The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 244

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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 244
After the match ended, all I could do was sit there, utterly exhausted.
Though I’d received treatment for my weary body, blood loss left my mind foggy and disoriented.
In that haze, I slowly circulated my inner energy. This too was a method I’d learned upon reaching the peak.
By circulating energy through my tired, depleted body, I could recover some of my fatigue.
I was glad I’d learned this. I needed to use whatever I could.
“Ugh… ow, everything hurts…”
Every muscle ached. It was almost miraculous that I could even speak.
Honestly, the pain was unbearable.
‘Ugh… ugh…’
I couldn’t even drool properly. Speaking itself wasn’t easy.
The exhaustion was shocking. Was this the aftereffect of Wol Cheon?
‘…It doesn’t make sense, but it does.’
I understood. Considering the value of Wol Cheon’s power, even this seemed light.
‘Artificial enlightenment.’
The state of no-self, called a path of enlightenment among martial artists. A power that forcibly sent one there—by that alone, it was undoubtedly tremendous.
Moreover.
‘I even defeated Heuk Taedo.’
Called Cheonmu Jiche, a legendary disciple whose position as the Younger Master of the Peng Clan was all but certain.
Even Peng Dojun of the Northern Peng Clan could achieve victory with Wol Cheon.
Of course.
‘I can’t say I won purely through skill.’
Peng Dojun’s mistakes had helped.
‘Using Heuk Un first.’
Using Heuk Un from the start to trap me, and.
‘Not finishing me right there.’
He’d bound my five senses with Heuk Un but hadn’t attacked. That was the problem.
‘…Yoo Cheon-gil’s help was significant.’
I knew why. It was because Yoo Cheon-gil had commanded me to act.
That must have prevented Peng Dojun from acting rashly.
‘He probably judged that I was intentionally losing.’
For some reason, I wasn’t displaying my true strength.
Thinking that way, Peng Dojun didn’t rush to defeat me.
That became my opportunity to drag out the match.
Furthermore.
‘Even that was Yoo Cheon-gil’s help.’
Escaping Heuk Un. That too was thanks to Yoo Cheon-gil.
‘…’
In the end, without Yoo Cheon-gil, this would have been a victory I couldn’t achieve.
‘This isn’t the time to be pleased.’
I didn’t defeat Peng Dojun through skill alone.
Since calling luck a skill leaves a bitter taste, I’m not celebrating it.
“Sigh.”
I exhaled deeply and surveyed the martial arena.
Just as it seemed to end, the situation concluded.
Clang—!
A sharp sound rang out as something shot into the air.
A sword.
A single blade glinted as it soared skyward, then spun and fell to the ground.
Clatter.
With a clear ring, the sword rolled across the floor.
Yeon’s blade from the Hwasan Sect rested against her opponent’s throat.
“Yeon of the Hwasan Sect wins.”
The referee’s announcement drew shallow cheers from the crowd—noticeably fewer than what I’d heard before.
The anticlimactic ending was likely the reason.
‘How long did that take?’
I had no idea. I’d been half-asleep, so I hadn’t caught a glimpse of Yeon’s match.
‘It was over in seconds anyway.’
Besides, it wasn’t the time to be watching martial bouts or analyzing techniques.
‘…I dozed off for a moment.’
My body was exhausted, and I’d fallen asleep briefly, missing the entire match.
‘Damn it.’
I missed it—a rather critical oversight. I’d deliberately sat here to watch this, after all.
‘No, even if I’d watched, it wouldn’t have changed much.’
What could I have gleaned from such a fleeting moment? It was frustrating, but that was reality.
‘I have no information.’
There was virtually no information about Yeon.
What little existed was:
‘The youngest Plum Blossom Swordmaster of the Hwasan Sect….’
Based on Yoo Cheon-gil’s remarks, she possessed unusual eyes, and
among the other disciples, she was called a monster.
Beyond that, nothing was known about her habits or techniques displayed in matches.
The same applied to her bout with Baekcheon-in.
‘…It was too refined to even observe and analyze.’
Her movements resembled watching a perfectly choreographed combination.
A beautiful fight with no unnecessary motions.
The kind of fight that drew admiration just from watching.
Perhaps that was why.
‘I couldn’t see it.’
In such refined movements, I couldn’t detect any one-dimensional habits or repetitive patterns.
‘Damn it.’
I couldn’t believe such things even existed.
There were times when my level didn’t seem low either.
‘Then that’s an even bigger problem.’
It meant there was no way forward, which only frustrated me.
“Ugh….”
Why did I even try? If I was going to lose anyway, it would’ve been better not to.
It seemed my stubborn insistence had led me to this pathetic state.
“Tsk….”
As I bit my lip and drooled blood,
[Look at the state of you.]
“….”
A familiar voice reached my ears. When I lifted my head, that detestable face drifted before me.
[You won, didn’t you?]
At his smirking words, I frowned.
Where had he been wandering? He whispered it with just the shape of his lips.
[I had something I needed to see.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke. Of course he did. He always had something to see.
[Your eyes are quite expressive. Seems you have many complaints?]
How could I not?
[Why complain when you won thanks to someone else?]
At his chuckling words, I sighed. He wasn’t wrong.
Right. I won because of that old man, after all.
[Congratulations. I thought you couldn’t win. You did well.]
‘…You thought I couldn’t win?’
I stared at him incredulously. Was he really saying that now? After fighting desperately to win, it felt like he was hurling insults at me.
[Kekekeke.]
As if reading my thoughts, Yoo Cheon-gil burst into laughter. He was truly a damnable demon.
‘…When he was gone, I didn’t mind, but the moment he appears, he irritates me.’
Cursed old man.
As I only sighed deeply while looking at Yoo Cheon-gil,
[Hey, you.
The old man called me.
“…Yes.”
I answered quietly. There were no people around, but one could never be too careful.
[Where did you put the Divine Sword?]
“Ah, I left it over there.”
[Over there?]
At my gesture, Yoo Cheon-gil turned his head. It wasn’t far away—leaning against the wall in that direction.
[….]
Yoo Cheon-gil examined the wall and frowned at me.
[…You’re just going to leave it there like that?]
“…Well, what does it matter? Surely no one at the Martial Arts Alliance would take it?”
He was saying I’d carelessly abandoned a rather exceptional weapon, but I remained indifferent.
If it bothered him so much, he could take care of it himself. I was already busy enough without worrying about other things.
[No… ah… fine, never mind.]
Yoo Cheon-gil started to say something but gave up.
[…In any case, knowing the location is enough.]
“Why? What exactly are you planning to do with it?”
[What do you mean what? I’m going to use it.]
“…Use it? For what?”
Personal weapons cannot be used in the competition. That’s why both Heuk Taedo and Naelyong had used weapons issued by the Martial Arts Alliance rather than their own prized blades.
I couldn’t understand how he intended to use a divine sword in this situation.
Just as I was about to press him further on the matter.
“Wait—”
“Prepare for the final match—!!”
“….”
The Referee’s voice boomed across the arena. Ah, was it already time?
I wanted to rest a bit longer, but I’d wasted all that time bickering with this old man.
“Ugh… damn it….”
Groaning, I pushed myself to my feet.
A series of cracking sounds echoed from my body. I couldn’t even tell if it was my waist or my legs.
“Phew.”
I barely suppressed my exhaustion and walked forward, soon ascending onto the competition platform.
Standing on the platform were the Referee and Yoo Yeon, already waiting.
“…Are you alright?”
The Referee confirmed my arrival and asked about my condition.
“Yes.”
I wasn’t alright, but I said I was. If I said otherwise, there was nothing left but to be told to step down.
“…I see.”
Though anyone could see my condition was poor, the Referee acknowledged my resolve and nodded.
With that, we created some distance, and I stared at Yoo Yeon for a moment.
An expressionless face. Pale white skin and long black hair.
All traces of how she’d appeared before were gone.
It was still unexpected. That meek and taciturn one.
‘How did she become Geombong?’
How had she earned the title of First Prodigy and become Hwasan’s rising star?
And also.
‘What did she do?’
She who barely spoke before, now says almost nothing at all.
Why did he lose the ability to speak?
That’s what I’ve been curious about. Honestly, I can’t help but wonder.
But still.
‘I’m too busy and worn out myself.’
The situation was too hectic to waste mental energy on past connections. I was struggling just to keep myself afloat. How could I possibly concern myself with such things?
“Draw your blades.”
At the Referee’s command, Yoo Yeon and I unsheathed our swords.
‘Sigh…’
I grip the blade and exhale. No matter how I look at it, there’s simply no hope.
Even though I defeated Heuk Taedo with relative ease, I have no idea if I’ll win or lose against her, and yet I’m supposed to fight in this condition.
‘I’m truly an idiot.’
I can’t help but laugh at myself for stepping forward so willingly.
It’s the same even now.
‘Despite knowing every reason I should give up.’
Yet here I am, drawing my blade.
I’ve been making choices I never would have made before—choices I’ve grown accustomed to making throughout this ordeal.
It was remarkable. Even by my own assessment.
“Tournament Finals. Hwasan Sect’s Yoo Yeon versus—”
The Referee’s voice rings out.
Where was Yoo Cheon-gil? I didn’t check.
Normally I would have, but since entering the tournament, I haven’t once looked.
“Cheongwol Sect’s Bangseong-yeon.”
Tension rises at the announcement. How much of my strength have I recovered? Not even half.
I will lose.
This match is absolutely lost.
Neither the situation nor my cultivation level nor anything else aligns.
I knew all of this.
“Match begin.”
Clang.
And yet I raised my blade—
“So it’s you.”
“…?”
My head turns. Who is this?
A voice I’ve never heard before. Not the Referee.
As my eyes shift, someone stands between Yoo Yeon and me.
A figure draped in a black windbreaker pulled up over their head.
An abrupt intrusion. The Referee, witnessing this, places a hand on his waist.
“Who—!”
Whoosh—
The startled Referee begins to speak but collapses instead. Blood sprays. The Referee, his neck severed, slowly crumples to the ground.
Time seemed to move slowly.
My perception dulled as well.
But.
Whoosh—!
My body moved of its own accord. I unleashed the sword I’d been holding directly at the Figure, needing to cut him down.
My instincts demanded it.
Screech—!
The Moonlight Sword Intent erupted wildly. Just as I was about to launch the coiled sword energy at the man.
Crack—!
“…!”
Yeon grabbed my wrist and pulled me backward.
As my body moved.
Slip—!
A hand appeared right before my eyes.
A large, weathered hand. Its fingertips grazed my face.
“Hmm.”
The Figure’s gaze shifted toward Yeon.
“You can see it.”
Chills ran down my spine. An inexplicable emotion resonated in that voice.
I would die.
Death itself emanated from his presence.
As my body trembled.
Whoosh—!
A sharp sound rang out, and simultaneously.
쿠아아아아아아아아아—!!!!
Something plummeted before my eyes and shot toward the Figure.
The entire arena shattered as the impact erupted.
Amid the shower of debris, I could make out what had fallen.
‘A spear…?’
It was a spear.
A spear had fallen from the sky.
‘A spear…?’
Seeing the weapon, someone immediately came to mind. Then.
Thud.
Someone descended through the rising debris, grasped the spear, and stood like a wall before the Figure and us.
I widened my eyes at the sight of the Old Man.
Shin Chang, the Divine Spear.
The Martial Arts Alliance Leader and the foremost candidate for the current Heavenly Supreme.
This towering old man seized his spear and positioned himself as a barrier between us and the Figure.
“Are you alright.”
Shin Chang posed the question.
“…Ah, yes….”
My head nodded instinctively at his weighty inquiry.

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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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