[{"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-655":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},1240405,1667,"Chapter 654","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-655",655,"\u003Cp>Before heading to Zhongyuan, it was late in the evening.I sought out the Palace Lord in the dead of night to attend to my final matters in the North Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This place has always been accessible only to bloodline descendants, specifically those destined to take the position of the Palace Lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The location I found under the flickering light of a single lantern was an underground passageway, situated on the outskirts of the royal palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why does everything here have to be underground?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the Palace Lord's guidance, I walked deep into the passage. As we continued, the Palace Lord suddenly broke the silence and spoke to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master Gu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have something I wish to ask you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please, ask away. I will listen attentively.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you choose to save Vioe-gun?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an oddly-timed question, coming amidst the darkness and silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I steadied my breathing, glanced at him, and replied,\"What exactly do you mean by that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I mean it quite literally. I made my deductions based on your actions, but I fail to understand your reasoning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his words, I nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So my assumptions were correct.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension I felt when I first met the Palace Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It confirmed what I suspected then—that his seemingly confrontational demeanor was deliberate. It meant he had foreseen that I would need Woo Hyuk and had chosen to act accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What if I were to say it’s simply because we’re friends? Would that be an insufficient reason?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How does it sound to you, Young Master Gu?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It does sound somewhat lacking….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could I add more to my explanation?Certainly, if I wanted to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His condition suggested he’d be useful if I brought him along.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woo Hyuk had been forcibly transformed into a human weapon by Mang’s energy. He had grown significantly stronger, and with demonic energy infused in him, the likelihood of betrayal was slim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no bond more reliable than one forged through shared purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There also happened to be a suitable task I could entrust to him. The circumstances just aligned perfectly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s more, Woo Hyuk was originally a key figure of Wudang. Though his current status was ambiguous, he had once been one of its most promising disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Wudang’s top master, the Hermit of Wudang, had an odd temperament and erratic behavior, under normal circumstances, Woo Hyuk would have been seen as a candidate for the next sect leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering all that, simply having Woo Hyuk by my side was immensely advantageous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not only a disciple of the next potential sect leader but also Wudang’s most talented rising star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his young age, he could already rival elders in martial skill, showcasing exceptional talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The value of keeping Woo Hyuk close was undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even excluding such reasons, my decision wouldn’t have changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ultimately, aside from the reason I mentioned initially, there isn’t much else to it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saved him because he was a friend. Any additional justification would only serve as an excuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if it discomforts you, Palace Lord, searching for any other reason feels burdensome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After my response, the Palace Lord fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, taking Woo Hyuk like this would have been impossible.It was likely only feasible because the Palace Lord had chosen to turn a blind eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Otherwise, as they say, I would’ve had to force my way through.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that such measures weren’t necessary proved the Palace Lord’s intentional leniency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Should I be thankful?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I briefly considered it, but I knew expressing gratitude or apology was meaningless right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His daughter had succumbed to the Ice Essence, led a rebellion, and ultimately met her end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the palace’s unrest in the aftermath of war, the fact that someone involved in those events was being spared from execution couldn’t possibly sit well with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The mere fact he’s calmly guiding me now is astonishing in itself.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t comprehend what was going through his mind as he walked alongside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would I have done in his position?I didn’t want to imagine it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One last question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please, ask.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have a set goal, Young Master?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excuse me?\"Out of nowhere?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A goal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caught off guard by the question, I paused briefly, but soon found an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not something grandiose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hadn’t been originally, but perhaps through my regression, it became something I felt I had to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s something I must accomplish. And while I’m at it, I thought I might as well save the world too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To stop the Blood Demon and Cheonma.To prevent the impending bloodshed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the goal I currently held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I mentioned this, the Palace Lord, walking ahead of me, let out a faint laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha… You say it’s not grandiose, but those are lofty words indeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s just a goal, so I decided to frame it ambitiously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I deliberately phrased it as a jest. The Palace Lord didn’t seem entirely convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as we resumed walking, he spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, what will you do once that goal is achieved?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words, flowing naturally, made me stop in my tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Afterwards?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would I do next?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of unease filled me as I pondered the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it’s all over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘When everything ends….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to imagine what I’d do after completing my task, but nothing came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t know.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I’d finally get some peaceful rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something I couldn’t quite figure out yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stood there, absentmindedly running my fingers over my lips, the Palace Lord glanced at me and added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It would be good to think deeply about it, at least once. It’s not my place to meddle, but… you, Young Master, seem….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the darkness, I could feel his cyan gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…as if you’re trapped in something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, the Palace Lord and I walked the rest of the way in silence until we reached our destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place we arrived at was a large underground chamber filled with shelves of mysterious books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold air mixed with the scent of aged paper, creating a unique fragrance. For someone like me, who had never been fond of studying, it was a smell I didn’t particularly enjoy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pulled a book from one of the shelves and inspected it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no title written on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened it slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Srrrk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that book is enchanted. If someone outside the bloodline opens it, there will be conseq—oh, it seems you already opened it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You could have mentioned that a little earlier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t expect you to open it immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My apologies. It just happened before I could stop myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do now? Should I just close it again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stood there with an awkward expression, the Palace Lord spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, since you’ve already opened it, what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…About what, exactly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you read the text?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Palace Lord’s prompting, I looked down at the book again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pages were densely filled with writing, impossibly small and meticulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could anyone write something so tiny?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I can see it perfectly. Enough to make my head ache, actually.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was because I had always disliked reading, but just looking at it was irritating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see. So, you can read it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? Is that a problem?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That book was designed so only bloodline descendants could read it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait… Then why can I see it so clearly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was beginning to think something might be wrong, the Palace Lord continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it seems it doesn’t matter much for you, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord approached me and took the book from my hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of pages turning tickled my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mentioned you were seeking knowledge about sorcery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before that, do you even know what sorcery is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Not in great detail.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling what I’d heard before, I replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard it was something brought by dragons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is correct. Sorcery is indeed a power brought by dragons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He placed the book he was holding onto the table with a thud and clapped his hands lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lamps affixed to the walls lit up. It was obviously not my doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it some kind of energy manipulation? No, it felt different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a trace of Samadhi True Flame, nor did it carry any heat like conventional fire arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Just now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was sorcery. Judging by your expression, it seems you’ve already noticed the difference.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something about it felt fundamentally different. But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What exactly is different?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t pinpoint what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord laughed lightly at my perplexed expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, very strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is sorcery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I beg your pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An ability that defies logic—that is what sorcery is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s an extremely vague explanation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was vague to the point of being almost useless. Power that defies logic? That sounded more like poetic nonsense than a proper definition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before we go further, may I ask why you wish to learn about sorcery?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I paused briefly, not because it was a difficult question, but because I wanted to come up with a more convincing reason. Yet, no matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t come up with anything grandiose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought it might be useful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Useful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s information I didn’t know before, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to learn about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference between knowing and not knowing could be significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was something I had neither seen nor heard of in my previous life, I thought it might be beneficial to at least have some understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord didn’t show any noticeable reaction to my words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he raised his hand lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sensed movement from the bookshelf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single book detached itself from the tightly packed shelves and flew into the Palace Lord’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding the book, the Palace Lord turned to me again and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about this time? What do you see?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did it seem like sorcery to you? Or…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You used Spatial Manipulation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, it wasn’t sorcery—it was the art of drawing objects from the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord reacted with a look of approval at my resolute response.Seeing that expression, I couldn’t help but feel curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why that reaction?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re perceptive. Or was it just a lucky guess?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A guess? It’s clearly visible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they looked similar, it was undoubtedly the flow of energy.The enchantment shown earlier had an entirely different flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing my answer, the Palace Lord tilted their head slightly as if intrigued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fascinating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I experienced the same thing back then, I responded by saying it felt somehow different. My father, the previous Palace Lord, declared that I had a talent for enchantments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow different? It felt more than just different to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s the case, then I would say you possess an exceptional talent for enchantments, Young Master. Though I’m not certain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talent, huh.Hearing that, I couldn’t help but stifle a wry smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Could I actually have something after all?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my previous life, I had endured being called incompetent, a fool, and worse. To suddenly discover a talent now felt absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And of all things—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s not even martial arts but some obscure force like enchantments.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t exactly a pleasant feeling.As these idle thoughts crossed my mind, the Palace Lord handed me the book they had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Read it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I accepted the book and opened it immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t much different from the earlier one. The dense text made me instinctively frown again.Still, since I had been told to read it, I decided to give it a try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suddenly noticed something strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not in the book itself, but in how I was reading it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why can I read this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what I knew, the scripts of the Northern Sea and Zhongyuan were completely different.So why was I reading it without any difficulty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, I looked back at the Palace Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I mentioned earlier, enchantments are the dragons’ creations, and this book is also imbued with enchantments. It’s designed so that only those of the bloodline can read it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So the fact that I can read it means?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means that the barriers created through enchantments don’t apply to you. Because you are a dragon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even being able to read this is due to the power of enchantments?If it were blocked by enchantments, shouldn’t I be unable to read it at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A power brought by dragons…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed to imply that Mang or the Blood Demon had brought this power.What purpose did they have in bringing it here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And come to think of it, the Divine Doctor mentioned something as well.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just in the Northern Sea, but even in Zhongyuan, the Divine Doctor had spoken of enchantments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It was during the time he healed Jegal Hyuk’s throat.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when the Divine Doctor used the White Demon Stone to treat Jegal Hyuk,I had watched the process as part of an agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had placed the White Demon Stone on the ground, drawn countless mysterious patterns around it, seated Jegal Hyuk in the center, and spent hours with his eyes closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that enchantment as well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering that Jegal Hyuk’s throat was healed, it’s safe to assume he accomplished something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An illogical, unreasonable power.It was undeniably different from martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The information about enchantments that I promised to provide you, Young Master, is right there in your hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at the book again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Just this one book?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many books surrounding us, it felt stingy to only receive one. I glanced at the Palace Lord with suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t look at it that way. Breaking the rules of the Ice Palace to give you this is already an exception.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I’m supposed to be grateful for even this?Tch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Palace Lord continued speaking, I began reading the text in the book once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The book in your hands contains the method to form a ring around the heart, which is essential for using enchantments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their explanation reached my ears, but my eyes remained on the text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A ring around the heart. It doesn’t seem all that different from the guidelines for practicing internal techniques.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most internal techniques involve gathering energy from the surroundings into the dantian and converting it into inner energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Techniques like Nine Flames Firewheel utilized that inner energy to unleash heat.Even the martial arts of other clans and sects, despite their differing styles, followed the same principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This “ring” is…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting by forming a base in the middle dantian was odd enough.Focusing on the middle and upper dantians while ignoring the lower dantian entirely was even stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So, if I do this, I can use enchantments?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I give it a try?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Although I cannot show you the other books due to the rules, I believed it was only right to at least reveal the introductory part to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Let’s see… this guideline says to….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m afraid I can’t let you take it with you. Even as the Palace Lord, this is the best I can offer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Palace Lord kept talking, but I ignored them, focusing instead on guiding the faint energy to encircle my heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt something settle into place. Simultaneously, I sensed a faint ring forming around my heart, just as described.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even I, who was praised for my talent, took three months to master it, so there’s no need to rush—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take your time to carefully— Wait, what did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing a refreshed expression, I spoke to the Palace Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve completed the ring. Fortunately, it wasn’t too difficult. Oh, can I read the next book? It feels like there’s still plenty of time left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, the Palace Lord’s expression twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt like I’d been seeing that expression a lot today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>",2699,"2026-06-05T15:10:12.585Z",1,"novelbin.me","058de3aa97a596df2235d194b0143ea403976c6077c575f7998f839e4310322d","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-656","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-654",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]