Ongoing

Childhood Friend of the Zenith

CFZ, The Best Friend of the Greatest Person, Childhood Friend of the Zenith Under the Heavens, Shadow of the Supreme [Official Manhwa], The Zenith's Childhood Friend, 천하제일인의 소꿉친구

Native Language Korean

Released 2021

AuthorUbilam, 우비람

ArtistNara Yeo

TypeWeb Novel (KR)

Original Ch.: 1381

Translated Ch.: 973

Rank: #16

Last Update: April 13, 2026

Original Pub.: Kakaopage, Novelpia

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8.4

Childhood Friend of the Zenith is a popular novel that blends Action, Adventure, Comedy and more. Written by the author Ubilam. 973 chapters have been translated, and translation of other chapters is in progress.

Synopsis

Gu Yangcheon commited a lot of evil while serving the Heavenly Demon. But now Heavenly Demon was dead and Yangcheon became a prisoner of ‘Celestial Sword’ Wi Seol-Ah, the heroine who vanquished his master.
In his regrets, he answered her desperate questions, which resulted in his own death due to a curse meant to prevent any betrayal.
But then, he suddenly found himself regressed to the time of the first meeting between him and Wi Seol-Ah.
Filled with burden of his past crimes, he embarks on a new journey.

Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Martial Arts Romance Wuxia

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Editor's Note

⚠️ The "Beta" Protagonist Trap. If you are looking for a cold, ruthless regressor who dominates every social interaction, prepare for a shock. Despite his dark past, Gu Yangcheon often acts like a classic dense rom-com lead. He’s a total tsundere—foul-mouthed on the outside, but a massive pushover for his family and the girls around him.

The Guilt Trip. The MC’s psychological trauma is the engine of the story. He is haunted by the "ghosts" of his past life, which makes him perpetually surprised when people treat him with kindness. Some readers find this depth emotional; others find his constant shock at "consistent behavior" to be incredibly grating.

The "Smell" Factor. One of the more... unique... plot points involves a heroine who falls for the MC simply because he doesn't "stink" like everyone else. It’s a polarizing trope that you'll either find funny or eye-rolling.

Slice of Life vs. Murim. Be warned: about 30% of this novel is dedicated to eating dumplings, patting heads, and stretching cheeks. It feels more like a cozy "Found Family" story at times than a brutal martial arts epic.

1300+ chapters of redemption, harem fluff, and internal turmoil. Read Childhood Friend of the Zenith if you enjoy Murim mixed with heavy character-driven drama and a slow-burn mystery.

Experience Curve

Ch. 1–50 (The Regretful Start): ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – The Foundation. The initial chapters are heavy on the psychological trauma. Seeing Yangcheon struggle with his identity as a "villain" in a child's body is genuinely compelling.

Ch. 51–200 (The Harem Conga Line): ⭐⭐⭐ – The Expansion. A lot of heroines are introduced here. The pacing slows down significantly to accommodate "fluff" and slice-of-life interactions. If you hate harem tropes, this is where you'll struggle.

Ch. 201–541 (The Murim Mystery): ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – The Hook. The plot shifts back to the overarching threat of the Heavenly Demon and the "Rifts." The world-building expands, and the stakes finally start to feel real again.

Ch. 542–Ongoing (Part 2): ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – The Long Game. With over 800 chapters in Part 2, the author takes their time. The "Mary Sue" complaints start to surface here as Yangcheon gains more power-ups, but the lore remains top-tier.

WebNovelDB Review

8 /10

A high-quality but polarizing "Murim-Lite" experience that favors character interactions over hardcore cultivation.

Character Chemistry: 9/10. The dynamic between Yangcheon and his sisters (especially the "tough love" from the eldest) is the highlight of the book.

World-Building: 8/10. Fusing traditional Murim with "Gates/Rifts" and monsters is a fresh take that keeps the threats diverse.

Pacing: 5/10. Not gonna lie, the author loves to repeat themselves. You'll hear about the same "shocker" from the past life multiple times, and the "dumpling" scenes can feel like filler.

Action: 7/10. The combat is easy to follow and imaginative, though the MC occasionally wins through "convenient" qi-absorption rather than pure grit.

The Good: Excellent translation quality and a deeply emotional look at redemption. It treats its female characters as powerhouses in their own right, rather than just damsels.

The Bad: The "Dense MC" trope is dialed up to eleven. His constant denial of the girls' feelings—and his own—can become a "masochistic test of patience" for some readers.

The Archetype: The "Reluctant Saint." He wants to be a loner who bears the world's sins, but he's too soft-hearted to actually walk away from someone in need.

Final Verdict: This is a "Comfort Read" for Murim fans. It’s not as brutal as Reverend Insanity or as profound as A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivation, but it’s a well-written, addictive journey about a man trying to be better than he was.

WebNovelDB Team

Key Information

Main Characters: Gu Yangcheon (The Regressor), Wi Seol-Ah (The Celestial Sword), The Gu Sisters.

Power System: Traditional Murim levels (Qi, Internal Energy) mixed with unique "Devouring" abilities and supernatural Rifts.

Themes: Redemption, PTSD, The Burden of Memory, Fate vs. Choice.

Similar To: The Ruler Of Darkness, The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness, The Main Heroines are Trying to Kill Me

Reading Progress

Not Started Chapters: 0 Rating: -

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