Jin and all other cultivators were told about Min-Su leaving only at the start of the arena event. Having only one disciple taking part meant that some cultivators became unable to fight anymore. Out of those was one man in particular who refused to admit to that fact. It was Sang-Kyu from the Twenty-Two Suns Sect.

He refused to give up after seeing Min-Su absent and went on to challenge Jin instead. Jin wasn't petty and childish like him, he just dispatched that guy's sorry ass in minutes. That man was no longer Jin's opponent when restricted to the same level.

As one of the elder of his sect took him away, Sang-Kyu glared at Jin. As he left, one could hear him scream: "If we weren't restricted, you wouldn't stand a chance against me!"

He refused to acknowledge his defeat even after it happened. But this meant nothing to Jin. He had never cared about that man and wouldn't care about him now. He was focused on growing stronger. His technique was coming together and his mastery kept on growing.

And the days went by like this with Min-Su being trained in secrecy by the first elder of his clan and Jin sparring with masters and grandmasters every single day. Both of them evolved in their own ways.

But the times of peace always end.

A few months after Jin reached 26 years old, Min-Su came back. He had changed a lot. Just like Jin in fact. Min-Su's eyes were much fiercer than before, gone was his usual relaxed smile. He had two swords at his waist now and baggy sleeves like the first elder.

As for Jin, he had four spatial rings fixed at each ear, a collar with a dozen rings, armbands filled with spatial rings and even his belt had spatial rings locked into it. His technique had evolved a lot and he now used a very wider variety of elements to fight.

Hae-Hyuk looked at those two disciples of his. Both of them had managed to master the taboo they broke during the years they spent here. And not just that, they found their own path. They were no longer weaklings who lost every battle against foes restricted to their level. Jin nearly didn't lose anymore while Min-Su would probably have the same kind of ability.

Even Hye-Ja admitted that the two had what it took to truly be champions. She had been tempted more than once to join Hae-Hyuk's camp. Though she didn't.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

But Hae-Hyuk was still feeling very positive. He didn't manage to get those two tight-ass to join under his banner but that was fine. He managed to get his two champions at an impressive level. Now, they could truly take part in this and he would be one of the contestants for real.

And it was the time to go. He believed they had done everything they could.

After leading the two and Sophia in the wildlands, he took out a flask from his spatial ring. He threw it in the air and it exploded. A giant space disturbance was created as a monstruous floating boat appeared out of it. It was as big as a mountain and seemed fortified. There were many inscriptions all over it and some weapons installed here and there. At the very front of it, there was a statue of a lion.

The boat floated gently in the midst of the space distortions. Hae-Hyuk pointed to the side of the giant boat. There was something written there: "The Peak Climber"

Hae-Hyuk introduced the boat: "This is the Peak Climber, the strongest flying fortress in the world and the sole vehicle that has access to the Peak of this world. Alright, get ready to embark and once inside, don't embarrass me"

He began to levitate as he used his spiritual energy to grab the three disciples along. He flew to the top of the boat and landed there. A handsome cultivator was waiting there. He had a robe colored gold with a blue emblem of a boat sailing through waves over his right chest. The man bowed at Hae-Hyuk before he said: "Welcome back, Grandmaster Hae-Hyuk, Encyclopedia of techniques, to the Peak Climber"

Hae-Hyuk nodded at the man and he began to lead the group inside. That handsome cultivator was nothing more than a guide on this boat yet he was a mighty cultivator at the peak of the 59th stage.

As they entered the boat and saw the luxurious inside, it shocked all the three disciples who didn't expect that. There were paintings of cultivators with their names and exploits written all along the corridors. As they walked, Hae-Hyuk introduced them to everything: "These are the names of all the ancestors who won and ascended the Peak. They all shook the world in their times"

The three looked at the paintings filled with reverence and expectations. They hoped that one day they would be the ones over there. This seemed to be the most glorious honor a cultivator could get if one believed what Hae-Hyuk was saying.

They were led to a cabin. There were waiters and waitresses inside whose sole duty was to take care of the four of them. It looked and seemed like a villa inside a boat. It was grandiose in its own way. Min-Su went to a window and grabbed Jin and Sophia along.

The three of them couldn't believe what they were seeing. In fact, they were unsure of what they were seeing. Colors of all kinds were mixing and moving erratically outside. There was no sky, no earth, no life. Just colors appearing and disappearing.

While resting on a couch with a warm cup of tea in hand, Hae-Hyuk told them: "This boat can move through space itself and reach all over the continent in seconds. It will be gathering every participant and lead us to the venue after that. You guys rest well for now, everything will start tomorrow"