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“I thought the Elder’s words were some weird riddle.”

What could Chi You be that warrants such statements?

But then again, it seemed that even the Elder himself didn’t quite grasp the full meaning, which made me realize that pressing further was pointless. Those so-called prophets act like they know the future, but they’re just as trapped by the cycle of prophecy, unable to truly change the world.

“So, let’s drop the riddles. Does that mean I have no way to find Chi You?”

I probed pragmatically, and the Elder replied.

[Is there a reason you wish to find Chi You?]

“What?”

[With the limits of my prophetic abilities, I cannot ascertain what you just mentioned. However, having lived for eons, I might possess some wise insights… perhaps I can offer you a clue.]

Hmm, honest enough… So, you’re saying you’re not giving me prophecies, but wisdom instead…

As I pondered, I spoke, grasping at straws.

“Alright. I’m currently in a bet with a Great Being. During this bet, I’ve been tasked with the mission of obtaining [Chi You’s body].”

[Chi You’s body…? Are you implying you already suspect there’s a being named Chi You?]

“Yes. I came here knowing that a powerful being named Chi You existed in the past. I asked that being first before I attempted to possess Chi You’s body.”

[…….]

After a moment of silence, the Elder remarked.

[Then, if Chi You has yet to be born in this era… you’ll have no choice but to wait until he appears to steal his body…]

“Hmm… I suppose that’s the case.”

I smacked my lips. Truth be told, this was something I had considered before coming to Earth while chatting with Solomon. If I couldn’t find Chi You here, it would mean he hadn’t appeared yet; worst-case scenario, I might have to stay on Earth until Chi You finally showed up. I couldn’t gauge how many thousands or even tens of thousands of years that might take.

The Elder seemed to ponder something deeply before making an unexpected remark.

[What if… Chi You doesn’t show up at all until the end?]

“… What?”

That was a question I hadn’t even considered!

The Elder scrutinized me and continued.

[You seem to have come from the future, breaking the taboo of the Great Cycle… but if the history of this world has twisted so much that a being called ‘Chi You’ can’t naturally come into existence, what will you do then?…]

“…!”

I couldn’t believe it! Could that even happen?

Something clicked in my mind. Solomon popped into my head.

…When Solomon traveled back into the past of the Great Cycle, the history he belonged to entirely diverged from the human world I’ve lived in. While the being Solomon exists in my cycle, his past and mine are worlds apart.

So no matter how history changes, I really have no counter-argument!

Especially when it comes to a unique being like Chi You, the cause of his existence must definitely be special. If a special being doesn’t come into being, what am I to do?

Realizing this sent chills down my spine. I thought I’d been progressing well all this time and that I could handle this mission moderately, but now it felt like my entire assumption was flipped upside down.

If Chi You never existed from the very beginning, what was I supposed to do?

Stumped for words, the Elder continued.

[However… if a being as great as you also claims another being is great… it’s likely an outside god. Such a being wouldn’t play with you without reason and must have at least some conditional premises…]

“Conditional premises…?”

[Think carefully… whether that Great Being has placed any clues or conditions upon you…]

“……”

I rekindled my memory at the Elder’s words.

What had Al Karda said when this reincarnation began?

It hadn’t been that long, so it wasn’t hard to recall.

[Very well. Reborn Person Baek Woong… I shall respect your choice. For this trial, you shall possess Chi You of the Takrok Era.]

[But know one thing: conditions exist in possession.]

….

Finishing my recollection, I addressed the Elder.

“You mentioned that conditions exist in possession… Could this be a clue?”

Suddenly the Elder’s eyes widened in surprise.

[Ohhh…! That could be a critically significant clue…!]

“In what way?”

[Possession… means substituting one’s soul into another’s body instead of their original soul. Thus, the condition implied is… a ‘body’ must exist…]

“…?”

Stunned, I pointed out to the Elder.

“Isn’t that obvious? How could you possess without a body? Why are you making such a big deal about something so self-evident?”

[…….]

“… Huh?”

Seeing the Elder silently gaze at me, I suddenly had a realization.

“… Wait, are you suggesting that Chi You’s body itself might not exist in this cycle?”

[Precisely… He may yet be unborn… or, as I mentioned, may not be destined to exist at all…]

“……!”

This… is insane!

Are you telling me that’s the condition and clue?!

It hit me out of nowhere; I hadn’t even anticipated this! I was at a loss for words, jaw dropping. I’d had a nagging feeling something was off, and hearing it so clearly only reinforced my unease. If Chi You truly does not exist, I began to understand why Al Karda hinted at such things.

How could I possess Chi You when he doesn’t exist?

The fact that this was a clue left by Al Karda was troubling. If he hadn’t said it, I might have brushed it off, but bringing it up before the mission even began means there’s definitely something to it!

Damn it!

The Elder continued.

[The omen I received concerning Chi You was ‘The One That Exists but Does Not’… How you interpret this will likely influence your choices…]

“……”

[Now… is that enough for you? There’s likely nothing more you can obtain from me…]

The Elder had a point. I had no reason to require a show of force against him, and I had already gleaned enough clues.

[Wait a moment.]

Just then, Solomon spoke up from within me.

[Not yet. How about probing him for more questions?]

What else is there to ask? I feel like I’ve learned all there is to know.

[He’s still hiding something. If you coax him nicely, you might reap some rewards…]

“Hmm.”

Unsure of Solomon’s intentions, I nevertheless started asking as he advised. This certainly wasn’t my first experience like this.

“Why did you collaborate with the Non-Birth Mother concerning the Dharma Technique?”

[Hmm… What’s your intent behind that question…?]

Looking straight at him, I repeated Solomon’s question.

“There are six of you ‘Old Rulers,’ and yet it seems you’ve not received any blessings from them… Are you making an effort to follow the Dharma Technique alongside the ‘Old Rulers’ without any gain involved? What were you hoping to achieve by going along with this?”

[That’s a strange question… The Dharma Technique, symbolic of that being known as the Non-Birth Mother… If it comes to fruition as prophesied, this world shall face destruction… Is there anyone who wishes for the decay of the world they inhabit?]

“……”

Typically, one would think that response was obvious.

But I paused, then replied.

“Yes… Someone likely does wish for it.”

Master of the White Lotus Sect…

Dharma…

If I hadn’t seen their true intentions to destroy the world to free themselves from perpetual torment, I wouldn’t have given such a response.

This wasn’t Solomon’s influence; it came from me.

The Elder responded to my statement.

[Such individuals may exist. However, I am not one of them. I wish for this world to not perish… Before its end comes, leading my kind and seeking survival is my mission… Protecting the Dharma Technique is merely part of that mission…]

“Is that truly all there is?”

[…….]

Keeping my gaze on the Elder, I repeated Solomon’s prompt.

“Cooperating with that seal requires sacrifice… Someone like me could come and trample your kind today. Isn’t this increasing the chances of your clan’s extermination while claiming you act to protect it? You aren’t a powerful clan like the Tao King prophets.”

Huh… that sounds somewhat plausible…

At last, I understood why Solomon was suspicious.

[What are you implying…?]

“Is there something you’re hiding? A smart fellow like you wouldn’t plunge into such risky endeavors without some quid pro quo. Let alone with the Void Record’s descent, it’s hard to believe you genuinely just want to protect this world.”

My incessant interrogation left the Elder taken aback.

[Hmm… I don’t quite understand why you’re so curious about my secrets… but isn’t this issue rather unrelated to your intentions?]

Whether relevant or not was for me to decide.

After some time, the Elder sighed before speaking.

[… Heh… I suppose there’s no helping it. I’ll tell you; just promise there won’t be further threats or intimidation, alright?]

This was likely the best compromise he could muster. He probably didn’t want to resist outright, knowing I could attack the Old Clan.

I nodded.

“Agreed.”

I felt a bit bad about intimidating him into that response, but it couldn’t be helped. The more information I gleaned, the less trouble my human companions would face later. If they attempted to extract secrets from this Elder alone, it’d likely be a herculean task; I thought my taking the blame might lessen their burden.

The Elder spoke.

[As you said… I have my own price for collaborating in the protection of the Dharma Technique.]

“What kind of price?”

What followed the Elder’s statement shocked me even more than before.

[I… or rather, my clan… have received a promise from the Void Record to receive blessings in the post-‘Revelation’ world. That’s why I’m fulfilling my mission of protecting the Dharma Technique.]

“… What…?! “

What in the world…?

I couldn’t quite grasp the meaning at first, cocking my head in confusion, but it felt like something significant was being revealed.

Yet, the one reacting most violently wasn’t even me, but Solomon, existing within my mind.

[What… what did you say?! Are you saying such a favor exists?! If I had known this…!]

Solomon’s reactions were intense, an uncommon fervor. Curious about his outburst, I asked.

“What’s going on? Is it really that shocking?”

[… Baek Woong… Just keep asking. As you unravel the threads, you’ll understand what he means more clearly.]

“I’ll do that.”

A short while later, I followed Solomon’s guidance to inquire further.

“Are you saying the Void Record made a deal to have the Dharma Technique protect the world from destruction before the ‘Revelation’?”

[You are quite perceptive… Though I cannot provide affirmations, given my lowly status, I can only think around it…]

The Elder continued with a heavy tone.

[The destruction caused by the ‘Revelation’ and the destruction occurring through executing the Dharma Technique are two entirely different types of calamity… what our clan desires is the eventual end that arrives with the appropriate time and procedures… and the world birthed after the ‘Revelation’… However, if the world falls to ruin due to the Dharma Technique beforehand, we will miss that blessing…]

“……”

What… what was this…?

The destruction from the ‘Revelation’ versus that from the Dharma Technique was entirely different?

Isn’t the outcome the same either way?

This felt like critical information…!

[We aren’t finished. Keep questioning.]

As I was left bewildered, Solomon prompted me again from within. Nodding internally, I continued.

“If that’s the case… the Aiternum Mundi, the six ‘Old Rulers’ there must also have some bargain to protect the Dharma Technique?”

[Absolutely true…]

With his continuing words, I sensed that I was beginning to understand how this all fit together.

[If they can successfully uphold the Dharma Technique, post-‘Revelation’ they will indeed become even stronger beings… it’s only natural they wish to safeguard it with their lives… and they’re not the only collaborators…]

“What?”

Woah!

In that instant, I sensed an overwhelming force of magical energy drawing near from all directions.

“…!”

This isn’t… the power of some lower-tier god.

This must be the Qi of a being known as a Higher Divine Being.

It was clear that something out of the ordinary was being summoned here.

The Elder then stretched his hand forward and said.

[You should leave… I will suppress the summoning of ‘that’ and buy us some time.]

Whoosh!

A magical force surged from his hand, and it felt like the concentration of that power was slightly delayed. The Elder was evidently hindering that summon.

“Do you know what’s being summoned right now?”

[It’s… a very strong being. It seems this summoned entity is the last resort used when the final battle fails… normally, they’re not summoned since there’s a chance of recovering the Dharma Technique even if their true forms are obliterated… but it seems they thought that the moment you seized the Dharma Technique, they would have no chance of reclaiming it…]

“……”

This means that when the Great Bear Empire reclaimed the Dharma Technique previously, they hadn’t summoned a pursuer because they thought that might give some leverage back into the hands of the gods. Even if they didn’t believe the Great Bear Empire could collect all the Dharma Techniques, they hadn’t bothered to reach out.

[I do not wish to be embroiled in your battle and face extermination… please, show mercy and allow me to leave this place… ]

If he’s saying all that, then it’s probably best I excuse myself for now? I have no idea what kind of power the entity being summoned is wielding, so there’s no need to take unnecessary risks here.

“Alright. But how about you tell me the name of the entity being summoned? It might come in handy later.”

[… I don’t know their name… but… they are the fusion of two great gods… so their power will far exceed typical divine levels… it would be unwise to engage them unless you’re completely composed.]

“……”

[Leave now… after all, the one true summon will only materialize when all six Dharma Techniques gather or when serious measures are needed… I’ll handle this without a fuss.]

Hearing this, I sensed something strange in the Elder’s tone and replied.

“It seems you think I won’t manage to gather all six Dharma Techniques.”

[No one, including you, will ever gather them all.]

“Why are you so sure?”

[One at a time… perhaps you might succeed. However, the moment it seems you can gather them all… those like us will watch you closely… Furthermore, there are Dharma Techniques only obtainable under abnormal circumstances, so even if you seem powerful, you won’t inspire fear in us.]

The Elder’s tone radiated deep-seated conviction. It stemmed from his profound understanding of how formidable a task it was to collect all six Dharma Techniques.

“……”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at their proposition.

“If that’s how it is, I may as well give a complete gathering a shot.”

[If you can pull it off, then go for it…]

“Sure thing.”

Snap!

As I departed from the spot, I pondered.

“From here on out, I’ll need to make it a point to collect all of the Dharma Techniques of the Non-Birth Mother through my rebirths.”

That might just deal a significant blow to the servants of the Void Record, perhaps revealing hidden truths that I am not yet aware of.

 

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