Chapter 14: The Light That Shatters Records

In the headquarters of China’s prestigious guild Taesan Bukdu, tension filled the air.

Tian Wai Tian’s personal secretary stood quietly, watching the guild master with a gaze full of concern.

She was among the very few who knew the true source of his power and the horrific memories he kept locked away.

“Are you ready, Master?” she asked softly.

“I am ready,” Tian Wai Tian replied firmly.

“Retrieving those memories could lead to Wu Hwa Deung Seon (ascending to immortality). ”

“I still believe this is far too dangerous.”

” Accessing that part of your mind… it might destroy you,” she pleaded.

“It is only natural that Zhonghua stands at the center of the world,” Tian Wai Tian began, his voice unwavering. ”

“If I release those memories, I may lose my sense of self entirely. Even my country might turn its back on me.”

His eyes lowered to his palms, watching faint energy ripple out from his fingertips.

It wasn’t ordinary internal energy. It was heavy and silent an essence that seemed to pierce through the cosmos itself.

“But there are times when one must act,” he concluded.

With a resolute expression, Tian Wai Tian stepped into the Tower of Infinity.

A brilliant swirl of light engulfed him as his figure disappeared.

The secretary let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples as she observed his departure.

Her expression betrayed a mix of exasperation and worry.

Why was he so obsessed with breaking world records?

Sure, the rewards for the shortest-clear time were tempting. But was it really worth risking his life?

Shaking her head, she whispered, “What a headache.”

Tian Wai Tian’s mind drifted to the moment everything changed.

He had been walking down the street when something struck his head.

Already sensitive about his balding scalp, he was more irritated than hurt.

“What the hell?” he muttered, scanning the surroundings but finding nothing.

Then, the system’s message appeared.

[Constellation ‘God of the Golden Balance’ accidentally drops a button.]

[Constellation ‘God of the Golden Balance’ urgently warns you not to press it under any circumstances.]

Curiosity piqued, Tian Wai Tian stared at the object.

A small, nondescript button sat before him, and new text appeared.

[This is the 500-million-year button.]
[If you press this button, you will experience 500 million years of existence in an empty void. ]

[Time will pass endlessly, and you cannot sleep, die, or escape the crushing mental strain. ]

[Upon returning, however, all memories of this torment will be erased.]
[Press the button to receive $10,000 instantly, or take $100 now and walk away.]

“500-million-year button?” he murmured.

[Constellation ‘God of the Golden Balance’ is panicking!]
[Constellation ‘God of the Golden Balance’ offers $200 instead of $100 please do NOT press the button!]

It felt surreal, almost like a prank. But the more he was told not to press it, the stronger his desire grew.

Without much thought, Tian Wai Tian pressed the button.

In an instant, time swallowed him whole.

He found himself in a void—a boundless, empty expanse where nothing existed.

No light, no sound, no wind. Only silence and eternity stretched before him.

Seconds crawled into minutes. Minutes bled into hours.

Days merged into years. There was no way to measure the passage of time.

His mind shattered.
He rebuilt it.
He transcended the limits of human comprehension.
He sought answers, only to spiral back into madness.

He forgot what it meant to be human.

Eons passed.

And then, as if nothing had happened, he was back.

[Constellation ‘God of the Golden Balance’ has been expelled by the system.]
[The system retrieves the 500-million-year button.]
[$10,000 has been deposited into your account.]

“What… was that?” he muttered, holding a stack of cash in his hand.

It felt strangely anticlimactic. Easy money, even.

“Not bad,” he remarked, already lamenting that the button was gone.

He had been tempted to press it again.

‘Should I get a hair transplant?’ Tian Wai Tian pondered absentmindedly, reveling in his unexpected windfall.

His grin was wide, his concerns momentarily brushed aside.

But his brief moment of peace shattered.

“Grrrr!”

A monstrous roar tore through the air as a beast appeared before him.

It lunged, and Tian Wai Tian narrowly escaped death, only to feel an overwhelming surge of energy course through him.

[You have awakened.]

[Awakened User Information]

• Name: Tian Wai Tian
• Level: 1
• Rank: F
• Unique Skill: Conquest of Forgetfulness

“Conquest of Forgetfulness? Are you kidding me? What kind of useless skill is this?”

The name alone sounded utterly worthless.

But with death looming before him, Tian Wai Tian clung to the only hope he had.

“Conquest of Forgetfulness!”

Suddenly, fragments of a long-buried memory resurfaced—memories of the enlightenment he had attained during an eternity of suffering.

[You have entered the first floor of the Tower of Infinity.]
[Time until monster spawn: 60.5958 seconds.]

The space around him was vast and eerily silent.

Damp, frigid air clung to his skin. Dark walls stretched endlessly, and the rough, jagged floor sent up clouds of dust with each step.

“Skill activation: Conquest of Forgetfulness.”

[Activating F-rank skill: Conquest of Forgetfulness.]
[Forgetfulness and eternity lose their meaning before you.]

[You can freely manage your memories, instantly recalling or erasing them at will.]

As the master of Taesan Bukdu, one of China’s greatest guilds, Tian Wai Tian had acquired countless skills over his career.

Yet, he had always proclaimed, “Only martial arts can surpass skills.”

True to his belief, this F-rank skill was the only one he ever relied on.

And with just this one skill, Tian Wai Tian achieved the martial supremacy befitting his title, The Greatest Under Heaven.

[Restoring forgotten memories.]

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they glimmered with an otherworldly light.

The profound wisdom of countless lifetimes radiated from his gaze, transforming his entire presence.

With newfound clarity, Tian Wai Tian shifted into a combat stance.

A sudden, resonant chime echoed through the room.

Dong!

It was no ordinary metallic ring.

This was the sound of supreme martial enlightenment,

a divine bell that tolled only when the pinnacle of martial arts was displayed.

“I am infinity,” he murmured, his voice as still as the void.

The Tower of Infinity posed a unique challenge: its vastness.

Monsters spawned randomly across the expansive floor,

and poor luck could easily cost a challenger a minute or more, just in running.

But what if the entire space could be struck at once?

[The first trial of the Tower of Infinity begins.]

The instant the monster materialized, Tian Wai Tian struck.

A colossal hand of Buddha descended, enveloping the entire floor.

[Executed: Supreme Secret of Shaolin – Palm of Emptiness.]
[Floor Cleared: The Tower of Infinity, First Floor.]
[Fastest clear record: 00:00:03.]
[Record Holder: Tian Wai Tian.]
[Proceeding to the next floor.]

It was a three-second clear.

Meanwhile, on HunterNet, a fierce rivalry captivated the world.

The competition between Tian Wai Tian and the enigmatic challenger, Zz, had become global news.

As Tian Wai Tian continued his record-breaking ascent of the Tower of Infinity, the absence of Zz sparked widespread speculation.

The world buzzed with anticipation, eager to see which of these legends would set the ultimate record.

[“Whoa, Tian Wai Tian is insane!”]

[“He’s climbing the tower with nothing but three-second clears. Legendary.”]

[“As expected of China’s best. Is this what The Greatest Under Heaven looks like?”]

(A photo is attached: a screenshot of Tian Wai Tian’s Tower of Infinity record.)

[“So he’s been holding back until now.”]
[“Looks like he’s going all out because Zz’s been gaining traction lately.”]
[“Three seconds? Seriously? It takes a minute just to reach the monsters!”]
[“Chinese hunters always do everything to stay at the top. Remember the national competition years ago? Their atmosphere is just different.”]
[“Yeah, but they’re too obsessed with rankings, like it’s life or death. And let’s not forget, they’re known for bending the rules—disgusting.”]

[“What about Zz? What’s he doing?”]

[“Don’t tell me he chickened out after losing the five-second record and decided not to climb anymore?”]
(A photo is attached: a screenshot showing Zz’s record stuck at 0 floors for the current season.)

[“Lol, Zz’s just out there sunbathing.”]
[“Did he hit a wall?”]
[“Honestly, even if he did, what’s he supposed to do? Everyone’s clearing in three seconds!”]
[“I figured it out. Zz is probably one of those situational hunters who can only perform under specific conditions.”]
[“Like those ranked 20th S-class hunters, the ones with niche skills?”]
[“Exactly. Based on his light-based abilities, it’s likely. Remember, he had an advantage against dark-type bosses like Gashin and Lucifer.”]
[“A fraud, then.”]

[“Zz <- Honestly, you can’t blame him for going AWOL.”]

[“Yesterday, he gave it his all with a five-second clear, and Tian Wai Tian immediately obliterated it. Must’ve stung.”]
[“He’s been enjoying the fame and donations lately, but now it’s over for him.”]

[“What if Zz changes his nickname and starts fresh? Lol.”]
[“Let’s be real. A five-second clear was impressive, but seeing Tian Wai Tian’s three-second record must’ve made him quit on the spot.”]
[“How can anyone beat that? It defies logic.”]

[“The difference between three seconds and five seconds is huge.”]

[“I’m in a guild everyone knows, and let me tell you, this kind of time difference means everything at the top.”]

[” Tower records can decide your guild contract’s salary.”]

[“So Zz saw the three-second record and froze, huh?”]
[“Not just Zz—hunters worldwide must’ve had their confidence shattered.”]
[“All that’s left for Zz is to wave the white flag and quit at the speed of light.”]

Sunlight gently streamed through the window, casting a warm glow in my room.

I stirred under the covers, groaning as I lazily opened my eyes.

From the kitchen came the sound of bustling activity.

“Master? Are you awake?”

A voice, soft and melodic, called out to me.

“Good morning,” I mumbled, still half-asleep.

“It is already lunchtime, my lord. I have prepared a meal for you. Please, eat.”

I reluctantly sat up, ate my meal, brushed my teeth, and…

Threw myself back into bed.

“Ahh, so soft,” I muttered, sinking into the mattress. ”

“The comfort of the blanket slowly enveloped me, lulling me into a relaxed state.

Sure, I had things to do.

But couldn’t I take it slow, just for a bit?

“Master! Did you not say you would climb the tower today?”

“Ugh, just let me lie down a little longer…”

“Do you not fear the torment of Alarm Hell? What if someone reaches the 100th floor before you, my lord?”

The mention of Alarm Hell jolted me awake.

With a groan, I stretched my arms and swung my legs over the side of the bed.

For something so terrifying, its mere thought was enough to get me moving.

Alarm Hell… The world’s most dreadful evil, its very name sent shivers down my spine.

But I am an angel. And evil must be punished.

“Well, I guess it’s time to go.”

With a deep breath, I entered the Tower of Infinity.

[“Entering the 1st floor of the Tower of Infinity.”]

[“The shortest clear time for this floor is 00:00:03.”]

[“Record holder: Tian Wai Tian.”]

[“Time remaining until monster generation: 60 seconds.”]

“I’ll finish quickly so I can go back to bed,” I muttered, stretching.

How could I climb the tower in the fastest way possible?

The area was vast, so the best option would likely be a method that covered everything in one fell swoop…

As the timer ticked down, an idea sparked in my mind.

“That’s it!”

With a snap of my fingers, I declared:

“Sanctuary Proclamation.”

The world trembled as a massive vibration rippled through the space.

Light poured forth, blanketing everything.

A boundless ocean of divine energy spread outward, filling the area with pure radiance.

This was a sanctuary—an untouchable domain of holiness.

No one could enter this sacred space.

And if they dared, they wouldn’t even leave a speck of dust behind.

Except for me, of course.

[…3, 2, 1]

[“The trial of the 1st floor begins.”]

The monster appeared.

But it was already too late.

The light obliterated it instantly, leaving no trace.

It had never stood a chance.

[“You have successfully cleared the 1st floor of the Tower of Infinity.”]

[“Record: 00:00:01”]

[“Proceeding to the next floor.”]

The moment the record was updated, chaos erupted across the world.

Hunters, fans, and analysts following the Zz vs. Tian Wai Tian rivalry stared at their screens in disbelief.

“What the… Is this even real?”

“One-second clear? What kind of nonsense is that?!”

“Zz-sama, are you a god?”

“Oh, great light, I repent for my doubts. Forgive me.”

“Repent, all of you! The light remains undefeated!”

“Wait, if Zz can do this, won’t he reach the 100th floor effortlessly?”

The phenomenon of a one-second clear echoed in every corner of the globe, leaving everyone awestruck.

Zz had defied the impossible, and the world could only bow to the light.