Return of the Shattered Constellation

[Jigwi’s Right Jewel Eye]

A kind of neidan[1] condensed from all the ghost, evil, and fire energy of the demonic creature ‘Jigwi’.

With this eye, you can observe the changes in many realms, such as the Saha World or the hidden Astral World. It is a valuable treasure to those who cultivate death magic.

· Type: Jewel. Ingredient.

· Effect: Acquire Ghost Energy, Acquire Evil Energy, Acquire Fire Energy.

Even after Chang-Sun acquired his long-awaited Jigwi’s Jewel Eye, messages continued to appear.

[You have successfully unearthed the secrets of the ‘Yuchang Sword’!]

[Your understanding of swordsmanship has significantly deepened.]

[The Skill ‘Advanced Dagger Proficiency’ has leveled up.]

[The Skill 'Advanced Dagger Proficiency’ has reached its maximum level. A higher-level skill has been created.]

[The Skill 'Expert Dagger Proficiency’ has been created!]

...

[The Skill 'Basic Longsword Proficiency’ has been created!]

[Skill Level increased!]

...

[The Skill 'Advanced Longsword Proficiency’ has reached its maximum level. A higher-level skill has been created.]

...

[All weapon skills categorized under ‘Swordsmanship’, such as ‘Expert Dagger Proficiency’, ‘Expert Longsword Proficiency’, ‘Expert Sword Defense Proficiency’, and ‘Expert Sword Offense Proficiency’ have been combined.]

[Congratulations! The Skill ‘Sword Mastery’ has been created!]

...

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is incredibly shocked that you own the ‘Yuchang Sword’!]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ tiptoes around nervously, as she did not realize that what seemed to be a mere fire poker was actually a divine sword.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ says she should have kept her mouth shut, slapping herself on the mouth multiple times.]

...

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ just shakes his head, now unsurprised that your knowledge was deep enough to let you unseal the relic.]

...

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ watches you level up, still awaiting your answer.]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ says the sword is a perfect match for your righteous nature, giving you her sincere congratulations.]

...

[The deities watching you are very surprised that a masterwork made by Ou Yezi the Divine Blacksmith has reappeared!]

Rather than focusing on Chang-Sun’s achievement, the Celestials were more interested in the fact that the [Yuchang Sword], the sword left by the deceased Ou Yezi the Divine Blacksmith, had awakened. It was understandable, as from their perspective, an old sword that had been used as a fire poker for a forge had suddenly transformed into a divine sword. As a self-proclaimed sacred weapon maniac, Pabilsag was especially embarrassed about her slips of the tongue.

However, that only proved just how perfect the seal placed on the [Yuchang Sword] by the first Ou Yezi was. Without the sharp insight he had acquired along with the [King of Weapons] trait, Chang-Sun would never have recognized it either; thus, it made sense that even Celestials were taken by surprise.

[Yuchang Sword]

One of the Nine Fine Swords forged by the first Ou Yezi, who was known as the Divine Blacksmith.

The sword is short enough to be used as a dagger. It can also be used as a longsword now that its true form has been unsealed. In that form, the grudges contained within are released, and the ‘fire’ left by Ou Yezi’s heirs and the ‘blood’ spilled by the sword’s previous owners grant mysterious powers to the new owner.

· Type: Dagger or Longsword. Relic.

· Damage: Unmeasurable.

· Effect: Bloodletting Equip. Fire Storm. (Other Effects Unknown.)

*Requirements have been partially met. Some of the sword’s hidden abilities can be used.

*Requirements have not been completely met. Other set items are needed to awaken the sword’s other abilities.

Zing, zing!

The [Yuchang Sword] trembled faintly, and the blazing symbols on it slowly shrank once again, their heat dissipating. The blade was sealing itself once again after releasing its hidden power to the limit.

[The Hidden Quest (Ou Yezi’s Secret) has been created!]

[Ou Yezi’s Secret]

Type: Hidden.

Explanation: The first Ou Yezi, who was known as the Divine Blacksmith, devoted his entire life to smithing. He successfully created nine swords with different properties and characteristics. Today, people call the nine swords ‘Ou Yezi’s Nine Divine Swords’ or the ‘Nine Fine Swords’. The ‘Yuchang Sword’ you currently own is one of the Nine Fine Swords, and contains the ‘Fire’ and ‘Blood’ properties.

However, you should know that the Nine Fine Swords made by the first Ou Yezi are not separate items. They are all part of a system designed to compensate for each one’s flaws and maximize the swords’ unique strengths. The more Fine Swords you have, the stronger their synchronization will become, drawing out more of their hidden abilities.

Thus, you must find the remaining eight Fine Swords scattered across the realms. Once they are reunited with one another, they can allow you to reach a more profound realm.

Be wary, however. The owners of the other Fine Swords may also try to steal your ‘Yuchang Sword.’

Prerequisite: Own one of the Nine Fine Swords.

Time Limit: ―

Objectives:

1. Protect the ‘Yuchang Sword’.

2. Seek out and retrieve the other Fine Swords.

3. Unlock the swords’ abilities through imprinting.

Reward: Unlock hidden abilities. The first Ou Yezi’s legacy.

*You currently own one Fine Sword.

―Yuchang Sword: Fire and Blood.

Meanwhile, the [Yuchang Sword] began to undergo a rapid transformation. Seemingly discontent with remaining an ordinary bronze sword, it moved as if it were alive, quickly being absorbed into his right hand. After that…

Paaaah―!

A burst of light shone from the back of Chang-Sun’s hand as a line of strange symbols, identical to the ones engraved on the [Yuchang Sword.] The symbols then transformed themselves into a crest that depicted a sword slashing through a wave of fire. The [Yuchang Sword] had settled completely in Chang-Sun’s right hand and forearm.

‘My right arm is tougher now,’ Chang-Sun thought as he opened and closed his hand.

Along with his improved mana circulation, he sensed that his right forearm, where the [Yuchang Sword] had settled, had become significantly tougher, as if it had been reinforced with rebar. It was as if the sword had found a nest to make its home, and only on Chang-Sun’s command would it leave that nest and reappear once more in his hand.

Oooooong―!

Just then, [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth], which was sheathed on Chang-Sun’s left waist, trembled faintly at a strangely precise moment. Previously, it had never shown any reaction no matter how roughly Chang-Sun swung it, but it suddenly began reacting as fiercely as a child throwing a tantrum. Was it because the sword of Ou Yezi the Divine Blacksmith, who had been known as the rival of Taotie the Devil Blacksmith, had awakened?

Whoosh!

Gradually, the raging firestorm of magic within Chang-Sun subsided, and his Integrated Magic Circuit stabilized. He was unsure whether it was because he had finished absorbing the Jigwi’s fire, or because he had unsealed the [Yuchang Sword], or both; regardless, the previously overheating magic circuit was slowly cooling down. Likewise, his vastly increased pool of mana began to calm down; where it had once resembled an ordinary river, now it was closer to a vast lake.

[Magic: 221 (+60)]

Chang-Sun’s Magic stat had been 76 while he was in the Level 30 range, but the confluence of multiple incidents had nearly tripled that value. He had absorbed the Jigwi’s fire, strengthened the [Fire of the Eight Trigrams Brazier], and continuously eaten Crying and Laughing Flowers, rapidly increasing his mana. By any standard, his Magic stat was now extremely high, befitting the wizard-type class ‘Rune Master’.

Chang-Sun grinned in satisfaction as he looked at his Magic stat..

* * *

『Shit…! I can’t believe he took out the Jigwi before us. I knew the Tyrant was insanely good, but this doesn’t make any sense!』

『What should we do?』

『I don’t know. It’s going to be tricky now that things have turned out this way, seeing as we can’t just bury the incident.』

While watching Chang-Sun slowly catch his breath, the two instructors massaged their temples as they quickly exchanged telepathic messages. They were actually more like guards than ordinary instructors who were assigned to teach trainees; their task was to secretly watch trainees and prevent them from entering the Clan’s ‘research facility’, while looking for ‘ingredient’ candidates.

Previously, the two had received an order from their superiors at the research facility.

『Kill the Jigwi. It seems the person carrying the [Dream Sphere] got killed while collecting the Berserk Flowers… Dammit, why did the training exercise have to take place at a time like this? Eliminate the Jigwi by any means necessary. The [Dream Sphere] can’t end up in the wrong hands. Scour the nest just in case.』

When they had first received the order, they had been incredibly dumbfounded, as the Jigwi was known as the ruler of the ‘Black Blood Mountain Range’ among the instructors. They were supposed to avoid encountering it at all costs; a Jigwi was too difficult to approach, as it was a boss monster that could cause forest fires and droughts wherever it went.

To make matters worse, one of their own had been killed by such a monster while carrying the [Dream Sphere]. There was no way he could not know the importance of the [Dream Sphere], so how had he gotten himself killed while wandering around without a care? Of course, the dead man had likely not expected to die; still, the instructors burned with anger, as they still had to clean up his mess.

Despite the two instructors’ reluctance to follow their orders, they had no choice, as the secret of the [Dream Sphere] did not belong to the Clan alone. If its existence were ever revealed to the public, they would also be executed as accomplices. However, the Jigwi, the only creature that could know the whereabouts of the [Dream Sphere], had suddenly died right before their eyes.

The two instructors had two choices left: Retreat, or scold Lee Chang-Sun and Baek Gyeo-Ul. It seemed Chang-Sun and Gyeo-Ul had been chasing after the Jigwi for a long time, but the instructors had no way of knowing whether the two had acquired the [Dream Sphere] or seen traces of it in the process. Although the instructors could ask them leading questions, they had a feeling that Chang-Sun and Gyeo-Ul would not fall for it.

『There’s no other choice.』

One of the instructors gave his companion a serious gaze.

『What are you planning?』

The other instructor asked him a question.

『Let’s attack them.』

The first instructor spoke decisively.

『…What?』

The second instructor was surprised, turning to look at the first one before continuing.

『Won’t this be difficult? He didn’t just extinguish the Jigwi’s fire, he absorbed it! How are we supposed to subdue a guy like this?』

Even for instructors and rankers, the Jigwi’s Eon Fire posed a great deal of trouble; it would take three or four instructors to even have a chance of killing it. That was why the instructors had avoided the Jigwi. Thus, it was absurd for two of them to even consider subduing someone who could wield the Jigwi’s fire.

『No, this is actually a perfect moment.』

The first instructor continued to insist on the plan, undeterred.

『What?!』

The second instructor protested.

『Look at them. They’re tired after fighting the Jigwi. Even if Lee Chang-Sun absorbed the Eon Fire, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s tired.』

The first instructor gestured toward Chang-Sun with his chin.

The second instructor then began to calmly observe Chang-Sun, seeing that he was breathing quietly with his eyes closed. The sword that had released a stream of fire was nowhere to be seen, leaving only traces of ash and smoke around Chang-Sun. Using such a powerful fire-type skill had no doubt taxed Chang-Sun’s body a great deal; he seemed to be recovering from fatigue.

Although Gyeo-Ul remained in decent condition while guarding Chang-Sun, he also looked tired due to the fatigue he had built up after chasing the Jigwi relentlessly for four days. No matter how skilled the two were, it seemed as if they could no longer do much. On top of that, the two instructors were powerful enough to pursue the Jigwi on their own.

『…You’re right.』

The second instructor nodded.

『So let’s just subdue them and ask them about the [Dream Sphere]. If they can’t tell us anything useful, we can just feed them to some animals.』

The first instructor offered up a suggestion..

『It’s a shame, considering how much hope Executive Director Oh had for him.』

The second instructor added a remark.

『That’s the price of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.』

The first instructor responded coldly.

After discussing what to do next, the two instructors prepared to move. However, they were soon forced to stop. The hot air that remained as a result of the Jigwi’s fire drained away quickly, replaced with the cold, sharp air of the battlefield. Worried that Chang-Sun and Gyeo-Ul might have caught onto their plans, they turned to look, but the two men were still standing in the same place.

‘There’s someone else here!’ the two instructors thought, simultaneously coming to the same conclusion. They looked back toward the direction of the cold wind, and were met with the sight of three people emerging from the rough thicket with cunning, demonic smiles.

“Hehe! I never expected to catch two big fish—no, is it three big fish?”

“It’s three. We found Lee Chang-Sun, the Jigwi’s treasure, and the White Tiger Clan’s hounds. It’s basically a gift bundle. We don’t have any birthday boys today, do we?”

Yang Shin-Hae, Park Gi-Pyo, and Bae Woo-Gyeong, the three demonic Players from the Highoff Clan, had appeared.

1. As a reminder, this is an alternative wuxia/xianxia term for ‘beast cores’ that contain a monster’s cultivation, like the Sarira of Fire. ☜