906——————==

True Martial Home

I summoned Jeon Wook right away and made my request.

” Jeon Wook! Please grant our request.”

Ohh

Jeon Wook appeared through my mental world, showing no intention of personally manifesting, having sent out an avatar instead. Summoning him directly would consume a lot of cause-and-effect energy, so it was more efficient just to send an avatar.

The avatar of Jeon Wook spoke.

[ What request do you have?]

” The Evil God is currently trying to invade the Central Plains. We need strength to stop him.”

[ I see… ]

Jeon Wook crossed his arms.

[ The Three Sovereigns have come up with our own countermeasures against the Evil God.]

” What is it?”

[ We decided to ignore him.]

” ……”

Jeon Wook said coldly.

[ Whether he invades the Central Plains or not doesn’t concern us much. If he wants to expand his power, let him. We’re going to take care of Nüwa without worrying about him.]

” Why? If the Evil God invades, it’s a disaster!”

[ It would be… if he was in a normal state.]

” Huh?”

Then Jeon Wook said something unexpected.

[ The Evil God is currently in a dormant state. He cast powerful magic to protect countless Old Rulers, and as a consequence, he fell into slumber. Therefore, he can’t exert his power without legitimate cause-and-effect.]

” Hmm…”

[ Even if the Evil God’s followers collect a plethora of offerings, it won’t revive him but merely serve as snacks for him. He won’t dare confront us unless the time of promise comes.]

Something feels odd.

‘ Is that really the case?’

If the Evil God’s power is suppressed due to being dormant… what about the interference I’ve faced during my rebirth?

The discomfort I felt stemmed from the Evil God’s freedom and strength.

The Evil God is incredibly powerful. Every time he appeared, he demonstrated overwhelming strength, possibly even superior to the Three Sovereigns. He effortlessly killed the Old Rulers of the Imperial Palace or cornered Nüwa and Jeon Wook with ease, and even showcased enough magical power to sideline me during the Seven Luminaries trial.

If that was merely his diminished strength, then he was truly a monster in essence. But if not, he might have gained legitimate cause-and-effect each time to exert his power. I couldn’t be sure which was the case.

What’s more troubling is that it felt like the Evil God was almost unrestrained. Although he was supposedly in a dormant state, he always butted in whenever he liked.

‘ I need to learn more about the Evil God’s dormant state…’

The very nature of the dormant state might differ from what others perceive. At least considering my experiences as a reborn person, it seemed like he had no dormant state at all. Yet, even the Three Sovereigns don’t feel it’s an imminent threat due to his slumber, which surely raises some discomforting questions.

Jeon Wook continued speaking.

[ Don’t worry about unnecessary things and prepare the offerings and cause-and-effect energy for us quickly. Don’t waste time on trivial matters.]

” Jeon Wook.”

[ Are you a disciple of Master Mangnyang?]

Stepping forward, Mangnyang spoke.

” We will resurrect Yan Emperor Shennong.”

Silence.

In that moment, Jeon Wook’s eyes flared up with fury, and dark flames flickered out.

[ Do you really want to die?]

” ……”

[ I’ll only give you so much leeway for being a disciple of Master Mangnyang. Trampling on your meager strength would be no trouble for the Three Sovereigns! You’re just a human! Can’t even grasp your place!]

Kaboom!

With Jeon Wook’s rage, a thunderous roar erupted as if heaven and earth had flipped, causing dozens of lightning strikes to tear through the sky and ground. An earthquake began rumbling beneath us. Yet, despite Jeon Wook’s anger, Mangnyang spoke calmly.

” While I’m a disciple of Master Mangnyang, I’m also the guardian and representative of humans. I have a duty to protect the human race. The Three Sovereigns may think they can just recreate us if humanity is wiped out, but for those of us living in this era, it’s not that simple.”

[ Are you saying you’ll resurrect Shennong to stop the Evil God?]

” Exactly. That is our contingency plan.”

Mangnyang’s gaze sharpened.

” Plus, knowing that Nüwa is in a lyrical state and her seal has greatly weakened, you’ll be aware it’s as easy as pie to break Shennong’s seal using your abilities.”

[ Are you truly intending to go through with this? Fine… I’ll kill you.]

Fwoosh!

I felt Jeon Wook starting to descend upon my body. At that moment, I gritted my teeth so hard they felt like they’d shatter and strengthened my Spirit Power to resist Jeon Wook.

‘ Ugh!!’

He hesitated for a moment.

Jeon Wook halted, visibly flustered by my resistance.

[ You little… still trying to resist this meaningless struggle. Don’t you realize that Spirit Power is my strength?]

” Please, just listen for a second… I’m not trying to provoke you, Jeon Wook!”

[ Quit your nonsense. I’ll kill you all.]

” Damnit… just hear me out!!”

In that instant, I used the Immortal Sword Technique to summon my sword and aimed it at my own throat. Jeon Wook slowed down, and I said to him.

” Losing me as a disciple would greatly disrupt your plans to eliminate Nüwa and deal with the Emperor! With the end of the world right upon us, can you really find another vessel as good as me now?!”

[ ……]

Jeon Wook fell silent, pondering my threat, before reverting to his avatar form. He ceased his fury and spoke.

[ Go ahead.]

Mangnyang’s pale face slowly regained its color.

” I want to know why you’re so opposed to resurrecting Shennong. After all, Shennong is also one of the Three Sovereigns, and if he were to help, we could stop the Evil God without even using our powers. Is there any flaw in this plan?”

[ Shennong is dangerous.]

” In what way is he dangerous?”

After a brief pause, Jeon Wook responded.

[ He is the king of the Giant Race that roams the universe before being one of the Three Sovereigns. What is always prioritized for him is the bloodline of the Giants, and he doesn’t have a good relationship with our Sovereigns either. Depending on the situation, he may very well turn against us.]

” Shennong is at odds with Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen. The enemy of my enemy is my ally, right? We’d be gaining a powerful ally.”

[ Don’t spout such nonsense.]

Jeon Wook glared at Mangnyang.

[ The strength of the Three Sovereigns is nearly equal. They were all born alongside the creation of the universe, the utmost divine beings. If it took so much effort to deal with just Nüwa, do you really think we could handle awakening Shennong, who still retains his full power? We won’t invite a tiger to kill a wolf.]

” ……”

[ If you insist on awakening Shennong, the only option left is to kill you all. There’s no compromise.]

As expected, I’m hitting a wall here.

‘ Originally, awakening Shennong was Zhuge Yulong’s idea…’

I squeezed my eyes shut silently. The plan to awaken Shennong to help break Chi You’s seal and then overcome the life sea had initially proposed by Zhuge Yulong, which Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa opposed. It had been exceedingly favorable for us, but Jeon Wook’s discontent had been evident.

And now, the reality was that Jeon Wook was furious about the resurrection of Shennong, just as Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa had feared. They probably opposed the idea, but with the Evil God on the verge of resurrection and about to invade, this was the only path forward.

How can I get Jeon Wook to back down?

Given the situation, Jeon Wook isn’t the only one who’d oppose Shennong’s resurrection; Jeogok and Shao Hao too. While I felt hopeless, Mangnyang spoke.

” What the Sovereigns truly fear isn’t Shennong, but Chi You, isn’t it?”

[ ……!!]

” Shennong was originally on the same side as his descendant, Chi You. Once Shennong resurrects, he’ll likely try to awaken Chi You, and if Chi You were to revive, he’d surely seek revenge against the entire Three Sovereigns who sealed him. Isn’t that what you’re really afraid of?”

[ Chi You can never be resurrected.]

” You can’t be so certain that’s why you’ve sealed five of your precious spears in [Grave of the God] around his heart. Chi You is that much of a monster.”

[ ……]

” Jeon Wook. It may seem best to ignore the Evil God and consume Nüwa to build up strength, but you might be overlooking one critical detail in this situation.”

[ What detail am I overlooking?]

Mangnyang’s eyes lit up.

” Luoyang.”

[ What about it?]

Mangnyang calmly continued.

” Luoyang is the place sealing the [most catastrophic demon] in history. And you must be aware that it is you who directly sealed that demon. However, not long ago, the Old Ruler of the Imperial Palace broke out unexpectedly, causing a major loss in magic power, and the barrier has weakened significantly. You know that with a vacuum of power, if someone gives a slight push, it could collapse.”

[ ……]

” As you might already guess, the [demon] is that entity. If Luoyang collapses, that being will be unleashed and run rampant. And the Evil God is invading the Central Plains to break Luoyang and awaken the [demon].”

[ So?]

” The Evil God’s invasion doesn’t just lead to the destruction of humanity. If we can’t stop Luoyang, the grand chaos of the universe will commence. All predictions of the end will be twisted, and even the Three Sovereigns will be wiped out!!”

As Mangnyang shouted sternly, Jeon Wook grew angry.

[ Impertinent fool!! Isn’t your master holding it back? You know that the dormant Evil God cannot break that seal in a short time, yet you dare threaten me!]

” I can’t guarantee that!”

[ … What did you just say?]

Mangnyang grit his teeth.

” Your master is severely weakened! You must realize that the sealing of the [most catastrophic demon] is something no one throughout the history of the universe has ever attempted! Do you think such an incredible sealing would last easily in this chaotic world? Moreover, do you even know why the Evil God is so desperately trying to break Luoyang’s seal?”

[ You know the reason?]

Mangnyang didn’t hesitate to answer. It was as if he had found a higher purpose.

” Yes. The reason is it’s the fastest path to the throne of ends!”

[ ……!!]

For the first time, Jeon Wook reacted in surprise to the unexpected words. Mangnyang continued.

” According to the information Baek Woong has gathered, [that being] waits at the throne of ends. Meaning, the existence that governs the end! If that being desires it, it’s only natural to reward the one who breaks the seal and frees them. The Evil God seeks that reward, and thus, he is moving!”

[ … Is it true?]

” Yes. The Evil God is competing with Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen! Even at this very moment, he is moving for the ultimate victory.”

[ ……]

Mangnyang aimed the Sky-Destroying Sun and Moon Fan at Jeon Wook.

” Oh great God King Jeon Wook! As a strategist, I implore you! Do not let yourself be blinded by immediate gain, fixing your eyes on the broader view! Saving humans, Luoyang, and the Central Plains is paramount for the survival of the Three Sovereigns!”

[ Hmmm.]

” Ultimately, this will give the Sovereigns the opportunity to put a blade to the Emperor’s throat!”

Veins bulged in Mangnyang’s neck. He summoned all his strength and courage to persuade Jeon Wook. Even with the blessing of Master Mangnyang protecting him from Jeon Wook’s power, it was nearly impossible for a mortal to speak this boldly before one of the Three Sovereigns. But Mangnyang mustered every bit of courage for the sake of the world.

[ ……]

As Jeon Wook remained quiet, Mangnyang folded the fan and spoke.

” But, it’s also true that we need to consume Nüwa to grow our strength. However, if we drain our power to block the Evil God, we might face unexpected counterattacks from Nüwa, so let’s assign the role of defending the Central Plains to Shennong.”

[ It’s all well and good, but until we find a method to contain Shennong, your plans are mere wishful thinking.]

” There is a way to contain Shennong. That method is…”

As Mangnyang outlined his new strategy, Jeon Wook appeared attentive. He nodded after contemplating for some time.

[ Alright, Mangnyang. That’s a very good plan. If we proceed that way, we can move Shennong as we desire. The Three Sovereigns have decided to accept your plan.]

” Thank you.”

[ You are permitted to unseal Shennong. Do as you see fit.]

Fwoosh

” Hah, hah, hah…”

Moments later, Mangnyang, having exhausted himself, collapsed to the ground. I helped him up, and as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, he said.

” With this, we can unseal Shennong without incurring Jeon Wook’s wrath.”

” Well done!”

” Let’s move immediately, Baek Woong. The situation is urgent.”

” Urgent, you say? Is the movement of the Evil God-led Nine Lotus Sect that fast?”

Mangnyang sighed.

” It’s so urgent that I barely had time to tell you, but it seems Nine Lotus Sect has already landed in the Central Plains since we were launching our attack on the Celestial Realm.”

” What? Seriously?”

” And after we annihilated the Celestial Realm, it looks like the Nine Lotus Bishop has already manifested, with his subordinates also materializing in the human world through human sacrifice.”

” ……”

” The southern Central Plains has been turned into hell with plenty of heretical sects and otherworldly races summoned. Currently, the Great Immortals of the Celestial Realm and the Eight Immortals of China are out there rescuing humans, but their efforts are limited as the Nine Lotus Bishop has begun engaging in battle.”

” Then…”

” For some reason… the Evil God has foreseen the destruction of the Celestial Realm and the resultant chaos in cause-and-effect, making his first move before anyone else. Right now, among the great existences of Heaven and Earth, the Evil God is the one leading the charge and also the most hazardous presence.”

It truly was an urgent situation.

As my expression darkened, Zhuge Sa beside me punctuated.

” As Hyun says, we need to act quickly. According to the last report I received, the Celestial Sage has started engaging the Nine Lotus Bishop.”