Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 867

Chapter 867

I needed to verify several matters with the Master of the Celestial Stream Sect.
My first concern was whether one could wield demonic energy while also possessing an aura akin to that of the Demonic Flame (Pama).
If my flames could incinerate external energies, what would become of the demonic energy inside me?
The test to determine this was not especially difficult.
I am uncertain if this is a good thing, but the power referred to as the Demonic Flame did not consume my demonic energy. It also did not disrupt my capacity to initiate demonification, which functioned as it always had.
The demonic energy stayed constant, existing separately. Using it, I brought about the demonification of the Celestial Stream Sect Master.
Throughout this, the Nine Flames Firewheel Art displayed no reaction at all—a completely separate energy, yet it did not seem to be recognized as a threat.
Bizarre and unfamiliar, but that was the only interpretation I could form.
«Interesting.»
It cleanses what must be cleansed and ignores the rest? I still did not completely understand the changed nature of the flames, so I could not be certain.
At the very least, I retained my ability to use demonic energy.

That accomplished, I had transformed the Celestial Stream Sect Master into a demon. The next step was to interrogate him.
My first question:
«What is the Ilcheon Cult?»
What precisely is this Ilcheon Cult, and how is the Celestial Stream Sect involved with it?
The Sect Master responded:
«…The Ilcheon Cult… is true justice.»
«True justice?»
«Yes… that is correct. The Ilcheon Cult is… in this decaying world… the true justice. We… merely act according to its will.»
True justice. What foolishness. Where in this world does true justice exist?
This is a world governed by fools who pretend to be virtuous and upright.
«Explain more precisely. Why is the Ilcheon Cult called true justice?»
«Because… its origin is different. The present Alliance… is a falsehood.»
«That is not a clear explanation. Speak plainly.»
I frowned as I pressed him. Something was wrong with this man.
«His manner of speaking is erratic.»
It wasn’t only the disrespectful tone that bothered me. When someone is demonified, the demonic energy forces absolute loyalty to me, compelling them to show correct behavior.
«It did not take full effect on him.»
Even though he was visibly demonified, he was not showing total subservience. It was as if something was fighting against the control.
«The Ilcheon Cult… The Ilcheon Cult follows His will… and executes His intentions….»
Even now, in my presence, he was calling someone “Him”. This was evidence that something was amiss.
I looked at him steadily and asked again.
«Who is this ‘Him’?»
«He is… God. The savior of this world….»
«Are you claiming that this so-called God formed the Ilcheon Cult?»
«…Uh….»
He twisted as if suffering, stopping his own words.
«Answer me.»
I asked once more.
«Ugh… He… does not involve Himself in such things… Having imparted His will… we simply follow it.»
«What is meant by His will?»
«It is the sacred will… to return this corrupted world to its pure form.»
«Ah….»
What utter nonsense. Am I posing the incorrect questions? With answers like these, I was learning nothing of value.
I chose to change my tactic.
«This ‘Him’ you speak of—is He still living?»
«…He cannot be measured by mortal concepts of life.»
«You fool, answer me directly. In the past decade, have you seen Him face to face? Yes or no.»
«Yes.»
Hearing his reply, I gave a curt nod. This was the way.
The most effective approach appeared to be forcing specific answers from him with simple questions. It was not perfect, but it would suffice.
It was tiresome to formulate each question, but there was no alternative.
«Then, is this present circumstance also something arranged by Him?»
The mysterious corpse in the pond. The core-like object suspended within it. Its state made it obvious this was not the work of a normal person.
The space itself was an issue.
«It is not merely a distortion of perception; there is sound isolation, and even what seems to be a formation activated.»
There were multiple installations encircling the area. I could see that immediately.
«This is no ordinary formation.»
Even with my limited knowledge of formations, I could tell this one was exceptional.
Its sheer strangeness was evidence enough.
To my question, the Celestial Stream Sect Master said:
«…This is His blessing….»
I loosely translated his rambling as a ‘yes’. So, this unknown being was responsible for all of this.
«Then, what is the purpose of that corpse and the core?»
It was a question hard to phrase for a yes-or-no answer. I opted to collect information directly.
I feared he might spout more nonsense, but then:
«They were left by Him to forge a vessel.»
«To forge a vessel? What sort of vessel, and by what means?»
«That….»
As I listened to his description, I frowned.
They immerse chosen individuals of outstanding talent from the Celestial Stream Sect into that pond. For a minimum of two sijins (around four hours) daily, over five years, their bodies are said to undergo a transformation.
«Can simply being submerged cause that?»
It sounded ridiculous, like some kind of therapeutic bath—or more accurately, a witch’s brew.
However.
«Is that the reason the members of the Celestial Stream Sect possessed greater vitality and higher cultivation than anticipated?»
The Sect Master’s black hair. His cultivation level, which conflicted with my intelligence—it began to make sense.
All because of that pond.
«A pond that can artificially raise cultivation levels.»
Aside from the white corpse and the murky yellow water, it seemed commonplace. Yet, if it had such properties….
«In my previous life, it was said he discovered a great opportunity within the Secret Pavilion.»
Suspicions emerged.
In my past life, the Celestial Stream Sect Master said he had found a tree with white leaves. That could very well have been the young tree underground.
«But what if.»
What if, by some possibility:
«What if the future changed because the Secret Pavilion vanished?»
What if my actions in locating the Secret Pavilion ahead of schedule had altered events?
«It is possible.»
I had encountered enough similar situations to be wary. It was established that the Celestial Stream Sect Master grew powerful due to a discovery in the Secret Pavilion. If that future was changed, yet the Sect Master still achieved his current strength….
«There are two possibilities.»
Either the Secret Pavilion was not essential, and this was always the way it occurred in my past life.
«Or the vanishing of the Secret Pavilion created a problem that resulted in this situation.»
Both scenarios shared a common factor.
«Regardless, someone interfered.»
This was not something the Celestial Stream Sect Master could have arranged by himself. Another party was manipulating him.
And that party was likely the very «Him» the Sect Master worshipped so devoutly.
As I pondered this, the Sect Master added:
«Once the vessel refinement is finished… we will finally be worthy of bearing the Dragon Pearl.»
«The Dragon Pearl? You mean those cores?»
«How dare you liken them to simple cores… Gahhh–!!»
The Celestial Stream Sect Master grabbed his head and stumbled.
He appeared to be in a bad state. I had to extract all the information I could, and quickly.
«Answer me.»
«Dragon Pearls… are the sole means… for humble humans to become exalted… beings.»
«And by exalted beings, you mean…?»
I frowned, remembering their forms.
«Are you speaking of dragons?»
«…!»
The Sect Master’s eyes went wide at my words. That appeared to be a confirmation.
The pond altered their bodies, and when ready, they would consume the Dragon Pearls to achieve full awakening.
«So that’s why… he felt similar to the Shadow King.»
A half-dragon. The same abominable blending of dragon and human as the Shadow King, though not identical.
To be exact:
«Not exactly the Shadow King…»
A White-Rank demonic beast.
The resemblance to that felt much stronger.
And furthermore:
«The reason they had not yet consumed the cores must be…»
It had only been a brief time since the five-year process ended.
«Five years ago would have been right after I attacked the Secret Pavilion.»
Perhaps a year, at most, had passed since then. The timing felt suspect.
«You… you as well…»
The Sect Master nearly said “you bastard” but caught himself. It seemed the demonic energy inside him was conflicting with another force.
«Enough. Putting everything else aside…»
«What was your intention with all this?»
What was the Celestial Stream Sect aiming to do under the banner of the Ilcheon Cult? That was the crucial information I required.
«…We… We…»
«We.»
«We will… found… a new justice… in accordance with His will….»
I processed it quickly.
«Let me ask differently.»
I held his gaze and asked again.
«Founding a new justice. Does that mean overthrowing the Martial Alliance and replacing it?»
«…Ugh…»
The Sect Master started to shake uncontrollably.
«Speak.»
«…Yes…»
He forced out a response. I gritted my teeth.
«So, ultimately, their goal was reformation.»
Their strange contempt for the Alliance.
Their secretive plotting, as if bewitched.
If their aim was rebellion, then it was rebellion. If it was reformation, then it was reformation.
But the issue is:
«This did not occur in my past life.»
If they were truly assembling a force to begin a war, something should have happened in my previous life.
«Yet nothing occurred.»
The only conflict in my past life was the Blood Demon War. Which means:
«They either fell apart before they could begin… or it transpired after my death.»
That seemed the most logical assumption.
«Not straightforward.»
Even though I confirmed their motives and goals, the absence of a clear result in my past life left things uncertain.
«Particularly that figure they call Him. He is the main problem.»
Who or what could He be? Not only did He create this environment, but He also artificially enabled them to become dragons.
He could not possibly be human. If that is so:
«Is He the Blood Demon?»
The idea occurred to me. The Blood Demon. The one I have been most watchful of.
Could this be where He was operating?
As that thought persisted, I muttered under my breath.
«Still, what a ridiculous name. Ilcheon Cult? Seriously?»
Why choose “Ilcheon” of all things? The absurdity made me shake my head.
«Mind… your language… It is a name… drawn from His magnificence….»
«What?»
I laughed derisively at the Sect Master’s statement.
«‘Drawn from His magnificence’? Are you saying Ilcheon is actually a name?»
«…Yes…»
I frowned at his reply. A cold feeling came over me.
Sensing it, I demanded at once:
«That person’s name… It cannot be Yeon Ilcheon, can it?»
«…»
He was silent. That silence annoyed me further.
«Speak. Are you claiming Yeon Ilcheon is alive? Answer clearly.»
I seized his collar and pressured him again, pushing demonic energy into him. I required an answer no matter what.
At that moment:
«…He is…»
The Sect Master finally answered.
«He… Yeon Ilcheon… is alive.»
With those words, the Sect Master fell unconscious.
The air grew instantly cold.

******************

«Yeon Ilcheon is alive.»
That statement held many meanings for me.
The central hero who concluded the Blood Calamity.
The greatest martial artist in history, past or present—the Golden Stream Fist King, Yeon Ilcheon.
His name is forever inscribed in history as a fundamental founder of the current Martial Alliance.
And also:
«A man who went through the same experience I did.»
Like me, he was a regressor who reversed time. Furthermore:
«The one who declared me a calamity.»
The disaster that would consume the world—that was how Yeon Ilcheon had assessed me.
But now:
«He’s alive?»
He is alive? How is that possible?
The Ilcheon Cult, a name I already despised, was actually derived from Yeon Ilcheon’s name.
«No wonder it felt odd.»
Talk of origins, true justice—it all seemed insane. But it became understandable if they were just echoing Yeon Ilcheon’s dogma.
My mind reeled. Had Yeon Ilcheon masterminded all of this?
I could not grasp it. Centuries had gone by. How could Yeon Ilcheon still be living?
«Was this what Namgung Myung hinted at?»
In the North Sea, while using Woo Hyuk’s body, he had told me:
«Do not trust Yeon Ilcheon.»
I had not understood why a former ally would say that.
«Was it because of something like this?»
He might have known something.
«If that is true, then I truly must go.»
The larger the problem, the more defined my destination became. Nearly every event led to the same place.
«Xinjiang…»
The location of the Heavenly Demon Cult in my previous life.
It seemed I had no choice but to go there. My intuition insisted.
No, even without intuition, it was obvious.
When strange events happened, the solution was always identical.
«Make haste for Xinjiang.»
«Ha…»
I let out a breath and began to move. Very well. I knew I had to go, and I was going regardless.
But first, I needed to handle the immediate tasks at hand.
Step.
I came up from underground, returned to the Martial Alliance, and went directly to the Azure Dragon Division’s headquarters.
When I arrived, countless eyes fixed on me.
I assessed the intensity of their stares and called out.
«Listen.»
Huuuuung—!!
My voice, reinforced with inner energy, amplified and echoed across the grounds.
Had he awakened yet? It would be best if he had, but it made no difference if he had not.
«This sect master confirms that the Celestial Stream Sect, under the Alliance’s surveillance, has conspired with the Demonic Cult to further their plots.»
–!!
Everyone’s eyes widened at my announcement. It was too sudden a revelation to process instantly.
But I was not done.
«Furthermore,»
I started to release my energy slowly as I continued.
«The Celestial Stream Sect Master, who plotted rebellion with the Demonic Cult, and a leader of this Alliance—»
Creak. Intense energy vibrated out from me.
«I have obtained proof incriminating the Azure Dragon Division’s commander, Ilcheon Sword.»
Srrrng–!!
Behind me, warriors of the Sacred Dragon Division unsheathed their weapons, their power rising for combat.
«By the authority of the Sacred Dragon Division, I will eliminate the traitor here and now.»
I spoke with calm finality and stepped forward.
Before confronting the larger problem, it was time to tidy up the immediate disorder.