The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 121

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 121
The Seven Prodigies.
A term used in the Central Plains to designate the most outstanding representatives among the younger generation of martial artists.
Evidence of the generational tide that would lead the Central Plains decades into the future.
It revealed how much the current era’s powers were investing their attention in the future and the younger generation of today.
There had always been considerable interest in the younger generation.
But now, an explosively intense gaze poured down upon them.
It was only natural.
‘A generational transition was beginning.’
This was the age of upheaval.
Much time had passed since the war with the Demonic Sect ended.
Those once called heroes, who had carved out their legacies during that conflict, were beginning to fade one by one into history.
Dokjon, the supreme master of poison arts and the nightmare of war, had perished.
The Sword Emperor, called the greatest swordsman under heaven, had vanished from sight.
The Palace Master had departed to the North Sea, his homeland, declaring he would never appear again.
Beyond these, all the Heavenly Experts had either disappeared or were spending their remaining years in their respective clans.
‘But the greatest reason of all was this.’
The death of the Sword Saint.
The Heavenly Supreme had died, and turmoil had ensued.
Who would claim the vacant seat of the greatest under heaven?
Some whispered that the Sword Emperor, still alive, had become the supreme master.
Yet even he had vanished from the world.
With other living Heavenly Experts remaining, people wondered which of them it might be.
But ultimately, no conclusion would be reached.
They would not contend with one another.
They possessed far too much already.
Every movement of the Heavenly Experts drew countless eyes and wagging tongues.
And they, knowing this better than anyone, chose not to participate in such trivial games.
Because of this.
Though not yet Heavenly Experts.
Those evaluated as destined to reach that position in the future.
Seven geniuses among geniuses, countable on one’s fingers even amid the overwhelming flood of talented youth.
The Seven Prodigies.
Everyone else poured their curiosity toward them.
The seat of the greatest under heaven, now vacant because the Heavenly Experts did not move.
It was evaluated that perhaps in the next generation, or the one after that, one of the Seven Prodigies would ascend to it.
Interest in the Seven Prodigies was consequently quite high.
Who was the strongest among the younger generation?
Since all Seven Prodigies were geniuses among geniuses.
The desire to identify the strongest of the younger generation ran deep.
Among them, Dok-ryong in particular.
‘Was not considered particularly strong.’
Lower tier among the Seven Prodigies.
Despite the talk of Dokjon’s reincarnation, his evaluation was harsh.
In a way, it was inevitable.
‘His performance at the last Dragon Phoenix Gathering had been lackluster.’
Once every five years.
The Martial Arts Alliance held a martial tournament composed solely of late-stage experts.
It was called the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
A bizarre festival where nearly hundreds of late-stage experts were summoned to engage in brutal combat.
There, Dok-ryong.
‘Had been utterly defeated by another of the Seven Prodigies.’
Who was it again? I had studied information about Dok-ryong.
Probably.
‘It must have been the Black Great Blade of the Peng Clan.’
The Black Great Blade was from the Hebei Peng Clan, one of the Five Great Houses.
He was a direct bloodline descendant of that clan’s Lord.
Dok-ryong had suffered defeat at his hands.
And it wasn’t even a close loss.
‘He lost quite miserably.’
Couldn’t even put up a proper fight, defeated in what amounted to a single strike, or so they said?
Having displayed such pathetic performance, the world’s harsh evaluation of him was unavoidable.
Of course.
‘Even so, a Prodigy is still a Prodigy.’
This didn’t mean Dok-ryong wasn’t a genius.
Nor was it proof that he was weak.
Look at him now.
“…How dare you….”
The killing intent radiating from him as he grasped and drew his short blade was so fierce.
It tingled against my skin.
‘Ugh.’
I almost instinctively brushed my arm upward. Fortunately I didn’t, but goosebumps likely rose regardless.
‘…Did I provoke him unnecessarily?’
I had certainly angered him with my words, but seeing his reaction now, I felt a twinge of regret.
Of course.
‘But touching family crossed the line.’
Regret is regret, but I had to push through.
I couldn’t let his words slide.
‘Insulting my father?’
No matter how incompetent, useless, how his only asset is his face, how shameful it is to call him father, how much I want to abandon him and leave right now.
‘Still, I’m the only one who can lay down the gauntlet.’
That didn’t mean another fool could easily speak such words.
I drew the sword from my waist.
Dang Cheon-il’s lips curled upward at the sight.
“…Ha….”
That smile reeked of contempt.
“Little Sword Saint, Little Sword Saint. Now that others have praised you, do you think you’ve become something?”
“….”
I didn’t answer, just tilted my head slightly. An invitation for him to keep running his mouth.
“I hear you killed a master from the heterodox sects with a single strike. I don’t believe it. You probably just slew some small fry.”
“Why do you think that?”
“You could never be a true master. Your eyes, your movements—none of it shows it.”
“You’re funny. So what exactly are you to make that judgment?”
He was right, but it was infuriating nonetheless.
It seemed to be because I disliked the one speaking.
“Whatever trick you used, my eyes cannot be deceived.”
Whoosh—!
He spun his short blade once before aiming its edge at me.
And with a mocking smile, he spoke to me.
“You seem to hope the rumors would intimidate me, but how unfortunate. I’m not swayed by such trivial—”
“Ah, your face is really ugly, so stop making that expression.”
“….”
I couldn’t hold back and said it. I would’ve restrained myself normally, but that was too much.
Was it my imagination? For a brief moment, he seemed hurt.
[…With such a handsome face, you really wound an inferior man like that.]
Yoo Cheon-gil pointed out my transgression. Hearing it, I laughed awkwardly.
“Sorry. That was too harsh.”
“You bastard… Are you mocking me again…?”
“No, I’m not mocking you. I really meant the apology this time….”
“You’re looking down on what that woman did to me yesterday.”
“Ah, so you do know what happened? Even you’d have to admit it was pretty pathetic, right?”
“You bastard—!!”
At my fragmented words, Dang Cheon-il’s fury erupted.
At that sound, I swallowed dryly in secret.
I could even feel the killing intent radiating from him.
“Fine. I swear on my name in this very place, that I will—”
Dang Cheon-il spoke with gleaming eyes.
“Definitely kill you!!”
He charged forward, releasing his full murderous aura.
Watching him, I wet my lips slightly and raised my sword.
‘Can I do this?’
My opponent was a master of the seventh tier.
How could I possibly manage this? Just as worry and doubt began to creep in.
[Shall I help?]
Yoo Cheon-gil asked in a subtle voice.
I shook my head at that.
It hadn’t been long since the possession began.
The duration wouldn’t last very long anyway.
But that wasn’t the reason.
‘I want to try it myself.’
I was curious to experience this. How far could I, the Protagonist, go without Yoo Cheon-gil? That’s what I wanted to find out.
‘Besides.’
Even if that weren’t the case.
‘I have a feeling I can win.’
I could defeat someone of his caliber.
Such confidence was steadily welling up within me.

* * *
While Dang Cheon-il was releasing his killing intent and facing off against Bangseong-yeon.
Dang Yeeran watched with anxious eyes.
‘What is this all of a sudden…?’
He’d come right after the sword was completed, and suddenly her older brother and Bangseong-yeon were about to fight.
Especially the killing intent emanating from her older brother Dang Cheon-il was extraordinary.
If this continued, Bangseong-yeon could be seriously hurt.
Just as Dang Yeeran was about to step forward at that thought.
“Stop.”
“…!”
Someone grabbed Dang Yeeran’s shoulder and held her back.
Dang Yeeran turned in surprise to see an impossibly beautiful woman gazing at her.
“Why would you interrupt when it’s just getting good?”
“…Moryong Sojeo….”
The culprit who had seized her shoulder was none other than Muyong Youngsoon.
“They’re putting on a good show for us. Just watch quietly, shall we? It looks like it’ll be entertaining.”
At her smile, Dang Yeeran nearly felt her heart flutter despite being a woman herself.
She could smile so beautifully. That thought crossed her mind.
“…You want to just watch that?”
Dang Yeeran’s eyes widened at Muyong Youngsoon’s words.
“It’s dangerous…. With my older brother in this state, there’s no telling what he might do.”
Having experienced Dang Cheon-il’s temperament.
In his current state, he could cause something catastrophic.
So I need to stop this before something serious happens.
“Are you worried?”
Upon hearing those words, Muyong Youngsoon remained composed.
Dang Yeeran, taken aback by her attitude, asked.
“Isn’t that only natural…? Aren’t you concerned as well, Moryong Sojeo?”
“Not particularly. If Lady Dang is worried, then you must be worried about Bang Disciple. Or perhaps you’re concerned about Dok-ryong instead?”
“…Of course I am.”
She was indeed worried about Bang Disciple, but Dang Yeeran couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.
For some reason, she felt embarrassed.
At her reaction, Muyong Youngsoon let out a soft laugh.
“Then that’s a relief.”
“…What… do you mean?”
What could possibly be a relief? Her genuinely relieved expression only made me more curious.
“Seeing how Lady Dang presents herself, it seems we still have quite a ways to go. A very, very long way indeed.”
“What are you saying…? What do you mean by ‘a long way’?”
“Lady Dang. Listen carefully.”
Muyong Youngsoon spoke without dropping her smile.
“Worrying about Bang Disciple—or rather, that raccoon—in this situation is fundamentally wrong.”
“What?”
“He doesn’t need your worry.”
Worrying about Bangseong-yeon was the problem?
It made no sense.
“You….”
How could she not be worried when she didn’t know what might happen to Bangseong-yeon?
She tried to ask such a question, but.
“Would you like me to tell you something?”
This time too, Dang Yeeran found herself unable to continue.
“Bang Disciple, you see.”
The certainty gleaming in Muyong Youngsoon’s eyes.
“Never engages in battles he cannot win.”
Was far too profound.

* * *
Whiiiish—! Clang!!
The short blade pierced sharply forward.
I raised my sword to block it.
Metal scraped against metal, sparks scattering.
Feeling the heavy recoil, I twisted my wrist.
Crack!!
The short blade didn’t strike just once—it came at me multiple times.
As if my opponent knew exactly what I would block.
The flow undulated like the movement of a serpent.
The speed was so tremendous that if one weren’t careful, it seemed as though multiple blades were rushing forward at once.
‘Tsk.’
Ting! Ting-ting!
I barely managed to deflect the attacks. After blocking, I marveled inwardly.
‘I’m actually blocking this?’
In the past, I wouldn’t have even been able to react to such speed.
Now I could not only see it but block it as well.
After flicking the short blade away like that.
“Hup.”
I twisted my waist and swung my sword. Sword energy seeped out and erupted explosively.
Cyan Moon Sword Technique, First Form. Wolrang.
I swung the blade sharply, tracing a crescent moon.
Whoooosh!!!
The sword burst with brilliance as it cut through my opponent.
‘Damn.’
What I’d cut was merely an afterimage.
My opponent had already vanished from that spot long ago.
I rolled my eyes to sense their presence.
Whoosh!
I felt it. From the left.
Even though I’d sensed it, my sword moved to the right instead.
Clang!
“Heh.”
I blocked the short blade with my sword.
Dok-ryong, the owner of the short blade, widened his eyes.
“How did you know?”
Standing locked against me, he asked.
Was it really so surprising that I’d sensed his feint?
The answer to this was simple.
“How would I not know? You wouldn’t come at me so obviously.”
The correct answer is that Dang Cheon-il is not a fool.
To hide one’s presence so carefully, only to make it so conspicuously obvious?
It made no sense.
“…You’re quite perceptive.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. I like it.”
Screech—! Power surged through the short blade.
“Enough to want to kill you.”
“–!”
I twisted my head to the side.
Whoosh—! Something whistled past my chin, streaking toward the ceiling.
Thunk—!
The projectile embedded itself in the ceiling. It was a hidden blade.
Whoooosh—!!
As my gaze lifted and scattered for an instant, I felt a violent aura emanating from Dang Cheon-il’s direction.
I quickly lowered my eyes.
Where did he go?
He was nowhere to be seen. His presence? I couldn’t feel that either.
This is.
‘That technique.’
The Dang Clan’s martial art that conceals one’s existence to an extreme degree.
The very one I’d witnessed during my duel with Dang Yeeran.
‘Remarkable.’
He truly vanished. In broad daylight in the Training Hall with not a single obstacle to hide behind.
How could one become so invisible?
I turned my head this way and that, searching for Dok-ryong.
“Where are you looking?”
Surprisingly, his voice came from behind me.
As I turned, Dang Cheon-il’s eyes gleamed with light.
“It’s over. Vermin.”
Light flashed from his short blade in unison with his eyes.
Tang Fang Seven Sorrow Severance.
The Dang Clan’s technique with the short blade unfolded from Dok-ryong.
The blade carved toward my vital points. If this continued, it would be catastrophic.
But.
Clang—!
“…!!”
‘That’s only if it connects.’
The attack failed to land.
I deflected it with my sword.
“How—!”
The creature reacted as my attack failed to connect.
Seeing that, I spoke.
“Where were you looking?”
Where was I looking, indeed.
“I was watching everything.”
I had already been observing.
The Moonlit Eye revealed far more than I had anticipated, and I captured every detail without missing a single moment.
Pretending not to see proved unexpectedly difficult, yet I was grateful nonetheless. Thanks to it.
‘I created an opening.’
This was the moment. Now was the time to unleash it.
Whoooooosh—!!!
Light blazed across the blade.
An intense radiance as if to illuminate all things.
Third Form. Luminous Moon Severance.
And.
‘Second Form.’
Night Moon.
The sword wrapped in brilliance ignited the darkness.
And the single blade forged from it.
Shhhhaaack—!
Cleaved Dok-ryong’s world in two.

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