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00436 Dark Heaven Village ————————————————————————

[Hmm… The Seven Luminaries… Quite interesting…]

The prophet, who seemed to be examining me, flinched in surprise.

[Reborn person?! I see… Now it makes sense…]

“Are you going to tell me?”

[Alright… The compensation is sufficient… I’ll pass on the location for the obsidian.]

The prophet first took the Nameless Ritual Book from me and then provided the locations of the Ktaart and the Golden Branch. After receiving the information, the prophet promptly handed me the obsidian containing the time and location of the Fire Spirit. As I pondered the time and memories, I frowned.

“Are you really going to do this? You say there’s a confidentiality treaty with the Celestial Realm regarding the Seven Luminaries, but giving vague information doesn’t seem fair for a transaction!”

[You’ve certainly gauged my tendencies during your past life… It’s definitely unfair this way…]

I pointed my finger at him and glared fiercely.

“If you are the King of Zhu Rong, then keep your promise!”

Seeing my intensity, the prophet’s eyes widened in surprise.

[What a strange fellow… You must know you can’t match my combat power, yet you speak so boldly… And yet, it’s oddly charming…]

I smirked.

“Kill me if you want! But I don’t want to deal with someone who can’t even keep his own principles.”

[Fine then… I will tell you the exact time of the solar eclipse of the Fire Spirit.]

“Isn’t that too stingy?”

[Considering the cost for breaking the confidentiality treaty, it’s quite justifiable…]

I had no choice but to nod.

“Alright.”

Once again, I received the obsidian from the prophet.

In that moment, knowledge concerning the technology and sciences of the Great Race flashed through my mind, detailing their numbers, measurements, and cosmic understandings. There were even units related to the galaxy.

However, it wasn’t that this knowledge settled; it was quite volatile, so it was something I couldn’t remember for long. After the foundational work was done, the exact time marker for when the solar eclipse of the Fire Spirit would occur was stored in my mind according to the otherworldly race’s time unit.

Ding!

It’s complex to articulate in human terms, but I now possessed the precise knowledge of the solar eclipse of the Fire Spirit more than anyone else in the world. The margin for error would hardly be a few breaths.

‘Impressive!’

The technological prowess and knowledge of these beings were surely beyond anything comparable to current humanity. Now that I knew when the solar eclipse of the Fire Spirit would unfold, I only needed to find the location. While locating it might take some time, I wasn’t worried since I had my own methods.

‘Yulala of the Kaltukajara. The stone name is Uluru.’

I had already heard about the location once before.

I stepped away from the prophet and scanned the area where Zhuge Bu’s remnants had fallen. Then I searched for the treasure, Baek Woong.

“I found it. It was right here.”

Perhaps because it was a treasure, it looked alright despite being hit by the prophet’s light beam.

[Isn’t that mine…? I hunted it.]

As the watching prophet raised an objection, I waved my hand dismissively.

“No, it’s mine. I brought it back. Don’t you know that getting a proper catch is the most important part of hunting?”

[……]

“And you know well that I could take this creature one-on-one.”

[Hmm… It’s not convincing, but I’ll let it slide this time…]

The prophet, who spoke gruffly, conceded.

[Come back again… And bring a Grimoire or something…]

“Think about it!”

After obtaining what I needed, I went looking for Xuyou. I harvested as much Black and White Lotus as possible and gathered Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, stuffing the gold bars into my wooden armor. After defeating the Guardian Giant Spider, I took the opportunity to harvest the spider’s Inner Dan using my invulnerability to poison. Normally, I’d use a suspicious fishhook for detoxification, but since I was invulnerable to poison, the spider’s venom was merely a smelly liquid to me.

‘Spider’s Inner Dan, it should have its uses.’

I murmured to myself and gathered both the statue of Jeon Wook and Xuyou from the ruins. Reflecting on what was left, I decided to head to the White Lotus Sect.

Pa-at!

Upon arriving at the White Lotus Sect, I found myself in the sacred ground where the Sacred Lotus was cultivated. One of the Peak Experts from the Elder Council, managing the sacred site, was startled to see me.

“Who are you!!”

I grinned and said,

“Are you planning to fight here? If you do, you’ll ruin all the Sacred Lotuses!”

“Ugh!”

The Elder Council expert stumbled. If he mobilized his Peak Expert powers against me, an explosion would be inevitable, which would likely destroy all the Sacred Lotuses. I gazed at the disheartened man and spoke.

“I’ll take just three flowers. Just pretend you didn’t see me.”

“Y-You scoundrel… Do you think I, the guardian of the Sacred Lotus, will allow that?!”

Ugh

I activated Sword Strength on my blade. I began to pressure him.

“I don’t mind fighting! But if that happens, it won’t just be three flowers!”

“Ughhh…!!”

He trembled with fear. As a Peak Expert of the Elder Council, he wouldn’t think he could lose to me, but he was clearly cornered. I recalled Zhuge Sa’s persuasive words and subtly tempted him.

“With so many Sacred Lotuses, what’s the harm in just three? You could just say you overindulged due to your own greed to the Master.”

“What’s your name?”

“Are you crazy? Why would I tell you?”

Shing!

I raised the blade over the Sacred Lotus as a threat. The Elder Council expert was horrified.

“… Just take it! Hurry and disappear!”

“Thanks.”

I quickly plucked three Sacred Lotuses and stuffed them into my wooden armor.

‘Hmm, and one more…’

I headed towards the ruins of Jabu Seon’s previous visit. Arriving at the Joint Mountain and entering the inner Underground, I spotted the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate emanating divine power. As a Sorcerer possessing significant spirit power myself, I took a deep breath and easily tucked the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate into my wooden armor.

Thinking I was roughly prepared, I made my way to Jinrang Valley and handed the obsidian to Mangnyang.

Ugh

Mangnyang, having inherited the memories from the obsidian, looked quite surprised. After about a moment of silence, he seemed to be organizing his thoughts and let out a sigh.

“… Baek Woong. If I had continued from the last life, I could have gained much more…”

“I have no regrets. I just have a clearer understanding of what I need to do!”

“I suppose that’s one way to think about it.”

Mangnyang nodded and sighed as he spoke.

“Ah… I understand what you’re thinking. I see why you’ve hastily amassed all these items without care for the details.”

Truly, a genius Mangnyang could deduce my plans just by observing my movements.

I faced Mangnyang, faintly smiling.

“It will work out.”

Mangnyang responded with a somewhat gloomy demeanor.

“I hope so. Then let’s carry out the ritual for the Seven Luminaries’ Offering.”

I went with Mangnyang back to Master Mangnyang’s village. Burying the Heavenly Secret and performing the ritual of the Seven Luminaries didn’t take long. In fact, I had memorized the order of the ritual and synchronized my spirit power, helping Cheon Woo-jin, which surprised him.

“You are quite adept at handling souls. A disciple of the Heretical Sect?”

I calmly replied,

“I had some connections.”

“Hmm.”

Looking at me with a hint of unfamiliarity, Cheon Woo-jin soon focused on the ritual. Disciples of the Heretical Sect weren’t that common in sorcery, but they weren’t extremely rare either. The sorcery for controlling souls they possessed spread out among the faithful after the fall of the sect. Thus, Cheon Woo-jin seemed to have the perception that the soul control technique was connected to the Heretical Sect. However, according to Zhuge Sa, those techniques were merely warped trinkets, and only the Master of the Heretical Sect truly mastered the Soul Exchange Technique.

Ugh

Finally, as the ritual for the Seven Luminaries was conducted, divine presence began to descend upon Cheon Woo-jin. The Primordial Void Ruler spoke.

[The Seven Luminaries have been well-fed, oh humans. But it’s strange, for I am to bless you and the one overseeing the offering, yet there are traces of my power already imprinted…]

Having heard him say the preceding lines many times, I predicted his continuation and spoke bluntly.

“We’re not kin of the Three Sovereigns.”

The Primordial Void Ruler was taken aback.

[Um… Is that so?]

“What does it matter if there are traces of power left!? The present is what counts.”

After firmly yelling, I shot a glance at Mangnyang. If Mangnyang grasped my intentions, he would undoubtedly understand what I wanted. Mangnyang appeared reluctant but sighed and spoke.

“Ah… Lord Primordial Void Ruler. We wish to present this offering along with additional gifts. We seek to obtain a more powerful blessing.”

[What?]

Mangnyang understood my intentions after all. I interjected.

“It’s fine for the blessings of Great Luck to overlap. We will offer more, so grant us a stronger blessing!”

[Hmm…]

“First, let’s see if it’s possible.”

As I pressed him, the Primordial Void Ruler nodded.

[It is possible. What kind of offering do you intend to make?]

I held up my wooden armor and began to enumerate the items verbally.

“This much explosive powder! Gunpowder! The statue of Jeon Wook!”

[Hmm…]

I brandished my twin swords.

“The Twin Broadswords of Liu Bei!”

[Oh…]

I continued to present my treasures.

“Yodo Muramasa! Valuables! Book of Five Relationships!”

[……]

“The Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate!”

Having seen the treasured artifact and secret techniques, the Primordial Void Ruler’s expression became bizarre.

“Black and White Lotus! Sacred Lotus! The Landlord’s Spirit Pill!”

[Wait, what?!]

“The Nine Stars Main Capital! Crystal Stele!”

[What?!]

“Treasure, Baek Woong, let’s go!!!”

With a hurl of excess energy, Baek Woong struck Cheon Woo-jin squarely in the face. Out of frustration for giving away such precious treasures, this was the outcome.

[Huh.]

The Primordial Void Ruler looked incredulous, picking up Baek Woong and glancing around. Everything nearby was indeed a remarkable treasure, spirit pill, artifact, and secret technique. The Primordial Void Ruler seemed genuinely bewildered, unable to comprehend whether to be angry over my actions.

[Are you… really planning to give all these up?]

I took a breath and smiled.

“I believe in you, Lord Primordial Void Ruler!”

[Um… then…]

I clenched my fist and insisted.

“Let the Great Luck be a grand affair!”

The Primordial Void Ruler appeared to be in a somewhat pleasant mood as he stated sternly.

[Very well. In the name of the Primordial Void Ruler, I shall bestow the blessings of Great Luck equivalent to all these offerings. I shall also block some of the backlash from the overlapping blessings!]

“Thank you.”

I thought to myself.

‘With this, I have fulfilled my promise from last time, Lord Primordial Void Ruler.’

Wooosh

And thus, the spirit of the Primordial Void Ruler departed from Cheon Woo-jin. Cheon Woo-jin, perhaps being relieved that the ritual was over, didn’t show any signs of fatigue or weariness. Once he regained his composure, he looked at me incredulously.

“Are you insane? With even half the treasures just offered, you could become the supreme being of the realm!”

“It’s my choice.”

“Damn it… Give me the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate and Baek Woong!”

Letting out his true feelings, Cheon Woo-jin grumbled quietly.

“… Aren’t there any treasures left?”

“Get lost.”

“You stubborn fool. Tsk.”

Cheon Woo-jin, muttering words of discontent, retreated to tend to his farming. I understood why he could be so nonchalant. Meanwhile, Mangnyang approached me and sighed.

“Ah… Baek Woong. By giving away all the treasures, the duration of the Great Luck overlap has likely increased significantly compared to before. Plus, it should be even stronger.”

“That’s true.”

If I had kept all those treasures, I could have built a tremendous force, but I gave up on such an ambiguous future. I decided to focus on short-term results.

“Right now, you should be considered the luckiest person in the world, simply by taking a step with piles of gold bars, spiritual pills, and beautiful women addicted to the spring pills pouring over you! A rare occurrence, even if only for a short time!”

“That’s the plan.”

“……”

Mangnyang hesitated for a moment and then sighed.

“No matter how efficient that may be… Are you really not afraid of dying?”

I found it hard to respond to that.

So after some thought, I finally answered.

“I’ve been too passive for too long. From now on, I’m just being more proactive.”

“Hmm…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it well.”

With concerned eyes, Mangnyang looked at me and said,

“The total amount of Great Luck has increased and strengthened, so the duration has lengthened as well. If you don’t squander it excessively, you may still survive. However, it should be sealed when it comes to the power of the blessing.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

I waved my hand at Mangnyang.

“See you again!”

“……”

Wooosh

I headed straight to the southern savage continent via the Golden Lamp.

‘Let’s not think about it, just trust in luck!’

So, I randomly found a village nearby and caught a savage who looked like the village chief to ask him.

“Hey. Where is Yulala to the east of Kaltukajara?”

It goes without saying that I didn’t speak the language of the savages. Logically thinking, there was no way I’d get a response by blurting out in Central Plains dialect. The odds of that were astronomically low.

However, the village chief’s son behind him raised his hand eagerly and responded in Central Plains dialect.

“I know, please let my father go, oh divine one!”

“How do you speak Central Plains dialect?”

He spoke fluently.

“I learned it from a castaway when I was young. I know Central Plains and Ming Empire, and I speak Central Plains well. I even know how to make Dong Pa Pork.”

“……”

What’s the odds of this happening!

I could feel a hint of Guangdong dialect in his tone. Probably, a ship had run aground from that region, and after many twists and turns, a Central Plain person ended up here. The village chief’s son must have coincidentally learned to speak from this Central Plain person. Just to be sure, I asked another question.

“What’s your name?”

“Lakang.”

He had probably pronounced it differently in his local dialect, but he answered with a Central Plains accent.

“What happened to your master?”

“He passed away six years ago.”

“Hm… Lakang. How do you know where Yulala to the east of Kaltukajara is?”

“Because I happened to become a sage after traveling through perilous lands and inheriting ancient knowledge.”

“What did you say?”

“Only a sage knows that the Seven Luminaries are hidden on this continent. Perhaps the only one who knows the secrets of this place is me.”

“……”

I had a flicker of hope and asked him what kind of place Yulala of Kaltukajara was. Without hesitation, he answered.

“It’s the hidden location of the divine treasure and will open during the total solar eclipse. There are also the Dragon Flower Tree and Fire Spirit inside, and you must defeat the Guardian to obtain them.”

“Woah…”

This was an impossible coincidence. To blindly guess in a village from my previous wanderings in the southern continent without any thought that the village chief’s son would speak Central Plains well and know about the inheritance of the Fire Spirit? That probability was as slim as a meteor falling into the Imperial Palace and wiping out the Imperial Palace Forces.

‘This is the power of Great Luck!’

I told Lakang,

“Lakang, guide me there. I’ll bring you a great gift for your tribe.”

“Yes, of course.”

I thought Lakang would walk slowly, so I intended to carry him along to run, but he refused.

“I know Central Plains martial arts too. I love Central Plains martial arts.”

His pronunciation was slightly off.

Paabak

Much later, Lakang initiated some Divine Technique, moving at a speed comparable to a Peak Expert of the Nine Great Sects! His skill level was at the peak! At only in his early to mid-thirties, it seemed he must have trained in martial arts for a long time.

“……”

What was even more surprising was that it was the fastest technique of the Nine Great Sects, the Cloud Dragon’s Eight Techniques! It seemed the person who taught Lakang Central Plains dialect was a martial arts master! A master from Kunlun Sect in another continent!

‘What the hell? What is this ridiculous probability…?’

Either way, it was more convenient than carrying him while jumping, so I began to walk alongside Lakang.

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