1065 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Chapter 1065 of "The World's Greatest Friend" > Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive** The words of my ancestor seemed layered with several meanings. The arrangements left by my mother. All the things I had gained from seeking the divine tree and clashing with generals. Recalling these, I placed a hand over my heart. Sssssss. The vessel that could no longer be felt. Fortunately, even though the vessel had disappeared, the soul was still perceptible. I wasn't sure what kept it intact. The soul hadn't dispersed; instead, it lingered within. Within it, the energies I had accumulated until now were still so vivid. The fiery energy of Nine Flames Technique. Though I couldn't activate it, it remained in my body. The spiritual energy of Mount Hua. Though not abundant, it still existed within my soul. enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013L1VWWWZiYWRyRXRrakJ5cFpXbGJvb3l0Wmt5RW1OYWFzWFdFVk5Ddm1OQg The martial and demonic auras of Twin Sky Dance also lingered. Energies that coexisted without clashing. While these energies were palpable, there was something slightly foreign within them. Whether it was internal energy, martial energy, demonic aura, or otherwise. This peculiar energy was something that didn’t belong to any category. It was the mysterious energy I had derived from the divine tree. Could this be the arrangement my ancestor spoke of, left by my mother? “That is divine essence.” My ancestor spoke as if confirming my thoughts. “......Divine essence?” The name of the energy was divine essence. Just the word itself seemed utterly arrogant. The essence of a god? Could such a name even be used to describe an energy? “What is divine essence?” I understood that the energy I obtained from the divine tree was called divine essence. But what exactly was it? Why would my mother leave such an arrangement for me? “Divine essence is, quite literally, divine essence.” “......Such a simplistic explanation.” Could that even be considered an explanation? It made me want to explode in frustration. Was he trying to provoke me into a fight? That would have been preferable—it was something I could vent my anger on. But that wasn’t the case. My ancestor continued his explanation. “Those of lower stature often meet death without ever elevating the level of their soul.” Crack. The sky tore apart once more. At that moment, I felt a vibration within my body. Woooom. “Urgh.” The pain forced me to my knees. Previously, I hadn’t felt it, but now whenever the sky split, pain coursed through me. It felt as though my body was being torn apart, forcing me to swallow a groan. Despite this, my ancestor continued unperturbed. “It’s only natural. The notion of stature is predetermined. It can't change barring miraculous events. However.” His gaze shifted. It fell somewhere, toward the divine old man watching us with a gaze filled with pity. “Occasionally, very occasionally, there exist those rare beings who attempt to ascend the confines of their predetermined stature throughout the endless ages.” Existences that transcend the world's predetermined order to elevate their stature. “Born with a lofty soul, in the mere blink that is their life, they lay foundations of profound enlightenment and unyielding beliefs, breaking the walls of thick stature to claim a higher rank.” Rumble. Now it wasn't just tearing but my entire inner world starting to collapse. Beyond my knelt knee, a vague sense of pain surged. It was so intense that staying conscious became increasingly challenging. “The power gained through such elevation is exactly that: divine essence.” “Hah…” “It’s also a condition to become what you call a master or catastrophe.” “……!” Upon hearing the term catastrophe, I gripped my waning consciousness and looked at my ancestor. One must possess this so-called divine essence to become a master? “Of course, becoming a master isn’t simply about raising one’s stature. The master, in essence, is in alignment with the world’s predetermined order. Not everyone who elevates becomes a master since the world ultimately determines its master directly.” Drip. My ancestor knelt to align with my gaze. Though a fiery figure formed a human shape, where the eyes would be was unclear. Yet, instinctively, I knew that what I was looking at were indeed eyes. “So, descendant. What do you think of Zhongyuan?” “That is……” “The punishment from the world upon Zhongyuan was precisely to prevent the elevation of stature. The world disliked it terribly. The thought of a shining being elevating their stature through beliefs in a condemned world—I found that intolerable.” Great achievements. Elevating one’s stature through sheer strength is an exceptional feat. My ancestor explained it to me. “Then, in a world without masters or the ability to elevate stature, who do you think could fulfill that role?” I responded with a weary voice to the question. “……Gu Clan?” “Exactly.” “…….” “A world cannot sustain itself without a master. Therefore, the role of the Gu Clan in Zhongyuan is of great significance.” Things known when one becomes a head of the family. Were these the matters my ancestor referred to now? “While what lies beneath the Gu Clan is somewhat a different matter, it does not change the fact that the direct lineage of the Gu Clan defies the principle that prohibits increasing the stature.” Crackle. Slowly, crimson flames gave rise to ashes. “Ultimately, it’s to stand in for the lost master, preventing the collapse of the world.” “……That's quite a mess.” Even amidst the pain, I found myself laughing. The reason being able to transcend stature was to stand in for the absent master in a world? “……In that case.” I thought of my ancestor before me. And of my grandfather whom he resembled. “……Could it be correct to consider that man as the master of Zhongyuan?” If the Gu Clan stands as the master’s substitute. Recalling the feelings I had when seeing my grandfather, that was the conclusion. Every master I’d met possessed something immeasurable. I hadn’t known then, but now I understood. That the emotions and presence I felt looking at my grandfather weren't all that different from those masters I’d encountered. Meaning. ‘Grandfather is the master of Zhongyuan.’ Or, a substitute at least. This conclusion seemed apt. Furthermore. ‘That grandfather commanded my father to fulfill the role…’ "Quickly raise me to the position of the young head of the family, and prepare for me to take over as the next head,” I mused. ‘Could it be because I’m the next in line for the master's position?’ It's because as the head of the family, my father must ascend to the master’s seat. If the Gu family legacy involves perpetually substituting for the master’s role, wouldn’t that be the correct assumption? “The master…” Upon my words, my ancestor pondered momentarily with a thoughtful expression. “You’re not wrong. It’s not incorrect. However.” Though seemingly affirming, he found something unsatisfactory and made one correction. “Not the master, but the key. It would be more accurate to call it that.” “The key?” “Yes, the key.” A key? It was a somewhat ambiguous word. The moment I frowned at a term that didn’t seem to correlate with a master, “Becoming the head of the Gu family means gaining complete insight into the legacy of the Gu.” My ancestor looked directly at me as he spoke. “Transitioning from the head also signifies holding the key in your grasp.” “...What do you mean? Holding the key-. Cough!” I started to speak but was interrupted by a sudden cough. Crrrrack-! The sound that was resonating throughout was now audible from within my own body. With trembling eyes, I examined my hand; it had fissures. From within those fractures, heat was radiating. A blue flame flickered. I clenched my fist in an attempt to prevent further cracking. In such a situation, my ancestor continued speaking. “Yes, the key.” “What…?” “This part, you’ll naturally come to understand when you act on your duty, so I won’t explain it needlessly. The important thing is the choice you eventually make.” Thump. As he spoke, my ancestor moved his hand. From the tip of his slightly swaying fingers, sparks burst forth. The flame that emerged enveloped my body. Consequently, my disintegrating body began to come back together. Not exactly reassembled, but it felt more like being held together by sheer pressure. “Right now, divine essence is housed within your body. That’s also the reason your body is collapsing.” “Haah…” With the pain dissipating, I could finally exhale a breath. “It’s a lamentable affair. Forcibly cramming mismatched divine essence into you led to this chaos. It was excessive ambition.” “...I didn’t ask for this; it wasn’t my desire in the first place. Ambition, my ass.” “I never said it was your ambition. If anything, it closely resembles your mother’s desire. Didn’t I mention it? Something that shouldn’t have been housed is within you.” “...Is it really such a significant issue?” “The essence that should reside in a Gu soul is predetermined. It’s been passed down through generations, and nothing else should be contained within…” Fwoosh. The flames enshrouding me flickered briefly. It seemed that my soul was responding slightly to the flames. “It seems the Dragon Emperor’s reckless acts intersected with your mother’s arrangements. While this might be their intention, it accelerated the timeline.” “...Accelerated the timeline?” “It hastened the time when you would become a catastrophe.” “What?” “You’re well aware, aren’t you? You were bound to become a catastrophe. That’s the principle set by the world, the finality of Zhongyuan.” I had heard it countless times—enough to feel as if my ears would bleed from repetition. “The original timeline was when you surpassed being the head and ascended to the position of a substitute. At that time, fate would’ve been realized, and you would have become the catastrophe.” “...!” The word shook me to my core. Was that supposed to be the timing? ‘When I would ascend to my grandfather’s position…’ Becoming a catastrophe at that time? It was a statement that struck a blockade in my mind. “That was how it was meant to be. It was destined to happen.” Though my ancestor said that, an inquiry rose in my mind. ‘If it was fate, it didn’t happen.’ In the past life, I hadn’t even reached the position of the family head, let alone my grandfather’s role. The situation hadn’t allowed for it. “It should have been so, yet fate twisted. The unfortunate soul who desperately tore at the framework caused it. Despite being told countless times it would never work, that one still endeavored tenaciously.” “You called them unfortunate…?” “You’re aware. The reason you didn’t become the head. The one who dabbled in countless deeds, ultimately meddling with the time axis.” “…Ah?” The moment my ancestor’s words finished, a person sprang into my mind. The reason I hadn’t ascended to the family head. And the reason for my return to this earlier time. It was all the doing of one person. “The Heavenly Demon…?” The leader of the Demonic Cult, Heavenly Demon. She came to mind.