Chapter 447
“I just shared the future information I saw with Zhuge Sa.”
Zhuge Sa, after peeping into the future memory through the obsidian, chuckled in amusement.
“Hmm, is that so? I had a vague feeling that danger lurked, but who would’ve thought it could turn out like that…”
“Did you figure something out, Zhuge Sa?”
“As you know, the fact that the Portrait Immortal of the Imperial Palace could possibly mutate into the Apostle of the Evil Spirit is interesting. That would be direct involvement from the Evil Spirit… In that case, I still can’t wrap my head around Zhuge Yulong’s behavior. If they could tap into the Evil Spirit’s power by connecting to its constellation, they should have realized it. Why did they miss it?”
“……”
“So, it seems the city of Luoyang is actually deep-rooted in evil.” Zhuge Sa muttered.
“Baek Woong, if you want to use the method you mentioned earlier, we need to gather more treasures. You can’t just throw a bunch of offerings at once since we have to perform the offering ceremony three times. Are you following me?”
“Of course.”
“We could forcibly push our way to get the Fire Spirit, but I think it’s wiser to take a few detours to find a safe method.”
I caught on to Zhuge Sa’s implication.
“You’re suggesting we look for more treasures? Do you think such places even exist?”
Finding treasures isn’t something you can just do willy-nilly. I had risked my life over twenty lifetimes to gather just this much. It requires tremendous effort and luck just to discover treasures that an average person wouldn’t even come across in a lifetime. The Muramasa I once offered to the Southern Flower Immortal, while categorically lower-grade among my treasures, is still something hard for a regular person to acquire over a lifetime.
Zhuge Sa then broke into a grin.
“Hehe. You already know where the top-tier treasures are, don’t you?”
“Oh!”
“You’ve caught on.” I responded, crossing my arms.
“That treasure is currently torn and broken, absorbed into the barrier. Without the Palace Examination Technique, there’s no way to retrieve it in its original state.”
“Hehe.”
“Although, we do need the Fire Dragon Sword, but why are we suddenly talking about that…”
The Fire Dragon Sword!
Zhuge Sa was suggesting I fetch the Fire Dragon Sword that had been absorbed into the Underground Barrier of the Shangguan Clan. The Fire Dragon Sword is a sacred artifact exclusive to Yeodong-bin, capable of showcasing true overlay abilities when wielded. Moreover, it possesses immense spirit energy, making it one of the ultimate treasures. If only it weren’t currently without its sword form and trapped within the barrier, obtaining it would ordinarily be impossible.
Zhuge Sa leisurely continued, “In your 19th lifetime, Yeodong-bin couldn’t exert his full power because he was worried the sword would break. So right now, the Fire Dragon Sword only has its last remnants of power left, almost like not being a treasure anymore. If we don’t find a way to get the Fire Dragon Sword now, it’ll just be scrap metal. But…”
“……?”
“What if we could absorb the extreme fire energy from the Fire Spirit into the Fire Dragon Sword?”
“Hmm!”
“The Fire Dragon Sword will regain its original strength, and the Fire Spirit’s power would be refined enough for human use! It’s a double win!”
Such a method existed!
It might seem like a simple plan, but I hadn’t even considered the idea of connecting the Fire Dragon Sword to the Fire Spirit. That was due to the premise that the Fire Dragon Sword had lost its material form, making it impossible to obtain without the National Seal, so I hadn’t expansive thoughts in that direction.
Zhuge Sa continued, “There are two or so ways to revert the Fire Dragon Sword back to normal… though we’ll need to figure it out as we go. Let’s move!”
“Got it.”
I realized anew that Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa were quite different types of strategists. It’s hard to say which has the better strategy; Mangnyang paints a bigger picture from behind a desk, while Zhuge Sa is more hands-on, aiming to achieve results directly.
Pop!
I arrived with Zhuge Sa at the Shangguan Clan’s basement, right in front of the barrier. The bizarre, spiral-shaped structure swirling around the barrier looked infinite as it endlessly curved. The strange sound buzzed through the silence.
Zhuge Sa seemed delighted as he observed the barrier with his own eyes, grinning.
“Hehe. This ultra-high-level sorcerous engineering is impossible with the technology of this era… it’s definitely the work of the Otherworldly race. Who knows how many sorcerers they used up?”
I was taken aback by Zhuge Sa’s words and turned to him.
“Used up?”
“Right. With just this, we can’t close the passage to Dark Heaven. They must have sacrificed a minimum of several dozen sorcerers and hundreds or thousands of humans for a human sacrifice ritual. And still, that’s not enough; they had to quickly borrow the power of the Fire Dragon Sword to barely hold it closed.”
I frowned.
‘Another human sacrifice?’
What’s with these sorcerers and their obsession with killing people? According to him, at least hundreds of humans must have been killed here, but even invoking the Heavenly Secret Technique didn’t reveal any likely evil spirits around. This means that the barrier here has the property of consuming and devouring wandering souls.
Zhuge Sa remarked, “Now, let’s get started with the first method.”
I nodded and concentrated, calling out to Yeodong-bin. I could feel his gigantic power as Yeodong-bin descended into my body.
Wooooo
[Master! What is it?]
Upon confirming Yeodong-bin’s spirit had settled down in the lower realm, I spoke to him.
[Yeodong-bin, your Fire Dragon Sword is absorbed here. It’s being used to seal the barrier of Dark Heaven!]
Yeodong-bin seemed quite startled by my words.
[Really? I can’t feel the power of the Fire Dragon Sword…]
Indeed, the Fire Dragon Sword was currently in such a cleverly hidden state that even Yeodong-bin himself wouldn’t be able to sense it. No wonder a successor has not appeared in a thousand years.
[It’s lost its form due to being absorbed into the barrier. Is there no way to retrieve it?]
[Hmm… Until you mentioned it, I wouldn’t have known.]
Yeodong-bin appeared to be lost in thought. After a moment of silence, he spoke up.
[Even so, the spirit of the Fire Dragon Incarnate should remain in this place. Otherwise, its power would scatter and fall apart, failing to fulfill its purpose. If we can find and awaken that spirit, we might be able to detach the Fire Dragon Sword from the barrier.]
[How do we do that?]
[First, I’ll call out to him.]
A moment later, Yeodong-bin possessed my body. He then bellowed outward loudly.
[Oh, my master, Fire Dragon Incarnate! It is I, Yeodong-bin, seeking you! Please show yourself!]
Woooooo
It was a simple-minded method, but it seemed effective. Yeodong-bin’s lion’s roar made the barrier tremble as electrical shocks crackled, causing vibrations. Zhuge Sa, watching from the side, muttered.
“The spirit of the Fire Dragon Incarnate is responding.”
Yeodong-bin cast a quick glance at him, but Zhuge Sa just smiled slyly.
“I’m just an innocent sorcerer passing by, so don’t worry about me, Yeodong-bin.”
Yeodong-bin, whose original mission was to eradicate evil, clearly struggled with whether to eliminate Zhuge Sa, who was radiating magic power. But when I stopped Yeodong-bin from acting recklessly, he soon ignored Zhuge Sa and shouted again.
[… I, Yeodong-bin, am seeking you! Please, show yourself!]
Rumble!
The barrier trembled even more intensely. At the same time, a loud voice echoed from the direction behind.
“Damn it!! Who the hell dares to meddle with the seal?!!”
In a flash, the mighty sorcerer, Shangguan Hyuk, bounded into the hall, demonstrating impressive light-body technique and combat prowess, true to his reputation as a master of Return to Simplicity. The powerful force he emitted targeted Yeodong-bin.
But who can truly overwhelm Yeodong-bin with mere techniques! He swung his arm with a dismissive scoff and easily split Shangguan Hyuk’s power apart, placing the sword’s edge against his throat in an instant.
Ping!
“Gah…”
Shangguan Hyuk found himself at the mercy of an imminent death, eyes wide as he realized he faced an absolute expert beyond his capacity to handle. He looked panic-stricken but quickly blurted out,
“Please… stop! If that seal is broken… the world will end!”
Zhuge Sa interjected with a grin.
“All good, but why would you steal someone’s precious items to keep the seal intact? The original owner has come to reclaim what’s rightfully theirs, and it seems you have no shame to answer for that.”
“Th- The original owner?”
“The Fire Dragon Sword has only one true master, doesn’t it?”
“Uh… don’t tell me…!”
As Shangguan Hyuk stuttered, something clicked in his mind, and his eyes bulged.
“Sword Saint… Yeodong-bin!!”
His face was filled with sheer disbelief as if he had seen the outcome of an impossible scenario.
[Yes, human. I have come here to rescue my master’s incarnation.]
Upon hearing Yeodong-bin’s formidable voice, Shangguan Hyuk seemed to resign, tightly shutting his eyes.
“Ugh…”
[Fortunately, it seems my master’s spirit was in a dormant state. A couple more calls will completely awaken him. At that point, the Fire Dragon Sword should be separated from the seal.]
As Yeodong-bin turned, Shangguan Hyuk was sweating profusely, practically shouting.
“Sword Saint! Please hold on for a second! You can’t truly do this!”
[What do you mean?]
“That barrier is a tear and passage created due to the ancient Offering Ceremony between Dark Heaven and this world! The only thing holding the barrier together is the power of the Fire Dragon Sword, and in about two hundred years, it will lose effectiveness entirely and collapse! If you pull out the Fire Dragon Sword now, monsters from the Otherworld will immediately spill out from Dark Heaven…!!”
[……]
“Please… I’m sorry, but right now leaving the Fire Dragon Sword as it is is the best option.”
Yeodong-bin’s expression appeared troubled. While he needed to extract the Fire Dragon Sword to save his master, doing so would also inadvertently signal catastrophe onto the human world. Zhuge Sa, observing from the side, interjected.
“If you’d like, I can step in and firmly seal it for you.”
Both Yeodong-bin and Shangguan Hyuk turned their gazes toward Zhuge Sa simultaneously. He smiled eerily and continued, “But you’ll become my puppet from now on.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am Zhuge Sa, the Master of the Heretical Sect. If you consent to the Soul Exchange Technique, I’ll help you pull the Fire Dragon Sword out and securely close the barrier.”
“Ugh. Master of the Heretical Sect…”
Zhuge Sa chuckled.
“I could attempt this without your consent, but you’re a sorcerer with high mental defense, so that’d be troublesome.”
Shangguan Hyuk, recognizing Zhuge Sa’s identity, ground his teeth in frustration. As a fellow sorcerer, he must have been all too familiar with Zhuge Sa’s wicked reputation. He also likely grasped the power of the Soul Exchange Technique, sealing his lips tight.
Then Zhuge Sa smoothly said, “What will it be? If you delay, I might just leave. Imagine the sight of thousands of Otherworldly beasts rampaging through Luoyang.”
Shangguan Hyuk started to sweat profusely, panic flashing across his face, though he could control his body through martial arts. This reaction showed that the boiling emotional state was nearing the edge of losing control and falling into error.
Eventually, he seemed to have gathered his thoughts and spoke solemnly, “I’ll accept.”
Moments later, Zhuge Sa placed his hand over Shangguan Hyuk’s heart and cast the Soul Exchange Technique. It seemed there was some mental defense sorcery in place, causing Shangguan Hyuk to hesitate briefly, but soon his energy was seen being drawn into Zhuge Sa. Consequently, Shangguan Hyuk had essentially become a slave under Zhuge Sa’s Soul Exchange Technique.
Yeodong-bin glared at Zhuge Sa.
[Sorcerer, should you fail to uphold your end of the bargain, I’ll take your head.]
“Wow, sounds scary. Don’t worry. I’ll do my job thoroughly.”
Swoosh!
Zhuge Sa took out the Nine Stars Main Capital from me, spreading it open. The unidentified Otherworldly language inscribed within the Grimoire began to rise like it’s alive in reality. He seemed to be reciting the secrets before suddenly muttering stronger incantations.
Ph’nglui Mglw’nafh…
Cthulhu R’lyeh Wgah’nagl Fhtagn…
A bizarre resonance coursed through the air, something vaguely familiar. Finally, upon completion of the incantation, a light of darkness floated in the void, shooting forward.
Boom!
The darkness slammed right into the seal’s center, causing a whirlpool to kick up violently, and Zhuge Sa tossed the Nine Stars Main Capital toward the vortex.
“I offer this to the Gods!”
As if alive, the whirlpool devoured the Nine Stars Main Capital, and an eerie silence followed.
Zhuge Sa panted slightly and then said to Yeodong-bin, “Now it’s your turn. Call upon the Fire Dragon Incarnate to awaken him.”
[Understood.]
Once more, Yeodong-bin’s booming roar resonated, prompting the seal to expel fragmented spirit energy, akin to scattering dandelion seeds, drifting without a destination. As he watched the phenomenon, Yeodong-bin focused his mind and prepared his stance for drawing the sword.
Cling!
It was astonishing. Moments later, the Fire Dragon Sword had manifested in Yeodong-bin’s hand!
With a grimace, Yeodong-bin glared at Zhuge Sa.
[Sorcerer. Next time, I will not tolerate an existence like you.]
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
[You… the Fire Dragon Sword is currently weakened. Ensure that it regains its spirit energy.]
With his last words, Yeodong-bin departed from my body. Snatching back my control, I turned to Zhuge Sa.
“Zhuge Sa. Are you alright? The Nine Stars Main Capital could have its uses in dealings with the prophet, so consuming it here seems…”
Zhuge Sa smirked contentedly.
“Hehe. A Grimoire is akin to a treasure of a sorcerer. Plus, frittering away a top-tier Grimoire like the Nine Stars Main Capital just for a few lines of information from the prophet is more than insane. You’d have to be a madman like me to even consider it.”
“……”
“Using it in a massive seal this way is actually more efficient considering future plans.”
While Shangguan Hyuk listened to our conversation, he suddenly looked shocked.
“Is that… the Nine Stars Main Capital?! Did you just use that legendary Grimoire as an offering to summon the power of the Evil Spirit?!”
“You’re sharp.”
“Ugh! What on earth are you two…?”
Shangguan Hyuk fixed his gaze on me and Zhuge Sa, with a mix of longing and regret, clearly realizing that the Nine Stars Main Capital is of tremendous value. It’s an absolute treasure for sorcerers dealing with Otherworldly knowledge.
Zhuge Sa pressed down on Shangguan Hyuk’s forehead.
“It’s none of your business. Besides, you’re my slave from now on, so behave.”
“……”
“I won’t feed you anything disgusting, so you can relax.”
Is that supposed to be comforting?
In an instant, we left the basement of the Shangguan Clan with Shangguan Hyuk now being under the Soul Exchange Technique. Following the original plan, I went alone to meet Cheon Woo-jin back in Mangnyang’s village. Cheon Woo-jin frowned as I approached.
“You’re back again? Please tell me you’re not here to offer treasures to Tian Xuan again!”
“Well, kinda.”
“Just leave! I have no obligation to help you with your gains.”
“Hmm…”
“Since you received the Heavenly Secret Technique, why aren’t you hiding in a remote Daoist Hall, training day and night? Why do you keep bothering me?!”
Cheon Woo-jin was practically shouting, irritation evident on his face. But I nonchalantly replied, “I’m not asking for nothing. I could at least like to hear a story…”
His expression shifted slightly at my words.
“Oh?”
“I’m not so rude as to expect something for free.”
As I spoke, I subtly retrieved the Sacred Lotus and Black and White Lotus. Even as a sorcerer, could these be treasures of sufficient value to Cheon Woo-jin? His gaze sharpened significantly.
Cheon Woo-jin rubbed his chin in contemplation.
“Hmm, let me ask my master first.”
After disappearing for a moment, he returned shortly with Hwan-moo.
“My master agrees. First, I need my share.”
“You’re asking for payment upfront?”
“And what else would I trust you for? If things go wrong, testing your nerves might lead to a taste of murder, so I prefer to get upfront pay.”
As he spoke gruffly, I let out a wry smile, handing over the Sacred Lotus and Black and White Lotus one by one. Cheon Woo-jin accepted them with satisfaction and led me into the village.
“This way.”
As I watched Cheon Woo-jin’s figure retreat, I pondered, ‘He’s not unbearable, but he’s just not human enough for my liking.’
And he’s consistently the same.
Should I call him a pure genius?
Moments later, Cheon Woo-jin initiated the Great Immortal’s descent ceremony, and I squeezed my strength as the moment Taehuhcheonjon descended, the tension gripped me.
Now it begins.
[I am Taehuhcheonjon. You have summoned me once more…]
“Taehuhcheonjon.”
[Hmm?]
Before I knew it, Taehuhcheonjon summoned me appeared, and sternly, I said, “I present offerings to receive the rights to the Offering Ceremony.”
