Chapter 678: The Strongest on Earth
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 678: The Strongest on Earth
"Wait, Clan Head, what on earth do you mean by that!?"
Chief Administrator Eon Do-dan asked back with a look of utter bewilderment after hearing Eon Jung-gi’s words. He simply couldn't comprehend what was being said so suddenly.
What could possibly be written in that letter to make him abruptly announce he was heading to the Tang Clan?
"It is exactly as I said. I heard there is a strong master at the Tang Clan."
"And how does that justify going there!?"
Eon Do-dan continued, his expression one of pure disbelief.
"Is it not a natural instinct for a male to seek out the strong? Chief Administrator, do not try to stop me."
Eon Jung-gi spoke with a look of absolute determination.
Frown.
Upon hearing this, Eon Do-dan’s face contorted. Irritation surged within him at the Clan Head’s nonsensical behavior.
The position of Clan Head was a heavy responsibility. It was a seat of gravity where one should neither move lightly nor remain idle. Yet, how could he decide to set off so hastily over a single letter?
It was preposterous.
"Clan Head! How can you act so recklessly? You are the head responsible for hundreds of members of the Eon Family. You must not act on a whim!"
Eon Do-dan protested vehemently, staring at him. He felt he couldn't let him go like this.
Hearing this, Eon Jung-gi turned his gaze toward Eon Do-dan. He stared at him intently and silently—so long that Eon Do-dan began to feel awkward.
Drip. Drip.
Under that gaze, cold sweat began to pour down Eon Do-dan’s face. Anxiety gripped him, making him wonder if he had made a mistake.
'Did I... overstep my bounds?'
Because Eon Jung-gi was usually tolerant, Eon Do-dan had slightly crossed the line with his remarks. But it seemed he had finally caused trouble. He had offended the Clan Head.
Thump. Thump.
Eon Do-dan’s heart began to race frantically.
Then, suddenly, Eon Jung-gi handed the letter he was holding over to Eon Do-dan. With a hesitant expression, Eon Do-dan accepted it.
"Th-this is..."
Eon Do-dan looked at Eon Jung-gi, puzzled.
"Read it," Eon Jung-gi said in a calm tone.
"......I... I understand."
Eon Do-dan replied, breathing a sigh of relief inwardly. It seemed he hadn't offended him after all. He quickly unfolded the letter and began to read it thoroughly, making sure not to miss a single character.
"Wh-what!?"
By the time he finished the letter, Eon Do-dan’s face was etched with shock. The contents were entirely unexpected.
The letter detailed the truth behind the annihilation of the advance party. It also revealed the identity of the culprit and included a request to punish them.
"How... how can this be..."
Eon Do-dan began to stammer as he confirmed the contents. For the Cheonmu Alliance Leader, who was supposed to be more righteous than anyone, to solicit a revenge killing—how could such a thing happen?
He was so stunned he couldn't even find the words. It was the height of absurdity.
"Is it not worth going?"
Seeing his reaction, Eon Jung-gi asked him calmly.
"You must refuse!"
Eon Do-dan spoke with a firm expression.
"There is absolutely no reason for the Jinju Eon Clan to involve itself in this situation!"
"But was our beloved Jae-shin not injured?"
"It’s not Jae-shin, it’s Jae-seon!"
Eon Do-dan raised his voice, shouting.
"Right, Jae-seon.... Regardless, was my dear nephew not hurt? As his uncle, I must teach the culprit a lesson."
Eon Jung-gi continued with a mischievous smirk.
'This man doesn't even know his own nephew's name!'
Eon Do-dan scowled as hard as he could.
"Clan Head, you must reconsider. Nothing good will come from getting caught in the power struggle between the Tang Clan and the Cheonmu Alliance."
Eon Do-dan pleaded earnestly, begging him to think again. This was not something the Jinju Eon Clan should interfere in. Even if Lee Jae-sun was a nephew who shared the family's blood, he was merely a distant relative who didn't even carry the Eon surname.
To go to the Tang Clan—a place no different from a dragon's lair or a tiger's den—just for the sake of Lee Jae-sun's revenge was madness.
A Great Clan was not meant to be run with the heart. It was meant to be run with the head. And Eon Do-dan’s head was warning him: there was absolutely no profit to be gained from going to the Tang Clan.
"Has the Tang Clan's power not grown too great lately? Wouldn't it be a good idea to take this opportunity to suppress them?"
Eon Jung-gi spoke in an incredibly calm tone.
"Why should the Eon Clan be the ones to do that!? This is a scheme by the Cheonmu Alliance! A trick to pressure the Tang Clan without getting their own hands bloody! Even if you step forward, Clan Head, there is nothing to be gained!"
Eon Do-dan began to persuade him with a heated speech. There was nothing to win. It was a zero-sum game. Even if he punished the culprit who wiped out the advance party, he would only break even; if he were defeated by the culprit, the family would face utter humiliation.
In such a situation, how could he even think of heading to the Tang Clan? it made no sense.
"There is a profit," Eon Jung-gi replied calmly.
"What profit are you talking about!?"
Eon Do-dan asked back, unable to understand. No matter how much he racked his brain, there seemed to be no benefit at all. What could he possibly mean?
"I can prove it."
"Pardon?"
"Will I not be able to prove my strength to the entire world?"
Eon Jung-gi continued, looking quite amused.
"This is no time for jokes!"
Eon Do-dan shouted, his voice rising. His attitude was bordering on disrespectful to the Clan Head, but he couldn't help it. What kind of nonsense was he spouting?
"I am more serious than anyone, Chief Administrator."
Eon Jung-gi spoke with an incredibly grave expression.
"As the one who has assisted me for decades, you should know. You know what my long-held dream is..."
"Is it not to be the World's Greatest Martial Artist?"
Eon Do-dan replied bluntly.
"Correct."
Eon Jung-gi nodded in affirmation.
"Since I was a child, I have dreamed of being the strongest on earth. And that dream has never changed."
Eon Jung-gi continued with a serene expression. His dream was to be the strongest on earth. He felt a sense of mission that, as a man, he had to prove his superiority through strength.
"What does that dream have to do with this matter!?"
"It seems you didn't read the letter to the end."
Eon Jung-gi spoke calmly.
"What?"
"At the very end, the Cheonmu Alliance Leader made me a promise."
"A promise?"
Eon Do-dan looked bewildered. He quickly unfolded the letter again to check the contents. It seemed he had skimmed over parts in his haste.
Soon, he found it—the promise the Alliance Leader had made.
The letter stated: If you capture the Master of the North Sea Ice Palace, who annihilated the advance party, and bring him to the Cheonmu Alliance, I promise you an official martial duel with our honors on the line.
"You're going to the Tang Clan just for this duel!?"
After reading it, Eon Do-dan scowled and spoke.
"It is not 'just' a duel."
Eon Jung-gi shook his head.
"It is a chance to overcome the wall I have been unable to scale my entire life."
Eon Jung-gi’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. Lee Jae-won had been a massive wall he could never surpass. Now, a chance to overcome that wall had appeared—and officially, in front of everyone. How could he stay still?
"Do you truly believe you can defeat the Alliance Leader?"
"Of course."
Eon Jung-gi affirmed without a moment's hesitation.
"Even if the Alliance Leader lost an arm, he is still a master of the Profound Realm. How can you possibly defeat such a man!?"
Eon Do-dan spoke with a look of incomprehension. The Cheonmu Alliance Leader had weakened. His arm had been severed by the newly crowned World's Greatest Martial Artist, the Sword God, and more than half of his power had vanished.
Even so, he was not to be underestimated. Despite losing an arm, he was still a master who had reached the Profound Realm. How could Eon Jung-gi be so confident in defeating him? Especially when he had challenged him countless times in the past and never won once. It was impossible to understand.
"I can win."
Eon Jung-gi spoke with a deep smile on his lips.
"...No, I mean... how exactly are you going to win!? Did you suddenly gain enlightenment and reach the Profound Realm or something?"
Eon Do-dan spoke with a slight frown.
"Correct."
"What!?"
"I have reached the Profound Realm."
Eon Jung-gi spoke in an incredibly calm tone.
"Th-that... what do you...?"
Eon Do-dan asked back, his face filled with shock. He was at a loss for words at such a staggering revelation.
"You... you are joking too much..."
Regaining his senses, Eon Do-dan dismissed Eon Jung-gi’s words as a joke. It simply felt impossible. Eon Jung-gi’s cultivation had been stagnant for decades. He had been stuck at the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm, unable to progress further. For such a man to suddenly reach the Profound Realm? It made no sense.
"I am serious."
Then, Eon Jung-gi’s voice, devoid of any levity, pierced his ears.
".............."
Eon Do-dan looked at Eon Jung-gi with a suspicious expression, trying to discern if he was joking or serious. Then, he saw his eyes—eyes that were incredibly steady and straight.
Seeing that, Eon Do-dan knew. He was telling the truth.
"Wh-when did you reach such a realm?"
Eon Do-dan asked with a trembling voice.
"The day the Cheonmu Alliance Leader’s arm was severed by the Sword God."
Eon Jung-gi spoke with a calm expression.
"Pardon!?"
Eon Do-dan asked, looking flustered.
"On that day, my mind was exceptionally clear. It felt as if a thick fog was lifting. In that clear state, I swung my fists relentlessly. Until all the internal energy in my dantian was exhausted. And in the end, I realized it. I had reached the Profound Realm."
Eon Jung-gi continued calmly.
"And on the day I reached the Profound Realm, news arrived. That the position of the World's Greatest Martial Artist had changed."
"....Th-that... happened..."
"What do you think?"
"Pardon?"
"Don't you think it's far too contrived?"
Eon Jung-gi spoke with a smile.
"Wh-what do you mean...?"
".......I remained in the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm for decades... but I could not move to the next level. It was as if the path to the Profound Realm was hidden, covered in fog. On the day Lee Jae-won’s arm was cut, that fog lifted. I saw the path. The path to the Profound Realm."
Hearing this, Eon Do-dan nodded slowly. It certainly felt contrived. Eon Jung-gi was a genius comparable to Lee Jae-won, who had reached the Transcendent Realm during the Great War of Righteousness and Demons. Yet he had stagnated. For decades. Unlike Lee Jae-won, who had moved past the Transcendent Realm to reach the Profound Realm.
But that stagnant cultivation had broken through the moment Lee Jae-won’s arm was severed. It was as if an obstacle blocking the path upward had been removed. How could it not feel contrived?
"I believe this is the will of Heaven."
"The will of Heaven?"
"The rise in the Poison King's realm, who was stagnant like me; the appearance of a master stronger than Lee Jae-won; the chaos of the Demonic Cult; my sudden breakthrough... all of these feel like the will of Heaven telling us to decide who is truly the strongest on earth."
Eon Jung-gi spoke with an incredibly serious tone, all traces of laughter gone.
"I intend to carry out that will. To see who is the best. Who is the most superior. And the first stage will be the Tang Clan."
Vrooooooom.
Eon Jung-gi continued, his immense fighting spirit fluctuating.
"My goal is not revenge for some nephew whose name I don't even know—be it Lee Se-shin or Lee Se-jun."
Eon Jung-gi glared at Eon Do-dan with burning eyes.
"My goal is the Poison King, who is said to have reached the Profound Realm."
"...........The... Poison King.."
"Yes. And after that, it is the Cheonmu Alliance Leader, Lee Jae-won."
Eon Jung-gi spoke with a thick smile.
"And finally, it is the Sword God, Jang Sun-woo."
".............."
"So please, do not interfere. To me, the mission to determine the strongest on earth takes precedence over the Eon Family right now."
Madness began to fill Eon Jung-gi’s eyes. Facing that gaze, Eon Do-dan trembled. A level of madness beyond his imagination was being transmitted directly to him.
Eon Do-dan realized then. No matter what he said, Eon Jung-gi would not listen.