The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 131

Ascension.

This was the second time I had witnessed such a scene.

The first time, it happened at the Murim Alliance’s Anhui branch, when I defeated Young Azure Sword and the evil spirit let go of her resentment. Now, this was the second time.

“… Elder.”

Poison Sovereign was gradually dissipating. This was the second instance of witnessing a spirit letting go of wordly attachments.

“Are you leaving?”

Upon closer inspection, light was emanating softly from Poison Sovereign’s shoulders. It was characteristic of spirits letting go of wordly attachments.

Yu Chun-gil, observing this, asked Poison Sovereign with a somewhat uneasy expression.

『Are you leaving?』

『I have to.』

Poison Sovereign smiled at Yu Chun-gil’s words.

『What does a dead man have to linger for?』

『Despite having many lingering regrets, your tongue is still sharp.』

『Hehe…』

Despite Yu Chun-gil’s sarcastic remarks, Poison Sovereign simply laughed. This seemed to irritate Yu Chun-gil more as he frowned and spoke.

『Are you really leaving just because a single divine sword got fixed?』

『Why? Do you find it regrettable?』

『Regrettable, my ass. It’s merely ridiculous that such trivial regrets are all that remain.』

Poison Sovereign’s regret. Could it really be?

‘Was the divine sword getting fixed by Tang Yelan his only regret?’

Although he had already anticipated it, witnessing it in reality seemed to affirm it. Tang Yelan had fixed the divine sword, and as a result, Poison Sovereign’s state had changed.

『Just that? You truly don’t understand.』

『What do you mean?』

Yu Chun-gil scoffed at the idea of leaving over one simple regret.

Hearing this, Poison Sovereign looked at Yu Chun-gil with pitiful eyes.

『You wouldn’t know. You’ve neither had a child nor truly cared for someone.』

『By the way you speak, one might think you were a doting parent.』

『No, I wasn’t. I was a terrible and incompetent parent.』

Poison Sovereign said this as he moved towards us. More precisely, he was floating in our direction.

『That’s why it’s called regret. There’s so much I couldn’t do, that’s why it’s termed regret.』

『Huh.』

Even with Poison Sovereign’s words, Yu Chun-gil responded with a snort. It seemed clear he had no intention of continuing the conversation.

『Just disappear. I don’t want to see you anymore.』

『Hehe…』

Poison Sovereign chuckled at Yu Chun-gil’s reaction and then spoke to me.

『Child.』

“Yes, elder.”

『Can you show me the sword one more time?』

“…”

I immediately drew my sword at his request.

*Srring.*

The black blade gleamed as it was unsheathed.

『…』

Poison Sovereign looked at the divine sword fixed by Tang Yelan and soon nodded in satisfaction.

『…. It’s good…. Very well done….』

He then smiled, his eyes brighter and more cheerful than before.

『Child.』

“Yes.”

『Meeting you at the end must also have a significant reason. This must be destiny.』

With these words, Poison Sovereign carefully swept the blade, though he couldn’t actually touch it.

『I hope you use it to your heart’s content.』

“… I don’t know if I should be the one to use this.”

『Well, that depends on how you perceive it.』

“Elder… May I ask you something?”

『Ask away.』

“Why did you entrust Tang Yelan to repair the sword, and why do you want me to use it?”

『….』

Upon hearing something I couldn’t comprehend, Poison Sovereign fell silent momentarily before speaking to me again.

『The child needed a proper opportunity. She couldn’t find that one missing piece. It was an opportunity I had to give her.』

“… Is that why you asked her to fix the divine sword?”

『Yes.』

To help Tang Yelan move forward, she needed an opportunity to grasp something easily. That opportunity was repairing the divine sword.

Then.

“What about me?”

What about me?

Then what was I to him?

Using it just because it was completed seemed unclear.

Thus, I asked Poison Sovereign.

『I’m sorry, but… that was also a necessary part.』

“… A necessary part?”

『Yes, for you will, either by your will or against it, rise to unimaginable heights. I wished for you to do so.』

“…… Still, I don’t understand why I was given the Divine Sword.”

『Because of that.』

“…… Pardon?”

『So that as you rise higher, those who know will see that you hold it. That was what I wanted.』

“Then……you mean you wanted me to hold the Divine Sword back then?”

『Something like that.』

『Similar, but not quite.』

Before the Poison Sovereign’s words could even finish, Yu Chun-gil interjected.

『Weren’t you excited about the idea of messing with them?』

『Excited? That’s not it.』

The Poison Sovereign denied it.

『It was a warning for those who live ignorantly with blinders on.』

‘A warning……?’

『Even if they try to forget and live on, there are things that don’t change. So, remember. That was the warning.』

The more the Poison Sovereign said such things, the more uneasy I felt inside.

‘Would holding this sword alone lead me into such a complicated situation?’

Just when I thought I didn’t want to hold it anymore.

『Child.』

The Poison Sovereign spoke to me again.

『I am truly grateful to you. For listening to an old man’s whim and for the hardships you’ll endure because of it.』

“…… Hmm…….”

『It had malicious intent, but it was also my insignificant lingering attachment. You can discard that sword whenever you want.』

“…… Discard it? This?”

The Heavenly Demon Sword? That, and even the Black Iron Sword?

Where should I throw it if I do? If it were up to me, the best option would be to leave it with the Tang family if I decide not to use it.

『Use it however you see fit. It’s yours because it was given to you by a child.』

“…… Would the Tang family think like that too?”

『They won’t think much differently.』

I wasn’t entirely convinced by this, but in the end, I had nothing more to say.

“I will try to use it well.”

『Thank you.』

“In that case, do you have any lingering regrets?”

Bringing the Heavenly Demon Sword.

Having it repaired through his granddaughter.

Me ending up with the repaired sword.

Does this mean the Poison Sovereign’s regrets are now gone?

To my question, 『Anything more would be meaningless stubbornness.』

The Poison Sovereign shook his head.

『If there’s anything remaining, it’s probably my guilt for the burden you’ll carry.』

With his next words, the Poison Sovereign placed his hand on my shoulder.

He didn’t actually touch it, just made a gesture as if he did.

『A harsh storm might come. It could be because of that monster, or because of the failures we left behind.』

『I hope even if that happens, you won’t fall.』

After saying this, the Poison Sovereign smiled kindly at me.

『Thank you very much.』

“…….”

As he spoke, the light from the Poison Sovereign’s body grew stronger.

Is it really over now?

Is the Poison Sovereign satisfied with these few things and planning to leave?

It seemed that way, so I looked at Yu Chun-gil and asked, “…… Is there really nothing more to say?”

『What?』

“I mean, since your friend is leaving, don’t you have any last words for him?”

『Ha.』

Yu Chun-gil let out a hollow laugh at my words.

『I already said everything I needed to. I told him to get lost. That’s all I have to say to him.』

“…….”

It was quite a cold statement. His attitude suggested he didn’t care whether the Poison Sovereign stayed or left.

『It’s pointless to stay any longer anyway.』

『True.』

『So, go.』

『Keulkkeul…….』

At the cold words, the Poison Sovereign chuckled bitterly.

Then, looking at Yu Chun-gil, he said,『Chun-gil.』

『What is it?』

『I still don’t understand what you desire. And I have no intention of forgiving you even at this moment.』

『Who asked you to? I have no intention of seeking your forgiveness either.』

『Yes, that’s how it is. You’ve always been like that. Therefore, I will leave first.』

*Huaaaaaa*—The light grew even stronger. It grew so intense that it began to envelop the Poison Sovereign’s body.

‘…… Wow.’

I couldn’t help but be impressed. It was a different feeling compared to a typical putting spirits to rest.

A huge light was visible.

*Whooosh–!!!*

A strong wind blew along with the light.

It was so strong that it not only made my clothes flutter but also shook every tree and blade of grass.

With the intense beam of light emitted, the Poison Sovereign finally closed his eyes.

At that moment,『……tsk.』

Yu Chun-gil clicked his tongue briefly.

Simultaneously, a light that was enveloping the Poison Sovereign soared to the sky.

*KUAHAHA-!!!*

“…… Crazy.”

A massive pillar of light shot up to the sky.

I was inadvertently captivated by the alien sight.

Why is it so grand?

The light didn’t last long.

In terms of time, it was exceedingly brief, but the spectacle itself was enough to seize one’s attention.

Haaa…

Gradually, the light faded, and the blowing wind also ceased.

In the now calm situation, I was starting to feel slightly relieved, thinking it was over.

*Wooong—!*

Suddenly, beams of light began to gather again.

It was the spirit qi of the Poison Sovereign that was floating in the sky.

Seeing that, I widened my eyes.

“Why is it gathering……?”

Why is it suddenly acting like that?

I watched in shock and confusion.

*Whoosh!*

“Huh? Huh!?”

In the unfolding situation, I unintentionally raised my voice.

The light converged and abruptly poured onto me.

The floating spirits were rapidly absorbed into my body.

The gathered qi began to permeate my dantian.

Without my will, movements could be felt in my dantian.

One by one, as the spirits entered my body, only their qi were extracted and stored in my body.

“What is this…….”

What’s happening?

Amid the bewilderment from the sudden situation, memories from the past flickered in my mind.

It was around the time in Henan when I was putting an evil spirit to rest.

Back then, the evil spirit also left its energy with me as it departed.

‘…… Is this also?’

Could it be the same this time? The influx of qi was so overwhelming that I didn’t know how to respond.

The funny thing was that my body was already moving on its own, without requiring any conscious reaction from me.

It was cramming all the qi into my dantian, as if not wanting to miss a single bit.

*Crackle-!*

‘Huh……?’

Then, I felt something breaking inside.

‘What is this feeling?’

What was that sensation?

*Crackle-!*

Something continued to shatter and break.

Even my dantian began to vibrate, its resonance spreading throughout my entire body.

“This…… this is suddenly…….”

Why is this happening? Why is my body acting like this?

Unable to figure out the cause of the phenomenon, I looked at Yu Chun-gil with my eyes.

『…… Ha. Damn it.』

Yu Chun-gil, looking at me, spoke in a voice mixed with annoyance.

『That damn dog. He left something unnecessary. He could have just taken care of it himself.』

“…… What. What is happening right now?”

『Don’t talk and just focus. It’s an invaluable moment for you.』

“…… No.”

There’s no need to focus or anything like that.

*Kwagagagaga—!!!*

The vibration and energy, growing stronger as they resonated, gradually enveloped my entire body.

They burst out through my acupuncture points and circulated around my entire body as heat.

“Gah!!”

Not long after, it turned into excruciating pain.

I had to suppress myself from screaming out loud.

*Crack, crack—!!!*

The shattering sound intensified.

The pain grew stronger.

The torment that was about to make me burst, soon…

*Kwakduk-!!*

Exploded out entirely with a sound of complete breaking.

*Hwaaah—!!!*

The excruciating pain vanished.

The sensations felt until moments ago disappeared as if they had been a lie.

Realizing what was left in its place, I had to widen my eyes.

“…… What is this?”

Although it had happened in an instant, after a fleeting moment passed…

Checking the state of my body, I had to laugh in disbelief.

It couldn’t be helped. How could I not be surprised?

“…… I’ve reached the peak.”

My body, which had been at the First-rate level, had, due to this recent event, ascended to the peak level.