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“Something feels off in the Celestial Realm.”

As I entered the throne room, just as Cheon Woo-jin said, the Emperor was seated on the throne, with the Alchemist and Vermilion Bird flanking him. In front of this trio stood the Master of the White Lotus Sect and three Dharma Guardians.

‘Hmm? This is puzzling.’

I sensed a strange tension. The Sect Leader and the Dharma Guardians should have arrived here at least half a beat before now. Given the timing, there should have been a clash already, yet they were just standing still? There should have been substantial damage to one side or the other following orders, whether from the Sect Leader or the Emperor.

At that moment, the Sect Leader turned to me and said,

[You’ve arrived, Baek Woong.]

“Sect Leader!! Quickly put an end to the Emperor…”

I tried to urge the Sect Leader to take action against the Emperor, but the atmosphere just felt wrong. The Alchemist let out a snickering laugh, and the Vermilion Bird, Old Sage of Mount Tai, was looking at me with a penetrating gaze. Even the Dharma Guardians standing behind the Sect Leader maintained icy expressions.

Then the Emperor, seated at his throne, turned to me and said,

“I’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival, my friend. You could say I’ve been counting the days.”

His voice was youthful, appearing to be in his twenties—thanks to his immortal body, I guess. As I continued to keep my guard up, the Emperor glanced at the Sect Leader again and said,

“So, Sect Leader… you’re definitely considering my proposal, right?”

[I’m still thinking about it. This is rather sudden, even for me.]

“Alright then… Let’s have a calm discussion.”

With a flick of his finger, suddenly a grand table appeared in the spacious room, filled with an array of delicacies, and out of nowhere, charming servers appeared to attend the gathering. The Emperor also seemed to possess some magical power to conjure up such a feast.

The Sect Leader, without a word, approached the table and took a seat. The Dharma Guardians behind him followed suit, sitting beside him. The Sect Leader sent me a mental communication as if to indicate something.

[First, take a seat.]

“But Sect Leader…”

[It’s not too late to fight after hearing what he has to say.]

A colossal force made it hard to resist.

‘This situation is taking a turn for the worse.’

With no other choice, I awkwardly walked over and sat next to Lee Kwang. Soon, the Alchemist and Vermilion Bird seated themselves across, with the Emperor claiming the head of the table.

As the Emperor settled into his chair, he spoke right away.

“Sect Leader, let me reiterate. If you join hands with me now, I will recognize Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, Sichuan Province, and Guizhou Province as your territory, crowning you as Prince Consort and National Master. Furthermore, I shall grant you permanent autonomy over those territories. I also promise to recognize the White Lotus Sect as the foremost sect of the Central Plains and provide maximum support.”

“……!!”

I was taken aback by the Emperor’s words.

Could he really be offering 30% of Central Plains territory to recruit the Sect Leader? This proposal was nothing short of astonishing considering the historic relationship between the White Lotus Sect and the Imperial Palace. No religion in history had ever been granted such privileges.

With a chilling smile, the Sect Leader replied,

[Ha ha… Ridiculous. If I wanted all that, I could simply eliminate you and achieve it all without such hassles.]

“If that’s what you believe, you would have acted long ago.”

The Emperor flashed a strange smile as he continued,

“With your powers, you could ignore my command and kill me. Of course, I won’t just roll over and die, but with your capabilities, it might just be plausible. But are you prepared to handle the consequences?”

[……]

“Let’s acknowledge that neither of us can jump into battle recklessly.”

The Sect Leader flinched at the mention of ‘consequences.’ He seemed to be silently acknowledging the Emperor’s words, remaining still for a moment. Then he glanced down at the banquet spread and said,

[I’ve been too tardy. I should have come before you made your formal agreement with the Master of Demon Subduing Hall.]

The Emperor chuckled ominously,

“Heh heh… If you had, the world would have been in your grasp. But now, I hold the absolute advantage. What’s your next move?”

[Umm…]

The Sect Leader showed signs of deep contemplation. Even as he pondered, he seemed to be communicating with the Dharma Guardians telepathically, likely engaged in a heated debate silently among themselves. The growing tension in the silence made it feel like a decision was on the verge of breaking.

Glancing at the Vermilion Bird across from us, I asked,

“Where have you put Mangnyang?”

The Vermilion Bird, Old Sage of Mount Tai, lifted a golden goblet to sip and replied,

“That’s none of your business.”

“He’s my comrade! I came all the way here to get him back from your clutches.”

“Is that so… Hyun must have a good friend.”

As the Vermilion Bird responded in a sentimental tone, I exploded in anger,

“No matter who you are, if you’ve harmed him, I won’t let that slide!”

At that declaration, everyone’s gaze turned to me for a moment. The Vermilion Bird responded with a hint of surprise,

“You figured that out well.”

“I figured it out myself. You’re from the Zhuge clan, a member of the famed Astrologers, the former Lord of Inner Imperial Pavilion, and the Vermilion Bird. It’s obvious that you’re Mangnyang’s father, but I never thought you’d also be the legendary Zhuge Yulong, one of the Four Great Experts of the Imperial Palace!”

“Impressive… I’ve managed to keep that secret for over half a century.”

The Vermilion Bird continued without a change in expression,

“Indeed. I am Zhuge Yulong, the Vermilion Bird who serves His Majesty and the head of the Zhuge clan.”

Zhuge Yulong!

He was not only Mangnyang’s father but the last guardian of the Imperial Palace! This was the first time I had properly faced him, even after countless reincarnations. Zhuge Yulong stared at me with his round eyes, and asked,

“I see you’ve used the Offering Ceremony’s rights to liberate the Seven Luminaries. So, you came here believing in their power?”

Zhuge Yulong also knew I was the master of the Seven Luminaries and that I had recently freed Xuyou! I was shocked—only someone embedded within my inner circle could have known that. So, I countered,

“… How did you figure that out?”

Zhuge Yulong intertwined his fingers and replied,

“I’ve been keeping watch over the Heavenly Altar of the Five Great Mountains, disguised as Old Sage of Mount Tai. The altar not only serves as a location for the Offering Ceremony but is also the least draining pathway to gather Heavenly Secrets. Just offering some tributes at the Heavenly Altar makes it easy to learn about the Celestial Realm’s plans.”

“What…!!”

He smiled broadly as he continued,

“Do you know how delighted I was when I discovered that Hyun had obtained the rights of the Offering Ceremony? I shortened our time by at least 20 years, I was so happy that I nearly cried! After that, I lay in ambush at the Heavenly Altar and captured Hyun.”

“……”

So that’s what he meant.

The Heavenly Altar could not only summon the Three Sovereigns through the Offering Ceremony but was also the fastest avenue for gathering intelligence from the Celestial Realm! Not knowing this, I had unknowingly walked into Zhuge Yulong’s ploys time and again. I clenched my lips, saying,

“Mangnyang acquired the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, a relic of the Divine Realm, and gained immense magical powers. No matter how strong you are, capturing Mangnyang wouldn’t be easy.”

“That’s your assumption. Despite acquiring the Inner Gate, he wouldn’t stand a chance against a surprise sleep-inducing technique.”

“… You used poison?”

Zhuge Yulong revealed a piece of cloth from his pocket.

“I knew that boy was stubborn, so I decided to capture him first and persuade him. But he wouldn’t listen, and ultimately, I had to resort to mental suppression.”

Hearing that made me feel appalled.

‘What a relentless guy!’

Even with greater personal strength, he had used poison and sleep-inducing techniques against Mangnyang! In terms of using any means necessary, he could truly be described as the strategist of the Zhuge family.

Confused, I asked,

“What exactly do you want? Is the value of maintaining the Imperial Authority worth going to such lengths, including human sacrifices alongside the Otherworldly Race?”

At that moment, the atmosphere on the table stiffened. I had openly denied the Imperial Authority while sitting alongside the Emperor. Such an act alone could be viewed as treason, as the Dharma Guardians of the White Lotus Sect looked at me in shock. Even the Emperor wore an expression as if he just bit into something foul.

The Zhuge clan’s head replied smoothly,

“There’s nothing more precious in this world than the Emperor’s authority. As the head of the Zhuge clan carrying its legacy since the Three Kingdoms era, I have a duty to protect my clan as well as the integrity of the Great Ming Empire. Everything I have done as the Vermilion Bird and Old Sage of Mount Tai has been entirely justified.”

At that moment, Lee Kwang, who had been listening quietly at the side, tightened his fist and declared,

“Vermilion Bird! As a former Azure Dragon of the Imperial Palace, I’m going to ask you something.”

Zhuge Yulong looked briefly perplexed as he glanced at Lee Kwang.

“Speak.”

“Is it true that you were present during the former Emperor’s demise?”

It wasn’t a hard question to answer. He simply needed to confirm it with a word.

But unexpectedly, Zhuge Yulong hesitated, struggling to reply. After a moment of grappling with his thoughts, he finally admitted,

“… Yes.”

“You were always by the former Emperor’s side, tasked with guarding him closely. The other members of the Imperial Palace, including me, trusted your abilities, so we were able to focus on core tasks without worry.”

Lee Kwang glared at the Vermilion Bird with fierce eyes.

“When the former Emperor passed, I tried to make sense of it. The Emperor often sent you off to do other tasks, so I thought it was just one of those times. Yes, you even made excuses the day I left the palace.”

“… That’s correct.”

“But if you stood directly by His Majesty as he passed… then it means you lied to me that day.”

“……”

The Vermilion Bird’s face turned pale. At that moment, the Emperor, who had been listening intently, smirked.

“Hey, Lee Kwang! Why are you picking a fight with my loyal guard? You’re not even part of the Imperial Palace anymore!”

“… Your Majesty, I’ve renounced my title in the Imperial Palace, but I have the right to know what happened that day.”

“Hmph! Right to know, you say?”

The Emperor suddenly became hostile.

“I’ve never liked you, Lee Kwang! Just because you enjoyed the former Emperor’s favoritism, you’ve acted all high and mighty. You’re nothing but a houseguard at the end of the day!”

“……!!”

Lee Kwang managed to maintain a straight face, but shock flooded his expression. It was as if decades of belief shattered in an instant.

“Now you’re not even worth the title of dog.”

The Emperor arrogantly pointed towards the exit.

“Get out, Lee Kwang! This is no place for you; I demand that you leave immediately. Crawl out for the sin of failing to protect your father!”

WHAM!!

At that moment, I sensed the command spell of Chi You activating. Lee Kwang’s eyes became blank, losing all understanding, and he started crawling on all fours per the Emperor’s orders.

Lee Kwang was now crawling.

He was shamelessly dragging himself, shamefully twisting his rear.

“Ha ha ha! Looks good on you, Lee Kwang!”

The Emperor erupted into insane laughter.

Watching Lee Kwang crawl slowly, I was engulfed by feelings I couldn’t quite articulate. I felt a mix of satisfaction and, simultaneously, something bubbling up from within. It was one thing to express righteous anger, but this was clearly the Emperor oppressing Lee Kwang for uncovering the truth.

Am I just going to stand by and watch this indignity?

Am I fine with being looked down upon by the White Lotus Sect and the Emperor’s faction?

Can I really sit idly while enjoying this spectacle?

‘This is… something’s off!’

Suddenly, something snapped in my mind. With gritted teeth, I pointed at Lee Kwang and exclaimed,

“Release him!”

WHAM!!

A yellow aura shot from my fingertips and struck Lee Kwang. Simultaneously, he seemed to regain his senses, quickly shaking himself and standing up. After casting the protective spell I received from Jeon Wook on him, Lee Kwang gained resistance against the Emperor’s command. His face flushed with rage as he ground his teeth.

“You scum! I’m going to kill you!”

“Huh!”

The Emperor seemed startled by the murderous intent emanating from Lee Kwang. The aura that burst forth from Lee Kwang was potent enough to make even me shiver. The shock also stemmed from the fact that Lee Kwang addressed him without honorifics, calling him directly by name for the first time.

The Vermilion Bird stood, trying to intervene,

“Calm down, Lee Kwang! You won’t win against him. Listen to His Majesty and leave peacefully. Consider it advice from an old comrade.”

But Lee Kwang was in no mood for listening; he had crossed the line and was about to explode in rage. Any effort to diffuse the situation was futile. He shouted back,

“Shut up, Vermilion Bird! You killed the former Emperor, didn’t you?!”

“……!!”

“I see through your shamelessness! I know too well that you conspired to eliminate the former Emperor while pretending to protect him!”

Lee Kwang’s fury ignited with each step. He advanced just two steps, yet his aura surged exponentially. Even the Dharma Guardians winced at his presence. For the first time in decades, I witnessed such rage from him.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE

Lee Kwang seemed to disregard his own life entirely, gathering his energy for his ultimate technique. It felt like the ultimate Slash he would only use when facing a life-or-death confrontation. The Vermilion Bird and Alchemist positioned themselves protectively in front of the Emperor, and the tension in the room was tangible.

Just then, the Master of the White Lotus Sect, who had been silently observing, remarked,

[What’s happening? A powerful aura is emerging…]

CRACK!!!

Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed, causing a massive upheaval. A ray of moonlight fell from the sky, illuminating the surroundings with an intense glow. Amidst the chaos, the table shattered, and the situation drastically shifted.

“Die!”

Lee Kwang couldn’t hold back anymore, activating his Thunderclap and unleashing his most potent technique. It was a strike so monumental it could only be described as his life’s slash. The massive strike of his spear surged towards the Emperor, aiming to pierce him completely, but the Vermilion Bird raised his weapon, countering with the Gongsun Sword Technique.

BAM!!

As the energies clashed, an explosive sound rang out, but Lee Kwang’s assault didn’t end there. With the momentum from the collision, the spear gained incredible strength, changing the tide of battle. The Vermilion Bird attempted to counter again, but in the blink of an eye, the space trembled.

“Cough!”

The Vermilion Bird cried out as Lee Kwang’s spear twisted the air, throwing off his defensive technique and burying itself into his abdomen. Lee Kwang, with chilling eyes, addressed him,

“I knew you’d intervene if I aimed to kill him. I practiced relentlessly, sleepless, for this moment. How’s it feel?”

“Ugh… you brat…”

“Go die and atone to the former Emperor!”

As Lee Kwang’s wrist moved, the spear twisted violently, tearing through the Vermilion Bird’s body. Witnessing such swift resolution in the Imperial Palace made everything clear to me.

‘Lee Kwang had this plan all along!’

What Lee Kwang just employed wasn’t just some ordinary Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear technique. It was fundamentally the insight of Muwak that I held. Perhaps he had learned the Martial Arts Cultivation Technique from Jin So-cheong, transforming it into his own through rigorous training, and all along, he intended to eliminate the Vermilion Bird since our journey began.

Following his encounter with the Vermilion Bird, Lee Kwang acted as though he was fully enraged, then attacked recklessly to deceive the Vermilion Bird. The moment he showed a defensive technique, he utilized the Bowing Sky Slash and Heavenly Contraction Sword to exploit his opening in one swift move. It was a perfectly executed ambush, showcasing mastery of martial arts while defying the odds to fell the Vermilion Bird.

A chillingly composed fighter!

That’s who Lee Kwang truly was.

The moment Lee Kwang toppled the Vermilion Bird, a resounding voice rang throughout the hall.

[Where is the Emperor who defied the Heavenly Will?]

The entity descending with the moonlight bore nine swaying tails. While I had seen this figure multiple times in the past, its current form exuded a formidable power beyond comparison. Emitting a silvery glow around itself, the entity scanned the area before locking eyes on the Emperor.

[Are you there?]

“……”

The Emperor froze in place.

Clearly, he couldn’t adapt to this sudden change.

Then, the radiant figure summoned a ball of foxfire in its hands, revealing a beautiful face with a glimmer of intent to kill.

[I, Miho, the master of Moon Sovereign, will hunt you down.]

 

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