The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 91

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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 091
Four.
The luminous pearls were definitely four in number.
Counting them again yielded the same result, and counting backwards did as well.
No matter how many times I looked, there were four.
After rubbing my eyes repeatedly at the sight before me, I clamped my hand over my mouth.
“…Ugh….”
Had I not covered my mouth, I would have cried out involuntarily.
The sight was that overwhelming.
‘Four of them… Four Daehwandan pills…!’
A full four of them.
Items that could grant a lifetime of peace and prosperity with just a single one—there were four of them.
The supreme Divine Altar among all Divine Altars, what all martial artists called a stroke of fortune.
Not one, but four Daehwandan pills.
“…This… Wow….”
I wiped the drool flowing down my hand while staring at the Daehwandan pills without pause.
‘…So this is the legendary Daehwandan…?’
A miraculous elixir so potent that consuming even one could alter the future and destiny of a martial artist.
The edible miracle I had only heard whispered about now lay before my eyes.
[The luster is excellent. It seems to have been preserved well.]
[Of course. Do you know how difficult it was to extract this from that damned monk?]
[Once you’ve finished admiring it, take one out and seal it again. If left exposed like this, the essence might dissipate… Ah. Yes.]
Without even finishing his sentence, I shut the box first.
“Why would you say something so terrifying at a time like this…? What if the value of the merchandise decreases?”]
[…No….]
At my words, Yoo Cheon-gil let out an exasperated breath and looked at me.
His blue eyes seemed particularly vivid today.
[Merchandise? That’s an interesting choice of words. Are you planning to sell the Daehwandan?]
“….”
At Yoo Cheon-gil’s words, I flinched and my shoulders trembled slightly.
Damn.
‘My true thoughts slipped out without me realizing it.’
I was so shocked I couldn’t control myself. How foolish.
I tried to rearrange my expression.
‘It’s over.’
I could feel Yoo Cheon-gil and Dokjon’s gazes fixed on me.
It was too late for belated excuses.
“…Well, it’s not exactly something to just consume, is it?”
I had to go with the full-court press.
[What?]
At my words, Yoo Cheon-gil’s brow furrowed.
[Eat? Of course you should eat it.]
Hearing that, I furrowed my own brow this time.
“Have you lost your mind?”
[What?]
Eat a Daehwandan? It was absurd.
“Do you know how much this costs, and you want to stuff such a noble item into this wretched body of mine? Have you gone senile?”
No matter how desperately I wanted to grow stronger, casually consuming a Daehwandan was not a choice I could easily make.
[Ha. Look at this madman. So you’re saying you’ll obtain a Daehwandan and sell it without even eating it? And you call yourself a martial artist!?]
“Being a martial artist is a curse. It makes no sense to thoughtlessly consume something this expensive. Being a martial artist isn’t a position or title.”
[You–!]
Yoo Cheon-gil began to raise his voice in response to my words, but suddenly stopped.
Had he realized that arguing now would be pointless?
What Yoo Cheon-gil chose instead of anger was.
[But you have four of them. Surely you can eat just one.]
Persuasion.
His tone was unusually gentle for him.
Disturbingly so.
[Just eat one. You know that only one Daehwandan can be consumed anyway, don’t you?]
“Pardon? Only one can be consumed?”
As I looked at him with a confused expression, Yoo Cheon-gil stared back at me as if he couldn’t believe it.
[…You really don’t know?]
“No.”
[…Heh.]
Yoo Cheon-gil’s cheeks trembled as he let out a laugh. It was clear he wanted to say I was pathetic but was forcibly restraining himself.
[…Even elixirs develop tolerance.]
This was the first I’d heard of it. Tolerance from consuming elixirs?
Since this was intriguing information, I listened intently as Yoo Cheon-gil continued.
[Since the limit of qi a martial artist’s dantian can accept at once is fixed, once a Daehwandan sweeps through it, tolerance develops, and consuming two provides little additional benefit.]
“Then, eating two would be meaningless?”
[It wouldn’t be entirely meaningless, but it’s not worth attempting. As you yourself said, a Daehwandan’s value is not insignificant.]
“…I see.”
In other words.
One Daehwandan was certainly effective, but from the second onward, the efficiency dropped dramatically, so there was no reason to consume more.
[So eat just one. You still have three more anyway.]
Just as Yoo Cheon-gil’s temptation was deepening.
[Wait…. You keep spouting nonsense.]
Dokjon interjected between us.
[When did I ever give you all four!? Why are you two bickering over someone else’s property!?]
At that sharp cry, I finally came to my senses.
Ah, now that I think about it, that’s true.
‘He never said he’d give me everything.’
Recalling those words, I resolved once again not to open the Daehwandan box.
Then.
[You rotten bastard? Sprinkling ash on finished rice? What’s the problem with just giving that trivial thing? Since you’re already dead anyway, don’t be so greedy!]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke heatedly to Dokjon, and fire ignited in Dokjon’s eyes as well.
[What? That trivial thing? Bastard? Are you seeing this madman cursing about something that isn’t even his? How did I steal- no, obtain this?!]
“….”
I clearly heard it. Just now, Dokjon was about to say he stole it.
Could it be that he actually stole the Daehwandan?
‘…He stole the Celestial Demon Divine Sword and the Daehwandan too. What is this old man doing?’
It’s not as if there’s no money at home.
It was puzzling why someone from a Five Great Families household kept stealing things.
[There! Anyway, who would know I secretly took it from that bald monk bastard?!]
I wondered who this bald monk that Yoo Cheon-gil spoke of was.
I was curious, yet I wasn’t.
‘I shouldn’t listen to this.’
The feeling was clearly bad. I was already shocked by the Plum Blossom Sword story, and hearing this too seemed like it would only make things worse.
[Damn! Took it secretly! It was clearly a transaction! Even that bald bastard acknowledged this fact!]
Ah, I heard something I shouldn’t have.
I had to repeatedly wash my face with dry hands at the words I’d heard.
‘…If it’s the bald one… he’s the former abbot of Shaolin.’
The fact I’d hoped wouldn’t be true had matched again.
I’d heard about the bald one at Cheongwol Fortress too. This time it was him again.
[Whether you stole it or obtained it, either way you should just give it. Why do you have so much to say? You can’t even use it since you’re already dead anyway?]
[This…!]
At Yoo Cheon-gil’s words, Dokjon trembled violently.
I was worried he might explode.
[Phuuuuuu….]
Dokjon exhaled deeply. If that breath had color, I felt it would be red with the sheer anger contained within it.
[…Who said I wouldn’t give it? Listen to what people say until the end.]
Wow, his patience is really something else.
If it were me, I would have flipped the table and everything.
Contrary to appearances, Dokjon seemed to possess remarkable forbearance.
[…Sigh. Child.]
Dokjon’s gaze turned toward me.
“Yes, Elder.”
[I have a request for you… why did the form of address change again?]
[Don’t mind it, he’s always like that.]
[Ah, yes… Anyway, I have a request for you.]
“A favor, you say…?”
[Ordinarily, this matter would have concluded here, but it seems I have another request for you.]
“Hmm…”
I listened to his words and gazed at Dokjon with half-lidded eyes.
The phrasing felt oddly suspicious.
‘Another favor now, of all times?’
I had already obtained the Celestial Demon Divine Sword according to the original objective, and at this point, I had already received the Daehwandan as compensation.
In such circumstances, he suddenly had another favor to ask of me?
‘No, it’s not sudden.’
This was no sudden request.
‘From the very number of Daehwandan pills, this must have been planned all along.’
Dokjon must have prepared the entire process knowing it would unfold this way.
“What favor would that be?”
I maintained my composed gaze as I asked Dokjon.
Dokjon cleared his throat once before speaking to me.
[I wish for you to deliver the Celestial Demon Divine Sword you’ve brought. If you grant me this… I shall give you all the remaining Daehwandan.]
‘Deliver?’
All I need do is hand over this hilt to someone.
And for doing that, he would give me more Daehwandan?
Perhaps…
“…Is this person located very far away?”
[That is not the case. This person resides within the Dang Clan.]
“Hmm…”
Resolving something so simple and receiving Daehwandan in return was quite the favorable trade.
“You’re truly willing to give me Daehwandan for something so trivial?”
[Indeed. That damned fool is dead and his body has become utterly useless. And…]
Before Dokjon could finish speaking, the corners of his eyes shifted subtly.
[If that is the case, there would be no harm in you consuming one yourself, would there?]
“…”
Upon hearing this, I tilted my head in confusion.
This old man…
‘Setting aside Yoo Cheon-gil, does Dokjon also want me to consume Daehwandan?’
Why?
His demeanor suggests it’s true, but I cannot discern his intention.
“So… if I simply deliver this sword, you’ll give me all the Daehwandan, and I should consume one myself—is that what you’re saying?”
The more I considered it, the more there was no loss for me.
After all, consuming even a single Daehwandan would be a miracle in itself. If people were offering them from all directions like this, what harm could there be?
‘The delivery of the Celestial Demon Divine Sword does give me pause, though…’
But if I were to ask whether that alone was reason enough to refuse…
“…Is it truly just a matter of delivery?”
I concluded that wasn’t the case.
[Very well.]
After hearing Dokjon’s response, I suppressed my unease and looked toward Yoo Cheon-gil.
His distinctive blue eyes gleamed in the darkness of night, and he gazed at me with eager anticipation.
“…Ugh.”
Uncomfortable under his stare, I averted my gaze and opened the box before me once more.
The moment I lifted the lid, that same fragrant aroma rose up again.
Fearing the essence might dissipate, I quickly plucked one out and sealed it shut again.
A Daehwandan was barely the size of what you could make by forming a circle with your index and thumb.
Could something so small truly contain such formidable energy?
I stared at it quietly before exhaling a long sigh.
“What a waste…”
Should I really consume it? I deliberated right up until the final moment.
It was far too precious to place into this wretched body of mine.
“Damn it…”
With trembling hands, I brought the Daehwandan to my lips.
The moment it entered my mouth, a brilliant fragrance spread throughout my entire body.
But then.
‘Should I chew it or just swallow it whole?’
How was I supposed to consume this thing?
Since I’d only ever consumed Cheongwol-dan pills from birth, I had no idea of the proper method.
At that moment.
[Step aside.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me. Suddenly asking me to step aside? I looked at him with a puzzled expression, the Yeon Sect pill still in my mouth.
[If you let the energy scatter, won’t you regret it? I’ll make good use of it, so move aside.]
“…”
[Step aside? What are you suddenly talking about?]
Dokjon watched the exchange between us with a frown, but this was no time to worry about that.
Upon hearing his words, I nodded immediately. Letting such precious energy dissipate? That was unthinkable.
The moment I gave my consent, my body went limp.
Yoo Cheon-gil had taken control of my body.
[Huh?]
Dokjon’s eyes widened at the sight.
Then Yoo Cheon-gil crossed his legs into a seated position and swallowed the Daehwandan whole.
I could feel it.
The Daehwandan traveling down the esophagus.
The moment the Daehwandan safely settled into the stomach.
Boom—!
A vibration resonated from deep within the belly. Then.
쿠후우우우우—!!!
A tremendous surge of energy began flowing through my dantian.
‘…Hah.’
I exhaled involuntarily. This was the first time I’d ever felt such power.
A tempest. The sensation of a vortex made of pure energy swirling within my body.
So vast and violent that the slightest disturbance would sweep me away, yet simultaneously elegant and gentle.
Contradictory and paradoxical—there was no other way to describe it.
쿠그그그그그그—!!!
The tremendous energy grew increasingly violent, threatening to consume me entirely.
Was this even safe? Could such enormous power really be compressed into my pathetically tiny dantian?
Such doubts arose unbidden.
“Shhhhh.”
Yet my doubts proved meaningless.
쿠그그그극—! 쉬이이익-!
‘Hah.’
The energy that had been raging in all directions gradually began to subside.
The pressure erupting from my body seized the energy and forcibly crammed it back into my dantian.
‘…Can it be used like this?’
Not by guiding the energy, nor by handling it gently or delicately.
‘…How crude is this?’
This was violence against the energy itself.
Meeting raw power with even greater brutality.
Yoo Cheon-gil seized the energy and forcibly shoved it into the dantian.
Throughout the process, there was no risk of the energy twisting or dispersing.
‘Is this even possible?’
The more I felt it, the more astounded I became.
Energy could be manipulated this way?
It was a method I’d never once conceived of.
To the eye, it appeared as though he were simply grabbing and stuffing it in, yet the process revealed an astounding delicacy.
‘…I can’t do this.’
I cannot do this.
It was something I could absolutely never accomplish.
But.
‘Even if I can’t now.’
Someday I could apply it. I focused intently on memorizing every sensation.
“Shhhhh….”
Yoo Cheon-gil, determined not to miss a single detail, continued drawing the energy in as my body released breath after breath.
There was no time to feel the brilliant, sacred energy that supposedly manifests when consuming Daehwandan.
All I could do was watch as the energy was pummeled and crumpled.
And as a little more time passed.
The turbulent dantian gradually grew calm.
When the overwhelming force could no longer lift its head.
“Huff…”
Along with Yoo Cheon-gil’s soft sigh, I felt a recoil.
Whoosh—!
Control of my body had returned to me.
I immediately tried to ask Yoo Cheon-gil something.
[Don’t open your mouth.]
At his warning, I quietly closed my lips.
[…Hmm.]
Meanwhile, Yoo Cheon-gil exhaled through his nose as if he’d noticed something.
[Your body is in better condition than expected. You’ve absorbed far more than I anticipated.]
His voice carried satisfaction.
[This much should be just barely passing.]
Then.
[So then.]
Yoo Cheon-gil looked at me with an enigmatic expression.
[Endure what comes next as well.]
‘What?’
Endure what, all of a sudden?
The moment confusion seized me.
Boom—!
“Ugh…!”
Pain erupted from my dantian, and my eyes flew open.
[The energy I’ve placed in your dantian is now permeating through your body. Since the quantity is substantial, it will be rather rough. But I’m telling you again—don’t open your mouth. The moment you do, all the energy will scatter away.]
Yoo Cheon-gil warned me as if to make absolutely certain I understood.
After that.
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
Tremendous waves of pain crashed down upon me.
[Endure it. Once you survive this, even a worthless wretch like you will become somewhat useful.]
I trembled violently, my fists clenched tight.
It felt as though my entire body was being battered by hammers.
Such agony.
Continued until the sun rose.

* * *
Chirp. Chirp chirp.
The sound of birds reached my ears.
Rolling my eyes with half-lidded vision, I noticed light seeping through the window gap beside me.
I moved my hand slightly.
My trembling fingertips pressed against the floor.
“…Hah… Uh… Ah….”
I opened my mouth.
I had no idea how many hours it had been since I last did.
A deep breath flowed out as I collapsed onto my haunches.
The sharp pain I had felt began to fade.
Confirming this, I steadied my breathing, exhausted.
Then, suddenly, I lifted my hand and repeatedly clenched and unclenched my fist.
“…Ha….”
I burst into laughter at the sensation flowing through it.
“This is… absolutely ridiculous.”
The Daehwandan truly was remarkable.
Remarkably so.
“…I’ve actually transcended the first rank.”
My cultivation level, which had merely been second rank,
had now soared far beyond the first rank.

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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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