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“I’ve got the National Seal, and it’s time to plot how to snag the Zhuge Clan, the Fire Spirit, and the Dragon Flower Tree all at once!”

Zhuge Sa raised two fingers at me and said, “Right now, we have two options. First, we can move to the Peach Garden near the Fire Spirit quickly, absorb its power with the Fire Dragon Sword, locate the Dragon Flower Tree using the Palace Examination Technique, and then hightail it back to base…”

Zhuge Sa slowly closed his hand and shook his head. “But here’s the catch. If the Guardian is summoned immediately in the Peach Garden, do you really think you’ll have time to channel the Fire Spirit’s energy into the Fire Dragon Sword? We’ll need a Dharma Guardian who can hold off the Guardian while you do that, and there’s only a limited number of talented fighters in the Central Plains Martial World.”

“Hmm…” I pondered.

“The second option is…” He revealed it, and after chewing it over, I remarked, “That sounds even riskier.”

“Exactly. So either way, the precondition is that we must have a strong ally who can endure against the Fire Spirit’s Guardian. That’s the only way to maximize our chances of survival.”

Suddenly an idea struck me. “What about the Dharma Guardian of the White Lotus Sect?”

With boundless internal power, they could hold their own against the Guardian. Heck, depending on the fight, they might even win!

“That would be the best choice. I’ve seen Yongbi-cheon take on the Guardian of the Moon Sovereign firsthand.”

“But getting involved with the Dharma Guardian means…”

“It’s almost like being connected to the Sect Master. The Dharma Guardian wouldn’t embark on something significant without consulting the Sect Master.”

I frowned at the thought. With a treasure like the Fire Spirit in the mix, there was no way the Sect Master would just roll over and hand over ownership. Sure, if we could persuade the Dharma Guardian to come along, that might work, but they’d probably try to steal the Seven Luminaries for themselves. Letting the White Lotus Sect hold a grudge against us was the last thing we needed.

“Or, if all else fails, you could just overpower the Guardian with sheer force and chop them down. With the National Seal’s power, if you used the Great Destruction technique alongside Thunderclap, it could be totally doable, right?”

“Damn it. It’s not that I don’t know that—I’d be toast after using the Great Destruction!”

Even if I somehow won the fight, what was the point if I ended up dead?

I couldn’t help feeling irked, knowing Zhuge Sa was playing with my nerves while offering his own schemes.

“Cough, cough. I do wonder when my foolish lord will finally toughen up,” Zhuge Sa chuckled mockingly.

“Let’s be objective here. If you managed to reach the Absolute Realm, you wouldn’t need to contemplate this for so long. You could simply slice the Guardian in half, but at your current talent level, it would take at least a few hundred years to achieve that. And let’s not even talk about your current rank as barely a novice sorcerer. You can’t fight well, can you?”

“That point stands.” I mulled over it.

“Then it seems we might have to give up on the Dragon Flower Tree for this life.” He shrugged.

“…What?”

Thinking I misheard, I asked again. Zhuge Sa merely shrugged.

“When are we going to find an ally strong enough to deal with a mythic level being? No need to invest time and effort into that. Chasing after the Dragon Flower Tree is more like an added bonus to our plans. We should first try our luck using the National Seal, and if things get dicey, we can just grab the Fire Spirit instead.”

“Ugh… But what about that Obsidian?”

“That plan isn’t something you’d casually throw together right now. You’re not even ready to make a choice yet.”

Zhuge Sa’s tone cooled markedly.

“It’s crucial to get the Fire Spirit ASAP. At least the preparations for the Dragon Flower Tree are made; let’s leave the rest up to chance.”

“That makes sense.” I realized that even with the Obsidian, it would take at least one to three years. Better to snatch the Fire Spirit first, finish making necessary arrangements, and then figure out the rest. I realized I’d been obsessed with the idea of obtaining the Dragon Flower Tree.

I then turned to Zhuge Sa with a question.

“Zhuge Sa, what do you think about using this method against the Guardian?”

As I laid out my strategy against the Guardian, Zhuge Sa replied as if he expected my logic. “It could work, but absolutely not!”

“Why not?”

“That’s a one-time deal, and it’s way too wasteful to use on a Guardian. Since you have high chances of obtaining the Fire Spirit, why blow it?”

“Tch.” Zhuge Sa shot me a look of disbelief.

“Your brain might be functioning better than before, but you still have this scattershot approach. You need more study time.”

“Ugh… I genuinely believe I’ve studied at least as much as your average scholar; how much more do I need to learn?”

My complaints were grounded. After spending three years with Mangnyang in the beginning, I’d read tons of classic texts and martial arts manuals, and I kept up with my studies on the side during my rebirth. I figured I was about as educated as any scholar across the Central Plains.

“Well, to be useful, you need to read at least as much as Mangnyang does at this current stage.”

When Zhuge Sa said that, I realized he wasn’t joking around. My face flushed slightly with embarrassment.

“That shouldn’t be too tough…”

But Zhuge Sa cut me off, starting to rattle off specifics as if mocking me.

“At least twenty thousand works to thoroughly comprehend and annotate; grasp the arguments of each sect and unfold the flow of history; be well-versed in royal records and commentaries on classics. You should learn all the etiquette of the imperial family, and be proficient in Confucianism, sorcery, military texts, mathematics, medicine, and Qimen Dunjia. Oh, and a bit of poetry thrown in for good measure. And by the way, don’t forget to sweet-talk the ladies!”

“……”

“That’s where Mangnyang stands right now.” Zhuge Sa finished with a knowing grin.

I already had an inkling, but hearing him say it only confirmed Mangnyang’s talent as a top-notch strategist. Hardly anyone could reach even one of the qualifications he just listed, let alone accumulate all that knowledge and wisdom at such a young age! Despite lacking sorcery skills, Mangnyang truly was a genius among the best in the Central Plains.

“Hyun’s a genius. There’s no doubt he has the pedigree of Zhuge Mu-hu!”

Zhuge Sa gave me a piece of wisdom.

“Of course, in quick thinking or gut feeling, you definitely have an edge over Mangnyang. But that alone doesn’t equate to the ability to see the bigger picture. To do that, you must shed narrow perspectives and accumulate more knowledge. That’s why wise folks put in the effort to build their wisdom.”

“Huh…”

Zhuge Sa’s words struck a strangely profound chord. When I looked up at him, he burst into laughter.

“What? Just so you know, I’ve studied as much as Hyun. That’s how I can make such evaluations.”

“I see…”

“You don’t need to measure yourself against Hyun and me since you’re already bogged down with what you have to learn in your rebirth. But if you don’t actively try to grow your knowledge and insight, having an adviser won’t do you much good.”

Good point. I nodded.

“Understood.”

“Then shall we go?”

After a moment, Zhuge Sa walked inside, but to my surprise, it wasn’t him who came out, but the Portrait Immortal. The Portrait Immortal, appearing more like a dark-haired girl, was some early model, however, Zhuge Sa stirred the body and commanded.

“Let’s move.”

Her voice sounded eerily like Zhuge Sa’s twisted amusement. I was baffled, throwing my hands up.

“Hey, wait… What the heck is that?”

“What do you mean? I’m controlling her with the Soul Exchange Technique. This model is the most complete one yet.”

“That’s not my point; that’s a girl’s body…”

Upon hearing my words, Zhuge Sa blinked a few times before bursting into cackles.

“Hahaha!! The Portrait Immortal is just a doll! Who cares what gender it is when I’m controlling it?!”

Zhuge Sa poked my forehead with the girl’s finger.

“Such a Portrait Immortal is a treasure for someone like me who uses the Soul Exchange Technique. Unlike human bodies, they’re durable and strong, easy to replace, and I can amplify my martial and sorcery skills with them.”

“You’re seriously willing to go on an adventure with that doll’s body?”

“Dude, it’s perfect for exploring risky places without putting my real body in danger. Why would I risk my real life over some dangerous spots?”

“……”

Zhuge Sa flicked my forehead with his index finger.

“Hurry up and master the Soul Exchange Technique. The sooner you do, the lower your odds of sudden death will be.”

It was solid advice, albeit odd coming from such an adorable girl’s body. I suddenly had a thought and asked Zhuge Sa.

“Zhuge Sa. I didn’t see any white-haired boys among the models I brought. Right?”

“Nope.” Zhuge Sa confirmed.

“I get the feeling he was a later model… but why did he awaken as the Evil God’s Arch-Bishop in the future seen by Baek Woong?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure, but I might be able to hypothesize something.”

Zhuge Sa twirled and pointed his index finger at the girl’s head. Suddenly, he infused energy, sharp enough that blood dripped from her temple as if he could penetrate the skin to the bone.

At this rate, he could poke through to the brain.

Zhuge Sa continued speaking in a feverish tone.

“See? Even though it’s controlled by the Soul Exchange Technique, this host has no survival instinct or reasoning at all. A human subjected to the technique will obey yet still have minor hesitations driven by their instinct. In short, this Portrait Immortal has a spirit but lacks a soul. It was created to be a doll from the get-go.”

“I know that much.”

“But your memories show that even the white-haired boy, as a Portrait Immortal, possessed his own will. That implies he was uniquely a Portrait Immortal carrying a soul.”

“What’s so significant about that?”

“It bears great meaning!”

Zhuge Sa’s eyes gleamed as he pulled his finger from her temple.

“A Portrait Immortal with a soul. That elevates them beyond just mere dolls. They transform into superhumans, or rather, an evolved new humanity.”

“……!!”

“That has been the ultimate goal for every doll master and sorcerer.”

Thus, Zhuge Sa slowly laid out his thoughts.

“You already know this from studying the Soul Exchange Technique, but the spirit easily regenerates when separated or injured. However, the soul is a different story. It’s fragile and delicate and has an inherent uniqueness that defies duplication. To my knowledge, no sorcerer or demonic sorcerer throughout history has managed to create a human soul.”

“Does that mean creating a soul is impossible?”

“Exactly. You can relatively easily produce a body with sorcery techniques or alchemy. It’s definitely possible to generate a spirit artificially. But a soul? Nope. Impossible by all human means.”

Understanding Zhuge Sa’s logic, I nodded.

“So… that white-haired boy is Master Vermilion Bird Zhuge Yulong’s supreme masterpiece?”

“……”

“Zhuge Sa?”

“I can’t believe it.” He bit his finger as if envious.

“I can’t be sure. Zhuge Yulong is obviously among the greatest sorcerers in the Central Plains, but did he really manage to accomplish the creation of a soul, something no one has achieved since history began? If he did, why? There are just too many doubt-inducing points.”

Zhuge Sa voiced to himself.

“There’s some unbelievable secret at play. Next time we encounter Zhuge Yulong, let’s not kill him immediately but rather capture him and interrogate him.”

“…Fine.”

No matter how it was worded, that was really his own brother! Suggesting to torture his own flesh and blood perfectly fit the bill for Zhuge Sa’s madness. I wanted to voice a protest, but logically, Zhuge Sa’s reasoning made sense, so I held my tongue.

“Let’s head out!”

Pa-at!

We finally arrived at the Fire Spirit’s Peach Garden. The moment I got here, I activated the National Seal’s Palace Examination to locate the seed of the Dragon Flower Tree within the garden.

‘Is it over there?’ I thought.

It was exactly in a place I couldn’t find just by digging with the earth technique! Astonishingly, it was nestled in the middle of one of the peach trees blooming beautifully. I rushed over, chopped the trunk, and stuffed the seed of the Dragon Flower Tree into my wooden armor.

‘No time to waste!’

I retrieved the Fire Dragon Sword and immediately called for Yeodong-bin.

As soon as Yeodong-bin connected with me, he said, “Hmm… I’ve heard the Dharma Protector has become the Apostle of the Moon Sovereign.”

“Forget about that for now! Use the Fire Dragon Sword to absorb the Fire Spirit’s energy! Otherwise, the Fire Dragon Incarnate will…”

Just holding it made my hand feel hot! It felt like my blood was on fire, but I focused the power from the National Seal—barely managing to stave off the burn on my hand. Yeodong-bin nodded.

“Understood.”

Woong!

As Yeodong-bin fully took over my body, the Fire Dragon Sword’s resistance lessened significantly. He gave it a pitying glance and then swung hard, striking the blade of the Fire Spirit!

Ka-gang!

“Aaaaah! What the heck are you doing?!” I was flabbergasted. Was Yeodong-bin seriously trying to smash the Seven Luminaries with my sword? But he didn’t bother explaining, simply swinging again in silent determination.

Ka-ang!

In that moment, a stream of radiant orange energy rushed toward the Fire Dragon Sword—visible to my eyes. It felt like waves of blazing flame wrapped around my body! Yet, even engulfed in flames, my body was perfectly unharmed; instead, it felt oddly soothing.

As the energy settled, Yeodong-bin stated, “The power of the Fire Dragon Incarnate has revived, so soon Master will regain his strength.”

I was flustered by Yeodong-bin’s sudden respect.

“Yeodong-bin, is this because I’m the Apostle?”

“Correct.”

“Please, don’t treat me like that. It feels weird.”

“……”

Yeodong-bin left without another word. A strange sense of distance seemed to grow between us, and I scratched my head awkwardly.

“In any case, I’ve secured the Fire Spirit.” I murmured while holding the Fire Spirit blade. I felt emotional just thinking of how hard I’d laboriously fought to get my hands on this treasure. Just then, Zhuge Sa, who had been watching the whole process with crossed arms, remarked.

“Something feels off.”

“What’s wrong? I became the owner of Seven Luminaries, didn’t I?”

“It’s odd that the Guardian hasn’t showed up at all. Given the significance of the Seven Luminaries, it’s strange that they wouldn’t appear.”

“Good point.”

“Baek Woong, let’s step out of the Peach Garden for a moment.”

I followed Zhuge Sa’s suggestion and stepped outside with him. To my surprise, an eerie, ambiguous apparition emerged from the altar, morphing into the Guardian’s form. As I locked eyes, I felt a surge of panic, seeking a window to escape.

‘I can get away if needed!’

But something felt off. Unlike before, the Guardian wasn’t even attempting to draw their sword, just staring blankly at us with a vacant gaze. I realized something was off with the Guardian and called out.

“Guardian of the Fire Spirit! I, Baek Woong, am here to claim the Fire Spirit!”

[… Go ahead.]

“Huh?!”

What kind of response was that?

Feeling flabbergasted, the Guardian laid their enormous body flat on the altar.

[Baek Woong, as the Apostle of Jeon Wook, why are you asking a gatekeeper like me for permission?]

“I mean, that’s…”

The Guardian raised complete arms in acceptance.

[Fine. Take the Fire Spirit. I’ve been waiting for when you’d come out since earlier.]

“……”

[Hurry up. I’ve been wanting to rest for a while…]

Stunned, I turned back to Zhuge Sa. He adopted a serious expression and declared, “I’m heading out first. Bring the Portrait Immortal with you.”

The next moment, the Soul Exchange Technique released, and the Portrait Immortal girl slumped down weakly. I stood there blankly, unable to even think of collecting her in my wooden armor.

It dawned on me.

All that effort and preparation had been pointless.

By simply becoming the Apostle of Jeon Wook during the Offering Ceremony, the Fire Spirit had already become mine!

 

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