The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 132

Peak.

For most martial artists in the Central Plains, the peak was a lifelong goal they desperately sought.

Qi, which seeped into one’s dantian, was indispensable for martial artists. When this energy enveloped the body, it enabled them to lift what seemed unliftable. When imbued into a weapon, it pierced the unpierceable and sliced through the unsliceable.

Qi was the most crucial asset for martial artists, thus making them yearn for the state called the peak even more.

Upon attaining this state, a martial artist’s dantian and body would elevate to a higher level.

They would go beyond simply infusing their body with qi and begin to integrate fully with it.

By embodying the seed of qi through rigorous training and repeated enlightenment, it culminated in full bloom.

From third-rate to second-rate, from second-rate to first-rate, the stage where the seed, after climbing higher and higher, finally blooms is called the pinnacle.

It was the state where the qi embraced within the body began to unite as one. It was the realm every martial artist of the Central Plains dreamed of and the place many would strive their whole lives to reach yet might never attain.

‘…… The boundary of the ungifted and the proof of the genius.’

It was the place where martial artists without innate talent ultimately fell short and withered away. Seven out of ten martial artists failed to reach the peak and fell according to general belief.

‘Have I reached the peak?’

Feeling the vibrant energy coursing through my body, I was left dumbfounded. Some said the peak was the ultimate proof of genius. Only those with talent could reach it, and those without it could never ascend to it.

‘…… How long has it been since I became first-rate?’

It had not even been ten days since I became first-rate after consuming the Great Rejuvenation Pill. Suddenly realizing, I found myself at the peak.

How was I to explain this? No words came to mind, leaving me in silence.

『…… Useless actions.』

Yu Chun-gil muttered, displeased.

『It’s not the right time yet. Tsk.』

He seemed perturbed by the fact that I had reached the peak.

Whenever the word “peak” came to mind, a strange heat surged through him.

‘Peak……’

When I reached first-rate, I felt an astonishing amount of excitement. However, when I truly reached the peak, the feeling was rather subtle. It hadn’t fully sunk in, one might say.

What was strange was that I instinctively recognized I had reached the peak. No one had to tell me; I just knew.

“……”

I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my fists. If I were to describe the sensation of having reached the peak, it felt somewhat awkward but also—’More than anything.’

There was an odd sensation of floating, as if my body felt infinitely light, and there was a feeling as if I could fly off with a step. Was it an illusion?

Realizing this feeling made me want to draw my sword immediately.

I wanted to fully experience the new level I had achieved, with thoughts of testing it invading my mind. Unconsciously I grasped my sword handle but then—

『Focus.』

“…!”

At Yu Chun-gil’s words, I swiftly came to my senses.

『Tsk tsk. It’s good to be excited, but you can’t afford to waver so soon, especially not with just reaching the peak.』

“……”

Just the peak.

That one phrase cooled the heat that had been rising within me. While others draped the peak with words like the proof of genius and the boundary of the untalented, describing it as the grueling dream of a lifetime, for me, standing at the peak and hearing it dismissed as “just the peak” felt heavy, yet oddly made me expectant.

“…… Can’t you at least congratulate me?”

『Congratulations, my foot. What expectation do you have for a level reached through someone else’s intervention?』

Those words pricked at my heart. Indeed, whether it was when I became first-rate or now at the peak, I had only risen through fortuitous encounters, making those words resonate more deeply.

Of course.

‘Still, I don’t feel bad.’

It was a place I had never thought I would reach in my lifetime.

Who could have imagined? Not even I had imagined it, and no one who knew me had believed it possible. The very idea of reaching first-rate was unbelievable, let alone the peak.

Moreover, ‘It hasn’t even been a year.’

It had been less than a year since meeting Yu Chun-gil, yet within that time, I had reached the peak. The timing was indeed absurd, considering that while it would be a lifetime for others, it was less than a year for me.

‘The one who made this possible.’

The disgruntled, yet now somewhat acknowledged figure, the former World’s Greatest, Yu Chun-gil.

‘…… Even if I hate to admit it.’

I couldn’t help but recognize it at this point.

‘He was serious.’

Despite everything—Just like someone casually saying they’re going out for a stroll around the neighborhood.

Yu Chun-gil’s words, telling me that I had to become ‘The World’s Greatest,’ suddenly echoed in my ears.

Feeling that, I spoke to Yu Chun-gil.

“… Elder.”

『What.』

“Are you alright?”

Yu Chun-gil narrowed his eyes and looked at me at my words.

『What do you mean?』

“I mean, the fact that the Poison Sovereign ascended.”

After all, a close friend had left.

I never thought the Poison Sovereign would depart so easily.

No matter how much he said he had no regrets, I thought he would hold on to something and endure a bit longer.

I was worried about that, but he disappeared completely with no trace.

Asking if it was alright even though he vanished without a proper goodbye.

『Ha.』

Yu Chun-gil burst out laughing while looking at me.

『What is there to not be alright about. Those who were supposed to leave, left.』

“… Hmm…”

『Why? Did you think I would be called upon to feel gloomy because he left? After all, whether it’s me or him, being dead is the same. We weren’t in a relationship for any meaningless sentiments.』

He really looked unperturbed.

I wondered if such emotions as wavering even existed in that man.

Whether he knew my feelings or not, Yu Chun-gil spoke again.

『We’ve had our fun. Now, let’s get going.』

“… Where to?”

『We need to prepare something for the Tang family lad.』

“Ah.”

His words made me recall the matter about Sky Filling Flower Rain Art.

Right. I should take care of that.

“Haha…”

A laugh escaped my mouth inadvertently at the situation.

The hero of the Tang family known as the Poison Sovereign and the ghost known as the Heaven Beyond Heaven had attained peaceful rest.

And perhaps because of that, even though I reached the peak stage.

I had no time to enjoy or mull over it.

The nonchalant attitude towards my attainment of the peak made it laughable.

In such a situation, what I had to do was return to my place and write something in a book all night long.

* * *

The next day, I went to meet the Poison King again.

It was to finish what I started saying yesterday.

Perhaps it was also the final task to be fulfilled at the Tang family.

‘… So tired.’

Dragging my tired body, having not slept all night, I faced the Poison King.

“Hello.”

“Welcome…”

The Poison King’s greeting halted and his eyebrows furrowed as soon as he saw me.

We met in a spacious training hall.

I wondered why he had such a reaction but soon deduced the reason.

‘He noticed.’

It seemed the Poison King realized that I had reached the peak.

It was the same when I achieved first-rate before. Even this time, he seemed to have noticed immediately.

“Why do you ask?”

Feigning ignorance, I asked, and the Poison King quickly composed his expression.

“Nothing in particular.”

It was hard to believe that I had reached the peak overnight. As long as I acted nonchalant, everything would be fine.

Proving that point, the Poison King didn’t bring up anything specific. Confirming his response, I prepared the book in my arms and handed it to him.

It was the promised item.

“…”

The Poison King carefully received the book and examined it.

His expression, for the first time, showed a significant reaction.

*Flip.*

As soon as he received it, the Poison King began to check the book.

“… It seems the ink hasn’t dried completely.”

“Ah, yes. I wrote it in a hurry, so it may not be fully dried yet.”

“… What?”

The Poison King made a puzzled face at my words.

“You mean this is not a pre-prepared secret manual?”

To his words, I waved my hands, implying how ridiculous that sounded.

“Come on. What are you talking about? My master instructed me to read and burn all secret manuals concerning him.”

“You clearly mentioned that something related to Sky Filling Flower Rain Art was left behind.”

When discussing the matter with the Poison King.

I had said I could provide assistance regarding the knowledge of Sky Filling Flower Rain Art.

At that time, I had seen the secret manual related to Sky Filling Flower Rain Art.

Offering that as help, I said I would assist.

Seeing that I wrote it overnight made the Poison King’s expression twitch.

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“If the original secret manual was burned, that book you brought might not be accurate.”

The time that passed would make it hard to remember, and the probability of inaccuracies would be high.

That was the logical argument, and it was indeed sensible.

“No, it’s correct.”

I knew that the manual I handed was accurate.

And for a good reason.

‘How could it be wrong when I wrote it down directly from what I heard yesterday?’

As Yu Chun-gil’s murmuring echoed from behind, I had diligently transcribed everything.

The content wasn’t lengthy, and there was no chance it could be wrong.

If something was wrong, it had to be Yu Chun-gil’s mistake.

“I memorized everything my master left behind. There’s no way I got a single word wrong.”

“… You memorized everything? Those countless books?”

“There weren’t that many, actually. It wasn’t difficult.”

“…”

He still had a doubtful expression. Seeing that, I wrinkled my nose and spoke.

“If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. However, this book truly contains everything my master gave me. If you still don’t trust it, you should at least give it a try.”

Try checking the book.

As soon as I said that, Poison King eagerly went over the secret manual again.

It was filled with techniques, including the application sequence of qi and martial arts moves for using Sky Filling Flower Rain.

Seeing it, qi began to emanate from the Poison King.

*Whoooosh—!!!*

A gust of wind formed by his qi could be felt from Poison King.

His robes fluttered, and he slowly moved his hands.

In that moment,

*Shwack—!!*

Dozens of concealed weapons shot out from Poison King’s hand and flew into the air.

*Ba-ba-ba-ba-Bang—-!!!!*

The weapons filled the sky and then rained down, sweeping the ground.

The concealed weapons stuck to the ground in abundance.

Poison King’s expression changed slightly upon seeing that. I was also taken aback.

‘Is this Sky Filling Flower Rain?’

The technique which is said to be the ultimate and symbol of the Tang Sect.

I heard concealed weapons filled the sky like rain and swept across the battlefield.

‘… It looks right, but… something feels off.’

It looked correct but somehow felt distinctly different.

At that moment.

『… This is a disaster.』

Yu Chun-gil spoke to me in a worried tone.

『He can’t do it properly.』

It seemed Poison King had done something wrong.

I found it odd as well, but it truly seemed off.

“… How is it?”

Curious about Poison King’s reaction, I asked.

“… This is…”

“… Hmm?”

Poison King had a look of awe on his face at the Sky Filling Flower Rain he had just used.

Why was he satisfied…?

No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like he just scattered a bunch of concealed weapons.

Why was he so pleased?

Oh, perhaps…

‘Is it because he’s never seen it before?’

Perhaps he had never seen Sky Filling Flower Rain used by the Poison Sovereign.

Or.

‘Is he just satisfied because he feels he succeeded?’

Maybe he felt the authenticity of the secret manual, even if it wasn’t perfect, hence his reaction.

“Hmm…”

He nodded his head slightly.

Before I knew it, my body moved towards the concealed weapons.

I had no idea why, but I instinctively did so.

The training ground was filled with countless concealed weapons, proving it belonged to the Tang Sect.

I grabbed a few of them.

It was my first time handling such weapons.

Yet, ‘It feels familiar?’

As I fiddled with them, they felt strangely familiar. What was happening?

Engulfed in a strangely familiar sensation, I felt something from my dantian.

『Huh? Boy? What are you doing?』

Yu Chun-gil spoke to me again.

At that moment, my body moved on its own without my command.

The method of using Sky Filling Flower Rain, which I had memorized overnight, came to mind.

Why was my body moving on its own?

I wondered about it myself. But simultaneously, the qi from my dantian permeated my meridians.

My fingers, now imbued with qi, gripped the concealed weapons and flung them.

“Young master Bang, this secret manual—”

As Poison King began to speak to me in a slightly brighter tone.

*Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang—!!!!*

“!”

The concealed weapons I had thrown bypassed him and landed on the training ground.

As they settled, they exploded with a bombardment of noise.

It was entirely different from what Poison King demonstrated.

Moreover, unlike the hundreds of concealed weapons simply embedded in the ground earlier, the few weapons I threw not only pierced the ground but also shattered the walls, causing the training ground to suddenly be riddled with holes.

*Crack, crash…*

Debris fell from the damaged walls.

“… What the hell?”

Seeing the state of things, I cursed involuntarily.

Both Poison King and I, even Yu Chun-gil, were dumbfounded.

The Poison King slowly turned his head towards me.

Facing his gaze, I said the only thing that came to mind.

“… I was just trying to imitate it… Why did it work? It’s not supposed to work like this. Uh, well… I’m sorry.”

“…”

Poison King remained silent at my clumsy apology.

His silence was even scarier to me.