The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 382

—————
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 382
A day passed. Morning came.
More precisely, it was that moment between late dawn and sunrise.
“Phew.”
A space prepared at the far left of the Cheongwol Sect. Rather than being formally designated, it was more like an open training ground that the Sowoldae disciples used for voluntary cultivation.
I wiped the sweat from my body as I descended the mountain.
‘This is exhausting.’
After every training session, my body felt stiff and heavy. I had no idea when this muscle soreness would finally disappear.
[That’s the good part.]
As I groaned, Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me.
[The higher your realm and the greater your strength, the less stimulus you receive. External cultivation becomes slower to progress… ]
Yoo Cheon-gil’s blue eyes swept over me.
[Your body hasn’t reached that threshold yet, which means there’s still much room for growth.]
A body that hadn’t reached its limits.
It meant there was still potential to grow stronger through external cultivation.
‘When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound so bad.’
I nodded at his words.
Crack.
I loosened my body slightly. At the same time, I removed the shackles locked around my wrists and ankles.
Boom-!!!
A loud sound echoed as the ground caved in beneath me.
“Ugh…”
How much longer would I have to keep doing this?
‘The weight has increased significantly.’
At first, I trained while wearing sand pouches, but now they were shackles wound with iron spheres. It meant the weight was incomparable to back then.
‘I can’t tell if my body has thickened… ‘
Even with increased muscle, there wasn’t much visible change in my physical appearance.
Was it because I hadn’t been eating well?
My strength increased, yet my build remained the same. Should I be happy about this or not?
‘Anyway, even if my body grew, it wouldn’t match those monsters.’
Growing as large as Yoo Cheon-gil, Paewang, or those giants was simply impossible.
My father was excellent in every external aspect, but he was on the shorter side.
Because of genetics, I also hadn’t grown tall.
In fact, I was even shorter than my older brother and father.
‘Well, I never felt inferior about my height anyway.’
With a good face, I could overlook a lack of height. That’s how I chose to see it.
‘But this becomes a problem when becoming a martial artist… ‘
The length of my limbs. The physical disadvantage that came from it had caused problems in actual combat.
‘Tsk.’
I scratched my head.
It was a chronic problem I’d come to recognize through several real battles.
Of course.
‘Even so.’
When I thought there was no way to resolve it anyway, so I might as well move on.
[Why do you think it cannot be resolved?]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me.
“Pardon?”
What was he talking about?
“Then how exactly can we resolve being short in stature?”
Did this era have something like shoe lifts? Even if it did, fighting while wearing them seemed impossible.
[If you’re short, you simply need to grow taller.]
“…Old Man.”
I immediately looked at Yoo Cheon-gil with a pitying gaze.
“If that were possible, everyone in the Central Plains would be eight feet tall.”
Even modern medicine in my past life couldn’t solve this.
I’d seen things like cutting open leg bones to lengthen them, but.
‘Doing that causes problems with the body.’
There was no way it could be done in this era. At least, it wasn’t in Physician Uiseon’s memories. If Uiseon didn’t know, it was safe to assume the entire Central Plains didn’t know.
“If that’s a joke, I’ll just—”
[Does it sound like a joke to you?]
“….”
I paused and looked at Yoo Cheon-gil. Surprisingly, his expression was sincere.
[Tsk tsk tsk— I told you. You just need to lengthen yourself.]
“…You’re saying there’s a method?”
A method even Physician Uiseon doesn’t know? Really? I stared at him as if asking how such a thing could possibly exist.
[You must have heard of it.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me in the most serious voice.
[Rebirth of Bone and Shedding of Flesh.]
“…!”
My eyes widened at those words.

* * *
Bone Replacement and Fetus Theft.
It’s a fairly renowned term among martial artists.
A physical body that has reached a certain realm. Outstanding inner energy to match it.
And a sudden enlightenment that arrives unexpectedly.
When this trinity converges, a tremendous transformation befalls the martial artist.
Not only does the body itself change, but the vessel containing inner energy also transforms, granting an enormous awakening, or so I’ve heard.
‘I’ve never attempted it myself, so I wouldn’t know.’
I’d heard it was completely different from the Half-Path Return Movement that grants youth.
“…Bone Replacement and Fetus Theft, then….”
Upon hearing Yoo Cheon-gil’s words, I nodded slightly.
‘He spoke of limbs, and now he’s telling me to undergo Bone Replacement and Fetus Theft.’
So this was the method that had presented itself. I found it somewhat absurd.
“That’s not something one can simply do on a whim.”
As I’d recalled earlier, Bone Replacement and Fetus Theft is the realm of dreams for martial artists.
Both the realm and the quantity of inner energy. Even enlightenment tailored to match them must be present to achieve it.
I couldn’t help but think it wouldn’t work just because one desired it.
‘…How should I put it.’
It was peculiar. Because if it were Yoo Cheon-gil, it seemed like he might actually accomplish it.
“Hmm.”
I lifted my gaze into empty space. Yoo Cheon-gil wasn’t currently nearby. He’d disappeared, saying he needed to check on something.
‘…Bone Replacement and Fetus Theft.’
In that interim, I was gathering information about Bone Replacement and Fetus Theft.
From Physician Uiseon’s memories.
‘It’s not a medical matter.’
This was something even Physician Uiseon hadn’t properly grasped yet.
The realm at minimum being transcendent. And the outer energy strengthened to match it, along with the lower and middle dantians existing within.
I had to discern how much inner energy filled those centers.
‘The problem here is.’
Even if all those conditions were satisfied.
‘…That blasted enlightenment.’
The enlightenment that must arrive for a martial artist was something that couldn’t be proven medically.
‘That’s why, even when most had all the conditions met, many failed to undergo Bone Replacement and Fetus Theft because enlightenment wasn’t fulfilled.’
If it was information Physician Uiseon knew.
‘Yet Yoo Cheon-gil is attempting to make me undergo Bone Replacement and Fetus Theft in such circumstances.’
It was incomprehensible.
‘What method could he possibly use.’
I was already afraid. It terrified me more because I couldn’t even predict what he’d do. But the issue here was.
‘…I don’t think it’s impossible.’
I don’t think it’s impossible. It seemed like that old man would succeed no matter what he had to do.
‘I can’t pin him down.’
I’m afraid of what reckless thing he might do, but if Yoo Cheon-gil sets his mind to something, I have faith he’ll succeed.
He’ll accomplish it by any means necessary.
Without a doubt….
‘That’s precisely what makes him so terrifying.’
Sigh….
I wiped away the cold sweat beading on my skin.
‘Right, Yoo Cheon-gil is Yoo Cheon-gil.’
I’ll set that man aside for now and focus on what I need to do. If I kept worrying about him, I’d waste the entire day.
‘So then.’
I rose to my feet. It was high noon.
‘There don’t seem to be any Sowoldae assignments for now.’
This was the perfect moment to handle matters.
‘Going to Bigo without Yoo Cheon-gil is out of the question.’
Visiting Bigo without him seemed too risky, so I’d skip that.
So then.
‘…I should focus on the Dang Clan man and Sochul Daeju instead.’
I’d finish my current training and receive the final lesson from the Sword Emperor at night.
‘Wait, doesn’t that mean I’m just training all day?’
Now that I thought about it, that was true. Yes, that counts as work too.
‘Researching Sword Imagery is important as well.’
But I couldn’t simply ignore those people indefinitely.
‘And there’s also the matter of Baek Yeon and Cheonhye-in….’
I needed to look into that.
‘Hmm. Let me prioritize then-‘
I considered it. It didn’t take long to decide on an order.
‘I’ll handle Cheonhye-in first.’
Between Baek Yeon and Cheonhye-in, it was Cheonhye-in I needed to investigate. And for that….
“I should visit Cheon Euijin.”
I decided to seek out the one person I could trust to have reliable information.

* * *
I found where Cheon Euijin was staying. It was a common quarters for disciples, and Cheon Euijin was in the training grounds within.
Whoooosh—!!! Shwack—!!
A blade moving swiftly back and forth. Azure sword energy traced through the empty air.
Nimble and precise.
Cheon Euijin continued creating sword forms, his blue eyes gleaming with focus.
I observed his refined swordwork intently.
‘Impressive…’
He’d improved considerably. It had only been a few days since I last saw him, yet his progress was steep.
Remarkable. As always, both Do-hyeong and Cheon Euijin were putting in serious effort.
I was watching quietly when—
“Ah.”
I realized I shouldn’t keep observing.
“Over here, Young Master Cheon—”
Thud—!
At my call, Cheon Euijin stopped his movements instantly. He turned to face me, maintaining somewhat labored breathing.
“Ah, Bang Disciple.”
“My apologies for the interruption. Do you have a moment?”
“Of course…!”
Cheon Euijin smiled brightly and sheathed his sword.
“What brings you here?”
“Ah, I came to ask you something.”
Before he could respond, I chuckled and spoke.
“You’ve become quite formidable.”
“Eh? Haha, not at all…”
Cheon Euijin scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.
“…I’m still far behind you, Bang Disciple.”
“You seem quite considerable for someone saying that.”
“Thank you…”
“When are you planning to enter Sowoldae?”
“Ah.”
Cheon Euijin hesitated at my question. Since he had opened Wol-an, he now qualified to take the Sowoldae entrance examination.
“…I’m planning to attempt it soon, but…”
“I see…”
So he does intend to enter.
“I judged myself still lacking, so I planned to refine my skills further.”
I could sense the determination in his eyes. It seemed he wasn’t yet satisfied with himself.
“That’s a good approach.”
I understood his resolve. It wasn’t my place to say otherwise.
“Thank you. Ah, so what you wanted to ask me was…?”
“Ah, no, it’s not that. I actually had a question about the Heavenly Supreme.”
“…About my sister?”
The moment I mentioned Cheonhye-in, Cheon Euijin’s expression hardened rapidly. It seemed their relationship was still strained.
“Yes. If it’s uncomfortable, you don’t have to answer.”
“…No, it’s fine. If it’s a question from Bang Disciple, I can answer anything.”
With that kind of resolve, it seems like I should be the one declining…
Anyway…
“Then, it’s nothing special, but… I was wondering if the Heavenly Supreme has any close seniors.”
“…Seniors?”
“Yes. For example, like Elder Jin or people in that position.”
“Ah.”
Cheon Euijin fell into thought.
“From what I know, she seems to have a relationship with Sochul Daeju.”
“Ah… I already knew that.”
I could skip over Sochul Daeju—that man had already come over to my side long ago.
“…If it’s not the Daeju… then… hmm…”
Cheon Euijin pondered briefly again.
“Ah.”
His eyes widened as if he’d remembered something.
“Now that I think about it—”
Just as he was about to speak.
Thud.
“…Wait a moment.”
I quickly covered his mouth.
“Huh? Bang Disciple. Why…”
Why stop him from speaking? Cheon Euijin spoke with confusion, but soon his eyes widened as well.
“Oh.”
“Someone’s coming.”
I felt an incredibly fast presence nearby.
The target was here. Something was rushing toward us at tremendous speed.
After a brief moment.
Boom—!!!
The door of the empty training ground burst wide open with a tremendous sound.
“Hm.”
As the training ground’s door opened, someone appeared. It was a young man with dark black hair and blue eyes.
‘…Who is this?’
What is this guy? Seeing the man who suddenly appeared, I frowned.
“…Huh?”
Cheon Euijin’s reaction to seeing him was different from mine.
“…Bro… Brother?”
“An elder brother?”
An elder brother? The moment Cheon Euijin spoke those words and I turned to look at the Young Man again.
“I see.”
The Young Man suddenly nodded as he gazed at me.
Shwing—! Whoooosh—!!!
“…!!!”
Suddenly, a torrent of sword energy poured forth before my eyes.
Carrying with it an ancient, overwhelming killing intent.

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