I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 146

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 146.  

Han Seong-ah was restless, stranded on the deserted island with Seol-yeong.  

“Ah, young master. It’s already been days…”  

—Meoow…  

He said he’d just climb the tower for a bit, but he hasn’t returned for days.  

Could he have been kidnapped? No, that can’t be. He said he’d go and come back himself.  

Then did something happen there?  

“Why didn’t he take me with him?!”

Frustrated, Han Seong-ah screamed at the sky.  

At that moment, a crack split open in the air.  

Just as she froze in shock—  

“Kyaaak!”  

—Oooowah!  

Something burst out of the rift.  

It landed squarely on the sandy beach, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.  

Han Seong-ah hastily drew her weapon and waved away the dust.

Then—  

“Young—young master!”  

Yoo Baek-jun’s figure came into view.  

Though he looked battered all over.  

“……”  

Yoo Baek-jun glanced around before staring blankly at Han Seong-ah.  

“…Why are you looking at me like that? Seen a ghost?”  

“Young—young master! Not a ghost, but something close to it!”  

—Oooow!  

Han Seong-ah shrieked.  

* * *  

“Why’s everyone so mad, anyway?”

Yoo Baek-jun returned to his family estate.  

There was much to do, but first, he had matters to attend to at home.  

Han Seong-ah was still furious over what he’d said on the island.  

“Hmm, should I have explained properly before leaving?”  

—Baad Human.  

Seol-yeong was equally sulky.  

Still, he couldn’t just casually mention going to a place called the Tower of the Martial God.  

Yoo Baek-jun sighed.  

“Young master, what would you like for your meal?”  

“Just a sandwich. Seung-min, was everything alright at the estate while I was gone?”  

“Nothing much happened, except that I’ve been getting eczema on my hands lately.”  

“I see. Go apply some ointment.”  

Yoo Baek-jun’s mansion had relatively few servants. As a result, Choi Seung-min had to work much harder compared to other estates.  

‘I should give him a bonus this month…’

He had left Choi Seung-min under the care of the Grandmaster Ja-yeon, and thankfully, nothing major had happened.  

It didn’t seem like Yoo Tae-rang had made contact either.  

“Hmm!”  

Yoo Baek-jun opened the skill window.  

After returning from the Tower of the Martial God, the Book of the Martial God now had a skill enhancement feature.  

He intended to test it.  

‘You can upgrade one skill to a higher rank. Alternatively, you can combine multiple skills to create a new one…’  

Yoo Baek-jun chose the latter.  

Heavy Strike and Joint Strike. Frankly, Heavy Strike was somewhat limited in utility.  

‘If I want to hit hard, I’d use Heavenly Destruction or another skill from the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique.’  

There was no reason to use Heavy Strike.  

On the other hand, Joint Strike was quite useful, but its power was still ambiguous.  

Combining these two skills…  

‘Should give me something worthwhile.’  

Yoo Baek-jun opened the skill enhancement window.  

A system window appeared before him and he then inserted the two skills: Heavy Strike and Joint Strike.  

—Heavy Strike and Joint Strike have been selected.  

—1,000P would normally be consumed, but due to the Skill Enhancement Ticket, the enhancement will proceed without cost.  

—Skill enhancement initiated.  

A mystical sight unfolded.  

The icons of the two skills floated up and collided with each other.  

It was an almost surreal spectacle.  

As the two skills clashed, a brilliant light erupted, and when it faded—  

—Heavy Strike and Joint Strike have been enhanced into Tendon-Shattering Bone Crush (A+). The original skills, Heavy Strike and Joint Strike, have been removed.  

Tendon-Shattering Bone Crush.  

The name alone sounded brutal.  

[Tendon-Shattering Bone Crush (A+, 1★)]  

—Targets specific pressure points to induce a magical power overload in the opponent, twisting their muscles and bones.  

—Alternatively, physically destroys tendons and bones.  

It was highly effective for torturing enemies, but even outside of that, it could be used to physically destroy muscles or joints.  

Either way, it was a versatile skill.  

“Satisfactory.’’

—Mrrrow?  

Seol-yeong gave Yoo Baek-jun a puzzled look.  

To it, it must have seemed like he was just muttering to himself while staring into space.  

‘Next…’  

Yoo Baek-jun proceeded to enhance other necessary skills: Gale Kick and Lightness Technique.  

[Flame Kick (A+, 1★)]  

—Engulfs the legs in fierce flames to unleash a torrent of strikes upon the enemy.  

Gale Kick could be enhanced into several skills, but Flame Kick seemed the most useful.  

It was simple yet powerful.  

He also liked that it had an elemental attribute.  

[Transcendent Lightness (A+, 1★)]  

—Lightens the body to the point where stepping on grass doesn’t bend a single blade. Allows faster movement, higher jumps, and the ability to run on walls.  

Unlike the Lightness Technique, there weren’t many sub-skills, but this was sufficient.  

‘I’ve upgraded C-rank and D-rank skills to A+.’  

The improvement was unbelievable.  

Under normal circumstances, these skills would have become obsolete and discarded. Yet now, they’d been transformed into rare and powerful abilities.  

As he reviewed the enhanced skills, he felt the urge to test them.  

‘I’m itching to try them out.’  

Yoo Baek-jun took Seol-yeong to the mansion’s garden.  

He particularly wanted to test Transcendent Lightness.  

“Young master?”  

“Ah, I just wanted to practice something quickly.”  

“Practice… Ah!”  

Outside, Han Seong-ah was waiting.  

Her bewildered expression, followed by a forced scowl, looked comical.  

She must have momentarily forgotten she was angry at Yoo Baek-jun.  

‘She’s definitely changed.’  

The rigid Han Seong-ah from when they first met would never have acted like this.  

She seemed much more comfortable around him now.  

“Hmm…”  

The garden was beautifully arranged with grass and flowers—hardy plants that could thrive even in the harsh environment of Seoraksan Mountain.  

The gardener’s effort was evident.  

“Will this be alright?”  

He was slightly concerned.  

Yoo Baek-jun activated the Transcendent Lightness Technique. His body lightened, and he shot forward like the wind.  

The speed was enough to rustle the surrounding foliage.  

Yet, despite crossing the exact center of the garden, not a single blade of grass was bent.  

“……!”  

Han Seong-ah, who had been watching, was stunned.  

She could tell this was a far higher level of Footwork Technique than what Yoo Baek-jun had previously demonstrated.  

A satisfied smile spread across Yoo Baek-jun’s face as he tested a few more skills.  

‘The power is undeniable.’  

Only one thing remained.  

Yoo Baek-jun opened the secret book of the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique .  

‘I’ll master this… and then go see Grandmaster Ja-yeon.’

It was time to bring her to his side.  

* * *  

The next day.  

“You were looking for me?”  

“Yes, Grandmaster Ja-yeon.”  

The tranquil training hall.  

Yoo Baek-jun sat facing the Grandmaster Ja-yeon.  

As always, she sipped tea with a serene expression.  

“I heard you took good care of Choi Seung-min. Thank you. If not for you…”  

“It wasn’t anything difficult. I just made sure he wasn’t left alone and called him over often.”  

“Choi Seung-min must have hated that.”  

“Well, perhaps.”  

The Grandmaster smiled faintly.  

Her frequent summons were a clear sign of her concern for him.  

In such a situation, even Yoo Tae-rang would hesitate to mess with Choi Seung-min.  

“So, there’s no need for gratitude.”  

“If you say so… Then let’s get straight to the point.”  

Yoo Baek-jun set down his teacup.  

“My reason for seeking you out is simple. I’ve completed the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique, as promised.”  

“That…”  

She had expected this, as it was the only reason he’d call for her.  

But to have truly completed it…  

Surprise flickered across her face.  

“If you’re willing, Grandmaster, I’d like to demonstrate it here and now.”  

“……”  

The Grandmaster fell into brief thought.  

“Then let me assist you.”  

“Huh?”  

“Wouldn’t it be better to have an opponent rather than striking the air? Use it on me.”  

Yoo Baek-jun met her gaze.  

Her eyes were resolute. It was clear no argument would sway her.  

“Very well.”  

It wouldn’t take long anyway.  

The Grandmaster stood in the center of the training hall, still wearing her outer robe, while Yoo Baek-jun faced her.  

Tension hung between them.  

Whoosh!  

Yoo Baek-jun moved first.  

He drew upon his magical power. 

A clear, blue energy surged from him, rippling like waves.  

The energy of the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique.  

Soon, it transformed into pure flames, enveloping his entire body. Within the flames, the faint silhouette of a dragon writhed.  

‘This…’  

The Grandmaster’s expression shifted.  

The energy she sensed from him now was entirely different—explosive, overwhelming.  

She could feel an immense power.  

“Huup!”  

Yoo Baek-jun exhaled sharply and stepped forward.  

Boom! 

The training hall’s floor shattered instantly, and blue flames erupted beneath his feet.  

‘The movement of Heavenly Destruction.’  

She had taught him Heavenly Destruction herself.

She knew how it was used—and how to counter it.  

So she prepared to defend, expecting Yoo Baek-jun to stomp the ground.  

But—  

Swish!  

She couldn’t see his movement.  

No—Yoo Baek-jun had vanished entirely.  

‘Where—?’  

Just as she frantically looked around, Yoo Baek-jun reappeared before her, as if mocking her.  

As if he had teleported.  

‘No, this is just too fast—!’  

Yoo Baek-jun twisted his waist and pulled his right arm back with all his strength.  

First, the blue flames gathered—then the dragon coiling around him materialized around his fist.  

—Kyaaaa!  

“Ugh…!”  

The Grandmaster hastily raised her guard.  

The massive dragon, wreathed in blue flames, crashed into her. It shattered her defenses effortlessly, its maw widening—  

And swallowed her whole.  

“Guhk!”  

The Grandmaster was sent flying amidst the explosive energy of the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique. 

Yoo Baek-jun, watching, gathered pure energy in both hands.  

And unleashed it.  

Kaboom!  

The energy triggered a chain of explosions, engulfing her.

Yoo Baek-jun immediately closed the distance and unleashed the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique upon her.  

Heavenly Chain Strikes, Iron-Cutting Fist, Twin Dragons’ Clash.  

All skills he had used before. But their power was incomparable now.  

The reason was simple.  

‘Heavenly Aura.’  

The ultimate skill of the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique.  

The Aura, far surpassing ordinary aura, enhanced his physical abilities and amplified the power of his techniques.

“Hah…!”  

Ja-yeon was pushed back after receiving all the attacks.

Her usually composed demeanor was now visibly shaken. 

Yet, instead of pain, her face bore exhilaration.  

“I’m speechless.”  

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She wiped it away and smiled.  

“I never thought I’d live to see this fist technique completed.”  

She seemed genuinely happy.