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00398  Celestial Realm  ————————————————————————=

After defeating Zhuge Yulong, I was pondering what to do next.

‘Isn’t everything sorted out with the Imperial Palace now?’

With Zhuge Yulong, the priest and mastermind behind the chaos, sealed away in the Celestial Realm, it seemed the malefactions I had been worrying about regarding the Imperial Palace had come to an end. Although the [Old Ruler] of the Demon Subduing Hall remains, his lack of immediate action indicates I should pay attention to the Sect Leader’s future moves. It seems that my long-cherished goal of overthrowing the Imperial Palace has finally been achieved in this life.

While I was overwhelmed with emotions, I had no time to indulge in them. The Master of the White Lotus Sect was about to clash with the Twelve Joules, and I sensed he had some unsettling plans brewing. Defeating just one Zhuge Yulong wouldn’t grant us peace across the land.

[Baek Woong. Think through your priorities.]

[First, I need to hand the treasure, Baek Woong, over to Sangwan Hyuk.]

[But before that, find out what Baek Woong can do.]

Following Zhuge Sa’s advice, I picked up Baek Woong and showed it to Cheon Woo-jin. As Cheon Woo-jin glanced at Baek Woong, I asked,

“Cheon Woo-jin, can you tell me what this treasure, Baek Woong, is capable of?”

He responded curtly, “You don’t even know what it does, and yet you plan to take it? You’ve got to be kidding…”

“I risked my life to eliminate the threat that plagued the Celestial Realm. I think I deserve to keep this level of loot.”

“Hmph.”

Cheon Woo-jin snorted briefly, then slowly examined Baek Woong. After a few moments of infusing it with spirit energy, he spoke.

“This is a treasure made from the feathers of the Great Peng Eagle.”

“The Great Peng Eagle?”

“It’s a mystical bird residing in the Celestial Realm.”

Cheon Woo-jin returned Baek Woong and added, “This treasure continuously restores martial power, allowing for semi-permanent casting of martial arts techniques. Furthermore, if someone at the level of an Immortal uses Baek Woong, they might just see the future.”

“See the future…? Are you saying it has prophetic abilities?”

“Well, that’s a tricky part to explain.”

Cheon Woo-jin frowned as he continued, “The future you can observe with Baek Woong has a high degree of variability. It’s more of a snapshot in time rather than a straightforward prophecy.”

“I’m having a hard time grasping that.”

“Think of it like sticking a stick in the middle of a flowing stream. Everyone flows along with the water, but when the stick blocks the flow, it alters the path right before it.”

“Hmm, I suppose that makes sense.”

“When the water is blocked and waves form around the stick, reading the flow of those waves is what Baek Woong’s future-seeing ability is about.”

“……”

This was a bit too complicated for me to wrap my head around. Noticing my puzzled expression, Cheon Woo-jin sighed, “Bloody hell. Just say it straightforwardly. The ability to see the future can be split into two types: one is a ‘modifiable’ future, and the other is an ‘immutable’ future. Baek Woong reads the former but can only catch fragmented scenes or branches. So knowing is like asking for trouble.”

“Even if it’s just fragments, wouldn’t it be helpful? Why would it cause trouble?”

“The owner of Baek Woong has already observed the future.”

Cheon Woo-jin sighed. “The moment the future is observed, the path leading to it changes. This is because the observer is also included in ‘time.’ That’s the unique nature of future visibility.”

“Ah…”

Only then did I start to understand Cheon Woo-jin’s words.

No matter how much the reader can perceive a changeable future, if the journey to get there is unpredictable, it’s meaningless. Moreover, if the observer’s intentions are mixed in, it’s nothing but chaos. Hence, Cheon Woo-jin refrained from calling it a prophetic ability and instead categorized it as a future-seeing ability.

‘Then, could it be…’

Did Zhuge Yulong use Baek Woong to glimpse the future?

As I pondered deeply, Zhuge Sa interjected.

[Baek Woong. Hold off on giving Baek Woong to Sangwan Hyuk.]

[Are you saying I should try to use the future-seeing ability?]

[Exactly.]

Zhuge Sa continued calmly, [There might be a significant clue hidden in there. Besides, we don’t need to rush giving the treasure to Sangwan Hyuk, right?]

[That’s true.]

[Rushing would only lead to you getting force-fed a Heavenly Spirit Pill upon your return to the temple.]

While I was engaging in conversation with Zhuge Sa, Cheon Woo-jin casually spoke up, “Well, if we’re done here, I’m off.”

“Wait a moment!”

We can’t just let him leave like this!

I hurriedly stopped Cheon Woo-jin, who stared blankly at me. I spoke whatever came to mind.

“There’s one more thing we need to do!”

“What’s that? Just so you know, I’m here on the orders to purge the Celestial Realm. If I can’t move the Celestial Realm, I can’t be of much use to you.”

Cheon Woo-jin’s face was clearly showing that he didn’t want to work. Maybe he found it too bothersome to take down Zhuge Yulong, and now he just wanted to go home. But it wasn’t often you could gain such a strong ally like Cheon Woo-jin, making me anxious.

‘Ugh, I’ve got to milk this guy for all he’s worth…’

What should I say?

As I was mulling it over, Zhuge Sa commented.

[You have tasks set. Why are you hesitating?]

Finally, I opened my mouth as per Zhuge Sa’s advice.

“… You must realize the Imperial Palace has fallen into the hands of the White Lotus Sect.”

“I’ve heard something like that…”

“In the basement of that Imperial Palace lies the National Seal. If the Master of the White Lotus Sect gets his hands on it, it’d be a disaster. I need your help to reclaim the National Seal first.”

Upon mentioning the National Seal, Cheon Woo-jin’s expression changed.

“The National Seal? Really?”

“Yes. This is something I must do as a messenger of the Celestial Realm, so you have to help me. And one more thing.”

I took a deep breath and continued, “You need to assist in performing the Offering Ceremony to free my Moon Sovereign.”

“……”

Cheon Woo-jin’s expression twisted in dismay. I said, pressing him, “Why the long face? I need to free the Moon Sovereign to gain strength enough to confront the Master of the White Lotus Sect. It’s essential for fulfilling my mission in the Celestial Realm.”

“While that’s true…”

Cheon Woo-jin replied with an expression of clear reluctance.

“If you do it your way, it means you’ll end up with both the National Seal and the Moon Sovereign.”

“Well, that’s correct.”

“Why should you get to enjoy everything?”

I was left dumbfounded. This guy can’t seriously be saying this again? But considering getting two ultimate treasures as a sorcerer, I could understand his point. I coughed slightly and retorted, “I’m sorry. What can I say… If something good comes up later…”

“If something good, huh?”

I replied in a sheepish tone.

“I’ll share a bit.”

Cheon Woo-jin scoffed.

“Yeah, right. You’re just throwing empty words like a pig.”

“……”

“No, more like a dumb ass.”

Cheon Woo-jin spat out some harsh words and then abruptly turned his head away.

“Guide me. Let’s wrap this up quickly and part ways.”

“Ah… Understood.”

Feeling slightly offended by the sudden insult, I just swallowed it. In Cheon Woo-jin’s view, it was like he was offering his services for free anyway. If enduring some insults meant I could acquire two ultimate treasures, I could manage.

I asked Zhuge Sa as we rode the Four Great Spirits, [Is it alright to take everything now?]

[You must avoid obtaining the Heavenly Spirit Pill at all costs. But trying to make excuses to the Sect Leader right before a confrontation with the Twelve Joules won’t work. Because right now, you are basically the top expert in the White Lotus Sect, excluding the Dharma Guardians. You can’t miss out on this power boost.]

Zhuge Sa explained with a smile.

[In that case, it would be better to grab everything beforehand. I’ll explain what comes next later.]

Swoosh!!

I headed towards the Heavenly Altar of Mount Tai with Cheon Woo-jin. We didn’t burn Zhuge Yulong’s spare body completely; instead, we used it as an offering. Cheon Woo-jin took charge of capturing the timing, and soon, the Offering Ceremony began.

Ku-kyu-kyu-kyu…

While I meditated on what kind of Three Sovereigns might emerge, Cheon Woo-jin stood atop the altar, tuning the spirit energy. Previously, Zhuge Sa would assist him, but after overcoming his divine fever, the now stronger Cheon Woo-jin appeared to need no help. He became a powerful sorcerer capable of performing the Offering Ceremony all on his own.

Eventually, green spirit energy flowed forth from the Heavenly Altar, and a dark orb began to manifest.

The dark orb started drawing the Eight Trigrams in mid-air, gradually descending onto the Heavenly Altar while the ominous clouds above seemed to strengthen. The thick dark clouds enveloped everything, swallowing the sunlight until there wasn’t even a beam left. When the world became entirely pitch-black—

Kiki-ki-ki-gik

A wailing rupture of the void!

It was a sound I could only describe as heartrending and sinister, echoing throughout Mount Tai. It resembled a funeral dirge negating life, sending chills down the spine just from hearing it. The ominous sound seemed to shake even the very souls inside.

The moon began to darken. The dark moon swallowed the clouds, growing increasingly larger, eventually seeming to reach five times its original size. The dark moon gradually overshadowed the surroundings as if it ignored the starlight entirely.

In stark contrast to when Jeon Wook appeared, and his Divine Temple unveiled a multitude of spirits and deities, the current scene felt bizarre, as if the primal darkness was manifesting in reality through the moon.

How long had passed?

In the center of the dark moon, something shimmering with silver began descending toward the ground. This silver figure was human-like in shape and size, but the moment I laid my eyes on it, I felt an overwhelming presence.

Wiiiiii—

With the gleaming moonlight, a peculiar creature fluttered about, its snout elongated. Its appearance seemed too unnatural to be a living being, prompting me to wonder if it was an otherworldly race, but the divine aura radiating from it felt notably pure and brilliant. The strange creature emitted an enigmatic cry, circling the silver figure as if to bless it.

As it drew closer, I could discern its form more clearly.

It resembled a human yet was fundamentally different. Through the hazy silver aura, a snake-like lower body appeared, reminiscent of a tail. Its gaze sparkled like starlight, shining intensely, and it had human limbs. A goddess donned in sacred attire held a sphere glowing red like the sun in one hand, right before my eyes.

In that moment, Cheon Woo-jin, who was regulating the spirit energy, naturally bowed his neck and assumed a prostrate position. Then he warned me, “Show your respect to the Mother Goddess!”

I was left with no choice but to bow flat onto the ground like Cheon Woo-jin. At that instant, I instantly recognized from his words who this summoned being was. Even Zhuge Sa, who usually resided within me, seemed awestruck and silenced upon confronting her presence.

I never imagined I would encounter this being in my lifetime.

Eventually, the silver entity gazed down at both me and Cheon Woo-jin before speaking in Divine Tongue.

[I am Nüwa.]

With her following words, I became certain.

The Offering Ceremony of the Seven Luminaries is closely linked to the creator of the Seven Luminaries!

[Who seeks to awaken the Seven Luminaries from their slumber?]

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