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As we breached the outer wall of the Imperial Palace, I witnessed the peak experts of the White Lotus Sect charging towards the Imperial Guards stationed there. The colonel waved his hands, yelling, “Stop the enemies!!”

I couldn’t help but grunt under my breath as I noticed thousands of guards assembled in the grand plaza.

“That’s a lot!”

Every single one of them was fully armed and trained in the martial arts! Their formation resembled a mountain range, exuding an intimidating pressure. In contrast, the handful of experts from the White Lotus Sect attacking them numbered only around six or seven. It looked like throwing eggs at a rock!

Then, boom! The guards started firing cannons. One of the White Lotus experts, unable to evade a cannonball, took a direct hit. The barrage rained down like a thunderstorm.

Boom, boom… But when the smoke cleared, there stood the same White Lotus expert, unharmed. Clad in dark robes with water patterns stitched on the back, he wore a mask. He surrounded himself with a transparent protective energy.

“……!!”

“Goodness!”

We gasped in astonishment at the display of martial prowess.

Blocking cannon fire with protective energy! While peak experts typically use energy to block strong attacks, cannon fire was a different game. No matter how much one gathers their qi, physical attacks like cannonballs should be tough to stop. Yet, this expert had managed to absorb the force of dozens of cannon shots with his bare body. I had no idea if I could even achieve that!

The Sword Demon muttered thoughtfully, “Hmmm… Was he trying to take the hit on purpose?”

One could easily predict where a cannon would fire and dodge it. The fact that he got hit seemed like a show-off of his protective energy’s power. Sure enough, the sight struck fear into the hearts of the palace guards.

“Oh my!”

“It’s a monster!”

As the White Lotus expert approached the guards, he swung his palm, unleashing his energy. The light radiating from his power swept through the guards in waves, obliterating dozens in an instant. They had trained hard but couldn’t withstand the onslaught from the White Lotus experts.

“Aaaah!”

“Fight back! We can’t back down!!”

Boom!!

Screams echoed as chaos erupted, and the formation of the guards crumbled. The White Lotus peak experts slaughtered like lions among sheep, with no one daring to fight back. Even while unleashing their power, they seemed to show no signs of fatigue.

We hesitated to jump in, but then one of the White Lotus experts appeared near us with agile movements. He, too, wore a mask and crossed his arms, addressing us coldly.

“You should go to the inner palace. The Sect Leader awaits you.”

“Will you really not help?”

“The Elder Council will soon join the fight, so fret not.”

Soon enough, Elder Council experts began to show up, assisting the White Lotus peak experts at the front. As dozens of top-tier experts rampaged, the guards were overwhelmed, and hell broke loose.

Even as thousands of guards attempted to reinforce, there seemed to be little worry for the White Lotus experts. Experts from the Wind Spirit Sect and Fire Spirit Techniques also flocked in, engaging in direct combat. While the palace’s numbers were overwhelmingly larger, the difference in skill was staggering.

“Then…”

Bam! We decided to escape the battlefield by scaling the rooftops, heading towards the inner palace. The sounds of clashing weapons and shouting filled the air; this was true warfare.

Just then, a White Lotus expert screamed as he was brutally killed. His limbs were sent flying in a gruesome display.

“That bastard!!”

His companions rushed in, enraged, and attacked the nearest enemies. Were they from the Wind Spirit Sect? They launched an attack with furious blade energy, and ‘that thing’ howled and swung its arm violently.

Crash!

“Ghaaa!”

An incredible force and speed! Five Wind Spirit experts charged at once, but in an instant, three were killed. Looking more closely, ‘that thing’ was no longer shaped like a human but was morphing, its head resembling that of a lizard and its body covered in dark scales. At that moment, Dokgo Seong shouted sharply.

“It’s a Dragon Person!”

“They must have started deploying the superhuman soldiers.”

Seeing the Imperial Guards unable to fight back, it seemed they decided to counter with these superhumans instead.

Rumbling…

As expected, Dragon persons emerged from various corners, all resembling black dragons, shifting before our eyes into their monstrous forms.

The Sword Demon said, “Confronting them head-on is foolish. We should flee quickly.”

With the gathered experts, we could probably take down ten Dragon persons. But we had no idea how many would emerge, and the true enemies were those creatures.

Standing next to me, Zhuge Sa chuckled. “Leave it to me!”

With a wave, Zhuge Sa cast a talisman into the air, conjuring a dark veil around us. The veil enveloped us, leaving the Dragon persons flummoxed just inches away.

When Zhuge Sa took a step, the Dragon persons passed right by us, oblivious. Intrigued, I asked, “Is this heretical magic?”

“I’ve harmonized it with the aura of the otherworldly. Don’t attack them, or it will break.”

“Got it.”

We began to move deeper into the palace, slipping through the Dragon persons’ circle. Behind us, we could hear the sounds of the White Lotus experts clashing with the Dragon persons and demons. Even the peak experts from the White Lotus seemed to be having a tough time against the innate abilities of the Dragon persons.

Finally, when we reached the innermost area in front of the Emperor’s Great Dragon Hall, there stood the Sect Leader and three Dharma Protectors. The Sect Leader glanced my way, speaking with a hint of scorn.

[You’re late.]

It was my first time seeing the true appearance of the White Lotus Sect leader!

He wore a purple cloak adorned with gold threads and a crown atop his head. His face was masked with a featureless expression that sent chills down spines.

Surprisingly, he appeared quite small, with narrow shoulders—definitely not the build of someone skilled in martial arts. Yet I could clearly sense the terrifying power radiating from him.

The Sect Leader said, “There seems to be a powerful barrier around the Great Dragon Hall. Is there a way to breach it?”

Feeling the pressure, Cheon Woo-jin cast a glance at the Great Dragon Hall before replying, “I’ll operate the Eight Trigrams Formation from the outside; go inside.”

[Oh… Is that possible?]

The Sect Leader expressed amazement. “Baek Woong, you have good companions.”

“……”

I felt trapped, not knowing how to respond, as I still didn’t grasp the Sect Leader’s true intentions. One thing was clear, though; he didn’t seem to plan on attacking the Thunder God lineage here.

With a crack, Cheon Woo-jin seemed to be creating a gap in the Eight Trigrams Formation, forming a visible tear in the seemingly solid Great Dragon Hall. It looked as if the void itself had distorted, revealing a pathway. Cheon Woo-jin warned us, “Only those confident in their protection should enter! Entering with half-hearted skills could lead to certain death.”

[Indeed… We need to deal with the riffraff first.]

Sensing the approach of superhuman soldiers, the Sect Leader clenched his fist in irritation. “Die!”

Boom!

“Gaaaaa!”

Everyone in the hall gasped in disbelief. With just a clenched fist, more than twenty Dragon persons that had rushed in were obliterated in an instant. Their combat ability rivaled peak experts, yet they were annihilated, surpassing any of human martial prowess. Even the Dharma Protectors and I could not replicate such power.

Fear gripped the remaining Dragon persons as they backed away. The Sect Leader glanced around before saying, “Myself and the Dharma Protectors will enter. Baek Woong, do you want to join?”

“Of course.”

[I will go first.]

With that, the Sect Leader and the Dharma Protectors entered the Great Dragon Hall. Zhuge Sa said, “Baek Woong, don’t go in.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s better to wait here and take down whoever survives the fight between the Sect Leader and the Emperor.”

This unexpected suggestion from Zhuge Sa caught me off guard. As I stared at him, the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong chimed in.

“That sounds reasonable.”

“It seems unlikely that you’d be of aid by going in.”

There was a consensus building that we didn’t need to follow the Sect Leader in. Zhuge Sa’s suggestion appeared sane, especially since the mutual destruction of the Emperor and the Sect Leader was appealing to us.

However, after a moment of contemplation, I replied, “No. I must follow.”

“Why?”

“The Sect Leader is not someone to be taken lightly. I feel if I try to sneak a move, I would simply fall into his true trap. It’s better to keep a close eye on his actions.”

Through my past lives, I had encountered the White Lotus Sect Leader indirectly many times. What I observed was that despite appearing slow and clumsy, he maneuvered the entire battlefield with cunning and skill. He was aware we’d likely be left behind, yet it felt like he was testing our reactions.

“Hmmm…”

The Sword Demon, lost in thought, asked, “Is that your intuition?”

“Yes.”

“Then we should trust it.”

Accepting my words, the Sword Demon turned to the others. “Let’s secure our escape route while we wait.”

“Understood!!”

The experts from the Shadowless Sect rallied behind the Sword Demon, their resolve shining through. Dokgo Seong added, “Baek Woong, choose someone to accompany you. Preferably someone helpful.”

Without hesitation, I replied, “I’ll go in alone.”

“What?”

“It’s the best option.”

Having received protection from the Sovereign Jeon Wook, I had a solid resistance to commands. I could even share that power with nearby allies, but since the outcome was uncertain, it was best that I went in by myself for a quick exit if necessary.

“Well… Do as you will.”

Though Dokgo Seong and the Sword Demon looked bewildered by my decision, they soon accepted it. Just then, Lee Kwang chimed in, “I want to go too.”

“What?”

“I’m confident I won’t be a hindrance.”

I shot back coldly at Lee Kwang’s proposal. “No. Bringing you along wouldn’t help at all.”

“……”

“If you want to bully me with your strength, go ahead. But this isn’t your time to shine.”

Feeling humiliated, Lee Kwang trembled. Yet suddenly, he kneeled before me, lowering his head.

“……!!”

“Please, I must meet the Emperor.”

Who would have thought the great Lee Kwang would kneel? I was taken aback, as were the others, including Jin So-cheong. No one around here was oblivious to Lee Kwang’s immense pride. To see such a proud man humble himself like this was shocking.

Letting out a sigh, I replied, “What do you want with the Emperor? At this point, killing him is the only option left.”

“I know that. But I must meet him to confirm something. Please take me.”

“Hmm…”

“It is my lifelong wish.”

Feeling Jin So-cheong’s gaze on me, I could see him frowning at the scene. It can’t be easy watching one’s only master kneel like that.

“Damn it.”

I relented. “…Alright, follow me. But if things go awry, don’t expect me to save you.”

“Of course. I will protect myself.”

“Understood.”

Bang!

We entered the Great Dragon Hall together. As soon as we stepped in, the once regal palace felt like a cave filled with demonic energy. The scenery shifted in an instant, indicating it had been excessively tainted by mana, morphing into an otherworldly realm.

In my ear, Cheon Woo-jin’s voice rang out, “Though the gap in the Eight Trigrams is vague, continue moving forward. If you aren’t through the formation in a quarter of an hour, you will die!”

I decided to heed Cheon Woo-jin’s advice. “We need to pass through the palace within a quarter of an hour, right to the throne room.”

“Got it.”

With swift movements, Lee Kwang and I launched forward.

Screech!

Suddenly, Dragon persons and demons appeared from all directions. They charged at us with astonishing speed. When I parried one’s claw attack with my sword, I felt a jarring impact. Their destructive potential was off the charts!

‘Damn… Without the Mind Control Technique, I can’t possibly win against their physical abilities.’

Though they appeared superior to the outer guards, I grew increasingly aware of the real threat posed by these superhumans. If peak experts like myself were to confront them recklessly, the situation could spiral out of control.

Clang!

“Gah!”

Lee Kwang cried out, clearly struggling with his bouts against the five Dragon persons. The superhumans were simply not meant to be fought by mere humans; it was groundbreaking that he was even holding his own.

With no other choice, I summoned the power of the Water Element Divine Sword.

“Scream, Water Element Divine Sword!!”

Shing!

The silvery sword lunged out, shining like the sun. In that moment, the Water Element Divine Sword acted as if it were alive, cutting through space to slash down our enemies in one fell swoop. In an instant, the five attacking Dragon persons were reduced to puddles!

Thump!

“Huff… Huff…”

“You alright?”

Lee Kwang was already looking exhausted. It was only natural given he faced five formidable opponents. Gritting his teeth, he urged me, “Let’s hurry to the Emperor!”

I felt a strange sense of urgency emanating from Lee Kwang. His fixation almost seemed like madness. I suspected it was connected to his twisted sense of loyalty and fanaticism. So I warned him, “If you end up being controlled by the Emperor, I won’t hesitate to cut you down.”

“You do what you want.”

Bang!

More Dragon persons charged in relentlessly. With the Sect Leader and Dharma Protectors having already passed, bodies of both Dragon persons and demons littered the floor, yet they continued to surge forward, suggesting there could be hundreds hiding in the Great Dragon Hall. The potential was staggering.

‘This is madness…’

It was becoming clear that taking down the Emperor without the White Lotus’s assistance was nonsensical. Encountering the support from the Three Sovereigns was eye-opening, I could feel a surge of resentment rising within me.

Shining bright, my Water Element Divine Sword wailed and emitted a silver glow. Each slash seemed to empower it further, emanating a powerful aura. I wanted to check if Yeodong-bin was planning to descend, but there wasn’t a sign she intended to join the fray.

Emerging through the bright passage, I felt we were finally out of the Eight Trigrams.

“A moment’s peace,” I muttered.

Covered in the blood of the Dragon persons, the dusty air of the secret chamber felt grimy. Just as I sighed in relief, Lee Kwang spoke with a voice filled with horror. “That weapon is truly a divine weapon… to easily slay those monsters.”

“Don’t covet it. I almost lost my life several times trying to obtain this.”

“……”

Just then, a surprised voice broke through the darkness. “What in the world… is there a calamity approaching the Imperial Palace?”

Turning to the source, we found an old man and a middle-aged man standing there.

What was shocking was that they were both foreigners from the West. With golden hair and blue eyes, they were clearly colorful-eyed individuals. As I tried to decipher their identities, the elderly one stepped forward, bowing his head.

“I am Matteo Ricci, dispatched to the Great Ming Empire on behalf of the Society of Jesus… and this is my bodyguard, Hans Talhoffer.”

The brown-haired middle-aged man nodded, appearing to be a peak expert in sword techniques.

“……?”

I was utterly baffled by their sudden appearance.

Missionaries?

What on earth were they doing at the palace at this moment?

Before I could respond, Matteo Ricci spoke up again. “We came here after hearing rumors that the Emerald Tablet was at the Imperial Palace, but it seems like there’s quite the ruckus. We should take our leave.”

“Wait! What do you mean…?”

“I feel an Apostle is about to descend. You all should escape as well.”

Matteo Ricci conjured a strange door with a fish-like pattern in the air and vanished alongside Hans Talhoffer. It seemed they unexpectedly wandered in, then promptly left. Though flustered by this unanticipated meeting, one thing was clear.

‘An Apostle!’

Does this mean Daji will reappear soon?

Just then, I heard Cheon Woo-jin’s voice. “It seems like you’ve traversed the Eight Trigrams well. From what I gather, the Sect Leader and the Emperor are currently facing off in the throne room. Hurry!”

There was no time to dawdle. The real battle awaited right before my eyes.

 

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