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“So, now that the alliance is formed, I’m just going to take Baek Woong for a bit.”

With a sly grin, Lee Cheong-un announced this, leaving the Sect Leader looking puzzled.

[Why?]

Lee Cheong-un shot an incredulous look at the Sect Leader as if to say, “Are you really that dense?”

“You must know, Sect Leader. Baek Woong holds the key to this situation. I simply wish to provide him with our information as a bridge. Staying holed up in the White Lotus Sect doesn’t seem to lead us anywhere, does it?”

After a brief pause, the Sect Leader responded.

[First, establish a basic policy. How are we to oppose the Celestial Realm?]

“Haha! Just because we formed an alliance doesn’t mean we’re emptying our pockets right away.”

Lee Cheong-un continued with a mocking tone, “After I have a chat with Baek Woong in the Thunder God Lineage, I’ll send him back. The conclusion he comes to might just be the answer we’re looking for.”

[…]

“If you can’t accept that, then we have no choice but to drop the alliance talk right here.”

[Fine. But if anything happens to Baek Woong, I won’t hold back.]

“Of course.”

Soon enough, I felt Lee Cheong-un’s Six Harmonies assembly resonating with me.

[Let’s head to Zhongnan Sect.]

With a sound like crack!, I made my way with Lee Cheong-un and Jin So-cheong to the lake at Zhongnan Sect. Unlike when we left, Lee Kwang and Extreme Tiger were already waiting to greet Lee Cheong-un. And there, Lee Kwang politely extended his martial authority.

“Master, you’ve arrived.”

“Hmm.”

Watching the scene unfold felt oddly surreal. Lee Kwang, who usually barked commands, was now bowing with honest respect like a dedicated disciple. Lee Cheong-un looked around and announced, “As of today, our Thunder God Lineage has allied with the White Lotus Sect.”

Though shocking, to my surprise, the three Thunder God Lineage experts present didn’t show much surprise at all. Clearly, it wasn’t a lie that Lee Cheong-un had been contemplating an alliance with the White Lotus Sect for some time. It seemed he had already communicated this policy to his disciples, preventing confusion.

Lee Cheong-un continued, “Kwang, there’s no longer a threat from the White Lotus Sect, so we don’t need to keep guarding Zhongnan Mountain.”

“What should we do then?”

“Just hold tight for a moment. I’ll talk with Baek Woong before we proceed.”

“Understood.”

I left the three behind and followed Lee Cheong-un into a nearby cabin by the lake. Once inside, Lee Cheong-un invited me to sit in a chair.

“Take a seat.”

“Sure.”

As I settled in, Lee Cheong-un started speaking, “Baek Woong, aren’t you curious about how I discovered the Celestial Plan?”

“I am curious.”

With the help of the renowned swordmaster Geol-seon, I had managed to secure information from Open, which made sense. Yet even with that access, uncovering the Heavenly Ladder Plan in the Celestial Realm seemed impossible—mostly because the Celestial Realm was just a fantasy to most, and there were hardly any who understood the secrets of such mythological schemes.

Even the Master of the White Lotus Sect only learned of the Heavenly Ladder’s existence and dangers after I told him.

But Lee Cheong-un had figured out what the Celestial Plan was. This feat was beyond the reach of any organization on Earth. As I gave him a suspicious glance, he flashed a broad smile and said, “Well, before I explain, there’s one more thing you should know.”

“What is it?”

“How did the Sect Leader manage to learn all the martial arts and secret techniques of the Four Great Families?”

“Um… I mean…”

I hesitated, realizing that I had always been curious about this. I had first heard about the Master of the White Lotus Sect’s divine position from Mangnyang, and the more I learned, the clearer it became that the Master was not just an extraordinarily talented person who had acquired the martial arts and techniques of all schools. This was an unprecedented achievement for a mere mortal. While I had repeatedly asked the Sect Leader about it during our training sessions, I always received the same answer: he just trained hard.

But did Lee Cheong-un have the answer?

As he picked up an apple nearby and took a bite, he continued, “You must realize, no, you surely know, that there’s a ‘limit’ to what a human being can achieve. Regardless of how much effort or talent is poured in, when experience in different domains accumulates, confusion will inevitably follow. Thus, martial artists typically train intensively in the martial arts of one specific school to reach mastery.”

“Hmm… That makes sense.”

I nodded, recalling my own experiences. Through my past life, I had accumulated knowledge across various sword styles, but as I practiced, my talent ran short, which led to increasing confusion within my style.

Indeed, it was that confusion that almost stalled my progress and put me at risk of losing my mind. However, thanks to Yeodong-bin’s Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, I managed to settle that chaos.

“In fact, mastering all the basic skills, applications, and secret techniques from the Four Great Families, like the Master of the White Lotus Sect, is impossible for an ordinary human. Even I doubt I could achieve any synergy by learning from the other families outside of the Thunder God Lineage. The training required would be ridiculously humongous. Yet, the Master of the White Lotus Sect managed to become an expert of the Su Shin Sect while successfully mastering all the martial arts from the Four Great Families…”

“……”

“I suspect that the reason lies not in the Master’s talent, but in his body.”

“His body?”

“The Primordial Spirit.”

“……?”

“Hmm. I realize that talking in circles might make it hard for you to understand, so let me be direct.”

Lee Cheong-un finally got to the point. “I believe the Master possesses a Primordial Spirit that can connect to the Heavenly Spirit Pill.”

“Connect? What do you mean by that?”

“Quite literally. The owner of the Primordial Spirit can share knowledge and experiences with the holder of the Heavenly Spirit Pill, no doubt about it.”

“……!!”

My eyes widened in shock as this unexpected conclusion tumbled from Lee Cheong-un’s lips. While I understood what he meant thanks to his intuitive explanation, the reality was beyond my grasp, and I stumbled over my words.

“T-that doesn’t make any sense.”

“No. There’s no other way to explain how the Master could gain martial arts technique from the Heavenly Spirit Pill owner covertly.”

Lee Cheong-un said firmly while linking his fingers together. “Even if it’s just traces or fragments of martial arts inspiration, or unconsciousness… it seems he can’t read surface thoughts or memories that the Heavenly Spirit Pill’s owner tries to conceal.”

“That’s impossible. How could…”

I stopped short, realizing that I had already seen the Master struggling to master the Seven Great Techniques during his training. Thus, it became evident to me that while the Master might be surpassing others, he definitely wasn’t a genius by any means. If his talent was at that level, then mastering all the martial arts from the Four Great Families to the level of an expert seemed utterly ridiculous.

But what if he absorbed knowledge about martial arts through the Primordial Spirit from the Heavenly Spirit Pill?

Suddenly, everything I had ever been perplexed by regarding the Master made sense. While I stood still, trembling at the realization, Lee Cheong-un spoke again.

“When I was on the brink of death after being defeated by the Master and my dantian shattered, I couldn’t think straight.”

Lee Cheong-un sighed. “The one who received the most profound insights from the Thunder Spirit’s teachings was Kwang. So, until my last breath, I couldn’t help but suspect Kwang. But after you revived me, I finally had time to think logically and realized that was nonsense.”

“Kwang only knew the secrets of the Thunder Spirit, but had no idea what it really was. Even if Kwang leaked that knowledge to the Master, how could he master it perfectly in no time? That’s impossible for any human. So, I thought about who could convey the knowledge to the Master in a way that would make it feasible.”

“Wait…!”

“Yes, it was me. As a practitioner of the Thunder God lineage, the only one who ever mastered the Thunder Spirit was me, Lee Cheong-un. Only my training experience could make this possible. Once I realized this, it all clicked into place—the Master must have witnessed my martial arts memories and experiences.”

“Hmm… But… it sounds absurd.”

“Heh, that’s precisely why the Master could keep the secret of the Primordial Spirit for several hundred years, right?”

With a chilling grin, Lee Cheong-un took another bite of the apple. “Also, you provided a detailed understanding of the Primordial Spirit and the essence of the Heavenly Spirit Pill from your memories. If the Heavenly Spirit Pill summons infinite power due to a pact with a god, then why did the Master choose the Primordial Spirit instead? While the Primordial Spirit has its additional benefits, the difference with its infinite internal power is minimal. So why did he spread out possessors of the Heavenly Spirit Pill across the White Lotus Sect? Was one Heavenly Spirit Pill insufficient to protect the sect? It’s clear that he would be in peril if a rebellion occurred, so why create multiple Heavenly Spirit Pill holders?”

Lee Cheong-un bombarded me with questions until he reached a conclusion.

“Because the one with the Heavenly Spirit Pill can obtain the martial arts learned by others. Everything adds up. Hence, the Master could be directly taught by the Dharma Guardians of the Four Great Families, allowing him to master them all!”

“……!!”

“A little far-fetched? Not at all. If the Old Ruler exists, then it’s not strange for the Primordial Spirit to exhibit such functions.”

“I… I see.”

I swallowed hard at Lee Cheong-un’s logically sound statements. ‘So that’s how it was.’ The Heavenly Spirit Pill is linked to the Primordial Spirit! The Master was able to safely gift powerful martial strength to the Dharma Guardians because he established a hierarchy from the beginning. And since the Dharma Guardians are the top-tier experts of each school, it’s no wonder he could learn from them all.

Suddenly stunned, I turned to Lee Cheong-un and said, “Then, if you possess the Heavenly Spirit Pill, it means you can be controlled by the Master’s will…”

“No. That seems impossible. The fact that I can act independently is proof of that. If the Master could read my thoughts, he would have swatted me down long ago. Yet, until today, he remained doubtful of my presence but never moved to confront me. He couldn’t find me.”

“That’s true.”

Lee Cheong-un chuckled lightly. “I suspect that the ownership relationship of the Primordial Spirit is something the Master forcibly created through additional contracts. It seems he can’t locate it. Plus, there are certain constraints. Maybe he can only gain knowledge and experience related to martial arts…”

“Hmm…”

I pondered and said, “But the Master can summon Dharma Guardians to his side. Why hasn’t he used that ability? If he did, you might have met him already…”

“I’ve wondered about that myself…”

Lee Cheong-un thought deeply before continuing, “Perhaps that ability only activates under specific conditions.”

“Conditions?”

“I can’t say for sure. The Master must have attempted to locate me using that skill, but since he couldn’t summon me, he’s only been passively absorbing my training experiences all this time…”

Lee Cheong-un trailed off. “Regardless, I just thought it’d be good for you to know about this. You need to be crystal clear on what it means to own a Heavenly Spirit Pill.”

Indeed. Was that why the Master’s achievements had accelerated unusually post-closed-door training? Without a doubt, during the closed-door training, he must have shared in Lee Cheong-un’s training experiences within the Seven Great Techniques.

“I understand well enough.”

I shivered at the thought. If that was true, then the moment I entered into a contract with the Heavenly Spirit Pill, not only would I be sacrificing my soul to a god, but I would also be teaching the Master every martial skill I had ever acquired. Though there wouldn’t be much difference in this life, it still felt horrifying from my current perspective. The martial arts I practiced would all be transmitted to the Master, rendering rebellion against him impossible.

“So, should I now tell you how I uncovered the secret of the Celestial Realm?”

“Yes!”

With a tinkling sound from the scenery nearby, the clear ringing echoed around us.

“You’ll find it somewhat delightful to see this familiar face.”

“……?”

Moments later, a man walked into the cabin, smiling warmly as he said, “Long time no see.”

“Huh!”

As soon as I saw his face, I gasped and jumped from my seat, rushing over to shake his hand.

“Mangnyang!! You’ve been here all along?!”

Yes, my closest friend, a companion from my past life, and advisor, Mangnyang had come! He looked rejuvenated, his aura clearer and more distinct than before, suggesting he had undergone a considerable amount of training during our time apart.

Mangnyang smiled wryly. “A lot has happened.”

“What happened…?”

“After we parted ways, I sensed something troubling, so I hurried out of the area around Jangryeong Valley. Then, to train in the techniques I had acquired, I entered the Spirit Mountain, dedicating myself to practice day in and day out.”

When Mangnyang glanced at Lee Cheong-un, who was quietly seated, he continued, “Then suddenly, Lee Cheong-un came looking for me, asking me to become the advisor for the Thunder Spirit lineage.”

“……?!”

I stared at Lee Cheong-un in shock. He replied nonchalantly, “Thanks to the memories of the Obsidian, I was able to identify who Mangnyang was. I used his past actions to deduce where he might have gone and searched accordingly.”

“……”

My mind raced in disbelief. According to Mangnyang, it sounded as if he had been secretly training in a place I’d never even visited! Lee Cheong-un’s intellect was clearly extraordinary. Mangnyang said, “Well, that’s accurate. Anyway, ever since then, I’ve been learning the Thunder Spirit lineage’s martial arts and techniques. Before long, I amassed enough power to break through the Dragon Gate. Then I underwent around sixty years of training on Mount Kunlun before finally earning a leave to return to the human realm.”

“S-six decades?!”

I was taken aback, struggling to comprehend how he could have trained for so long in a single life cycle. I scanned him for any signs of half-transition mastery, but he seemed perfectly fine. Mangnyang laughed heartily, “Hahaha! You know that time flows differently on Mount Kunlun, right? Sixty years there amounts to less than a year down here. Plus, with Ji-seon Mang-nyang’s knowledge, I could easily make achievements and even win a leave to return.”

“Oh wow… impressive!”

I gazed at Mangnyang in awe, realizing I had to ask, “So, you learned about the Celestial Plan while you were there?”

“Correct. To be precise, I originally intended to remain for two hundred years like Ji-seon Mang-nyang when I got wind that the Celestial Sovereign was about to descend, so I hastily secured a leave to come back. Then I informed Lee Cheong-un about it.”

“That’s a serious breach of confidentiality. Is that alright?”

Mangnyang shrugged nonchalantly. “With the Celestial Realm planning to sweep through the human realm, does it really matter? It’s more important for you to gain more experience in this life.”

“……”

Lee Cheong-un chimed in, “So, we’ve laid out our circumstances. Baek Woong.”

With a piercing gaze, Lee Cheong-un turned to me, “Upon learning about the Celestial Plan, I brought the Thunder Spirit disciples together with Mangnyang for intense discussions. Yet no matter how hard we thought, we couldn’t come to a conclusion. I hoped to perform the Offering Ceremony, but according to Mangnyang, it seems you recently attempted but failed to do so.”

I sighed, burdened by the information. “That’s right. Shao Hao rejected it.”

“As expected.”

Lee Cheong-un scratched his head.

“At this point, we have no choice but to rely on your instincts as a Reborn Person, Baek Woong.”

“Hmm…”

“Baek Woong, thanks to your actions, a massive alliance has formed between the White Lotus Sect, the Thunder Spirit Lineage, and Miyamoto Musashi. Our common enemy is the Celestial Realm itself. What do you think we should do?”

I understood his purpose. All along, I had acted on my seemingly erratic instincts, and as both Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang confirmed, I often found unexpected gains from following those whims. Now that a situation emerged where wisdom alone wouldn’t suffice, it seemed that Lee Cheong-un was hoping I would provide an answer.

All eyes were on me as Lee Cheong-un and Mangnyang awaited my response.

I remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.

“I…”

 

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