[{"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-542":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},1240368,1667,"Chapter 541","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-542",542,"\u003Cp>Time flowed swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Summer passed.Autumn arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, autumn faded away, giving way to winter once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cycle of parting repeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before anyone realized it, three years had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To some, this might seem like a fleeting moment.However, within the martial world, those brief years were filled with countless events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first major piece of news came when the Martial Alliance announced the heinous crimes committed by the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was revealed that the Sichuan Tang Clan had conducted inhumane experiments for their own gain, even resorting to the long-standing abduction of children to fuel these experiments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the news spread, many were enraged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The uproar was far greater than anyone anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the elders who orchestrated the scheme were all executed,such measures were insufficient to quell the public's outrage against the Tang Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors like these began to circulate, spreading from small whispers to widespread discussions across Zhongyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adding fuel to the fire was the Tang Clan’s decision to halt all their ongoing operations and retreat behind closed doors, issuing an apology in the process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As seasons passed, fewer and fewer people referred to the Tang Clan as one of the Four Great Noble Houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once-fiery scandal surrounding the Tang Clan faded, leaving only speculation about which family might rise to fill the now-vacant position among the noble houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second major event emerged from Sichuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reports from the region, later confirmed by the Martial Alliance, revealed that crimson-ranked Magyeong Gates had begun to open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This news caused a significant stir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson-ranked Magyeong Gates, which had not appeared for centuries, were now emerging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The devastation they brought was severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Zhongyuan’s peace had endured despite the appearance of demonic beasts, this was largely because the green- and blue-ranked beasts posed relatively low threats, and martial artists of moderate skill could handle them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, crimson-ranked beasts were an entirely different matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peak-level martial artists.Even a group of such warriors needed to band together to hunt a single crimson-ranked beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This led to a sudden surge in the importance of peak-level martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the expected catastrophe spanning five, even ten years,resulted in far less damage than anticipated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for this was the intervention of an anonymous informant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the news of crimson-ranked Magyeong Gates spread,this informant provided a detailed method for handling crimson-ranked beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Initially, this seemed too far-fetched to believe.But it didn’t take long for its truth to be confirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to this strategy, the immense damage that could have occurred was mitigated significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the rarity of crimson-ranked Magyeong Gates compared to other ranks also played a role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What mattered most, however,was that the era once called the “Era of Peace” had begun to show cracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third event concerned a shift in leadership within the Martial Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Nakgeom Jangcheon’s departure, the Alliance needed to appoint a new leader, which sparked political conflicts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the process of selecting a leader was conducted in secret within the Alliance,some information became known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that the leader of the Wudang Sect and the head of the Peng Family vied for the position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, news broke that the Wudang Sword Saint had risen to the position of Alliance Leader, succeeding Nakgeom Jangcheon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was an unprecedented occurrence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the founding of the Martial Alliance, this marked the first time a martial artist from a sect had become its leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the fourth event.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Qinghai, a crimson-ranked Magyeong Gate went out of control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This led to the death of Yi Bijin, the Sword of Qinghai and leader of the Kunlun Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A plain in the Guangdong region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, a man knelt on the ground, bleeding heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Urgh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spat blood onto the dirt as he supported himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip, drip—Dark crimson blood trickled down, a clear sign that the man’s life was at its end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His left arm was grotesquely twisted,and the center of his chest was unnaturally sunken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain was excruciating,but despite this, the man laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s name wasDo Mun-gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though no one called him that anymore, only a few years ago, he had been known as one of theFive Demonic Kings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do Mun-gang, the Demonic Fist of Nine Blows (구권적마).A grandmaster of the Hua state, renowned for crushing his enemies with just nine punches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he was dying on the soil of Guangdong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ridiculous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Covered in blood, Do Mun-gang raised his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the edge of his failing vision stood a figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clad in a martial artist’s robe, a blend of azure and black, the person stood with their hands clasped behind their back, calmly staring at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do Mun-gang’s trembling lips curled into a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I didn’t even touch you, did I?”“You grazed me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was steady,its tone youthful, almost melodic, prompting Do Mun-gang to laugh bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ha…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His unrivaled martial art, known for never missing its mark,had been utterly destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had barely managed to graze his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Decades of training,defeated by a youth who seemed barely past his twenties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ridiculous…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do Mun-gang chuckled again and lowered his head.He no longer had the strength to lift it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his vision darkened, he asked one final question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…May I know your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to hear it.The name of the martial artist who had utterly defeated him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And beyond that,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name of someone he believed would one day become theGreatest Under Heaven (고금제일인).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth’s pale blue eyes sparkled as they replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A name? Just call me the third son of the Gu family.”“…The Gu family…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, a face flashed through Do Mun-gang’s mind.A monstrous man who had once placed restrictions upon him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surname matched.Could this youth be that man’s child?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered hearing that the man had a son, but he couldn’t recall the name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…No, it can’t be…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly dismissed the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That monster had used fiery techniques,whereas this youth had not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This youth had defeated him purely through hand-to-hand combat. It couldn’t be the same family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied with this conclusion, Do Mun-gang asked another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… do you have a title?”“A title?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth tilted their head slightly.A moment of thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few seconds,the youth finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cheonma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Do Mun-gang’s thoughts churned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Cheonma…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blood Demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An arrogant title, yet one that seemed to fit the youth perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, Do Mun-gang let his head fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he met his death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth dusted their hands off,gazing at Do Mun-gang’s lifeless body with little emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, they reached into their robes and retrieved a letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a letter left by their master,bearing the seal of the Beggars’ Sect Leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight of the seal made the youth grimace slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear this wouldn’t be an ordinary matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of absurdity had been sent this time?The thought alone made them uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They unfolded the letter and scanned its contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first line of text caused their eyes to widen.It was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Announcement: The Divine Dragon Martial Tournament will be held.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden and bewildering declaration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though baffled,the youth found themselves smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this wasn’t so bad after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At least it’s a reason to start moving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They folded the letter haphazardly and stuffed it into their robes,then looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they stared at the sun,a ferocious roar echoed from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ROAR!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something plummeted from the sky at incredible speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM! CRASH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earth trembled as a massive impact sent dust flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the dust cleared,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Growl…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth was perched atop a massive beast with azure scales.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they stroked its scales, they muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s head home. If we’re late, that old man will throw another fit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Growl!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a powerful leap, the beast took to the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It moved with incredible speed,the scenery below blurring in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the wind whipped through their hair,the youth clenched and unclenched their fists repeatedly, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This should do for preparation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had taken longer than expected,but the foundation was set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it seemed, the time had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time to unleash their full potential.\u003C\u002Fp>",1368,"2026-06-05T15:10:08.481Z",1,"novelbin.me","4b4481849e22cfdb38be28ab0ab83a4ab030e27c5656529866f958b8c347ec28","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-543","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-541",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]