The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 461

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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 461
Something felt wrong. I sensed it as I observed my soul. What was this?
‘Why?’
Even with the chains in place, energy was leaking out. It was strange. What was happening?
‘This shouldn’t be occurring.’
My soul was vicious and greedy. There was something that made the ghosts perceive it that way.
Without my grandmother’s care in childhood, I would have long since been corrupted by evil spirits and deities alike, beyond redemption.
It was only when I finally gained the ability to harness my soul and talent that I felt even a faint sense of relief.
Despising that, in this life I personally locked it away with chains. The cost was considerable, but what could I do? I had to forcibly bind it to live a peaceful existence.
Yet.
‘It’s leaking out.’
Despite clearly relocking the chains, energy was still seeping through. This shouldn’t be happening.
Thinking of the evil spirits that would rush toward this scent made my skin crawl. What was the problem? I had to contain this energy somehow. Otherwise.
‘I’m finished.’
It wouldn’t end with just evil spirits—I could summon those above them as well. As I considered how to seal this again.
‘…But.’
Something was even stranger.
‘The energy is clearly leaking out.’
Yet it wasn’t escaping beyond my body. This was peculiar.
‘It’s circulating within my body.’
Similar to inner energy. Qi moving through my body, beginning to seep into my flesh. And it was circulating slowly through the meridians—
‘The spiritual energy from my soul is mixing together as it flows.’
What was happening?
My body felt lighter somehow. The energy flowing from my soul was wrapping around my skin. What was this?
‘Could it be.’
A memory surfaced. That thing Yoo Cheon-gil said he gave me. Was this it?
‘Is it possible for soul and energy to mix?’
I didn’t know. But right now, this was the only thing that came to mind.
“…What difference does it make?”
If it were merely this, nothing would change. I could only hope this energy wouldn’t influence the ghosts. If it did, the losses would far outweigh the gains.
“I still can’t tell yet.”
Since the energy wasn’t leaking beyond my body, the odds were even. Thinking of that, I turned away.
“Let’s head down for now.”
The chains were set. With that thought, I chose to return to the Sega.

* * *
The entire descent required careful attention. I moved while monitoring the reactions of the ghosts around me, but fortunately, they showed no response to my presence.
If anyone had reacted, it would have been one person.
[Something has changed.]
It was the Celestial Demon. Bound at my waist, he spoke to me in a quiet voice.
‘Can you feel it?’
[Faintly, yes.]
The Celestial Demon close to me had sensed something.
‘Do you understand what state this is?’
[What do you mean?]
‘The essence of the soul is circulating through the body like inner qi.’
[What is the problem with that?]
‘…Pardon?’
What problem could there be?
‘Isn’t that strange?’
[What is strange about it? It is merely qi, after all.]
‘Soul essence and inner qi are fundamentally different in many ways. They cannot be treated as the same.’
How could they be the same? Spirit essence cannot be wielded like inner qi.
I spoke as though stating the obvious.
[Why not?]
The Celestial Demon instead questioned me in return.
What?
‘What do you mean why….’
[Since when have you believed spirit essence cannot be used like inner qi?]
‘What are you saying?’
My eyes widened at the Celestial Demon’s words. What did this mean? According to the Celestial Demon.
‘You’re saying spirit essence can be wielded like inner qi?’
[Did I not say they are not greatly different? It is ultimately merely qi.]
‘…How could that be….’
[Rather, this is what is strange.]
The Celestial Demon continued, as if I was the one who failed to understand.
[By blocking spirit essence so thoroughly, you are merely wasting your own talent.]
‘What do you mean?’
My talent?
[Qi must flow without obstruction. By artificially blocking it, you are forcibly sealing off one crucial aspect.]
Uuuuung. The divine sword trembled softly.
[You have merely been blocking your own path.]
“….”
Me?
My eyes narrowed. By blocking spirit essence, I had been restricting something—my own potential?
“What was I blocking?”
I couldn’t say for certain. But if the Celestial Demon’s words were true….
‘Something has definitely changed.’
It meant Yoo Cheon-gil had intentionally done this.
‘I can use spiritual energy like a wager.’
I needed to focus on that aspect too. I hadn’t known such a thing was possible.
‘But there’s something I don’t understand.’
[What is it.]
I asked the Celestial Demon.
‘If spiritual energy is flowing out freely like that, wouldn’t other ghosts bother me constantly? Is it really fine to go around without blocking this?’
[What’s the problem with that?]
‘Pardon?’
The Celestial Demon still didn’t seem to understand my concern, and then spoke.
[Why would you fear being bothered by mere Evil Spirits.]
Saying so, laughter mixed into the voice.
[If they bother you, simply devour them all.]
‘….’
Ah, I see.
That’s when I realized I had chosen the wrong entity to consult. I had momentarily forgotten that the being I was conversing with was no ordinary human.
‘…Devour them all, you say.’
It didn’t seem to be about attaining enlightenment. I didn’t particularly want to ask further.
‘Anyway-‘
This change in energy meant something had definitely shifted.
‘What exactly changed,’
I’d have to go see for myself.
“Oh, Young Master.”
Returning to the Bang estate, Chongwan greeted me. He happened to be sweeping at the time.
“Welcome back.”
“You’re back. Did you finish all your important business?”
“More or less.”
I smiled faintly and stepped inside. The moment I entered.
A low hum.
“….”
What’s this? I narrowed my eyes. Something felt strange. Something….
‘I’m sensing something.’
My spiritual perception felt more developed than usual. An odd floral scent reached me. This was….
‘Could it be?’
With a hunch, I ventured deeper inside. The location was the only rest room in the Bang estate. I entered and opened the door.
Creak. The old, damaged door opened slightly with a rough sound. A distinctive musty smell wafted out as the interior came into view.
“….”
There was someone inside. This floral scent—it was indeed the fragrance that emanated from this place. I regarded my counterpart, drawn by the familiar aroma.
“I didn’t realize Moryong Sojeo would be here.”
“I told you I was coming.”
Muyong Youngsoon. She was seated in the rest pavilion. The problem was.
“What are you doing here?”
The person sitting across from her was Yoo Yeon. Yoo Yeon sat before Muyong Youngsoon with her characteristic impassive expression.
What kind of pairing was this? It was an unfamiliar combination by any measure.
‘Why.’
Were these two together? And separately at that. It was a sight I couldn’t comprehend.
“We were simply having a conversation. We’re quite close, in our own way.”
“You two are close?”
What was she talking about? Since when were they like this? Even as children, I didn’t recall them conversing so freely.
“Bang Disciple doesn’t know everything about us.”
Muyong Youngsoon spoke without looking at me. The thorns woven into her words ran subtly deep.
She was sulking.
“…Ah, I see.”
That was fair. Then I looked at Yoo Yeon and asked.
“Are you close?”
“…”
Muyong Youngsoon was the type who could claim closeness regardless, but Yoo Yeon was different, so I directed the question to her.
At my words, Yoo Yeon stared at me intently. What kind of gaze was that? It was difficult to read. Then she gave a slight nod.
It was affirmation.
‘…If Yoo Yeon says so.’
Then it must be true.
I decided to accept it as such.
“Then, go ahead and continue your conversation.”
“…Are you leaving?”
“Yes. You were in the middle of your discussion, weren’t you?”
“…That is…”
Muyong Youngsoon began to speak but bit her lip instead. Having already said what she’d said, there seemed to be nothing more she could do.
“Sigh…”
Then she exhaled a long breath.
“…Still, I have something to attend to before I go, so wait a moment.”
“Something to attend to?”
What business could that be? As I wondered if there was something else left for me, she withdrew something from her bosom and handed it to me. It was a letter. A letter, but.
‘…This is.’
The seal imprinted on the letter was the problem. The Moyong family crest. More specifically, the seal that only the Lord of the Clan could use.
“The Lord of the Clan instructed me to deliver this letter to you.”
“…You mean Baekwang?”
I had to accept this. I took the letter from Muyong Youngsoon’s hands.
“Yes. He told me to open it when I’m alone if possible.”
“Please tell him I received it well.”
“….”
Muyong Youngsoon’s lips trembled slightly. It seemed she had more to say.
“It’s getting late. I hope you’ll be careful going in.”
I cut off Muyong Youngsoon’s words.
“If you want to talk with Yoo Yeon, there’s no need to rush. Feel free to stay as long as you’d like.”
“…Bang Disciple.”
“Yes.”
“….”
If you have something to say, say it. At that look, Muyong Youngsoon exhaled softly.
“It’s nothing. Please be careful going in.”
“Understood.”
I turned my back and closed the door, then gently rubbed my brow bone with my hand.
‘This isn’t easy.’
Nothing about this is easy. Everything, really.
I intended to head outside. There was an unsettled feeling, but I wanted to understand the changes in my body better.
Then.
“Hmm? You just arrived?”
I encountered Eunwol Sword on the way. He appeared to be just coming in from outside.
“Where have you been?”
“I was touring Hyeon for a bit. There was a lot to see.”
To prove it, Eunwol Sword’s hands were full of various items. Why did he buy all that?
“Want me to give you some, junior?”
“No thanks. I’m not very hungry. Oh.”
As I declined, I suddenly remembered a favor to ask him.
“Senior.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s nothing major, but I have a request.”
“Even if it’s something, let me hear it. If it’s interesting, I’ll—”
“Would you spar with me?”
“Right now?”
Thud thud thud.
Eunwol Sword dropped everything he was holding. Insane. Why would he throw that away?
“Let’s do it now. This should be fun.”
“….”
His expression showed he had never cared about food in the first place. This man was definitely not normal either.
Still.
“Yes. Let’s do it.”
That made it easier, actually.

* * *
We stood side by side, swords in hand. The moon had risen over the flat terrain of the back hill.
“It’s been a while. Our last match was a few months ago, wasn’t it?”
“….”
“It’s been a while. It’s been a few months since we last fought.”
“….”
Back when the Cheongwol Sect held that competition for the position of Deputy Sect Leader. Was that when we last fought? If so, considerable time had passed.
“What’s gotten into you? You refused every time I asked for a match before.”
“…I think I’ve gained something like an enlightenment recently.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
Eunwol Sword smiled and raised his blade.
As his sword pointed toward me, his expression shifted.
“I look forward to it.”
“….”
“What’s going on? You kept begging me to spar with you, but you absolutely refused.”
“…Lately, it seems like I’ve gained something similar to enlightenment.”
“Oh? Really?”
Eunwol draws his sword with a smile.
As the sword’s tip pointed toward me, his expression changed.
I’m looking forward to it.
Without a word, I aimed my divine sword at him.
There was no discussion of who would strike first. In the quiet flow of time.
Chirrrp.
A cricket’s cry shattered the silence. At that signal, we both moved.
Different moonlight erupted from each of our blades.

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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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