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“I went to Dark Heaven Village with Cheon Woo-jin.”

Cheon Woo-jin chanted a spell and created a path through the barrier protecting the National Seal. I slipped inside, became the owner of the National Seal, and then quickly exited. I turned to Cheon Woo-jin.

“About restoring the Fire Dragon Sword sealed in Luoyang…”

When Cheon Woo-jin glanced at me, I cautiously continued, “Is there a way to do it without relying on Yeodong-bin? As far as I know, you’re the top sorcerer…”

“Why not? The terminal is connected, so you can just ask for his help.”

“But we might end up having to face the Celestial Realm in the future. I don’t want to depend too much on Yeodong-bin. If there’s any other way, I’d like to know more…”

Cheon Woo-jin seemed to understand my concerns.

“You’re worried that information might leak to the Celestial Realm through Yeodong-bin.”

“Exactly.”

“Still, I wouldn’t want to intentionally use the severance command to push him away because there will be times his help might be useful. Plus, using a command to break a seal wouldn’t be effective.”

“…Good point.”

Getting Yeodong-bin’s help to break the seal under Luoyang is easy. However, considering that Yeodong-bin tried to sever ties with the Celestial Realm through the Immortal Sword Technique, it seems that the Great Immortal’s affiliation with the Celestial Realm is a bigger constraint than I thought. Plus, there was that time I clashed with Yeodong-bin over the Seven Luminaries liberation issue, so I really didn’t want to be too reliant on him.

Yeodong-bin isn’t someone who would easily leak information to the Celestial Realm, but if our bond isn’t deep enough, he could side with them at any time. After all, from my past life experience, I felt there’s not much emotional connection between him and me. To build trust with Yeodong-bin, there had to be a process.

Cheon Woo-jin suddenly spoke up.

“In the end, it seems you’ll choose the path of fighting alone. You’re subconsciously making that choice…”

“What?”

“Oh, just talking to myself.”

Cheon Woo-jin mumbled, then explained.

“Reviving the shattered Fire Dragon Sword and reinforcing the seal means awakening the consciousness of the Fire Dragon Incarnate, the true essence of the sword, and empowering it. Yeodong-bin has the ability to summon and awaken her, but you might have to create your own circumstances using a grimoire like the Nine Stars Main Capital.”

“Hmmm.”

“Normally, there wouldn’t be a method, but in your current state, you might be able to awaken the consciousness hidden within the Fire Dragon Sword all by yourself.”

“Really?”

Cheon Woo-jin nodded.

“In your past life, when you awakened the Fire Dragon Sword, you formed a bond with the Fire Dragon Incarnate. Since that terminal is connected, if you initiate a conversation, it might be possible to awaken her like Yeodong-bin does…”

Cheon Woo-jin trailed off.

“But the depth of your connection with the Fire Dragon Incarnate is what matters.”

“What do you mean?”

“The reason Yeodong-bin can awaken her from deep slumber is that their bond is extremely profound. They were heroes who risked their lives thousands of times during exorcism missions a thousand years ago and ultimately defeated the Dragon of the Apocalypse to save the world. But you don’t share that kind of relationship with her, do you?”

“……”

He was right. The most I could say is that I had revived the Fire Dragon Sword and briefly interacted with the Fire Dragon Incarnate. Listening to Cheon Woo-jin made me curious, so I asked.

“Is the power of fate really that significant? Is it some kind of sorcery?”

“Hmm… The power of fate isn’t well explained in sorcery, so you might not know much about it.”

Cheon Woo-jin glanced around and said.

“First, let’s get out of this seal. If we stay here too long, we might get caught.”

“Got it.”

Whack!

I stepped out with Cheon Woo-jin to a tranquil spot in the outside world. Cheon Woo-jin sat on a nearby rock and began explaining.

“Fate is like a thread. It’s the most intimate force in the world.”

“A thread?”

“You already know about the Law of Cause and Effect. It’s the principle that even the gods are bound by, where every cause (因) leads to an effect (果)… The most simple yet powerful law in the world. The only being in the universe capable of transcending this law exists but once in a future eon. Even then, discussing it feels meaningless due to its lofty status. Essentially, it’s the greatest law of the world.”

He interlaced his fingers and continued.

“The Law of Cause and Effect generates invisible threads, that is, the power of fate. All beings, organic and inorganic, divine and non-divine, are formed through interaction. Since fate arises from this law, no deity can easily meddle or sever it. They might manipulate time and space, but they cannot just mess with fate.”

“Oh…”

“These threads are woven, becoming the source of all sorcery and magic, serving as the most precious foundation for forming contracts. Broadly speaking, the Old Rulers also exist within the web of fate. After all, wouldn’t there be causes for their existence?”

“Hmm… I see.”

That made sense. It stands to reason that unless one is an existence born from absolute nothingness that disregards time and space, they cannot be free from the Law of Cause and Effect.

“Sorcerers typically don’t study fate deeply. Because even this basic understanding is often more than enough. The kind of sorcery that deals specifically with fate tends to be either trivial or of such high level that it’s unsuitable to touch. However, it’s good to know that fate has another property.”

“Another property?”

Cheon Woo-jin nodded.

“Fate is also destiny (運命), a pure property that transcends the realm of sorcery.”

“……!!”

“Powerful fates possess surreal strength without needing sorcerous elements, like spells or summoned sacrifices. That’s why Yeodong-bin can awaken the Fire Dragon Incarnate merely with a calling, despite not being a sorcerer himself.”

As I grasped Cheon Woo-jin’s explanation, I carefully asked, “So you’re saying powerful fate can create miracles?”

“You could phrase it that way. You’ve probably experienced it a few times yourself?”

“What?”

“During your reincarnations, there were moments when things went awry, only to improve dramatically due to the bonds you had with people around you, resulting in miraculous reversals. Absurd mishaps worked out sometimes. I believe that was influenced by the ‘power’ of fate.”

“……”

“However, this is an entirely different conversation from the foundational theories of sorcery, so it’s not usually discussed in sorcery circles. The fact that sorcery is tied to the system passed down from the Three Sovereigns and Fuxi weakens it as well… but it’s too profound to contemplate using human capacity.”

“Hmm…”

I pondered how I could deepen my bond with the Fire Dragon Incarnate based on Cheon Woo-jin’s explanation. Cheon Woo-jin chuckled softly.

“Don’t waste your time on foolish thoughts. The power of fate isn’t something you can just use or control at will. Building fake bonds will quickly turn meaningless. Even someone like me, called the Dharma Protector, wouldn’t dare artificially manipulate true fate. It’s no different from trying to control the fate of the world.”

“Is that so…”

“As far as I know, there are no spells or tricks that allow one to control pure ‘power’ of fate. Such feats can’t be accomplished through human means…”

Is it truly impossible by human strength?

Cheon Woo-jin said, “If you really want to build a connection with her, it would be better to resolve the issues she carries rather than trying to befriend her artificially. After all, there’s bound to be a special reason for the Fire Dragon Incarnate being sealed in the Fire Dragon Sword.”

“Got it!”

Cheon Woo-jin’s advice seemed sound. Certainly, approaching a being like her, the embodiment of the Great Immortal and the Divine Temple’s Shenglong, as a mere human seeking friendship would be pointless. Feeling grateful for Cheon Woo-jin’s explanation, I gazed at him with curiosity.

“What’s with the staring?”

“Since when did you become so kind? You’re not usually like this…”

Cheon Woo-jin scoffed.

“Ha! If I stay silent, you’d just complain about me being distant! What hypocrisy!”

“……”

“Anyway, if there’s nothing else, I’m off…”

“Wait a sec!!”

I hastily grabbed Cheon Woo-jin. He immediately showed a displeased expression.

“What now?”

“Actually, it’s…”

I told Cheon Woo-jin about my concern regarding the “leak in memory.” After explaining the circumstances, I said, “If this continues, my memories will keep leaking, and in a hundred years, I probably won’t be able to cope. Isn’t there a way to store my memories clearly?”

Cheon Woo-jin thought for a moment and replied, “Hmm… I don’t know. I know of memory-enhancing sorcery that’s pretty good, but it wouldn’t fundamentally solve your issue. The Thunder Spirit Classic itself greatly enhances memory, so there wouldn’t be a significant qualitative difference. If your past life spans thousands of years, you’d become like a memory loss patient.”

“Darn it!! Don’t talk about it like it’s someone else’s issue. It’s a serious problem for me!”

Cheon Woo-jin smirked at my plea.

“Of course it sounds like someone else’s problem when it is! Are you dumb?”

“……”

“Besides, without understanding the principles of your past life, it’s hard to even imagine how to preserve those memories. Discuss that issue with Zhuge Sa and ask again later.”

Whack!

Cheon Woo-jin vanished with a hint of annoyance. It seemed he had no intention of indulging my worries any further. Disappointed, I decided to step back for now since Cheon Woo-jin wasn’t one to fabricate answers.

‘Hmmm, maybe it’s time to bring Jin So-cheong and Geuk-ho…’

Whack!

I quickly moved to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School and subtly sent a message through the Six Harmonies Assembly to lure Jin So-cheong. As soon as Jin So-cheong emerged from the back mountain, I spoke to him.

“Jin So-cheong! I’ve come to repay my debt to you.”

Jin So-cheong looked puzzled as he responded, “We’ve never met before. What are you talking about? You seem to be an expert in Half-Transition Master; reveal your identity.”

“I am Baek Woong, and thanks to you, I’ve received great help in the past.”

I assumed a martial authority stance, “So, I propose this: let’s spar, and if I win, you shall accept this obsidian! It contains a spell for transferring memories.”

“…I’m not sure what your proposal is, but it doesn’t seem like a friendly vibe, does it? Let’s go for it.”

Thus, I started sparring with Jin So-cheong. During the initial exchanges, I realized something.

‘Jin So-cheong is struggling right now. But… he’s subconsciously practicing the techniques of the Thunder God Lineage!’

Although I hadn’t noticed this in previous encounters, after mastering the intricacies of the martial arts under Lee Cheong-un while achieving the realm of a master, I could tell. Jin So-cheong was floundering, unaware of his next level, yet he was unwittingly understanding the nuances of mastery I had learned artificially. The moment he consciously grasps those nuances, he would grow rapidly.

What an intriguing phenomenon!

The gap in martial skills between early Jin So-cheong and me widened, yet the more I noticed his talent, the more humbled I became. It felt as if the realm of martial arts was expanding within me.

After about a hundred exchanges, Jin So-cheong let out a sigh while lowering his spear.

“Sigh… you’re toying with me, aren’t you?”

“Toying? Whatever do you mean?”

“If you wanted to, you could’ve dealt a lethal blow to me within ten seconds. Are you honestly teaching me right now? It feels like you’re not even using a tenth of your power.”

Did he catch on?

I let out a wry smile and replied, “I told you, I’ve benefited from you and came here not to harm you.”

“You’ve been saying things that don’t make sense from the beginning…”

Jin So-cheong extended his hand confidently, “Show me that obsidian you mentioned. I’d like to understand what you’re saying.”

“Alright.”

I handed him the obsidian and transferred the memories.

After a moment, Jin So-cheong shuddered, seemingly absorbing what he received. Eventually, he stopped his astonished expression and said, “…Goodness, is this real?”

I gazed at Jin So-cheong, “That’s the 24th past life. In your previous life, you showed me the Divine Skill and then passed away.”

“……”

“I honestly had no clue what that Divine Skill was about. But without you, I would have fallen victim to the Black Mask’s true identity before recognizing the hidden threats behind the Celestial Realm and would’ve met my demise at the hands of the Nine Lotus Bishop. Thanks to you, my path toward my goal has significantly shortened.”

Jin So-cheong staggered for a moment, confused. Then he asked, “So, are you saying you’re planning to go die in Dark Heaven Village again this life?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Then there was no need for you to come find me, right?”

I chuckled bitterly. “Whether needed or not, I wanted to express my gratitude to a kind opponent. I can’t just ignore that.”

“…You are indeed a righteous person.”

Jin So-cheong pondered for a moment before saying, “Baek Woong, I have a request.”

“What is it?”

Then to my surprise, he said, “Take me to the Master of the White Lotus Sect. I wish to become his disciple.”

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