917——————==

True Martial Home

I felt a twinge of discomfort in the Emperor’s suspicious gaze.

‘Hmm…’

Should I try talking to the Emperor now?

But somehow, the presence here didn’t feel like the real one. To confirm my suspicion, I turned to the Yan Emperor.

“I’d like to know one thing. Is the one present on this throne the actual body or an avatar of the Three Sovereigns?”

[No.]

“Then…”

[The form present here is a spirit body created by the Emperor at the beginning of time. In other words, it’s a special avatar made for meetings. We are participating in the Offering Ceremony by sending only our will into this body.]

“……”

So the appearances of Jeon Wook and Nüwa when summoned at the Heavenly Altar were actually avatars specifically made for the Three Sovereigns by the Emperor?

‘Everything adds up.’

It was quite different when Nüwa was summoned in her half-human, half-serpent form compared to her true avatar, Queen Mother of the West. I had wondered why it was intentionally made that way, but the answer was simple: it wasn’t Nüwa’s doing but rather the Emperor’s. Likewise, the appearances of Jeon Wook or Jeogok, among others, resembling ancient human rulers were also likely the Emperor’s design.

Suddenly, I realized and spoke.

“So… even if all eight are present, it doesn’t mean the Three Sovereigns are all here?”

[I thought you’d know that… Yes. If the Three Sovereigns do not infuse their will into the avatars for the Offering Ceremony, it is as if they are not present.]

“……!!”

I now understood why Nüwa and Fuxi were in bad shape, and Yu Shun was near obliteration, yet all eight seats were filled. Even if meeting avatars were seated, their true selves might not be in control.

‘… So, even if I talk to the Emperor here, the chances of it being in vain are high.’

Thus, while Jeon Wook, Jeogok, and Shao Hao might be plotting against the Emperor, they’re likely holding back in this situation. It would be foolish to reveal any intentions when it’s just a remote meetup of the Three Sovereigns, where one isn’t even sure if the Emperor is truly present.

So what was crucial at this moment was negotiating with Yan Emperor Shennong. If I could have a good conversation with him, I could prevent the Three Emperors from trying to kill me after this Offering Ceremony, and I’d gain significant help for future life-sea investigations and suppressing evil spirits.

I had analyzed the situation in my head, but a tight feeling settled in.

‘Damn it. But why aren’t any strategists around for such an important discussion…’

In the end, in this crucial moment, I had to rely merely on my instincts?

As I pondered on what to do, something popped into my head.

“… Yan Emperor, is there any significant influence that Fuxi has on the dissolution of the Seven Luminaries’ contract?”

Shouldn’t I definitely clarify this?

I thought the Yan Emperor would answer, but he merely sat on the throne, silent. As the silence stretched, I spoke again.

“Yan Emperor, perhaps…”

[Impertinent fool.]

“What?”

[While I might overlook it once or twice, how many times are you going to fish for information without offering anything in return? It truly displeases me.]

“……”

Oof… did I cross a line?

As I was feeling a bit anxious, Jeon Wook spoke up.

[Yan Emperor! You’re seriously considering negotiating with that traitor? He’s stabbed us in the back before; there’s no guarantee he won’t do it again.]

Then the Yan Emperor chuckled at Jeon Wook’s words.

[Hoho… Do you think I am unaware of anything? I have a rough idea about your plans. Since it doesn’t concern me, I choose to stay uninvolved.]

[Hmm.]

[My interest in negotiating with that mortal is purely personal. If you clumsily intervene, you might not even recover your losses.]

[If you say so, then I shall simply watch.]

The brief exchange revealed that the Yan Emperor was aware of Jeon Wook and others plotting against the Emperor and had no intention of exposing that during the Offering Ceremony. Jeon Wook understood this and decided to quietly observe their conversation.

Yan Emperor said.

[Baek Woong, I have provided you with all the information you need to make a judgment. It is your responsibility to make the right decision.]

“……”

[If you choose not to negotiate with me, that’s fine too. Those offerings are tempting but not essential… Do as you wish.]

I realized that negotiating with the Yan Emperor was going to be challenging. If the other side is not at ease, it’s difficult to pull them to our side easily, yet the Yan Emperor seemed to be playing with me out of boredom. Thankfully, his fickleness still contained some goodwill towards me, but if I messed up even slightly, I could end up dead at his hands.

‘Ugh. What should I do…’

Should I just offer all the tributes to the Yan Emperor?

That could yield multiple benefits, but the Emperor’s smile I saw earlier lingered. Plus, this situation was unpredictable, and no strategist could foresee it, making it impossible to judge what was right. While I was lost in thought, the face of Mangnyang suddenly crossed my mind.

‘Mangnyang. What would you have done…’

What choice would Mangnyang make in this situation?

‘… Right. Let’s think about how Mangnyang would handle this.’

I had spent over decades with him, sharing both hardships and joys as comrades. Obviously, I knew his traits and habits well. Considering Mangnyang to be the best strategist, I resolved to make decisions under the assumption that I had become him.

If I were Mangnyang – would I aim for multiple benefits?

‘No. That’s not right.’

While Mangnyang would act swiftly due to the urgency of being chased in this life, that wasn’t truly his nature.

He typically preferred to keep an eye on the big picture and avoid making major mistakes, with a motto of only advancing down the correct path. If he ever broke that rule, it was always due to me. In this situation, Mangnyang would think that even if the immediate benefits seemed great, trying to gain them all at once would be excessive.

What dangers would arise from pursuing multiple benefits?

I repeated the thought in my mind, but nothing came to mind. Then, suddenly, a worst-case scenario hit me.

“……”

Could it really be?

That seems excessive, doesn’t it?

But now that I thought of the potential risks, I couldn’t let my guard down. I turned to the Yan Emperor.

“Yan Emperor, if I were to strike a deal, would you protect me?”

[If you wish for it.]

“Is it necessary for it to be a wish?”

[That’s a strange question. It would surely be cumbersome and troublesome to guard someone at the center of this storm wreaking havoc without any form of reward.]

Just as I thought!!

I sighed inwardly. If I had to use a [wish] for the Yan Emperor to protect me and bestow blessings upon me in the outer dimension, this exchange wouldn’t be entirely beneficial. Ultimately, multiple benefits were just a mirage in my mind.

No… it’s still beneficial.

If I only give up one thing.

That one thing would be the survival of humanity.

“……”

If I just abandoned the human world, everything would be resolved.

I could offer all the treasures in exchange for help from Yan Emperor Shennong with the dissolution of the Seven Luminaries contract, and by making my wish during the Offering Ceremony, I could entrust my protection and survival in the outer dimension. That would solve everything, but a major issue would arise: I’d completely lose any method to save humanity from the evil god invading the earth.

Strategists like Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa had been saying all along that there was no way they could do that. In this scenario, it made no sense to save humanity, so they suggested focusing solely on resolving my singular anomaly, trusting in the reincarnation of the reborn. Therefore, Mangnyang had been all about stopping the evil god by any means necessary for just five days, with no thoughts for the salvation of humanity.

Isn’t it enough just to find the Four Great Spirit Deities before humanity suffers and collapses?

And if all else fails, what if I just committed suicide? That would end humanity’s suffering.

With that train of thought, I could almost convince myself to abandon humanity.

Yet what troubled me was – no one knew what would happen to the world after I was gone.

What if this world keeps running smoothly after I die?

Then I would become the worst villain imaginable in this world.

While I was contemplating, something strange happened.

Whoosh –

Suddenly, a massive turtle appeared in the meeting hall. It had a turtle’s body but the head of a dragon, and with slow, lumbering steps, it approached me and spoke to the Yan Emperor.

[Great Three Sovereigns, Shennong, I pay my respects.]

The Yan Emperor seemed to recognize the strange turtle.

[Divine Turtle. It’s been a while.]

[Congratulations on the sealing being lifted.]

The Yan Emperor murmured contentedly.

[It truly makes me happy that you came to see me.]

Divine Turtle!

I realized that he was the highest divine beast, one of the Four Great Spirit Deities, and was shocked, as I had met him before.

‘The Divine Turtle was the one who taught me shapeshifting!’

In the early stages of this life, he had disguised himself as a human to teach me shapeshifting and had protected me from [something] with a mask for good luck.

The Divine Turtle glanced at me and said.

[Hero… Your great calamity remains unresolved, so I’ve come to watch over this world and lend a hand…]

“Great calamity, you say.”

[… I wish to believe you are different from the common heroes of this world.]

As the Divine Turtle continued with his ambiguous words, he moved slowly towards the Yan Emperor. Then he suddenly slumped down and said:

[Yan Emperor! I offer myself as a sacrifice in accordance with the Law of Cause and Effect! In return, please vanquish the master of the great calamity, the evil god!!]

[What… did you say?]

[I’m begging you.]

[……]

A murmur of surprise swept through the air, evident even to the other Three Sovereigns present. The atmosphere of shock was palpable, recognizing that the Divine Turtle’s demand was indeed exceptional.

Yan Emperor Shennong seemed unable to disguise his confusion.

[Divine Turtle… You are an ancient spirit who has existed for billions of years in this world… You, who stand equal to Shenglong at the center of this universe, are not far below our status. In some ways, you could be considered one of the [Old Rulers]… A being that is, like us, an absolute being who endures until the universe’s end.]

[Indeed…]

[For such a being… to offer your existence for the sake of this little world… and for mere mortal beings, is an act of foolishness akin to burning yourself alive just to keep an ant hill from collapsing… As a high-level existence, I cannot comprehend your choice.]

Then, with a sudden burst, the Yan Emperor unleashed white flames from his eyebrows.

[Answer me, Divine Turtle! Are you sacrificing yourself as an offering to be ignited, due to the coercion of another? I cannot think of it any other way!]

[……]

[Is it the Emperor? Is he the one who commanded you to do this?]

[That is not the case. The Emperor said nothing to me.]

After a moment of silence, the Divine Turtle slowly replied.

[Correct Cause.]

[What do you mean?]

[The great justice of the Law of Cause and Effect has led me here.]

The Divine Turtle continued while gazing at the distant stars of the universe.

[Great Fuxi, our parent, has petitioned the Law of Order to this world, and I feel like I have just been saved… How could I stand idly by as mortals and immortals become engulfed in an inescapable hell, tangled in chaos… However, now that it seems the once indifferent Fuxi is revealing his will again, as one of his creations, I shall dedicate my existence to protect this world.]

Indeed.

The one who moved the Divine Turtle was – the Law of Correctness!

The influence of Fuxi was now at play.