Chapter 95

<Chapter 95: The God of Martial Arts Reverted to Level 2>

* * *

“Wow...!”

Unable to resist the pressure from Seong Jihan, Lee Hayeon accepted the Akashic Page and widened her eyes.

“The Gift level has increased!”

She showed her Gift window to Seong Jihan, her excitement evident.

[Gift - Cultivation (Grade S)]

- A supporting Gift that helps other players grow quickly.

- Can grant 'Focused Growth' to three players.

- When 'Focused Growth' is used, the existing growth rate bonus doubles.

Previously, the Gift Cultivation had only a single line of description. Now, it has been upgraded to S-grade, and 'Focused Growth' has been added.

‘When I heard from Ariel that the ability of a supporting Gift temporarily increases... this time, the level has actually increased.’ Seong Jihan looked at the newly added Gift text with a slightly surprised expression.

“Focused Growth...”

The ability to double the growth rate bonus for three players.

Lee Hayeon had an ambiguous expression.

“Using the Akashic Page to double the ability for three people... Was this a good decision?”

She knew that Seong Jihan valued growth rates, but using such an expensive Akashic Page seemed inefficient.

Lee Hayeon had a troubled look on her face.

“This is a very good result. Please use it on me and Seo. For the remaining one, use it as you see fit.”

Seong Jihan was smiling with utmost satisfaction.

‘I made the right decision by appointing Lee Hayeon as the guild master.’

To achieve such efficiency with just one Akashic Page.

Of course, the value of that one page was astronomical.

If he had sold it and invested the money, he might have accumulated a vast fortune by the end of the tutorial.

Then, he might have had the funds to buy three or five Akashic Pages.

Still.

‘The present moment is the most important now.’

Even during the time when he was ranked 7th in the world, he had accumulated a lot of money.

It was just that there was no place to spend it.

Even the various items sold in the Battle Market were of little use once he reached the top tier.

Investing in growth rates to increase abilities was ultimately a better deal than just accumulating more money.

Seong Jihan thought this as he looked around to see if there were any changes to the guild buffs.

Sure enough, with the level increase, there were changes.

“The guild buff effects have also increased overall.”

“Really? That’s true?”

Lee Hayeon’s Cultivation effect, which doubled the guild’s growth buff, had been upgraded from 2x to 2.5x with the S-grade increase.

Additionally, the experience buff had increased by 10% from the previous level.

[You receive a growth rate increase effect. Your growth rate increases by 275%.]

[Your experience gain increases by 40%.]

“I guess we need to charge more rent.”

At this, Lee Hayeon’s eyes lit up.

“You’re right, Owner. Since the buff effects have increased, we need to charge more from the rented players.”

This way, using the Akashic Page wouldn’t be a waste.

Seong Jihan hadn’t intended to say this, but Lee Hayeon took it seriously as if it were a task given to her.

“And Focused Growth... I need to auction off the remaining spot to one of the five players and collect additional funds!”

“...You want to do that?”

Seong Jihan thought Lee Hayeon would naturally give Focused Growth to her bodyguard, Im Gayoung, but was surprised that she wanted to hold an auction.

“Yes! We need to somehow fill the 300 billion gap!”

Her eyes were burning with the determination to pay off the debt.

Seong Jihan tilted his head.

“Hyeon, why do you need to pay it off?”

“Of course... Since I received something so expensive, I need to pay it off!”

“This is an investment. I’m satisfied with the two Focused Growth spots. You can take all the income from the remaining spot.”

“Eh...”

You don’t really need to pay it back?

Lee Hayeon was flabbergasted.

“Hmm. But if this ability becomes known, people might come from all over to recruit you.”

“No, that’s unlikely.”

“No, it will definitely happen.”

At first, many people were puzzled about why Lee Hayeon became the guild master.

But thanks to Seong Jihan’s large news, the attention to her abilities had faded.

However, if she starts showcasing abilities like Focused Growth, the interest that had waned might flare up again.

‘Lee Hayeon’s Gift is the core of the Waiting Guild. It can’t be taken by other guilds.’

Seong Jihan stretched out his fingers.

“Five months. Give Focused Growth to Im Gayoung for five months. Then, consider the debt for the Akashic Page paid off.”

“Ah... to Gayoung?”

“Yes. Im Gayoung is reliable.”

At this, Im Gayoung, who had been standing like a backdrop behind Lee Hayeon, quickly spoke up.

“Yes. I’m very reliable. I won’t reveal anything.”

“Is that so?”

“Ha... I see. Gayoung, you made the right choice joining the Waiting Guild, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I’m grateful to you, Miss... It’s a touching moment.”

“Should I just give the buff?”

“I love you, sister.”

“You’re only a sister at times like this?”

Lee Hayeon rolled her eyes at Im Gayoung.

“Alright. Then I’ll use Focused Growth on Gayoung for five months.”

“Yes. And please keep this ability a secret during that time.”

“Of course!”

Lee Hayeon puffed out her chest, as if to say, “Trust me.”

* * *

The next day.

Seong Jihan and four other players synchronized their time and formed a guild party.

Players from the Waiting Guild were invited one by one to the party window.

The first to join the party was Sophia.

[Sophia: Wow, it’s really a party? :D Nice to see you, Jihan!]

The party chat window, automatically translated.

Sophia couldn’t hide her surprise.

[Barron: How did this guy manage to form a party?]

Barron, who had caused a ruckus in the chat during the previous broadcast, was the second to join.

Now, he seemed to have decided to go all out.

[Wang Lin: It’s really possible, which is amazing...]

[Mikhail: Hello.]

The other two players also joined the party one after another.

The party, now filled with five players.

‘It’s really a party.’

Originally, forming a guild party was only possible among guild members in the same league.

He didn’t expect that breaking the league-transcending achievement would bring such benefits.

[Seong Jihan: Nice to see you all. Our goal today is the Viscount Niside in the ‘Valley of the End’ map. We’ll keep forming this party until we get this map.]

Since the game the party would be matched to was random, Seong Jihan informed the party members in advance.

[Barron: I hope we get it right away. It’s annoying.]

[Sophia: I hope we don’t get it right away~ I want to keep partying with Jihan! Oh, right. Can we keep the party even after defeating Viscount Niside?]

[Wang Lin: I’d like to party with you whenever I have time.]

[Barron: I’m done.]

Unlike Barron, who was full of complaints, the other party members were friendly.

Partying with Seong Jihan, who always ranks first, meant a guaranteed victory.

[Mikhail: But there’s a problem. I believe Viscount Niside doesn’t appear in the Silver map.]

[Seong Jihan: I have a way to summon Viscount Niside. Are you all familiar with the strategy?]

[Sophia: Yes~~]

[Barron: Of course.]

[Seong Jihan: Then let’s start the game.]

In the party window, Seong Jihan started the game.

Then,

[The party’s average power is excessively high. You will be matched to the New York 1 Gold League map.]

[Do you want to start the game?]

‘Gold map?’

Seong Jihan frowned.

This was unexpected.

However, it was indeed plausible that the party’s average power was too high.

Seong Jihan himself had transcended the league.

The other players were also top performers in their respective leagues.

Two of them had SSS-grade Gifts, and three, including Seong Jihan, had SS-grade Gifts.

Even without the guild’s stat buffs, they were people who consistently ranked 1st or 2nd in their respective leagues.

It was only natural that a party of such players wouldn’t be matched to the Silver league.

[Sophia: Oh? We’re in the Gold league?]

[Barron: The party’s power is unprecedentedly high.]

[Wang Lin: I don’t mind. I want to face the Gold league.]

[Mikhail: I’m even better. This way, we’ll get more attention.]

Wang Lin, who possessed the SSS-grade Gift ‘Heavenly Demon’s Body,’ was confident, and Mikhail was also highly motivated.

However,

Seong Jihan was reluctant to play in the upper league.

‘We can’t play in the Gold league.’

This was because there was a cautionary note in the final part of the chain quest to defeat Viscount Niside.

* Caution: If you upgrade to the Silver league, this quest will disappear.

A chain quest that disappears upon upgrading to the Silver league.

If they were matched to the Gold league’s invasion map, it was uncertain whether the quest would disappear or remain.

He couldn’t take the risk