the next barrier—the third star—was within reach.
In cultivation, progress was not only internal power. The balance of body, spirit, and technique determined true mastery. Many warriors faltered by strengthening one aspect and neglecting the others, but Seong-jun had honed all three, even on Earth where others underestimated martial arts. Tonight, he prepared to pierce the Imdok Yangmaek, a pair of vital channels linking crown and tailbone, blocked by the impurities of the body.
The process was brutal. Energy smashed against clogged points, like hammering through stone walls hidden inside the flesh. Each impact tore through turbid air, forcing toxins out, while pain burned through his body without mercy. Sweat poured like rain, but his concentration never wavered. He had lived as Demon God before—pain could not shake him now.
With a thunderous burst inside, the barrier gave way. The energy storm rushed through the opening, weaving into new channels. At last, the veins aligned, forming a proper flow for power. The body shook, but instead of collapse, strength filled him.
The system answered immediately.
Blood Shadow Sura Shingong advanced to SS-grade, three stars.
Imdok Yangmaek opened.
All stats rose, and blood energy efficiency surged.
A status window appeared before him, showing his level at ten and his eligibility for a first job change. For the first time, martial progress reflected perfectly in the system, a fusion of Earth's mechanics and his ancient cultivation.
He smiled faintly. Crossing into the second-rate realm of warriors in less than ten days was beyond anything even he had expected. On the Thousand Continents, such growth would have taken years. Now, aided by bonus points and the system's power, he advanced at impossible speed.
Once, he had struggled endlessly to become a first-class master. Now, he could almost taste that level within a month. This was the difference between raw cultivation and cultivation amplified by a system that rewarded effort, experience, and talent.
The notification for job change blinked before him. Without hesitation, he accepted.