The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 509

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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 509
There was still time before the assembly hall would open.
The disciples gathering now were those arriving at an earlier hour.
Heuk Taedo and the others were the same.
So Cheon Rijin-an was asking me this.
Whether I would leave after the assembly hall concluded.
Or head straight to the Divine Stronghold.
-Tell me once you’ve decided.
I pondered at his urging. What should I do? Truthfully, there was no need to deliberate.
I had already reached a conclusion, yet I found myself thinking further.
‘Which one.’
Which would be more efficient? Was there any real benefit to remaining here at the assembly hall?
I couldn’t think of any.
I shook my head vaguely. No matter how I looked at it, there was none.
There was no reason whatsoever to stay in this place.
Clang.
With that thought, I drew my blade. My divine sword emerged into the open.
The sword’s edge, which had been swaying slightly in the breeze, suddenly stilled.
Time flowed in silence.
A falling leaf suspended itself in midair.
What had been flowing slowly froze in place.
Or rather, it felt as though it had frozen. Crackle.
I drew upon Wol Cheon and refined the Moonlight Sword Scripture.
The sword force changed steadily, maintaining its flow. I focused on gradually refining the roughness of the Moonlight Sword Scripture.
That had been my recent training.
It wasn’t as if Yoo Cheon-gil had instructed me to do so. It had already been several months since he stopped teaching me.
This was entirely of my own volition.
‘This.’
A sense that this felt right.
Rough and sharp. Moreover, violent power possesses explosive destructive force, but.
‘It doesn’t suit me.’
It doesn’t fit me. When I touched divine sword unity and my body moved faster than expected—I learned this truth the moment I reached that point.
Yoo Cheon-gil’s martial arts are supreme, yet they don’t seem to suit me.
So I needed to change my training method.
This is what I’ve been doing throughout that time.
‘Refining and refining again.’
No matter how many times, it didn’t matter. I continued to refine my power.
My qi reserves are not insignificant. My peers aren’t even comparable, and when I’ve observed martial artists of the same realm.
‘I have quite a lot.’
I acknowledged that my qi quantity was abundant, and objective judgment confirmed it as well.
However.
‘The martial arts of Cheongwol Sect—specifically Yoo Cheon-gil’s martial arts—consume far too much energy.’
The Cheongwol Divine Art and Cheongwol Sword Dance both expended excessive amounts of inner force. They unleashed tremendous destructive power in return.
‘But if I ask whether it suits the body… well?’
Yesterday’s sparring session with Mee Yeon-hwa reminded me once more.
It was a question about whether martial arts that didn’t align with one’s body could truly produce proper power.
Whoooosh—
As I entered a state of perfect focus, I simultaneously adjusted my sword force. The rate at which my energy drained slowed.
A specific amount. Never exceeding the predetermined threshold.
Maintaining that balance, I moved my body.
Swish—
My speed decreased. It didn’t matter. There was nothing to gain from moving faster.
Now I was building proficiency.
Swish. Swish—!
I poured complete concentration into each movement. I tried to continue the sword path and execute the martial art as intended, but.
Crack—!
“…Tsk.”
My energy severed.
It wasn’t working as I wished. This was the countless time. When I reduced the amount of energy, maintaining the sword path became difficult.
‘Is this not it?’
I furrowed my brow. I had thought it would work at least somewhat, but no matter how many times I tried, I couldn’t grasp the feeling.
What was the problem? When I reduced my energy, the martial art wouldn’t activate at all.
Was there perhaps a minimum amount I had to use?
Swish—
I spun the divine sword several times and loosened my body again. It was a habit I fell into whenever I was troubled.
[Ugh. Boring.]
The woman embedded in the short sword muttered.
[Are you just going to keep training with the sword? Go meet some women too.]
I let out a hollow laugh at that. Where would I find time for such things? This was absurd.
“Be quiet. You’re distracting me.”
[Hmph.]
Should I try again? I still had inner force remaining. Since this was practice in conserving energy, the depletion rate was slow.
In the past, using Wol Cheon would have exhausted it quickly, but that wasn’t the case now.
My inner force had increased, and my skill in controlling this aspect had become more refined.
So I believed the sword path would be the same.
‘Again.’
Once more, I steadied my mind and tried to move my sword, when.
[What’s your intention in reducing your energy?]
The Celestial Demon asked me.
‘My intention?’
[An attempt to deliberately reduce one’s energy to continue the sword path.]
‘The amount of dissipating energy seems excessive and doesn’t suit me.’
In actual combat, I lack the stamina to sustain a prolonged engagement.
The destructive nature simply doesn’t align with my body’s disposition.
[Hmm….]
The Celestial Demon’s response to my words was lukewarm. What was that reaction?
‘Why? Is something amiss?’
[Well. Half seems right and half seems wrong…. But it doesn’t seem worth explaining.]
‘Pardon?’
[For now, focus on your cultivation. If that is your sword, I have nothing more to say.]
What a frustrating answer. Why bother starting to explain if you’re going to leave it at that?
This is absurd.
‘Still.’
Half was correct, wasn’t it? I don’t know if the Celestial Demon’s words were the truth.
But at least.
‘I can do what needs to be done.’
There’s no problem in wielding the sword. In the past, if Yoo Cheon-gil said it was wrong, I wouldn’t have done it.
But now it was different. For some reason, I felt compelled to continue.
‘In this way.’
Where would it lead? I found myself oddly anticipating where the sword’s path would end. I must be mad. This wasn’t the kind of thought I should have been entertaining.
“Hmm.”
What should I do to find my footing?
As I continued pondering this.
[However.]
The Celestial Demon broke the silence and spoke again.
[Those who are specialists in this field would know.]
“Pardon?”
[I have no counsel to offer you. Perhaps Yoo Cheon-gil is no different. But if it’s that person, I know someone who could advise you.]
“Advice?”
For me? Is there really someone capable of offering such guidance?
As I stood bewildered.
[You would know of him as well. If you seek a refined sword, there is no one superior to him.]
Who could he possibly mean? I couldn’t quite recall.
[The Sword Emperor.]
“What?”
[Seek him out.]
A familiar epithet reached my ears.

* * *
The last time I saw the Sword Emperor was before heading to Yeolyeong.
He had said he wouldn’t come with me, that he had his own matters to attend to and needed to stay behind.
After saying that, several months passed, and the Sword Emperor had returned to Hannam.
Finding him wasn’t difficult. After all, he maintained quarters at the main sect.
Whinnnnny—!
The sound of horses came from the stables. That’s where I found the Sword Emperor.
“Greetings.”
“….”
The Sword Emperor stared intently at me as I approached. The old man appeared listless, yet his aura remained unchanged.
‘…Sharp.’
Perhaps because of the current circumstances, I sensed something faintly.
A murderous edge. Something.
‘It feels like facing a blade.’
A finely honed sword. I could feel that energy emanating from the Sword Emperor.
Tension rose within me. I felt my throat tighten involuntarily. Then.
Shiiing.
‘…!’
Startled by the sudden sharpness I felt, I stumbled backward. Without thinking, I nearly drew the Divine Sword.
The blade gripped in my hand. Before I could even register my own reflexive action.
“Hmm.”
The Sword Emperor nodded and spoke.
“You’ve gained enlightenment.”
“….”
Was that a test? Cold sweat trickled down my sideburns. I could feel beads of perspiration forming on my forehead.
The Celestial Demon. I seemed to have glimpsed that level.
“Only a few months have passed. You’ve climbed to a peculiar height in our absence.”
“…I’ve done my best.”
“Have you reached Divine Sword Unity?”
“…To some degree?”
I gave an ambiguous answer. After all, I hadn’t achieved it perfectly.
The Sword Emperor nodded at my response.
“Well done.”
“….”
It sounded like praise I’d never heard before. Surprising. That old man actually praised me.
“What did you come to ask?”
Then came the main point. The praise was merely something he’d uttered in passing. Right, I shouldn’t expect much from the Sword Emperor.
“I have something I’d like to ask you about.”
“What is it.”
“I’ve been training my sword recently. I’m practicing a somewhat refined energy, but…I can’t seem to find the answer.”
“A refined blade?”
Seeing that my explanation required clarification, I drew my sword. I unsheathed the divine blade and immediately unleashed my sword force.
Whoooosh. After manifesting Radiant Moon Blade Technique, I cast Wol Cheon.
I made the energy flow throughout my entire body, then refined the rough edges of the Radiant Moon Blade Technique.
I gradually reduced and refined it. As if determined to perfect it with meticulous care.
The sword force I had barely managed to reduce.
The Sword Emperor’s eyes narrowed as he observed it.
“If you continue down this path of sword technique here… it will soon unravel.”
“…Hmm.”
The Sword Emperor stared at it intently. Then suddenly, he stepped into the stable interior and returned with a single staff.
“You said a refined blade.”
“Yes.”
“Your direction and the very order of pursuit are wrong.”
“Pardon?”
As I wondered what he meant, the Sword Emperor took a single step forward.
The distance between us narrowed in an instant. Immediately after, the staff came flying.
With startled eyes, I tried to move my blade to meet it.
Crack-!!!
“…Ugh!”
Our blades clashed and bounced apart. My sword force was instantly crushed.
Yet the Sword Emperor’s staff remained unscathed. The form of his energy was completely preserved.
An unwavering, flawless resonance. This was the direction I had been pursuing for my sword force.
Maintaining full power while using only efficient energy for the resonance.
That blade belonged to the Sword Emperor.
“Do you believe this blade is efficient?”
“…Surely it must be, would it not?”
“That very mindset is flawed.”
“Pardon?”
Inefficient? What do you mean? I looked at him in confusion.
“The very notion of using energy efficiently is a flawed perspective. This blade is not about efficiency. It is simply refined.”
“…I do not understand what you mean.”
“Your concern lies in how to transform a blade focused solely on destructive power, yet efficiency does not exist in that pursuit.”
Ssssshhhhh-!!!
The Sword Emperor’s sword force changed strangely. What had been smooth moments before now trembled wildly. Like flames burning fiercely.
“Using less energy is a futile endeavor. What matters is whether you can compress and condense vast amounts without any leakage, or whether you cannot.”
“…Compression and condensation.”
“Refining and compressing small amounts cannot increase strength. Look at the essence.”
“…”
The Celestial Demon’s words, that I was half wrong, came to mind.
Was the very pursuit of lesser amounts the problem itself?
If that’s the case, refining the destructive force should be fine.
‘So he’s telling me to focus on increasing the quantity and compressing it?’
My vacant eyes suddenly gleamed with realization.
At those words, I immediately unleashed the Moonlight Sword Force.
Shiiiiing—!!! The same as always. No, I had actually channeled far more energy than usual.
‘Now I’ll refine it.’
I poured strength into my hands, tempering the energy.
It was grueling. My veins bulged against my skin. Trying to refine such immense energy made me want to laugh bitterly.
But I endured it, refining the force however I could.
Gradually the energy diminished, and the form of the sword force solidified.
“Ah.”
I gazed in admiration. The sword force was far brighter and more compact than before.
The principle was simpler than I had thought.
“…Sword Emperor. Thank you.”
“…”
When I expressed my gratitude sincerely, the Sword Emperor’s expression became rather peculiar.
Why? What was with that look?
“…I didn’t expect you to accomplish it on the first try?”
“…Pardon?”
“Well done…”
He whispered quietly and turned away.
There was something almost bashful about his demeanor.
Crackle—!
“Ugh!”
The sword force I had painstakingly gathered dissipated instantly as my concentration wavered.
“Hah.”
I would need practice. Such a thought crossed my mind.
“…But I did gain something.”
I had grasped the direction to elevate my realm.
Feeling that, my eyes shone with determination.

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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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