---

I sat there for a moment, lost in thought. The standoff within the hall remained unchanged, but for me, it was merely an extended moment for contemplation. I couldn’t help but wonder how to proceed correctly in this peculiar scenario.

‘This isn’t an everyday predicament.’

I sensed it instinctively. No matter how many times I reincarnate, it’s not common for Lee Kwang to set the Thunder God Lineage’s disciples to target the Leader of the Bancheon Alliance, Mangnyang. This was the result of many intertwined factors.

Therefore, conforming to this situation and merely observing wouldn’t yield any benefits. The chances of becoming poisoned by inaction seemed higher than any observational advantage. What I needed to do now was find a way to assist everyone as much as possible. That was something only I, as a reborn person, could do.

I quietly called out to Gyeok-ho.

“Gyeok-ho, Older Brother.”

“What?”

“By now, Master and Jin So-cheong must be near the demon’s territory.”

“Well… that would seem likely. Even if the great army blocks their path, they won’t be able to stop them…”

Suddenly, I drew my sword and charged at Gyeok-ho. Given that Gyeok-ho was a peak expert and the largest part of the Thunder God Lineage’s encirclement, he had to be subdued. Despite the unexpected attack, Gyeok-ho reacted nimbly, spinning his spear to parry my ‘Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique’.

Clang!

Yun Guang and Lee Ji-pyeong responded a bit late. Just as they were flustered and tried to redirect their spear tips, Gyeok-ho shouted.

“Kill the Leader of the Bancheon Alliance!”

Gyeok-ho realized that with my sudden ambush, there was no way to fulfill his mission through regular means. Thus, following the emergency order to kill Mangnyang, he issued the directives. But in that moment, I seized the opportunity to overwhelm the bloodlines of Yun Guang and Lee Ji-pyeong with my thunder shadow palm, infused with powerful internal energy.

Thud!

Yun Guang and Lee Ji-pyeong lost strength and collapsed. Gyeok-ho’s expression twisted, and as he lowered his spear, I said, “You must have known from the start that this was madness, Gyeok-ho.”

My internal energy reached a level that was almost unnatural for a human. Therefore, even if Lee Kwang executed his greatest arts, restraining me was impossible. I had simply been biding my time while waiting for the right moment with the gold seal released.

As Gyeok-ho was surrounded by masters of the Bancheon Alliance, he glared at me and said, “Kid, do you even realize what you’ve done? This is treachery against the Merchant Sect’s Thunder God Lineage.”

“It’s not treachery. Because, in the end, I’ll help our Master.”

“What nonsense is that?”

I replied to Gyeok-ho, “Older Brother, trust me. Fighting among ourselves here won’t help anyone.”

“Are you asking me to trust a traitor?”

“I’m going to help our Master from now on.”

“…?!”

Gyeok-ho’s expression along with the others’ turned strange. I pulled out the Golden Eagle, approaching Miho, who was staring blankly from the side. I glanced at Mangnyang and said, “Please, don’t harm the Thunder God Lineage people.”

“Of course. Good luck going.”

Mangnyang seemed to have an inkling of my intentions.

Miho feigned ignorance as she observed the scene, but her expression twisted when I approached her while holding the Golden Eagle.

“Let’s go together, Miho.”

“What…?”

I rubbed the side of the Golden Eagle and took Miho’s hand. The Golden Eagle was a demon artifact that activated simply by rubbing its side without needing to light it up.

As a series of images from the Golden Eagle flashed in my mind, I awaited the outcome blandly. Finally, after the last image of Dark Heaven Village, I heard a familiar voice.

[Are you willing to go?]

I want to go somewhere else.

[You can only go to places you’ve already been.]

I will go here.

[Alright…]

In the next moment, the scenery around Miho and me changed dramatically. Although I had heard stories about it, seeing it materialize made me slightly excited. Miho, holding my hand, stood there for a while, staring around with a blank expression.

“This place is…”

A gloomy secret location spilling with dark energy. Iron bars had been cut here and there, with visible traces of prisoners having been extracted. Given that Miho had also viewed this scenery through her spirit puppet, she seemed to realize where we were immediately.

I smiled. The adventure was a success.

“This is Great Thunder Valley.”

Indeed.

I hadn’t thought that I could access just those three places using the Golden Eagle. Mangnyang had mentioned to utilize the Eagle, so I presumed there might be other locations reachable with it. It was a bit of a gamble, but sitting still while everything unraveled was worse, so I acted after contemplating for a moment.

Miho looked at me, astonished.

“That Golden Eagle can teleport you anywhere you’ve been?”

“Yes. It’s my first time actually using it.”

“Crazy… So what do you intend to do here with that tool?”

“You are smart like Mangnyang, so you must have an idea of why I’m here.”

“……”

After glaring at me, Miho composedly shouted with her demon powers,

“Why do you go around inviting danger? Don’t you realize how risky it is to challenge such a demon? It’s thankless work!”

“Because that’s the way to reach the [next] stage.”

“Hah…”

“Now that I’m here, help me, Miho. Please.”

Miho crossed her arms and turned her head, not saying a word for a while. I knew from experience that speaking at this point would be counterproductive, so I quietly waited. After a brief silence, Miho softly said,

“Then make a promise with me, Baek Woong.”

“What kind of promise?”

Upon her next words, I momentarily held my breath.

“If Jin So-cheong or Lee Kwang becomes a hindrance, kill them without hesitation.”

“……!!”

“This is a condition that cannot be broken.”

I had no choice but to nod. I understood what feelings prompted Miho to say that. It was a situation where she was making every effort to keep me, her safeguard, away from danger.

After that, Miho stated, “It seems Jin So-cheong and Lee Kwang haven’t arrived yet.”

“Their auras are approaching from afar.”

According to my qi sense, Jin So-cheong and Lee Kwang were about a hundred paces away. It seemed they were carefully moving through the side roads to avoid detection.

“Let’s explore the demon first, just in case it becomes troublesome. We need to save time too.”

“Sure.”

Following Miho’s suggestion, we decided to delve deeper into the Great Thunder Valley, a place I hadn’t explored thoroughly last time. After all, running into Lee Kwang here would likely result in a verbal fight or a brawl; it was better to adequately witness the monster first.

As we delved deeper, we stumbled upon a massive cave that seemed to have been hollowed out from an entire mountain. The dark abyss stretched wide, more than a hundred paces in diameter. There were ladders and staircases to descend further, though a heavy darkness lurked, swallowing even sounds.

Miho muttered while peering into the abyss, “I can’t just go down recklessly. The demon is down there.”

Being a great demon, Miho was significantly more sensitive to magical energy. It appeared she managed to detect where the demon was coiled up. I glanced at Miho and asked, “Aren’t you scared?”

“Hmph! The Izanagi no Mikoto you met in your previous life is an extraordinary being. It would be akin to an ancient being with power close to the Old Ruler. The creature down there is strong, but it’s not on the level of the Guardian of the Moon.”

“I see.”

“But still, take your life seriously.”

“Understood, thank you.”

I noticed Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong approaching slowly. Perhaps they were a bit tense, as they were moving cautiously. Rather than waiting, I stepped towards them and proclaimed, “Disciple Baek Woong pays respect to Master.”

“……”

Lee Kwang looked at me with disbelief, while Jin So-cheong appeared quite surprised as well. Lee Kwang seemed astonished that I, who had been restrained with a golden seal, had made it this far, and without anger or threats, he asked, “How did you get here before us?”

“Thanks to this item. Using the Golden Eagle allows me to teleport to places I’ve been.”

“…….!!”

“Of course, this is my first time using it correctly, so I couldn’t really recommend it.”

As I provided what could be perceived as an excuse, Lee Kwang shook his head, his expression a mix of bewilderment and unease.

“What on earth are you thinking? You could have just come along with us from the start! There’s a great army and elite guards outside, and we’ve barely made it this far!”

“I apologize. I had my own reasons, but my desire to help you both is genuine.”

“Hmm…”

Lee Kwang appeared to be at a loss. He knew that if I wanted to betray him, staying quiet would have sufficed. There was no need to reveal myself by teleporting in front of him. Lee Kwang glanced at Miho beside me and asked, “And why did you bring her along?”

“Miho is an exceptionally talented sorcerer. With her, capturing it will be much easier.”

After some contemplation, Lee Kwang firmly stated, “If you thought that far ahead, I can’t say anything against it. Your release from the golden seal will be overlooked this time, but from here on out, give it your all.”

“Understood.”

“Can we use the Eagle to return as well?”

I glanced at Miho in response to Lee Kwang’s question. Miho communicated with me through her spirit.

[If it’s their mental strength, it should work fine.]

“Yes, it should work.”

“That’s a relief. I thought we’d have to risk our lives while leaving.”

Lee Kwang’s words indicated that an immense army and elite forces were probably swarming outside. Our group reached a stairway leading to the abyss, observing the fading sounds around us. Lee Kwang frowned as he looked into the darkness of the abyss.

“This is immense evil Qi.”

“We should descend first.”

“It feels off, but with the Eagle, that’s somewhat comforting.”

With Lee Kwang leading the way, we lined up and began our descent into the abyss. As the light dwindled, Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong lit torches. However, even in the darkness, the light began to wane, and an unsettling sensation filled the air; such an overwhelming darkness was rare.

Eventually, Miho summoned her fox fire, illuminating our surroundings. Thanks to the brilliant glow, it was much more manageable. Under normal circumstances, traversing this darkness would have drained ordinary people’s mental strength, leaving them terrified.

After a while, we finally reached the bottom of the abyss. Setting foot on the ground, a disturbing dark flow, like waves made of blood, glided past us like a stream. I couldn’t muster the courage to touch it out of fear of what it might be.

Miho sent her fox fire across the water’s edge, revealing a massive figure lurking in the shimmering flames.

Goooorrrrrrr!

It was a demon-like creature, easily fifty inches long. The slippery, pale gray creature resembled a giant toad, but instead of a head, it had a massive mouth filled with waving pink tentacles.

Its glistening body secreted a foul-smelling fluid and seemed to peer into the darkness. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that it wasn’t peering; it was using its pink tentacles to tear apart the body of a mutated person feasting on a corpse.

Chomp!

Slurp…

“Gah…”

I grimaced. It was the corpse of a mutated individual that had been altered by the blessing of the Evil God in the Great Thunder Valley. Miho relayed her thoughts directly to my mind.

[That demon has settled in the center and is likely the source of the sorcery. They probably sacrificed human or mutated corpses for ritualistic offerings regularly.]

[How do we attack that tentacle toad when it’s surrounded by water?]

[Let’s leave it to Lee Kwang first.]

As expected, Lee Kwang’s face hardened as he stated, “It doesn’t seem like a suitable target for a reconnaissance mission. Let’s eliminate it directly.”

“Understood.”

Swish!

Instantly, Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong unleashed their thunder spirits, sending forth a dazzling burst of thunder light. Utilizing their exceptional light body technique, they flew effortlessly toward the tentacle toad. Only then did the creature notice our presence, turning its head and swinging its massive arm towards us.

Whoosh!

“Yikes…!!”

I felt the pressure of the wind generated by the tentacle toad’s massive strike from a considerable distance away. Its strength was mind-boggling. If attacked up close, it would certainly demonstrate the speed and power equivalent to a peak expert’s ultimate technique.

However, Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong dodged effortlessly with their thunder shadows, followed by a resounding lion’s roar.

[Secret Technique: Thunder Cloud Palm!!]

[Secret Technique: Thunder Cloud Palm!!]

Bang! Bang!

With a flash and an explosive sound, multiple blasts erupted throughout the abyss. The sharp, powerful thrusts of energy struck the tentacle toad. The creature screamed in agony, suddenly spewing its foul fluid.

[Peeek!!!!!]

The liquid surged like a heavy rainstorm. I realized that if it rampaged this way forward, it could easily annihilate hundreds of soldiers in an instant, sending chills down my spine. Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong immediately pulled back to avoid the deluge.

As Lee Kwang landed, he muttered, “What a ridiculously tough creature. And dangerous too.”

“Is it critically injured?”

“I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve encountered such a monster.”

Indeed, as Lee Kwang said, the darkness of the abyss around us had become considerably clearer. Flames ignited from the blood-red waves surrounding the creature due to the thunder, forming a fiery blaze on the water. This was likely because the liquid was rich in oil.

The tentacle toad, now showing its true form, seemed to have lost a foreleg, and its back appeared shattered. Though it recognized our presence, it stared at us with a piercing glare before suddenly letting out a monstrous roar.

[??????? -]

In that moment,

“Gah…”

“Ugh.”

Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong, who had been preparing for another attack against the enemy leisurely, stumbled and collapsed on the spot. As I approached them in shock, it looked like they were caught in a severe mental illusion. They were merely withstanding it through sheer willpower, their rationality seemingly fading fast.

“……!!”

Miho remarked, “As expected, it’s using mental sorcery. If it were an ordinary human, they’d be doomed by now, but they’re managing to hold on.”

“Mental sorcery?”

“I intended to provide you with protection, but you don’t seem affected at all. What’s going on?”

Miho looked at me curiously. I only sensed that the creature had unleashed a lion’s roar, and there was no trace of any mental illusion attacking me; it felt bizarre considering how often I fell victim to Miho’s enchantment techniques.

I glanced towards the opposite side of the fiery river. “Why isn’t it charging?”

The tentacle toad could easily leap and attack, yet it merely sat staring at us. Miho responded, “It’s probably strengthening its resolve to kill Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong even more powerfully. If this continues, they’re done for.”

“What?!”

I felt a surge of alarm. I ignited the flames of energy from my sword, but as I geared up to attack, hesitation flooded me. Even my precious spear, if thrown, could easily be dodged, and if I moved closer, I would have to cross the flaming river. However, I didn’t know how to execute the secret technique while traversing that water.

Miho added, “Since Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong have almost done the heavy lifting, you only need to deliver the final blow.”

“How?”

“Concentrate your energy to the max.”

Grrrrr…

Following Miho’s advice, I focused my internal power into my sword. My energy surged, becoming far stronger and quicker than before. As the blade of lightning grew in size, Miho placed her hand on my shoulder and said, “We’ll teleport now. Make it a single blow.”

“Understood.”

Swoosh!

Then, Miho and I crossed the fiery river, teleporting directly next to the tentacle toad. It was a short distance, and Miho could take others with her during a teleport. Before the tentacle toad could even react, I poured all my strength into a downward strike with my sword.

Bang! Bang!

[Grrrr… Graaarrrr!!]

With a thunderous explosion, the tentacle toad let out a gigantic scream. My blow cleaved its body into three sections, causing its tentacles to burst apart. It was undoubtedly a lethal blow as the tentacle toad collapsed to the side. The force I released matched and even surpassed that of the secret technique Thunder Cloud Palm, resulting in an expected outcome.

As Miho summoned her nine tails, she ignited a powerful flame to incinerate the splattering fluids, removing any concern for injury. Miho stared at the fallen tentacle toad, an astonished expression on her face.

“What kind of creature is this? It’s still alive…”

Indeed, even after being pulverized, the head of the tentacle toad continued to squirm.

I felt a strange sensation as though its severed head was trying to address me, […Why… human’s… side…]

I could somewhat make out its intention.

Then the tentacle toad trembled and finally lay still. I sighed right after, and Miho shared a look of accomplishment with me. But then she glared at me sharply and said, “You fool! Do you understand now? If Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong hadn’t been here, you couldn’t have inflicted any damage on this creature without risking your life multiple times. Trying to take down such a top-tier monster is asking for a death wish.”

“I’m sorry… but we still won.”

“Hmph!!”

As the tentacle toad perished, Jin So-cheong and Lee Kwang slowly began to recover from the mental curse, moving carefully from across the river. As I looked at them worryingly, Miho reassured me, “Don’t fret. It was a potent curse, so it’ll take them about half a meal to fully come around.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

I noticed a path stretching out behind where the tentacle toad had been perched, and together with Miho, we used the teleport technique to follow it.

Eventually, we found ourselves inside a secret cave, leading deeper into its shadows. There, lying within, was a peculiar book, bound in human skin, emanating a bizarre yet powerful evil aura. The book’s title read Nine Stars Main Capital.

“Nine Stars Main Capital?”

“It appears to be an exceptionally ancient text.”

“Could it be that the tentacle toad was guarding this book?”

“That could be the case. Do you think you can read it?”

I opened the book, but it was written in a strange language that I couldn’t decipher at all. I shook my head.

“No.”

It was odd.

While I was able to interpret the weird language from the Seven Luminaries’ ruins, I couldn’t even read the bizarre terms contained within the Heavenly Secret or Nine Stars Main Capital. I pondered the peculiarities, realizing that among foreign languages, there were indeed diverse dialects.

I also discovered a tiny box and a pair of twin swords next to the Nine Stars Main Capital. Although I wasn’t sure what the little box was, the twin swords gleamed with a radiant green hue, filled with an enchanting energy. As I marveled at the twin swords, Miho suggested, “Let’s take everything out of here.”

“How do we do that without being caught?”

“Hmm…”

Miho seemed troubled by the idea of sharing our treasure with Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong, who would soon follow. It was when I absentmindedly opened the tiny box’s lid.

Swush…!!

“Eh!”

I gasped, startled as my arm slid into the box without any resistance, as if my entire arm had been devoured by a palm-sized piece of wooden armor. I quickly pulled my arm out, surprised at how effortlessly it returned.

While watching this scene, Miho suggested, “Could it be…?”

Then, she leaned in and pressed her face to the wooden armor. Remarkably, her face vanished inside as if swallowed up by the box. Miho pulled her face back out and told me, “This is a spatial artifact embedded with time-space sorcery.”

“Don’t tell me…?”

“Yes. The space inside is at least a hundred paces wide; you can store as much as you’d like in it.”

When I thrust my head into the wooden armor, I found her words true. Inside was a bare white space shaped like a square box. I stored the twin swords and the Nine Stars Main Capital inside, feeling an immense convenience.

‘This is great.’

In my past lives, I had ample opportunities to collect treasures, yet I often struggled to figure out how to carry them. The hassle of hiding them deep and retrieving them was a constant ordeal. However, with the wooden armor, I could stash everything away safely.

 

---