Chapter 362
Chapter 362
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 362
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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That was when it happened.
Stagger
A tangled feeling churned in my head, and suddenly, something [other] took root in a corner of my mind. It was a nauseating sensation, like a tiny tumor crouching in the shadow of my brain. Because of it, I stumbled for a moment, drawing everyone's eyes to me.
'What... what is this?'
The feeling persisted for a while, sloshing around inside my skull. The bizarre queasiness, like a butterfly flapping through my brain, made me dizzy and unsteady. Yong Jung-il asked,
"Why is it?"
But I couldn't answer. At that moment, a dank voice seeped into my head.
[ Damn it... to end up in this wretched state.]
The hoarse, gloomy voice was one I knew well. As I widened my eyes in shock, the voice continued.
[ You idiot! Of course I know. What's the point of hiding the Seven Luminaries now?]
Before I could retort, the voice sharply sliced through my mind.
[ Shut up and tell the Twelve Laws Lord about the Seven Luminaries! If you screw up, I'm not getting out unscathed either, so just do as I say for now.]
[ How can I trust you?]
I gritted my teeth.
[ How can I trust you, Zhuge Sa!]
That was right.
The clump of soul speaking in my head—it was Zhuge Sa's spirit and voice itself. That's why I knew his usual mad, sinister nature so well, and couldn't just follow his advice blindly. Never mind how he ended up in my head; blindly obeying his sudden words could lead to who knows what disaster.
Then Zhuge Sa spoke in exasperation.
[ You gutless bastard! Do you think that thick skull of yours will improve after dying nineteen times? What a freak, you dogshit prick!]
[ Wha...]
How did that guy know?!
As I reeled in shock, Zhuge Sa yelled in fury all on his own.
[ You need the Heavenly Spirit Pill!! You're not even capable of performing the Soul Sealing Ritual alone right now—why obsess over the rest? You're just going to die and reincarnate anyway, so focus only on the Heavenly Spirit Pill!! Don't stupidly lose everything by getting greedy—seize the chance to earn the White Lotus Cult Leader's trust!]
He knew everything!
[ H-How do you...]
[ No time! I'll explain later, so just do as I say, you thick-headed fuck!!]
[ If the White Lotus Cult Leader kills me...]
[ Then die! What's the big deal?! Scared of everything for a reincarnator!]
His foul curses flew to the end, but I came to my senses. Zhuge Sa's words had sorted out the chaos in my mind. Without him, I would've waffled and missed the opportunity.
I cleared my throat and said,
"I have something to tell the Twelve Laws Lord!"
The Twelve Laws Lord tilted his head.
"What an odd one. Why do you carry another soul with you? It's not possession..."
I felt a jolt. It seemed the Twelve Laws Lord had spotted Zhuge Sa's soul in my head at a glance. But without answering that question, I got straight to the point.
"The Seven Luminaries you mentioned—I can bring them right now. If I do, will you accept our conditions?"
"......"
The Twelve Laws Lord fell silent, staring at me. Of course, Yong Bi-cheon and Yong Jung-il were also looking at me in surprise. After a heavy silence that felt like it would burst my lungs, the Twelve Laws Lord spoke.
"I'll keep my word. Bring the Seven Luminaries, and I'll consider the non-aggression pact positively."
"Consider? You should agree outright."
"Eh, was that it? Fine, then."
I ground my teeth inwardly at the Twelve Laws Lord trying to brush it off sloppily. No matter how you sliced it, the man before me was a sly old fox. I politely cupped my hands and said,
"Then wait half a shichen. I'll bring it within that time."
"I'll wait. But if you're deceiving me, I won't let it slide."
"Of course."
As soon as I finished speaking, I summoned the Divine Beast Four Buddha Statue. It appeared before me, and before the gazes in the room could focus, I transmitted my will to it.
[ Go to the White Lotus Cult's main headquarters, the Cult Leader's Hall.]
[ Got it.]
Flash!
The moment I mounted the Four Buddha Statue's back, I arrived at the White Lotus Cult Leader's Hall. I sensed the presences of mighty experts around me—all Peak Experts from the Elders' Council. Feeling they were about to attack, I hurriedly unleashed a lion's roar.
[ I am Baek Woong, appointed as the Thunder God Style Dharma Protector Lion! I seek an urgent audience with the Cult Leader!]
Swoosh
One Elders' Council expert appeared silently before me and said,
"Baek Woong. The Cult Leader isn't someone you can see whenever you please just because you want to."
"It's extremely urgent. Could you inform the Cult Leader that I request an audience?"
"You barge in here without following procedure—what do you expect us to do?"
"Please..."
As I gazed at them pleadingly, the Elders' Council experts exchanged looks and, with no choice, one vanished in swift lightness skill. Moments later, he returned and said,
"Follow."
I followed the Elders' Council expert to the Cult Leader's audience chamber. As we entered, the Cult Leader said in wonder,
[ Baek Woong. Didn't you go to Yoneung Province? Have you already traveled thousands of li and returned?]
I caught my breath and replied calmly.
"I have the Divine Beast Four Buddha Statue, so I can traverse heaven and earth swiftly."
[ Hmm, I see... So the others are still in Yoneung Province?]
"Yes."
[ Good. Tell me why you've suddenly returned.]
I swallowed hard and said,
"Cult Leader. The Twelve Laws Lord demands the Seven Luminaries as payment for the non-aggression pact and ignores all other offers. I've come to retrieve the Seven Luminaries you possess."
[ I possess the Seven Luminaries...?]
Moments later, the Cult Leader spoke as if realizing.
[ Ah, so you obtained the Seven Luminaries. And one is among your possessions, Baek Woong.]
"Yes. The ancient sword you hold is the Water Luminary, Dark Night Sword, which is what the Twelve Laws Lord wants."
[ This one?]
Whoosh!
The Cult Leader unleashed Imperial Sword Flight, and the Water Luminary Dark Night Sword floated through the air. I nodded.
"Yes, that's the Water Luminary Dark Night Sword."
After admiring the Water Luminary Dark Night Sword for a moment, the Cult Leader continued.
[ Twelve Laws Lord... What an arrogant fool. He demands the impossible without even knowing if we have the legendary Seven Luminaries—testing my power, is he...]
"......"
[ But no helping it. It's not time to clash with the Twelve Laws Lord yet. We must cooperate.]
With that, the Cult Leader rose from his seat. Then he said to me,
[ Baek Woong. Why didn't you tell me the true nature of the Water Luminary?]
Here it comes.
One wrong word here, and I'd be torn apart on the spot. I tensed inwardly, carefully choosing my words, and finally replied.
"I called it a sword obtained by chance because I couldn't trust you yet, Cult Leader."
[ Hmm...]
"You took all my treasures but gave no hint of what you'd use them for or how. In that situation, revealing I had one of the Seven Luminaries felt reckless. I planned to tell you after gauging your intentions a bit."
[ ......]
The Cult Leader pondered deeply. But I couldn't relax just because he showed no immediate killing intent. After all, he could crush me with a mere finger snap, without a flicker of emotion.
Moments later, the Cult Leader murmured.
[ Untrustworthy. If the Twelve Laws Lord hadn't demanded the Seven Luminaries, you never would've told me. Because you always plan to reclaim your treasures from me someday.]
"That's..."
[ But still, you revealed the Seven Luminaries' existence... That means your desire for the Heavenly Spirit Pill is that strong.]
It hit the nail on the head. As I fell silent, the Cult Leader seemed amused.
[ Heh... In other words, you're proposing to trade the Seven Luminaries for the Heavenly Spirit Pill.]
"Will you kill me?"
[ No. Someone as entertaining as you isn't worth killing easily. I like your guts.]
Swoosh
The White Lotus Cult Leader stepped out from behind, mask in place. With the faceless mask, he looked like a ghost, utterly unreadable and chilling.
[ I won't punish you for hiding the Water Luminary. Right now, I need to speak with the Twelve Laws Lord directly.]
I might've exploded on the spot for concealing the secret. Given the Cult Leader's temperament, it wasn't impossible. Feeling cold sweat trickle down my spine, I barely managed to reply.
"Shall I summon the Four Buddha Statue?"
[ Now.]
As expected, the Cult Leader sensed talks wouldn't work through Yong Bi-cheon and planned to go himself.
Flash!
I rode the Divine Beast Four Buddha Statue with the White Lotus Cult Leader back to the meeting hall.
Our sudden appearance with the Cult Leader shifted the atmosphere entirely. All eyes turned our way.
Rumble...
Until now, the Twelve Laws Lord and his three attendants had overwhelmingly dominated the Wind God Style, but the Cult Leader's mere presence created equal pressure clashing in the center. Precisely, the Cult Leader's aura and the Twelve Laws Lord's aura matched perfectly, shoving aside all lesser energies.
An absurd vortex of intangible energies!
Seeing the Cult Leader, the three attendants spoke up in surprise, one by one.
"White Lotus Cult Leader..."
"As expected."
The Twelve Laws Lord, guessing the Cult Leader's identity, stared piercingly. No— from the moment the Cult Leader entered, he and the Twelve Laws Lord had been locked in a gaze. Their eyes held the clash of this era's absolutes.
It felt like colossal mandalas colliding.
Even I flinched uncomfortably from the pressure.
Finally, the Cult Leader transmitted first via Six Harmonies True Energy.
[ Twelve Laws Lord. First time seeing you in person.]
The Twelve Laws Lord grinned and replied.
"White Lotus Cult Leader, I've heard much. So it's true you deciphered the secrets of the ancient being."
[ ......]
The Cult Leader seemed subtly displeased. Perhaps struck at a sore spot, or maybe the Twelve Laws Lord's prowess exceeded expectations. Either way, both recognized each other as near-equals.
Before the Cult Leader could speak, the Twelve Laws Lord glanced at me and said.
"Riding a Celestial Realm divine beast freely... Impossible without upper-tier immortal status. What are you, exactly?"
"A fortuitous encounter I chanced upon."
"Is that so~"
The Twelve Laws Lord seemed intrigued by me. Feeling uneasy, I turned away, and the Cult Leader drew the Water Luminary Dark Night Sword from his bosom. He held it forward and said.
[ Lord. This must be the Dark Night Sword you spoke of.]
The Twelve Laws Lord's eyes gleamed.
"Really?"
[ Easy to hand over, but I wonder how you'll verify its authenticity.]
The Cult Leader was subtly probing. Reading it, the Twelve Laws Lord smirked and said.
"I swear on the name of the Twelve Laws Lord and Dangun. If genuine, I'll accept without question, and I won't lie."
[ Good.]
Ping
The Dark Night Sword flew from the Cult Leader to the Twelve Laws Lord at blinding speed. He caught it effortlessly and examined it thoroughly from all angles. After about one ke, he exclaimed in admiration.
"Indeed, still sealed, but it's one of the Seven Luminaries. It bears the Four Emperors' Chancellor Hill's energy... Genuine."
[ Then, as promised...]
"One more question."
The Twelve Laws Lord's gaze sharpened.
"Do you know how to unseal it?"
Whoosh
Suddenly, my whole body shrank. A chill ran through me, goosebumps rising. It meant the Twelve Laws Lord's hidden intent was overwhelming me. Though I'd suspected, I now confirmed he surpassed ordinary Peak Expert realms—an absolute realm. Otherwise, with my internal energy just below Dharma Protector Lion level, I wouldn't cower like a frog before a snake.
Not just me—Yong Bi-cheon and Yong Jung-il also shrank back. The Cult Leader lightly waved his hand, dispelling the bizarre pressure field. With a faintly menacing aura, he said.
[ What reason do I have to tell you that?]
"Naturally. You have the skill to interpret demonic tomes, so it's worth suspecting, no? Tampering clumsily with a Seven Luminary seal is dangerous—I have to ask."
[ Can't tell you. It's not for telling.]
"Hmm..."
The White Lotus Cult Leader and Twelve Laws Lord faced off in silence. Amid that silence, I felt the fierce pressure and realized my place.
Too high!
Their martial arts were no longer human. To even approach their toehold would require insane training and effort. As I shuddered at their power, the Cult Leader spoke.
[ Twelve Laws Lord. I've handed over the Seven Luminary Dark Night Sword, but we can't end the talks here.]
"What are you getting at?"
[ As you know, it's one of the world's most precious treasures. Ending with just a non-aggression pact for it—feels like too much of a freebie, no?]
The Cult Leader continued slyly.
[ I want sincerity matching the Seven Luminary's value.]
"......"
As expected, the Cult Leader wasn't one to be trifled with anywhere. Knowing exactly what handing over a Seven Luminary meant, he demanded extras upon realizing his disadvantage. The Twelve Laws Lord crossed his arms and said.
"What if I say split the belly...?"
[ I can handle that.]
Rumble!
A mandala image surged around the Cult Leader's body. Seeing it, the three attendants drew badges like defeat slips simultaneously, and the Twelve Laws Lord gripped his Milky Way Scimitar. The Cult Leader entering combat stance and channeling near-ultimate Heart Heaven Boundless made it inevitable.
[ Heart Heaven Boundless. I can't claim to be the White Lotus Cult Leader of a millennium while tolerating this disrespect.]
Was that a glimpse of a vast cosmos in an instant—an illusion?
The Cult Leader seemed ready to settle it right then. The Twelve Laws Lord gave a wry smile and said.
"Indeed, cheap tricks won't work. I accept your proposal."
[ What can you offer me?]
As the Cult Leader calmed his aura, the combat tension vanished. The Twelve Laws Lord sheathed his Milky Way Scimitar at his waist and replied.
"This should suffice."
The Twelve Laws Lord snatched a massive halberd from midair and tossed it to the Cult Leader. Knowing it was a toss, not an attack, the Cult Leader caught it without hesitation. Glancing at the halberd, the Twelve Laws Lord explained.
"Purple Spirit Dark Moon Blade. You should know its value."
[ ......]
The Cult Leader examined the Purple Spirit Dark Moon Blade for a long while before saying.
[ A demonic artifact.]
"Far more suited to you than a Seven Luminary."
[ I accept.]
The exchange happened casually, but my heart raced.
Purple Spirit Dark Moon Blade!
' Th-that...'
Past memories surfaced. Seo Mun-hye's voice echoed in my head.
[ I sought the Purple Spirit Dark Moon Blade. I'd learned the secret that it hides the world's supreme martial art.]
[ Its current owner is the former Dark Classic Martial Tournament champion, called the greatest beyond the forts.]
[ Twelve Laws Lord. He has the Purple Spirit Dark Moon Blade.]
And the Sword Demon's info resurfaced.
[ Rumors say the Purple Spirit Dark Moon Blade manipulates time-space.]
[ Unwrap the black cloth around it, and time and space go haywire. Touma probably thought it was Qi Jin Yi-bo's wonder, but many saw it as a martial art itself. That's why the info spread about it containing a peerless time-space manipulating supreme art.]
When the Sword Demon told me, I'd thought it just a curious treasure. But now, after encountering countless badges and demonic artifacts in my adventures, the Purple Spirit Dark Moon Blade being one felt profoundly significant.
A demonic artifact manipulating time-space!
If that's what it was, the exchange wasn't absurd. Trading for the non-aggression pact and Water Luminary in return was spot-on. For the Twelve Laws Lord to reclaim it personally at the Dark Classic Martial Tournament, it must wield immense power.
' The Twelve Laws Lord wants the Water Luminary enough to give up the Purple Spirit Dark Moon Blade.'
This changed everything. Beyond reclaiming my treasures from the Cult Leader, I now needed to learn the Purple Spirit Dark Moon Blade's power through him.
The rest flowed smoothly. Yong Bi-cheon and Yong Jung-il brought out prepared paper and ink, wrote the pact with the Twelve Laws Lord, and stamped it. Each took a copy, sealed it into a scroll, and the non-aggression pact was complete.
Before we left, the Twelve Laws Lord gave me a meaningful look, then said to the preparing Cult Leader.
"Cult Leader. I'd like to talk with Baek Woong a bit."
The Cult Leader glanced at him and said.
[ What's your scheme?]
Their gazes met briefly. I realized they were exchanging opinions via advanced transmission, beyond my hearing.
Moments later, the Cult Leader replied.
[ One day only. Return him after.]
"Agreed."
Huh?!
I was stunned at being suddenly separated from the Cult Leader to spend a day with the Twelve Laws Lord, and blurted out.
"Cult Leader. What do you mean?"
[ Stay a day as a friendly envoy. Don't be rude to the Lord.]
"But that's..."
[ Baek Woong, Dharma Protector Lion. Will you defy the Cult Leader's order?]
"......"
I felt like crying. Spend a day with that utterly sinister Twelve Laws Lord—what would he do? I might end up neither dead nor alive under his sorcery. But with no choice, I nodded.
"Understood."