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“I kinda regret not getting the blessing of great luck before coming to this world.”

Even if it wasn’t a great luck overlap, just having a regular dose of it would’ve made exploring this place way easier, that’s for sure. But that method was blocked by the Zhuge Clan.

[At least, I don’t think it’s a good idea to use it while exploring Dark Heaven Village. Great luck overlap might be considered though.]

[Why?! Think of how easy it would be with great luck…]

[…there’s a risk of minor greed leading to major loss. It’s because of the one who gives it.]

It sounded like the Zhuge Clan was hesitant to give detailed explanations, but they were definitely drawing the line at the great luck blessing. Asking them was probably a waste of time; trusting my companions was my only option, so here I was, plunging into the Otherworldly Realm with nothing but hope.

I began ruminating on ways to escape this place, but since I had no immediate ideas for flying eight thousand li, I commanded Zhuge Bu.

“Help me wipe out the demon beasts around here. And if there’s a good hideout, let me know.”

Zhuge Bu nodded dryly, acting like a battle puppet that had been perfectly brainwashed by the Zhuge Clan. I then got to fighting the demon beasts nearby, and, wow, they were indeed grotesque and hideous enough to make anyone’s skin crawl.

“Keeeek!!”

As I fought against a bird-like monster that was flailing dozens of tentacles and glowing wildly, I noticed that all the demon beasts here had tentacles. With a growing annoyance, I shouted while chopping off its tentacles with my sword strength.

“You freakin’ monsters! Is having tentacles really that great?!”

Whoosh!

My Fire Eye Golden Spirit activated, illuminating the monster’s weak point in an instant.

Crack!

I stabbed the core of the bird monster, killing it. These guys were immortal bodies with chaotic cores, so injuring other parts was pointless; you had to smash the core to finish them off. Thankfully, thanks to my experience fighting such creatures in the Aokigahara Life Sea, I was handling the battle with relative ease. The Fire Eye Golden Spirit made things even simpler.

By having Zhuge Bu use his techniques to keep the demon beasts at bay while I finished them off, I managed to take down dozens without too much trouble. I thought it was relatively easy, but considering the physical prowess and bizarre abilities of those beasts, even the Peak Experts of the Martial Arts World would find survival here challenging. If I had come here alone without Zhuge Bu, I might have been injured already.

‘This place is seriously brutal…’

In terms of difficulty, the demon beasts here seemed somewhat weaker than the monsters from the Death Sea. But that didn’t change the fact that this was a human hell. If I had come here in my early days right after gaining my abilities, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat even one beast and would have been brutally killed. I’m glad I didn’t foolishly respond to the summoning and instead took the time to grow stronger.

After defeating quite a few beasts, I felt like I finally had a decent radius of safety. I created a safe zone, around fifty yards or so, and calmly began to recover my strength while considering what to do next.

‘I’ve roughly explored the inner demon beasts. It seems pointless to look around any longer… How do I get out of here?’ I sat cross-legged, lost in thought. Suddenly, a thought struck me, and I pulled out the suspicious fishhook to convey my will.

[Zhuge Clan. Zhuge Clan. Can you hear me?]

I brought the suspicious fishhook for long-distance communication just in case. After trying it for a while, I frowned as there was no response.

‘Using the suspicious fishhook for communication is a no-go…’

This meant I was completely cut off from my troops on the surface. Thinking about my next steps, I muttered, “Should I call them?”

Whoosh.

I quickly set up the Demon Path Array and activated my magic. As the summoning ritual commenced and after quite a while of chanting my summoning incantation, nothing appeared.

“……”

Is it impossible for even a light-speed summoning to show up here?

It seemed this place was indeed a very closed-off dimension. Well, considering I was inside the belly of a living creature, that wasn’t entirely surprising. I had brought a wooden armor and a young calf just in case, but now it seemed like I wouldn’t need to use them, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

In a place like this, it would be best to make a pact with the Spirit Beast, the Four Great Spirits, when I come back. I believed that with their dimensional breaking ability, I would have a way to escape this place easily. While pondering my first move, a tremendous roar suddenly shook me.

“Ugh!!”

The very heavens and earth trembled. The blood-red cloud sea was quaking.

The source of that roar seemed to be some mysterious giant demon beast that stretched its hand across the mountain range. It didn’t seem aware of my presence, but the darkness-filled power behind the roar was so overwhelming that I felt rattled inside.

‘Damn… if I feel this way even with my internal power, a regular martial artist would surely drop dead just hearing that roar.’

Even if that giant beast wasn’t a divine entity, it was truly right to heed the advice about the National Seal: never engage in battle with it. The size difference wasn’t just it; the potential it harbored was massive. If I stayed here for too long, avoiding that beast would be crucial.

I began to feel anxious.

What on earth could I do to escape this place?

Though I kept trying to think, no feasible plan came to mind. Meanwhile, from who knows where, demon beasts began to sneak across from all sides and started to crowd around me. It seemed these beasts had their sights set on taking over another’s territory.

Dodging the tentacle spear, I mumbled anxiously, “Damn it… Let me think in peace. I need to tidy things up!”

At this point, I decided I’d take down a thousand demon beasts before coming up with a plan. To think clearly, I needed a stable base, but if I kept fighting off beasts, I wouldn’t find the time.

How much time passed?

After defeating hundreds of demon beasts alongside Zhuge Bu, I noted that this was the first time since Aokigahara Life Sea that I had taken down so many. Gradually exhausted and feeling my energy ebb away, I sighed heavily.

“Phew, I think I can finally relax a bit…”

New demon beasts might spawn here over time, but for now, at least, I had bought myself some time. I took out my wooden armor and laid the treasures I had collected on the ground, trying to sort my thoughts.

“Hmm… Using Xuyou right now seems futile… it’s best to conserve the power of the Fire Dragon Sword… so what should I do?”

As I glanced at the treasures, my eyes suddenly landed on the Ruyi Staff.

“…!!”

Oh right!!

I hurriedly stuffed the other treasures back into the wooden armor and pulled out the Ruyi Staff, calling out to the spirit He Yu.

[He Yu!! He Yu!!]

[Why are you calling me, ugly?]

[This Ruyi Staff is made of Heaven River Divine Treasure Iron, right? Then can it stretch to eight thousand li?]

When I asked He Yu, she looked around before speaking in surprise.

[It’s possible, but does this place extend for eight thousand li?]

[Yeah. Please let the Ruyi Staff stretch.]

[……]

[He Yu?]

He Yu, sounding a bit awkward, remarked, [The Ruyi Staff certainly has that capability, but whether you can actually wield it is another story…]

[What do you mean?]

[The stretching ability of the Ruyi Staff depends on the user’s power. It’s originally a treasure crafted by Taishang Laojun requiring high magical proficiency, but I’m acting as a spirit mediator, easing the conditions.]

[What are you trying to say?]

[Your potential magical ability is quite high; however, it won’t be enough to fully unleash the Ruyi Staff’s stretching ability to eight thousand li. Unless you’re that monkey who’s reached the pinnacle of transformation techniques.]

[……!!]

[Unless you’re the one who mastered the Seventy-two Transformations, you won’t be able to fully wield the Ruyi Staff’s power.]

The idea of not being able to fully utilize the power of the Ruyi Staff sent panic through my head.

‘Ha, I mean, the Celestial Sage has completely mastered the transformation techniques… my magical skill is nowhere near that.’

This thought led me to conclude that perhaps only someone like Cheon Woo-jin or a fully trained Mangnyang could properly use the Staff. Just to be safe, I asked He Yu.

[He Yu, with my current ability, how much can I stretch the Ruyi Staff?]

[Let’s see… around three thousand li might be doable, but beyond that would be challenging.]

[Ugh… is there any way to extend the limits of the Ruyi Staff? I can’t just boost my magical power on the spot.]

He Yu grew irritated.

[Why should I solve your problems? Figure it out yourself.]

He Yu’s form started to fade away. Realizing that once she left, it would be hard to call her back, I quickly grabbed her.

[Oh wait, hold on!! We’re inside the belly of a monster here. You really want to just melt away and die?]

[……?]

[If I die, you’ll be trapped here forever too. You’d dissolve into chaos for all eternity.]

[Chaos?]

He Yu looked bewildered. I quickly added, [This is where I arrived through summoning, and it’s literally inside a living creature’s belly. It’s a chaotic floating realm. But Dark Heaven Village is probably close to a dimension because that’s what I aimed for.]

[Oh, Dark Heaven… you say?]

He Yu gasped in disbelief.

For a moment, she stood there, mouth agape, before her expression turned ferocious.

[You crazy bastard! What were you thinking trying to go to the forbidden and chaotic kingdom that even the Celestial Realm can’t touch?!]

[I was trying to find Tydaht.]

[What?!]

He Yu was utterly flabbergasted, her expression changing as if she realized something.

After a moment of silence, she spoke up.

[You know where Tydaht is? What are the odds of finding it?]

[Of course. I have the National Seal with me and I know it’s in the Palace of Empress Wu Zetian. Once I escape this place, I’m thinking of heading to the palace to give it a shot.]

[Hmm… Tydaht… if it’s that…]

[Yeah?]

He Yu answered, [Alright. I’ll help you. According to what you said, there’s a way to stretch the Ruyi Staff to eight thousand li despite your lacking magical skill.]

[Really?!]

I beamed as I answered back, and He Yu replied, [You need to break my seal. While I’m trapped in this treasure, my powers are significantly reduced, so if I regain my strength, it’ll allow the Ruyi Staff to reach its true potential.]

[……? Break the seal? How?]

[I don’t know either. Just figure out how to break it, even loosely.]

[Hmm.]

Breaking the seal of He Yu’s spirit trapped in the Ruyi Staff sounded challenging. I pondered over how to do that. Then I addressed Zhuge Bu, who was just standing there dumbfounded.

“Hey. How can I break the seal of the spirit trapped in the Ruyi Staff?”

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much—Zhuge Bu was basically just a combat puppet following orders without any personality.

However, unexpectedly, upon hearing my command, Zhuge Bu seemed to regain a bit of focus in his hazy eyes and gave me an answer mixed with reason.

“Use neutralizing magic to weaken the spell or apply more power than the seal.”

“Huh?!”

‘Wait, is this guy coming back to his senses?!’

I was shocked, instinctively pressing my sword against Zhuge Bu’s neck. If he had truly regained his senses, my life would be at risk. But Zhuge Bu merely stared blankly ahead, showing no signs of further reaction. I looked at him cautiously, then handed the Ruyi Staff over to him.

“Hey, see what you can do to unravel this seal.”

“Understood.”

Zhuge Bu took the Ruyi Staff and examined it for a while, before starting to chant a spell.

‘If he really came to his senses, I’d have noticed it before he kept playing dumb.’

With that sly character, he wouldn’t act in a way that would raise my suspicion.

Whirr.

A soft bluish light enveloped the Ruyi Staff as ancient characters engraved themselves upon it. After a moment, the staff shimmered and then stopped glowing, handing it back to me.

I called out to He Yu again, and she responded, [Has someone loosened the seal with neutralizing magic?]

[Is it finally unsealed?]

[It almost broke free, but it needs more strength. Breaking the seal requires strong power.]

[More strong power…]

Even with strong power, squeezing out my magical essence wouldn’t have any effect.

After contemplating for a moment, an idea struck me, and I inquired to He Yu.

[Oh, how about Spirit Power?]

[Spirit Power? If you have it, it would be easy to break the seal, but where are you planning to source such a powerful force coming from the Three Sovereigns?]

[I have it.]

As I gathered all my Spirit Power and poured it into the Ruyi Staff, I could distinctly feel the seal weakening in response to my energy. It was as if resilient threads were snapping, an exhilarating feeling.

Pop!

He Yu, witnessing the Spirit Power dismantling the seal, looked extremely shocked.

[Wait, a human using Spirit Power… who on earth are you?!]

[It looks like it’s about to break free!]

[…Impressive.]

He Yu seemed to smirk in a mysterious manner.

[Right… In a place like this… Even if I break free, the Celestial Realm wouldn’t know I’m gone. Hehe.]

Suddenly, the Ruyi Staff exploded like fireworks. The residue of Spirit Power left its mark on it, showcasing my handprint, with the seal inside charred away. I felt completely drained.

“Hoo, ha…”

I felt as if I had exhausted around fifteen years’ worth of Spirit Power. This wasn’t something that would recover on its own—I’d have to rebuild it in another life. Thinking about the energy absorbed from the statue of Jeon Wook, it felt incredibly wasteful, but now wasn’t the time to lament that waste.

Whoosh.

A silhouette of He Yu emerged from the Ruyi Staff. I vividly saw her blue hair transform into flowing locks, her golden eyes sparkling, and her skin becoming as fair as white jade; she morphed into an enchanting beauty.

Finally, she adorned elegant attire reminiscent of the Great Immortal from the Silver Age, holding a certain treasure in one hand.

[Baek Woong, since you’ve broken my seal, I’ll keep my promise.]

He Yu lifted the treasure sword she held high.

[In the name of the Great Sabre Sword and the Absolute Teachings, I, the Master of the Sect, Cheon Gong-pyo, will assist you!]

 

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