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I was left dazed by the term “Natural Sword.”

‘Natural Sword?’

This was a martial arts realm I had previously heard of during a conversation with Yeodong-bin.

[And beyond that stage, you reach the Celestial Harmony (天地交泰), where your will connects with the universe, attaining the Absolute Realm (絶大地境). In this realm, you transcend the human mind to manipulate heaven and earth, becoming the Natural Sword (自然劍).]

Yeodong-bin’s explanation suggested this realm belonged to the Absolute Realm, but was that not the case?

No, that’s not it.

Knowing the unfolding situation, I let out a deep sigh.

“…Most masters in the Absolute Realm can imbue their intentions into nature and turn them into weapons with Intent Heavenly Pillar. But… have you honed that skill to the Divine Realm?”

I could also impart sword strength into a blade of grass to kill a distant enemy. However, Gong Sun Da-rang’s grass leaf surpassed that level, piercing through all defenses effortlessly and trampling down foes with her will. This was undoubtedly what they called a separate Divine Skill known as the Natural Sword.

Moreover, I speculated that Yeodong-bin had also refined his martial arts under the influence of Gong Sun Da-rang, who wielded the Natural Sword in her past life.

Gong Sun Da-rang did not respond immediately. Then she said,

“Your fighting spirit still burns brightly in your eyes. Truly, you are one whom Yeodong-bin recognized.”

“……”

“At the same time, I can see the light of grievance in your pupils.”

I knelt down, staring blankly towards a distant mountain. It felt as if she could read my thoughts like an otherworldly being. After a moment, I poured out my heart.

“That’s right. If this weren’t the Palace of Martial Gods… I believe I would never fall to you.”

If it weren’t for the astronomical reduction of divine power in the Palace of Martial Gods, I had confidence that I could defeat anyone, even a Gong Sun Da-rang wielding the Divine Skill. After all, I had faced foes of that caliber before. If I fought honestly, I would never lose, and if I resorted to any means necessary, I felt I might even win.

Thus, I couldn’t help but feel aggrieved. The circumstances and fate of warriors may be determined by location and timing, but how could I accept being forcefully dragged into a situation overwhelmingly favorable to my opponent, especially when I wasn’t even prepared for a challenge? Nonetheless, being the loser, I had no words to express despite having just received a critical blow from Gong Sun Da-rang.

Then Gong Sun Da-rang spoke quietly.

“It is true that winning against me in this Palace of Martial Gods is not fair. The fact that the Law of Cause and Effect is limitless is because it’s a mechanism deliberately created by the gods to hunt down divinities.”

Surprised by her unexpected words, I looked up at Gong Sun Da-rang.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Do you think this Palace of Martial Gods is the main base of the Hundred Seats (百座)?”

“……Not at all?”

At my retort, Gong Sun Da-rang slowly shook her head.

“We do not reside in this Palace of Martial Gods. The seat of the Hundred Seats transcends time and space; we are simply summoned here for a moment.”

“……!!”

“The Palace of Martial Gods was originally a hunting ground. We are the hunters.”

As she spoke, Gong Sun Da-rang gazed into the distance, seemingly looking at Brahma, who was dozens of miles away.

“Beings like him are the prey.”

What?!

I couldn’t help but be shocked, but something flashed through my mind like lightning.

‘…The [Black Goat] has thrown me before the Throne against my will. The only way to escape the Throne and survive was to enter this Throne itself. That means the [Black Goat] guided me here from the start…’

While the evidence seemed flimsy, based on the circumstances and my instincts, it appeared undeniable. But if that Outer God had guided me here, why? What was their motive for sending me to a “hunting ground” like this Palace of Martial Gods?

In that moment, I recalled her words that had flashed through my mind.

[The Martial God wishes to release you, but aims to gauge your autonomous will.]

Clearly… she had mentioned the Martial God.

And with my arrival in the Palace of Martial Gods…

‘The end of the Heavenly Secret… the Throne… the battle against the Reborn Person…’

All the scattered clues in my mind began to assemble.

I suddenly felt as if the fog that had obscured my path was lifting, illuminating my future. After being tossed around without a clue, I felt like I finally found my center. Even though my advisors hadn’t given me much advice, I felt a slight tremor of realization wash over me.

‘But it’s still not enough.’

Merely realizing how I got here wouldn’t allow me to defeat Gong Sun Da-rang before me. Gaining wisdom and overcoming the overwhelming disparity in power between us was an entirely different matter. In that moment, I quickly revolved my mind and reached a conclusion.

Then I cautiously spoke.

“Please give me time to gather my insights.”

At my words, Gong Sun Da-rang regarded me with her characteristic indifferent gaze, and I looked straight into her eyes as I spoke.

“I faced the Natural Sword unprepared, but there is something I’ve felt from the battle just now.”

Gong Sun Da-rang replied quietly.

“Is there ever a time a hunter has caught its prey and then simply let it go?”

Her statement was devoid of emotion yet brutally realistic.

Indeed.

The point of her mentioning the hunting grounds indirectly explained why she wouldn’t spare me like she had Yeodong-bin in this battle! Since I wasn’t her disciple or connected by any bond, she had no reason to spare me, especially since eliminating me would be a natural duty for a hunter. It was simply expected that she would kill me, and I wondered why she would let me live.

‘Stay calm.’

In times of crisis, keeping your nerve is crucial.

I decided to act relaxed.

“If you truly aim to kill me, then so be it. If there’s a chance of losing in a rematch, wouldn’t it be practical to eliminate that possibility?”

“……”

She assessed me carefully before finally speaking.

“I understand your underhanded intentions, yet carving your own path is also part of a martial artist’s capability. I will acknowledge your skill, Baek Woong.”

After a brief pause, Gong Sun Da-rang suddenly tossed her wooden staff aside.

“I shall wait at the pond beneath the waterfall, so come to me once you are prepared.”

Hu Woong.

With those final words, Gong Sun Da-rang vanished. She had clearly accepted my proposal.

‘She knows what I’m aiming for…’

If Gong Sun Da-rang had been a bit less merciful, I would have been dead; thankfully, she seemed to possess unwavering confidence in her abilities, refraining from any petty acts. As the gamble to protect my life succeeded, a sigh of relief escaped me, but the moment my muscle tension eased, a sharp pain surged in my heart.

“Guh!”

Oh right, my heart still felt like it was about to explode!!

‘What the heck!’

I managed to avoid death at Gong Sun Da-rang’s hands, but what should I do now? I briefly created a fake heart with Intent Heavenly Pillar to slip away, but I couldn’t keep manipulating this futile trick indefinitely! Since even Intent Heavenly Pillar had limits, if I kept this up, I’d revert back to that heart-exploded state and meet my end.

“Gaaahhh….”

As I clutched my chest in pain, moaning softly…

“Did you truly gain insights to counter that fearsome Natural Sword?”

Brahma had approached me, having observed the battle from afar. Noticing the slight suspicion in his gaze, I panted and murmured,

“Of course not. I’m no genius; how could I accomplish such a feat in one go?”

“What? Then why…?”

“Though I haven’t acquired it yet, as long as I have breath, there’s always a possibility for the future.”

“……”

Brahma burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha! Reborn Person… Reborn Person! I comprehend now why the fate of the entire universe hinges upon you!”

“This is no time for laughter… My heart is about to explode… “

“Just [Create] a new one.”

“……!!”

“You must have felt it earlier. While powers of attack and combat have become nearly useless, the act of creating objects faces few restrictions. Since you can wield the power of creation, just create and insert a new heart.”

Brahma formed a triangle with his hands as he concluded.

“With Trimurti.”

I closed my eyes, following Brahma’s suggestion to utilize the Trimurti technique.

‘The central jewel shines…’

I dispersed the three divine powers into different regions and triggered the Trimurti at once while envisioning my heart. Gradually, I sensed something generating within my empty chest as the three energies intertwined.

Thump…

As my heart reformed, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew.”

Watching my recovery process, Brahma spoke.

“In this Palace of Martial Gods, you may not perceive this well, but unlike merely created items, those fashioned via Trimurti are far sturdier and possess virtually no backlash from the Law of Cause and Effect.”

“Understood.”

“Now, what will you do? Is there any chance you can defeat Gong Sun Da-rang in the next battle even without insights?”

“……”

Though I had survived the immediate crisis, the real problem arose now.

‘To think realistically… escaping from Gong Sun Da-rang seems the best option.’

Gong Sun Da-rang had not specifically stated when to come, but under the circumstances, the probability of gaining insights to defeat her in that short time was exceedingly slim. Betting everything on such an uncertain situation is more foolish than courageous. Yet it was even more ridiculous to wonder if I could escape at all.

Formation Technique.

Currently, both Brahma and I were trapped within the formation. This formation outwardly appears harmless, yet considering it can even hunt down divine beings, it could be said to embody the martial god’s power itself. In other words, to escape from Gong Sun Da-rang, I first needed to decipher this formation.

I began searching the nearby rocks in this quiet steppe. Sure enough, the stone bore engravings of the Eight Trigrams. I couldn’t help feeling astonished at this revelation.

‘Why does the Palace of Martial Gods utilize Eight Trigrams-based formations? Isn’t Eight Trigrams fundamentally the wisdom and power of Fuxi?’

Of course, while I didn’t experience any powers of Fuxi, one could say that all effects derived from the Eight Trigrams were indeed creations fashioned by him. If Fuxi had never existed in this world, then the effects of the Eight Trigrams wouldn’t either. However, why would a being like a martial god get entangled with Fuxi’s Eight Trigrams so thoroughly?

I fiddled with the Eight Trigrams and turned to Brahma beside me.

“Brahma. Why does the martial god summon the Martial God Council to hunt the gods entering the Palace of Martial Gods?”

“……”

Brahma remained silent for a moment before hesitantly responding.

“Perhaps to avert the chaos of the Law of Cause and Effect? After all, my purpose for coming here is to pass the trial and change the Great Cycle at will…”

I slowly shook my head.

“No. The martial god is not a being overflowing with obligation.”

From what I had observed, that much was clear. It didn’t seem to make sense that martial gods acted according to delegated tasks or with a sense of duty to protect the world as if taking orders from Outer Gods. The martial gods maintained absolute neutrality, and the very existence of this Palace of Martial Gods ran contrary to the behavioral patterns I had witnessed until now from martial gods.

“Assuming that’s the case, then your earlier speculations might indeed reflect my bias stemming merely from my situation. What about you, who supposedly know the martial gods better?”

“Minor Transformations.”

“Huh?”

“According to Yeodong-bin, he seems to be intending to create minor transformations.”

Brahma looked at me like I had just spoken nonsense, but I fell deep into thought.

‘If I think as I do, then the martial god may actually be a far more terrifying entity.’

Logically, it seemed right to view Brahma’s words as an obligation to counter the chaos of the Great Cycle. But what if the martial god was merely acting in accordance with their self-inclinations instead?

I wasn’t just an outsider caught inadvertently entwined in the trials of the Palace of Martial Gods.

In fact, I might actually be at the very center of this predicament, far more than Brahma beside me.

After my thoughts settled, I carefully reached out to touch the Eight Trigrams engraved into the rock.

Zing!

As if the engravings had existed from the start, the Eight Trigrams responded to my will and started moving. It might have been due to my past familiarity with Fuxi’s divine power during the Takrok Era, but while I didn’t know the intricate theoretical structures of the Eight Trigrams, I instinctively managed to manipulate the trigrams with ease.

‘Having grown accustomed to directly handling divine power means there’s no longer a need to study divine arts or techniques separately… knowing about the Eight Trigrams in the past will suffice… it’s like breathing.’

In that moment, I felt the true meaning behind Fuxi designating me as a “divine being.” Surely, a human Grand Sorcerer who had spent hundreds of years studying the Eight Trigrams could not easily handle them as naturally as I could right now.

As I moved the Eight Trigrams around, it felt like I was aligning the locking mechanism of a small keyring, and I instantly recognized the predetermined flow of the Eight Trigrams. Grabbing onto that flow, I thought I needed only to manipulate it slightly.

Woom!!

Before me, a transcendent passageway large enough for a single person to pass through unfolded. Seeing the brilliantly colored passage, Brahma seemed astonished as he remarked,

“You seem incredibly adept at wielding Fuxi’s power. I certainly wouldn’t be able to find the exit that quickly.”

I stated firmly,

“You should leave the Palace of Martial Gods.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

I stared at the passage I had created and continued,

“Here, you are nothing but prey to hunt, rather than a god worthy of divine prowess. Furthermore, I lack the capacity to protect you and engage in battle, so I sincerely hope you escape from this Palace of Martial Gods. This is my obligation to you for having taught me the art of Trimurti.”

“…So you’re saying you want to settle matters with Gong Sun Da-rang alone?”

“That’s correct.”

Brahma chuckled softly.

“Hehe… why are you suddenly acting all considerate? Considering I’m being forced into this trial, it matters not whether I wander outside the Palace. Ultimately, I will just fall victim to the universe’s flow and remain lost in eternity. You’re telling me to escape the Palace despite knowing all of that?”

“You still cannot relinquish your own desires. Even if you say that, I know there’s another path.”

“What do you mean?”

As I spoke, Brahma flinched at my next words.

“If you choose to forgo the trial, you can swim against the waterfall back to your original world, like climbing the Dragon Gate (登龍門). Rather, I should say coming to this inheritance site was the most difficult part of the journey; conversely, returning will be much easier.”

“…!!”

“It’s not that you can’t do it, but rather that you haven’t tried doing it. The truth is, you only hesitate to abandon this trial because you wish to realize your desires.”

Brahma stared at me, wide-eyed, and replied,

“Incredible. I thought you were clueless and clumsy, but it turns out you have this level of wisdom?”

“I merely needed time to grasp the situation thus far. Anyway, am I wrong?”

“No, you’re right. I can indeed choose to abandon this trial and return to my original world.”

Then Brahma wryly smiled.

“Yet do you know how much I sacrificed to arrive at this inheritance site via Brahmastra? Even if I returned to my original world, I’d have nothing left. I’d die miserable.”

I glared at Brahma, who was unwilling to give up, and coldly said,

“That’s just an act. You’re merely suffering from scratched pride after losing in war. No matter how many [Old Rulers] you face, you would never be able to capture or defeat beings of your caliber among the highest deities. I know perfectly well that Shiva and Vishnu survived intact to this day.”

“……”

“You can’t bear the humiliation of fleeing the Earth without achieving a divine position.”

“What difference does that make from dying? The Age of Revelation (계시) is still thousands of years away, but to the gods, it’s merely a moment. Once I abandon this trial, I can never challenge it again for eternity; do you think I can easily let go of it?”

I continued with a hint of ferocity.

“You don’t seem to understand very well. In the end, you’re trying to use me to sneak through the Palace of Martial Gods as if riding on the outcome of the three battles to quietly fulfill your wishes. But I have no intention of being manipulated by you any longer, so I request you to abandon your challenge that doesn’t suit your capabilities.”

“You little….”

Suddenly, an ominous aura suffused from Brahma’s body. His expression bore the stark determination to never give up, but I calmly met his gaze without flinching.

“You still don’t get it? Your wishes are mere toys to the Outer Gods. The moments of your struggle for trivial hope until your last breath, entangled as you are, do you realize that’s not any different from how the gods toy with humans?”

“……!!”

“By now, it should be obvious.”

Brahma genuinely looked shocked. He paused, deep in thought, then finally exhaled.

“…Is that so… I truly have been played by fate… it’s not me, but you who embodies the true subject of this trial…”

“……”

“Haha… Reborn Person, thank you for revealing to me that I am merely a being in the cycle of fate. Does that mean I cannot overcome fate? I must endlessly suffer within this eternal cycle, embracing the shame of being a mere illusion?”

I gazed at Brahma thoughtfully and said,

“I will save you.”

Brahma looked taken aback.

“Me?”

“Yes. I promise to rescue you and your brothers from the cycle of doom, just as you requested the other day. I pledge my name.”

“……!!”

“I will ensure you do not humbly surrender to Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.”

I didn’t know whether I could accomplish this, but if it had come to this, even if he was a creator god, I would give it a shot!

Brahma stared vacantly for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Hahaha! The Reborn Person has sworn on their name! So… does that imply I’ve been the fragment of causality from the very beginning? Good, then I too shall adhere to my fate!”

With that, Brahma began walking into the passage. He turned back briefly, saying,

“Baek Woong, I will endure without fail. I shall await you until the end of the universe.”

“Take care.”

“May fortune favor you.”

Woosh.

Brahma left the Palace of Martial Gods. I silently watched him disappear before turning my steps elsewhere.

……

Right now, I was in a peculiar state. Even when I spoke to Brahma moments ago, I felt a strange ascendance in my wisdom and strength, heightened several times over. It was amusing to think I had awakened from my crushing defeat against Gong Sun Da-rang, as if I were drawing upon latent skills I had never used before.

‘It felt like the shackles binding me had loosened to some extent…’

Though I wasn’t sure why, I felt my insight and wisdom for grasping the current situation had dramatically increased. As Brahma had commented, this was an unexpected change, leaving even me feeling somewhat dizzy. I formed another hypothesis from this reality, and I believed it to be true.

‘She mentioned a pond beneath the waterfall.’

With no time to waste, I decided to go take a look.

A little while later, I managed to find the pond beneath the waterfall.

Gururu…

The magnificent sound of the cascading waterfall was stunning, and in front of the pond stood a figure dressed in white, like a painting. She turned to look at me and spoke.

“Are you ready?”

I gazed at Gong Sun Da-rang and inquired,

“Gong Sun Da-rang, I have one question.”

“Speak.”

“You used the Natural Sword to cut what was once invisible. And as a result, I have undergone a change.”

“……”

“Could it be that you can… cut through cause and effect itself?”

Gong Sun Da-rang answered indifferently.

“Indeed.”

‘Just as I thought.’

It seemed that Gong Sun Da-rang had inadvertently severed the intangible shackles binding me as she cut my way.

It surely wasn’t an intentional act.

She must have simply sliced through anything odd that was in the way.

In other words, the essence of the Heart Sword!

To slice what one desires without essentially injuring the physical body—she certainly deserved the title of Sword God.

I pondered further and asked Gong Sun Da-rang,

“That technique of severing cause and effect, it can only be used within the Palace of Martial Gods, correct?”

“Why do you think that is?”

“If it weren’t, every Martial God Council member would’ve utilized that power in reality.”

“Correct. It is only possible here where the restrictions of cause and effect are lifted.”

“Then if there exists anyone capable of freely employing that sword in reality, who might they be?”

“……”

Gong Sun Da-rang contemplated and replied.

“That person would be someone who can fulfill the wishes of the martial gods. At least no such being among the Hundred Seats exists.”

“Is that so…?”

“Our bond forged through Yeodong-bin reaches its end here. Prepare for the life-and-death battle.”

Swoosh…

A blade of grass appeared in Gong Sun Da-rang’s hand. Knowing that the grass leaf had once exploded my heart, I couldn’t help but flinch upon seeing it. However, I quickly overcame my fear and regained my composure. I prepared a basic technique.

“I’m coming.”

As soon as Gong Sun Da-rang’s words finished, I drew my sword like a flash of light.

Swhack!

In the next moment, the blade of grass wielded by Gong Sun Da-rang was sliced through the air and fell gently.

Gong Sun Da-rang displayed a subtle expression of surprise for the first time.

“Oh….”

“I had been misjudging you.”

I held the Immortal Sword in an Intermediate Stage posture and glared at Gong Sun Da-rang.

“If the goal is not to defeat the gods, but rather the Hundred Seats… then nothing could be better than Dark Night Slash (暗夜斬).”

It had only been that I had initially approached the fight incorrectly.

Dark Night Slash was indeed the key to this duel.

 

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