817——————==

True Martial Home

A decree?!

Jade Emperor?!

‘Ugh…!! What do I do now!’

Can it get any more chaotic than this? I’ve faced crises before, but this was pure dilemma. I wanted to cry, but in my current state, I didn’t even have the strength to calmly explain the situation to the Celestial Sage, so I had no choice but to hand over the obsidian. Just plain bad luck.

I regained my composure and spoke to the Celestial Sage.

“…Great Sage. Even now…”

“I’ve already cut the communication.”

He seemed quick on the uptake and had severed contact with the celestial realm right away. But the Celestial Sage shook his head with a skeptical look.

“However, if a decree has been issued, it’s likely that some Great Immortal is already using their powers to monitor us. There are quite a few with the Tian Yi Tong ability, you know? I’ve set up a defensive barrier, but that doesn’t mean we’re safe…”

Choon Woo-jin, who was next to me, chimed in.

“I’m doing my best to block any eavesdropping.”

He was forming a powerful barrier while using his strong sorcery. It was definitely meant to counter the Tian Yi Tong ability or urban surveillance techniques. Given Choon Woo-jin’s skills, we could temporarily evade surveillance, so I sighed in relief and asked.

“Will you help me, Great Sage?”

“Tch, of course. It would be ridiculous to refuse given our connection to a Reborn Person.”

The Celestial Sage scratched his head and said.

“Explain the situation. Normally, you’d have to go to the celestial realm right away. The Jade Emperor’s decree is a powerful command and a mobilization order from the supreme celestial authority. You can’t refuse it.”

“A command, you say?”

“I don’t know why it didn’t affect you, but usually, if a mortal hears such a command, they’d have to respond to it without a choice. When I fought the Jade Emperor, resisting his decree was a hassle too. You’re definitely one of a kind.”

“Hmm.”

“Just because it didn’t take effect doesn’t mean it lost its force. Soon, all the celestial forces will come looking for you. Because it’s a mobilization order.”

As the Celestial Sage spoke, he mimed cutting his neck with his finger.

“I’d recommend you find a comfortable way to kill yourself, given you’ve been well-acquainted with self-destruction. Quick death is better.”

“Is that the only option?”

“Just do it quickly. Once those renowned overpowered types start coming, you won’t have time to consider suicide. Especially if the Northern Dipper Star Lord uses the Book of Life and Death to wipe you out, there’ll be no hope.”

Despite the coldness of his words, they were laced with clarity. Honestly, even I thought that at this point, anything other than suicide seemed to have no outcome.

Looking around, I realized the clones the Celestial Sage had summoned had vanished, and my companions were walking toward us. Choon Woo-jin, seemingly understanding the gravity of our situation, said to me.

“It’s over. Just die.”

“…Couldn’t you at least encourage me to try living a bit longer?”

“Damn it. Do you have any idea how chaotic it is out there? The identities of the Queen Mother of the West and the Primordial Void Ruler have been revealed; can you imagine the turmoil that will ensue in the celestial realm? On top of that, all the information you had was classified. The Three Sovereigns would surely realize you are a Reborn Person by now. Even if the Great Immortals manage to fend them off with the Celestial Sage’s help, what will you do when the Apostle of the Three Sovereigns comes looking for you?”

“Ugh….”

“It’s a dead end. Even if Zhuge Sa was here, he’d say the same. See the expression on Zhuge Bu’s face? Just die.”

Upon hearing Choon Woo-jin’s words and observing my companions, their faces were all pale as paper.

They looked as if they comprehended that living on was futile given the circumstances. I glanced at Zhuge Bu, and he sighed.

“…It’s not that there’s nothing to gain by living, but… it’s too great a risk. Dying is the smarter choice.”

“Is that so….”

“I want to ask the opposite. Even now, knowing you’re in a hopeless situation, why don’t you want to just throw in the towel? It seems you’ve got a thought in your head.”

I slowly fixed my gaze on Zhuge Bu and finally spoke.

“I’ll go to the celestial realm and meet the Jade Emperor. After I uncover his true nature, then I’ll die.”

Zhuge Bu looked astonished.

“What a foolhardy plan! You’re choosing an adventure with no chance of winning! You’d be facing certain torture for eons!”

“…Still, I’ll go. I don’t think it’s my time to give up on this life yet.”

“…….”

Jin So-cheong regarded me intently and then asked.

“Is that intuition just the instinct of a Reborn Person?”

“That’s right.”

“Isn’t that a premature choice? Can you confidently say you aren’t acting out of anxiety from your archenemy coming back through your previous life’s cycle?”

Jin So-cheong’s words struck deep. It would be a lie to say that anxiety didn’t plague me.

Yet, I spoke firmly, holding my conviction.

“I believe the reason the Jade Emperor issued the decree is significant. If he intended to capture me, sending a swarm of overpowered types would suffice; the fact he chose to issue a nearly persuasive command means… the celestial realm isn’t in total supremacy. I have a hunch that within that slight opening lies a chance for victory.”

It felt unconvincing to accept defeat and die just like that.

So I would take a chance. Somehow, I sensed that this gap had considerable implications.

“I see. I understand your intuition isn’t merely a hunch and I get what you’re aiming for. But that opening, as it stands, is nothing more than a mere thread…. You plan to take a risk when it could just be the whim of the Jade Emperor or the black mask controlling him? Still choosing to take the chance? It’s like looking for a needle in a desert.”

“I believe in the self-destruction method I obtained from Zhuge Sa. No matter what being tries to force me, I can still end my life.”

“…If you genuinely think that way, I won’t stop you.”

Jin So-cheong stepped back as if to say, “Do as you wish.” I then activated the Suspicious Fishhook to briefly notify Zhuge Sa about the current situation. Zhuge Sa hadn’t come along to find Wiying since they were preoccupied with other tasks.

Zhuge Sa’s voice came through the fishhook.

[I won’t stop you. Do as you see fit.]

[Are you angry?]

[Well, what can a strategist say when a Reborn Person says they’ll choose to die? I know your intentions, so I’ll give you just one piece of advice.]

[What advice?]

[The bigger the game gets, the easier it may become for you to stay safe. Apply this principle as the situation evolves.]

[Got it.]

Zhuge Sa’s words seemed paradoxical, yet it was something I had learned during my past life as well. I was amazed at Zhuge Sa’s genius to grasp and apply this knowledge, despite not being a Reborn Person, and felt that this advice could be useful.

The Celestial Sage sighed before tossing the Fire Spirit back to me.

“Ugh. Here, take this. If I were to keep it, the Queen Mother of the West or the Jade Emperor would soon use some excuse to snatch it away, so make good use of it.”

As I received the Fire Spirit, the Celestial Sage continued.

“If that’s the case, I’ll escort you to the celestial realm. At the very least, I can protect you until we reach the Jade Emperor.”

“Understood.”

“From the moment we reach the Jade Emperor’s presence, I can’t guarantee anything. If he intends to kill you, I can’t assure your safety.”

“…….”

“The Left of the Four Divine Beasts is missing, but… it’s quite possible the Jade Emperor will come out personally.”

The Celestial Sage seldom spoke with such uncertainty. According to him, the Jade Emperor was an immense powerhouse, and defeating him had come close to being sheer luck. Hence, if countless Great Immortals charged at once alongside the Jade Emperor, even the Celestial Sage would struggle to hold his ground. But I would prepare myself for whatever awaited.

‘I can do this!’

I clenched my teeth.

“Let’s go.”

“Good. Let’s make some noise.”

Boom!

I hopped onto the Celestial Sage’s cloud steed. Without warning, he produced a radiant golden ring from his robe and waved it at me.

Whirr!

In an instant, the ring glowed, encircling my arm and waist in a tight grip. I looked at him, bewildered, wondering what kind of technique this was, and the Celestial Sage explained.

“This is a binding treasure I use only during missions, called the Tightening Ring. It’s handy for creating the illusion of being bound. I’ll release you when it’s time.”

“I’ve never seen you use something like this in my past life….”

“I just don’t like this treasure. I try to avoid using it as much as possible. I’d rather not use it!”

“……?”

“Tch. I’ll explain as we go along.”

Boom!

I soared into the sky with the Celestial Sage, propelled by incredible speed. In no time, the continent below seemed like a dot, and I could feel the darkness where the sky met the cosmos. The moment the cloud steed descended onto the ground, I sensed a dimensional shift, passing through vibrant boundaries.

While riding, the Celestial Sage mentioned,

“That Tightening Ring I received from the Tripitaka.”

“By Tripitaka, you mean the Eight Divinities and Celestials?”

“Exactly.”

After a moment of silence, the Celestial Sage continued.

“I had been tricked into wearing the Tightening Ring on my head while traveling to Tianzhu with him.”

“……?!”

“For seven whole days and nights, I endured severe headache from the Tightening Ring while fighting him tooth and nail. Eventually, he got so sick of it that he released the ring and we reached a truce. Then he handed the Tightening Ring over to me.”

“Got it.”

“Since then, it’s been useful for official duties, so I keep it around, but I still don’t like using it. Ideally, it can only be applied when the opponent lacks the will to fight, and it’s not particularly effective in a combat situation.”

Moreover, given that it had ensnared him before, the Celestial Sage surely wouldn’t want to use it again. It made sense that I hadn’t encountered the Tightening Ring throughout my past lives. While I understood, and nodded at the explanation, the Celestial Sage posed a question.

“Don’t you want to ask me why I traveled with the Tripitaka back in the Tang Dynasty?”

“Well, I was planning to hold off on asking until you told me…, cough!!”

Suddenly, I felt my condition worsen and spat out blood. It seemed the injury I received earlier from the Celestial Sage’s attack was far too lethal; I had reached my limit in relying solely on my internal power. As I was about to collapse, the Celestial Sage clicked his tongue and said,

“Well, we have no choice. I’ll make the excuses for you, but we need to go find the Heavenly Mysterious Woman for treatment. We can only use corpse dissolution techniques or the Heavenly Peach for recovery, but we don’t have time to leisurely head to the Queen Mother of the West’s garden.”

“Ugh…, ugh…. Is it really okay?”

“Given the chaos, what does it matter? I’m actually curious about what she’s up to right now.”

Wiying!!

Moments later, we crossed the dimensional boundary completely, and I found myself with the Celestial Sage at White Silk Mountain, where the Heavenly Mysterious Woman resided. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by an astonishing sight.

Oh-oh-oh-oh-

[Seize him!]

[Completely annihilate that guy!!]

A multitude of immortals had gathered, numbering over twenty, as they were activating some sort of formation. Each seemed to be a high-level immortal unleashing potent sorcery, and at the center of their round formation, a familiar figure was ensnared.

[Ugh…! You little pests!!]

[Shut up, evil immortal!!]

[Annihilate the wicked Ten Heavenly Generals of Golden Crow who assassinated our fellow disciples once and for all!]

The one caught in the sorcery formation was none other than You Tian Jun!

A member of the Ten Heavenly Generals of Golden Crow and a substantial powerhouse I had encountered several times during my previous life. He must have been caught off guard and swiftly surrounded by a myriad of earthly immortals, the disciples of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman. I examined the binding sorcery with keen insight.

‘Corpse Dissolution Technique!!’

Having seen the Heavenly Mysterious Woman use it several times, I was well aware of the distinctive white light and patterns characteristic of the corpse dissolution technique. They had united their powers in the technique to restrain You Tian Jun, who was above their skill level. Traces of shattered Ten Heavenly Magic Serpent formations were scattered around like shards of glass.

Then one of them turned to look at me and exclaimed.

“Baek Woong!! You’ve caused quite a ruckus.”

“Mangnyang!”

Mangnyang, also a disciple of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, was attacking You Tian Jun alongside the others at White Silk Mountain. He appeared clearly stronger among the disciples, leading the charge against You Tian Jun. Mangnyang shot me a sympathetic glance, then took a stance as if reining in a horse and shouted.

“I’ll tear this guy apart with the corpse dissolution technique, then we’ll have a chat!”

[Ugh…! You wretches!]

“Shut up and die as atonement!”

Boom!

Moments later, dozens of cords of the corpse dissolution technique binding You Tian Jun were simultaneously pulled, and he erupted in dark blood from head to toe as he disintegrated. The disciples of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman broke into boisterous laughter.

[Ha ha ha.]

[Let’s get out of here.]

[How does it taste?]

After tearing apart You Tian Jun, Mangnyang approached me and said,

“The celestial realm is currently in chaos. We just took down You Tian Jun, who was made to reveal himself by the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s corpse dissolution technique, and she has gone to kill the Queen Mother of the West.”

“…….”

What a mess. It seemed that the Heavenly Mysterious Woman had ordered her disciples to tear apart You Tian Jun, who had been assassinating them all this time, while she went off to obliterate the Queen Mother of the West. I was taken aback and asked Mangnyang.

“Is that really allowed? The Heavenly Mysterious Woman is powerful, but… she also knows the true identity of the Queen Mother of the West.”

“It seems she’s willing to bet everything she has just to erase the Queen Mother of the West from the celestial realm. Perhaps there’s been a significant shift in her feelings; she might have found some clues through your past memories.”

Mutual destruction!

I was left utterly speechless as the Heavenly Mysterious Woman took such an extreme measure. Mangnyang then reached out his hand, and the moment his corpse dissolution technique reached me, I felt my entire body completely restored. Even my strength returned fully.

“Ugh…! So simple.”

“You’ve grown stronger.”

“…….”

That’s an understatement. In my view, Mangnyang’s current strength could be on par with a Ten Heavenly General. Having personally practiced corpse dissolution techniques, I could instinctively tell Mangnyang had achieved tremendous progress.

‘Mangnyang, you’ve become powerful…’

Mangnyang spoke.

“Also, all Twelve Celestials have headed to the Heaven Palace under the Jade Emperor’s decree, and I suspect the Queen Mother of the West has gone there too.”

“The Heavenly Mysterious Woman also went to the Heaven Palace?”

“Yes. And… it seems the Eight Parts of the Divine have invaded the celestial realm.”

“What?!”

“I heard reports of the Eight Parts of the Divine fighting against the overpowered types at the periphery of the celestial realm. Mysterious beings are also involved…”

“……”

“Also, the Demon King Xiang Yu has broken free from his hideout. His destination is unknown.”

What a chaotic scene….

As my jaw dropped, Mangnyang insisted.

“Baek Woong…, are you still going to see the Jade Emperor? No matter how I think about it, it’s insane….”

Even Mangnyang, normally so confident, was trying to dissuade me…

A wave of fear washed over me momentarily. Given the circumstances, was it time for me to truly consider self-destruction?

But I shouted back.

“I will go!”

With things as they are, I’m determined to at least face the Jade Emperor!

If I back down now, I’ll achieve nothing!

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

Together with Mangnyang and the Celestial Sage, I headed towards the Hell Palace.

As we entered the court of the Heaven Palace, I saw several celestial guards and divine generals. Yet, upon seeing the Tightening Ring binding my body, they did not obstruct us. It was at that moment we entered the inner court of the Heaven Palace.

[You’ve arrived, Reborn Person.]

Before me stood the illustrious celestial beings lined up on either side.

The twelve celestials, along with significant figures of the celestial realm, were all present, with the radiantly shining Jade Emperor sitting at the center. To his left stood the Queen Mother of the West, and to his right, the Primordial Void Ruler.

Upon catching sight of me, the Jade Emperor remarked.

[I thought you would flee or choose self-destruction; this is unexpected….]

“I came because I was curious about the purpose of your summons.”

[Quite bold…. Then again, you are a Reborn Person….]

The Jade Emperor muttered with apparent satisfaction before, moments later, a shocking statement tumbled from his lips.

[Would you consider becoming the Jade Emperor?]