Baekdu Mountain, also called the sacred mountain of our people, is the tallest mountain on the Korean Peninsula. Situated along the border between the northern tip of our country and Jilin Province in China, Baekdu Mountain stands nearly 3,000 meters tall. Since ancient times, it has been considered a mountain imbued with mystical energy and is known for its vibrant wildlife.
Perhaps because of this, after the global gate break occurred before the regression, Baekdu Mountain became one of the forbidden zones teeming with high-grade monsters of all kinds.
“Back then, there were reports of monsters rated at the disaster level, exceeding 7-star grades, and even the legendary-level monster known as the Rainbow Phoenix was supposedly spotted. That says it all.”
Additionally, there were rumors that a mythical-grade monster resided in Cheonji, the crater lake at the peak of Baekdu Mountain. Although the truth was never confirmed due to the loss of territory to the forces of the night and the lack of strength to reclaim it, Baekdu Mountain became one of those places that were difficult to visit, even if one wished to, in later times.
“That’s why I need to take advantage of this opportunity and gather everything I can while I’m here.”
With that thought, Sungshik pulled out a map of Baekdu Mountain from his inventory, which he had purchased from the "shop," and spread it open.
The map was limited to Baekdu Mountain but included a navigation feature that marked the user's current location with a red dot. For Sungshik, who had never been to Baekdu Mountain before, it was an incredibly useful item.
“Let’s see, I need to head in this direction from here.”
Having reached the area near Cheonji, Sungshik decided not to head directly there. Instead, he checked the map and turned toward a valley located halfway up the mountain ridge.
Sungshik’s footsteps led him to a waterfall near Cheonji. Upon spotting the waterfall, he carefully examined the area surrounding it.
“Hmm, if I remember correctly, it should be around here somewhere.”
As he meticulously searched around the waterfall for something, his expression brightened with excitement.
“Here it is.”
What Sungshik found was a small cave. Hidden by the vegetation near the waterfall, it was hard to notice unless one examined the area closely. This cave was the reason Sungshik had diverted his path before heading to Cheonji.
With a look of anticipation, Sungshik carefully stepped into the cave. Although the entrance was narrow, the interior was surprisingly spacious. Sunlight streamed in through a hole in the upper back of the cave, and the ground consisted of fertile soil mixed with rock, making it a suitable environment for plants to grow.
Indeed, the cave floor was covered with soil where various plants were growing. Sungshik’s eyes scanned the plants until they stopped at one spot.
“There it is.”
At the end of his gaze lay the reason Sungshik had come to this place. It was none other than...
“Wild Ginseng.”
Not just one root, but several. Even at a glance, their size suggested they were at least 100-year-old ginseng roots. Among them, one was particularly massive, appearing to be at least a thousand years old.
The reason Sungshik came here was that he had heard stories before the gate break about someone striking it rich in this area. He distinctly remembered it because it wasn’t just any ginseng but a rare elixir that could increase magical power.
This elixir was such a remarkable find that it could rapidly advance one’s magic stat by at least two stages. For Sungshik, who had never encountered an elixir in his previous life, this harvest was deeply moving.
“Finally, I get to experience what it’s like to harvest an elixir.”
Approaching the ginseng carefully, Sungshik began to dig them out one by one, employing the methods he had only heard about before.
―‘100-Year Wild Ginseng (High Grade)’ has been obtained.
―‘100-Year Wild Ginseng (High Grade)’ has been obtained.
―‘100-Year Wild Ginseng (High Grade)’ has been obtained.
―‘100-Year Wild Ginseng (High Grade)’ has been obtained.
He managed to harvest four roots of high-grade wild ginseng. But that wasn’t the end of it—there was still the grand finale left.
The last remaining, largest ginseng root! Compared to the ones he had just harvested, this root was so much larger that it seemed like the others were mere children by comparison. Sungshik’s movements grew even more cautious to avoid damaging even the smallest side root.
Finally, Sungshik’s hands reached the massive root, and he carefully lifted it from the ground.
“Yes, I’ve struck gold!”
Holding the giant ginseng delicately with both hands, Sungshik expressed his joy. At that moment, a notification sound rang out.
―Ding! Congratulations! You have obtained ‘Thousand-Year Wild Ginseng (Legendary)’!
A legendary-grade elixir!
“Wow, is this why people become herbalists?”
A shiver ran down his spine as a thrilling sensation coursed through him.
Although he was tempted to consume the elixir immediately, Sungshik held back. Since he had chosen martial arts as his primary focus, it would be far more beneficial in the long run to consume the elixir after acquiring an internal energy cultivation technique.
Once he obtained the Heaven-Splitting Martial Arts, he would be able to consume it soon enough. He just had to be patient.
“If I wait just a little longer, the reward will be even greater. There’s no need to rush.”
Storing the ginseng carefully in his inventory, Sungshik headed toward Cheonji with a light heart.
The distance between the waterfall and Cheonji was relatively short, so Sungshik quickly arrived at the crater lake after leaving the cave.
Upon reaching Cheonji, he took a moment to survey his surroundings. The scenery of Baekdu Mountain’s Cheonji, which he was seeing for the first time, was truly breathtaking.
“Wow!”
He couldn’t help but let out an exclamation. The view was so magnificent that it was easy to believe a mythical-grade monster might inhabit such a place in the future. It was a location that seemed entirely fitting for such a being.
After taking in the scenery for a while, Sungshik encountered a problem. The vast openness of the area made it refreshing to the mind, but it also meant there was no obvious place where the Heaven-Splitting Martial Arts manual might be hidden.
He methodically circled Cheonji, but he couldn’t find any trace of the manual’s hiding spot.
“Could it be underwater?”
The only place left to search was beneath the water. Although the stories of the Martial Emperor finding the manual at Cheonji mentioned the lake, they hadn’t specified whether it was discovered around the lake or underwater. Thus, he couldn’t rule out the possibility of it being submerged.
“Ah, I had a bad feeling about this.”
At that moment, a voice sent chills down Sungshik’s spine.
“What do you mean by ‘a bad feeling’?”
“What the—?”
Startled, Sungshik turned around, completely caught off guard. Standing there was a young man dressed in black robes. Though he looked like he had just entered his twenties, a faint but dangerous aura emanated from him.
“Who are you?”
He swallowed hard and asked.
“I believe I asked first, didn’t I? What exactly were you so concerned about?”
Though the voice was gentle, Sungshik could sense it. The murderous intent hidden behind those indifferent eyes.
Every sense in Sungshik’s body lit up with warning lights. This was dangerous.
“Ah, well, I was just wondering if there might be any elixirs around Cheonji.”
“Hmm, but you didn’t seem to be looking for elixirs, did you? Why don’t you be honest and tell me what you were really doing here?”
Sungshik’s back grew damp with cold sweat at the man’s words.
“Um… that’s….”
As Sungshik stammered and looked at the man with trembling eyes, the man spoke again.
“Why are you so nervous while looking at me? I thought I had restrained my aura, but this is fascinating. Do you have some sort of sensory trait?”
“…Yes. I have a trait called Hyper-Sense.”
“Oh, quite a high-grade trait, I see?”
“It’s S-grade.”
“Hmm, so that’s how you sensed my aura? It seems your sensory abilities are abnormally developed compared to your actual strength. Very well. Then I’d like you to use that trait to assist me.”
At those words, the oppressive energy that had been bearing down on Sungshik seemed to dissipate somewhat. Being honest about his Hyper-Sense trait had worked.
“…Alright. What do you need me to do?”
“I’m searching for a hidden cave around here. I’ve been searching around Cheonji for an entire day without any luck, except for the possibility that it’s in the water or at some hidden spot nearby. If it’s underwater, there’s no helping it, but I’d like your help in locating any hidden spots near Cheonji.”
Sungshik was deeply shocked by the man’s response. What the man was searching for was a hidden cave—most likely the very cave containing the Heaven-Splitting Martial Arts that Sungshik himself was looking for.
But how did the man know about it? Before Sungshik’s regression, the cave had only been discovered years later by the Martial Emperor. No one else should know about it, except for himself.
Stay calm. Think this through.
If the man knew about the cave, there were two main possibilities.
The first was that he had learned of its existence through some other route. In that case, the man would fail to find it now and leave, only for the Martial Emperor to discover it years later. This seemed like the most logical explanation Sungshik could come up with.
But… if it’s the second scenario…
The second possibility was that the man also possessed knowledge of the future. He could have regressed like Sungshik, or learned about the future through some other means, in which case he would know that the Heaven-Splitting Martial Arts cave was hidden here.
In the past, the Martial Emperor had often lamented missing out on this discovery, and it had even been a hot topic in the “community” forums at one point. If the man had future knowledge, he could easily be aware of it.
“Alright, I’ll assist you.”
The man’s eyes curved into crescents at Sungshik’s agreement.
“But… you weren’t, by chance, searching for the same cave I’m looking for, were you?”
Suddenly, the man’s sharp question pierced through the air. Since Sungshik was indeed searching for the same cave, he nearly faltered at the abrupt question. However, he managed to compose himself enough to respond without giving anything away.
“Of course not. I mean, honestly, the idea of a hidden cave around here seems… well, pretty hard to believe. But does it have something in it? Treasure, perhaps?”
“Oh, there’s something far greater than treasure hidden within.”
The man smirked as he answered, seemingly satisfied that Sungshik was no longer under suspicion. But just as it seemed the interrogation had ended—
“But, you know, the more I think about it, the stranger it seems. You’re barely at 2-star level, yet you’ve come all the way here looking for elixirs? Isn’t that excuse a bit flimsy? Hmm? Don’t you think? What exactly are you?”
The man abruptly changed his demeanor, releasing a vicious aura that pinned Sungshik in place.
“Urgh… Why… why are you doing this all of a sudden?”
“It’s not sudden. I intended this from the beginning.”
Smiling faintly, the man approached, his aura growing more oppressive with each step. Sungshik staggered backward, retreating toward Cheonji.
“Now, tell me. Was the thing you were looking for the same thing I’m after?”
“Urgh… What are you talking about…? I’ve never even heard of a cave like that.”
Gritting his teeth, Sungshik forced the words out, enduring the man’s overwhelming aura.
“Is that so? Is that what you’re saying?”
The man’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. At that moment, Sungshik realized it. The man had never believed him from the start. He had already suspected that Sungshik was searching for the cave, and he had no intention of letting him live.
“But it’s fascinating, isn’t it? You’re only about 2-star level, yet you’ve been enduring my aura this long. And no matter how I look at it, you do seem like you were looking for the same cave. How did you know?”
The man’s gaze, filled with curiosity, examined Sungshik like an intriguing specimen. It was only because of this curiosity that Sungshik was still alive. And the only reason he could endure the aura this long was thanks to the recently acquired title, “Hero of Adversity.”
But he was quickly reaching his limit.
Cough.
Blood spurted from Sungshik’s mouth. As he staggered backward, his feet entered the waters of Cheonji, submerging up to his ankles.
Before him was the man. Behind him, the waters of Cheonji. There seemed to be no escape.
A desperate crisis.
Damn it, I can’t let it end like this.
He thought of how he had come this far. Despite his regression, humanity’s fate had remained unchanged. If he were to die here, humanity would walk the same path to destruction as before.
It wasn’t out of some noble sense of duty to save humanity. He simply couldn’t stand the thought of those bastards bringing about humanity’s downfall—or his own powerlessness. This time, he wanted to change everything with his own hands. Humanity’s fate. His desire to grow stronger.
“So, about that cave. How exactly do you—”
Kwooooooo—
Before the man could finish, an anomaly erupted from the waters of Cheonji.