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“So, that punk has the heart of Tydaht!”

It was certainly a heart tangled and fused with the scroll of the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram that I had seen before. However, it seemed to be shrunken compared to its original size, and now fused with the heart, it looked more like a grotesque creature than anything else. I attempted to summon Tydaht towards me using one of Daji’s powers—telekinesis—but the heart remained completely motionless.

Jin, noticing my telekinesis, just chuckled softly.

“The Portrait Immortal is the crystallization of the Eastern and Western methods of demonic technique and purification of portrait abilities. Do you think such tricks would work on me?”

“What are you trying to say? Showing off your heart?”

“Not at all.”

When I gave Jin a piercing glare, he just nonchalantly slid the heart back into the right side of his chest.

“Anyway, thanks to you, I’ve got a chance to sneak attack this Chaos Snake that surrounds the outer dimension. It wasn’t an easy opponent.”

Swoosh…

Jin gradually vanished into the darkness behind the throne. He left behind a mocking remark.

“If you don’t want to come, you don’t have to…”

Bang!

As I stared at the spot where Jin had disappeared, I was engulfed in thought. That guy must have slipped away to meet Chi You while the guardian was being subdued. It seemed that his actions didn’t require my presence at all.

I had no choice but to think deeply. The reason why I couldn’t just follow him to meet Chi You blindly was because I had no idea what his intentions and identity really were.

‘What the hell does that guy want?’

At first, he tried to trade for the king’s qualification using me and Tydaht, but when that didn’t pan out, he shifted his aim to subduing the guardian. And as soon as the guardian was taken out, he rushed off to meet Chi You. Figuring out the interrelation of this sequence was proving difficult.

But suddenly, I saw some connection.

‘… The king’s qualification. Could it be that?’

The very first bargaining condition Jin had laid down was the king’s qualification. That meant the qualification itself was the most precious and non-negotiable thing for him! And now, if he was headed to see Chi You, it seemed he must have found another method to obtain the king’s qualification, which made a bit of sense.

Although I couldn’t be completely sure, there might be a hint in his words, “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.” Since he was done dealing with the king’s guardian, it signified he was going off to take care of his own matters.

Could there really be something related to the king’s qualification with Chi You?

No way. That statement itself could be a trap to draw me there. Having faced countless plots, I couldn’t decide on my next steps.

I bit my lip.

‘Dammit! That bastard has tied me down with just a single sentence.’

If only he had charged at me using his time-stopping ability, at least it would have been comforting. But strangely enough, he didn’t overestimate his own powers and chose to rely on strategy. Once such a character revealed his true colors, it would definitely become a headache for me, which made it all the more troubling.

From my judgment, there was no time to waste. If there was a chance that he wasn’t bluffing but actually plotting something against Chi You, everything could end in disaster.

Now was the time to make a choice.

After a moment of contemplation, I resolved to head inside.

‘… He deliberately showed me Tydaht. In the end, unless I overwhelm or snatch away Jin, I can’t gather the Six Needs. But challenging him with another body is too risky.’

So, I had no choice but to achieve something, whether it meant life or death, through the body of Daji. With my mind made up, I jumped straight into the chaotic passage behind the throne.

Bam!

As I leaped into the chaotic passage, it felt like a swirling cosmic starlight was unfolding all around me. The moment I stepped forward, translucent steps of light formed beneath my feet, appearing as if they led all the way to the horizon beyond.

I soon realized that Jin’s form was far ahead in the passage. He cast a quick glance back at me before continuing onward, and I sprinted to close the distance.

Whirr…

‘Ugh.’

However, as I tried to race forward, the steps of light seemed to fix my position as if it could only let me walk forward “slowly.” I begrudgingly took one step at a time, inching closer to Jin, and the gap between us barely narrowed.

How long did it take?

Gradually, the distance between Jin and me decreased. Jin was now standing in front of a massive door, glancing upward, and it seemed like that door marked the end of this round passage. Just as I reached near, Jin turned to look at me and spoke.

“You’re not a coward; you didn’t bring your companions.”

“Shut it. What exactly is your game?”

“As you can see, Chi You is suspicious; he’s set up a strong barrier in preparation for when the guardians break through. Because one of the three main guardians, Daji, has lost her body, and even after I subdued the Chaos Snake, there’s still a hindrance.”

…

Goooom…

I unleashed Daji’s demon power, my eyes glowing crimson. While human-like, my strength didn’t diminish even when compared to larger bodies. It seemed wise to deal with him right then and there.

Jin laughed.

“Hehe. So, you want to know my intentions?”

“Dammit! Stop beating around the bush and just spill it.”

“I believe Chi You will be the ultimate victor. That’s why I aim to obtain the earthly king’s seal from him. Once Chi You ascends and becomes a true king, he’d become a celestial existence, leaving behind dominion over the earth… I just want a piece of that dominion.”

…

“If you’re so curious, try following me. I have confidence in negotiating with Chi You.”

Kuwooong!!

With a forceful thrust, Jin infused chaos into the door and opened it in one stroke.

‘That bastard! How much does he look down on people?!’

I dashed towards Jin for an attack, but time suddenly froze.

Crack!

Knowing even the strongest time-stopping ability could be thwarted by the powerful force of chaos, I pulled out Daji’s demon power. Once the stopped timeline unraveled, I regained movement, but in that instant, Jin reached out to me with an open palm.

“Activate.”

Fwoosh!

At that moment, my strength drained away from my arms, and I realized that the force behind my attack dissipated entirely. Feeling an overwhelming sense of danger, I instinctively pulled back as Jin spoke.

“Impressive. Even when I aimed my ability at you, you dodged with ease…”

“What the hell did you just do?”

“Do you not understand what it means that Tydaht is my heart? Originally, Tydaht has the ability to unravel sorcery, but combined with the Portrait Immortal’s abilities, it can now scatter chaos.”

…!

“Let’s call it divine killing ability; ha-ha. I can slay even apostles or demon kings. With the right conditions, even the Old Ruler.”

Chills ran down my spine at Jin’s words.

He can suppress chaos with Tydaht?!

Of course, it was under limited conditions when merged with the Portrait Immortal, but I felt a sense of the terrifying potential of the Seven Luminaries right before my eyes. Surely, Tydaht is not the only extraordinary one; can the others be applied similarly?

‘Was the suppression of the Chaos Snake just now also Tydaht’s power?’

Thank goodness I faced him now with Daji’s body; otherwise, the Portrait Immortal, Jin, would definitely stand as one of the strongest adversaries I had ever met across all my past lives. Luckily, with Daji’s power, I could resist his time-stopping ability; facing him normally was impossible. As I remained on guard, Jin proceeded to fully open the door, remarking.

“If you want to be a king, there’s no way around it. I considered siding with you, but since you refuse to give up the king’s qualification, I will ally with Chi You and steal the Seven Luminaries you possess.”

“You…!!”

“I will absolutely become the king of humanity. Until we meet again, ha-ha-ha.”

Bang!

As I watched Jin vanish into the room, I faintly began to grasp his intent.

‘He is trying to wipe out the guardians and petition Chi You to make him his only apostle?!’

It appeared he was indeed planning to negotiate with Chi You, using the changing dynamics of power in his favor. Given that all guardians were about to be breached and the Seven Luminaries were on the verge of gathering, Chi You would have no choice but to heed Jin’s offer.

And if he manages to seal the deal with Chi You, he would become exponentially stronger and come after us. Even the current Jin, I wasn’t sure I could defeat in combat, which would mean disaster. Even among apostolic-level beings, the strength of the Old Ruler varies significantly based on how much power is channeled into it. Consequently, following Jin to understand his intent was indeed the right choice.

‘Ugh… Time is running out, so what now…’

But leaping into Chi You’s presence right now would be incredibly daunting. As things stood, I would have been marked as the prime target for his attacks. I wasn’t strong at all, and with five of the Seven Luminaries in hand, it would be easy for them to just take me down and snatch them away. Moreover, considering the past grievances, Chi You would undoubtedly try to rip me apart as soon as he laid eyes on me.

Should I just hope for Jin to fail in his negotiations?

That would be an unsatisfactory ending after taking Daji’s body as well. I knew that Jin had probably foreseen this scenario from the start; a strong desire to crush his plans arose within me. I desperately racked my brain to figure out my next move.

Yet, there were no clear paths in sight. Honestly, stepping back would be the best option; however, that felt like a decision leading directly to self-destruction. It had become rare for me to find an option that seemed so hopeless, and after deep contemplation, I finally made up my mind.

“Damn it! Let’s see what happens!”

With this resolve, I would also try to negotiate with Chi You!

Might as well give it a shot; I could probably get something useful out of it!

With that thought, I cut my way through the chaos and jumped into the room. Relying on the power of the Seal of the Supreme King, I could shift my body again.

Yet, instead of the clear starlight sensation from the moment before, I was confronted with a viscous air that felt like a mire of chaos and evil. It was reminiscent of what I felt in the Old Ruler’s estate numerous times before. An unbearable concentration of chaos assaulted me, and the distorted beings and monsters of chaos roamed the land. The people of the world typically referred to such places as hell.

In that hell, I sought after Jin’s presence. Amidst the roiling chaos and beasts prowling the land, the roar of darkness echoed uninterrupted, but there was no sense of pressure since Daji herself was a being of chaos.

‘There he is.’

I spotted a gigantic altar set up not far away. And I found Jin standing nearby. I approached him again, ready to attack once more.

Swish!

But Jin again skillfully evaded my sneak attack with his time-stopping ability.

‘Ugh! That bastard is so irritating!!’

While I internally bitched and moaned, I suddenly realized something was off about Jin’s expression. He looked bewildered and flustered, totally different from his previous smugness. Jin stared blankly at the altar.

“… This can’t be… What the hell is going on…?”

“Jin!! Where’s Chi You?”

…

“Whatever negotiation you attempt, I’ll be a hindrance!!”

Jin glanced upward as if lost in thought before answering.

“He’s not here.”

“What?”

“Chi You is… not here. The ritual is underway, but why?”

Hearing his words, I couldn’t help but smirk.

“Ha! Serves you right. So confident, yet you have no clue where Chi You is hanging out? What a dimwit!”

“… That’s not the issue… It can’t be. This is the only possible location for Chi You… This is his temporary base. How can the Old Ruler have vanished so suddenly…?”

Observing Jin floundering, panic-stricken, put a spring in my step. I thought it courageous of me to step in here, shaking my head playfully.

“There’s no reason to dance to your tune any longer. Now, I’m going to half-kill you and take back Tydaht.”

Though his peculiar abilities did concern me, they weren’t enough for me to falter. If I transformed into Daji’s true body here, I’d likely retain extraordinary durability and chaos, so even a draw would be possible. And after taking him down partway, I could return to my original form to recover Tydaht.

‘Just need to watch out for Tydaht’s sealing techniques.’

Now all I needed to do was unleash everything I had!

Just then, as I was about to revert to my original self, a peculiar sensation washed over my head.

“Ugh…”

What the hell?

I suddenly felt a splitting headache, accompanied by a strange voice reverberating in my mind.

[You’ve finally made it this far… At long last!]

That voice.

I definitely recognized it from before.

[The one destined to be king, I struggled to guide you here.]

When I received the Mirror of Clarity alongside Mangnyang’s death and fell into a trance, it was the owner of that voice, discussing my royal fate. Though I didn’t know who this being was, here I was face to face with it again.

An illusion flickered before my eyes. This illusion, donning the robes of an Ancient High Priest with its face obscured, spoke to me.

[Though it was many challenges… All was overcome thanks to the royal destiny I possessed. Do you truly believe you alone broke through all those obstacles?]

[… It was indeed a long path. Hehe…]

Who the hell are you?

The illusion grinned without answering my question and suddenly lunged at me like a bolt of lightning.

Woooosh!!!

At that very moment, I felt my consciousness shatter, as if something colossal was forcing its way into my mind. My entire body trembled violently as if two people were trying to squeeze into a tiny room, bringing me overwhelming pain.

“Aaaaargh!!!”

It wasn’t just a recollection; I realized it was a true persona trying to dominate me. I felt as if it was attempting to expunge me from my mental plane. Despite holding on through the pressure, the sheer force was so mighty that keeping my sanity intact became a considerable undertaking.

No!

I can’t lose my mind like this!

Already, control over half of my being was lost. The entity that consumed half of my consciousness deemed my memories intriguing and remarked.

[Ohhh… You changed your body with great magic… However, I’ve already seized half of your consciousness. Your soul is now mine…]

[Get out right now!!]

I screamed, thrashing, but the being ignored my demands, moving my body instead to reach for the sky.

[Don’t you get it…? Unable to bear the duality, ‘I’ of this cycle has vanished. Two of the same [Old Ruler] cannot co-exist, so the Law of Cause and Effect has judged ‘me’. Such an event has never occurred in the history of the universe…]

…

[Yet for me, that too was anticipated… My cause and effect, having crossed the Great Cycle, are naturally stronger… But in the end, ‘I’ shall continue to exist, so the consciousness to disrupt the battle ground shall persist…]

Breathing heavily, I quickly recited the Incantation of Isolation. This was a powerful spell capable of intimidating even the Great Immortal!

Kuuuu…!

However, the Incantation of Isolation merely weakened its advance for a moment; it clearly was far beyond my means to deal with this being. I never imagined there could be such a pitfall in this spell…

This is not good.

I couldn’t overcome its dominion. It was overwhelmingly powerful.

Furthermore, if its identity was indeed what I feared, this was the end for me.

As I succumbed to the overwhelming force of its voice, my consciousness briefly faded away.

[Reborn one. I am the History Emperor, Chi You. During your 50 years of slumber, I prepared everything… ]

 

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