---

00396 Celestial Realm ————————————————————————

What Zhuge Sa referred to as the best plan was to draw Cheon Woo-jin in and eliminate the Vermilion Bird.

‘Well, it’s impressive that Master Mangnyang figured it out without saying a word.’

Originally, I intended to lay out my plan to Master Mangnyang, but it seems he was already aware. It felt like he was reading my mind. Zhuge Sa spoke as if something was bothering him.

[Master Mangnyang is truly an incredible being. Don’t mess with him, you fool.]

[Just a temperamental cat, that’s all.]

[You’re the only one crazy enough to treat Master Mangnyang like that.]

Even the outlandish Zhuge Sa seemed to show some respect for Master Mangnyang.

I decided to take the irritable Cheon Woo-jin to Mount Tai. Before we set off, Cheon Woo-jin spoke bluntly.

“Shouldn’t you explain what that Vermilion Bird thing is before dragging me off?”

“Hmm, good point.”

I explained the situation to Cheon Woo-jin. He seemed to listen intently, suggesting he had only received simple instructions from Master Mangnyang. After hearing everything, Cheon Woo-jin muttered in a grim voice.

“So you’re saying there are two top-level sorcerers capable of using treasures. And you want to go directly to their hideout?”

“That’s what I said…”

I subtly provoked him.

“If you think it’s going to be tough, getting more companions might be a good idea.”

Cheon Woo-jin scoffed.

“Let’s just go.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m not planning on being swayed by your schedule for too long. Let’s wrap this up quickly so I can do my own thing.”

Cheon Woo-jin said confidently and nodded arrogantly. He seemed eager to leave, which left me dumbfounded.

‘Does this guy not realize the power of Zhuge Yulong and Zhuge Bu?’

There wasn’t even a hint of fear.

Since Zhuge Sa claimed it was the best plan, I had lured Cheon Woo-jin as suggested. But whether he could truly take them down was uncertain. As I began to doubt Cheon Woo-jin, Zhuge Sa spoke.

[That’s understandable.]

[Understandable? How strong can this guy be?]

[At least he’s way stronger than you.]

Zhuge Sa continued,

[There’s no room for doubt. If Cheon Woo-jin can’t deal with the Vermilion Bird now, there’s no other choice but to involve the Sect Master. There’s a reason why only Cheon Woo-jin was sent from the Celestial Realm.]

Is it really that serious?

I hesitated, riding with Cheon Woo-jin toward Master Mangnyang’s place. We headed toward the barrier in front of the Heavenly Altar of Mount Tai using the Four Great Spirits.

Pa-at!

Upon seeing the barrier, Cheon Woo-jin muttered as if he understood.

“An Eight Trigrams Formation.”

“Can you break through?”

“Before that, I need to confirm something. Are those guys definitely inside?”

“As far as I know…”

“That changes things.”

Cheon Woo-jin stretched out his left hand and shouted briefly,

“Break! Break like the law!”

Crash!

The Eight Trigrams burst as space twisted and collapsed. It felt like it was broken even easier than last time when Cheon Woo-jin had fought hard to break it. Previously, he looked focused while linking with the spirit, but this time it seemed to be like just pushing a door open.

‘Last time, he said breaking the formation completely was impossible.’

I remembered what he personally said about the formation.

[This formation is tied to the life force of the sorcerer. It’s proof that the one who set it up has a resolve.]

[The one who set this Eight Trigrams is an incredible sorcerer. A formation set up with one’s life on the line can’t be dismantled easily, even by me. You’d at least have to struggle for a day.]

[If you had time to observe the situation inside, you could make the preparations for a meal.]

So last time, it wasn’t about breaking the formation. He only temporarily released it for a meal. But now it seemed Cheon Woo-jin had permanently disabled the formation without any fuss. It was beyond doubt that Cheon Woo-jin had grown stronger.

As the Eight Trigrams shattered, Cheon Woo-jin stepped forward confidently and bellowed,

“Order of the Five Thunder!”

Bang!!

With a roar, five bolts of lightning suddenly fell from the sky. Dark black smoke billowed up as they struck, and Cheon Woo-jin shouted again, seemingly dissatisfied.

“Summon all spirits!”

BANG CRACK!

This time, the land shook violently as if heaven and earth were rebelling. It felt like an earthquake was ringing throughout Mount Tai. I realized what Cheon Woo-jin was exclaiming and was taken aback.

‘The Commanding Word?!’

The Commanding Word itself is imbued with power, functioning almost like a spell that activates strength upon utterance. But the Commanding Word is merely a secondary element of sorcery and needs other elements—like hand seals and rituals—to be effective. Those who can wield powerful sorcery with only the Commanding Word are a rare breed known as Command Word Sorcerers.

But the Command Words that Cheon Woo-jin was unleashing were of a different dimension. Even a true Command Word Sorcerer couldn’t control the spirits of heaven and earth with just a Command Word. His every word seemed capable of manipulating and even destroying the elements of the universe. Having studied sorcery, I realized just how formidable Cheon Woo-jin’s strength was at that moment.

Moreover, the Order of the Five Thunder and the Summon All Spirits were nothing more than basic declarations from the Daoist order. It was something I’d never seen or heard of—that a Command Word with no significant function could cast strength enough to overturn heaven and earth.

As the words resonated, a response echoed from afar.

[Who are you? Who dares to break the Eight Trigrams and attack me?]

It was likely the Vermilion Bird. Cheon Woo-jin smiled coldly and retorted.

“We’ve come to eliminate the vile one peering into the celestial secrets.”

Swoosh!

Cheon Woo-jin suddenly vanished before my eyes. It seemed he was off to directly confront the Vermilion Bird. I sensed the qi and dashed forward, following the faint echoes left behind.

‘The space is warping.’

I felt this after jumping about fifty paces. The Eight Trigrams had vanished, yet the atmosphere here was still heavy and distorted. As I moved closer, thunderbolts and storms surged fiercely, and an overwhelming torrent of wind began to stir.

GRRRRRR…

[Strike!]

I saw a colossal divine general falling from the sky, wielding a spear and blade. These towering figures likely materialized from Cheon Woo-jin’s summoning sorcery. As the chaos erupted, the divine generals charged forward, threatening to topple the mountains.

At the same time, distant thundering winds raged through the air. Zhuge Yulong seemed to be casting his sorcery in response to Cheon Woo-jin’s. The winds swept over the divine generals, causing a huge landslide, while mud and earth erupted in a loud explosion.

RUMBLE!

Simultaneously, white feathers fluttered through the air, and talismans appeared alongside holy light. Various elements of the Five Elements began to decorate the air as if pouring down like rain. A Fire Dragon and a Water Dragon fluttered through the air, embellishing the chaos.

‘This is incredible magic…!!’

I gulped as I witnessed the duel of sorcery between Cheon Woo-jin and Zhuge Yulong. It was an extraordinary display of elemental magic and sorcery beyond typical sorcerers’ levels! Normally, casting such a spell would exhaust one’s life force, yet they showed no signs of fatigue.

Cheon Woo-jin, seeming annoyed, stretched out his hand and shouted.

“Three Thousand Yang Earth will turn upside down!”

It was at that moment that Zhuge Yulong’s volatile Five Elements and Protection spell suddenly lost form and scattered. The makeshift barrier protecting Zhuge Yulong shattered, revealing his true form about thirty steps away.

Was this the end?

Then Zhuge Yulong pulled something from his robe and began to chant an incantation. Simultaneously, the Eight Trigrams started floating around him. I caught a glimpse of the Kan Trigram and the Gen Trigram flickering nearby; it seemed he was summoning the Eight Trigrams over a vast area.

In an instant, I realized what Zhuge Yulong was attempting, and my hair stood on end.

‘Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram!’

The ability to nullify the power of the Eight Trigrams! This was a power capable of sealing even the Seven Luminaries. In the past, when Miho and I traveled to the Heavenly Altar, I had experienced this technique firsthand. It appeared Zhuge Yulong had borrowed the Earth Star in advance to utilize it here.

Without the ability to use magic, wasn’t Cheon Woo-jin just an ordinary young man?

Feeling a sense of crisis, I quickly moved to protect Cheon Woo-jin. If he fell now, it would mean the end. But Cheon Woo-jin, whether he knew about the Earth Star Eight Trigrams’ nullification or not, spoke calmly to Zhuge Yulong.

“You wield power beyond your means.”

“……”

“A man cannot become a god, even if he borrows divine strength.”

Cheon Woo-jin murmured this and suddenly extended his hand into the void, taking a grabbing stance.

CRACK!

“GACK!”

Out of nowhere, a figure appeared in the air, ensnared by unseen force and thrashing about. It was Zhuge Bu, who seemed unable to use the weapon he was holding. The invisible power binding him was simply too strong. Cheon Woo-jin coldly remarked,

“You’ve made a fatal miscalculation. I was pondering how to deal with this one.”

“……”

“It seems you were trying to ambush me by hiding nearby, but that was a foolish move.”

Zhuge Yulong, upon realizing his son was taken hostage, seemed unable to act decisively. I quickly approached Cheon Woo-jin and asked,

“Are you alright?”

Cheon Woo-jin looked at me in disbelief and then said,

“Stop wasting time.”

“Huh?”

“Subdue that fool. He can only use martial arts right now.”

“Ah!”

“I need him as a hostage.”

I understood the situation. Because of the Earth Star Eight Trigrams, Cheon Woo-jin’s sorcery was sealed, but he was able to catch Zhuge Bu as a hostage. However, the nullification from the Earth Star was no joke, and Cheon Woo-jin could do no more. So I had to step in and subdue Zhuge Yulong at that moment.

“Understood.”

Swoosh!

Drawing my sword, I stepped forward, catching Zhuge Yulong’s gaze as he hissed.

“How strange. You should be the Sect Master of a heretical sect; why are you using the power of the Celestial Realm?”

That seemed to be a question directed at me. I looked at him and smirked.

“You’re quite the poker player. Prepare yourself!”

As I raised my internal power, lightning began to coil around my sword. The sword I wielded was a famous sword received from the White Lotus Sect, incredibly durable and resistant to damage. I gathered my killing intent and charged toward him. At the same time, I saw Zhuge Yulong draw his own sword.

CLANG!

The first clash was between the Thunder God Sword Dance and the Gongsun Sword Technique. Realizing his sword technique was astoundingly intricate, I quickly pulled back after just three seconds of exchanging blows.

‘Hmm!’

It was a sword technique with depths I couldn’t gauge! I tried to size him up with that first move, but his swordplay had an unfathomably irregular and fluid rhythm. It was nothing like any swordplay I had faced before, making me gasp in awe.

[It’s the Asura Heaven Light Technique and the Gongsun Sword Technique. The Asura Heaven Light Technique manages the internal energy and is an advanced technique, while the Gongsun Sword Technique has been passed down since ancient times.]

[Just a heads-up, be careful when you fight the Old Sage of Mount Tai. His sword skill is unbelievably strong.]

[It’s the signature move that made him one of the Three Great Masters. Be careful, be careful.]

According to Sagong Lin and Master of Zen, the Gongsun Sword Technique was terrifying. I hadn’t fully grasped its meaning until I faced it directly, and now I understood. The changes, weight, and sharpness of his swordplay were all on a peerless level, and the balance was perfect. Yet, it had a bizarre trait that could break through an opponent’s defenses. With my swordplay having reached the level of a Sword Hero, I could instantly comprehend the power of the Gongsun Sword Technique.

Moreover, the Master of Zen’s internal power was not far behind mine. If someone as powerful as him advised caution against the Gongsun Sword Technique, I couldn’t underestimate Zhuge Yulong at this moment. This was my first time facing the owner of the Gongsun Sword Technique, and I felt the pressure.

But during my rebirth, I had heard about breaking the Gongsun Sword Technique.

[The Gongsun Sword Technique is founded on the principles of the Five Elements and is inherently linked with the intent of martial arts. That’s why, when engaged, it can easily lead you into the opponent’s flow and place you on the defensive, so to counter it, you have to disregard that flow with your own martial principles.]

[Baek Woong, when facing him, I recommend actively utilizing the Cave-Collapsing Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword.]

[If you manipulate the engagement well, you can disrupt the Gongsun Sword Technique’s perfection. It’ll work in your favor.]

The pestering face of Lee Kwang flashed in my mind, and my expression soured. However, I took a deep breath, recalling the advice from Jin So-cheong, and began to utilize the Cave-Collapsing Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword carefully. Zhuge Yulong’s internal power was incredibly high, and I couldn’t easily push him down with my power alone.

WHOOSH!

After about twenty seconds of back-and-forth? I sensed Zhuge Yulong’s erratic Gongsun Sword Technique begin to fall into place, transforming into a more ordinary flow. Zhuge Yulong took a step back, startled.

“No way!”

Although he didn’t appear at a critical disadvantage yet, he seemed to instinctively recognize his Gongsun Sword Technique had revealed its vulnerabilities. He clearly understood that if this continued, I could deal a fatal blow. This was due to the Cage-Collapsing Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword disrupting its integrity.

This wasn’t because they were specifically the Gongsun Sword Technique’s Achilles’ heel; rather, the Cage-Collapsing and Heavenly Contraction techniques’ ability to manipulate the power of space created this phenomenon. Gaining more confidence, I pressed forward against Zhuge Yulong with greater ferocity.

CRACK-BOOM!

An explosion accompanied by my forceful downward stroke with the Directly Hitting the Azure Dragon left a jarring impact. Zhuge Yulong’s sword shattered under the pressure, and I followed up with a knee strike to his solar plexus.

“GACK!”

Zhuge Yulong fell to his knees, spitting blood. That one knee strike must have broken multiple ribs and ruptured vital organs. I looked down at him coldly.

‘Don’t kill him.’

If I did, he would just flee into his spare body. I quickly focused on sealing his bloodline, and Zhuge Yulong, upon seeing my actions, clenched his teeth, sensing my intentions. And in that split second, he burst his vital channels.

WHOOSH!

Blood spouted from his seven orifices like a fountain. His speed was impressive, indicating he’d prepared beforehand with a Poison Pill within his body. I grimaced, attempting to stabilize him, but it was already too late.

Watching from behind, Cheon Woo-jin spoke.

“That’s enough. I can interrogate this guy.”

Cheon Woo-jin had taken Zhuge Bu hostage in midair. Though Zhuge Bu was holding the Baek Woong, he appeared unable to use it, squirming helplessly. The unseen force binding him must have been overwhelmingly strong. I asked Cheon Woo-jin,

“Cheon Woo-jin. The power of the Eight Trigrams still seals sorcery here, so what are you using to subdue Zhuge Bu?”

Cheon Woo-jin replied calmly,

“This isn’t sorcery; it’s something I made with my intent. So even with the Eight Trigrams sealed, I can still exert this much power.”

“What?!”

I was left speechless.

Intent is a state achieved after decades of diligent effort by a martial genius finely honing their skill to the utmost peak. No matter how high Cheon Woo-jin had reached as a sorcerer, I never expected him to have reached the level of Intent!

“When you reach the peak, it all connects.”

Cheon Woo-jin murmured, before adding,

“First, let’s check the state of the Heavenly Altar of Mount Tai. We can deal with Zhuge Yulong afterward.”

“Understood.”

I sealed Zhuge Bu completely after checking his vital points, and then I took the Baek Woong from him.

The Baek Woong.

This was originally a legendary treasure believed to have been used by Zhuge Mu-hu, said to not have originated from the Celestial Realm. There were rumors that the talented Zhuge Mu-hu had crafted this artifact purely with his skill and knowledge within the human realm. While I didn’t know the exact ability of the Baek Woong, I understood it would certainly be a great asset to me.

‘This can be given to Sangwan Hyuk.’

With that, the mission would be straightforwardly complete. Of course, I wouldn’t hand it over without fully understanding its powers first. After gathering the Baek Woong, Cheon Woo-jin and I ascended to the peak of Mount Tai, reaching the Heavenly Altar. As we arrived, we found a gruesome ceremony in progress.

“……!!”

Human corpses and blood lay scattered everywhere! Looking at the bodies, they were dressed like ordinary commoners, and horrifyingly, there were some with their hearts ripped out or skulls smashed. Moreover, there were shapes drawn in blood and mystical symbols, enough to deduce that a wicked ritual was taking place here.

Cheon Woo-jin remarked flatly,

“Seems they’re performing wicked ceremonies to seek help from the [Old Ruler]. We’re lucky we got here before they gained strength.”

“Are you saying we crushed them before they could complete the ritual?”

“Exactly. Had the ceremony been finished, it might have been tough even for me.”

“Ugh…”

I shuddered. Zhuge Yulong, every time he’s faced, is an extremely troublesome foe. You can’t kill him in one blow, and if given even a little time, he will fully prepare and emerge even stronger. Unless I gather information and strength to seize him instantaneously, things are sure to get complicated in the future.

“Baek Woong. To understand Zhuge Yulong’s whereabouts, the only way is to torture this guy. But I’m not one for torture. Would you do it?”

I shook my head vigorously.

“I don’t do such tedious things.”

Swoosh!

I laid Zhuge Bu flat on the Heavenly Altar and swiftly drew my sword, beheading him. As his severed head burst forth with blue blood, red tentacles exploded from within it. At the same time, I could see Zhuge Bu’s form transforming grotesquely into a demon. I furiously hacked at his body with my sword until he no longer moved.

Once the so-called Zhuge Bu settled down, I raised my hands and focused on my ten fingers. Then I activated the Heavenly Secret Technique.

WHOOSH!

The spirits resonated with my fingers, and suddenly, a massive spirit materialized in front of me. Before me was the soul of Zhuge Bu, enveloped in confusion and terror. I smiled at the spirit of Zhuge Bu and said,

“Hey there, nice to meet you.”

[Ugh… Y-You…]

Torturing Zhuge Bu would be an incredibly cumbersome and annoying process. Thus, I decided to kill him and summon his soul with the Heavenly Secret Technique to extract information forcibly.

“As the master of the Heavenly Secret Technique, I command you. Reveal the location of Zhuge Yulong’s spare body.”

Because summoned souls by the Heavenly Secret Technique must comply with the summoner’s requests, there could be no falsehoods or distortions. It was better than debating with the living Zhuge Bu.

 

---