781 ——————————–

Dark Heaven Village

If I were to call upon fate, who should I summon?

The first thoughts that came to mind were Jin So-cheong and the Sword Demon. With their astounding power and talent, maybe they could use the Blessing of the Sky to take down the Shenglong. Unfortunately, they were currently trapped by an unknown entity and couldn’t be summoned.

‘But with the Blessing of the Sky active right now, maybe it could work…?’

Still, I can’t waste the powers of the Blessing on something uncertain in this serious situation. It would be great if it did work, but if it fails, the loss would be too large. Once I removed the martial artists from my calculations, I realized there were hardly any viable candidates to summon. Simply having strength wouldn’t cut it; I’d have to call upon the Celestial Sage and Cheon Gong-pyo, but the Blessing of the Sky operates beyond mere power.

Who would be able to use the Blessing of the Sky most effectively?

While I was pondering this, the Fire Dragon Incarnate spoke.

[You are not suitable to wield the Blessing of the Sky, dear Yanya.]

“What do you mean?”

[It requires someone who possesses the audacity and action to break conventional wisdom to fully tap into its power. But you are still shackled by “possibility” and “probability,” thus limiting your potential. Isn’t that frustrating?]

“…”

[Clear your mind. Reflect on yourself calmly, unshackled from your ego.]

I attempted to clear my mind…

Following the advice of the Fire Dragon Incarnate, I tried to reflect on my current situation instead of panicking about the overwhelming might of the Blessing of the Sky. As my thoughts settled, faith resurfaced, and the essence of the Heaven’s Escape technique flowed naturally into my mind.

‘Ah…’

How did I forget that?

It was just moments ago!

[We missed our chance. We needed to weaken the dragon’s power by more than half, but I guess we didn’t prepare enough… ]

[…Baek Woong. If we face total annihilation, just call upon him.]

[No, it would be pointless to summon him now. If you do so, only do it when variables arise… When there’s hope of passing this trial. Otherwise, it’s best to just accept defeat.]

Just before entering the dragon’s gaze, Zhuge Bu had mentioned something to me. He had objectively evaluated our performance in the Seven Luminaries Trial while also offering a contingency plan. According to his strategy, the character I must summon was already decided.

‘Did Zhuge Bu foresee that I would end up in this situation?’

While I had no means to verify it now, I had a feeling he might have. Zhuge Bu must have anticipated that the Blessing of the Sky would become our last resort and even predicted the plan fitting for that blessing. Likewise, Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa had acknowledged his calculations without objection.

Now was that moment.

The moment when variables have emerged.

The moment that offered hope we could pass this trial with the Blessing of the Sky had finally come.

“Come forth.”

I furrowed my brow and focused.

“Abe no Seimei!!”

Voooooom!!

Abe no Seimei, whom I had never summoned even once in the Kings’ trial, began to appear in this space slowly. Activating the Blessing of the Sky, I swept away the intense white light surrounding me, and Abe no Seimei descended slowly, glowing amidst the purples and reds of the dark realm.

No, that wasn’t Abe no Seimei.

Though clad in the attire of a Yin-Yang Master, unlike the youthful form I knew him as, this was unmistakably the body of a woman. Fox ears jutted out from her head, and her silhouette felt eerily familiar. Even without seeing her face, I could already guess who she was, having witnessed countless lives in my past. I was taken aback upon seeing her.

‘Could Zhuge Bu really have predicted this…?’

She turned to look at me. But the cool, emotionless expression on her face as she spoke slowly was unnerving.

[I am Miho, the God of Dongyoung. Who are you to call upon me?]

“…I am Baek Woong. We are at the last trial of the Seven Luminaries called the Sun Trial.”

I spoke to Miho.

“O spirit imbued with the power of the World Tree, lend me your aid.”

The being before me was Miho, yet not simply Miho.

Because Abe no Seimei had sacrificed himself to elevate Miho into godhood, and such an entity was referred to as an artificial deity. Only top-tier sorcerers like Cheon Woo-jin or Abe no Seimei could create such a deity, granting their essence as offerings to forge a new divine status surpassing mere immortals.

A memory of Seimei crossed my mind.

[Summoning alone wouldn’t have stopped the King of the Life Sea. I had to forsake my human traits to accept her. Only then could I wield the powers of a legendary being.]

[…Half of my essence now belongs to her. She consumed that part of me, allowing Amaterasu to descend without fear of the law of cause and effect. So, while I am immortal, I remain mortal. One day, she will consume all of me.]

[Thank you, Baek Woong. You offer me the seed of the World Tree as a choice. You are a benefactor of Dongyoung.]

[And I shall repay the debt for the seed of the World Tree.]

[Seimei. Zhuge Sa mentioned that growing the World Tree demands immense time and conditions. Even though the Sea God is silent now, is it feasible to cultivate it in the short term? I’ve heard it takes at least a thousand years.]

[That I will manage.]

Seimei had taken the seed known as the Dragon Flower Tree to protect the fading Dongyoung. At that time, I was curious about Seimei’s intentions regarding the World Tree, but it seemed I never quite grasped his plan.

Yet, moments ago, Zhuge Bu had opened my eyes to the answer.

[Do you recall Seimei taking the seed of the Dragon Flower Tree? He spoke of resolving the long period and conditions necessary for the World Tree’s growth by himself.]

[Yeah, I remember.]

[My guess is he intends to create an artificial god.]

[What?]

[Despite him being a top sorcerer, it’s impossible to accelerate the growth of the World Tree enough to counter the looming threat of the Sea God at this critical time. There’s neither time nor resources available. Thus, if I were in his position, I’d flip the strategy around. Offer the seed as sustenance to give birth to a new divine status capable of contending with the Sea God.]

[……!!]

[Seimei must have taken the seed from you and conducted a ritual using himself and the Tsuchimikado clan as offerings to birth an artificial deity. He likely expects that a powerful divinity, nourished by the World Tree and the ancient god Amaterasu, would rise to protect the people of Dongyoung.]

[…….]

I struggled to comprehend those words, questioning further.

[Then wouldn’t that require a powerful vessel capable of absorbing the chaos of the World Tree and the divine power of Amaterasu? Is there really such an entity?]

The following answer was shocking.

[Of course, there is! You know Miho well, don’t you? She originally lived in Dongyoung as an empress. Had you not interfered, she wouldn’t have needed to step outside Dongyoung.]

[What?!]

[Although I don’t know how Seimei managed to draw her in, right now, there is no alternative for Seimei other than Miho. She is the last tail of Demon King Daji, the Yin Spirit of the Goddess Nüwa, and carries immeasurable potential as a Great Demon. If Miho, who merely received a fraction of the spirit power, could tear through the Demon King’s barrier, then with just a little more power, she could grow into a deity strong enough to confront the Old Ruler.]

[Dammit…!! Just when I thought I could leave it alone!]

[It’s already too late. Miho, the divine entity of Dongyoung, has likely been born. Seimei’s not the slow type.]

[That bastard Seimei!!]

I was furious, but there was truly nothing I could do. I knew too well that Seimei, driven by a sense of duty to save the people of Dongyoung, was the type to disregard everything in pursuit of that goal. In any case, whether through coercion, persuasion, or abduction, Seimei would have mobilized all methods to turn Miho into a deity.

Zhuge Bu continued.

[Well, Seimei, valuing his own people most dearly, might have unwittingly struck you in the back, but he never considered that Miho would be precious to you. You avoided contacting Miho during your life, which likely wasn’t intentional.]

[That bastard! But still, I won’t let him get away with this!]

[Calm down and think. This could be turned to our advantage.]

[What?]

[Nonetheless, Seimei has gratitude towards you. The fact that you are human royalty allows for recognition, and I believe Miho will undoubtedly appear when you summon her with the authority of a king. But what will arrive is not Seimei, but the now-deified Miho.]

[……!!]

[Because their souls would have merged. To be precise, Miho will have offered herself as a sacrifice to absorb all the powers and knowledge of Amaterasu.]

Zhuge Bu maintained his cool demeanor while I let my surprise show.

[The last hurdle of the Seven Luminaries trial will approach soon. The biggest variable could well be that deity. When the right moment comes to summon her, we can surely seize the victory.]

I wrapped up my memories.

“……”

That’s right.

The silver-furred Yin-Yang Master standing before me was indeed Miho. Unlike the previous Miho, her gaze was calm and devoid of emotion, and before me stood a ‘crafted god’ who inherited the powers of the World Tree and the ancient gods. Despite having no particular reason to be here due to my lack of prior contact with her, she appeared summoned by the will of Abe no Seimei, having merged with him.

Slowly, Miho, the god of Dongyoung, finally opened her mouth.

[I understand now. Abe no Seimei owed you a debt.]

“Will you repay this debt?”

[Absurd. Am I out of my mind to face such a colossal entity?]

Miho grimaced at the sight of the Celestial Dragon. However, despite the Celestial Dragon, exerting its ultimate power, she didn’t seem to feel any fear or pressure at all. This indicated her current power surely surpassed that of mere mortals.

I spoke to her.

“I shall grant you the Blessing of the Life Sea from Master Mangnyang.”

[Hmmm…]

“However, if that fails, I shall send you back. Because in that case, we won’t come out on top, anyway.”

[The Blessing of the Sky, huh? Alright, let’s see.]

Ssssss

The deity called Miho began to draw up her power. At the same time, an overwhelming aura began to overflow from her, bursting forth with the energy of the sun, which blended with the lunar power she held within, enhancing her strength.

Voooooom

Nine golden tails emerged, floating in the air. Miho’s eyes transformed into radiant yellow orbs, and she morphed into a completely golden fox. Though smaller than Daji, the magical aura she emitted was truly no less formidable.

‘Has she completely awakened the powers of the World Creation God Amaterasu?’

In stark contrast to the locked up Amaterasu in the Golden Palace, who had acted solely to protect humanity, the powerful divine king was now fully unleashed. It seemed the current Miho had consumed the seed of the World Tree to awaken her strength the way she did. I could feel that her mastery over chaos had grown as aggressively as Daji’s.

As Miho wielded both Yin and Yang within the orb of Tai Chi, she uttered a decree.

[I am the god of the underworld, and I shall slay the life of the heavenly beasts to fulfill my vengeance!]

Crash!!

With that decree, her powers of Yin and Yang extended, smashing through the Fire Spirit of the Seven Luminaries all in one go. The impact was comparable to the Spirit Summoning Technique, allowing me to sense that Miho’s current powers genuinely suited the divine status she now embodied. I couldn’t help but feel immensely shocked.

‘…Is it truly possible to become that powerful?’

Maybe it is indeed possible.

With three symbols of absolute divine status—the World Tree, the ancient god Amaterasu, and Nüwa—each feeding off one another in perfect harmony coalesced within Miho now. Apparently, Miho had always been a mythic being, separated from humanity by her very nature.

As Miho smashed through one of the Seven Luminaries, Shenlong spoke, seemingly in awe.

[Impressive… New deity… You are on the threshold of becoming the Ruler…]

However, at the same time, Shenlong let out a slightly mocking tone.

[But you’ll need to overcome the foundation from which you rise first… How unfortunate.]

[What?]

As Miho appeared puzzled, suddenly—

Crackle!!

[Aaaah!!]

Miho began to tremble under sudden immense pressure across her body. I was startled, thinking she had been struck by Shenlong, but quickly understood the situation thanks to the Fire Dragon Incarnate.

[The Goddess Nüwa is trying to force her way in and steal her essence!]

“……!!”

[At this rate, Nüwa will descend through her body.]

Thinking back, Daji was the Yin Spirit manifested from Nüwa, and since her tail was Miho, it was only natural for Nüwa to meddle with her. Realizing what was happening, I clenched my teeth.

‘Crap! From the perspective of the Three Sovereigns, this is the last shot to reach the Emperor! And with the significance of the Seven Luminaries Trial being so paramount, is Nüwa herself trying to make a move during this breach?!!’

Of course, having Nüwa summoned to fight Shenlong would not bode well for me. But after she took over this body, the very persona of ‘Miho’ would entirely vanish. Even though we’d never met in this life, I didn’t want to see Miho perish like that. Thus, I activated both the Miracle of Royal Power and the Blessing of the Sky at the same time.

“Miho!!”

The moment I called her name, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Devour Nüwa!!”