866 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 866: The Pond of Secrets The pond was deceptively small, seemingly accommodating only five grown men, but in reality, it extended far beyond what the eye could see. The pond shimmered with a golden hue. The sight widened his eyes. Not only was the pond's true expanse surprising, but it was also filled with something immense. It was so vast that he couldn't initially grasp what it was. '...Could it be...?' It didn’t take long for him to recognize its identity. It was a giant serpent. An immense, massive serpent. Moreover, he had seen it before. '...That serpent from the hidden chamber of the Golden Celestial Immortals, right?' It was around a year after he returned to the past when he first encountered it with Wi Seol Ah in that chamber. At first, they mistook it for a monster, which scared them half to death, especially when it started speaking. He almost fainted. 'Is it the same creature?' Was this the same serpent? If so, why was it lying there like that? Judging by its state, it seemed to have been dead for a long time. '...Moreover.' As he inspected the pond, he discovered something else unusual besides the snake. Something was floating inside the pond. Approximately the size of a thumbnail, sphere in shape. He used his power to retrieve one. A white orb. 'It's just like the one I ate.' It was identical to the elixir he had taken after killing a nameless giant. It must be this. This same thing must have been consumed by Gae Cheonmunju and the creatures that perished. 'Why are they floating in this pond?' Why was the snake's carcass embedded in the pond, and why were these orbs within it? It was a mystery. But if so. 'I need to investigate.' From this moment on, he needed to find out. With this thought, he swung his hand. “Gah!" A rigid Gae Cheonmunju was flung to the ground. He immediately unlocked his accupuncture points. “You--! Urgh….” As soon as the restraints were lifted, Gae Cheonmunju attempted to say something, but he simply grabbed his neck, preventing him from speaking or biting his tongue to commit suicide. “I have a lot to ask you.” His heart pounded. “But we don’t have much time…. And there's something I want to test.” Ssss--!! “Ugh!” Dark energy surged from his palm. “Let’s make this easy.” And enveloped Gae Cheonmunju entirely. ****************** In the midst of a gentle breeze, a seated young man opened his eyes. “Hm.” He stretched with a short sound. “Hmmm.” A sense of inexplicable euphoria resonated in his voice. He opened and closed his hand repeatedly. “Not bad. You’ve worked hard.” “It was nothing.” The young man, Blood Demon, spoke, and a woman, kneeling before him, responded. As she answered, the Blood Demon gradually rose from his chair. His appearance was considerably different from before. His limbs, once marred and decrepit, were now miraculously restored. “The current state... is usable.” The Blood Demon smiled with satisfaction. Before, his body could withstand no more than thirty percent of his desired strength. Thanks to the excessive use of sacrifices, it was now slightly better. With a vessel like this…. Halfway. It’s nowhere near comparable to his true form, but compared to the past, that’s about how much he can exert. Contemplating this, the Blood Demon took a step. “What’s the situation?” “…We’ve completed the preparations as you instructed.” “I’m pleased.” “However.” The dancer's words made the Blood Demon look at her. “What about the Star King? You haven't given any specific instructions, so we have him on standby.” “The Star King? Ah….” The Blood Demon nodded, as if remembering belatedly. That’s the title he earned. “Leave that child be.” “What?” The dancer's eyes widened. “It means, let him do as he wishes. In fact, what he’s doing aligns with what I hope for.” “But….” “Hmm?” Her words made the Blood Demon tilt his head. Under his gaze, the dancer immediately bowed deeply. “…I apologize.” “Click.” The Blood Demon chuckled and looked ahead again. He knew why she said that. Anomalies were occurring continuously. Unexpected arrivals had altered plans and led things in a direction entirely different from the Blood Demon's expectations. She seemed to worry because of this. 'But I like it.' The Blood Demon relished the current circumstances. Unknown to him. Unknown to the world—an unceasing chain of anomalies. He had thought no more unforeseen circumstances could arise. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Look even now. 'Something has changed.' The air felt different to the Blood Demon, who sensed a shift while his eyes were momentarily closed. What could it be? He didn’t ponder for long. 'It must be you again.' That child. The existence left behind to create an opening for rebellion, using the Ten Thousand Realms’ Dagger. 'What kind of amusing antics have you pulled now?' What did you do for the world to react so fiercely like this? He covered his mouth with a smirk. At that moment, he stopped and looked up at the ceiling. Though the sky was obscured by it, the Blood Demon knew. “If it displeases you so much, why not intervene?” Click, click. The Blood Demon, chuckling, resumed his stride. He knew no answer would come. One thing was certain: the change had already begun. There was no turning back. Feeling this, the Blood Demon smiled with his eyes. The time has come. Or has it already passed? “Dancer.” “Yes.” “I should go see my precious daughters.” “…!” His words made the dancer tremble, knowing the implication behind them. “…Which… side will you visit first?” “Hmmm…. Let’s see.” The Blood Demon pondered momentarily. “First.” With these words, his face held an expression of hunger. “I need to regain my strength with a meal.” A chilling smile spread across his face. **************** The space remained unchanged from before, identical in every way. The same spot where he stood earlier. Nothing had shifted, yet his eyes, now lowered, were fixed on something. The pond from before. Its waters dyed a golden hue. He diverted his gaze to the side. “…H-huh….” A frail and emaciated old man, Gae Cheonmunju, was kneeling and shaking his head. He seemed to have lost his senses. The life in his eyes vanished long ago, and he no longer harbored resentment or despair towards him. He appeared devoid of spirit, as if his very soul had dissipated. Watching him, he moved his hand. Splat-!! Thud. The old man's head caved in under the blow of his fist, collapsing to the ground instantly. It was immediate death. “...” He didn't bother wiping the blood off his hand, simply frowning. He had gathered all the necessary information. How the detestable One Heaven Sect came into existence, what was transpiring here, and what the purpose behind their actions was. While he had discerned everything he needed from Gae Cheonmunju's words... “…This is insane.” Even after hearing it all, he couldn't easily comprehend it. It wasn't the circumstances. He understood all that. However. It was Gae Cheonmunju's final words that lingered. He glanced back to where the Dark King stood. Namgung Bia and Wi Seol Ah wore expressions of astonishment. Was it because they were present to hear it all instead of being sent out, or because they witnessed him use dark energy on Gae Cheonmunju, altering him? He had shown them on purpose. There was no way he could keep hiding everything any longer. By now, he intended to reveal, bit by bit, what kind of person he was. The problem was. ‘Something far more significant has occurred.’ He had heard something far more shocking than the spectacle he had just shown. This was why. The two women were one thing. ‘The Dark King….’ The reason for the Dark King's bewildered expression was precisely this. What was he thinking? What emotions was he feeling? It was usually hard to discern anything from the Dark King's face, but now, his emotions were palpable. Confusion. And shock. It was a face he had never seen on the Dark King before. ‘…Understandably so.’ It made sense, given his predicament. How could it not? This location, the events that occurred, and Gae Cheonmunju's final words. If he were the Dark King, his reaction would have been even more extreme. ‘How could it be?’ No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't wrap his head around it and kept ruminating. But even after all his pondering, he couldn't understand. No one would blame him for that. “Cluck.” Frowning deeply, he recalled the last conversation he had with Gae Cheonmunju. -So, who planned all of this? -…. He couldn’t have orchestrated it alone. There must have been someone behind him. He had asked about it, and after some wheezing, Gae Cheonmunju answered. -…Il. -What? The voice was too low. He brought his ear closer, narrowing his brows. Finally, he heard Gae Cheonmunju whispering. -…Yeon Ilcheon. -…! Hearing those words, his face twisted. What kind of madness was this? -Why mention someone who's been dead for hundreds of years? Instead of speaking the truth, Gae Cheonmunju uttered nonsense, leaving him bewildered. -What, are you saying he's still alive? To his question, Gae Cheonmunju responded. -Indeed… he is alive. -…What? -Yeon… Ilcheon is…. alive. Everyone around was left frozen by Gae Cheonmunju's response.