---

“The Master of the White Lotus Sect’s words felt completely out of the blue and utterly colossal.”

“To settle things with a god!”

No matter how epic the Master’s martial skills were, could a mere human ever be equal to a vast existence known as a god? Most wouldn’t know the difference between a celestial and a deity, but through countless past lives, I understood the immense gap that separated them like heaven and earth. Just as I had anticipated, Vermilion Bird responded.

“What kind of resolution are you seeking? Speak your mind.”

“It’s nothing much. I just want to borrow his power to gather the scattered Dharma of the Non-Birth Mother.”

There was a moment of silence from Vermilion Bird in response to the Master’s answer. Then Vermilion Bird replied, “So, that was your true intent.”

“I have conveyed my will. I need your answer.”

Vermilion Bird, looking a bit pale, responded, “That’s audacious enough. You really think our deity would entertain such a proposal?”

The Master wore a mask, so there was no way to read his expression. After a while, he released a dark aura and said, “So you’ve come here to show your true strength to your god.”

“What?!” The Master pointed at the sky.

“Don’t belittle this! Did you think I wouldn’t notice you’re stalling to summon the Apostle? I’ve come here to defeat him!”

“…!!”

“Even the mightiest god would listen to me if I took down their Apostle.”

Vermilion Bird seemed startled and flinched. The Master’s power could fill the hall with an overwhelming pressure, making Vermilion Bird’s own strength seem inconsequential. Finally, Vermilion Bird removed his hat.

With a swish, the figure beneath the hat was indeed Zhuge Yulong, and I recalled that he had indeed resurrected using his reserve body, as Zhuge Sha had mentioned.

Zhuge Yulong, looking curiously at the Master, said, “So you plan to gain the Dharma and practice the teachings, huh? Your strength seems to have derived from interpreting that forbidden scripture…”

“It’s merely a fragment of an Absolute Being. But in the grand scheme, it’s all the same.”

“……”

“I did think about accepting the Emperor’s proposal just earlier, but hesitation plagued me. After all, he’s merely a puppet of mortals with no guarantees he’d give me what I desire. But I can converse with you, a direct divine priest.”

As the sky turned a ghastly blood-red, a foul energy condensed at the heavens’ center, creating a dreadful atmosphere. Everyone present understood this ominous sign meant the Apostle would soon descend.

Zhuge Yulong, sounding frustrated, said, “You could’ve just split half of the world with the Emperor and lived comfortably… and now you want to negotiate with a deity? What a fool!”

Despite Zhuge Yulong’s lament, the Master smiled back with confidence.

“Even if I’m a fool, I’m not as cunning as you. You can read that from just looking at him, can’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Emperor right here is the real deal, while the one we impounded in the palace was a fake. Even if something went awry, it was only a puppet body that would vanish.”

“……”

“Alright, it’s time!”

The Master slowly reached out his hand. Vermilion Bird’s eyes widened.

“No!”

Crash!

In the next instant, Vermilion Bird exploded backward, crashing to the ground, writhing in a pool of blood. But the one who was truly overwhelmed by the Master’s move was none other than the Emperor, who shattered into pieces, like a clay pot!

I stared at the Master in shock. “Didn’t you promise not to kill him?”

“He was just bait to lure Vermilion Bird here,” the Master replied casually as he extended his hand again.

Wham!

In that moment, Vermilion Bird disappeared from view, as if dodging the Master’s attack.

“What a pity!”

Watching the scene unfold, I sensed the Master had devised a cunning plan. It seemed the Master had an inkling that Vermilion Bird could be resurrected. Still, given that a few times of resurrection in quick succession would strain him, the Master forced Vermilion Bird into appearing by manipulating the Emperor’s life threateningfully. And now, with a significant blow dealt to Vermilion Bird, it looked like he wouldn’t be making any move soon.

With the Imperial Palace forces all wrapped up, the Master turned his gaze towards Miho, slowly sending out the Six Harmonies Assembly.

“You might have guessed, but soon the Apostle will descend here. I hope you can fight alongside me against him.”

“What are you saying?”

“Even I have my doubts about defeating the Apostle alone. But if you possess two of the mighty Seven Luminaries empowered, we might manage somehow. Help me out.”

“……”

At that moment, I understood the Master’s transformational mindset. Initially, he was considering surrendering to the Emperor, but as circumstances evolved, he aimed to observe the power of the Seven Luminaries. And after witnessing that power, he decided to wipe out the Emperor’s faction for good.

Then suddenly, Miho coldly interjected, “What reason do I have to do that? My goals have already been achieved; I have no further business here.”

“I know you are the messenger of the Celestial Realm. Shouldn’t you check if this affair pertains to the affairs of the realm?”

“Hmm…”

Miho looked contemplative. Just then, I felt a sudden surge of power from Yeodong-bin through the terminal. It was certainly Yeodong-bin’s intent to descend upon me, and I became flustered—after being absent until now, why was he suddenly choosing this moment to appear?

“Yeodong-bin, what’s going on?”

He replied, “Renda, you’ll need my power to battle the Apostle. Leave it to me.”

“What… the Celestial Realm has decided to fight against the Apostle?”

“If the Apostle descends after obtaining the Law of Cause and Effect, a Great Calamity will ensue. If we have a fighting chance, we must eliminate him.”

Yeodong-bin was indeed right. Furthermore, if he fought using my body, I’d undoubtedly tap into an incredible level of power. However, I could never easily relinquish my body to him after he caused my death before. Perhaps the struggles I endured to elevate my martial arts were to avoid falling into dependence on Yeodong-bin!

I wondered what Mangnyang would have chosen in this situation.

Looking over at Miho, I said, “Miho, I need to talk to you.”

“What is it?”

“If you accept this obsidian, I will follow any choice you make here. I promise on my name.”

I pulled out the obsidian filled with memories from the wooden armor and presented it to Miho. Ordinarily, she would just ignore my offer, but now the stakes were high for her. Depending on my choice, she could benefit greatly or suffer significantly. Miho, being clever, seemed to grasp this quickly and glared at me.

“You’re being crafty.”

“Trust me. Would any curse work against you, who directly receives the blessings of the Celestial Realm?”

Right now, Miho was the envoy of the Celestial Realm, blessed by magnificent deities and immortals, allowing her to possibly disregard most curses in this world.

“First, tell me what that obsidian does.”

“It’s an object that can convey one’s memories. My memories are stored inside.”

Miho looked astonished. “You’re going to show me your memories? What good does that even serve?”

“You’ll understand if you accept it. The choice is yours, and I assure you it won’t harm you.”

The Master only observed with an interested glance. As the sky bled crimson, the aura of demonics grew stronger. Even if I wanted to talk more, time pressed on, making my heart anxious. Miho seemed aware of this, as her expression grew more rigid.

Miho gazed fiercely at me and then said, “Fine! If you’re deceiving me, I won’t let you off easy.”

She accepted! “Here.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, handing over the obsidian. Miho took it, and soon after, my memories began flowing into her. Miho stood there stunned for a while before trembling uncontrollably.

“You… no way… that can’t be…”

Miho could not hide her confusion as she glanced at me and said, “We’ve met multiple times. We just haven’t had a chance this time around.”

“No way… that can’t be…” Miho muttered before recovering her composure. Then she said, “Even if this memory is true, I can’t trust you.”

“That’s understandable. But at least know I have reason to help you.”

“……”

Miho appeared contemplative. After standing still for a time, she turned to look at the Master and said, “I will proceed as you propose.”

“Good choice.”

She sighed. “Ha, with the order of extermination having come down from the Celestial Realm, we must do our utmost.”

It seemed Miho had made her decision. At this point, I had no reason to hold back my life in this life. Whether we won or lost, I was certain there was much to gain from this fight. Nodding, I said to the Master, “I’ll fight too.”

The Master looked pleased. “That’s wonderful… then I will summon the Dharma Protectors.”

“The other two are far away, so it might be tough to bring them immediately…”

“Don’t worry.”

Suddenly, the Master brought his hands together. An unusual pattern emerged on the backs of his hands, glowing brightly. With a concentrated effort, the light glowed like the sun.

Bang!

“…!!”

In the next instant, the Dharma Protectors, Youongi and Dokgo Jun, appeared before us. As they materialized, they immediately bowed to the Master, as though this was the most natural thing in the world. I looked at them in surprise as the Master explained, “There’s no need to be surprised. This is the Master of the White Lotus Sect’s privilege. He can summon the Dharma Protectors whenever he desires.”

Looking up at the sky, the Master said, “They’ll be descending shortly.”

“Can we win?”

“Heh heh.”

With that chuckle, I realized I had asked a rather pointless question. With not just the Emperor but also Vermilion Bird and the Alchemist all taken care of, it seemed there was no choice but to take down the Apostle and settle matters with a deity as the Master had planned. Given the Master’s actions had effectively eliminated any other escape routes, the only options left were to fight or not.

Crash!

The sky was entirely filled with red clouds, making it seem as if heaven and earth were drenched in blood. Red lightning rained down, echoing with ominous vibrations like never before, the density of demonic energy making it difficult to breathe.

I clenched the Water Element Divine Sword tightly. In my consciousness, Yeodong-bin’s voice echoed persistently.

“Renda! Surrender your body to me!!”

“……”

“Your current capability is insufficient!!”

I snapped back, irritated. “Shut up! There are things I must do that only I can accomplish!”

As my quarrel with Yeodong-bin continued, the descent of the Apostle persisted.

Crash!

The darkness appeared.

Amidst the blood-red clouds, a colossal existence began to materialize, like it was being conjured from the very essence of the world. It was massive, bearing silvery fur and boasting nine tails. Just its presence imposed enough pressure to fill the plains; it was none other than the Fox!

I had encountered this being before.

Clenching my teeth, I murmured, “Daji.”

The Apostle, a being of immense power said to rival a Demon King, had arrived once again. However, this time, there were two notable differences compared to before. First, Daji’s form didn’t look like a mass of bubbles—it was vividly visible. Given its overwhelming prowess, it was bizarre that a lesser being could even look at it. The second difference was that ten smaller forms floated around Daji. While small compared to Daji, each one was still quite large, possibly the size of a human. These ten entities likely held considerable strength too.

As Daji appeared on earth, it glanced briefly at the Master before turning to Miho, grinning broadly.

“Heh heh… my tails were here all along.”

Tails? Despite saying something strange, Miho’s face had gone pale. She looked somewhat stripped of her fighting spirit, which startled me as I looked back at her. “Miho! Are you okay?”

“… Ugh… That… Ah…”

Miho suddenly dropped to the ground, sweating profusely as she showed signs of distress. I worried if Daji would attack, but strangely, Daji only stared at Miho. Slowly, I came to understand the scenario.

‘Daji is trying to dominate Miho’s spirit!’

Once that happened, it seemed Daji intended to devour her soul. What an absurd situation! Despite being an Apostle, the idea of Daji daring to consume Miho, who had become the master of the Seven Luminaries, was shocking!

At that moment, the Master spoke to Daji.

“Apostle of the God, I am the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

Daji’s gaze flicked towards the Master. The Master continued, “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you must die.”

“Heh heh, you lunatic!” Daji snarled and waved a paw with nonchalance. “Go, Ten Heavenly Generals of the Golden Crow.”

Then, the ten lesser forms that had been floating nearby Daji began to move towards us.

“Fight!”

The Master and the three great Dharma Protectors immediately prepared to confront them. With the urgency of the situation increasing, it dawned on me that I could no longer delay.

“Damn it, there’s no going back!”

I might’ve wanted to save my energy for a decisive moment, but with the initiative being stolen, my future felt at stake. Daji alone was immensely strong, and those lesser beings seemed no pushovers either. If I wasn’t careful, I could exhaust myself before the real battle even begun, especially with Miho in such a fragile state.

With a bitter taste in my mouth, I began forming hand signs slowly as I delved into my memories. Channeling Yeodong-bin’s spirit power, I suddenly shouted, “In the time of destruction, celestial constellation, I beseech your power. I revere the coming millenniums!”

Crackle!

At that moment, as the incantation learned from the Prophet activated, an overwhelming force surged within me, instantly boosting my power to a near peak level likened to Yeodong-bin’s full ability. It was as if someone had awaited this and lent me their strength. In an instant, the force of celestial constellations enveloped me.

The void opened to reveal darkness, and in a blitz, the Ten Heavenly Generals were ensnared by dark tentacles. They seemed overwhelmed at first, but moments later, the tentacles pulled them away into the void, and those tentacles didn’t stop there but multiplied into dozens and hundreds.

Glistening night filled the sky.

The writhing tentacles reached out to Daji. Daji appeared to struggle, dodging the tentacles while retreating before unleashing a colossal flame.

Boom!

The tentacles were partially incinerated by Daji’s fire, but somehow it felt like the protective barrier around Daji had been lifted. Just as the Prophet had said, the tentacle’s strength had dispelled the spell meant to shield Daji.

Daji appeared shaken, staggering as it yelled, “A spell of the Evil God! How could this be?! You’re a descendant of the Evil God?!”

While I wanted to cast more spells of the Evil God, I realized from the Prophet I could only afford a single use. Mortals only had that one chance of invocation, regardless of the Prophet’s consent or not. Regret filled me as I replied, “What’s certain is this is your grave!”

Seeing Miho regaining her senses, I confirmed her complexion was returning to normal before addressing Yeodong-bin. “Yeodong-bin, can we summon the Eight Immortals?”

“Of course. With the power of water, it’s absolutely feasible.”

“Then let’s go!”

Crackle!

Yeodong-bin descended upon me, speaking as if to himself. “This Water Element Divine Sword is much finer than my Fire Dragon Sword. Though it’s unavoidable…”

Yeodong-bin raised the Water Element Divine Sword high, shouting, “Seven Luminaries! Grant me your strength!”

In that instant, divine smoke began to rise, and one by one, the Eight Immortals of China emerged, shimmering with divine light. This time, they didn’t solely appear to bless Yeodong-bin; each one radiated a sense of independence and strength.

As the Eight Immortals materialized, Daji screeched. “No way!”

Daji seemed threatened; it unleashed its might, causing the previously ensnared Ten Heavenly Generals to break free from the void.

The Eight Immortals addressed Yeodong-bin. “Are those the Ten Heavenly Generals of Golden Crow? If they’re obstructing us, we will exhaust our powers before reaching Daji!”

“Sword Master Yeodong-bin! We’ll deal with those wicked followers of the Evil Teachings! Please, realize justice in this land!”

In no time, the Eight Immortals took to the skies, confronting the Ten Heavenly Generals.

Boom!

In an instant, the sky blazed with fiery intensity. The ground trembled under the immense pressure as the Forbidden Techniques employed by the Heavenly Generals met violently with the Eight Immortals’ abilities. Amidst this fierce clash, Miho, the Master of the White Lotus Sect, Yeodong-bin, and the three great Dharma Protectors attacked straight for Daji.

The Master shouted, “Ha-up!”

A simple battle cry.

Crash!

However, the moment the Master’s cry erupted, Daji felt the impact, being thrown back by the force. It flew an immense distance, as if two mountains had been hurled away. It staggered in surprise, grinding its teeth.

“If the protective barrier had held… you wretches…”

The Master replied, “Don’t underestimate the realm of the Origin.”

In a split second, the Master vanished from sight. This implied even the Sword Master Yeodong-bin, known as the strongest amongst the Eight Immortals, had momentarily lost track of the Master’s movement. The Master’s speed accelerated beyond what could be rationalized, soon summoning the Tai Chi.

The Tai Chi grew larger as it approached Daji. The deformed Tai Chi expanded, and with one hand thrust into the air, a massive palm appeared. In a brief moment, when Daji was off-guard, the Master’s grip slammed down with devastating force.

Crash!

As if embodying the Thousand-Handed Guanyin, the speed of each one of the Master’s strikes was incomprehensively rapid, revered by even the Demon King Yeodong-bin. Each flick of the wrist from the Master effortlessly crushed mountains, while the flowing light behind him radiated an aura reminiscent of a Heavenly Demon.

Yeodong-bin praised from the side, “How is it possible for a human to reach such realms…”

Within the distorted Tai Chi, only the Master fluttered freely. More alarming was that the Master’s movements were so rapid that hundreds of phantoms materialized, effectively magnifying his strength by hundreds of times. With each strike that cascaded, scores of afterimages whizzed past, and occasionally a halo flared, ravaging Daji’s entire being.

“Die!”

Moments later, Daji retaliated by exhaling a fiery breath at the Master. This flame held the capability of incinerating a nation in ancient times! It was extremely powerful, enough to overpower the previous Evil God spell. Moreover, historically, it was strong enough to disrupt even Yeodong-bin’s Fire Dragon summon!

Booom!

“I am the Master of the Elements!”

In response, the Master joined his hands together, emitting a radiant light. The Tai Chi spiraled back and reformed into the pattern of the Five Elements. Chilly air and profound cold surged forth, exploding outwards, whereby Daji’s flame failed to harm a single hair on the Master’s body. Daji was left dumbstruck.

“What?!”

“Water conquering Fire, you didn’t know that?”

With a benign smile, the Master moved his hands through the air, causing the formation of the Five Elements to unfurl behind him, shooting forth a radiant halo of elemental energy that rapidly resumed its assault on Daji.

Boom!

Despite withstanding the relentless onslaught, Daji occasionally lashed out with its tails toward me, while Yeodong-bin deftly deflected them. My previous choice to allow Yeodong-bin to take control was undoubtedly the right one, withstanding such devastating tail strikes—it was something I would never have survived!

“Master!”

“I will aid you.”

The Dharma Protectors joined the fray, with the Heavenly Spirit Pill unleashing the Absolute Slash! It was undoubtedly unprecedented for the Master and the Dharma Protectors to team up against someone. As Daji was battered, it appeared distressed, shrinking before the onslaught.

I thought to myself, ‘What incredible resilience…’

Despite the Master and the Dharma Protectors attacking without their defenses, Daji’s main form remained relatively unharmed. Sure, it had some scrapes and sustained impact, but nothing severe!

Suddenly, Yeodong-bin said to Miho, “Miho, activate the Moon Sovereign.”

“… What’s that? Why am I resonating with Daji’s summons…”

Miho looked confused and startled; it seemed the recent mental grasp from Daji had severely rattled her. Yeodong-bin responded, “You were once one of the nine tails of the Demon King, Daji. During a time when Queen Mother of the West subdued Daji, she severed one of its tails, which was brought to the Celestial Realm and purified for centuries. You are the reincarnation of that tail into the being known as Miho.”

“……!!”

“However, as you are now, having attained your own strength as the Moon Sovereignty, you are an independent being. There’s no need to worry.”

Miho stood, stunned, before she seemed to regain her yearning resolve. “Yes! Let’s kill it!”

As the Moon Sovereignty and Water Spirit began to resonate, sensing the mounting pressure from Daji, Daji seemed to have realized its imminent danger and tried to escape the fray.

But the Master detected that desperation and suddenly executed a technique.

“Time of True Enlightenment.”

Time felt unbearably slow. While the reason behind that was unclear, I felt reality blurring into surreal. It wasn’t just entering the realm of Heart Command Technique; everything felt suspended, giving me an almost dizzying sensation. This was more than just a heightened sensitivity of the mind.

“In this space, I hold dominion!”

With conviction, the Master moved his hand like a serene Buddha. His gestures suppressed the flow of stars around us, slapping Daji across its face as Daji prepared to unleash its fiery wrath once more. The Master struck Daji again—this time, with incredible speed—smashing a massive fist into Daji’s form like a wedge! In a heartbeat, lightning-fast blows pinned Daji to the ground, rendering it completely immobilized.

With a ferocity likened to a battle-hardened Asura!

I realized the very essence of this technique’s power. It compelled everything around into an involuntary state of Peaceful Command, while the Master accelerated beyond normal human capabilities, perceptibly rendering Daji slower and weaker!

‘How on earth can I match such martial arts?!’

I was stunned.

This was not merely the Mind Control Technique! There were limits even to that; the Master’s martial arts surpassed all common sense in the martial world. Though the Evil God’s spell weakened Daji, it’s unfathomable to imagine such an unyielding defeat! It appeared a new tier of martial arts existed beyond the Mind Control Technique.

……

It seemed Yeodong-bin shared my thoughts too, as he hesitated to activate the resonance of the Seven Luminaries. He must’ve suspected afterward he could subdue Daji just as easily as the Master did. Yet, he quickly acted in favor of eliminating Daji first.

“Take this!”

Yeodong-bin’s voice rang through the air as the Master and three great Dharma Protectors retreated. Daji, having received incessant blows from the Master and the Protectors, could no longer properly evade.

Daji screeched as it gasped for breath. “You wretches! Upon my resurrection, I’ll ensure retribution for this…”

A blinding flash surged forth.

Just like when a thousand demonic beasts were swept away earlier, the combined resonance of the two powers of the Seven Luminaries swept forward. Daji’s cries echoed as it disintegrated into nothingness, the terrain shifted, sending the demolished earth swirling in a cloud of dust.

As the dust settled, Yeodong-bin glanced at the Master, asking, “Why haven’t you ascended yet? With your power, you should be ready to embrace the Great Immortal status easily.”

It appeared the Master had realized I was not the one in control of my body but rather Yeodong-bin. The Master chuckled softly and replied, “I have yet to reach the pinnacle of my realm.”

Upon hearing his words, Yeodong-bin gasped. “Could it be you have met the Martial God? Has the Martial God appeared before you?”

“Heh heh, yes. I see it as a blessing.”

Yeodong-bin didn’t respond but turned his attention back to the battlefield. “The Heavenly Generals are disappearing.”

With that, the Golden Crow forces fighting fiercely against the Eight Immortals slowly vanished, signaling their summons back due to Daji’s destruction. A massive battle had come to an end.

In disbelief, I found myself at a loss for words before me. No matter the circumstances, the Master and the one who controlled the Seven Luminaries had ultimately vanquished Daji. It was an unbelievable feat without the help of any absolute beings like Xiang Yu.

Furthermore, the Master’s level of martial arts was beyond question. He was undoubtedly the greatest in history.

 

---