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“The Eight Parts of the Divine are coming?!”

I was taken aback by the news, but it started to make sense. Considering that the Asura of the Eight Parts of the Divine had come all the way to Dark Heaven Village just to capture me, it wasn’t too surprising that others might cross over into this world as well. However, what was truly shocking was the fact that the Eight Parts of the Divine were mobilizing to protect Empress Wu Zetian!

Wait, does that mean Empress Wu is being guarded even by Chi You?

‘No… If that’s the case… did she receive the help of Yacha?’

Everything seemed interconnected. But now wasn’t the time to sort through complex matters. I quickly composed myself and calmly addressed Wu Zetian.

“Thank you for the information, but why did you tell me this…?”

[… Because I was tired.]

“Huh?”

As I questioned, Wu Zetian slowly lowered her arm onto the throne. She gazed up into empty space.

[It has been a long time. However, I also feel that this is not what I desired…]

“……?”

[Baek Woong, do you see her as human?]

I was stumped by Wu Zetian’s question, unsure how to answer. Anyone could see that she wasn’t human anymore. But I had no clue what answer she was looking for. If it were someone as wise and knowledgeable as Mangnyang or Zhuge Sa, they would have figured out her intent instantly. But I didn’t have that level of brilliance.

So, reluctantly, I gave an honest answer.

“Right now, you’re not human. But if you think of yourself as one, then you are.”

Wu Zetian seemed taken aback by my unexpected response.

[Is that so? Do you indeed see me as human?]

“Yes, if that’s what you believe.”

[It doesn’t feel like a lie… That perspective is on a different level from an ordinary person. Truly a hero to have come this far…]

Wu Zetian looked at me with a strange kind of fascination.

‘Huh? Is my answer that weird?’

As I pondered my answer, Wu Zetian spoke.

[You may not know, but I have been troubled for a long time. Having acquired an eternal life in the land of the otherworldly races… I have ruled over the people who became otherworldly, following the laws of my former life. The first three hundred years of the new reign were filled with joy and happiness. But…]

“You mean it wasn’t so afterward?”

[Many have rejected their own humanity and left for the treacherous land of Dark Heaven…]

“……?”

What on earth does that mean?

Wu Zetian continued.

[They sought to adapt to the life of the otherworldly and abandon their identity as humans. In their eyes, humans were inferior and utterly despicable, and they believed they couldn’t lower themselves to become like those inferior humans. I initially purged them, but later I let them go.]

“You mean they discarded their humanity?”

[Exactly. Of course, they didn’t become the majority, but there were quite a few of them.]

She let out a short sigh.

[Sigh… What is a human? I thought that maintaining a human life while appearing different would be the best way to enjoy immortality. But if one denies their humanity, what meaning does this kingdom hold?]

“……”

[I have struggled for hundreds of years to find this answer. Sometimes I summoned the great sages of the human world to converse with them, but no conclusion was reached. And now, I have become weary.]

“… But.”

I said to Wu Zetian, “There are still about five hundred years left until the end. If you’re already worried this much, won’t you run out of patience?”

[That’s the problem. I’ve lived for a thousand years, but the remaining five hundred feel unbearably long.]

“Hmm…”

It was unexpected. I thought that Wu Zetian was managing her own millennium kingdom just fine, but here she was, troubled over the identities of the otherworldly and humans? Just as I was contemplating Wu Zetian’s troubles, I suddenly realized her intent and spoke up.

“You’re thinking I might be the key to resolving that trouble, aren’t you?”

[Precisely.]

Just then, with a grand sound, the entire building shook violently. I could feel the ceaseless flow of magical energy becoming a palpable current that flowed through the hall. A massive stele rose sharply into the sky.

Wu Zetian said, [The first seal of this magical tower has been activated.]

“A seal, you say?”

[The Eight Parts of the Divine would love to come here right this instant, but I’ve fortified the Dimension Door.]

“……!!”

So, they could have summoned it long ago?! If Wu Zetian fought as per Cheon Gong-pyo’s wishes, the magical tower would have opened wide, allowing the Eight Parts of the Divine to rush in! But now, it seemed that she was activating the tower’s magic to deliberately prevent their crossing.

But why was Wu Zetian being so generous with me?

As I looked at her, she met my gaze. Though she had shed all traces of humanity as a divine being who had ascended to the Celestial Realm, for some reason, I could feel ’emotion’ emanating from her eyes. She opened her mouth.

[I’m convinced after speaking with you just now. You are not someone who should die in vain here… You might also be the only one who can bring salvation to humanity.]

“Your Majesty.”

[I will open the path for you today, so run away. The Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram usually exists on the topmost floor of this magical tower. If you visit this palace again later, I will hand it over to you then.]

The location of the Earth Star? On the top of the magical tower! As I processed this fact, Wu Zetian spoke.

[The Eight Parts of the Divine are channeling their power… I need to raise the seal to the second level.]

Bang!!

Another massive stele rose next to the tower. It seemed that the Eight Parts of the Divine outside were trying to force their way through the Dimension Door with all their might. Wu Zetian appeared to be experiencing quite a burden, as cracks began to form on her rocky exterior. I exclaimed in surprise.

“I’ll escape right now! Don’t overdo it!”

[… Baek Woong. Can you promise me one thing?]

“What is it?”

[If you can save humanity… can you also save me and my people?]

I nodded vigorously.

“Of course.”

[… Thank you. There are many passages within this magical tower, so if you go to the room of Tian Yuan, you can use one of those passages to escape.]

Just then there was a moment of chaos.

From behind Wu Zetian, a scythe was stabbed deep into her chest.

[Grr… Yacha…]

It seemed that the enormous scythe pierced through Wu Zetian’s body, causing her to flail in pain. The scythe began to rise vertically, splitting her body open.

Thud

As Wu Zetian’s form was severed, the magical energy she had nurtured began to spread out into the air like mist.

Swish!

Then, from behind a dimension door that shattered like glass, the eyes of a grotesque magical beast glimmered ominously as they locked onto me. It appeared that the Yacha, having completed its transformation, reached out with monstrous claws from beyond the door, exuding a sinister aura.

[Can’t even do a proper puppet act, can you, Wu Zetian… From now on, we have no choice but to control this place ourselves.]

“……!!”

I finally grasped the situation.

They didn’t care that Wu Zetian was their target; they just eliminated her because they had always viewed her as a puppet! I had no time to mourn her death as I shouted at Cheon Gong-pyo, who resided in the Ruyi Staff.

“Cheon Gong-pyo! Attack that thing!!”

[Closing the door is sufficient.]

Cheon Gong-pyo’s spirit replied coldly, summoning a formation of the Eight Trigrams as he cast a powerful martial technique.

Short Form (略式)

Spirit Summoning Technique (營鎭抱一術)

Crackle!

As Cheon Gong-pyo’s technique activated, the Dimension Door that Yacha had forcibly opened began to contract rapidly, causing Yacha to hastily retract its claws. It was evidence that Cheon Gong-pyo’s technique was of a level that Yacha couldn’t withstand.

[Hmph… We’ll see each other later.]

Yacha snarled horrifically as it vanished.

“……”

I stared blankly at Wu Zetian’s lifeless body. No matter how much she was a divine being and immortal, if the Eight Parts of the Divine had mythologized themselves and launched a surprise attack, what chance did she have? Of course, she wasn’t truly dead yet, but with such grievous wounds, she might as well be. Moreover, if the Eight Parts of the Divine marked her as a traitor, there would be no way to survive from now on.

How could they so easily dispose of someone of Wu Zetian’s stature!

As my anger towards the Eight Parts of the Divine boiled inside, Cheon Gong-pyo bluntly said, [There is still time until Wu Zetian’s life is severed, and until then, the seal of the magical tower will remain intact. Don’t be dazed; head to the room of Tian Yuan.]

“Got it!”

Thud!

I hurriedly searched for the room of Tian Yuan and entered. It was a place filled with mirrors, where my reflection seemed to stretch infinitely. Unsure of where the passage was, I looked around when Cheon Gong-pyo spoke.

Just walk straight. This mirror passage is essentially a dimension door.

“Where does it lead?”

[It’s a secret passage prepared by Wu Zetian for emergencies; it shouldn’t be a dangerous place, right?]

He was right. Wu Zetian directing me to the room of Tian Yuan likely held that meaning. I cautiously walked down the mirrored passage.

After quite a while, I emerged into a dark and unfamiliar place. I scanned the surroundings, wondering if this was the vastness of space, but it didn’t appear to be. The reason I thought it was outer space was due to the brilliant starlight flowing around and the occasional meteor shower lighting the way.

Cheon Gong-pyo remarked, [It seems escaping is going to be a challenge.]

“What?”

[We’re not far from the magical tower. It’s only about thirty or forty miles away.]

Boom!

As Cheon Gong-pyo finished speaking, a massive wave of fiery clouds erupted behind me. I turned around to see a tremendous explosion creating a mushroom cloud that engulfed the vast sky, and the source of the explosion was none other than the city of Wu Zetian.

And above that city, the mythologized forms of the Eight Parts of the Divine were floating.

They had truly unleashed their power and forced their way through the Dimension Door!

The power of the Eight Parts of the Divine that could wipe out an entire city in an instant!

Cheon Gong-pyo stated, [Six of them, huh.]

“Damn it!!”

If it’s six, then they all came! The Dragon had been killed by Yeodong-bin, and Asura had been slain by Cheon Gong-pyo, so it meant the other remaining members had all arrived. It seemed they were even more cautious after the prominent Asura was defeated.

Six members of the Eight Parts of the Divine, and as their true forms, there was no way I could win!

Just imagining what kind of havoc they could wreak if they teamed up sent chills down my spine.

‘How far can I run?’

If such divine beings were pursuing me openly, I wondered how long I could evade them. If they used their tracking techniques, would I be able to avoid them with Soul Removal or martial techniques? Just as I was deep in thought, Cheon Gong-pyo subtly suggested.

[… Wouldn’t you want to live here?]

“What are you plotting now?”

[I know that the Spirit Power you used to unlock Taishang Laojun’s seal is still within you.]

I was startled by the continuation of Cheon Gong-pyo’s words.

[Use that to unlock the final seal that Taishang Laojun placed on this Ruyi Staff. Then I will regain my full strength and might, allowing me to defeat those Eight Parts of the Divine.]

 

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