Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 888

Chapter 888

“Gah, gah, gah—!!!”

“Hrk!”

“Ugh!”

“This… this can’t be!”

In a heartbeat, the very air changed.

A sweltering heat seized the members of the Alliance, making them clutch at their chests. It wasn’t just the temperature; a crushing force reverberated in every direction.

The atmosphere became thick.

Just drawing breath was a struggle. Only those whose cultivation had reached the peak realm could withstand it.

“Ghk…”

“Ughh…”

Those below that level foamed at the mouth and fell. Their minds couldn’t endure the strain. And the pressure only continued to intensify.

The heat and the oppressive force swelled without end. If this continued, someone would surely perish from the sheer, suffocating weight.

“Star King.”

*Screeeech!*

At that moment, the Sword Emperor spoke and tightened his grip on his sword.

*Wheeeeeeenng—!!!*

The blade emitted a piercing cry. Vibrating powerfully, the sword wailed, its sharp resonance starting to force back the overwhelming pressure.

The Sword Emperor’s aura clashed violently with the crushing energy emanating from Gu Yangcheon.

*Screeeeech—!!!*

The two immense powers met, distorting the space between them. Neither gave any ground. Which meant…

“The Division Leader of the Celestial Dragon is a match for the Sword Emperor?”

“That’s impossible—!”

This suggested Gu Yangcheon’s martial prowess was equal to that of the Sword Emperor.

The youngest king. The man destined to be the world’s greatest. Titles like “Future Supreme One” and “The One Above All” were often used for Gu Yangcheon, yet the Sword Emperor’s fame was no less.

In fact, if comparisons were made, the Sword Emperor’s accolades were far more numerous.

The Guardian of the Martial Alliance. One of the Ten Supreme Masters.
Furthermore, along with the Plum Blossom Immortal, he was considered one of the three martial artists nearest to transcendence.

This alone was a testament to the Sword Emperor’s worth and power.

“And yet, the Star King isn’t being overpowered by the Sword Emperor…?”

It was a sight that defied belief.

It would be impossible to accept—if it were merely described in words.

“But it’s real. It’s truly happening.”

Gu Yangcheon’s actions made it undeniable.

Flames coiled around him, emitting waves of intense heat.
The severity was such that the area felt like the height of summer, and nearby weeds ignited, burning fiercely as proof of his power.

To approach him would mean certain death by incineration.
This was instinctively clear to everyone.

Consequently, no one dared get near.

“Star King.”

The Sword Emperor’s voice was calm but low as he called out again.
Gu Yangcheon frowned slightly before allowing a smirk to cross his face.

That smile triggered a ferocious eruption of aura from him.

Sensing this, the Sword Emperor’s expression turned severe.

‘It burns.’

Even his fighting spirit carried a searing heat, clinging to his Qi-shielded body as if trying to scorch through it.
How was Gu Yangcheon here? The Sword Emperor resisted the oppressive force while his mind raced.

‘He was last reported to be in Sichuan.’

Word had placed him in Sichuan only days before. How had he arrived here so suddenly?
When had he returned?

‘Could it be due to news of his father?’

The situation pointed to it, but it was difficult to believe. When had he received the information? And when had the messenger bird delivered it?

No matter how he calculated the timing, Gu Yangcheon’s arrival was perplexing.

‘Did he cover that distance in just a few days?’

It was conceivable. If he had channeled all his energy into achieving extreme speed, it might be possible.

‘But if so, he should have nearly exhausted his strength.’

Yet after such a journey, he still possessed enough power to emit this overwhelming pressure?
The Sword Emperor could not comprehend it.

“Why so quiet?”

“…”

The Sword Emperor gripped his sword tighter at the sound of Gu Yangcheon’s voice.

*Wuuuuuung—!!!* The sword’s resonance grew more acute.

“You called for me, so speak. It seems you have something to say.”

“Do you not recall where we are?”

“I remember. We are in the Martial Alliance, are we not?”

“And knowing that, what do you think you are doing?”

“That is precisely why I am telling you to speak.”

Gu Yangcheon narrowed his eyes. For an instant, his aura diminished slightly.
Was it from fatigue? No, the Sword Emperor did not lower his guard.

“Simply answer my questions directly. If you refuse, I will be forced to exert the necessary effort to compel you.”

Effort?

The Sword Emperor had no time to ponder the meaning.

“Then, let us exchange a few moves.”

Before he could reply, he was compelled to raise his sword.
He tilted the blade to the left and braced.

*Kwoooom—!!!*

“…!”

A tremendous impact slammed into his sword—Gu Yangcheon’s foot.

For a split second, he had lost sight of Gu Yangcheon’s movement. The Sword Emperor steadied his breath and corrected his stance.

Using the flat of his blade, he deflected the kick and instantly gathered his Qi.

Gu Yangcheon observed this and released flames into the air.

*Kwooooom—!!!*

The fire detonated, propelling Gu Yangcheon’s body upward.

*Shhhhk!* The Sword Emperor’s slash cut through the flames, parting them. Had he been a moment slower, Gu Yangcheon’s strike would have connected.

Yet, the Sword Emperor felt no regret.

‘He was baiting me.’

That fleeting instant was not an opening created by his hesitation—it was a trap laid by Gu Yangcheon.

The Sword Emperor had seen all he needed from that short exchange.

‘We are on equal footing.’

He confirmed that Gu Yangcheon was his peer.
The realization was staggering. How could someone so young rival him? It was a question with no answer.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

*Wheeeeenng—!!!*

The sword cried out once more.

The Five Blades of Mount Tai.

The Sword Emperor’s unique martial art unfolded from the tip of his blade.
With a low, measured stroke, the first slash ripped through the air.

*Kwoooom—!!!*

Was it an attack? No.

The first slash dispersed the surrounding pressure.
Finally, the nearby martial artists coughed and gasped for air.

But that was only the first blade.

*Shhhk—!!!*

The second slash soared upward, its sheer magnitude overwhelming.

Gu Yangcheon answered with a punch.

*Whoooosh—!!!*

The Flames of the Red Sky Wolf.

Beast-shaped flames collided with the sword energy.

*Boom—!!!*

Like a firework, light erupted brilliantly in the sky.

As Gu Yangcheon watched the scattering light, his eyes moved rapidly.

‘Third blade.’

“Tsk.”

He twisted to the left and shot out his hand.

*Bang!* His palm struck the flat of the incoming blade. Altering its angle, the deflected energy smashed into the ground.

*Kwooooom—!!!*

A deep, long scar was carved into the earth in a straight line.

‘What a brutish old man.’

Gu Yangcheon smirked. He had heard the rumors that the Sword Emperor’s style was less about finesse and more about raw power, and the rumors were clearly true.

It was utterly domineering.

And it wasn’t finished.

The fourth blade.

Even though his previous attack had missed, the Sword Emperor did not halt.

Gu Yangcheon released his energy, flames erupting to conceal his form.

*Whoooosh—!!!*

A violent gale swept out.

The strike followed instantly. Its speed was terrifying.

Thanks to the flames, the blow missed its target.

Gu Yangcheon had successfully deflected the fourth blade.

However…

‘Not done yet.’

The Five Blades of Mount Tai was designed to build toward the fifth and final strike. The first four were merely a buildup of power.

‘From the beginning, the first four are just preparation.’

Amplifying his strength gradually, the final slash was meant to release it all at once.

“Phew.”

The Sword Emperor released a soft breath, gripping his sword with both hands.

‘Even in midair… he’s unshaken.’

Aerial combat usually disadvantaged swordsmen, who needed stable footing to generate power.
But the Sword Emperor seemed unconcerned. He moved his blade as if it were a part of his own body.

It was directed straight at Gu Yangcheon.

No, directed wasn’t the right word.

Watching the Sword Emperor’s movements, Gu Yangcheon frowned.

‘It’s more like he’s trying to obliterate me.’

Such a crude, forceful method was unheard of.
Not even Tang Deok or the Blade King fought in this manner. The Sword Emperor was far more aggressive.

‘The unyielding guardian of the Martial Alliance.’

They called him Mount Tai itself, and Gu Yangcheon had to admit the title was fitting.

However…

*Clang—!!!*

“—!!”

Gu Yangcheon raised his arm and blocked the fifth blade.

He used only his forearm.

Yet the blade did not cut him. It stopped.

“What in the world…!”

Even the mighty Sword Emperor stared wide-eyed in shock.

Of course, he had reason to be.

‘There’s a trick to this as well.’

Gu Yangcheon’s arm was sheathed in Gui-jeong (Eternal Bind).
It would not break. This property was invaluable at a time like this.

And beyond that…

*Whiiir—!*

The Eternal Bind unwound from his forearm and coiled around the Sword Emperor’s blade, binding it fast.

“…Ha.”

The Sword Emperor tried to pull his sword back, but it would not move.

Bound.

As this realization struck him, Gu Yangcheon opened his palm.

*Whoooosh—!!!*

Flames gathered in his hand, coalescing into an Orb of Flame.

Without a moment’s delay, he thrust it toward the Sword Emperor.

*Boom—!!!*

And with a faint tremor…

*Kwooooom—!!!*

The Orb of Flame erupted into a massive explosion.

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

*Thud, thud, thud—!!*

Sparks of fire rained down from the sky onto the earth. Despite the residual heat that should have set the ground ablaze, no fires spread.

Because the one who cast the flames did not will it.

“…”

I landed softly, scanning my surroundings.

People stared at me with wide, unblinking eyes, their faces frozen in shock.
The weight of their gazes was uncomfortable, but I paid it little mind.

*Throb!*

‘Damn it.’

A pain shot through my arm—the same arm that had stopped the Sword Emperor’s final strike.
Thanks to Gui-jeong, I had blocked it, but it hadn’t absorbed the entire impact.

Still, it wasn’t enough to disable me. Perhaps just a minor fracture.

I flexed my fingers and looked ahead.

*Thud.*

Just as I landed, another figure touched down.
The Sword Emperor.

“Cough.”

He spat blood, though not a great amount.

‘Disappointing.’

A direct hit would have ended it. But the Sword Emperor had not taken the full force of my attack.

‘He let go at the final instant.’

The moment Eternal Bind had seized his sword and before the Orb of Flame detonated, he had released his grip.

That was my error.

‘I should have seized his arm as well.’

The pain in my arm had distracted me, if only for a second.
And the Sword Emperor had seized that opportunity.

He wiped the blood from his mouth and glared at me.

A dangerous light flickered in his eyes.

“Do you intend to make such a grave error?”

His voice was level but heavy with implication.

“Error?”

“You have overstepped. If this continues, the Martial Alliance will have no choice but to declare you an enemy. Have you not considered this?”

“Oh, I’ve considered it.”

How could I not? I had thought about it extensively. I simply chose to act regardless.

“Yes, I’ve considered it.”

The energy around my body began to swirl.

“And my conclusion is that it is irrelevant.”

“What…?”

“Whether the Martial Alliance considers me an enemy or not, I do not care.”

*Fwoosh!* Flames gathered, steadily taking form.
A Flame Spear solidified in my grasp.

“So, answer me. Unless you prefer to make an enemy of me.”

“…Such insolence.”

“I hear that often.”

I leveled the Flame Spear at the Sword Emperor.
I no longer needed to focus to maintain its shape.

“Where is my father?”

“The current head of the Gu family is a criminal.”

“Yes, so I have been told.”

How completely absurd.

“He committed a crime and is imprisoned by the Martial Alliance. Do you believe your actions here will aid him?”

“No. I doubt they will be of much help.”

“…What?”

The Sword Emperor seemed briefly stunned by my blunt reply.

If my father was truly a criminal, then my actions were pointless.
All I would achieve is further tarnishing his name and our family’s honor.

But…

“If my father were truly a criminal, perhaps. But…”

In my mind,

“My father is not a man who would commit a crime.”

He was not.

“So do not attempt to deceive me.”

I channeled more flames into the Flame Spear, increasing its size and density.

“Employ whatever underhanded tactics you wish, stage whatever foolish spectacle you desire—I could endure most of it. But this goes too far.”

“Star King.”

“There are lines you do not cross. And the Martial Alliance?”

I smirked.

“If I feared that, I would not have come here.”

“…”

I pressed my foot into the ground, the sole digging into the earth.

“So reckless.”

The Sword Emperor’s eyes turned icy, and the atmosphere shifted drastically.

“From this moment, the Martial Alliance will regard you as an enemy.”

A chill ran over my skin. Until now, he had treated me as a comrade.
No wonder it had felt too manageable.

“I will execute the enemy of the Martial Alliance here and now.”

“Do as you please.”

As his killing intent swelled, I hurled the Flame Spear directly at him.

*Kiieeeeeek—!!!*
The spear tore through the air toward the Sword Emperor.

He raised his sword in response.
Though his previous blade lay on the ground, the Sword Emperor always carried a spare.

The Five Blades of Mount Tai.

A hidden technique.

Mount Tai True Spirit Slash.

A brilliant radiance burst from the Sword Emperor’s blade.

Just as the two forces were about to meet—

*Whirl.*

A golden energy abruptly descended between them.

And then—

*Clang!*

With a soft sound, everything changed.
The trajectory of my Flame Spear was diverted upward, and the Sword Emperor’s blade failed to complete its arc.

Someone had stepped onto the blade, halting his swing entirely.
This same person had likely also interfered with my spear.

Someone had inserted themselves into our clash and disrupted us both.

Narrowing my eyes, I turned to see who had intervened.

“Well, what do we have here?”

The figure wore a mask, golden energy swirling around their feet and the blade.

I recognized them.

‘The Division Leader of the Celestial Dragon.’

The newly appointed Division Leader of the Celestial Dragon had interceded. It was him.