Chapter 261
Chapter 261
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 261
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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Heavenly Realm
"......!!"
Why is Mangnyang here?
A heavenly envoy of the Heavenly Realm? Does that mean Mangnyang has become an immortal?
While all sorts of guesses and confusion swirled in my head, Mangnyang swung his arm. At the same time, a terrifying blaze erupted from the Precious Banner of Five Flames and Seven Golden Threads.
Roooar!!
The blaze didn't just obliterate the jade throne room—it extended dozens of feet beyond. I had no choice but to evade instantly using Steam Flight, and as I burst out of the palace with it, I saw the roof of the Dragon Throne Hall exploding.
KABOOM!!
"Ng...!!"
As I endured the aftermath, I couldn't help but shudder in that instant.
'That's the power of the Precious Banner of Five Flames and Seven Golden Threads!'
In the past, I'd clashed with the Imperial Guards who received a shaman's divination in Taegyeong Village. Back then, Mangnyang had used every restriction possible just to barely unleash the Precious Banner of Five Flames and Seven Golden Threads, trapping the entire village in a wall of flames. But now, he could casually swing it to unleash an even fiercer inferno.
The blaze from the Five Flames and Seven Golden Threads instantly reduced the upper levels of the Dragon Throne Hall to ashes and floated several fireballs in the air. In the center of the fireballs, Mangnyang hovered, gripping the Five Flames and Seven Golden Threads, before hurling the fireballs somewhere else.
BOOM
A flash and blaze erupted where the fireballs collided. And from the center of the blaze, something shot up.
Whiiiing
Zhuge Sa floated in the air. He hovered with a half-open golden box, a translucent barrier around his body—a spell clearly borrowing the power of the [Elder Dominators].
Zhuge Sa said,
"How in the world did you end up here today? I can't make sense of it, nephew."
Mangnyang stared silently at Zhuge Sa before replying.
"I've been infiltrating the imperial palace for half a year. After uncovering the true nature of the demonic entity here, I planned to purge the lower forces. But then Zhuge Bu died one day, throwing everything into chaos. That's when you barged in, while I was scouting for an opening."
"Hoo, I see. So the Heavenly Realm was already on the move?"
"No one wants the Yi clan's power to swell this much."
Zhuge Sa chuckled lowly.
"Is that so? It's not just the Heavenly Realm that hates it, is it?"
KABOOM
As soon as he finished speaking, Mangnyang attacked again, and Zhuge Sa bolstered the golden box's power to block it. But the barrier shook violently, suggesting Mangnyang held a clear advantage. Beads of sweat on Zhuge Sa's forehead grew thicker.
"Urk."
Mangnyang said in a stern voice.
"I have no intention of debating you here. Surrender peacefully and dispel the [Elder Dominators'] kin."
"You're really trying to get it for free. I took care of Zhuge Bu and cleaned up the remnants for you."
Zhuge Sa shot back. Mangnyang replied nonchalantly.
"You wouldn't have any noble motives for the greater good. It's obvious you acted out of selfish greed, so why should I feel indebted?"
"Kahaha. You're the same no matter how many years pass. Still as sharp as ever."
"That's what I should say."
Zhuge Sa fell silent for a moment, then pointed at me on the ground with his finger.
"But let me say this—I'm moving with the master of Nine Desires. The one who should withdraw is you, Hyeon-a."
"......"
"You know how advantageous this is."
Mangnyang's gaze turned to me. I flinched as our eyes met.
Such a profound look.
I instantly knew it was the mark of Mangnyang fully awakening his sorcery and honing his spirit to the extreme. Just as a martial artist surpasses Absolute Realm to awaken intent, sorcerers clearly had an equivalent stage. Reaching immortal-level sorcery was no exaggeration.
Mangnyang said to me.
"I owe you a slight debt of gratitude. The news of Nine Desires Dark Night's awakening threw the Heavenly Realm's great immortals into panic, giving me the chance to master great sorcery."
It seemed after Yeo Dongbin fled from me to the Heavenly Realm, massive changes had occurred. The liberation of Seven Essentials Dark Night was that grave a matter for them. It had undoubtedly played a role in Mangnyang rising to envoy level.
I hesitated, then said to Mangnyang.
"...We didn't destroy the imperial palace with ill intent. It was my will to eradicate the demon here, and those aiding me followed suit."
To my response, Mangnyang said unexpectedly,
"Do you know what those summoned kin are and still say that?"
"Not really."
Mangnyang's gaze shifted to the battlefield below. The imperial superhuman guards and invisible demonic beasts were still locked in fierce combat.
"Zhuge Sa summoned thousands of [Formless Offspring], servants of the Sleeper in the Silver Key, Tsathoggua. Not content, he borrowed the power of the volcano god Ghatanothoa to petrify the innocent. Never before has anyone wielded the [Elder Dominators'] power so freely. No great warlock could."
"......"
"That golden box holds too immense a power. Thus, I declare this."
Mangnyang raised the Five Flames and Seven Golden Threads, aiming at Zhuge Sa with a glare.
"If we don't kill Zhuge Sa today, he'll become a demon king ten times more powerful than the imperial palace. Change your mind now."
Demon king!
The word carried terrifying weight. Even great immortals couldn't handle apostles of ancient gods; only then was the title "demon king" used. If Zhuge Sa mastered the golden box's power, becoming a demon king was entirely possible.
As I swallowed hard, Zhuge Sa smirked and said,
"Worth of the Zhuge clan—sharp as ever. You instantly saw that swaying Nine Desires' master wins the fight."
"Sway? You just dragged him into your inhuman heresy."
As Mangnyang barked, Zhuge Sa replied.
"Then let me ask one thing. Why did the Heavenly Realm send just you now to punish the palace? You're a high envoy, but Kunlun Mountain has over ten immortals stronger than you. If they wanted, they could've crushed this before the alchemist made the portrait device. Why now?"
"......"
"The answer's simple. The Heavenly Realm fears the [Elder Dominators]. And you Heavenly Realm hypocrites hide, twist, and mislead under the guise of protecting humanity. You don't hesitate to slaughter thousands of humans to purge demons."
To Zhuge Sa's words, Mangnyang said.
"I won't deny it. But what good comes from revealing the truths tied to the [Elder Dominators] to the world? Like the legendary continent that vanished beneath the great ocean, humans serving them would only fill with madness."
Mangnyang raised the Five Flames and Seven Golden Threads high.
"I'll eradicate you, fallen to the demonic path, Uncle."
"If you can..."
Zhuge Sa wore a strange expression as he reached for the golden box. The two sorcerers faced off, on the verge of unleashing top-tier spells. At that moment, both their voice transmissions echoed in my mind simultaneously.
[White Tiger Protector!! Cut that bastard down now. No matter the Precious Banner's flames, they're useless against Nine Desires.]
[We must eliminate Zhuge Sa! You're just being used by him. For humanity's sake, make the right choice!]
"......"
I looked down at Nine Desires Dark Night in my hand. In this situation, whichever side I chose would absolutely decide the victor. Nine Desires Dark Night could shred even Heavenly Fortune Zhen's illusions with ease, guaranteeing a beheading strike either way.
'Damn it...'
Normally, I'd unhesitatingly aid Zhuge Sa and sever the enemy sorcerer's neck. But the heavenly apostle now opposing us was Mangnyang Zhugehyeon—my most trusted and relied-upon comrade. No matter that this reincarnation was our first meeting as foes, I couldn't possibly behead Mangnyang.
I finally bit my lip hard and shouted.
"Stop!!"
Both turned their gazes to me. With bloodshot eyes, I yelled.
"End the fight now. Or I'll kill you both!"
Crackle
To show my resolve, I ignited sword aura on Dark Night. Now I could manifest it through enlightenment without forcing inner energy, and the more power I poured in, the fiercer it surged than before. Seeing Dark Night's sword aura blazing with deep blue thunder qi, both hesitated.
Zhuge Sa clicked his tongue.
"White Tiger Protector. Why beat around the bush? Have Hyeon lop off his head here, and everything's smooth. Just grab the treasures from the now-masterless palace and we're done."
I couldn't hold back and bellowed.
"You damn bastard, shut your mouth! You say cutting your nephew's neck that easily?!"
"......"
"You stop too, and let's talk. There must be a misunderstanding."
As I addressed Mangnyang, he looked surprised. Having known him long, I could easily tell his sincerity. After pondering, Mangnyang said.
"No time for that now. Give Zhuge Sa even a moment more, and he'll gain immense power. We must at least restrain him."
"What do you mean?"
"You think he came purely to suppress the palace demon, as he claims? Naturally, he came for another power in the palace..."
That was when it happened.
Flash!!
Zhuge Sa, who'd been biding his time, vanished from the spot. I startled and scanned, but couldn't even trace where he'd gone. Mangnyang ground his teeth and said to me.
"So he was after that!"
"What..."
"Nine Desires' master. You underestimated Zhuge Sa too much. If this continues, a demon king will be born."
Mangnyang muttered with a sigh.
"What's happening?"
By then, the battle before the palace had nearly ended, and Sword Demon and Dugoseong flew over. The dragonkin and demonkin lay annihilated, while Zhuge Sa's summoned beasts slowly melted into the ground, their summons dispelling.
Sword Demon, landing on the roof, glanced at Mangnyang. Seeing him afloat with the precious banner, he grasped the situation.
"You've grown stronger, Mangnyang."
I said to Sword Demon.
"Things got complicated. Zhuge Sa vanished."
"What."
"According to Mangnyang, he had other schemes."
"Hmm... Seems like an emergency."
Nodding, Sword Demon addressed Mangnyang.
"Mangnyang. Do you know where Zhuge Sa went? Can you track him?"
"I do. I can track, but..."
Mangnyang said incredulously.
"You're strangers to me—why the familiar tone?"
"Hm..."
Sword Demon and I felt awkward. Sword Demon, sharing my past-life memories, felt close to Mangnyang, but to him, we were total strangers—initially foes at that. Our casual address would seem odd.
Sword Demon said calmly.
"The reason we know you beforehand is because we've met."
"Ridiculous."
"I'd explain, but no time. White Tiger Protector."
"Yes."
At Sword Demon's word, I took the obsidian from my collar pouch. Sword Demon took it and held it toward Mangnyang.
"This is a memory-transmission spell. If you wish to resolve this, understanding who we are first would be best."
"It holds your memories? How can I trust that?"
"If you can't, nothing to be done. But if you do, we gain far more."
"......"
Mangnyang pondered deeply. Then he ceased his flight spell, landed on the roof, and took the obsidian from Sword Demon.
"Here."
"Good. White Tiger Protector."
I cast the obsidian spell on Mangnyang. He grimaced, head throbbing as he absorbed the massive memories instantly.
Hummm...
Once transmission ended, Mangnyang wore a dazed expression.
Then he said.
"No way... This is real?"
"Mangnyang. You've become an earthly immortal wielding a precious banner, so you know this can't be forgery or lies."
I continued.
"Glad to see you again."
"......"
Mangnyang shook his head, then said.
"Fine. Let's track Zhuge Sa."
"You've accepted all the memories?"
"No reason not to. And what we must do hasn't changed. Only action remains."
Mangnyang replied casually.
"Use Golden Steam Flight now to the deepest part of the Dragon Throne Hall."
"Deepest part?"
"Deeper than the crystal stele vault—an extradimensional space. The alchemist spilled the secret under torture to Zhuge Sa."
Apparently, when I arrived, the emperor was already slain mercilessly, and the alchemist tortured. Whatever agony Zhuge Sa inflicted in that short time, he extracted the info before trying to kill him. Mangnyang had then seized the moment with a sorcery to suppress him—that's what I'd witnessed.
Mangnyang continued.
"The Imperial Seal is there. We can't let Zhuge Sa get it."