Almighty God of War - Chapter 72

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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072

Akasha’s voice was more serious than ever before.

[Analysis results show clear evidence of artificial manipulation in multiple areas. First, this bacteria has maximized survival capabilities in cold aquatic environments while simultaneously maximizing transmission power in hot, dry environments. These are contradictory characteristics that would be nearly impossible to acquire simultaneously through natural evolution.]

‘Hmm….’

[Furthermore, in the bacteria’s specific genetic sequences, resistance factors against most detoxification and antibacterial medicines recorded in the Life and Death Scripture were discovered. It appears as if someone studied this land’s medical arts in advance and designed this to neutralize them.]

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes turned cold.

The Black Death outbreak this time was not a natural disaster.

It was a horrific biochemical terror attack that could only be suspected as being executed under someone’s meticulous planning.

‘What kind of bastard would do something so cruel….’

[I cannot identify who specifically, but I can deduce several conditions.]

‘Tell me.’

[First, this level of genetic manipulation goes beyond the level of a simple physician who knows a few herbs. It requires deep understanding of modern molecular biology and genetic engineering.]

Deep furrows appeared on Guyang Cheongang’s brow.

[Second, to stably cultivate this bacteria and spread it undetected in specific regions requires highly controlled laboratory facilities and enormous funding. In other words, the perpetrator is likely a massive organization that possesses both advanced knowledge and enormous wealth.]

Guyang Cheongang tilted his head and asked.

‘The second point about wealth might somehow be possible even in this era, but isn’t the first point about advanced knowledge impossible? This level of genetic manipulation would be difficult even with 21st century technology. But in this era, who else besides me could do such a thing…?’

After a moment of silence, Akasha answered in a serious voice.

[Doctor’s observation is correct. By the standards of 21st century Earth science alone, creating this bacteria would be absolutely impossible in this era.]

‘Then?’

[But Doctor, we must not forget that this place is not Earth. When martial arts in this world reach their peak, don’t we observe phenomena that distort the laws of physics?]

‘What are you trying to say?’

[For example, masters who have reached the Divine Transformation realm or higher can transform matter into forms approaching recreation using only their qi, according to records in various secret manuals we’ve secured.]

Akasha’s following words were shocking.

[Therefore, this bacteria may not be a product of genetic engineering. It could be the result of a kind of ‘qi-based biological mutation’ where some supreme master used their pure true energy and special techniques that exist only in this world to twist the very essence of the bacteria.]

Her final statement struck Guyang Cheongang’s mind like a massive hammer.

[It might be in the realm of martial arts rather than science, Doctor.]

‘…!’

Guyang Cheongang was left speechless.

He realized that perhaps he had been arrogant in thinking his scientific knowledge was superior to the martial arts of this primitive world.

But he came to understand that martial arts could reach a level where they transcended even the laws of science he knew, capable of transforming living beings to the level of recreation.

The one who caused this disaster might be far more massive and incomprehensible than he had imagined.

‘That’s a chilling analysis. I’ll keep it in mind. But what reason would they have for spreading the Black Death?’

[Two hypotheses can be established regarding that.]

Akasha’s analysis continued.

[The first possibility is testing the efficacy as a biological weapon. This epidemic’s spread pattern closely resembles a field test that examines controlled killing capability against specific regions and observes the response level of those areas. Someone may have used the central-northern Gangseoseong region as a massive testing ground.]

‘Good grief… What’s the second?’

[The second possibility is a massive ritual ceremony.]

Akasha’s voice dropped even lower.

[Doctor, do you remember the evil technique we witnessed on Blood Pearl Island that converted fear and suffering into energy?]

‘Of course.’

[The despair and fear of death that tens of thousands of people experience from plague can create yin energy or death energy that is more massive and pure than any ritual. The possibility cannot be ruled out that someone used this entire Gangseoseong area as a massive sacrifice for an evil ceremony.]

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes blazed with fury.

‘Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that whoever orchestrated this is insane.’

Taking a deep breath to barely calm his rising anger, he pulled out the black bone fragment he had obtained from the wreckage of the Heavenly Sea Ark from his chest.

‘Sacrifice….’

An existence that treats tens of thousands of lives as mere sacrifices for their own purposes.

He swallowed a sigh inwardly.

‘I just wanted… to escape from these damned Nine Yin Severed Meridians and place this crumbling family on solid ground with people who trust me. Why does it feel like I’m walking deeper into increasingly massive and complex whirlpools?’

To his self-deprecating monologue, Akasha’s calm voice echoed in his mind.

[Doctor, that is precisely the gravity called relationships.]

‘I’m weak in humanities, Akasha.’

[It’s not a difficult concept, Doctor. Unless one lives in seclusion alone, humans form relationships with others, and those relationships create larger societies that influence each other.]

‘What does that have to do with me?’

[When Doctor takes a step forward to change the world, the world also won’t leave Doctor alone and will demand greater roles and responsibilities. That is an unavoidable limitation and destiny of human existence.]

Akasha’s voice was calm, but it contained comfort that understood his anguish.

Guyang Cheongang smiled bitterly.

Though it wasn’t the situation he had wanted, he was no longer alone.

Beside him were people who trusted him, and within him was the most rational and excellent partner in this world.

‘Thank you, Akasha.’

[Not at all, Doctor.]

Akasha’s continuing voice was filled with warm comfort.

[But don’t forget. You’ve consumed too much through this incident. To move to the next stage, you need to replenish yourself.]

As soon as her words ended, there was a knocking sound at the training room door followed by a voice.

It was Du Jinseong.

“Grand Young Master, please come out now. Everyone is waiting for you.”

Guyang Cheongang nodded and stood up.

Now that demand for the Evil-Warding Divine Pills had almost disappeared, the Heavenly Mechanism Pill Furnace was only producing about 10 percent of the divine pills for reserve stock.

The rest had been converted back to a system producing Yang Dragon Pills and Yin Dragon Pills.

There was no longer any need for him to be attached to the pill furnace day and night.

Once a day, briefly stopping by to inject nanobots into completed pills was sufficient.

Guyang Cheongang, who had come outside after a long time, headed to the main building.

There, Guyang Baek and Dong Yeonhwa who had left the family estate, along with Cheongi and Cheongcheong siblings who seemed to have grown considerably, were waiting for him.

“Gang-a!”

“Elder Brother!”

“Big Brother!”

Joy and relief appeared on the faces of the family members who saw Guyang Cheongang.

Guyang Baek approached silently and strongly patted his gaunt son’s shoulder.

“You worked hard.”

His brief but weighty words were filled with pride and sympathy toward his son.

In truth, he had mountains of things he wanted to ask Guyang Cheongang.

The outbreak of this Black Death and the secret of manufacturing Evil-Warding Divine Pills, and the direction the Guyang Family Estate, which had gained tremendous fame, should take going forward, among other things.

He wanted to discuss deeply with his son who had now become the actual pillar of the family.

“Gang-a, about this incident….”

But he couldn’t continue his words.

The moment he saw his son’s pale face and the deep shadows under his eyes, his heart as a father took precedence over his sense of responsibility as family head.

“…No. Let’s talk about that later. Right now, recovering your health comes first. Go and rest. After all your fatigue is relieved, we can talk slowly then without being late.”

Dong Yeonhwa silently handed Guyang Cheongang a cup of warm tea.

“Yes. I really want to rest.”

Guyang Cheongang smiled faintly and stood up.

After briefly catching up with his family, he returned to the separate building and collapsed onto his bed, falling asleep immediately.

Extreme fatigue had accumulated in his body and mind to a degree that even the Transcendent Impermanence Divine Art’s constant qi circulation system couldn’t handle.

While he slept, Akasha organized the past month’s experiences into one massive database.

So Guyang Cheongang’s sleep couldn’t simply be called rest.

Whether he wanted it or not, Akasha was reorganizing his body and mind so he could leap to higher places.

By his bedside, Golden King stood guard, and at the door, Elder Hwang watched as if he wouldn’t allow any interference.

Guyang Cheongang slept for three full days without moving like a corpse.

On the fourth day, Guyang Cheongang, who had awakened from deep sleep, sat facing Guyang Baek in the study.

Several thick wrinkles that had never been there before appeared on Guyang Baek’s forehead.

They were deeply etched with pride for his son as well as the time spent by someone who had worked tirelessly to overcome the massive disaster called the Black Death.

“Gang-a, I think you should know about the current situation as well.”

“I was just curious about that myself.”

Guyang Baek spoke in a heavy tone.

“The number of people who lost their lives to this plague… is said to reach over twenty thousand in the Jiangxi Province area alone.”

He couldn’t continue speaking for a moment and closed his eyes.

“However, the number of people who saved their lives with that Evil-Warding Divine Pill you created also exceeds one hundred thousand. And look at this.”

Guyang Baek unfolded the ledger on the table and showed it to him.

“The net profit from divine pills sold over the past month, excluding production costs and converted to silver coins, is just over three thousand nyang. It cannot compare to the profits gained from selling Dragon Nourishing Pills and Yin Dragon pills, but since those are funds that cannot be revealed, securing three thousand nyang is by no means a small achievement.”

Guyang Cheongang merely flipped through the ledger calmly.

His interest was not in money, but in what they would do going forward.

Guyang Baek opened his mouth.

“Gang-a, I think the time has come now.”

“What do you mean?”

“The servants and warriors sent from Golden Tower Manor – I think it’s time to send them all back now. There’s no longer any reason for the Main Family Estate to be under their surveillance, is there? So I’m thinking of sending them back as soon as we can find replacements. What do you think?”

Contrary to Guyang Baek’s expectations, Guyang Cheongang’s answer was cold.

“I understand your feelings, Father. But it’s still too early.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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