The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 181
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 181
“Hahahaha! I suppose one could call this fortunate timing?”
The Giant, known as the Miracle of the Peng Clan, burst into continuous laughter—Heuk Taedo.
And.
“….”
Maehua Geombong, the foremost of the Disciples, regarded me with an expressionless face.
Seeing the two of them, I couldn’t help but contort my expression in frustration.
‘Ah, this is ridiculous.’
Don’t be ridiculous.
Of all people to encounter, it had to be these two?
‘This can’t be right….’
Heuk Taedo, the pinnacle among the Disciples.
And the Genius Slaughterer Geombong, said to be the strongest among all former Disciples.
The fact that they were on the same side was already infuriating.
‘Of all places?’
To meet them here, of all places.
And at the very beginning, no less.
As I contorted my face at this dire situation.
“I was hoping to see you anyway.”
Heuk Taedo stepped forward, his eyes gleaming.
Shing–!!
He then drew the weapon issued by the organization.
Whoooosh–!!!
In that instant, an overwhelming aura erupted from Heuk Taedo’s body.
A tremendous aura indeed.
“To meet like this—surely this is what one would call fate, wouldn’t you say?”
“….”
A torn smile and an ominous aura.
At this point, Heuk Taedo’s intentions were obvious without even asking.
“Huh?”
Naelyong quickly interjected upon seeing this.
“Wait, hold on.”
“Hmm?”
As Naelyong stopped him, Heuk Taedo furrowed his brow and asked.
“What is it, Naelyong?”
“Before we fight, shouldn’t we confirm things first?”
“What do you mean?”
“The stone, I mean.”
“Ah.”
At Naelyong’s mention, Heuk Taedo’s eyes widened.
I had forgotten. The reason for this fight was to claim stones of different colors.
“Ah, I see.”
Upon realizing this, Heuk Taedo nodded and pulled a stone from his possession.
It was a black stone.
Confirming this, I felt relieved inwardly.
“Oh.”
Naelyong, seeing this, retrieved a stone from his own possession and showed it.
It was the same color stone.
“Unfortunately, both are black.”
That was fortunate. If they were the same color, there was no need to fight—we could simply move on.
Just as I felt relieved that I wouldn’t have to fight these monsters,
“So?”
Heuk Taedo spoke with a savage grin.
“What’s the problem with them being the same color?”
“…Huh?”
At the tone laden with competitive spirit, Naelyong’s eyes widened.
“Ah.”
Then, as if catching on to something, Naelyong scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
“So you just want to fight.”
“Good instincts.”
“Sigh…”
Crackle.
The sound of lightning echoed from somewhere. The source was the blade Naelyong had drawn.
Having already unsheathed his sword, Naelyong now glared at Heuk Taedo with an eerie sword aura enveloping his blade.
“I’m not one for pointless fights, but if it comes to this, there’s no helping it.”
Laughter mixed with coldness. The aura radiating from Naelyong made me flinch involuntarily.
“No helping it, indeed.”
Watching Naelyong, Heuk Taedo laughed as if finding it absurd.
“You were looking forward to this all along.”
“Hahaha.”
At those words, Naelyong laughed aloud.
“Correct.”
Rumble—!!
With a thunderous sound, Naelyong’s aura exploded outward.
‘Damn.’
I narrowed my eyes at the tingling sensation. This bastard.
‘…This is no joke.’
A proper Seventh Realm cultivator.
Dok-ryong was at the bottom tier of the Seventh Realm, and seeing how he was knocked unconscious by a single blow from Heuk Taedo, I thought he was quite weak.
But witnessing Naelyong’s aura, that thought vanished entirely.
‘So this is the Sevenfold.’
It became clear with Heuk Taedo, and it’s becoming even more apparent with Naelyong.
Geniuses bearing the future of the Central Plains on their shoulders.
And the fighting spirit of the one destined to become the future of the Namgung Clan is truly formidable.
The problem is.
‘Damn it, I shouldn’t be fighting this?’
Should I even be fighting? My opponent is Heuk Taedo and Geombong.
They are the combination I should least encounter at the Dragon Phoenix Conference right now.
I have to fight from the very start?
‘What do I do?’
I grasped my sword hesitantly. Fighting those monsters wasn’t in my calculations?
‘No, it was in the calculations.’
But it was the lowest priority, the matchup I should least encounter.
‘Damn it.’
My luck has been consistently terrible.
That’s just how my life is.
‘And the old man isn’t even here right now.’
Yoo Cheon-gil, who disappeared after taking offense at my words.
That cursed Demon is nowhere to be found when I actually need her.
‘Sigh.’
I exhaled deeply and opened my eyes wide.
‘I have no choice.’
Should I run away from Naelyong? For a moment I considered it, but they said that if two people get too far apart, they’re disqualified.
‘At least I won’t die.’
Killing is forbidden, so I tried to take comfort in that.
Shing—!
Just as I was about to draw my sword.
“Well then, let’s enjoy this… Geombong?”
Heuk Taedo was about to swing his blade when he glanced to the side and froze in shock.
Geombong was gone.
She had already turned her back and was walking away into the distance.
“Huh? Wait, hold on… Hey!”
Realizing this, Heuk Taedo hurried after her. As I said, they couldn’t let their distance grow too far.
“Damn it…!! You’ll regret this!”
“…”
He left behind a line like some third-rate villain, then the two of them disappeared with regret filling their eyes.
“Hm?”
Naelyong, who witnessed this, withdrew the energy he had been releasing and nodded slightly.
Since we’re from the same stone, we avoided unnecessary fighting?
As I was pondering this, Naelyong smacked his lips and spoke.
“My, Geombong is far more rational than I expected.”
“…That’s not rationality—it’s that your side is being barbaric, isn’t it?”
“Haha. I thought it might be entertaining after so long, but what a shame. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Not a shame at all.
I exhaled a sigh of relief and steadied my breathing.
‘…To think misfortune would pile up from the very start.’
It was truly a wretched situation.
Shhh.
After releasing a quiet breath.
“…Shall we move on?”
I urged Naelyong to depart, leaving my startled heart as it was.
There was work to be done, and I would do it one way or another.
* * *
We wandered through the mountains. Not much time had passed.
There was nothing particularly dangerous.
Honestly, there was no danger unless we encountered men like Heuk Taedo and Geombong.
“Ugh…! Of all people, Naelyong and the Protagonist…!”
“Damn it…!!”
“Much obliged.”
Naelyong grinned widely as he collected white stones from the other martial artists.
They were other martial artists we’d encountered on the mountain, and they happened to possess white stones.
“You’ve gathered the stones well.”
“That was faster than expected.”
I mean it sincerely. It hadn’t been long since we encountered Heuk Taedo and Geombong.
We didn’t even fight. The other side lost their nerve the moment they saw us and handed over their stones.
If one were to call that luck, so be it…. But put another way.
“Now we need to endure.”
It meant we had to hold out until sunset.
“What are you thinking?”
“Well, if I had my way, I’d dig a cave and hide in it.”
Naelyong’s expression shifted subtly at my words. I could sense what he was thinking.
Don’t worry. I have no real intention of hiding either.
‘Hiding? Nonsense. I should use this to my advantage.’
In the end, this was competition, and right now I held a tremendous advantage.
To simply hide in this state? That made no sense.
Especially considering Naelyong’s nature, he wouldn’t want that either, so I judged it best to capitalize on this.
“Just sitting around is boring. Shall we hunt instead?”
I spoke with a slight smile, and only then did Naelyong’s face light up with laughter.
“Oh, an excellent idea. Protagonist, you possess far more initiative than I anticipated.”
“Not at all.”
I would use Naelyong to block out as many competitors as possible.
That was the plan I had devised for this second preliminary round.
“Let’s go. Time to hunt.”
As I spoke, I put strength into my legs.
At that moment, Naelyong’s stride appeared noticeably lighter than before.
He had already reached a passing score, yet he was eager to fight anyway.
In the end, it meant this man was also insane.
* * *
Clang—!!!
Blade met blade. Intense friction sent sparks flying.
Empowered by the sharp flash, the blue sword energy traced a crescent arc.
Wolrang.
The Cheongwol Sect’s sword technique unfolded in the woman’s hands.
“Ugh!”
The figure defending twisted his blade, blood trickling from his mouth.
Then, with irritated eyes, he glanced to the side and shouted.
“What are you doing! Provide support already!”
“Ah… th-that is… I’m in trouble too…!”
A frail-looking young man barely dodged an incoming attack.
“Gasp!”
A dagger streaked past the young man. Its wielder was Dok-ryong Dang Cheon-il, one of the Seven Swords.
Seeing this, Seo-pyeong ground his teeth in frustration while defending against Wol Muhui Cheonhye-in’s blade.
‘Damn it.’
No matter how I looked at it, I had chosen poorly.
Seo-pyeong regretted his choice as he watched his companion.
‘I thought he was strong since he confidently asked to team up together.’
If I had known, it would have been better to pair with disciples of another shaman, or at least attach myself to someone I knew.
‘Damn it all.’
Clang!
The blade bounced back. Cheonhye-in pressed her relentless assault against Seo-pyeong with an expressionless face.
It was unbearable. It wasn’t a matter of being matched or mismatched.
The psychological factor was playing a significant role.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before his companion fell to Dok-ryong.
And once that happened, the outcome of this fight was as clear as day.
‘Tch.’
Seo-pyeong, growing impatient, tried to increase his momentum, but his opponent was Cheonhye-in.
Heuk Taedo, Geombong, and alongside Naelyong, she was counted among the top disciples.
It meant she was an existence that even Seo-pyeong, one of the Seven Swords, might not be able to defeat even with all his strength.
‘What am I supposed to do?’
Of all people, I had to encounter him.
Just as Seo-pyeong wrinkled his face, searching for a solution.
Slip!
“Ugh!”
The Young Man fighting Dok-ryong stumbled over a rock and fell backward.
Smack.
Dang Cheon-il, seizing the opportunity, swung his foot and struck the jaw.
“Gack!”
The Young Man’s consciousness faded instantly, and he collapsed.
Seeing this, Seo-pyeong immediately tried to move, but.
“Do you want more?”
Cheonhye-in spoke and brought her sword down.
Meanwhile, Dang Cheon-il also gripped a dagger and aimed it at Seo-pyeong.
“….”
Trapped on both sides. Seo-pyeong calculated in his mind.
Did he have any chance of winning?
The answer came immediately. There was no need to calculate.
“…Grit.”
Seo-pyeong ground his teeth hard and pulled a stone from his robes.
“…Take it.”
“A wise choice.”
Cheonhye-in smiled brightly and accepted the stone.
As he handed over the stone, Seo-pyeong’s pride was crushed.
“You seem quite frustrated. Why not settle this on the martial stage later?”
“…That’s what I want.”
Cheonhye-in left after speaking. Neither she nor Seo-pyeong believed this fight would be the end of his participation.
And so Cheonhye-in and Dok-ryong departed.
“Damn it—!!”
Seo-pyeong let out a roar he had been holding back.
To think I’d end up like this.
“…Damn it…. This cursed….”
Crack—!
Filled with rage, he stamped the ground repeatedly with his feet. Even so, his anger wouldn’t subside as he continued to stomp the floor.
“…It’s all because of this.”
Seo-pyeong’s eyes fell upon his companion lying motionless on the ground.
“It’s because of this bastard.”
A useless fool. How did I end up like this by choosing the wrong companion?
Looking at this worthless man, Seo-pyeong finally approached him.
He couldn’t break anything. He’d still need to bring him along, so he was about to vent his anger by lightly stomping on his face when.
“Cough!”
“…!!”
The Young Man lying down regained consciousness and pushed himself up on his elbows.
“Ugh…. My jaw….”
He then gingerly touched his jaw where Dok-ryong had struck him, his gaze settling on Seo-pyeong.
“Oh, dear. It seems I’ve lost something precious.”
“…Are you really saying that now…!”
Snap—!
Seo-pyeong grabbed the Young Man by his collar and lifted him.
With eyes gleaming, Seo-pyeong seized the Young Man, about to speak.
“Because of you, you bastard—”
“Don’t you dare touch me with those filthy hands.”
Thud.
In an instant, focus vanished from Seo-pyeong’s eyes as he crumpled to the ground.
The Young Man brushed away Seo-pyeong’s fallen hand and adjusted his own clothing.
Pat, pat.
As if something vile had clung to him, he brushed his hands clean several times.
“Sigh.”
He swept back his hair, muttering to himself.
“It would be simpler if I just killed them all.”
But killing was forbidden in this situation.
Recalling that constraint, the Young Man’s eyes narrowed.
The gentle, vacant expression I had seen at first was nowhere to be found.
“…Disgusting orthodox sect bastards.”
All that remained in the Young Man was a murderous aura so intense it was suffocating.
He lifted the unconscious Seo-pyeong and began moving slowly deeper into the mountain.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————