전생검신 Volume 93, Chapter 10

I couldn’t help but feel flustered at the appearance of the Three Sovereigns.

‘Why?!’

Setting everything else aside, why did they suddenly show up here?

Under normal circumstances, even invoking the Heavenly Altar would make it barely possible for beings like them to appear, no matter how much Hermes used the World Tree. Is it really that easy to reveal themselves to the world?

This wasn’t about some outer universe; we were in the 30th round, and if you think about it, this was directly related to this life, which made it all the more astonishing.

‘What the…something seems off…’

I felt that moving rashly might make me miss something important.

I cautiously responded to Jeon Wook.

“What do you mean by impersonation?”

In response to my question, the avatar of Jeon Wook spoke in a cold voice.

[I just heard that someone had the audacity to negotiate with the Divine Status of Tian Zhu using my name.]

“Who said that?!”

[It was Hermes.]

At that, I quickly glanced at Hermes transformed into the Black Serpent. Hermes, with a gaze full of concealed malice, scanned the room and said:

[Great Three Sovereigns! Will you just leave that guy be? All the plans were set, but this thunderous fool Baek Woong went and messed it all up. I think it’s right to punish him now.]

Whoa!

Hearing that, the avatars of the Three Sovereigns seemed to react, momentarily releasing a powerful divine aura. I couldn’t help but flinch, taken aback by their strength.

‘…They’re strong! At least a quarter of their main body’s power…! This is not the same level of ability I usually see through their avatars!’

No way, but it didn’t seem like these beings were just lower-tier avatars sent down to deliver messages. The avatars present here were powerful enough to make a significant impact in battle against divine statuses. In short, each of those avatars had enough strength to annihilate the human world in the blink of an eye.

Realizing that, doubts began to fill my mind again.

‘How is this possible?’

The strength of an avatar is directly proportional to the amount of cause and effect. Even though the Three Sovereigns possessed incredibly powerful abilities on a cosmic scale, they usually didn’t reveal themselves until they had received offerings. This is also due to cause and effect; if they revealed too much power, they would be hit by the backlash of the causal laws. Without sufficient cause and effect, summoning a powerful avatar is difficult.

But having not just one but all of them wielding avatars of this level of strength—this was a stark contrast to what I had previously understood about the situation with the Three Sovereigns. The last time a human emperor used the Portrait Immortal to obtain great power, it sacrificed the entire Central Plains, and only then could such a thing occur.

‘Wait…offerings…?’

And for Hermes to show such humility towards the Three Sovereigns…?

At that moment, something flashed in my mind.

‘Then I need to act now!’

Quickly, I spoke to Jeon Wook.

“Please, listen to me for a moment!”

[Are you going to clarify something?]

“That’s right. If you can exert that level of power in this world, then there’s no chance for me to win no matter how much I struggle… before you kill me, wouldn’t you want to hear what happened?”

[…Speak.]

As Jeon Wook crossed his arms, Jeogok next to him looked visibly displeased.

[Jeon Wook! This is a waste of time. Can’t we just eliminate him?]

[Jeogok. According to this guy, we’ve already won this game. And he looks quite powerful; I don’t want to expend unnecessary energy when handling him.]

At that, Jeogok looked me over and said.

[….You seem to be about as strong as the second-in-command of every temple. But what does that even mean? As you know, with our current power, we can easily wipe out anyone who comes our way… ]

[Are you really going to use that trick on this guy? Wasn’t that a secret strategy for dealing with the highest deities? That would be a total waste, wouldn’t it?]

[….]

[Let’s at least hear him out. Speak, Baek Woong.]

Phew… I was relieved!

Letting out a sigh of relief, I began.

“I am…”

At that moment, I felt a chilling killing intent. It was the kind radiating from the avatars of the Three Sovereigns present. Just feeling it made my entire body turn pale.

‘Gah!’

I could tell this was different from the times I had faced the Three Sovereigns alone. Back then, they felt like they were just watching a mortal’s performance, but now they were gazing at me with suspicion as if I were a “foe”! The difference was so vast that I realized if I misspoke, my limbs could end up being crushed. It felt like I had leapt into enemy territory alone.

That meant I needed to present something intriguing right from the start, something that would prevent them from acting rashly against me. Even if I had to fabricate it, I needed to steer the conversation my way…!

Just then, a brilliant idea sparked in my mind, and I spoke without hesitation.

“I am… in fact, the Apostle of the Four Divine Beasts, the Phoenix!”

[… ?]

[…?!]

[What did you just say…?]

The avatars of the Three Sovereigns seemed caught off guard by my unexpected declaration. Even Hermes, who heard it alongside them, looked dazed—clearly, my statement had massive implications. However, Jeon Wook soon furrowed his brow and emitted dark energy from his eyes as he replied.

[You’re talking nonsense… What kind of existence would the Phoenix have an apostle like you?]

“If I show you proof, would you believe me?”

[If you can show it… ]

“Here… look at this…!”

Chiruririring!

I focused my will and imagined pulling a rainbow-colored feather from my forehead. Then, just like what I had seen in the Void Record, a translucent rainbow-colored feather began to emerge from my forehead, and once it completely freed itself, I grabbed it with one hand and held it out in front of me.

“This is a feather of the Phoenix! It has the power to nullify invincibility! This is proof that I am the Phoenix’s apostle!”

Even though there was a restriction against revealing, that was limited to the [Mission of the Phoenix], right?

Showing this feather itself shouldn’t count as breaking the silence!

And indeed, it seemed nothing like divine punishment fell upon me from the Phoenix or the Void Record.

Then, the Three Sovereigns began to stir.

[… That feather is undoubtedly the power of the Phoenix!]

[This can’t be… it’s a being we haven’t heard of since the era of Chi You?]

[More than that, has the Phoenix ever had an apostle?]

They seemed to recognize the authenticity of my feather almost immediately, suggesting they had directly faced the Phoenix in the distant past. The unique aura of divine power cannot be manipulated or faked.

Jeon Wook showed an intrigued face and said to me.

[Hmm… So you claim to be the Phoenix’s apostle. But why did the Phoenix’s apostle go around impersonating me?]

“Um… that’s…”

I stumbled a bit, fumbling for words before finally speaking.

“The Phoenix instructed me to find out why the Emperor was sealed! I apologize for my rudeness in the process of gathering information!”

Jeon Wook looked taken aback.

[… Why would it care about that?]

“Because it wanted to kill him itself! If he’s sealed, it would be hard for it to do anything, right?”

[….]

While Jeon Wook and the other Sovereigns looked baffled, I realized that I was still free from the restrictions of secrecy and internally clenched my fist.

‘… The mission to eliminate [the Emperor, Fuxi, and Wheel King]…! As long as I don’t reveal this fact, I can lie about other things!’

Since I had to reveal everything to my companions, I had managed to dodge this matter until now by not mentioning it at all. But it turned out that the Phoenix had cleverly devised a restriction on revelation, and I could use this fact to trick them!

Hermes, seemingly incredulous, said.

[That lying scumbag… The Phoenix is far too complex for something that simple… ]

[That exists.]

[Huh?]

Jeon Wook cut Hermes off and spoke seriously.

[A long time ago… the Emperor and the Phoenix genuinely clashed… They couldn’t determine a victor, but at that time, their killing intent filled both heaven and earth. Anyone who witnessed that would understand just how much the Phoenix wanted to kill the Emperor.]

[Yes… ]

[Hmmm… ]

As Jeon Wook spoke, Jeogok and Shao Hao beside him seemed to agree, releasing approval, while Hermes was at a loss for words. Being a being from the outer universe who arrived here at a later time, he couldn’t dispute the theories of the Three Sovereigns.

[….]

[Fine… kid. Supposing you stand here as the Phoenix’s apostle. What reason do we have not to kill you?]

“Uh… that’s… ”

[Be cautious in your answer. We won’t hesitate in exterminating you just because the Phoenix is an enemy.]

So even if I’m the Phoenix’s apostle, they aren’t hesitating to take me down…!

The intense killing intent exuding from Jeon Wook was palpable, and I swallowed hard. I felt like I had been working hard to toe the line, aiming to avoid mistakes, but now I realized my answer truly could decide the whole situation. I racked my brain fiercely before finally opening my mouth.

“I actually want to give up being the Phoenix’s apostle and become a subordinate of the Great Ones.”

[… ?]

Jeon Wook looked at me, puzzled, and said.

[You want to act like a bat after making it this far? You expect us to believe that a former apostle of the Phoenix would ditch his master and become an enemy’s subordinate?]

“I chose to be the Phoenix’s apostle because it promised to defeat the Three Sovereigns and protect the humans. Our relationship was based on mutually beneficial needs. But looking at the current situation, it seems you will inevitably acquire absolute power, and if so, the humans of Luoyang and then those all around the world will face destruction, won’t they?”

I looked directly at Jeon Wook and continued.

“What matters to me above all is finding a way to protect humanity rather than the squabbles of divine statuses. If you promise to protect humanity, I, Baek Woong, will forsake the Phoenix and swear loyalty to the Great Ones till the day I die!”

As I kneeled and bowed, the Three Sovereigns began murmuring among themselves.

[Hmmm… ]

[What is this… ]

[Have you heard from the Phoenix?]

[I have not heard… ]

They seemed confused, likely taken aback by my unexpected demeanor.

Then, Jeon Wook, who was facing me directly, spoke in a gruff voice.

[Raise your head!]

Following his command, I lifted my gaze. Jeon Wook looked down at me with skepticism, as if testing me.

[We can’t trust your words on the surface. Unless you prove that you can give everything to us, you will be nothing but a pawn dancing on our whims.]

“Then how can I prove it?”

[We need cause and effect. Originally, we had arranged for the Executor of the Evil to act for us, but to prevent him from acting, we need assurance that you can provide a substantial amount of cause and effect.]

“Cause and effect… is what you’re asking for?”

[That’s right. Both the Executor of Evil and Hermes are ultimately prepared for that role. Can you offer us a significant amount of cause and effect?]

I thought hard and said.

“I can do it. I’ll prove it right now.”

[Go ahead, then.]

“… As promised, come as my subordinate, Primordial Void Ruler!”

[Primordial Void Ruler?]

Boom!

In the next moment, the Primordial Void Ruler suddenly appeared in the hall. He seemed greatly bewildered, clearly not expecting to be summoned here.

“Wait… Why am I here…? What is this compulsion?!”

As I watched the bewildered Primordial Void Ruler, I turned to Jeon Wook and said.

“Jeon Wook, as you know, this guy is an incredibly powerful entity.”

[That’s true.]

“If we offer him to the Great Ones, won’t it be enough to ensure humanity’s survival without needing to destroy it?”

[Hmm… That’s not an incorrect statement, but… ]

Boom!

[Do you think you can handle that on your own?]

Cornered, the Primordial Void Ruler suddenly unleashed tremendous power as if he had drawn out all of his divine abilities. While he was undoubtedly far weaker than Hong Gyun Do-in, nobody here could easily subdue him.

The Primordial Void Ruler laughed and declared:

“Hahaha! Whatever trick you Three Sovereigns used to trap me here… to think that mere avatars could easily trap me is a big mistake!”

“Primordial Void Ruler, it was I who took you down a peg.”

“Baek Woong?!”

As I stepped forward, the Primordial Void Ruler flinched. I gazed at him silently before finally speaking.

“You did promise me. You said you would never break your word with me.”

“No way… You summoned me with that trivial contract? Do you really think that’s believable? When did I ever make another promise to you…”

“You did.”

I smiled softly and murmured.

“It was in a future timeline.”

I remembered it clearly.

[Alright… I’ll make you my subordinate.]

Just then, the moment I had sworn to serve the Primordial Void Ruler when I was strategizing against Tsukuyomi had come back to me!

The promise of his servitude sounded trivial at a glance, but by re-establishing a [Sworn Promise to Stick to the Agreement], I had actually ensnared it with my sword. And utilizing that promise, which was akin to cause and effect, I had summoned the Primordial Void Ruler here as my [Subordinate].

“What…?”

As the Primordial Void Ruler looked bewildered, I continued in a nonchalant tone.

“There was more than one promise. There were two.”

“…”

“[Xiang Yu], come forth.”

Boom!

In the next moment, Xiang Yu appeared inexplicably in this space-time.

The divine power used to summon Xiang Yu, bound by our contract, would not belong to me but rather to the Primordial Void Ruler.

“Where am I?”

Xiang Yu looked taken aback at the sudden summoning, but I just smiled at him.

“No need to be surprised. This is the place to resolve your past grievances.”

“Hmm?”

“Primordial Void Ruler, uphold your end of the deal.”

At my words, a smile appeared on Xiang Yu’s face while despair spread across the Primordial Void Ruler’s.

“Submit without resistance until Xiang Yu desires to stop.”