A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

Chapter 84

Those who harbor lust for beautiful women, covet the wealth of the rich, and will stop at nothing to gain power, using any means necessary.

Since the birth of history, humans have always danced beneath the shadow of such desires, and I have loathed them deeply.

However, in the vast emptiness of the universe, the struggles of such humans were, in a way, as beautiful as flames.

The Constellations.

Despite the beautiful name, the universe was not as brilliant as one might have imagined.

Having become a high-dimensional being, elated by the sense of encountering a new world, what awaited me in the constellation was nothing but endless darkness and emptiness.

It was then that I realized why the so-called great constellations had to manipulate and play with the will of lower beings.

Surprisingly, the ugly sides of these humans stemmed from the constellations’ own amusement.

They were beings who sowed the seeds of evil in human hearts, watching the corrupted souls with joy.

In the boundless emptiness of the universe, it was these lower species, like humans, who acted as their pets and amused the constellations.

After learning that fact, I no longer hated humans.

Instead, the great constellations, whom I once revered, now appeared far more disgusting.

In the end, I broke the constellations’ rules and declared myself a protector of the lower species—of humans—and thus began the long war.

There was a reason why the constellations paid particular attention to the human species.

Though there were countless lower species throughout the universe, constellations often emerged from humanity.

In the long civilizations of the lower species, it was a miracle for even a single being to ascend to the constellations.

However, humanity’s civilization had barely begun, yet already more than ten beings had ascended to the constellations. What’s more, the number of candidates was growing.

It was from that point that the constellations began to take an interest in humanity.

They saw humans as the mutation of the universe and began to monitor them.

Until now, there had been no such thing as “factions” within the constellations.

They all moved independently, respecting each other’s domains, so there were no conflicts.

But as constellations began to emerge from humanity one after another, a force was inadvertently formed.

This event, which threatened the order that had been maintained since the beginning of time, enraged all the constellations, and eventually, the leader of the constellations born from humanity, “The One Who Denies Existence,” declared humanity’s protector, marking the beginning of the First Constellation War.

Due to the long Constellation War, the constellations born from humanity, no longer fitting their title of immortals, degenerated into beings of lower species and were forced to flee to the far corners of the universe.

But the One Who Denies Existence remained.

Unlike the other constellations who lost their power the more they fought, he grew stronger with each battle.

The constellations closely observed his abilities, which seemed almost like a mutation, and came to a conclusion.

He had become a constellation due to one of humanity’s extraordinary potentials: Martial Arts.

It was this power that fueled his growth in the Constellation War.

As the long years of war continued, he ruled over the constellations with growing fear, and even neutral constellations who had been watching from afar eventually joined his side.

The alliance of all the constellations, except for the One Who Denies Existence!

“In the end, I lost.”

Jo Hwui gazed into the vast universe, his eyes filled only with endless emptiness.

In the end, he had exhausted all his existence and was defeated in the final great battle.

The constellation alliance, fearful of another similar constellation emerging from humanity, tore apart the spirits and bodies of all humans, devouring them, and then burned the world.

That horrific ending was still vividly etched in his mind, as if it had happened just yesterday.

“Who was the one who helped me in the end?”

No matter how great the constellations were, traversing time and space was solely within the domain of the Creator Gods.

But why would these immense Creator Gods secretly implant a process called alchemy into the human species, helping him in such a way?

To them, he was an outcast in the universe.

So much so that the title granted to him was “The One Who Denies Existence.”

“Their will is truly unfathomable…”

Nevertheless, by utilizing that power, he was able to exist as a “phantom soul” across countless timelines.

He had learned the martial arts and magic of ancient civilizations, studied the battlefields of medieval times, and mastered the ideologies and sciences of modern civilization, as well as the brilliant super-science of future civilizations.

Through countless lives, he had persistently sought wisdom, ensuring that not a single life had been wasted.

Of course, there were times when he failed to sense the fortune and died due to accidents—tragically unlucky endings.

Although his early life had been insignificant, his original plan was to study modern administration and politics in his middle years.

“Was I really that afraid?”

The reason he sought to learn everything humanity had accomplished was because, should he lose in the constellations’ war, it would mean the extinction of humanity.

The only one capable of carrying humanity’s legacy forward would be himself, having reached the realm of immortals.

He shifted his gaze again to the far-off heavens.

‘They still don’t know.’

They still didn’t know how powerful the constellations became after consuming the spirits and bodies of humans.

The unique temperament contained within the human soul was truly a cosmic treasure.

Why such a tremendous potential lay within humans, beings of lower species, no one knew.

In fact, even the neutral constellations joined the war at first, under the pretense of stopping him, but in the end, it became a tragic slaughter as they all sought to claim the spirits and bodies of humans for themselves.

Originally, the war should have ended with him retreating to another timeline, hiding his existence, but they had completely abandoned the original cause, waging the Second Constellation War as they continuously fought among themselves.

Jo Hwui’s gaze shifted to the underground cavern near the Poyang Lake.

In the past, aside from those hiding in the underground caverns, all the remaining people’s spirits and bodies were sacrificed due to the constellations’ war.

In truth, the number of 6,448,000, the people who had fled to the underground cavern, had no special meaning.

It was simply the minimum number required to restore the human species to a level that could be called civilization within a thousand years. It was merely a calculation.

From the ashes of this ruin, he would share all the knowledge he had learned from countless timelines with humanity.

The truth that the underground caverns were not intended to save humanity but were merely a final resort weighed heavily on Jo Hwui’s heart.

“I do not know what to call you. Not yet… but someday you will realize that all this is preparation for you. Please fulfill that purpose and allow humanity’s time to continue. Our guardian, our parent, who protects mankind.”

The words of Jang Sam-bong engraved in the underground cavern.

The plea he had once made to himself now filled him with such shame that he wanted to die.

All of it started with his petty arrogance to protect humanity.

Ironically, it was this very arrogance that had caused the greatest misfortune for the human species.

“But this time, it will be different.”

Jo Hwui cautiously picked up the discarded Gatbox from the ground.

The crystallization of future super-science, something that could not be exchanged for anything.

The Dalmajin-Gyeong, or rather, the Neuralink Chip, was humanity’s only hope.

It was humanity’s greatest weapon, perfected through countless experiments.

In reality, the Neuralink chip he had perfected over the years was not a tool to aid the constellations’ consumption, but rather a catalyst that could awaken humanity into a new form of existence.

From now on, he would have to focus all his efforts on producing the Neuralink chips and distributing them to as many people as possible.

As he did, Jo Hwui’s figure disappeared, flickering like a fading light.

***

“Wh-what is that?”

“Is… is that a locust swarm?”

As they gazed up at something black covering the sky, Jang Il-ryong and Yeom Sang-rok were both horrified.

A massive, black swarm, resembling a locust plague, filled the sky above the Joga Daesanghoe’s martial arts arena.

As a result, the surrounding area suddenly darkened, almost as if night had fallen.

At the center of this swarm, Jo Hwui was calmly floating in the air.

The black swarm slowly descended toward the vast training ground of the Joga Daesanghoe, and it was being controlled by Jo Hwui himself.

Chwarararararara—

The swarm descended in unison.

The sheer number of them was so immense that it almost completely filled the training arena like a mountain.

Still frozen in shock, Jang Il-ryong and Yeom Sang-rok quickly activated their techniques and arrived at Jo Hwui’s side.

“What is all this?”

“Isn’t this that strange… Dalmajin-Gyeong?”

It was unmistakable.

The Dalmajin-Gyeong—which, when attached to the body, granted immense martial arts power and spiritual abilities—was indeed the very technique being spread by the Murim Alliance.

It was impossible to even count how many there were.

Where could he have possibly collected such a vast amount of Dalmajin-Gyeong?

As this sudden and bizarre spectacle unfolded, other allies and high-ranking members were also rapidly arriving around Jo Hwui.

Jo Hwui’s indifferent gaze landed on Jeogal Un, who was staring blankly with his mouth agape.

“Distribute this to all the people in Gangseo as quickly as possible.”

Jeogal Un stammered as if his brain had short-circuited.

“W-w-what are you talking about all of a sudden?”

How much hardship had they gone through to prevent the Dalmajin-Gyeong from spreading, and now you want to distribute it to the people of Poyang Lake?

Jo Hwui said nothing as he walked silently toward the huge pile of Neuralink chips, then picked up two of them.

“Take this.”

Jeogal Un and Jang Il-ryong stared at the Neuralink chips that Jo Hwui was offering in stunned silence.

“What’s going on here all of a sudden?”

Nam Gung Jang-ho glared at Jo Hwui with fierce eyes, as if ready to draw his sword.

Jo Hwui himself had once described these dangerous items as evil relics that helped feed the Shinjo (Gods of the Throne).

They were demonic objects that weakened the human soul.

Nam Gung Jang-ho couldn’t understand why Jo Hwui was handing such malevolent objects to him.

Even Jang Il-ryong, who was usually lighthearted and never lost his sense of humor, couldn’t help but ask seriously this time.

“Brother, don’t you think you should explain something? Why are you giving these to us?”

Jo Hwui, still holding out the chips, did not withdraw his hand but looked grim.

“I’d prefer if you just accepted them without asking.”

“No, brother!”

Attaching those wicked objects to one’s forehead would grant immense power, but it would also make the person an easy prey for the Shinjo. No one present was unaware of this fact.

But Jo Hwui found it incredibly difficult to explain this to his comrades.

How could he easily explain such a thing?

To calm his comrades’ confusion, he would have to reveal all his secrets.

Unable to speak, Jo Hwui hesitated, and then Jeogal Un’s voice broke the silence.

“Explain it to us. You have to.”

No matter how united the members of Joga Daesanghoe were, the foundation of unity was based on mutual understanding and sincere agreement.

“I am…”

“What…?”

As Jeogal Un tilted his head at Jo Hwui’s ambiguous attitude, Jo Hwui sighed and spoke with a bitter smile.

“I am the Shinjo.”

His comrades had always found Jo Hwui to be an unpredictable and mysterious person.

They had thought there was nothing that could surprise them anymore, but now, he was claiming to be the Shinjo?

Who, exactly, were the Shinjo?

They were the dark force that had controlled the Central Plains for thousands of years, the terrifying demon who sought the annihilation of the Central Plains, consuming all the souls of its people to become an intergalactic evil force.

“Aha, what are you talking about? How on earth did you become the Shinjo?”

Jeogal Un laughed dismissively but, seeing Jo Hwui’s serious face, his expression soon turned serious.

“Is there something we don’t know about?”

What kind of person was Jo Hwui that secrets, shocking enough to shake the heavens, kept emerging?

“……”

Jo Hwui couldn’t bring himself to explain this to his comrades.

Jang Il-ryong, with his sharp eyes shining brightly, suddenly collapsed to the floor.

“Brother, you wouldn’t say such a thing without any basis. I’m ready to listen.”

Nam Gung Jang-ho was constantly adjusting his sword. It was a habit of his whenever he became uneasy.

“Can’t you just trust me and follow along?”

A legendary figure who, as the first human to break through their limits and become a Seongjo (Sacred Seat), had defied the opposition of countless cosmic Seongjos and declared the protection of humanity—a prideful Seongjo who, after the great war, had retreated and fled through reincarnation into an endless timeline. Could anyone truly believe this story?

No matter how much he explained, Jo Hwui knew that even his comrades would find it hard to believe.

However, for some reason, Jo Hwui felt he wanted to reveal everything, at least to Jeogal Un and Nam Gung Jang-ho.

“What… What’s going on?”

Suddenly, Jo Hwui approached silently, then stretched out his hand and grabbed his own head, causing Jeogal Un to panic.

And then…

From his head, a hot sensation began to surge, followed by an intense headache, unlike anything he had ever felt in his life.

“Ugh!”

However, the pain lasted only an instant. In a flash, the pain subsided, and a flood of information began to surge through his mind.

“What… What is this?!”

Had he ever been this bewildered in his life?

Jeogal Un was completely disoriented, retreating frantically.

“W-w-what is this madness?”

Countless cosmic secrets were flooding his mind.

All the experiences and secrets that Jo Hwui, the Seongjo, had endured until now were being etched into his memory like a brand.

The memory of such a higher-dimensional being was something an ordinary human couldn’t easily comprehend—it could drive a person mad. But Jo Hwui had carefully filtered and transmitted it to Jeogal Un.

“Aaah…”

Tears welled up in Jeogal Un’s eyes.

How could the life of a single human be so tragic and cruel?

His life was endless, yet that long stretch of time had been a period of painful atonement and endless love for the people he wished to protect.

How could one person’s idealistic dream be so blind?

How immense must his heart and will be, to shatter his own ego and live through hundreds of reincarnations, one after another?

One who denies existence.

He was but one of the many lower beings in the universe, yet to protect humanity, he denied all existence in the cosmos.

Even though he could have been revered as one of the highest Seongjos, standing in the lowest place, alongside humans, he burned his soul to protect them.

Despite repeated failures and the repeated destruction of human civilization, he never gave up.

He stubbornly hid in other timelines, evading the eyes of the Seongjos, and through countless lives, he slowly gathered the causes and effects.

Such a great being, now, stood in front of him, having gathered all causes and effects.

To Jeogal Un, his eyes no longer saw his comrade Jo Hwui.

He was now the great divine protector of humanity.

He was humanity’s father.

“……”

Jeogal Un couldn’t find the words to speak.

“I am still Jo Hwui.”

The simple meaning behind Jo Hwui’s words was clear: he wanted them to accept him as he was, in his current form.

“What on earth is happening here?”

To Nam Gung Jang-ho, who approached with a serious, intense gaze, Jo Hwui transmitted part of his memories as well.

“……”

However, to Nam Gung Jang-ho’s surprise, he didn’t show any sign of disturbance. Instead, he stood with a solemn expression.

After a long silence, he bowed respectfully to Jo Hwui, performing an unprecedented level of formality.

“Thank you.”

***

No matter how often Nam Gung Jang-ho performed his customary deep bows, this was no ordinary gesture of respect.

What could Nam Gung possibly be thanking him for?

Yet, at those words, Jo Hwui couldn’t hold back the overwhelming emotions that welled up inside him, and tears began to fall.

He had never before received such sincere gratitude from a human being.

The endless, painful time he had fought through, the isolation, all seemed to wash away with Nam Gung Jang-ho’s single phrase.

Without a word, Jo Hwui patted Nam Gung Jang-ho on the shoulder and, with a serious expression, passed on the memories to his comrades as they approached him.

Even Jang Il-ryong, Yeom Sang-rok, and even Baek Hwa-rin could only groan in anguish, unable to say a single word.

The only one still talking in the middle of this was Jin Ga-hee.

“Wow, crazy! That’s so cool!”

The unimaginable trajectory of Jo Hwui’s life, one that couldn’t even be conceived by ordinary people!

This was Jin Ga-hee’s way of expressing her awe and admiration.

Her eyes sparkled, like a fangirl gazing at a famous celebrity.

Somehow, Jin Ga-hee’s big, wide eyes looked so cute to Jo Hwui that he couldn’t help but smile gently.

Then, suddenly, a chill ran through him.

Why did Jin Ga-hee seem so cute to him?!

Quickly, he turned his serious gaze back to Jeogal Un.

“What method would be most effective?”

Staring at the piles of Dalmajin-gyeong (the Dalma Sutra), Jeogal Un fell into deep thought.

“Hmmm…”

Although Jo Ga Dae Sang-hwi was a rising Divine Star in the martial world, its influence was still far from that of the Murim Alliance. It lacked the long-standing tradition and history.

Moreover, the Murim Alliance had once labeled the Dalmajin-gyeong as demonic, declaring the annihilation of the central plains. This declaration had come from none other than Jo Ga Dae Sang-hwi itself.

In such circumstances, how could Jo Ga Dae Sang-hwi justify spreading the Dalmajin-gyeong once again in the martial world?

But Jeogal Un’s dilemma didn’t last long, as the answer was already clear.

“We must seek the cooperation of the Murim Alliance.”

Indeed, Jeogal Un’s thoughts aligned with his own.

Jo Hwui nodded solemnly and spoke.

“However, for the Murim Alliance to proceed with it, they must restore their tarnished authority.”

But damn it, it was Jo Hwui himself who had severely wounded the Murim Alliance’s authority with his divine, effortless actions, actions that could not be found anywhere in the long history of martial arts.

Even now, a significant number of people in Gangbuk were whispering against the Murim Alliance, meaning the Murim Alliance’s events could no longer have the same influence as before.

At that moment, Mu Hwang, who had been among the comrades, stepped forward quietly.

“To truly earn the respect of the righteous sects, it is not power, but rather reason and virtue that can make it happen.”

Standing by his side, Man Bak-ja of the Jeogal Family also added.

“If the goal is not just to break through the situation, but to gain the cooperation of the entire Murim world, I recommend refraining from the same methods as before.”

Jo Hwui, silently accepting the situation, couldn’t fully understand the attitude of the righteous sects.

“Why are there no doubts at all?”

He was the one who had tried so hard to eradicate all the Dalmajin-gyeong.

Now, he was proposing to bring back an immense amount of Dalmajin-gyeong and spread it once more in the martial world. Yet, his comrades were following without any hesitation.

Mu Hwang chuckled softly and looked around at Jo Hwui’s comrades one by one.

“I believe in that sincere gratitude from the Swordmaster with unshakable resolve. I also trust the descendants of the unparalleled strategist Jeogal. I trust the righteous heart of that rough Noklim disciple. And I trust Swordsman like no one else.”

“Mu Hwang…”

Mu Hwang wiped away his smile and gazed at the vast Po Yang Lake landscape.

“Of course, I am still in a daze. I had thought it was simply a rebellion by the Jeogal Family, but how could it lead to the destruction of the world? Why is it that every time I look at you, such a sorrow fills my heart?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“What for? I can’t even understand the meaning of your apology. I have no youth left with which to share such a bond with you, and that is my regret.”

At that moment, the Three Heroes of Wunae appeared in the training hall.

Nam Gung Jang-ho and Jeogal Un hurriedly bowed.

“We greet the Three Heroes of Wunae!”

“We greet the esteemed elders!”

The Hwasan Great Hero Emperor (Hua Mountain Hero Emperor), who could be considered the eldest among the Three Heroes of Wunae, was trembling with awe and wonder as he looked at Jo Hwui.

“How could a human possess such a profound energy…?”

The Hwasan Great Hero Emperor was a martial artist on the verge of reaching the Celestial Realm, nearly approaching the state of the Heavenly Dao.

He was the only one present who could even begin to sense the true nature of Jo Hwui’s power, even if only superficially.

He simply could not believe it.

The Immortal Qi that was radiating from Swordsman like an ethereal aura seemed almost otherworldly, as if it belonged to something beyond human reach.

The depth and mysteriousness of that Immortal Qi felt so profound that it almost seemed demonic, like the energy of a demon.

“What kind of power is this?”

He could not believe that a human could possess such strength and aura.

The Hwasan Great Hero Emperor had close ties with the War God (God of War), one of the three greatest martial artists of the Central Plains, and had never encountered such an extraordinary spiritual force, even from him.

This was a feeling that could not even be explained by the Celestial Realm, an unfathomable and enigmatic sensation.

Standing next to him, the Lawful Great Monk (Fa Tian Da Zhi Seng) was also muttering Amitabha Buddha repeatedly, unable to comprehend the situation.

“Amitabha… Amitabha…”

Such an extraordinary Immortal Qi could not be explained simply by the level of martial skill or cultivation.

It was a mysterious spiritual energy emanating from the very essence of the being.

The Lawful Great Monk felt as though he was facing the manifestation of a Buddha, overwhelmed by the profoundness of the experience.

Jo Hwui, sensing his own existence as a Divine Throne and feeling the Divine Power within him, slowly spoke as he observed the great martial artists of the righteous sects.

“Please, come closer.”

At Jo Hwui’s words, the Three Heroes of Wunae seemed entranced, slowly moving towards him.

Standing side by side, they stared at him with expressions full of curiosity, which somehow excited Jo Hwui.

This was what he loved.

That pure curiosity.

The boundless human passion.

He had never been able to give up on humans for so long because he alone understood how the pure “passion of humans” shines as a brilliant value in an otherwise empty universe.

Humans were beings that evolved endlessly.

Even their desperate desires were beautiful.

Jo Hwui decided that the Three Heroes of Wunae would be the first to experience the Neural Link chip from Jo Ga Dae Sang-hwi.

“Take this.”

The Three Heroes of Wunae numbly received the Neural Link chips.

“If you trust me, just place it on your forehead. After that, everything will become clear to you.”

This was a great weapon designed to assist in the awakening of humans, to help them evolve into an entirely different species.

Jo Hwui—no, the Divine Throne, having bet his entire existence on creating this absolute weapon—was now passing it on to the figures of Jo Ga Dae Sang-hwi.

***

The Hwasan Great Hero Emperor was feeling something bizarre, as if something as small as a cow hair needle was stirring in his mind.

However, instead of pain, a strange heat combined with a refreshing pleasure surged through him, and he soon realized that his vision and senses were expanding exponentially.

“Whoah…!”

What was happening to him?

Most martial arts theories in the Central Plains emphasized the importance of sharpening human senses.

Those with superior senses could feel the natural energies more profoundly and use a broader field of vision and sensitive hearing to more precisely operate their martial techniques.

That was why, before one could learn internal energy techniques, one had to first master the methods of sensing energy and the basic forms, as well as the proper stance.

However, human senses had their limits, and the opening of new senses was an extremely rare occurrence.

Only after extreme training would a martial artist reach a point of enlightenment, at which time they might experience superhuman perception.

A martial artist who had reached the realm of Heavenly Energy would, with great difficulty, be able to sense the world of thought, but this was only possible once they had broken through to the level of True Martial Flower and unlocked the Eye of Thought.

However, how bewildering it was that, without any advancement in his cultivation or reaching a higher state, simply by attaching something to his body, his entire sensory system began to open and expand!

It was as if everything started becoming visible.

The faint red light, flickering like a flower in bloom, was undeniably the Solar Qi.

From all directions, a vapor-like blue mist was rising, unmistakably the Moisture Qi.

Around him, the cool, pale green light swirling in the air was the Wood Qi emanating from the dense foliage.

There were also the energies of Earth and Metal, as well as the vivid and vibrant flow of all the five elements of Yin and Yang, constantly knocking on his senses.

The Hwasan Great Hero Emperor could hardly believe it.

To fully feel the natural energies of Heaven and Earth was only possible upon reaching the greatest realm of martial arts in the Central Plains, known as the Natural Realm.

It was this Natural Realm that he had dreamed of his entire life, so the reality of the moment felt like an unbelievable lie to him.

As the Hwasan Great Hero Emperor was immersed in this super-sensory perception of Yin and Yang, his companions were also deeply astonished and unsettled.

“This… this can’t be…!”

“Whoa…!”

Both the Lawful Great Monk and Wudang First Sorrow Sword were exclaiming in astonishment, unable to hide their shock.

For them, the very realm they had long wished for was unfolding right before their eyes, making it impossible for them not to be taken aback.

But that was not the end of the surprise.

The Wudang First Sorrow Sword felt his mind, his thought realm, becoming incredibly sharp and active, adding even more to his astonishment.

“What… is this?”

His mind felt crystal clear.

It is said that when a child first learns to speak, their memory and creativity are many times more powerful than an adult’s.

The Wudang First Sorrow Sword felt as though he had returned to that moment.

All the knots in his mind, which countless meditations had failed to untangle, suddenly became clear.

The problems that had been tangled in his head and seemed impossible to solve now all had answers.

Instinctively, his right hand moved.

All the principles blended together, indistinguishable from each other, becoming one.

The tangled and chaotic energies straightened out and returned to the Great Void.

The energies that were gentle but sought to separate from each other were now held together, once again returning to the Great Void.

The gesture of his hand was like a mysterious dance, caressing the very fabric of the world.

The Lawful Great Monk, who had been watching all this, froze in shock.

“Amitabha…! Could it be… that you…!”

Clearly, it wasn’t just some shallow imitation of the True Immortal level that Wudang Taoists had attempted to emulate.

All the principles of Heaven and Earth had been completely sealed into the Great Void, radiating a power that was beyond imagination.

This was undoubtedly the legendary Primordial Tai Chi (Primordial Tai Chi), a legendary state of martial mastery that had not been seen since the time of Zhang Sanfeng.

The Wudang First Sorrow Sword, gazing into the Primordial Tai Chi energy in his hand with intense eyes, was overwhelmed.

It was a state he had longed for his entire life, but it had always vanished like a mirage, just out of reach.

Yet now, that mysterious state had finally come to him.

The Lawful Great Monk and Hwasan Great Hero Emperor, who had been watching Wudang First Sorrow Sword’s transformation in detail, both entered a deep state of realization, briefly lost in thought.

Soon, they too reached an unknown realm and completed the process simultaneously.

The scent of plum blossoms filled the air, enveloping everything.

Suddenly, a massive golden Buddha statue appeared in the heavens.

The companions of Zhou Hui, who had been blankly watching Wudang First Sorrow Sword and the others, were all letting out groans.

With the attachment of the Dalma Zhinjing to their foreheads, Wudang First Sorrow Sword and the others were simultaneously reaching a mythical realm.

However, Nangong Zhanghuo felt no malice in the process.

Instead, he was intoxicated by the deep Xuan Qi emanating from them, feeling a refreshing sensation in his chest.

At that moment, Zhou Hui’s voice flowed out again.

“Just by expanding and opening up one’s senses, humans can unlock infinite possibilities. The embodiment of the senses and their immense efficiency—this is a trait unique to humans.”

With a more composed expression, Zhou Hui continued to watch the three elders.

“Those three seniors have now seen their existence expand by over tenfold. They’ve reached a level similar to what I was before experiencing the Void’s Mastery.”

Zhuge Yun, greatly astonished, asked again.

“Then, does everyone who receives the Dalma Zhinjing change like that?”

“No. Talents and potential differ from person to person. While the possibility can expand, the same realm doesn’t open up for everyone. These seniors are exceptional experts who have long transcended their lifespans and are the absolute masters of the martial world.”

“So, at least they improve compared to before?”

“Of course. And by a huge margin.”

“Mm…”

At that moment, a sudden question from Zhang Yilong.

“What happens to someone who has not learned martial arts?”

Zhou Hui smiled gently.

“Of course, martial arts is the most efficient means of raising one’s existence and power, but that doesn’t mean the physical strength one can exert is the entirety of one’s existence.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if the mind expands infinitely and embraces a new mental system, it can be even more effective in some respects. Unexpected abilities may awaken.”

“Unexpected abilities?”

“Those who delve infinitely into the realm of probability could gain precognition, predicting future events. Someone with an extraordinary sense of space-time could develop supernatural powers like space transfer or time reversal.”

When Zhou Hui casually explained this, Zhuge Yun was stunned.

What he spoke of might sound simple, but precognition was a legendary ability, something like the Divine Eye passed down in myths. Similarly, space transfer and time reversal were powers of mystical arts, beyond the realm of martial arts in the world.

Such mysterious realms were worlds apart from the martial arts world they knew.

“Does that mean a common civilian could emerge with a more distinct existence than others?”

Zhou Hui nodded silently, continuing his explanation.

“Of course. In fact, people who have reached true enlightenment often appear among the common folk.”

“True enlightenment…?”

“Depending on the absolute level of existence, there are distinctions.”

“Ah…”

As Zhuge Yun listened to Zhou Hui’s explanation, he gradually became filled with excitement.

Fighting against divine beings as a mere human was an impossible and terrifying task, but now, hope was finally beginning to emerge.

What if everyone in the Central Plains could awaken?

Individually, they could not hope to confront the Zuo (left-side) beings, but if they united their strength, it would no longer be an impossible task.

However, their hope quickly diminished as the conversation between Zhou Hui and Nangong Zhanghuo took a more somber turn.

“Didn’t you, too, experience war with other reincarnated souls in the past? Why did you lose back then?”

Although Zhou Hui didn’t explain it explicitly, the awakening Wudang First Sorrow Sword had just achieved did not seem to be a true True Enlightenment.

No matter how high one’s martial arts level was, it would still be inferior to abilities like time reversal or precognition.

The powers of those who had attained true enlightenment were beyond imagination. Yet, Zhou Hui had lost to those transcendents during the war?

“The number of our forces was too small.”

“Too few?”

Nangong Zhanghuo found it hard to accept.

How could a few be overwhelmed by the vast number of human beings?

Zhuge Yun, curious, asked, “What do you mean? It’s not like there are so many Zuo who have broken through to a cosmic existence, right?”

Based on the memories Zhou Hui had provided, it was a miracle for a civilization to have even one Zuo.

Humans were special because there were a few, but this was not a universal truth in the cosmos.

Yet Zhou Hui could only smile bitterly.

The civilizations of the Central Plains still had no real concept of how vast the universe truly was.

“Those stars, like the Sun, gather to form a galaxy. There are roughly three hundred billion stars in one galaxy, though this is an estimate.”

Zhuge Yun stared blankly at the Sun as Zhou Hui pointed to it.

“W-what do you mean by that?”

“Listen first. There are binary star systems or multiple star systems, but stars like the Sun typically have around ten planets orbiting them.”

“Planets?”

For the people of the Central Plains, the Earth was the center of the universe.

To break this idea was the first challenge, and explaining planets to them was difficult from the start.

When thinking about it, even without the heliocentric theory, it was hard to imagine they would easily accept the idea that the Earth was spherical.

There were at least three hundred billion stars in our galaxy alone, and that’s just one galaxy.

There were countless galaxies in the universe. Zhou Hui wanted to share this knowledge, but the deeply ingrained misconceptions of his comrades made it impossible.

“Simply put, the number of civilizations in the vast universe exceeds the number of humans on Earth.”

“What, what did you say?”

“W-what nonsense are you spouting!”

“That’s impossible!”

Zhou Hui sighed softly.

“It’s the truth. I have no reason to lie.”

While his other comrades shouted loudly in disbelief, only Zhuge Yun trembled, his eyes filled with fear.

“So, what you’re saying is…”

Zhuge Yun was too afraid to finish his sentence, but Nangong Zhanghuo helped him out.

“Do you mean to say that there are more Zuo than humans?”

Zhou Hui nodded nonchalantly.

“There are more.”

Then, Zhuge Yun let out a scream-like voice.

“H-how many? How many are there?”

Zhou Hui sighed deeply and glanced at his companions.

In the presence of those who had experienced extermination firsthand, he could not hide the truth any longer.

“Ten times the number of human beings.”

“What, what did you say!”

“Damn it! You’re crazy!”