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I stepped out from Master of the White Lotus Sect’s presence, mulling over my thoughts.

‘Convincing the Thunder God Lineage…?’

Even with five days, it seemed impossible. Definitely impossible. Even Dokgo Seong, with his mild demeanor, had given a decisive order to assassinate the master. The hostility toward the White Lotus Sect was that high. It’s not an exaggeration to say that not a single member among the Thunder God Lineage’s successors could negotiate with the White Lotus Sect.

Purge meant their sect would be shattered and the masters of the Merchant Sect would be unjustly slain, so it was unavoidable.

Since I had no personal grievance, I pondered whether I truly had to take down the White Lotus Sect, allowing for compromise and use. However, for the rest of the Thunder God warriors, choices like mine were out of the question. Lost in thought, Han Baek-ryeong, who was walking beside me, spoke up.

“The master said five days, but I know it’s not something that can be resolved overnight.”

Looking at Han Baek-ryeong, she continued, “Stay relaxed. This maiden will help you.”

One of the few who understood the treachery between the White Lotus Sect and the Thunder God Lineage well, unlike the master, Han Baek-ryeong sympathized with the Thunder God’s predicament. With her saying that, I found it much easier to proceed.

“Understood.”

We returned to the Han Clan using the Spirit of Flame. Following Han Jin-seong, I opened the door to a certain room. Inside lay a beautifully aged sword resting on a white jade pedestal, quietly glowing with power.

“This sword is the Yongyeon. Please take it.”

“……”

Second time hearing this line.

I had previously received the Yongyeon sword from Han Jin-seong as a heartfelt gift in exchange for refusing to marry Han Ji-hwa. Now, the circumstances were different, and I gazed at Han Jin-seong suspiciously, asking, “Why are you giving me a divine sword like the Yongyeon?”

“First, I want to strengthen the ties between you and the White Lotus. Second, I hope you become stronger.”

“What do you mean?”

Han Jin-seong chuckled. “There are very few swords better than the Yongyeon in the world. This sword is imbued with spirit energy, making it unlikely to break or dull, maintaining its edge. As a swordsman, you know how crucial the quality of a weapon can be.”

“… Hmm.”

“In future fights against equals and above, the weapon will become significant.”

Han Jin-seong’s gaze shifted toward my waist, where my sword—a dull iron blade snagged from the Great Dragon Merchant Association—had lost its edge due to constant battles.

Indeed, when two experts are of equal level, the one wielding an iron sword can never hope to match someone with the Yongyeon sword. No matter how much I tried to enhance my skill or pursue the path of a no-sword master, a famous sword offered undeniable advantages.

“I’ll gratefully accept it.”

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“Regarding the matter you requested about accepting the Huashan Sect characters, I passed that to the True Heaven Alliance. Master Wei Zhi-hun will handle it.”

I frowned at Han Jin-seong’s response. “Isn’t that a bit irresponsible? These are people we brought with the Thunder God Lineage.”

Han Jin-seong shrugged. “I thought the same, but this is a critical time. We can’t risk revealing the secrets of our Thunder God Lineage to outsiders. Moreover, the annihilation of the Huashan Sect is essentially the True Heaven Alliance’s responsibility, so it couldn’t be helped.”

“Will they be safe?”

“Absolutely. Master Wei Zhi-hun is very strong and upright. If he declares protection, no sect in the world would dare touch the Huashan experts.”

“Thank goodness.”

“However, living in the True Heaven Alliance will be tough; they’ll have to endure some challenges.”

“Hmm.”

Han Jin-seong’s words seemed harsh but were grounded in reality. Neither he nor I had any reason to go out of our way for the Huashan experts.

“If you’d like, I can arrange for you to meet Wei Zhi-hun.”

“No. I can’t afford to be preoccupied with that right now.”

“Good choice.”

After discussing a few more crucial matters with Han Jin-seong, I exited the Thunder God Lineage. Though I could have swiftly headed to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School from there, I felt compelled to first visit the ruins of Xuyou where the Black and White Lotus had once dwelled.

As I arrived at the pond atop the ruins, I noticed that my stash from the Black and White Lotus’s space was half-filled. After a significant time, it seemed the Black and White Lotus began to sprout again. Even if it was a rapid growth for a lotus, I found it fascinating.

‘Though the flowers haven’t bloomed yet, they’ve grown pretty well. Maybe it will take about three years to fully mature?’

I wondered if it needed even more time, but considering its current state, that seemed plausible. Perhaps I could cultivate the Black and White Lotus continuously. Shaking off such thoughts, I moved back underground.

I believed I had collected everything needed, including gold bars, from these ruins. Yet, something felt amiss, prompting me to come back for a direct inspection. Finally, I delved into the deepest depths of the ruins and stumbled upon a statue of Jeon Wook, Sovereign of the Three Sovereigns.

From what I had heard from Mangnyang before, the oracle bone script inscribed on this statue read:

[Ah, the passage between Heaven and Earth in the North has collapsed.

The Divine Child, High Yang Shi, returns at the Emperor’s call.

He left behind the methods of water control in response to humanity’s plea.

Thus, he marks this with the Mo Ya.]

Mangnyang had hypothesized that Jeon Wook returned due to the northern passage while leaving behind the hidden power of Mo Ya as water control. He also figured out that the second sealing of Mo Ya resided at the North Pole based on clues from the ruins. In retrospect, Jeon Wook’s oracle bone script seemed almost useless now.

As I fiddled with the statue, I murmured, “This statue itself holds value.”

I was convinced I would need this statue. To summon the Three Sovereigns, a material corresponding to them was essential. However, I couldn’t sacrifice Mo Ya itself as an offering because that was simply too precious, and I lacked any other worthy offerings. Therefore, I needed something related to the Three Sovereigns, and in my memory, this statue of Jeon Wook fit that role perfectly.

Indeed.

If I used this statue as a medium, there was a good chance Jeon Wook, the Sovereign of the Three Sovereigns, could be summoned.

Moreover, as one of the Three Sovereigns, he held a higher status than the Four Sovereigns Changhil. I would discover ancient secrets while also gaining a means to counter Changhil’s command. I tucked the statue into my wooden armor and settled on the ground of the dim cave.

“I need to look for more artifacts of the other Three Sovereigns.”

Thinking back, I had undergone countless reincarnations but knew almost nothing about the Three Sovereigns. I didn’t need legends of the Three Sovereigns found in ancient historical texts. I had to uncover the essence of divine beings significant enough to make deals on par with the Old Ruler. To do so, I needed to gather clues from Xuyou, collect the Seven Luminaries, and obtain any artifacts left by the Three Sovereigns.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. ‘What if the Three Sovereigns turn out to be enemies?’

If that happened, would I have to fight and defeat them? But how? I couldn’t even think about defeating someone as powerful as the Apostle Daji of the Old Ruler, let alone the Creator God of China. Though I had many actions available as a human, the realization that my enemy might be a god left me feeling blocked and overwhelmed.

No, before that, I didn’t even know what relationship existed between the Three Sovereigns and the Old Ruler. I didn’t understand why they created the Seven Luminaries or what complex contracts led to that point in history. The historical Three Sovereigns and the divine Three Sovereigns were worlds apart.

At the same time, I began to understand why Mangnyang had been so obsessed with the Offering Ceremony.

To contend with an existence like a god, I had to unearth their secrets and rise to their level. Over my repeated lives with the Heavenly Secret, while I could somehow eliminate the Master of the White Lotus or the Emperor, the only way to confront a god would be to gain divine power. Mangnyang must have thought of granting me strength through the Ceremony.

I clenched my fist tightly.

“Right. No matter what, I need to storm the Imperial Palace and rescue Mangnyang!”

First and foremost, Mangnyang had to be there for anything to happen. With a deep breath, I steeled my resolve. I might be getting dragged into an utterly absurd mess from now on, but it had to be done. If I falter along the way, it would mean Mangnyang’s death for real.

I set off for Huashan. I hadn’t figured out where the Heavenly Altar was located on Huashan during my last visit, so I searched the mountain peaks, leaping in pursuit of the altar. While practicing the Soul Removal Technique to traverse the heights, I heard the voice of Cheon Woo-jin broadcasting his Long-Distance Spell.

[Come this way! Over here.]

Eventually, I followed the voice of Cheon Woo-jin to find him standing alongside Zhuge Sa. This was it—the Heavenly Altar of Huashan, where the ruins of the Heavenly Altar remained intact. Unexpectedly, there were also three Portrait Immortals standing there.

“Wait…?”

As I stared at the Portrait Immortals in confusion, Zhuge Sa chuckled.

“I made them using the Crystal Stele. Pretty good, right?”

“Why did you create Portrait Immortals? For offerings?”

“You’re quick on the uptake. Since the Offering Ceremony is a type of Offering Ritual, sacrifices are quintessential.”

“But why all three are women?”

Not only that, but all three Portrait Immortals were stunning beauties. With ample bosoms and lithe waists, it was clear what Zhuge Sa’s preferences were.

‘He prefers beautiful women.’

When I gave an incredulous expression, Zhuge Sa let out a peculiar laugh.

“I don’t want to create a handsome man.”

“……”

“What’s crucial in the Offering Ceremony isn’t the harmony of Yin and Yang or the Eight Trigrams so fret not.”

Cheon Woo-jin, leaning against a tree, chimed in.

“The key points are order, rights, qualifications, and timing.”

“I hold the rights. What about the rest?”

“I’ve inherited the proceedings of the Offering Ceremony from my older brother, so no need to worry about that. Timing just means picking a period when the celestial energies are strong, which I can also control with heavenly laws, so it’s all good.”

Cheon Woo-jin, having explained this, turned his sharp gaze toward me.

“The most crucial factor is indeed the qualifications…”

“Qualifications? How does that differ from rights?”

“Qualifications are literally the minimum qualifications. While you’ve been granted the right to perform the Offering Ceremony, whether the summoned Three Sovereigns grant you power is another matter.”

“……”

I pondered Cheon Woo-jin’s words and found them absurd.

“Wait…? So, you’re telling me that the current Emperor had the qualifications to receive divine powers?”

“Essentially, yes. Because the Four Sovereigns, Changhil, judged him suitable, he was granted immortality and divine command.”

“Damn it!!”

I exploded with rage.

“That so-called Emperor has slaughtered his own kin for the sake of power, spreading havoc across the world and inciting bandits and treachery, becoming a tyrant! He’ll even stoop to bargain with lesser beings for human sacrifices; how can such a villain have the qualifications to gain divine power?!”

“Don’t vent your anger on me. The situation speaks for itself; what can I do?”

Cheon Woo-jin retorted bluntly.

“And don’t judge a god’s perspective with human measures. To them, whether someone governs well or has good character is secondary. From the perspective of the Creator God, the Three Sovereigns, what does it matter if humans govern well?”

“Hmm.”

That was true.

“Perhaps there exists a standard exclusive to gods.”

“What might that standard be?”

“I don’t know. Even Mangnyang said he couldn’t grasp that standard. What’s certain is that the Emperor somehow satisfied that criterion.”

“……”

“Even using the prohibition law to probe the heavenly secrets, I’ve been unable to discern anything due to the tight vigilance of the Celestial Realm.”

Beside us, Zhuge Sa giggled.

“Don’t be too intimidated. Even if we mess this up, I’ve prepared offerings to at least appease them, right? Gods are similar to spoiled children, so just treat them like that.”

“You speak so easily. If things go wrong, we are all doomed.”

“So what if we die? In the end, it’s all the same, right? Well, I suppose you’d rather not go, knowing the truth about the afterlife.”

Zhuge Sa murmured, patting my shoulder.

“The point is whether you are worthy of being acknowledged by a god. This is something we cannot do anything about, so think comfortably.”

“I understand.”

“Hehe. This is why I like you. That look of yours shows a recognition of death which I really appreciate.”

“We have no time, let’s get started quickly.”

Regardless of Zhuge Sa’s ranting, I strolled slowly towards the Heavenly Altar and stood firmly. Cheon Woo-jin shot a glance at my hand and remarked.

“The statue of Jeon Wook, huh. Do you wish to summon him?”

“Of course.”

“A fine choice.”

With that, Cheon Woo-jin began to infuse energy into the flags he’d set up beforehand, while Zhuge Sa stationed the Portrait Immortals near the altar in the formation of the Three Talents. As both extraordinary sorcerers supported the ceremony, the Heavenly Altar rapidly responded.

Woo-woo-wooong

Eventually, azure spirit energy flowed from the altar, gradually giving rise to a sphere of darkness.

The dark sphere briefly interacted with the statue I held, beginning to draw the Eight Trigrams in the air.

Ku-goo-goo-goo…

As the Eight Trigrams slowly settled upon the Heavenly Altar, the dark clouds overhead escalated. It was as if thick clouds enveloped the heavens, swallowing every last ray of sunlight. Just when the universe was completely engulfed in darkness…

“Is that…?”

Cheon Woo-jin mumbled in a hushed tone. Sure enough, from the void, a bizarre ghost leaped forth alongside a faint light, emerging as the legendary being known as Doo-all. With a human face and a body resembling a tiger, though larger than a tiger, its legs made it appear utterly strange. Known for its combative nature, I had no choice but to remain tense.

No, Doo-all was only the beginning. Soon after, legendary creatures like the Mangnyang Ghost, Hakui, and Little Ghost began to manifest, as seen within the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Each of them brought forth swarms of creatures, their numbers filling the void, possibly reaching thousands.

Ku-o-o-o–

After the apparitions made their entrance, divine light began to manifest and float around. They appeared to be lower deities like the God of Music, Na Dong, or the Prince Longqin, or Gongseon.

Their godly aura was impressively potent, barely distinguishable from the breath emitted by the Sword Master, Yeodong-bin. They too seemed to embody divine status.

The youkai and deities stood in formation after summoning, perfectly aligning into some sort of arrangement. It appeared they were preparing for some procession, creating stairs in the void as the darkness warped around the light.

This overwhelming convergence of spiritual, demonic, and divine energies presented itself, seemingly embodying the primordial chaos, here in this space.

Moments later, the heavens parted.

Alongside the ripping sound of reality, an immense being revealed its hand. As that colossal hand diminished, something wearing an imperial crown descended from the sky. This presence, though not extraordinarily vast compared to the youkai or divine beings, radiated an overwhelming pressure, nearly making me gasp.

‘… Huh…’

It felt just like when I first encountered the Old Ruler!

Struggling to lift my gaze towards the darkness, the being unveiled its identity to the realm, declaring, “I am Jeon Wook, the Emperor, of the Five Emperors. Who has summoned me?”

Thus, the Offering Ceremony commenced.

 

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