“……!!”

What on earth is Mangnyang doing here? The Earth Immortal of the Celestial Realm—could it be that Mangnyang has become an Immortal?

While all sorts of speculation and confusion swirled in my mind, Mangnyang swung his arm. At that moment, a terrifying blaze flew in from the Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line.

Whoosh!!

The explosive heat not only obliterated the Throne Room but extended for dozens of meters. My only option was to utilize the Golden Lamp technique to evade it. As I emerged outside using this technique, I witnessed the roof of the Great Dragon Hall erupting.

Ka-boom!!

“Urgh…!!”

Withstanding the backdraft, I couldn’t help but shiver momentarily.

‘That’s the power of the Golden Lamp from the Seven Fires!’

I had once battled the Golden Eagle Guards fueled by a Sorcerer’s Destiny in Taekyung Village. Back then, Mangnyang had used all sorts of restraints just to barely wield the Golden Lamp, confining the entire village in a wall of flames. But now, Mangnyang could cast such searing heat with just a casual swing.

The blazing heat instantly incinerated the upper levels of the Great Dragon Hall and lifted several fire orbs into the air. At the center of them floated Mangnyang, clutching the Seven Fires, and he hurled the orbs somewhere.

Kaboom!

A flash and another wave of heat erupted from where the orbs collided, and something shot up from the core of the explosion.

Wiying!

Zhuge Sa hovered in the air, surrounded by a translucent barrier, with a half-open Golden Box floating beside him. It was clearly a spell invoking the powers of the Old Ruler.

Zhuge Sa spoke, “How on earth are you here today? I don’t understand, my nephew.”

In response, Mangnyang gazed quietly at Zhuge Sa before answering, “I have been infiltrating the Imperial Palace for half a year. After discovering the dark forces residing there, I intended to purge them. But one day Zhuge Bu was killed, and things got quite chaotic. During that chaos, you barged in.”

“Oh, I see. Has the Celestial Realm already taken action?”

“No one wishes for the undue expansion of the Otherworldly Race.”

Zhuge Sa chuckled, “Really? Is it just the Celestial Realm that feels that way?”

Kaboom!

As soon as the words left his mouth, Mangnyang attacked again, and Zhuge Sa boosted the power of the Golden Box to defend himself. However, the way the barrier trembled suggested that Mangnyang held a significant advantage. Sweat rolled thick on Zhuge Sa’s forehead.

“Cough.”

With a stern voice, Mangnyang stated, “I have no intention of arguing with you here. Surrender peacefully and dismiss the powers of the Old Ruler.”

“Why are you trying to take the easy way out? I already dealt with Zhuge Bu and cleaned up the remnants!” Zhuge Sa retorted. Mangnyang responded without a hint of concern.

“There’s no way you act for the greater good. It’s obvious you’re just moving for your own desires—why feel any obligation?”

“Hahaha. You haven’t changed a bit over the years. Still the same.”

“That’s something I could say too.”

After a moment of silence, Zhuge Sa pointed a finger at me, who had been watching the dialogue from afar.

“Just so you know, I’m working with the master of the Seven Luminaries. It’s you who needs to retreat from this position, Hyun Ah.”

“……”

“You realize how advantageous this is for you, don’t you?”

Mangnyang’s gaze shifted towards me. I flinched as our eyes met.

Such a profound look.

I instantly recognized that this was evidence of Mangnyang mastering his techniques and honing his mental strength to the extreme. Just as a martial artist transcends into a peak expert, a sorcerer must also reach a corresponding realm of enlightenment. It was no exaggeration to say his techniques had reached an Immortal level.

Mangnyang spoke to me, “I owe you a bit of gratitude. The news of the awakening of the Water Spirit, Makya, sent the Great Immortals of the Celestial Realm into a frenzy, and because of that, I was afforded a chance to master significant techniques.”

It seemed that since Yeodong-bin was chased away by me and went to the Celestial Realm, big changes had occurred. The liberation of the Seven Luminaries, Makya, was such a big deal in the Celestial Realm. No doubt this aspect also played a role in Mangnyang’s growth to the Earth Immortal level.

After a moment’s hesitation, I said to Mangnyang, “We didn’t intend to destroy the Imperial Palace with any malicious intent. My will was to eradicate the dark forces within, and those assisting me were simply following that purpose.”

Mangnyang responded with surprise, “Are you trying to say you don’t know what kind of beings those summoned here today are?”

“I don’t know well.”

Mangnyang’s gaze turned toward the battlefield below. There, the superhuman guards of the Imperial Palace were still locked in a fierce battle with the transparent demon beasts.

“Zhuge Sa has summoned thousands of the ‘Formless Offspring,’ a race serving Chaturguar, the Sleeper of Enkai, and on top of that, with the powers of the volcano god Guatanocha, turned innocent people into stone. It’s hardly been seen in history that anyone could wield the powers of the Old Ruler to such an extent. No mage could ever do such a thing.”

“……”

“That Golden Box possesses immense power. Therefore, I can firmly assert this.”

Swish!

Mangnyang raised the Seven Fires, aiming at Zhuge Sa.

“If we don’t kill Zhuge Sa today, he’ll become a demon king ten times stronger than the Imperial Palace. You need to rethink your position.”

Demon King! That was a word drenched in ominous meaning. The Apostle of the Ancient Gods, whom even the Great Immortals would find overwhelming—only in reference to Daji would the title ‘demon king’ be used. If Zhuge Sa could freely wield the powers of the Golden Box, then becoming a demon king-level existence was not out of reach.

I swallowed hard as Zhuge Sa smirked and said, “As expected of the Zhuge Clan; your mind works wonders. You figured out right away that winning this fight hinges on capturing the owner of the Seven Luminaries.”

“Capturing? You just lured him into this non-human realm.” Mangnyang shot back as Zhuge Sa replied.

“Then let me ask you something. Why has the Celestial Realm sent only you now to discipline the Imperial Palace? Even though you’re of high status, there are plenty of stronger Immortals on Mount Kunlun than you. If they intended to act, they could’ve neutralized the situation before the alchemist created a portrait immortal. Why now?”

“……”

“The answer is simple. The Celestial Realm fears the Old Ruler. And you Celestial Realm folks conceal, distort, and obfuscate the truth under the pretense of caring for the human race. You don’t hesitate to slaughter thousands of humans just to eradicate the dark forces; hypocrisy at its finest.”

Mangnyang replied to Zhuge Sa, “I can’t deny that. But what good comes from revealing the truths related to the Old Ruler? Just like the legendary continent that vanished beneath the Great Ocean, even if humans serve the Old Ruler, madness will only ensue.”

Mangnyang raised the Seven Fires once more.

“I will eliminate you, who has fallen to the Demon Path, my uncle.”

“If you can…”

Zhuge Sa made a strange expression as he reached toward the Golden Box. A standoff appeared, with both sorcerers mutually preparing to unleash top-tier techniques. At that moment, almost simultaneously, the mental messages rang in my head.

[White Dharma Protector!! Cut that guy down immediately. No matter how powerful the fire from the Golden Lamp might be, it’s absolutely useless against the Seven Luminaries.]

[We must eliminate Zhuge Sa! You’re being used by him. Please, make the right choice for humanity.]

“……”

I looked down at the Seven Luminaries, Makya, in my hand. Depending on which side I chose in this situation, the outcome would undoubtedly be determined. The power of the Water Spirit was enough to easily tear apart the Illusion Techniques of the Illusory God, Cheon Woo-jin, so attacking either side would surely lead to severing someone’s neck.

‘Damn it…’

In ordinary circumstances, I wouldn’t hesitate to help Zhuge Sa and slash at my opponent’s neck. But now, the Apostle of the Celestial Realm appeared before me as Mangnyang Zhuge Hyun—my most trusted companion in this life. Even though he appeared as my enemy this time due to our first encounter in this reincarnation, there was no way I could bring myself to sever Mangnyang’s neck.

Finally, biting my lip hard, I shouted, “Stop!!”

Both their gazes shifted towards me. I yelled with a voice full of desperation.

“Cease the battle at once! If you don’t, I’ll kill you both!”

Bang!

To show I meant it, I infused the sword strength into the Seven Luminaries. Now that it was a technique I could invoke with realization instead of forcibly pulling up my power, the more I infused my internal strength, the more overwhelming energy surged forth, radiating with a deep azure thunder.

Seeing the blazing sword strength of the Seven Luminaries, both of them hesitated.

Zhuge Sa clicked his tongue. “White Dharma Protector. Why are you hesitating? If you simply take Hyun’s head here, everything will be easy. You can take the treasures from the now vacant Imperial Palace.”

I couldn’t hold back any longer, shouting, “Damn it, you bastard, shut your mouth! Do you really think cutting down your own nephew’s head is an easy decision?!”

“……”