765——————==

Dark Heaven Village

As the Sword Demon was summoned, I resolved to bring back as many people as possible.

Mangnyang!

Zhuge Sect!

Hisss

Then, just like the Sword Demon, the already deceased Mangnyang materialized in this space. Not only that, but Zhuge Sa stood beside him as well. They seemed a bit dazed at first, but quickly grasped the situation. Then Zhuge Sa suddenly spoke to me.

“Baek Woong, stop for a moment.”

“Why?”

“You summoned only three people, right? Not more than that?”

“That’s right.”

Zhuge Sa thought for a moment before responding.

“Think about the distribution of the Seven Luminaries. Take a moment to ponder.”

“Ah! I get it….”

To properly fight in this space, it was necessary to possess the Seven Luminaries. No matter how strong a fighter was, without the Seven Luminaries, it was easy to get instantly killed, just like when Moon Sovereign attempted to seal Jin So-cheong earlier. So, the recommended maximum number of people would be six. Moreover, having many Seven Luminaries meant the amplification of power, which was beneficial if the numbers were reduced.

I quickly informed the three summoned individuals about the current situation by handing over obsidian. Especially for the Sword Demon, I needed to impart more memories since he had to understand what I had experienced up until now. After a while, Mangnyang spoke.

“Baek Woong. Do you think you can summon Yeodong-bin or Jang Sam-bong?”

“I’ll give it a shot.”

However, Yeodong-bin and Jang Sam-bong did not appear at all. So, Mangnyang made another request.

“Lee Cheong-un, Miho, Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens, Miyamoto Musashi, Bright Dragon, Master of Zen, Tang San, Zhuge Yulong too.”

“Summoning whoever you want is a bit… ”

“No. Since it’s like this, I believe I need to know the definite rules of this space. If I can’t come here multiple times.”

“Got it.”

Strangely, Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa seemed to have different opinions. But Zhuge Sa didn’t say much and seemed to adopt a posture of agreeing with Mangnyang’s suggestion. Following Mangnyang’s orders, I attempted a summoning one by one.

Wooooo

In the end, only Master of Zen was properly summoned.

“Amida Buddha….”

Master of Zen seemed startled upon appearing, but Mangnyang pondered something and said.

“Huang Yu, Celestial Sage.”

Wooooo

Then, Celestial Sage appeared here. He looked around, startled. Mangnyang spoke to me.

“Baek Woong, as you may have guessed, I figured out the exact conditions for the Law of Cause and Effect summoning.”

“What are they?”

“Only those who can recognize you as a king can be summoned into this space. It’s more about accepting that you consider yourself the king of humans in their heart. That defines the lord and vassal relationship as described in this space.”

Mangnyang continued.

“Moreover, even if you had a relationship in your past life, you cannot summon beings you’ve never met in this life, no matter how close you were.”

“That includes Lee Cheong-un and Miho.”

“That’s right. Just having some camaraderie or a sense of fellowship isn’t enough for summoning. The key is whether they recognize you as ‘the Emperor.’ Loyalty and friendship are different concepts.”

“Hmm!”

I pondered for a moment and felt something odd.

“Why can’t the Heavenly Mysterious Woman be summoned?”

“She seemed to recognize you as a King… but she most likely has powers that exceed the Law of Cause and Effect. There could be other reasons as well. And….”

Mangnyang gazed curiously at Zhuge Sa, then concentrated intensely.

Hoo-whoom!

Suddenly, Zhuge Sa vanished as if sucked in and appeared beside Mangnyang.

“Huh? Teleportation?”

I tilted my head, but Zhuge Sa smiled ruefully.

“What an amusing summoning system.”

“Indeed, uncle.”

Zhuge Sa spoke to me.

“As you can see, you are not the only one who can summon. The summoned can summon as well. The conditions are probably the same.”

“Ah….”

“And if you summon someone who is already summoned, it won’t be resurrection but a transfer instead.”

I understood what was happening.

“Mangnyang summoned Zhuge Sa.”

And the reason it was possible to summon was because Zhuge Sa evaluated Mangnyang as royally capable, and Mangnyang internally thought it was fine for him to become a king. Also, since it wasn’t summoning a dead person, it was merely a change of location from space to space.

This was actually an unexpected aspect, and I couldn’t help but admire Mangnyang’s quick thinking. For some reason, I felt this could be strategically useful.

Mangnyang stated.

“I think the summoning conditions are quite strict. Even for you, Baek Woong, despite having had so many adventures, you currently have few comrades you can actually summon…. However, the fact that a summoned individual can summon again suggests a possible breakthrough.”

“I see.”

“Another thing to test is….”

Mangnyang glanced at Zhuge Sa with intent. But nothing happened.

Then Zhuge Sa said.

“Were you just testing if you could send me back?”

“Yeah.”

“But it seems that it didn’t work. You can’t send someone back once they’ve been summoned. So, you essentially have to die to exit this space.”

“……!!”

I looked at Mangnyang in shock. Why would he want to send back his uncle, who was an important force in this place? But I quickly grasped Mangnyang’s intention.

‘In any case, I need to test reverse summoning. But I won’t intentionally try to send anyone back, so Mangnyang must’ve stepped up to test it himself. I need to save time….’

Mangnyang likely didn’t want to take on a villainous role specifically. I realized there was a reason behind each of his actions, all centered around assisting me. Mangnyang continued.

“Now, the remaining question is how many times can you summon? However, seeing as Qin Shi Huang is summoning the great army to fight, I believe it might be boundless. Honestly, if we set a limit on summoning times, it would be impossible to break through the Seven Luminaries trial.”

“Hmm….”

When I made a puzzled expression, Mangnyang consoled me.

“Baek Woong, don’t overthink it. Recognizing you as a king to be summoned means they’re prepared to endure repeated deaths.”

Mangnyang seemed to read my mind, pinpointing the crux immediately.

That’s right.

Repeatedly summoning while fighting would indeed significantly lower the difficulty of the Seven Luminaries challenge, but that’s just a matter of outcomes. Many would likely die more than ten times before it ends, which undoubtedly brings enormous pain. While those trained as warriors might endure it, there’s also a chance of losing mental strength and going mad. However, Mangnyang was telling me that it was because I could endure it that I would be summoned.

At that moment, Zhuge Sa said.

“…Also, considering the incredible benefits Qin Shi Huang is gaining thanks to this system, it seems you’ll need to vastly adjust your strategies from your past lives.”

“Huh?”

“This isn’t something to discuss right now. Anyway, what matters is how to pass the Seven Luminaries trial… I suppose.”

Zhuge Sa glanced at the Celestial Sage and said.

“Alright, let’s all give our Seven Luminaries to the Celestial Sage first. Let’s focus our power for now.”

Is that the strategy?!

Upon Zhuge Sa’s suggestion, we all gave our Seven Luminaries to the Celestial Sage. While Cheon Gong-pyo had an uncomfortable expression, perhaps she felt the difficulty of the Seven Luminaries, she didn’t voice any objections.

Wooooo

Suddenly, the Celestial Sage, infused with the Seven Luminaries, began to shine radiantly. He then exclaimed.

“Whoa…! This… this is astonishing…!”

He quickly threw away the Seven Luminaries, and the luminous phenomenon ceased.

The Celestial Sage, sweating profusely, remarked.

“I almost became a deity. I was close to being exiled from here.”

“…What?”

“I could feel the power surpassing the Law of Cause and Effect….”

As I was puzzled, Mangnyang clarified.

“It seems this method won’t work. If the Celestial Sage uses all six of the Seven Luminaries, it would certainly be the strongest strategy we can think of, but at the same time, that means his power would surpass its limits, becoming restricted by the ‘Law of Cause and Effect.'”

“Ah!”

He glanced at Cheon Gong-pyo and continued.

“That would apply if Cheon Gong-pyo used it too. So, pushing the Seven Luminaries to a strong individual could lead to their ascension as a deity, resulting in us losing our allied forces. Furthermore, according to Qin Shi Huang’s mention, divine beings that surpass the law cannot challenge this trial, thus making re-summoning impossible.”

“Hmm….”

“It seems the true goal of this trial is to combine forces with the strength of mortals, not to defeat them with divine power. It stands to reason that it would be difficult….”

Is that really true?

I understood that Mangnyang’s analysis was rational, but I felt there was more to it. My intuition was saying otherwise.

“Even if I summon the easily killed comrades because they lack the Seven Luminaries, it won’t matter much against the formidable entities like the Seven Luminaries’ spirits…. It’s like gathering cats before a tiger…. But….”

The Moon Sovereign’s spirit emphasized that the ability to summon was a crucial strategy, and Qin Shi Huang also mentioned it. I suspected that it wasn’t merely about increasing the number of allies and decreasing the chance of extermination, but rather that there was a more significant element involved, which is why they emphasized it.

At that moment, Master of Zen declared with conviction.

“Amida Buddha… I don’t fully grasp the situation, but I will repay the debt I owe to the Buddha.”

“Thank you in advance.”

There was nothing more to test. The pressing issue was how to allocate the Seven Luminaries, and Zhuge Sa said.

“Baek Woong, you’ll put forth the Seven Luminaries and watch from the back. It’s best that Celestial Sage holds two, and Cheon Gong-pyo, Jin So-cheong, Cheon Woo-jin, and the Sword Demon each hold one.”

“What? Just watch?”

“That shouldn’t be how it is, but in this space, the only one who can revive our forces when they die is likely you, Baek Woong. If the one responsible for healing and resurrection goes into action and dies, the strategy will be over. While there are individuals who honor you as a king, there are none you honor in the same way, right?”

“…….”

“It’s just like in chess. The king is not meant to move.”

After saying this, Zhuge Sa focused on the front.

“Hyun and I will protect you, assisting with strategy and acting as your brains. I’ll also pull out Zhuge Bu to set up the Eight Trigrams Formation. This should round out the formation.”

Swoosh

Thanks to Zhuge Sa’s quick directives, the plan was laid out, and as I prepared, I realized the time had come to resume the battle.

“Moon Sovereign! I’m heading out again.”

[O challengers of the king’s seat!]

Boom!

The fight reignited in front. The Moon Sovereign, merging mirrors and orbs, summoned a pristine white mirror, resembling absolute defense, and began to fiercely counter the combined assault of the Seven Luminaries users. The Celestial Sage, wielding two Seven Luminaries, started rampaging, showcasing we had much more advantage than before compared to when I had fought.

There was a glimmer of hope.

I suddenly murmured with a sense of helplessness.

“When will I become strong like the Celestial Sage…?”

“Well, I doubt it can happen within a thousand years.”

“…….”

“Even training for two thousand years might still be impossible. Even Yeodong-bin hasn’t caught up to the Celestial Sage yet.”

Zhuge Sa casually continued.

“But a king doesn’t necessarily have to be the strongest warrior.”

“Huh?”

“No matter how strong and intelligent you become, someone will always surpass you. You could study the classics and accumulate knowledge for a thousand years but still not outsmart Hyun. While the knowledge gained may be overwhelming, intelligence and talent are innate.”

“…That’s true.”

I’ve always sensed that while reincarnation allows for growth, catching up to the natural brilliance possessed by others like Mangnyang, Jin So-cheong, and Cheon Woo-jin is ultimately impossible. The basic differences in starting points are what matter. Skills may be honed, but innate talent cannot be enhanced.

“What this means is that even if you’re no fool and quite the genius, it’s the same. Thus, a king shouldn’t be the best; they should be the one who controls those who have risen to the peak. That’s the true value of a monarch’s existence.”

“Uh….”

“This isn’t the time to feel powerless. Given how things are, we should use our time wisely.”

After saying this, Zhuge Sa turned to Master of Zen and said.

“Master of Zen, share everything you know about Jin Cheon-hwi. Also, tell us about the poison martial arts technique and internal martial arts, along with Shaolin’s vision. After all, you’re currently of no help.”

Master of Zen, Grand Master Myung-ho, nodded vigorously.

“Understood. Thanks to your obsidian, I have come to realize what’s important…. I’d consider it an honor to assist in determining the human king.”

Master of Zen outlined the greatest Shaolin techniques, Golden Hall’s Great Divine Arts, as well as the list of powerful martial arts techniques handed down in Shaolin. He even imparted methods to easily break through the 108 Arhats and weaknesses of all formation techniques. Of course, I couldn’t grasp everything from just one hearing, but it seemed like Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa understood and memorized it all instantly.

Grand Master Myung-ho, having transmitted the knowledge, stated.

“One thing to mention, while Golden Hall’s Great Divine Arts is known as the best martial arts in the mortal realm, it isn’t actually so. The true supreme martial arts in the martial world is indeed the Reverse Root Water Mirror.”

Mangnyang’s eyes lit up.

“Are you talking about the legendary breathing exercise attributed to the founding master, Bodhidharma? I thought it was just a legend but it actually exists?”

“Indeed. However, it’s currently mostly lost, stolen hundreds of years ago by an incredibly powerful demon lord…. It’s presumed that this demon lord possesses the skill of Absolute Realm, so no one can confront them. It was such an embarrassing incident that Shaolin remained silent about it…. The story goes that one who masters the Reverse Root Water Mirror can gain the power to carry mountains on their heads. If you ever reincarnate, please find the Reverse Root Water Mirror….”

Zhuge Sa observed the ongoing battle intently, then spoke impatiently.

“Darn it! What it matters right now is not the tales of the Reverse Root Water Mirror! Even if a legendary master possesses it, it won’t help much in the fight we’re facing right now. We’ve got more important things to tackle so let’s hear about Jin Cheon-hwi.”

“Understood.”

Master of Zen replied.

“Jin Cheon-hwi is….”

Boom!

At that moment. With a thunderous roar, the Celestial Sage transformed into a gigantic monkey and launched a kick, and Cheon Gong-pyo was fiercely swinging the sabre sword. Meanwhile, Jin So-cheong had taken over from me, genuinely breaking through the Moon Sovereign’s defenses by now wielding the empowerment of Fire Spirit and Water Spirit. The Moon Sovereign had divided into three clones and couldn’t return to their original form within a certain time if they weren’t dispatched, and it seemed they had already undergone that process and were attacking again.

Especially when the Sword Demon joined, it was evident that their cooperation was incredibly smooth compared to earlier. Originally, Jin So-cheong was defending and supporting, so his weaknesses had been exposed a lot, but the Sword Demon was helping him neutralize the overwhelming beam attacks from the Moon Sovereign with Mind Control Technique.

‘The Sword Demon’s skill isn’t much different from Jin So-cheong’s right now…!!’

Those two are undoubtedly the strongest martial artists currently living. Just summoning the Sword Demon was already a significant help in breaking through the Seven Luminaries trial. And after a little more time passed, it seemed that the collaborative effort among the five led to some result, as the Moon Sovereign screamed.

[Oooooo… challenging the King… I recognize your strength, I, Moon Sovereign Spirit, acknowledge it…!!]

Ffwwwsshhh

With the sound of bubbles popping, the Moon Sovereign’s form completely vanished.

Ziiiii –

As soon as the Moon Sovereign vanished, the rainbow colors began to flow from the three divine artifacts we had wielded until now. Observing the resplendent colors circling around the Moon Sovereign, the Celestial Sage wiped off the sweat from his forehead and said.

“That was really tough. What the heck is this thing?”

“Everyone alright?”

“…Ha, not really. This is quite bothersome.”

“Hmmm….”

“If such a spirit existed on this earth, the world would have perished long ago.”

His complaints were not playful; his voice was genuinely shaking. The Celestial Sage sincerely appeared shaken by the difficulty of the Seven Luminaries. For the Celestial Sage, who had engaged in countless battles as a master until now, it was acknowledged as an opponent he had rarely faced.

Mangnyang looked at the horizon and said.

“…Earlier, the trial of the Moon Sovereign was opened.”

“……”

Silence fell among us.

As he said, a yellowish light emerged directly across from us. It had already been half a moment since the trial of Water Spirit was opened and the fourth trial, the trial of Moon Sovereign, was also opening. This meant we had already spent well over half a moment just passing through the Moon Sovereign.

Time was truly running short.

‘The light of the Fire Spirit is extinguished. Qin Shi Huang likely took care of it….’

The Water Spirit had no sign of having been dealt with. Considering the speed at which Qin Shi Huang passed through the trials, it seemed very likely we would hardly manage to deal with all the Seven Luminaries either. What’s worse, with the possibility that an even more powerful and tricky challenge could emerge, the feeling of impending doom loomed.

Cheon Woo-jin said to me.

“It seems Qin Shi Huang is tackling the Water Spirit first.”

“Then we should head to the Moon Spirit trial.”

“Right. Time is tight.”

Cheon Woo-jin stated resolutely.

“If we can’t defeat the Moon Spirit within half a moment, we will fail the trial.”

We hurried towards the Moon Spirit trial on the other side. There, it was as if a gigantic World Tree stretched up to the heavens, and right before the tree, a beautiful woman in a green robe, radiating a sacred aura, stood.

The woman in green looked at me and said.

[Baek Woong. Hasn’t Ha Eun-cheon arrived at this place?]

I felt something odd at her question and responded.

“What do you mean? You can’t be….”

The Moon Spirit nodded slowly.

[I have been in possession of Ha Eun-cheon for a long time, watching over him. Through that, I have come to understand his incredible secret, his immense hidden truths. Moreover, having learned about the clan of Dan and the affairs of the Three Masters, I have concluded that the Moon Sovereign Spirit truly matches the title of the King of Humans. He is a hero who prepared for the future with all abilities, facing absolute destruction.]

“…….”

[However, he ultimately could not overcome his past accomplishments and fell… In light of a hero like that being repelled by you, Baek Woong, I’ve grown curious about what kind of individual you are.]

“If you know Ha Eun-cheon’s secret, then tell me. What secret does he possess?”

With my question, the Moon Spirit smiled mysteriously.

[If you summoned Ha Eun-cheon here as a king, I might have disclosed the secret…. But, evidently, you’ve come this far without earning his recognition. Therefore, I too have my loyalties to keep regarding this secret.]

“That’s unreasonable! What does his legacy mean now?! When a king of humans is determined here and the Seven Luminaries are all released, what does it mean? Speak up!”

As I shouted, the Moon Sovereign replied.

[That is something that has nothing to do with me as a spirit…. We are merely a group bound to the Divine Beast King Shenglong and the owner of this world. Whether humanity perishes is of no concern to us. However, I have personal respect and favor for Ha Eun-cheon.]

“…Seems it’s futile to talk.”

I sighed and then asked one more thing.

“How powerful is the guardian of the Sun Spirit? Do you perhaps know their identity?”

[That individual is our master.]

“Are you serious that it’s the Emperor?”

[No. The owner of this world will directly appear.]

Owner of this world?

I tilted my head, but it seemed the Moon Spirit wasn’t willing to divulge any further details.

She simply fixed me with an oddly intense gaze, wearing a strange smile.

And the Sword Demon beside me cautioned.

“Baek Woong. Be careful.”

“How could I not be careful in this place?”

“That’s not the kind of caution I mean. It’s different from the previous one. The Moon Sovereign was just a trial to pass.”

The white-haired Sword Demon glared at the Moon Spirit with deep, mysterious eyes.

“That being harbors personal malice against you, and it’s conveyed through the Primordial Void.”

“……”

At those words, I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Even if you do not come out to the forefront of the battlefield, the Moon Sovereign will actively try to kill you. So do take care. As the king, Baek Woong, your death means the end for us all.”