772 ———————————————-

Dark Heaven Village

I was feeling pretty bleak about what to do in this situation. If the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens was truly the Guardian of the Sun and the King of Spirits, then with the power we had right now, there was no way we could possibly win, no matter what tricks we pulled.

Maybe it would just be easier to off myself.

…I just had to decide how brutally I wanted to go. The urge to sever all my vital points and escape into death was gnawing at me. I’ve learned how to minimize pain, so it wouldn’t hurt that much. Yet, I bit my teeth in defiance.

‘I will not commit suicide! I will endure for just a moment longer!’

I won’t go down without doing anything. I’ll drag something out of this fight, no matter what! Otherwise, the deaths of my comrades who sacrificed themselves for me will be in vain.

Of course, dying without beating the Sun would be pretty regretful too, but I simply can’t give up first. Even if it meant my body getting shredded by thorns, I had to squeeze out some knowledge for my next life.

And then, it happened.

Suuuuu

The blue sky vanished, replaced by a yellow one. It wasn’t just due to the orange sunlight; it was literally the heavens turning yellow, emitting an unknown aura. At the same time, the constellations in the sky began to shift, crafting some kind of image.

‘A dragon…’

That’s right.

It was a dragon.

From the horizons where Nahoo and Guidou had vanished, a massive dragon’s silhouette was being woven across the entire sky. As its outline became clearer, the dragon’s horns and claws started to sharpen, and the scales gradually etched themselves into view.

I instinctively knew that when the dragon’s image was completed, it would be a massive disaster; thus, I gritted my teeth. There was no time to hold back on my means. I immediately pulled Zhuge Bu out of the wooden armor and commanded him.

“Zhuge Bu. Use the Immortal Summoning technique and share your life force with me.”

“…”

But Zhuge Bu hesitated, practically frozen. Sweat beads rolled down his forehead, and he looked unable to move. I realized the problem.

‘Damn! Zhuge Sa gave me the authority of the Soul Exchange technique before dying, but it’s incomplete… On top of that, even though he’s a doll, he still suffers from Sun’s pressure.’

The pressure from the Sun’s power was still weighing down, and an ordinary human would have perished just from that alone. At this rate, Zhuge Bu would be unable to make his final stand and might self-destruct alongside me right there.

Desperately racking my brain for a solution, I had a bright idea.

‘Yes!’

I quickly took out the last Eight Trigrams Garment left in the wooden armor and dressed Zhuge Bu with it. Then I commanded,

“Put on the Eight Trigrams Garment! The incantation is as follows…”

Once Zhuge Bu was clad in the garment, I additionally handed him the treasures, Flower Fire Grass and Blue Cloud Sword. Earlier, I had sacrificed most of the treasures as tributes, but I kept the three that seemed useful.

Actually, since I had pilfered over a dozen treasures from Peng Zuo, it had been possible to leave some behind. After hearing the incantations and usage methods for the three treasures, Zhuge Bu mumbled in a daze before finally completing the equip process.

Swoosh!

Once Zhuge Bu donned the three treasures, I could instantly feel an enormous boost in his strength. It seemed he had finally grasped how to harness the power contained in the Eight Trigrams Garment and the Blue Cloud Sword.

Even so, ancient treasures had intricate usage methods, and I had struggled to use them properly, so seeing Zhuge Bu wield them all at once was truly impressive. With the aid of the Eight Trigrams Garment, Zhuge Bu gradually overcame the pressure and spoke up.

“Life force sharing starting.”

Boom!!

At that moment, the energy present in Zhuge Bu and my body dramatically amplified, and seizing the opportunity, I unleashed the Great Destruction technique. A light of inevitable annihilation erupted, and I felt my strength reach its peak since the beginning of the Seven Luminaries trial.

I glared at the sky and shouted.

“Zhuge Bu. It’s the final fight.”

“…”

“Let’s go!”

I lunged toward the sky.

Being the final fight, I had to give it my all!

But—something felt off.

“…?”

My body wouldn’t move. I had surpassed human reflexes and could perform even beyond mere thought, but my movement was completely blocked from charging toward the sky. Not to mention, I couldn’t move an inch as if I was entrenched in place.

Slowly, I turned around. And the moment I locked eyes with Zhuge Bu, I flinched.

Clear.

And his emotions were firmly rooted.

Those eyes couldn’t possibly belong to someone who had been brainwashed.

‘No way…’

While I was caught in a daze, Zhuge Bu slowly spoke.

“You’re quite clueless, aren’t you? When Zhuge Sa was barely holding on in that half-death state, the Soul Exchange technique often weakened. I would intermittently regain my senses, but since Zhuge Sa was still alive, I pretended to be brainwashed. I continued to hide my condition even in front of you.”

Having said that, Zhuge Bu stepped up closer to me.

“And during the Seven Luminaries trial, I completely regained my consciousness. When the Moon Sovereign killed Zhuge Sa, I had already freed myself from the Soul Exchange’s influence. The moment Zhuge Sa was revived, he tried to put the Soul Exchange on me again, but no matter how effective it is, you can’t get caught twice.”

He chuckled softly and continued.

“While the Soul Exchange is certainly a fearsome technique, I’ve been researching how to counter it all this time while pretending to be affected. The Soul Exchange won’t work on me anymore.”

“……!!”

“Furthermore, I’ve learned a little trick as well.”

Saying so, Zhuge Bu casually swung his left arm.

Whoosh

Then, my left arm followed suit, mirroring his movement perfectly. Zhuge Bu frowned slightly, seemingly displeased.

“Hmph. Is there still a lag in the transmission of commands?”

“You can’t be….”

“I haven’t exactly studied it, but I can now use the Soul Exchange technique as well.”

“……”

I was purely aghast.

Not only had he escaped Zhuge Sa’s Soul Exchange technique, but the fact that he could use the Soul Exchange without having studied it at all?! I had underestimated Zhuge Bu; he truly lived up to the reputation as the Treasure of the Central Plains—a prodigy!

Simultaneously, I felt my vision going dark.

‘If I fell under the Soul Exchange technique… I’d be done for.’

Zhuge Bu must have an immense grudge against me. After all, he had been made into a doll and used by me, so naturally, he’d want revenge on the one who put him under the Soul Exchange’s control. I could sense that I was about to suffer a gruesome fate and die; not only that, but I’d end up losing the Heavenly Secret as well.

Zhuge Bu smiled wickedly.

“You piece of trash. How dare you toy with me?”

He raised the Blue Cloud Sword and placed it above my forehead. As the bluish sword aura flowed from the Blue Cloud Sword, I felt a shiver and was rendered speechless. If I used the Protection Energy technique, I might withstand the blow, but I was currently under the effect of the Soul Exchange, and Zhuge Bu, empowered by the Great Destruction technique, was no joke.

Just the edge of the blade piercing me a little would split me in two, spilling blood everywhere. I contemplated in my heart.

‘What do I do? Should I try to reason with Zhuge Bu? Or should I just say my last words as I die…?’

Logically, I should convince Zhuge Bu to join forces against the Sun. That would be the right move. But somehow, my instincts told me I didn’t want to do that. It felt like whatever I said now wouldn’t reach him. So, half-surrendering, I told Zhuge Bu,

“…I’m sorry.”

Zhuge Bu’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Oh? Apologizing now, are you?”

“In this situation, there’s no point in saying anything, but I truly am sorry.”

“Do you think saying so will help you die easier?”

Thud

The Blue Cloud Sword pressed down hard on my shoulder. Blood burst forth from the wound, and an agonizing pain shot through me. Normally, a regular person would have screamed reflexively, but I gritted my teeth through sheer mental strength and replied,

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“For wielding the Soul Exchange technique and swinging you around like a toy.”

“Ha ha… hahahaha!!”

Zhuge Bu suddenly burst into manic laughter. He laughed for a while before saying,

“And that’s what you regret? What you really should be apologizing for is far greater.”

“What…?”

“You’re not just a pawn of fate now, are you? Reborn Person Baek Woong, you’ve already killed me several times.”

“……”

Whack!

Zhuge Bu, furious, suddenly slapped me across the face. Two of my teeth flew out, hitting the ground as blood dripped from my mouth. It hurt like hell, but I endured without a sound, while Zhuge Bu pressed on.

“If you die like this, then I would have fallen prey to your tricks yet again. You’d simply be reborn to kill me again or make me your doll. Countless times, dozens, or even hundreds of times!!”

I remained silent for a moment and nodded my head.

“Correct. That’s the plan.”

I answered honestly, since denying it would bring no value to the situation. But I had something else to say.

“Yet, it’s because you side with the Imperial Palace and refuse to abandon the Non-Human Path that I have no choice but to oppose you continuously. I lack the confidence to persuade you or utilize you, which means I am doomed to be your enemy.”

“Why?”

“……?”

In that instant, Zhuge Bu revealed great inferiority on his face and added,

“Why do you place so much trust in Hyun and Zhuge Sa but not in me? Does that mean I’m inferior to them?”

I realized this was a pivotal moment. A wrong answer could lead to excruciating death, yet I openly expressed the words from my heart. My pain wouldn’t shatter my belief.

“You know it’s not about that. Your talent may very well surpass that of those two, but it’s your character that prevents me from teaming up with you. You’re selfish and think nothing of the weak sacrifices.”

“What about Zhuge Sa? He’s dozens of times worse than me.”

“……”

I suddenly found myself at a loss for words. As I blinked, Zhuge Bu bitterly laughed.

“Ha… character, huh? That’s an excuse. You’re just avoiding the trouble of dealing with me. You’d rather play with those who treat you kindly than face the difficulties I present.”

He spoke with an expression coated with resentment.

“Let me tell you, I don’t particularly like the otherworldly race either. I merely choose what benefits me most… Are you so narrow-minded that you can’t gather even the most despicable of people while claiming to be the King of All?”

“……”

“Don’t act like you’re above the likes of the Great Evil of Tang San or the lunatic Zhuge Sa. You’ve taken them under your wing, but for some reason, you refuse to accept me. That’s nothing but an excuse; I have no memories of wronging you to the point of suffering for eternity.”

“Um…”

It did seem to make sense.

Zhuge Bu could hardly contain his emotions, pouring out bitterness.

“…Ha, and you still call yourself a King? What a joke! If you’re the king, then you’re nothing more than a foolish tyrant without a peer in this world. You may believe you possess virtue and see yourself as good, but from where I stand, having held the highest position in the Great Ming Empire, you’re nothing more than a delusional dreamer, lost in your own words and ideals.”

“What did you just say!!”

“Am I wrong? Hyun and Zhuge Sa are merely placating you. How many of your fellows remain here? How many still recognize you as King? Even if their numbers have dwindled due to accidents, there are no longer those willing to follow you. You have no more humans to summon. What do you think is the reason for your wretched, pitiful state?”

“……”

What was happening?

“You have only gathered pure geniuses, rejecting the mundane and pursuing ideals alone. You’ve become captivated by the belief that only your little group can save the world. Pursuing only pure and noble intentions while tossing aside any vestige of self-interest, you’ve turned your back on the named individuals who used to stand by your side.”

Whack!

The mocking Zhuge Bu slapped me again.

“Those who are neither pure nor talented will never recognize you as king. Oh, illustrious and foolish king!”

“Gah….”

“Who asked you to save humanity? Did anyone even request that from you? Even if you defeat the Sun and save humanity, you’ll be dragged into scorn for meddling where you aren’t wanted.”

“…….”

As my mouth bled and I lowered my head, he spoke mockingly.

“No one seeks you out to save them. They’ve never asked for your help! Those fools who once followed you only did so for scraps and the flow of the world; while the leaders of the Three Great Powers adeptly managed the gullible fools under them, they understood that the world and self-interest were part of human nature!”

“……!!”

“The reason you can’t reconcile with Lee Kwang is the same. While I can’t say Lee Kwang is exemplary in nature, from my perspective, that’s just one facet. You’re simply too young to communicate with Lee Kwang. You can’t accept the human actions of manipulation and grime like some silly child.”

Zhuge Bu muttered and added,

“If you dare to call yourself the King of Humans, try persuading lowly folks like me into cooperation. Then I’ll ease you onto the path of the Great Ming Empire as well. Because I always deliver what I’ve received.”

This was odd.

Even though I was getting beaten and on the brink of death, I felt my mind sharpening. His attacks hurt but were light and, more importantly, his genuine words struck deep.

Then I realized, after a moment, Zhuge Bu’s true intentions. I understood why he was acting this way. I also grasped the covert deal he set before me.

‘I see…’

Not everything Zhuge Bu said was correct. He had his biases, and it wasn’t as though I couldn’t be critiqued. However, I felt something in Zhuge Bu’s words, so I didn’t see the need for further argument here.

I looked calmly at Zhuge Bu and said,

“Then let’s make a deal. Help me defeat the Sun, and I’ll forget about all past grievances and do my utmost to bring you on board in the future.”

“Alright. You understand well, King of Humans.”

Though Zhuge Bu spoke mockingly, there wasn’t much malice behind his words.

He was clearly assessing the situation very rationally, casting aside all the grievances he held under the Soul Exchange, and putting forth a deal to become my comrade. Using the trial of the Sun as bait, he proposed to clear past enmities and partake in this journey of rebirth!

Though it felt calculating and devoid of emotions, I considered this preferable. For as Zhuge Bu said, I had to test whether I was truly capable of accepting him, understanding my own limitations at the same time.

Suuuu

After a moment, Zhuge Bu murmured a brief incantation, and my wounds healed in an instant. Zhuge Bu looked toward the sky and said,

“Now, we march on.”

“Wait. The duration of the Great Destruction is nearly…”

“Hmph.”

Boom!!

Zhuge Bu suddenly summoned the formation of the Eight Trigrams into the air and cast a spell, causing the light of unstoppable annihilation to erupt even stronger. Startled, I looked at him.

“When I was a doll, I was too focused on maintaining the spell to do anything beyond that, but the Great Destruction also amplifies the spellcaster’s power. A sorcerer of my caliber can easily extend the duration of the Great Destruction as long as he knows some tricks. Half a moment is no challenge.”

“R-Really?”

He gazed at the sky.

“The target we have to strike is the planet of the Seven Luminaries.”

“You mean we’re going to destroy a planet?”

“The massive dragon currently being drawn in the form of the yellow heavens is gradually sharpening around the orbit of the Sun, which is surrounded by the Seven Luminaries. The Moon Sovereign has already been illuminated, and in due time, all Seven Luminaries will shine brightly.”

I understood that Zhuge Bu spoke correctly.

“We need to destroy it quickly.”

Zhuge Bu continued.

“Indeed. But what’s truly important is not the planet of the Seven Luminaries.”

“What?”

“Look at those eyes. Are they not hollow?”

That was true. The dragon’s eyes were completely vacant. But knowing the ancient tales, I sensed that when the light filled those eyes, the nightmare would truly begin and shouted,

“Finishing Touch!!”

“Exactly. The dragon’s eyes are always the final pieces to complete the drawing. The Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens is both a spirit of the Sun and regarded as the most powerful immortal in the celestial realm, so she must have been greatly influenced by the earthly realm. And once Nahoo and Guidou complete the drawing of the dragon…”

“The dual stars will become the dragon’s eyes.”

Zhuge Bu nodded and said,

“Let’s go. Once that dragon is complete, even the Three Sovereigns won’t stand a chance.”

“I got it!”

Bang!!

Using the Great Destruction, I compressed space and leaped straight toward the planet of Xuyou, which was just beginning to light up. However, as I dove toward the planet of Xuyou, I realized that something was wrong.

“……!!”

In the vast emptiness of space!

What appeared small from below felt as though I had directly jumped into the gigantic darkness of the universe while striking up an attack. The planet of Xuyou also seemed to have a scale equal to its appearance, leaving me feeling minuscule.

Was it truly possible to damage something so gigantic?

Just as I began to doubt my confidence, Zhuge Bu spoke into my mind.

[Just go for it! The current Great Destruction holds unmatched output. There’s nothing it can’t break.]

[But that’s a planet! Are you telling me to explode a star?!]

[I couldn’t care less! Just give it a shot! You always show off when things are going well, then cower down when facing difficulties?]

[Ugh!!]

I felt a tingle of irritation at Zhuge Bu’s scornful jab. More importantly, we still couldn’t firmly claim to be allies. But since he spoke truthfully, I stubbornly pressed on and channeled all my power as I charged towards Xuyou.

As I closed in on the blue planet, ready to swing the Fire Dragon Sword…

Whoosh

As I focused all my internal power into the Fire Dragon Sword, it generated an overwhelming force. A massive swirling sword energy erupted in the cosmos, and that sword energy only grew in size until it was colossal enough to cleave through a continent.

‘Incredible!’

Was this the true power of the Great Destruction when properly aided by a top-tier sorcerer? Even I couldn’t believe the intensity I had produced, and I realized the strength of the Fire Dragon Incarnate had wonderfully amplified my Great Destruction. At this rate, I could have cleaved hundreds of li in a single strike.

“Haahhh!!”

Boom Boom Boom

The lightning god’s strike of annihilation!

Simultaneously, a tremendous scar formed on the ground, becoming a visible mark in the universe.

Kaboom!!

The blade technique of the Subduing Sword unleashed a continuous wave of destruction, and the scope of devastation stretched for thousands of li! Volcanoes within the devastation erupted, spewing glimpses of crimson amidst the chaos.

The continent looked as though it had split cleanly down the middle, yet I realized this wasn’t enough. If I didn’t destroy the planet, then this wouldn’t even count as defeating the Seven Luminaries. My current attack only felt like I had chipped a piece off a glass ornament.

‘Damn it. If that’s the case… I will go again….’

At that moment, the Fire Dragon Incarnate spoke to me from within.

[Baek Woong! You’ve hit your limit!]

[What do you mean?]

[Look! The light is starting to emerge!]

As he pointed out, the planet of Xuyou began to erupt into brilliant light shortly after. I tried launching my energy again, but unlike before, it had no effect whatsoever. The third of the Seven Luminaries had already been illuminated.

‘Ugh, then…’

I landed back on the ground. Zhuge Bu spoke.

“Now only the Gold Luminary remains. For the duration left, gather your comrades and unleash all your power, targeting that one point.”

“Why?”

“Wood and Earth Luminaries are far too massive. For someone who struggled against Xuyou, your only option left is to shatter the Gold Luminary.”

“Hmm… you can’t mean….”

As realization dawned upon me, Zhuge Bu answered bitterly.

“Yes. That’s not a model. Breaking that will affect the real world….”

The thought of destroying the planet that formed the Heavenly Dragon of the Seven Luminaries during the Sun’s trial—it was no different from actually smashing a real planet.