[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith":3,"chapter-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-206":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Childhood Friend of the Zenith",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1240232,1667,"Chapter 205: Sound and Smell","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-206",206,"\u003Cp>Sound and Smell\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An orange light shot out through the fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not very bright, it was clearly visible even in the curtain of dense mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An enigma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whats wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right as I was about to walk forward, Namgung Bi-ah asked me from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What do you mean whats wrong, there is-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped my words just as I was about to ask her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way she couldnt see such a clear light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At such a realization, I asked Namgung Bi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Can you not see that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my question, she just tilted her head in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She really didnt seem to be able to see the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it visible only to me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This peculiar light that was clearly visible to me, seemed to be invisible to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Why do you keep saying that you see something? Huh?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seems like you cant see it as well, Elder Shin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even Elder Shindespite us sharing our visioncouldnt see it as well, did that mean that the light was another ability of the Marble of Celestial Captivation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of the truth\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Itd be best for me to follow it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was left with no other choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To find the correct path in this labyrinth of fog, I had to try anything and everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enhancing my senses doesnt work either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My Qi flowed seamlessly, yet I couldnt enhance my senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like something within the fog prevented it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair, theres no way a fog that has persisted for centuries is normal to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense why the Black Palace chose this place for their main palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if one knew that the main palace was located on the Misty Mountains, finding It wouldnt be an easy task, especially if formations were cast to further conceal it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grabbing Namgung Bi-ahs wrist, I warned her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Follow closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Okay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, I sharpened my senses to their utmost limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the improvement was marginal, it was still extremely helpful in this unfamiliar mountain terrain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Namgung Bi-ahs arm firmly in my grip, we moved forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the lack of an explanation, as I dragged her forward, Namgung Bi-ah voiced no complaints about this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps the fact that I constantly pointed out her poor sense of direction had convinced her to trust my lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We continued to walk through the fog for a very long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, we would have covered the same distance in just a few leaps, but the need to move extremely carefully hindered our progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It really is a nasty fog.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, it really is unpleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[So, this fog is a trace left by a demon?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This peculiar fog had appeared alongside a White Gate of Demons in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it remained as a trace after the demon that had emerged from that gate was slain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Historically, the number of White Demons could be counted on one hand, and they all had been successfully sealed or slain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, as if to show their immense power and ability, they left traces of themselves even after their death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blinding fog in the Misty Mountains\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The freezing chill of the North Sea\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even the scorching heat in the West. They were all examples of such traces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These anomalies were a testament to the demons influence on nature, even after their death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my thoughts, Elder Shin clicked his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like he was displeased with something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Tsk, these bastards leave a mess even after death, and they didnt even do a good job at cleaning up the mess.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Elder Shin, people shouldve done a better job on cleaning up the mess after the demon was slain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, slaying a White Demona being considered a calamitywas a great achievement in and of itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since it was Elder Shin who said it, I could understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Back in my day if we slayed such bastards, we were required to clean up the mess that came after, but the ones who came after, though Ugh, tsk tsk.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The past, the time when Elder Shin and the heroes fought against the Blood Demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A period of time when high-grade demons ran rampant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since Elder Shin was active as the Divine Sword of Mount Hua, he had probably encountered a few White Demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were way too many traces left for that not to be the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could tell just by looking at the present Misty Mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You are absolutely right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm? Whats gotten into you? Its really strange for you to agree with me-]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You shouldve cleaned up after yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Shin let out a confused reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon responsible for turning this mountain into a mess was named the Mist Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mist Dragon had cursed this mountain with perpetual fog after its death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was slain by none other than the Divine Sword of Mount Hua, Shincheol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reminded of the truth, Elder Shin fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed he was too embarrassed to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we continued to follow the light, the silence from Elder Shin and the naturally quiet Namgung Bi-ah made the journey go much faster, and soon we found ourselves close to the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long has it been?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I wasnt sure because of all the fog, judging by how it was slowly getting darker, it would soon be night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A camp\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was possible to build one if I really wanted to, but the situation was far from ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the Marble of Celestial Captivation had stopped working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its light was still telling us the path, but even after it had regained its color, I still couldnt know Gu Huibis current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My field of vision didnt change at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could this mean then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is there a problem with it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didnt know the number of times I could use this marble, but I suspected that wasnt the issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed more likely that Gu Huibi had run into a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was merely a conjecture, but whatever the case was, I had lost a valuable source of information about her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to figure out a way to break through this situation, but it wasnt easy to make any progress in the current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dense curtain of fog, coupled with the onset of night, made the visibility almost non-existent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marbles light has also become a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The line of light seemingly told me the right path, yet it felt as if I was moving in a circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was not with the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It most likely told us the correct path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing the frown on my face, Namgung Bi-ah asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whats wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh. It seems like there are formations here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sensed an odd aura around here; it was faint, to the point that I wouldnt be able to notice it if I didnt focus hard enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I already had my suspicions of formations having been drawn on their palace, I was able to detect it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm. How do I break through?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If we had indeed arrived at the Palace, not only did I have to worry about the formations that had been cast around it, but I had to be wary of potential martial artists as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, I had to move with my guard up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fog rendered my senses useless\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The darkness that obscured my vision\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And our isolation in the middle of the wilderness heightened my anxiety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought as such, a hollow laugh escaping my lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, I couldnt let my emotions get the better of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I must find a way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was no stranger to struggle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something like this was just another challenge in my life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was a formation in front of me, was I strong enough to break it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thats a bit difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Failure could lead to capture and even if I managed to somehow break the formation, the impact from it breaking would alert the enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lacked professional knowledge when it came to formations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I were to think back to my previous life\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just smashed them apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My solutions to problems were pretty dumb, so those methods would be of no help in my current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my previous life, I had simply torn through formations and incinerated everything in my path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And before I became a Demonic Human, the Water Dragon had handled such situations whenever needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing how reckless I was in the past gave me quite a headache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm should I wait a bit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the urgency of the situation, the onset of night left me with no other option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither was I powerful enough to break through nor could I face everyone that I would come across.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Im not alone either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I had to make more rational decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I concluded my thoughts, I spoke to Namgung Bi-ah, who was walking behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, were gonna look for a safe place and wait until what are you doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was sniffing the air!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her absurd actions, I asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What are you doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking for a smell\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smell? What smell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does she keep doing this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confused, I tried sniffing the air as well, but I wasnt able to smell anything special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could only smell the leaves of the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of scent are you even searching for?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I wondered what was up with her,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shing-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of a sudden, Namgung Bi-ah pulled her sword out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hair fluttered in the light breeze as her sword became enveloped in Lightning Qi in an instant, sending electric pulses through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, I shouted at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hey, what are you doing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lightning Qi was not only visible to the eye, but also quite noticeable. If she lost control, even slightly, we risked being detected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite my outcry, Namgung Bi-ah remained focused on a specific direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She finally spoke, staring at nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether its here or not, forget that! First, hide your energy, if we get caught like this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring my warning, she swung her Lightning Qi-infused sword at the air without any hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To my surprise, I heard the distinct sound of something being cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, a white barrier began to descend from the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an extremely absurd situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Namgung Bi-ahs sword swing, the invisible barrier disappeared, revealing a small space that somewhat resembled a door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This How did you know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perplexed at the bizarre turn of events, I asked Namgung Bi-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her response left me frowning in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldnt understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah had just sliced through an unstable part of the formation with her sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A miss would have caused it to backfire in retaliation and the unstable part of a formation isnt visible to the human eye to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, not only did she locate it, but also successfully severed it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her do such a thing, reminded me of a certain individual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crazy fucker of the Wudang Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my previous life, he too had a knack for dealing with formations in the same way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I remembered him just casually scanning his surroundings before slicing the air, effortlessly solving the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His method was so absurd that I still remembered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite my best efforts, I couldnt understand his technique, so I even ended up asking the Water Dragon about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About the principle behind his technique, that is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his response was even more ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Listen for a sound. Then youll hear it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-What do you hear? The sound of my heart exploding out of frustration?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-I could hear that for quite a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-You piece of?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was reminded of the Water Dragons mocking laughter; it still makes me angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But putting that aside\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I were to compare the Water Dragons words to what Namgung Bi-ah just said just earlier\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-There was a smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-There is a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, there was a striking similarity between their claims.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah turned to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you not going in?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opening she had made was gradually closing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadnt fully broken the formation, but merely carved a passage through it, so it would soon fix itself completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the Water Dragons words from my previous life, it wasnt possible to create an opening at the same spot once it had healed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enemies would likely notice if the same spot was targeted repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering this, I couldnt afford to hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lets go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I followed Namgung Bi-ah into the opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering, I found the interior to be starkly different from the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*****************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord abruptly halted his steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Palace Lord?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This prompted the Great Oni, who was following him, to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord, however, remained silent, his gaze wandering around and his expression strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Great Oni discerned that the Palace Lords focus wasnt on the wall in front of them, but rather, something beyond it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a momentary glance at the wall, the Palace Lord shifted his gaze forward once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Oni.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, Palace Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inspect the formation later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as the Great Oni acknowledged the order, he was doubtful inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The formation, huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had recently examined it and found no issues, which made the Palace Lords order puzzling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his curiosity, the Great Oni decided not to question it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His duty was to obey the Lords commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the matter settled, the Palace Lord resumed his journey, his destination being that room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the Leader made his way to the same room he had visited yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he neared the door, he pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It should be done by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day, a period as long as that, should have been more than enough for the Great One to consume the flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he approached his destination, he could feel his heartbeat intensifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imagining the most perfect form of His Heaven he would witness in the future, the Palace Lord felt a surge of excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slam!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The colossal door swung open and the Palace Lord slowly stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slam!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as soon as he did, the door closed behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the Palace Lord knelt and bowed his head to His Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, Heaven I have-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words trailed off as he took in the sight before him, shock filling his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a space where only darkness should have prevailed, there was light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dense, violet flame illuminated the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This flame; it was definitely the Holy Fire created by His Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the center of the flame, voices could be heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is this book so hard? Uhm do you have anything else?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, like, do you have any other books?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>N.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SighYou really give the shortest responses. Didnt I tell you to respond with at least two letters?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good Job!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Huibi, who shouldve disappeared from this world after becoming one with His Heaven, was instead comfortably seated in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With His Heaven, nestled on her lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can rate\u002Freview this serieshere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>dvnd htr vlbl n gntl.m\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>llutrtn n ur drd drd.gg\u002Fgntl\u003C\u002Fp>",2546,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","a65b587e2feff1deebbaa790fe25cfa2831d0b3f1f03d0e69765ef5dad98d05c","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-207","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-205",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]