Chapter 1063
Ratna City, the poorest and most barren of India's eight sacred lands.
The only reason its desolate history had continued unbroken was due to the divine power of the Saint King.
For generations, children here were born with frail bodies, as if burdened by heavenly punishment, and the Moon Wheel Saint King had nurtured those fragile lives with her divine power.
Had the Saint King not existed, this land would have long been reduced to nothing but death.
To the people, the Moon Wheel Saint King was a living deity—religion itself.
"In three days, a new Saint King will be chosen."
As the coronation of the new Moon Wheel Saint King drew near,
the people, like withered grass awaiting rain, began making their way to Moon Wheel Palace with hopeful faces.
The endless procession along the dusty road resembled a long, winding brown serpent.
An old man adjusting his tattered robes, a gaunt middle-aged woman carrying a sickly child on her back—
though even walking seemed arduous for them, their eyes shone like unquenchable lanterns.
Yet the procession was neither chaotic nor irreverent.
Even the occasional dry coughs and the whimpers of children felt like part of a prayer to the Saint King.
Their footsteps formed a single, massive wave, all flowing toward Moon Wheel Palace.
At the same time those devout pilgrims were making their way to Chengdu—
Sssshhh, sssshhh.
A completely different, ominous movement had begun within Moon Wheel Palace.
Masked shadows were stealthily heading toward its deepest sanctum.
They were none other than Bu Eun-seol and Yu Cheong-rim.
The sacred artifact was kept in the innermost chamber of Moon Wheel Palace, protected by layers of mysterious mechanisms, its entrance cunningly concealed.
It was said that only the Moon Wheel Saint King could open that door through her divine power.
Rrrrrr.
Yet Yu Cheong-rim effortlessly found the entrance and slipped inside.
He had snuck in and out countless times before, all for the sake of stealing the sacred artifact.
"Come to think of it, what does the sacred artifact even look like?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Yu Cheong-rim—who had been running ahead with a tense expression—stopped in his tracks and let out an "Ah."
"That," he said with the gravest expression, "is an excellent question."
Then, with utmost sincerity, he answered:
"No one knows."
"What do you mean, no one knows?"
"Some rumors say it's a small jade flute forged from the essence of the moon. Others claim it's a pair of pitch-black beads so deep they seem to contain all the stars in the night sky."
"You're telling me you're trying to steal something whose appearance isn't even known?"
"Because the artifact is secured by the Saint King's sacrifice, it has never once been exposed to the outside world."
Yu Cheong-rim's expression darkened.
"That's why, though many thieves—even those who called themselves the greatest in the world—have attempted it, none have succeeded. And the interior is packed with mechanisms that are impossible to dismantle."
"Hmm."
"But with you here, Lord, I believe we can break through."
Bu Eun-seol, as if struck by a thought, asked:
"But why are you searching for the artifact, Brother Yu?"
"Why, you ask?"
"Do you have something you desperately wish to find?"
"No."
"Then why are you so fixated on Moon Wheel Palace's sacred artifact?"
Yu Cheong-rim responded with the most earnest expression imaginable:
"Lord, have you ever heard this saying? If there is a mountain, one climbs it. If there is a brush, one writes with it."
He spread his hands solemnly.
"The sacred artifact of Ratna City is a treasure no Divine Thief has ever stolen. Through this, I intend to prove my worth—and my skill."
It was, without a doubt, the most grandiose nonsense.
Suddenly, Bu Eun-seol missed So Ok-rim.
—Agh! All you've got is a big mouth!
Had she been here, Yu Cheong-rim's lips would have been stretched from floor to ceiling before such drivel could escape them.
"...Hmm."
Swallowing a sigh, Bu Eun-seol asked:
"So you're satisfied just by stealing the artifact?"
"Of course."
Yu Cheong-rim thumped his chest.
"I've spent my whole life as a Divine Thief, experiencing every treasure imaginable. At this point, even gold and jewels don't excite me."
Then, with confidence, he declared:
"Nothing sets my heart ablaze like the challenge of the impossible."
"...Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol swallowed yet another deep sigh.
Only now did he understand.
Why So Ok-rim had been so ruthless—why she had always thrown the first punch before even attempting conversation with Yu Cheong-rim.
To extract truth from a mouth filled nine-tenths with boasts and nonsense...
There was no other way than to beat him senseless—so thoroughly that the bruises wouldn't fade for a month.
Without further discussion, Bu Eun-seol stepped through the entrance and began clearing the secret gates alongside Yu Cheong-rim.
Ssssshhh.
Beyond the door, from the very entrance, lay a pit of quicksand capable of swallowing everything in the world.
Even if one could employ the Land-Flying Technique,
the quicksand's powerful suction made crossing no easy feat.
A careless attempt at leaping over with lightness arts would result in being dragged beneath the sand, vanishing without a trace.
"Nothing special."
But Bu Eun-seol's internal energy had long surpassed the realm of the fathomable.
Moreover, he had mastered numerous secret arts to counteract such suction, rendering the obstacle trivial.
Fwsh!
In an instant, he bypassed the quicksand's pull and crossed the gate, revealing a storeroom stacked with antiques.
As Bu Eun-seol carefully examined the piled relics,
"We should hurry to the next gate," Yu Cheong-rim urged, his expression tense.
"There are many gates here. If we don't move quickly, the coronation will end before we reach the artifact."
'So he had passed through the gates before.'
It wasn't surprising.
After all, the title Divine Thief inherently implied mastery of extraordinary lightness techniques and stealth arts.
Bu Eun-seol had discerned that Yu Cheong-rim had cleared these gates to some extent before—but he showed no outward reaction, merely nodding slightly.
The next gates included a space that amplified sound hundreds of times over, walls that sucked blood, and floors that spewed flames if the stones weren't stepped on in the correct order.
There were also gates with nearly invisible thin wires stretched across them, or chambers that flooded the air with mind-numbing poisonous incense.
But for Bu Eun-seol, who had already overcome countless traps, none of these gates proved particularly daunting.
Whoosh.
Yet suddenly, he halted in his tracks.
"What's wrong?"
"Brother Yu."
Bu Eun-seol's expression was a mix of disbelief and irritation.
Yu Cheong-rim averted his gaze like a puppy caught needing to pee.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Unable to endure Bu Eun-seol's stern glare any longer, Yu Cheong-rim reluctantly pulled out an antique wine cup from his sleeve and set it down.
"Wait, when did this even get into my sleeve?"
"Brother Yu."
"Hahaha. Habits are terrifying things, aren't they? Utterly useless junk like this..."
Every time he reached into his sleeves, more antiques tumbled out—wine cups, porcelain, even scrolls inscribed with indecipherable writings.
—Tch!
Had So Ok-rim been here, her massive fist would have already collided with Yu Cheong-rim's face.
For some reason, Bu Eun-seol missed her terribly today.
"These things aren't even worth money. Why steal them?"
"It's just a habit..."
Yu Cheong-rim tried to brush it off, but upon meeting Bu Eun-seol's crimson eyes, he straightened his expression and spoke brightly.
"These sell for good money in the Central Plains."
Antiques from India fetched high prices in the black market.
"Speaking of which, why doesn't the Holy King sell these? His livelihood would improve drastically."
As Yu Cheong-rim hastily changed the subject, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Ratna City's poverty, disease, and famine aren't problems that can be solved by selling trinkets."
The city's greatest plight was the decades-long, unrelenting drought.
Even if they sold every antique here, it wouldn't address the root of the issue.
"I see."
Yu Cheong-rim wiped his nose and pointed to the gate ahead.
"We're running out of time. We should hurry."
This gate was inscribed with what seemed like a thousand scattered characters, some arranged in meaningful patterns at specific positions.
It was a gate of riddles—posing questions and demanding answers.
The challenges here required not only profound knowledge of astronomy and geography but also exceptional wisdom, with some questions so profound that only the most erudite could solve them.
Removing his mask, Bu Eun-seol unraveled them all—through innate insight, vast knowledge, and the wisdom passed down from his grandfather.
Yet the questions regenerated endlessly.
By the time the second day arrived—
Rumble.
A massive door, carved with countless treasure motifs, finally revealed itself.
"We did it!"
Yu Cheong-rim also tossed aside his mask and cheered.
"Even unopened, auspicious energy flows from it. This must be where the Sacred Artifact lies."
But no matter how long they waited, the colossal stone door refused to budge.
They tried pushing and pulling using the treasure carvings as leverage, yet the door remained immovable.
"Why won't it open?"
After a moment of thought, Yu Cheong-rim struck it with a burst of palm energy.
"Ack—!"
He clutched his swollen hand, rolling on the ground in pain.
The Stone Gate was harder than diamond—his palm had puffed up like a steamed bun.
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol examined the gate carefully before channeling the Heavenly Light Endless Art into it.
Crackle.
Mysterious characters—ancient oracle bone script—began etching themselves onto the stone.
"Huh?"
Yu Cheong-rim scrambled up and read the inscription aloud.
"This gate cannot be opened alone. The greedy and the selfless... must join forces?"
His eyes widened comically.
"Lord, what does this mean?"
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol pondered deeply.
"The greedy and the selfless."
After a long moment, he nodded.
"Brother Yu, pull on that door."
His voice was calm.
"I'll push."
"What kind of answer is that?"
"It seems to be a riddle linking human nature to the act of opening the door."
Bu Eun-seol explained.
"A selfless person, indifferent to treasure and altruistic, would push. A greedy one would naturally pull."
"Oooh."
Yu Cheong-rim gasped in admiration and yanked on the protruding treasure carvings.
At the same time, Bu Eun-seol pushed with all his might.
Groooan.
With a brilliant flash of light, the massive stone chamber was finally unveiled.
"Lord, wait a moment."
True to his title as the Divine Thief, Yu Cheong-rim didn't rush in.
Instead, he cautiously inspected the interior for traps.
"It's safe to enter."
Inside, an oppressive silence hung in the air.
No treasures were in sight—only an altar at the center, upon which rested a hemispherical vessel.
The bowl appeared as if carved from the dark side of the moon, smooth yet radiating an unfathomable black glow.
And within it—
Instead of the dazzling jewels or ancient orbs Yu Cheong-rim had mentioned, there was only an abrupt, pitch-black liquid.
The liquid resembled the primordial chaos of the universe before birth, as if alive and breathing, dyed in profound darkness.
Drip, drip.
Even stranger was how the liquid continuously morphed in unpredictable patterns.
One moment, it lay still like a tranquil surface—the next, it swirled violently, forming miniature whirlpools.
At times, it sharpened into needle-like points, and at others, dispersed into fine particles like mist, creating fleeting illusions.
"Huh?"
Yu Cheong-rim, who had been staring at the awe-inspiring and terrifying black liquid, suddenly widened his eyes.
"Why is this here?"
"You recognize it?"
"Well... Back when you, Lord, destroyed the Celestial Herb Forest—the Infinite Realm's headquarters—there was something like this stored in their secret chamber."
Yu Cheong-rim spoke with a fearful expression.
"I didn't exactly loot it, more like... investigated a little..."
Wiping away cold sweat, he lowered his voice.
"It seemed like a mysterious artifact, so I tried to take it... nearly died, and in the end, couldn't bring it with me."
"Why not?"
"Because the moment I touched it—"
Rumble.
At that moment, the opposite wall of the stone chamber slid open, revealing a white silhouette.
"So you've finally made it here."
A woman stepped forward, her voice calm, clad in robes that emitted an ethereal glow.
It was none other than the Moon Wheel Saint King, Tariga.
Tap, tap.
Despite witnessing Bu Eun-seol and Yu Cheong-rim trespassing into the Absolute Secret Grounds where the sacred artifact of Moon Wheel Palace was kept—
She showed no great surprise, merely walking forward with composure.
"You've worked hard."
She had known since they entered this place.
"Thanks to you, I can finally retrieve the sacred artifact I've been unable to take out all this time."
Yu Cheong-rim immediately grasped the situation and shouted,
"You used us?!"
"That would be correct."
"Why?"
The Moon Wheel Saint King's answer was unexpected.
"Because I couldn't retrieve the artifact myself."
She continued matter-of-factly.
"The next Saint King has not appeared for a long time, and in the meantime, I had to recklessly expend my divine power to alleviate the drought."
Her expression darkened.
"As a result, I lost all my divine power. Now, I can't even open the sealed door to the artifact."
"But we don't have divine power."
"If one lacks divine power, they must not only reach the pinnacle of martial arts but also possess wisdom and insight at their peak."
Her gaze fixed intently on Bu Eun-seol.
"And only when a greedy person and a selfless one join forces can the door to the sacred artifact be opened."
"So you were waiting for us to retrieve the artifact for you."
At Bu Eun-seol's quiet remark, the Moon Wheel Saint King nodded.
"Precisely."
If her words were true—
Then she was another individual capable of foreseeing events and reading the heavenly secrets.
"I possess no ability to read fate or foresee the future."
As if reading Bu Eun-seol's thoughts, the Saint King's eyes narrowed slightly.
"But as the Moon Wheel Saint King, I can only perceive matters related to the next Saint King."
When the next Saint King appears, signs or dreams reveal glimpses of the future.
She had already foreseen everything—from So Ok-rim and Bu Eun-seol's arrival to their discovery of the artifact.
"Hahaha. Unfortunately, we weren't here to steal the artifact."
"Not steal it?"
"Of course not. We merely wanted to confirm something."
Yu Cheong-rim's gaze turned icy as he glared at the Saint King.
"I've heard this artifact is called Sacrifice, haven't I?"
His voice was frigid.
"And to use it, the Saint King must offer themselves as the price. Isn't that right?"
"You're quite knowledgeable about our palace's sacred artifact."
She did not deny it.
"Correct. Only the Saint Kings of our lineage can use it, and they must sacrifice themselves to do so."
"Then rather than sacrificing yourself, it'd be far simpler to sacrifice an unrelated woman from the Central Plains, wouldn't it?"
Yu Cheong-rim was certain now.
The Saint King had no intention of sacrificing herself—instead, she planned to install So Ok-rim as the new Saint King.
"Tell me!"
With a sharp cry, he thrust his finger accusingly at the Moon Wheel Saint King.
"Am I wrong?!"
Clatter.
Perhaps his movement was too forceful—
Or perhaps the Saint King had manipulated the Harmonization—
But the hidden items in his sleeve suddenly spilled out.
Materials for counterfeiting—
Special clay, a liquid used to rapidly harden objects, and pigment-filled medicine bottles meant for coloring.
"Ahaha."
Yu Cheong-rim, who had been pointing at the Saint King with a solemn expression, scratched his head awkwardly.
There was no way someone like the Moon Wheel Saint King, a collector of antiques, wouldn't recognize these materials.
"Why are these in my sleeve? Ah! That old man in Kitten Alley forced me to buy them cheap. Oh dear, this is going to cause unnecessary misunderstandings."
As he rambled nonsense, the atmosphere grew even colder.
Bu Eun-seol pressed a hand to his forehead.
Had the Moon Wheel Saint King not been present, he would have frozen that insufferable mouth of Yu Cheong-rim's shut.
"Had this been fifty years ago, I might have entertained such thoughts."
Then, the Moon Wheel Saint King spoke in a composed voice.
"But I have lived long enough. Moreover, considering the people of Ratna City, wouldn't it be better for a young ruler to lead them for a long time?"
"Are you saying you intend to sacrifice yourself?"
"It is hardly a sacrifice."
The Moon Wheel Saint King replied with serene composure.
"Past Saint Kings, before their deaths, used the Sacred Artifact to aid Ratna City."
"Lies. Isn't that artifact known as one that can 'find anything'?"
Yu Cheong-rim refused to let go of his suspicion.
"What does a drought have to do with the Sacred Artifact?"
"The drought in Ratna City is not a recent occurrence."
The Moon Wheel Saint King spoke calmly.
"This Sacrificial Relic can bring rain, so whenever the drought grew severe, the Saint Kings would bring it forth."
"......"
"And for the people, rain was something they sought more desperately than anything else—something 'they could not exchange for anything.'"
She let out a deep sigh.
"But as generations passed, the context of the drought faded, and only the phrase 'can find anything' remained."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening silently, finally spoke.
"So, the phrase 'desperately seeking rain' was broadly reinterpreted as 'can find anything'?"
"That is correct."
The reason Ratna City had managed to survive all this time—
It was because, generation after generation, the Saint Kings had sacrificed themselves to use the artifact.
Then, Yu Cheong-rim asked:
"Then, do you truly intend to use the artifact by sacrificing yourself?"
"If it means escaping this long drought, wouldn't it be a small price to pay?"
Seeing the Moon Wheel Saint King's tranquil smile, neither Bu Eun-seol nor Yu Cheong-rim could say another word.
It felt as though their own words would only tarnish the nobility of her sacrifice.
In the end, Yu Cheong-rim's assumption had been wrong.
The Moon Wheel Saint King was genuinely a benevolent and noble figure.
"This coronation will be Ratna City's celebration."
The Moon Wheel Saint King, smiling faintly, lifted the Sacred Artifact.
"For it will be the moment we finally escape this long drought."
Then, she looked at Bu Eun-seol with an inscrutable expression.
"And you... you worked hard. To protect the palace and its people."
When Bu Eun-seol remained silent, the Moon Wheel Saint King smiled kindly before slowly retreating inward.
"I—I......"
Yu Cheong-rim could not speak.
The Moon Wheel Saint King's impending death was only the second problem.
Because of his own misjudgment, wouldn't Vice Chief So ultimately have to become the next Moon Wheel Saint King?
"Lord."
Yu Cheong-rim prostrated himself in apology.
"Forgive me. Because of me, the wrong judgment was—"
"No, it's fine."
Surprisingly, Bu Eun-seol was utterly composed.
"She will not become the Saint King."
"What?"
"Instead, I have a request for you."
Before coming here—
Bu Eun-seol's gaze deepened as he recalled the information obtained from the Four Sacred Tribes.
"At the upcoming coronation, I will attend as the Martial Soul Society Leader."
"The Martial Soul Society Leader? You, my Lord?"
"Yes. I have already laid out all the plans."
"What in the world—"
Bu Eun-seol continued his explanation with a grave expression.
"—A rain-summoning ritual will be held to coincide with the coronation of the new Saint King."
As this rumor spread, the expressions of Ratna City's people grew solemn.
They knew that holding the ritual meant the Moon Wheel Saint King would sacrifice herself by using the Sacred Artifact.
Finally, the day of the new Moon Wheel Saint King's coronation arrived.
Though hundreds, thousands of citizens filled the palace grounds—
Not a single soul dared to make a sound, and only the occasional muffled sob could be heard.
A high altar had been erected in the palace, atop which lay a smooth, hemispherical metal object tinged with black.
And within it—a liquid darker than the deepest night.
The motionless surface, still as the void, was as black as the abyss of the cosmos.
The name of this artifact was Sacrifice—
A vessel of the most primal and tragic contract, one that fulfilled wishes at the cost of life.
Step. Step.
The Moon Wheel Saint King slowly walked toward the altar.
Clad in simple yet dignified robes, her gaze was serene.
With each step she took up the stairs, the people's shoulders hunched further, and the elderly wept silently.
For this noble woman—
Was about to offer herself as a sacrifice to bring life-giving rain to the parched land of Ratna City.
Standing before the altar, the Moon Wheel Saint King took a steadying breath.
Then, she slowly raised her head and surveyed the people.
In their eyes, sorrow, despair, and the faintest thread of hope were intertwined.
"Soon, a new Saint King will be born."
Her voice rang clear.
"To celebrate this joy and blessing, we shall perform the rain-summoning ritual."
Finishing her words, she smiled faintly.
That smile was warm, as though sharing the last remnants of her warmth.
Then, the Moon Wheel Saint King turned her gaze to the vessel. Her right hand slowly, ever so slowly, reached toward the black liquid.
Sssss—
The people did not see the sight, all kneeling and bowing their heads.
Bu Eun-seol, too, lowered his head in respect.
Time itself seemed to freeze as her fingertip touched the ink-black surface.
Plink.
In that instant, the Moon Wheel Saint King's complexion turned deathly pale.
Hssss—
A strange sound followed as her life force seemed to evaporate into nothingness.
Just as her eyes were about to close—
CRACK!
A thunderclap roared across the distant sky.
At the same time, a black and a crimson shadow each plummeted down beneath the altar.
Their eyes flashed with an eerie radiance, and ominous energies cascaded down their entire bodies.
They were none other than two of the Eight Overlords of India—the Myriad-Bones Blood King Bazrakan and the Dream Lord Rahula of the Phantom Dream Fortress.