유소 stared at me with a blank expression before speaking.

“Even so, I’m fully aware of the circumstances surrounding everything. However, that’s only what happened before you arrived. As for what happens from now on, I can’t say for sure.”

“What do you mean? If you already know the past, isn’t it enough to tell me about it?”

“As I said, knowing the future isn’t always beneficial; it can also be poison. The same goes for knowledge of the past. Whether I decide to share that information or not is solely at the discretion of the prophet.”

유소 spoke with a somewhat cold tone.

“I don’t think you can rescue your sister. Therefore, I won’t give you any information related to that.”

“……”

She continued with a hint of self-deprecating tone.

“Anyway, my sister isn’t going to die, so I wouldn’t even dare to gauge her fate.”

I was dumbfounded, looking at 유소 as I said, “So… regardless of whether it’s about saving your blood relative or not… you want me to handle everything from start to finish? Knowing the situation yet choosing not to explain it?”

“That’s pretty much it.”

“You’ve got to be kidding! Are you seriously saying that knowing how violent the Emperor and Queen Mother of the West are doesn’t matter? They’re the kinds that could flip the human world with just a finger, so how can a mere human’s life be guaranteed until the end?”

“Just handle it yourself. I have nothing more to say.”

Crack!

I felt the heat rising within me. For some reason, 유소’s words were gnawing at my insides, making me feel utterly frustrated. I snapped back, “Fine! I’ll do as I please!!”

With that, I was determined to rescue her out of sheer stubbornness!

She continued speaking.

“And next, we’ll need to track down the second client, Dongfang Sak.”

“They said it would be easy to find that guy in the Underworld, but catching him is the hard part. Is it because he uses the world’s number one divine technique and is too fast?”

“He is fast, but there’s another reason why you can’t catch him.”

“What reason is that?”

What followed from 유소 was unexpected.

“Dongfang Sak is a being with the talent of chaos. His ability is called ‘Wumun’ (無門).”

“Wumun? What kind of ability is that?”

“He can ignore and pass through anything he recognizes as a ‘door.'”

“……?”

“You’ll understand what kind of ability it is when you face him directly.”

“Got it. So, he’s not just strong enough that you can’t catch him.”

“That’s accurate.”

So it just seemed like dealing with a peculiar psychic!

As I dismissed Dongfang Sak as no big deal, 유소 mentioned, “He is currently in South America.”

“South America?! How can you use terms like that?”

“I saw the future.”

“No matter how much you claim to see the future… can you really know something like that? How?”

It was strange hearing her use knowledge and terminology from the future, so I questioned her, and she replied.

“Knowing the future is like reading a book in advance. Plus, you in front of me are among those who deliberately share future knowledge, so interpreting what you experienced in the past to gain knowledge isn’t weird. Also, meeting someone to gather information is also part of my foresight.”

“Um… But why did he go all the way there?”

유소 frowned slightly.

“You seem to be running out of time, so I’ll let slip a bit of heavenly secret.”

“Huh?”

“Just a moment.”

Then 유소 closed her eyes, seemingly concentrating.

‘Is she reading the future?’

I watched with curiosity as she opened her eyes after a while and said, “It seems the place is called ‘Maya.’ He went there to acquire something from the South America continent. Just saying that much seems enough for you to figure it out.”

“What!!”

Maya?

I felt like I had heard that word somewhere before. But it was a long time ago, so my memory was hazy.

I decided to clear my mind and recall it later. I told 유소, “Understood. I will go fulfill the task that the Wheel King mentioned, so see you next time.”

“Very well.”

As I left 유소’s residence, I hadn’t taken many steps when a certain gigantic figure blocked my path. When I stared blankly at that figure, he spoke in a booming voice.

“I heard everything outside. So tell me, where will you go first among those two locations?”

With arms crossed, I replied, “Eavesdropping on others, are we? This is quite sneaky, 열산.”

“Answer the question. This is about my blood kin, so I won’t allow it to pass by idly.”

“You mean the girl?”

“Yes.”

열산 continued with a rather grim expression.

“As 유소 said, I carried those two children on my back since they were little. But years ago, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen suddenly seduced the girl, and for some reason, she followed him. While in this place, under the direct blessing of the Yan Emperor Shennong, even the Emperor shouldn’t be able to take her away.”

“……”

“I don’t need your help. I just learned that the girl is at the Queen Mother of the West’s residence, so I’m leaving Takrok Village immediately to retrieve her.”

“If that’s the case, then why ask me about the destination? You could just go alone?”

After hesitating for a moment, 열산 said, “I have heard from 유소 that you are an extremely powerful warrior. No matter how strong I am, facing a formidable deity is truly intimidating, so I’d like to join forces with you. Naturally, there would be the Emperor’s followers protecting the girl, and I want you to deal with them.”

“……”

“Therefore, let’s leave Dongfang Sak be and hurry to rescue the girl from the Queen Mother of the West’s residence. Quickly!”

I could sense 열산’s urgency. It seemed that since 유소 had never revealed the girl’s whereabouts to 열산 until now, him suddenly being told made him anxious. He looked as if he feared for the girl’s safety against powerful beings at any moment.

After a moment of thought, I replied, “I also intend to rescue her. However, I think our first priority should be dealing with Dongfang Sak first.”

“What!! Why would we head after that good-for-nothing that’s wandering around not even knowing where he is?!”

열산 yelled, but I calmly answered, “유소 said the girl won’t be in immediate danger. That implies there’s still plenty of time, and if there’s time, then we should prepare thoroughly on this side. That way, our chances of a successful rescue will be much higher.”

I’ve had enough similar experiences to understand what should take priority. Clearly, rescuing the girl would be a daunting task, and trying to rush in right now would be like hitting an egg against a rock.

“Hmm…”

“I’ll head for Dongfang Sak while also training along the way to become even stronger.”

I reached out my hand to 열산.

“Let’s go together. I can teach you ways to become stronger too.”

“……!!”

열산 seemed to be in deep thought, hesitating for a moment. Then after a short while, he nodded his head.

“Alright! But if things don’t go your way, I’ll hold you accountable!”

“Then do as you wish.”

Does this mean 열산 has potentially become an ally?

Just then, I heard a familiar voice from afar.

“Phew. As expected, Baek Woong, you’re easily manipulating 열산 elder with your tongue.”

As I trudged toward the village border, a muscular young man with blue hair covering his forehead appeared, letting out a sigh. Holding a stick in one hand, I recognized him from a prior encounter, and I called out, “Was it Cheongyang?”

“That’s right.”

“And beside him is Sang Ah…….”

Suddenly, a girl with striking red eyes who had been following Cheongyang shouted.

“Don’t speak casually like we’re friends!”

As Sang Ah threw a tantrum, Cheongyang glanced at me and said, “Actually, we also listened to your conversation with the village chief.”

“…… Is everyone’s hobby in Takrok Village to eavesdrop? Anyone and everyone seems to be listening.”

I sulked incredulously at this, and Cheongyang awkwardly replied, “Everyone living in Takrok Village has physical capabilities far superior to the ‘outsiders.’ Moreover, those with better abilities can hear even the faintest sounds, which unintentionally means we’ve heard everything.”

“Okay, you heard me. So what is it you want to say?”

“Wherever you intend to go isn’t really our business. We care about rescuing the girl, but since 유소 said that’s out of our jurisdiction, we forgot about it. But what you’re discussing with 열산 tips off our interest.”

Cheongyang’s eyes gleamed as he continued, “Is it true you can become stronger?”

“Ah… So that’s what you were after.”

“If you can teach us the special techniques you have, we will also aid you.”

“Hmm…”

What a peculiar lot. They seem less interested in rescuing the girl and just want to grow stronger? I decided I needed to ask.

“You possess a powerful ability to freeze an opponent in time; why do you desire to become stronger?”

“I’m just human, after all.”

“Um.”

“It’s manageable living here in Takrok Village, but if I hit the continent, I’d die in an instant. So, I just want to become stronger.”

I realized then that Cheongyang’s desire was to escape Takrok Village.

I glanced at Sang Ah beside him, and she spoke up. “I feel the same as Cheongyang. I don’t want to keep depending on the protection of the Yan Emperor forever.”

“Is that so…”

I nodded and then said to them, “I plan to stay in this village for a while to train. So I’ll teach you martial arts.”

After all, I had to train my powers while freeing my companions from their seals.

Teaching them martial arts and nurturing strong allies would make fulfilling missions easier.

“Martial arts? What’s that?”

“It’s the ability to cultivate the natural energy of the world, absorbing it to move faster and gain stronger abilities.”

As I briefly explained martial arts, 열산 tilted his head, questioning me.

“I can do that too, you know?”

“What?”

“Whew!!”

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through as 열산 took a deep breath, and a storm of energy whirled and flew straight into his mouth. In that moment, I focused my internal power, trying to observe 열산, and to my astonishment, the natural energy flowed seamlessly into him without a single rejection!

‘What?! Doesn’t he have bloodlines or an internal power center?!’

Good heavens, I never imagined naturally absorbing energy with a single breath!

Even the Great Immortal couldn’t do that!

While I was in shock at his monstrous absorption rate, 열산 stopped inhaling, tightened his entire body, and his muscles bulged with incredible power.

“Ugh!”

Crack!

Moments later, 열산’s entire body turned crimson, and an astounding aura erupted outward, enveloping my internal energy by several magnitudes. I was utterly speechless at the sheer force radiating from him.

열산 exclaimed, “Breathing in deeply is common knowledge to make yourself stronger!!”

“……”

I glared at Cheongyang and Sang Ah out of curiosity. Both blinked in surprise before saying, “We can’t do it as profoundly as 열산, but we can do something similar.”

“Me too.”

“……”

In that moment of clarity, I realized.

‘Taking a broad view, these guys don’t need to meditate or cultivate energy…’

The ancient ones awakened with the talent of chaos likely had fundamentally different body structures than modern humans.

I wanted to learn more about their powers. So, I decided to directly ask 열산, Cheongyang, and Sang Ah.

“…… I’ll impart martial arts based on what I know. But in return, you will need to tell me what powers you possess.”

I glanced at 열산. “It’d be beneficial if you start detailing yours.”

From prior experiences, the strongest being among them was definitely 열산. Understanding his abilities would be crucial for survival in this chaotic Takrok era.

“Hmm?”

열산 seemed puzzled before responding, “Well, I’m just good at using my strength.”

“That’s way too simple to say. The last time I saw you, you were sucking in ghosts from the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace; how do you manage that?”

“I take a deep breath.”

“……”

I looked at 열산, wondering if he was teasing me, but his eyes seemed sincere. He didn’t appear to be someone to fool around with, so when I was confused, Cheongyang sighed beside me.

“Huh – 열산 doesn’t think deeply about his abilities and doesn’t develop them. However, from what I see, your ability is your physique itself.”

“My physique?”

“Yes. At least in the fights I’ve seen, you never seemed to take damage. You just throw your strength at opponents, and that tends to end things. I don’t think he even knows where that mindless strength comes from.”

“Hm…”

So he’s just ridiculously strong, huh?

Still, that level of power was beyond human capabilities, not even the Portrait Immortal or artificially created beings from the opposing empire would come close. He needed to possess a cosmic strength comparative to that of legendary beings like Xiang Yu.

‘Perhaps the ‘monster-like human’ that Yu Mang talked about referred to 열산…’

Lost in thought, Cheongyang continued, “And as you know, I have the ability to manipulate time in a specified space. I can freeze, accelerate, or slow down time.”

“Hmm. What about Sang Ah’s ability?”

“That’s….”

Sang Ah jumped in, likely unable to hold herself back.

“I’m the one who will say my ability. I can control weight.”

“Weight?”

“Just watch this.”

With a swish, Sang Ah extended her hand, and Cheongyang suddenly looked startled, exclaiming.

“Sang Ah! Didn’t the village chief say not to do that!”

“What’s the big deal? I’ll flatten this guy’s nose.”

With a blunt remark, a white light enveloped Sang Ah’s hand. Moments later, a loud crash shook the ground.

Boom!

At the same time, the entire village and the surrounding ground shook as if an earthquake hit. The considerable area felt like it was being lifted, shocking me as I widened my eyes, and as Sang Ah withdrew her hand, she smiled triumphantly.

“This is the extent of my ability: to make objects float or increase their weight!”

Whoa…

‘That’s impressive.’

As the earth around us started lifting three layers high, I couldn’t help but admire in my heart. It was evident that Sang Ah kept this burden with the ease of flicking a finger.

“……”

The Thief Gang member watching the abilities demonstration muttered.

“Gravity manipulation… But I’ve never seen a psychic of this level in my life. Even while not exerting full power, this much is astonishing.”

“True.”

I agreed with his statement.

Gravity manipulation!

In fact, I had encountered it before. Seo Mun-hye, who inherited the blood of the Giant Race, was capable of it, and throughout the history of the Great Bear Empire, numerous psychics wielded gravity manipulation. Even Mu Cheon-ryong, whom I met in the future victory empire, could exert a similar level of psychokinesis by maximizing the power of the Divine Dragon Seal.

However, the gravity manipulation capacity possessed by Sang Ah seemed to be on an entirely different scale. No matter how great the capabilities of an ordinary human psychic, raising an entire village would clearly exhaust all their force, yet Sang Ah performed such incredible feats with what seemed like a mere breath. It felt as if she had surpassed all human psychics and even the Great Immortal age ago.

Cheongyang remarked, “You should set it down slowly. Otherwise, we’ll be in trouble with the village chief.”

“Ugh… fine.”

Sang Ah lingered then carefully lowered the elevated ground. As I watched the scene unfold, I asked, “It seems the village has about fifty residents; do they all possess powers like you?”

“Maybe two or three are equal to us, but the rest aren’t that strong. Although, even the weaker ones are much stronger than the humans from the outside.”

“So you were fighting off divine beings all this time with that power.”

“Yes.”

When Cheongyang answered, he suddenly looked sad.

“But being strong doesn’t make us immortal. When truly powerful divine beings or demons invade, we’ve come close to death several times, and we feel limited in developing this power. Without the divine protection of the Giant Race and the help of Yu Mang, we would have been wiped out long ago.”

“……”

“So, I want to learn those martial arts you possess, Baek Woong. With them, we can develop this village further and protect the remaining humans.”

What a huge dream they have!

Thinking it through, I eventually spoke up. “Well… Honestly speaking, even if an ordinary human fully masters martial arts, I suspect they may still be weaker than you. I’m not sure how needed martial arts would be for you.”

“What?”

My offhand remark caught Cheongyang off guard, and the Thief Gang member was stunned.

“Master!”

“Hold on.”

The Thief Gang was likely surprised about my honesty. I could have easily exploited them without revealing my thoughts. But I lightly waved off the gang member, continuing.

“Thus, I can’t guarantee that teaching you martial arts will be a great help. However, learning new battle techniques may awaken potential you didn’t even know you had, so if you don’t grow stronger quickly, don’t complain about it.”

“Hmm… Does it take a long time to master martial arts?”

“If you have talent, you could become a Peak Expert within ten years, but for most, it becomes a lifetime pursuit…”

“…… I understand.”

Cheongyang seemed reluctantly to acknowledge this.

‘I should lay out such expectations now to prevent future dissatisfaction.’

With this thought in mind, I got to the main subject.

“There’s no point in talking anymore. Gather all villagers who want to learn martial arts, including yourselves, and bring them here by Half a Moment. In return, you’ll also have to help me with my tasks.”

“Alright.”

The response from 열산 followed, and soon after, they brought most villagers.

“Okay, let’s get started.”

I had them exercise basic internal energy cultivation techniques. The results were as I expected.

Boom!

The ancient ones immediately overflowed with power the moment they practiced, appearing genuinely bewildered.

“Isn’t this something we could all focus on? Why do we need to refine our breathing?”

Ordinary martial artists accumulate energy in their bodies and gather it in the internal power center, increasing it over time as they strike through the essential channels. However, for the ancient ones awakened with chaotic talent, their Upper Dantian had already opened since the moment of their awakening, and they lacked the obstructed pathways and blood veins altogether.

‘There may be elements of innate ability, but having garnered such profound physical attributes as tools of strength!’

It was an almost ideal physique compared to ordinary martial artists! But I quickly recognized a critical flaw they possessed.

‘These guys, despite obtaining blessed physiques, almost entirely lost their ability to cultivate intent!’

Internal cultivation isn’t just a simple process of gathering strength. The focus, memory, and patience enhanced for internal energy training compound over decades, creating an effect wherein willpower can penetrate to awaken the path of intent. The suffering occurred during that training was also a form of test, and in a way, the ancient ones had been deprived of the opportunity to undergo that training.

I could easily teach them limited martial arts techniques, granting them phenomenal strength now, yet they could never replicate the absolute peak of technique or the advanced martial applications tied to the deep dynamics of practice. Without bloodline or memory, how could an ordinary human ever come to grasp my advanced techniques?

“Ugh… this is tough.”

I involuntarily sighed, felt in a bind.

‘This is tricky. Without reaching the absolute peak, the difference in battle power will likely remain insignificant… How can I make them feel grateful?’

I’m not just teaching out of kindness; achieving survival in this era means accumulating the village’s support and favor. But if they influence my opinion about martial arts as useless, it wouldn’t bode well for me either.

As I was lost in thought, the Thief Gang member piped up.

“Master. I think it would be suitable to start teaching them Tai Chi first.”

I raised my eyebrows at the unexpected suggestion.

“Tai Chi? Why that?”

“I believe you’ve already thought about it, but they’re so rudimentary that they don’t even know the concept of ‘Softness Able to Conquer Hardness.’ They solely practice the notion of ‘Hardness Alone Conquering Softness,’ and it would benefit them to learn that not everything is about brute strength.”

“…… I see. You’re right.”

Such an overly basic concept slipped my mind, but I agreed with the Thief Gang member’s observant suggestions, deciding to teach the ancient ones Tai Chi and some foundational combat techniques.

Surprisingly, the ancient ones seemed intrigued by Tai Chi and picked it up well. In fact, the profound level of Tai Chi could easily lead to a strong, peak martial skill, so this wasn’t a bad flow. Even 열산, Cheongyang, and Sang Ah appeared fascinated by the new lessons.

After about three days of teaching them the basics, I discussed things over with the Thief Gang member.

“Thief Gang, since they’re already familiar with the basics, it’s your turn to teach them martial arts.”

“Understood. You wish to continue training your powers, correct?”

“Right. Since I’m merely imparting preliminary knowledge, you could likely do better than me.”

The Thief Gang member smiled brightly.

“Leave it to me! Having lived for several centuries as a martial artist, I’m confident in my teaching abilities.”

Even if one searched all of Soeul Village for a suitable teaching ally, there’d be no better fit than him. After all, the Thief Gang leader used to be an accomplished member of the three great masters of the Orthodox Sect! He might even be a better instructor than I.

I used the time I had gained to explore nearby Donghyeol caves. It was full of bats and bat droppings, making me grimace.

“Ugh. If only I could clear this up first…”

Just then, a thought occurred to me.

“… oh Magical Armor of Commerce! Unveil yourself!”

Wooong!

In the next moment, the magical armor imbued with commercial powers materialized in my hand. After summoning the armor, I held it forward and proclaimed, “I’ll sell this bat droppings! How much will you give me?”

After a moment, letters appeared in the magical armor.

[You must prove ownership of the bat droppings. Please go through the harvesting process.]

“Ugh, come on! Didn’t expect that!”

Well, in commerce, I need to sell ‘my items’ to others, so I can’t just sell things lying around like this! Still, it felt meaningful to learn the characteristics of this power one by one.

“Ahh.”

A gust of wind arose, and the Heavenly Contraction Sword manifested, pulling in bat droppings throughout the entire cave with fierce attraction. Once I had created a massive hole through the forced momentum, I proceeded to dump all the bat droppings there.

“Can I sell now?”

[Sale possible. Total: 5502 Ma Du.]

“Ew… is that all?!”

Seeing that I barely earned a single Ma Du from all the bat droppings, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had not come out ahead.

‘It seems that hunting demon beasts offers a far better return. Gathering and selling material yields barely any profit.’

Still, ensuring I gathered money was vital. I nodded to myself.

“I’ll sell it!”

Clank!

In an instant, the sound of coins jingling echoed in my ears, and all the bat droppings in the hole vanished without a trace. I confirmed that my holding of Ma Du has increased by 5502. I couldn’t help but stroke my chin in surprise.

“Oh wow. Does everything I sell simply vanish from this world…?”

Somehow, this trait could prove useful. For now, it would make clearing away treasures that had been piling in my magical armor throughout this time much easier.

Eventually, I entered the newly cleaned cave and called forth Heuk Woong.

“Heuk Woong!”

Puf!

[Master, you called?]

Having transformed into a spirit body, Heuk Woong appeared before me, standing at my height. I beamed at Heuk Woong and said, “I want to cultivate divine energy. Teach me to wield divine strength!”

[Understood. But beforehand, there is one thing…]

“What is it?”

[Due to the recent battle, you’ve likely accumulated substantial Ma Du. In that case, it would be better if you used it to release one of your companions from petrification.]

“Companion? … You’re not talking about Lee Kwang and Lee Hwan-woong, are you?”

[That’s correct.]

“Hmm… wait a moment.”

Wooong.

I summoned the magical armor to check the exact amount of Ma Du I had.

“Oh! About 15 million Ma Du? I didn’t count the last digits because they were negligible, but I did gather quite a bit unexpectedly. However, I realized something as Heuk Woong said, and inwardly calculated.”

“Lee Kwang needs 600 million, and Lee Hwan-woong requires 150 million….”

I quickly grasped the implications, realizing this was a longshot.

“Heuk Woong, we can’t free him with this amount. We would need at least tenfold of what I possess to release Lee Hwan-woong from his petrification.”

[That’s right.]

“What? You suggested I do it even though you knew it was unfeasible?”

I made a bit of a snide remark, but Heuk Woong replied.

[You might not know that with the Ma Du you currently possess, you could try breaking the curse from the martial arts book in the Shaolin Temple’s library. By doing so, you might not reach 1.5 billion, but at least you could scrape together some cash.]

“Oh ho! That’s it! Let’s do it right now!”

I was startled by Heuk Woong’s clever suggestion, eager to open the magical armor at once, but he held me back at that moment.

[Wait a moment.]

“Huh? Is there something wrong?”

[Before hastily reselling everything without knowing its value, it would be wise to consider one thing first…]

“What is it? Is it important?”

[It is indeed. I’d like to ask one thing before you start cultivating divine energy.]

I sensed some gravity in Heuk Woong’s demeanor, so I closed the magical armor and challenged his serious tone with focused intensity.

“Speak.”

After a brief pause, Heuk Woong crossed his arms and inquired, “Master, do you have any intention of becoming a god?”

A god?

I blinked at Heuk Woong for a moment before feeling incredulous.

“Hey, Heuk Woong! Of all the ones to ask, you made that question? Do you have any idea how many times I’ve been asked that throughout my life?”

Heuk Woong calmly replied, [That question is separate. This time, I genuinely want to know your answer.]

“Hmm.”

After a moment of thought, I replied. “Of course, I have no intention of becoming a god.”

[Why not?]

“First of all, even if I became a god, there are still outer gods out there, so it doesn’t feel significant. Besides, there’s something about becoming a being that isn’t human that seems off to me. It feels like a corrupt way to go about things.”

Upon hearing my answer, Heuk Woong broke into laughter.

[Hehe… I see that your answer, which has always been negative, has been consistently different in reasoning each time.]

“Really?”

[In truth, you’re not particularly obsessed nor have any fixed thoughts about being a god. Your answer has always been ‘I don’t want to.’ So, each time, you just impulsively choose a reason for that answer, just like deciding what’s for lunch.]

“…….”

That does seem quite accurate.

[But that means that your way of thinking is deviating from humanity… or perhaps it’s too complicated even for gods to grasp. The reason you choose to deny the divine nature likely springs from your fundamental psychology that I, myself, can’t understand.]

I didn’t fully grasp what Heuk Woong was saying, but he seemed to be poking fun at me, causing me to respond curtly.

“Damn it. I’ve cleared the bat droppings, but the place is still full of spiders and smells. I just want to finish training and get out, so let’s stick to the topic.”

Heuk Woong nodded, then answered, “Even so, recently your craving for power seems to have intensified, leading to the desire for the divine essence of ‘if granted.’ Isn’t that correct?”

“Yes. Ideally, I’d like to retain my identity while acquiring the power of a god.”

[I highlighted that very point.]

Heuk Woong’s eyes glistened ominously.

[You will face two consequential drawbacks upon becoming a god if I may say so. If you continue to cultivate divine energy, you will inevitably encounter those two drawbacks.]

“Two drawbacks?”

What could that be?!

I turned my gaze back at Heuk Woong in surprise, who continued, [First, there’s a high possibility that you would become bound by the Law of Cause and Effect.]

“The Law of Cause and Effect!”

[Correct. Do you know why the psychic Miho was unable to physically manifest despite gaining immense power comparable to the Three Sovereigns? It’s because a being with such great power encounters significant restrictions and could face retaliatory repercussions from that very Law.]

“Hmm.”

[This flaw can be particularly critical for someone who has been reborn. Because you’ve had an advantage of undertaking any action freely, losing that freedom would be a massive drawback.]

That made sense. I hadn’t really thought about it until now; that flaw was undoubtedly real. I nodded, saying, “I see. What’s the second drawback?”

[The second drawback is that you’d unavoidably end up becoming immortal.]

“Huh? Why is that a drawback?”

[Have you forgotten why Zhuge Sa suddenly appeared to kill you during your twenty-eighth reincarnation?]

“Oh!!!”

Upon hearing Heuk Woong’s words, I suddenly had a moment of realization.

‘Ah, I see!’

Facial expressions flickering, I realized my own missteps.

Heuk Woong lamented, [If you ascended to the rank of an upper deity, it’d essentially mean you’d become impossible to die or age, even if you get killed by enemies. Nature dictates that you’d resurrect after a while. In simpler terms, attaining immortality as a reborn person weakens you significantly.]

I didn’t need further elaboration; I comprehended fully.

If I had an incredibly tough time dying, it might appear, from an outer perspective, that my reincarnation was seamless, yet I’d eventually find it challenges to continue counting the repetition of previous lives. I would be forcefully obliged to witness the end of the world when the celestial bodies aligned. It was easy to envision that such lost spans of time could lead to the deterioration of my mental fortitude.

Once I understood Heuk Woong’s warnings, I scratched my head and muttered, “Dang it. After everything that’s happened lately, I can’t believe I overlooked that! Then I absolutely must avoid becoming a god!!”

[That seems to be the case.]

Hesitating, Heuk Woong refined his gaze and continued.

[However, there are two solutions ahead of you.]

“Quickly, tell me.”

[The first… While cultivating divine energy, if your essence overflows upon transcending, I shall absorb it prior.]

“That means, if I absorb your divine energy throughout the process, then is that the backup way of resisting divine evolution?”

[It’s a temporary fix at best, thus requiring a second means.]

I felt a bit of unease at that.

“Temporary fix? So I can’t simply rely on you absorbing my divine energy as a long-term solution?”

[It seems you don’t fully grasp the situation. You might not realize this yet, but I’m not fully utilizing your divine energy right now.]

“What?”

[From your total power, I’m only controlling 70%. The remaining 30% is still swirling around in your essence. If you proceed to cultivate further, that remaining 30% will overload, leading to an upheaval.]

“An upheaval? What does that mean?”

Heuk Woong’s tone became serious as he explained, [Master, your immense potential allows me to wield strength akin to deities. However, my essence naturally roots itself in the form of a powerful spirit. Should you surpass the limits of those energies…]

“Does that mean I could perish?”

[No. I wouldn’t die; rather, my essence shall collapse, giving rise to an entirely new upper deity, much like the Three Sovereigns. That may well befall me.]

“……!!”

Even with an inborn powerful spirit, it was still astonishing to hear that Heuk Woong, the very embodiment of my divine energy, had limits of his own.

Heuk Woong continued, [Consequently, your second solution emerges as your project ahead.]

“What is the second solution?”

[It’s precisely the power of the Wheel King.]

“The Wheel King?”

I tilted my head, and Heuk Woong pointed a finger toward me.

[Master, you should remember. When you were first granted the power of the Wheel King, you utterly crushed the beings like the Koto Amatsu Gods. Do you recollect?]

“… Oh!!”

[The Wheel King embodies the concept of ‘death’ within the universe, thus allowing him to possess the ability to genuinely eliminate his fellow ‘Ancient Rulers.’ The most direct reflection of that power is… .]

“The Book of Life and Death!”

[Precisely!]

Heuk Woong exclaimed confidently, [Within the Book of Life and Death, if you’re strong enough, you can put gods to death.]

[If you were to inscribe yourself within that book and commit suicide, what do you believe would come of it?]

“Huh?! I’d… die?”

[No, I believe I wouldn’t. In truth, I think I would survive.]

“Why?”

[I mentioned before; gods are immortal. Furthermore, since the Book of Life and Death was originally crafted by the Wheel King, penalizing oneself in such a manner might just be prevented from occurring.]

“……!!”

As I contemplated, I realized the weight of Heuk Woong’s words.

[We may need to experiment to know for sure, but when attempting to end your life through the Book of Life and Death, you may endure immense damage to your divine nature, leading to fragmentation. The pace at which you ascend to the realm of deities will be hindered! Perhaps you’ll discover a way to voluntarily strip yourself of divinity after that.]

“Oh!—!”

[Once your divine essence fragmentizes, I’m confident you’ll find a path to utilize that fragmented divine energy.]

Was such a method truly feasible?!

I was amazed by Heuk Woong’s proposal, but then a more poignant thought hit me, and I remarked.

“That all sounds good, but what if I simply died after that, without receiving any severe shock?”

[…….]

“……”

As silence hung in the air, Heuk Woong replied, seemingly flummoxed, [Well… if you died quickly, then rapid rebirth is still beneficial, so it’s not a total loss.]

“Oh… right…”

For a moment, I lost the words to respond. Either way, there were benefits.

[Hmmm. Now, let’s start the training.]

Heuk Woong, attempting to regain the atmosphere, extended his hands toward me.

[Eventually, you’ll need to master the power of the Wheel King, but for now, let’s build a foundation regarding divine energy.]

“Should I extend my hands too?”

[Please do so.]

Swish!

After we both readied our hands, Heuk Woong said, [When elevating internal power, maintain this position, building strength from your Dantian, letting it flow along your bloodlines and channels to release an impactful force! Your divine energy harnesses energy from the entire universe.]

“But how are divine energies employed?”

[Simply through imagination. Do not complex this with principles; instead, envision a massive floating orb resting in your hands.]

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Heuk Woong’s hands summoned an enormous orb. Once I observed it, I subconsciously sought to mimic his vision and, right away, attempted to visualize an orb within my palms.

……

Yet moments passed without any progress. No matter how intently I envisioned the floating sphere or invoked focused meditations from my mind, nothing materialized. Even employing my intent failed.

“I can’t do it.”

[What do you think stands in your way?]

“I have no clue.”

[Your subconscious is likely conjuring the principles. Every time you visualize, your mind involuntarily substitutes physical laws and principles instead of manifesting the boundless nature of divine energy. Authentic high-level powers do not bind to normal principles; rather, merely express innate desires alone.]

“Ugh.”

[Deity powers do not originate from your Dantian, so thinking of them in the same way as your prior internal energy routines won’t work either.]

I stared, clueless. I was genuinely striving to visualize from the very start! But upon deeper reflection, I realized that my subconscious was being obstructive.

[Keep at it. For now, your control over divine energies has greatly amplified while I am manifest, so take confidence!]

Despite my failed efforts, Heuk Woong’s encouragement served as motivation, and as I continued laboring, suddenly an idea unfurled in my head—a circle flickering.

‘This way?’

Suddenly, the brilliant white circle of divine energy floated before me in an astonished display.

“Whoa! Is this right?!”

Heuk Woong trembled, surprised. Then he proclaimed, [Oh! You can indeed do this! But why did you randomly think of a circle?]

“Well, I think I really focused a lot on drawing circles when practicing the Immortal Sword Technique.”

[……]

Heuk Woong was silent, and I felt anxious that he might be mocking me. But after a while, Heuk Woong contemplated deeply before prodding, [Master, what do you wish to do with that circle?]

“Huh? What do you mean by what I want to do?”

[It is crucial from here on out. Divine energy is fundamentally formless and lacks specificity, meaning you can use it to create anything. Depending on your disposition, your divine energy can manifest in various ways.]

“Hmmm.”

[Through the circle, I want to see what abilities you possess. After that, I will assist in refining your divine powers.]

As I gazed at the circle, I tried to ponder what I wanted to do.

‘What’s the top thing I could call upon? What’s most usable for me right now?”

I’d love a chicken dish!!

In that moment, the thought immediately flashed through me, and involuntarily, I manifested that whimsical hunger into a tangible form.

Boom!

[Hmm… what is this?!]

“……”

[It’s Ginseng Chicken Soup!]

Indeed, the warm and fragrant Ginseng Chicken Soup appeared in front of me, hot and steaming. Surprised that it manifested so easily, I commented shyly, “I just really wanted to eat….”

[You didn’t say anything. Now that you’ve summoned it, you might as well enjoy it.]

Smack smack smack!

As I relished the delicious Ginseng Chicken Soup, tossing the bones on the ground, Heuk Woong asked suddenly, [Master, have you had this flavor before?]

“Huh? Well, for sure. This should have been the taste from when I traveled with Mangnyang and Jin So-cheong.”

[In which case, you’ve likely used your memories to recreate a similar dish to summon it. So can you not summon something else from your past recollections?]

“……!!”

I never realized that!

‘Let’s try it!’

I visualized an orb and, as inspiration welled up, I extended my hands towards it, proclaiming, “Come forth… Water Authority!!”

Jeet jeet jing!!

Moments later, through the aurora of divine energy, the Water Authority blade materialized before me. Grasping its handle, glee exploded from me as I cheered.

“Ha ha ha!! I can create and bring forth the Water Authority!!”

[…… I don’t think so.]

“What?”

[Look closely. That Water Authority lacks the oracle inscriptions, and it also lacks the unique divine essence the Seven Luminaries holds. Essentially, it’s merely a facsimile of the Water Authority.]

“……?!”

I saw what Heuk Woong meant; my attempts at water authority showed no traces of the original’s attributes! I, in my bafflement, stammered, “How come this is happening?”

[The Water Authority is a prize forged by the Three Sovereigns themselves—it requires the corresponding divine power, crafting fees, and a powerful incantation. If you try to simply pump your divine energy into something, it’s no more than an empty silhouette of a weapon.]

“Ugh! So, I can’t get away with anything easy here.”

Heuk Woong mulled over my Water Authority and took it into his own hand.

[But due to it being conjured with divine energy, it carries a sharpness befitting an extraordinary sword. It’d work splendidly in case of an emergency where a blade isn’t handy.]

“Damn! That’s totally less useful than I thought.”

Heuk Woong stroked his chin in consideration.

[You seem to have misunderstood what I said. When expanding powers, it’s not about summoning things; your focus should be on developing abilities of creation or enhancement to materialize a sword that surpasses this imitation. By enhancing powers in other aspects, you may one day be able to create weapons of the caliber of the authority of the Seven Luminaries.]

“Is that something I could do in time?”

[Drawing on the other 30% of your divine energy might allow you—however, you already have access to the Seven Luminaries from your previous life, so there isn’t much reason to craft a new divine weapon after all. You also possess the power of the Four Great Spirit Deities, not to mention that forcing an ability that isn’t suited to you would only yield wasted talent.]

“Sure, that makes sense.”

[You don’t need engrossing weapons. What you should be pondering is what you truly need right now.]

“……”

Deeply reflecting, I began to realize that I felt something off.

I seemed to acknowledge that I might be digging myself into a personal quandary. This wasn’t a common occurrence in my otherwise ambiguous state of mind; I felt as though I grasped a path forward.

Then after a moment’s consideration, I shouted.

“I need to make money!!”

[Oh! Now that’s certainly a resolution!]

“That’s right. Right now, I don’t need the strongest armor or weapon. What I need is to gather enough money as soon as possible to break the curse of petrification, and moreover, to eliminate the curses on treasures piled high in my magical armor. Not to mention, once that’s done, I’ll also need to gather offerings for the merchant level! So…”