Leveling Up through Eating

Chapter 1149

Minhyuk headed to Leo’s smithy with Bharal. While on their way, he received a report from Genie.

[Genie: Minhyuk. We only have one million platinum funds in the empire, right?]

Minhyuk was surprised. Then, he was given a detailed explanation as to why an emerging empire like the Beyond the Heavens Empire only had that much funds left.

‘Indeed. It will definitely bring profits and multiply over time. But the fact that we’re running out of funds right now is also true.’

Minhyuk had been far too ignorant of the exact situation and circumstances that the Beyond the Heavens Empire was in because he had been outside. Minhyuk could only scold himself for not acting like a proper emperor.

‘It’s impossible to buy ten barren territories with just a million platinum…’

[The ownership of Avaidon Territory, Pughraim Territory, Beckner Territory, Olav Territory… has been transferred to the Beyond the Heavens Empire.]

Minhyuk was left in shock. Although the rights and ownership of ten territories were immediately transferred to them, they only had one million platinum in available funds.

‘Furthermore, these territories are close to the Beyond the Heavens Empire. If we exclude the bad conditions that they are in, then we can say that they are in a very decent position.’

At this moment, Minhyuk recalled the figure of God of Devotion Haze smiling with her white teeth fully exposed and her thumb raised in approval. She seemed genuinely devoted to the empire.

After pondering all the matters that needed to be dealt with, Minhyuk checked the various notifications he could not check earlier.

(Sword of Aeon)

Rank: ∞

Requirements: Level 700, the One who swung the sword a million times.

Durability: ∞/∞

Attack Power: 3,254

Special Abilities:

•Increase all stats by 45%.

•Reduce all skills’ cooldown by 40%.

•All attack skills related to swordsmanship will increase by +1.

•Passive Skill: 2.5x Basic Attack Damage

•Passive Skill: The Greatest Sword

•Active Skill: Submission and Surrender

•Active Skill: God’s Dual Sword Technique

•Active Skill: Sword’s Breath

•This is a sword with infinite possibilities.

Description: This is a sword with no limits and restrictions. It can grow infinitely. For every 150,000 swings of this sword, all of the abilities and effects attached to it will increase by 1%. Upon completing another 1,000,000 swings, this sword will undergo another evolution. ṞÄ𐌽öBЁⱾ

The Sword of Aeon previously had the +1, which was a mark that the sword had been reinforced. But now, it seemed like the reinforcement had disappeared. After checking the changes in the Sword of Aeon, Minhyuk immediately checked and clicked on the detailed description, ‘This is a sword with infinite possibilities.’ This was what appeared in his eyes.

[This is a sword with a never-ending potential and infinite possibilities. There is no end to its growth.]

‘Wow.’

One look at this, and anyone could tell that the Sword of Aeon is indeed the greatest sword. After all, players eventually replace their artifacts after experiencing significant growth.

‘Just like what Leo said, nothing is forever in this world.

His words meant that, in the end, a sword that could go beyond the Sword of Aeon would eventually appear in the world. But this greatest sword was different. Even if new and better artifacts appeared, this sword would not be left behind even after ten or a hundred years. Of course, the conditions for its never-ending growth were also very demanding and difficult to accomplish.

‘For every 150,000 swings of this sword, all of the sword’s abilities will increase by 1%.’

Minhyuk had swung the sword more than a million times since he started Athenae. How long has he been playing Athenae now? It had already been three years since that fateful day. 150,000 swings was a challenging condition to fulfill—nevertheless, the 1% increase in all abilities was a delightful and tempting reward.

‘Is there a way for me to do this more quickly?’

Minhyuk pondered over the matter. So far, he had plenty of opportunities to swing his sword repeatedly. Sometimes, he had to spend days on end swinging his sword in the air. Of course, this could very well complete the required one million times.

But when talking about repeated actions, Minhyuk performed more repeated actions when gathering ingredients than when swinging a sword.

‘I’m thinking about all those times when I have been swinging and pounding my tools away to collect and harvest the ingredients I wanted to eat…’

It was obvious that he needed to swing the sword, an action that he did the least. Swinging his hoe, sickle, pickaxe, and other tools did not apply to it. But, he suddenly thought of a theory.

‘What if the Sword of Aeon can be turned into a different shape and form?’

And…

‘What if Leo’s power is imbued in it?’

Perhaps what he was thinking was not impossible. After all, Leo was the maker of the Sword of Aeon. There was a high chance he could modify the sword’s details to that extent. If he could do that, then…

‘The rate at which the required number will increase will be at least 1.5x faster.’

Minhyuk paused. He was currently doing a quest for Leo. It was a quest to save Bharal, and the reward was the evolution of the Transcendental’s Armor. When Minhyuk asked him if there was something that he wanted in exchange for evolving something else to become better for him, Leo pointed to his eyes.

Leo’s blindness was congenital. Wouldn’t someone like Leo, who had already reached this level, have already looked for and exhausted all methods available to do something about his eyes?

‘He had probably tried countless times. But in the end, he could only give up.’

Nevertheless, Minhyuk wanted to try it himself.

‘Should I try cooking?’

That was the only thing that Minhyuk could do. But out of all the sick and physically disabled people that he had cooked for so far, he has never been able to make them return to their original appearance or state. Of course, it was not because Minhyuk was not skilled or good enough.

‘It’s the ingredients’ restrictions and limitations.’

Each cooking ingredient had a unique ability that matched its grade. At that moment, a thought flashed in Minhyuk’s head. He recalled one of his cheat-like skills, the Ingredient Search.

Ingredient Search was a skill that allowed him to search for ingredients with his desired effects within a ten-kilometer radius from him. It would also automatically search for and inform Minhyuk of any good or special ingredients within a one-kilometer radius of him.

Minhyuk utilized ‘Effects that can help overcome obstacles’ in the desired effects.

[The search has started.]

[Searching… 2%... 8%... 16%... 38%...]

Minhyuk earnestly hoped for a good result. And this was not only because he wanted that reward. He had walked a steep and arduous path. But when he looked back at his arduous path, he found it beautiful. This was because of his efforts.

And Leo was a man who had walked a path similar to his own. So, he wanted to show him the world.

[The Ingredient Search is a success!]

[Guiding you to the ‘Unknown’!]

Minhyuk was very happy when he saw that the Ingredient Search had succeeded. The ingredient was also called “Unknown.” This meant that it had a certain sense of mystery. In other words, he would only find out when he went there.

“I’ll have to stop somewhere first,” Minhyuk said as he followed the sign that guided him to somewhere.

***

Pandemonium’s Country’s King Bul’ark listened to the reports.

“All prisoners held in the Prison of Repetition have escaped.”

“What? Send the Pursuit Team and bring them back!” Bul’ark gave his orders.

He could not help but frown. Bul’ark understood that they had already disappeared. Even if he had sent the Pursuit Team to chase after them, they would not have been able to find them. Nevertheless, he was still very concerned about the escaped prisoners. The person that he was most concerned about was the most dangerous figure in the prison, the Army Revolutionary.

‘How the hell were they able to escape?’

The last Bul’ark checked, they had only reached 48% of the Release Rate. Because of their neglect, they had released a considerable threat to the world. Due to this, Bul’ark changed his mind.

‘We need a powerful force right now.’

Now that the Army Revolutionary had escaped, there was a high chance that the revolutionaries could get together and stage another coup. He feared these people, who would be willing to commit treason to free their country.

‘Do I have to take out the power from the Pandemonium’s Jar now?’

Thanks to the torture that they have inflicted upon the prisoners of the Prison of Repetition, the Supreme Jar had gained a lot of divine power. With his order to double the suppression, the amount of divine power they had collected in the Supreme Jar had also doubled. It would be too late if he waited for the powers brewing inside the Supreme Jar to ripen completely.

Bul’ark headed straight toward the place where he buried the Supreme Jar. He had buried it deep inside a cave. They had to deal with countless high-level monsters and life-threatening traps to get to where the jar was.

‘What? Why…’

All of the traps had been triggered. Feeling that something was off, Bul’ark increased his pace.

‘Even if they had reached the Supreme Jar, they would still be under an onslaught of attack for five straight seconds when they tried to obtain it.’

If they chose ‘An artifact material that can make something Supreme.’ or ‘Power to help you grow.’ among the three choices presented, the Supreme Jar would immediately be sealed and never be opened. They had to either gain a strong power from the contents of the jar or choose the yeot and make a wish to the Supreme Jar. But that was a ridiculous choice to make, no?

‘Which crazy bastard will eat yeot from the Supreme Jar?’ Bul’ark thought as he entered the depths of the cave. The sight that greeted him left him dumbfounded.

“...?”

The cover of the Supreme Jar was gone. This meant that the jar was not sealed.

“How can this be…?”

He just could not understand. Which crazy bastard would choose the yeot?

‘No. Common sense says that’s impossible.’

Bul’ark was confident that whoever went here had used some kind of power to solve the secret of the Supreme Jar.

‘In the first place, there should be no one with the power to pinpoint exactly where the jar is hidden.’

First, he needed to check what kind of guy they were. Of course, he could check what happened here. He only needed to utilize the powers of the Playback Crystal Ball. As he watched the scene through the Playback Crystal Ball, he could not help but be shocked.

A man entered the cave and swept away the huge swarm of monsters that charged toward him. Then, he endured all of the traps and finally reached the jar. The moment he touched the jar, traps, and attacks bombarded him for five seconds.

[Absolute Defense.]

After mumbling something incomprehensible, the man stood still and withstood everything. Then, his hands grabbed the lid of the jar. It was obvious that the Supreme Jar had already asked the man to choose. The man looked like he was in deep contemplation.

[A long, long time ago.]

When he heard those words, Bul’ark was confident that the man knew something. Did he know the legend of the Supreme Jar from a long time ago? Was he going to speak about this legend?!

[Our beloved and proud mothers and fathers used to exchange junk for ‘yeot.’]

“...?”

[I wanted to try it too. Exchanging junk for yeot.]

‘No. Wait. That’s not some junk, though?’

Following the man’s choice, the jar’s lid opened gently. Then, a bright and blinding light burst out. When the light disappeared, a delicious and sticky yeot appeared before the man. The man immediately put the yeot in his mouth and began to suck on it. And then…

[Eh? This is a huge harvest!]

Perhaps he had heard some kind of notification. With a delighted smile, the man left the empty jar behind and exited the cave.

Bul’ark, who watched the man do all of that, was left in a panicked state.

‘Is this for real? He chose to eat yeot instead of gaining the power within the jar?’

And while leaving the cave, the man said…

[Eat shit[1]!]

For some reason, Bul’ark felt extremely bad.

1. 엿 먹어라 - Eat Yeot! A slang meaning - eat shit, f*ck you and the like. ☜

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