Chapter 238
Chapter 238
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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From that day forward, with the full support of the Jeong family, I immediately began the task of relocating the Shadowless Sect to Goryeo. I packed all the gold chests containing the sect's wealth into the Wooden Box, then placed every single member of the Shadowless Sect inside it as well. Using the Returning Flight, the majority of the Shadowless Sect arrived on Goryeo soil in an instant. The Sword Demon and I then set about purchasing the land and buildings that would serve as the sect's new foundation.
Once the basics were in place, the Sword Demon spoke up.
"We have a place to go, just the two of us."
"Yes."
Paat!
The next day, the Sword Demon and I returned to the Central Plains. Upon arriving near the Shadowless Sect, he led me somewhere, and soon we entered a remote cave deep in the mountains. The cave had been artificially widened into a passage, and at the very back sat a pitch-black box.
"What is this?"
"This is the true essence of the Shadowless Sect. It contains the core manual of the Shadowless Soul-Separating Swordsmanship, along with secret manuals for our major martial arts, records of successive sect leaders, secret histories, journals, and esoteric techniques."
"......!!"
"I hid it here before heading to the Twelve Rites, just in case."
That "just in case" must have meant in the event of the Sword Demon's untimely death due to some accident. Even if he perished, having Branch Leader Seomun Hye retrieve this black box would have allowed the Shadowless Sect's lineage to continue. I realized anew just how meticulous the Sword Demon was.
Lifting the black box, the Sword Demon continued.
"And there's something I need to say before we go."
"Yes."
It had only been two days since the day I debated with the Twelve Rites Lord and was recognized as one of the Thirteen Rites. I'd been too busy until now to discuss future plans. It seemed he had brought me here alone to have this important conversation.
The Sword Demon said.
"As I told you, the Lord of the Twelve Rites said to me: [I'll accept the Shadowless Sect into the Twelve Rites without discrimination, so send the master of the Seven Essentials to the Divine Altar.]"
"......"
"He probably knew the moment he saw you that you possessed the Seven Essentials. Otherwise, he couldn't have steered the meeting so directly to his will."
"That makes sense."
That day, the Lord of the Twelve Rites had pretended to hear both sides—approval and opposition—before deciding entirely on his own terms. Even though the votes were relatively even, I suspected he would have accepted the Shadowless Sect regardless of unanimous opposition. To him, the matter of the Seven Essentials outweighed the sect itself.
The Lord of the Twelve Rites commanded tremendous authority.
The Sword Demon gave a wry smile.
"After racking my brains every which way, it seems your divine treasure resolved everything."
"That's not true. Without sufficient preparation, we couldn't have achieved this outcome."
"Well, yes, but."
The Sword Demon sat down on the cave floor. In a somewhat deflated voice, he continued.
"The problem is, we can't guarantee your safety if we send you to the Divine Altar."
"......"
"It's a dilemma."
He was right.
Even if the Lord of the Twelve Rites used his position and power to seize the Shadowless Night Veil from me, I had no means to resist. But refusing to go to the Divine Altar would invite sanctions against the Shadowless Sect. Either way, there would be losses.
I declared firmly.
"I'll go to the Divine Altar."
"Don't be ridiculous."
The Sword Demon scowled.
"It's a dead end. Even a Dharma Protector Lion couldn't enter the Divine Altar alone and come out alive. I can't send you to certain death."
Staring at him steadily, I said.
"I'm not afraid of death."
I'd died plenty of times already. One more death in this life wouldn't be anything special. The Sword Demon looked at me with a disgusted expression for a moment, then suddenly lunged forward and slapped my cheek hard.
Kung
His intent-accelerated movement caught me off guard in an instant. As I fell to the cave floor, the Sword Demon shouted angrily.
"Damn it, you're saying that in front of me? What kind of head are you using!"
"But... if I don't go."
The Sword Demon clenched his fist.
"Don't make me laugh. If the Twelve Rites oppress us, we'll lick the soles of the White Lotus Cult's feet again if we have to and survive. I brought you here to convince you of that."
"......"
I realized my cheek was swelling badly, and sharp pain was starting to set in. He hadn't held back at all. But I sensed an even greater pain throbbing in my heart.
It hurts.
Who had ever worried about me like this?
No one but Mangnyang and Miho. More than shame or embarrassment, a surge of intense emotion welled up. It was genuine gratitude toward the Sword Demon before me. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced myself to stand.
And I said.
"I have to go, even if it means death."
"Why?"
"Because it's not my time to die."
"......"
The Sword Demon looked utterly baffled by my answer. Even with his brilliant intellect, he hadn't anticipated it. As he fell silent, I continued.
"As you know, I've died over a dozen times. And each time, I learned something."
"Learned something? What?"
"Whenever I made a choice that seemed like certain death, I usually survived."
"Heh heh..."
The Sword Demon looked incredulous, but I was dead serious.
That's right.
This was the law of death I'd come to understand.
Soon enough, sensing my sincerity, the Sword Demon's expression turned skeptical as he said.
"You're not joking, are you?"
"It's true."
"You're certain?"
"I'm speaking from the heart."
The Sword Demon stood there, lost in thought for a long while. Then, as if some shift had occurred in his mind, his tone changed.
"If that's the case, why do you think it happens?"
Nodding, I answered.
"I've never predicted the exact moment of my death, but at every crossroads of life and death, when I had to make an inevitable choice, I've often found a path to survival by taking the dangerous road. I believe it's because what looks like a path to certain death actually opens up endless possibilities for life."
"Hmm..."
Now, the Sword Demon seemed intrigued.
"That's a truly unique perspective. I've wandered the martial world for over decades and crossed countless life-and-death crises. But I've never simply trusted to luck and chosen danger like you. Others called my choices gambles, but I always proceeded after meticulous calculations."
"That's why you're called the unparalleled gambler of the martial world, Sect Leader."
"If you truly believe that, and if it's true..."
The Sword Demon seemed to be taking my words to heart. It sounded absurd at first glance, but he was accepting my intuition as fact. After pondering briefly, he said.
"You've... awakened to fate."
"Yes?"
What was he talking about?
As I stood puzzled, the Sword Demon explained.
"It was during your conversation with House Lord Jeong Cheol-wook in your tenth reincarnation."
"Ah."
That exchange had left a deep impression, firmly etched in my memory. It seemed the Sword Demon had instantly recalled it.
"You said that if luck is when outcomes pop up arbitrarily no matter what choice you make, then fate means 'proper results' arise because you made the 'right choice.' It signifies that vast inevitability allows human will to escape minor coincidences."
"......"
"Do you understand? It means you've never made a major misjudgment, so petty coincidences can't trip you up. That's what we call fate."
I remembered.
Back then, even without the Supreme Immortal Lord's great fortune, things had gone smoothly, making me wonder why everything worked out so well. House Lord Jeong Cheol-wook had explained it using physiognomy, saying I lived according to fate. As I mulled over the Sword Demon's words, he continued.
"And that could mean... you've begun to intuitively sense how to avoid errant judgments."
"Yes...?"
"Never thought of it that way?"
The Sword Demon crossed his arms.
"You've died fifteen times, crossed life-and-death thresholds tenfold that number, and been forced into colossal choices dozens of times—decisions ordinary people might face once in a lifetime. You've even staged multiple rebellions. In terms of life experience, you've amassed something immense that even I dare not approach.
While gaining that experience, I believe you've awakened to the [sensation] of how to avoid bad choices and flawed judgments."
"......!!"
I'd never considered such a thing!
As I stood there dazed, the Sword Demon said.
"Even if luck is innate and unavoidable, now that you've sensed fate, you won't die easily. It's as if you've acquired postnatally the rare ability that only a handful of geniuses or sovereigns possess by chance."
"Ha... but that might be a bit forced..."
Even as I spoke, I felt flustered. Seeing my confusion, the Sword Demon chuckled.
"If I hadn't viewed your memories through the obsidian, I wouldn't have brought this up. But look closely at why you died in recent times."
"Hmm..."
"Before your tenth reincarnation, most deaths were pointless and absurd, yielding nothing. But afterward, even unavoidable ones weren't meaningless. You at least gained something and chose death on your terms."
"That's true."
"You may not realize it rationally, but instinctively, you've grasped it. When death's traps loom everywhere, you not only avoid it as much as possible but have mastered dying without loss!"
"......"
My jaw dropped.
'I possess such an incredible ability?'
If the Sword Demon was right, I'd acquired an extraordinary skill postnatally. Who in the world could sense fate within destiny? But it wasn't entirely pleasant—death was still painful and frightening. It wasn't something to grin about lightly.
The Sword Demon said.
"Then I'll trust you. Go and see what happens, live or die."
"You're... trusting me too much..."
His sudden change threw me off even more. I was astonished by his flexibility.
"If you feel that way, you'll probably survive. Hard to explain in theory, but you must intuitively sense the Lord of Twelve Rites won't kill you. And perhaps that skipping this meeting means missing a tremendous opportunity..."
A tremendous opportunity.
As I pondered his words, the Sword Demon placed a hand on my shoulder.
"If I trust you, shouldn't you trust me in return? If you die, I'll avenge you with everything I have, so rest easy."
"......!!"
He'll avenge me!
Even though it would burden him, the weight in my heart washed away. At the same time, an unyielding will to never die at the Divine Altar ignited within me. It wasn't just about owing him a debt—it went deeper; I was leaning on his faith in me.
"Understood!"
Paat
Using Returning Flight, I returned to the Shadowless Sect with the Sword Demon. Over the next three months, I helped him establish the sect firmly in Goryeo.
With so many Peak Experts in the Shadowless Sect, they quickly secured bodyguard positions with Goryeo nobles and found ways to expand their influence. Moreover, since the Twelve Rites had accepted the Shadowless Sect as a new Eastern Rite, conflicts with other factions were virtually nonexistent. Joining the Twelve Rites was tantamount to rising as a dominant great sect ruling all of Goryeo.
'Time to prepare for the Divine Altar.'
I needed resolve. I began inspecting my martial arts and preparing to depart.
That was when Seomun Hye visited. Surveying her surroundings with an anxious look, she approached me and said.
"Protector Baek. I have something to tell you."
"Branch Leader. What is it?"
"Did you know that Physician Gang Jeon-gil has been in contact with Physician Hwaseomyeong of the Jeong family lately?"
I widened my eyes.
"No, I didn't."
It was news to me. But it made sense.
'Of course, they're both among the Five Great Physicians of the world. They bickered, but deep down acknowledged each other's skills. Now living near Kaegyong, it's natural they'd exchange medical knowledge.'
As I thought that, Seomun Hye said.
"And Physician Gang Jeon-gil seems to have discovered something—he's summoning you, Protector Baek. I'm here to relay the message."
"Hmm... where should I go?"
"He said to come to the Medical Hall where Physician Hwaseomyeong is staying."
"Thank you."
Kkwaak
As I stood, Seomun Hye suddenly grabbed my sleeve. Looking at her, she said.
"Are you perhaps leaving somewhere?"
"No."
Her intuition was uncanny. I replied nonchalantly, but she eyed me with suspicion. After a moment, she said.
"Thanks to you, Protector Baek, the Shadowless Sect is thriving. You're truly remarkable."
"It's nothing. It's all the Sect Leader's prowess."
"No need to be modest. Everyone in the Shadowless Sect sees you as the next Sect Leader."
"......"
Seomun Hye stared straight at me. Facing the jade visage of Seomun Hye—hailed as a peerless beauty in the Central Plains martial world and the lone flower of the unorthodox sects—I felt as if she glowed. After locking eyes for a long time, she said.
"Protector Baek. Please protect me and my father."
"I will."
"Then..."
Seomun Hye withdrew. She seemed slightly different from before, but deeming it nothing major, I scratched my head and headed to the Medical Hall where Physician Gang Jeon-gil awaited.
Opening the door to the Medical Hall, I found two of the world's Five Great Physicians already there, waiting. They sat facing each other, deeply engrossed in discussion. Sensing my presence, they turned.
"Oho!"
"You've come."
"Why did the two of you summon me...?"
"Come here."
As I approached, Physician Gang Jeon-gil picked up a box from the floor. Seeing it, my eyes gleamed.
"That's the one from before..."
"Indeed. It holds the tentacle sample extracted from the Demon Horse's body."
With that, Physician Gang Jeon-gil suddenly opened the lid. Contrary to my expectation of wriggling tentacles spilling out, a thick, pitch-black demonic energy surged forth instead.
Drawing closer to inspect, I saw a small, snake-like creature inside the box.
'No... not a snake. It has limbs, and a head...'
I soon realized what the finger-length form was and said.
"A dragon?"
"Correct, a dragon."
Upon closer look, it was a tiny dragon. Black energy billowed from its entire body, its aura so intense it resembled a small flickering black flame. Unable to comprehend, I looked at them.
"No, wasn't what we put in there a horrific, infinitely regenerating tentacle?"
"Yes. But left sealed in that confined space, about half a month ago, it suddenly thrashed about screaming. Startled, we opened it to find this tiny dragon inside, exhausted and still."
"......"
What in the world?
'The tentacle turned into a dragon?'
Confused, Physician Hwaseomyeong beside him spoke.
"I've pored over every medical text and knowledge with this riverside fool for the past half month, exhausting every method and scouring related literature. But we found no answers about this dragon."
"Hmm..."
"The most plausible hypothesis now is that this dragon is the tentacle's fully matured form."
"I don't understand. The tentacle endlessly tried to regenerate the Demon Horse's body, yet separated, it grows...?"
"Exactly. It's utterly bizarre. That's why we called you."
"Yes?"
Physician Hwaseomyeong and Gang Jeon-gil stared at me steadily.
"Infuse this dragon with your qi."
"......!!"
"It might be in hibernation due to lack of power. With your immense internal energy, you could awaken it from dormancy..."
"Why not try feeding it?"
"We've tried every kind of food. No reaction. The only option left is infusing intangible qi."
I nodded.
"I'll give it a try."
Goooong
Moments later, I gathered my qi and concentrated it in my hand, then poured it all into the tiny black dragon. It was my full power, enough to shake the building and rumble the earth. When the qi transfer ended.
Kurururu...
The black dragon began to grow. From finger-length, in mere moments—half a gak—it swelled to the thickness of a man's arm, its draconic form clearly visible. It seemed to devour the qi whole, growing ceaselessly and progressively.
"Oho...!!"
We watched in astonishment. Physician Gang Jeon-gil exclaimed in admiration.
"A creature that grows by consuming qi! Such a thing exists!"
"We've learned something new about dragons!"
"Don't jump to conclusions! There's no proof yet that's a dragon."
As the two peerless physicians bantered, the black dragon kept expanding. Finally, when it reached the size of a large bull, it stopped growing and slowly opened its eyes. The black dragon flapped its wings gradually, as if becoming aware of its surroundings.
Kyuruk
It let out a strange cry. Oddly, it stared straight at me, its gaze holding what seemed like intelligence.
Then, something astonishing happened.
[ Th... ank... you... ]
Strange tongue!
It was clearly the speech of a non-human, yet it translated perfectly in my mind. Though brief, unlike before, it came through clearly. Stunned by this first in all my reincarnations, a black hole-like opening appeared before the black dragon's body.
Shiiik!
The black dragon vanished into the hole.
What kind of goblin trick was this? As I reached toward the hole, the Golden Returning Flight in my bosom suddenly reacted.
Wooong
It gleamed with unprecedented golden light. Flustered, I pulled out the Golden Returning Flight, and suddenly it spoke in my mind.
[ Shall I take you to the Dark Heaven Village...? ]
No!
I immediately refused the Golden Returning Flight's offer. The hole vanished, and the golden glow faded. In the ensuing silence, only the dumbfounded expressions of the physicians remained.
"Wh... what."
"What just happened."
"......"
But I think I understood what had occurred.
'The black dragon was a being from the Dark Heaven Village. Cursed by the alchemist's spell, it lost its form, reverting to a primal tentacle state and forcibly implanted into a human.'
Freed from the human body, it fed on qi to regain its shape, then opened a path back to the Dark Heaven Village. The Golden Returning Flight in my possession had automatically reacted to the interdimensional passage.
'Then...'
I realized this implied something even more terrifying.
'That alchemist can freely summon demonic beasts from the Dark Heaven Village!'
Dragonization was likely a spell summoning dragonkin, and demonization worked similarly. I didn't know the alchemist's exact magic, but he was undoubtedly a formidable ability user. Though weak in direct combat, his knowledge and spells more than compensated—terrifyingly so.
I could only steel my resolve further.
'I'll ask the Lord of the Twelve Rites this time.'
It wasn't just about surviving him.
Beyond that, I needed to extract maximum information.
That would give me a huge advantage when using the Night Veil against the Imperial Palace later.