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“Boom!”

As Yeol finished speaking, the Five Demon Gate slammed shut. I tried to push it again, but this time it felt like a hundred thousand tons of steel pressing against my fingertips. Sure, if I powered up my internal energy, I could probably budge it, but that would just let me know the gatekeeper of the Five Demon Gate was flat-out rejecting me—so there was no point in forcing it.

‘No choice then. I’ll back off for now.’

Deciding to leave Mount Penglai, I tested my ability to use the Golden Lamp technique, but alas, it was also unavailable, so I had to rely on my powers to escape Mount Penglai.

Swish!

Arriving at the Seven Stars Altar, I called out to Cheon Woo-jin, who was seated in front of the altar.

“Cheon Woo-jin! Have you gotten any stronger?”

He looked at me, utterly baffled.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“……”

Guess not.

I explained the situation at Mount Penglai. After hearing it, Cheon Woo-jin said, “Well, it’s not me, so it must be someone else who received Jeon Wook’s blessing.”

“Who could that be?”

“Let’s just return for now.”

Wham!

I returned to Jangryeong Valley along with Cheon Woo-jin. But upon our arrival, a strange silver light was swirling in the center. It glimmered like a fluttering silver thread, seemingly divine.

Whee!

As I got closer, I saw a gigantic Nine-Tailed Fox floating in the air, radiating light like a pure silver spirit. Beside the fox, Mangnyang, Jin So-cheong, and the Sword Demon were watching.

“Miho!”

It was definitely Miho. She had returned to her true essence instead of taking a human form. As I called out and approached her, Mangnyang stopped me.

“Baek Woong. Can’t you feel it?”

Glimpsing at Mangnyang, he continued, “Miho’s spirit energy is rapidly amplifying. We don’t know what might happen if we disturb her, so let’s just observe for now.”

“Did this happen all of a sudden?”

“Yeah, but it seems Miho’s energy is stable, so I don’t think it’s a bad sign.”

Chuckling next to us, Cheon Woo-jin chimed in, “Ha, looks like that Nine-Tailed Fox has received Jeon Wook’s blessing.”

“What do you mean, priest?”

“You should ask this guy for the details.”

I shared my memories of Mount Penglai with my companions through the Obsidian, and Mangnyang appeared astounded.

“Good heavens… I never expected the Three Sovereigns would grant their blessing directly!”

Sword Demon, who was listening nearby, suddenly interjected, “But why Miho of all beings?”

“……”

That was a mystery to me as well. It seemed Jeon Wook thought I would need strength for my mission of probing the Azure Dragon, so he fortified a comrade. But why give that power to Miho? I couldn’t find a suitable reason.

Mangnyang, deep in thought, remarked, “Here’s my guess.”

As everyone’s attention turned to Mangnyang, he stated, “Perhaps Jeon Wook didn’t give power directly to Baek Woong because you are an Apostle.”

“What do you mean, Mangnyang?”

“You are currently the one leading the liberation of the Seven Luminaries. Thus, the Three Sovereigns have likely agreed to keep an eye on you. Therefore, no matter what Jeon Wook’s true intentions are, he’s avoided granting you direct powerful aid. If you got stronger, it’s clear you’d want to move towards liberating the Seven Luminaries even faster.”

“Ah!”

“But Jeon Wook isn’t naive. He knows that if things go on like this, you might not only fail to find Chi You’s trace but might even get killed by divine beings. So, he decided to empower your companion to ensure you’d have the necessary strength to carry out your mission.”

That made sense.

As I pondered over Mangnyang’s thoughts, I said, “But you still haven’t mentioned why that companion is Miho.”

“That’s probably because she hails from the Celestial Realm.”

“……?”

“Miho was born in the Celestial Realm. She was originally one of the tails of the Apostle Daji. Although she was expelled, she was also an entity of great interest and affection to Queen Mother of the West. Therefore, among those present, she would feel the closest connection from the standpoint of the Three Sovereigns.”

Listening to Mangnyang, I looked around. Certainly, Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon were martial geniuses but, after all, they were still human. Yet something about it didn’t sit right with me, so I asked, “Then what about you, Mangnyang, or Cheon Woo-jin? Don’t you have close ties to the Celestial Realm?”

“Neither of us does. Mangnyang is a disciple of Master Mangnyang. The Three Sovereigns would prefer not to confer their powers to anyone directly connected to powerful divine beings like him.”

“Oh, I see.”

“In any case, if we see it that way, it means the energy currently swirling around Miho is Jeon Wook’s Spirit Power.”

Mangnyang gazed at Miho with envy. “I can’t even imagine how strong she’ll become.”

I watched Miho closely. Indeed, the power I initially considered merely formidable for a Great Demon appeared to rise to unfathomable levels. The sense of pressure she emanated was undeniable; it was clear Miho was growing stronger.

“How long will this last?”

“If she’s absorbing the essence of Spirit Power, I’d estimate it’ll be a while longer.”

“Hmm…”

“In the meantime, let’s discuss our plans.”

The first to offer an opinion was the Sword Demon. “Baek Woong, if that’s the will of the Three Sovereigns, we can’t do anything but comply. It’d be best to abandon the Seven Luminaries and focus all our efforts on finding Chi You’s avatar.”

“Are you suggesting we leave bloodshed aside?”

“What do you intend to do if we don’t? We have no strength to hunt them down anyway.”

“……”

“Fortunately, the Master of the Twelve Joules set up a protective perimeter at this hideout. We can prevent the Old Ruler himself from barging in, so let’s just observe the unfolding situation with patience while searching for Chi You.”

That was rational. Actually, under the current circumstances, I had no other choices. As I surveyed the atmosphere, Mangnyang voiced, “Baek Woong, first let’s see if the Master of the Twelve Joules has liberated the Moon Sovereign.”

Wham!

I followed Mangnyang’s cue and set off to Mount Muni with Miyamoto Musashi. Upon arriving, the island was entirely overturned, in ruins, and I spotted two monks rummaging through the debris.

‘Great Monk Seo San! Yu Jeong!’

There was no mistaking it. They were appointed by the Master of the Twelve Joules to guard the seal of the Moon Sovereign. Approaching them, I said, “Greetings. I am Baek Woong of the Master of the Twelve Joules.”

Great Monk Seo San greeted me casually. “So, you’re the one I’ve heard about. Nice to meet you. I am Seo San.”

It seemed my identity as a joint leader had become widely known. I asked Great Monk Seo San, “Did Ha Eun-cheon take the Moon Sovereign?”

“……”

Great Monk Seo San responded with a somewhat displeased expression. “I’d rather not discuss that.”

“Monk, I have the authority to hear accounts regarding this place as a Master of the Twelve Joules.”

“Huh! This isn’t just a matter of authority…”

Though he seemed frustrated, he couldn’t continue speaking. Then, Yu Jeong, the disciple beside him said, “Ha Eun-cheon had entrusted this altar to us but never mentioned the Moon Sovereign’s seal. Then suddenly, he showed up and fought the guardian, emerging victorious with the Moon Sovereign in tow. My master feels deeply betrayed by this.”

“Yu Jeong! Stop saying unnecessary things.”

“New Master of the Twelve Joules, be cautious. Ha Eun-cheon is treacherous, so ensure he doesn’t cause another mishap.”

Yu Jeong looked plain but had conviction.

‘Well, Ha Eun-cheon did deceive us, so betrayal feelings are upped for grabs.’

Even though it was harsh to imprison cultivators in such a remote place for the sake of the Seven Luminaries’ secret without a word. I stared somberly at them and said, “If it’s alright, can you tell me how he fought the Moon Sovereign?”

“Alright.”

Great Monk Seo San took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, “He bled on the altar of the Moon Sovereign to summon the guardian, then engaged in a fierce battle using the Cosmic Fragment for a time. He subsequently summoned a halberd to untie the strands, and at the moment the knots loosened, the guardian’s power drastically diminished, and it was forcibly summoned across the flow of time.”

“Halberd…”

“The fight ended swiftly. Even if it took longer, it was less than half a moment…”

Suddenly, it struck me.

‘Right, that’s the Self-Controlled Moon Blade!’

The grand prize of the Luoyang Dark Heavenly Martial Arts Tournament was now a Demon Artifact owned by the Master of the Twelve Joules! In my 19th life, the Master of the White Lotus Sect had utilized the blade’s power to send the powerful Apostle Daji back. There was no way someone operating under the Master of the Twelve Joules could fail in using the Self-Controlled Moon Blade to defeat the guardian.

But something nagged at me.

What exactly was the true nature of the Self-Controlled Moon Blade?

No matter how powerful a Demon Artifact it might be, could it really possess the strength necessary to repel beings of demon king caliber like an Apostle or a Guardian?

What were its true capabilities?

‘Damn, had I known, I should’ve asked the leader about the Self-Controlled Moon Blade more thoroughly in my 19th life…’

I reluctantly sighed at my missed opportunity but couldn’t change the past. Instead, I pressed Great Monk Seo San for more details.

“It’s called the Self-Controlled Moon Blade. He likely untied the knots to unleash its power. How many strands did he manage to untie?”

“Hmm… I can’t quite recall…”

Great Monk Seo San looked puzzled, and Yu Jeong chimed in.

“I witnessed it. It was four strands.”

“Four strands…”

The time the Master of the White Lotus used to repel Daji, he unwrapped five out of nine strands. This time, four strands were used against the Moon Sovereign’s guardian. It spoke volumes about the power difference between Daji and the Moon Sovereign’s guardian, and I began to experience doubt.

‘What’s happening? How could the Master of the Twelve Joules accurately gauge the power of that demon king-level being?’

The principle of the Self-Controlled Moon Blade appeared simple. By untying the desired number of strands from the nine total, its might would proportionally increase. However, this principle is quite enigmatic; if too few strands were untied, the power would be too weak to perform a seal, but if too many were untied, it was wasted energy.

[Leaving four strands behind means it would take an immense amount of time and effort to fill the remaining five. Yet, the price paid for defeating an Apostle isn’t too steep.]

That’s right; the Master of the White Lotus had said that when he defeated Daji using the Self-Controlled Moon Blade. Once the strands of the Self-Controlled Moon Blade were untied, an extraordinary amount of time and effort would be needed to rebind them. Thus, there was no well to waste them, so how on earth could he gauge the enemy’s power to perform a perfect seal?

What bothered me was that the Master of the Twelve Joules had used the Self-Controlled Moon Blade as if he had a keen intuition about the opponent’s strength and stature. At this moment, Ha Eun-cheon had no choice but to acquire the Moon Sovereign—he could neither afford to fail nor abandon the attempt. Under typical circumstances, one would have to take a little risk and untie several strands to ensure safety. And yet, he managed to perform an exactly fitting seal as if he had anticipated the outcome, which troubled me a great deal.

Could it be… am I misunderstanding something crucial about the Master of the Twelve Joules?

As I pondered, Great Monk Seo San said, “Ha Eun-cheon told me that if you were to come here, you should head to the Divine City…”

“Monk, are you saying you’ll leave this fortified island behind?”

“That’s what I’m thinking. The world’s becoming complicated and fearful, and I must rescue many beings on the mainland.”

“I wish you all the best…”

Swish!

I parted ways with Great Monk Seo San and dashed straight to the Divine City. Crossing the Cloud Bridge into Ha Eun-cheon’s base, I found him waiting in a grand chair.

“Hello, Baek Woong.”

“Did you liberate the Moon Sovereign?”

Without hesitation, I asked, causing Ha Eun-cheon to chuckle softly.

“No, I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

“You don’t seem to have liberated ‘Xuyou,’ either?”

“……”

“Well, here’s the deal. I’ve recently heard that the Three Sovereigns are starting to make moves regarding the current world. In that case, asking for a premature liberation will not end well. Even I have to be cautious; hence, I plan on holding onto the Moon Sovereign for the time being.”

His tone suggested he was aware of everything. I felt conflicted about how much he really knew. It didn’t seem immediately dangerous, but I had an instinct that foolishly getting tangled up with him would lead to significant losses.

I turned serious and cut to the chase.

“Master of the Twelve Joules, how can you obtain intelligence regarding the Celestial Realm? I can’t engage with precision unless I know what you do.”

“Hmm, I wonder if I have any reason to share that with you?”

“But I’m also a joint Master of the Twelve Joules.”

“Ha ha. No can do. The reason I acquire knowledge about the Celestial Realm is not as a Master of the Twelve Joules. That’s just my personal ability.”

I growled inwardly as he refused me.

“You promised to collaborate fully with me, yet you do this?”

“Ha ha! Sorry, but this is not feasible. It’s a matter concerning my very life. If you were in my shoes, would you share such secrets with the Apostle of the Three Sovereigns?”

Chuckling, Ha Eun-cheon continued, “If you don’t have any pressing business, I’d like you to leave. I have many things to prep for dealing with the surge of the Celestial Realm.”

“Aren’t you worried about the Demon King or the Blood Lotus Sect?”

“Hee hee hee! What an interesting thought. Why on earth should I be worried about that?”

“If they break into the arena in Luoyang…”

At this, Ha Eun-cheon feigned shock. “Oh my goodness! What a disaster! So scary. Before anything major happens, wouldn’t the Apostle of the Three Sovereigns just poof and appear to solve it?”

“……”

Is this guy even serious?!

Although I felt my anger building, he quickly resumed his light-hearted banter.

“Just a joke. Honestly, I have little to worry about regarding the demon king.”

“The Central Plains Martial World’s sects will be massacred. The Blood Lotus Sect is currently launching indiscriminate attacks…”

As I relayed the information I had gathered, Ha Eun-cheon simply crossed his arms.

“That’s your problem, isn’t it? Why should I concern myself with the knife-wielding ruffians tearing through distant lands? Am I that broad-minded?”

“Ugh…”

“Even if civilians are harmed or perish, that’s not my concern. Either way, as long as your people receive the blessing of the Three Sovereigns, you will never be brought to ruin, and with such a vast population, losing a million or so won’t matter. It could even resolve the food shortage.”

“… Are you being sincere?”

“Hahaha, just kidding~ Just kidding.”

He laughed immediately, but it didn’t sound like a joke at all.

The Master of the Twelve Joules spoke.

“I can offer full cooperation to you. But are you truly planning to confront them head-on? You don’t seem to have that kind of thought process.”

“……”

I realized probing the Master of the Twelve Joules was fruitless and sighed.

“That’s right. Right now, I have no strength to face them.”

“Neither do I. Attacking recklessly now is akin to trying to crack a rock with an egg; it’s foolish. Contact me when you’ve properly prepared to hunt them down. I won’t be flying solo, so just so you know.”

“……”

“Only someone with overwhelming power can pull off a strategy to take preemptive action. We’re not in that category, so how about we keep an eye on the situation a bit longer? Perhaps the two will lead each other to ruin, or if not…”

“If not?”

There was something about the Master of the Twelve Joules that struck me as humorous. As he rose from his seat, he said, “Let me give you one piece of advice. Whether it’s the Demon King or the Old Ruler, what they want could be far more specific than we might think… They seem to be searching for something in this land.”

Fsssh!

With that, the Master of the Twelve Joules’ figure disappeared. Presumably, he didn’t want to talk any longer, so I had no choice but to leave the Divine City and return to Jangryeong Valley.

‘So, we’ve come to an agreement to exercise patience for now.’

Initially, I had thought of either overthrowing the Demon King or attempting internal strife, but facing the realistic limitations led Ha Eun-cheon and me to conserve our strength and keep our distance. For the moment, that was the most rational choice.

It was nearly two full days after returning to Jangryeong Valley that a change finally occurred in Miho’s state.

Boom!

A tremendous silver radiance erupted, and a Nine-Tailed Fox, now three times larger than her original body, lifted her head. Miho seemed to be concentrating her energy in her tails. Gradually, three of her tails transformed into a spirit-like form and flickered like flames. Not stopping there, two more tails turned into spirit forms, resulting in five magnificent tails dancing.

Goo-goo-goo…

Woo-ooong

As the power resonated, another tail emerged. This made it six tails.

“……!!”

I was taken aback when Miho’s form temporarily became hazy, creating a bubble-like sensation that surrounded her. It was as if Miho wasn’t visible. She was certainly in front of me, but it was challenging to observe her form clearly.

If I were to describe it, it’d be akin to a gold-haired jade mask!

‘What is this phenomenon?’

Without a doubt, it felt just like when I faced Daji.

[Sword Saint, what is that white bubble thing?]

[It isn’t merely a bubble. This being possesses such overwhelming spirit energy that lesser beings are not even permitted to view its form.]

This was the phenomenon Jin So-cheong had once explained to me. When an overwhelmingly powerful being manifests in the current realm, those beneath it can’t even observe the essence of the Great Demon in question. While Miho wasn’t at that level yet, the wavering mirage around her body was increasingly thickening.

Could it be that Miho’s spirit energy was nearing a threshold equivalent to Daji?

Whoosh!

Slowly, Miho transformed back into a more human shape. She appeared much more human yet retained a sharp and beautiful form, with silver hair fluttering around her. Also, Miho now sported six tails.

With delight, Miho welcomed me. “Baek Woong! I’ve become stronger!”

“M… Miho. What happened? What transformation were you undergoing…”

As I asked her, Miho flashed a bright smile and said, “I’m not really sure. But it felt like I was dreaming, and during that dream, Queen Mother of the West spoke to me, saying we would meet again soon.”

“Queen Mother of the West?”

“Ah-ha-ha!”

Feeling especially jubilant, Miho suddenly jumped and hugged me. I looked down at her in surprise as she giggled.

“Baek Woong, from now on, I’ll protect you!”

 

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