Chapter 37. The Heart of a Martial Artist Is Not Made

The inside of The Extreme Land was hotter than expected.

Just walking was enough to make sweat pour down like rain, and the three hundred or so applicants, including Jin Yeong-in, were soaked in the blink of an eye.

‘I see why it’s called The Extreme Land.’

After a quick survey of the terrain, Jin Yeong-in immediately grasped the characteristics of this place.

The Heavenly Martial Academy did not just teach martial arts.

Although he hated to admit it, the Heavenly Martial Academy, as the best martial artist training institution in the Central Plains, taught various subjects in considerable depth.

For example, from military strategy such as strategy and tactics assuming small-scale battles, to medicine, astronomy, and geography.

These teachings of the Heavenly Martial Academy served as an important foundation for the disciples to display the martial arts they had polished while roaming the world as martial artists.

They had educated them not just on how to fight well, but also on how to live in the vast world.

‘It’ll be hot during the day and cold at night.’

The environment of The Extreme Land that Jin Yeong-in saw had the perfect conditions to drive a person mad.

During the day, there was no shade in The Extreme Land, so the hot sun beat down directly, and in the meantime, the wind did not circulate well, making it no different from a steam pot.

On the other hand, it was clear that a cold chill would flow once the sun set, so it was certain to feel twice as cold at night as it was outside.

This meant that the environment of The Extreme Land was perfect for nurturing martial artists in a short period of time.

During the day when training took place, they would suffer from the steam pot-like heat, and at night, they would shiver from the cold. Wouldn’t they be spending all twelve hours of the day in an extreme environment?

“Quickly, form ranks and files! Now!”

“Now!”

As if they had appeared out of nowhere, instructors in black martial arts uniforms with red headbands appeared and pressured the applicants.

“There will be necessary items at each of your spots.”

At the feet of the applicants who had formed ranks and files, there was a set of old martial arts uniforms, a sword, and a blue pill.

“From now on, change into the martial arts uniforms, wear the sword, and take the pill. Now!”

“Now!”

Like the other applicants, Jin Yeong-in changed his clothes, wore the sword, and took the blue pill according to the instructors’ instructions.

The old and worn martial arts uniform with the number forty-four on it showed the traces of time.

It was not only worn and patched up here and there, but also had holes and mottled bloodstains all over it.

He didn’t know for sure, but it seemed the previous trainee who had worn this uniform had shed a lot of blood.

‘It’s Qi Dispersing Poison.’

Jin Yeong-in immediately realized that the pill was meant to prevent the use of internal energy.

As soon as he took it, his lower abdomen where his dantian was located tingled, which was a typical symptom of being poisoned with Qi Dispersing Poison.

Since the Blood Wolf Corps was both a martial artist training institution and a selection process, it seemed that all applicants were made to take Qi Dispersing Poison to ensure fairness.

“Everyone, attention.”

A low and dignified voice echoed throughout The Extreme Land, and soon, a middle-aged man exuding a dense demonic qi appeared.

“Welcome. I am Yi Mu-baek, the Commander of the Blood Wolf Corps. I am the one who will be responsible for turning you bastards into living corpses from now on.”

The Blood Wolf Corps Commander, Yi Mu-baek.

As the person in charge of the Blood Wolf Corps, the martial artist training institution of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, he was also a high-ranking official belonging to the Council of Elders.

“From now on, you bastards will be called by your numbers, not your names. The number written on your martial arts uniform is your name here in the Blood Wolf Corps. Understood?”

“Yes!”

“All answers will be unified with a shout. Understood?”

“Ack!”

“Good.”

Yi Mu-baek gave a grim smile.

“Let’s see if you bastards have what it takes to become the warriors of Our Cult.”

As soon as Yi Mu-baek’s words ended, a thick fog began to spew out from deep within.

* * *

“W-what is it!”

“Why is there suddenly fog…!”

The bewildered applicants, no, the Blood Wolves, looked around.

However, since the fog had covered The Extreme Land in the blink of an eye, it was almost impossible to grasp the situation.

The fog was so thick that one could only see about three or four feet ahead.

Swish, Swish.

Soon, unidentified beings began to appear through the fog one by one.

Their appearance was bizarre.

Their skin was bruised blue, their eyes were bloodshot, and their fingernails, toenails, and teeth were long and sharp like those of a beast of prey.

They even had sharp horns growing on their heads.

It was a bizarre and horrifying sight, as if from a painting of hell.

“D-demons! Demons have appeared!”

Someone’s shout spread like an epidemic to all the Blood Wolves in The Extreme Land.

“D-don’t come!”

“Uhh, uhhh!”

Many Blood Wolves screamed at the sight of the suddenly appearing demons.

Although they had occasionally seen people who had undergone demonification due to their demonic qi going berserk, this was the first time they had seen real demons.

“Blood Wolves, listen up! This is the first test I am giving you bastards! I, the Commander of the Blood Wolf Corps, will only give the opportunity to become a martial artist of Our Cult to those who survive! So, do your best to survive!”

Yi Mu-baek’s voice echoed through the fog.

“Kyaaaak!”

“Guwaaaaaak!”

As soon as Yi Mu-baek’s shout ended, the demons rushed towards the Blood Wolves at a terrifying speed.

The foggy interior of The Extreme Land turned into a scene of chaos in an instant.

“Uwaaak!”

“Help meeeeeee!”

The Blood Wolves were greatly flustered by the sudden attack of the demons.

And for good reason, the current situation was excessively harsh for the Blood Wolves who were just about to enter the path of martial arts.

Being trapped in such a thick fog and attacked by demons was a situation that even seasoned martial artists would find disconcerting.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!!!”

Crunch, crunch

Kwad-deuk!

Moreover, the screams coming from beyond the fog and the sounds as if cannibalism was taking place instilled an even greater sense of psychological pressure and fear.

In that pandemonium, the Blood Wolves were divided into four groups.

First, the group that was dominated by fear and couldn’t do anything.

They either froze, crouched and shivered, or screamed and ran away.

Second, the group that acted like the first and was eventually eaten alive or killed by the demons.

Third, the group that fought back against the demons by any means necessary.

“G-get away! You demon bastards!”

“Uwoooooo!”

They swung the swords they were given with their martial arts uniforms and did their best to survive.

It wasn’t that they didn’t feel fear.

They were also afraid, but they simply overcame it and fought.

Even if they swung their swords in fear, it was better than dying without having done anything.

Finally, the fourth group consisted of only one person.

“Hmm.”

Jin Yeong-in stood still and observed his surroundings, showing no particular movement.

And for good reason, he felt no need to move at all.

‘Is this what Brother Dan was talking about?’

Danmok Cheong had given him various tips about passing the Blood Wolf Corps, including advice for a situation like this.

– When you first enter the Blood Wolf Corps, you will first experience the Hungry Ghost Hell Formation.

– Hungry Ghost Hell Formation?

– It’s a formation that shows those inside it an illusion of being swarmed by demons.

– Is it okay for you to tell me such things?

– Haha! Even if you know about the Hungry Ghost Hell Formation beforehand, you can’t help but be deceived. Once you enter the formation, your reason becomes clouded and you can’t make proper judgments, so knowing in advance is useless. At least in that moment, you will believe that the situation unfolding before your eyes is real.

Danmok Cheong’s words were half right and half wrong.

While the Blood Wolves were deluded by the Hungry Ghost Hell Formation, Jin Yeong-in was not affected at all.

He was not just unaffected, but he could see through everything.

His eyes accurately identified that the demons were not real but mere illusions.

Also, the thick fog could not obscure his vision.

‘A formation made of demonic qi. It won’t work.’

Since the Heavenly Demon’s Physique was practically immune to the effects of demonic qi, it was impossible for Jin Yeong-in to be deluded by the Hungry Ghost Hell Formation.

That was not all.

The demonic qi that made up the Hungry Ghost Hell Formation was empowering him.

In other words, for Jin Yeong-in with his Heavenly Demon’s Physique, the Hungry Ghost Hell Formation actually had a positive effect.

‘I can’t just stand here idly, so I’ll have to pretend.’

Jin Yeong-in pretended to fight back against the demons that were charging at him with his sword.

Swish, Swiiish!

It was a little embarrassing to swing his sword at empty air, but there was no other way.

With the Blood Wolf Corps Commander Yi Mu-baek and the instructors watching from outside, he couldn’t show that he was unaffected, could he?

* * *

‘I wish this would end quickly.’

Just as Jin Yeong-in was enduring his boredom and waiting for the Hungry Ghost Hell Formation to end.

“Uwaaak! H-help me! Please! Uwaaaaak!”

A Blood Wolf ran to Jin Yeong-in and begged for his life.

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

“Kihihihihi!”

The Blood Wolf, who looked a bit older, was busy hiding behind Jin Yeong-in.

There was no will to fight to be found in him.

The sword he had been given with his martial arts uniform was nowhere to be seen, as if he had thrown it away somewhere.

“Help me!”

“…”

“Please!”

Jin Yeong-in did not respond.

“Right, so that’s what it meant.”

Muttering to himself, Jin Yeong-in coldly pushed away the Blood Wolf who was clinging to him for help.

“Damn it! I said please help me! Uwaak!”

“Yeah, hurry up and die.”

Jin Yeong-in said in a cold voice.

His eyes were endlessly ruthless.

In the end, the Blood Wolf who had begged for his life was surrounded by several demons.

Crunch, crunch!

Jjeoeok!

“Uwaaaaaaaaaak!”

A desperate scream erupted from the Blood Wolf’s mouth.

The pain and fear of being eaten alive was something that those who had not experienced it could not even imagine.

But Jin Yeong-in didn’t even blink an eye.

It wasn’t because the current situation was just an illusion shown by the Hungry Ghost Hell Formation.

He was confident that even if it were a real situation, he would not have saved that Blood Wolf.

Why?

Because a person who wished to become a martial artist had succumbed to fear and given up fighting.

If he had at least tried to swing his sword before dying, it would have been a different story, but to run away or freeze up in the middle of a battle like this meant he was not cut out to make a living with a sword.

‘So this is why it’s a training process and a selection process.’

Watching the Blood Wolf thrashing on the ground, Jin Yeong-in realized the true purpose of the Hungry Ghost Hell Formation.

The Hungry Ghost Hell Formation was not meant to train the Blood Wolves who had just entered the Blood Wolf Corps.

Its purpose was simply to weed out those who did not have the minimum qualifications to be raised as martial artists.

It meant that they would first be pushed into an extreme situation and then observed on how they acted.

And Jin Yeong-in deeply sympathized with that intention.

“Right, the heart of a martial artist is not made.”

A low murmur escaped Jin Yeong-in’s lips.

It was the teaching of his master, the Azure Heaven Divine Warrior, and a realization that Jin Yeong-in himself had experienced firsthand.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep