---

I asked Fuxi, and he smiled.

“Try creating a [human]. If you practice divine power, there’s no better task than this.”

“…?!”

What? What did you just say?! That’s ridiculous!

I was taken aback and replied, “How, how do I create a human? No matter how powerful the divine power is…”

“Hmm? What are you talking about? The method of creating humans is divine power.”

“Humans now are merely modifications of the original humans created in the past using divine power. Creating from complete nothingness would take a lot of effort, but this much is something the [Old Ruler]s often did when they created the servant races. You can definitely do it.”

“Ah, it’s not a matter of whether I can do it or not.”

“Come on, give it a try.”

While I stood there dazed by the unexpected task, Fuxi elegantly unfurled his fan and thrust it forward.

“Human, arise!”

Rumble, rumble.

Moments later, a clump of earth began to rise, seemingly defying gravity, from the ground. The clump of dirt transformed into a stick-like shape and was soon engulfed in a chaotic light, emitting a stark black and white glow. As the light subsided, it revealed a completely naked human form.

Fuxi snapped his fan closed and said, “Pretty simple, right?”

“…”

I gaped in shock.

‘So this is the **Three Sovereigns**!’

Could he really create a human from a lump of dirt with just a word?!

In amazement, I suddenly realized that the newly created human had no light in its eyes. It seemed devoid of consciousness, so I examined it closely and asked Fuxi, “It has no soul, does it?”

“Of course. Unless you create an artificial soul to insert, a human made this way will be soulless.”

“Then can a soul also be created with divine power?”

“Of course! If it couldn’t, those servant races wouldn’t even be able to move, would they? Though creating them as a pair takes considerable effort, it’s usually easier to create a soul generator and either stuff it in there or copy a soul through sorcery.”

“…”

“Hmm, now that I think about it…”

Fuxi said with an understanding tone, “It seems you don’t quite grasp what a god is. Did you just see it as a powerful monster?”

“…”

“It’s something you could easily do yourself, you know.”

I was left speechless by Fuxi’s words.

He was right. I had thought of gods as beings I had to surpass, so I hadn’t fully acknowledged how great they truly were. Thus, witnessing such an effortless creation of life and soul left me astonished.

And what’s more—

‘The problem is that it doesn’t seem particularly difficult…’

I felt like I could do what Fuxi just did. That intuition made me realize my powers were approaching the realm of the divine.

With unease, I slowly stretched my hands forward and muttered, “Human, arise…”

Whoosh.

In that moment, without having learned anything, I could sense the divine power moving in numerous branches, swirling chaotically. I was able to arrange this flow as if it were second nature. A little while later, dirt began to rise before me, just like Fuxi’s, and it started emitting black and white light until it finally materialized into a naked human.

And that form was something completely unfamiliar to me.

“Eh?”

Who is that? Have I ever seen someone like this?

At that moment, Heuk Woong, who was next to me, crossed his arms and remarked, [I’ve never seen a face like this either. Who is it?]

Who in the world is this?

One thing was sure: despite being a completely new face, I strangely felt like I’d seen it somewhere before. It was a sense of déjà vu, perhaps?

Just then, Fuxi, who had been watching from the side, said, “I, Fuxi, command! Creature, what is your name?”

That wasn’t just a simple question; it was a command imbued with Fuxi’s divine power.

Moments later, the human I had created responded to that command, opening its mouth.

“I am… Shim Su-ryeok…!!”

“…?!”

“What?!”

Both Fuxi and I were shocked, as was Heuk Woong.

You mean to say this newly created being can actually state its name?!

But then, Shim Su-ryeok continued with words that struck me with shock and horror.

“I am Shim Su-ryeok of the **Fire Spirit Techniques**… friend of Howol!!”

**Fire Spirit Techniques**?!

Is he an expert of the Four Great Families?!

‘Now that I think about it, this body is sturdy, which must mean he’s been training in martial arts for a long time.’

I could almost feel the depth of his martial skill and the kind of reputation he might have held in the Jianghu.

But wait, why did he just pop out with his own will when I thoughtlessly created a human?!

I stuttered as I addressed him, “Uh… You said your name is Shim Su-ryeok? You’re a friend of Howol, right? The Master of the White Lotus Sect?”

Shim Su-ryeok, or whoever he called himself, stared blankly around him and then exclaimed with a voice full of surprise, “What is going on? Why am I here? Who are you?!”

It seemed he had fluffed up a self-introduction but was still bewildered about where he was.

I scratched my head in response to his confusion and said, “I’m Baek Woong, inheritor of Howol’s will. This guy behind me is Heuk Woong, and the one over there is Fuxi.”

“What?! You inherit Howol’s will? But you and that Fuxi are identical! Are you two brothers?!”

I instinctively glanced at Fuxi. Indeed, as if looking in a mirror, we appeared almost identical; the only differences being our clothing and whether or not we had one arm.

It was clear that anyone could mistake us for twin brothers.

Fearing that explaining what had happened would only raise more suspicion, I begrudgingly nodded, “Yes.”

“Hmm, then where is this exactly?!”

“This is a cave in the forest of Takrok.”

“Takrok? I was sure I was last at… Baekdu Mountain…”

“Baekdu Mountain?”

“…”

Shim Su-ryeok shook his head vigorously. Then he suddenly shouted.

“Gah! My memories are all jumbled! Do you know why I’m here?!”

“That is…”

“No, now that I see it, why are you not wearing any clothes! This is insane!”

Seeing Shim Su-ryeok, startled as he covered himself, left me speechless. It seemed that even with scattered memories, he still maintained a sense of shame; it looked like he was experiencing memory loss or confusion.

“Well, I should at least provide you with clothes. Baek Woong, create some for him.”

“Um… Can I do that?”

Understanding that Fuxi’s words implied for me to summon clothing using divine power, I extended both hands forward. Moments later, according to my thoughts, the attire of a typical man appeared before me.

Whoosh.

“Wow, I can actually do this.”

Creating even basic clothes felt as easy as breathing. I handed the clothes to Shim Su-ryeok, who eyed me warily and said, “What is this? How did you make clothes out of nothing? Are you a sorcerer?”

Not wanting to get into the hassle of explaining that I used divine power to create them, I casually replied, “Yeah, I’m a sorcerer.”

“Are you saying you brought me here by sorcery?!”

“No, it’s not like that; just put on the damn clothes and stop exposing yourself.”

“Guh…”

Shim Su-ryeok grumbled as he put on the clothes, and miraculously, they fit him perfectly. Without conscious effort, it seemed like my intention to create clothes that suited him had impacted the creation process. Once finished, Shim Su-ryeok said, “This is some peculiar attire. I’ve never seen anyone wear clothes like this before.”

“…”

Of course, that would be the case. The clothes I made were from the Ming period. If Shim Su-ryeok really was a friend of Howol, then he would surely be a figure from over a thousand years ago. As the time periods differ, there’s no reason he would be familiar with the clothes of the Great Ming Empire. I thought along those lines and informed Shim Su-ryeok, “While I was practicing sorcery, I used the creation technique and you suddenly appeared. I’m confused because this was entirely unexpected.”

“What do you mean? Sorcery is amazing! You can create people?! But why am I in Takrok?!”

“I don’t know. What I’m sure of is that I didn’t abduct you. Do you recall your last memory?”

“Hmm…”

Shim Su-ryeok seemed deep in thought. Then he suddenly said, “I remember! Howol was performing a ritual to suppress the energy of the **狂龍** with the help of the Mountain Spirit when I was guarding him! Yes, I was protecting Howol at that time!”

“…?!”

“But why am I here? Takrok is near Guanzhong, right? I must have left the Central Plains long ago…”

What on earth?!

Stunned, I felt a wave of alarm wash over me. Then, amidst his revelations, I caught a clue and shouted, “**太白神功**! That’s definitely **拳聖 李揮**’s exclusive technique, isn’t it?!”

There’s no mistaking it!

Not long ago, I had fought against a clone of Li Hui from the Outer Realm, and I clearly remembered that **太白神功** was the name of the martial art he used! He mentioned that it had been passed down the generations of the original family!

But why was Howol practicing **太白神功**, which belonged to the Li family?!

Shim Su-ryeok suddenly pressed his temples, seemingly overwhelmed, groaning, “Urgh… it’s so loud. I can’t think straight! My memories are all tangled up!”

“…”

“No, but… why should I even be telling you this? How can I trust that you inherited Howol’s will? You don’t seem to be a martial artist, but rather a sorcerer!”

“Look!”

Thud!

I immediately began to fluidly demonstrate all the techniques I knew from the Four Great Families right there. Shim Su-ryeok’s gaze fixated on me, and once I finished the demonstration of my martial arts, I conjured a sword from the air and swiftly showcased the sword techniques of the Thunder God Lineage.

Bang, bang, bang!

After about half a meal’s worth of time had passed, I gracefully sheathed my sword and, looking at Shim Su-ryeok, said, “As you can see, I am originally a swordsman of the Thunder God Lineage, but I have also mastered some techniques from other martial arts. Furthermore, I learned of Howol through his disciple, Seong Jin.”

“Hmm, indeed… the techniques of the Thunder God Lineage… What an incredible master you are!”

Shim Su-ryeok exclaimed in awe. Then he suddenly responded, “Seong Jin! Yes, I remember that name! Howol said he had a disciple left in the Central Plains!”

“Now will you believe me? After Howol left for Haedong, Seong Jin was said to have vanished, but he’s right here on Baekdu Mountain.”

“No… it’s just… urgh…”

Shim Su-ryeok suddenly grabbed his head with both hands and appeared to be in considerable distress. He then started trembling through his entire body, declaring, “When we discovered the mysterious **魔道四軸** built on Baekdu Mountain… we were drawn into an unknown place, and I asked Princess Ayuta for help… but… the energy of the **狂龍** surged again… Aah… Aaaah!!”

Rumble!

At that moment, crimson light erupted from Shim Su-ryeok’s whole body, and his skin began to darken. I quickly took several steps back, surprised, and then I saw his body swell dramatically.

Crack!

The skin that seemed to be darkening transformed into dragon scales, and his entire body began to resemble that of a Dragon Person. Seeing his tail gradually emerge, I gulped.

‘What’s happening? Is that a Dragon Soldier made in the Imperial Palace? No, it feels completely different!’

I could feel that a shadowy power enveloped Shim Su-ryeok, one far superior to the malevolent magic of Dragon Soldiers. As his body rapidly transformed into that of a Dragon Person, Fuxi, who had been observing, said, “I’m not sure of the details, but that is indeed the true power of a dragon. It’s also a type of divine power.”

“Is it different from a regular Dragon Person?”

“Indeed. A true dragon, like the Giant Race, is a supreme race possessing a body that can soar freely across the cosmos, partially transcending the Material World. How he’s managing this is a mystery, but that individual possesses the true power of a dragon and is likely losing control, becoming rampant right now.”

“Is now really the time for analysis?! What’s the way to stop this?”

I might be able to kill him using Heuk Woong’s powers, but I wanted to avoid dying without gaining anything!

“Hmm, if Shim Su-ryeok is indeed your creation, are you asking me to handle the cleanup?”

“What? That’s not it!”

Hearing Fuxi’s icy voice made me flinch. In fact, he was a member of the **Rulers** and a mythical figure among the Three Sovereigns. Caught up in my worries, Fuxi chuckled, “I’ll lend my help once—this situation is quite interesting to me.”

Then, taking a moment to breathe in, Fuxi suddenly unleashed an enormous roar.

**太龍吼**!

Boom—!!

In a burst, a massive sound wave erupted and surrounded Shim Su-ryeok. For a moment, he thrashed around within the scope of the roar, but eventually, he returned to his human form and collapsed unconscious shortly after.

“Gah.”

Rumble!

Checking Shim Su-ryeok’s pulse, I was relieved to find that his body was normal. He had just fainted, allowing me to let out a sigh of relief, “Phew, thank you.”

“You’re truly lucky. Only a handful of individuals across the entire universe could adequately prevent the awakening of a true dragon. One of them happened to be right in front of you.”

“…”

After speaking, Fuxi slowly walked towards the unconscious Shim Su-ryeok to examine his condition. He then remarked, “I think I understand why he was trying to awaken a true dragon.”

“What’s the reason?”

“That’s because someone must have shared tremendous power with him. This individual lacks any sorcery or demonic abilities, meaning he couldn’t have seized it, so it’s clear he must have willingly accepted the ritual to gain this power. Thus, the dragon power he received was dormant within him.”

“Hmm… if that’s true…”

Upon my expression stiffening, Fuxi nodded.

“I suspect this is only a fraction of the dragon power he accepted. When Howol awakened the energy of the **狂龍**, it surged uncontrollably, and in that process, Howol’s companions must have shared his power to prevent the **狂龍** from running rampant.”

“…!!”

“And you summoned him in that state.”

I widened my eyes at Fuxi’s words. “Summoned? But I thought I merely created him!”

“Indeed. As I consider it, the circumstances hardly align with you having created Shim Su-ryeok using divine power. It violates all laws of magic and sorcery in this universe. While creation allows for the crafting of materials and souls, it doesn’t grant the ability to freely generate causality. This is why you thought it was a creation, but, in reality, you likely performed a **summon**.”

Impossible!

I was astonished into silence. “So you’re saying that I **summoned** Shim Su-ryeok’s body and soul from another era, transcending the **Great Cycle**?!”

“That’s one way to put it.”

“That’s absurd. How can that even be possible? This is the Ancient Era, yet I somehow managed to summon someone from a time of civilization?!”

“…”

Fuxi paused for a moment before saying, “That as it may be. While summoning seems more plausible, even that remains quite impossible. It seems we need to wake up Shim Su-ryeok and gather more details to understand this mystery.”

“Um… I’ll wake him up right away.”

“Wait a bit. The true dragon’s energy swirling within him means he is like a ticking time bomb even if he appears unharmed. It will take at least seven days of internal calm for the energy to settle, so we should leave him be till then.”

“Understood.”

At that moment, Heuk Woong, who had been listening to our conversation, suddenly chimed in.

[Master, why not try summoning once more? There’s a possibility that an unexpected individual could appear again!]

“I can’t believe I’d go through this chaos again…”

[Give it a shot. It would be harder later on.]

Seeing Heuk Woong glance at Fuxi made me understand what he meant. Given that Fuxi could help me as he did just now, it’d be better to give it a try while he was present.

“Human, arise!”

*Boom!*

This time, unlike before, a simple, soulless human appeared. Fuxi observed this and said, “It seems the long-accumulated causality turned your first attempt into a summon through the creation. If a **Reborn Person** can rotate the **Cycle**, then this is wholly expected.”

“That means…”

Fuxi glanced down at the unconscious Shim Su-ryeok and said, “This person was not purely summoned by accident. You two must be familiar with each other.”

After Shim Su-ryeok fainted, I casually tossed him into a wooden coffin. Even though he claimed we were familiar, I had no memory of him; therefore, I felt it best not to delve into it further. Then, I resumed practicing divine power creation.

*Whoosh!!*

It was now my tenth time creating [human]. After witnessing my tenth success, Fuxi folded his fan with a snap and said, “That’s enough practice for now. More attempts wouldn’t be meaningful.”

“What? But I’m still failing occasionally…”

Having had about twenty tries with just ten successes, the success rate didn’t feel particularly high. I thought it was just slightly below fifty percent, so it seemed to me I should dedicate more effort to practice. Fuxi then elaborated, “The failures currently are not due to lack of skill but rather a feeling of repulsion.”

“Repulsion?”

“The doubts about whether someone like me should indeed wield such divine power, along with the fear of crossing the line of being human, are causing the failures. You can’t tell me you haven’t felt any of that?”

“…”

I fell silent. Fuxi seemed to strike a chord, as his analysis resonated with me. Surely, if I could freely summon life and soul whenever I wanted, I’d transcended humanity a long time ago! If it were merely a power increase, it wouldn’t be necessary to dwell greatly on human identity, yet having the ability to manifest humans like a pressing button inevitably caused me to feel fear.

Fuxi spoke in a relaxed tone, “After all, deities do not require practice for such things. It’s ridiculous to think a god needs to train or grow stronger. Gods are born at their peak; even if they did put in effort, it would merely be to master minor skills. You can consider it a process of breaking free from the rigid structure of humanity due to how strongly you cling to your human identity.”

I recoiled at his words, responding, “But I am human!”

“True. You appear to believe you are human as long as you maintain that worldview. The view is probably the most universal and valid perspective of humanity. When viewed through that lens, philosophical questions about the identity of humanity might feel like mere jests.”

Fuxi smiled broadly.

“However, to me, the dragon deity, you are already a true god, especially one on the verge of becoming a higher deity. It would be amusing to see a human declare themselves as merely an insect.”

“…”

Fuxi’s criticisms were quite biting. I didn’t want to delve deeper into what he said, so I shook my head vigorously in denial and said, “Regardless, if I can cast aside that feeling of repulsion, then I will be capable of creating anything, right?”

“Precisely. Just keep in mind that with each creation, both your causality and divine energy will be consumed in tandem. The stronger the creation, the greater the consumption. If you understand that basic principle, then being a god will pose no issue.”

As I contemplated this, I inquired, “Um… Can I perhaps also create souls?”

“What a question to ask now! Of course, you can.”

Fuxi’s finger snapped, and a shimmering light appeared at his fingertip. I watched as the light floated lazily in the air while Fuxi quietly stated, “This is a soul. It’s quite simple, so give it a try.”

“Ah, it’s not that easy to just create it…”

“I’d say you’re looking at it the wrong way. Leaving is what one does when trying to reach the opposite realm of chaos, right?”

“I don’t quite understand…”

“Heuk Woong said it was not something that required concentration. Do you consciously focus while inhaling when you breathe? Fish don’t keep track of every flutter of their gills as they swim through water, just as you’d swim through the sea of chaos, breathing without thinking.”

“Ugh…”

“It seems you’ve trained so rigorously in Qi that you’ve developed this instinct. I may need to share the real technique with you.”

“The real technique?”

Fuxi nodded and said, “It’s more about playing around with it. Just do it casually.”

“… Playing around?”

“Being a god means even slacking off results in greatness. It’s not like this is a serious endeavor; this is merely a pastime after countless eons of living. There’s no motivation or urge to accomplish great feats like a mortal. If you fail, just try again.”

“…!!”

“When it comes to gods, everything is merely a game.”

In that moment, the word “game” struck a chord in my heart. It felt as if I was suddenly reminded of something I had long forgotten, breathing a sense of pleasure.

Especially the notion that if I failed, I could always try again provided a strong spark that made me smile without meaning to.

Right.

I was enjoying this journey.

“Yap!”

Overcome with an inexplicable feeling of exhilaration, I smiled, extending my palm forward, and in response, a vibrant blue flame of a soul appeared in front of my hand. It was so large that it was even bigger than I had made before, compared to what Fuxi had conjured, and he looked a bit surprised.

“Oh! That doesn’t seem like a soul. What have you extracted?”

“Excuse me? Not a soul?”

“Something apparently drawn from deeper within….”

As Fuxi gazed at the enormous flame I had conjured with eyes of curiosity, he nodded.

“Try inserting it into the body. I’m curious to see what happens.”

*Whoosh!*

I followed Fuxi’s instruction and inserted the flame into the human body I had created. As the flame seemed to seep into the body, it soon turned crimson, and rainbow-like energy billowed from around it like tentacles, writhing in the air.

Rumble!

“Geh!”

At that very moment, a mud-like mask was placed over the human’s body. The mask was bizarrely adorned with swells that looked like blood vessels, making it appear quite grotesque.

“Yikes.”

As I watched the horrific sight in surprise, Fuxi remarked, “This is likely a phenomenon similar to what happened earlier with Shim Su-ryeok. Your causality is too vast, causing distortions and strange phenomena during your first attempt. In Shim Su-ryeok’s case, the creation manifested as a summoning.”

“Where in the universe did that even come from?”

Fuxi’s calm words enveloped the space. “In any case, this being is no longer needed here, so I will send it back.”

*Whoosh!*

“Ahhhhk—!!”

In the next moment, the flame let out an ear-piercing shriek before vanishing, and the human body crumbled to ashes like a salt statue. I gasped when I saw the body disintegrate.

“No! It died….”

“Since it was without a soul, calling it a death is inaccurate.”

“…”

I felt I might go crazy. I had been learning how to control divine power, but I was completely overshooting the mark! Especially when I had unwittingly summoned some alien spirit earlier; it felt as if I had become another version of myself, and it gave me chills.

“Try again.”

“Right.”

This time, I properly created a soul and, inserting it into the human, appeared to see it begin to move correctly. Upon witnessing this transformation, Fuxi remarked, “This troublesome reincarnator is truly a headache. If every time you utilize divine power yields bizarre phenomena, this world might not last long.”

“… I’m so sorry.”

“This remarkable talent of yours is truly a wonder that you’re not a demon sorcerer…”

As Fuxi muttered, he then turned to Heuk Woong, stating, “Spirit, do you have a grasp on your master’s state of causality? I’ve taught pretty much everything necessary, but your master appears to hold a remarkably unique chaos within.”

[….]

Heuk Woong had crossed his arms, appearing to ponder deeply. He finally responded after a moment of thought following Fuxi’s words.

[My master is precariously balancing on the **Tai Chi**. However, the Tai Chi that exists in this realm may be completely different, and I intend to devote all my spirit and effort to help preserve that balance.]

“Oh? Really…”

[In any case, I sense that enough training has been done regarding divine power. Now it’s time to instruct in divine arts.]

“About that, I think it might be better to rearrange the order of things.”

[Are you suggesting you would like the blessing first?]

“Indeed. Since the divine arts require completely opposite talents than chaos, it’s impossible to predict how long that might take. It might be better to obtain what you can quickly and make your movements smoother. Wouldn’t that be easier for both you and us?”

[That sounds reasonable. What would you like to do now?]

Heuk Woong sought my guidance, and I nodded, saying, “That makes sense. So I’ll take the blessing for now.”

“Good then. Follow me.”

*Whoosh!*

As Fuxi turned sharply and set off, I panicked as I shouted, “Wait! What about the humans I just created…?”

“Hmm? If you insert a soul, just send them to Takrok Village. It would be good to increase the population a bit.”

“Is it okay to just generate humans like this without any connection?”

“…? What does that even matter in this age?”

“…”

“If it bores you, I will put souls into them myself.”

With a casual snap of his fingers, all the soulless humans in the building awakened, gaining consciousness. Fuxi silently pointed a finger towards the cave entrance, and the humans began to shuffle out, walking awkwardly.

This feels… too much…

I stood there dumbfounded, watching the scene unfold, when Heuk Woong advised me, [Master, get a grip.]

“No… even if that’s the case…”

[You already understood humans are worthless, having learned about the **Ihonda Technique** from Zhuge Sa. To gods, humans are like bugs—trivial beings that can be conjured at will whenever desired. Besides, you’ve merely gained the right to create humans.]

I knew that, but experiencing it firsthand felt like a significant blow to my notions of human dignity.

‘Both Fuxi and all gods can just create humans at will, millions at a time…’

Understanding that, Heuk Woong must have had no qualms about gobbling up souls for millennia in a world where human souls had vanished. Although I realized that humans lacked dignity, the impact I felt by experiencing it was much greater.

Was there even a need to exert effort to protect these insignificant humans?

If I wanted to, I could generate hundreds or thousands of humans and then just erase them as I wished.

Meanwhile, both life and death felt utterly meaningless to gods; I was beginning to feel that deeply.

While I was lost in confusion, Heuk Woong spoke softly, [Master. The balance of the Tai Chi wasn’t just a casual glimpse. The only one who will eventually witness the **end** in the heavens and earth will be you. What truly matters to you isn’t strength but rather, your deeds. I intend to help you see it through to the end.]

“… Thank you.”

[It’s nothing.]

Hearing Heuk Woong’s words provided me with some comfort. I followed Fuxi out, where he opened a dimensional door and said, “Then let’s get you your blessing.”

“Where to?”

“To the closest divine being I know of. You might very well know them as well.”

*Whoosh!*

As I stepped through the dimension with Fuxi, we suddenly arrived at a land filled with mysterious winds and towering mountains. Unlike the human world, a staggering cliff surrounded the area, filled with exotic flora and fauna, distinctly different from Mount Kunlun.

*Woosh—*

I could see dragons soaring around everywhere. While I was busy marveling at this bizarre place, Fuxi gazed upward and said, “They’re coming.”

*Whoosh!!*

From the sky, a colossal dragon swooped down, transforming into a human form upon landing on the ground. The transformation appeared smooth and flowing, and the moment I saw the being’s appearance, I felt an overwhelming pressure.

*Crack!*

‘Strong!

Now that I had learned to wield divine power more freely, I could understand what kind of strength they had in greater detail. This being had condensed an immense amount of divine energy within their human form, and it radiated the power equivalent to the **Three Sovereigns**. Moreover, they showed no consideration for humans, which meant that any ordinary person would likely lose their mind or die immediately.

The being that appeared wore white clothes, resembling a stern older gentleman. The elder glanced at both Fuxi and me, then spoke.

“Fuxi. What is that identical individual standing next to you? You gather quite an exceptional spirit here.”

“Ha ha, seems you’re reacting to Heuk Woong too. I suppose it might concern you.”

“What brings you here?”

“It’s nothing special. I wanted to know where you stand regarding the ongoing conflict between me and the emperor. I wish to hear your answer today.”

Upon hearing this, the elder’s expression soured as he replied, “We are the children and guardians of this star. We shall not take sides. We have consistently declared our neutrality.”

“Would such flimsy neutrality hold against the overwhelming logic of the strong preying upon the weak? Whether it’s victory or defeat, you must make a choice if life is to continue thriving on this star by your hand.”

“We will not be swayed by any form of coercion.”

“Indeed?”

With a mischievous grin, Fuxi looked at me and said, “Baek Woong. Show him the **seal**. I think the wicked wind dragon in front of us will change their mind.”

“What?!”

What are you talking about?

Just then, Heuk Woong seemed to catch on and spoke up unexpectedly.

[As expected… The deity wouldn’t hand over the blessing without a price. You deliberately brought me here from the start to potentially gain twice the benefit.]

“Are you reluctant, Heuk Woong?”

[No. If it benefits my master, I shall do so.]

Mumbling that, Heuk Woong suddenly clasped his claws together and unleashed his power.

Celestial Dragon’s Blessing!

After a flash of radiant light, I felt a burning sensation wash over my palm, and a strange sigil that I’d seen somewhere before materialized on my hand. As I felt perplexed by this reminder, Fuxi approached me, lifting my palm to show the elder.

“Look. This individual has indeed received recognition from you, hasn’t he?”

“…!!”

At this point, the elder’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief. He then bellowed, “Who are you?!”

“Who am I to have such a seal once granted by the Dragon King, **應龍**?!”

The Dragon King’s seal!

It was a blessing I had received from the **Fire Dragon Incarnate** during my time spent in **Dark Heaven Village**. I gradually recalled that moment.

[This ability is a type of sorcery that manipulates causality. You can restore or strengthen the ties that exist within you and summon them without restraints. If used offensively, you can mark a deity from the celestial realm, such as the Great Immortal, and instantly erase them.]

[The power from the Dragon King seems meant to scrutinize the heavens. As it is, this ability is restricted to those among the gods and cannot be used on archdeities like the Three Sovereigns, and I’ll not be able to use it for another decade. Hence why I have not utilized it against that divine sorcerer.]

At that time, I had been unable to take full advantage of the Dragon King’s seal, with the opportunity coming when the spider guarding the village’s borders let me pass after seeing it. Since then, as I found myself with other blessings and abilities, this detail had slipped my mind. However, now I realized that Heuk Woong had returned the Dragon King’s seal to me! It must be due to his powers associated with the Celestial Dragon’s Blessing, allowing the recovery of abilities previously obtained.

‘That’s right… the Dragon King’s seal definitely belongs to the **Dragon Deity**!’

Moreover, as a royal insignia, it surely held utmost significance for the Dragon King. Having it, a total stranger, stand before him must be an astonishing shock for him.

Seeing the elder’s inquiry, my thoughts momentarily froze as Heuk Woong stated.

[Master. This is an opportunity. Let’s obtain the blessing with our strength.]

“…!!”

Upon hearing Heuk Woong, I figured out what I needed to do. Right now was the perfect time for negotiation, just like I would do with any other person! I swiftly adjusted my expression, displaying an affable smile towards the Dragon King, and then declared, “Dragon King! If you refuse our request, I’ll head straight to the emperor and present this seal as proof of our alliance!”

“What?!”

“If the one holding the Dragon King’s seal stands against me, what do you think the emperor will think? If you are not careful, you will be marked as one of the emperor’s enemies!”

“…”

The elder frowned, pondering this. I could see Fuxi looking on, amused.

“Spilling such words lightly won’t gain your cooperation, Dragon King. Rather, it’s a simple matter. Despite your power, the information about **this seal** will fall into the wrong hands if left unchecked.”

“Such transgressions pose no problem to me.”

“This is not the moment to retaliate; instead, engage in dialogue.”

Seemingly changed, the elder observed me before shaking his head. “Your words amuse me, yet carry no sense of urgency.”

Fuxi, noticing this, smirked. “It would seem the Dragon King acknowledges your words. At the very least, you must see that even if we merely hide in neutral ground, It merely prolongs the moment of reckoning if not witness our resolution.”

The Dragon King’s features conveyed the resolution behind Fuxi’s words. Regardless, I maintained my expression of defiance, all while keeping in mind the eventual outcome we might pursue.

“What a statement,” the elder murmured. “If you mean to stand against the emperor, a divine seal must manifest its worth.”

“I’m not seeking to involve you in this fight. Merely allow me to proceed forward.”

“Understood. Then be gone.”

With that, the elder dismissed us, revealing a rare glimpse of acknowledgment behind his gaze.

“May luck find you in the midst of this turbulent conflict,” he finally added.

I nodded, a sense of determination in my heart as I sensed Fuxi’s encouragement. “We’re leaving.”

“Very well.”

*Whoosh!*

With a rush, I stepped forward, encouraged by the thought of the journey ahead and all that awaited me. I knew now that every encounter, every lesson learned, would lead me one step closer to gaining the blessings of the divine, and the path to diverting our fate had truly begun.