Published at 27th of August 2026 7:15 pm

Chapter CH.1125: The World of Ascension (55)

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"Kiiiiiiiaaaaaahhhhh---!!!!!"

A piercing scream shot into the sky like a pillar of light. The aftershock of Cheonma Soul Prison was laid bare for all to see.

Around the light, whirlwinds of energy raged like a storm, frantically swallowing up everything nearby.

A bizarre, grotesque sight.

Could that truly be the work of a mere human?

Those observing the scene swallowed hard.

Their trembling legs were not merely from the vibrations in the ground.

It was the terror emanating from that energy.

A spectacle of supreme mastery that did not even permit the approach of ordinary martial artists.

Like witnessing an existence placed above the heavens themselves, the warriors instinctively felt an overwhelming sense of awe.

"Kiaaaaaah-!!!"

"Kghhh...!"

"My ears...!"

The roaring energy itself seemed to scream. It was so unnerving that they instinctively covered their ears.

Goosebumps prickled their skin.

Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the pillar of light vanished. The surrounding tempests dissipated as well.

And at last, the full aftermath of the energy was revealed.

"Haaah..."

"T-That...?"

The onlookers couldn't help but tremble.

The White-Rank Beast that had been rampaging just moments ago, the calamity they had thought impossible to defeat...

"...It's breaking apart."

"It's collapsing..."

Its form was so utterly destroyed that they could barely make out its original shape.

"Kyah... kyarr... kyarruk...."

Earlier, it had been capable of regenerating. But now, it could not even manage that, only letting out weak, pitiful cries.

And then—

Fwooooosh—!!!

A surge of black energy clung to the beast's body.

It looked just like fire.

And in truth, its effects were no different. The energy devoured the beast's remains, consuming every trace of it.

Until not even a fragment remained.

A handful of ashes scattered into the air and vanished.

The moment the White-Rank Beast disappeared—

"Kurrr...!?"

"Kyah... kyaaaaaah-!!"

The Red-Rank Beasts that had been sweeping through the mountains and attacking martial artists reacted.

Some had been held back, but one by one, the once-mighty beasts began to collapse.

And when the last of them had fallen—

"Kyarr...?"

The massive Black Beast at the center of the massacre tilted its head, confused.

Then—

"Kyaa—."

As if it had understood something, it gave a slight nod.

And then—

Shhhh—!

Its body melted away, dissolving into shadows and disappearing.

The same happened to the colossal Black Beast watching from beyond the mountain.

In an instant, all the beasts were gone.

Bzzzzzzzt—!!!

A change occurred in the Magyeong Gate at the mountain’s center.

"L-Lord Namgung! The Grand Magyeong Gate...!"

"...What?"

Namgung Jeohwi turned toward his subordinate’s frantic voice. The Grand Magyeong Gate, which had been spewing out monsters, was beginning to distort.

Creeeak... kreeeeek—!!!

Like crumpling a piece of paper, the gate gradually twisted in on itself.

Then—

Thud—!

Moments later, it was gone, as if it had never existed at all.

"What... is this?"

The martial artists stared at each other in stunned silence.

Just moments ago, they had been in the middle of battle.

But now, in the blink of an eye, it was all over.

The only proof that the monsters had ever existed was the battlefield, left in utter devastation.

A long silence followed.

Then—

"We're alive...."

"W-We survived."

"We’re alive—!!"

One by one, cries of relief erupted from the warriors.

Understanding the situation was secondary.

Surviving the ordeal was all that mattered.

**********

Meanwhile...

"Waaaaaah—!!"

While cheers rang out from the battlefield—

"Hoo."

I quietly observed the situation from behind my mask.

It was good that I had killed the White-Rank Beast, but my body was far from unscathed.

"I used up quite a bit of energy."

I had summoned two White-Rank Beasts to fight, then completely destroyed a true White-Rank Beast.

And in the midst of it all, I had used Cheonma Soul Prison.

That must have been the problem.

My internal energy had drained alarmingly fast.

"But I had no choice."

From the moment I confirmed that damn thing's regeneration ability, I knew I had to deal a massive amount of damage in a short time.

Using Cheonma Divine Art was the fastest way.

I had already observed that beasts hit by Cheonma Soul Prison lost their regenerative power.

So I used it to finish off the White-Rank Beast.

"Not bad."

The plan had worked well enough.

Even for my first time facing a White-Rank Magyeong Gate.

"And I learned something new."

Apparently, when a White-Rank Beast is killed, all the lower-rank monsters under its command are wiped out.

That explained why the other monsters had vanished.

"...A White-Rank Magyeong Gate, huh?"

No other monsters had appeared.

"Only White and Red-Rank ones."

There were no Green or Blue-Rank beasts in sight.

So this meant that until the Magyeong Gate closed, it would only spawn one White-Rank Beast and multiple Red-Rank Beasts?

"Yeah, that’s completely insane."

If that was the case, the difficulty was absolutely absurd.

"How the hell is anyone supposed to stop this?"

Even an elite martial squad wouldn’t be able to handle it.

And this time was no different.

"If I hadn’t been here..."

Even with Cheonjon present, what if he hadn't come?

If that had happened—

"Anhui might have been wiped off the map."

The Namgung Clan's home in Anhui itself might have been destroyed.

That was how dangerous a White-Rank Magyeong Gate was.

"...Still, at least we managed to stop it."

No one had died.

That was only because I had been running all over the place.

"Hoo."

I let out a sigh and ran a hand through my hair.

This was my first time going all out since arriving here, and the exhaustion hit me hard.

But I forced myself to act like I was fine.

I had no other choice.

"What’s the matter?"

Because there were eyes watching.

As I spoke, the figure behind me stepped forward.

I clicked my tongue silently.

It was my father.

"Ah, seriously, he's persistent."

I had done enough already. Was there really more to say? My father was walking toward me, his expression stern.

"I still haven’t heard your answer."

"Ha..."

I sighed. This man’s stubbornness was no joke.

What should I do? Just knock him out? I had wanted to avoid touching my father if possible, but if it came to this, I had no choice.

Just as I was about to approach him, thinking through my options—

"I have a question for you...."

My father spoke once more.

And then—

"Are you, perhaps, the former head of the Gu Clan?"

"...."

I froze.

What?

"What are you talking about?"

I frowned beneath my mask. Thankfully, the mask hid my expression; otherwise, he would have seen how much his words had unsettled me.

The former head of the Gu Clan? Where did that come from?

Just as I was wondering why he would ask such a thing, my father added—

"The power you displayed today—that was the power of the Gu Clan, was it not?"

"...."

Ah, so that’s what this was about.

"He noticed it."

He must have sensed my energy.

Cheonma Soul Prison was ultimately the result of friction between Nine Flames Firewheel and Tua Heaven-Shattering Dance.

He must have recognized traces of it.

Or...

Perhaps it was the demonic flames I had used to burn the White-Rank Beast.

Since those flames also originated from Nine Flames Firewheel, it was possible he had sensed it from that as well.

But it didn’t matter.

"The important thing is that he felt something."

Even just a fragment of my energy was enough for him to notice.

That was the problem now.

"But why would sensing my energy make him ask if I’m the former head?"

It didn’t make sense.

The former head...

"Doesn’t that mean he’s talking about my great-grandfather?"

My great-grandfather.

The current head of the Gu Clan was my grandfather, so my father must have been referring to my great-grandfather.

"Do I look like your grandfather to you?"

"...I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking."

Even my father didn’t seem entirely convinced himself.

I didn’t have to think long about my response.

"That’s not even worth answering. Get lost."

I turned my back on him and leaped away.

I neither denied it nor confirmed it.

It simply felt like the right response.

"...!"

My father moved as if to react, but he didn’t.

Because by then, I had already vanished.

**********

Later...

I left the battlefield behind and climbed a mountain.

Not the one that had been devastated, but a relatively intact one.

It was located between the Namgung Clan’s stronghold and the central region of Anhui.

After arriving, I finally relaxed.

"Huuuh..."

Only after confirming that there were no signs of life around me did I let out a long sigh.

"Damn... I’m exhausted."

My whole body ached.

I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, feeling the sweat clinging to my skin.

"I used way too much energy."

Had it been the sudden explosion of power that took its toll?

Fatigue crashed down on me all at once.

"...I should rest for a bit before moving on."

I had already taken care of everything I needed to.

There was no harm in catching my breath.

There were things I needed to think about as well.

So I decided to stay here for a while.

"As long as the Authority remains active, it should be fine."

No one would think I had disappeared.

I had left behind an illusion using the Authority of Wind.

It would last for about half a shichen before dispersing.

"That should be enough."

Enough time to get some proper rest.

I leaned against a tree and closed my eyes.

With my energy senses fully expanded, I planned to take only a short break.

Inside the darkness of my closed eyelids, my thoughts wandered.

"...My great-grandfather."

Why had my father looked at me that way?

Of all things, why the former head of the Gu Clan?

Something about it felt strangely significant.

"He’s right."

The Gu Clan still existed in this era.

And I had already seen my grandfather.

That meant—

"It should be easier to find out more."

The Gu Clan’s purpose as the Master’s Proxy.

Perhaps I could learn more about it.

"...Should I visit Shanxi?"

I hadn’t considered visiting the Gu Clan of this era before.

But now, I was curious.

"Not a bad idea."

I muttered to myself without realizing it.

And then—

"Yeah, not bad at all."

"Right? It’s not bad...."

A voice answered.

"...?"

I slowly opened my eyes.

And there—

"Hello."

"...."

A woman with white hair and gleaming crimson eyes.

My mother sat there, watching me.

...Why is she here?

I was so caught off guard that I didn’t even have time to be startled.

Then—

"Tell me something."

She suddenly spoke.

"Are you the same as me?"

It was a question I never expected.

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