Overwhelming Firepower

”Tell us, child. Why have you come here? What do you seek from those whose era has long passed?”

When Lucen heard the Martial God’s question, he did not hesitate to answer honestly.

”Truth is, I didn’t even know you two were here. I just came because I saw a suspicious-looking place. Then I saw the platform, and the overlook of the place, and figured that this was once a temple, so I just wanted to see what kind of deity was once worshipped here.”

Lucen spoke without any attempt to embellish his words. There was no hesitation in his voice, no effort to make his answer sound more impressive than it truly was.

For a brief moment, the temple fell silent. The Heavenly Demon stared at him, then suddenly let out a short laugh.

”Hah. So you’re saying you stumbled into this place by accident?” His tone carried amusement, with a hint of curiosity beneath it.

”More or less.”

The Heavenly Demon leaned back slightly, his grin widening. ”You’ve got some nerve, brat. You already knew this was a Temple and you wanted to blow it up.”

”Since no one was responding, I thought it was the only way to wake up whatever deity was once worshipped here.”

”Hahaha!” The Heavenly Demon burst into laughter again. ”Yeah, if nothing else works, hitting it a few times is always a good bet. Heh, I’m starting to like this brat.”

The Martial God, however, remained silent. His gaze stayed on Lucen, steady and unwavering, as if weighing something far beyond the surface of his words. Not just what was said, but the intent behind it.

”Then now that you know who we are,” the Martial God said slowly, ”has your purpose changed?”

”Of course,” Lucen continued to answer without hesitation.

”Hoh, so what do you want now? Are you going to ask us to give you power? Are you going to ask to learn our techniques?... Well, you do have the body for it, but unfortunately, your talent is lacking. Both this b*stard and I are the most proficient with a sword, but as I said, you have no talent for that. I guess if you want, I can teach you a few unarmed techniques or spear techniques.”

The Heavenly Demon gave his honest suggestion. It was not mockery. It was a genuine offer, one that countless people would give everything to receive.

”Though I’m most proficient in the sword, I have reached a high level in every weapon. I can teach you any weapon, and though you have no talent in the sword, if you wish, I can still teach you a thing or two.” The Martial God also said his piece.

Lucen listened to both of them without interrupting. If it were anyone else, being offered guidance by these two would have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but Lucen simply shook his head.

”I appreciate the offer,” he said, his tone calm, ”but I’ll have to decline.”

The Heavenly Demon blinked in surprise; he was not expecting such an answer. The Martial God’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”You truly are an interesting brat! If any other heard that were offering to teach them, they would have knelt on the ground and called us their master.” The Heavenly Demon chuckled as he spoke.

”Well, it is as you guys said. I don’t really have talent for the sword, and my path is completely different from yours. I used a different kind of weapon.”

”Right, you were using that weird-shaped object. Is that some sort of sorcery?”

The Martial God spoke for the first time with great interest in his tone. Even though he was usually aloof, when the Martial God hears about a new weapon or a new form of martial art, his interest rises to its peak.

”Yes, it was created using something similar to sorcery, but it’s also a weapon that existed in my past life, which I recreated in this life,” Lucen replied.

”That’s rather interesting. Can you show it to me?”

”I don’t have the actual thing right now, but if I can recreate it using magic, you won’t be able to hold it.” Lucen then used his gun-creation skill to create a handgun.

”How does it work?”

”It’s like a crossbow, but it shoots farther and faster.” Lucen then pointed the gun at an empty spot and fired.

”Well, that is quite interesting.” The Heavenly Demon spoke up.

”A small projectile came flying at incredible speed. A first-rate martial artist wouldn’t be able to see, let alone dodge, that attack. Only a Martial Master would be good enough. Still, in the end, it’s just an improved crossbow with a linear path.” The Martial God spoke to himself as he thought of the pros and cons of the weapon.

”That’s true, right now, but eventually I’ll create a weapon far beyond this that even you’ll find hard to dodge.”

”Kuhahaha! Well, that’s the spirit! I see, this is a path you have made for yourself. Still, you did entertain me quite a bit, and I, the Heavenly Demon, wish to reward you. So tell me what it is you truly want?”

”Well, is it possible to pass down your martial arts to two people I choose? Unlike me, these two are brimming with talent.”

The Heavenly Demon’s smile slowly faded, though the amusement did not disappear entirely. The Martial God’s gaze felt like it somehow lightened.

”Oh?” The Heavenly Demon leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on his knee. ”You refuse power for yourself, and ask it for others?”

Lucen met his gaze without flinching. There was no hesitation in his eyes, no sign of doubt; there was only conviction. ”Yes.”

”Heh, the world back there must have changed drastically if it produced someone like you. Those who make others stronger than themselves are usually the ones who are practically asking to get stabbed in the back.” The Heavenly Demon commented.

”As I said before, I walk my own path. Who’s to say who is the stronger one later?”

”So you’re saying that these two, who you claim to have immense talent, will be taught by me and that b*stard will not be stronger than you?”

”Like I said, who knows how it will go,” Lucen answered while shrugging his shoulders.

”Will you look at this brat! Kuhahaha! This is the most I have laughed in centuries. You’re a confident brat, aren’t you? Well, those who walk their own path should be that confident. Very well, I will see if the brats you recommend are truly worth teaching. Not just anyone could be the disciple of the Heavenly Demon.”

Hearing the response of the Heavenly Demon, Lucen shifted his gaze to the silent Martial God standing at the side.

The Martial God had not spoken since Lucen made his request. He simply stood there, unmoving, his gaze fixed on Lucen.

”You ask us to pass down our path,” the Martial God finally spoke. His voice was calm, neither accepting nor rejecting. ”Yet you do not walk it yourself.”

”Yes,” Lucen replied.

”Yet you claim to know who is worthy of it?” There was a moment of silence when the Martial God said those words. Lucen then showed a smile on his face as he answered.

”I never claim to know who is worthy. I simply said they are talented.”

”Who are these two to you?”

”One is my younger brother. I know it might sound biased, but I truly believe his talent with the sword might be as great as the two of you.”

”Hoh,” The Heavenly Demon’s eyes looked at Lucen playfully. ”To compare your younger brother’s talent to mine and that b*stard. I don’t know if you’re confident or just arrogant.”

”Hm... Then what about the other person?” The Martial God was not bothered by Lucen’s statement of his younger brother being as talented as he, and instead continued his questioning.

”The other one is someone I believe with all my heart will one day become a hero without equal.”

The shine in Lucen’s eyes were brighter as he spoke of the other candidate, more so than even his own younger brother.

”That is intriguing, but I will be the judge if they are truly worthy to walk the same path as I.”

”That’s all I could ask for. I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll make sure to bring them here once they’re ready.”