Chapter 430
Chapter 430
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 430
Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm
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"It worked out fine, didn't it?"
"That's not the issue! The existence known as Samcheong..."
As Cheon Woo-jin was about to erupt, Mang-ryang gave a wry smile and calmed him down.
"Junior brother. You knew Baek Woong was unique from the start, didn't you? This isn't the time to waste mental energy needlessly—focus on the most important ritual."
"But..."
"As you know, if he were truly suspicious, Master wouldn't have let it slide. That's why I trust Baek Woong."
"...Understood."
Mang-ryang plopped down and closed his eyes.
"I've expended too much spiritual power, so I'll rest for a bit."
"Hah."
Cheon Woo-jin sighed and began preparing the ritual to summon the Three Emperors and Five Emperors. Once he was ready, he called out to me.
"Baek Woong. During this ritual, I won't be able to speak or act."
"Why?"
"Because of the aftermath of the Prophet forcibly initiating the summoning ritual, I have to adjust without touching the laws of causality. It's frustrating, but even with my abilities, just preventing a runaway of causality is overwhelming. So the negotiations with the Three Emperors and Five Emperors are entirely up to your skills and luck."
"Hmm."
Cheon Woo-jin furrowed his brow.
"I'm warning you—this ritual is the end of it. If it fails, we can't try again until the Heavenly Ladder descends. Remember that well..."
"Can't we wait until Mang-ryang recovers before starting?"
"It's too grand a ritual, and the entanglement of causality has made it exceedingly difficult. Even your senior brother, who hasn't ascended yet, can't assist. So don't worry about it and focus on your own task."
"Got it."
Shwaaaa!
Moments later, a divine light enveloped Cheon Woo-jin's entire body. Unlike previous summonings, he was pouring all his spiritual power into this one. Watching him, Lee Cheong-un gripped a dagger and stepped forward.
"I'll handle the human sacrifice drudgery. You focus."
"Yes."
Rumble...
Soon after, the characteristic darkness that heralded the appearance of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors blanketed the heavens and earth. As before, the Myriad Gods Hall of ancient spirits materialized in the air, and in the center of the resplendent palace, the Fifth Emperor Jeon-wook revealed himself.
'Success for now...'
I muttered to myself.
The original goal was to summon the Fifth Emperor Jeon-wook!
Last time, summoning So-ho Geum-cheon had led to bloodshed, but this time, with Jeon-wook's statue present, I could target him specifically. And since the Fifth Emperor Jeon-wook had been quite favorable to me before, the chances of success were high.
The Three Emperors and Five Emperors' Jeon-wook glanced at me and spoke.
[ I am Jeon-wook, the Fifth Emperor, descendant of the Yellow Emperor. Who has summoned me?]
"Jeon-wook! I am the human Baek Woong. As a gesture of respect in meeting the Emperor, I offer this sacrifice first."
[ So be it.]
I saw Lee Cheong-un immediately ripping out the heart from Zhuge Yu-ryong's spare body and presenting it. Jeon-wook seemed to savor its spiritual energy for a moment before speaking.
[ Basic etiquette is observed. Very well, why have you called me?]
I spoke calmly.
"I understand that in the Heavenly Realm, the White Lotus Cult's tyranny could not be tolerated, enraging the Three Sovereigns' Nüwa, who thus sent down the Heavenly Ladder. However, this would bring great calamity to the human world, so I beseech you to withdraw it."
[ You mean reject the Heavenly Lord's plan?]
"Yes. We have prepared ample tribute, so please show understanding."
As I knelt and pleaded earnestly, Jeon-wook appeared deep in thought.
Soon, the sky turned gray. It was as if reflecting his emotional shift. He addressed me solemnly.
[ Baek Woong, master of the Lunar Yao. This is all your fault.]
"What?!"
As expected, Jeon-wook recognized me as the master of the Lunar Yao the moment he saw me. No, he'd known since appearing. But setting that aside, why was it my fault? Jeon-wook continued calmly.
[ Nüwa commanded you to maintain balance in the earthly forces and prevent runaway chaos. Yet you utterly failed to fulfill that duty. In the end, Nüwa had no choice but to act to uphold the ancient covenant.]
"I failed my duty? I already petitioned the Heavenly Realm through Yeo Dong-bin to force the White Lotus Leader to withdraw from Luoyang..."
[ Foolish!]
Jeon-wook suddenly bellowed.
[ You don't understand the problem at all. By the time that petition arrived, the one called the White Lotus Leader had already colluded with the demons, forging a terrifying contract! Such deception might fool humans, but to us, it's mere childish trickery. To prevent the [Ancient Ruler]'s influence from spreading further on the Central Plains continent, we enacted extraordinary measures.]
"......?!"
What was this?
Unlike the others, Jeon-wook didn't seem extreme at all—he viewed the Heavenly Ladder as a given. He spoke with such certainty, so there must be something solid behind it. But not knowing what it was left me flustered.
Then Mang-ryang staggered over, knelt before Jeon-wook, and said.
"Fifth Emperor Jeon-wook! Might this lowly human path cultivator Mang-ryang have a chance to ask a question?"
[ Granted.]
"Does that mean... the White Lotus Leader has already formally contracted with the ruler of the Demon Palace, officially accepting the power of the demon gods?"
[ Indeed.]
Jeon-wook's face twisted as if in rage, darkness erupting from it.
[ That one spared no means to seek the Dharma of the Deathless Old Mother. A dharma impossible to complete with human power—no, not even the power of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors! I shall show that arrogant human the might of the Heavenly Realm.]
Rumble!!
As Jeon-wook's fury surged, a massive vibration echoed across the earth. In that instant, the quake spread unimaginably far, triggering tectonic shifts on the continent. No doubt, great earthquakes were ravaging the Central Plains everywhere.
I shuddered at the power of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors. To cause continental devastation with mere anger?!
' This is the power of gods...!!'
Jeon-wook flicked his hand. The half-transparent sacrificial offerings returned to their original colors.
[ I accept no tribute. Your request is one even this Emperor cannot grant. Figure out how to resolve this yourselves.]
"Then how should we..."
[ Before the Central Plains' causality crumbles further, that one must be...]
Boom!!
It happened abruptly.
[ Kieeeek!!]
The ghost spirit Do-ol thrashed its head wildly.
[ Hiiiiiik!!]
[ The Sleeper, the Sleeper exerts power!!]
[ Disaster!!]
[ War with the Ancient Ruler!!]
The myriad ghosts in Jeon-wook's Myriad Gods Hall rampaged, screaming. Even as minor deities, they reacted sensitively to the distant surge of immense demonic power. It was a power so dense, evil, terrifying, and vast that even I could feel it palpably.
Jeon-wook said in fury.
[ Heh... that damned frog has finally acted!]
"What do you mean?!"
[ No more warnings! The seven days and seven calamities' reprieve ends here.]
"What?! Why?!"
[ Because that frog scum struck first...!!]
Jeon-wook's darkness surged massively. Transforming into a giant of shadow, he roared toward the sky.
[ Causality has permitted the Heavenly Realm's descent. Now we commence force. That frog scum will regret underestimating the Three Emperors and Five Emperors' power!]
Flash!
Simultaneously, Jeon-wook and the Myriad Gods Hall vanished cleanly. The dark clouds parted, restoring the original sky.
What just happened?
The summoning ritual had clearly failed, but I couldn't understand what Jeon-wook had done. I stood there dumbfounded, unable to grasp it, and Lee Cheong-un was the same.
However, sensing something, Lee Cheong-un approached Mang-ryang and said.
"Mang-ryang. Are you alright? You must know what happened."
"Urk... how can this be..."
Mang-ryang staggered, his face pale from exhaustion. He gritted his teeth for a while before collapsing limply. As Lee Cheong-un supported him, Mang-ryang shook his head and said.
"Woo-jin has fainted. Please help him recover, Lee Cheong-un."
"Don't worry."
"I'll explain once he wakes."
Lee Cheong-un went to the standing but unconscious Cheon Woo-jin, infusing him with vast qi and performing energy circulation therapy. Thanks to the infinite power of the Heavenly Spirit Pill, it was more effective than any qi treatment in this world. Soon, Cheon Woo-jin spat blood and regained consciousness.
"Cough!"
"Are you alright?"
"What happened? I passed out trying to maintain the ritual..."
All eyes turned to Mang-ryang. He was the only one who fully grasped the situation. After sitting in silence for a long time, Mang-ryang sighed.
"We were barking up the wrong tree. We should have stopped the White Lotus Cult before trying to block the Heavenly Realm."
"Mang-ryang. What do you mean?"
Mang-ryang looked at me and said.
"Remember what the Fifth Emperor Jeon-wook said earlier? That the one called the White Lotus Leader had already colluded with the demons, forging a terrifying contract..."
"I remember. But wasn't the White Lotus Leader's cultivation originally based on studying the demon god Kta'art, linked to demons from the start?"
"No. The demonic power they wield is close to pure primal chaos. It's not enough to upend the world's balance to the extent the Three Emperors and Five Emperors fear. What Jeon-wook meant was simpler."
Mang-ryang continued.
"After occupying Luoyang, the White Lotus Leader formally contracted with the [Ancient Ruler]."
"I know that. He promised to offer the Twelve Laws and Goryeo as sacrifices within ten years to appease that existence..."
"That's not it."
"What?"
"The Leader deceived you, Baek Woong."
Mang-ryang said bitterly.
"To the Leader, you were the perfect ally who brought fortune just by being near. That's why he treated you with such consideration and respect, but he never truly trusted you. He wouldn't have told you anything that might make you refuse and leave—especially you, who hates human sacrifice and the [Ancient Ruler] due to my influence..."
"......!!"
"Given how Jeon-wook put it, it's no mere pact. The Leader didn't make half-hearted promises; he surely borrowed the [Ancient Ruler]'s power definitively through human sacrifice. Whatever the risk, it's enormously heightened now."
"Ah..."
That made sense. I'd simply not wanted to think about it because of my goodwill toward the Leader.
"The Heavenly Realm detected it and sent the Heavenly Lord to block the Sleeper of Enkai's influence even belatedly, while also preventing the risk of the Leader gathering the dharma and shattering Luoyang's great barrier."
"No, what do you mean..."
I was stunned.
The Leader deceived me?
It was possible, but things were unfolding too bizarrely. I'd never imagined this when offering tribute to the Heavenly Lord's altar. As I stood there blankly, Mang-ryang said sharply.
"I'm certain. The Leader must have sensed the Heavenly Realm's action by now, so he's formally summoning the [Ancient Ruler]'s demonic power to Luoyang and starting the human sacrifices. Preparing to call forth demon soldiers and apostles."
Cheon Woo-jin, listening, replied.
"Senior brother. Luoyang must be hell now."
Mang-ryang said gloomily.
"Indeed. Soon, clashes between the Heavenly Realm's immortals and the [Ancient Ruler]'s apostles will turn it into even greater hell. Either way, Luoyang is finished."
"I can't believe it."
I looked at Mang-ryang with frantic eyes and said.
"How could the Leader..."
If Mang-ryang was right, this was no small matter.
It meant the Leader would offer all of Luoyang wholesale into the [Ancient Ruler]'s maw as human sacrifice! The bodies and souls of its inhabitants would be butchered as fodder.
No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't believe the Leader would commit such heinous evil, leaving me inwardly shocked. Mang-ryang glanced at me and said.
"Baek Woong... The Vermilion Bird Zhuge Yu-ryong and the Leader are the same."
"How are they the same?"
"Both seek to save humanity, but they disregard the minor sacrifices that come with it. The Leader wanted to save wretched human fate, but the deaths of a few non-White Lotus believers meant nothing to him... No different from the Vermilion Bird."
Sighing ruefully, Mang-ryang said.
"Now there's only one way... We eliminate the Leader. If we don't, the war with the Heavenly Realm escalates, and humans on this land will be exterminated."
I shouted in agitation.
"Even if the Heavenly Realm wins, humans have no future!"
"Better than being devoured by the [Ancient Ruler]. We can only hope for the Heavenly Realm's mercy..."
"Damn it..."
Mid-sentence, an overwhelming despair hit me.
At this point, we had to eliminate the White Lotus Leader, but that was incredibly difficult. And even if successful, we couldn't avoid a massacre—it was utterly maddening.
' Where did it go wrong?'
I had no idea.
After a silence, I said.
"Let's head to Luoyang first."
We needed to check its state to decide on action.