899——————==

True Martial Home (眞空家鄕)

It feels like the worst crisis of my life has hit.

“Damn it! Get a grip!”

I was about to spiral into despair when I realized that the Three Sovereigns’ Nüwa has descended, but I was running out of allies. However, I soon regained my composure. Normally, one would go insane or sink into despair in a situation like this, but having witnessed the end of the universe and faced countless challenges, I got through it.

“Guess I’ll have to gamble again.”

As the look in my eyes changed, Mangnyang seemed to notice my thoughts.

“I’ll buy us some time, one way or another.”

“Thanks.”

I took a glance at Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa, my companions. They seemed to understand the gravity of the situation and were aware of the choice I was about to make.

Whoosh!!

I summoned the power of the constellation that Xiang Yu had given me and strengthened my Spirit Power. Meanwhile, Nüwa was already preparing for her next move.

Swish

“[Aaaaah…]”

The Yacha from the Eight Parts of the Divine perished without putting up a fight. All other Yacha had already vanished at Nüwa’s gesture, effectively wiping out the Eight Parts of the Divine. Nüwa murmured as she eliminated the Yacha.

“[It’s time to summon something…]”

Nüwa raised both hands toward the sky, taking a stance to summon something. We guessed what she was trying to do and realized we had to stop it. Mangnyang urgently looked back at me, and I gritted my teeth and shouted.

“Haah!!”

In that moment, I felt a pain in my heart, as if it was about to burst, and my mind connected to a distant world. I was trying to rewind time using the [Apostle’s Power]. But just as my Spirit Power surged and I attempted to turn the small cycle, Nüwa’s cold gaze landed on me.

Screech —

The world began to distort as if attempting to rewind, but unexpectedly, that twist vanished. It resembled the waves of a still pond. Nüwa looked at me and spoke.

“[Apostle of the God, do you dare attempt to turn the [Small Cycle] before me? How arrogant!]”

Since Nüwa is one of the Three Sovereigns, it seemed she could prevent the reversal of the [Small Cycle].

“Damn…!!”

But I couldn’t give up.

One more time, whether it works or not!!

Due to the Law of Cause and Effect, the Apostle’s Power could only be used three times a year, but I didn’t care if I used all three right now! Having used it once before, this was probably my last shot!!

“I need to rewind as far back as I can, before Xiang Yu meets his end!”

I staked everything on this one attempt! As I exploded my Spirit Power to manipulate time again, the distortions intensified, and the reality began to tremble violently.

Boom boom boom!

Could it be that Xiang Yu’s two constellations amplified my already enormous Spirit Power? Nüwa seemed to stop her summoning for a moment, unable to easily block it this time. Her dark eyes lit up as she shouted in fury.

“[You’re a fool, mortal. Do you wish to turn back time so badly? Then, I’ll grant your wish! I shall send you back to the original time!]”

“… What?”

“[I shall accelerate the wheel of time…!]”

Nüwa pointed at me.

Whoosh!!

Before I could even process her words, I found myself in a place unlike anything I had ever seen. No matter what, this was not the battlefield where I had fought Nüwa just a moment ago. Instead, I realized that my body wasn’t on solid ground but floating in some cosmic space.

Floating

Floating

“……!!”

W-why is there no ground or sky? Isn’t this completely empty void of cosmic space? I was puzzled as to how I ended up in such a place, but that thought quickly faded as I felt a growing sense of survival pressure.

I hurriedly encased my body in Spirit Power to protect myself, but no matter how much I looked around, there was no trace of my allies or Nüwa.

‘What on earth just happened?’

I scrambled to think.

What does it mean to accelerate the wheel of time?

What does “original time” refer to?

But before I could think further, a gigantic scolding echoed in my mind.

“[You fool!! What are you doing?]”

My head buzzed painfully from the command, but I instantly recognized who was chastising me. It was the phantom of the Dark Giant looming in my mind.

” … Jeon Wook.”

That’s right.

The one who spoke directly into my head was Jeon Wook, one of the Three Sovereigns. He spoke to me in a somewhat furious tone.

“[You dare turn the [Small Cycle] in front of Nüwa? How foolish can you be… You are now in the Void of Time; how do you plan to take responsibility for this?]”

“What do you mean ‘Void of Time’? What…? ”

I was utterly stunned upon hearing the next words.

“That place is before the sun even existed!”

“[……!!]”

“Nüwa accelerated your time rewind and sent you hurtling here.”

What?!

I was so shocked that my mouth hung open, yet I knew Jeon Wook wouldn’t trick me. Having learned about cosmic lore from Zhuge Sa, I understood what that meant.

‘We’re talking about… billions of years ago!’

If this was before Earth and the sun existed, we were talking at least 4 billion years back! It was a timeframe that absolutely defied proper estimation. Only then did I grasp what Nüwa had done to me.

To rewind time by spinning the [Small Cycle] back is like trying to turn a water wheel in reverse. Nüwa initially blocked my effort with brute force, but upon seeing my futile attempts, she’d grown annoyed and instead accelerated the wheel of time, essentially flinging me into this distant past!

Jeon Wook continued.

“[I had aimed to eliminate the Queen Mother of the West through you and keep Nüwa in check, but it seems I’ve failed. In that case, I’ll have to take back the powers and authority given to you.]”

Vroom

In that instant, Jeon Wook appeared to me in the guise of a King, slowly extending his hand toward me. There was no way to evade it, and the moment his hand touched mine, I realized I would lose all my Spirit Power, abilities, and authority.

As an Old Ruler, Jeon Wook seemed capable of manifesting even across billions of years of time. Gods transcend time and space.

Feeling the impending crisis, I urged loudly.

“Wait! I still have a way to win!”

“[It’s meaningless to go back to that time. Nüwa, being a deity, cannot be interfered with through any space or time, so no matter what you try with the powers of the Main God, it will be in vain.]”

“No, that’s not it. That’s not what I meant…”

“[Are you still making excuses? Very well.]”

Jeon Wook said coldly.

“[I still have some interest in you, so I will allow you one more word.]”

“……”

“[Think carefully about your final word.]”

I needed to turn his mind with just a single word?

In that moment, a singular choice came to my mind.

‘Reborn Person!’

All I had to do was declare that I was a reincarnated person! Jeon Wook would never treat me carelessly if he knew I was reborn, and surely he’d grant me a chance again. My mouth was itching to speak, yet all I could think of was the ‘warning’ from my strategists in my mind.

Never reveal that you’re a reborn person.

At least not in this lifetime.

“……”

I must keep the taboo…

But why hide the secret of being a reborn person here? This is not the timeframe I came from; we’re talking about billions of years ago, before Earth and the sun were created. In this desolate cosmic space, who on earth would hear me? Who could possibly eavesdrop on the Three Sovereigns?

I could see no other way but to reveal that I was a reborn person!

I could just commit suicide and move on to the next life, but that felt like such a waste. If I die now after cornering the Queen Mother of the West, how senseless would that be? Desperate to survive, I felt myself wanting to speak out about being a reborn person.

“Um… I…”

Just say it.

Once I say it, that’s all there is to it.

Maybe he’d even tremble at my words?

Yet, visions of Mangnyang, Miho, Zhuge Sa, and the others danced in my mind.

“… I know the true objective of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen. I’ll tell you, so please, help me.”

While this was more uncertain than directly saying I was a reborn person, it was the only path I could take for now. It might be easier to delve into the story of being a reborn person, but I chose the hard way on purpose.

Maybe it’s my absolute worst choice in this lifetime, but at least it felt better than dying over breaking the taboo. I couldn’t betray the trust of my companions.

At that, Jeon Wook’s hand paused.

“[Is that truly so?]”

“Yes.”

“[Hmm…]”

Jeon Wook seemed stuck in a deliberation. It seemed he recognized the possibility of my words. Finally, he spoke.

“[If that word is deceit, you shall not die peacefully.]”

“……”

From Jeon Wook’s eyes, a fierce light shone.

“[As an honor to you, I had intended to grant you a peaceful death, but if I do that, I will rip you apart continuously from now until that last time. You will become the prey of the hungry ghost.]”

If this goes wrong, I might be torn apart for billions of years in Jeon Wook’s Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace… Jeon Wook had already shown the ability to keep someone alive while forbidding them from dying when he tortured Gin Nara.

‘Tch. I have to at least try!’

Although it was a terrifying scenario, I didn’t feel the slightest bit nervous. Maybe because I had felt much worse situations before, I could handle this calmly. After all, my life had been a series of adventures, so panicking would get me nowhere.

“The true intent of Gong Sun Xuanwen is to reach the Throne of Chaos!”

“[……?!]”

For the first time, it seemed Jeon Wook was taken aback. His arms crossed, he responded.

“[What do you mean? The Throne of Chaos?]”

“I discovered that when the end of this world approaches, the Earth will perish and a door to the Throne of Chaos will open. Did you know about this, Jeon Wook? ”

“[I am aware.]”

“But it seems there are very few who know what happens once inside. The Great Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen knows, though.”

“[……]”

As Jeon Wook stared at me intently, I leisurely spoke up.

“Gong Sun Xuanwen is using everything he can to reach that throne in the end. He likely calculates the Law of Cause and Effect to exploit the other Two Sovereigns as mere pawns, excluding himself. Ultimately, he plans to use that sacrifice as a stepping stone to reach the throne.”

“[I can’t believe it. Where did you get such information?]”

“You must have seen me using the Evil God’s command.”

I continued.

“As you know, that command is immensely powerful, and one must be closely affiliated with the Evil God to obtain it. By getting the command from the Evil God, I also managed to learn the secrets of the tablet.”

“[……!!]”

I declared boldly.

“On that tablet lies revelations of the future, including what the throne is about. That’s how I found out Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen’s true intention!”

Honestly, almost everything I just claimed was made up!

I basically just concocted that tale in my head!

However, it was true that Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa had speculated that the figure I encountered during the [End of the Universe] was likely Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen. And based on the assumption that he was indeed Gong Sun Xuanwen, I loosely spun this story. Of course, I knew nothing about the Evil God or what was written on the tablet.

Yet Jeon Wook, listening to my words, seemed to contemplate while trying to believe me.

“[Hmm. I see now. That’s why he has put masks on us… That explains everything… The situation aligns perfectly.]”

So he gets it?!

Wait, is he actually getting it?!

Am I a genius?!

A little later, Jeon Wook spoke.

“[Very well… I’ll take it as truth. So, do you know what benefits await upon reaching the Throne of Chaos? I want to know the true will of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.]”

“Uh… What does it mean…?”

“[Speak. If you tell me, I promise to do everything in my power to assist you.]”

Surprisingly, Jeon Wook seemed genuinely interested. I felt a wave of relief wash over me, but as I was about to talk, I felt a block coming. What’s so great about reaching the Throne of Chaos that Gong Sun Xuanwen is after? It was tough to think of any reasoning behind it.

If I continued down this road, I’d end up disillusioned like last time, making Jeon Wook go off on me for spouting nonsense again. I desperately racked my brain not to repeat any failures and suddenly, a lightbulb went off in my head.

“You gain the right to become a more powerful being! The reason the Evil God and the Emperor are competing to reach the throne is for this very reason!”

“[……]”

“U-uh, I mean, it’s like receiving direct power from [Father]…”

Jeon Wook paused for a moment, then asked.

“[Are you implying that the Emperor is offering us sacrifices for that?]”

“Maybe, that’s what I’m saying.”

Once I said it, I immediately regretted it. It felt so absurd even as I spoke it.

‘Ah… Damn it… But what else could I think of!’

Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen was an incredibly powerful being as the head of the Three Sovereigns. He might even be an Outer God. Why would such a truly powerful being seek to become even stronger? Even more ridiculous, what’s the point of becoming a more powerful being after the end of the world has already come?

Just when I thought I had failed, my eyes squeezed shut.

Suddenly, Jeon Wook burst into laughter.

“[Kuk… Heh… Heh heh heh heh! So that’s how it was! I’ve always wondered why he forced masks upon us, but now it all makes sense! Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, have you created us Four Sovereigns to make us your slaves?]”

Jeon Wook clenched his fist tightly.

“[Then there will no longer be respect or concession! We shall also challenge toward the ultimate competition. We will smash through the Divine Temple and behead the Emperor to claim that Throne!]”

Jeon Wook seemed incredibly agitated, far from his divine demeanor. For some reason, he appeared to feel a fierce eagerness along with a strong animosity. I was unsure why he quick believed such a fabricated story, but it soon struck me that my words had likely stirred some doubts he’d held for a long time.

Suddenly, Jeon Wook placed a hand above my head.

“[I will keep my word. Consider yourself fortunate.]”

“What?”

“[I’m off.]”

Fwoosh!!

In the next moment, time itself began to distort. Simultaneously, Jeon Wook’s spirit flowed through my head into my body, and I sensed something other than myself entering me. I realized I was losing control over my physical form as my consciousness was confined to a far-off place.

Fwoosh —

Time began spinning backward at a mind-blowing speed. The divine powers were reversing time directly by billions of years. Moments later, my body gradually started stepping forward in colorless space at Jeon Wook’s will. With each step, countless years flew by. It was truly the stride of an omnipotent being.

When I took my final step, my body returned to its original timeframe. However, it seemed to be not the time I had wanted, before Xiang Yu’s end, but right after Nüwa expelled me into the past.

Boom

As I reappeared, Nüwa shot a fierce glare at me. Then, unexpectedly, she spoke.

“[Jeon Wook. What are you thinking?]”

To that, my Three Sovereigns, the Present Sovereign Jeon Wook, replied while crossing his arms.

“[Nüwa, I think you’ve lived long enough.]”

“[……]”

“[It seems time for you to rest.]”

Nüwa’s expression twisted in displeasure.

“[How dare a descendant of an Emperor challenge me?]”

“[I’ve told you before. I’m only acknowledging you because the Emperor commands it.]”

Grruuu…

“[Never have I thought of you as inferior to the powers of Chaos.]”

“[Just a mortal…]”

“[Heh, that doesn’t matter. I believe now is the optimum time to strike you.]”

The Spirit Power within me began towering even greater. Simultaneously, my human form became increasingly disheveled, and divine power began to construct my body instead.

The genuine might of the Three Sovereigns began to anchor itself through the celestial authority.

I could feel hundreds, if not thousands, of times the power of the Spirit Power I possessed until now flooding into me. My form transformed into that of a giant of chaos, as my capacity for chaos surged beyond that of any mortal.

Mangnyang, who stood nearby, murmured.

“Forced Divinization…”

Moments later, I had morphed into a massive dark giant.

The sky warped, and from the blackness emerged countless ghosts, including Zhu Rong and Ryeo. They slowly began to surround Nüwa, who remained silent.

Before Nüwa, whose true self appeared in this world, Jeon Wook raised his hand high and declared.

“[Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace, let’s attack Nüwa together.]”

“[Honorable Lord!!]”

Thus began the first war among the Three Sovereigns and Five Sovereigns since time immemorial.