Chapter 436
Chapter 436
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 436
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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[ Hmmm... Chil-yo... Most intriguing... ]
The seer, who had been scrutinizing me, suddenly flinched in surprise.
[ A reincarnator?! That explains it... Now it all makes sense... ]
"You'll tell me, right?"
[ Very well... The price is sufficient... I'll give you the location via black obsidian. ]
The seer first took the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture from me and revealed the locations of Guardian Khtaart and the Golden Branch. Once I'd received the information, the seer handed over a piece of black obsidian containing the location and timing of Huayo. I examined the time and memories, then frowned.
"You're really going to do it like this? Even with the strict secrecy treaty with the Heavenly Realm regarding Chil-yo, giving me vague info doesn't sit right with the fairness of our deal!"
[ You've probed my tendencies quite thoroughly during your reincarnations... True, this is unbalanced... ]
I pointed at him with my finger and glared fiercely.
"If you're the King of Zhurong, honor your promise!"
As I pressed him aggressively, a glint appeared in the seer's eyes.
[ What an odd fellow... You know your combat prowess falls short of mine, yet you challenge me so boldly... And strangely, it doesn't annoy me... ]
I snorted.
"If you want to kill me, go ahead! But I refuse to deal with someone who can't even uphold his own principles."
[ Fine... If that's how you want it, I'll reveal the exact moment of Huayo's total solar eclipse. ]
"Isn't that a bit stingy?"
[ Factor in the cost of breaching the secrecy treaty, and it's perfectly fair... ]
With no choice, I nodded.
"Alright."
I received the black obsidian from the seer once more.
In that instant, knowledge encompassing the Great Race's technology and sciences flashed through my mind— their numerals, measurements, cosmology. Even units related to the galaxy.
But this knowledge was highly volatile, not settling in permanently; I wouldn't retain it for long. Once the basic process completed, the precise timing of Huayo's total solar eclipse was imprinted in my mind, calibrated to the Great Race's time units.
Ding!
It was difficult to express in human terms, but now I knew the exact moment of Huayo's total solar eclipse better than anyone in the world. The margin of error wouldn't even amount to a few breaths.
' Incredible! '
The Great Race's technological prowess and knowledge were clearly beyond current humanity. With this, I knew when Huayo's total solar eclipse would occur; now I just needed the location. Finding it would take time, but I had my methods, so I wasn't worried.
' Kaltukajara's Yurara. The rock's name is Uluru. '
I'd already heard about the place once before.
I withdrew from the seer and scanned the area where the Zhuge clan's remains had fallen. Then I spotted the treasure, Baek U-seon.
"Found it. So this is where you were."
Being a treasure, it had apparently emerged unscathed from the seer's light beam.
[ Isn't that mine...? I hunted it. ]
As the watching seer raised an objection, I waved him off.
"Nah, it's mine. I brought it here. Don't you know corralling is the key part of any hunt?"
[ ...... ]
"And you know as well as I do—I could take this thing down one-on-one."
[ Hmph... I don't buy it, but... I'll let it slide this time... ]
The seer grumbled.
[ Come back again... Bring a demonic scripture next time... ]
"I'll think about it!"
With what I needed secured, I set off next to find Su-yo. I harvested as much black and white lotus as possible, gathered Millennium Snow Ginseng, and stowed the gold ingot box in my wooden box. After defeating the guardian giant spider, I added an impromptu extraction of its inner core, leveraging my immunity to all poisons. Normally, one would use a detox elixir, but to me, the spider's venomous blood was merely foul-smelling liquid.
' Spider inner core—bound to be useful somewhere. '
Muttering to myself, I collected Jeon-uk's statue and Su-yo, then exited the Su-yo ruins. Thinking over what else remained, I headed to the White Lotus Cult this time.
Flash!
Arriving at the White Lotus Cult, I was in the sacred ground where sacred lotuses bloomed. An elder from the council spotted me and started in alarm.
"Who the hell are you!!"
I grinned and said,
"You wanna fight here? A scrap would trample all these sacred lotuses."
"Urk!"
The elder hesitated. Mobilizing peak expert-level internal energy to capture me would cause an explosion, likely killing every lotus. I eyed his predicament and said,
"I'll just take three. Pretend you saw nothing."
"You... filthy dog... Think I'll allow that when I'm tasked with guarding the sacred lotuses!!"
Whummm.
I summoned sword energy, gathering it on my blade. I began threatening him.
"I don't mind fighting! But then it won't stop at three."
"Ughhh...!!"
He trembled. As a White Lotus Cult elder and peak expert, he likely didn't think I'd best him in skill, but he was clearly cornered. Recalling Zhuge Sa's eloquence, I subtly tempted him.
"With so many lotuses here, what's three missing? Just tell the cult leader you hoarded them out of martial greed."
"What's your name?"
"You nuts? Like I'd tell you?"
Swoosh!
I positioned my blade threateningly over the lotuses. The elder panicked.
"... Take them! Now get lost!"
"Thanks."
I quickly plucked three sacred lotuses and stowed them in my wooden box.
' Hmm, and one more thing... '
I headed to the ruins of Jabu Immortal, which I'd visited before. Entering the cavern in Gonggong Mountain, I spotted the Three Emperors Inner Gate radiating divine power. As a sorcerer with considerable spiritual force, I took a deep breath, subdued the Three Emperors Inner Gate, and stored it simply in my wooden box.
With preparations roughly complete, I went to Jinrang Valley and handed the black obsidian to Mang-ryang.
Whummm.
Mang-ryang, inheriting the memories from the black obsidian, seemed startled. After about an hour sorting his thoughts, he sighed.
"... Baek Woong. If you'd pushed further in your last life, you could've gained so much more..."
"I have no regrets. It just made my path clearer!"
"If you see it that way, then fine."
Mang-ryang nodded, sighed again, and said,
"Haa... I can guess what you're thinking. Recklessly gathering all these treasures without regard for consequences or cleanup—I think I know why."
As expected of the genius Mang-ryang. He deduced my plan just from my route.
I faced him with a faint smile.
"It'll work out."
Mang-ryang replied with a somewhat gloomy expression.
"I hope so. Then let's proceed with the Su-gi offering ritual."
As before, I went with Mang-ryang to Mang-ryang Seonsa's village. Burying the Heavenly Dark Secret Book and performing the Su-gi ritual took little time. In fact, I recited the ritual sequence and attuned my spiritual force to assist Cheon Woo-jin, surprising him.
"You're adept at handling souls. From the Baekgyo?"
I replied nonchalantly.
"I've had a bit of connection."
"Hmm."
Cheon Woo-jin eyed me curiously but soon focused on the ritual. Baekgyo alumni weren't common in sorcery circles, but not that rare. After Baekgyo's fall, their soul-control spells spread via disciples. Cheon Woo-jin seemed aware of the link. But per Zhuge Sa, those were mere derivatives; only the Baekgyo leader mastered the true Soul Separation Great Law.
Whooo.
As the Su-gi ritual progressed, a divine spirit descended on Cheon Woo-jin. Taihe Heavenly Lord spoke.
[ Su-gi was delicious. Mortals. But this is odd. I wish to bless you and the ritual's overseer, yet traces of my power already linger on you... ]
I'd heard those words etched in my ears before, so I preemptively cut in gruffly.
"We're not Three Emperors Five Emperors bloodkin."
Taihe Heavenly Lord faltered.
[ Uh... er... really? ]
"So what if traces remain! The present matters."
I shouted firmly, then glanced at Mang-ryang. If he grasped my intent, he'd back me up. Mang-ryang looked reluctant, sighed, and said,
"Haa... Taihe Heavenly Lord. In addition to offering Su-gi, we wish to make further offerings for stronger blessings."
[ What? ]
Mang-ryang got it perfectly. I jumped in.
"Overlapping Great Fortune blessings are fine. We'll offer more, so amp them up!"
[ Hmmm... ]
"Just confirm if it's possible first."
Prodded, Taihe Heavenly Lord nodded.
[ It is. What offerings do you plan? ]
I lifted my wooden box, pulling items one by one and listing them aloud for Taihe Heavenly Lord.
"All this gunpowder! Explosives! Jeon-uk's statue!"
[ Hmm... ]
I brandished the twin swords high.
"Emperor Shao Yue Liu Bi's Twin Ancient Swords!"
[ Oh ho... ]
I continued unveiling treasures.
"Yodo Muramasa! Precious metals! Book of Five Rings!"
[ ...... ]
"Three Emperors Inner Gate!"
Taihe Heavenly Lord's face twisted bizarrely at the Jabu Immortal treasure and manual.
"Black and white lotus! Sacred lotus! Earth Lord's spirit pill!"
[ W-Wait... ]
"Nine Stars Origin Formation! Crystal Stone Stele!"
[ What?! ]
"Treasure Baek U-seeerun!!"
Thwack!
In frustration at offering such valuables, I hurled Baek U-seon, striking Cheon Woo-jin's face dead-on.
[ Gasp. ]
Taihe Heavenly Lord, dumbfounded, picked up the treasure Baek U-seon and looked around. Everything nearby was an extraordinary treasure, spirit pill, protective charm, or manual. Genuinely baffled, he couldn't even get angry and said,
[ You... really intend to offer all this? ]
I chuckled.
"I trust you, Taihe Heavenly Lord!"
[ Uh... well, if you insist... ]
I clenched my fist and declared passionately.
"Great Fortune Jackpot!"
Taihe Heavenly Lord seemed pleased, chuckling before speaking solemnly.
[ Ahem, very well. By the name of I, Taihe Heavenly Lord, I bestow Great Fortune blessings commensurate with these offerings. I'll even mitigate the backlash from overlapping blessings! ]
"Thank you."
I thought to myself.
' That fulfills our prior promise, Taihe Heavenly Lord. '
Flash!
Taihe Heavenly Lord's spirit departed from Cheon Woo-jin. Cheon Woo-jin, un-fatigued despite the swift ritual's end, regained his wits and said to me in disbelief,
"Are you insane? Half those treasures could've made you supreme under heaven!"
"It's my call."
"Damn it all... Gimme the Three Emperors Inner Gate and Baek U-seon..."
Grumbling his true feelings, Cheon Woo-jin slyly added,
"... Got any leftovers?"
"Beat it."
"You cheap bastard. Tch."
Cursing, Cheon Woo-jin smacked his lips and went back to farming. I knew why he stayed so calm. Mang-ryang approached, sighing.
"Haa... Baek Woong. Offering everything extended the overlapping Great Fortune duration far beyond before. And it's even stronger now."
"Figured."
Those items could've built a massive faction, but I abandoned vague futures for short-term gains.
"You're now the world's luckiest man, where gold ingots, spirit elixirs, beauties addicted to aphrodisiacs, and peerless fortuitous encounters rain down just by walking the path. For a short while!"
"That's what I aimed for."
"......"
Mang-ryang hesitated, then sighed.
"Even if efficient... you're truly not afraid of death?"
I didn't know how to answer.
After a moment's thought, I replied.
"I've been too cautious with my life. From now on, I'll act more aggressively."
"Hmm..."
"Don't worry. I'll pull it off."
Mang-ryang eyed me worriedly and said,
"The total Great Fortune has increased and strengthened, extending duration. Avoid overusing it, seal the blessing's power if needed, and you might survive."
"I'll keep that in mind."
I waved to Mang-ryang.
"See you!"
"......"
Flash!
I headed straight south to the barbarian continent via teleportation.
' Just go with the flow—trust in luck! '
I grabbed a village chief-looking barbarian from a nearby village and asked,
"Hey. Where's Yurara east of Kaltukajara?"
Obviously, I didn't speak barbarian. Logically, demanding answers in Central Plains tongue had astronomical odds of success.
Yet the chief's son shot up his hand and replied in Central Plains speech.
"I know! Please release my father, god-like one!"
"How do you know Central Plains speech?"
He spoke fluently.
"I learned from a castaway in my youth. I know the Central Plains Continent and Ming Empire, speak the language well. Love Central Plains food. Can make dongpo pork too."
"......"
What are the odds!
He had a faint Guangdong accent. Likely, a shipwrecked Central Plains man from those parts washed ashore after mishaps, teaching the chief's son. I probed further.
"What's your name?"
"Rakang."
It sounded local in pronunciation, but he'd approximated Central Plains style.
"What of your master?"
"Died six years ago."
"Hmm... Rakang. How do you know where Yurara east of Kaltukajara is?"
"I became a sage, inheriting ancient knowledge while wandering perilous lands by chance."
"What?"
"Only sages know Chil-yo hides on this continent. Likely, I'm the only one aware of that secret site and inheritance."
"......"
On a hunch, I asked about Kaltukajara's Yurara. He answered without hesitation.
"It's where a god's treasure hides, opening during total solar eclipse. Contains Dragon Flower Water and Huayo; must defeat guardian to claim."
"Gasp..."
Utterly absurd coincidence. Randomly picking a southern continent village during past wanderings, and the chief's son speaks Central Plains fluently and is a Huayo sage? Odds rival a meteor wiping out the imperial palace.
' This is overlapping Great Fortune's power! '
I told Rakang,
"Rakang. Guide me there. I'll reward your tribe handsomely."
"Yes, of course."
Figuring he'd be slow, I tried carrying him underarm, but he refused.
"I know Central Plains martial arts too. Love Central Plains arts."
Slightly slurred, but clear.
Flash-flash-flash!
Rakang deployed lightness skill at a pace rivaling Central Plains Nine Great Sect elders. His prowess reached peak expert level. At early-mid thirties, he'd clearly trained long.
"......"
More shocking: it was Yunryong Dae-pal-sik, the fastest of Nine Great Sect lightness skills! His Central Plains teacher must've been a martial master. A Kunlun Sect expert on another continent!
' What the hell... What insane odds are these...? '
Still, easier than carrying him, so I traveled with Rakang.