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The skull had a crown on its head. Strangely enough, this skull was likely that of a king, yet in this vast space, only the throne and the skull sat desolately. Not to mention, it was customary to lay the body down, and the idea of dying seated like that was almost an insult to a ruler’s remains.

Mangnyang hesitated for a moment before reaching out his hand.

Thud thud thud!

In the next instant, a dirt figure, about the size of a person, formed from the ground. Using the Earth Release technique, Mangnyang advanced the dirt figure towards the skull and checked the area to ensure there were no traps. Once the inspection was complete, he slowly stepped forward and looked down at the skull.

A moment later, he placed his hand on the skull.

Whoooom!

A light emanated from the skull, and a silver pathway unfolded behind the throne. With a natural silver glow, a hidden space revealed itself, and we entered that space. Inside, we found an organized burial site and a bookshelf filled with various sealed books.

But it wasn’t the burial site itself that surprised us.

Hiss…

[Who are you?]

Souls emerged from various corners of the grand burial site, all wearing crowns of kings. Seeing this, we composed ourselves, and Mangnyang spoke up.

“Oh, illustrious kings of Balhae, we have inadvertently come to this place in pursuit of the reasons for Balhae’s downfall.”

[What…!!]

[Dare a mere outsider to invade the royal grounds of Balhae!!]

Cooool!

In an instant, the spirits of the kings grew furious, and I felt a powerful pressure surround us. A typical person would likely have their vital energy tangled and die from the spirit’s rage. However, we were all well-trained, and Mangnyang had also developed into an exceptional sorcerer, so we were not greatly affected. Instead, Mangnyang calmly replied.

“We have successfully obtained the Silver Phoenix Fragment, so we have the right to enter the royal residence. If not, how would the door have opened through the throne?”

[Hmm!]

“Also, we do not intend to disturb your rest. We will not touch the burial site. We only seek one piece of information. Once we have it, we will leave immediately.”

Murmurs of conversation arose among the spirits of the kings, seeming to be in a state of confusion. After a moment, one enormous spirit, towering like a giant, stepped forward and said.

[What do you wish to know?]

“Balhae was originally a powerful nation that directly battled northern tribes. Yet, what caused such a strong nation to collapse overnight?”

[……]

“We believe the reason lies within the Seven Luminaries. We learned information that the Seven Luminaries were sealed in Balhae and thus traveled here.”

[Ohhhh…]

[The Seven Luminaries…!!]

Upon hearing the term “Seven Luminaries,” some of the ghostly kings sobbed, while others expressed admiration, and yet others showed regret. Then the giant spirit, who had come to the front, spoke.

[So that was it… Hundreds of years have passed since our downfall, yet… The prophecy that anyone would seek the Seven Luminaries has come true…]

“A prophecy? Who made this prophecy?”

[It was the High King.]

“……?”

Mangnyang seemed slightly taken aback and replied.

“Are you referring to Dae Jo Young, the first king of Balhae?”

[Indeed… He left a prophecy.]

“Is he not here within this burial site?”

[The High King departed on a journey of wander, without meeting death… Therefore, he could not possibly be here…]

“Hmm! Then you are…”

The giant spirit of the king replied.

[I am the last monarch who witnessed the fall of Balhae, Dae Inseon.]

As I listened to the conversation between Mangnyang and Dae Inseon, I began to grasp the situation. I had known of Dae Jo Young, the founder of Balhae; he was said to be a hero endowed with extraordinary courage and wisdom. It appeared he had disappeared after leaving a prophecy regarding the Seven Luminaries, without being buried in the king’s burial site.

But it was strange. Dae Jo Young was the very creator of Balhae, so why did he leave without remaining in the kings’ burial site?

Dae Inseon spoke.

[The reason for our fall was that the Divine Treasure, the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram went out of control. Although Goryeo was powerful, they could never have overthrown us by mere strength.]

“The Eight Trigrams Diagram went out of control? Why?”

[Someone stole the Eight Trigrams Diagram.]

Dae Inseon continued, seeming pained.

[That person identified herself as Shangguan Wan’er… That witch stole the Eight Trigrams Diagram, and when the ley lines were stimulated, a volcano erupted, and we could not hold out… Thus, we abandoned the capital, and with the ensuing invasion of Goryeo, we met our demise…]

“……”

[How infuriating… If only that witch had not existed… Cursed Shangguan Wan’er…]

What? I thought I heard a familiar name, but the connections in my mind had yet to align. However, Mangnyang seemed to sense something, and his expression became even colder. He spoke.

“I want to know more details. If things go well, we might be able to find the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram.”

[Indeed… Come forth, Silver Phoenix…]

Kiing!

Suddenly, a vast silver mist scattered like heavy fog. The azure light shimmered continuously, undulating like a river, eventually forming a single orb that seemed to be creating something. Inside, a shape was formed—a distinct silver phoenix.

The silver phoenix was large enough to be cradled in a person’s chest. King Dae Inseon, who created the silver phoenix, handed it to us and said.

[This silver phoenix is, in fact, made from the metals of a distant world and has been a treasure of the Balhae royal family for generations… Moreover, it has the ability to transmit memories, allowing past kings to quickly accumulate power and wisdom to strengthen the nation… The key to this royal residence was also made from a piece of the Silver Phoenix… Infuse it with power to gain truth.]

King Dae Inseon nodded.

[I had hoped that those following me to raise Balhae would come… However, the time of doom is nigh, so there is no choice… Please use this information wisely…]

“Can I take the books?”

[Do as you wish…]

Mangnyang contemplated for a moment before stating.

“This royal residence was an eternal resting place prepared by the Balhae royal family for the end days.”

[Hehe… You seem to know much… Yes…]

Mangnyang said in a skeptical tone.

“The magical defenses placed on the royal residence are incredibly strong. With hundreds of powerful Grand Sorcerers of Balhae fighting, of course they would be. But do you truly believe you can avoid doom like this?”

[We had no other options… The particulars will be known once you receive the transmitted memories… Farewell then…]

Slowly, the figures of King Dae Inseon and the other kings began to fade away as they assumed we were not intruders and decided to return to their rest.

As the presence of the spirits completely vanished from the burial site, Mangnyang wordlessly walked over to the bookshelf. He looked back at me and said.

“Baek Woong. Please gather all the books from this shelf into the wooden armor.”

I complied with Mangnyang’s request, sweeping the books into the wooden armor. Then I said to him.

“Wouldn’t it be better to do the memory transmission right here?”

“I think so too. Once we leave this royal residence, there’s no guarantee we can get back in.”

Mangnyang replied while gazing intently at the Silver Phoenix he held.

“You should be the first to receive the memories, Baek Woong.”

“Huh?”

“The memory transmission ability… It is undoubtedly an artifact related to the [Great Race] of the prophets. That’s why it has existed from the ancient era of the Yena Kingdom to Balhae and has been recorded all this time.”

“Ah!”

“You, having already learned the memory transmission techniques from a prophet, should be able to easily digest this Silver Phoenix.”

I nodded and accepted the Silver Phoenix. But I stood there awkwardly, unsure how to activate it. Seeing my confusion, Lee Cheong-un, who was watching from the side, said.

“You were told to infuse it with power. So try channeling some Qi.”

“Got it.”

At that moment, the Silver Phoenix reacted to my Qi, releasing spiritual energy, as I felt an enormous torrent of information pouring into my mind.

“……!!”

A flood of overwhelming memories! I could feel the memories and knowledge stored by past kings of Balhae rushing into me. A typical person would likely have their consciousness hazed and might even vomit upon absorbing this, but my mental strength had improved over the years of handling memories and my capacity had grown, allowing me to remain calm and endure.

‘Right. This is the technique of the prophets from the [Great Race]…’ I had used obsidian as a medium for casting, but this metal from the Silver Phoenix came from another world. Therefore, it was set to activate automatically when infused with Qi. I calmly read the flow of the technique and tried to sync it with the memory transmission I already held.

‘Yes. If I do it this way…’

Knowledge in the language of the otherworld spun and danced around in my head. Amidst it, though barely expressible, I understood the gist and began to neatly organize the memories. Once the organization was complete, the memories settled in my mind more stably, making them easier to remember.

Then I moved together with my companions to Jangryeong Valley and shared Balhae’s memories through the Silver Phoenix.

Pa-at!

“……”

Everyone fell silent. The first to break the silence was Zhuge Sa.

“The fragments have aligned.”

“That’s right, uncle.”

“Now we can take a step forward.”

Zhuge Sa interlocked his fingers and said.

“The founder of the Shangguan family is Shangguan Wan’er, the foremost strategist and close aide of Empress Wu Zetian. And within this memory, there is a recollection of how the Grand Sorcerers of Balhae breached the barriers and how Shangguan Wan’er stole the Eight Trigrams Diagram through the Path of Demons.”

I, hearing Zhuge Sa’s words, asked back.

“Are you suggesting that Shangguan Wan’er is the main culprit behind Balhae’s downfall?”

“Well, that isn’t the main point right now. Shangguan Wan’er’s intent likely was not to merely destroy Balhae.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“She likely only needed the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram, nothing more.”

“Hmm…”

I thought with my arms crossed and then said.

“Was she trying to use the power of the Seven Luminaries to enhance her own strength?”

“As a result, she did obtain the Earth’s power, but that probably wasn’t her primary goal.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not that simple. From what I see, Shangguan Wan’er herself is less important than whoever is backing her.”

I raised an eyebrow, but others seemed to get it as they nodded their heads.

“Zhuge Sa. I don’t quite get it, so please explain.”

“You absolute fool.”

Though I was frustrated and spoke, Zhuge Sa showed a blatant expression of annoyance. Reluctantly, Mangnyang, who was nearby, spoke.

“Baek Woong. The Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram is currently at Dark Heaven Village. What could be the reason?”

“Huh? That’s…”

Then it hit me: why the Earth Star was at Dark Heaven Village?

I recalled a past memory and said.

“Because the Demon Subduing Hall took it…”

“Exactly. That’s the information [Mangnyang] relayed to you. Yet now, through King Dae Inseon’s testimony and the memories of the Silver Phoenix, we have uncovered who the real perpetrator is.”

“…Oh.”

Only then did I grasp the situation and shouted.

“Are you saying that Shangguan Wan’er was a subordinate of the Demon Subduing Hall?!”

“While it’s uncertain if she was indeed a subordinate, it’s certain she is closely connected with them. Moreover, it’s highly likely the Demon Subduing Hall has been operating since before Empress Wu Zetian’s lifetime.”

“……!!”

“After stealing the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram, Shangguan Wan’er likely offered it to the god residing in Dark Heaven Village through some means. That god is, of course, the current emperor controlling the imperial palace from behind the scenes and the middle manager of the Demon Subduing Hall.”

Thus, the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram currently offered to the god resides within Dark Heaven Village.

“Something feels off.”

The Sword Demon, who had been listening, folded his arms.

“I may not be a history buff, but Empress Wu Zetian was from the Tang Dynasty, just like Shangguan Wan’er. However, Balhae’s downfall occurred at least 200 years after that, according to the Silver Phoenix’s memories…”

“That’s right.”

“If gaining the Eight Trigrams Diagram was part of the goal of offering it to the god, which directly enabled Empress Wu Zetian to ascend as a god, it fits. However, the theft of the diagram happened 200 years after Empress Wu Zetian’s official death. That timing just doesn’t match.”

As the Sword Demon mentioned, the Tang era was over a thousand years ago, and Balhae’s fall occurred roughly 700-800 years ago. The temporal gap was stark.

Mangnyang replied.

The two events are separate. Empress Wu Zetian had already become a god during the Tang era, and Shangguan Wan’er, independent of that, stole the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram.

“Why is that?”

“That’s something we can’t know until we hear it from her. However…”

Mangnyang clenched his fists.

“What had been uncertain until now has become clear. According to the information that Balhae’s sorcerers sacrificed their lives to discover, it’s confirmed that while the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram is in the possession of the ruler of the Demon Subduing Hall, it certainly exists within the palace of Empress Wu Zetian. This is based on the experiences of those who risked their lives all the way to Dark Heaven Village.”

“Then even if we make our way to Dark Heaven Village, if we just find Empress Wu Zetian’s palace…”

“Yes. We can retrieve the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram.”

Indeed.

Until now, I thought I had to find the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram someday but couldn’t even think of how to search for it. I knew it was in Dark Heaven Village but had no clue where exactly it was. It was said that just roaming around in the place that could drive even a Great Immortal insane would mean losing hundreds of lives, so I had postponed all searches for it until now.

But not anymore.

According to the memories transmitted by the Silver Phoenix, the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram was definitively located in the palace of Empress Wu Zetian in Dark Heaven Village.

‘If I could just reach her palace, even with my life on the line, I would have a chance!’

Then the locations of all the Seven Luminaries, except for the Golden Crow and Sun, would be clear. As I clenched my fists, Zhuge Sa smirked from the side.

“Though there’s one bad thing you should know.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know why, but right now, the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram among the Seven Luminaries is in an liberated state, which means it’s owned by Empress Wu Zetian, who has ascended to godhood. So how strong can she be?”

“……”

“I don’t need to say what kind of calamity could arise if a god wields the Seven Luminaries.”

“Damn it!”

I felt another obstacle looming.

Even if I reached Empress Wu Zetian’s palace, could I defeat her and steal the Earth Star?

If humans can achieve incredible power using the Seven Luminaries, there are no guarantees that I could overcome the power of a god wielding them.

At that moment, the Extreme Tiger nonchalantly said.

“The Eight Trigrams Diagram seals all magic, right? If you become immensely strong by mastering martial arts, it might be possible to handle it.”

In theory, that’s correct. Empress Wu Zetian was indeed a god, but at best a minor deity.

“So she’s not on the level of the Three Sovereigns. If it’s the Absolute Realm, we might still have a chance.”

“Maybe.”

“It’s decided then!”

The Extreme Tiger chuckled and patted me on the back.

“Let’s strive hard together!!”

“……”

“Let’s reach the Absolute Realm through hard work, my friend.”

“What the heck.”

I furrowed my brows; I was greatly unsatisfied internally.

‘What on earth is this!’

After finishing the conversation with my companions, I called out to Lee Cheong-un, when he appeared.

[Dharma Protector. Why did you summon me?]

“Lee Cheong-un, I’m sorry but I have a question to ask.”

[What is it?]

I asked honestly.

“I… received the blessing of Zhongli Quan, but… my talent has improved, right?”

Truthfully, it felt like I had only been exerting myself for years on end. My master is also Lee Cheong-un, so it couldn’t be better. Yet I barely broke through the Thunder Sword stage and felt little improvement. In fact, I was at a point where I could barely believe that my talent had increased.

Did I actually receive the blessing?

[……]

“Lee Cheong-un?”

After a moment of silence, he finally replied.

[Not at all…]

“……”

[That’s not the kind of blessing you received. You truly accepted it without knowing what it was, didn’t you, Dharma Protector…?]

“Then what is Zhongli Quan’s blessing?”

[Hoo! That blessing is spoken in sixteen characters.]

I was dumbfounded by Lee Cheong-un’s words.

[Peaceful days and all matters calm, a single thought and courage blazing through!]

“… Huh? What kind of blessing is that?”

Lee Cheong-un averted his eyes.

[It helps practitioners focus with no worries, allowing them to cultivate diligently, while keeping the surrounding circumstances and fate from becoming urgent.]

“……”

[In my past life, my master had bestowed that blessing upon me so that I could focus on training the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique. I was too entangled in trivial matters around me, so it was very helpful.]

“This… this is just…”

I was rendered speechless.

‘It’s just garbage!!’

The blessing of Zhongli Quan.

It merely serves to create a calm environment for serious training, that’s all!

 

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