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“He nods in silence, confirming my words.”

It turns out he was the first to notice, and it was through his words that I came to realize the truth.

The immortal young man is none other than the Emperor!

If it weren’t for that thought, nothing would make sense. No one but the Emperor could give orders to the Vermilion Bird, and it was now clear why Zhuge Bu would not step back from me. Immortal or not, abandoning a mission to protect the Emperor was unthinkable for the Lord of the Inner Imperial Pavilion. If that young man is indeed the Emperor, then all the mysteries unravel.

But I soon found myself confused and said, “The Emperor I saw didn’t look anything like that…”

“I don’t know when you saw the Emperor, but being immortal, he’s bound to be remarkably different now.”

As Tian Woo-jin muttered that, he peered into the dark space ahead.

“Someone’s here.”

Swish…

The Prophet revealed himself. His appendages acted almost like a face, stretching out with several claws. He made a hissing sound as he sent a message to us.

[ An uninvited guest… Baek Woong… it’s you again…?]

The Prophet seemed annoyed due to an incident from the past when I had provoked him. Still, appearing in the open indicated he was willing to engage in conversation.

Tian Woo-jin seemed to recognize he was facing a high-ranking otherworldly being and fell silent. After a moment’s thought, I spoke to the Prophet.

“I’ve come to negotiate. I’m certain today’s deal will benefit us both.”

I spoke as politely as I could, knowing I had a sin to atone for.

[ What kind of deal are you speaking of…?]

“Just a moment.”

I held up a scroll and drew the 解字 symbol with my finger, releasing the seal on it as Tian Woo-jin had instructed earlier. At the same time, Zhuge Sa was freed from the scroll’s seal and manifested in reality.

Zhuge Sa looked bewildered, as if he had suddenly appeared in a strange place. Seeing the otherworldly beings before him made it all the more confusing. Seizing the moment of his confusion, I said, “Zhuge Sa, can I ask you for a favor?”

He reacted with a cold smile. “Shut it. After you guys oppressed me like this, what makes you think I’d be willing to listen?”

Therein lay the problem.

Earlier, when I considered releasing Zhuge Sa to meet Zhuge Bu, I ultimately refrained due to this very reason. Zhuge Sa had been abducted by Tian Woo-jin and was continuously sealed in this dimension without any clue. Even if he were an ordinary human, holding a grudge would be inevitable. There’s no guarantee that he’d listen to us just because we brought him out.

‘Well… I had to secure Zhuge Sa somehow because of Zhuge Bu.’

I completely understood Mangnyang’s frustration. I calmly continued, “Zhuge Bu will be here soon. That guy has already succeeded in the Offering Ceremony and is on his way to finish us off.”

“……!!”

Zhuge Sa seemed taken aback by my mention of Zhuge Bu. I pressed on, “If you provide a strategy to deal with Zhuge Bu, I’ll grant you a substantial benefit when we trade with the Prophet and the Grimoire.”

“Grimoire? Benefit? You’re not suggesting you’re trading that with the otherworldly race, are you?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmmm…”

Zhuge Sa seemed to contemplate for a moment before glancing at Tian Woo-jin, “If you promise not to seal me again, I’ll help you.”

I turned to Tian Woo-jin. He frowned as if he had no choice. “Does that guy have some kind of method? If he does, I’d allow it, but it seems pointless.”

“Let’s take a chance. Zhuge Sa might have unique techniques.”

“Fine.”

Tian Woo-jin seemed to be on board with the idea. With the conditions for trade established, Zhuge Sa grinned in satisfaction and said, “Hehe, very well.”

At that moment.

Bang!

“You’ve come quite a distance. But this is your grave!”

Finally, he has arrived.

Zhuge Bu appeared at the entrance of the Astana Great Temple using the Transmission Technique. Several talismans floated around him, emitting a divine light, clearly indicating that his skill level was on a whole new dimension compared to his past life. Just the fact that the Illusory God Tian Woo-jin was at a disadvantage against Zhuge Bu spoke volumes about his power.

Zhuge Sa waved his hand at Zhuge Bu, speaking as if he was meeting an old acquaintance. “Hey, nephew! Long time no see!”

Zhuge Bu flinched in surprise. “… Zhuge Sa? How did you get here…”

“You little brat. Aren’t you going to address your uncle properly?”

Zhuge Sa grumbled, and Zhuge Bu coldly replied, “You madman! You’re a disgrace to the family.”

“Really now?”

“Yes.”

“This uncle is truly saddened. Hehe…”

Feigning tears, Zhuge Sa aimed his index finger at Zhuge Bu and whispered, “Burst open, Gu!”

Boom!

“Kahhh!!”

Zhuge Bu screamed as something exploded near his heart, splattering blood everywhere. His upper body was drenched in blood as he slowly fell forward, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

I wasn’t shocked by this outcome, as I had anticipated it. Zhuge Sa had previously embedded an Yin-Yang Heaven Bug inside Zhuge Bu’s body, set to explode at his command. Zhuge Sa began to cackle.

“Now, be on your way, dear nephew.”

“What a ridiculous… noise…!!”

Vrooom!

The talismans surrounding Zhuge Bu shattered like cherry blossom petals and began to adhere to his grievous wounds. Observing this, Zhuge Sa’s expression suddenly turned rigid, and he shouted at me.

“Damn it… Kill that bastard! Tear him limb from limb!”

“Understood!”

I plunged ahead without hesitation, undeterred by Zhuge Sa’s cruel order. It sounded harsh, but I couldn’t allow Zhuge Bu to recover, as Zhuge Sa suggested. Zhuge Bu hurried to evade using his martial arts, but in his battered condition, he had no choice but to succumb to my blade.

“Kraah.”

Slash!

I severed Zhuge Bu’s limbs with a few strikes and plunged my sword straight into his forehead. With the Thunderclap embedded, my mastery of sword techniques shattered Zhuge Bu’s protective energy like tofu.

Blood and flesh splattered everywhere. I separated his body and head, snatching his head in one hand. If I wanted to ensure his death, burning it was the only way.

Zhuge Sa stared horrified at the head I was holding and muttered, “He’s not dead…”

“He’s still alive?”

I questioned, and Zhuge Sa plucked a few of Zhuge Bu’s eyebrows in response.

“This guy has truly become immortal. He was blessed by the Offering Ceremony. The illustrious Tian Woo-jin must know what to do with him.”

Zhuge Sa said with a mocking tone, causing Tian Woo-jin to scowl in annoyance. He grunted a single remark.

“Because of those wicked beings, the Land and Earth Diagram will never run dry.”

Shwoosh!

Moments later, Tian Woo-jin’s magic unfolded, and the dismembered Zhuge Bu became sealed within the scroll where Zhuge Sa had been. There was no better way to ensure his elimination. The scene of such carnage displayed within the scroll felt disturbingly ghostly. The Prophet, who had been watching the spectacle unfold, spoke.

[ Has the feud between humans… come to an end?… I must hasten to finish my matters.]

“Understood.”

I was well aware that the Prophet was not someone who would be grateful for Zhuge Bu being dealt with. As a powerful sorcerer who had lived for millennia, he could transport Zhuge Bu with a mere flick of his finger. Therefore, I carefully chose my words before addressing him.

“We can provide you with the Nameless Ritual Book right now. In exchange for the Nameless Ritual Book, we demand detailed information about the Offering Ceremony.”

[ Nameless Ritual Book? …]

“Exactly.”

[ Just show it to me first… What kind of kimchi soup do you think this is?…]

The Prophet responded curtly. It seemed I wasn’t in his good graces after our last encounter when I had forcibly negotiated with him. Given that not being outright hostile was a blessing, I nodded and said, “Please wait a moment.”

Bang!

I activated the Transmission Technique and moved to the Inner Imperial Pavilion in the Imperial Palace. I went to the bookshelf where the Nameless Ritual Book was displayed. Grabbing some other books nearby, I headed back towards the Great Temple where the Prophet was located.

“Here you go.”

[ ……]

As I handed over the Nameless Ritual Book, the Prophet inspected it closely to verify its authenticity. Letting his appendages droop, he said, [ A real Grimoire… I accept it.]

“Can we make a trade now?”

[ To be honest… I’m not keen on trading. But if it’s the Nameless Ritual Book… I guess I’ll at least consider it.]

The Grimoire, being a treasure trove of knowledge for the Prophet, was evidently quite valuable, and it appeared his beliefs prevented him from dismissing me outright. After a moment of contemplation, the Prophet shoved the Nameless Ritual Book into the Void Space, saying…

[ Very well… let’s do business.]

“Thank you.”

With a stern tone, the Prophet warned me, [ You’d do well not to provoke me during our conversation… I’m not in the best of moods right now.]

“Of course.”

I sensed how narrowly I had managed to reach an agreement. I knew that if the Prophet took the Grimoire and disappeared, I would be left with no recourse. Breathing a sigh of relief, I thought I had struck a bit of luck when the Prophet spoke.

[ You want information about the Offering Ceremony… I’ll share what I know.]

“Please.”

[ As far as I know, the Offering Ceremony of the current era has been completed… and the recipient is the Emperor of the Great Ming Empire. The one summoned during the ritual was the History Emperor Changhil under Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen. Those who participated in the ceremony obtained immortality, and the Emperor gained the powers of History Emperor Changhil.]

Up to that part, I had roughly inferred. It was similar to the compensation I received for offering my Seven Luminaries Rituals, so it made sense. The only difference was the scale.

I voiced my confusion. “What exactly is the power of History Emperor Changhil?”

[ It’s command.]

“I would like to know what kind of power Changhil’s command possesses.”

The Prophet twitched his appendages and replied, [ It represents control over all humans. History Emperor Changhil utilized this ability to efficiently dominate the ancient Silver Empire, and it’s likely the current Emperor summoned him for that purpose.]

I felt something was off. “You mean Changhil’s command is the power to control humans? What do you mean by that?”

[ Can’t grasp it? … How monkey-like.]

Grumbling about something, the Prophet began to explain.

[ To put it simply, as long as you are human… you cannot defy Changhil’s command and you are subjected to his power over life and death. If he says to die, you die; jump into a fire pit, you will.]

“……!!”

At that moment, Tian Woo-jin, who had been listening, interjected.

“I apologize, but I don’t understand, so I wish to ask. Is that okay?”

[ You have the right to ask a question. Go ahead.]

“The power of command doesn’t inherently imbue such control. Despite how powerful a command sorcerer is, I’ve never seen any example of such overwhelming control throughout sorcery history. Commands must surely have limits. That assertion would deny everything in sorcery systems.”

As the so-called top sorcerer in the Central Plains, Tian Woo-jin’s statement bore weight. The Prophet seemed to ponder the matter before replying.

[ Changhil’s command is a power that activates a medium… Due to its conditionality, it can be immensely powerful… and that medium is something you’re all familiar with.]

For a brief moment, Tian Woo-jin’s expression changed.

“Could it be the Chinese characters?”

[ Yes… that’s precisely History Emperor Changhil’s unique power…]

The Prophet’s eyes lit up with excitement.

[ Since you are human… you belong to the cultural sphere of Chinese characters… and as beings created through the power of the Eight Trigrams, you fulfill all requirements. Conversely, if you fall short of any of those three, then Changhil’s command won’t apply… it’s rather simple.]

“Damn it… So, that’s how it works.”

Tian Woo-jin sighed, seemingly taken aback by the revelation. It appeared this was something he hadn’t realized.

I, still digesting this, asked Tian Woo-jin, “What are you saying? Are you saying that because we use Chinese characters, we fall under Changhil’s command?”

“Exactly. Words (言) are closely tied to characters in a sorcerous manner. Characters represent the belief system shared by the masses of humanity. Furthermore, History Emperor Changhil is the creator of Chinese characters, so he could easily set his power as a trigger there, much like how the primer hits the firing pin in a firearm, causing our souls to submit as soon as we recognize his command.”

“Hmm…”

“If anyone had ever acknowledged the characters even once in their head, it’d be impossible to evade its influence.”

I thought it over and replied, “Then, a complete fool who knows nothing of Chinese characters or someone from Goryeo or Dongyoung wouldn’t be affected?”

Tian Woo-jin angrily shook his head. “Wrong. They too will be ensnared by the command. Words and speech are one and the same; any individual with a slight connection to the cultural sphere of Chinese characters cannot escape its reach. How could anyone in the human world hope to evade that influence? That’s why those loyal to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors are truly considered special.”

“……”

Is that really a thing?! It felt incredibly overpowered. While the command was said to be a result of fulfilling conditionality, it’s not like beings that aren’t human are common, and everyone lives in the cultural sphere of Chinese characters.

‘What a headache.’

Given that, if I were to confront Changhil’s command, I’d have to strike before he activates it, but how could I assassinate an Emperor safeguarded by countless troops on high alert, even one who has become an immortal being?

I commanded the Prophet, “My companion is confused after being subjected to the command. Can you dispel it?”

[ Understood.]

The Prophet conjured a staff out of thin air. Pointing it toward Jin So-cheong, he mumbled something, and in the next moment, Jin So-cheong’s body shone brightly. Mystical figures began to rise from her body.

I recognized those figures: the Eight Trigrams. They were engraved onto her skin, appearing for a fleeting moment before vanishing. Shortly after, Jin So-cheong wobbled as she regained her senses.

“Ugh… where am I…”

“Are you back to your senses?”

Seeing Jin So-cheong regain her clarity brought me relief. No matter how formidable Changhil’s command might be, even a high-ranking sorcerer like the Prophet could find a way. But that also meant that it would be extremely difficult to deal with, given that she was still human.

“Ugh… my mind is foggy…”

“Take a breath.”

It seemed as though Jin So-cheong was still feeling intense pain due to the command’s effects. I pressed down my bloodline and transfused her, and soon enough, she slipped into a deep sleep.

Then I spoke to the Prophet, “Still, a part of the cost remains, right?”

[ Hmph… speak.]

“It seems we will have to fight that Emperor. Please share any techniques or methods to counter Changhil’s command.”

Then the Prophet said, [ Before anything, there’s one thing I must tell you…]

“What is it?”

[ Previously… what you mentioned about the second sealing of Makya. I’ve uncovered the secret of that myth.]

My heart skipped a beat!

At that moment, both Tian Woo-jin and Zhuge Sa appeared equally startled. Zhuge Sa, especially, seemed to freak out.

“What did you say? Baek Woong, what exactly… Are you trying to unseal the second sealing of Makya?”

For sorcerers, the Seven Luminaries and liberation seemed to carry immense weight. Even Tian Woo-jin, who was aware of my ownership of Makya, appeared to be taken aback, indicating that he may not have known about the second sealing. I remained calm despite their gazes, replying to the Prophet, “You intend to share that secret with me?”

[ Indeed… since you were the one who revealed it, you hold the right to know… But…]

“But?”

The Prophet rolled his eyes and twitched his appendages.

[ The cost is insufficient. You’ll have to sacrifice either the method to resist the command or the truth about the unsealing.]

Just as I suspected.

The Prophet seemed intent on ensuring that I wouldn’t come out ahead in this trade. I realized what he was hinting at and grimaced. “Are you asking for additional costs?”

[ That’s your choice… Offer more and there’s nothing I won’t share.]

The Prophet appeared to be probing. However, his tone exuded an assertive confidence, and I realized that he held a significantly advantageous position in this transaction. I could also sense a subtle malice, so I knew he didn’t particularly like me.

‘What do I even have?’

I rummaged through my possessions within the wooden armor. Based on past experiences, I knew that offering gold bars or Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng would be treated like trash in his eyes. What he truly valued were knowledge or treasures of sorcerous significance. A lightbulb went off in my head, and I pulled out something I had just thought of.

“How about this?”

[ That is…?]

I held out the Silver Phoenix Fragment. As the Prophet received it with his appendages, he began to examine it without saying a word. I watched anxiously, and after a brief moment, he said, [ It’s acceptable, but I need a bit more…]

His tone suggested that the Silver Phoenix Fragment had considerable worth. Though I wasn’t entirely sure about its abilities or secrets, the Prophet seemed to have recognized its value. I pondered over what else to offer when I glanced at Zhuge Sa.

Zhuge Sa looked perplexed when our eyes met.

“What are you staring at?”

“Zhuge Sa. Show me what you have.”

“What?!”

He responded with anger, “Why should I give it to you? And I don’t have anything, you idiot!”

I crossed my arms and replied, “The truth about the second sealing of Makya isn’t only my concern. You’re going to hear it too, so you should offer something of your own, no? Aren’t you curious?”

Zhuge Sa hesitated.

“… I suppose that’s fair. But really, I have nothing. The guy over there, Tian Woo-jin, probably has plenty!”

As I subtly shifted my gaze to Tian Woo-jin, he responded in frustration, “Of course I have something I could offer. But if that guy doesn’t bring forth something, I won’t either.”

“What kind of logic is that?”

“That Zhuge Sa has a lot of secrets to hide. I’m not going to let it slide if I’m the only one offering treasures.”

Tian Woo-jin appeared to despise coming out on the losing end. Even though Zhuge Sa claimed to have nothing, I was sure he had plenty of secrets tucked away. I racked my brain on how to convince Zhuge Sa, and eventually decided to take a hit.

“Zhuge Sa. If you provide me with an offering, I’ll give you the Crystal Stele.”

Zhuge Sa’s expression changed.

“The Crystal Stele? Are you talking about the one inscribed with the method for creating the Philosopher’s Stone?”

“Exactly.”

“If you give that to me, I’d gladly show you what I have. Hurry it up.”

I replied bluntly, “First, I want to know what you’ll offer.”

“What?”

“The truth is, I share the same sentiment as Tian Woo-jin. It feels utterly stupid for me to bear all the treasures alone. I could easily chase you guys away and learn the secret of Makya myself.”

“……!!”

“I’m giving you a chance to share the secret.”

Zhuge Sa seemed to clench his fists and tremble with rage. It looked like he was calculating in his head rather than being angry. Eventually, after clearly coming to a decision, he said, “… I will give you this secret technique.”

Zhuge Sa materialized a strange book from thin air and handed it to me. I read the cover of the book.

“Soul Exchange Technique?”

“It’s the finest item among my secret techniques. I believe this should suffice.”

Tian Woo-jin, who was observing from the side, chuckled. “Wow, to offer a technique taught only to heretical sect leaders—seems like you were quite desperate.”

“Shut up, Tian Woo-jin! Do you actually have anything that can match this?”

“What?…”

Tian Woo-jin’s expression twisted, clearly offended. Clenching his teeth, he produced a scroll from his sleeve—the very one where Zhuge Bu had been sealed. He handed me the scroll and said, “Here, take it.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s the Mountain and Earth Diagram granted to humans by Goddess Nüwa. I’ll fully transfer ownership to you.”

“……!!”

“And by the way, I’ll need the Black and White Lotus and some gold bars later.”

“Understood.”

Treasured Item!

I realized that even though Tian Woo-jin was incredibly skilled, sealing Zhuge Bu in the picture was indeed odd. It was only possible since it was a treasured item. By using the Mountain and Earth Diagram, it was ensured that a higher-dimensional being could be bound within the image, which would undoubtedly be of great help.

‘This should be good enough.’

After receiving proper offerings from both, I felt like I had suffered less of a loss. So I activated the Transmission Technique again and headed down to the underground of the Imperial Palace to fetch the Crystal Stele. Once I arrived back at the Great Temple and pulled out the Crystal Stele, Zhuge Sa marveled in awe.

“Ohhh…!!”

“Prophet. Here is the Mountain and Earth Diagram. It should be enough, correct?”

[ That’s adequate…]

Thus, the complicated negotiations concluded. I handed the Prophet the treasured item, the Mountain and Earth Diagram, and in return, secured additional arrangements with Zhuge Sa and Tian Woo-jin. With everyone getting what they wanted, the mood felt somewhat harmonious.

The Prophet spoke.

[ First… I will inform you how to counter the command. Go to the Five Great Mountains’ Heavenly Altar and execute the Offering Ceremony to summon the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. They surely know how to counter Changhil’s command.]

“What? But isn’t the Imperial Palace already in control of that place?”

[ Not my concern… However, you hold the right for the Offering Ceremony… You can perform the summoning at any one of the Five Heavenly Altars. Doing it at Mount Tai will purely be more beneficial.]

“I see.”

Out of the four remaining great mountains, there was a good chance their defenses would be lax. It seemed I could choose any of them to summon the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. The Prophet continued.

[ And regarding the distortion of the legacy when liberating Makya… that was truly an absurd event.]

“What went wrong?”

The Prophet extended his appendages forward.

[ I couldn’t grasp why the Primordial Void Ruler had lied to me, but instead, I discovered this: to liberate the Seven Luminaries, one must obtain permission from the Three Sovereigns themselves, who granted the Seven Luminaries to humanity.]

“Ugh…”

[ It’s reliable information obtained through a deal with a great being. It seems the folk of the celestial realm are largely unaware of this, barring a select few.]

As he rolled his eyes, the Prophet continued.

[ The Seven Luminaries are set to automatically liberate once a certain offering and souls have accumulated. However, should it liberate automatically, the [Old Ruler] who made the contract would descend to deliver a great calamity to the Earth. For instance, the user is uniquely set up for a secondary liberation.]

“Hmm.”

[ To use it properly, before the automatic liberation occurs, you must find the Three Sovereigns and get recognized by them as their chosen. Once recognized, the Three Sovereigns will suppress the [Old Ruler], eliminating the risk of going berserk, allowing one to access true powers of the Seven Luminaries.]

“…”

The mysteries surrounding Makya’s liberation began to clear up.

Indeed, in line with the Prophet’s words, the mismatched liberations from the Seven Luminaries so far made sense. If power accrues, it liberates automatically, but on that foundation, permission from the Three Sovereigns is required!

[ But as you all know, methods of communication with the celestial realm are mostly shut down, and given the decline of sorcery in the present context, summoning the Three Sovereigns seems nearly impossible. I think the celestial realm wishes to avoid liberating the Seven Luminaries at all costs.]

So that’s why they were fiercely opposed to anyone attempting to liberate the Seven Luminaries?

I understood the situation but felt a knot form within me, prompting me to ask. “What was the reasoning behind the Three Sovereigns and the [Old Ruler] making such a convoluted contract? What’s the purpose of differentiating between automatic and normal liberation?”

[ That’s likely related to a dynamic balance. The specifics remain a mystery to me.]

After stating that, the Prophet began to fade into the darkness.

[ If you’re going to make a move, it’s best to do so quickly… the National Seal has already begun to open the ‘door’ to the world.]

Swish!

As the Prophet completely vanished, I grasped what I needed to do.

To rescue Mangnyang, I must first become the true master of Makya. Therefore, I need to select one of the Heavenly Altars from the Five Great Mountains and summon the Three Sovereigns there. By doing so, I’d surely gain methods to stand against Changhil’s command.

Zhuge Sa piped up, “The situation is escalating. Do you truly intend to unseal Makya and kill the Emperor?”

I answered firmly to Zhuge Sa’s inquiry, “That bastard manipulated and brainwashed Mangnyang. I can’t afford to let him live.”

“Hmm… sounds entertaining. Should I join in?”

“I’d be grateful for your assistance.”

As I replied, I clenched my fists tight.

‘Emperor. From now on, I’ll use any means necessary.’

This is where the real challenge lies.

With my comrades suffering, there’s no way I’ll repay them tenfold!

 

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