[{"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-957":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},1240383,1667,"Chapter 956","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-957",957,"\u003Cp>Rumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like thunder crashing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air twisted, and an unknown force surged through the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart pounded wildly, and energy erupted uncontrollably within me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A defensive instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body reacted on its own, and my energy surged through my meridians, spreading across my entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whirrrrrr—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nine Flames Firewheel’s rings expanded and spun rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heat rose sharply, and my crown burned hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'…What is this…?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sensation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was too alien to be simply defined as hostility or killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, it wasn’t entirely unfamiliar either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'A spell?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I decided to classify this sensation as a type of spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that was the case, should I consider it an intent manifested through sorcery?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intent, when manifested, was shaped by one’s emotions and cultivation level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if a spell was being used to manifest an aura—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Is this the result of that?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An aura formed through sorcery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a phenomenon shaped by the turtle’s level of mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that explained the current situation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Interesting.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond why the turtle was reacting this way, the situation itself intrigued me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sorcery was a complex force, one I had yet to fully understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'So it can be used like this too.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Learning that it could be applied in this manner gave me a new perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What exactly is the difference?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure intensified, gradually affecting me as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused entirely on analyzing the way it was being manifested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It’s fundamentally different from internal energy manifestation.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the method of manifestation must also be different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I look at it from a sorcerous perspective?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I focused my heart energy, conjuring threads of sorcery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t seem to exert direct pressure like internal energy did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had to define it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Distortion. Or an anomaly.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And transformation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning truth into a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or turning a lie into the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the fundamental principle of sorcery, as I understood it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Then ultimately…'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than applying actual pressure, could it be creating the illusion of pressure through sorcery?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost like a trick of words, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssssss—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following this realization, I manipulated my energy accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fracture ran through the phenomenon the turtle had created.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two forces clashed like grinding stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, I smiled in delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that’s how it works.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Ha.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crrrkk—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two phenomena collided—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle let out a hollow laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You really are an unbelievable bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sighed in resignation, and with that, the overwhelming pressure faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clicked my tongue in disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I was so close.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a little more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I could have felt it for just a moment longer, I would have fully understood it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'For now, I should hold back.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the circumstances, it wasn’t the time to push further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell are you thinking about right now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle’s voice snapped me back to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, right. What were we talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at me with sheer disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…We were discussing how your mother is the ruler of the Man’gye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he mentioned it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what we were talking about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had come here because I needed to learn about sorcery in order to meet my mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when the turtle heard that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You called her a Demonic Fox earlier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had referred to my mother as a Demonic Fox (Yohou).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that her actual name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You mean to tell me you don’t even know your own mother’s name?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She was never called that before. But maybe she goes by a different name here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle’s expression turned unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a creature with minimal facial expressions to begin with, making it difficult to gauge his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…No, that’s not the case. Demonic Fox is simply a moniker.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A nickname that only you use? Or—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sure others called her that too. But…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap. Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle tapped his staff against the ground a few times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whether they’re still alive or not is another question.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice held a faint chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sense of bitterness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t a good sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That kind of reaction…'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had my mother done something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Hmm.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just what had she done?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious, of course, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I shouldn’t press the matter.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wasn’t saying it himself, asking wouldn’t do any good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Haa.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle let out a long sigh, as if sorting through complicated emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he continued to breathe steadily, I silently observed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You’re ridiculous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, he turned to me, his voice filled with exasperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s obvious that I don’t have good feelings about your mother. And yet, you still sit here so casually.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was clear enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I didn’t do anything wrong. If anything happened, it was because of her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my matter-of-fact statement, the turtle’s expression went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You really are a shameless bastard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shameless? No, I’m just being honest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was just as shocked as anyone when I heard my mother was some big figure in this world. Honestly, I didn’t even want to come here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was half a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had made a deal with my father back when I mastered Nine Flames Firewheel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\"If you fully master Nine Flames Firewheel, I will tell you where your mother is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That had been our agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the moment I heard it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I was already planning to find her.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had every intention of heading to where she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It wasn’t just about seeing my mother.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t my sole purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I had longed for her. Desperately, even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There was something more important than that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, my personal feelings took a backseat to a greater concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I need to understand what’s happening to me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was anyone who could, it would be my mother. And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I need to confirm the truth about the Divine Sword.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I found traces of her at Divine Dragon Pavilion, my mother had appeared for the first time and intervened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had told me to absorb the Divine Dragon into my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But I still don’t know what happened after that.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since then, she hadn’t appeared again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no idea where the Divine Sword was now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why I needed to see her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…If she doesn’t even recognize me, that’s going to be a problem.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what, it was absurd that she might not even know her own son's face and could try to kill me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was just as much a victim in this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Help me out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed the turtle’s power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…How did the conversation end up like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle frowned, as if the conclusion made no sense to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was so odd about it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to meet my mother, and to do that, I need to learn sorcery. And you’re the only one I know who can teach me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, that’s not what I’m asking… Why the hell should I help you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come on, can’t you just lend me a hand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…So you’re just going to throw a tantrum until I do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more we talked, the more the disbelief on the turtle’s face deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want me to help you, my enemy’s son?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you not hear how ridiculous that sounds?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It does sound ridiculous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wouldn’t deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an unreasonable request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s why instead of a favor, let’s make a deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle’s expression shifted, intrigued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, a deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You teach me sorcery, and in return, I’ll do something for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, the turtle’s interest vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have nothing I need from you. How does that make it a deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You will eventually.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whether it’s something related to my mother or something personal to you, I’ll fulfill your request.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the turtle’s thick eyebrows twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This offer made no sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could have dismissed it as nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead of rejecting it outright—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was considering it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There’s something he wants from me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or at least, something he might want in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I wasn’t about to let that slip by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as it’s not something like killing her or fighting her, I’ll do it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Heh. Kill her? What nonsense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right? That would be too much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not about that. Even if you died a hundred times over, you wouldn’t be able to kill her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that was the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scratched my cheek awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was my mother really that powerful?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, if she ruled an entire world…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is she stronger than the Blood Demon?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought crossed my mind, but I pushed it aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t important right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Maybe not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle suddenly murmured to himself, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief silence, he muttered again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I see. Perhaps… it’s not impossible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you talking about all of a sudden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You said you’d grant my request, didn’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, as long as it’s not one of those things.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And anything else is fair game?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hearing it put like that makes me a little nervous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give me a clear answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll listen first, and if it’s too unreasonable, I’ll refuse. But most things, I’ll agree to.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I see. Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle nodded in acceptance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That reaction made me pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re really fine with the fact that I might refuse?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant he could end up making this deal for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he just smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn’t matter. After all… I’ll make sure you don’t refuse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Wow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a terrifying thing to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should I back out now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I hesitated—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll regret this,\" the turtle said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My foolishness is making me involve myself in something I shouldn’t… but I suppose this is fate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle stood up from his chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scenery changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, the teahouse was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I now stood in the middle of a vast plain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lush, green fields stretched endlessly, pulsing with vibrant energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the midst of it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle and I stood facing each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will ask you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice echoed strangely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seeped into my heart, embedding itself deep inside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it that you seek from me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was chilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a fleeting moment, the vibrant plains felt like they would collapse into a swamp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When facing a powerful opponent, the clash of swords could be felt like a razor’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But against this opponent—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like the collision of seasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At times, it was cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At times, it was hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, it was cool and refreshing—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, suddenly, it would become humid and oppressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A distorted symphony of sensations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the turtle felt like transformation itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I processed the overwhelming sensations and answered him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did I want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer had been decided from the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single thing less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I intended to get everything from him.\u003C\u002Fp>",1848,"2026-06-05T15:10:22.035Z",1,"novelbin.me","976d9ee0e4b1c51affe8f30fa1e130d58f9d6233783c81216357dddd2b368ec1","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-958","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-956",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]