The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 160

“I greet the Sect Leader.”

Having finished my morning routine, I promptly went to see the Virtuous Moon Sword. As soon as I arrived, the Virtuous Moon Sword waved at me in greeting, then directed his attention back to the scrolls.

‘Wow, what’s with the amount?’

The pile of scrolls on the table was formidable. They were not only filled with text but also stacked so high that I nearly lost my breath.

‘Is he handling all that?’

Considering the time of year, it made sense. It was year-end, and winter was particularly busy with many Orthodox faction festivals, so he seemed to be managing them all.

Watching the Virtuous Moon Sword, I spoke up.

“I heard you called for me.”

“Have a seat.”

“…… Sit? Where exactly?”

With everything cluttered on the floor, I wondered where he expected me to sit. There wasn’t even a chair in sight.

The Virtuous Moon Sword finally turned his gaze toward me, acknowledging the situation.

“Hmm.”

As if recognizing the state of affairs, he waved his hand in the air with a sigh.

At that moment.

*Whooosh!*

“!”

A gust of wind rose, swirling across the floor. The scattered scrolls levitated into the air, stacking neatly.

It quickly created a space.

It wasn’t exactly neat, but it was a relatively organized situation. Seeing it made me gasp in wonder.

‘Whoa… This is insane.’

Void manipulation, a technique accessible only to absolute masters who could use inner qi to lift objects.

I had wondered why it was so disorganized.

‘Is it because he can resolve it with just a wave of his hand?’

Still, I hadn’t expected him to apply Void manipulation in such a way.

The elite of masters in the current Central Plains. Among them, the Virtuous Moon Sword was a figure who must be included.

It felt as though I had glimpsed a fraction of his power.

“Tsk…”

Narrowing my eyes, I stared at him. I couldn’t even attempt the basics of Void manipulation.

『It’s only natural. There’s no way someone at mere peak level could grasp the ultimate understanding of inner qi.』

The ultimate understanding of inner qi.

Yu Chun-gil’s dismissive words about the peak level sounded different to me.

“It’s just a mere thing. Indeed.”

While others would roll in madness to reach peak level or end their lives without ever attaining it.

The world I lived in felt distinct from theirs.

“Member Bang.”

“Yes.”

“I heard you completed your closed-door training.”

“That’s correct. I just finished today.”

I meant to imply, why are you calling me in immediately without letting me rest? But…

“I see.”

The Virtuous Moon Sword merely nodded, seemingly unconcerned.

Damn, not that I expected any different.

Then.

“Did you make any progress?”

The Virtuous Moon Sword’s moonlit eyes turned to me as he observed the scrolls.

Even in the bright daylight, his eyes shone more brilliantly.

His sharp gaze, reminiscent of a sword, made my body tense up involuntarily.

“What’s this?”

A sword appeared in my vision, autonomously raising its point against my will.

Sweat was about to roll down my back.

At that moment.

“So there was progress.”

The Virtuous Moon Sword nodded again as he spoke.

“……”

It was only then that the sword within me vanished.

Only then did I realize.

‘What did he do?’

The Virtuous Moon Sword had done something to me. It wasn’t killing intent or the emission of aura.

It seemed like he had forcibly triggered my instincts.

『Heheh.』

Watching this, Yu Chun-gil chuckled softly.

“That rascal. He’s doing to you what I did to him.”

I didn’t respond, just perked my ears.

『It’s what I used to do to him when he was young. It must have left an impression on him, seeing how he’s using it now.』

“……”

What Yu Chun-gil used to do to the young Virtuous Moon Sword? And now he was applying it to me.

‘What’s this? Is he taking it out on me?’

It felt unsettling, as if he was using me to vent some frustration.

“You said a month, was that correct?”

“It is.”

Understanding it referred to the duration of my closed-door training, I answered without needing clarification.

“A month, huh…”

Oppa’s gaze swept from the top of my body down to the bottom.

“For something that’s been practiced for a month, you’ve done well. Good job.”

I scratched my cheek upon hearing the compliment.

“Thank you.”

If even the Virtuous Moon Sword praised me, then it seemed I had done fairly well. Thinking of this, I spoke to the Virtuous Moon Sword.

“So, what is the reason you’ve called for me?”

Upon addressing the main topic, the Virtuous Moon Sword took out a letter and handed it to me.

It seemed like I was meant to take it, so I carefully accepted it.

“The start of winter is approaching,” he said as I looked at the letter.

“!”

The moment I saw the contents, my eyes widened.

The letter began with a crest in light blue, indicating it came directly from the Murim Alliance. Beneath that, the title read,

“Invitation to the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.”

The letter stated an invitation to the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, which would take place in the winter.

“As I mentioned before, this time the Murim Alliance Leader personally exercised his authority to allow the Blue Moon Sect to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.”

It was an unprecedented event. If it was going to be unprecedented, it should stay that way… how annoying.

“The participants will be four or five, and the representative is…”

“…”

“It’s you.”

‘Damn it!’

I muttered, biting my lip at the Virtuous Moon Sword’s words.

The invitation also mentioned that the representative invited was the Small Moon Division’s Little Sword Saint, Bang Sung-Yun.

“… Damn it.”

This was not going to be easy.

“It’s even in gold?!”

I thought as I inspected the Murim Alliance emblem embedded in the letter.

Swirls of golden color were visible within it.

This only meant one thing,

“An honored guest invited by the Murim Alliance.”

Gold, silver, and bronze.

Typically, it was the Five Great Families or the Nine Great Sects, or other prestigious families that received invitations with gold engravings. Yet here was a letter addressed to me.

These were individuals selected as honored guests by the alliance, a commendation beyond words.

“In my case, though!”

I thought, “it’s not an honor earned by me”.

“It must be because of that old man!”

I concluded.

Like an ominous spirit floating in the sky looking down at me, it felt as if I was receiving the honor that belonged to Yu Chun-gil.

This made me feel uneasy, but I tried to ignore it and listened as the Virtuous Moon Sword continued speaking.

“You will depart in three days, and the destination is the center of Henan where the Murim Alliance is located. Do you have any questions?”

Was that even a question? I suppressed a burst of dry laughter.

Questions? There were countless, and if I had to choose what I wanted to ask most “Do I have to go?” was what came to mind, but I knew the answer even before asking.

‘It won’t be allowed, surely!’

I thought, knowing expressing it would be pointless. So, I had to ask something else.

“… Sect Leader.”

“Speak.”

“You mentioned four or five people would be going. Who exactly are they?”

Including me, there were to be four or five. The Dragon-Phoenix Tournament was essentially a festival for next-generation disciples, and attending meant Blue Moon Sect would send next-generation disciples.

‘Who could it be?’

Were there even five next-generation disciples to select from in the current Blue Moon Sect?

Precisely,

‘There are too many.’

Although the Blue Moon Sect’s 3rd-generation disciples were somewhat older compared to other sects, they were nonetheless next-generation disciples. Selecting particularly strong individuals from among them was what had piqued my curiosity.

The Virtuous Moon Sword answered my question by saying,

“That will be…”

As he spoke, the Virtuous Moon Sword’s fingertip pointed at me.

“From now on, you will decide.”

I furrowed my brows at his words.

What on earth was he saying?

“I will decide?”

“Yes.”

“… Why?”

Why on earth was that my decision?

Incredulous, I asked again, but the Virtuous Moon Sword replied without changing his expression.

“Well.”

“… Pardon?”

The audacity of such a frivolous response.

Unbelievable, I glanced at him without concealing my shock.

“The members will be selected by Division Member Bang and reported by tomorrow.”

“…… No, why should I-

“Instead.”

These words interrupted what I was about to argue.

“If you recruit the personnel and demonstrate results, I will give you a corresponding reward.”

“…….”

A reward.

Hearing those words, I hesitated for a moment.

A corresponding reward.

“Recruit personnel and show results at the ‘Dragon-Phoenix Tournament’……?”

Then I would be rewarded.

Why?

The first question that arose was naturally that.

“What is the reason?”

The sudden behavior of the Virtuous Moon Sword.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand it, so I rolled my eyes around.

“I don’t know.”

Despite that, no answer emerged.

Therefore, only a few conclusions could be drawn.

Among them, the somewhat better option was……

“…… Then may I request something as well?”

“Hmm?”

It was the idea that I must gain something from this situation.

I spoke to the Virtuous Moon Sword.

“I would like to obtain some information from the ‘Beggar Sect.’ If possible, something deep.”

“Beggar Sect?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of information are you asking for?”

His voice conveyed curiosity.

However, the curiosity contained in his voice soon transformed.

“I want detailed information about the ‘Seven Geniuses’.”

“…… Seven Geniuses?”

His voice changed to one of interest, shining brightly.

* * *

The center of Henan, where the Murim Alliance, also known as the headquarters of the orthodox path, was located.

About three days remained before reaching that place.

In terms of timing, only a few days were left.

During that time, the tasks were clearly outlined.

“Is it four people?”

The participants representing the Blue Moon Sect at the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament numbered four or five.

Though it was said to be four or five, it was preferable to go with the minimum number.

With that in mind, I deliberated.

“Who should I bring?”

The issue was that there were so many promising students in the Blue Moon Sect.

Fortunately, two were already decided.

“Is it the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament?”

A handsome man with a prominent jawline, Do Hyung, nodded as he looked at me.

“I will do it. Since it is the Sect Leader’s command.”

“Oh……”

I felt relieved at those words.

If the virtue of choosing four promising students from the Blue Moon Sect was needed, Do Hyung would undoubtedly be included.

He belonged to the Small Moon Division.

A place that only the elite among the elite of the Blue Moon Sect could enter; it’s not a place that can be accessed by just anyone.

For him to join at such a young age meant he was undoubtedly a genius.

“It’s rather unusual that he’s not more well-known.”

Considering his level and age, it’s strange he doesn’t have a title among the promising students.

“Fortunately, Do Hyung agreed easily.”

Do Hyung decided to go simply because it was the Sect Leader’s command, answering readily.

Refusing would have been strange, but I was thankful nonetheless.

“If Do Hyung hadn’t agreed, it would have been really troublesome.”

Finding someone to replace him would have been annoyingly difficult, even if there was someone available.

“Good. Do Hyung is settled.”

One spot was filled. Now, two remained.

The problem was.

“…… The challenge starts now.”

Leaving Do Hyung behind, the remaining two personnel were the issue.

* * *

Leaving him behind, I went to meet the second person.

“So.”

As soon as I arrived, I was greeted by a cold voice.

“You want me to accompany you to the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament? With me?”

A cold expression resembling the Virtuous Moon Sword, matched perfectly with pale skin and striking blue eyes.

It was as if the air around her was especially chilly, creating an illusion.

Ignoring that, I spoke to her.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

At my words, the woman let out a derisive chuckle.

“…… Ha.”

Then she scoffed, and I secretly clicked my tongue.

The woman was from the same Small Moon Division as Do Hyung, and she was among the few of her talent throughout the history of the Blue Moon Sect.

One of the Seven Geniuses.

Moonlit Delight Chun Hye-In.