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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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‘Now!’
Lee Seong-joon quickly drew up the blood energy in his body.
‘Blood Flow Acceleration.’
It was a martial art that every member of the Blood Cult learned, and its effect was not very impressive.
It used blood energy to accelerate the circulation of blood in the body, making the senses a little sharper.
Of course, Lee Seong-joon was not using Blood Flow Acceleration to sharpen his senses.
‘I’ll use the rapidly circulating blood to expel the waste products that have accumulated in my body due to modern life.’
Naturally, it wasn’t as easy as it sounded.
Blood Flow Acceleration was not a martial art with such an outstanding ability in the first place.
However, even if it was a simple Three Essence Sword Technique,
If used by a martial artist revered as the Sword Emperor, the strike could be as threatening and sharp as the Supreme Ultimate Sword Technique of the Wudang Sect.
The ability of the martial art itself was important, but ultimately, its effect and power could vary greatly depending on who used it.
‘It definitely won’t be easy…’
To be precise, even for Lee Seong-joon, it would be difficult to do this with only Blood Flow Acceleration because of the insufficient amount of internal energy.
That was why he had pushed his body to the limit beforehand to prepare for the rapid circulation of blood.
‘The preparation is sufficient.’
In other words, this was just the beginning.
From now on, a precise internal energy technique was required.
However, there was no need to worry.
Lee Seong-joon was the pinnacle of the Blood Cult, the Blood Demon, and a figure who was even called a god of pestilence.
‘Controlling internal energy is like breathing to me.’
As he focused his mind and added blood energy to the circulating blood flow in his body, the blood flow, which had been racing like a racehorse, accelerated even further.
Boom-!
A sound like an explosion rang in his ears, but it didn’t break through easily.
There was no need to panic.
It was waste that had accumulated over 26 years, not a short period of time.
It was hardened like a rock, completely filling the blood vessels.
He hadn’t expected it to break through easily in the first place.
He would just keep pushing until it broke through.
Boom-! Boom-!
The blood vessels throughout his body repeatedly expanded and contracted as if they were about to burst.
It wouldn’t be strange if the blood vessels burst at any moment.
That was when it happened.
Bang-!
With a louder sound than before, the circulating blood flow smashed through the waste that had been blocking the way and passed through.
For a moment, he felt a sense of exhilaration as if his eyes had been opened, and he could feel the cool flow of blood rushing through his body without any obstruction.
Ding-!
> The S-rank skill, Blood Spirit Demon God Technique, has reached level 2.
> The stat ‘Blood Energy’ increases by 5.
『Some of the waste products that have been blocking the blood vessels for a long time have been removed, increasing the recovery and efficiency of internal energy and blood energy by 2 times.』
It was the first time that the sound ringing in his head felt so good.
Lee Seong-joon stopped running, knelt down on the spot, and took deep breaths.
“Huff… Huff-!”
It was extremely tiring.
But because of that, the sense of accomplishment was even greater.
In fact, even though he was breathing heavily as if he would collapse at any moment, a bright smile was blooming on Lee Seong-joon’s face.
‘I did it.’
Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Lee Seong-joon looked at his body.
Yellowish waste products were seeping out with the clear sweat that was pouring down his entire body like rain.
It was a sticky yet refreshing feeling, a feeling that could not be described in words.
However, the emotion that now filled his heart was elation.
“Good.”
He had achieved his goal.
Now, all that was left was to select the martial arts that could utilize his trained body.
However, there was something he needed to take care of first.
The waste products flowing out with his sweat were emitting a foul odor that stung his nose.
‘I should take a shower first.’
Thinking that, Lee Seong-joon immediately headed home.
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After returning home and taking a shower, Lee Seong-joon ended his day’s schedule while suppressing his elation.
The reason was simple.
It was 7 p.m., the time for the one and only family dinner of the day.
Although he had returned to Earth as he had so desperately wanted, he had very little time to spend with his family.
Chased by reality, everyone was living a busy life, so the only time they could all gather was during dinner.
And having dinner together as a family was the most precious time for Lee Seong-joon.
Sharing their daily lives and emotions, feeling the bond, and realizing each other’s importance, dinner with his family filled his heart more than anything else in the world.
After that short but happy time, the next day, his family had all left for work, and they were busy.
However, even though the sun was high in the sky, Lee Seong-joon was sitting at the dining table in the living room, looking at the smartphone that his parents had recently gotten for him a few days ago.
Of course, it wasn’t because he was addicted to video media, or because he was lazy and had given up on training.
Training was like a daily routine for Lee Seong-joon, who had trained himself as naturally as breathing.
There was no reason for him to feel tired.
He was simply waiting to receive the registered mail of the returnee registration certificate, which was the key to changing his family’s financial situation and a requirement to become a hunter.
‘It should be arriving soon…’
As if on cue, the doorbell rang.
Ding-dong-! Ding-dong-!
A smile appeared on Lee Seong-joon’s lips.
‘It’s finally here.’
With an excited heart, Lee Seong-joon opened the front door wide, and his pupils dilated.
It was only natural, as the man standing in front of the door was not an ordinary delivery person.
The aura he subtly exuded, his disciplined movements, and sharp gaze indicated that he was not an ordinary person.
Moreover, and most importantly, a man in his late 20s, wearing a black suit with the emblem of the Korean Hunter Association, a tiger, embroidered on his chest, was standing before him.
“I’m from the Association’s headquarters. Are you returnee Lee Seong-joon?”
“Yes, I am.”
As he nodded in affirmation, the man immediately continued.
“Hello, I’m Kim Seong-hoon from the Returnee Management Team at the Association’s headquarters. I’m here to deliver the returnee registration certificate you applied for.”
Unlike Kim Seong-hoon, who spoke with a faint smile on his lips, Lee Seong-joon’s expression was hardening like a stone statue.
‘I thought it was strange that it was sent out faster than I had heard…’
It was uncommon for a Korean civil servant to process something faster than the stated date without any special connections, academic ties, or personal relationships.
Moreover, the person delivering the registration certificate was also unusual.
The current Earth was a world where countless returnees were active.
Since there were many returnees with rather unique personalities, there must be many individuals to keep an eye on.
It was unlikely that a capable individual who belonged to the Association’s headquarters would personally visit just to deliver a registration certificate.
Narrowing his eyes, Lee Seong-joon asked in a cold voice.
“You came all the way here just to deliver a registration certificate?”
“There’s no special reason. Returnee Lee Seong-joon, you requested expedited delivery, so we are simply delivering it in the fastest way possible.”
“That’s very different from what I’ve heard.”
It was commonly known that the Association’s headquarters was a place that valued principles and rules.
They had no choice since they had to deal with all kinds of hunters.
Ordinary Awakeners didn’t cause much trouble, but among the returnees who had enjoyed great power and privileges in other worlds,
There were many who were dissatisfied with the way the Association’s headquarters handled things.
Therefore, the Association’s headquarters handled matters without exception, according to principles and rules.
It is said that if you keep showing favor, people will start to think it is their right.
If they were to accommodate them little by little, they would want more and more, and eventually, there might be hunters who would try to escape the control of the Association’s headquarters.
That was why the Association’s headquarters was famous for being stricter than any other state agency in handling matters.
However, the Association’s headquarters that he was seeing and experiencing now was completely contrary to its external image.
“Didn’t you defeat a D-rank monster, a troll, with a single blow right after your return? The hunter world is basically based on meritocracy. It’s only natural to receive treatment that matches your skills or talents.”
With a business smile on his lips, Kim Seong-hoon extended his right arm and handed over the returnee registration certificate.
“So you can just accept it as it is, comfortably.”
To be honest, although Lee Seong-joon was only an F-rank for now, he could not be considered a great asset.
However, the Association’s headquarters was looking to the distant future, investing in his potential after he had completed his growth.
In the current era, the strength of hunters was directly linked to national power.
Since the mere existence of a strong hunter could bring significant diplomatic benefits, it was only natural for the Association’s headquarters, a state agency, to value talented individuals.
He was saying that there was no need to be suspicious or wary about receiving this kind of treatment.
A smile naturally appeared on Lee Seong-joon’s lips as he received the returnee registration certificate.
“Good.”
Although it had only been a week, it had been very painful for him to watch his family leave the house early in the morning with sleepy eyes.
But thanks to the special treatment from the Association’s headquarters, he could now go out and hunt a little faster and earn money.
“If you have no other business, then I’ll be on my way…”
Just as he received the registration certificate, Kim Seong-hoon asked as Lee Seong-joon was about to leave the house immediately.
“Are you perhaps going hunting right away?”
Lee Seong-joon simply nodded instead of answering.
It wasn’t for nothing that he had been waiting for the returnee registration certificate since early in the morning.
He was planning to go hunting right away to earn money to help his family’s financial situation.
“If you don’t mind, may I accompany you? I assure you, I won’t be a hindrance. Of course, all the proceeds will go to you, Returnee Lee Seong-joon.”
The purpose of Kim Seong-hoon’s accompaniment was easy to guess.
He probably wanted to see for himself the extent of his abilities, rather than just relying on hearsay.
Lee Seong-joon readily nodded his head.
“By all means.”
There was no reason to hide his hunting.
In fact, it was better this way.
He needed to demonstrate his abilities and attract attention as soon as possible.
Only then could he quickly earn a lot of money and relieve his family’s burden of hard labor as soon as possible.
It meant that he could bring forward the happy life with his family.
Therefore, Lee Seong-joon intended to reveal his full potential without holding back.
Of course, some people might become wary of his rapid growth, but he didn’t need to worry about that.
Among the Awakeners and returnees who were currently famous on Earth, there was no one who was revered as having reached the level of a god.
‘There’s no one who can measure my potential.’
While the existing powers that be were wary, measuring him, and wasting time trying to decide what to do, he planned to grow quickly and stand at the pinnacle of all hunters.
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