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Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

Unbelievable. I thought I misheard—until reality hit me like a ton of bricks. The Master of the White Lotus Sect and the Emperor signed a Non-aggression Pact!

Our grand plan was to wipe out the Imperial Palace with the strength of the White Lotus Sect, but now everything was upside down. We were in a dire situation.

But I’ve faced worse in my life. This wasn’t enough to break my spirit. I composed myself and said, “Can you explain what happened?”

Mangnyang nodded and replied, “I’ve been urging the Master of the White Lotus Sect to strike the Imperial Palace. I sent a bunch of letters and even went to meet him in person to give him some advice. But the Master just brushed me off until suddenly declaring he made a Non-aggression Pact with the Imperial Palace.”

“Did he announce that to the Dharma Guardians or low-level disciples?”

“Indeed. It seems discussions with the Imperial Palace had been happening for quite some time.”

So, we missed our window of opportunity?

‘Something feels off…’

As I was deep in thought, Mangnyang continued, “I have two backup plans. Want to hear them?”

“Let’s hear it.”

“First, we abandon the idea of immediately attacking the Imperial Palace and focus on strengthening the Bancheon Alliance. You can keep training your Kung Fu in the Shadowless Gate, waiting for the right opportunity to strike the Palace. We’re talking at least a 10-year plan.”

I got what he meant. He was suggesting that we give up the instantaneous assault on the Imperial Palace to bolster my abilities instead.

“And second?”

Mangnyang hesitated before saying, “To maintain our aggressive strategy, we need to take extreme measures right now.”

“Extreme measures? Like…?”

“Two options: One, confront the Master of the White Lotus Sect and ask him the real reason behind his pact with the Imperial Palace. Two, head to the North Pole and release the secondary seal on the Water Element Divine Sword.”

“……”

Whichever way I chose, the chances of dying were pretty high.

“Yep.”

“But if either is successful, there’s a good chance we could benefit in the next life.” Mangnyang sighed heavily.

“That’s why I can’t help but suggest this, even if it means you might die.”

“No, if both succeed, wouldn’t that drastically change our situation?”

“…What’s your plan?”

Mangnyang’s voice had dipped low, almost grim. He’d been my cheerleader until now, but even he couldn’t make light of life and death choices. I thought hard about his options.

‘If I plead with the Master of the White Lotus Sect, could I uncover the true reasons behind him signing that pact?’

Upon considering that first option, I shook my head. The Master was cunning.

I couldn’t read his mind at all. That’s how we ended up blindsided and in this mess. There was no way a stranger like me would get him to spill his true intentions.

What if I went to the North Pole instead to release the secondary seal on the Divine Sword?

No clue how that would go. The Old Ruler was probably waiting there, and who knew what trials and tribulations he’d throw my way? There was a high chance I’d get devoured alive or torn to bits. But fighting was out of the question; I could only hope he’d be friendly.

After wrestling with my thoughts, I asked, “If I die, what will you do?”

Mangnyang’s face darkened at my question. But he regained his composure and replied, “I’d continue to lead the lower forces of the White Lotus Sect and the Fire Spirit Techniques as before, keeping a close watch on any atrocities the Imperial Palace commits.”

“I see.”

For a while, silence enveloped us.

It was Mangnyang who broke it.

“Baek Woong, sometimes you feel distant to me.”

His statement made me stare at him curiously. Mangnyang took a sip from the cup beside him and continued.

“There are two types of people who talk about their death like it’s nothing: One thinks they’ll never die, and the other truly accepts their fate.”

“Isn’t that common? Many people in the world aren’t bothered by the idea of death.”

Mangnyang smiled bitterly.

“Those folks don’t really grasp what death is. They’re just reflecting themselves in a vague mirror. No matter how tough a guy appears, he’ll hide his weaknesses in front of death. Humans aren’t that strong.”

“But you seemed composed in front of death.”

“Ha, being composed just means hiding fear. It’s a choice a person can make to escape mental anguish through training their mind.”

Mangnyang pointed to the Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line.

“But you, you’re neither of those. You understand death but handle it in a dimension different from ordinary humans. It’s not something one can simply come to terms with; it’s almost…”

“Almost what?”

“Like it’s familiar to you.”

“……”

I had nothing to counter that.

“I can’t ever see death that way…”

Clink.

Mangnyang let out a lament, grabbing a bottle and pouring me a drink. It was probably that special liquor, the one he kept hidden away. As the clear liquid sloshed in the cup, Mangnyang said, “Empty that cup and answer me.”

I took that to mean this wasn’t a sober conversation.

Sure enough, if we got into a long battle, our chances of defeating the Imperial Palace would only dwindle. If Portrait Immortals emerged and demons flooded the Palace, we stood no chance. Unless the Master of the White Lotus Sect got mad and wiped the Palace off the map, we were toast.

But to maintain that instant strategy, I had to make a risky choice with my life on the line. Not even a guarantee of success; it was all just a gamble. Mangnyang’s suggestion was completely understandable.

I lifted the cup and downed it in one gulp. “Wow, this tastes great!”

Mangnyang grinned.

“Hehe, it’s my secret stash of that special liquor. I hid it well.”

“Next time I’m gonna demand it!”

“Then I’d hide it even deeper.”

“What?”

We exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

But after a while, our laughter faded. I looked at Mangnyang with a clear gaze and declared, “I’m going to release the seal on the Water Element Divine Sword right now.”

I made up my mind. Even if it meant dying at the hands of the Old Ruler, I had to take my shot.

“I hope it goes well.”

“One thing worries me.”

“What is it?”

“What if I get too strong thanks to the Divine Sword and your master, the Master of the Borderlands, tries to seal me again?”

My playful question got an incredulous response from Mangnyang.

“My master always jokes about it, but he truly is a terrifying being. Even if you become a god, I recommend you don’t fight him. Better to just run.”

“Well, I guess that’s what I’ll have to do.”

I still remembered Daji’s screams. Daji was obliterated by Xiang Yu, but it was more about the blessings I had than Xiang Yu’s raw power. If even a demon king like Daji feared that blessing, then the Master of the Borderlands was indeed something extraordinary.

“Make sure to tell Miho for me.”

“Got it.”

I couldn’t see Miho before going. She was like a wicked mind reader. Just a few words from me, and she’d know every thought in my head. If I were to die after getting through this dangerous trial, it would be a nightmare; she’d definitely try to stop me at all costs.

Boom!

As soon as we finished talking, I used the Golden Lamp technique to teleport to the North Pole. Just like before, that endless frozen land awaited me once again. Standing on the ground, I slowly drew out the Water Element Divine Sword, one of the Seven Luminaries.

The Divine Sword emitted an incredible bright light—so clear and strong that it felt like an artifact from ancient times. It had been unsealed once, so it could tap into some of its power. Just that was enough to drastically improve Mangnyang’s martial arts skills.

‘If I can harness all of the Divine Sword’s power…’

I had joked that I might become a god, but who knew? Becoming a Great Immortal was within reach. The treasure known as the Seven Luminaries held that level of potential.

“……”

Swallowing hard, I poured my sword energy into the Water Element Divine Sword and made a long cut on my wrist. I was knowledgeable about human anatomy; I knew how to make a cut that would bleed profusely without damaging tendons or bones.

Whoosh!!!

Blood gushed out, staining the sword’s blade red. I quickly controlled my energy to stop the bleeding. Once I felt I had fed the sword enough blood, I plunged it deep into the icy ground of the North Pole.

‘This is the method to release the secondary seal of the Divine Sword!’

……

For a long time, nothing happened. But after a while, something truly bizarre began to occur.

Whooooosh—

“No…!!”

I watched, bewildered, as the Divine Sword released a gentle rainbow glow, and suddenly, the sky began to shift. The sunny sky turned ominously dark, filled with shadows as if chased away the clouds in a hurry.

I had never seen such a rapid weather change, and it left me dumbfounded. But soon, I realized what was happening.

‘Night is coming…!!’

The phenomenon known as the “Polar Day” keeps the sun shining all day in the Arctic. According to Mangnyang, it ought to last for months. Yet, the day was abruptly ending, giving way to night.

That wasn’t the end of the surprises.

As the night sky filled with colors, divine light flowed from its center. It sparkled like silk, engraved in the heavens, resembling a brilliant dawn. I’d never seen something so beautiful and mesmerizing; I was captivated.

Moments later, something emerged from that light.

Whooosh…

A massive ‘something’ was bursting forth into reality! Realizing that this was a dangerously powerful entity, I finally got a closer look at its true form.

From the radiant curtain emerged a terrifying magical beast bearing enormous insect-like wings and dozens of eyes all over its body. There weren’t any visible tentacles, but it possessed an anatomy that could only be described as unimaginable and far from human-like, towering at a height three times mine.

‘Is that an ancient magical beast…’

Boom.

After the ancient magical beast descended before me, it spoke in an eerie tongue.

[ #&(@(@cursed&$… @&!time@&!#& why are you @&#^!? unusual @&%^&#. ]

I had trouble comprehending it. Bits and pieces made sense, but trying to interpret it proved impossible. Regardless, it felt like we’d never communicate, so I stood there observing the magical beast quietly. Suddenly, the beast opened its wicked mouth, its slimy texture wriggling within.

Grrrouuum!

With a thunderous crash, a peculiar beam shot from its mouth, tearing a path in the air.

Shhssss!

Then, with a sweep of its forelegs, it beckoned me forward. That portal must have been some sort of mysterious magic connecting worlds. And what awaited at the end of that passage was probably…

I gritted my teeth.

‘Damn it. What else can come from this but death?’

As I stepped into the passage, the surroundings suddenly changed. The mystical night landscape vanished, replaced by the void: a scene of utter emptiness engulfed me. Even the ground felt non-existent, shining a bright white all around.

Where am I?

As I scanned the area, a voice chimed in. It could be translated into human speech, but the essence of it was undeniably foul.

[ Have you come to fulfill the contract? ]

Wha…!

A chill ran down my spine as I glimpsed the entity that had appeared within the void.

‘That’s horrifying…!!’

A disfigured, chaotic skeletal giant denied the order! I couldn’t put my finger on the form; even when confronted with the being that resembled Daji, it was hard to make sense of what lay before me. I knew it was the Old Ruler, but like Daji, beings of their caliber were impossible to observe directly due to the unique abilities of the Otherworldly Race.

Right in front of me was the Old Ruler and the “Walker of the Wind”…!!

Since I encountered him last in Dark Heaven Village, this was the second time meeting the Old Ruler. There was something I felt at the Imperial Palace too, but that was merely indirect contact. Now the being was imposing an overwhelming magical power on me that sent my instincts into overdrive with danger alerts.

Clearly a being on a whole different level. Humans had no chance against such an entity.

As I sensed the dreadful presence, the “Walker of the Wind” spoke.

[ Strange. Why do you possess no abilities? ]

“Huh?”

What a random thing to say.

But the “Walker of the Wind” ignored my question and slowly continued.

[ My name is Itaka. By our contract, I will liberate the Seven Luminaries. ]

Boom!

Suddenly, light burst forth, and Itaka’s form surged into the blade of the Seven Luminaries. It felt as if the great skeletal giant’s soul was being transferred into the Divine Sword. I was aghast, but Itaka’s essence seemed enormous, lingering for a moment in the air.

When I managed to snap back to attention, I was sprawled on the icy ground of the North Pole under the starry night sky, clutching the Seven Luminaries in my hand. I quickly stood up and swung the sword, but felt no extraordinary power radiating from it.

“The secondary seal has been released, right…?”

This felt way more subdued than expected. It seemed like the seal had been released, but I couldn’t be sure. I had no clue what kind of powers I held now.

‘Eh, being alive still counts for something.’

As I tried to move forward with a positive outlook, suddenly—

Thud!!

A massive force struck me from above.

“Aaaaah!!”

I screamed in agony.

This hurt like hell!

While I wasn’t physically pierced, an enormous spirit had smashed into me, obliterating my upper body. It felt as if I had been skewered on a giant pole like a fish. Amid the excruciating pain, just as my body began to tremble from the destruction—

[ Such vile energy! I will expel it with all my might! ]

W…What is going on?

I felt a shiver at the presence of a divine aura I had heard of before. I shouted, “Y-Your Majesty?!”

The Great Immortal, the hero of the Mythological Age, had suddenly descended upon me—he who had bestowed upon me the Red Bow at age nine! Amazingly, the attack piercing through my body was none other than the White Arrow. Invisible to human eyes, this transparent projectile could eliminate any spiritual being in one strike.

The hero spoke.

[ Do not worry! I shall save your soul! ]

“J-Just a second! What is this vile energy?!”

[ The Divine Sword you possess is infused with the Old Ruler’s spirit! Even with all my power, I can’t guarantee I can destroy it. But I will do my utmost! ]

Old Ruler’s spirit?

At that moment, I realized what was going on.

‘Releasing the secondary seal of the Divine Sword means Itaka’s spirit has entered the Seven Luminaries! And the hero felt the Old Ruler’s evil力量 and descended upon me.’

Whoooosh!

As I stared at the red-flickering bow in the sky, I gulped. That massive bow of flames symbolized the hero’s immense power—the Red Bow. It had once shot down the sun!

I protested, “So why didn’t you attack when Itaka showed up before?!”

[ Because he’s much stronger than I am! ]

“……”

How blunt can you get?

But nonetheless, the hero continued.

[ Now that the Old Ruler has fused with the Divine Sword, this is the best chance! If the Divine Sword regains its true power, there will be no stopping it! If you die, the sword will be sealed away again! Don’t worry and comply, Mortal! ]

I was furious, shouting, “Who do you think you are to decide that I die?! I can’t just croak here!”

[ Your soul will be cared for in the Celestial Realm. ]

“Ugh…”

I realized I was in deep trouble. The hero was using my life as a pretext and forcing the Red Bow and White Arrow onto me! I was stuck and couldn’t even teleport to escape.

If this continued, my chances of survival after taking nine arrows were zero. I tried pouring my energy into the Divine Sword in desperation, but it showed no response. Somehow, to use the unsealed Divine Sword, I needed certain conditions.

With my last-ditch effort, I cried out for Yeodong-bin.

“Yeodong-bin! Help me!”

But he didn’t respond, and the hero’s voice emerged once more.

[ The Celestial Realm’s hierarchy transcends him! Besides, chasing down demons is his job; he wouldn’t refuse! ]

“Uugh…!!”

[ Don’t worry. I’ll finish this with this attack! ]

Boom!

The second shot from the White Arrow pierced my head. It was not a physical attack, but a spiritual one, and for a moment, it felt like a hammer had smashed into my skull. The White Arrow’s power was terrifying.

‘Why… am I not dead…’

Not dying felt even more frustrating. It was like I had stepped inside a bell, making the rumbling vibrations plummet hundreds of times more intense throughout my body. I was sure that no matter how much torture I endured later, it would be hard to experience pain like this.

The hero sighed apologetically.

[ Your mental strength is so resilient that even my divine arrows cannot affect you! What should’ve been a single shot capable of eliminating a great demon! But this time… ]

Grrrooowww!

With the third hit, I was nearing my wits’ end, and after four and five shots, it felt like the pain hitting my head was swirling like a typhoon. The excruciating agony made me feeble, reduced to gasping like a fish out of water.

Boom!

[ What?! It didn’t work with six shots either?! ]

I couldn’t even argue back.

I weakly muttered, “…kill me…”

[ I will give it my all! ]

Boom! Boom! Boom!

When the ninth strike landed, I finally felt at peace.

I felt my hand slowly fall to the ground, my body lightening.

[ You are a hero… ]

The last words from the Great Immortal, the hero, echoed softly in my mind.

And that was my fifteenth death.

 

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