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00360  The Celestial Realm  ————————————————————————=

Han Baek-ryeong was examining me, her gaze filled with curiosity.

“Indeed, you seem to have considerable skill. Your internal power is impressive…”

“Before the Dharma Protector, I’m like a firefly in the presence of the sun.”

“Not quite. It’s more like the difference between the sea and a river.”

“……”

After this unusual analogy, Han Baek-ryeong relaxed her pipe and continued.

“Who are you? I’ve never seen anyone like you in the peak Thunder God lineage.”

“Do you think I’ve achieved ‘Half-Transition Master’?”

“Of course. Then it’s hard to believe you’ve attained such internal power at your age?”

“I’m not that old. The Half-Transition Master is just a misconception.”

As I replied, Han Baek-ryeong fell silent, staring at me intensely before suddenly tossing her pipe at me.

It looked slow, almost as if it was suspended in the air, but in reality, it came hurtling forward with immense force. What was visible was not its current position; it was definitely an illusion conjured by a mind control technique. In that fleeting moment, I understood her move and gritted my teeth, channeling all my strength into my sword to face it.

KABOOM!

A massive roar echoed, and I was flung backward, rolling on the ground. Han Baek-ryeong, meanwhile, calmly retrieved her pipe as she approached me.

“This was an Absolute Slash executed with my signature Sword Soul Technique.”

She spoke with a cold tone.

“And even the so-called peak experts from the Jianghu wouldn’t be able to defend against that strike. Yet you’ve received it without damaging your weapon. This means your internal power ranks among the best, excluding the Dharma Protectors.”

Gulp.

“It seems you haven’t sustained any internal injuries either. Truly remarkable internal power.”

Han Baek-ryeong said with admiration, though her demeanor remained icy.

“Such internal power is only held by Grand Master Myung-ho in the current martial world. And you still claim it’s not ‘Half-Transition Master’?”

“Whether you believe it or not, it’s true. I merely gained a fortuitous encounter with a spiritual pill.”

“Hmm.”

After adjusting her pipe, Han Baek-ryeong said,

“Anyway, this is fine. If the Sect Leader recognizes you, then I will have no choice but to follow suit. However, if anything happens to the Young Maiden or the Fire Spirit Techniques, I won’t let you off easily.”

“……”

“Then rest easy.”

Whoosh!

Han Baek-ryeong vanished in a flash of flame, probably using the Fire Spirit’s teleportation technique I had only heard about from Mangnyang. They said it combines profound grace with extreme offensive power.

‘Rest easy? Easy for her to say.’

While grumbling internally, I realized that the Sect Leader’s actions were indeed unprecedented. Despite the considerable distance from Luoyang to Jangryeong Valley, Han Baek-ryeong’s personal visit meant that my existence was indeed significant. Perhaps the Sect Leader had heard about the possibility of having me as a Dharma Protector. This action seemed to be both a measure against me and a process to gather information.

Once Han Baek-ryeong disappeared, I went to find Sibi, who had been waiting outside. She seemed to have fainted from the earlier explosion, so I injected some internal power to wake her. When she finally stirred, I let out a sigh.

“I’m glad you’re not dead. You’ve picked up some martial skills yourself.”

“The previous Lord of Jangryeong taught me. But that explosion was still too much.”

That made sense. She had been injured during that encounter, and we needed to address her wounds too. A regular person wouldn’t have survived such a power explosion and might have even died instead of just fainting. Thanking my luck, I said,

“Anyway, let’s head to General Hwang Yeon.”

“Yes.”

Following her lead, I reached the residence of General Hwang Yeon. He was dressed in white, quietly reading a book when I arrived, and he closed it as I approached.

“You’ve come.”

“How is your health, General?”

“I’m fine. The air is good here, and the food is delicious.”

As he replied, Hwang Yeon gazed at me intently.

“I see you’ve also caught the attention of the Master of the White Lotus Sect.”

“It’s embarrassing, but yes.”

“Ha… Can you explain how this all came to pass? I unexpectedly found myself competing with the Imperial Palace due to the sponsorship of the Master.”

I had no choice but to recount how I had become embroiled with the Master of the White Lotus Sect. Hwang Yeon listened attentively before saying,

“Is it a blessing in disguise for both of us? You’ve been elevated within the White Lotus Sect, and I’ve unexpectedly gained the support of the strongest force in the martial world.”

“Don’t joke. The Sect Leader is just keeping me alive as a pastime. If I’m no longer needed or they tire of me, they’ll kill me at any moment.”

I replied with distaste, causing Hwang Yeon to chuckle softly.

“That applies to you and everyone else. Which being in the Central Plains can evade the Master of the White Lotus Sect? The difference is, you’re close to her while others are not.”

“Um…”

“If such a being possesses such absolute power, it’s wiser to win them over rather than make them an enemy. That’s why the Great Ming Empire has never interfered with the White Lotus Sect since it was established in Gansu Province. The Sect Leader could have assassinated the Emperor at any time.”

“Phew, I’m overwhelmed with what to do next.”

Hwang Yeon chuckled and then handed me a book.

“What’s this?”

“It’s one of the Seven Books of Military Classics called the Book of Sima. I ran out of things to do while waiting for you, so I started reading it. The previous Lord of Jangryeong seemed to like books quite a lot as there are all sorts of them piled here.”

I stared at him, baffled.

“The Book of Sima is a military treatise. How is this useful to me?”

“Ha ha.”

Hwang Yeon simply smiled without saying anything more. I had to receive the Book of Sima and only then did Hwang Yeon continue.

“You grumble about your predicament, but I can sense that you have hidden ambitions. As long as you don’t give up, a way will open. So keep your heart steady and aim for good results.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll do my best in my own way.”

I stepped back from Hwang Yeon. It seemed he was trying to think positively about our current situation, which, in some sense, might indeed be a blessing in disguise for him. However, I couldn’t share such optimistic thoughts.

Explosion! Wooden Armor!

The Heavenly Secret had been recovered due to the Sect Leader’s whims, but losing the teleportation and storehouse was a painful loss. Moreover, hadn’t I lost all sorts of treasures to the Sect Leader? The thought that the sect leader might misuse my spiritual pills or grimoires was simmering inside me.

‘I feel like jumping off a cliff and restarting my life.’

But I held back. As long as I lived, I could eventually rise again. The longer I stayed alive, the more information I could accumulate for the next life. I steeled myself to endure shame and loss, vowing to survive as best as I could.

And right now, I needed to cut off contact with Mangnyang as much as possible. It seemed he had narrowly escaped the Sect Leader’s clutches but who knew how long he could keep it up? I had to avoid contacting Mangnyang first, or the Sect Leader would snag him too, so focusing on my life in the White Lotus Sect was my only option.

It would be better to visit Mangnyang at a crucial moment.

“The Lord of Jangryeong calls for you.”

The next day, upon the Sect Leader’s summoning, I headed to the Lord’s chamber. Upon arrival, I was surprised to find unexpected figures standing there.

“……!!”

Dokgo Jun, Cheon Woo-jin, Han Baek-ryeong!

The three Dharma Protectors of the White Lotus Sect were lined up beside the Sect Leader. In that moment, I realized that it hadn’t just been Han Baek-ryeong who had been at Jangryeong Valley yesterday; all the Dharma Protectors had come because of the Sect Leader’s call.

This place was currently charged with overwhelming intensity. As I swallowed hard in response to the pressure, the Sect Leader spoke slowly.

“[Baek Woong. Although we didn’t speak of it yesterday, it was thanks to the Black and White Lotus you possessed that the Young Master was able to break the curse and awaken.]”

“Co-congratulations.”

“[Moreover, the treasure you possessed shall be invaluable. You have made a significant contribution to our sect, so I bestow upon you the title of Thunder God Lineage Dharma Protector and grant you the Heavenly Spirit Pill.]”

Upon hearing this, I sneaked a glance at the other Dharma Protectors. They all seemed unfazed, implying this had been discussed beforehand. However, their expressions weren’t particularly friendly, so I quickly bowed and responded.

“Thank you!”

“[You will follow Cheon Woo-jin and assist the Wind Spirit Sect, and as soon as you return, the Heavenly Spirit Pill will be granted to you, so do your best.]”

Follow Cheon Woo-jin?

I felt a bit reluctant but answered affirmatively.

“Understood.”

The Master of the White Lotus Sect appeared satisfied.

“[From today onward, the world of the White Lotus Sect begins. You will assist me in achieving the ultimate goal of our sect.]”

“Your command!”

“Your command!”

Han Baek-ryeong, who had been standing, spoke to the Sect Leader.

“Master. Then let us head to the Flame Spirit.”

“[Indeed.]”

The Sect Leader, along with Han Baek-ryeong, departed somewhere. It seemed they intended to return to the sect using the furnace of the Flame Spirit, which indicated that the Sect Leader wouldn’t linger in Jangryeong Valley any longer. Han Baek-ryeong had come here as a representative of the Fire Spirit Techniques to escort him, after all.

Thus, the meeting with the Master of the White Lotus Sect concluded. As the Dharma Protectors dispersed, Cheon Woo-jin approached me and said,

“Follow me.”

Even though I was a supposed enemy of the Thunder God lineage, Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a calm tone. Thus, I walked alongside him, curious to know,

“You’re not acting all grumpy despite being from the Thunder God lineage.”

Cheon Woo-jin replied with a look of amusement,

“As the Sect Leader said, now that the Young Master’s strange disease is cured, the reign of the White Lotus Sect is already secured. Why should we be concerned with the Thunder God lineage that got expelled fifty years ago?”

“……”

“In the past, you may have been our rivals, but that’s no longer the case. For fifty years, the Wind Spirit Sect hasn’t been idle; we’ve built up strength beyond what you can compare. Even if the Thunder God lineage returns to the sect, you will forever remain on the lower tier, so don’t harbor vain hopes.”

I felt a bubbling anger rise within me.

‘This damn guy…’

As a martial artist from the Thunder God lineage, I sensed the contempt beneath Cheon Woo-jin’s words. No matter my lack of belonging to the Thunder God lineage, hearing such an irritating tone made me feel less than pleased, particularly since I held a profound grudge against Cheon Woo-jin. So, I responded tersely,

“I’d rather not be paired with you for whatever mission you have.”

“I wish that too, but it’s unfortunate. You and I must work together.”

“What mission could possibly require a top Dharma Protector to personally come along?”

After a moment of silence, Cheon Woo-jin replied,

“We’re heading to formally ally with the Twelve Joules of the Eastern Martial World!”

“……!!”

The Twelve Joules?!

Why on earth are the Twelve Joules making an appearance now? I panicked but gradually figured out what was going on.

‘The White Lotus Sect has lifted constraints on its expansion into the Central Plains. They intend to forge an alliance with the Twelve Joules, the biggest variable before dealing with the most powerful enemy, the Imperial Palace!’

Although I had not witnessed it myself, it seemed the Sect Leader had assigned Cheon Woo-jin this alliance mission. As I contemplated this, I asked again,

“So why must I go along for merely forming an alliance?”

“Annoying bastard,” Cheon Woo-jin growled,

“The Twelve Joules is possessed of remarkable martial skills and are extraordinary beings. They command immense respect from the Sect Leader, and their three masters are powerful individuals. It’s risky to visit them alone, so we need an elite team.”

“Hmm…”

I pondered.

‘The Twelve Joules are indeed a formidable force.’

Cheon Woo-jin, as a Dharma Protector of the Wind Spirit Sect, could fearlessly walk the world. Yet, even he felt it necessary to bring someone else along out of concern for the double standards of the Twelve Joules, indicating their power might surpass that of a Dharma Protector.

“So your son, Yong Junil, is coming along as well?”

“That’s correct.”

“I’ve heard rumors that you’re protective of your son, yet you’re taking him along with you. Are you expecting to safeguard him?”

I tried to poke at him as much as I could, feeling upset toward Cheon Woo-jin. But he merely chuckled in response,

“Ha ha. Quite the opposite. My son is the most reliable of all.”

“……?”

What does that mean?

Before I could ask, Cheon Woo-jin finally lost his patience.

“Ah, shut up. We’re leaving right now, so pack your things and follow me!”

“…Understood.”

Darn you.

If I die unjustly in the Twelve Joules, I will definitely send you to the underworld as well.

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