A Modern Man Who Got Transmigrated Into the Murim World

Chapter 88

Central Plains World.

Can the Central Plains truly be called the world for no reason?

It was called the world because its vastness was beyond description.

The Great Sage of Heaven, who had crossed from Xinjiang to Hainan in a straight line in half a day, had achieved this feat, but it felt unreal to him.

It was something he had never attempted—or even imagined—once in his long life.

In fact, if it hadn’t been for the newly evolved spiritual power, it would have been impossible to achieve.

After expending almost all of his spiritual energy, he had barely reached Hainan. In contrast, that insane man (?) had shown no signs of weakness.

This overwhelming sense of defeat was something he had never felt before.

The Great Sage of Heaven bitterly licked his lips and dropped his head, gazing at Zhao Hui.

“What exactly is that strange artifact, and why did we fly all the way to Hainan? I’ve never heard of an artifact that speaks like a human.”

Zhao Hui, who had been enjoying the sea breeze with his eyes closed, frowned.

“You were the one who asked for the spiritual talisman.”

“No, how does that relate to this hellish ordeal?”

“Monkey.”

His front paws naturally folded politely.

“Kyahhh! Why is this thing’s hand like this!”

“It’s proof of the courtesy engraved in the souls of the ape tribe. It’s like the instinct of a child, suckling from its mother’s breast without needing to be taught.”

“What the hell does that even mean!”

Ignoring his complaints, Zhao Hui squatted down and stared at the godbox in silence.

“Are we there yet?”

“This is unexpected. I’ve never encountered such pure seawater before.”

Zhao Hui tilted his head.

“How could that be a problem? Isn’t it easier if it’s clean?”

“The lack of common synthetic materials, like plastic, is quite a big issue. There are no synthetic substances at all.”

Zhao Hui hadn’t considered that the purity of the seawater could be a problem.

It had been a long time since he had seen such clear and clean waters, and he felt great joy in it.

“So, how long will it take?”

“I’m synthesizing several substances. I expect it to take about 15 hours.”

“Hmm, understood.”

So, Zhao Hui and the Great Sage of Heaven waited in silence for a long time.

The next morning, early in the morning, the godbox produced a staff made of a powerful futuristic material called RY-10.

“Here, take it.”

“What… what is this?”

Zhao Hui smiled slyly.

“This is the spiritual talisman for you. For monkeys, a staff is the best thing, right?”

The Great Sage of Heaven, who received the talisman from Zhao Hui, was ecstatic.

No matter how he swung it around or performed elegant staff techniques, the feel in his hands remained perfectly consistent.

The weight was exquisitely balanced—neither too light nor too heavy. The length was just right, and it had a simple but sturdy appearance.

Everything about it pleased him.

But there was one more surprising thing among the explanations Zhao Hui had given.

“Can this staff really change its size?”

“That’s why RY-10 is called a miraculous material. It can change not only its size but also its basic properties like hardness and tensile strength.”

“How? How is that even possible?”

If Zhao Hui’s explanation was true, this staff was almost like a living creature.

“If you input your genetic code, an account will be created immediately.”

“Genetic code? Account?”

Zhao Hui sighed and pointed at the end of the staff.

“Do you see that transparent membrane? Drop your blood on it.”

“Huh? Why my blood?”

“Don’t want to? Then return it.”

“No! I’ll do it!”

Whoooooo—

Once the Great Sage of Heaven’s blood was recognized, the transparent membrane disappeared as if it had never existed.

Immediately, the Great Sage of Heaven could feel an unknown force connecting him with the staff.

“What… what is this?”

“It’s been created. Now the owner of the staff will never change.”

The Great Sage of Heaven, staring at the staff in a daze, had a sudden thought—Could it really grow longer?

“Wow!”

The staff hummed with energy.

The staff, emitting a strange noise, was enveloped by beams of light and soon stretched out like a taffy, growing longer and longer, as though it were reaching the very end of the sky, piercing through the clouds.

“This… this can’t be…!”

Even after witnessing it with his own eyes, the Great Sage of Heaven couldn’t believe it.

“I’ve never heard of such an artifact in all my long years. A staff that can change its length as one wishes.”

“That’s the Ruyi staff.”

“…Ruyi staff?”

Zhao Hui smiled and answered.

“It’s perfect for monkeys.”

“…”

The Great Sage of Heaven, enhanced by a neural link chip, began to feel a sense of excitement at the thought of wielding this bizarre staff on the battlefield.

“Well, now that you’ve received the talisman, you’re now my subordinate.”

“Hmm. Understood.”

“Tsk! Your tone.”

“Ah! I understand!”

“Good. Now, you’ll address me properly.”

“Ah, yes, sir!”

Zhao Hui’s cold gaze turned toward the north.

“Head back to Xinjiang. And find that human wandering around without a head.”

Although the task had already been given to Yajeo, Zhao Hui was still uneasy. If the rogue was left unchecked, the damage to the Central Plains would escalate exponentially.

“Now? Right now?”

“Yes.”

This crazy master, look at him!

The Great Sage of Heaven had come all the way to Hainan, exhausted from flying, with not a single drop of spiritual power left. But Zhao Hui knew him well enough to understand his awareness of such a situation.

“Godbox. What happened to the one I told you to make earlier?”

“It has already been completed.”

Indeed, the godbox, which had just been emitting dazzling light and printing moments ago, had now ceased operation.

“The appearance is ordinary.”

The C.G., or Cloud Grieller, a revolutionary means of transportation that changed the quality of life in the future world, had been created by humanity after completing the theoretical anti-gravity device. This small, spherical object was the result.

The godbox had transformed it into an easier form to produce than the original masterpiece, the Dirty Flying, created by the Denyack Corporation.

“Get on.”

Following Zhao Hui’s gaze, the Great Sage of Heaven approached the small sphere.

“Wha—what is this?”

“You’ll know once you get on.”

With a dazed expression, the Great Sage of Heaven climbed onto the small sphere, and around it, an ethereal aura like mist began to rise.

This mystical ether was the infinite power that made humanity’s dream of anti-gravity possible.

It was like riding on a cloud.

“What… what kind of artifact is this?”

“The greatest horse ever made by humans.”

“A horse? You’re telling me to ride this like a horse?”

The small sphere, sensing the Great Sage of Heaven’s intent through telekinetic waves, immediately increased its output to the maximum.

“Eek?! Aahhh!”

Boom—!

With a powerful shockwave, the sand of the white beach was ruthlessly overturned, and the Great Sage of Heaven was quickly reduced to a black speck, disappearing from Zhao Hui’s sight.

“Even the Cloud Somersault is a must for monkeys.”

Zhao Hui enjoyed the clear view of the South Sea, savoring the sea breeze.

***

Unable to wait idly for the constellations to break the “Gate of Law,” Zhao Hui made his way directly to Tangjia.

It was nearly impossible for the Tang family to fend off the forces of the Sichuan General’s Department, which had transformed a battalion into a group of Awakened individuals.

The sharp buildings, arranged like a fortress along the ridgeline, stood tall. Below them, a wall stretched like a city rampart, encircling the entire Tangata. Hidden beneath these walls were members of the Dark King’s faction, secretly keeping watch.

The Tangata warriors, with their unwavering vigilance, surrounded the fortress, their prayers as solemn and strict as ever. The only difference was the increased number of guards protecting the Tangata, which had grown significantly.

With the Sichuan General’s Department having effectively declared a state of war, the tension in the area was suffocating.

The one to break this heavy silence was none other than Zhao Hui.

The Tangata warriors, who had been guarding their family with steely resolve, were now staring in astonishment. A man was descending slowly from the distant sky.

The moment the man arrived, he made their meticulous defense seem completely insignificant, casually surveying the surroundings while speaking in a blunt voice.

“How are you all doing?”

A smile, glowing brightly in the early morning light, spread across his face. This smile was one that the Tangata warriors were all too familiar with.

“Master Xiao Jianxin!”

“Greetings, Young Master Zhao Hui!”

The Tangata warriors, momentarily forgetting their duties, rushed forward with joy on their faces.

He was the one who had revolutionized the culture of Sichuan and had brought immense wealth to the Tangata.

“Haha! I see our elder is here as well!”

From the shadow of the wall, an elderly figure stepped forward—it was Tang In-sang.

As expected, his freedom from the constraints of his status as a family elder was evident.

The Tangata warriors, who had once followed the legend of the family’s absolute leaders, were now on a mission alongside the elderly figure.

The morale in the air was soaring, as they were on a mission with a revered elder, working side by side with the younger warriors of the family.

“Indeed, it’s just like you, Elder.”

Tang In-sang’s face softened with affection as he gazed at Zhao Hui.

“Welcome to Tangata. Xiao Jianxin.”

He was the one who had helped him forget the grudge he held against his family. Without Zhao Hui, he would never have been able to return to Tangata.

Zhao Hui’s gaze shifted to the area beyond the Tangata walls.

“I see they’re setting up camp below the ridge. It looks like their advance is imminent.”

Zhao Hui had clearly seen the standard-bearers at the front of the formation checking their banners. When standard-bearers are preparing their flags, it usually means that the army is about to march, and disaster for Tangata was drawing near.

Tang In-sang’s face shifted between concern and hope.

“Are you here to help us, then?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Zhao Hui nodded.

“Of course. I will show them exactly what kind of disaster arises when they break the long-standing principles of the martial world and the bureaucratic order.”

“Ah! Xiao Jianxin!”

“Truly our Eight-Arm Buddha!”

In an instant, the entire outer courtyard of Tangata erupted with cheers.

The news of Xiao Jianxin’s participation was like rain nourishing the parched earth.

Even the Tangata warriors, who had been silently guarding the outer courtyard, joined in the loud cheers, and soon, the elders and leaders of Tangata arrived at the scene.

“Xiao Jianxin!”

“President Zhao!”

Leading the group was the head of the family, Du Longjie, along with the leaders representing each hall and faction of Tangata, surrounding Zhao Hui with expressions of happiness.

Du Longjie, his face full of joy, grabbed Zhao Hui’s shoulders.

“Seeing the atmosphere, it seems you’ve come to lend us your strength! Thank you! Truly, thank you!”

The hardships Du Longjie had faced were apparent from his weary expression.

Zhao Hui, scanning the faces of the senior members of Tangata who were looking at him with hope, was confident that his plan had been a complete success.

“That doesn’t mean I’m directly getting involved.”

“Hmm?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Zhao Hui’s fame for overpowering tens of thousands of martial artists had already spread far and wide across Sichuan.

The cheers from the Tangata warriors were undoubtedly directed toward the unparalleled martial prowess of Xiao Jianxin, who was said to have surpassed even the Three Gods.

“You know, I’m a merchant who can’t afford to fall out with the General’s Department.”

Du Longjie’s face twisted in discomfort.

As expected, Zhao Hui was showing his merchant side once again. Du Longjie’s face reddened in frustration.

“Do you really think Tangata is in a position to be manipulated by your schemes?”

Despite being both a martial artist and a merchant, Zhao Hui’s playful banter in such a critical situation, where the fate of Tangata was at stake, was a bewildering shift from his previous speeches where he spoke of punishing the General’s Department like an incarnation of the Eight-Armed Buddha.

Zhao Hui, with a nonchalant expression, rummaged through his robes and pulled out several Neuralink chips, handing them over to Du Longjie.

“Here. Take these.”

“Hmm?”

Du Longjie frowned deeply.

He couldn’t easily accept Zhao Hui’s sudden action, especially when faced with an unfamiliar and strange object.

At that moment, a rumbling noise echoed.

A massive tremor suddenly enveloped Dangata.

The five great military divisions of the Sichuan General’s Bureau had begun their march in unison.

Zhou Hui, seemingly unphased, looked on indifferently as the Dangata warriors quickly assumed combat posture, then turned his attention back to Du Longjie.

“Do you see their vanguard?”

Du Longjie, gritting his teeth, looked toward the approaching massive army. The expression in his eyes was one of astonishment—no, fear.

“What in the world are those monstrous creatures?”

The army advancing with a ferocity like monsters. There were giants, people engulfed in flames, those who could summon lightning at will, and others moving at the speed of light.

These unimaginable beings were responsible for the destruction of all Dangata reconnaissance units up until now.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. It’s Dangata’s way,” Zhou Hui said with a faint smile, handing Du Longjie a Neuralink chip.

“Let’s become monsters too, Du Longjie.”

Du Longjie stared blankly at the Neuralink chip that Zhou Hui had handed him.

He instantly recognized it as the same item—the Dalma True Sutra—that had once caused an uproar across the martial world of Northern Sichuan.

This tiny object was a dangerous relic capable of bringing about the destruction of the Central Plains.

Zhou Hui was the one who had warned about the risks of the Dalma True Sutra.

“Why…?” Du Longjie muttered, confused.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Hui quickly raised his voice, almost impatiently, “So what? Do you have another solution for the crisis facing Dangata?”

The earth shook violently with an unrelenting shockwave, evidence of the overwhelming force of the approaching army.

The monstrous human weapons, advancing faster than warhorses, made Du Longjie feel like he was suffocating.

“While the family head, with his mastery of willpower, will likely survive, what about the rest of the people?” Zhou Hui’s piercing words cut through Du Longjie’s thoughts.

Indeed, even if they somehow managed to repel the assault, the damage would be catastrophic.

The Dalma True Sutra, originally regarded as the world’s greatest treasure, was now being handed over by Zhou Hui.

Du Longjie stared at the Neuralink chip for a long time, then made a firm decision, clenching his jaw.

“I’ll trust you.”

Despite his earlier doubts, Du Longjie had learned to trust Zhou Hui over the years, formed through countless dealings.

“Captain!”

Du Longjie called, and soon the elite warriors of Dangata, the Twelve Venomous Fangs and other top fighters, stood at attention.

“What should we do now?”

Zhou Hui, standing across from them, quietly regarded the gathered warriors. He picked up a Neuralink chip and walked over to the leader of the Twelve Venomous Fangs, Tang Shangqian.

“…”

Even as Zhou Hui prepared to attach something strange to his forehead, Tang Shangqian did not flinch. Instead, his eyes glowed with a fierce, unyielding intensity.

“Suck!”

A strange, almost tactile sensation of something like a needle pricking the mind swept through Tang Shangqian’s entire being. For the first time in his life, he felt unfamiliar senses awakening inside him.

“AAAH!”

Unable to contain the rush of exhilaration, Tang Shangqian screamed in agony.

Suddenly, Du Longjie’s eyes widened in shock.

“Gao Dulong!”

Tang Shangqian, regarded as the strongest warrior among the Twelve Venomous Fangs, was transforming into something else entirely.

Thin, ethereal wisps of smoke started to swirl around his body.

“Absolute Poison…?” Du Longjie gasped.

This was the legendary transformation that only the absolute masters of Dangata’s poison arts could achieve.

The legend of the Absolute Poisoner!

Among the many who sought the path of poison, few were ever able to reach this height. Only two warriors in Dangata’s history had ever earned the right to wear the legendary robes of the Absolute Poison Dragon.

Zhou Hui, however, dismissed this power with a smirk.

“It’s not the Absolute Poisoner.”

“Then what is it?”

Zhou Hui simply continued to gaze at Tang Shangqian, who had now become a different being entirely.

“How does it feel?”

Tang Shangqian, calmly assessing his own transformation, suddenly kneeled before Du Longjie.

“Allow me to lead the vanguard, Head!”

“The vanguard? Alone?”

“Chung!”

With a fierce glint in his eyes, Tang Shangqian bowed deeply to Du Longjie.

Then Zhou Hui’s voice rang out again.

“You will witness the greatest one-man army in Dangata’s history.”

Seeing Du Longjie hesitate, Tang Shangqian gathered the ethereal, absolute poison aura around him and condensed it into his palm.

The liquidified poison was an eerie, pure white.

“Could it be…?”

“That… that’s Celestial Poison! Head!”

The surrounding elders and heads of Dangata stared in awe as they recognized the impossible transformation.

Celestial Poison was a level beyond even the Absolute Poisoner. It was said to be the domain of the Poison King, a legendary figure who had not appeared in six centuries.

This was the true return of the Poison King!

“It is granted!” Du Longjie cried out.

And thus, the massacre began.

Swish—!

Tang Shangqian shot forward, effortlessly reaching the center of the enemy ranks.

The giant at the forefront of the army, laughing, reached out to grab him.

“Hah! Ugh!”

The giant’s massive hand melted away, flowing like water.

The sight was so surreal that even the advancing soldiers halted in their tracks.

Tang Shangqian’s white smoke wrapped around the giant’s entire body, and in an instant, it liquefied, as if the giant had never existed.

There was no smell of burning flesh, no noise. It simply melted away like water.

“Impossible!”

“Hiiieek!”

The greatest warrior of the army, newly born through the Dharma Sutra, melted away in an instant, causing the entire army to stir. However, the poisonous aura emanating from Dang Sang-cheon’s double palm attack showed no signs of stopping.

Swoosh—

Like a valley hit by a torrent, the entire formation was swept away in an instant.

With comrades nearby dissolving like liquid, only a few soldiers could maintain their composure.

“Ah, no!”
“Ahh! Help me!”

From a distance, General Gajinheon, watching the scene unfold with his command and troops, stood up suddenly holding his banner.

“What… What in the world is that?!”
“It seems to be the poison of the Dang family, General!”
“Poison? Is that poison?”

No matter how potent a poison was, it usually took time to take effect. But this… soldiers were melting instantly.

“I’ve never seen such a poison! How can this be called poison?”

As soon as the enemy spread their double palms, dozens of soldiers melted away, and none of Gajinheon’s strategies or thoughts came to him in that moment.

In his heart, he wanted to shout for his loyal officers to rush in and stop it, but he knew it would be futile—such a command would only lead to more unnecessary sacrifices.

“Poison is usually countered with fire! Hwa-ryong! Where is Hwa-ryong?”

The person Gajinheon sought, with eyes burning with urgency, was the soldier Hwa-ryong, who could now freely control fire thanks to the Dharma Sutra.

“There! Look over there, General!”

Hwa-ryong, his body enveloped in flames, was fiercely facing the elite warriors of Dang’s army. He withstood the poisonous aura that would have melted others without dissolving. The blue poison wrapped around his burning body, but it turned to smoke.

“Good! As expected of Hwa-ryong!”

At last, Gajinheon’s face cleared, and he gripped his banner tightly.

But at that moment, the sky above the battlefield suddenly darkened.

Then came a noise that resembled a swarm of bees.

Whoooosh—

The battlefield seemed to be filled with dark clouds, and Gajinheon and his commanders began to panic again.

But it wasn’t dark clouds.

“GRAAAAAH!”

The cry of a soldier echoed, and the hellish scene unfolded.

Swoosh—

It was none other than the poison rain of the Lightning Eagle Corps, a division reborn through the Dharma Sutra, and in just one attack, it was all but decimated.

“What… What is that?”
“It’s the rumored ‘Mancheonhwawoo’ (Sky Full of Flowers), General!”
“Does that even make sense?”

The strength of the Lightning Eagle Corps’ soldiers was comparable to any fierce general. To break such an elite corps with a single strike seemed impossible.

“How could the rogue factions of the martial world be this strong?!”

Gajinheon could no longer believe that the Four Heaven Generals could be this powerful. His earlier confidence in the Lightning Eagle Corps was gone in an instant.

“If the Four Heaven Generals are this strong, then we’re in danger of losing everything!”

“Retreat! All troops retreat!”

As the Four Heaven Generals’ troops began to retreat in a cloud of dust, Jo Hwi smiled faintly.

“How was that, Lord?”
“…”

Dang Mu-ho, still stunned and speechless, stared ahead, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.

“How… How could this be possible…?”

Only three of Dang’s warriors had been transformed by the Dharma Sutra. One became the legendary ‘Absolute Poison Man,’ another turned into a ‘God of Darkness,’ and the other two surpassed the legends themselves, achieving an unprecedented level of dark energy manipulation.

They were capable of using a dark technique far superior to the legendary techniques of the Dang family.

It was beyond imagination.

Yi-Gyeo-Geum (Using Qi to Control the Sword)—a technique that required immense internal energy and concentration to control a single sword with one’s energy.

Therefore, Dang’s clan used a special technique, the Silver Sleep Mantra, to control hundreds of poison techniques.

But now, the techniques of the subordinates had surpassed the master’s legendary level in an instant, which was a truly mind-boggling achievement.

Clang!

Upon returning from the battlefield, Dang Sang-cheon and his subordinates lined up before Dang Mu-ho, bowing respectfully.

“Chung!”
“Chung!”

However, the air around them was filled with the faint trace of their intense willpower.

Dang Mu-ho, stunned, spoke in disbelief.

“Could it be…?”

Seeing the astonishment in his eyes, Dang Sang-cheon slowly withdrew the white mist surrounding him, and humbly bowed.

“Lord, I believe we’ve reached the highest level!”

“Chung! I too…”

Jo Hwi smiled widely, clearly pleased with the results.

His decision to make the martial world the final battlefield had been the right one.

The Four Heaven Generals had only a handful of soldiers who achieved true enlightenment. However, the three top warriors of Dang’s family, after the transformation by the Neural Link chip, all reached true enlightenment and became masters of willpower.

“Well, I’ll be leaving now.”
“Wait, So-Geom-Shin!”

Dang Mu-ho hurriedly called out to Jo Hwi, who was preparing to leave, mounted on his steel sword.

“Please, give me more of that Dharma Sutra!”

Jo Hwi chuckled.

“Are you going to conquer the martial world now?”

“Of course not! I just need…”

Jo Hwi, who had been indifferently staring into Dang Mu-ho’s intense, burning eyes, nodded readily.

“Alright. I will give it to all the members of the Dang family.”

“Ahh! Really?!”

The more awakened individuals, the better. After all, the original goal was to distribute the Neural Link chips to everyone in the Central Plains.

The problem was minimizing the shock that would come with it.

Then, Jo Hwi handed a bundle of Neural Link chips to Dang Mu-ho and left for the east.

A month passed, and soon, all the martial factions of the world transformed into groups of awakened individuals.

For the generals of each city, who had gained powerful military units thanks to Jo Hwi, this was a thunderous shock.

The world was in turmoil.

***

It had already been three months since numerous celestial carriages from the Jo family had departed for various places in the Central Plains.

Finally, these celestial carriages were returning to the Jo family in large numbers.

Creeeeak—

As the iron gates of the outer world opened, one by one, celestial carriages began to enter.

Zhegal Un, who had been waiting for them, moved towards the first celestial carriage.

“Are you the little Zhuge (Xiaozhuge)?”

The middle-aged man stepping out of the first celestial carriage was no ordinary figure, as his presence was immediately apparent.

“I greet you, great one. I am Yun, from the Zhuge family.”

“Hmm…”

The middle-aged man, his face full of dissatisfaction, scanned Zhegal Un up and down before speaking again.

“Considering the reputation and dignity of the Zhuge family, I came all the way to this distant place, but what exactly is the meaning behind this ridiculous letter you sent?”

The middle-aged man pulled out a sealed letter from his sleeve, with the Zhuge family’s phoenix seal clearly embossed on it.

“As you can see.”

Frowning deeply, the middle-aged man spoke in disbelief.

“Is this really true? That the Central Plains might soon become a battlefield for divine beings, leading to its destruction?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Hmph! I gave you face, thinking you were a rare figure, but now I see you’re just a charlatan spreading rumors and causing chaos. What benefit are you trying to gain by stirring up the world like this? Is deceiving the ignorant common people really the Zhuge family’s legacy?”

Despite the severe insult to his family, Zhegal Un did not show any anger or distress. Instead, he smiled calmly and bowed toward the middle-aged man.

“You are indeed like a straight bamboo, unyielding, and cannot easily be broken, as they say. Truly, you are Lord Xianwei.”

“Do you think I’m someone who would be swayed by flattery? Hmph! You’ve chosen the wrong person to address!”

Lord Xianwei, Gong Yuki, was regarded as the greatest intellectual of the time, and even within the prestigious Hanlin Academy, he was known as the reincarnation of Confucius and Mencius. His newly developed theory of the “King’s Way” caused an immense stir in the Confucian world, and even the imperial court was closely watching him.

For a long time, numerous high-ranking officials had tried to recruit him, but he had always refused, choosing instead to live as a humble recluse, living far away from the political world.

Jo Hwi and Zhegal Un both recognized that such a figure was an essential asset to the Central Plains, one they had to protect. If the coming time of destruction could not be prevented, such great Confucian scholars would help shape a new world that could benefit all.

“Hmph! I will leave now!”

As Gong Yuki turned sharply to leave, Zhegal Un’s somewhat colder voice seeped into his ear.

“Then what will you do if this is not a mere rumor?”

“Hmph! I need to cleanse my ears!”

“If it’s true that every living thing in the Central Plains, even the trees and plants, will be wiped out, what meaning would your King’s Way have, Lord Xianwei?”

Gong Yuki turned back, glaring at Zhegal Un with a fierce gaze.

“The gods have always been benevolent toward humanity! The god Fuxi, who taught us how to use nets for hunting and fishing; the god Shennong, who taught us agriculture and how to make fire! Why would divine beings want to destroy the human world?”

Zhegal Un sighed.

“It would be better if that were the case, but unfortunately, the gods are not perfect beings. They, too, have desires like humans, and they will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.”

Gong Yuki looked at Zhegal Un as though he were mad.

“How could you possibly know the hearts of the gods? How can you claim to understand their personalities?”

Gong Yuki found Zhegal Un’s words utterly ridiculous.

“Now I see that you’re not just speaking nonsense, but you’re indulging in pure fantasy. Instead of stopping at this, why don’t you go around claiming you’ve had a drinking party with the gods themselves?”

“Of course, I’ve had such a gathering.”

It was true.

The ‘Existence-Denying One,’ known as the greatest of the gods and the leader of the gods, was indeed his friend.

“Madman!”

Without looking back, Gong Yuki turned away as if he had seen enough.

Zhegal Un sighed helplessly and continued speaking.

“There is a divine name known as the ‘Existence-Denying One.'”

Thus, Jo Hwi’s life slowly began to unfold from Zhegal Un’s mouth.

It was a life so long and extraordinary that it was hard to believe it belonged to a single person.

The more Gong Yuki listened, the more his expression changed with each passing moment.

No matter how brilliant Zhegal Un, the so-called “Little Zhuge,” was, the stories were too detailed and realistic, with everything fitting together perfectly.

Could there really be someone who could fabricate such intricate lies in such a short time?

And yet, despite the strange and unbelievable nature of the tales Zhegal Un was telling, it was hard to accept them as the truth.

“Born as a human, then rising to the level of a god, becoming an existence who remembers the cycle of reincarnation. And this god had the ability to freely control and reincarnate even in that era? And now you tell me that such a powerful being has been preventing the destruction of the human world until now? Are you asking me to believe this?”

“It is the truth.”

“Where is the proof? What exactly is the proof?”

“I will show you.”

Zhegal Un, with a calm expression, climbed onto the driver’s seat of the celestial carriage and stared at Gong Yuki quietly.

“Let us go together.”

“……”

Zhegal Un drove the celestial carriage, and they arrived at the Six-Meat Tavern near Poyang Lake.

The Six-Meat Tavern was none other than the entrance to the underground cavern created by Zhang Sanfeng.

The tavern owner, Seo Daesang—also known as Hongsal Noya—had already closed the tavern and joined Jo Hwi’s faction, so the tavern was now in ruins.

The eerie sight of the abandoned Six-Meat Tavern made Gong Yuki feel a shiver down his spine.

“Where is this place?”

“You will soon understand everything.”

Zhegal Un spoke with a cryptic smile, and Gong Yuki narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

However, he could not help but follow. Since the genius of the Zhuge family was so confident, there had to be a valid reason for it.

Boom—!

As soon as Zhegal Un and Gong Yuki entered the tavern, a secret mechanism activated, revealing a dark figure.

“What is happening here?”

It was none other than the Dark Ghost, who had been guarding the underground passage under Jo Hwi’s command.

Having fully mastered the “One Sword Heavenly Kill” technique and undergone the Neural Link chip implantation, he had reached a level where he could be called a god of death.

“He is the one who must carry the burden of the world after its destruction.”

“…Understood.”

The Dark Ghost activated a mechanism, causing the floor of the tavern to tear apart, and a massive iron plate shot up.

Clank! Clank!

The iron plates quickly began assembling, covering the entire tavern, and the final result looked like an iron fortress!

Gong Yuki stood frozen in awe, his face filled with astonishment.

Even though he had no knowledge of mechanical arts, he could immediately feel that this was a rare spectacle.

Then, the Dark Ghost made way, and Gong Yuki followed Zhegal Un down a set of underground stairs.

Zhegal Un remained calm, but Gong Yuki’s face was filled with utter shock.

“Good heavens…”

How could human technology possibly create such a massive underground world?

The endless staircase winding down into the pitch-black underground world sent chills all over Gong Yuki’s body, and just looking at it made the hairs on his body stand on end.

After a long descent, lasting nearly an entire day, they finally reached the floor of the underground world. It was a vast cavern that seemed beyond imagination.

“Ha…!”

Gong Yuki gasped in amazement and awe as he looked around.

The cavern revealed by the torches was so massive it seemed like another world entirely.

“Where on earth are we?”

“Look over there.”

Zhegal Un pointed to a pile of barrels and water vessels stacked high in the distance.

“If he cannot prevent the destruction this time, then once again, a few chosen people will have to continue human civilization. That is why this place exists. It is a refuge for those who must forge a new world.”

“What… what is this?”

To fabricate such an enormous underground world just to tell a lie? That was impossible.

The cause and effect didn’t add up.

What could someone like him—a mere village man—gain by telling such a grand-scale lie?

Could it be that everything Zhegal Un had said up until now was actually true?

“Jo, tell me more!”

Zhegal Un silently walked toward the cavern wall.

“When I first heard all this, I honestly didn’t believe it either. But as a scholar, you must know that truth often starts from doubt.”

He traced his fingers over the countless inscriptions on the wall and sighed.

“Look here. These are the countless pieces of evidence.”

Gong Yuki’s eyes widened as he read the inscriptions that covered the entire cavern wall.

“My goodness!”

The astonishing thing was that these writings were left by none other than Zhang Sanfeng, the legendary founder of Taoism.

However, the writings weren’t about grand Taoist philosophies or records of cultivation.

They were about destruction.

The great Taoist founder had prophesied the tragic downfall of the Central Plains.

“By heavens…”

The history of the Central Plains was vividly recorded, showing how it had been marred by distortion and corruption.

The hidden secrets of the Central Plains were so vast that even the greatest Confucian scholar, Xian Weigong, would have found it difficult to comprehend.

“I… I can’t believe it!”

“I felt the same way.”

Within Zhang Sanfeng’s prophecy, the stories of the world’s destruction were detailed.

The War of the Lords.

The battle between gods who descended to feast on the flesh and souls of humans.

That horrific and immense war lasted only two days.

However, the absolute destruction it caused was beyond what the feeble imagination of humans could ever conceive.

The heavens crying without rest.

The earth turning over like a tsunami.

The very crust of the earth exposed.

Red-hot lava stretching across the land.

The vivid descriptions of tens of thousands of souls crying out for mercy, only to be devoured whole, caused Gong Yuki to collapse in shock, his face pale with disbelief.

At that moment, Zhegal Un suddenly knelt down with an expression of respect.

“W-what are you doing?”

“After much discussion, we have chosen Xian Weigong. Please, use the King’s Way to lead the new Central Plains.”

“I am not suited to rule the world or serve as a prime minister!”

“The world, you say?”

Zhegal Un’s gaze, directed at Gong Yuki, quickly turned sorrowful.

“The world that you will govern contains no more than four million, four hundred eighty thousand people.”

“Four million…?”

While not insignificant, it was a stark contrast to the vast populations of the Central Plains, the Outer Territories, and the Western Regions, where the total population would be in the hundreds of millions, making this “world” feel overwhelmingly small.

“Will you lead the remaining people?”

“Why me of all people…?”

“Because I have seen your King’s Way firsthand.”

“…”

“And…”

Zhegal Un’s next words were enough to astonish Gong Yuki.

“The ‘Existence-Denying One’ and the champion of the Literary and Artistic Theory are the same person.”

“W-what did you say?!”

The mysterious scholar who had suddenly appeared at the Great Dragon Banquet and caused a stir in the Confucian circles of the Central Plains—was actually a divine being?

“I know well that your King’s Way was influenced by that person.”

Indeed.

The Confucian world had descended into fierce debates and conflicts due to that mysterious young scholar who had participated in the Literary and Artistic Theory.

To think that the one who had sparked the greatest debate in Confucian history was, in fact, a divine being who had protected humanity all this time!

Then, as if suddenly recalling something, Gong Yuki’s face showed a flash of realization.

“I heard that person’s identity was as a guest of the Namgung family! Yes! It was that man, Jo Hwi! The Hidden Sword of the Great Jo Family! He was the mysterious scholar, wasn’t he? Then…?”

Zhegal Un let out a faint smile.

“As expected, you know. Yes, he is my close friend and the protector who has safeguarded humanity.”