NOVEL NEXT Ch 79
Chapter 78
The elite monks of Shaolin, known as the “Milsung,” were masters who had cultivated the martial arts passed down from the Dalmahawon, maintaining a practice of nearly a thousand years. These monks were at an incomprehensible level, having learned the secret techniques of the godly protection known as the **Dae-seok’s Mimil Defense **, which was said to be capable of stopping even attacks of natural disaster-level power.
However, this incredibly powerful defensive technique was shattered in an instant, and the core of their formation was completely destroyed with a single strike.
The condition of the Milsung monks was nothing short of horrific.
They appeared as if crushed by some force, their bodies grotesquely fractured and crumpled.
This was no mere human strength.
It was a battle between divine beings!
The monks, trembling in fear, stared blankly at the air, their faces twisted in pure terror.
—
“….”
Jo Hwi, hovering in the air, nonchalantly looked up at Kong Kong, his expression hardening in disbelief.
Rather than using a defensive technique to nullify the incoming attack, the monk (who appeared to be a practitioner of Buddhism) instead met it head-on, increasing the destructive power.
He clearly understood the shockwave could cause a disaster, killing countless lives, yet he did nothing to prevent it.
From this alone, Jo Hwi immediately realized that Kong Kong was not a regular monk. He could see that this being looked down on human life with disdain.
—
“….Disciple?”
The Demon God, who rarely showed signs of emotion, stuttered in surprise.
The being he referred to as his disciple could only be one person.
‘…Mabeul?’
Mabeul was the most noble and revered martial monk in Shaolin since the time of Hui Ga, but his monk status was mysteriously annulled. Was Kong Kong truly Mabeul, the first Shaolin monk to be excommunicated?
—
“The energy from that last attack was undoubtedly the Golden Magic Buddha Light (金魔佛光), a signature technique of the disciple! Such an expansive and overwhelming power can only exist if Mabeul has returned from the dead!”
The spirit, who had been silent until now, contributed its thoughts.
—
“I don’t know if he’s Mabeul or not… but as far as I’m concerned, this being is **Geumcheon (金天)**, the most secretive, mysterious, and cautious among us six. Paradoxically, he also leads the most powerful force.”
The six referred to by the spirit were the **Six Divine Beings**.
Thus, Kong Kong’s true identity was **Geumcheon Jonsin**.
But Jo Hwi couldn’t understand.
‘He leads a more powerful force than **Tongcheon Jonsin**?’
Although Tongcheon had a secret religious group operating underground, the scale of Tongcheon’s power was enormous.
For someone to lead a force larger than Tongcheon’s was something that surely would have left a trace in the martial world.
But no such force existed, especially one using golden, radiant martial techniques…
—
At that moment, Jo Hwi’s expression changed to one of utter confusion.
‘Wait… could it be?’
Golden, radiant martial techniques? Didn’t Shaolin’s divine martial arts all have this golden, shining quality?
‘No, it can’t be… right?’
—
Unfortunately, Jo Hwi’s suspicion was confirmed.
“Why not? Geumcheon has secretly controlled the Zen Buddhism sect in Central Plains for a long time. He is the true master behind it.”
This was crazy!
Though the Shaolin sect had originally started under the dubious intentions of Bodhidharma, Jo Hwi had believed that later generations followed the true teachings of Buddhism to save sentient beings.
But now, he learned that the thousand-year-old Shaolin sect was simply a subordinate organization under the control of the followers of the **Divine Throne**.
—
“The Geumcheon Sect has long controlled Zen Buddhism. Because of this, the Divine Throne allowed Geumcheon to establish his own sect.”
In an instant, Jo Hwi was stunned.
‘So the **Geumcheon Sect** I encountered before… was actually connected to this?’
—
“Geumcheon’s subordinate.”
The **Geumcheon Sect**!
It was only due to his strange ability to see through the essence that Jo Hwi was able to defeat the formidable leader of the sect, a being of immense power.
Yet, this overwhelming being was only a subordinate of Geumcheon.
—
“Then… everything about my disciple…” The Demon God trembled in fear.
If Mabeul and Geumcheon Jonsin are the same person, then the Mabeul, who had shared an oath of brotherhood with him, was merely a fabricated persona created by Geumcheon Jonsin.
If the person with whom he had shared his heart for his entire life turned out to be nothing more than a mask, it was no wonder that the Demon God was shaking with betrayal.
“Give me your body! Give it to me!”
Jo Hwi could feel, through the raging energy of the Demon God, how furious he was.
“If it is certain that I was deceived by that mask, I will tear him apart with my own hands!”
“Ah, no.”
In fact, Jo Hwi didn’t reject the idea of the Demon God possessing his body simply because he disliked it, but because he judged that with the Demon God’s powers, he could not contend with Geumcheon.
Though Jo Hwi’s Cheonma Samgyeom (Heavenly Demon’s Three Blades) was an unparalleled martial technique, Geumcheon’s strength, which was on par with a divine power, was beyond what a mere human could challenge.
Jo Hwi’s spiritual body floated in the air, moving towards Geumcheon.
“…Kong Kong… no, Geumcheon sir.”
The face of Geumcheon Jonsin was more disturbed than when he first encountered Jo Hwi’s Cheonhakgonggongdo (Great Public Law of Heaven).
“Amitabha… Hehe…”
Jo Hwi responded in disbelief.
“Wow… after crushing the elite monks of Shaolin who have protected the temple for a thousand years, you still want to keep pretending to be a monk?”
Geumcheon Jonsin smiled faintly.
“Even if it’s a fabricated persona, it is still a persona. It has deceived even me for a long time, so why would it be easy to take it off?”
“Ha! What a direct hit. Aren’t you being a bit too honest? You’re admitting it too easily?”
“When a secret has value, it only remains so as long as it remains hidden. Now, let’s see.”
As Geumcheon Jonsin’s golden eyes shimmered, Jo Hwi felt as though his very essence was being pierced through.
Of course, that was not just a feeling.
“I had heard of the existence of your Yeongok (Spirit Jade). So, it is the key to unlocking your essence, huh? Oh?”
It wasn’t surprising that Geumcheon Jonsin knew about the Blood Jade after hearing reports from the Geumcheon Sect, who had infiltrated Jo Hwi’s spiritual realm.
The problem, however, came next.
“Oh, this is truly unexpected. Hehe, one of our six is actually involved with that. And who else is here?”
Geumcheon Jonsin soon broke into a warm smile.
“It seems that Dukgo Hyung (Brother Dukgo), whom I have always respected, is also there.”
At that moment, the Demon God’s energy suddenly surged, enveloping the spiritual realm like a storm.
“You damn bastard! I want him now!”
Desperately trying to take over Jo Hwi’s body, the Demon God’s will was easily subdued by Jo Hwi’s overwhelming energy.
Then, the Demon God’s rage again engulfed the spiritual realm.
“Give it to me now! I will destroy him with my own hands! Aaargh!”
Jo Hwi heard the Demon God’s desperate cry through his Shinan Tong (Divine Connection), and Geumcheon Jonsin’s smile only deepened.
“Hehe… That furious temper, even after losing his body, remains the same, doesn’t it, Brother Dukgo?”
The Demon God’s anger was quickly replaced by despair.
Had he truly wasted his life searching for the so-called disciple, only to find that it was a hollow mask?
He had given up the Jinma Daejeon (Great War of the Righteous) for him.
For him, he had abandoned the Magic Sect and hidden his body under the moonlight, becoming the Wolhwarimju.
To find him, he spent his entire life wandering, and finally, he obtained the Buddha statue left behind by the disciple.
Yet, no trace of him was found at Shaolin.
All this time, he had waited in the Buddhamdong (Buddhist Demon Cave) of Shaolin, patiently for his disciple, only to learn it was all for naught.
Had his whole life of sacrifice, searching, and waiting been nothing more than a painful illusion, leading to today’s result?
He could not forgive, nor could he accept it.
“Hwiya! Please, give me your body! I… I…!”
It was the Demon God’s sobbing.
It was the despair of a man whose entire life had been negated.
Jo Hwi could not remain indifferent as he received the Demon God’s despair through their spiritual connection.
Though the Demon God’s brief recollections were not his entire life, Jo Hwi could immediately sense how much of a role Mabeul had played in his life.
“Truly, what a monstrous bastard.”
Toying with someone’s life was one thing, but this was almost at the level of humiliating them.
“Amitabha, I never intended to make Brother Dukgo’s obsession a part of the plan. It’s just that, like human life, I simply didn’t anticipate it.”
Geumcheon Jonsin had created the Mabeul persona purely for his own needs, and once it was no longer useful, he discarded it—just like he was now discarding the Kong Kong mask.
He had always been Geumcheon, and was only one of the six disciples of the Divine Throne.
Jo Hwi’s eyes narrowed with a cold, murderous intent.
“I have one question.”
“Amitabha… Go ahead.”
“Stop pretending to be a monk, you bastard.”
“As I said, even if it’s a mask, it’s not something that can be easily discarded, just like a person’s personality.”
“Ugh, here you are bragging about your method acting, pretending to be a monk. This world is really coming to an end.”
Though Jo Hwi taunted him repeatedly, Geumcheon Jonsin remained calm and composed.
“Surely you poured your heart and soul into the mask of Kong Kong? I can’t imagine it was something so easy to discard, especially when Kong Kong holds such influence in the martial world.”
“I won’t deny it.”
Surprisingly, Geumcheon Jonsin nodded in agreement.
“Right? And that’s what’s strange. Why would you discard such a useful mask, one that still has so much potential, to spread the Dalma Jin-gyeong (Bodhidharma’s True Scripture) into the world? Everyone knows Shaolin will fiercely oppose it. Plus, the truth of it will be debated until the end of time, and there are always sharp minds in the martial world.”
The Dalma Jin-gyeong, a scripture containing Bodhidharma’s insights, would undoubtedly be incredibly difficult to understand.
The higher the level of realization, the more difficult it is to convey through words.
The fragments of enlightenment recorded in such a text would be abstract and cryptic.
Only a rare few could attain enlightenment through such abstract teachings.
If reaching the highest state could be achieved through a theory like this, the martial world would be filled with transcendent beings.
Jo Hwi knew better than anyone that just because a famous politician hands out law books to the public, it doesn’t mean everyone becomes a judge.
“That would indeed be the case.”
“Really? You actually admit that?”
Why is he so quick to acknowledge this? His personality seems so gentle and accommodating.
The Gold Heaven Lord (금천존신) had a much gentler nature compared to the other Six Lords that he had encountered in the past. Whether this was his true personality or a crafted one didn’t matter in the current situation.
“Honestly, this seems too inefficient, right? You’re losing far more than you’re gaining. Why go through with it?”
For a moment, the kind expression on Gold Heaven Lord’s face turned indifferent.
“It’s all because of you.”
“Because of me?”
Zohwi, confused, looked at him with disbelief.
“Amitabha, now I will ask the questions.”
“What? Go ahead.”
Zohwi’s heart chilled as Gold Heaven Lord spoke again.
“Did you come from the future or the past?”
“What… what are you talking about?”
Gold Heaven Lord gently stroked his chin, and soon, fell into thought.
“You possess the greatest and most powerful treasures in the history of the world. Being able to use the wisdom of the legendary heroes from Zhongyuan (Central Plains) might rival divine powers.”
“…”
“Yet, there is something about you that cannot be explained.”
Suddenly, the Gold Heaven Lord’s eyes glowed with intense light.
“The methods of accumulating wealth, controlling a group, procuring and utilizing talents, strategic mindsets for facing enemies, the ability to stir up and resolve conflicts—there is something in your overall behavior, something I have never seen in any of the mainstream figures who have ruled Zhongyuan. Your philosophy that runs through your every action is definitely not of this world. Am I wrong?”
Zohwi immediately felt that his opponent possessed immense wisdom. But when someone guesses so accurately, there’s a natural urge to refute, just for the sake of it.
“Too much conjecture and sophistry. No need to bother with refuting it.”
“Heh heh, conjecture and sophistry…”
Gold Heaven Lord’s face showed a faint smile, then he opened his yellow robe and took something out—a ledger.
The moment Zohwi saw it, he frowned sharply. The seal of the ‘Zoga Association’ was clearly stamped on the front of the ledger.
“Who the hell…?”
The ledger, which recorded the price and transactions of all the goods traded, was the core of the merchant group. The fact that it was exposed to an outsider like this immediately made Zohwi lose his composure.
“These strange characters…”
Gold Heaven Lord flipped open the ledger, pointing at the Arabic numerals with his finger.
“Are these characters truly from Zhongyuan?”
It was all Zohwi’s fault for teaching the merchants the Arabic numerals!
“Th-that’s a new system of numbers I created myself because Zhongyuan’s number system was so disorganized and inconvenient!”
“Heh heh heh! Heh heh heh heh!”
Gold Heaven Lord laughed heartily at Zohwi’s response. He laughed for a long time before suddenly discarding his yellow robe and loosening his inner garments, revealing his bare torso.
He turned around, presenting his back to Zohwi.
The moment Zohwi saw his back, his face turned pale with shock.
“We, the six of us, are not just disciples but also experimental subjects. The proof is clearly engraved on this Gold Heaven’s body, marking me as the fourth experiment.”
There were clear, branded characters near his shoulders, as though seared with a hot iron.
Gold Heaven Lord, quietly buttoning up his yellow robe again, smiled faintly—his expression mixed with derision.
“To the true master of this humble servant. I failed to recognize you as the one who transcended human limitations and became the seat of the distant cosmic firmament. How disrespectful of me.”
Gold Heaven Lord’s actions were mocking Zohwi, implying that if Zohwi had indeed invented this script, he must be Dalma (Bodhidharma) and the Lord of the Divine Sect.
“….”
All of Zohwi’s secrets had been revealed, and he could only bite his lips in frustration.
But it wasn’t all negative.
The suspicion that Dalma and the Divine Lord were the same person was no longer just a theory, it was now a confirmed fact.
In fact, the characters branded on Gold Heaven Lord’s shoulder were the same as the script left behind by the Divine Lord, who had created the Sacred Plates of the Heavenly Demonic Three Blades.
It was now clear that Dalma and the Divine Lord were one and the same.
He was another modern person who had fallen into the martial world of Zhongyuan.
That was everything Zohwi could understand about the true identity of the Divine Lord for now.
How could a modern person become Dalma?
Or was it possible that Dalma had briefly come to play with the life of a modern person?
Wait a minute… then what was the message he had left for Zohwi, saying “Come to the seat”?
The questions piled up in his mind, leaving him dizzy with confusion. And yet, once again, the voice of Gold Heaven Lord cut through his thoughts.
“Heh heh, it was just a joke… just a joke. Don’t make that face. But, I must say, controlling time is only possible by those of the seat. Since you, with your intact human form, can’t possibly be one of them, you didn’t come through time, did you? If not, then the only remaining explanation is…”
“Reincarnation.”
“Heh…? So that’s what it was, after all?”
Surprisingly, Zohwi admitted it calmly, but Gold Heaven Lord’s thoughts only grew more complicated.
“However, that doesn’t make sense either. Of course, as humans, we all have the right to reincarnate. But in the process of reincarnation, one must inevitably experience the ‘Law of Oblivion,’ meaning the loss of memory. No human can escape this universal law unless they transcend to the seat, becoming something beyond mere humans.”
Zohwi smirked, mocking him.
“So, what are you trying to say?”
Gold Heaven Lord finally revealed his true intent.
“Are you a seat? A human? Or are you an existence of some other realm, with a level unlike anything else?”
What nonsense is this?
How does he see me as some out-of-the-ordinary being?
Zohwi didn’t even think it was worth responding and had no intention of getting dragged into this exchange.
“Forget it. Just quickly tell me what you intend to do with the Dharma Sutra. Or else I’ll kill you like the others.”
“Ah, right. Speaking of which, I’ve lost that one who was most useful—Tong Tian—so easily.”
“Why are you leaving out that glittering Huyeong?”
“He was a discarded piece long ago.”
Ah, Sparkling Huyeong, you lost favor with even the other brothers. You died well.
“Just tell me already.”
“Maybe it would be better to fight you instead.”
“Are you serious?”
You really want to fight with all your strength?
After just a brief clash, the shockwave nearly caused Shaolin—no, the vast Songshan Mountain—to collapse.
What would happen if we truly fought with full force?
It was clear that not just Songshan, but all of Hanan would face a monumental catastrophe.
The clash between those near the level of the seat was no different from a natural disaster.
“Think carefully. In the end, you won’t have any soul left for your master to consume.”
“Huh…?”
Gold Heaven Lord was shocked beyond belief.
He never imagined that the Soul Sword could have figured that out.
“From the way you’re rambling aimlessly, isn’t it obvious? You know full well that fighting me would bring nothing but catastrophe.”
If things continued this way, Zhongyuan might be doomed before your true master even descends.
That was Gold Heaven Lord’s assessment the moment he realized Zohwi’s presence.
“So, aren’t you also unable to fight me?”
Zohwi stared at Gold Heaven Lord without expression.
“Well, maybe…”
Zohwi’s cold, calm demeanor made Gold Heaven Lord hesitate. It was too composed for him to just dismiss as unwarranted confidence.
In that instant.
Zohwi’s immense, vast, and distant spiritual energy began to rapidly materialize, filling the world with its presence.
As this spiritual force transformed into something resembling a barrier or energy field, Gold Heaven Lord’s face filled with bewilderment.
“…What?”
“You can’t escape.”
Only then did Gold Heaven Lord regain his composure, his confidence returning.
“Simply trapping me won’t solve anything.”
What use would it be to trap him with such an immense spiritual force?
Besides, to maintain such a massive energy field, Zohwi surely couldn’t have the strength to attack.
But Zohwi’s lips twisted into a sinister smile.
“You seem to be mistaken. I’m not the one trying to trap you.”
Gold Heaven Lord’s head tilted, puzzled.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
You’re generating such an enormous spiritual field to create a barrier, yet you have no intention of trapping me?
“What about the law? What’s the use of it?”
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Zohwi focused his energy, pushing his spiritual presence—or ‘existence power’—to its absolute limit.
A deep, vibrating hum filled the air.
And then, an unknown law governing the universe began to activate.
“Could it be…?”
There is indeed a threshold to the power granted to humans.
The laws of the universe would never allow one to surpass it.
**Law Heaven Thunder** (法天雷)!
Right now, Zohwi was forcing the **Law Heaven Thunder** into action.
“Heh heh! Let’s have a little chat after three thousand years. Don’t worry too much, though. It’s just a moment in this world.”
**Law Heaven Thunder**.
The greatest disaster that could befall the human realm.
As the name suggests, it was the most terrible calamity determined by the laws of heaven, and no one could predict what kind of punishment would befall them.
What was certain, though, was that since it was a calamity decreed by the heavens, it was not something mere mortals could withstand.
Yet, this Soul Sword was actively attempting to trigger such a terrible disaster.
A calamity with immeasurable probabilities that even the immortals who reached the seat could not predict!
Insane!
As Gold Heaven Lord’s face twisted into that of an evil spirit, a blinding golden light erupted from his entire body, so intense that it was impossible to look at.
The brilliant golden light, symbolizing his identity as the Golden Demon Buddha Light, shone as brightly as the sun. This was a clear sign that he had gathered all of his existence’s power.
With such power, there was no way Zohwi’s spiritual barrier could be broken by weak strength.
However, upon hearing Zohwi’s voice, Gold Heaven Lord couldn’t help but freeze in place.
“Thanks! I was a bit short on power to activate the Law Heaven Thunder, but now everything is complete!”
Having already experienced the Law Heaven Thunder once, Zohwi knew precisely the threshold of energy required to activate it.
Now, with the addition of Gold Heaven Lord’s power, the conditions to trigger the Law Heaven Thunder were perfectly met.
“You damn…!”
Some of the six Lords had already experienced the Law Heaven Thunder and were left with irreparable mental scars.
With such muddled spiritual energy, they would never be able to reach the Seat.
The weakening of Huyeong Lord, once among the highest beings like himself, was also due to the Law Heaven Thunder!
If he himself weakened further, the great plans of their master would collapse on this land.
Grinding his teeth, Gold Heaven Lord raised his palms, preparing to destroy the barrier Zohwi had set, moving with the force of light.
Ziiing—
Gold Heaven Lord’s eyes bulged in fury.
The move he unleashed, the Golden Buddha Twin Palms, contained an overwhelming force capable of turning mountains upside down.
Yet, instead of hearing any impact, the barrier simply caved in and then returned to its original state. Zohwi’s barrier remained unaffected.
It was an odd sight, but there was something strangely familiar about it.
Suddenly, someone who used a similar power came to mind.
Gold Heaven Lord clenched his fists tightly.
“Won Do…?”
While he always referred to the others by experimental numbers, only Won Do had been treated as a disciple.
Despite receiving such special treatment, that traitor had fled, even rejecting the divine title given to him by their master.
How could the power of that traitor, Won Do, be felt within Zohwi’s spiritual energy?
“You really seem flustered, don’t you? Did you think I simply created a physical barrier with my spiritual energy?”
Gold Heaven Lord yelled out in frustration, his voice almost breaking as he looked at Zohwi, who was mocking him.
“What… What is happening? How did you come to possess Won Do’s secret techniques?!”
“Well, I just picked it up after seeing all the carvings on the walls.”
In the vast underground chambers of Jang Sam Bong, it wasn’t just his prophecies that were written on the walls.
His entire life, and his great understanding, were all meticulously inscribed.
Indeed, the power left by Jang Sam Bong was not inferior to that of the Three Gods.
“That barrier you see… it’s all Taiji.”
Gold Heaven Lord bit his lips so hard they bled.
Yin and Yang.
Nothing and something.
Reality and illusion.
Void and fullness.
Taiji, the ultimate truth of the universe, cannot be divided into these laws. It is the most complete explanation of the primordial chaos, beyond all distinctions.
This is why the Divine Seat had shown special favor and support for Won Do Jang Sam Bong, who was attempting to challenge the Seat in his own way.
Perhaps Won Do had already reached the Seat. How could Zohwi possess the ultimate technique of Won Do?
While Won Do had shared his theories generously with the other five disciples, his Taiji was unique, something no one could replicate.
“You…!”
But Gold Heaven Lord’s voice trailed off.
“He’s here!”
In the far-off skies.
Like a thunderbolt, the rays of light blazed intensely, only to scatter in chaotic diagonal lines, falling in an erratic, mesmerizing dance. It was an exquisite light spectacle, yet one could unmistakably sense the overwhelming power of cosmic law.
This was a force beyond human comprehension, far superior to any spiritual power or magical arts a human could master—an unimaginable, boundless force.
This was the greatest calamity a human could experience, the Law Heaven Thunder!
“Let’s make it clean!”
The spiritual barrier Zohwi had erected began to shrink.
The shrinking barrier kept compressing until Zohwi and Gold Heaven Lord were tightly bound together, not stopping until they were almost fused.
Whoooosh—
And then, Zohwi and Gold Heaven Lord disappeared from the world.
A long, blood-curdling scream from Gold Heaven Lord echoed through the heavens like a distant wail.
Those watching the scene with trembling bodies, including the Milseung, could not comprehend what they had just witnessed.
What they had seen was no less than a myth or legend from the history of the gods.
Bum Seung, the leader of the Ji Gak Dang, struggled to rise, leaning on his captain, and screamed out in despair.
“We must stop the unveiling of the Thousand Year Shaolin Secret Arts to the world at all costs, now! Immediately!”
“Amitabha…”
“Amitabha…”
The Milseung hurriedly began to stabilize the surroundings.
The atmosphere of the Sung Mountain once again returned to its serene state.
—
Zohwi’s body felt as if it were being torn apart into countless pieces, and then those pieces were torn again.
Soon, even his vision collapsed, and only his consciousness floated in an endless, boundless space-time.
As his fading consciousness neared its end, a strange tower appeared far above in the heavens.
“Are you awake?”
Suddenly, his physical senses returned, and Gold Heaven Lord was hit with unimaginable pain, collapsing in agony.
“Ughhhh… Uweeeek!”
“Shut up.”
Zohwi stood with his arms crossed, looking down at Gold Heaven Lord with disdain.
No matter how much he vomited, it was unlikely anything would come out.
Had he been in a physical form, he would have starved to death and turned into a mummy in less than three months, let alone three thousand years.
Though his senses seemed real, in this moment and space, the only things that existed were consciousness and spiritual flesh.
After vomiting several times, Gold Heaven Lord, sensing something odd, regained his composure and began to survey his surroundings.
“Where exactly is this place…?”
In the vast void, the space around him sparkled with starlight.
He was trapped in a rectangular, transparent prison, like glass, suspended in this immense cosmic emptiness.
“Yeah, come on. What else? It’s a prison.”
“A prison?”
Gold Heaven Lord looked at Zohwi, bewildered.
“Can’t you see?”
Following Zohwi’s gaze, he noticed a massive tower in the far distance.
At its very top, a thin, needle-like object spun endlessly.
Strange characters surrounded it.
Although he couldn’t read them, their meaning was instantly transmitted into his mind.
“Three thousand years…!”
The time marked by the spinning needles indicated three thousand years until it would reach its end.
Gold Heaven Lord looked at Zohwi in shock, astonished.
“You knew this in advance?”
It was clear Zohwi had been mentioning three thousand years before the Law Heaven Thunder had even struck.
“Of course I knew. Did you think I came here without knowing?”
The calamities brought by the Law Heaven Thunder were countless.
Naturally, predicting them was beyond the capabilities of even those in the Seats.
But how could it be possible to precisely predict what kind of disaster would strike, and also deliberately bring someone to this place as intended? It was truly unbelievable.
‘If something like that is possible…!’
Even those in the Seats aspired to reach a higher dimension of existence.
Those capable of fully manifesting the laws of the universe.
Once a being reaches that level, they are no longer subject to the cosmic laws that govern all things.
In other words, they stand at a position where they can cultivate their own dimension.
As far as Gold Heaven Lord knew, only beings who had transcended all boundaries—creators—could predict and control the laws in such a way.
It was said that the creators could effortlessly destroy even those in the Seats with a mere thought.
Shuddering—
The reason the Seat of the Divine, despite all the threats and checks from the Seats, had no choice but to resort to the consumption of souls was to touch the boundaries of such a creator.
But to think that Zohwi had already reached that level!
“O great being of the boundary!”
Gold Heaven Lord trembled, bowing like a mere insect in fear.
“One who can willfully create and destroy all things! One who is not bound by eons of time or infinite space, the master of all boundaries! Are you not a Creator?”
“What are you saying now? Scary,” Zohwi replied, clearly unimpressed.
Zohwi, too, had a vague sense that there were higher beings beyond even the gods called the Seats.
If the Seats were truly gods, they could not freely intervene or infringe upon the human world. They must be entirely free from the cosmic laws that govern it. However, the Seats themselves were not free from such laws.
This suggested that even those who had reached the ultimate state in the Seats were still being controlled by some unknown force.
This meant that there must be a higher existence that projected such enormous forces of law.
“Why are you saying all this?”
Zohwi knew better than to be deceived by the false pretenses of this great being.
For whatever reason, whether wearing a “mask” to intervene in human affairs, this being could easily extinguish the souls of humans with the lightest of intentions.
“You have shown me the great divine power, using the Law Heaven Thunder disaster to your will! Of course, I am but a mere mortal, but I have cultivated myself enough to recognize the greatness of such beings!” Gold Heaven Lord pleaded.
Zohwi chuckled lightly.
“Heh… What are you talking about? No, it’s nothing like that. I only know because I’ve experienced it before.”
“I may be a humble mortal, but I am not foolish!”
This guy…
It seemed like he was completely misunderstanding things.
“The disasters that belong to the Law Heaven Thunder are countless! No matter how many times one experiences them, who can be sure that the same disaster will unfold again next time?”
“You didn’t know, did you?”
Zohwi pointed toward a distant clock tower in the void with his eyes.
“Look, it’s written there so clearly and in detail. Everything is predetermined according to cause and effect, and the trial you face in your fate is ‘The Binding of the Void.’ Don’t you see it? Don’t you feel it?”
That was a warning directed at Gold Heaven Lord.
It was a warning that if he broke through the threshold of power allowed to a mortal body again, he would inevitably return to this place.
Of course, Zohwi didn’t want to return here.
But if he could extract all the information from this sly Gold Heaven Lord, and if that could save the world, then it was something he had to do.
It would be three thousand years of torment for him, but for the people of the Lower Realm, it would be no more than a moment.
“I can’t understand anything written there no matter how hard I look,” Gold Heaven Lord said, looking up at Zohwi with confusion in his eyes.
“All I can perceive is that there are three thousand years left, but I can no longer see any other characters on the tower.”
“What?”
Zohwi looked up in surprise at the massive clock tower again.
“No…”
He couldn’t read it, but no matter how much he checked, the meaning was being clearly transmitted to his mind.
Looking back at Gold Heaven Lord, Zohwi saw him kneeling and bowing repeatedly in humility, and he seemed genuine, not a trace of pretension.
So why could only he recognize that text?
“Hold on a second. Let me ask you one thing.”
“Yes, please ask!” Gold Heaven Lord replied eagerly.
“Goddammit! I’m not some Creator, alright?!”
“…….”
But from Gold Heaven Lord’s perspective, no matter how much Zohwi denied it and acted with pretense, he couldn’t hear it. It was commonly accepted that even the Seats couldn’t predict the disasters of the Law Heaven Thunder.
“So, what’s the basis for claiming that the disasters of the Law Heaven Thunder are countless?”
“It is a fact already proven by history.”
“History?”
“That is correct. Since history was recorded, many humans have aspired to reach the rank of ‘Seat.’ Even our great God-Seat, after enduring the Law Heaven Thunder countless times, finally ascended to the rank of ‘Seat.’ Overcoming the Law Heaven Thunder is the final trial to reach the Seat.”
It was quite a detailed explanation, but Zohwi didn’t quite understand.
“Some of you are obsessed with the Seat, aren’t you? But both you and that guy seem to be really afraid of the Law Heaven Thunder?”
Just like Tongcheon Lord, Gold Heaven Lord displayed an intense fear when facing the Law Heaven Thunder.
But if they truly desired to reach the Seat, they would have naturally sought to experience the Law Heaven Thunder again and again.
After all, beings of the Six Great Lords’ status no longer had to worry about their lifespan.
To gain the power to reach the Seat, it would make more sense to accumulate experience through the Law Heaven Thunder, rather than meaningless cultivation.
However, Gold Heaven Lord’s face was filled with nothing but resignation.
“…The Law Heaven Thunder is a cosmic disaster. If you recklessly challenge it, you could be destroyed or severely injured, losing all the power and existence you have accumulated over the years.”
Zohwi didn’t like the answer and became bored, once again gazing at the distant clock tower in the void.
Enduring for three thousand years in the endless void would certainly be extreme torment, but at the same time, it was an infinite opportunity.
But to lose one’s spiritual power or even be completely obliterated?
Instead, Zohwi had come to realize the infinite potential of intention in this place.
It was strange to refer to it simply as a “disaster”—there was something more to it.
“The one who has experienced the most Law Heaven Thunder among us is Tongcheon. However, even he suffered an irreversible blow in the end, causing his existence to regress to below half of its original power.”
“Oh, and that was only at the level of half of his former strength?”
“If it weren’t for that incident, Tongcheon would still be the strongest among us.”
It was no wonder that he seemed so weak despite holding the title of the strongest Lord and even controlling his own sect.
“The types of Law Heaven Thunder he experienced were all different kinds of disasters.”
The Curse of the Hot Sea.
The Boundary of the Eight Cold.
The Void of Darkness.
Zohwi recalled hearing Tongcheon Lord mention various disasters before.
“Ah, damn, this is giving me a headache. Hey, stop.”
Zohwi lay back on the transparent floor, his gaze weary.
“Forget it, do you see the gear under that iron needle?”
One full rotation of that gear equaled a thousand years in human time, and it would take three complete rotations before they could be freed from this void.
“…I am already aware of that.”
Zohwi nodded lightly.
“Let’s spend one full rotation focusing on training together. When things get complicated, it’s best to clear your mind and focus on training.”
“Tr-training, you say?”
A sinister smile spread across Zohwi’s face.
“I’m sick of honing my intention. Now it’s time to refine my fighting path.”
Fighting path!
At Zohwi’s words, Gold Heaven Lord trembled violently.
This mad Creator(?) was declaring that they would fight together for a thousand years!
“Let’s go!”
“Wait! Please, spare me!”
Zohwi enveloped his fists with the energy of his solidified intention.
“You won’t die anyway. It might feel like a physical body, but take a good look at yourself. Isn’t all biological activity stopped?”
“Then…?”
“You’re a spiritual body! The pain will be similar though!”
“No, no! Wait… *cough*!”
Without air to carry a shockwave, the power of the single punch that struck Gold Heaven Lord’s solar plexus was on the level of a catastrophe, with destructive force comparable to a disaster.
Soon, a magnificent golden light surrounded Gold Heaven Lord’s spiritual form.
“Aaaaahhh!”
To protect himself, he had no choice but to fight that mad Creator.