Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1034

Chapter 1034

“Gwiin…?”

Seeing the spirit respond to him, he clenched his teeth.

His mother was no longer here.

After confirming that, he turned back to the spirit and spoke.

“…What happened?”

“What… are you talking about…?”

“The events that just took place. Do you recall any of it?”

“Huh…?”

Damn.

It seemed the spirit remembered nothing.

The opportunity was lost.

His mother had vanished once more. And again, she provided no answers—only a directive to find another Divine Tree.

If it was the next Divine Tree—

It had to be that other general.

The one enveloped in secrecy, with almost no intelligence to be found.

The whereabouts were known, but there was next to nothing about the general’s identity.

Did this mean he was forced to go there?

The location…

He had heard it was somewhere along the route back to the Mount Hua Sect from Mount Marryeong.

Could this truly be just a coincidence?

He had wondered why his path led to Mount Marryeong first.

But now… it seemed as if everything had been orchestrated, each move carefully designed.

What is really happening?

What was his mother’s true objective?

From her words, he gathered that she wanted him to acquire the Divine Fruit.

That much was evident.

His own aim was identical.

The distinction was—

I won’t be the one to consume it.

The Divine Fruit he was pursuing was intended for Shin Noya, not himself.

Besides—

Even if I were to eat it, that would be the second time. Would that even be acceptable?

The first time, he had used it to stabilize his fractured soul.

Based on what he knew, the Divine Fruit restored a soul to its correct state.

If he were to ingest it again—

…What would occur?

He couldn’t even guess the result.

Was this his mother’s plan?

If so… I can’t discern what she truly desires.

She claimed she wanted his happiness.

But her actions implied she wanted him to ascend to a higher state.

And everything unfolding now appeared to serve that purpose.

Lifting his head, he let his eyes travel past the spirit, settling on the darkened Divine Tree.

“…”

The wind had quieted.

Only calm remained, yet his emotions were restless and unsettled.

Was he truly following the correct path?

The sole thing he had verified here was—

The Divine Sword is Yarang.

The soul he absorbed at the Divine Dragon Hall had materialized as Yarang.

Just as he had guessed—she was the Divine Sword.

That reality alone left him deeply shaken.

Was he moving in the right direction? Was this truly the correct way?

He wasn’t certain.

But hesitation wasn’t an option now.

If there was something he needed to acquire, he had to pursue it—no matter the cost.

He reached out his hand.

“Gwiin…?”

The spirit appeared puzzled by his gesture.

Ignoring her reaction, he pressed his palm against the Divine Tree.

In that instant—

Duuung—!

A wave of energy emanated from the tree, rippling through the area.

Shwaaahhh—!!

The lake erupted.

Waves thrashed violently, water splashing as they surged.

Startled by the sudden disturbance, the people outside hurried toward the shore.

“What in the world…!”

The most astonished was the spirit.

Having already blacked out once, the spirit now wore a look of complete confusion at this abrupt, unexplained event.

Yet amid the turmoil, he stayed calm, his hand still against the Divine Tree.

Or rather—

…What is this?

He couldn’t withdraw his hand.

With his palm pressed to the tree, something from within was transferring into him.

What is this?

It was unlike when he had touched the Divine Tree in Yahwol.

That time, it happened too swiftly to perceive.

But now—this time—energy was flowing gently from the ancient tree into him.

It wasn’t his own internal energy.

If anything, it was so pristine and refined it could only be called divine energy.

It moved along his arm and gathered in his heart.

However—

It doesn’t feel like energy I can utilize.

It wasn’t internal energy, nor was it spiritual energy.

It certainly wasn’t demonic energy either.

So what would happen now that it had collected inside him?

He frowned, concentrating on the energy.

Shhhh—!!

Soon, a change came over the Divine Tree.

The blackened wood began to lose its color, as if being pulled into his hand.

“…T-The Divine Tree…!”

The spirit gasped in astonishment.

The blackness receded, uncovering the wood’s natural tone underneath.

It occurred almost immediately.

Within moments, all the darkness had been drawn away.

So the energy was connected to the color…?

Simultaneously, the flow of energy into him stopped.

Evidently, the blackened color had been directly tied to the energy.

What exactly is this?

The sacred energy now resting inside him—he didn’t understand its significance.

But his previously weary body felt distinctly rejuvenated.

Noting the sensation, he experimentally clenched his fist.

Wuuuung—!!

“Huh…!?”

A violet gemstone abruptly shot out from the spirit’s chest.

It was identical to before—the artifact that held its master’s presence and allowed spells to be cast in this area.

The moment the energy within it surged—

Swiish! Thump!

“Hm?”

It pierced directly into his chest and was absorbed into his body.

It had passed straight through, embedding itself right into his heart.

There was no pain.

What he felt instead—

Whoooosh—!!!

“…Hah…”

—was an immense flood of power.

Unlike the sacred energy from the tree, this was energy he could actually use.

He sensed it spreading rapidly.

As it poured from his heart into his meridians, his internal demonic cultivation technique reacted on its own.

Demonic Heaven Absorption Art activated, consuming the energy and integrating it.

Whoooosh—!!

Winds exploded outward from his body.

The sheer intensity of the energy generated a pressure wave that softly swept through the vicinity.

And throughout it all, the energy within his heart expanded tremendously.

“…Hoooo…”

He didn’t even need to control his breathing.

Having already reached transcendence, he could refine energy effortlessly, no matter his posture.

The quantity of energy was immense.

It was comparable to absorbing multiple White Demon Stones.

The truly astonishing part was—

The Divine Tree’s energy is containing it.

Like a raging current held within a calm reservoir, the gentle divine energy enveloped the volatile force.

With that, the energy stabilized completely within his heart.

“Hah…”

Releasing a slow breath, he murmured,

“…This is… good.”

A smirk naturally formed at the corner of his mouth—he could sense the difference.

Fwoosh.

He conjured a flame at his fingertips. The already vivid azure fire now felt even more vibrant.

It wasn’t that he had broken through another barrier. Instead, the scattered energies that had been disordered since his last advancement had now settled into perfect balance.

As he took a moment to evaluate the change—

Rumble—!!!

A violent shudder came from the ceiling.

“I-Is this…?!”

“The barrier…!!!”

“Spirit Lord…!!”

The watching people rushed toward the spirit in panic.

She tried to stand quickly, but—

Stumble—!

“Ugh!”

Weak, she nearly fell. He instinctively reached out to support her.

As he did, he looked up, attempting to identify the cause.

Ah, I understand now.

He realized immediately.

…The energy is depleted.

The power that had hidden this place, known as Marryeong Cavern—

The force borrowed from the gemstone left by its master had vanished entirely.

The reason was clear.

Because I absorbed it.

He had taken in all the gemstone’s energy, and as a consequence, the concealed space was now disintegrating.

“This… This can’t be…!!”

The spirit exclaimed in dread. If the barrier vanished, Du Ryeong would be free to assault them.

“It’s fine.”

He said it calmly.

Hearing that, the spirit looked at him, her voice shaking.

“What do you mean, it’s fine…?! If this happens… If this happens, we’re—!”

“I said it’s fine. If you’re concerned about Du Ryeong, don’t be.”

“What are you talking about…?!”

“I already handled him. There’s no reason to fear that fiend.”

“…What?”

The spirit froze.

Handled Du Ryeong?

Her eyes trembled intensely.

Was he speaking the truth? Or was this absurdity?

She clearly found it unbelievable.

Wuuuung—!!

But while she doubted, the barrier continued to crumble.

Soon, just like the color fading from the ancient tree, the Marryeong Cavern’s barrier completely dissipated.

And then—

…I can sense it.

The presence of life—something that had been absent in the darkness.

Now, it was returning.

Detecting this shift, he turned his gaze.

North.

The place where he had just battled Du Ryeong.

He took a step in that direction.

“Gwiin…?”

The spirit called out uncertainly, confused by his movement.

But before she could say more—

Fwoosh—!

His body ignited.

Leaving a trail of fire, he soared into the sky.

He had a destination.

**********

Thud.

He touched down on the ground.

The area was completely devastated.

The earth was fractured, marked with deep craters from the battle.

Wreckage was strewn everywhere, proof of the fight between himself, Du Ryeong, and the enraged beasts.

But none of that was important now.

What drew his attention was the deep, broad crater at the center—created by the Heavenly Demon Soul Jade.

Slowly, he descended.

Though the moon was out, its light didn’t reach this spot.

And at the bottom—

A figure was crouched.

The shadows hid the details, but from what was visible, it was clearly alive.

“So, you actually heeded my words?”

“….”

The figure shifted at his voice.

In the gloom, two eyes flickered open.

Amethyst light glowed within them.

A shade somewhat different from its original color.

Noticing this, he raised his hand.

Fwoosh—!!!

Azure flames burst forth, instantly lighting up the surroundings.

As the blaze flared, the figure was fully revealed.

“….”

It was a man—completely naked, without any clothing.

His build was massive, slightly larger than Tang Deok’s.

He had jet-black hair and a sturdy, powerful physique.

The most noticeable feature—

A set of large horns, like those of a bull, grew from his forehead.

He stared at the horns for a moment before speaking.

“Du Ryeong.”

“….”

At his words, the man’s face contorted.

Outwardly, he looked completely human—except for the horns.

Yet, without a doubt—

He was Du Ryeong.