Chapter 395

'I've never seen Dongbang Sak look so old.'

In the past, during the Kang Sang era, or even in the current world, Dongbang Sak appeared aged but with clear skin and few wrinkles.

However, the one visible through the World Tree now had dark spots on his face and dull skin, giving him an overall unhealthy appearance.

His once-thick beard was sparse, and his entire face looked worn and weary.

'For someone of his martial prowess to appear like this…'

Had much more time passed since the Kang Sang era?

As Seong Jihan observed Dongbang Sak's actions, he wondered.

"…This time for sure."

With an expression of deep resolve, Dongbang Sak glared at the red World Tree and drew his sword.

Whoosh…

Behind him, the shape of the Taiji began to materialize.

It was a flow of energy similar to when he used the Taiji Sword.

However, his movements were more precise, forming the Taiji more accurately than Seong Jihan could.

'His execution is more refined than mine. Observing closely, this is certainly a good learning opportunity…'

Should he stop him?

If the Taiji Sword appeared within the Taiji, everything would be devastated.

Given this wasn't a game where people could respawn, Seong Jihan contemplated stepping in.

But then.

Sizzle…

As Dongbang Sak placed the sword into the completed Taiji, smoke began to billow from it, and his face contorted into a deep frown.

"Another failure…?"

Though he perfected the first stage of the Taiji Sword,

Dongbang Sak failed at the second stage, summoning the Taiji Sword.

'Indeed, it's tough.'

Seeing that even Dongbang Sak failed, Seong Jihan felt oddly reassured.

No matter how extreme his talent in martial arts, completing this wasn't easy.

'But even Dongbang Sak didn't think of mixing void into the Taiji Sword.'

From Seong Jihan's experience,

at the second stage of the Taiji Sword, adding void and causing an explosion made it easier to wield.

Creating the sword as Dongbang Sak did felt like creating something from nothing, which was difficult to grasp.

"Sigh… is this the best I can do? I truly am just a mediocre talent."

Seong Jihan thought it absurd that Dongbang Sak, of all people, would call himself a mediocre talent.

"Even after sealing the Red Demon and surviving 600 years… I can't forge a sword to end the demonic path."

Dongbang Sak lamented his increasingly aged appearance, caressing his face.

Six hundred years.

Could it be that he lived an additional 600 years since the Kang Sang era?

'Did he extend his lifespan this far through his own martial arts before becoming a servant to the Martial God? He's undoubtedly an extraordinary martial artist…'

And the Taiji Sword was a mad skill, unreachable even after 600 years of dedication from such a martial artist.

Recalling that Ashoka had once questioned his own talent,

'He should see this.'

He could show that even the greatest martial artist humanity had ever produced struggled for 600 years with the Taiji Sword.

As Dongbang Sak sighed and stroked his thinning beard,

Ssss…

red smoke began to rise around the World Tree.

[Is it you again…?]

[Give up.]

[We do not die…]

Translucent giants' heads appeared in the smoke.

Dongbang Sak's expression darkened upon seeing them.

"They Appeared again, huh?"

Whoosh!

As Dongbang Sak manipulated the flow of the Taiji in reverse,

the giants' heads were immediately sucked into it.

Barely seconds after emerging, the giants' heads vanished.

Going further,

"Do not engage in foolishness."

Dongbang Sak swung his sword at the red World Tree.

A single strike of brilliant demonic energy sliced through all the branches

and reached up into the sky.

'This is the peak of the Crimson Divinity… I mastered it through martial soul.'

Unlike the Taiji Sword, Dongbang Sak's understanding of the Crimson Divinity was apparent in his single strike.

Feeling the demonic energy of the Crimson Divinity, it seemed this single strike was the ultimate form cultivated over 600 years.

A single strike splitting the sky, One Sword Breaks the Sky,

This was the culmination of Dongbang Sak's Crimson Divinity perfected over those 600 years.

'…The power is immense. This could be useful later.'

Comfortably observing from within the tree, Seong Jihan absorbed the technique.

Meanwhile,

"Whew…"

The World Tree, which had its branches cut by One Sword Breaks the Sky, began regenerating quickly.

"Even splitting the heavens can't fell a single tree. Should I accept his proposal…"

Dongbang Sak sighed, turning his back to leave.

As the weary old man departed,

[The Watcher has left.]

[Would you like to break the seal?]

The text reappeared, asking if he would like to break the seal.

'Why is it so eager…'

Complaining right after Dongbang Sak left,

This World Tree seemed desperate to have its seal broken.

"Hold on. Let me assess the situation first."

[I understand.]

[If the master requires anything, please let me know at any time.]

Accepting Seong Jihan's decision to hold off, the red World Tree even referred to him as its master.

"Why do you call me your master?"

[You can read the inscription, and possess 'Eternity.']

[You meet all necessary criteria to be my master.]

So having the stat 'Eternity' and being able to read this peculiar text made him the master of the World Tree?

"I see. Can I command you to do anything?"

[In the sealed state, commands can only be carried out restrictively.]

[To perform all commands, please break the seal.]

Everything ties back to breaking the seal.

'I won't do it just yet.'

Now, Seong Jihan had just gained the immensely powerful One Sword Breaks the Sky of the Crimson Divinity,

And the World Tree's persistent plea to break its seal made him reluctant to comply.

Instead, Seong Jihan decided to inquire about some curiosities.

"These inscriptions, where are they from?"

[They are the inscriptions of the master.]

"Who is the master?"

[The master is the master.]

This doesn't help at all.

Seong Jihan also questioned the regeneration of the Red's tribe's heads, the source of the World Tree's power, among other things.

[This can only be answered if the seal is broken.]

[This can only be answered if the seal is broken.]

The World Tree continued to demand seal-breaking to provide answers.

'It listens well but isn't very useful.'

Deciding to stop the futile questions, Seong Jihan crossed his arms and looked outside.

The barren wasteland.

After Dongbang Sak left, there wasn't much to see here.

'I don't want to leave just yet, though.'

The tree was the best hiding spot, the prime viewing seat for whatever was to unfold next.

'I'll wait here for now.'

Seong Jihan decided to stay put for a while.

* * *

How much time passed?

'…This is getting boring.'

The inside of the World Tree only offered a view of the wasteland.

Staying here endlessly made Seong Jihan feel restless.

'I could create a spectral head this time, but…'

Despite Dongbang Sak's earlier pruning through One Sword Breaks the Sky having its effect,

the Red's tribe's heads hadn't regenerated for a while.

All that lay outside was the endless, barren red earth.

For someone used to constant stimuli, gazing at an empty landscape was taxing.

'The life energy here isn't seeping in either.'

Though the inside of the World Tree was saturated with life energy,

it didn't reach the internal space where Seong Jihan lay.

To absorb the life energy, he had to leave the tree.

But doing so would negate his reason for staying here.

So Seong Jihan continued staring at the wasteland.

In his idle state,

'I feel peckish.'

An unexpected thought crossed Seong Jihan's mind.

During intense training at the Void Training Room, he didn't notice such trivial cravings.

But here, without stimulation, his senses craved activity.

"Hey, got any fruit?"

[I will provide it.]

For once, the World Tree didn't mention breaking the seal.

Whoosh.

A red apple appeared before him.

"Previously, the World Tree's fruit was a golden apple. This one's red."

[That one was lower-tier. This is high-grade.]

The World Tree refuted, asserting this was superior.

Despite its ordinary appearance, akin to a market apple.

"Let's see."

Seong Jihan chuckled and took a bite.

Crunch.

As he bit into the apple, flames erupted in his mouth.

Simultaneously,

Seong Jihan felt a slight increase in the energies of life and the stat Red within him.

'Oh…?"

This apple stimulates two stats at once?

It really is high-grade.

'Eating it brings flames…'

The apple's energy was so intense that without the significant increase in his Red stat from the recent Boss Rush, the internal flames might have been unmanageable.

But with his current high Red stat,

Seong Jihan could easily control the flames erupting with each bite.

Crunch. Crunch.

Finishing the apple, Seong Jihan asked the World Tree,

"Got more?"

[Yes.]

"Give me a lot."

[Understood.]

Thud, thud, thud…

As requested, a pile of apples materialized like a small mountain.

'Getting used to this flavor might make regular meals unappetizing.'

Despite the common appearance, the taste within was otherworldly.

Becoming addicted could make regular food taste like chewing on stones.

Still,

'Doesn't matter. Boosting stats while waiting is what's important.'

Seong Jihan devoured the World Tree's fruit without pausing.

After consuming about half the pile,

[Stat 'Eternity' increased by 1.]

[Stat 'Red' increased by 1.]

The hardest stat to increase, Eternity, had grown.

Following closely, the Red stat also increased.

'Eternity increasing like this… I need to consume all the World Tree fruit.'

Seeing his stats grow encouraged Seong Jihan to speed up.

[Are you alright? The apple contains the power of the Red…]

The World Tree, concerned, displayed texts.

"I'm fine."

[Indeed, you are the master.]

"Yes. Do you have more?"

[Creating the World Tree's fruit takes a year. Breaking the seal can shorten this time.]

"…There's that seal-breaking talk again."

The persistent World Tree.

Ignoring its plea, Seong Jihan consumed all the fruit.

'Eternity and Red increased by a total of 3 each.'

Given he only sat inside a tree and ate fruit, the gains were substantial.

His smile broadening as he checked his stat screen.

Then,

[Watcher approaching.]

[Third party approaching.]

[Breaking the seal is recommended after they leave.]

Again, urgent messages appeared.

Not planning to break it yet, Seong Jihan was curious about this third party.

'Who could this be?'

He looked out at the wasteland again.

There, he saw,

"…"

The significantly older Dongbang Sak,

"Dongbang Sak, have you reconsidered?"

and a young man with striking, refined features standing with a smile.

A youthful face, long black hair.

Someone Seong Jihan had seen once before.

'…Ashoka?'

Ashoka and Dongbang Sak already had a connection during this time.

Finding this auspicious, Seong Jihan intended to observe further.

"Though I am confined here, I have learned a bit about you. They say you are highly revered in Tianzhu…?"

"Ah, excuse me, but please wait a moment."

Cutting Dongbang Sak off,

Ashoka walked steadily toward the World Tree.

Then, quietly,

"…A guest is still inside, isn't he?"

he stared directly at Seong Jihan's eyes.