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“That was a trip I didn’t see coming.”

So, the spot Choi Chi-won had told me about was the Seven Stars Altar on Tamra Island. Somehow, there were seven lights swirling in a neat circle around the altar—definitely not your average Sunday visit.

It took me just half a moment to find the place, breezing in from the edge of Tamra. Choi Chi-won’s words echoed in my mind.

[The southern island of the peninsula, Tamra was once the Kingdom of Tamra, an independent realm. And the king of Tamra was called the Star Master, who was born under the constellation of the Seven Stars and could wield its powers.]

I took a step closer to the altar.

[The Tamra Star Master has long inherited great spiritual power and performed rituals to accumulate his strength at the Seven Stars Altar. The power built up here opens the path to the legendary Three Sacred Mountains and shows the surrounding sea routes, stabilizing fishing and bringing in abundance. Shibo, tasked by Qin Shi Huang to find the elixir of immortality, paid attention to Tamra’s legend.]

[So the altar operated by the Tamra Star Master opens the path to the Sacred Mountains.]

[Of course, Shibo had no choice but to come to this southern island on the peninsula to reach Mount Penglai. He offered 2,000 men and treasures to the Tamra Star Master and begged to open the altar, eventually making his way to one of the Sacred Mountains.] But when he arrived, it was pure hell…

Choi Chi-won sighed like a deflating balloon.

[In my life, while tracing his steps, I discovered Shibo’s notes among the ruins of the altar. They vividly recorded the hell that Shibo witnessed at Mount Penglai. Even the calamity that befell Tamra was due to the demonic energy released when Shibo escaped from Mount Penglai. So, the Tamra locals tend to have a strong dislike for mainland people.]

[Hmm…]

[I can show you the location of the Seven Stars Altar and how to activate it. But you’ll need a massive amount of spiritual power, so prepare thoroughly.]

“Can’t I ask the Tamra Star Master for help?”

Choi Chi-won gave a wry smile. [Tamra fell under Goryeo after my death, and it’s been hundreds of years since it became a province. The Star Master’s power has fizzled out, and his bloodline is lost. As of now, finding a legitimate Tamra Star Master would be like searching for a needle in a haystack—you can only open the altar with sheer force.]

So, I made sure to come fully powered up.

I wrapped up my thoughts and turned to Cheon Woo-jin beside me. “How’s it looking?”

He was mesmerized by the strange wedge patterns and bizarre scripts around us, calculating something in his head.

“This is astonishing. These ruins harbor the power of the constellations—it’s stabilized with an incredibly precise martial arts system. When was it even created?”

“Probably by the founding Star Master.”

“Nah, this isn’t human-made. It might as well have been crafted by the initial Star Master of Tamra…”

As he mumbled that, he began tracing the walls around the altar. “I think we can open the passage.”

“Nice!”

Woo Woo Woo

Cheon Woo-jin summoned his spiritual energy, casting it across the altar like a charge. As he muttered the incantation for a while and stretched his hand out…

“Quickly, quickly embody the passage!”

Crash!

Suddenly, I felt myself getting sucked into a beam of light, and I ended up standing somewhere new.

‘Golden Crow Island?’

It was eerily reminiscent of when I first arrived at this place. I found myself standing at the edge of an immense cliff, with a sea of clouds rolling below and bizarre rock formations all around me. But before I could dive deeper, an ominous demonic energy crept in, making me flinch.

“Hmm… Shall we take a look down?”

With a bit of hesitation, I cast an invisibility spell and began descending the Manjangan Cliff slowly. After about forty layers down, the ground began coming into view, but the world below was shrouded in dark energy. Upon reaching the bottom, I found what looked like a swamp, oozing with a horrific stench of poison.

Incredibly grotesque beasts with five arms and two tails moved around, their shiny skin wiggling as they roamed. I could catch glimpses of similar beasts disappearing beneath the surface throughout the marshland, making it obvious that this place was a dangerous zone.

‘… Let’s get out of here for now.’

Dealing with those monsters wasn’t hard, but there was no point in wasting time. I used the Soul Removal Technique to escape the swamp. After that, I set off on a wander to see if any immortals or sentient beings were around, aimlessly exploring Mount Penglai.

Along the way, I spotted a gigantic Taoist building of ancient design in the distance and headed towards it. From afar, it sported an impressive facade, but as I got closer, I noticed strange slime stuck all over it, an unsettling aura hanging in the air.

Once I entered the building, I was left agog at the horror before me.

“……!!”

Various beings, likely immortals, were tied to the pillars, either groaning in agony or staring blankly into space. Some of them had squirming eggs embedded in their skin, with creepy crawly creatures scuttling around. Nearby, a collection of large eggs clustered together, and a tiny merfolk seemed to be crawling out of its shell.

‘Sea God’s kin… little ones.’

This must be the Hatching Grounds. As I noticed one female immortal who seemed to be pregnant, my heart sank. Without saying a word, it was clear she had been tortured by the Sea God’s scions for far too long. Once a beautiful figure, she now wore the vacant stare of madness, uttering only soft, pitiful sounds. It wasn’t hard to imagine the horror she’d endured.

It seemed the Sea God had invaded Mount Penglai and turned this place into both a hatching ground and a dungeon for slaves. I realized the immortals were suffering for centuries, unable to die.

Honestly, if I were to go through that for hundreds of years, I’d be mad too. My lips tightened into a grim line as I swung my sword, slicing down nearby merfolk spawn.

Snap!

Wreaking havoc, I took down about a dozen of those little ones in seconds. I smashed every last egg underfoot, leaving not a single one behind. Once I finished with the spawn, I cut through the sticky slime binding the immortals.

“……”

“Hey! Can you hear me?”

“……”

But the freed immortals had nothing but hollow eyes, offering no response. Male or female, young or old—they were all lost in madness. I gathered about twenty of them together, trying to engage in conversation, but when I was met with silence, I sighed and turned away.

It was then I heard a frail voice whisper.

“Behind… behind… the Cheongryeong-Guan… Master of the Island…”

An elder-looking immortal was mumbling as if in delirium. Upon hearing that, my mind clicked, remembering a structure behind this one. I tried to ask the immortal for more details, but it seemed that was just instinctual talk, leaving us unable to have a logical conversation anymore.

Boom!

I crashed through the door of the back building, the Cheongryeong-Guan. Inside, I noticed something looming at the depths of a dark Daoist hall.

As I stepped inside, I saw many corpses of merfolk scattered about, long dead. Others looked recent, creating the eerie sensation of walking through a corridor made up entirely of bodies. After wandering a bit deeper into the dark interior, I noticed thousands of talismans floating around.

Wrinkle Wrinkle! Snap!

As I got nearer, a massive burst of thunder energy erupted from each talisman, unleashing attacks in my direction. I dodged quickly, realizing the level of skill needed to evade or defend against those attacks was far beyond my current abilities. Yet, avoiding just one or two wasn’t enough—soon, the attacks intensified.

BOOM!

KA-BLAM!

‘An automated defense barrier, huh?’

Judging by the piles of merfolk corpses outside, this wasn’t just a localized defense—it seemed to be a barrier that unleashed its wrath until intruders were completely annihilated. That kind of power suggested the barrier’s creator was incredibly skilled, especially considering how the merfolk hadn’t breached this stronghold for centuries.

But I couldn’t just back down.

I pointed my Fire Spirit towards the barrier and shouted a mighty Lion’s Roar.

[I am Baek Woong, Apostle of Jeon Wook! I’m here to rescue the survivors of Mount Penglai, so don’t attack me.]

Crash!

But as a response, a barrage of thunder energy shot at me, akin to a top-tier skill. I hastily used the Soul Removal Technique to escape, barely dodging the huge, swift attack. Realizing that the incoming assaults were increasing in intensity sent chills down my spine.

‘I might just die here.’

It was clear the barrier’s thunder energy had the potential to become even more powerful. The merfolk hadn’t been able to breach it for hundreds of years without good reason. I found myself torn between making a brave attempt to breach the barrier or just retreating.

That’s when it happened.

[You claim to be an Apostle of Jeon Wook? Really?]

A deep voice echoed back to me. I realized the barrier’s master was responding, and I felt a rush of exhilaration.

[Yes, I am.]

[I am Lee Heung-pae, Master of the Island on Mount Penglai. Have you truly come to save us, Apostle of the Three Sovereigns?]

His words dripped with skepticism and shock. I felt a flicker of recognition at his name and recalled the memory of Ji-seon Mang-nyang, gasping in surprise.

[Lee Heung-pae, do you mean to say you are one of the Four Saints of the Nine Dragons?]

[That was my title during the Divine War. Afterward, I became a disciple of the Illuminating Daoist and was appointed as Master of Mount Penglai.]

He was the renowned Lee Heung-pae of the Nine Dragons! A formidable immortal who had earned great fame during the Divine War, and now stood as a Great Immortal. Considering the war’s impact, I could only imagine how terrifying his current skills must be. As Master of Mount Penglai, he wielded strength comparable to a formidable leader.

I asked him, “Do you know what’s happening outside? The Sea God is dead, and I’ve come to save Mount Penglai.”

[The Sea God is dead? The Old Ruler?]

[If that weren’t the case, would I dare show up here boldly?]

Lee Heung-pae seemed incredulous, then said, [Apostle, come this way. I’ll temporarily disable the barrier.]

Woo

As the air trembled, the demonic energy surrounding the talismans dissipated. I stepped cautiously into the now dimly lit Cheongryeong-Guan. The scene that unfolded before me left me awestruck.

He was almost like a skeleton!

I thought to myself; that’s how emaciated Lee Heung-pae appeared now, his skin clinging tightly to his bones. Considering he was an immortal, this horrifying form leaned closer to that of a spiritual body, almost like a living corpse.

When I gazed at him with disbelief, he spoke, [I resisted the Sea God with all my might to unleash this barrier. But even being one of the Four Saints of the Nine Dragons, if I were to contest against the Sea God, I would have to be prepared for obliteration… I am, after all, a fading body.]

He chose to speak politely to me, acknowledging my status as an Apostle.

“So you can’t leave?”

[No, I cannot. I’ve devoted everything to this barrier. The moment I deactivate it, I’ll shatter into pieces and vanish.]

“Hmm…”

[Apostle, tell me what’s happening out there.]

I recounted the circumstances surrounding the Sea God’s downfall. As Lee Heung-pae processed the information, he said, [I have a favor to ask. I might be powerless, but you need to rescue the remaining immortals and take them to the Celestial Realm.]

“But they’ve all lost their minds from suffering and torture.”

[If the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens is there, she can heal them… Please.]

“……”

I gazed at him with concern. Once a noble Master of Mount Penglai, a Great Immortal in the Divine War, now reduced to this pitiful state awaited his end. It spoke volumes about the brutality the Sea God had inflicted upon his victims.

“I have a question. The Three Sacred Mountains include both Mount Penglai and the others like Yeongjusang and Bangjangsan. Is it possible they met a similar fate?”

[I don’t know. The Sea God and his kin attacked without warning. I am completely unaware of the outside happenings.]

“I see.”

[Apostle, your motives seem beyond simply rescuing us. What do you desire?]

I answered Lee Heung-pae’s question, “I wish to go to the Five Demon Gate and meet my Lord.”

[You’re quite lucky to have figured out that the entrance to the Five Demon Gate is here on Mount Penglai…]

“Can you tell me where it is?”

[Indeed, that place is…]

Lee Heung-pae provided details on the location of the Five Demon Gate. He then extended his hands.

[Take this Half Yellow Pearl I possess.]

“A treasure?”

[It’s only fitting I provide it. I’m bound to perish soon… I’ve been stubborn about not letting the Sea God take it from me. I hope you find it useful.]

“Understood.”

I accepted the Half Yellow Pearl from Lee Heung-pae.

Crackle!

At that moment, Lee Heung-pae’s skeletal figure crumbled to dust, rainbows of talismans losing their power and fluttering down. He had maintained the barrier through the power of the Half Yellow Pearl and the might of a Great Immortal.

“Farewell.”

I looked at the remnants of Lee Heung-pae with a bittersweet gaze. It was obvious this treasure had performed heroics since the days of the Divine War, building the reputation of the Four Saints of Nine Dragons. And yet, with this Half Yellow Pearl, he could only protect himself from the Sea God!

‘At least I got the treasure. Let’s make good use of it.’

I gathered the freed immortals into the Wooden Armor and made my way out. As I crossed Mount Penglai’s vast expanse, I spotted merfolk withered and starving here and there. They were in such a state that they didn’t even have the energy to try to fight back against me.

Squeak squeak!

Noticing me, the merfolk raised their tridents and weapons, seeming ready to chase me, but they were too exhausted to keep it up. Considering their natural physical prowess, merfolk should outpace humans easily, but it was clear they had grown weak.

‘They’re like fish gasping for air.’

But it wasn’t unexpected. Mount Penglai was originally a realm for immortals, but the Sea God had twisted it to become favorable for his kin with his own power. Now that he was dying, the magical energies left with him, saturating Mount Penglai with its original spiritual essence, putting the merfolk on the defense. It seemed I didn’t even need to lift a finger for the merfolk to face annihilation.

Tydaht!

Eventually, I managed to reach the northernmost point of Mount Penglai. Unlike the other areas, there weren’t any signs of merfolk or horrifying swamps around here. Instead, a massive gate stood before me, emanating a powerful aura of ghostly energy, approximately five meters tall.

This was the entrance to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace, the Five Demon Gate!

Beyond this door, I would encounter Yeo, the keeper of the Sun and Moon. I pushed the heavy gate open, brimming with anticipation.

Grooooon…

Despite its enormous size, the gate opened smoothly as if pushing through air. Once it was fully open, a familiar figure stood in wait, staring right at me.

[What a twist! How did you find your way here?]

“Yeo.”

He was the high-ranking official of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace and the gatekeeper of the Five Demon Gate, with a dark, shadowy visage. Although he took a humanoid form, he was composed solely of darkness, exuding a chilling yet powerful aura.

[For five years, I’ve told you about the powers I could bestow you. I authorized you to wield the Apostle’s Power, but never should you recklessly disturb the majesty of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace… So why on earth did you come all the way to Mount Penglai to open the gate? If you were just a mortal, you’d have been erased without a second thought.]

“But before that, why didn’t Jeon Wook deal with those Sea God goons hanging around the gate?”

[The affairs of the Celestial Realm’s immortals are of no concern to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace. And besides, the Sea God feared my Lord too much to dare step this way. We ignored each other’s existence.]

“Alright.”

[Apostle Baek Woong! Do you truly intend to cross the gate into the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace?]

Yeo glared at me, an edge of hostility in his demeanor.

Gooo!

I stiffened. The last time I trained at the Five Demon Gate, I hadn’t sensed the threat, but now standing in front of him with my present body, I felt the sheer power he wielded. Yeo was also an ancient powerhouse—a member of the divine bloodline with immeasurable strength.

I steeled myself and said, “I must see Jeon Wook. There’s something urgent I need to ask.”

[Then speak to me. I shall convey your message to my Lord.]

“But why can’t I see him myself? It feels like you’re blocking me.”

[Even if you are an Apostle, you cannot enter and exit the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace at your leisure. State your purpose and be on your way.]

Something felt off.

Yeo seemed to have some ulterior motives for not letting me enter the palace.

‘Dammit… But I can’t pry too deep…’

But no matter what the case, Yeo was no less than equal to Zhang Yi and Chi You in strength. With his middle-tier divine status, he might even surpass Daji or the Demon King. Facing him head-on and winning was out of the question as of now.

Reluctantly, I replied to Yeo, “There was a bizarre incident during a recent Offering Ceremony.”

I elaborated on the unexpected demise I encountered. Yeo nodded, then said.

[Please wait a moment.]

Crash!

In an instant, Yeo vanished, then returned moments later, saying, [My Lord has decreed that the additional liberation of the Seven Luminaries is prohibited by the orders of Nüwa. The recent unfortunate incident occurred because she intended to smite those conducting the Offering Ceremony.]

“W-what? Really?”

So Nüwa was involved in this crisis?

Well, given her negative stance on the liberation of the Seven Luminaries, it wasn’t impossible. While I mulled over this, Yeo continued, [In the future, the Offering Ceremonies of mortals will be strictly forbidden. I plead you take note of this.]

“That doesn’t make sense.”

[What do you mean?]

“The situation on Earth is a mess, and Jeon Wook knows it well, right? Then, as an Apostle, shouldn’t I have greater power and authority to uphold Jeon Wook’s majesty? Why the prohibition on my liberation of the Seven Luminaries?”

As I protested, Yeo responded calmly.

[That too was my Lord’s answer.]

“What did he say?”

[He merely commanded you to perform your assigned tasks as directed.]

“Assigned tasks?”

That was definitely about tracking down Chi You. While I’d uncovered the movements of the Eightfold Deities in the past, to get to their core would evidently require more power! I knew that all too well, which meant I had no choice but to shout back.

“It’s insufficient! I won’t be able to find the Eightfold Deities like this. I’m serious!”

[Enough whining.]

“Whining or not, I won’t back down until I get more power!”

[……]

Yeo vanished again but appeared shortly afterward, exasperated.

[I’ve made the necessary arrangements—now go.]

“What arrangements?”

He spoke in an unusually annoyed tone, [Since you’re so persistent, my Lord has granted one of your companions a significant power boost. Now, please don’t come back until you’ve completed your task.]

 

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