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“Heavenly Realm.”

After discussing with the Sword Demon, I concluded that I needed to negotiate with the leader of the Twelve Joules, the supreme being of the group. While pondering how to proceed, one thought emerged clearly.

“First, we need to reorganize the sect. Then, let’s head to Goryeo.”

“To Goryeo?”

“In a city called Shindan, there’s likely to be some magical defenses. Even if you could get there using your Golden Lamp, it would raise unnecessary suspicions with the leader of the Twelve Joules.”

Understanding his words, I nodded.

“So you mean it’s better to establish ourselves in Gaegyeong using Jeong Cheol-wook’s influence first.”

“Exactly. We’ll decide about joining the Twelve Joules later.”

This was definitely a clever plan.

Instead of directly approaching the leader of the Twelve Joules, we were putting our faith in the protection of Goryeo’s powerful figures! This way, not only would the leader not dare to attack the Shadowless Gate recklessly, but even if our proposal to the Twelve Joules failed, the Shadowless Gate would still be safe.

The Sword Demon continued, “Starting today, we will organize the sect’s assets within three days.”

Once the Sword Demon set his mind to it, actions proceeded swiftly. Taking advantage of his busy organization of the sect, I decided to get a head start with operations in Goryeo.

Pa-at!

Using my Golden Lamp, I arrived in Goryeo to find Physician Hwa Seong-myeong. He looked quite surprised upon spotting me.

“Whoa. You showed up again like a goblin in daylight.”

With a gesture, I said, “I’ve come with urgent matters to discuss today.”

“Hmm?”

I explained the situation of the Shadowless Gate and our desire to relocate to Goryeo with the help of the Jeong Clan. As I spoke, Hwa Seong-myeong’s face showed he was deep in thought. Noticing his reaction, I said, “So I’d like you to bring this matter up to Lord Jeong first.”

“Hmm… it’s not too difficult, but…”

Hwa Seong-myeong trailed off.

“How are you planning to convince Lord Jeong?”

“Well…”

“The Shadowless Gate is the top sect among the heretical factions! Convincing Lord Jeong, who is well-versed in martial affairs, that allowing such a powerful sect to relocate here would not attract the ire of the Twelve Joules. He’s sure to know the trouble that could bring.”

“I have confidence in persuading the leader of the Twelve Joules as well.”

“That would be once you get past Lord Jeong.”

Hwa Seong-myeong sighed.

“Let me be clear; for a matter this big, a chunk of gold won’t sway Lord Jeong. He is one of Goryeo’s most powerful families and is not lacking in wealth, honor, or treasures. Think of a better way and come back.”

“……”

I pondered and said, “What about a treasure or a spiritual pill equivalent to the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng?”

“That would be something, but… does such a thing even exist?”

Nodding, I pulled out the Black and White Lotus and the Twin Broadswords from my wooden armor.

“This should work.”

“Whoa…!!”

Hwa Seong-myeong’s eyes nearly popped out when he recognized the value of the Black and White Lotus. As I described the worth of the Black and White Lotus and the Twin Broadswords, he trembled with excitement and stuttered, “This… this could work. I’ll convey the message right away.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, could you spare just one root of the Black and White Lotus?”

I smiled and said, “If you ask nicely, I can spare that much.”

“Leave it to me!”

Hwa Seong-myeong hurriedly started haggling over the price of one root of the Black and White Lotus. That same day, he visited Lord Jeong Cheol-wook to discuss our relocation.

Upon hearing it, Lord Jeong seemed curious and requested to see me.

As I approached, he stroked his beard with interest and said, “I’ve heard of the Shadowless Gate. They say it’s one of the foremost sects among the heretical factions from the Central Plains.”

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm… first, I’d like to see the goods.”

“Of course. Here they are.”

As I displayed the Black and White Lotus and the Twin Broadswords, he let out a sound of intrigue. Even someone as powerful as him could not resist such temptation. After pondering for a bit, Lord Jeong Cheol-wook said, “Your sincerity is clear, but I need assurances.”

“Assurances?”

“As you said, the Shadowless Gate is classified as a heretical faction, and even if it’s a righteous sect, the perception in the world is that they are the leaders of the heretical factions. The leaders of the Twelve Joules will likely view you as a problem. Do you have any evidence that could improve this unfavorable perception?”

In other words, he wanted me to ensure that we wouldn’t cause any trouble when we came to Goryeo. Lord Jeong’s request was utterly justified. After some consideration, I said, “That’s something we can resolve with the leader of the Twelve Joules. I’ve heard persuading the leader is no different from convincing the Twelve Joules.”

“Oh? Do you have confidence in convincing such a monstrous being?”

“Monstrous? After all, they are just human too, aren’t they?”

“……”

When I replied calmly, Lord Jeong Cheol-wook momentarily froze, then erupted into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! While no one, including the Emperor or my own family, can treat the leader of the Twelve Joules lightly. What we find most trying is the leader themselves.”

“……!!”

“Alright, if you are that confident, then let’s see if I can arrange a meeting. If you can take full responsibility, I trust you.”

It seemed Lord Jeong had a generous side. Despite having the chance to be more stingy, he agreed to accept the Shadowless Gate for the time being. I exhaled a sigh of relief, realizing the negotiation had come to a relatively successful conclusion.

“Thank you.”

After handing over the Black and White Lotus and the Twin Broadswords and reporting the results back to the Sword Demon, he was very pleased.

“Well done! No one else could have produced results as quickly and reliability as you.”

“The challenge is persuading the leader of the Twelve Joules.”

“Hmph. That’s undoubtedly the most bothersome part…”

Frowning, the Sword Demon asked me, “Is the Black and White Lotus you gave to Lord Jeong the only one?”

“No, in fact, I can gather more from the Pond of Mount Huang.”

There were numerous blooming Black and White Lotuses, so I could easily collect at least a dozen more. I hadn’t felt the need to gather them all until now. Even with about six to seven, it would have been more than enough to achieve our goals.

The Sword Demon then said, “Then gather about ten more.”

“Understood.”

“Also, I think we might need a strategist for our Shadowless Gate soon. My own brain can’t keep up with everything going on.”

I quickly caught on to what the Sword Demon meant.

“You’re suggesting we should recruit Mangnyang?”

“He’s undoubtedly one of the best talents in the world. I think it may already be getting a little late to make that move.”

I shook my head vigorously.

“I don’t want to do that.”

If I wanted to recruit Mangnyang, I should have done so right at the onset of this 16th Rebirth. My personal desire to grow stronger caused me to deliberately leave him behind. Now, I feared the kind of resentment I would face if I tried to draw him in at this stage. I felt ashamed to even confront him.

As if reading my thoughts, the Sword Demon spoke calmly, “I believe I understand what you’re thinking. But you don’t need to feel that way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mangnyang is not the type to harbor resentment or brush you off for something like this. He has been by your side for so long, and do you still not understand him? In fact, every time you choose him, he’s filled with joy.”

The Sword Demon pronounced firmly, pointing at me.

“You have always been Mangnyang’s master.”

“……”

“Mangnyang will surely understand you. And he will craft the best plan to match the changed situation. Don’t you think?”

Master!

Upon hearing this, I felt my breath catch in my throat. I had always felt immense gratitude towards Mangnyang, living with the mindset of repaying my debt to him. I had never approached this from the perspective of a master and a strategist.

The Sword Demon stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, “And I can’t shake off this odd feeling. We might really need Mangnyang’s wisdom to persuade the leader of the Twelve Joules. I have a hunch.”

“Hmm…”

“Now, go. There’s no need to hesitate.”

Half-pushed, I stepped out of the Shadowless Gate. But since the thought of heading straight to Mangnyang didn’t come to mind, I settled down on a nearby hill, deep in thought.

I had left him behind for nearly seven years to focus on my personal training. The weight of that caused me not even to consider finding him. I feared he would scold me for leaving the evils of the world to fester.

But if what the Sword Demon said was true, thinking that way might just be foolishness.

‘I should apologize to Mangnyang.’

Mangnyang would surely understand my choice.

With this determination, I resolved in my heart. After gathering ten more Black and White Lotuses from Mount Huang, I used my Golden Lamp to head toward Jinrang Valley.

Pa-at!

Arriving at Jinrang Valley, I made my way toward the familiar abode of Mangnyang. I could have sprinted directly, but I felt it better to visit him formally rather than startle him like a goblin.

However, on my way up, I started to feel something was off.

“… Where’s Mangyun Formation?”

I noticed that the array Mangnyang usually laid out for protection was absent. This simply meant that Mangnyang had not spread the formation. What could that mean? Picking up my pace, I hurried to Mangnyang’s thatched house.

The place appeared oddly desolate. Even in broad daylight, it exuded a sense of abandonment, emanating stale odors, and inside, I found mold growing. I looked around again, but none of the books or belongings Mangnyang usually kept were there.

‘What happened?’

I left his dwelling and asked the locals of Jinrang Valley about Mangnyang’s whereabouts.

One of the villagers, smoking a pipe, said, “Mangnyang? That guy up and left to pursue training.”

“What do you mean?”

He flicked his pipe on the ground and continued, “He was living off his skills as a Taoist master, you know? His wealth here was one of the richest in the county. But then, out of nowhere, he just ditched everything to learn sorcery somewhere.”

“Sorcery?”

“Well, he’s a Taoist, so it’s only natural, right?”

His words sounded somewhat plausible, but I knew it wasn’t true. If I hadn’t liberated his talents through the ritual of the Seven Luminary’s Offering, his sorcery skills would be negligible. It didn’t make sense for him to have just left out of the blue to learn sorcery.

“Do you know where he went?”

“Hmm… I’m not exactly sure.”

“Is there anyone who might know?”

Scratching his head, the villager replied, “Not really. He paid some of us for odd jobs now and then, but he was so secretive about himself that no one in Jinrang Valley knows anything.”

“……”

I realized his words likely had merit. Mangnyang was never one to easily reveal himself, and he wouldn’t have been so careless as to leave traces in Jinrang Valley. If he had left to find sorcery, it was likely no one would know.

I pondered this and decided to head to a village near Luoyang where the Illusion Technique expert Cheon Woo-jin resided.

Pa-at!

After hiding the Heavenly Secret in the Pine Forest, I made my way into the village where Cheon Woo-jin was. If I were to be caught by him, I might die, but the turmoil within my heart made it worth the risk.

As expected, after walking barely twenty steps inside the village, thick illusion fog began swirling all around me. The mist was so dense that I could hardly see my hand in front of my face. Suddenly, from beyond the fog, Cheon Woo-jin approached slowly.

Seven years had passed, yet his appearance had barely changed. He still looked like a youthful country lad. Cheon Woo-jin glared at me with sharp eyes and said, “An artist of the Jianghu, are you?”

“……”

“But what is that strange divine presence flowing within your body?”

“Divine presence?”

“Don’t play coy. You must have a divine artifact on you.”

Pointing at me, Cheon Woo-jin said, “Regardless of whose disciple you are, you best get lost. Otherwise, I’ll use my power on you.”

“Disciple? I’m no such thing.”

“Then who are you?”

“I am Baek Woong. I’ve come here to find out about your brother, Mangnyang.”

“……!!”

Cheon Woo-jin looked taken aback at my words. He glared at me suspiciously and muttered, “How do you know about my brother?”

“I’m his companion. He suddenly disappeared from Jinrang Valley, so I thought you, as a fellow disciple, might know something.”

“I can’t believe you.”

Cheon Woo-jin countered, waving his hand.

“Looks like I have to subdue you first to find out.” Then he added, “Here, take this.”

Pa-at!!

In that moment, an immense storm of clouds surged towards me, obscuring my vision completely. I couldn’t even feel my intent amidst the sudden pressure, leaving me utterly helpless. Panicking, I activated the Soul Removal Technique just to barely dodge the oncoming cloud, but from behind the mist, Cheon Woo-jin’s voice echoed.

[Are you using sorcery? Even so, you won’t escape this illusion fog.]

Sorcery?

He likely referred to the Soul Removal Technique, but I had no idea what he meant by that.

‘Hmm… I can’t dodge indefinitely.’

Despite my overwhelming speed thanks to the Soul Removal Technique, I couldn’t break free from his fog as long as time and space were under his control.

With no other choice, I pulled out the Water Element Divine Sword, hoping it might provide a solution.

Then I swung the sword at the approaching mist.

Swish!

At that moment, the previously dense fog dispersed, revealing Cheon Woo-jin standing there, looking both astonished and dismayed. He clutched his left hand, blood seeping through his fingers, having been wounded by the blade’s edge when I swung.

‘What?! I broke the illusion!?’

I couldn’t believe it myself, blinking in surprise.

Cheon Woo-jin stared at my hand intensely, ignoring his own pain, before exclaiming in horror, “A… A master of the Seven Luminaries?!”

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