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“Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors!”

Yeodong-bin soared through the sky, channeling the might of the Unity of Body and Sword as he summoned a gigantic sword from the heavens.

[Heavenly Escape Sword Technique!]

Boom!

The colossal sword was massive enough to cleave mountains—a staggering size that made the ground tremble. With blinding speed beyond sound, the sword followed Yeodong-bin’s fingers straight towards Dalgi. It was absurdly epic.

But three tails of Dalgi flicked and wrapped around the sword like it was nothing, soaking up the incoming force like it was a gentle breeze. Meanwhile, the remaining six tails came rushing at Yeodong-bin.

Kuwakuwakang!

The destructive force swept across the ground, creating a crimson scar as if an explosion had just gone off. Each strike packed all the power of a Peerless Master, revealing that Dalgi’s strength was simply beyond human comprehension.

‘There’s no way to handle this with martial arts…!!’

Despite being backed by Yeodong-bin, I felt hopeless. I began to understand why Jin So-cheong was left helpless, missing arms, and why Lee Kwang lost his life. The gulf between monsters and humans was just too vast; when demons tap into their full power, humans are little more than toys.

However, Yeodong-bin was a revered Great Immortal! Summoning a fiery dragon shield, he managed to deflect the attack.

[Hmmm!]

Simultaneously, he utilized some mysterious counterattack that forced Dalgi back. A dazzling starry light converged into a sword formation and headed straight for Dalgi’s brow.

Thud!

Hit square on, Dalgi wobbled slightly before bursting into laughter.

[Ahaha! As expected from the strongest of the Eight Immortals. Your strikes have some bite!]

What’s so funny about taking a hit? I silently mocked Dalgi, but Yeodong-bin’s face turned stony. He spoke to me through clenched teeth.

[That was with all my strength…]

Wait, did he just say that even an all-out attack only produced a slap on the wrist? It seemed there was a huge gap in strength between Yeodong-bin and Dalgi. I quickly addressed him.

‘You can summon the Celestial Realm’s fiery dragon!’

Fiery dragon summoning! Although I died right after using it, there’s no doubting its power. Yeodong-bin’s recent attack had surely less destructive potential. Yeodong-bin seemed taken aback by my knowledge.

[How did you know that…?]

‘That’s not important right now! Can’t you take him down with it?’

[…I can’t be sure. Dalgi is protected by the Absolute Teachings.]

‘Absolute Teachings?’

Without directly answering, Yeodong-bin grasped his sword and shouted at Dalgi.

[Dalgi! Do you think that being so lawless would keep the Law of Cause and Effect from touching you? Not even gods escape its grasp.]

Chimes…

Dalgi appeared to coil his massive body as if preparing to launch a powerful strike with his tails. He grinned sinisterly.

[That’s quite troublesome… If I catch a countercurrent, even I would be in danger. But it seems you’ve provided me a perfect opportunity.]

[Opportunity?]

Dalgi squinted and grinned wickedly.

[The human you inhabit stole the Portrait Immortal using the cunning of a Demon Sorcerer. And without asking, you’ve made offerings! You might not know this, but that was meant for ‘him.’]

[You mean… during the Great Destruction…?]

[Heeheehee… Any deity deprived of his offering will seek revenge. Although it took some formalities and time, I’ve been granted permission to meddle in the mortal realm as an Apostle. That means any backlash is blocked by his powers.]

Just as Dalgi finished speaking, he erupted with thunderous laughter.

[Ahahahaha!! It’s about to get fun! Just like the Silver Age, the days of joy, nibbling on human flesh are just around the corner.]

[That won’t happen! I will stop you!]

[Go ahead, try it!]

Grumble! Yeodong-bin summoned even more might and started chanting some incantations, strengthening himself. Now that I was sharing a body with him, I identified it as a spell and divine technique he had learned from the Celestial Realm.

‘So that’s why he’s been holding off on summoning the fiery dragon…’

Even though summoning the dragon is his trump card, if it fails, it would be catastrophic. Right now, Dalgi wasn’t just relying on his physical defenses; he was using a protective demon art with his immense power, making it critical for Yeodong-bin to dispel this defensive sorcery first, or else he couldn’t deliver a proper blow.

Will we win? One thing for sure is that Yeodong-bin had used barely ten percent of his total energy. Perhaps thanks to my relentless martial arts training, both my capability and recovery were finally keeping up with the mighty Yeodong-bin. But Dalgi’s strength was a magnitude beyond, so Yeodong-bin would have to survive near-death moments repeatedly to land a decisive hit.

With sparks in his eyes, Yeodong-bin swung his sword into the void. The Heart-Wielding Sword technique pierced the atmosphere, assuming the shape of the Eight Trigrams as it struck directly at Dalgi.

Ding!

Dalgi staggered slightly in response, merely treating the hit as a light slap. Yeodong-bin seemed calm, dodging Dalgi’s tail attacks while showcasing intricate swordplay.

Seeing through Yeodong-bin’s strategy, Dalgi disdainfully commented.

[So are you really scared of a treasureless loser?]

Crack!

After what felt like a hundred seconds of battle, Yeodong-bin unleashed a stunning divine technique but was suddenly caught by Dalgi’s tail attack. He drew his sword to parry but could not avoid the shock reverberating through him.

Cough.

Perhaps it was because of human limitations. Even using the Protection Energy Technique, Yeodong-bin spat blood. His vitality couldn’t keep up with his power. As soon as a gap appeared, Dalgi seemed to rejuvenate with joy, launching a relentless sequence of attacks.

Slap! Slap!

So fast… way too fast! Even with Yeodong-bin surpassing typical human swordsmanship, Dalgi’s assaults didn’t feel like something any living creature could pull off. Moreover, the ominous power dwelling in those tails loaded them with lethal energy.

Ultimately, Yeodong-bin could bear no longer and decided to unleash the fiery dragon’s might.

RRROOOAAAARR! My body felt like the Eight Gates were being violently ripped open. I’d experienced death twice when all gates opened before. So, I’d devised ways to cling onto life.

‘Let’s keep this closed!’

I swiftly closed off three vital points from the flowing qi while Yeodong-bin opened his gates. Although it didn’t directly relate to the gates, it might slow down the qi leaks when they opened to the max.

[Celestial Fiery Dragon!]

Finally cracking open the sixth gate, Yeodong-bin focused his energy into the Bright Jade, summoning the fiery dragon. As the jade shattered, a colossal flame dragon manifested in the air.

The sacred Red Dragon made of spirit was one of the top divine beasts rivaling a phoenix! As expected, even Dalgi hesitated and pulled back upon seeing the fiery dragon manifest.

Woosh!

Moments later, the fiery dragon twisted its body, gathering divine ability throughout. It then lunged straight at Dalgi!

Dalgi roared, furious.

[I’m no mere Wyvern to go down to this nonsense!]

WHOOSH!

A massive wave erupted from Dalgi’s core, almost like vocal magic but it resembled incantations used by other races. The spell spewed from Dalgi collided with the fiery dragon, generating tremendous repulsion in the void.

After a while, both spells clashed with each other until the fiery dragon gained the upper hand and charged into Dalgi.

Kaboom!!!

It was like the entire mountain was engulfed in flames, lighting the sky with blinding radiance. The sheer magnitude of the fiery dragon’s explosion indicated its destructive impact on the foe. I braced myself; looking directly could blind me, yet I could gaze upon the intense light without anguish, perhaps because I was in Yeodong-bin’s body.

…

It hit without a doubt, but Yeodong-bin’s expression darkened.

He was only scorched lightly, not gravely wounded.

Meanwhile, Dalgi lightly licked one of his tails, grinning ominously, having reduced the fiery dragon’s force with his spiritual incantation.

Dalgi had drastically raised the stakes! Even though Yeodong-bin had prepared to summon the dragon, thanks to my closing the qi points, I’d managed to buy some time before death. Floating in the air, Yeodong-bin murmured.

[Protector, I’m sorry… I can’t handle that Demon King…]

Why?!

Isn’t that Dalgi just a wicked woman who destroyed the Yin Dynasty during the Silver Age? How could she possess such immense power?

As this thought rapidly spun in my head, I turned to Yeodong-bin, who gave a bitter response.

[The legend known as Investiture of the Gods was merely created for humanity. The truth lies in the Great Destruction… that was the will of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.]

What do you mean?

[I’m truly sorry…]

Before I could ponder anything further, my entire being suddenly felt drained. Gradually losing hold of my martial arts, I began descending towards the ground. Even though Dalgi could attack me anytime, he merely watched on like I was a mere toy.

Finally, the connection with Yeodong-bin completely unraveled.

Cough…!!

A surging fatigue crashed over me like I’d been sliced a hundred thousand times. My eyelids felt like lead, urging me to sleep immediately. Yet I knew that sleep would mean death, compelling me to cling desperately to my remaining strength.

Regardless, now that the Eight Gates were open, I wouldn’t last much longer—I needed to survive as long as I could. I came here determined to grasp as much as possible before I expired.

With a resolute glint in my eyes, Dalgi remarked with interest.

[What an amusing human… You show no despair or fear… Your mind is utterly intact… Haha.]

“Save the humans here.”

[Why should I?]

I laughed weakly.

“I have a super-secret divine technique…”

Truth be told, I had nothing. However, I tried to bluff. With no cards left to play, I was desperate for more time to live.

But what could I accomplish? Even if I tried to seem tough, it didn’t suit my personality. Whether I died or not, I was meant to resist until my last breath. I had to put forth all the effort I could, for living as a reborn person was nearly impossible otherwise.

Dalgi snickered, enjoying my plight.

Ahaha… Ahahahaha…

Though both Miho and I were Nine-Tailed Foxes, our laughter couldn’t have been more different. While Miho was merciless to the weak, she wasn’t vile like Dalgi. In contrast to Miho’s innocent complexity, the monstrous specter before me was steeped in dark magic itself. It wasn’t for nothing that Yeodong-bin referred to her as the Demon King.

As a result, Dalgi’s laughter twisted within me, showering my spirit with despair and dread. It was as powerful as a mental assault, feeling far stronger than the demonic beasts from Great Thunder Valley.

Yet I endured, disregarding the mental attack, saying, “I know the location and how to obtain the Seven Luminaries…”

[…!!]

Dalgi seemed genuinely shocked. For a Mythic Level monster like her, the Seven Luminaries seemingly carried significant weight. Leaning in, she smelled ominously.

My heart raced as Dalgi spoke.

[Speak.]

“I’m gonna die soon since my gates are open.”

I said this nonchalantly.

“Do you know why? Because you can’t save a human dying from opening their gates, you’re nothing but a Destructive Demon. Enjoy your curiosity before you send me off.”

Dalgi grew furious.

[You punk! If that’s a lie, I’ll gobble your friends up for good measure!]

“Ha… well…”

My breath was growing ragged; blocking the effects of my gates had its limits. I felt my entire energy escaping like a flood. I sensed I was moments from my last breath.

As I sagged, Dalgi taunted me.

[One tail’s power is more than enough…]

A silver tail settled atop my head. Moments later, it melted away, starting to fill my vitality back up. For an instant, my body rejuvenated, restoring itself.

But having opened the gates was akin to ‘breaking the vessel.’

This was merely a temporary fix thanks to one of Dalgi’s nine tails. I realized that even though she could fully heal me, she chose to leave me in a precarious state.

‘She’ll milk the information first before letting me die…’

I took a deep breath and said to Dalgi, “Promise me you won’t kill or devour any more living beings here.”

Dalgi paused for a moment before responding.

[How ridiculous… Do you dare negotiate with me? A mere human?]

Something felt off.

Just as I tried to pressure her into a deal, I felt Dalgi’s energy shift to a more murderous intent. Clearly, I had offended her.

Whoosh!

Dalgi suddenly withdrew her tail’s energy as she snarled.

[Just go die. You can find out what happens after you’re dead.]

…!!

She can draw information from the dead?!

But I had already lost all options the moment Yeodong-bin fell. No matter what I did, I could only accept death. Yet, strangely, it brought me peace as I succumbed to my mortality.

I was a heartbeat away from darkness.

With a faint whisper, I mumbled, “Mangnyang… Miho… Jin So-cheong… I’m sorry…”

If only I’d known I’d be the first to die, I’d have been better prepared. Had I applied my techniques beforehand, perhaps today’s calamity could have been avoided.

Regrets washed over me, but it was too late. My futile attempts to console myself only showcased the price of forgetting that tomorrow is never guaranteed.

Flick!

My wrist dropped, and shortly thereafter, I was completely devoid of life.

I thought this was my fourteenth death.

[Finally died, huh? Then it’s my turn.]

Kaboom!

With a toneless voice, my body surged back up and aimed a punch straight at Dalgi’s face.

KRAAACK!!!

Dalgi screamed!

With a massive explosion, the enormous form of Dalgi, which even Yeodong-bin couldn’t handle, flew back and smashed into the mountains somewhere far off. Meanwhile, the shimmering barrier around us flickered, brightening my vision.

Crunch!

Sounds echoed from my fist, reflected in a pool of blood watching my weary face.

Staggering forward, I proclaimed, “I will kill you!”

Swirl!

Dalgi’s body rose once more like a colossal mountain. All nine tails came rushing in, impossibly fast, as no one has ever successfully dodged these deadly slashes infused with poison. With merely my martial abilities, I should’ve been skewered long ago.

Crash!

“No?! Not quite!”

Dalgi gasped in disbelief.

In that fleeting moment, I moved and caught all nine tails in my grasp. My eyes burned a deep crimson, speaking the words that summoned unimaginable ferocity within me, calling upon the strength of the constellations.

“Die!”

GRRRAAAA! Dalgi’s mountain-like body lifted. With the weight literally comparable to a mountain, it defied the odds, as I hoisted her entire frame into the air!

It was akin to uprooting a mountain (力拔山).

And I, having possessed Dalgi, hurled her great form into the nearby mountains like a rag doll.

KABOOOOM!!!!

Dalgi wailed in agony. The landscape shifted dramatically, and a mountain vanished, replaced by a new path. Winds of turmoil surged outward, signaling great upheaval in the world.

Amidst this chaos, I twisted my neck and glared ferociously. The sheer will to annihilate everything in sight enveloped me like a divine murder star.

“…Die already!”

My form charged ahead, faster than ever before, even beyond when I opened all Eight Gates. The powers of the stars and the forces of heaven merged within me, manifesting an incomprehensible level of authority meant solely for destruction. This was a force to envelop the world (氣蓋世)!

Dalgi shrieked.

[This… this isn’t possible! How are you!!]

Just before my entire form collided with Dalgi in a body slam and shattered her completely, she uttered one last desperate cry.

[Xiang Yu!!!]

And the world turned pitch black.

Precisely when the strike from the Overlord Xiang Yu struck Dalgi, a segment of the mountain crumbled. Rocks ascended against gravity, creating shadows that silenced the very sound waves, smashing the world with the impact of what felt like a falling meteor.

The legendary force of the Universe Unbound and Mountain Uplift (力拔山氣蓋世). An entity capable of these feats, finally emerged into the world to realize their blessing.

 

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