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“We need to get back to Jinrang Valley and start planning.”

After wrapping up my business with the prophet, I returned with the three of them and kicked off the strategy session.

“We have to figure out how to deal with the commands of Chi You from the Heavenly Altar.”

“That’s obviously a prerequisite.”

Zhuge Sa, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, chuckled. “Realistically, we need to compare our forces with those of the Imperial Palace.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think we’re lacking in power.”

He casually shot me a look after making that statement.

“With this crew, we won’t make it far. We need more helpers.”

“Lacking power, you say? With Jin So-cheong and my skills, we can take down more than the Five Golden Eagles at once. Your sorcery and Cheon Woo-jin’s techniques should be more than sufficient.”

“Ugh… Are you really that dim-witted or just pretending? That was before we performed the Offering Ceremony.”

“What…?”

Are you mockingly teasing me out of nowhere?

As I glared at Zhuge Sa, Cheon Woo-jin chimed in.

“I agree with that sentiment. The current Imperial Palace is likely stronger than ever before. My magic might not even be enough to handle it.”

“Stronger, you say?”

“First off, the Emperor has probably summoned all sorts of spirits to boost his dominance. So, the Golden Eagles and Imperial Guards are likely much stronger thanks to these enhancements.”

“Oh!”

“Not to mention, that Old Sage of Mount Tai might be as powerful as a Dharma Guardian. Having made a contract with Chi You through the Offering Ceremony means they could be using divine powers. They could have become a unique threat, not just as individuals but in combined combat power.”

“But Jin So-cheong managed to push the Old Sage in a one-on-one battle!”

As I protested, Cheon Woo-jin shook his head.

“The Old Sage was pouring all his strength into maintaining the Eight Trigrams Formation on Mount Tai. Under those conditions, of course, he would lose to a peak expert like Jin So-cheong. However, we can’t even predict how strong the Old Sage would be if he concentrated all his strength instead of sustaining that formation.”

……

Is it really that serious?

Jin So-cheong, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.

“It seems Zhuge Bu and the Old Sage can’t use the commands of Chi You. If they could, they would’ve used them by now. Let’s assume the commands are only usable by the Emperor.”

“That makes sense.”

He assessed the situation coolly and shot Zhuge Sa a pointed look.

“And don’t underestimate Baek Woong. He may lack finesse, but he has a better ability to see the larger picture than anyone else here.”

When Jin So-cheong made that cutting remark, Zhuge Sa looked flustered. He seemed to have been looking for any chance to mess with me. I felt the same way about him, and I didn’t hide my discomfort. Cheon Woo-jin also looked away.

Both of them had notorious reputations for being stubborn and prideful, making them reluctant to easily acknowledge me. Jin So-cheong seemed to recognize the mood and stepped in to let me lead the conversation. I was secretly grateful.

Jin So-cheong looked back at me.

“Baek Woong, I believe you can build up your forces as much as you want. Just tell us your guidelines.”

“Hmm…”

Building forces, huh?

I racked my brain. I indeed had several seeds scattered throughout Jianghu, one being the Sword Demon’s faction and another the Thunder God Lineage. Plus, through the Fire Spirit Techniques’ recommendation, I was on track to become a disciple of the Master of the White Lotus Sect, so my influence seemed more formidable than I thought. Just having the peak experts from the Sword Demon and Thunder God Lineages join would be a tremendous boon. The connections I’d built through countless rebirths were no small matter.

But the real issue was the path ahead.

‘I promised the Thunder God Lineage to assassinate the Master of the White Lotus Sect using the power of reversal. That’s problematic.’

At that time, it seemed the best course of action. I didn’t want to leave someone so prickly and untouchable as the Master of the White Lotus Sect alone. But now that the Emperor had unexpectedly appeared as a formidable foe, I needed to reconsider that approach.

Shouldn’t I just assassinate the Emperor instead?

Having become an immensely powerful entity with the Immortality gained through the Offering Ceremony, was there really a need to take the risk of attempting to kill the Emperor with a mortal’s strength? Wouldn’t it be much easier and safer to eliminate him with divine power?

Besides, if left alone, the Master of the White Lotus Sect was remarkably passive. As long as the Black and White Lotus didn’t infiltrate the White Lotus Sect, he rarely took any active measures. Furthermore, with the possibility of becoming his disciple, killing the Emperor would actually be a much smarter move.

However, should I need to kill the Master of the White Lotus Sect, it would feel like a waste of the assasination right. Unless there’s a guarantee that the Old Ruler would aid me more than a few times, it was an incredibly precious privilege.

I had to make a choice.

Between the White Lotus Sect and the Imperial Palace, which of those massive powers should I topple first?

‘It’s quite a dilemma…’

I wanted to spill this problem to my companions in front of me, but looking around, I found no one I could openly discuss it with. Zhuge Sa was so unpredictable that there was no assurance he’d give me useful advice, while Cheon Woo-jin seemed indifferent towards my troubles and would likely just tell me to figure it out myself. Especially, he’d probably encourage me to just kill the Emperor instead of facing an unknown Master of the White Lotus Sect.

On the other hand, it was risky to consult Jin So-cheong since he was currently affiliated with the Thunder God Lineage. Given that he might prioritize the Thunder God Lineage in his response, I lacked objectivity.

Then, it’d be best to consult the Sword Demon.

After some time, I finally said, “Let me first explain my situation.”

Keeping too much from my comrades would damage the trust between us. Plus, since these three were likely to be my strongest allies in this lifetime, it’d be wise for them to know the situation. When I laid out everything I was involved in throughout this life, it took me about a meal’s time, and when I finished, Zhuge Sa looked as if he was taken aback.

“You’re saying the Sword Demon and the hidden elders of the Thunder God Lineage are involved? Are you trying to be a madman aiming for the supreme authority over Jianghu?”

“Supreme authority? No, I was just saving power for the unexpected.”

“That’s basically the same. If all the people you’ve gathered end up being allies, you’ll easily overturn Jianghu. You were a more dangerous person than you seemed.”

Zhuge Sa, still stunned, continued.

“In any case, that’s excellent news. Select the peak experts like Dokgo Seong, the Sword Demon, and Jin So-cheong to infiltrate the depths with the Golden Lamp Formation. We need to prepare for the commands!”

“Before that, we should pick and secure one of the remaining Heavenly Altars among the Five Great Mountains. Where do you all think would be best?”

At this, Zhuge Sa and Cheon Woo-jin spoke almost at the same time.

“Huashan!”

Seeing their thoughts aligned, they stared each other down, resembling a comedic skit. I was lost and turned to them with a question.

“Huashan? I’d think Songshan would be the safest bet.”

In fact, I had already received a promise of help from the zen master of the Shaolin Temple. With the high monks guarding me, conducting the Offering Ceremony would be as safe as it gets. So, I had expected a predetermined answer, but unexpectedly, the two sorcerers mentioned Huashan.

Zhuge Sa scratched his cheek and started explaining.

“If the Offering Ceremony is just a standard offering ritual, your choice of Songshan makes sense. However, the Offering Ceremony has to be kept secret, and it’s completely different from a common offering ritual. It seems Hyun didn’t explain this part to you.”

“What do you mean? What’s different from a regular offering?”

Cheon Woo-jin, who had been listening, shot me a sharp gaze.

“Think about the essence of the Offering Ceremony. It’s a ritual meant to summon either the Old Ruler or a being closely related to him directly. In other words, a being that can influence the laws of the world with just their existence is being summoned, and the ripple effects will certainly extend to the material realm.”

“Hmm!”

“Just looking at how the signs of misfortune align with such divine powers should make that clear. The arrival of transcendent beings will have a profound impact on earthly matters.”

As he mumbled, Cheon Woo-jin continued.

“If, by unfortunate chance, a malicious entity decides to wreak havoc, calamity will befall that location. The Heavenly Altar on Mount Tai still retains the barrier set by Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, making it one of the least risky spots for an Offering Ceremony. Other Heavenly Altars would be a wild card in terms of what kind of chaos the summoned being might unleash.”

With Cheon Woo-jin’s elaborate explanation, I pondered. After a moment, I grasped the meaning of his words.

“So, conducting the ceremony at Huashan would be less burdensome?”

“Exactly. If something goes awry at Songshan, there’s no telling what kind of damage the Shaolin Temple might incur due to the Offering Ceremony.”

“I see.”

“Not to say it lightly, but since the Huashan Sect has fallen, Huashan is now an unclaimed territory. There would likely be little to no casualties should something happen nearby. The downfall of the Huashan Sect is unfortunate, but given the circumstances, it’s better to conduct the ceremony there.”

……

While I could understand and accept their arguments, I felt uneasy. It was hard to keep up with a sorcerer’s logic, analyzing everything coldly in the shadow of a looming disaster. That’s when Jin So-cheong, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“Baek Woong. Isn’t it nearly time to head back to the Fire Spirit Techniques to become the disciple of the Master of the White Lotus Sect?”

“Looking at the timing, that appears to be the case.”

“I think it’d be better to gain the support of the White Lotus Sect this time.”

“…..!!”

I looked at Jin So-cheong in surprise.

Of course, I’d considered that possibility. It was a pretty solid option under the circumstances. Aligning myself with the White Lotus Sect to contain the Imperial Palace could also allow me to absorb all of their powers afterward. However, given Jin So-cheong’s affiliation with the Thunder God Lineage, it created quite an awkward choice for him. That’s why I was taken aback by his proposal.

Jin So-cheong smiled faintly.

“Don’t think too hard about it. I intend to follow you no matter your choice or decision, right or wrong. To save Mangnyang and achieve ultimate victory, we must only make the best decisions.”

“Thank you.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I realized that moments ago, I had doubted Jin So-cheong and felt stiff around him. His capacity for understanding was several times greater than mine. The breadth and generosity in his character exuded the qualities of a true noble. Indeed, Jin So-cheong was filled with the essence of a hero.

At the same time, I understood why I had found it hard to approach him until now. Being a disciple of the Thunder God Lineage or the apprentice of Lee Kwang was merely an excuse; in reality, I had felt intimidated and afraid of his incredible talent, which led me to distance myself from him unconsciously. This probably contributed to my delay in sharing memories and accepting him as a comrade.

‘Get a grip, Baek Woong.’

I steeled my resolve. I couldn’t afford to slack off anymore. I must train myself and grow so that I can keep up with heroes like Jin So-cheong or the Sword Demon. Just then, Cheon Woo-jin spoke.

“The biggest variable right now is that fox.”

“You mean Miho?”

“You mentioned Miho would take time to obtain the Moon Sovereign, but that’s something unpredictable. As your older brother predicted, if Miho gains the full support of the Queen Mother of the West, it means all the great immortals of the Celestial Realm could pour their strength into her. Being a denizen of the Celestial Realm, she’s likely far less restricted by the laws of cause and effect when receiving divine power. If the immortals are providing her information, she’ll find the sealing place of the Moon Sovereign in no time.”

“……!!”

“Every shrine, burial site, temple, and sect on the continent belonging to Taoism is a potential source of information. If they can summon the regional deities or share intelligence from their believers, the amount of data she could gather would be immense.”

I let out a low sigh at Cheon Woo-jin’s calm analysis. Zhuge Sa, who had been eavesdropping, chuckled.

“Haha… Those lofty immortals who looked down on the foxes pouring their strength into a lowly fox spirit? How amusing.”

“This isn’t something to take lightly. The Celestial Realm is aware that the Offering Ceremony has concluded and that its presider is the famous Emperor. It’ll definitely find some way to intervene in the human world, employing all methods necessary to secure the Seven Luminaries.”

“So what are you going to do about it, Baek Woong?”

“……”

After considering for a moment, I replied.

“I’ll handle that myself. Don’t worry.”

“The one who says ‘don’t worry’ is usually the one causing trouble.”

Whenever I talked to this guy, I felt like my lifespan shortened. So it was only natural for me to feel irritated.

“Shut it. Is there anything you can do besides mock me?”

“Huh? I think just listening to you is more than enough. I’m not obligated to spill everything like Hyun would.”

Zhuge Sa shrugged with a look of disbelief.

“Above all, I see this situation having little to do with my own goals. I won’t betray you, but don’t expect active support either. Giving you the Soul Exchange Technique was already a hefty sacrifice.”

That made me remember to ask, “What exactly is the Soul Exchange Technique? Is it a heretical sect’s sorcery?”

“Haha… That’s why I called it a hefty sacrifice. Handing over the highest secret of the Merchant Sect to someone who doesn’t even know if it’s a treasure or a curse is reckless. If it leaks out, thousands will kill and be killed to obtain it.”

Frowning, Zhuge Sa continued.

“If you can’t practice it properly, just quit. While the Soul Exchange Technique could be the number one secret martial art if mastered, if misused, it could turn into poison.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

Afterward, I laid out my plans to Zhuge Sa and Cheon Woo-jin.

“Jin So-cheong and I will organize the Sword Demon and the Thunder God Lineage, then return to Jinrang Valley. In the meantime, Cheon Woo-jin, you go to Huashan to search for and secure the Heavenly Altar. Zhuge Sa, you should assist Cheon Woo-jin.”

“Understood.”

“Got it.”

With a crack, I headed towards the Shadowless Gate with Jin So-cheong. The Sword Demon looked pretty surprised to see me with Jin So-cheong. I quickly explained the situation to him and shared that Jin So-cheong had allied with us by sharing his obsidian.

Impressed, the Sword Demon commented, “I see… It seems Jin So-cheong has advanced several times over compared to what I knew. You must have inherited the supreme techniques from Jang Sam-bong.”

Jin So-cheong nodded in agreement. “Yes, indeed. The Sect Leader has also achieved great success.”

“Haha, I can’t claim to compare… I suspect the martial world will soon be in upheaval.”

The Sword Demon continued, “Alright, can you elaborate on what actually happened?”

“Of course.” I recounted the entire story to the Sword Demon. As I mentioned Mangnyang’s abduction, the Sword Demon’s expression darkened.

After pondering my words for some time, he responded, “If the Old Sage of Mount Tai is the current version of the Sword Demon or Zhuque, we should consider him a serious obstacle, possibly second only to the Emperor.”

“Do you think we could rescue Mangnyang?”

“At this stage, it’s hard to say. I can’t gauge their strength until I confront them directly.”

He continued, “Also, I opposed joining forces with the Thunder God Lineage just yet. I prefer to take an independent path for the time being.”

“What?”

“Dokgo Seong shares an interest with you, but I can’t say the same for Lee Kwang. He holds a delicate, easily unsettled viewpoint on this matter. Accepting someone as unpredictable as Lee Kwang into our ranks would only turn out to be poison! As long as he’s around, I cannot ally with the Thunder God Lineage.”

……

I let out a thoughtful sigh. I understood the Sword Demon’s reasoning. He was a broad-minded and accepting individual, yet as the leader of a heretical sect, he maintained a razor-sharp distinction between friend and foe. While he bore loyalty and devotion to the country, he simultaneously held contradictions within himself and could not accept a rogue like Lee Kwang into his fold.

As I was left speechless, Jin So-cheong stepped in.

“Sword Demon, I understand the necessary truth, but I believe you can only say so much about Baek Woong’s master. In his previous life, he deceived Baek Woong in a narrow-minded and arrogant fashion, and he hasn’t been particularly helpful since. But please don’t judge all of his worth based solely on that.”

“I apologize to you, his direct disciple, but I believe I know all there is to know about Lee Kwang. He is undoubtedly an exceptional martial artist, but his beliefs are not complete. Similarly, I think he won’t tolerate being a tail to a bull.”

Jin So-cheong remained silent for a moment before continuing.

“Your master only needs a catalyst. He has endured the cycle of fate just like me. And I believe that catalyst can be provided by Baek Woong.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have seen his true character that you both could not recognize. If he resolves his contradictions, he could become a far more dependable ally than anyone else.”

“……”

The Sword Demon sighed deeply.

“I’ll leave it to your judgment, Baek Woong. What do you plan to do?”

After a period of contemplation, I replied, “This will lead to a grand battle shaking the world, so we’ll need Lee Kwang’s assistance. I will trust Jin So-cheong’s words.”

“Hmm… In that case, there’s no other choice. I shall prepare to join forces with the Thunder God Lineage soon.”

“Thank you.”

I wasn’t trusting Lee Kwang; I was trusting Jin So-cheong. Thus, I merely substituted my faith in Jin So-cheong for my trust in Lee Kwang. I believed that was the most suitable approach for managing my comrades.

‘Trust is really a difficult thing.’

Building trust between humans is even harder than searching for the top martial arts technique in the world. I marveled at just how intricate connections could truly be. No matter how many lives I lived, the answers still seemed elusive.

After a while, the Sword Demon offered some advice.

“For now, I think it’d be best to lift the seal on Xuyou and become a disciple of the Master of the White Lotus Sect. We should use whatever means are available to us.”

“Is that the best way?”

“And if you join the White Lotus Sect, there’s one thing you must find out.”

“What is it?”

The Sword Demon looked at me with serious eyes and said, “The method to create the Heavenly Spirit Pill.”

“Hmm… !!”

“This is something you absolutely have to uncover by any means necessary.”

The Sword Demon’s words hit me with weight.

“As long as the White Lotus Sect monopolizes the Heavenly Spirit Pill, no matter how many times you reincarnate, the balance of power won’t shift.”

 

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