Chapter 507
Chapter 507
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 507
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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I explained that I had used my authority and detailed the death I experienced in the Heavenly Altar. Cheon Woo-jin, who had been listening with his arms crossed, spoke up.
"It's hard to grasp just from words. Share it via obsidian."
"Ah, hold on a moment..."
I pulled out an arm-thick piece of obsidian and drove it into the ground. Then I focused my mind on the obsidian.
"Put your hands on this."
We all reached out and touched the obsidian together. This method allowed me to transmit memories to everyone at once without the hassle of doing it one by one.
Whirrr!
Once the events I'd gone through were transmitted to them, my companions all wore grave expressions.
Miho, in particular, looked shocked.
"Baek Woong. Doesn't this mean the Summoning Ritual's formula has been broken?"
"Hmm..."
"Up until now, offering Su-yo summoned Jeon-wook, and offering Wol-yo summoned Nüwa. But in this death, some unidentified, overwhelming deity attacked you out of nowhere. This ignores the fundamental causal link between the medium and the summoning."
"You're right. Something like this shouldn't be possible..."
Jin So-cheong, who had been pondering quietly beside me, spoke up.
"Baek Woong. Could the being that summoned you have been one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?"
"Even if it was one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors..."
I felt troubled by Jin So-cheong's question.
"So far, I've directly faced three of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. I haven't met the other five in person. So even if it was one of their true forms, I wouldn't know which one. Moreover, if it was indeed one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, I can't fathom why they'd suddenly intervene and kill me, Jeon-wook's apostle."
"Hmm..."
The group fell silent for a moment before Mang-ryang, sitting beside me, spoke.
"I have a guess."
"Me too."
Cheon Woo-jin chimed in. The two greatest experts in sorcery seemed to have some idea. Mang-ryang leaned forward, propping his chin with both hands.
"... Taihao Fuxi."
"What?!"
I cried out in surprise.
"He's one of the Three Sovereigns among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors!"
"Exactly. He's also known, alongside Nüwa, as the creator of humanity."
"Why would a being like that bother with someone like me..."
Mang-ryang said gravely.
"However, considering your past life's actions up to now, he's the most likely candidate. There are two reasons. First, a deity who doesn't communicate through words. Second, Cheon Woo-jin's sorcery didn't activate..."
I recalled the first point Mang-ryang mentioned.
'Come to think of it, the Prophet said something like that.'
It wasn't that long ago, so I remembered it clearly. It was definitely from my 19th past life.
[Then, can't we deliberately summon the Three Sovereigns? Whether it's Lady Nüwa, Taihao Fuxi, or Emperor Yan Shennong...]
[With the Seven Luminaries, we could probably summon them for sure... though what good would that do? Especially Fuxi's current state—it's questionable if he can even communicate as a sentient being. And Nüwa is quite angry at the earthly realm right now, so summoning her might kill us all.]
The Prophet had mentioned Fuxi's condition back then. Described as a deity who "doesn't communicate," and given that it's one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Taihao Fuxi seemed highly likely. But I didn't understand the second reason, so I asked Mang-ryang.
"What does it mean that Cheon Woo-jin's sorcery didn't activate?"
"Think about it. Fuxi is the one who bestowed the Eight Trigrams and sorcery upon humanity. It's only natural that mortal sorcery wouldn't work in his presence. Even the innate Eight Trigrams Chart of the Seven Luminaries is known to block not just sorcery, but all supernatural powers."
"Ah!"
"If even a supreme sorcerer like Cheon Woo-jin couldn't cast any spells, that being must be at the origin of sorcery itself. Viewed that way, the likelihood of it being Taihao Fuxi is extremely high."
Only then did it make sense to me.
Sorcery wouldn't work on its very creator, of course. While other deities might ignore sorcery through sheer power, in Fuxi's case, since sorcery falls under his divine domain, it was nullified at the root.
"But why would Three Sovereign Fuxi...?"
"......"
Mang-ryang pondered deeply before speaking.
"We have no choice but to gamble now."
"What kind of gamble?"
"The deadline is approaching, but we have no other option."
Mang-ryang glanced at Cheon Woo-jin and said.
"Junior brother. Release Uncle Zhuge."
"Are you sure?"
Cheon Woo-jin asked worriedly.
"Senior brother. I said ten days, but that was only if we kept him sealed in the Mountain and River State Chart using my sorcery. Just a few days ago, demonic energy started boiling over, and he's on the verge of rampaging. If we release him now, he might turn into a powerful demon."
"It doesn't matter. In that case..."
Mang-ryang outlined a countermeasure. Cheon Woo-jin let out a groan.
"... The issue is whether he'll agree. And even more problematic—if Zhuge rampages after release, it's uncertain if anyone here can handle him."
I said to Cheon Woo-jin in disbelief.
"Has Zhuge gotten that strong?"
"The Demon King considers him his top confidant, pouring demonic power and marks into him, and he's even the master of the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture. Among human sorcerers in the East or West, there's no one stronger than Zhuge right now."
"......!!"
"Damn... We need to be more careful. One mistake, and everyone here dies."
Cheon Woo-jin eyed the group skeptically. His gaze swept over Jin So-cheong, the Sword Demon, Miho, and others. But none of them had trained long enough in the Immortal Spirit Valley to be considered much stronger.
I said resolutely.
"I'll take responsibility, so release him! In the worst case, I'll use my time-reversal authority."
"Damn it... you idiot. Don't you understand what an apostle's authority entails?"
"I do, but why?"
"If you did, you wouldn't say that. You know the difference between the [Great Cycle] and [Lesser Cycle] of time, right?"
As Cheon Woo-jin grumbled, I nodded.
"I know. I've learned about the nature of time."
Normally, I'd never know this even in death, but now I did.
The universe's time consists of the [Great Cycle] and [Lesser Cycle].
The words of Yeol, Jeon-wook's subordinate, flashed through my mind like a panorama. When I began training in the Five Grains Heavenly Gate, Yeol had explained further.
[Absolute time. The chaos where everything mixes—that's commonly called the [Great Cycle]. It's the greatest component of causality, and no one in this universe can escape it except for one supreme being. The [Great Cycle] is the flow of the greater universe itself; no god can touch it. Even lofty outer gods cannot alter the [Great Cycle]. Until the predetermined end arrives.]
[If there's a Great Cycle, is there a Lesser Cycle?]
[Of course. The authority of time you'll study from now on manipulates the [Lesser Cycle]. Most deities can move this [Lesser Cycle]. Things like slowing time's flow in the heavens, reversing bodily aging, or halting a civilization's time by the will of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.]
[......?]
I hadn't understood back then.
[What? Then can't gods stop or reverse time? Why distinguish between Great and Lesser Cycles?]
[Oh dear... you still don't get it.]
Yeol had said.
[Manipulating the Lesser Cycle leaves records that all deities can sense and know. In simple terms, it's like editing history—there's always a log. And the more records accumulate, the higher the chance of backlash from causality. You also have to watch out for other deities' scrutiny.]
[......!!]
[That's why time attacks using the [Lesser Cycle] absolutely don't work on deities. In battle with a god, moving the [Lesser Cycle] is suicide. Well... you could use the authority belatedly to avoid death alone.]
[Ah, I see.]
That's right.
Apostles or deities with great power can manipulate the [Lesser Cycle] freely, but the edit logs are visible to all—even accessible!
Recalling my training memories, I said.
"My apostle authority manipulates the [Lesser Cycle], so the fact that I avoided death is known to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors—and even the [Ancient Ruler]."
"Exactly. If you fail to subdue Zhuge and use the third authority, we're done for. You'll draw all eyes and interest from the deities, and your future will vanish. This isn't something to take lightly!"
As Cheon Woo-jin shouted, I replied calmly.
"... Don't worry. If that happens, I'll kill Zhuge myself."
Cheon Woo-jin's eyes changed.
"Have you made up your mind?"
"Zhuge's life isn't the only life that matters. It has nothing to do with what he wants. I'd rather resolve myself than hesitate and let you all die."
"Good. In that case."
Flash!
With everyone in combat readiness, Cheon Woo-jin opened the Mountain and River State Chart, releasing Zhuge.
Ruuuumble...
Zhuge's condition looked clearly off. His eyes were half-white, half-black, and he clutched his face with one hand. He twisted his body in a grotesque pose, emitting an eerie, unidentified groan.
But moments later, he removed his hand from his face and looked at me.
"Baek Woong."
"Zhuge."
"Have you made up your mind?"
I nodded to Zhuge's question.
"Of course."
"Hoo... The Demon King is calling me. I can maintain my reason for at most half a shichen. Explain the situation and settle it within that time."
"Take this."
I tossed an obsidian to Zhuge. After quickly reading the memories from it, Zhuge grinned.
"Heh heh. So that's how it is."
"Zhuge. I have a request."
"What?"
I pleaded earnestly with my eyes.
"Give up the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture."
"Hmph. I thought you'd decided, but you're half-heartedly trying to compromise."
"If you abandon the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture, your demonic power will drop sharply, removing the burden. And then..."
"You can use the Demon King Wall of the Afterlife to pit him against the [Fetus of Eternal Karmic Bonds]. It's more efficient than using the reversal authority on the Demon King—killing two birds with one stone."
"... Yes."
Zhuge suddenly cackled.
"Puhaha! Present. Aren't you thinking too ideally? It's way too soft a plan!"
Hearing Zhuge's scorn, Mang-ryang replied calmly.
"Uncle. We can't give up without trying. This is the best option now."
"No. Absolutely not. If we try and fail, we'll just get screwed—better not to attempt it at all."
"......"
"I've grasped the 'Demon King'—he's the head of Gnosticism, a cunning opportunist. He's just watching from afar, manipulating Blood Shadow Valley like puppets. It's uncertain if he'll even touch the Great Duel Realm. You think you can outmaneuver a guy who's been a cult leader and grand sorcerer for thousands of years with psychological warfare for a two-birds-one-stone win? Aren't you underestimating his wisdom?"
Zhuge grumbled before continuing.
"Just kill the Demon King with the reversal authority however you can and whine to Jeon-wook to stand against the [Ancient Ruler]. That'd be far better."
"Whine to Jeon-wook?"
"Yeah. What other options do we have? We've reached a point beyond human power, so we have to borrow a god's strength."
"But that plan would let the Incarnation of Creation and Destruction... And I've already promised the Twelve Rulers and Yi Yi-jae to use that stratagem."
"No choice. We're weak now, so grabbing him too is greedy. Better to survive the immediate crisis. Just tell the Twelve Rulers' guy circumstances changed."
"......"
Everyone fell silent. This silence acknowledged Zhuge's plan as correct while carrying a bone-deep sense of powerlessness. We'd gathered nearly all our connections, yet the only option was relying on a god's power—despairing futility.
Zhuge cackled, breaking the mood.
I bit my lip hard.
"Zhuge! What about this plan?"
"What? Speak quickly! I can't hold out long."
Zhuge pressed his temple irritably. After organizing my thoughts, I said.
"Go kill the Demon King right now."
"......"
Zhuge said incredulously.
"If it were that easy, would we be arguing like this? I've seen your forces via obsidian. But that level of power can't beat the current Demon King, head of Gnosticism. His strength surpasses a hundred grand sorcerers combined! So you need to boost your power—enhance Hwayo or whatever."
"Alone, impossible. But there's one more."
"... You're saying bring in the Future King."
I nodded.
"Find the Future King as fast as possible, ally with him, and take down the Demon King first. Save the reversal authority."
"That plan's just as idealistic as Present's. No guarantee we can beat the Demon King."
"No, there is!"
I said with conviction.
"The heavens assume Future King will at least get sealed. That means his power rivals that Demon King or whatever!"
"Hmm..."
"And we add our spoon to the mix. Once the Demon King falls, the soul binding on you disappears too."
Zhuge thought briefly before saying.
"Obvious. It won't work. We'll fail."
"Damn it!"
"Future King's more likely to reject us than ally. Just look at Jang Sam-bong's attitude. Even if he joins, the odds of him backstabbing our weakened selves are high. Shame no one here except you and Cheon Woo-jin can survive one strike from Future King."
"Don't just look at the negative..."
Zhuge snapped curtly.
"Then what? Look positively, fail, and excuse it as 'unavoidable'? You can regress for another chance, but others die on failure. You know that, right?"
I flinched.
Zhuge sighed and continued.
"But fine, I'll praise you for thinking it through yourself. And for staying calm instead of charging recklessly. Confirm one more thing, and I'll abandon the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture as you say."
"One? What!"
Zhuge had changed his mind!
I shouted in joy, and Zhuge said slowly.
"Even if we all die in this life and fail, you must uncover why that presumed Taihao Fuxi entity appeared during Su-yo's Summoning Ritual. And to overcome the current uncertainty, there's an essential step. That's..."
"That's?"
Zhuge said sharply.
"You meeting Three Sovereign and Five Emperor Jeon-wook right now."
"......"
What was this?
I said to Zhuge.
"Zhuge. As you know, without reaching the concluded One Moon of the Five Grains Heavenly Gate, entering Jeon-wook's dimension is impossible. And I don't know how to get to the Five Grains Heavenly Gate!"
Embarrassing, but true.
Yeol taught me the apostle authorities but little else.
Only strictly what was predetermined.
"Normally, yes. But you're an apostle. Jeon-wook's unprecedented human apostle. You should be able to reach him without an invitation. Search your memories well."
"Why suddenly go to Jeon-wook..."
As I protested in bewilderment, Zhuge said.
"Only the immortal deities of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors know their own affairs. The Summoning Ritual was the only way to contact them, but now it's sealed off, so direct inquiry is the only option. If you can ask Jeon-wook your questions, maybe all current problems resolve."
"Hmm..."
"Do it now. Meet Jeon-wook, ask why the Summoning Ritual glitched, and get solutions for facing the [Ancient Ruler] or Demon King ahead. Who else but an apostle can do that?"
"What if I can't? If I fail to reach Jeon-wook's dimension..."
As I muttered worriedly, Zhuge smirked.
"Then, as I said, I won't abandon the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture. And I'll stay sealed in the Mountain and River State Chart until the Demon King is dealt with."
He'd backed down a bit.
Getting concessions from a madman like Zhuge was incredibly hard, so I was glad.
"Thanks."
I thanked Zhuge and focused my mind, sifting through five years of training memories.
'Damn, there has to be a way...'
I felt anxious.
Over five years, I'd received the One Moon's divine energy and trained ceaselessly in spirit form, without a single moment's rest—vast memories. Plus much repetitive training, so searching wasn't easy. But I had to find a way to reach Jeon-wook, even by trickery.
After much deliberation, I spotted something in the memory fragments.
"... Huh? No way."
All eyes turned to me. Mang-ryang said expectantly.
"Baek Woong! You found a way?"
"Uh... Is this a way... Not sure, but..."
I said half-doubtingly.
"Yeol mentioned offhand that where the Second String and Fourth Dimension converge at Jin forms the path to the Five Grains Heavenly Gate."
The sorcerers exchanged glances.
Then, almost in unison, they shouted.
"Mount Penglai!"