Chapter 1072: Scorched World.

Black vision continued.

Pitch-blackness where nothing could be seen. The frustration felt because of it.

It was frustrating, and frustrating again, and my temper, unable to stand it, was slowly starting to brew irritation.

Crackle.

A crack appeared in the black vision.

It bore a similar appearance to when the Master attacked the barrier of the Abyss.

The crack, which gradually lengthened like a spiderweb, soon filled the entire vision.

Before long, it shattered into fragments, restoring the vision.

Crrrumble.

As if crushing burnt pieces or shattering eggs, light seeped through where everything had broken.

“Ugh……”

It’s blinding. It was so blindingly bright that my open eyes involuntarily shut, it was that uncomfortable.

“What the…?”

After barely managing my vision, I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and pushed myself up.

As I placed my other hand on the ground to push myself up, I felt a strange sensation.

Looking down, it was weeds.

Upon confirming this, my dulled five senses surged back before long.

The smell of grass felt from all directions.

The feel of the weeds on the ground.

The faint scent of the forest and birdsong. Along with sunlight descending from the sky.

The sight felt so peaceful that I was rather bewildered.

“What the…?”

What kind of situation is this again?

To suddenly be in a forest. What is this?

‘Where am I again.’

I was clearly the Master of Myriad Worlds. I had faced Mother. And just like that, I was about to have my neck pierced by her hand.

To open my eyes and be in a forest.

Moreover.

‘This doesn’t seem like the forest of Myriad Worlds?’

It was a forest that was far too familiar. Meaning, not the strangely shaped trees and plants seen in Myriad Worlds, but a truly ordinary forest and atmosphere like those I’d seen in the Central Plains.

‘Is it an illusion?’

Or perhaps a deathbed vision.

That was entirely possible. If not that.

‘As the Ancestor said. Something has happened.’

I recalled what the Ancestor had said before my vision was covered in darkness.

‘Arrangement.’

This was the arrangement my Mother had prepared for me.

‘Wasn’t finding all the Divine Trees the arrangement?’

I couldn’t know.

Although the situation was incomprehensible, I couldn’t just stay put like this.

First, I wanted to push myself up completely and assess the situation.

‘My body first, for now.’

‘…Huh?’

I felt a strange sensation.

I couldn’t quite feel the things that had been filling me up.

A considerable amount of my energy was gone.

Though other energies seemed to remain the same.

‘The energies of the Divine Trees have disappeared.’

Not to mention the disappearance of what was called divinity.

‘…My physical condition seems to have changed a bit too.’

I could feel the difference in my physical body as well. Clenching and unclenching my fists a few times, I assessed.

‘I’ve grown weaker.’

I could definitely feel that my body had weakened. What’s fortunate, at least, is that my cultivation level remains the same, but…

Vmmmm.

‘My powers are still the same.’

The powers I possessed within my body. Even the things I gained from becoming a dragon were maintained.

‘…This is absurd.’

What kind of fucked-up situation is this now? Just as I was about to check further, looking quite perplexed.

Snap!

“……!”

I sensed a presence. Raising my senses, I immediately suppressed my presence and hid.

Not long after that.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes. From what I heard, they said it was this way.”

They were people’s voices.

Moreover.

‘The language of the Central Plains?’

Not the language I heard in Myriad Worlds, but the language of the Central Plains I knew. Widening my eyes, I confirmed those approaching.

‘Huh?’

Surprisingly, they were humans.

“…There’s nothing here.”

“No… According to the report, I definitely heard someone had collapsed around here…?”

Moreover, they weren’t just any humans. Those clothes…

‘They’re wearing Martial Alliance uniforms!’

The clothes of the Martial Alliance. Their unique colors and shapes were unmistakable. This means, could it really be…

‘…The Central Plains?’

Does this mean this place is the Central Plains?

Suddenly returned to the Central Plains? I couldn’t comprehend it.

As I stared at the men with surprised eyes, they continued their conversation while examining the spot where I had collapsed.

“There’s f* all here. There’s nothing.”

“…That’s strange.”

“They probably saw something weird again and reported it. Hmph. Lately, I’m already worried sick because of the monsters, and now this.”

The man, who kept getting annoyed, turned his back first.

“Let’s go. If our return is delayed, it’s only a loss for us.”

“But Senior…”

“Forget it, let’s just hurry back. Did you forget what’s happening today? What if the Unit Commander finds out about this?”

“…Understood.”

The one who seemed to be the subordinate glanced this way, as if reluctant to leave, but soon the two men departed.

“……”

Only after sensing that both their presences had completely vanished could I reveal myself.

“What the hell is this?”

What kind of dog-shit situation is this?

Suddenly returned to the Central Plains?

‘Then what about Myriad Worlds?’

What would happen to those who were in Myriad Worlds?

‘The Heavenly Demon and Lord Shin… Plus, there’s the matter of the Divine Sword.’

To just come back like this?

I frowned.

‘It can’t be.’

That’s impossible. Things wouldn’t just resolve themselves in such a messed-up way.

I thought so.

Rolling my eyeballs, I looked in one direction.

It was where the men had just left.

‘If this is the case. For now…’

Let’s figure out exactly what happened.

That seemed to be the priority right now.

---

I exited the forest. Although my body had weakened, reaching transcendence was still the same, so escaping wasn’t that difficult.

Emerging from the forest and following the presence, I could see a city far away.

Seeing that, I could also ascertain my location.

‘It’s Ha-nam.’

The place I originally belonged to.

It was the county of Ha-nam, where the Main Alliance existed.

Seeing this, I knew this was truly the Central Plains, but…

‘Something’s different?’

When I entered the county and observed the area, I could confirm considerable differences.

‘The buildings are completely different.’

It was the county I knew, but it was too different. This was the county that had been ruined once due to the attack by those damned Zhuges. Everything had been cleaned up and rebuilt, so the buildings and streets had changed long ago.

‘This…’

This is the old county. It was filled with buildings that looked even older than that.

“Here, try eating this!”

“Just look around for a bit before you go!”

The atmosphere is different too. While the county of Ha-nam was originally famous for being bustling, this place was far more peaceful, even more so than that.

There were so many differences from what I knew.

‘…Could this possibly be…’

‘Did I perhaps arrive on a different worldline, like Senior Tang did back then?’

That possibility was high. If it’s a place completely different from what I know, it’s more accurate to consider it an unknown Central Plains from the outset.

‘If this is the case, what am I supposed to do now?’

If that’s the case, what am I supposed to do here?

‘My mother said she prepared an arrangement…’

Is there something I need to obtain elsewhere? I frowned at the things I couldn’t understand at all.

‘Sniff.’

As I was glancing around.

‘Hmm?’

A pleasant scent brushed past my nose.

‘Oh, this.’

I widened my eyes. It was a scent far too familiar.

I turned my head, and an inn caught my eye.

‘Huh.’

The inn was a place I knew. It was the very place I used to visit often in the original Central Plains, saying the dumplings were delicious.

“This is here too?”

This inn exists in another worldline too? Even amidst this chaotic situation, I couldn’t help but feel glad.

Perhaps because of that, my steps headed there as if enchanted.

I wasn’t particularly hungry. It’s not like I was starving, and who would be hungry in this situation?

Still, I found myself heading there, truly out of familiarity.

“Aigo! Welcome, Young Hero!”

As soon as I reached the entrance, a waiter greeted me with a wide smile. Unconsciously, I was guided to a table and took my seat.

Before long, the waiter approached again and asked.

“What can I get for you?”

“…Do you have dumplings?”

“Oh, of course! Dumplings are the best seller at our inn.”

“Give me one of those.”

“I’ll bring them right away!”

Smiling brightly, the waiter left to get the dumplings. I sat blankly, turning my thoughts over.

‘What am I even doing?’

Am I an idiot?

Suddenly came in to eat dumplings? Even if it was instinctual, it was something I couldn’t comprehend even when I thought about it.

‘…Is this right?’

Of course not. No matter how I think about it, this isn’t it.

There was so much to figure out, and this wasn’t the time to be stuffing my face with dumplings. So, regaining my senses, just as I was about to get up immediately.

“Did you hear? They say the Divine Dragon became the Unit Commander this time.”

“Oh. You mean the Divine Dragon?”

Halt.

My actions stopped at the sounds coming from the inn.

‘Divine Dragon?’

It was an extremely familiar alias.

If it’s the Divine Dragon.

‘Did that damned monk become the Unit Commander?’

The Divine Dragon of Shaolin. Because I thought it was likely him, I subtly lent my ear. Even though it was a different worldline, it was still about someone I knew.

“That’s right! They say he’s the youngest Unit Commander.”

“Hoho, at that age, not only did he join the Azure Dragon Unit, but he became its commander too. Who knows, maybe he’ll even become the commander of the Divine Dragon Unit later.”

“Perhaps he really will.”

Commander of the Azure Dragon Unit?

It was a slightly strange story.

‘Why would he join that place?’

If it’s the Divine Dragon, he should naturally join the Divine Dragon Unit, but he joined the Azure Dragon Unit? From what I hear, it seems the Divine Dragon Unit does exist.

‘Does this place not have that?’

Since it could be possible if it’s a different world, as I tried to think simply.

“Then it truly must be a miracle. Such talent was born from a place that isn’t very famous.”

“……?”

It was an even stranger statement. If the Nine Great Sects aren’t famous, then what is?

“Not famous? That’s considered quite famous.”

Fortunately, another person spoke up, sounding just as confused as I was.

“If you go to Shanxi Province, isn’t that a place of considerable standing?”

‘Huh…?’

As soon as I heard that, I looked at the man.

…What did he say?