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**Rebirth Sword God Volume 86, Chapter 10**

At my words, Kwayoung was taken aback.

“W-what are you? I admit that you’re the best in the Central Plains, but this concerns the fate of Earth! How do you plan to negotiate against that terrifying Demon God?”

[…….]

“There are things that only those who have seen the boundless universe can comprehend. The owner of this space is a Great Being beyond human imagination… Even a typical god is nothing more than a child in their presence. Please, don’t be reckless.”

Kwayoung’s words weren’t just condescending; they reflected an raw fear. He truly believed that the [Old Ruler] hiding in the [Palace] was such an overwhelming force that no human could ever win against it. However, despite his heartfelt caution, I simply chuckled and replied.

[Of course, they must be highly esteemed. But I am not afraid at all.]

“This madness… It’s pointless to be reckless in front of us.”

[It’s not recklessness. I’ve survived against far greater beings than that one.]

“……?!”

As the audience gaped in disbelief, I spoke calmly.

[Trust me. Once I grow a bit stronger… I will negotiate with that being and prevent the world’s destruction.]

I could go find the ruler at the very core right now, but the timing wasn’t right.

If I were too weak, they wouldn’t even entertain a conversation and might see me as a bug to squash in an instant.

I had to become strong enough that my opponent would at least take me seriously.

…….

Shortly after, the crowd showed expressions of strange hope. They couldn’t seem to believe in their own transformations either, and Mangnyang, looking the most shocked, spoke.

“I just felt immense persuasion from your words. If I can feel it like this… your words carry weight.”

[If we’re going to do it, we do it; there’s no other choice, you know? I will accomplish it, so I’d appreciate your trust.]

At my words, Zhuge Yulong nodded.

“Alright then. I’ll trust you. I’m going to the core again later for the safe retreat of the Subjugation Squad, and I’ll relay this to their commander.”

[Thank you.]

It seemed I had at least granted Zhuge Yulong a minimum level of trust. Feeling relieved, I asked him.

[By the way, you mentioned a method to expand our territory using Tydaht. Zhuge Bu was talking about it; is there really a way?]

“Of course.”

Zhuge Yulong chuckled.

“I found out while using Tydaht against the [Old Ruler]. The latent ability within Tydaht is not just for nullifying martial arts. With the use of the Eight Trigrams, we can even lift divine curses.”

[You mean……]

“If you offer suitable sacrifices, Tydaht will purify vast areas and turn them into land where humans can live. Using the Eight Trigrams is more than enough to cleanse the curse bestowed by Tsukuyomi’s [Night].”

Seeing the method arise, I couldn’t help but leap in joy.

[Oh!! So that was it. But why haven’t you used this method until now?]

“Because we had nothing to offer as sacrifices. To be precise, we intended to use human sacrifices, but your companions were vehemently opposed, so we couldn’t even attempt it. However, without human sacrifices, we can’t provide the offerings needed to draw out Tydaht’s power from the fallen human civilization in large quantities.”

[Can’t we offer treasures from the Celestial Realm?]

“Tydaht values living beings far more than the same type of treasures. Using treasures from the Celestial Realm isn’t impossible, but it’s far less efficient, which is why we’ve hesitated. And considering the remarkable capabilities of the treasures from the Celestial Realm, it’s better for humans to live a bit cramped than to risk exterminating gods.”

[…….]

It had been a long time since I heard a perspective that viewed humans solely as mere variables. It wasn’t particularly wrong, yet it was needlessly cold, which was his characteristic.

‘Yeah, this is Zhuge Yulong for you.’

I said to Zhuge Yulong.

[Now, it seems that pursuing human welfare will benefit divine killing. Please cooperate with me.]

“What do you mean?”

I explained the situation to Zhuge Yulong, who seemed a bit surprised.

“Can one really gain divine power just through faith…? Then I must help.”

[Isn’t there a way to provide offerings without human sacrifices?]

“……There is.”

[What is it?]

Zhuge Yulong’s eyes lit up.

“Portrait Immortal… that’s the only way.”

[…… No, that again… Are we back to relying on the Portrait Immortal? But Gum Cheon-jae mentioned that there aren’t any Portrait Immortals in Nanjing Castle.]

Gum Cheon-jae, who passed on the lordship to me, reported that there weren’t any Portrait Immortals in this castle. The very existence of Portrait Immortals was displeasing to the Celestial Realm, so I figured we’d have to give up on them.

But Zhuge Yulong shook his head.

“There are Portrait Immortals in Nanjing Castle. And not just any, but the greatest masterpiece ever.”

[…… What?! Gum Cheon-jae and no one knew about it? What in the world……]

“Of course, you wouldn’t know.”

With his next words, I felt once more that he was indeed Zhuge Yulong.

“Zhuge Clan and I have been secretly developing a Portrait Immortal surpassing Qin Shi Huang for many years.”

[What?!]

Did such a thing exist?!

I wasn’t the only one astonished; Mangnyang and the rest of the companions looked equally stunned. I panicked for a moment, then quickly composed myself and asked Zhuge Yulong.

[When you say Qin Shi Huang, are you referring to the Portrait Immortal of Jin (秦)?]

“……You’re right on the mark. The Zhuge Clan thought you knew everything and wanted to discuss it, exactly as you’ve guessed.”

A slight smile flickered on Zhuge Yulong’s face. After glancing around, he spoke again.

“I prefer to discuss this only between us. If that’s not possible, then I won’t say anything more.”

[Everyone here is fighting for humanity anyway. Can’t you speak freely about the Portrait Immortal?]

“If that’s the case, I’ll refuse to talk. I wouldn’t have mentioned this if it weren’t for you. If you weren’t Baek Woong, this secret would have gone to the grave with me.”

[…… Hmm.]

I looked at Mangnyang, who nodded.

“My father is correct. Even with close companions, there are things one can and cannot reveal. If you want that, there’s no need for us to know more later.”

[Then that’s settled. Let’s talk just the two of us.]

Once I agreed, Zhuge Yulong turned to Mangnyang.

“Hyan Ah, send me and Baek Woong to Nanjing Castle.”

“Understood.”

Pa-at!!

With Mangnyang’s technique, I arrived in Nanjing Castle alongside Zhuge Yulong. Zhuge Yulong, standing in the upper levels of the interior city, looked at me for a moment and then spoke.

“Before we talk about the Portrait Immortal, I want to ask. What happened to the Zhuge Clan?”

I flinched at that question. Why was he asking that? When I looked at him with confused eyes, Zhuge Yulong responded.

“With things having developed this far, there’s no way that individual hasn’t contacted you. After all, you’re connected with the Zhuge Clan through the Soul of the Nine Chambers of Thunder. You crossed the Western Regions to meet me, so there’s no way you haven’t met them.”

Zhuge Yulong’s intellect truly shone. Seeing as he knew the secret between the Zhuge Clan and me, it made sense that he collaborated closely with the Zhuge Clan. I had no reason to hide anything, so I laid out the circumstances.

[Actually, the Zhuge Clan has……]

As I recounted what I experienced in this world and the tale of how the Zhuge Clan was sleeping within my body in the form of a soul, Zhuge Yulong pondered for a moment before saying.

“If that’s the case, the Zhuge Clan has been asleep for far too long. It’s strange.”

[Why is that strange?]

“If the Zhuge Clan were truly who they are, they’d be assisting you by keeping their consciousness alive beside you, offering advice. At least they would certainly be far more efficient than they currently are. However, the fact that they’ve spent so much energy to remain in sleep for so long is something a strategist wouldn’t do.”

[Hmm……]

“It can be interpreted in two ways. One is that they want to let you move freely, collecting all the uncertain variables, while also observing whether you’re truly Baek Woong. The other is that they wish to grow alongside you.”

The latter was such a surprise that I asked Zhuge Yulong back.

“Grow?”

“Yes. In the future, acquiring strength, there couldn’t be a better vessel than you. Perhaps the Zhuge Clan made another plan from the moment they lost their body to the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

A vessel… that was a rather unsettling implication.

From long experience, I knew Zhuge Yulong had deliberately chosen a word to unsettle me. He wanted to make sure I would hear his words more keenly because of it; it was a linguistic tactic. Being the born strategist that he was, that was only to be expected, and I casually replied.

[Hmm… I don’t mind. Since I decided to trust the Zhuge Clan, that much is alright.]

“Do as you wish. The only ones who can understand the Soul Exchange Technique are fellow practitioners of the Soul Exchange Technique.”

Saying this nonchalantly, Zhuge Yulong continued.

“To keep the position of the Portrait Immortal hidden going forward, we need to block Gum Cheon-jae’s sight. Is there a way?”

Though Gum Cheon-jae was holed up somewhere within the castle, he remained the contract holder of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens. His strong divine power remained unchanged, and if we weren’t careful, our every move could be detected by the gods.

[…… Nothing in particular. With this trivial amount of divine power I currently hold, it seems impossible.]

“Could you perhaps give me that trivial amount of divine power? Then I might have a way.”

[Understood.]

Since the people of Nanjing Castle didn’t trust me much yet, the divine power I had was indeed minuscule. There was nothing to be attached to this amount, so I readily extended my hand to hand over the divine power to Zhuge Yulong.

Kuuuuu

Zhuge Yulong manifested the divine power in the shape of a sphere of light above his palm, looking surprised.

“…… This, is not trivial at all… You felt that this was just dust?”

[Isn’t it really a small amount? More?]

“It far exceeds several times that of an ordinary divine artifact. To consider this mere dust means you originally possessed immense power…”

Murmuring in admiration, Zhuge Yulong shouted moments later.

“Come forth, Tydaht!!”

Swoosh!!

In the next moment, the Eight Trigrams Diagram of Tydaht was summoned and floated near Zhuge Yulong. I sensed that the energy contained within that Eight Trigrams Diagram was extraordinary, and soon after, I realized something, exclaiming.

[Has it been released…? Is this the Released Tydaht!!]

For sure. The spirit energy I had initially felt from Tydaht was on a completely different level. To emit energy like that, it must have been the Released Seven Luminaries. Then Zhuge Yulong chuckled.

“Hyun has become the direct heir of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens and can now use the Corpse Dissolution Technique, and it has also been confirmed that the Three Sovereigns do not interfere in worldly matters. There’s no reason not to release Tydaht.”

[Then, could it be that the spirit of Tydaht has awakened as well?]

“See for yourself.”