ALL NOVEL Ch 82
Chapter 81
The sunlight pouring down at noon is the order of all things that has existed since the beginning of time.
Unless it’s a special event like a total solar eclipse, there has never been a time in the long history of the Central Plains when the sunlight disappears at midday.
The problem, however, is that this immense phenomenon, which might be considered a natural disaster, was caused by a mere swordsman—the Swordsman God.
All the martial artists of the Martial Alliance huddled in the darkness, trembling in fear.
Can this kind of power truly be measured by the ‘height and depth of a realm’?
The level of martial arts is, after all, measured by human standards.
However, the inexplicable phenomenon of the sun disappearing at midday cannot be explained from a human perspective.
The harmonies of the sun, moon, stars, and planets are objects of reverence that humans wish to invoke for good fortune or to test their fate.
A martial artist who can control the movements of the sun, moon, and stars?
Such a person has never existed, even if we were to examine all the history since the birth of the world of Jianghu.
Even the great martial artists known as the Three Gods, who were unmatched in their time, did not possess this level of power.
“Bring the general here.”
“W-where… exactly…?”
With the world around them so dark that they could no longer tell direction, how were they supposed to find a way?
At that moment, Jo Hwi casually looked at Ha Ryung, the guardian of the Martial Alliance, and lightly exerted his will.
In that instant—
Pop!
A faint sound, as if something was blinking out of existence, echoed, and immediately light returned around Ha Ryung.
It was as though the scorching sunlight’s rays only affected him, and the ‘day’ had returned to his immediate surroundings.
All the martial artists, their eyes filled with astonishment, turned toward Ha Ryung.
This was even more shocking than the earlier total darkness.
Now, it was undeniable that this harmony was not a coincidence.
It was clear that this Swordsman God could freely manipulate the movements of the sun, moon, and stars.
“Oh, I need to check on my side too.”
Pop!
At that, the area around Jo Hwi also became bright, like the midday sun.
“Hmmm…”
Ha Ryung bit his lips so hard that they bled, groaning, and quickly retreated from the scene.
The martial artists of the Martial Alliance looked at the Swordsman God with an overwhelming sense of despair.
This was no ordinary opponent. He was someone who could manipulate even the great celestial bodies.
They had no will to even raise their swords.
A figure who, shrouding the world in darkness, was the only one shining brightly beneath the heavens.
Perhaps, in that moment, they realized they were witnessing a legend that might never be seen again in the world.
Jo Hwi observed them indifferently.
As expected, everything was going according to his plan.
In truth, he did not lack the martial power to overwhelm the martial artists before him.
But facing tens of thousands of soldiers and carefully controlling his strength to avoid killing them? That would be impossible.
It was certain that countless lives would be lost, and in doing so, it would be no different from throwing away his justification of saving the Jianghu—or the world itself—into the trash.
The wishes of the venerable elders, whose souls had been shattered and vanished, and the noble ideals of the great master Zhang Sanfeng were always with him, and so his every action needed to reflect their will.
That was his destiny.
The Weight of the Mission Carried by Countless People
Jo Hwi understood better than anyone how the people of the Central Plains perceive their situation differently from modern people, what they fear, and how they think.
What the people of the Central Plains, who lack knowledge of science, fear the most is natural disasters.
If there’s a drought in just one season, millions of people are bound to suffer from famine. If the north winds are a little too harsh during the winter, countless people turn to statues in the streets.
When a terrible epidemic strikes, it’s not unusual for a third of the population of an entire region to die. When locusts swarm, they destroy an entire year’s worth of crops, leaving the people of the Central Plains weeping in despair.
For the people of the Central Plains, a solar eclipse is a harbinger of all things ominous.
Now, the Swordsman God would surely be seen by them as the embodiment of all human misfortunes.
There was no need to display brute force or kill anyone.
He could simply control them through darkness.
Just that alone would elevate the Swordsman God to the status of a true deity in their eyes.
But the problem was that Jo Hwi’s companions, Namgung Jangho and Sima Jung, were also people of the Central Plains, with the same common sense as the martial artists around them.
“This can’t be…”
Sima Jung, who had just collapsed to the ground, looked up at Jo Hwi with a dazed expression.
Until just a moment ago, he had dismissed Jo Hwi’s arrogant claim of superiority over martial arts as nonsense.
But now…
As a martial artist, or rather, as a mere human, was such a thing even possible?
He had known that Jo Hwi had transcended the boundaries of the later stages of martial arts, but this… this was beyond anything he could have imagined. His competitive spirit had completely vanished.
All that remained was a growing sense of disbelief about how a mere human could possess such abilities.
At that moment, Namgung Jangho’s deep voice rang out.
“Jo Bonggong.”
Jo Hwi looked at him with a gaze full of curiosity, then smiled gently.
“Go ahead, Swordsman Lord.”
Namgung Jangho chuckled as well.
“Yeah, that’s enough. No matter how much you become a god that has never existed in history, or even if you become a heavenly god, as long as you remain the person I remember, that’s all I need.”
Namgung Jangho had been Jo Hwi’s oldest and closest companion.
For Jo Hwi, who did not want to admit the reality of his new position, Namgung Jangho’s support meant a lot to him.
“Thank you.”
Still, it was not that Namgung Jangho wasn’t shocked.
He soon shook his head, a bitter expression on his face.
“But still… this is… it’s too much. What kind of magic are you using here?”
Jo Hwi, without saying a word, looked around and then casually spoke.
“When you cultivate your mind for thousands of years, you reach a stage where the total amount of thoughts neither increases nor decreases. I call this the Realm of Extreme Thoughts. I had thought there was no stage beyond that.”
The idea of cultivating the mind for thousands of years alone seemed impossible, but the notion of reaching a realm where thoughts neither grow nor diminish was even more absurd.
The concept of the mind, or will, being something measurable and quantifiable was something that Namgung Jangho, who had not reached the ultimate realm, couldn’t understand.
“How could human thoughts or will be measured in quantity?”
Jo Hwi paused, thinking about how to explain, and then continued.
“Let’s take memory as an example. Is there a limit to the total amount of memory a human can hold, or is there no limit at all?”
“Hmm…”
Jo Hwi tapped his head with his finger.
“Then why do we keep forgetting things?”
“That’s…!”
Namgung Jangho was about to argue, but then closed his mouth in silence.
“To absorb new memories, we must erase old ones. Human forgetfulness is a clear evidence that the total amount of memory has a limit.”
Jo Hwi stared at Namgung Jangho.
“Thoughts are the same. Thinking is also a type of computation by humans. Of course, not everything about thoughts can be explained by the brain’s processing power alone. But in a broader sense, you can say ‘thoughts are computations.'”
Jo Hwi’s point was that thoughts, like memory, are part of a person’s computational capacity, and thus, the total amount of thoughts would also have a limit.
However, Namgung Jangho still found this explanation vague and abstract.
The idea that human thought has a fixed limit seemed far-fetched to him.
It was as if Jo Hwi had reached a state where he used every part of his brain, something no human in history had ever achieved.
Even modern neuroscience, as advanced as it was, still had vast areas to explore.
For modern humans, using 100% of the brain would be seen as reaching the domain of gods.
How much more so for someone like Namgung Jangho from the Central Plains?
“It’s truly… unimaginable. So, is this darkness the domain of this Extreme Thought realm you’re talking about?”
“No.”
Jo Hwi Smiled Bitterly
“Ever since I engraved that strange name on the cursed stone tablet, something inside me has blossomed. I can perceive it, but paradoxically, I can’t explain the power. Should I call it some sort of extrasensory perception… or perhaps simply…”
The thought that this could really be the power of a god never left Jo Hwi’s lips.
To accept such a reality would mean acknowledging that he had become a high-ranking official on his own.
“Are you saying that even after transcending the realm of Extreme Thoughts, you can’t explain it in words?”
“Exactly.”
In the world of martial artists, every form of martial arts had a secret formula, a set of principles that could be explained.
Jo Hwi knew he had to explain even that subtle sensation.
“If that’s the case, then this isn’t martial arts.”
“Why?”
Namgung Jangho’s voice was firm.
“In the realm of a martial artist who has trained in martial arts for many years, there is always a sense of self. If you can’t explain it, it means you don’t have your own sense of self in that realm.”
The fact that Jo Hwi couldn’t explain his own power meant that it wasn’t his own.
Jo Hwi’s face immediately contorted in confusion.
“Are you saying this power isn’t mine, but someone else’s?”
“There are those in the martial world like you, who can’t explain their own realms. They are called ‘Demons.’ They are consumed by demonic power, trapped by the demon nature, and lose their own sense of self. Your explanation resembles theirs.”
“Ha…”
Namgung Jangho was looking at the pitch-black darkness Jo Hwi had summoned with fearful eyes.
At this moment, he believed Jo Hwi had been caught by the dangerous demonic nature.
Jo Hwi let out a quiet sigh.
“This isn’t some evil demonic power.”
Sima Jung was glaring at Jo Hwi.
His gaze was no different from Namgung Jangho’s.
“Prove it.”
He wanted Jo Hwi to prove that the source of his power wasn’t demonic.
Since they had decided to follow Jo Hwi’s cause, this issue was of utmost importance to them.
Schriiieek!
Without saying a word, Jo Hwi tore his collar and fashioned it into a blindfold, then handed it to Namgung Jangho and Sima Jung.
“You should cover your eyes.”
Sima Jung, taking the torn collar awkwardly, frowned.
“Why?”
Jo Hwi smirked and asked in return.
“You asked to see, didn’t you?”
Both Namgung Jangho and Sima Jung hurriedly covered their eyes with the cloth, sensing something strange was about to happen.
At that moment.
Suddenly, Jo Hwi opened his mouth wide.
As something he vomited partially emerged from his throat…
“AAAHHH!”
“AAAHH! My eyes!”
The martial artists who had been staring at Jo Hwi screamed, clutching their eyes and collapsing to the ground.
Whooooosh-
What Jo Hwi had vomited was a blindingly bright orb of light.
Even though they had covered their eyes with the blindfold, the intensity of the light was so powerful that there was no way to block it.
Namgung Jangho, completely stunned, shouted in a panic.
“W-What… is that…?!”
Despite the blindfold, the blinding light was so intense that there was no way to shield themselves from it.
Then Jo Hwi’s usual blunt voice was heard.
“I’ve been gathering all the light sources from around the Taiyuan Province and storing them in my body.”
“Ah, no…!”
“Madness! This is impossible!”
Jo Hwi smiled smugly.
“See? It’s not demonic power, is it?”
Sima Jung sat down again, his heart heavy with disbelief.
Yes, it’s not demonic power.
But ultimately, isn’t it divine power, a god’s position of authority?
The Supreme Commander of the Martial Arts Alliance, Je Gal Chan-hwi, and the governor of the Inner Province, Seo Gang-hoo, were absent-mindedly staring out the window, completely forgetting the ongoing discussion of the Nine Dragon Grand Assembly.
The same went for the elders representing the Nine Factions, the Nine Dragon Provincial Lords.
Without any candles lit, the meeting room was plunged into pitch-black darkness, so dense that not even an inch ahead could be seen.
“Why has such darkness suddenly appeared…?”
“Hmmm…”
This wasn’t a solar eclipse.
If it were an eclipse, the shadowed outline of the sun would have at least faintly shown in the sky.
Yet, no matter how much they looked at the sky, there was no sign of an eclipse.
“Is it the Sogeomsin…?”
At the strange question from Seo Gang-hoo, Je Gal Chan-hwi shook his head roughly.
“Ha, there’s no way a mere human could possess such power!”
In Central Plains folklore, there were legends of divine beings who appeared, blocking the sun.
But those were truly gods from ancient myths.
The idea that Sogeomsin, a simple martial artist from the Jianghu, could possess the same level of power as those mythic gods was unbelievable!
Even if they searched through all the long history of the Jianghu, there was no such extraordinary being.
“All of our alliance’s forces are surrounding him in the Outer Province, yet this strange disaster occurs now. Isn’t it too coincidental?”
“Hmmm…!”
Seo Gang-hoo was known for his sharp insight and calm demeanor within the Martial Arts Alliance.
His ability to read the situation and the flow of power was unmatched. Naturally, all the members of the council turned their attention to him.
“If this darkness is a phenomenon influenced by his will, then all of our alliance’s plans up until now will need to be completely revised.”
One of the Dragon Lords, the First Dragon Lord, Woo Bang-yun, raised a question.
“If Sogeomsin has truly become such a mythical being, can we really achieve victory over Jiangnan with just our own power?”
Seo Gang-hoo replied in a tone almost brimming with certainty.
“No matter what, how could he handle a million troops on his own? Moreover, due to the Darma Jingeong, our alliance’s strength is growing daily. Even the military power of the Choga Daesanghoe is still not close to the level of a mere Sichuan Faction.”
At this point, the Martial Arts Alliance had already considered the Choga Daesanghoe an enemy, a target for punitive action.
***
The influence of the Choga Daesanghoe continued to spread into the northern regions day by day, and if the Martial Arts Alliance continued to neglect this, it was clear that it would weaken beyond repair.
Had the Supreme Commander failed to strike a deal with the Shaolin Temple and bring the Darma Jingeong, the strongest card, the title of “World’s Strongest Power” would have already been transferred to the Choga Daesanghoe.
Indeed, everything from the Choga Daesanghoe’s inventions to their organizational systems had spread across the Central Plains.
Most of the Martial Arts Alliance’s factions had started to treat the Choga Daesanghoe‘s leather goods as treasures.
The integration of courier services and delivery businesses had caused the postal industry to nearly collapse, and inns could no longer survive unless they engaged in deliveries.
However, the Choga Daesanghoe had a monopoly on the production of their unique “bicycle” invention, and they weren’t selling it to anyone else, making it impossible for other inns to compete with them.
Their invention of the “Yunche” (Cloud Car) was just as revolutionary.
Almost all of the carriage workshops were facing business crises.
Unlike regular carriages, where road friction directly affected performance, the Yunche was nothing short of a revolution.
Yet, the unique wheel structure of the Choga Daesanghoe’s vehicles remained a closely guarded secret.
Other workshops repeatedly disassembled and reassembled the Yunche, trying to figure out the secrets behind it, but they were never able to understand the peculiar connection structure and the appropriate strength of the steel plates.
The food industry was no different.
No one knew how they managed to obtain the huge amounts of ice they used, and how they managed to import vast quantities of expensive stone honey that even the wealthy families only used sparingly—everything about them was a closely guarded secret.
As a result, everyone in the northern regions had become obsessed with their cold drinks and black tea.
Moreover, the Choga Daesanghoe’s representative, Sogeomsin, symbolized the legendary status of a sword god and martial god, and his influence only continued to grow.
Thus, the Choga Daesanghoe was no longer just a merchant group; it was transforming into a powerful entity that controlled the entire cultural sphere of the Central Plains.
The extent of this threat was so severe that even the Imperial family had begun to watch the Choga Daesanghoe with a wary eye.
For the Martial Arts Alliance, dealing with the Choga Daesanghoe was no longer a mere power struggle, but a matter of survival.
“What do you think about accepting the proposal of the Samtaegong?”
At the question from one of the elders, Je Gal Chan-hwi paused his movements for a moment.
“The Imperial family and the Jianghu have long adhered to the principle of Bukajin Bukawon (Neither approach nor distance.), meaning ‘neither too close nor too far.’ If we accept the Imperial family’s support, this matter will no longer be an issue of the Jianghu, but of the Central Plains. Even if the Choga Daesanghoe is brought under control with their aid, it will inevitably lead to the Imperial family’s interference afterward. We cannot set such a precedent.”
Je Gal Chan-hwi closed his eyes deeply, his expression becoming solemn.
“As long as we have the Darma Jingeong, the strongest trump card, the alliance will continue to grow. One million, two million, three million… Eventually, all the people of the northern regions will fall under the alliance’s command, and our army will…”
He opened his eyes again, and a sharp gleam shot from them.
“I seek the opinion of all the elders here regarding the approval for the southern factions to join our alliance.”
This was an enormous proposal suddenly put forth by the Supreme Commander.
However, the elders could not accept it.
“Unacceptable!”
“This is not feasible!”
In the face of the elders’ fierce opposition, even Seo Gang-hoo, the governor of the Inner Province, added his disapproval.
“Isn’t this essentially suggesting that the Martial Arts Alliance, which considers itself the ruler of the world, should unite with the unorthodox factions?”
Je Gal Chan-hwi gave a vague look, showing signs of doubt.
“Why is there such reluctance toward allowing the southern factions to join when some are willing to accept support from the Imperial family? Not all the people of the South are Samaweido, are they?”
“Ahh…!”
As the meeting grew more chaotic, a guard suddenly entered the room, looking pale, his face alternating between being lit and obscured by the flickering candlelight, with an overwhelming sense of tension.
“D-Director of the Jincheon Guardian Army requests an audience.”
The authority of the Nine Dragon Grand Assembly was absolute. No matter how important the person might be, even those ranked within the top hundred of the alliance could not enter the assembly without proper credentials.
It was clear that the Jincheon Guardian Army Director, knowing this, would not have requested an audience unless something extraordinary was happening.
As if reading the elders’ confusion, the guard spoke again.
“It’s not a request to attend the meeting; it’s simply a request for an audience with the Supreme Commander.”
“The Supreme Commander?”
Despite knowing the strictness of the Nine Dragon Grand Assembly, the embodiment of the rules, the guard had forcefully entered, bringing the request from the Jincheon Guardian Army Director. This indicated something unusual was occurring.
“Could it be that Sogeomsin has finally killed the alliance’s members?”
“That, that can’t be true, can it? Even invading our territory would make him an enemy of the Jianghu, but slaughtering the alliance’s members? Someone as calculating as Sogeomsin wouldn’t do something so reckless, would he?”
“Yeah, that would be an act of turning all of northern Jianghu against him.”
Filled with suspicion, the elders, along with Je Gal Chan-hwi, were growing more curious.
“Let him in.”
“Chung!”
A short time later, the guard entered with the Jincheon Guardian Army Director, and the meeting room was filled with a chilling silence.
Thud—
Je Gal Chan-hwi, who had been holding a tablet, dropped it in shock.
“W-What…”
Seo Gang-hoo, too, had never been this shocked in his entire life.
“W-What happened to you…?”
The Jincheon Guardian Army Director, Ha Ryung, was glowing so brightly that the room lit up as though it were daylight!
To be more precise, it wasn’t just his glow—it was as though daylight applied only to him.
Could anything more bizarre exist in the world?
“What… what has happened to you?”
“P-Please explain!”
Ha Ryung briefly explained what had happened with Sogeomsin.
After hearing his explanation, the elders’ faces grew even stiffer, their expressions filled with disbelief.
“Impossible…”
“Can it be that a human…”
The color drained from Je Gal Chan-hwi’s face as well.
The worst scenario, which he had never even dared to imagine, had become reality.
A master beyond the realms of the Three Gods, an unstoppable and incomprehensible foe.
It was a danger that could overturn the entire situation, just as the Darma Jingeong could change the tide of the world.
In the end, everything had spiraled beyond his control.
Crack—
Blood poured from Je Gal Chan-hwi’s mouth.
His opponent had reached a level of mastery beyond imagination.
Once again, he was faced with a situation where he had no choice but to rely on them.
“He is requesting an audience with the Supreme Commander.”
“Did you not hear why he seeks to meet with me?”
“I don’t know. I’m only delivering his request.”
The Guardian of the entrance to the stronghold dared to act as an envoy without even fighting the enemy!
Fury surged to Je Gal Chan-hwi’s head as he barked angrily.
“Immediately lock Ha Ryung in the dungeon!”
As Je Gal Chan-hwi revealed his supreme authority, his harsh command was echoed by the guards, including the fierce Ak Ho-wi, who surrounded Ha Ryung.
However, Ha Ryung simply closed his eyes gently, as if he had accepted everything.
***
In the center of a crowd of tens of thousands of people, only a single beam of sunlight illuminated the area around Sogeomsin, who stood serenely, almost regal in his demeanor.
His presence was so majestic that simply gazing upon him left one feeling overwhelmed.
Je Gal Chan-hwi and all the elders slowly approached Sogeomsin, each step heavy with the weight of the moment.
“Well, Supreme Commander, you’re still the same, I see.”
Je Gal Chan-hwi clenched his teeth harder as he looked at Cho Hwi, who was smiling and waving at him.
While Sogeomsin was glowing brightly, everything around them was as dark as pitch.
Despite this, Sogeomsin was clearly making eye contact and waving at the many members of the alliance. It was no ordinary level of perception—it was beyond simple eye law.
Je Gal Chan-hwi, stepping forward to face Sogeomsin, spoke in a heavy tone.
“Why have you called me?”
“Impatient, aren’t you? No greeting, just diving straight into business? Well, that suits me too.”
Seo Geom Shin had been formidable during the factional war at the Choga Daesanghoe, but now the entire atmosphere around him felt different. It was as if he were a completely different kind of being.
“You have achieved yet another level in such a short time. Truly, you seem like a hero who could shake the heavens and the earth. I offer my congratulations.”
Cho Hwi chuckled.
“If we compare that to the Darma Jingeong you possess, it’s nothing.”
Je Gal Chan-hwi’s face stiffened.
“Darma Jingeong? What are you talking about?”
“Stop pretending. After all that, you still don’t understand what I’m talking about?”
Cho Hwi glanced around before turning his clear eyes back to Je Gal Chan-hwi.
“Do you really think Sogeomsin, the one you’ve assessed, would take such action without full conviction?”
Sogeomsin.
He was exceedingly bold when it came to important matters.
However, before revealing his true purpose, he was more secretive than any other leader in the world.
Now, with tens of thousands of his followers gathered, he had revealed his most secret and authentic intentions.
He certainly had reasons and objectives for doing so.
“You’re not the kind of person to be fooled. So, reveal your purpose already.”
“I already told you.”
“What…?”
Cho Hwi blinked.
“I told you to bring me that mad artifact—the Darma Jingeong that produces infinite copies. Hurry up and bring it to me, Supreme Commander of the Martial Arts Alliance.”
Seo Gang-hoo, observing the Supreme Commander’s expression, instinctively took a step back.
Could he really be making such a twisted expression, like some fiendish, evil creature?
But what exactly was this Darma Jingeong that Sogeomsin mentioned?
Despite the growing tension, surprisingly, Je Gal Chan-hwi’s expression remained calm and composed.
“Truly astounding.”
Je Gal Chan-hwi surveyed the pitch-black surroundings of the outer world and, after a moment, spoke again with a calm face.
“Your remarkable abilities and strategies are impressive, and the fact that you’ve reached the realm of a true master is not surprising. Heroes who defy the laws of the martial world have always existed.”
“And so?”
Cho Hwi’s retort made Je Gal Chan-hwi’s gaze darken with deep fear.
“Honestly, I’m afraid now. The existence of this artifact was something no one in the world could have predicted. I have not shared this information with any of the alliance’s leaders.”
“Of course you haven’t.”
Je Gal Chan-hwi’s tone suddenly shifted, becoming more respectful.
“Then does that mean you are one of them?”
“Them?”
“You know better than anyone. The mythical beings who secretly control the world—or rather, all human civilization from the shadows. You, too, follow them, don’t you?”
Suddenly, Cho Hwi burst into laughter.
“Pffft! After receiving so much help from them, and you still don’t even know their name?”
“Do you really know?” Je Gal Chan-hwi asked, stunned.
Without warning, Cho Hwi’s expression turned cold, his smile disappearing entirely.
“You’re the Supreme Commander of the Martial Arts Alliance, the world’s most brilliant strategist, yet you don’t even know the true identity of the most dangerous poison in the world… The world is in grave danger.”
“Don’t speak so recklessly.”
“Shut up.”
Cho Hwi’s demeanor shifted drastically.
It was a face that seemed to express all the fury in the world through its expression alone.
“Whether it’s the sorrow of the Je Gal family, doomed to live as second-class citizens, or your ambition to stand tall in the world, in the end, it’s your foolish selfishness that has brought about the destruction of this world. Do you even know the true purpose of the Darma Jingeong?”
Under the terrifying pressure of Cho Hwi’s aura, Je Gal Chan-hwi instinctively took a step back and assumed the Phoenix Ten Bans stance.
Just by looking into the opponent’s eyes, he felt the threat of death.
“Wh-what other purpose could a martial arts manual possibly have?”
“Martial arts manual?”
Cho Hwi’s eyes glinted ominously, showing no sign of easing his murderous intent.
“Darma is the Divine Seat.”
“…Divine Seat?”
Je Gal Chan-hwi had never heard of such a term before.
In the history of the martial world, only the Three Gods and Sogeomsin had ever inscribed the title of “divine” upon themselves.
“Wh-who exactly is he?”
Cho Hwi let out a brief, mocking laugh.
Was this truly the world’s greatest strategist?
“I clearly said, Darma is the Divine Seat. Don’t you know the true nature of the Darma Jingeong you hold?”
For a moment, Je Gal Chan-hwi froze in shock.
Bodhidharma was the great Buddhist saint who had rooted the Zen tradition in the vast lands of China.
For such a noble and sacred being to have secretly manipulated all of civilization from the shadows…?
Je Gal Chan-hwi didn’t ask the question out of ignorance. His question was filled with disbelief.
In response to his reaction, Cho Hwi calmly continued.
“Darma…”
Then followed a long speech from Cho Hwi that lasted over an hour.
This speech contained everything Cho Hwi knew about Darma.
Using his mind power, Cho Hwi broadcasted his voice to all the alliance members present, transmitting all the information he had gathered about Darma.
Darma had thrown his Darma Jade into the world and used the life force of humans absorbed through it to transform into power, allowing him to reincarnate over and over.
Through these cycles of reincarnation, Darma expanded the Zen tradition.
The first three disciples who revered Darma began to realize his secret and started creating spiritual jades to track him.
However, once Darma completed his plans and ascended to the Divine Seat, he sought to reach the ultimate realm of a “Creator” through six new disciples—his experimental subjects.
Thus, Cho Hwi revealed to the gathered alliance members what could be considered the greatest secret in the history of the martial world. Nangong Jangho and Sima Zhong were frozen in place, not knowing how to react.
“Ha…”
“What… What are you planning…?”
Cho Hwi responded bluntly.
“All the people gathered here, no—everyone in this world—are the very subjects of Darma’s extinction plan. They deserve to hear this.”
“Still, this will surely cause immense chaos…”
Cho Hwi glared and retorted.
“Chaos? What’s the problem when everyone’s about to die anyway?”
Sogeomsin’s actions were always contrary to common sense.
No matter how dire the situation, such crucial matters should be resolved through discussions with the leadership of the alliance, not by informing everyone in such a way that would undoubtedly cause chaos.
However, Cho Hwi, a modern individual, knew better than anyone the dangers of hoarding information and the catastrophic history it could bring.
He understood the value of shared information for the common good of humanity, why systems like the media emerged, and the importance of transparency, all based on lessons from history.
The situation in the martial world was like Earth just before a massive meteor was about to strike.
Would it be right to suppress the news of the meteor, fearing panic and chaos, and let people die in their sleep, unaware?
At least giving people the chance to prepare or make their own decisions was a minimal act of humanity.
That was Cho Hwi’s belief in humanity.
Above all, it was the modern value of intellect he held dear.
“Hahahahaha!”
Watching the confusion among the alliance members, Je Gal Chan-hwi let out a bitter laugh.
Sogeomsin.
Shining alone in the midst of pitch-black darkness, his voice was like that of a god.
Despite studying countless strategies and tactics in books, Je Gal Chan-hwi had never encountered someone who wielded a mind as profound as Sogeomsin’s.
What kind of martial artist uses their divine status and fame in such a way?
The objectivity of the information Cho Hwi had revealed was no longer important.
From this point on, the Darma Jingeong, that great martial arts book, would inevitably carry the label of an “extinction conspiracy.”
Why?
It was the claim of that damn Sogeomsin, who even controlled the operation of the cosmos and the celestial bodies with ease.
Rather than a hero, he was closer to a demon.
That was how Je Gal Chan-hwi saw the true nature of Sogeomsin in his eyes.
“If you understand, then give me the sacred text.”
“No.”
“What?”
Je Gal Chan-hwi scanned the alliance members standing around him and spoke sternly.
“Even if everything you say is true, no one can know whether you are a divine being who will save the world or a follower of that Divine Seat who will bring about its extinction.”
Cho Hwi chuckled.
“You, that’s stubbornness.”
“No.”
“You crazy bastard.”
Cho Hwi’s iron sword slowly rose into the air.
“It’s just the typical stubbornness of a strategist who can’t bear to lose the cards in his hand. You already know I’m not some follower of Darma, don’t you?”
“I have no basis to judge that.”
“Ha…”
Cho Hwi’s iron sword slowly slid and stopped near Je Gal Chan-hwi’s forehead.
“If I were a follower of Darma, would I be declaring his plan to destroy the world in front of all these people? Is there any clearer proof than this?”
“Not enough. Liu Bang, the first Emperor of the Han, endured all the disgrace of the Hongmen Banquet to pursue his goal of ruling the world. Is human cunning something to be taken lightly?”
“Wow…”
“As I said earlier, the fact that I have the sacred text is a secret I haven’t shared with anyone in the world. Yet you knew about it. That’s the undeniable proof that you and they are of the same kind.”
“So that’s what it was about.”
Cho Hwi’s head ached.
The leader of the Martial Alliance, Je Gal Chan-hwi, was armed with his own logic, and to dismantle that, Cho Hwi needed to find another way.
Of course, brute force could work, but if he were to turn him into a bloody mess in front of so many alliance members, all the justification would be for nothing.
Cho Hwi had no choice but to become more cautious.
“Then will you keep producing the Darma Jingeong like this? Even after hearing everything I’ve said?”
“Everything you say is just your claim. There’s no evidence it’s true. I’ll wait and see.”
“Will you continue to gather the alliance members and wait?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, Cho Hwi changed the subject.
“Then let me ask something else. Where did all that money come from?”
“What, what are you saying?”
Cho Hwi smirked.
“Do you think I’m a fool? What is a million? How much does it cost to maintain and accept so many alliance members? Do you really not know?”
Cho Hwi gestured toward the alliance members one by one.
“The clothes they wear and the weapons they carry—each one costs tens of silver taels. Not to mention the food they eat, the inns they stay in, and their wages… a million? It’s unimaginable. No way the Martial Alliance has the resources to afford this, right? Is there some other backing behind this?”
“Our alliance is the headquarters of the world’s martial world, the Mu Rim Alliance.”
“Ha, the Mu Rim Alliance can do it? Don’t joke with me. I’m a merchant.”
Even if you combined all the merchants and staff of the Jo Ga Daesang Association, it still wouldn’t exceed ten thousand.
It costs a huge amount just to maintain them, and you’re talking about a million? It’s unthinkable!
Managing such an enormous force would only be possible for the most powerful empires in history.
Even the empires that rule the world can’t manage something like this, and you’re telling me the Mu Rim Alliance can?
However, the head of the alliance, Je Gal Chan-hwi, looked at Cho Hwi with a puzzled expression.
What Cho Hwi heard wasn’t from his mouth but through his mental transmission.
(Italicized)
Sacred Text?
What do silver taels and the Sacred Text have to do with each other?
For a moment, Cho Hwi felt confused, but then, as an idea struck him, goosebumps spread all over his body.
‘Could it be?’
Unable to suppress the rising suspicion, Cho Hwi had no choice but to ask the one who handed the Sacred Text to the alliance leader.
“Hey, Hwang Geum-i, come here.”
In that instant.
Whoosh!
In the darkness, space ripped apart.
Soon, a brilliant golden light enveloped the space as Geumcheon (Golden Heaven) appeared, bowing in full prostration at the master’s call.
“Command me, great master.”
Cho Hwi’s indifferent eyes revealed endless questions.
“Could it be that the sacred text I handed over isn’t just the Darma Jingeong that can be reproduced?”
Then, an astonishing reply came from Geumcheon.
“Anything with life force and spiritual energy, meaning anything that is not a plant or animal, can be replicated.”
“What… what did you say?”
What the hell!
This ignorant, damn cheat item!
So, you’re telling me that until now, Je Gal Chan-hwi has been able to copy money without limits?
“Wow, I could totally wreck the economy of the central plains! Just wreck it!”
Meanwhile, Je Gal Chan-hwi, with a face full of despair, slumped down helplessly.
“Why… why did Grandmaster Kong Kong…”
The greatest elder of the martial world and the absolute protector of the Mu Rim Alliance, Grandmaster Kong Kong, had become a subordinate of Sogeomsin?
The commander, Je Gal Chan-hwi, froze, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.