1036——————==

True Martial Home

The Spirit of Death was supposed to show up only after a predetermined ritual dance, so I was kind of thrown off my game. Anyway, given that it’s a spirit and a Divine Being, I figured it wouldn’t be smart to jump into a fight. Spirits, after all, are usually neutral and super powerful.

‘Let’s just try talking first.’

I said to the Spirit of Death.

“I’m Baek Woong. I’m here because all the volcanoes in the world are about to erupt, and I’ve come to use the treasure to seal the dragon veins and prevent that disaster.”

The Spirit of Death’s gray lips twitched.

[…I don’t care about that.]

“What?”

[It’s merely a brief moment of confusion at the surface… A trifling matter that has no significant impact on the essence of the Earth. What I’m asking is, who stopped time?]

Surprisingly, the Spirit of Death didn’t seem to care much about the disaster caused by the Reptilian; instead, it seemed more bothered by Sagong Lin freezing the time-space of the Earth.

‘Hmm… Should I be honest?’

The reason for my hesitation was simply whether the spirit’s reaction would be favorable, along with the question of whether the Law of Cause and Effect applied to the being before me. If it did apply, I wouldn’t need to worry about anything and could just go with my gut, but if it didn’t, massive trouble could be headed my way.

‘Right! So let’s find out what its alignment is.’

I recalled when I awakened the Fire Spirit and spoke to the Spirit of Death.

“O Spirit of Death! I have a question.”

[What is it, all of a sudden….]

“Do you think I’m ugly?”

[…….]

“…….”

The Spirit of Death wore an expression of utter cluelessness on its gray face and replied apathetically.

[I don’t understand human aesthetics…. But you don’t seem all that terrible… Just hard to gauge…. Humans are all pretty much the same, right?]

“I see.”

It’s different from the Spirit of the Seven Luminaries. For some reason, it didn’t seem to care much about my appearance and couldn’t even distinguish it. That said, the Spirit of Death was much more conceptual and less anthropomorphized than the Spirit of the Seven Luminaries. I asked the Spirit of Death.

“Then do you belong to [Order] or [Chaos]?”

[I’ve been the one asking questions from the start….]

“If you answer this one, I’ll answer my burning question right afterward.”

[If the distinction you speak of touches upon the grand balance of the universe…. then I belong to neither.]

“Neither, you say?”

[My true form is that of an ancient god. Being an ancient being, I can embody both order and chaos…. Depending on the situation, I can be whichever. I wish to remain uninvolved in any conflicts and live in seclusion.]

“So you’re not the [Old Ruler]?”

[…That could be the case, or it might not be…. The categories you create are far too shallow to define the great beings of the universe.]

It seems like the [Rainbow Snake] is a more unique existence than I thought.

‘Hmm… It looks like a being with the power of an [Old Ruler] that doesn’t subscribe to absolute evil, just quietly existing.’

I nodded and said to the Spirit of Death.

“The truth is, it was my companion Sagong Lin who did it. Here’s what happened…”

I decided to speak honestly. If the being was a moderate [Old Ruler] with a neutral alignment, telling half-truths might just upset it. I figured that while the Law of Cause and Effect wouldn’t have a positive effect, it probably wouldn’t lead to anything bad either.

As I explained the situation, the Spirit of Death remarked.

[It’s nothing to scold you over for manipulating the flow of the Earth. But you should retract that ability sooner rather than later.]

“Did it do something harmful to the divine?”

[…The power of an arrogant being. My true form despises that being greatly. It’s one that schemes endlessly to stand above other rulers.]

The Spirit of Death muttered, almost angrily, as its gray eyes flickered.

[Beware…. If you do not retract this power, I will cast a death curse upon all of you humans.]

It was a chilling threat, but I felt nothing in response.

So, I replied indifferently.

“Well, either way, if the volcanic eruptions aren’t prevented, humans will all die, right? And when you die, there’s no reincarnation, so what difference does it make? It just means the end of suffering for a bit.”

[…….]

“Just bear with it a little longer. It won’t take long.”

At that, the Spirit of Death’s gray eyes sparkled with a strange light.

[Now that I look closely, you’re quite a fascinating being. That discernment of the essence of death…. But I don’t smell the aura of a Reborn Person.]

“…….”

[Those eyes are quite to my liking.]

“I don’t think that’s exactly a compliment…”

[Would you like to meet my god? If it’s you, I will grant you the special privilege of rebirth.]

Huh?

What an unexpected offer. For a moment, I mentally envisioned what might happen if I met the Rainbow Snake.

‘Yeah! If I meet the Rainbow Snake, I could choose between two things. One is the power to erase my mark and be reborn, and the other is to offer my [Achievements] to wish for something!’

Back in the day, I’d met the Rainbow Snake in another universe, and back then, I’d sacrificed my chance at rebirth to find out the whereabouts of the Divine Thief. That wish had landed perfectly, allowing me to avoid the hassle of searching for the Divine Thief for hundreds of years.

I nodded gravely.

“Please let me meet it.”

Swish!

I was summoned to a vast, vibrant forest brimming with life, where the very essence of nature surrounded me. No sooner had I arrived than a voice resonated in my head.

[Ah, one who possesses the Law of Cause and Effect of Order. How did you come to bond with the Creator God?]

Right! I had traveled to another universe while possessed of that same Law of Cause and Effect. Therefore, I would have expected the same question, and I spoke to the Rainbow Snake.

“I gained the Law of Cause and Effect through offering a sacrifice, O Rainbow Snake.”

So far, my answers matched with my previous encounter.

But the next response was quite different from last time.

[I see the evidence of the oath within your possession.]

Whoosh

In the next instant, to either side of me appeared the Water Spirit and the Fire Spirit in human form. The twin siblings resembled warriors in dragon armor, staring straight ahead, and moments later, a white-haired, white-eyed girl emerged like a snake from a silk ribbon.

The Rainbow Snake, having projected an avatar, wore a joyful expression for some reason and said.

[It’s been a long time. Do you remember me?]

The Water Spirit and Fire Spirit nodded almost in synchrony. Then the Water Spirit spoke.

[O Great One. Do you remember that you participated as the objective witness when the Seven Luminaries were created and the pact among rulers was forged? You are one of the most revered beings on this planet.]

The two were completely respectful, recognizing the other as an absolute existence.

[I witnessed the process of you two being forged into divine artifacts by the Three Sovereigns. I thought you would never return to being spirits again, yet to see you awakened by divine power….]

For some reason, it seemed like the Rainbow Snake and the Seven Luminaries’ spirits knew each other. While listening to their conversation, the Rainbow Snake turned to me.

[Normally, those capable of awakening such beings should be the avatars of renowned rulers or apostles. Yet here you are, a Mortal.]

“…I somehow managed to accumulate divine power.”

The little girl with snowy hair seemed amused.

[I find that intriguing. The fact that you’ve bound yourself with the Creator God makes me curious. Can you show me the artifact of the Creator God that you possess?]

Artifact of the Creator God?

It took me a moment to process what that could be before it suddenly clicked.

‘Ah, it must be this.’

Click

I opened my wooden armor to retrieve the old cord. This was undoubtedly received alongside the Law of Cause and Effect during the offering ceremony to Pangu, so there was nothing else it could be. However, even after peering dozens of times using the Fire Eye Golden Spirit or displays of the National Seal, I had yet to uncover any special abilities.

As soon as I pulled out the old cord, the Rainbow Snake’s face brightened. Then with a gleaming smile spread across the girl’s face, she said.

[To see this again! Truly… splendid. A very auspicious thing!]

Huh?

I felt completely blindsided and turned to the Rainbow Snake.

“Do you know what this cord is? To be honest, I’m not even sure what it is, which is why I couldn’t use it…”

[If you don’t know, would you give it to me? I could put it to good use.]

“…Ah, no. I think I’m going to keep it.”

I broke out in a cold sweat. I totally didn’t expect it to so openly covet something like that. The Rainbow Snake seemed to be a being of higher standing than I thought, and who would’ve imagined such a divine being would want an old piece of cord? More than the greed, just that thought made my heart race with anxiety.

Then the Rainbow Snake said.

[You don’t even know the value of what it is, do you? Like pearls among pigs.]

“Even if I can’t use it, it’s still my possession. I can’t just hand it over without a second thought.”

[Being perceptive to an extent… Do you not know that if I grow angry, you could be doomed to endlessly repeat death right here? Rejected divine proposals often lead to calamity.]

Gulp!

I swallowed hard at the Rainbow Snake’s subtle threat. If the being was an [Old Ruler] level of existence, and this was indeed its domain, it could very well be true. But I still shook my head.

“No way.”

[Hmm…. If you give it to me, I’ll grant you one wish.]

“…Then please tell me the whereabouts of the Heavenly Secret and return it to me at once. If you do that, I’ll give you this cord immediately.”

[Deal….]

The Rainbow Snake seemed to close its eyes for a moment. Watching that, I thought.

‘Now that I think of it, tracking down the Heavenly Secret physically is impossible, and it’s not showing up even with the National Seal, but… maybe with the power of an [Old Ruler].’

Although it had been quite a while since I lost the Heavenly Secret, it was something I needed to keep with me. Not knowing when I could die had made me increasingly anxious, so I figured I could take this chance. Originally, I had planned to sacrifice my [Achievements] to make a request, but as long as I could find the Heavenly Secret, I wouldn’t mind.

Then moments later, the Rainbow Snake spoke.

[The Heavenly Secret you mentioned… After searching through the roots of the universe, I determine that it’s currently possessed by a being named Jin So-cheong.]

I was left dumbfounded.

“What? Jin So-cheong? Why would he…”

He has the Heavenly Secret?!

I was completely taken aback and my mind blanked for a moment.

‘Why on earth does Jin So-cheong have it…?’

It was an unexpected turn of events!

As I was recovering from my shock, the Rainbow Snake continued.

[Whatever it is, that being currently holds it.]

“Are you serious?”

I regained my composure and grasped the cord tighter.

“Then please go find the Heavenly Secret from Jin So-cheong and return it to me right now. If you do, I’ll hand over this cord immediately.”

[Very well….]

The Rainbow Snake raised its hands to the sky and murmured.

[I am a being who comes from the roots of the universe…. The Endless Cycle Snake…. I decree upon the Void Record that the Heavenly Secret returns from Jin So-cheong’s hands to Baek Woong’s.]

Whoosh!

A brilliant light erupted and the Heavenly Secret appeared before my eyes.

‘Finally!’

I beamed, ready to scoop up the Heavenly Secret, which exuded all sorts of ominous energies. Yet, it could very well be the source of my Rebirth ability, so I couldn’t afford to lose it – it was finally coming back to my hands after I ventured into the future!

But just as I grasped the Heavenly Secret…

Whoosh!

Suddenly, another burst of light erupted and the entire surrounding scenery began to distort like paint spilling everywhere. In a situation where nothing was visible, I sensed something swirling through the distorted world.

It was a hand. In a moment I couldn’t comprehend, an unfamiliar human hand suddenly appeared and began to write letters in the air. In a very brief moment, I scrutinized as those letters were inscribed in red across the void.

The Heavenly Secret will manipulate the universe’s Law of Cause and Effect to return to its master.

Only Chi You can slay the Emperor.

Swish

The hand scribbled those two sentences for a while before disintegrating into dust.

Whooooosh

And as everything in the distorted world gradually returned to normal, I noticed the Rainbow Snake speaking to me.

[It seems to be Master Mangnyang’s technique. I must have dozed off thanks to the dream.]

“……”

[Who just invaded this space?]

“Oh, nothing happened. Here’s the cord.”

I hurriedly handed the cord to the Rainbow Snake, thinking I shouldn’t mention what just transpired.

‘Chi You…!!’

For some reason, I felt that the two sentences I just read were clues Jin So-cheong had given me.