Chapter 144. I’ll Have to Decline
Gao Lin smiled as he looked at the old man in front of him. This was the third time he had seen him—first through a video, second at the meeting with Kim Do-Joon, and now, here in person.
The first time he saw the video was during a regular guild master meeting of the Eight Dragons Association. The memory still sent shivers down his spine. The old man had been sitting quietly in front of the World Tree's roots.
At first, Gao Lin had not thought much of it. He knew about the incident where an entire Academy in South Korea had been swallowed by those roots. So, he assumed the man was just one of the victims’ family members, maybe praying.
However, the old man stood up slowly, drawing a sword.
—What the...
—Huh?
The old man displayed a swordsmanship so graceful, so flawless, that everyone in the room went speechless. Although no one said it out loud, they were keenly aware that the old man’s skills surpassed even the famed Guild Master of Sword Dragon, touted as the greatest swordsman of their time.
However, the real shock came next. As the old man swung his sword, the air itself seemed to tear apart, and the indestructible roots of the World Tree ripped open like a piece of cloth.
No weapon, no matter how sharp, was supposed to be able to cut the World Tree's roots. The only known way to destroy them was by defeating the dungeon boss inside. Yet, the old man had done it with a single stroke. Seeing that, Gao Lin wondered what kind of skill it was.
Honestly, the technical details did not matter. What truly left a deep impression on everyone was the immense mastery, the years of cultivation, that were palpable in that single, seemingly simple swing.
The meeting that day, which had been set to discuss various important issues, was quickly diverted. Besides, only one topic remained on the table.