As his vision cleared, a familiar space ca into view. It was the top floor of the Heavenly Library, where he first t Earth Demon.
‘The first world created by Jang Dal.’
He stood in front of the mirror on one side.
In the past, he lived under the na Seol-Hwi, and now even that had been shed, revealing the face of the Earth Demon.
‘It feels new.’
This world was created by the system, but the system’s intervention had vanished.
In a way, it might be a world isolated by the system, but that didn’t matter.
This was the world I chose after much contemplation.
Choosing the Earth Demon in this virtual world was also because it aligned with the most ideal life.
‘After all, I, too, must be one of the spirits, no matter where I ca from.’
All players are like that.
Most of them lose their original selves and beco a specific character in this world, gaining a new opportunity.
In other words, they live in a world created by Jang Dal’s hands.
Thus, the position of the Earth Demon, who was made a pillar of Jang Dal’s world and did not exist in the original world, suited best.
Seol-Hwi must still be alive as well.
‘Well, having removed the restriction of Heavenly Killing Star’s activation, it should be a better life as the Earth Demon, right?’
Even without Heavenly Killing Star’s activation, I had already surpassed the realm of transcendence and reached sowhere unknown.
Anyway, in this new life, I felt at ease.
Here, not only the people I missed from the past, but everyone exists.
Not just Seo Ryeong and Cheon Miryeo.
‘Sa Yu-kang is here too.’
Before returning to the past, I calculated the appropriate ti.
Three years before the ti I t my end as Seol-Hwi.
As soon as I found out that Sa Yu-kang was alive, I examined the status and situation of the Earth Demon at that ti.
[The ti when Earth Demon was appointed is 3 years prior to Seol-Hwi’s death.]
[Would you like to revert the ti to when Earth Demon was appointed?]
Coincidentally, it was not long after I beca the Fourth Disciple, so I naturally chose this period.
However, during this process, a small issue arose.
[I will revert the ti to the official appointnt date.]
I had confused the unofficial appointnt period with the official one.
It took 3 months for the unofficial appointnt to be officially announced to everyone.
As a result, I had no choice but to move quickly.
Creak.
“Oh, you’ve arrived.”
A middle-aged man hurriedly opened the door and approached, bowing deeply.
I glanced down at him and said.
“Sorry for dropping by so suddenly.”
“No, not at all. I apologize for not coming sooner as I was in training.”
The man, bowing respectfully, was unfamiliar to , but I knew he was the person in charge of Baek Seung-gwan.
“But, for what reason…?”
“I’m looking for soone.”
“Pardon?”
At the responsible man’s puzzled reaction, I pointed to the desk.
“Could you give the list of trainees?”
He promptly retrieved the list from the office desk and handed it to , allowing to ascertain the total number, their ages, and the presence of Sa Yu-kang.
However.
“Where are the trainees?”
“Well…”
He soon explained that the trainees had scattered due to the final exam, and upon hearing this, I beca anxious.
I quickly summoned the core warriors and secret warriors to investigate the children, and during the process of verifying each one, I discovered that so had left the sect.
Chasing after them led to a familiar place.
“……”
“……”
My appearance seed to have struck those gathered here with shock.
Especially the Supre Pavilion Lord and Goo Jong-myung, who froze the mont they saw .
Well, to them, my presence here would have been impossible under any circumstances.
“You all, take Sa Yu-kang to the river. There will be a masked figure waiting. Show them your wounds and receive treatnt.”
Number 12 and Number 3 stood there, dumbfounded.
“Hurry!”
At my repeated urging, they finally seed to realize what they needed to do.
Soon, the healthy Weekday carried Sa Yu-kang on his back and slowly left the place.
Even as they disappeared, everyone remained silent.
Such was the extent of fear my presence instilled in them.
“Hmm. I find it hard to believe what I’m seeing. A person of your rank eting with an elder of the Mount Hua Sect. I’m very curious about the reason.”
Even when I spoke, the Supre Pavilion Lord couldn’t readily respond to .
Given the situation, he seed more frozen than surprised at my presence there.
“Right now, your emotions must be very complex, right? It’s understandable. I haven’t been in my position long, and you’ve been caught in a dangerous situation that shouldn’t be seen.”
To speak of my own feelings, I found this situation intriguing.
Not only was it interesting to see familiar faces from the past, but I was also curious about their reactions.
“I, Supre Pavilion Lord, greet you, the Fourth Disciple, Earth Demon.”
The Supre Pavilion Lord finally seed to regain his senses and knelt to pay his respects.
The unnad middle-aged man and Heuk Bi followed suit.
Of course, Goo Jong-myung still didn’t change his stance.
“Please don’t misunderstand, and hear out first.”
The Supre Pavilion Lord began to speak.
“As you know, after the arrival of the Fourth Disciple, the real succession battle began to unfold. From our perspective, the involvent of prestigious sects was a concern. So, we arranged this eting to ask the Mount Hua Sect to refrain from intervening until our matters got resolved. We plan to do the sa with other prestigious sects in turn. There’s no other intention behind this.”
‘Is this really the best strategy he could co up with?’
Though many counterargunts ca to mind, I rely nodded.
I wasn’t interested in pursuing that line of questioning now.
Instead, I saw it as an opportunity.
“I see.”
My brief response seed to only add to their confusion.
Their subtly shifting expressions were telling.
“I’m not here to interrogate anyone. Nor am I here to exploit any weaknesses of our Cult mbers.”
I spoke gently to the Supre Pavilion Lord.
“I simply wanted to verify sothing. Whether the Supre Pavilion Lord has any intention of joining our side.”
“…!”
“…!”
Finally, a definite reaction erged.
Though the sentint leaned more toward the negative.
“I understand. No one would bet their fate on a successor disciple dood by the Heavenly Killing Star’s constitution on their body. At the very least, you want a master with absolute power. That’s why you sided with the First Disciple, isn’t it?”
I now revealed my main point to the still bewildered person.
“But, hypothetically speaking, if I were not rely bound by the Heavenly Killing Star curse but could wield its power at will, what would you do then? Would you reconsider your stance?”
“How could I possibly believe that?”
At his retort, I pointed deliberately to one side.
“Look at Goo Jong-myung. Would you believe it if I killed him?”
“……”
Goo Jong-myung’s eyes widened in reaction.
It was only natural for him to react that way when the focus suddenly shifted to him.
‘Goo Jong-myung, unfortunately, this is where our journey ends this ti.’
I decided to conclude my connection with Goo Jong-myung here.
Why kill him, you might ask?
As for the Supre Pavilion Lord, I had killed him in the past, and he had killed , but we never had a cooperative relationship.
Goo Jong-myung was different.
I had been killed by him and had also cooperated with him.
So in this life, I intended to eliminate him to prevent interference in the successor struggle.
He also had to pay for having killed Seol-Hwi before.
“Cluck, cluck, cluck…”
Goo Jong-myung clicked his tongue. Then he responded coldly.
“Now I see, these scoundrels plotted beforehand to kill .”
Boom!
His qi resonated with the ground as a vortex ford beneath Goo Jong-myung’s feet.
The power he rapidly summoned to its extre kicked up dust around him.
As the Supre Pavilion Lord flinched and tried to dodge, Goo Jong-myung charged.
But I was faster.
I grabbed Goo Jong-myung’s wrist just as he reached the Supre Pavilion Lord’s face.
“What are you doing to my subordinate?”
And with the leisurely tone of a superior, I spoke.
“Damn!”
With his hand caught, Goo Jong-myung recklessly headbutted straight at .
It was a rather clever attempt, but to , his movents were far too slow.
I easily dodged and kicked his abdon.
Thud!
Goo Jong-myung’s body bent in half and flew, crashing through countless trees.
The qi contained in a simple kick seed to have inflicted serious damage even on Goo Jong-myung, who had reached the level of a superhuman.
‘All my stats are…’
Even without seeing it, I knew they had nearly pierced the ceiling.
Not just Goo Jong-myung, but anyone in this world could be easily subdued.
“How dare you!”
Srrrng!
Goo Jong-myung quickly drew his sword.
His eyes had completely changed, indicating he was ready to go all out.
Ziiing.
The sword’s edge flared with qi as he reached an absolute state.
A realm far beyond that of ordinary mortals.
With this, the Supre Pavilion Lord would surely realize the absolute power I possessed.
“Co at when you’re ready.”
I clasped my hands behind my back, extending one hand leisurely.
“Fine. I will perish here with you!”
Goo Jong-myung still seed to think of as a person cursed with Heavenly Killing Star.
Thus, he seed to be drawing upon all his qi without a second thought.
Boom!
The sword qi that sliced through the air suddenly split into a plum blossom shape.
Dozens of shining petals scattered in all directions, carrying the sword’s qi within them.
The death garden, as it was called, the ultimate sword dance created by Goo Jong-myung’s absolute sword qi technique.
It was an ultimate strike imbued with his life’s innate qi.
Rustle.
Yet, as those brilliant petals of death brushed past , Goo Jong-myung’s eyes dimd.
The enemy before seed like an illusion, effortlessly slipping through the dazzling sword dance, and as I passed by, I left him with a brief ssage.
“Rest in peace.”
Goo Jong-myung couldn’t collect his thoughts.
My touch struck his head, erasing all his thoughts.
“Ah, ah…”
Thud.
The Supre Pavilion Lord collapsed.
This was a power akin to that of a god.
I ended the formidable Goo Jong-myung, who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, with a single touch.
Not just the movent, but the aura was beyond what a human could contain.
“Do you believe now?”
I looked at him gently and kindly.
In this life, I wanted to design everything according to my own desires.
The cooperation of the Supre Pavilion Lord was the first step.
“Why… choose …”
Of course, from the Supre Pavilion Lord’s perspective, fundantal doubts were inevitable.
The martial prowess just displayed was beyond the peak, reaching the realm of transcendence.
“I thought this approach would be good.”
“…?”
“By expanding my power and making them bow willingly, my subordinates will feel pride, won’t they?”
Sa Yu-kang, Seol-Hwi, and Seo Ryeong as well.
It wasn’t just about their safety and comfort.
Making them feel proud to be my subordinates.
That was what I saw as the true completion of this life.
“I will follow.”
Leaving the Supre Pavilion Lord, who bowed his head briefly, behind , I looked up at the sky.
I thought this wasn’t a bad start for the beginning of my final life.
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