Chapter 258
Chapter 258
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 258
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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As I watched the Sword Demon's head fly off, my mind froze for a moment.
What was going on?
What had just happened?
But rather than exploding in rage, I found myself observing the situation with even greater冷静. It was better to say that the instincts of a master honed through countless battles over long years had chained down my reason. Staring silently at the Sword Demon's headless body standing there, I slowly drew my sword.
Dokgo Seong spoke.
"There's no way the real Sword Demon would fall to a single strike of mine."
"You're saying it's a fake?"
"The aura I felt at our first meeting was completely different. I merely tested it."
"......"
What did he mean by the aura being different? I hadn't felt the slightest incongruity when I looked at the Sword Demon just moments ago, so I half-doubted Dokgo Seong's words even now. If the Sword Demon had truly been killed by Dokgo Seong's ambush, it would be a disaster.
Dokgo Seong said.
"A spell master's pranks don't suit my temperament. I'll smash this entire place to pieces."
"Wait, that's..."
Dokgo Seong was a man who did what he said. Especially as a member of the Thunder God Style, his straightforward nature was even stronger. As I hurriedly tried to stop him.
"Oh dear, the prank's been discovered."
A voice flowed from the severed head lying on the floor. Soon, the body moved, picked up the head, and reattached it to the neck. The head and body fused together so seamlessly that it defied medical knowledge. Seeing this, I let out a groan.
"A puppet..."
Among the spell knowledge I knew, nothing else could explain it except puppetry. It was said that master puppeteers could create puppets indistinguishable from humans. But seeing such a visually perfect puppet was a first for me.
The [puppet] in the form of the Sword Demon spoke.
"Why did you see through it? I thought I'd perfectly mimicked the usual Sword Demon."
Dokgo Seong replied curtly.
"The Sword Demon's aura is forged rock-solid through his intent. Such subtle flows can't be imitated by a mere puppet."
"I see... Indeed, it's impossible for a puppet to achieve that unless I myself were a master who could freely wield intent. Heh heh."
The Sword Demon puppet chuckled, shoulders shaking.
"Don't worry. Sect Leader Sword Demon is perfectly fine."
"How can we believe that?"
"With assassins swarming everywhere trying to take the sect leader's head, I just set up a stand-in puppet. The real sect leader is cultivating in a nearby safehouse."
"We need to see him with our own eyes."
"I've contacted him, so he'll be here soon."
I couldn't trust the words of the Zhuge strategist at all. Being proficient in spells and sorcery, those very words could be a deception. But Dokgo Seong simply stared piercingly at the puppet without further action, so I decided to wait as well.
Whoosh.
Moments later, the Sword Demon arrived at the Shadowless Sect flying like a heavenly chariot from the distant sky. Spotting us two and seeing the blood-soaked interior, he seemed to grasp what happened and smiled awkwardly.
"Haha. My oversight."
"Greetings, Sect Leader Sword Demon."
"Did your trip go well?"
"Yes. Has the sect leader been well in our absence?"
"Not particularly well. As you can see, assassins are swarming to the point I had to set up a double."
"......"
Dokgo Seong, standing beside me with arms crossed, spoke.
"Assassins sent by the Twelve Laws?"
"I suspect so. I traced their backers, but they didn't reveal themselves—looks like the sects on this peninsula are quite insidious."
"Must be tough. In the Central Plains, you'd have secured your position with no room for such rabble."
"Have to endure it, what choice is there."
Clang!!
The moment the Sword Demon finished answering, a sword hum rang out. The Sword Demon lightly blocked Dokgo Seong's sudden thrust. Grasping his intent, the Sword Demon smirked.
"No doubt now—I'm the real one."
"Indeed. My apologies."
"The Zhuge strategist's puppetry is so exquisite it caused the misunderstanding."
The Zhuge strategist's puppet, who had been watching the situation until then, interjected.
"I'd like to show the three of you my research成果—could you come to my workshop?"
Dokgo Seong chuckled and emanated killing intent.
"Don't talk nonsense. I'd want to rip your head off if you showed up before me."
"Oh my, that's truly regrettable."
"If you have something to say, bring your成果 here yourself. How dare a mere strategist act so arrogant?"
"You're right. I'll bring it myself."
The Zhuge strategist's puppet responded, then crumpled and fell lifeless, losing its glow. Visually identical to the Sword Demon, it left a slightly unpleasant feeling. Ignoring the puppet, the Sword Demon sent me a transmission.
[So far, the Zhuge strategist hasn't shown any major moves.]
[Shall we probe his true nature?]
[No. It's futile. He's extremely cautious and cunning, showing no openings. He does seem utterly devoted to his self-set goals, though.]
[Goals?]
[He aims to mass-produce soldiers to oppose the Imperial Palace.]
As we exchanged transmissions, Dokgo Seong spoke up.
"Sword Demon. I have something to discuss."
"Speak."
"It's about this one's achievements... At this rate, I can't teach the Thunder God Style's sword arts."
"I suspected as much. What specific difficulties?"
Dokgo Seong explained the current impasse I was facing. Listening intently, the Sword Demon said.
"The solution is simple."
"You have a way?"
"Forgetting existing sword forms and starting anew with the Thunder God Style swordsmanship would be too laborious and inefficient. The current problem is ultimately failing to control multiple sword styles mixing due to insufficient aptitude, isn't it?"
"That could be said."
"Then, it's faster to raise Protector Baek's proficiency in his existing martial arts until he fully comprehends them. With mastery of those realms, he won't be swayed by them."
Hearing this, Dokgo Seong said incredulously.
"Isn't that even harder? Whether Dragon Subduing Sword or Heavenly Bamboo Sword, each miscellaneous technique is on the level of supreme martial arts in the martial world."
"Protector Baek has already experienced self-forgetfulness multiple times in his life. Further training in it might tangle his martial flow even more."
"Hmm! I hadn't thought of that."
"Anyway, let's think of a method together."
As we spoke, footsteps approached from beyond the door. Then, the Zhuge strategist walked in steadily.
"Pleased to meet you in person."
Dokgo Seong glared at him with hostile eyes.
"You sent another puppet, as expected. You scoundrel."
"Not in the mood to die just yet."
Shrugging, the Zhuge strategist said.
"Anyway, Sect Leader. May I give the interim report you mentioned before?"
"Go ahead."
"Upon investigating the demon soldiers and dragonkin soldiers in the Imperial Palace, I learned they are humans implanted with the demons of other races. By fusing the immense power of other races into human bodies, they vastly exceed human physical limits. While thinking of countermeasures, I had a good idea."
"A good idea?"
The Zhuge strategist grinned.
"We make the exact same thing to counter them."
"You're suggesting implanting other-race demon power into humans?"
"Yes."
"Impossible! We can't do that."
A cold killing intent flashed across the Sword Demon's face.
"The disciples of the Shadowless Sect are like family to me. I can't ask them to fuse with other races."
"I figured you'd say that. If so, there's another way."
"What is it?"
"Recycling worthless human scum who won't be missed even if they die."
We stared blankly at the Zhuge strategist. He slowly took two or three steps forward and continued.
"If we negotiate well with the powerful Yi Clan of Goryeo, we can obtain death row inmates or heinous criminals. No one will care if those bastards die as guests anywhere. Once we complete basic experiments on them, we can mass-produce stably afterward."
"......"
Dokgo Seong wore an incredulous expression, while the Sword Demon sat in a chair, propping his chin. Listening to the Zhuge strategist, I felt a chill.
'Extremely wicked...'
His words were calm, but he was declaring his intent to use hundreds or thousands of prisoners for live experiments for his goals. Regardless of feasibility, it wasn't the thinking of a sane person. It transcended evil paths into demonic ways.
The Sword Demon said.
"If it's efficient enough, I'm willing to accept that proposal. But the problem is the Shadowless Sect's position is unstable with the Thirteen Laws—assassins keep coming."
Thud!
As he spoke, a finger wind shot from the Sword Demon's hand, instantly killing someone about twenty張 away. No scream meant a vital point strike in one blow. Likely an assassin or spy.
"These guys are overflowing. In this situation, inhuman live experiments would get us buried."
"It would be so easy in the Central Plains."
"What can you do telling me that? Thinking up methods is your job as strategist."
The Sword Demon replied indifferently, and the Zhuge strategist chuckled.
"There's one more method."
"Tell me."
"Borrow Protector Baek's power."
Me?
Dumbfounded, I looked at the Zhuge strategist, who turned to me and said.
"Protector Baek. Just help with two things. It's far faster, more efficient, and safer for mass-producing soldiers than what I mentioned."
"What do you mean?"
"First, the Endless Night, and second, the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture!"
"......!!"
"You may not grasp their value, but with those two, overturning heaven and earth is a breeze. Just a little help."
I glared at the Zhuge strategist.
"I don't know what you're talking about. You can interpret the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture? This monstrous tongue?"
"Of course."
"Don't make me laugh. The monstrous tongue can't be deciphered by any great sage—its phonetic structure differs from the human world. No matter how clever you are, you couldn't know it."
The Zhuge strategist blinked dumbly, then laughed.
"Hahaha... That's limited to the human world. I've spent ages spying on other dimensions, acquiring otherworldly knowledge. How else could I covet demon path books without deciphering the monstrous tongue? I can read most of it."
"......"
"Even the Twelve Law Lords fear the Endless Night's power. Using it just for brawling is wasteful. To gain power against the Imperial Palace, the Endless Night is essential."
There was an earnest edge to the Zhuge strategist's persuasion. Glancing at the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong, they seemed lost in thought. Then the Sword Demon spoke.
"Protector Baek. Cooperate with him."
"Yes?!"
"But the precondition is not straying far from human道. If he shows signs of exploiting you excessively, you may execute the Zhuge strategist on the spot."
"......!!"
Summary execution!
Such a hardline order was rare even in martial sects. Even in evil or demonic sects, purging a strategist required due process and justification. Granting a protector execution rights over a strategist was unprecedented.
But the Zhuge strategist smiled as if it were natural.
"I wholeheartedly agree. If the Endless Night's master cooperates that way, I'd stake my life."
"He says. Protector Baek."
With no choice, I replied.
"Understood."
I stepped back from the spot and headed to his workshop with the Zhuge strategist. All the way, I radiated killing intent at him, which made him jest.
"Ooh, Protector Baek's martial arts are impressive indeed. But it's not good for my heart—ease up."
"You. You haven't plotted against the sect leader all this time, have you?"
"Plotted?"
"If you used gu or poison, I won't let it slide."
Growling, I made him flinch momentarily. The killing intent pierced so fiercely he couldn't jest. Wiping sweat from his brow, the Zhuge strategist sighed.
"Hmph... It's because of killing that Zhuge fool, but what I used was the extremely rare Yin-Yang Heavenly Gu. It manifests once every hundred years, and only within ten張. I used it because I believed Zhuge Bu was worth the Yin-Yang Heavenly Gu."
"No guarantee you haven't remade it and administered to the sect leader."
"Kekeke... Can't argue that. Check with the spell masters later. Once you see how precious the Yin-Yang Heavenly Gu is—treated like trash—you won't say that."
Replying thus, the Zhuge strategist said.
"And the Sword Demon suits my taste. Feeling interest from me is reason enough to pledge loyalty to my lord."
"......"
"Perhaps that's the fate of our clan."
Creak.
The Zhuge strategist opened the workshop door. Inside was a vast space larger than outside—befitting a master spell master using spatial spells. Glancing at seven superhumans lying in one corner, he said.
"Researching those for a month yielded much. With a little help from Protector Baek, I can realize those成果."
"What specific成果?"
"Three things."
Plopping down on the floor, the Zhuge strategist said.
"First. The superhumans' creator isn't one person."
"What do you mean?"
"That alchemist tried infusing them with power, but the bodies were made by someone else. Likely a Bagua spell master."
"Hmm..."
"That creator is an absurdly powerful sorcerer. Best to identify him."
"Not Zhuge Bu? He was a master sorcerer using treasures like the White Cloud Thread."
"Not him. He specialized in Five Elements spells and possession arts. Bagua spells are so unique, even a genius like Zhuge Bu couldn't master them that far."
It was an unexpected revelation, so I groaned.
The alchemist's collaborator!
Bagua spell master!
Another formidable foe in the Imperial Palace. But from my experience, even when the Imperial Palace was in crisis and the alchemist cornered to death, that entity didn't appear. There must be some reason.
"Second. The superhumans' primary purpose is breaking a [barrier]. The Philosopher's Stone is more the alchemist's personal goal."
"Barrier? What barrier?"
"Not sure, but reading memories engraved in the superhumans revealed they're sacrifices made to break a barrier. Whatever it is, it's enormously powerful."
Truly baffled, I shook my head.
"I have no idea what barrier."
The Zhuge strategist smirked.
"Really? I have a rough guess..."
"Tell me."
"Probably the grand barrier surrounding the capital Luoyang."
"Not the Imperial Palace barrier managed by Zhuge Bu?"
"No. Something incomparable... a mythic barrier from the Yu Gong era."
What was this?
Looking at him, the Zhuge strategist said.
"Yu Gong records the oldest flood control in history. If you've studied, you know its contents?"
"Of course. Great Yu tours the land regulating rivers. Themes like Fenjiu, Doshan, Doshu, Wufu, and explains the dynasty's basic twelve edicts like regional divisions, water-earth merits, river governance. Also the first depiction of royal territory."
Answering without hesitation, he looked at me surprised.
"Quite erudite. Impressive scholarly foundation."
"No need for praise. So what about Yu Gong?"
"Yu Gong introduced the Nine Provinces, first conceptualizing world division. Unknown to the public, but in Daoism, Nine Provinces hold deep meaning—as the activity domains of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors."
"......!!"
He continued.
"Any decent spell master knows a powerful barrier from mythic times exists in Luoyang. It's just perfectly fused with the earth, almost undetectable."
"Why was that barrier made?"
"Simple. The alchemist sides with other races. So why use superhumans to break the grand barrier?"
"......"
"[Something] is sealed in Luoyang. That's what it means."
I swallowed hard.
"No way that's..."
I could guess. The moon emblem's existence, Mangnyang's mention. I'd vaguely suspected, but the superhumans were directly linked to the demon sealed in Luoyang. Waving it off, the Zhuge strategist said.
"I don't know. Unless you're a Great Immortal, how could I? Enough speculation—onto the third."
"Speak."
"Third, I can make superhumans too. With the Crystal Monument, Nameless Sacrificial Scripture, and that Endless Night, it's easy as pie."
I glared sharply.
"Again, no human sacrifices or kidnappings."
"Haha! Why say that when it's unnecessary?"
Laughing heartily, the Zhuge strategist said.
"Enough talk—hand over the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture. I'll show you something amazing."
After brief hesitation, I took it from my neck pouch and handed it over. I'd already given him the Crystal Monument earlier at his request. Flipping through the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture, he nodded.
"Good. I get it."
Then he suddenly went to the Crystal Monument and cast a spell.
"#*%&*(@*(%*(@...!!"
Monstrous tongue!
The Zhuge strategist truly knew it!
It was less a spell, more magic.
As I watched in shock, something even more astonishing unfolded.
Crackle...
Lightning flowed from the Crystal Monument, and a dark cloud-like light appeared in midair. The sinister, unpleasant light churned chaotically, then slowly took form.
A woman's body formed. A peerless beauty in her twenties, with a doll-like appearance—clearly a superhuman itself.
"Gasp!!"
I cried out in shock.
Creation from nothing? Utterly unforeseen.
Enjoying my reaction, the Zhuge strategist cackled.
"The Crystal Monument details making the Philosopher's Stone but also deciphers life's origin. I used that to create life's origin first, then manifested it via the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture's spell. Thus, artificial life."
"Didn't you say superhumans need Bagua power?"
"That's why the Crystal Monument and Nameless Sacrificial Scripture bypassed that process."
"......"
"Well, this is just a shell—needs that Endless Night to infuse life."
Smiling, the Zhuge strategist said.
"Hey. Crystal Monument, Nameless Sacrificial Scripture, Endless Night... Each surpasses worldly treasures triflingly. With all three, how could we achieve only this? We can do far greater."
In that moment, I realized.
The treasures I'd gathered, in a demon path master's hands, could alter the balance of heaven and earth itself.