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“So, how much power did I regain with the Fire Dragon Sword?”

After returning to the base, I tested the extent of the Fire Dragon Sword’s power. Harnessing the sword’s potential, I held it in both hands, summoning a gust of energy with just a simple spirit call.

Whoosh!

Then, I swung the sword, casting a thunderous technique from the Thunder God Lineage. Once the series of moves were complete, the Poison King, Tang San, who was wrapped in bandages, crossed his arms and spoke.

“Definitely not in the Absolute Realm. Just barely on the verge of stepping forward.”

Although our side had nearly wiped out the masters of the Absolute Realm, Tang San was the only one we managed to recruit. He had suffered critical injuries in a battle against the Nine Lotus Bishop and almost died, but thanks to the Celestial Sage Mi-hu King’s help, he barely made it.

Being a master of the Absolute Realm, I figured he could objectively assess my current state, so here I was demonstrating my martial prowess. With a serpent-like glint in his cold green eyes, Tang San continued.

“Just as Jin So-cheong said. I really don’t have much more to add.”

“Come on, that’s not fair. Isn’t there any advice you can give?”

“Seriously whining, huh?”

“Feel free to call me whiny, but I need to obtain anything I can at this point.”

I felt no shame in being straightforward. Tang San chuckled.

“Are you worried you might die when you meet the Celestial Sage tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“Can’t blame you for thinking that. For you, meeting me is like encountering an absolute master of poison after fifty years of waiting. You definitely want to gain as much as possible.”

Tang San gulped down some drink from his finger, continuing the conversation.

“However, even if I give you all my advice, it probably won’t shorten your journey much.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s say, hypothetically, that my advice helps you attain enlightenment and you reach the Absolute Realm. What changes? In the end, you’d just be an entry-level contender against the likes of the Golden Eagle’s top dogs. After all, you’ve seen what happened when I faced Jin So-cheong.”

“…Fair point.”

“And the remaining foes are nothing but absolute beings and monsters that can kill those absolute beings with a flick of their fingers…”

“……”

He laughed lightly.

“So utterly meaningless. And Baek Woong, you’re really not in your right mind. Even if you were to reincarnate endlessly, planning to defeat the Demon Kings that rule this world is delusion.”

I responded calmly.

“If I had thought about such things, I would have given up long ago. It’s really not something you need to worry about.”

“Haha… Maybe because of my descent from the Tang family, I don’t mind you that much.”

Tang San suddenly slumped down with a thud and said,

“Then I’ll share a few vital secrets and advice with you, as the greatest master of the Four Talents Sect.”

“…Calling yourself the greatest is a bit too arrogant, don’t you think?”

“Arrogant? Before me, the Four Talents Sect didn’t even produce one absolute master, and I’m the only one to have mastered the Formless Poison in all of history. I’m definitely worth mentioning in the top twenty of martial arts history over the last five thousand years. Trust me, no one surpasses me if we’re just talking about poison masters.”

“……”

That wasn’t completely untrue. Despite his weak appearances, it was evident that Jin So-cheong and the Nine Lotus Bishop were extraordinary, and Tang San was indeed worthy of the title of the strongest poison master in martial arts history.

Tang San continued.

“First off, as I mentioned before, my final technique and most potent poison, the Formless Poison, is not a tangible poison. Therefore, it’s not something that can be created through physical means.”

I nodded.

“I remember now. Since it’s non-existent, all the poison masters in the Central Plains failed to recreate it, right?”

“The Formless Poison is the ultimate poison formed by intent. Thus, it can even poison the conceptual and intangible. Moreover, because it’s not a material substance, there’s no antidote. Only a master of the Absolute Realm can endure it with their will.

“Hmm!”

“Of course, cultivating a solid will like the Heavenly Pillar requires immense poisonous qigong training. You also need to form a toxic spirit pill comparable to a thousand-year landlord at your dantian.”

Tang San explained quietly.

“Nevertheless, I believe this Formless Poison can still benefit you right now, Baek Woong.”

“You think it can help me?”

Tang San looked at me with piercing cold eyes.

“Intention is the power of imagination that can accomplish anything and humanity’s will against the world. The Absolute Realm is about creating your strongest form based on that will. But as Jin So-cheong said, since your body and mind are disconnected right now, you can’t achieve that ultimate belief. Even though your training level exceeds that of most Absolute Realm masters…”

“……”

“So the method is simple. Create a body that aligns with your mind.”

“You’re suggesting I undergo rebirth, but the premise is wrong. It’s that inability to do it that’s causing the imbalance…”

At my words, Tang San smirked.

“As a poison master, I can assure you that rebirth isn’t the only method to transform one’s body. For instance…”

Tang San described a method that left me speechless. I stood there in shock for a while, then finally spoke.

“You expect me to use such an extreme method? That’s madness!”

“Well, for you, death is practically nonexistent, right? At this point, I’d give it a go even if I had to die ten times over.”

“Ugh.”

“In fact, if there were no side effects, these were methods I would’ve liked to attempt myself. I’m just such a genius that I became a high master before even trying these methods.”

“……”

This guy is definitely not mentally stable.

Nonetheless, his advice was worth remembering, so I stored it in my mind. Honestly, it sounded like a crazy method, but still, it felt worth trying out.

Tang San continued.

“And Baek Woong, I hope you’ll throw out that facade of saving humanity in this life.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve lived in the Central Plains for fifty years, and honestly, humanity is practically extinct. All ethics, justice, morality, and systems of civilization that allowed humans to remain human have long been destroyed. Saving humanity now would mean starting from scratch. Most survivors have succumbed to madness and destruction.”

“……”

“In the end, if you’re to win in the end, then everyone will win, right? If necessary, feel free to lightly discard the human race from a broader perspective.”

Normally, I’d vehemently oppose that idea.

However, I hesitated for a moment before answering.

“I’ll think about it.”

Thinking of Jin So-cheong’s death made me feel like my desire to save ‘everyone’ was rather hypocritical.

‘…In the end, all I can protect are the companions within my reach.’

Thinking about how Jin So-cheong had sacrificed everything from his life for me over fifty years, I couldn’t bring myself to say I would save ‘everyone.’

It felt like I was compromising with reality more and more, but I shook off the uncomfortable feeling. No matter what I thought, the only thing I had to do was to move forward. If I faltered any further, I would be dishonoring my companions’ deaths.

A short while later, I gathered more information from Tang San before heading to find Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa. I noticed that Mangnyang’s expression had changed to one of gloom.

“Mangnyang, what’s the matter?”

“Sigh…”

After a moment of silence, Mangnyang finally spoke up.

“I found out about the priest from the Celestial Realm.”

“Cheon Woo-jin’s?”

“The priest…”

Mangnyang ended up shedding tears from his wrinkled old eyes.

“He has been sentenced to death for treason against the Celestial Realm…”

“……?!”

What on earth is this supposed to mean?!

As I stared at Mangnyang in shock, Zhuge Sa calmly spoke.

“That’s the only piece of information I have. Hyun was praying in the Celestial Realm, and it’s almost like they just tossed out that declaration casually.”

I caught on to Zhuge Sa’s words and asked.

“Wait, they didn’t explain in detail why the priest was sentenced to death for treason, did they?”

“Right. As you might have guessed, it’s a rather shady matter.”

Zhuge Sa laughed slyly.

“Whether Cheon Woo-jin is currently alive or dead, it’s clear he’s wrapped up in some major incident in the Celestial Realm.”

“……”

I turned to Mangnyang with another question.

“Have you heard anything about Miho?”

“I’ve heard nothing about Lady Miho. Unlike the priest, it’s as if she never even arrived in the Celestial Realm.”

“But didn’t Miho head to the Celestial Realm at some point?”

“If the Celestial Realm claims she hasn’t shown up, then there’s no way to confirm that.”

I clenched my teeth in frustration.

How can it be so frustrating when my companions vanished into the Celestial Realm?!

I steeled my resolve and said,

“Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out.”

The next day, as promised, I headed for Mount Tai. Of course, having my companions with me would only serve to increase the danger, so I had to go alone.

Boom!

All I was told was to come to Mount Tai, but I hadn’t received specifics on where to go. However, it seemed only logical that the most significant place on Mount Tai would be the Heavenly Altar, so I calmly made my way there.

‘No demons in sight.’

While demons and monsters roamed the Central Plains, this place was refreshingly empty. Given its significance, the Celestial Realm must have laid down a strong barrier to protect the Heavenly Altar of Mount Tai. I was worried I might run into the Celestial powers on my way.

Fortunately, I didn’t encounter any Celestial beings or divine figures until I reached the altar. As I stood there, gazing at the Heavenly Altar, I heard a familiar voice.

“Hey there. Good to see you.”

I turned to see a peculiar creature, resembling a monkey, walking out from the forest.

“Celestial Sage.”

The Celestial Sage Mi-hu King seemed to have transformed to look much closer to a human than before. He casually perched himself upon the Heavenly Altar, resting his chin on his knees as he stared at me.

“To say you inherited Jin So-cheong’s intentions, you look a bit clueless.”

“What business does the great Celestial Sage have with a mere human like me?”

“I called you because I obviously have business with you.”

The Celestial Sage observed me for a while before continuing.

“Ah, now I’m starting to doubt a bit. Can I even trust you?”

I replied coldly to the Celestial Sage,

“In any case, my power is like pestering insects compared to yours; it’s useless anywhere.”

“Hahaha, you seem angry. Well, Jin So-cheong’s death shocked me too.”

The Celestial Sage passively accepted my response, as if it pleased him. He then spoke with a more relaxed demeanor.

“Don’t worry. Today’s topic is important, but if you don’t want to talk, I won’t force you. After all, if your strength isn’t enough, there’s no point in discussing anything.”

“What’s this all about?”

“Well, to put it simply… the gist of it is, the world is about to perish.”

The world is going to perish?

Suddenly confronted with a huge matter, I felt slightly taken aback but quickly regained my composure. Although a normal person would flounder for a long time, I had become accustomed to chaos, so I didn’t feel too distressed about the world’s coming doom.

“Why is it going to perish?”

“Oh, you’re not that surprised.”

“Considering the human world is already half-destroyed, hearing the world is about to perish is almost trivial…”

At my words, the Celestial Sage smirked.

“Well, that’s how humans see it. But the core of the problem is… the Celestial Realm is seriously planning to wipe out everything on the surface of the earth. If that happens, not a single human will remain.”

“Huh?”

What on earth does that mean?

I pondered over the Celestial Sage’s words and then asked,

“So you’re saying the Celestial Realm has mobilized an army to systematically eliminate each survivor?”

“What’s the big deal about that? If they’ve done that, I could just hunt the Celestials down one by one myself. It’s not such an obvious thing.”

While he was hostile towards those gathering the Seven Luminaries, the Celestial Sage seemed to actually enjoy humans.

“So…”

“This all began because the Nine Lotus Bishop defeated the Celestial Army in Luoyang and took control of Luoyang. At that moment, the Celestial Realm sensed an unprecedented crisis, and they convened a meeting of their higher-ups. And that’s when they made their decision.”

The Celestial Sage spat out the words.

“They decided to cast the spell of Pangu.”

“The spell of Pangu?”

“It’s the spell that invokes the power of the creation god Pangu to destroy the world. If this spell is cast, everything—be it the evil god’s followers, humans, plants and animals—will be exterminated in a single day. The world will turn upside down.”

“……!!”

“The Celestial Realm resolved to obliterate humanity to eliminate the evil schemes of the Nine Lotus Sect. From the moment the Nine Lotus took Luoyang, the Celestial Realm had already set their plan into motion.”

The Celestial Realm intends to use the power of the creation god to destroy the world!

Suddenly, a monumental plot unfolded, but I barely managed to suppress my panic and asked a lingering question.

“You say they can use a world-destroying spell? But I thought the world is bound by infinite cause and effect, making it impossible for them to act unilaterally.”

“That’s true. Only higher beings can use such destructive spells, and generally, they can’t due to the laws of causality. But…”

The Celestial Sage’s gaze sharpened.

“For some reason, the Three Pure Ones approved and the Queen Mother of the West confirmed the proposal. Without any waiting period of 49 days, the Three Sovereigns immediately granted permission, and the Celestial Realm began chanting the spell of Pangu, a spell I’ve never even heard of in my life. They are determined to work together to annihilate the world.”

“……”

“Currently, 108 Celestial beings are gathered, chanting the spell. This is something that defies common sense.”

Something feels off.

So suspicious.

The Celestial Sage continued.

“Logically, a ridiculous major spell like that should collapse before it can even be uttered, due to the backlash of causality. But as I’ve observed in the Celestial Realm, everything seems to be progressing smoothly.”

“Does that even make sense?”

“I think it’s because of the Queen Mother of the West, who is at the heart of the incantation.”

The Queen Mother of the West!

A being esteemed among the celestial deities, considered equal or superior to the Three Pure Ones! She had continuously acted in the shadows during my previous life and was finally stepping into the light. I leaned in closely, tensing my face as I listened to the Celestial Sage’s words.

“At this rate, the spell of Pangu will activate, and everything will perish. We must stop it beforehand.”

“Were you seeking Jin So-cheong’s help because you thought it would be difficult to tackle it alone?”

“Exactly. I thought if Jin So-cheong helped, we could manage it somehow… but now he’s dead. Jin So-cheong was like a fighting spirit evolving during battle.”

The Celestial Sage crossed his arms.

“Anyway, the spell of Pangu is a ridiculously huge incantation. For an average human sorcerer to chant it would likely take over ten thousand years. So, even if countless Celestial beings are gathering, we’re looking at at least ten cycles before it launches, though we can’t be sure when it’ll be completed.”

“I see.”

“But launching an attack against the Queen Mother of the West by myself is a tall order, so I gave you three days as you’ve been preparing.”

“……”

“Will you join me in stopping the spell of Pangu?”

It was a proposal with no option of refusal.

Once the spell of Pangu is activated, I can’t just sit and wait, while my companions die, leaving me alone to reincarnate. Especially since if the Celestial Sage offered assistance, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass.

But I felt a sense of unease and replied.

“Even you find it challenging, which suggests the guardians of the spell are no small fries.”

“Well, that’s something we can deal with. Sure, the opponents guarding it will be formidable, but I doubt there’s anyone stronger than me. That said…”

“But?”

The Celestial Sage shrugged.

“I’m honestly not confident in defeating the Queen Mother of the West. Back when I attacked the Celestial Realm alone, I got smacked down by an angered Queen Mother, and the wounds from that encounter are still fresh.”

“……”

“The Queen Mother of the West is something else. Even the Three Sovereigns regard her with special respect. Thus, it’s more pragmatic to focus on preventing the incantation rather than defeating her.”

The Celestial Sage’s power is beyond imagination, but the Queen Mother surpasses even him?

I felt my mind spinning, but I shook my head.

‘No, some signs were there…’

The Queen Mother of the West had once descended lightly upon the earth and effortlessly defeated Izanagi no Mikoto in my previous life. That was no light feat, even for the strongest of challengers. Moreover, I had heard multiple times that she was different from other Celestial beings.

After some contemplation, I asked him,

“Could you help me meet the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens first?”

“Huh? Why?”

“I must meet her at all costs. If you can grant this request, I will assist with all of my strength.”

The Celestial Sage tilted his head in surprise but nodded in understanding.

“Okay. Let’s get ready right away.”

“Right now?”

The Celestial Sage grinned.

“Of course! I’ll introduce you to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman right away. She’s on my side too.”

 

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