The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 345

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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 345
My grandmother once told me never to associate with evil spirits.
They had already crossed a river from which there was no return, trapped by resentment and lingering attachments. Rather than viewing them as mere souls, she said, it was more accurate to see them as calamities themselves.
She instructed me to avoid entanglement with them as much as possible, and if I encountered them, to pretend I hadn’t.
So as a child hearing this, I asked her a question.
‘Then can evil spirits never achieve enlightenment?’
Whether their only end was annihilation. Whether they could never achieve enlightenment like other spirits. At such words, my grandmother wore a bitter smile. She said it wasn’t impossible, but there were far too many things one would need to do to achieve it.
Not the things evil spirits themselves must do, but all the things one would have to do to guide them toward enlightenment.
Because those tasks were so numerous and difficult, she told me not to pursue such a path. That’s what she said back then.
‘How absurd.’
I found her words ridiculous.
‘That’s not something you should say, of all people.’
The very person who worked harder than anyone else in the world to guide evil spirits toward enlightenment.
Yet she was telling her own grandchild not to follow her path.
Not to walk such a difficult road. I understood her intentions well enough.
‘But I’ve always been known for not listening, so I suppose I have my place.’
Grandchildren were beings who grew up not heeding their grandmother’s words, and among them, I held quite a prominent position.
So I didn’t listen.
And I regretted it.
I should have listened to my grandmother.
I should have abandoned that foolish notion of guiding evil spirits toward enlightenment and sending them to better places.
I should have tried harder to avoid entanglement with them.
Elders’ words are meant to be heeded, but I did not.
What a fool I was.
I should have listened to the adults.
Because I didn’t, I ended up regretting it.
Bitterly and repeatedly.
‘Look at that bastard’s expression.’
Amid the cascading debris and the ruined wasteland.
‘Wipe that look off your face, you fool.’
It’s something you only realize after losing someone precious. It’s always been that way.
I only understand things after I’ve lost them.
That’s why I’m such a fool.
“…So.”
I lifted my head.
“This time, I’m going to do something before I lose it.”
A world of murky darkness.
Black sky and black earth.
Even the black water that wrapped around me.
Perched upon it all, I gazed forward.
It’s the same as before. In this ominous world, an enormous evil spirit materializes before me.
Last time there were only a handful, but this time the numbers far exceeded that.
-Kyaaaah… Aaaaah!!
-Kiiiaaaaah!!!
Unlike the remnants from before, these still retained consciousness and continued shrieking.
And.
[Hmm.]
I gazed at the man sitting before me amid those remnants.
[You are only the second to command me.]
Eyes gleaming with intrigue. Crimson irises and pale white skin. I spoke while observing the man whose age was impossible to discern.
“The first would be the old man from the Yoo family, correct?”
[Haha.]
The Celestial Demon.
The being called the sky of the Demonic Cult and the Great Demon Lord laughed at my words.
[You’re perceptive.]
“Yes. I hear that often.”
[Are you curious? About the relationship between me and Yoo Cheon-gil.]
“No. I’d rather not hear about it.”
[Is that so?]
“Yes.”
I recognize that something transpired between the Celestial Demon and Yoo Cheon-gil.
It was different from a simple enmity, and Yoo Cheon-gil’s reaction reflected that as well.
Not simply a hero who vanquished evil.
And not simply evil vanquished by a hero. There’s something more to it. I can sense it clearly.
‘I don’t want to dig into it.’
I had no desire to involve myself in their relationship. It’s obvious just looking at them. Getting caught between these two would be nothing but troublesome.
“So let’s drop that subject.”
[Ha.]
The Celestial Demon laughs at my words.
[So you’re saying you’ll simply use me.]
“You said you’d cover the room fee.”
[This should be sufficient payment for the room?]
Kyaaaaaaah-
The evil spirits wailing behind us. The Celestial Demon gestures toward them, but I merely shrug.
“I’m sorry, but my room fee is more expensive than it appears.”
[Then do you wish me to teach you martial arts like the Sword Saint?]
“…Does it look like I’m eager to learn such things?”
Especially the Celestial Demon’s martial arts? That was madness. If those were demonic arts, learning them would make my position with the righteous sects obvious.
[Then what?]
“I haven’t decided what I want yet, but the room fee is insufficient for now. Besides.”
I pierced through the Celestial Demon’s gaze and spoke.
“The Gyoju also desires something from me, does he not?”
[….]
“Then the price must be reassessed.”
[Haha.]
The Celestial Demon laughed. In that instant.
스아아아아아—!!!
The water trembles. Silence descends upon the evil spirits that had been wailing behind me.
[How amusing.]
Chills ran down my spine. I couldn’t sense any energy. The Celestial Demon had merely laughed, yet.
‘The air itself has changed.’
The atmosphere transformed and the air grew heavy. It was overwhelming. I could feel that the being before me was no mere ghost.
‘The Celestial Demon.’
Master of the Demonic Cult.
And.
‘A soul of Calamity Deity rank.’
Not merely a ghost, but a divine soul. Yoo Cheon-gil was the same, and so was the Celestial Demon before me. Though calling him a Calamity Deity felt insufficient, so simply calling him a Deity would suffice.
‘But still.’
It was ambiguous. There was no sensation of an evil spirit within him. No holiness whatsoever emanated from him.
Only darkness.
Too vague to call it evil, yet darkness fit perfectly.
He was dark. A being of utter darkness.
[What this seat desires from you certainly exists. However.]
Shhhhh.
Ripples form in the water. Without anything touching it, waves flowed toward me. I swallowed hard at the splashing sensation.
[If this seat wills it, anything can be accomplished. Your opinion is unnecessary.]
“….”
At his declaration that he could force me to do anything, I narrowed my eyes.
[This remains true even without a physical body. Shall I demonstrate?]
Kuuuugh.
Black shadows burst forth from the Celestial Demon’s form. Despite the overwhelming presence that engulfed everything, my gaze did not waver. A terrible fear wrapped around my body.
I could tell the being before me was no sage.
However.
“It seems the Gyoju is also under a misunderstanding.”
I did not retreat. I spoke while facing him.
“Why does a ghost already dead act so arrogant?”
[What?]
At my words, the Celestial Demon’s voice changed.
He made no effort to hide his irritation.
“A ghost that died ages ago—why does it strut about so? If you want something, bow and enter humbly. Stop wasting time with pointless pride.”
Whether alive or not, if it’s a ghost—
If it’s already become a spirit, I don’t back down.
Crack.
Black energy surges forth and takes shape, pouring down like a freshly honed blade to pierce my throat.
It stops just before breaking through.
[A warning to me?]
A warning. Speak further and I’ll kill you. One.
“Then who else is here besides you.”
I speak while looking at the blade.
“If you want something, don’t threaten—make a deal. You’re the one mistaken right now.”
Grrrrgh.
I push back the Celestial Demon’s black energy.
Watching that, the Celestial Demon’s eyes widen.
“Have I seen a spirit like you once or twice.”
[Heh.]
Seeing the energy pushed back, the Celestial Demon lets out a hollow laugh. Whatever existence it was in life. How great and magnificent it was. Such things no longer matter now.
No, they probably do matter. The value of a soul is determined by those deeds.
But.
“It’s unnecessary to me.”
The value of such a soul doesn’t matter to me either. What use is there in questioning the dead?
“So don’t be prideful.”
Clench.
I grab the blade in front of me. Pain flares, but I ignore it. I bring it straight toward my throat—
Whoosh.
The energy dissipates before piercing my neck. The Celestial Demon had withdrawn it.
Feeling that, I continued speaking to the Celestial Demon.
“You need me too.”
I’m necessary to you.
“So even if you can’t submit, don’t act arrogantly.”
I spoke with a twisted face. Soon after, the Celestial Demon’s black energy fades and white skin is revealed again.
[You’re confident you won’t die in this place.]
“Hardly.”
Since it’s a spirit dream, I won’t die completely. Only.
“I could go mad.”
My mind could break or I could lose my sanity.
With a spirit of that caliber, such things would be possible.
I knew that well.
[You know and still do this?]
“I won’t just take it either.”
Facing ghosts? I’ve done it until I was sick of it. Whether it’s a Calamity Deity or a higher god above that. I’ve already done mad things with my life on the line.
Living that way, I gained one conviction.
“I’m already mad, so what’s a little more madness? I serve you, Gyoju.”
Splash.
I speak while feeling the moisture.
“I may not know much else, but I don’t bow my head to ghosts.”
If it wasn’t something alive, then nothing could frighten me.
“So if you’re going to do it, do it properly.”
[….]
At my words, the Celestial Demon rests his chin on his hand and stares at me intently.
His gaze is fierce. Looking into those crimson eyes, it felt as though I’d be devoured in an instant.
Not long after.
Whoooosh—!
The energy that had been pouring out vanishes completely. Only then do the evil spirits behind him begin to react.
Kyaaah…!
Just as they were about to scream again, the Celestial Demon waves his hand once more. At the evil spirits right behind him.
Kwaaaaaaaa!!!
Kyaaaa–!!!
The evil spirit shrieks and disappears.
All those countless numbers vanish in an instant.
Yes, vanish.
Not salvation—annihilation.
The Celestial Demon obliterated all those evil spirits with a single gesture.
[Not bad at all.]
Then he lets out a laugh.
[You’re wasted on Yoo Cheon-gil.]
“I don’t really think of myself as belonging to that old man anyway.”
[Don’t waste those eyes and karma on the wrong place.]
Don’t waste it on the wrong place—I never wanted to use it there in the first place.
[You’re better than the leader.]
“…What?”
At those words, I furrow my brow. Better? He spoke with such certainty.
[Hani, you’re the one who should become it.]
“…What are you talking about?”
[What this leader desires of you.]
The Celestial Demon has desires for me. Just as Yoo Cheon-gil did, so would he.
I knew it.
Hearing that, something ominous crosses my mind.
‘…Yoo Cheon-gil told me to become the Heavenly Supreme.’
To stand at the pinnacle of the Central Plains martial world. To become that first. It was absurd, but since it came from someone who was the greatest of all ages, it wasn’t entirely empty words. The problem was.
[What this leader desires isn’t much different from what the Sword Saint wanted.]
It was the Celestial Demon speaking.
“…Similar, you say?”
Similar to what Yoo Cheon-gil desired? As I hesitated at those words, the Celestial Demon spoke as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
[Become the Celestial Demon.]
“Pardon?”
[I shall give you the Demonic Cult and this world.]
That was the turning point.
Whoooooosh–!!
Water surged forth, becoming a massive wave. It transformed into a catastrophic tsunami.
[I’ll hear your answer next time. Right now, you won’t be able to give me the answer I want to hear.]
“What the——!”
Before I could even finish speaking, it crashed down upon me. My consciousness shattered in the violent impact.
And then.
“What utter nonsense…!!”
I spat out the words I couldn’t finish and pushed myself up. Cold sweat drenched my body. I staggered, struggling to regain my balance, when——
“…Huh?”
Something was wrong.
I felt gazes from all directions. When I lifted my head——
“….”
The Hwasan Sect Elders surrounded me, staring down with peculiar expressions.

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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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