The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 535

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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 535
Sizzzzzzle-!!!
An anomaly occurred. As I tried to enter the Dragon Demon Cave, my body was blocked right at the entrance. What in blazes is this?
“…Wol-hyeop?”
“What…?”
Seeing me unable to enter, everyone flinched.
“What are you doing?”
The Sword Emperor asked, looking at me.
“I’m wondering the same thing, sir.”
I was more curious about the cause than anyone else. Why is this happening?
I stepped back slightly. I examined my smoking hand. I hadn’t suffered any burns.
‘What is this?’
I reached out my hand again.
Sizzzzzzle-!!!
It was certain. It seemed that crossing some invisible line triggered this phenomenon. The pain….
‘It’s hot.’
Like plunging my hand into flames. Not painfully enough to kill me, but definitely an irritating sensation.
“What is this?”
Why was this happening? As I stared at it in bewilderment.
[Ah.]
The previous owner of this place appeared from within.
[Right. I had forgotten about that.]
‘What? What did you forget this time?’
This felt ominous. When this man forgot something, it was always something major. What could it be this time? I swallowed hard and waited.
[If you possess the profound techniques of the Cheongwol Sect, you will not be able to pass through. I set up a formation barrier, so it’s impossible without deactivating it.]
‘…You set up something like that?’
[Normally you should have been incinerated upon contact, but perhaps it’s because you possess karmic flames? Your resistance to the formation is remarkable. You’re truly suited to be the Celestial Demon.]
How thoughtful of you to say.
I clutched my head.
‘Damn it all.’
It seemed there was still something to resolve before entering.

* * *
Those who have mastered the Cheonwol Sect’s profound techniques cannot enter the Dragon’s Lair.
Contrary to that claim, my body burned as it failed to pass through the entrance.
Bewildered, I spoke to the Celestial Demon.
“Why would you set up something like that?”
Was this man insane? Could one even construct such a formation? It was absurd.
[It was done in the distant past. It was the sort of measure one might take during times of war.]
“Then why specifically target only those with Cheonwol Sect training? Why not just bar anyone without Magi?”
[Do you think such a thing would be possible? Formation techniques have their limits. And there was no need to go to such lengths.]
“Why?”
[The only threat to me was the Sword Saint Yoo Cheon-gil.]
“….”
Kya ha ha ha.
That large old man laughing in such a manner suddenly came to mind, then vanished. Damn it.
“So what do we do?”
I separated from my companions for a moment to speak with the Celestial Demon. When I said I needed time to think, he mercifully stepped aside.
“We have to get in somehow. Isn’t there a way?”
[There are several methods.]
Oh. This was welcome news. Right, if the Celestial Demon set the formation, there must be a way to dispel it.
[First.]
“First.”
[Sever the barrier with a power stronger than what I used to create it.]
“Rejected.”
[Why?]
“Why? What do you mean why, you crazy man?”
Did he not realize he was one of the strongest candidates for the Heavenly Supreme? It was bewildering that he would suggest it so casually.
Wait, no? As I thought about it, there was one person.
“Could the Sword Emperor cut through it instead?”
[That won’t work.]
“Why not?”
[The Sword Emperor lacks the Cheonwol Sect’s profound techniques, so he wouldn’t qualify in the first place. This formation only affects those of you.]
“Damn. What about the second method?”
[Close your dantian to erase the Cheonwol Heart Technique and pass through.]
“Rejected….”
[Hmm. A pity.]
“A pity my ass.”
There’s nothing to pity here. What are you pitying? If I abandon my dantian, what am I supposed to do going forward?
“Third… Let me hear the third method.”
Since the first two were hopeless, I wanted to hear what came after.
[If you do, it will be the last one.]
This was my last chance. I perked up my ears to listen intently.
[Dismantle the formation. Then you can enter.]
“….”
The most straightforward and simple method had been presented.
“…How is that different from what you said earlier about cutting through it with force?”
[It’s different. Dismantling a formation through brute force and erasing it by understanding the incantation are fundamentally different approaches.]
That was true. Solving a problem and burning the problem book because you hate the problem were indeed different matters.
“Fine. Let’s go with that. There won’t be any issues with disassembling it here, right?”
[No. It wasn’t prepared as a barrier formation in the first place.]
“…Then why did you set it up?”
[To mess with Yoo Cheon-gil.]
“….”
[It didn’t work out in the end, though. Tsk, tsk, tsk.]
This old man was clearly not normal. Actually, I knew he wasn’t normal, but he was far more insane than I’d thought.

* * *
Anyway, the plan was set. I would dismantle the formation and enter. There was no other way.
“…Is it alright?”
Paeng Dojin asked me as if wondering if there was a problem. I shook my head at his words.
“It’s fine.”
It should be fine. Probably.
“Sigh.”
So how was I supposed to dismantle this from now on…?
This part would need to be figured out going forward.
‘What should I do?’
I was ignorant about formations. I had no knowledge in that field.
[We can’t dismantle it from here. The source is inside, but since we can’t enter, we’ll have to solve it from the outside.]
As the Celestial Demon spoke, he pointed to a location. I moved toward it.
A space some distance from the wall. I entered the forest near the mountain range and examined something.
[You won’t see it with ordinary eyes. Have you opened your Heavenly Eye?]
‘What’s that?’
[You haven’t. Since you haven’t entered the realm of inner vision, that’s all there is to it.]
‘…Are you mocking me?’
[Mock you? There’s nothing to mock. The fact that you’ve already entered the Divine Sword Unity itself is already beyond the norm. What else is there?]
‘Eyes, then….’
If it was about eyes, I had only one. I focused my gaze. I opened Wol-an.
My vision became clear.
[Do you see something?]
‘Yes.’
I could see it. Though faint, I could see cracks in the distorted void.
‘Is that it?’
[I can’t share your vision, so I can’t be certain, but it’s likely. What does it look like?]
‘It’s distorted. It looks like something tangled in a whirlwind.’
[…Interesting.]
The Celestial Demon responds with intrigue to my words. Why?
[To perceive even the distortion itself. You have more talent than I expected. Is it the blood of Cheon Rijin-an flowing through you?]
‘…Why? Is it strange to perceive this much?’
[Grasping the form of a formation array itself demonstrates talent. But to perceive the distortion beyond merely seeing it—that speaks of considerable ability.]
‘That’s welcome news to hear.’
At least the chances of breaking it free have increased, haven’t they?
‘So, what should I do now?’
[Draw closer to the fissure.]
I moved forward, approaching the fissure. As mentioned before, the swirling form becomes visible. As I draw nearer, it becomes clearer.
Looking at this, something else appears before me. What is this?
‘Lines?’
Lines stacked upon one another. Should I call it spiritual energy? During my time at the Sect, I had studied formation arrays to some degree. Though I’d only dipped my toes in the waters, so to speak.
But.
‘This feels different.’
Formation arrays are ultimately illusions. They create spatial discord and use spiritual energy to construct the framework. The skill of the array master determines how effectively they can deceive the eye.
However.
‘The formation array created by the Celestial Demon actually causes harm.’
A formation that damages only those possessing the inner cultivation of the Cheonwol Sect? Something felt off about that.
‘This is…’
[The method of dissolution is-]
“You used spiritual essence.”
[….]
The Celestial Demon hesitates briefly at my words. Ignoring his reaction, I analyzed the state of the formation array.
The material of the stacked lines is both demonic energy and spiritual essence. It wasn’t constructed from mere inner force alone.
‘What is this?’
It was a formation array of a type I’d never seen before.
[Your perception is swift.]
“It’s a familiar energy. This isn’t a simple formation array, is it? What exactly is this?”
[You’re correct. This is a technique passed down through generations in the Demonic Sect. It differs from what ordinary practitioners use. It weaves spiritual essence to induce anomalous phenomena.]
“…Can that even be called a formation array?”
[Perhaps. The first Celestial Demon classified it as such.]
“So you didn’t create it yourself?”
[I attempted modifications, but not the original creation.]
“…I see.”
This is….
‘No matter how I look at it, “sorcery” fits better than “formation array.”‘
I can say this because I have memories from my past life. Though truthfully, it stopped making sense the moment a human body started splitting the heavens and shattering mountains.
This formation’s appearance is so extraordinary that calling it magic wouldn’t be unreasonable.
Or I could think of it as some kind of superpower or something like that.
Either way, it meant possessing power of that magnitude.
Moreover.
‘If it’s soul essence…’
Regarding this soul essence, I had my own insights. Something moved my hands instinctively.
[…You haven’t explained the method to dispel it yet, have you?]
The Celestial Demon said something, but my hands were already moving.
Looking closely, the lines were composed of incomprehensible patterns. My eyes focused on them. They flowed slowly according to certain rules.
Layer upon layer. Stacked without interruption. Simultaneously woven and interlaced, I gazed at the threads and touched one spot lightly.
Whoosh.
Karmic flames ignited. It wasn’t just a casual touch. I infused soul essence into my fingertips and pushed ever so slightly.
That was when.
Twang—
A sound rang out. A small vibration spread. Wind blew softly and the surroundings resonated.
Uuuung—.
I turned my head. Something emanated from the Maryong Cave like the tolling of a bell. Seeing this.
‘Something is disappearing.’
I could see a barrier-like thing vanishing. It was a semi-transparent membrane.
Is that it? The formation the Celestial Demon mentioned?
The fact that it’s disappearing means.
“Oh, what?”
I dispelled it? This easily? I had no idea it would be this simple.
I stared at it in wonder.
[Heh.]
The Celestial Demon let out a hollow laugh.
[…This is absurd.]
“It worked, right?”
[Yes. It worked. Is the blood of Cheon Rijin-an truly this potent…? Or is it simply innate talent? Even accounting for the Jegal clan’s bloodline, this defies explanation.]
“Why? Is there a problem?”
[No. It’s simply that I’ve felt a true wall for the first time in ages. It’s only a shame you lack formal training. Go now. The formation has been dispelled.]
What was he going on about? This old man certainly had a talent for speaking in riddles.
Anyway, the formation was dispelled, right?
‘Since it’s resolved, let’s go inside.’
The path to the Demonic Sect lay open.
I headed forward without hesitation.

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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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