Chapter 287: Annihilation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 287: Annihilation (3)
Seo-jun placed his hand on the altar, quietly examining the power dwelling within.
The Alliance Leader had mentioned that what resided here was a legacy left behind by a god of the past.
True to his words, the power within the altar possessed a level of authority that even Seo-jun found difficult to unravel at a glance.
This altar was likely an arrangement left behind by a martial artist on the verge of Ascension—one who had reached the Mythical Realm, the stage beyond the Profound Realm.
Seo-jun’s eyes faintly discerned the altar's origins.
A god’s will becomes law, and a law etched permanently into an object births another will as it passes through the hands of later generations.
The divine artifact created in such a manner was this very altar.
He could also sense the energy of Je Mu-geuk, the former leader of the Black Lotus Union, lingering inside it.
It was likely energy that had bled into it while he was performing some task through this device.
‘Is it checking my qualifications?’
The patterns in Seo-jun’s eyes rotated silently.
Passed down through generations, this altar was indeed worthy of being called a sacred object.
But that was all. In the end, it was nothing more than an object—not a god itself.
The Primordial Unity energy extending from within Seo-jun seeped into the altar.
Sifting through everything it contained, the Primordial Unity found an element with the exact same properties as the power dwelling in the altar. That essence flowed back into Seo-jun, aiding his understanding.
‘So, in the end, it judges qualifications based on the superficial hierarchy of the soul.’
If that was the case, the solution was simple.
Deep within his mental imagery, buried amidst the Primordial Unity and slowly being digested, lay the soul rank of the former Black Lotus Union Leader.
If he simply let a glimpse of that rank leak out, he could easily satisfy the qualifications demanded by the altar.
‘But it’s being way too arrogant.’
Why should he have to reveal what was inside him just to cater to the whims of a mere altar?
I, Lee Seo-jun, the brother of Geum Chun-bong, am not at a level where I need to be evaluated by a mere altar.
Its insolence had crossed the line.
If it had handed over what was inside gracefully, he would have let it slide. But since it wanted to act so prickly, he had his own ways of dealing with it.
Kiiiing—!
The patterns in his pupils rotated rapidly, analyzing every shred of the will dwelling within the altar.
He found the flow, the grain of it.
He poured his own energy through those gaps, subjugating the altar’s will from the inside out.
Even if it was a god’s legacy, it was ultimately just a form of energy.
And all energy fell under his dominion.
Wooooong—!
The divine power that had been resisting so fiercely finally surrendered under Seo-jun’s hand.
Wuung...
‘Know your place.’
The altar, now corrupted by the Primordial Unity, obediently yielded everything it held.
Clack—!
“Ah, there we go.”
[What? No, seriously, how did you do that?]
Ignoring the Alliance Leader’s shock, Seo-jun resonated with the altar he had just dyed with his own energy.
As if its previous prickliness had been a lie, the divine power rolled over like a dog showing its belly, revealing everything. Seo-jun could feel the totality of a certain enlightenment dwelling within.
It was...
“This is ridiculous.”
Seo-jun let out a hollow laugh and looked at the Alliance Leader.
“What is this?”
The Alliance Leader studied Seo-jun with a strange look, then let out a short, dry laugh.
It seemed he really had reached the enlightenment within. Was such a thing truly possible?
He had informed Seo-jun of the legacy’s existence just in case, given the boy’s many bizarre talents, but he hadn’t expected things to turn out quite like this.
‘I thought he might use some trick to satisfy the qualifications, but...’
After a few more chuckles, the Alliance Leader gestured toward the altar.
[Accept it. It won’t do you any harm.]
“No matter how I look at it, it definitely looks like it’ll do me harm.”
Seo-jun looked at the enlightenment within the altar and the restriction surrounding it.
The restriction wasn't complete yet.
It was a type of restriction that would only complete itself once he accepted the enlightenment.
The content of the restriction was unmistakably simple.
In exchange for the enlightenment, fulfill your responsibilities as the Leader of the Black Lotus Union.
“No wonder. I was wondering why no one just took the legacy and ran.”
So this was why the martial artists of the Profound Realm were tied to the Murim Alliance and the Black Lotus Union.
He didn't know why the person who first created this had placed such a constraint.
Perhaps they had a deep affection for the Black Lotus Union, or maybe they just wanted to play a prank on their juniors.
[If the restriction on that enlightenment is the same as the one in the Murim Alliance, then the responsibility isn't particularly heavy. You just have to stay at the Black Lotus Union and hold the position.]
“I’m saying I don’t want to do that.”
[What’s the problem? If you’re worried about the Namgung Clan, you can just relocate the clan itself.]
“Why would I?”
It was true that the responsibility was just holding a position—a deal that was practically a free ride, in a way.
But Seo-jun didn't want to be tied down to an organization like the Black Lotus Union.
More than anything, he felt a sense of defiance.
“Just because they tell me to do it, I have to do it?”
[What... Isn't it a fair trade? If the price for such enlightenment is merely staying in the Black Lotus Union, there isn't a martial artist alive who wouldn't take that deal.]
It was true. From anyone’s perspective, it was a deal where Seo-jun came out on top.
But Seo-jun shook his head.
“Still, no. I have to go on a honeymoon, and I need to visit the Western Regions later.”
[The legacy won't disappear anyway. You can accept the enlightenment after everything is over and you’re ready.]
“No, why are you being so dense? I’m saying I want to get it for free!”
The Alliance Leader’s mouth snapped shut.
Is this what it feels like to deal with a spoiled four-year-old throwing a tantrum?
The Alliance Leader offered some advice to the self-proclaimed twenty-five-year-old, a martial artist at the peak of the Transcendent Realm—one who stood at the pinnacle of all species and aimed for the seat of a god.
[Everything in this world requires a corresponding price. Whether it be a fitting ability or some kind of sacrifice...]
“Ah, forget it.”
[...Just do whatever you want.]
* * *
Restrictions came in many forms.
Among those countless forms, the one contained in the legacy left by the god of the past was a contract-type restriction.
A contract made under mutual agreement could not be ignored, not even by a god.
A contract that could bind even gods—beings who broke social rules as often as they ate (though those in the Profound Realm didn't strictly need to eat)!
What a powerful and rational tool it was.
The secret to its binding force lay in the soul.
The restriction within the altar’s enlightenment connected the god’s power with the soul of the one seeking it.
In that process, a portion of the user’s soul would flow into the altar, functioning as a sort of collateral and a mechanism to ensure the fulfillment of the contract. (It was highly likely that the former Black Lotus Union Leader’s energy had mixed in during this process as well.)
Of course, even such a contract could be ignored if the gap in power between the two parties was vast enough.
However, the altar was an arrangement left by a martial artist of the Mythical Realm.
For a being of the mortal realm, ignoring that contract was next to impossible.
[That should be the case... How on earth did you do it?]
“This is just another restriction in the end, too.”
[That’s true.]
“I’ve always been good at breaking restrictions.”
[Sigh...]
Having plucked only the enlightenment from the altar, Seo-jun left the Black Lotus Union with a light step, carrying a large bundle over his shoulder.
Though groans occasionally leaked from the bundle wrapped in white cloth, it was a minor detail.
At any rate, the enlightenment obtained from the altar now sat comfortably within Seo-jun’s mental imagery—specifically, right next to the soul rank of the Black Lotus Union Leader buried within the Primordial Unity.
He hadn't looked through it yet.
After all, enlightenment was just someone else’s realization.
While the enlightenment of the Mythical Realm was certainly grand, whether one could accept it and make it their own ultimately depended on their individual ability.
He planned to look through it slowly when he had some free time back home.
[That isn't something to be treated so lightly. It’s like getting a glimpse of the path a senior walked before you. Even if your paths are different, just knowing the realm you will eventually reach in advance...]
“Yeah, I know. Stop whining.”
Martial artists of the Profound Realm were extremely rare. As such, the value of the enlightenment within the altar was beyond imagination.
To use the Super Peak Realm as an example—they usually had a clear path forward.
If they were practicing a divine art, the explanation was already in the manual or oral chant. Even without those, by the time one reached the Super Peak Realm, everyone knew they could use Astral Qi.
But what about the person who first achieved the Super Peak Realm in the Central Plains?
The difference between knowing the destination and not knowing it was massive.
They might have realized the existence of Astral Qi much later, or perhaps they carved out a completely different path without ever knowing it existed.
Of course, being in the Super Peak Realm didn't strictly require handling Astral Qi, but over time, it was proven that using Astral Qi was generally more powerful.
Assuming all other conditions were equal, would the person who first reached the Super Peak Realm in the Central Plains progress faster, or would someone in the current Murim?
It wasn't even worth debating.
As such, the enlightenment left by a Mythical Realm martial artist in the altar was a supreme treasure whose value was impossible to measure.
The Alliance Leader was practically dying of envy.
[I’m just bitter. I’m tied down by a restriction, playing the role of Alliance Leader, while someone who isn't even in the Profound Realm—just the Transcendent Realm—plucks the enlightenment and walks away.]
He was already at the point where he had to return to the Murim Alliance because of that damn restriction.
And yet, what? He’ll look through it slowly when he has some free time at home?
It’s not like the enlightenment of the Mythical Realm was some third-rate novel you read to kill time.
He felt the illusion that his Five Desires and Seven Emotions, which he thought he had mostly emptied, were rearing their heads again.
Specifically, he felt the urge to smack the back of this kid’s head.
[Ugh... I’m heading back now.]
The Alliance Leader turned away, suppressing the impulse with the great self-control of a Profound Realm expert.
“Oh dear. Back to the Murim Alliance again? You should go home once in a while.”
[I didn't even have a home before I reached the Profound Realm.]
“Ah...”
Seo-jun’s eyes shifted.
“Were you an orphan? It seems like there are a lot of orphans around me.”
[Have you heard the phrase 'birds of a feather'?]
“......”
[There’s also 'he who touches pitch shall be defiled.']
“Well, at least I have a mom.”
[I’m truly envious of that.]
Letting out a hollow laugh, the Alliance Leader vanished in an instant.
He seemed to be sulking.
Seo-jun also gave a small smirk and made his way toward the Namgung Clan.
“Aigo, my poor bones...”
He wasn't joking; he felt like he could sleep for a whole week if he lay down right now.
* * *
“Yo, Geum Chun-bong.”
Entering the room, Seo-jun threw himself onto the floor without even changing his clothes.
He had handed the bundle he brought to a passing Namgung martial artist.
If possible, he needed to digest the soul rank of the Black Lotus Union Leader, setting the enlightenment aside for now. But right now, he didn't care about any of that—he just wanted to rest.
Chun-bong poked him in the ribs.
“You aren't hurt, are you?”
“Right now?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’m fine.”
“Good job.”
Chun-bong giggled and patted Seo-jun’s butt.
“So, what happened?”
“Hmm... I went all 'Evil-Annihilating Heavenly Lord' on them.”
Namgung Su-ah, who had entered the room at some point and was skillfully changing Seo-jun’s clothes and tucking him into bed, tilted her head.
“You went Evil-Annihilating Heavenly Lord?”
“Went over there. Black Lotus Union. Gone.”
The Black Lotus Union was gone?
Chun-bong, who had been thinking deeply, suddenly jumped up.
“What...!?”
And as a bonus, the Central Plains was turned completely upside down.
* * *
Deep within the North Sea Ice Palace.
The gathered elders continued their meeting with grave expressions.
“What are we to do about this...”
“What else? We just have to set out a bowl of water and pray.”
The Black Lotus Union had fallen.
According to secretly transmitted information, the Leader of the Black Lotus Union had lost his life.
It was unbelievable, but given the source of the information, they couldn't simply deny it.
“Wouldn't the Palace Master have some kind of plan?”
“No matter how great the Palace Master is, what plan could there possibly be in this situation?”
“But then...”
The elders all shared a single thought in their hearts.
The North Sea Ice Palace was truly screwed.
They were bitter enough to go mad, but they had no other options.
Now that the Black Lotus Union was gone, the Righteous Faction would surely move to unify the Murim. How could a sect like the Seven Evil Black Sect remain unscathed?
Especially if that blood-crazed madman, the Evil-Annihilating Heavenly Lord, were to come storming in...
“Sigh... Let’s go to the Palace Master first. That’s better than just sitting here.”