The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 183

—————
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 183
As the sun began to sink below the horizon, we arrived once more at the grassland where the preliminaries had begun.
I followed Maeng-won’s guidance, and when we reached our destination, all the familiar faces from before had gathered together.
‘Everyone’s in terrible condition.’
Gu Hal seemed exhausted, his face twisted with fatigue, while the others stood without any particular change in expression.
I could tell at a glance.
‘These are the ones.’
True powerhouses, every single one.
While they all exhaled sighs from the exhaustion of battle, those who hadn’t expended much effort in the preliminaries themselves appeared filled with nothing but boredom.
Heuk Taedo and Geombong were prime examples. Heuk Taedo repeated yawns with an expression of utter boredom.
As for Geombong.
‘…I can’t really tell.’
Her face was so expressionless that it was difficult to judge, but seeing no change whatsoever, I suspected she felt similarly.
As for the others.
‘She’s no different either.’
I looked toward Cheonhye-in. True to form, even she showed no significant change from the beginning.
However.
‘…Why does he look like that?’
Unlike Cheonhye-in, Dok-ryong appeared utterly exhausted.
How should I put it.
‘It’s not so much physical exhaustion….’
It seemed more like mental fatigue.
‘Well, of course.’
I understood. If he had been on the same side as that Cheonhye-in of all people, it would certainly explain it.
‘He must have had a rough time.’
I nodded sympathetically for Dang Cheon-il, then turned my gaze elsewhere.
“Tsk.”
That was the biggest problem. It was where Seo-pyeong was, and he remained unconscious, carried on someone’s back.
Yes, that someone was the problem.
‘What exactly is that man?’
He appeared frail and possessed no particular presence whatsoever.
Yet.
‘What is that aura around him?’
The unpleasant and ominous energy swirling around such a man.
A vile aura like what emanates from demons filled with resentment and malice was evident.
‘I’m only noticing this now?’
It was absurd that I only perceived something so virulent now.
Moreover, at this level, I should have sensed it from the moment I entered the mountain.
‘I only realized it upon confronting him directly.’
Only when I witnessed him before my eyes did I become aware of the aura surrounding him.
What irritated me most was precisely that aspect.
‘Something’s off.’
What exactly was that man? One glance told me he was someone I shouldn’t get entangled with.
‘There’s something there.’
My instincts spoke to me.
‘Getting involved means disaster.’
My instincts screamed that entangling myself with him would spell catastrophe.
And yet, I clearly knew this.
‘Damn it….’
Another instinct whispered.
In situations like this, I always ended up getting involved no matter what.
I absolutely must not do that this time. No matter what it takes, I had to pretend ignorance and avoid any entanglement.
That’s what I resolved.
‘Whatever that man does, it’s none of my concern.’
I could simply pretend not to notice. Even as I made this vow—
“Today, we shall conclude the second preliminary round.”
A figure from the main sect shouted loudly.
“We shall now verify the results. I ask that each group’s representative come forward and prove they have met the qualification requirements.”
With those words, one person from each group stepped forward.
They began showing their stones to Maeng-won.
Heuk Taedo also casually stepped up to display his stones.
Clink.
Just one black stone and one white stone—a perfect pair.
It meant he had avoided unnecessary conflict.
Several other figures were also presenting their stones.
Then Naelyong reached into his robes and handed over his stones.
Clatter, clatter, clatter—!!
“…Huh?”
“What’s with that amount?”
“What the….”
As far more stones than expected tumbled out, the eyes of the others widened in shock.
“Tch….”
“…Damn it.”
Some muttered in frustration—clearly those who had lost to Naelyong and me, their stones stripped away.
After Naelyong presented his stones, Cheonhye-in also approached and handed over hers.
Clatter, clatter, clatter—!
She too produced a considerable quantity of stones.
‘…As expected.’
That weak woman. She seemed to have approached this with the same mindset as me.
After emptying out all the stones and verifying them—
“I shall conclude the second preliminary round.”
With the announcement, the preliminary round came to a complete end.
The remaining participants were roughly thirty percent compared to the first preliminary round.
It was the moment when a considerable number of competitors were eliminated.

* * *
After the preliminaries ended, I returned straight to the Inn. I heard there was a banquet remaining, though attendance wasn’t mandatory. But from what I could tell, there wouldn’t be many people staying for it.
With so many eliminated, they’d have no reason to attend the banquet.
‘If the eliminated competitors don’t go, all that’s left is an empty banquet hall.’
I felt no desire to go there for no reason.
It was obvious that most others thought the same way I did.
“Ugh. I’m exhausted.”
Upon arriving at the Inn, I collapsed as if completely drained.
It felt like I could fall asleep immediately.
“Sigh….”
Just as I was about to drift off thinking about that.
“…Damn it.”
I gritted my teeth and forced myself up. Part of me wanted to just sleep.
‘But I have to do what needs to be done.’
I hadn’t trained yet.
Since I trained every single day, skipping it and going to sleep now would feel deeply unsatisfying.
‘I think tomorrow was supposed to be a rest day….’
The second preliminary round had ended, and now we were at the point of entering the main tournament.
They said we’d rest for a day before entering directly, so tomorrow had no schedule.
Which meant.
‘I can train even more.’
Ha.
Thinking of this, I laughed without meaning to.
‘I’ve completely lost my mind.’
Since I had a day to rest, I could train even more intensely? I never would have imagined such a thought before.
It was absurd, but it didn’t feel bad.
“Sigh… Let’s go.”
I steadied my resolve and pushed myself up. Just as I was about to head to the Training Hall.
Whoosh.
Sensing something on my back, I immediately turned around.
Beyond the window where the moon hung. A familiar silhouette appeared on the windowsill.
It was Yoo Cheon-gil.
“Ah.”
Seeing him, I held back a sigh. He hadn’t been around all day, and now he finally shows up?
“Where have you been wandering around….”
I was about to speak to Yoo Cheon-gil with a furrowed brow when—
“….”
I had to swallow my words. Yoo Cheon-gil held only his index finger to his lips.
What? Why was he telling me to be quiet?
I looked at him with confusion.
[Listen carefully.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke.
[Someone is here.]
“…!”
Chills ran down my spine at those words.
‘Someone is here?’
[Don’t let your expression change.]
I needed to stay calm. As Yoo Cheon-gil had warned, I couldn’t reveal anything.
I steadied my breathing and moved slowly.
I walked toward the door as if continuing my previous actions, retrieving my Divine Blade.
After fastening the sword to my waist and preparing myself for action—
[Northwest, toward the ceiling. Fire a sword aura.]
Yoo Cheon-gil commanded.
The moment I heard him, I drew my Divine Blade.
Shing—!!
With a sharp sound, sword energy wrapped around the blade.
I unleashed it immediately.
Crash—!!
A deep sword mark slashed across the ceiling.
As debris fell with a clatter, I scanned the situation with tense eyes.
[Done. He’s fled.]
“Ha.”
I exhaled the breath I’d been holding back at Yoo Cheon-gil’s words.
“…What was there?”
[Indeed. A quick one—he fled the moment you drew your blade.]
He said someone had escaped, yet I heard no sound of flight.
“Who was it…?”
Who could it be? Who had been watching me?
I hadn’t even sensed them. This meant—
‘One wrong move and I’d be dead.’
If I’d been ambushed, having my throat cut wouldn’t have been surprising.
Who could it possibly be? Who had been watching me?
When I asked about this—
[I don’t know either.]
Yoo Cheon-gil shook his head as if he was equally uncertain.
‘Hmm?’
I had to furrow my brow upon hearing those words.
He doesn’t know? That’s possible. If it’s Yoo Cheon-gil, he might genuinely not know.
‘Something.’
Yet it felt like he was pretending ignorance while knowing the truth.
On the surface, there was nothing particularly strange about him.
Still, I couldn’t shake this peculiar feeling.
‘Tch… this is troublesome.’
Regardless, it seemed I wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight.

* * *
Thump.
Shadow, who had been moving swiftly as if gliding through the air, plunged into the undergrowth.
After traversing across the trees for a distance, he descended to the ground and immediately dropped to one knee.
Simultaneously, he bowed his head respectfully.
Drip- drip-
Blood dripped from the arm of the kneeling man, each droplet staining the grass.
The young man before him observed the back of his hand and spoke.
“You’re wounded.”
At the young man’s words, Shadow lowered his head deeply and replied.
“My apologies.”
“What happened?”
The young man asked. Shadow was not someone who should have been injured.
Shadow answered the young man’s question.
“He detected my presence.”
“What?”
Upon hearing the response, the young man’s eyes widened. He detected his presence? That was absurd.
“Mukchung. Are you saying that man sensed your approach?”
“Yes.”
“….”
Disbelieving, the young man asked again, but the answer remained the same.
He truly sensed it? Moreover.
“He even attacked you? And you were struck?”
“…Please kill me.”
“Hahahahahaha.”
The young man burst into laughter, and the murderous intent in his voice made Shadow tremble slightly.
“Ha… hahahaha….”
The young man’s laughter vanished in an instant.
“How amusing.”
Whoooosh.
As I spoke with a cold expression, it felt as though a wind blew from somewhere.
“…I was only disappointed by how pathetically insignificant he appeared. Is reality so different from what one sees?”
He gave the impression of someone exhausted and weary.
Given the rumors that he had set the Central Plains ablaze, I had expected a formidable master.
But Geomseong’s Predecessor, whom I witnessed firsthand, was far more contemptible than what the young man perceived.
Though talented for his age, the power he wielded appeared pathetic.
Lacking both passion and competitive spirit, I judged him unworthy of bearing the Sword Saint’s name.
Yet.
‘That man kept staring at me.’
From the moment we first met.
Until the preliminaries ended.
I had noticed that Bangseong-yeon was watching me.
That was what troubled me.
‘Could he be someone of substance?’
With that thought, I had sent Mukchung to investigate.
“A wise choice.”
Not only was Mukchung’s infiltration discovered, but he was ambushed as well?
‘Is he also concealing his power?’
It seemed he possessed some hidden trump card.
Just as I did.
“Mukchung. What is the likelihood that your identity was exposed?”
“…None, sir.”
“That is fortunate, at least.”
Being discovered now would be problematic. For our mission to succeed, we could not afford exposure at this stage.
“Hmm.”
The young man exhaled a sigh. In that moment.
Whoosh.
The young man’s eyes, which had been cold as blades, turned a deep crimson.
Mukchung lowered his head before that eerie gaze.
“Mukchung.”
“…Yes.”
Mukchung answered the call and then addressed the young man.
“Young Master.”
“Contact Patcheon Gung.”
The young man was not looking at Mukchung.
His gaze was fixed upon the azure moon hanging in the sky.
“The confirmation seems complete.”
Truly, the moon shone brilliantly.
“Tell them we will cooperate with their endeavor.”
The young man spoke with a faint smile.
Sensing the emotion in his voice, Mukchung answered quietly.
“…I accept your command.”
The moon that the Young Man beheld that night was unusually azure.
So beautiful it made him want to tear it apart.

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