전생검신 96권 12화

I calmly observed the changes to my body after absorbing the seed of the Dragon Flower Tree.

‘Hmm. It’s hard to express in words…….’

It was a different sensation from the boost in divine power I had felt before. If the sensation of my divine power was like a mass of chaotic energy clumping together denser, what I felt now was a solid certainty that I could reverse the wheel of the ‘world.’

…Why do I have this thought?

What do I even intend to do by reversing the world?

Could it be related to the true essence of the power of the World Tree?

‘Anyway, it doesn’t seem like a direct boost in power…’

While I was lost in thought, Solomon spoke.

[Alright. Anyway, you’ve gained something valuable. Now, let’s find a way to infiltrate the Palace of Shennong, or a way to be more discreet.]

I tilted my head at Solomon’s words.

‘What? I thought we were going to meet Shennong, but now we’re talking about infiltration?’

[…Hmm… Are you trying to tease me, or are you really that foolish? Did you actually think you could meet Shennong directly in this situation? It’s too dangerous, you know.]

I flinched at Solomon’s tone, which seemed to sigh.

‘Well, I thought if I talked nicely…’

[If it were your original self, it might have worked… However, as I’ve mentioned, you are a divine being from another realm. Any conversation would likely lead to attack without any dialogue at all. Plus, if you did meet Shennong one-on-one, there would certainly be a powerful higher god from the Giant Race acting as a bodyguard to him. What would happen if they happened to kill you?]

‘……’

[Just remember, the Three Sovereigns are already aware that someone has infiltrated Earth through the barrier. Their alertness has increased.]

Oh, right…

Thinking about it, at this time, not only the Elder Gong Gong from Shennong’s side but also the three great warriors, Yu Mang, Hyung Cheon, and Zhu Rong would be present… Even Yu Mang alone is immensely strong; if they all attack at once, it would be almost impossible to counter, right? Would there even be time to talk?

Only then did I realize how foolish my thoughts had been, and while I was dazed, Solomon spoke.

[If we are forced to meet, we need to create an environment where you can at least meet Shennong one-on-one. So, the method I thought of is to infiltrate his divine palace.]

‘The Palace of Shennong… I have a rough idea of where it is, and I’ve been there before. But even when Shennong’s power declined, it was difficult to enter. Is it really possible to infiltrate?’

[If I help you and you unleash your potential, it’s not impossible. However, since the success rate is uncertain, I was thinking about coming here to the ruins of the Fire Spirit and preparing something more.]

‘Hmm… So that’s what it was…’

[But personally, I would recommend being more discreet. Meeting the Three Sovereigns now would yield great rewards, but it’s also extremely dangerous. If you wait just a few weeks, you could make contact with my subordinates. Is it really necessary to rush?]

‘……’

Solomon was right. Anyone could see that meeting the Three Sovereigns now would be akin to inviting disaster.

But I couldn’t easily surrender in my heart.

Because my intuition was telling me. No matter how I went around, I would end up facing the Three Sovereigns, and if I hesitated out of fear, it would only put me at a disadvantage.

What is the best course of action for me now?

Should I really just wait quietly for a few days while I wait for support from the Mighty Demon?

As I continued my thoughts, I suddenly muttered.

‘Let’s try to find the whereabouts of Chi You’s body.’

[Hmm. Is there really a possibility that Chi You exists in this era?]

‘No. That’s precisely why I need to confirm it. If he’s there, it’s a huge benefit for me, right?’

[That’s true, but be aware that wandering too much on Earth increases the chances of catching the attention of the Three Sovereigns or the Old Ruler. No matter how powerful the World Tree’s strength is, if too many traces are left, the divine beings will eventually use their subordinates to track them down.]

‘Got it. I’ll be careful, so let’s use our time efficiently.’

[Sounds good. Where do you plan to go first?]

I clenched my fist at Solomon’s question and said.

‘The Harena Forest in Ethiopia.’

The location of Chi You’s arms!

I knew the locations of other body parts, but I wanted to check the places I was sure about first. After all, Chi You’s legs were at the North Pole, but I couldn’t see that location directly because Zhuge Sa got involved before I could retrieve it. I had personally gone to find the location of his arms, so I was certain of that.

[Hmm… I’m not sure just from what you’ve said. Can you allow me to share your memory?]

‘Memory sharing, huh…’

[If it bothers you, it’s fine to only allow access to the memory you want.]

‘Let’s go with that.]

Whoooosh!

In that moment, it felt like a light shone from the Heavenly Secret. Solomon seemed satisfied as he said.

[I’ve accessed your memory device and now know where to go. I will use a subtle spell for spatial movement.]

Zzzz!

I felt swirling waves of light wrapping around my body as Solomon cast the spell. Moments later, I sensed my consciousness moving through countless objects. Feeling like I made thousands of movements in an instant, I became a bit dizzy, but then suddenly arrived in the Malena Forest of Ethiopia.

‘What kind of spell is this? It’s not immediate spatial movement…’

[It’s a spell that changes the body into light particles and moves among natural objects. Naturally, it’s less convenient and more difficult than instantaneous spatial movement, but because it merges with natural objects, it’s hard to detect even with divine power.]

Not far off.

I whispered as I walked towards the location I remembered.

‘Hmm. There’s all sorts of spells… Is this also a spell in Sephira?’

[Indeed. It’s a spell that can be used once you obtain the ‘Wisdom’ from the third level of Sephira.]

‘……’

Now that I think about it, at that time, I had chosen all ‘Power’ instead of ‘Wisdom’ when ascending Sephira, so I missed out on spells like Solomon’s…

I ended up smacking my lips in regret, wondering why I felt that way, and then spoke to Solomon.

‘Hey, I chose only ‘Power’ when I ascended Sephira. Was that a mistake?’

Actually, when Zhuge Sa saw my Sephira stage, he thought it odd that I only chose ‘Power,’ so I wanted to confirm with Solomon, a fellow Landlord Doctrine magician, whether I’ve been growing incorrectly. Solomon replied to my inquiry.

[I can’t exactly say that it is wrong.]

‘Huh? What do you mean?’

[Demiurge, after all, can gain many powerful abilities that aren’t the Sephira of the World Tree when reincarnating. So, no matter how you level up your Sephira, it likely won’t have a significant connection to the true power of the Demiurge. Your limits for growth are virtually infinite; who would dare criticize your growth?]

‘……’

[Well… in truth, it’s the first time I’ve encountered someone who chooses only ‘Power’ while living for eons… And I can’t say for certain what the outcome of such a choice will be… but if I can offer help based on what I know… ]

I could feel Solomon’s gaze turn toward me.

[Choosing ‘Power’ will indeed let you acquire pieces of something. Once those ‘pieces’ accumulate to a certain level, only then will one who chose ‘Power’ see the benefits.]

‘Oh right. I think I heard something like that…’

[According to the accumulated knowledge from Sophia’s crown, it’s said that when you gather enough ‘pieces,’ the ‘Old Heaven’ will reveal itself.]

‘[Old Heaven]? What’s that?’

[I don’t know. I’m also a magician who chose only ‘Wisdom’ for efficiency, so… You know as well that if you don’t choose ‘Wisdom,’ the trials of the Sephira are too tough, making it impossible to advance to the next level.]

‘Hmmm…’

That’s true. Having experienced being assaulted by four elite angels during the low-tier Sephira trials, I had no choice but to agree with Solomon.

[Anyway, you’re on a path that others haven’t taken. Then perhaps it’s better to carry it through to the end? Half-heartedly doing so may not yield better results.]

‘That’s what I’m thinking.’

Just as Solomon said. Somehow, choosing ‘Power’ lead me down this path, and even though it’s a much less rewarding difficult road compared to earning ‘Wisdom,’ maybe it would be fun to walk this unconventional path to meet whatever is known as the ‘Old Heaven.’

In discussing with Solomon, I had arrived at the Primordial Void that I knew. I felt the vibrations of the subspace clearly and was intrigued.

‘What is this? The Primordial Void isn’t supposed to be visible! Why can I see it?’

Indeed.

Normally, one needs a map to indicate subspace locations and only then can enter hidden spaces, so humans can never discern whether there’s an existence of subspace with the naked eye. However, now I could see the subspace translucent and could even sense the azure ocean on the other side of it. Even at my peak divine power, I had never experienced something like this, so it was astonishing.

Solomon spoke.

[It could be the power of the Waves you possess. Perhaps it’s a force that only the race of the World Tree can control… ]

‘That’s a good thing, right?’

[……]

Solomon seemed to dodge my question for some reason.

[Anyway, looking at the location of subspace in your memory, Chi You’s body might really be inside this area. Go inside.]

‘Alright.’

I entered the subspace in anticipation. I found myself diving into the deep azure ocean again, and beyond the sea, the Twin Temple was sensed through my wave power. This was also a remarkable aspect, as I felt the precise position of the goal without a map. As I only needed to enter one of the two Temples, I didn’t hesitate, choosing the right side.

Whoooosh

Once inside, black, amorphous monsters with countless eyes crawled out from all directions. Seeing those monsters made me feel oddly good.

‘Is it really here?’

If these were the same monsters I had encountered while raiding before, they were mythological creatures left by the Three Sovereigns to guard a certain location. And the presence of a Gatekeeper indicates that there’s a treasure worth guarding at the end! Could it truly be that Chi You’s body is at this end?

Solomon chanted an incantation.

[Tiferet.]

Boom!

The next moment, all the mythological creatures were completely annihilated. I was taken aback as dozens of mythological beings were wiped out without leaving even a fragment in a single spell.

‘This is convenient, but what kind of spell is this?’

[It’s my creation spell. Not particularly special.]

‘……’

It’s clear that I remembered that confronting those mythological creatures directly was a hassle and difficult, which was why Cheon Woo-jin had temporarily transformed them into illusions… This guy’s magic skill is far from anything that could be measured by human standards.

‘Beyond this is the barrier of the Infinite Corridor, and beyond that, the same existence as the intruder will appear, attacking me like a [mirror].’

[Indeed. It’s a tricky trap… ]

Solomon seemed to be contemplating something.

[It’s possible to break both the Infinite Corridor and mirror traps simultaneously, but wouldn’t you want to take a look at the mirror once?]

‘What? Why would I want to go through that hassle…?’

[[The mirror] trap creates an identical existence to the intruder. It may be interesting to see what outcome occurs if it mirrors you now.]

‘Of course, it would just summon a bodiless spirit ghost.’

[Well… that may not be the case.]

‘……?’

[If you truly find it annoying, let’s just break the two traps at once. What will you do?]

I pondered over Solomon’s suggestion and the intent behind wanting to see the [mirror] trap.

What could be the reason for him wanting me to see it?

Is he trying to trip me up?

No, it couldn’t be something that simple…

Thinking I shouldn’t already be suspicious of Solomon, I said.

‘Well, if you insist, I’ll take a look at the [mirror]. I’m curious about what will happen too.’

[Good. Then I’ll just break down the barrier of the Infinite Corridor, so get ready.]

‘Alright.’

Bang!

In the next moment, with Solomon’s spell, the endlessly wandering barrier of the Infinite Corridor was shattered. As soon as the barrier broke, the [mirror] trap activated, summoning an existence that was [just like me] into the hall.

Kugugugu

The ghostly figure of [me] appeared on the opposite side!

‘Hooh.’

I felt a curious exhilaration as I watched the translucent, softly glowing ghost. Is this how I truly appear to others?

‘Alright. Let’s see what kind of fight we can have.’

In theory, this [mirror] trap was designed to summon an entity with the same power as the intruder to fight. Therefore, it was a pretty tricky trap, and I certainly didn’t want to face it, but now that we’ve met, there’s no choice but to fight! Fighting against my own powers seemed like it could be fun.

However, the moment I made up my mind to confront it, something strange happened.

[Ah, ah, ahhhhhh!]

Suddenly, the ghost who had copied me began to glow, screaming in agony!

The creature, writhing and in pain, burst apart and vanished without a trace moments later.

Fwoosh…

‘……?’

What? Why did it just explode by itself?

I was perplexed, but Solomon seemed to have expected this.

[As expected.]

‘What? Why did that thing self-destruct?’

[Right now, you are a spirit while being the race of the World Tree itself. Moreover, the celestial power you possess is of a level that could defy the heavens… Copying all of that is impossible for this [mirror] trap.]

‘Oh… Is that how it works?’

How can something like this happen?

As I was puzzled, Solomon looked triumphant.

[Hehe. This is very hopeful news.]

‘What do you mean?’

[The fact that this trap couldn’t copy you and self-destructed signifies two things. First, it means that the race of the ‘World Tree’ you possess is uncopyable. It indicates that the race itself is unique across the universe and has a transcendent status. Secondly,…]

Solomon’s voice was slightly excited.

[It means that the rank of your being is extraordinary…!]

‘Huh?!’

[According to your memories, that [mirror] could copy even powerful beings such as the Heavenly Demon Sagong Lin or the Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin, or even the Seven Luminaries. Yet it couldn’t copy your power! This means your capabilities surpass everything I knew; truly unmeasurable!]

‘……!’

At that moment, I finally understood what Solomon’s words meant.

The fact that the [mirror] trap couldn’t copy me!

That meant I had attained a level of power that was incomparably beyond what I had when I entered here in my 28th round.

I wondered just how strong I was now.

As I immersed myself in such thoughts, I blankly gazed ahead.

‘…It seems that there’s a sealing altar over there.’

The creator of the sealing altar, to my recollection, was Jeogok from the Three Sovereigns.

If I go and examine it with my own eyes, I’ll be able to know if Chi You’s arm exists.

As I slowly walked toward where I sensed the sealing altar, I felt a strange sensation.

Discomfort.

It was a different feeling from when I had come to this altar before, and it was oppressively weighing down on me.

I realized that the source of this discomfort was the Killing Intent, so I paused for a moment.

‘……’

But soon, I clenched my fist tightly and gradually advanced.

And when the altar came into view, I could see someone standing in front of the sealing altar.

“Truly surprising.”

The voice I heard was human.

The owner of that incredibly clear voice was a remarkably beautiful young man. Holding a fan in one hand, the noble-looking young man was accompanied by Taoists I recognized. As I stared blankly at the young man, he aimed the fan at me and spoke.

“You didn’t come here quietly, to the altar of the Authority of Heaven, did you… Did you come knowing that the [Coordinates of Order] are sealed here?”

‘……’

I could see what was sealed in the altar.

What existed in the altar wasn’t Chi You’s arm.

It was a blood script stained red like blood! The dark letters scrawled across the blood script looked like a chaotic scrawl, and those sinister characters likely meant it was an unfathomable artifact from an antediluvian age.

Solomon muttered inside my mind.

[It seems that this location, where Chi You’s arm is sealed, existed since antiquity, and originally, it was the [Coordinates of Order] that was sealed here. Did you already know this fact, Baek Woong?]

Solomon questioned me, but I was too stunned to respond.

Because I felt it vividly.

The three beings before my eyes – the peerless young man and the two Taoists were focusing all their attention on me, exuding intense killing intent! On the surface, they seemed calm, but they had already prepared for every attack and were ready to erupt into battle at a single signal.

What the hell… how did they get here?

How on earth…

In that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.

‘C-could it be…?’

Maybe ‘that guy’ had been tracking my movements relentlessly since I fell into Antarctica?

And since it would be hard to follow my location through divine power alone, could it be that he had followed me using divine arts?

If I thought like that, then it made sense that this being had appeared here.

No, among the Three Sovereigns, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say only he could track me down.

But at the same time, it’s the worst.

He was the last person I wanted to meet in this state.

I tensed up and said to them.

‘Can we talk… for a moment? The truth is…’

The individual cut off my words firmly.

“No, I refuse. First, I will incapacitate you, so there’s no need for delay.”

‘……!’

“Everyone, coordinate your attacks.”

At his words, the two Taoists gripped their artifacts, the Primordial Void and the Tai Chi tightly.

“Understood!”

“Yes, Master.”

Once I recognized the true nature of the artifacts, I also knew the identities of the Taoists.

It was the Primordial Heaven Master and Taishang Laojun.

After giving a brief signal to the Taoists behind him, the other man chuckled and suddenly threw a heart-stabbing remark at me.

“As much as I am, Fuxi, I believe if I can’t catch an elusive alien being like you here, I won’t be able to catch you at all.”

The divine technique.

The Cosmic Dragon’s Roar!

The roar of the Dragon erupted from the mouth of Fuxi, the Three Sovereigns!