Chapter 260
Chapter 260
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 260
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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Heavenly Realm
From the morning, I used Mokgap and Bi-deung to bring Dokgo Seong, the Sword Demon, and Zhuge Sa to the capital Luoyang. It was a sparsely populated area in Luoyang as well, with hardly any people, whether martial artists or civilians. Standing under a willow tree, the Sword Demon spoke.
"Is it really possible for just the four of us to topple the imperial palace?"
"......"
"I came because you insisted so strongly, but I can't believe it. Explain in more detail."
The Sword Demon's words were perfectly reasonable. Perhaps because of that, Zhuge Sa, who looked somewhat weary and fatigued, responded.
"Gate Master. Before that, I have one question."
"Speak."
"If we exterminate all the humans in Luoyang, the task would become much easier. Would you permit it?"
"......!!"
At those words, the three of us were left stunned. We never imagined he would say such a thing in his right mind. Of course, when unorthodox sects or the demonic martial world clashed, terms like extermination came up often, but wiping out Luoyang was on another level. Even Dong Zhuo from the Three Kingdoms era was reviled for millennia just for burning Luoyang.
Dokgo Seong muttered in disbelief.
"Mad bastard."
Naturally, it was something the Sword Demon's values and mindset could never tolerate. The Sword Demon glared sharply at Zhuge Sa and said.
"With your intellect, you know I wouldn't agree. Are you using psychological warfare to get the real concessions you need?"
Zhuge Sa bowed his head.
"If it seems like a shallow ploy, I apologize. But this is an important matter, so I had no choice."
"...No. We cannot allow innocent civilians to die unjustly."
The Sword Demon was an unorthodox martial artist who could wield ruthless hands when needed, but he clearly knew what righteousness meant. There was no way he would condone massacring Luoyang's millions.
When the Sword Demon answered firmly, Zhuge Sa said.
"Then, may we annihilate everyone in the imperial palace?"
"You mean all the officials, servants, and ordinary guards as well?"
"Naturally."
The Sword Demon thought for a moment before saying.
"It might be necessary. But must we wipe them all out? Give me the justification."
Zhuge Sa plucked a willow leaf and replied.
"The method I will use from now on will draw enormous attention from the Heavenly Realm. Therefore, the fewer witnesses or survivors, the better. That way, we can avoid future repercussions or pursuits as much as possible."
"The Heavenly Realm?"
"Yes. Since we're borrowing the power of the [Ancient Ruler], we'll clash with the Heavenly Realm beings who step in for cleanup afterward. At least Earth Immortal-level existences will appear. We must finish everything before they trace the source of the sorcery."
The Sword Demon said gravely.
"So immortals can truly intervene in the human world."
"Of course. But if we finish swiftly—within an hour—we won't need to worry. This is sanctioned by the [Ancient Ruler] anyway, so if we play dumb, they can't harm us."
"How strong are these immortals?"
To the Sword Demon's question, Zhuge Sa answered flatly.
"A mere human couldn't even dream of fighting them. Especially a Fighting Immortal-level being—encountering one would be a disaster in itself."
"......"
"Gate Master, please decide."
The Sword Demon stood with arms crossed, deep in thought for a long time. Then he looked at me and said.
"Baek Protector. You decide."
"Yes?"
"As the master of the Shadowless Gate, I lead you all, but without you, Baek Protector, this plan would never have reached this point. And you provided the records, including the Nine Yin Blockade Formation, to Zhuge Sa. Thus, I believe you have the right and duty to make the final decision."
Zhuge Sa silently watched me, agreeing with the Sword Demon's words.
"Hmm."
I pondered the Sword Demon's words.
Could I really allow Zhuge Sa to proceed like this?
Wouldn't it leave eternal regrets?
But I soon made up my mind.
"Eliminate only those in the imperial palace who have colluded with demons or serve as their minions. If so, I will follow with all my might."
Zhuge Sa burst into mad laughter.
"Kahahahaha!! As expected, you choose the hardest path. It's amusing, though."
"Can you do it?"
"Of course! Just a bit more troublesome."
Muttering that, Zhuge Sa held a golden box in one hand. He looked around at us and said.
"All three of you, no matter what happens from now on, do not be surprised or agitated. And head straight to where the emperor is in the imperial palace. Do not engage or antagonize any summoned creatures along the way."
"What exactly are you planning?"
"Summons sorcery."
"Summons?"
"A very amusing one."
Kiiing—
Suddenly, the golden box glowed. It slowly opened as if disassembling piece by piece, and an eerie darkness seeped out from within. Zhuge Sa floated the golden box in midair and began chanting.
"Chaos, you who wail in the darkness, crawling mist... I borrow the power of the shining irregular tetrahedron. Grant the authority that rules the constellations."
That was when it happened.
Kurrrung....
The sky began to darken. Madly gathering storm clouds filled Luoyang's sky with darkness in an instant. But unlike rain clouds, these pitch-black clouds seemed fixed, densely packed and barely moving.
From the darkness-shrouded Luoyang, Zhuge Sa's ominous voice flowed.
"Sleeper of Enkai, I command your kin. Formless progeny, arise. Hold a feast."
Shuriririk
Black blob-like masses began clumping and falling from spots in the sky. People, bewildered by the sudden darkness, noticed things falling. The wriggling masses that hit the ground slowly headed somewhere.
Eerie cries like the darkness wailing echoed. A chilling atmosphere lingered, and people nearby seemed to start feeling terror. Zhuge Sa didn't stop there; he swung his hand and chanted.
"God of Mount Hua, you born from eternity, I borrow your name. Bless your servant..."
Paat
Having chanted that far, Zhuge Sa suddenly turned to smoke and vanished from the spot. The golden box disappeared with him.
We stood confused in a gloomy, ominous corner of darkness-dyed Luoyang, unsure what to do. Even as peak experts, we didn't encounter such surreal, mystical phenomena often. Human presences within hundreds ofzhang had already quieted; people were barricading doors.
A chilling wind blew past. A sinister wind that seemed to suck life force. Dokgo Seong said irritably.
"Damn it. We'll have to do as he said."
"We head to the imperial palace."
Tadadot
We leaped over building roofs toward the distant emperor's inner palace. It was about fifteen li to the imperial palace—a distance we could cover quickly.
The problem was the bizarre street scenes while running. The transparent, wriggling 'somethings' that fell from the sky earlier were swarming by the hundreds and thousands toward the imperial palace. No clear forms, but clearly powerful, troublesome demonic beasts like the Bi Gang Jang I'd seen before.
Bzzzt!
When we reached the gate right before the imperial palace, a red lightning-like bolt struck the palace. Zhuge Sa was surely fighting. We pondered how to deal with the gate guards, but upon arrival, we were shocked.
"Statues...?"
Indeed.
The imperial guards who normally swarmed the front gate numbered dozens, hundreds, protecting the palace. Seeing the darkened Luoyang sky, they must have mobilized quickly for emergency.
But they could no longer move. Armor, weapons, entire bodies turned rigid stone—statues. Seeing the soldiers' statues, as if alive and about to move, evoked a strange terror.
The Sword Demon muttered looking at the pile of statues.
"Zhuge Sa turned them to stone with sorcery."
"But this is too powerful."
I said with a sigh. Of course, if it was due to Zhuge Sa's high sorcery level, there was nothing to say, but ordinary sorcery, even offensive, wasn't this strong.
A sorcery that could petrify dozens or hundreds of guard warriors—who had some internal energy resistance—without resistance? There'd be no point in cultivating martial arts. This petrification sorcery was among the strongest I'd ever seen.
Dokgo Seong beside me said.
"Didn't he say he borrowed a god's power? Then it's not his sorcery, but using a god's power."
"Hmm... right."
"Those transparent monsters seem to deliberately avoid attacking us, so let's hurry. It's irritating."
As Dokgo Seong said, the transparent monsters pouring into the imperial palace recognized us but ignored us. Zhuge Sa must have ordered them not to attack us. But the dense demonic energy from those beasts was grating on the nerves.
As we passed the gate and went deeper, even stranger scenes unfolded.
[Kieeeek!!]
Demons and dragonkin were transforming and rampaging everywhere. Roughly forty or fifty— a huge number. Using their terrifying physical prowess, they smashed stone floors and walls.
Puk
Kwagwang
And on those demons and dragonkin, formless transparent monsters clung, biting, tearing, slashing. At least dozens per demon or dragonkin, attacking like leeches; even superhuman soldiers had no way to counter.
Wooduk wooduk
[Kiek... KreEEK...]
One dragonkin fell, and sounds of devouring echoed. Dozens of monsters eating it.
The transparent monsters Zhuge Sa summoned were effortlessly subduing the imperial superhuman soldiers. Some demons and dragonkin resisted but ended up torn apart and devoured.
Dokgo Seong muttered in disbelief.
"What the hell are those monsters?"
"Demonic beasts summoned from the Dark Heavens Fragrance."
"Urgh..."
Dokgo Seong didn't hide his discomfort. As a peak expert, he gauged the demons' and dragonkin's objective power. If all here rushed us at once, even we three might face death. Seeing such superhuman soldiers easily devoured was absurd.
Tadot
As we ran further toward the inner palaces, we saw the emperor's residence: Taeryong Hall and the Inner Emperor Pavilion. More intense monster battles than before. As the final defense line, dragonkin and demons swarmed several times more, desperately fighting the transparents.
Kwagwang
Kwang!!
[Kieeeek!!]
The clash seemed even. Whenever demons and dragonkin emitted black energy, several transparent monsters vanished. Standing on the hall's roof watching, the Sword Demon said to me.
"Baek Protector, enter the emperor's palace and meet Zhuge Sa."
"Understood."
Shyikang!
Soon, the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong leaped in, joining the fray. They seemed to slaughter the superhuman soldiers with essence severing arts and sword auras. I glanced, then quickly entered Taeryong Hall.
I'd been to Taeryong Hall before; the feel was much the same. A chilling place devoid of human presence. Recalling before, I headed to the emperor's throne room.
And when I opened the throne room door.
"Baek Protector. Things have gotten a bit tricky."
Zhuge Sa's voice rang out. At his feet lay the emperor's gruesomely dismembered corpse, and Zhuge Sa held the alchemist by the throat, lifted up. I could guess the slaughter that occurred.
As I looked at him, Zhuge Sa said.
"I was about to dispose of this one, but interference came."
"Interference?"
Zhuge Sa chuckled hollowly.
"Heh heh. What fateful ties..."
Zhuge Sa's gaze went to the darkness behind a pillar. Looking closely, there was a figure. He'd used concealment sorcery, so I hadn't noticed immediately. The figure slowly stepped out and said.
"I thought Uncle was dead, but you're alive and well."
A very familiar voice.
My heart sank.
"Hahaha... I'm more shocked. I thought you were idling in Jinrang Valley, but when did you master such powerful Ox Step Binding?"
His form emerged into the light. He stared at Zhuge Sa and said.
"I trained hard."
"Hard training alone wouldn't let you use the treasured artifact after just seven or eight years."
"I had a good master and some fortuitous encounters."
Replying thus, he flung his robe, raising the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan in one hand. The fan flickered with the Heavenly Realm's all-consuming flames.
"Earth Immortal Mangnyang, by Heavenly decree, shall purge the wicked corrupted by the demonic path."
Indeed.
The young Daoist binding Zhuge Sa with Ox Step and about to finish with the fan's flames was one I knew well.
Mangnyang Zhuge Hyun.
My greatest comrade and ally.