After ascending to the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage, I sit down to stabilize my realm and contemplate the interior of my body.
Shortly thereafter, numerous dim lights rapidly pour toward my cave residence from all directions.
They are the grand elders and elders of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
At the center of them is Jin Byuk-ho.
"What is this…?"
Surprise is evident in Jin Byuk-ho's eyes.
I am currently revealing the aura emanating from my realm, making it clear to everyone through this oppressive force what cultivation I have achieved.
Upon realizing that I have reached Nascent Soul Grand Perfection, the eyes of many grand elders and elders widened in astonishment.
"…"
"…""…"
Paradoxically, despite everyone's faces being filled with shock, the surroundings are incredibly quiet and calm.
But at this moment, I am momentarily dazed by the 'extremely' tumultuous intents.
Literally, the intents of the elders, grand elders, and Jin Byuk-ho are 'wildly surging.'
And finally.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!!"
One of the grand elders at the Heavenly Being stage begin to cry out suddenly.
"Ancestors!"
Following this grand elder, a majority of the grand elders and elders begin to cry out one after another, their faces filled with emotional fervor.
Could it be that emotions are contagious?
Even Jin Byuk-ho's eyes seem to redden a bit.
"You, you…"
Step, step…
He does not float in front of me but lands down.
Jin Byuk-ho approaches me, grabs my shoulders, and bows his head deeply.
"You are… the future of our sect."
It is not tears of sorrow, but tears of overwhelming joy that uncontrollably burst forth.
This is happening across the entire leading figures of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
"Everyone, listen!"
Jin Byuk-ho shouts loudly.
"Here, Seo Eun-hyun has succeeded in mastering all of the more than 10,000 methods of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect. However, for some reason, he was left unable to use the Lightning Path Method. Nonetheless! As you have seen, Seo Eun-hyun has overcome even that with his prodigious talent and reached the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage in a short period! Everyone listen!"
Jin Byuk-ho declares firmly.
"I, Jin Byuk-ho, with the authority of the Supreme Sect Master, nominate Elder Seo Eun-hyun as the next Sect Leader!"
"…!"
Suddenly, at Jin Byuk-ho's words, the Grand Elders also begin to shout one by one.
"Current Sect Leader Jin Min also nominates Elder Seo Eun-hyun!"
"I, Vice-Sect Leader Jin Hwi, also nominate Elder Seo Eun-hyun!"
"I, Grand Elder Jin Jin-chan, also agree!"
"I…"
Numerous Grand Elders nominate me at the same time, and the elders also agree.
Thus, I am unanimously appointed as the next Sect Leader.
"When the current Sect Leader Jin Min resigns, the next Sect Leader Jin Jin-chan will take over, and afterward, the Sect Leader position will be entrusted to Seo Eun-hyun, the succeeding Sect Leader! And! From today onwards, to Elder Seo Eun-hyun, who is now qualified to be the next Sect Leader!"
Wo-woong!
Jin Byuk-ho stretches his hand into the air.
His hand, performing a Four-Axis stage technique, connects through space to somewhere inside the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, taking out a golden belt.
It's a golden belt inscribed with the characters for "Golden Lightning."
"I bestow upon him the surname Jin, symbolizing the qualification of the Sect Leader!"
Jin Byuk-ho, with a look of pride, hands me the golden belt, saying,
"Take it, from now on, you are Jin Eun-hyun!"
Thus, by accepting the belt, I became Jin Eun-hyun, the next-next Sect Leader of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
The birth of 'Jin Eun-hyun,' a genius who inherited everything from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, soon spreads throughout the entire sect and all of the Sky Islands.
Jin Byuk-ho decided to hold a celebration one month later to confirm Jin Eun-hyun's appointment as the next-next Sect Leader and sent invitations to other human sects across each Sky Island.
Many responded to the invitation.
Moreover, the invitation even mentioned that Grand Cultivators at the Integration stage would dispatch their avatars to attend.
Many are amazed and look up to Jin Eun-hyun.
Except for Jeon Myeong-hoon.
"…"
[What's the matter, Sir Myeong-hoon?]
Jeon Myeong-hoon remains silent, watching the giant centipede, Hong Fan, who is smoking a long bamboo pipe in front of him.
[Didn't you say you wanted to meet my master?]
"…Ah, right. I did."
Jeon Myeong-hoon, with a blank expression, looks towards the cave residence behind Hong Fan.
It's a cave residence familiar to Jeon Myeong-hoon.
He has never entered it, but it belongs to someone he has been aware of for the last ten years.
When he told Hong Fan that he wanted to meet his master, Hong Fan readily took Jeon Myeong-hoon and headed towards a cave residence, filling him with anticipation.
The sight of the entire sect's grand elders and elders flying towards the place struck by numerous Heavenly Tribulations is unforgettable.
Jeon Myeong-hoon had caught the eye of such a promising elder and received help through Hong Fan for ten years.
Perhaps, in the future, this Elder.
No, this soon to be 'Grand Elder', he and Jeon Myeong-hoon would lead the sect together.
However, Hong Fan had brought him to Seo Eun-hyun's cave residence.
At first, he hesitated, unable to comprehend the situation.
Then came denial.
He thought perhaps the elder who had just reached the Grand Perfection of Nascent Soul happened to visit Seo Eun-hyun's cave residence.
But Hong Fan confirmed it for him.
―This is the residence of my master, Seo Eun-hyun.
That was the situation until just moments ago.
'Seo Eun-hyun, already at Nascent Soul Grand Perfection?'
When Jeon Myeong-hoon barely reached Qi Building, Seo Eun-hyun had already reached Nascent Soul Grand Perfection.
He stands in front of the cave residence, incredulous for a while.
He feels incredibly insignificant for being happy about reaching Qi Building.
While I have reached the Qi Building stage, Seo Eun-hyun is already on the verge of becoming a Heavenly Being...? Is my Heavenly Golden Thunder Body not as good in quality as the Lightning Sacred Body…?'
He wants to deny reality.
Beyond the interior of the cave residence, outside it, he wants to believe that the owner of the vast consciousness enveloping the entire peak is not Seo Eun-hyun.
Crunch….
But it is reality.
And Jeon Myeong-hoon, gritting his teeth, walks into the interior of the cave residence.
Step, step…
Jeon Myeong-hoon's steps are heavy, but he does not stop.
The original Jeon Myeong-hoon.
If it were the Jeon Myeong-hoon of the previous world, he would never have entered under such circumstances.
He would have simply denied reality or compromised with it, passing it off as 'hidden talent or good fortune.'
He would never have gone to meet his rival.
He would never have tried to acknowledge his rival.
That is what the original Jeon Myeong-hoon would have done.
But, Jeon Myeong-hoon finally stands before Seo Eun-hyun, who is sitting cross-legged, stabilizing his cultivation.
"…Despite being in the same sect, it's been quite a while since we last saw each other."
"…"
Jeon Myeong-hoon silently nods in response to Seo Eun-hyun's words.
Seo Eun-hyun flicks his hand.
At his gesture, a storage scroll unfolds beside Seo Eun-hyun, and a small cushion comes out, landing in front of Jeon Myeong-hoon.
Soon after, tea cups and a teapot, among other tea utensils, slides out from the storage scroll.
"Sit down."
Jeon Myeong-hoon silently takes a seat.
With a flick of Seo Eun-hyun's hand, the teapot moves in mid-air, tea leaves enter the pot, and droplets condense and start boiling inside it. Shortly after, Seo Eun-hyun pours the tea in front of Jeon Myeong-hoon.
"This is 'Fate's Palm Tea.' Just smelling its aroma can enhance spiritual power. For those below Core Formation, it triples cultivation speed for three days, and for Qi Building, it increases cultivation speed for a month. It'll be useful for you, who has just entered Qi Building."
Jeon Myeong-hoon briefly holds the teacup, closes his eyes tightly, and drinks the tea.
Without showing any signs of enjoying its fragrance or flavor, he gulps down the hot tea like a strong liquor and then speaks.
"…Thank you for this precious… tea, Elder Seo."
"…Hmm."
And Jeon Myeong-hoon's formal speech seems to surprise Seo Eun-hyun, who's eyebrows twitch in response.
"What are you feeling?"
Jeon Myeong-hoon bites his lip for a moment.
Then slowly, yet clearly looking into Seo Eun-hyun's eyes, he speaks.
"I've decided to acknowledge it."
"Me? You?"
"No."
He says, clenching his fist.
"The fact that I have been lazy in my cultivation all this time!"
"Hmm…?"
"Surely, we came from the same world, were colleagues, and are the same humans. But Elder Seo… you… are already at that realm, and I, who has been told to possess a mythical talent, am still only at the Qi Building stage. Once, my dual cultivation partner told me that true cultivators devoted to the Dao do not even sleep or eat, dedicating themselves endlessly to cultivation. At that time, I disagreed, thinking that wasn't a life befitting a human. But!"
Jeon Myeong-hoon looks directly into Seo Eun-hyun's eyes.
"…Now, I see that I might have been… lazier than you. I am ashamed of myself."
"…"
"From now on, I will dedicate myself endlessly to cultivating to surpass you. Only after I've surpassed your realm, only after I've surpassed your position, will I treat you as an equal again."
A glint appears in Seo Eun-hyun's eyes.
"It's surprising. That you could change like this…."
"…Thank you for the teachings through Hong Fan all this time. I will take my leave now."
"Hmm… Alright."
At Seo Eun-hyun's words, Jeon Myeong-hoon stands up, bows to him, and leaves the cave residence without hesitation.
Jeon Myeong-hoon leaves Seo Eun-hyun's cave residence, steps completely out of the domain of Seo Eun-hyun's consciousness, and finally takes a deep breath.
"...Phew."
His back is covered in cold sweat.
He has acknowledged Seo Eun-hyun.
It is different from 10 years ago.
But as much as Jeon Myeong-hoon acknowledges Seo Eun-hyun, he recalls the times he had tormented Seo Eun-hyun.
'Fortunately… it seems like he doesn't care much….'
Since Seo Eun-hyun barely showed any feelings towards him, Jeon Myeong-hoon sighs in relief internally.
'Honestly, I thought I would get beaten up a few times….'
Jeon Myeong-hoon himself was ready to be hit as he had boldly shouted at Seo Eun-hyun.
However, Seo Eun-hyun kept watching him with a clear gaze throughout, without saying much.
'If it was the old him, he wouldn't have been able to hold back his laughter… It really seemed like he had no feelings.'
Jeon Myeong-hoon thinks of Seo Eun-hyun's eyes.
'That guy… seems to have changed a lot from before. Like I've changed over ten years, has he also changed?'
He smiles wryly, shaking his head after a moment of thought.
"Forget it, it's time to stop worrying about him."
For ten years, he has always been compared to Seo Eun-hyun.
And finally, as Seo Eun-hyun reached the Grand Perfection stage of the Nascent Soul, approaching the status of a Grand Elder, Jeon Myeong-hoon has only just reached the position of a mere junior disciple.
'From now on, I'll stop worrying about Seo Eun-hyun and trust and follow my own path.'
He decides to surpass Seo Eun-hyun with a pure competitive spirit, without any more feelings of inferiority.
With this resolve, he returns to his own cave residence and dedicates himself to cultivation.
So, for about a day or two, he remains unwavering in his resolve.
Until Jin Byuk-ho announces to the entire sect about "the next-next Sect Leader Jin Eun-hyun."
"Damn it!!! The next-next Sect Leader!"
Jeon Myeong-hoon, emerging from his cave residence with a sullen face, turns red with anger.
His master, Jin Jin-chan, is a promising young 921-year-old Grand Elder and the next Sect Leader.
And Jin Jin-chan has always told him to the point it became a mantra.
―You must succeed me as the Sect Leader of the sect! Wake up and get your act together. You may be below Seo Eun-hyun now, but I swear on all the myths and honors of the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body, I will make you the sect leader!"
Even on the day he successfully performed the Seven Stars Ritual.
―I believed in you. From now on, your cultivation will improve rapidly and you will truly be the one to succeed me!
Jeon Myeong-hoon subconsciously thought that even if Seo Eun-hyun became an Elder or even a Grand Elder, he couldn't become the Sect Leader.
Yang Su-jin, who possessed the Heavenly Golden Thunder Body, is the god of the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect, and Jeon Myeong-hoon is like the god's incarnate.
Naturally, Jeon Myeong-hoon firmly believed he would ascend to the highest position in the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
'Even though I'm currently below Seo Eun-hyun, the Sect Leader will be me!'
But now, even if he becomes the Sect Leader, he will only be the 'next' Sect Leader after Seo Eun-hyun.
He can never surpass Seo Eun-hyun within the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect.
"Damn it!!! Damn it all, Seo Eun-hyun!"
The resolve Jeon Myeong-hoon had made two days ago to surpass Seo Eun-hyun with a pure competitive spirit flies right out of his head.
"I will surpass him! Definitely!"
Crackle, crackling!
Crackle, crackle!
The Accumulating Lightning Technique, the first technique of the Seven Lightning Quaking Scripture that Jeon Myeong-hoon began to learn after reaching the Qi Building stage, reacts to his inferiority complex and emits even redder lightning.
One month later.
The celebration for the next-next Sect Leader Jin Eun-hyun is held, and countless sects send envoys to congratulate him.
This includes not only sects from Thunder Spirit Island but also representative sects from other Sky Islands in the Cloud Island Archipelago, as well as several Grand Cultivators at the Integration stage who dispatched their avatars.
"Please accept this, future Sect Leader."
"Ah… Thank you."
I express my gratitude to the representatives of the leading sects from other Sky Islands who came to congratulate me.
And, to the representative of Azure Spirit Island, 'Azure Tiger Saint,' who pours me a drink.
Azure Tiger Saint laughs heartily and slaps my back vigorously.
"I've felt this way before, but I really should have kidnapped you to our Azure Heaven Creation Sect! Hahaha! What do you say, any thoughts on joining our Azure Heaven Creation Sect?"
"I regret not being able to join the Azure Heaven Creation Sect. However, the grace I have received from the Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Sect is profound, so I'm afraid I must decline that offer."
I smile and converse with Azure Tiger Saint.
Hearing our conversation, Jin Byuk-ho glares at Azure Tiger Saint and shouts.
"Thirsty!"
"Alright, let me pour you a drink."
Azure Tiger Saint laughs and pours a drink for Jin Byuk-ho as well. After drinking the alcohol poured by Azure Tiger Saint, Jin Byuk-ho exclaims with a flushed face.
"What nonsense are you speaking! The future Sect Leader Jin Eun-hyun is the treasure of our sect, and coveting him will be considered a challenge against me!"
Kwarrrung!
Seven-colored lightning bursts forth from Jin Byuk-ho's body and strikes Azure Tiger Saint.
"Hahaha, this guy's old temperament is showing again."
Thump, thump!
Azure Tiger Saint laughs heartily while hitting Jin Byuk-ho's belly a few times, and Jin Byuk-ho, clutching his stomach, takes a few steps back before rushing at Azure Tiger Saint and grappling him into the sky.
The two highest-ranking seniors of their sects, having drunk potent spiritual alcohol, suddenly begin a friendly duel while intoxicated.
"They're at it again…"
"Haha, my apologies for the unsightly behavior. However, Azure Tiger Saint, Jin Byuk-ho, and White Bone Ghost Devil have been friends since their youth, so they tend to behave like this."
The envoy from the Azure Heaven Creation Sect apologetically pours me another drink on behalf of Azure Tiger Saint.
"I see, but do you know why the Black Ghost Valley hasn't come?"
I ask the envoy from the Azure Heaven Creation Sect, puzzled.
He shakes his head with a puzzled expression and says,
"I'm not sure either…"
Black Ghost Valley did not send an envoy to my celebration.
"Hmm, I've heard that the situation on the Sky Island where Black Ghost Valley is located is a bit unstable…"
Apparently, Black Ghost Valley, situated in Black Mist Island, is still in the midst of war.
Although Black Ghost Valley had successfully ousted the former leading sect, remnants of the old sect are causing trouble everywhere. Hence, Black Ghost Valley is deploying their Nether Crossing Ship to quell the disturbances.
Rumors have it that Black Ghost Valley is even gathering resources to construct another Nether Crossing Ship.
"Well, they must be busy, I guess."
"It's regrettable. I had things to discuss with Black Ghost Valley."
I nod slightly, feeling a bit disappointed.
'I wondered if we could enlist their help…'
I continue conversing with the envoy from the Azure Heaven Creation Sect and others, pondering over my thoughts.
The envoys sent from countless Sky Islands represent an opportunity.
'It's an opportunity to smoothly proceed with the plan to seal the Heavenly Lightning Banner.'
Among them, it is especially crucial to become acquainted with cultivators from the same Head Realm.
I have no confidence in reaching the Heavenly Being stage before the Owner of Heavenly Punishment descends.
Therefore, I have no means of descending to the lower realms to seal the Heavenly Lightning Banner in the Head Realm.
But, if I can't descend to the Head Realm as a Heavenly Being myself, someone else can take me there.
The most suitable candidates are Heavenly Being cultivators originating from the same Head Realm.
The target I have in mind is, of course, a Heavenly Being stage cultivator from Black Ghost Valley.
Had Black Ghost Valley dispatched an envoy and I met with a Heavenly Being Grand Elder, I planned to secretly ask for their cooperation and, in return, offer to transfer to Black Ghost Valley.
'But since Black Ghost Valley is absent from this celebration, it can't be helped.'
It seems I need to look for an alternative.
Just while I am making acquaintances with the envoys...
"Hey, you!"
Suddenly, a burst of light flies in from somewhere.
The next moment.
Kwaaaang!
A massive explosion shakes the entire Golden Divine Heavenly Thunder Hall where the celebration is being held.
Kugugugu!
"What's going on!!!"
Jin Byuk-ho, who was dueling with Azure Tiger Saint in the sky, sobers up and descends.
However, his eyes widen upon seeing the instigator of the incident.
"You are…!"
Kugugugu!
As the dust cloud settles, I furrow my brows.
A woman in black martial attire with a ponytail is extending her fist at me.
Tap, tap….
I brush off the dust.
"You are…"
"Excellent! To block an attack from this Hon Wei (巚危/Dangerous Peak)!"
Kugugugu!
I immediately assess the cultivation level of the woman who had suddenly attacked me.
'Heavenly Being mid-stage… Is she crazy? Even if I am at the Grand Perfection Nascent Soul stage, for someone of mid Heavenly Being stage to launch such an attack at a lower realm cultivator is...'
It's practically an attack meant to kill.
I frown.
'And why is Jin Byuk-ho suddenly so agitated?'
Upon the appearance of the woman who calls herself Hon Wei, Jin Byuk-ho bites his lip, unable to stay still.
Even Azure Tiger Saint seems to ponder whether to intervene or not.
'Is she the daughter of a high-ranking individual?'
I guess her status.
"Excuse me, but the Human Race Grand Alliance headquarters did not send anyone and it's unlikely you are from there. Perhaps, are you the child of some distinguished person?"
"Hahaha! Quick-witted indeed! Yes, I am born from the lineage of a great Human Race Integration stage Grand Cultivator!"
'She's the daughter of a Grand Cultivator.'
I smile slightly.
"How come someone of your noble lineage has come to me…"
"Enough!"
However, she abruptly cuts me off.
Her following words leave me astonished.
"Let's get married!"
Translator Notes: ?!? Hong Su-ryeong wasn’t the heroine of this arc? Also, the Hon is pronounced as the hon in honey.
***
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