Chapter 565
Chapter 565
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 565
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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The Twelve Rites Lord's abrupt declaration!
But neither Mang Ryang nor Zhuge Sa showed much signs of panic; rather, they wore expressions as if they had expected this. Mang Ryang spoke gravely.
"Are you planning to break the pact of the Tripartite Summit?"
"What was the point of the Tripartite Summit? Your Anti-Heaven Alliance was meant to serve as the stepping stone. So, now that the White Lotus Church has received the Dharma teachings via that stepping stone?"
"......"
"It was an agreement born of mutual necessity, so there's no longer any reason to hesitate. Neither I nor the Church Lord..."
The Twelve Rites Lord continued coldly.
"And as you know, the Imperial Palace is the common enemy. The truce is over."
Mang Ryang gritted his teeth and replied.
"Isn't this hasty?"
"What's hasty?"
"We all agree that the Imperial Palace must eventually be struck down. We simply needed time to build our strength carefully, fearing the palace's desperate counterattack. But... I'm not certain we're truly ready to assault the palace right now."
The Twelve Rites Lord brought a hand to his mouth, as if chuckling.
"Keuh呵呵."
"......?"
"That's not it. Your Anti-Heaven Alliance is the one that needs time. Do you think us fools?"
The Twelve Rites Lord spoke leisurely.
"I don't know what you're aiming for, but we can wait no longer. The Church Lord and I have already reached an accord, so I'd appreciate your answer to our proposal."
"And if we say we cannot comply?"
"Then the Anti-Heaven Alliance comes after the Imperial Palace."
"......"
An overt threat!
'The Twelve Rites Lord believes they can take down the Imperial Palace on their own if needed.'
The reason he had bothered to locate and visit Dragon Spirit Valley was likely because he thought it best to inform the Anti-Heaven Alliance, mediators of the pact. Moreover, with the Anti-Heaven Alliance holding a significant position in the current balance of power, he had come to compel their cooperation. The Twelve Rites Lord was exactly the sort of man who would strike the Anti-Heaven Alliance after dealing with the palace.
Mang Ryang spoke with difficulty.
"Please grant us just a little time."
"What time? Time to spread the word far and wide? Time for the Imperial Palace to prepare once they notice your movements shifting?"
The Twelve Rites Lord pointed straight at us with a finger.
"There's no room for choice. Decide right here, right now."
"......"
Then, Geuk Ho, standing beside Mang Ryang, stepped forward irritably.
"Twelve Rites Lord or whatever you are, no matter how great you think you are, haven't you overlooked one thing? Do you really think you can take all of us alone here?"
"Hahaha. Is that so? Well, certainly, I have no intention of fighting and defeating all of you."
Snap.
The moment the Twelve Rites Lord snapped his fingers, four shadowy figures appeared around him. They were the Three Masters of the Twelve Rites and the special operative, Miyamoto Musashi. If unaware, one might have dismissed them, but Geuk Ho had already received my past life memories and knew their strength, so he flinched.
The Twelve Rites Lord said.
"This should be... more than enough to beat you all half to death."
Mang Ryang took another step forward and spoke.
"What is it you want?"
"I told you. Join us."
"We cannot trust you. As long as there's a possibility you fabricated this story alone, we cannot move."
"Fabricated... and why would we do that?"
"Show us proof that the White Lotus Church has agreed to this."
"Fine."
Wooong.
At that moment, a door opened in midair once more, and three Dharma Protectors appeared on the scene. Though masked, the infinite auras they exuded left no doubt they were the Dharma Protectors. The instant I saw them emerge, my vision darkened.
'It's real...'
If only Yong Bi-cheon had appeared, I might have doubted, but Su Shin-ryu Dharma Protector Dokgo Jun, the Church Lord's most loyal retainer, was with them. That meant the Church Lord had agreed to this as well. Fortunately, most of us had used Reverse Face Technique, so Yi Cheong-un and the others' identities remained hidden, but it was still dangerous.
No escaping this.
The Twelve Rites weren't deceiving us—they were truly resolved to strike the Imperial Palace. Their intent to ally with the White Lotus Church was genuine too. Refusing here would mean facing two Absolute Realm experts, three Illusion God-level sorcerers, and three Dharma Protectors at once. Taking on two of the Three Great Powers simultaneously offered no chance of victory.
Han Baek-ryeong, wearing her fox mask, spoke in a clear voice.
"Anti-Heaven Alliance. Why the hesitation? You've seen the Imperial Palace as a thorn in your side too."
"Is there any need for us to join? The palace in its current state couldn't even withstand the White Lotus Church alone."
Then, Yong Bi-cheon, standing nearby, scoffed.
"Hmph! We've already investigated and confirmed that, though you can't match a single power, your combined strength surpasses the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Clans. If we're doing this, better to crush them in one overwhelming blow to minimize our losses. Quit the nonsense and help with our task."
Mang Ryang seemed to sense there was no further room to retreat and spoke reluctantly.
"Rites Lord. Then grant us just one condition."
"What?"
"After this is over, if the White Lotus Church and Twelve Rites come into conflict, you must accept our mediation at least once."
"Fine. Not a difficult request."
The Twelve Rites Lord nodded and sent Miyamoto Musashi forward. As Musashi approached our three leaders, the Rites Lord said.
"He's our special operative. He'll explain the operational plan, so make sure to arrive at the appointed time."
Sss.
Soon after, the Twelve Rites Lord and his Three Masters, along with the White Lotus Church's three great Dharma Protectors, vanished through spatial doors. Musashi nodded to us and said.
"May I begin the explanation?"
Mang Ryang sighed.
"Wait a moment... just one incense stick's time. We need to hold a meeting."
"Very well. Make it quick if possible."
"We'll receive you in the parlor."
After the storm had passed, we left Miyamoto Musashi in the parlor and began our meeting. Of course, to ensure he didn't wander Dragon Spirit Valley freely, Yi Cheong-un kept watch over him.
Zhuge Sa said.
"It has come, as expected."
"Uncle. Shouldn't we prepare for the end of this life?"
After a moment's contemplation at Mang Ryang's words, Zhuge Sa replied.
"I agree. This crisis arrived even after we altered our fate with the blessing of Great Law Immortal Jongri Kwon. It will undoubtedly be a dire ordeal. It wouldn't be strange if everyone here were annihilated."
Geuk Ho stared at me intently and said.
"Maybe we go strike the palace and leave Baek Woong alive? As long as he's the only one surviving, our training time is secured, right?"
"I've considered that."
Mang Ryang wore a grave expression.
"But in truth, my uncle and I did anticipate the Rites Lord's visit today to some extent. That's why it's hard to decide whether to waste this valuable experience and information."
"What do you mean?"
"The Twelve Rites and White Lotus Church didn't break the pact for no reason. For months now, the Imperial Palace's movements have grown increasingly suspicious, and they've begun mobilizing rituals and manpower on a large scale at the Mount Li ruins for some major rite. The other two powers rebelled because they sensed the palace plotting something."
Having listened, I spoke up with a hunch.
"The ultimate terracotta warrior!"
"Yes, Baek Woong. The ritual to complete the white-haired terracotta warrior using the divine blood buried in Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum at Mount Li is underway now. Thus, striking the palace at this juncture is an unavoidable choice."
"We only hesitated on the surface because we're guarantors of the truce pact."
"Exactly. We must strike the palace now. And securing Mount Li's terracotta warrior for ourselves is crucial."
Mang Ryang continued.
"Snatching the terracotta warrior from two powers' supreme experts won't be easy. We don't even know how much they've grasped about it, so even committing our full strength might not suffice."
"So I must participate no matter what."
"Yes. Our deaths cannot be in vain. Even if we die, we must obtain clues to advance into the future, and you, Baek Woong, must compile all that information. Just the silver phoenix fragment—because we died without obtaining that info, you had to roll through ten more cycles."
"......"
It was truly a difficult dilemma. Considering my training time, sending my comrades alone into mortal peril made sense, but that would leave us without sufficient information. We could end up superficially circling the palace and terracotta warrior for dozens more cycles without clear intel.
I cautiously asked.
"Then how about having Baek U-seon foresee the situation in advance?"
"Pointless. The outcome will change due to observation anyway, and without info on Mount Li's Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum, we'll get distorted future visions."
"Hmm..."
Then, the Sword Demon, who had been listening quietly, spoke.
"It won't be too late to decide after hearing Miyamoto Musashi's information."
"Agreed."
Soon, we headed to the parlor where Musashi waited. He was sipping tea calmly, with Yi Cheong-un seated beside him, watching closely. Musashi opened his mouth with evident interest.
"Impressive. To think such a supreme expert remained unknown... As the Rites Lord said, your Anti-Heaven Alliance has tremendous potential."
Yi Cheong-un replied nonchalantly.
"Even if your hands itch to fight me, hold back. I'll spar with you once this is over, when time allows."
"I'll hold you to that."
It seemed Musashi had gauged Yi Cheong-un's level and was subtly provoking him. While we met, a battle of auras had unfolded between Absolute Realm experts in the parlor.
At last, Miyamoto Musashi spoke.
"The date is three days hence, at the hour of the Dog, Mount Li. The Imperial Palace is plotting some evil scheme at Qin Shi Huang's tomb there, and the day before, the Emperor and Ming Empire's high officials will visit. We plan to eliminate them all within the mausoleum, and you'll need to provide substantial support."
"It's at night."
"Security comes from the Brocade Guards and Eastern Depot at full strength as usual, plus unidentified freaks. The Rites Lord warns to beware, as they seem modified by wicked sorcery."
Likely beastmen and demonkin.
'Well, we won't be overwhelmed by force...'
The Imperial Palace's might was a catastrophe for any single martial faction, but we had the White Lotus Church Lord, Twelve Rites Lord, and Dharma Protectors. Without equivalents on their side, we'd have no trouble.
But why this unease in my heart?
Miyamoto Musashi conveyed the minor details of the plan afterward and departed Dragon Spirit Valley. Once his figure fully vanished over the horizon, Yi Cheong-un spoke.
"That one's a battle maniac."
"Dangerous?"
"When we cross paths again, a fight is inevitable. I sense a mad urge to test his blade against anyone."
"......"
Even daring to unleash Divine Kill Slash on the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns—what more could be expected.
If nothing else, Miyamoto Musashi's foolish pride and tenacity were unrivaled under heaven.
Then, Zhuge Sa, standing nearby, said.
"Then on the day of the decisive battle, have Yi Cheong-un lure him away. Eliminating the variable called Miyamoto Musashi would make things much easier for us."
"What of the Twelve Rites Lord or Church Lord?"
"We have secret weapons too."
"I see."
Secret weapons?
I tilted my head, but Zhuge Sa continued.
"Baek Woong. The Twelve Rites Lord plans to eliminate both the White Lotus Church and us at once in the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum amid the chaos. Assume we'll clash with the Twelve Rites that day too, so there's something you absolutely must do."
"What?"
"That's..."
Flash.
Soon after, I headed to the Prophet. When the Prophet emerged to see me, I got straight to the point with a deal.
"Prophet! A transaction."