Surviving as a Genius on Borrowed Time

'Would it be good to grow my hair······?'

It was a jest from the sovereign who alone safeguarded the World Tree.

A supreme being whose image rarely invoked humor.

No words could be taken lightly. Jung Yeonshin knew that.

He recalled the time when he wandered in search of Heon Wonchang, engaging in sparring matches with local martial artists to gather information.

To win favor, he learned to concede in verbal battles and endure hospitality.

Experts let their hair grow long—he had taken it to heart.

'Still, the Main Fortress Squad Leaders would acknowledge that much as the mark of an expert, wouldn't they?'

The realm of darkness referred to the cultivation of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown and the Five Energies Returning to Origin.

It was said to be a state where true energy responded directly to intent—a world rivaling the elders of renowned sects.

At such a level, there would be no risk of having one's hair grabbed in close combat.

Only after stepping into the realm of ascension would he grow his hair.

It was a fleeting thought. When he met those jade-green eyes again, the Lord of Desolate Fortress spoke.

"Your resolve is firm. I was speaking in jest."

A faint smile graced her lips.

"Even if warriors of the world befriend death, their edge will lack no sharpness. You do not look bad."

"······I am honored."

"There is no need for gratitude, nor apology."

Her tone was as calm as a gentle breeze. She continued slowly.

"The Main fortress does not withhold rewards. I have summoned you to reward the merits achieved through your aspirations, so you shall receive what you are due."

At last.

Finally, the words from the Lord stirred his heart. He needed to calm himself, but it was difficult.

Even exhaling deeply, his heart pounded.

Surely the Lord of Desolate Fortress was aware of everything, yet she did not withdraw her subtle smile.

Everything in his sight slowed down. As she finished the word 'reward', her lips parted once more.

"Your contributions are great. I shall speak of two things."

Her beauty, testifying to unmatched martial prowess, faded from his focus.

He merely gazed, as if engraving the face of someone appearing no older than twenty-five into his memory.

"First, for locating the base of heretical cults that harmed the people. Second, for greatly contributing to the extermination of rebels without sacrifice."

"······."

The former accomplishment was merely an incident born from the Seventh Apostle's interest in his value.

The base incident had begun that way. Yet, he felt no embarrassment. At this moment, the reward to come mattered more than anything.

"You have demonstrated sufficient merit. I shall test your qualifications."

As she spoke, her hand extended once again.

An exceedingly peculiar phenomenon occurred.

The moonlight behind the Lord began to distort as if drawn to her hand.

It was an utterly transcendent sight. It did not feel human. Jung Yeonshin felt as much.

"This is."

Whoosh.

The massive tree trunks surrounding the office exhaled a gentle breeze. It brushed against his body, tickling him.

At the moment when the verdant leaves, tinged blue by the radiant moon, grazed her figure—

"This is a fruit of the World Tree. A mere fragment."

It was something akin to scooping a handful of the moon reflected on a lake. A shard of light, as if sculpted from moonlight, glowed faintly upon the Lord's palm.

"······."

Jung Yeonshin remained silent. A single breeze from the open walls brushed past his throat. Even encompassing all he had ever seen, it was the most bizarre miracle.

Buzz.

Even the resonance was mystical. His eyes were fixed upon the fragment of light resting in the Lord's palm.

Though it was the goal of his life, he felt nothing. It was not like the elixirs said to surge inner power.

There was no turbulent energy—only an overwhelming sense of sanctity.

"I know what the world says."

The Lord's lips moved.

When he raised his head, he met the abyss-like gaze of the forest. She stared at him quietly.

"They are all wrong. This is not an elixir that bestows immense power."

"You mentioned qualifications. Then, what······?"

"You will understand when you feel it."

Her hand moved slightly forward. The fragment of light drew closer.

The closer it came, the more mysterious it appeared—something that hardly seemed of this world.

"Eat it."

The Lord's words made him reflexively raise his hand, but she slowly shook her head.

"It will lose its potency if separated from my body. You must bring your mouth closer."

There is a saying—'extraordinary treasure'.

It means rare and wondrous treasures.

Serpentine beasts, spiritual creatures, enchanted beings, even ginseng in human form.

From divine swords emitting miracles to the famed elixirs of the central plains—

Such things defied common sense yet were said to fill the upper echelons of the martial world.

'It loses potency when separated?'

The Lord spoke as though she herself were the World Tree.

Countless questions arose in his mind. Was it connected to her spiritually?

Did the title of the Guardian of the World Tree imply such a meaning?

Yet he dared not voice them. He feared to overstep.

Such was Jung Yeonshin's position now. The Lord had not even called him an expert. He had no choice but to accept what was given.

'Senior Chung Myung said so. The higher your rank, the different the information you encounter.'

For now, he resolved to focus on the realm of darkness. That would suffice.

'Still.'

Even so, the fragment of the World Tree before him was a worthy reward. He had to claim it.

Without hesitation, Jung Yeonshin slightly lowered his head toward her hand.

At the same time, he slowly opened his mouth. His lower lip first, then the tip of his nose brushed lightly against her hand—

"Huh?"

A sound of confusion escaped him. The Lord had withdrawn her hand.

"It doesn't look right."

Her tone was calm. The fragment of the fruit descended to her fingertips.

Swoosh.

She extended her hand once more.

The hazy light gradually filled Jung Yeonshin's vision. But it did not move toward his mouth.

It headed straight for his forehead, as if targeting the path to his upper dantian.

Her slender fingers touched his glabella.

It was then—

"Gasp!"

His breathing technique immediately broke. It had to. His consciousness was swept away in an instant.

It felt like sinking into an abyss, yet simultaneously, all sensations surged uncontrollably.

Whoosh—!

This was not a rise in power—it was an experience.

It was as though he had entered the mind of an incomprehensible being. A flood of sensations erupted rapidly.

Even the structure of the air brushing against his skin was laid bare, bringing in the essence of nature.

His senses heightened beyond imagination—so sharp it felt like he would go mad and die.

Suddenly, he became aware of the slowed passage of time. He saw the flowing moonlight.

At this moment.

Jung Yeonshin was the Lord of Desolate Fortress. He sensed the world through her eyes and being.

Through her gaze, he looked upon himself—his black figure reflecting her enigmatic features.

Could any miracle in the world match this? It was too incredible to believe.

·····That fleeting moment felt eternal.

Even as her faint breath lingered, her exhale had yet to end.

The wind brushing his ear had barely passed. Yet, it was unbearable. His upper dantian burned as if straining to endure.

"It is done."

The Lord of Desolate Fortress spoke in a murmur, and in that instant, the suffocatingly stretched time snapped back into its flow.

Whoosh!

Jung Yeonshin returned to himself. His body swayed, as if disoriented from experiencing a sense far beyond the realm of transcendence.

Just as he was about to lose balance, a gentle hand grasped his shoulder, steadying him.

It was the Lord.

"This will not do. It is too soon."

She spoke. Jung Yeonshin raised his head slightly to meet her gaze.

"What do you mean by too soon······?"

"Your level is too shallow to accept the fruit. Focus on your training."

"What exactly was that effect just now?"

"I tested whether you could accept the spirit of the World Tree. When the vessel of your will becomes firm, as long as the clan's tree does not wither, you will not transcend into immortality through your crown chakra. You will live eternally."

She spoke of spirituality, seemingly implying that the World Tree's divine essence would be shared to anchor his lifespan.

It, too, defied conventional reasoning.

Jung Yeonshin sought confirmation of his understanding.

"You are correct."

The Lord slowly nodded. The fruit served as the medium.

'What in the world······.'

He had experienced one of the most mysterious phenomena in the martial world. Before stepping into this realm, he had imagined a legendary panacea.

He had only been half right. Jung Yeonshin felt an emptiness and asked once more.

"To ascend to the rank of Divine Sword Squad leader······ and to receive the complete fruit through merit, in order to handle the spirit of the World Tree at the level of the Purple Robe—are you saying this is the path?"

"That is also correct."

"···Then, the sensations I just experienced······?"

He asked about the world he had seen and felt through the Lord's perspective. Her lips curled faintly.

"It was inevitable."

Swoosh.

The soft hand on his shoulder gently pushed him away.

"And it was a gift."

"Ah."

He stepped down from the tree's trunk. Before he knew it, all his senses had returned.

Yet the transcendent world he had glimpsed remained vividly imprinted in his memory.

Thus, it was a test, and therefore, a gift.

He did not understand the inevitability she mentioned, but he knew it was an experience that would guide him significantly.

Perhaps it might even aid him in his imminent mission. Inspiration for creating new techniques was already stirring within him—intensely so.

"May you triumph, until you reach South Zhili."

She said.

It seemed she was aware that Jung Yeonshin had been selected for the martial contest against the Namgoong Clan.

Though it was said the General Affairs Bureau handled all matters within the fortress, it appeared she paid attention to certain events.

'A dismissal.'

She had bid him success, which meant he was permitted to leave.

"I also wish you peace, Lord."

Jung Yeonshin bowed respectfully.

Swish.

The soft rustling of robes sounded sharper than ever.

The Lord leaned back slightly, resting gently against the tree trunk.

Jung Yeonshin turned as she closed her eyes slowly.

The stone gate, which had opened of its own accord when he entered, closed itself behind him as he left the chamber.

It was likely the Lord's mastery over manipulating objects through the void. By now, it no longer surprised him.

Descending the steps, Jung Yeonshin felt the descent was much shorter than the ascent.

'So that's what the fruit was.'

His heart felt strange. Perhaps it was the result of experiencing something unimaginable.

He had fully grasped one of the martial world's mysteries. He imagined anyone would feel the same if they underwent such an ordeal.

She had even spoken of immortality—something far removed from his current self, as if standing at the opposite end of existence.

'Even if I receive the fruit.'

He knew his level was insufficient to contain its power.

Experience from missions would refine his martial skills and build his achievements. In the end, it meant returning to the basics.

Step.

The boy, having emerged from the Lord's inner sanctum, walked quietly.

The moonlight shining down cast his shadow longer and longer. The deep night was nearing its end.

* * *

The next day, at Radiant Demon Squad's Grand Martial Arena.

An official letter arrived via the General Affairs Bureau, detailing his next mission.

Seated in the center of the arena, Jung Yeonshin unfolded the document assigning his task.

Senior warriors surrounded him in a circle, looking down at him—a slightly amusing sight.

"The Sword Duel Delegation includes Lightning Genius's name. It's really written here."

"Indeed, an honorable task. If only I were ten years younger······."

It seemed some of the seniors, possessing even higher techniques than Jung Yeonshin, had already scanned it.

Skipping the formalities, the boy went straight to the list under the heading, 'Deployment Roster'.

[The following five are sentenced to life-or-death combat.]

Namgoong Clan's Flourishing Spirit Flower Master.

Namgoong Clan's Young Master.

Namgoong Clan's Azure Heaven Squad Leader.

Namgoong Clan's Elder Council Head.

Namgoong Clan's Family Head.

[The following Main Sect warriors are to be prepared accordingly.]

Obeying Heaven Squad's White Qilin.

Radiant Demon Squad's Lightning Genius.

Main Sect Elder Council Head.

Desolate Ma Family Head.

Divine Sword Squad leader.

'Divine Sword Squad leader?'

Jung Yeonshin's eyes widened.