---

Arriving at TaeKyeong Village’s Hua Clan’s study, I easily found the Silver Phoenix Fragment. Since it was a quiet night when everyone was asleep, there was no resistance at all.

I stared down at the Silver Phoenix Fragment, pondering, ‘Fuxi’s Eight Trigrams…’

Master Mangnyang had once told me that if I wanted to become stronger, I should seek out Fuxi’s Eight Trigrams. Fuxi, one of the Three Sovereigns, was known as a creator god. He was also said to have established the Eight Trigrams and passed them down to humanity.

As far as I knew, the first Eight Trigrams were found in the ancient Baekhae Empire’s imperial palace, depicted in the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram. However, I had heard that dark forces had stolen the Trigrams due to a treachery of sorts. That was the truth Master Mangnyang had discovered about his past life through this very Phoenix Fragment.

Since then, I hadn’t bothered to seek out the Silver Phoenix Fragment. It felt wrong to take away an intact heirloom, and honestly, I didn’t really need it. But this time, in this reincarnation, I felt it was essential to utilize this Silver Phoenix Fragment effectively.

Let’s use this Silver Phoenix Fragment to find the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram! After all, if I grasp the clues accurately, it would significantly shorten my journey to gather the Seven Luminaries.

‘By the way, what exactly are the Eight Trigrams?’

Master Mangnyang often mentioned the ‘power’ of the Trigrams, and most existing martial arts and sorcery were directly or indirectly influenced by them. In that sense, Fuxi could be considered the ancestor of all martial arts techniques.

“……”

Come to think of it, the Master Hyuncheon lives around here.

‘If it’s Master Hyuncheon, he must know a lot about the Eight Trigrams.’

I had a wealth of Taoist knowledge from Ji-seon Mangnyang, but it was too vast and complex for me to fully grasp. It was like trying to clear a blocked reservoir; if I didn’t approach it calmly, I wouldn’t be able to digest it. Therefore, having come this far, I decided to visit Master Hyuncheon.

While Master Mangnyang could explain things to me, I thought he was too busy absorbing Ji-seon’s knowledge. I needed to have a decent understanding before going forward.

I went to Taejeong Temple. As I approached the temple’s entrance, one of the disciples sweeping with a broom noticed me and said, “What brings a child like you here?”

“I’ve come seeking knowledge from the esteemed Master Hyuncheon of Taejeong Temple.”

As I spoke smoothly, he looked a bit perplexed. Seeing my refined and luxurious clothing, he seemed to mistakenly take me for the child of a noble family and cautiously replied, “Master Hyuncheon doesn’t meet just anyone, but I’ll make an exception. Who are you?”

“I am Baek Woong and wish to study sorcery, please convey my request.”

“Got it. Wait here.”

After a moment, he returned and said, “Be cautious in front of the Master.”

“Understood.”

I was going to see Master Hyuncheon again. I couldn’t remember how long it had been since I last saw him, maybe since we parted ways after defeating the Blue Demon Four Evils. It felt like an eternity, almost like reuniting with an old friend.

“Hoho… A Half-Transition Master, huh?”

Master Hyuncheon seemed struck by the aura I exuded. Well, in some way, I truly was a Half-Transition Master. I shook my head and sat down.

“I’m not that impressive. I just had a fortuitous encounter.”

I vaguely explained to him that I hadn’t truly transitioned to the Half-Transition Master level. Master Hyuncheon looked skeptical, but seemed willing to let it pass. He poured me some warm tea and said, “Anyway, what brings someone of your caliber to these parts?”

“I have various reasons, but to put it plainly, I came to learn more about the Eight Trigrams.”

“The Eight Trigrams?”

“I’ve reached a considerable level in martial might, yet it seems the path I desire is much farther than I thought. While studying sorcery, I was wandering in ignorance regarding the Trigrams, so I heard there was a renowned Taoist in this area whom I could consult.”

“Hmm… You seem to know more than nothing. Why don’t you share what you do know?”

When I recounted the basic knowledge of the Eight Trigrams I had learned long ago, he paused and then said, “It seems you possess enough knowledge to be recognized as a junior sorcerer. But what more are you curious about?”

Wait, that’s not what I expected. I thought Master Hyuncheon would point out my lack of knowledge, and for a moment I was taken aback. After gathering my thoughts, I responded, “I’ve heard that Fuxi first brought down the original Eight Trigrams to Earth. So, I figured there must be a more advanced level of understanding about the Trigrams.”

“Hmm…!!”

Master Hyuncheon rubbed his chin thoughtfully and replied, “You must be referring to the legendary treasure, the Seven Luminaries. It’s surely focused on the Earth Star Trigram.”

“Master, do you know what the Seven Luminaries are?”

“It’s a tale passed in secret within the Dao Vein.”

Thinking deeply, Master Hyuncheon continued, “If it’s the inherent Eight Trigrams depicted in the Earth Star Trigram, then it’s definitely different from the Trigrams humans use.”

“Inherent Eight Trigrams?”

It wasn’t the first time I had heard that term; Ji-seon Mangnyang’s knowledge likely contained it as well. At that moment, I felt the remnants of a long-buried memory beginning to surface.

“The one who created the Trigrams, Fuxi, is said to have delivered ‘fire’ to humanity in the beginning. And that fire was transmitted to humans via a heavenly ladder made of the great tree, meaning it originated from the celestial realm.”

I was flabbergasted. “The fire came from the celestial realm? That sounds strange…”

Fire and flames are natural phenomena. No matter how divine, could they truly create such natural occurrences at will? It’s mythological territory, but I couldn’t shake the feeling and questioned Master Hyuncheon.

“Hmm… The Kunlun Sect has an interesting take on this.”

He chuckled lightly and said, “Saying that Fuxi handed down fire to humanity actually means he shared the Eight Trigrams with us.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “Are you saying the Eight Trigrams are as precious to humanity as fire?”

“As far as I know, not a single sorcery exists that breaks the principles of the Eight Trigrams. Thus, sorcerers in the Kunlun Sect recognize this legend as fact.”

Fuxi, one of the Three Sovereigns, did not give humanity both fire and the Eight Trigrams. He bestowed but the Trigrams from the very start. Yet that alone was more than enough.

“……!!”

In that instant, I felt a portion of knowledge in my mind melt away, as Master Hyuncheon’s words triggered strong associations that unlocked related knowledge. But I still struggled to fully grasp it logically or computationally.

‘Right… Ji-seon Mangnyang knew this theory too… She regarded it as a key principle when using the Illusions of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman…’

I felt I had gained significant insight. Now I felt equipped to discuss matters with Mangnyang, so I expressed my gratitude, “Thank you for the enlightening conversation.”

“Hoho… Stories like this are common among devotees of the Dao Vein.”

“No, it truly helped me a lot.”

I then asked with a hint of curiosity, “Is there a band of thieves causing trouble around here by any chance?”

“Hmm? Not really. Everything is quite peaceful.”

“I see.”

It seemed that the outbreak of the Blue Demon was likely due to the increasing chaos in the world, particularly after Dokgo Jun’s rise diminished the control of the Eight Demons of the Demon Path. The actual rampage of the military horses would begin several years down the line. I bowed my head to Master Hyuncheon and took my leave.

With a sudden crack, I moved on to the Shadowless Gate, where the Sword Demon awaited.

Not long after arriving, upon confronting the Sword Demon, he remarked, “I hear you made quite a ruckus in Luoyang. Indeed, you are the White Dharma Protector.”

Embarrassed, I scratched my head. “Please, don’t tease me.”

“I mean it. No one would have expected you to topple the head of the Twin Gate Sect, haha.”

As the Sword Demon laughed heartily, his expression turned serious. “Still, it’s good that you’ve escaped the Hua Clan. If you had stayed, lies would have caught up with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“While most can’t know, the White Dharma Protector, Dokgo Jun, is a cousin of Dokgo Seong. He knows him well. And he undoubtedly knows the retreat place too, so he might come to verify your words.”

“……!!”

I had suspected it, but it hadn’t crossed my mind. ‘I didn’t think of Dokgo Jun!’

The Sword Demon asserted, “From now on, you must meet with Dokgo Seong without fail. It’s also wise to forge a bond of mentorship with him.”

I agreed with the Sword Demon’s assessment. That truly was not something that could be discovered. I had to prepare to cover my tracks as best as possible, even if it meant spinning a tale that fit the truth. After imparting that wisdom, the Sword Demon crossed his arms.

“Spend about three months imparting me the techniques of the Wudang Sect before heading to Dokgo Seong.”

“Will three months be sufficient?”

“When you delivered the memories through the Obsidian, the core insights have already been fragmented to some extent. So I have a general understanding of it. I believe I’ll learn much more quickly than before.”

“I see.”

It seemed that it wasn’t just a superficial understanding; indeed, fragments of memory were embedded within the Obsidian’s techniques. I was processing this when I inquired, “By the way, how is Sasaki Kojiro?”

“I’ve been making good use of him. In a few years, he’ll become an excellent protector of the sect. His skills are quite impressive.”

“Hmm…”

“After hearing about your recent escapades in Luoyang, something’s been bothering me.”

“What is it?”

The Sword Demon spoke calmly, “It’s about the Twelve Joules.”

“…What?”

Suddenly, why is the Twelve Joules being brought up? My confusion must have shown, as he stroked his chin and continued, “You mentioned that among the Twin Gate Sect, apart from the Han Clan, the Three Houses have allied themselves with the Twelve Joules. That sounds odd.”

“Why’s that?”

“The Twelve Joules is certainly a massive force, yet forming an alliance between the Twin Gate Sect in Luoyang and the Twelve Joules, based in Liaodong, feels too distance away to be plausible. Normally, one wouldn’t even establish an alliance, let alone meet once in a lifetime.”

“……!!”

“Despite that, the heads of the Three Houses chose to forge an alliance with the Twelve Joules… This indicates that it wasn’t just a simple pact they were eager to establish.”

I pondered over the Sword Demon’s words for a moment before replying, “Are you suggesting that the Twelve Joules reached out first?”

“That seems likely. Otherwise, it would make more sense for the heads of the Three Houses to form alliances with the Central Plains factions.”

I found the Sword Demon’s deduction to be quite insightful. When I received intel from Han Jin-seong, I hadn’t considered it, but the distance from Luoyang to Liaodong was indeed considerable. It was more reasonable to assume that the Twelve Joules extended their hand to strengthen their influence in the Central Plains.

“When you return to Luoyang, be sure to observe your surroundings closely. There could be special agents lurking.”

“Special agents? What are they?”

“That’s what I gathered while researching the Twelve Joules recently.”

The Sword Demon paused and gazed at the ceiling. “It seems the Twelve Joules possesses unique individuals known as special agents. These agents move solely upon the orders of the Master of the Twelve Joules, and it seems the leaders of the Twelve Joules are all quite wary of these agents.”

“Hmm…”

Why would the leaders be uneasy over mere intelligence agents? I tilted my head in confusion but soon dismissed it. If such agents exist, I’d eventually encounter them, and I could think about it then. I then spent the next three months at the Shadowless Gate, continuing to teach the Sword Demon the techniques of Zhang San-bong.

“What a fortuitous encounter!”

The Sword Demon laughed heartily, clearly pleased. He had always learned at a blistering pace, but now it seemed like he was almost reviewing what he already knew, absorbing it at an incredible rate. His claim that three months was sufficient wasn’t exaggerated in the least.

Once I finished imparting my martial knowledge, I set off to find Mangnyang. While it was crucial to align with Dokgo Seong, I felt it important to update Mangnyang on everything that had transpired.

“Mangnyang! Where are you, Mangnyang?”

I searched the hut in Jinrang Valley but didn’t see him. Instead, a gruff voice echoed from the Illusion Fog.

“Your older brother has gone to train sorcery at the Joint Mountain and is currently unavailable.”

“Cheon Woo-jin!”

“You seem to be quite busy wandering around.”

Welcomed by Mangnyang’s disciple, the Illusory God, Cheon Woo-jin, I sensed he didn’t seem too fond of me as he lounged on a mat in the hut.

“Your brother mentioned he wouldn’t be back for at least a year. He said you should do as you please during this time.”

“Is that true?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

Cheon Woo-jin’s attitude was somewhat abrasive, but I found it hard to believe he would cause intentional deception. After some reflection, I asked, “What’s so special about Joint Mountain that Mangnyang would go there?”

“Joint Mountain holds the ruins of Guang Chengzi, a sage from ancient times. Your brother seems to be trying to gather strength from those ruins.”

“Guang Chengzi!”

I was taken aback. Guang Chengzi was a sage said to have taught the Yellow Emperor, Gong Sun Xuanwen, during ancient times. Of course, he held a lofty status among the Three Sovereigns, revered as a celestial in all Taoist circles under heaven, often regarded as equal to the Queen Mother of the West. If it’s the ruins of such a figure, it must be remarkable.

But lacking understanding, I pressed further. “Didn’t Mangnyang head to Kunlun Mountain to practice initially? Why doesn’t he return to Kunlun?”

“I’m not quite sure, but he mentioned that there’s no need to breakthrough the Dragon Gate again, so he’s taking a quicker and simpler route. It seems he found some clues in a document.”

“……”

At that moment, I felt memories in my mind loosening up. ‘Right. Mangnyang must have uncovered a hidden secret about Guang Chengzi’s ruins that no one knows of…’

This hidden secret is the unique secret scroll left by the Purple Mansion Immortal, the only treasure known as the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate. Ji-seon Mangnyang must have learned the treasure’s location and capabilities after receiving a title in the heavenly realm, but as his duty came first, he would not dare covet the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate. It appeared he was bypassing his fundamentals to quickly gather strength.

Mangnyang too was putting in the effort, even if it meant sweat and blood. I nodded thoughtfully before addressing Cheon Woo-jin, “Got it. Please tell Mangnyang that I’ll be training under Dokgo Seong.”

“Understood.”

“By the way, where has Zhuge Sa gone?”

“He kept whining, so I sealed him away.”

“What?”

Looking incredulous, I stared at Cheon Woo-jin as he shook his head. “He’s tried numerous times to escape to the otherworldly realm or Dark Heaven Village to transfer his soul to a doll. I grew tired of it and sealed him with my illusion technique. He won’t see the world until I choose to let him.”

“Is that even possible? He is the leader of a heretical sect!”

Having known the level of sorcery Zhuge Sa wielded, I struggled to trust it easily. Zhuge Sa held the highest mastery in sorcery and magic; to hear that he’d been trapped so easily unsettled me. Cheon Woo-jin coldly remarked, “Just because he’s from a heretical sect doesn’t make him anything more than a defeated loser in history, left to sink with the Demon Sect. Besides, anyone reliant solely on the techniques of the otherworldly race can’t truly threaten me.”

“……”

Such overwhelming confidence!

I suddenly realized the immense power of Cheon Woo-jin standing before me. In prior encounters, Mangnyang had remained lax, assured by Cheon Woo-jin’s illusionary boundary when caught by the ten-thousand-strong army and the Golden Eagle Guards. Hence I had known then that Cheon Woo-jin’s techniques transcended human limits, but now it struck me even more powerfully.

‘Could I keep a handle on this guy?’

On one hand, he was a potentially amazing ally, but I knew all too well that today’s companion could easily be tomorrow’s foe depending on the situation. If Cheon Woo-jin moved unpredictably, how could I manage to suppress him?

He should’ve reached upper-level immortal status already, yet he remained on the ground following his master! What a genius he was! That’s exactly who Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin was.

 

---