819——————==

True Martial Home

I distinctly remembered the information that Cheon Gong-pyo had mentioned during my 24th life.

[King Yao was the avatar of Yao Shun. However, ruling the human realm got boring, so he needed a new body to switch into.]

[The reason was that I had a naturally strong power and supernatural abilities. Of course, I refused, but the persistent demands of the Three Sovereigns were not easily dismissed. Fearing I might suffer in the Underworld after death, I resolved to enter the Celestial Realm and seek protection from the esteemed Primordial Void Ruler, Taishang Laojun, and the Three Clears.]

[This is my innate ability. I possess nearly infinite mental endurance, and when using any sorcery or treasure, there’s no consumption of power. I also have the ability to fully comprehend any sorcery at a glance.]

The ancient era of King Yao and King Shun, which the Central Plains people deemed a time of peace and utopia, was actually an age where human sacrifices were performed most freely, ruled by the avatars of the Three Sovereigns, Yao and Shun.

And since Cheon Gong-pyo was the most powerful human born with the talent of chaos during that time, she was nearly chosen to be an avatar for Yao Shun. However, she escaped to the Celestial Realm and became a disciple of the Three Clears, hence Yao Shun couldn’t touch her.

Given this context, the only divine being that could have possessed her body after thousands of years is none other than the Three Sovereigns, Yao Shun!

‘That means… the supreme ruler of the Celestial Realm, Jade Emperor, is actually Yao Shun…’

I felt a headache coming on.

This would imply that there are two of the Three Sovereigns in the Celestial Realm! The one who had taken possession of Cheon Gong-pyo turned to me and said.

[That’s right, Reborn Person. I am &%&$@.]

I couldn’t catch the exact pronunciation. In fact, the moment I heard it, I realized it was an indescribable ‘something’ rather than a language.

True Name – a token of the cosmic entity known as ‘Ruler’. Calling her Yao Shun is merely a convenience for humans; in reality, knowing or even uttering the true name of the Three Sovereigns could drive people to madness.

I looked at Yao Shun and replied.

“To share even the True Name of the Ruler, how kind of you.”

As I had heard from Zhuge Sa, Ruler-level beings almost never share their names directly. If they do, it’s usually a monumental favor, and most names only make it into grimoires thanks to the sacrifices of countless demon sorcerers throughout history.

[You are a special existence….]

Yao Shun seemed to smile with Cheon Gong-pyo’s face. She continued.

[I’ll propose again. Wouldn’t it be better to join hands with us now?]

“On what grounds? I have nothing to say to you.”

[Then why are you still alive…? Shouldn’t you have escaped this life as soon as you broke free from Nüwa’s grasp?]

“……”

[You still have lingering attachments to this life…. You intentionally released the seal of Cheon Gong-pyo to try and save the Celestial Sage…. If there are desires, we can make a deal.]

Yao Shun’s words hit the nail on the head. As I fell silent, Yao Shun moved Cheon Gong-pyo’s hand and continued speaking.

[I have finally acquired the superior body of someone born with the talent of chaos…. And that means I can wield the strongest influence of any of the Three Sovereigns in the earthly realm.]

“What does that mean?”

[Heh heh…. With this avatar, I fear no law of cause and effect.]

Krak

Yao Shun grinned and suddenly clenched her hand, summoning the sword that had just been slicing through the Celestial Sage’s clones. I recalled having seen that sword, but couldn’t remember well, so I racked my brain when Yao Shun let the sword dangle.

[The king of the land and the king of the heavens…. Is this still not enough? I said I would give you everything, and yet you still resist for no reason….]

“How many times must I repeat the same words? I just don’t want to fall into your trap.”

[Fine…. First, let’s make you compliant.]

Whizz

At that moment, Yao Shun swung the sword in her hand—not too fast. But I felt my neck severed in an instant, with no chance to evade or block. She seemed to manipulate the laws of cause and effect in a way that I couldn’t counter with martial arts.

Drift

The severed end of my neck floated before my eyes!

“……!!”

Is she trying to kill me?!

No!

Though my head was floating in the void, I felt no pain, and my consciousness remained clear!

‘She’s trying to separate my neck and body and seal them!’

For an ordinary human, this would be an extremely alarming situation, but I had already learned the kind of outrageous offensive moves that the Old Rulers would attempt from Zhuge Sa. I had heard about separating the head and limbs and shooting them into the cosmos, watching them decay until the end of the universe, so I recognized that this was a similar type of attack. Therefore, it’s Zhuge Sa’s 15th suicide technique!

Summoning the All-Body Ant Bomb!!!

The moment I muttered the demonic spell, swarms of tiny ants erupted from my head and all over my body. This was a borrowing of the minions from the powerful being that lived far away in the otherworldly realm; all these ants were bloated and ready to pop.

[Ha ha ha…. Burst!]

I could hear the chuckle of the Old Ruler from the other realm.

Flash

KABOOM

In the next moment, I was engulfed in an enormous explosion, rendering me unconscious.

Whoosh!!

However, soon I felt time rewind and found myself facing Yao Shun again, who spoke as if in disbelief.

[Are you crazy…?]

“Crazy? I’m utterly rational.”

No matter how much one might try to seal me using spatial distortion, the explosion of these ants carried a unique magical power that negated all spatial abilities. Even divine sorcery couldn’t escape the inevitable annihilation caused by even a single ant’s explosive force, which could wipe out a vast area. No one, no matter how insane, would want to die.

Yet Zhuge Sa had cleverly turned my status as a reborn person into an excellent way to counter their sealing. After all, thanks to those ants, I could commit suicide, and in a situation where my opponent knew I was central to the Great Cycle, they would never let me die. The one who just saved me was, indeed, Yao Shun herself. Balancing time recovery and sealing is impossible, even for gods. This prompted Yao Shun to express her displeasure.

[I forbid you from using that spell.]

Fizzle

It seemed Yao Shun was irritated at my suicidal contingency born from the application of magic spells and had prohibited me from using them.

“Ugh!”

But having anticipated this situation, I spat out bloody saliva and activated the Great Destruction technique. Yao Shun laughed at me for it.

[Do you intend to challenge me with divine power?]

“Of course not! I’m just trying to bulk up!”

[…?!]

I raised the Great Destruction technique to the maximum just before unleashing my lifeforce and yelled while pulling out Xuyou from my chest.

“Uooooh!! Accept my lifeforce and qi as offerings! Beings of the North!”

[…?!]

“I can die anytime, so free Xuyou!!! You may descend!”

Boom –

In that moment, Xuyou was freed, and the Northern Messenger descended upon me with an icy aura. This being was bound by the contract with Xuyou, an Old Ruler, and appeared as if it thought now was the chance to cause chaos as in ancient times in the Celestial Realm. It looked quite pleased with itself.

[Hehehe…. I can have fun in the Celestial Realm….]

And suddenly the Northern Messenger froze, taking in the heavenly battle occurring above.

High above, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman and Queen Mother of the West were engaged in combat.

And right there above the Heaven Palace, beyond a great rift in space, Jeon Wook and the Evil God were locked in a clash.

Furthermore, right in front of me was Yao Shun, who had devoured Cheon Gong-pyo and acquired an unparalleled avatar.

[……]

As the Northern Messenger stood there dumbfounded, Yao Shun voiced her displeasure.

[Why are you here? Normally, I wouldn’t mind your antics, but this is not the time for you to intervene.]

[No… wait. What’s happening here?]

[You wouldn’t know. Our truce hasn’t been broken yet, so retreat.]

They seemed to have a past of familiarity.

[Yao Shun!! Don’t act like you’re my superior!]

[Do you want to fight? To dare challenge me here in the Celestial Realm? You are truly brave.]

Sss

Yao Shun’s eyes glowed with a yellow light and her sword emanated a tremendous radiance. Given its might, even the Northern Messenger, holding liberated Xuyou, felt considerable pressure. However, the Northern Messenger refused to back down, seemingly wounded in pride, preparing to fight until the end.

[Don’t get cocky, Three Sovereigns!! After your era, you are nothing!]

Fwoosh

Water-Elemental Heavenly Ice!!

At that time, the Northern Messenger unleashed a wave of immense absolute zero cold and a storm surged across heaven and earth. I unleashed my latent potential and powers using the liberated Xuyou to make this possible. Seeing this, Yao Shun immediately swung her sword.

Whoosh!!

The Northern Messenger’s right arm detached from my power-infused body. Yet, because the Northern Messenger was also a divine entity, it immediately healed the damage with its powers and retaliated, stabbing towards Yao Shun, aiming for Cheon Gong-pyo’s neck.

Swish

In that moment, something astonishing occurred. Yao Shun once more swung her sword, deflecting the Northern Messenger’s attack only to envelop my whole body with a pale, viscous liquid as she had done before.

Before I knew it, the Northern Messenger, drenched in this milky fluid, felt momentarily stumped before shouting.

[How dare you contest with me, I won’t let it go your way!]

Contest for dominance?

As confusion washed over me, a voice reached my mind, observing the surrounding situation after being temporarily overtaken.

[Chi You perished while trying to forcibly consume you under these conditions, Reborn Person.]

Wooooo

Before my eyes was a strange mass of chaos, furthermore an amorphous entity intertwined with hues of yellow and white. This was likely the true form held by Yao Shun of the Three Sovereigns! She looked at me from my consciousness and spoke.

[But… I’m different. This is ‘me,’ though only a part of ‘me’.]

“What…”

Suddenly, I glanced into the outside situation. The Northern Messenger continued to fight with its Water-Elemental Heavenly Ice and powers even while drenched. Yao Shun, seizing Cheon Gong-pyo’s body, continued to swing her sword, disrupting time and space.

If Yao Shun had entered my consciousness, why were they still battling?

“… Could it be.”

As I looked at Yao Shun in shock, he twisted his body for a moment to utter.

[I can split myself, making others ‘me’. I can do it infinitely…. It’s just that I need concentration, so at times, I’ll eliminate useless ‘me’ to tidy up.]

“……”

[Sooner or later, I will eliminate the ‘Jade Emperor’ and focus on ‘Baek Woong.’ After all, I have no interest in Celestial Realm operations, only bringing him forth when I feel bored.]

Infinite division and mental domination and parasitism!!

I was utterly flabbergasted, having never seen an Old Ruler like this before. Until now, Rulers were usually just large and powerful beings, but here was one whose primary ability was to devour other beings psychologically? Yet, I suppose this kind of being could be seen as a cosmic terror. Regardless, this being’s mental domination is impossible to resist even for Cheon Gong-pyo endowed with the talent of chaos.

Yao Shun chuckled.

[The battle outside your mental landscape is merely a sideshow…. Now that I’ve entered your mind, I’ll slowly consume you.]

“Don’t be ridiculous. Did you think I raised the Great Destruction for nothing? Once this divine might ends, I’ll be dead, and you won’t be able to save me with your powers either. No matter what, you can’t defeat the Northern Messenger without consequences!”

[That might be so…. Heh heh…. But I won’t rush like Chi You….]

With his next words, a sense of panic washed over me.

[‘I’ will delve deep into your past life…. And I will continue to observe without showing any hostility…. Your tome will surely react to that intense malice. Besides, you haven’t even opened that book, have you?]

“Observe me?”

[As your past life accumulates, I will grow stronger, overcoming the limitations of the Great Cycle….]

“……!!”

[Hundreds of times, thousands of times… Feel free to do as you please…. Hahaha. As long as you don’t deliberately avoid appearing before me when you open the book, I won’t mind.]

W-what!!

‘This bastard is trying to sneak in like Chi You, but with a more sinister method!!’

If Yao Shun goes through with her plan, it’s over for me!

Even Chi You wasn’t bold enough to try consuming me right off the bat. He was aware that repeating the cycles longer would render him unmanageable. Yao Shun had noted that fact and aimed to subtly infiltrate my consciousness, waiting to strike.

Godly patience is on an entirely different level than human patience.

Yao Shun could lay in wait for years, even thousands of years.

“Ugh… it won’t go as you intend!”

[Ha ha… How do you plan to open that tome in your mental landscape?]

“……”

[I won’t foolishly confront the subject like Chi You did…. I won’t even cross paths with it in the first place!]

My vision darkened.

Why do divine beings keep trying to parasitize me?!

Like bugs!

In the moment of that thought.

Fwoosh

[Kraah…! Wait… how did you enter my mind?… Is this…?!]

Suddenly, the Heavenly Secret appear, releasing waves of dark winds that pulled Yao Shun in. Yao Shun didn’t resist at all, getting sucked in helplessly.

[Primordial Void Ruler… you tricked me….]

Yao Shun screamed as she vanished from my mental sphere. The Heavenly Secret also wriggled for a moment before disappearing.

“……”

I watched outside the situation.

Thud

Then, a moment later, Yao Shun, who had been in fierce battle with Cheon Gong-pyo, suddenly collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. The Northern Messenger, standing in front, had claimed victory yet uttered only a hasty remark before disappearing.

[I didn’t do anything!]

Who is that aimed at?

“Cough…”

As my consciousness shifted back from the mental landscape to reality, I coughed blood. I had three gaping holes in my chest and my entire body was in tatters. The Northern Messenger had vanished without restoring me.

I thought I could die without doing anything under these circumstances. In a dire state, I gazed down weakly at the ground.

‘Why is it that when I try to die, I live and when I want to live, it seems I die instead…’

Is this the end of this life as well?

I slowly closed my eyes when suddenly a familiar voice whispered in my ear.

“There you are. We must go together.”

With that, my consciousness faded away.