Chapter 632
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“You really killed Empress Wu, didn’t you, Yeodong-bin?”
After a brief silence, Yeodong-bin firmly replied to her question, “Wrong!” He did not hesitate. Instead, he intensified the sword energy on his blade as he continued, “You are merely trying to realize your ideal world at the cost of others, lost in your own arrogance. Do you know how many humans have perished because you allied with evil beings and summoned monsters? Even if you became a god, there’s no guarantee the current humans would be saved.”
“……”
“Empress Wu, this dialogue is over. I will save this world now.”
“Is that so…”
“Then, farewell.”
Swish!
In a flash, Yeodong-bin’s sword severed Empress Wu’s neck without a sound. It was so fast and precise that her head slowly slipped off, her expression betraying no pain. When her head hit the ground, Yeodong-bin wondered if she might resurrect as some otherworldly being, but there was no sign of that—just a pure human body.
‘So, Empress Wu didn’t transform into an otherworldly being…’
But why? Yeodong-bin felt a moment of doubt but quickly pushed it aside. There wasn’t much time for such worries. Instead, he picked up her severed head and made his way underground.
However, just as Yeodong-bin was about to emerge at the front of the Imperial Palace, a single woman stood in his way.
“So, you really killed Empress Wu, Yeodong-bin.”
This beautiful woman, wielding a massive scythe, stared at Yeodong-bin, who glared back fiercely.
“Sang Gwanwna.”
“You’re not hesitating anymore, are you? Your conviction feels stronger. Did something change in your heart?”
“If you knew I would kill Empress Wu, why didn’t you stop me?”
With a smile, Sang Gwanwna answered, “Well… it probably didn’t matter to me.”
“……”
Yeodong-bin decided to stop overthinking. He realized that the more he pondered, the more he would be caught in the opponent’s flow. As he summoned his energy again, Sang Gwanwna raised her scythe to meet him.
Bang!
Thus began another intense battle between Yeodong-bin and Sang Gwanwna. While Sang Gwanwna was far superior in skills, Yeodong-bin did not fall behind as they clashed head-on. Noticing this, Sang Gwanwna asked in surprise, “You’ve improved your capabilities in such a short time? What kind of fortuitous encounter did you have?”
“What nonsense!”
Yeodong-bin exclaimed, glaring at her.
“Don’t think you can manipulate this era at your whim, Sang Gwanwna!”
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the energy of the Six Intent Saintly Heaven surged from Yeodong-bin, transforming into a meteor shower that struck Sang Gwanwna. She summoned a transparent protective barrier, defending against the attack, but as Yeodong-bin’s sword energy grew stronger, her barrier shattered, and her arm was severed.
“……!!”
In that moment, their expressions showed stark contrast. This strike meant Yeodong-bin had finally matched or surpassed Sang Gwanwna’s abilities. Both felt this truth, leading to a mix of excitement and despair.
‘I can do this!’
Yeodong-bin, filled with confidence, channeled the power of the Fire Dragon Sword.
All the chaos of this era stemmed from Sang Gwanwna’s leadership—if he could defeat her, all this turmoil would cease!
As he prepared to unleash more power through the Fire Dragon Incarnate, suddenly…
Creak!
The now-scaly skin on Sang Gwanwna’s arm dropped away like a shedding snake. Her eyes radiated a menacing aura that warped the space around her, clearly showcasing a frightful presence different from before. Despite maintaining the unity between his body and sword, Yeodong-bin found it nearly impossible to move under the overwhelming pressure she exuded.
“Could it be… that in just this short time, you’ve reached this level as a human? Then… I can’t face you in this form anymore…”
As her words continued, Yeodong-bin felt his body shrink back instinctively. He sensed that Sang Gwanwna was preparing to discard her human guise and transform into something else.
“……!!”
Years of combat experience warned Yeodong-bin that in an instant of transformation, she would become dozens of times stronger. Most transforming entities shared such a pattern. If that happened, he would be utterly powerless against her and would face a brutal death.
He gritted his teeth in frustration. ‘Absurd! Until now, I’ve toyed with all the experts of Jianghu… I was strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with the Absolute Realm, but you’re telling me I’ll become weaker?!’
Sang Gwanwna was different from any other being he had fought. The dark energy that usually accompanied extraterrestrial entities was barely detectable in her, yet her power rivaled that of a Demon King. She was a formidable force so strong that even multiple Great Immortals combined wouldn’t be enough to subdue her.
[Alright… Yeodong-bin…]
As Sang Gwanwna began to transform dramatically, her figure warped in a horrifying manner, exuding tremendous malice.
[To pay my respects to you… I will reveal my true form in this battle…]
Just then…
Crackle!
[Kuh…!!]
A tremendous surge of thunder wrapped around her, a gigantic magic circle swirling around her. The trapped Sang Gwanwna flailed against the circle, but it wouldn’t break. As she writhed under an unimaginable sound meant for a being at the end of the world, an entity materialized from afar.
“That won’t do. Why are you acting recklessly alone?”
Who was it? Yeodong-bin gazed at the ‘figure’ floating above the palace walls. This being donned ancient attire and his monk’s robes were clear indicators he was a priest. He maintained a remarkably handsome appearance, hinting that he was the one who thwarted Sang Gwanwna’s transformation.
With a playful tone, the one who bound Sang Gwanwna with sorcery said, “If you unveil your true form here, the Three Sovereigns, having obtained the Law of Cause and Effect, will come to kill you. Did you really think you could just kill Yeodong-bin and run away? Once Jeogok and Yu Shun set their barriers across the Central Plains, there won’t be a chance to escape.”
“……”
“Withdraw quietly. Our plans have already reached their climax; the Eight Immortals can’t be stopped.”
[I understand….]
Whoosh…
Moments later, they vanished. Staring blankly at this, Yeodong-bin suddenly realized his hands were shaking. The very thought of Sang Gwanwna’s true form surfacing filled him with an unexpected dread, sensed through the awareness of the Absolute Realm. He bit down hard, overwhelmed by a sense of futility.
“…Gah…!!”
Yeodong-bin was already nearly the world’s strongest expert. But even he would be treated like a child when facing the beings from ‘beyond.’ The contradictions and absurdities of power left him with a profound sense of futility.
If the gap in power was this great—what was all the struggle and countless battles he had fought for his life worth?
How much stronger did he have to become?
Could he even defeat Sang Gwanwna’s true form?
Lost in thought, Yeodong-bin’s heart suddenly raced.
Thump!
“……?!”
When Yeodong-bin regained his senses, he found himself back in that infinite swirling space. He sought his Master’s spirit, but it seemed the Fire Dragon Incarnate had not been invited to this realm.
‘This is the space of the Martial God…’
Time seemed frozen as he was summoned here. But why would the Martial God call upon him again?
As he wondered, suddenly, words appeared in the air.
Accepting what was written, the words vanished moments later. Yeodong-bin felt rigid at its sight but quickly understood their meaning through his exceptional comprehension.
The countless swirls floating above along with the weapons nearby –
It was a command to grasp these swirls, forcing him to repeatedly experience the juxtaposition of heaven and hell.
But why? What was the Martial God trying to convey to him?
What could possibly be gained from such an act?
Conflicted, Yeodong-bin realized he had no choice but to follow the Martial God’s commands to escape this realm. After all, he thought, such a monumental being wouldn’t harm him easily; he reached out to touch the swirl.
Crash!
Yeodong-bin, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of heavenly and hellish experiences, struggled to maintain his focus. Even with unmatched mental strength, all he could do was endure. Yet, unlike before, he maintained some level of consciousness, feeling the chaos settling around him slowly.
Whoosh…
Once again, he felt a nauseating wave wash over him with nothing gained. But just as he was about to collapse onto the ground, something flickered in his mind.
He could sense it. It seemed he was finally able to classify the decision of the Six Intent Saintly Heaven he previously struggled to grasp!
Normally, achieving such a state would require decades of training in the Celestial Realm, but it felt within his grasp now. Yeodong-bin instinctively recognized he had, indeed, become much stronger than before seizing the swirl.
In an instant, ambition sparked within him.
‘The more swirls I take in, the stronger I become? Then…’
I’ll absorb as many as I can to gain power!
So determined, Yeodong-bin reached out for another swirl, but the next moment, he passed out.
“You’re awake.”
When Yeodong-bin awoke, he found the Jade Dragon Immortal standing before him.
“I rescued you, unconscious in front of the Imperial Palace with the White Lotus Sect experts.”
“Hmm…”
“Now that Empress Wu has been killed, the situation in Luoyang has plunged into chaos. Was it your doing?”
“……”
“Anyway, as discussed earlier, I’ve agreed to ally with the White Lotus Sect to entrust the entire Han Clan to them. Also, I will now become a disciple of Fire Spirit Techniques and live as a member of the White Lotus Sect from now on.”
Continuing, the Jade Dragon Immortal added, “I can’t predict how the world will unfold…”
Yeodong-bin thought he was correct. He believed he had prevented the Dragon of the Apocalypse by killing Empress Wu, but Sang Gwanwna and her allies still remained. He thought his destiny was yet unchanged.
‘It’s not over…’
And Yeodong-bin’s predictions turned out to be correct.
One year later, amidst turmoil in Luoyang, the Tang Empire collapsed. Coincidentally, with Sang Gwanwna, the incompetent chancellor, disappearing, only incapable officials remained behind, and they found themselves slaughtered by surrounding warlords. Divided regional lords and warlords raised armies across the land, leading to a new era of chaos, and two years later, the Tang Empire was entirely destroyed.
The Tang Empire fractured, splitting into the Five Dynasties and the Ten Kingdoms. The Five Dynasties took the Central Plains while the Ten Kingdoms ruled the frontier regions. Numerous small nations emerged, and wars persisted without end. Thus, an era of turmoil began.
Yeodong-bin was briefly sent to the Celestial Realm for daring to punish Empress Wu, but he was quickly released. There were no serious inquiries, just the formality of questioning without any intention to follow through. When Yeodong-bin found this perplexing, the Fire Dragon Incarnate said, “[It seems the Celestial Realm also wished for the Tang Empire’s downfall. So they aren’t punishing you, wanting to continue using you.]”
“What…?”
[That person Sang Gwanwna’s words are true. The Celestial Realm isn’t exactly a righteous place…]
Yeodong-bin felt disillusioned with everything.
What could possibly be done now?
Monsters and otherworldly beings had almost faded from the world, and human life had returned to normal. However, alongside that, countless wars and massacres erupted in the human realm, and he could do nothing in such situations. Defeating monsters and otherworldly beings remained his main mission; he shouldn’t interfere in human politics anymore.
In the serene mountains where Yeodong-bin was quietly cultivating, he spoke in a pessimistic tone, “Master. I no longer wish to be an immortal. Please teach me how to reach the Divine Temple.”
[I’m sorry. I don’t know that either.]
“……”
[The only thing I know is that once I perish, I will return to the Shenglong.]
As they spoke, suddenly…
Quake!
“Huh?”
Something trembled the ground. Yeodong-bin felt the ley lines shifting ominously and checked around. Eventually, he gathered alongside the Eight Immortals to investigate the reason for this upheaval. Soon after, Jang Gwa-ro, who had gone to receive orders from the Celestial Realm, returned with a pale face and informed the group.
“The Celestial Realm commands us… to do nothing and await orders.”
“What? What do you mean?”
Jongri-gwon gasped in surprise.
“The ley lines of the Central Plains, along with those of nearby peninsulas and islands, are all shaking violently. It seems like the ley lines could erupt at any moment, but they want us to sit and wait?”
“……”
“Did you mishear, Senior Zhang? Are you suffering from dementia due to your old age…?”
“It’s true. The Celestial Realm commanded the Eight Immortals to refrain from acting and wait.”
“…That’s absurd.”
Jongri-gwon and everyone else among the Eight Immortals were bewildered. Should they not act while a cataclysmic natural disaster, potentially leading to the world’s end, was imminent? The magnitude would be unprecedented in history. They repeatedly inquired the Celestial Realm, only to receive the answer that they would grant the Eight Immortals a way up, urging them to ascend to the Celestial Realm.
Of course, all Eight Immortals had both the qualifications and experience to ascend and become immortals.
However, when the world faced imminent destruction, how could they just leave and ascend to become immortals?
While feeling utterly confounded, just then, Yeodong-bin rushed towards Master Mangnyang.
“Master Mangnyang, what is happening right now?”
Master Mangnyang sent a Fire Spirit to appear before him.
He casually replied, “[As foretold, the Dragon of the Apocalypse is resurrecting. We are only witnessing the precursor now.]”
“……”
[They’ve finally wised up. The Three Sovereigns were taken by surprise while playing games elsewhere.]
Master Mangnyang mumbled.
[Seems you have more questions?]
“Why does the Celestial Realm instruct us not to act?”
[There’s no point in acting. What can lower-tier gods like you even do in this game?]
With his pitch-black eyes, Master Mangnyang gazed at Yeodong-bin.
[Don’t overreach. The foretold end is approaching fast.]
[The Dragon of the Apocalypse will cleanse this world, turning it into a land devoid of life. Probably will swallow the very foundation of the planet. And due to its nature of consuming the Law of Cause and Effect, the time given to the Three Sovereigns will shrink drastically… maybe more than a thousand years’ worth.]
“What?”
Yeodong-bin’s body froze at Master Mangnyang’s words.
[Soon, the Old Ruler will descend, and the Evil Gods will manifest in the world. Their plan was to hasten the predetermined end beyond a thousand years, and the Celestial Realm and the Three Sovereigns have fallen victim to their scheme.]
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