907——————==

True Martial Home

Oh, man!

We found ourselves in a bind, so we rushed to the sealed place of Yan Emperor Shennong, guided by the giant Gong Gong. I was a bit worried about whether the Celestial Sage would make it out alive after fighting the Nine Lotus Bishop, but honestly, we had more pressing matters at hand. If we didn’t wake Shennong right away, we were all gonna be in deep trouble.

‘I’ve been here before…’

Gong Gong said to me.

[You all have something to say to the Apostles of the God.]

Everyone’s ears perked up at Gong Gong. He looked like he had regained quite a bit of strength, maybe even a little bigger than before. He kept glancing between me and Mangnyang before speaking.

[First, I want to thank you for doing everything you can to break my lord’s seal. I will never forget this favor.]

“Gong Gong, you seem like you have something else to say.”

After nodding, Gong Gong continued.

[But even if my lord is freed, he will not fight the Evil God.]

“What’s your basis for that?”

[During the Great War, my lord and Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen fought fiercely multiple times. However, even amidst that chaos, the Giant Race and Divine Temple maintained an unspoken rule: Do not provoke the Evil God.]

“……”

[The Evil God is extremely dangerous. If we poke the beast while it’s sleeping, someone’s gonna bleed. As my lord’s close aide, I know how cautious he is around the Evil God. Besides, he needs to unify and lead our race anew…]

“So you’re saying he won’t want to brawl with a strong opponent when he’s busy taming the Giant Race.”

[I understand your plan to resolve the current situation with my lord’s power, but I just wanted to warn you it might be in vain.]

Mangnyang retorted.

“That’s funny. There’s nothing in it for you or your lord by telling us that. All you’re doing is increasing the chance that we’ll back off from breaking Shennong’s seal right here. So, why do you feel the need to tell us this?”

Gong Gong spoke heavily.

[…Like I said, I owe you a favor. I thought it would be shameless to keep quiet.]

“I see. So it’s about loyalty.”

Mangnyang shot me a glance and said.

“Baek Woong, what now? Sure, not unsealing Shennong would save my Sky-Destruction Sun and Moon Fan’s power, but…”

I shook my head vigorously.

“That’s not an option. Now that we’ve come this far, turning back isn’t happening. Even if Shennong doesn’t help us, we’ll still set him free. It’s the only way to change our current situation.”

“Good point.”

With that, Mangnyang lifted his Sky-Destruction Sun and Moon Fan, aiming it at the gray moon.

“Then, I shall now unseal the Three Sovereigns, Yan Emperor Shennong!”

Whoooosh!

From the tip of the fan, dark energy burst forth like a bird, sending waves through the air. The black energy flew toward the gray moon, and for a moment it seemed to spread through the void like droplets of water.

Then, the gray moon began to descend slowly. As the gray moon fell, the world that had been softly shrouded in darkness turned into an even deeper shade of gloom, eventually morphing into pitch-black night. Shortly after, a bright light began dawning from the horizon in the pitch-dark world.

Boom!

The sun rises!!

As the sun emerged, the horizon shimmered and boiled, and it was as if a gigantic flaming hand appeared, pressing down over the entire sea. That hand started burning the world bright with scorching heat. The owner of that hand didn’t show his face, though.

“…We did it.”

“So that presence is…”

“Yan Emperor Shennong.”

It looked different from what I remembered. I had an inkling an enormous flaming giant would show up, but he hadn’t made a full appearance yet, especially since last time he looked like one of the ancient high priests. However, the flame of Yan Emperor Shennong appeared as pure white—it was unlike the flames of Jeon Wook.

Moments later, the Divine Voice of Shennong resonated in my head.

[Have you all set me free…?]

I took a step forward and shouted.

“Yes, I am Baek Woong, the Apostle of the Sovereign, Jeon Wook! And beside me is Mangnyang, the Apostle of Master Mangnyang!”

[……]

“I humbly ask. The Evil God is bursting forth, aiming to break the seals of powerful demons in Luoyang! Please lend us your strength to stop that fiend!”

[Did Nüwa perish?]

“She’s not dead. She’s in a comatose state.”

[As I thought…]

I could tell Shennong was aware of Nüwa’s condition while I answered. Most of Shennong’s seals were cast by Nüwa, which meant now, in her weakened state, was the perfect time to release those seals. Shennong continued speaking.

[My clan, Gong Gong… Have you also been saved by them?]

[Indeed.]

[Come closer.]

Swoosh!!

Gong Gong suddenly shot over the horizon and dove into the sun. Once he entered it, Gong Gong’s form vanished, looking as if Shennong absorbed him completely. After a moment of silence, Shennong finally spoke again.

[As Gong Gong said, I do not plan to assist you.]

“……”

[However, you seem to be trying to bind me with a flimsy contract… Did you think you could force me into fighting the Evil God by staking your name? Did you think you could tell me I had to battle, with all the seals undone?]

Oops!

It seemed like Gong Gong absorbed into Shennong also meant his memories flowed into him. Gong Gong had been with us this whole time, so it was likely he had seen and heard our plans. But I had anticipated that to some extent, so Mangnyang calmly responded.

“Please calm down. That was merely a means to persuade Jeon Wook.”

[For all that, you’ve only undone 20% of my seals. If you want the remaining 80% undone, do you expect to force me into a deal where you promise to subdue the Evil God?]

“……”

[Answer me.]

I could sense the fury of the Yan Emperor. It seemed he had enough power to eradicate us even with 20% of his seals still intact.

“It would be great if you would, but I suspect you won’t.”

Whoosh!

Mangnyang again swung the Sky-Destruction Sun and Moon Fan. Four streams of black energy shot into the void, and shortly after, a giant of pure flame began rising from the horizon, drying up the ocean in the process.

Kaboom!

“……!!”

It’s massive!!

It was HUGE! All we could see was just the heel of Shennong, while the rest stretched somewhere high in the heavenly domain. The pure flame that bellowed from him illuminated the world so brightly it nearly hurt our eyes.

Mangnyang spoke up.

“With this, all seals have been undone.”

[So easily… Truly, the Apostle of Master Mangnyang. That individual is remarkable.]

As the Yan Emperor marveled, Mangnyang asked.

“Can you understand our sincerity?”

[I’ll listen to your story at least.]

The Yan Emperor seemed to calm down. Mangnyang sighed in relief and continued.

“We’re not sure if you’ll understand our plight, but we aim to protect humans while ultimately piercing through the Life Sea and moving to the Outer Dimension. We also wish to resurrect the Giant Chi You.”

[Chi You?]

“Yes. But Chi You’s limbs are torn and sealed all over the world, and formidable beings like Jeon Wook are directly guarding those seals. Thus, we couldn’t afford to anger Jeon Wook to achieve our goal. We apologize for any disrespect shown toward you, Yan Emperor.”

[Such trivial matters aren’t my concern. Why do you aim to awaken Chi You?]

“Only by having Chi You’s strength can we subdue the Emperor in the Divine Temple and his followers, ensuring humanity’s survival from the impending doom. If failing to subdue them, we might at least be able to delay the time of destruction.”

[……]

After a brief moment, the Yan Emperor burst into laughter.

[Hehehe… Hahahaha.]

His voice echoed for a while. It wasn’t anger or mockery; it felt more like cheerful amusement.

[Hahahaha!!]

After a good laugh, the Yan Emperor turned to us.

[How utterly self-centered, to the point of amusing—humans, are you trying to drag your kind into chaos and destruction for their sake? You dare not even know the strength of Chi You? How thoroughly selfish and dim-witted, yet that makes it all the more entertaining.]

“……”

[But I also find such duality within humans quite amusing… It’s only natural to be entertained!]

Mangnyang replied calmly.

“I would like to ask the Yan Emperor about your intentions. While we ultimately wish to awaken Chi You, do you not wish for his seal to be broken?”

The Yan Emperor questioned back, his voice laced with intrigue.

[Let me ask again: What do you think the relationship between Chi You and I is?]

“I understand that Chi You is a distant descendant of the Yan Emperor and a Giant. So, you probably regard him as part of your clan and as an ally against the Emperor in battle, don’t you?”

[It seems that’s how the human world perceives it…]

“……?”

[That’s completely different.]

The Yan Emperor’s words followed quietly.

[From the very beginning, he alone challenged the Emperor, killing the Emperor’s Avatar during their first encounter. And it was humans, not the Giant Race, who followed him. I merely observed his conflict.]

“……!!”

[He is an entity beyond common understanding. An absolute force of the universe. He may bear my blood, but he is no Giant. Do not conflate my business with Chi You’s.]

Chi You isn’t a Giant?!

Mangnyang looked slightly unsettled but quickly composed himself and asked.

“Does that mean you do not wish to break his seal?”

[Correct.]

“Why…?”

[As I said, he is infinitely dangerous. Regardless, the system of the Three Sovereigns has become a mess, so it’s easy for me to lead the Giant Race. There’s no need to wake him and raise the stakes.]

“……”

[It seems you believe that by waking Chi You, I’d align with you for a decisive victory, but I see no reason to comply. Similarly, I have no desire to fight the Evil God.]

Damn it!

You released the seals but now want to do whatever you please, huh?!

This reaction from the Yan Emperor was shocking! Last time, as soon as he was released, he was taking out the Sea God and smashing Aokigahara Life Sea, eliminating all sorts of demons. So, I expected him to be more cooperative this time, but not at all!

I shouted out in anger.

“Yan Emperor Shennong!! Is this not too much? By the laws of cause and effect, helping you means we should at least receive some form of gratitude!”

[There’s no need to feel favor for acting with clear personal motives. Gratitude is merely a matter of the heart; there’s no need to feel used.]

“Ugh, that’s not what I meant…”

As I stumbled for words, I suddenly felt I had something to say.

“If the Evil God lands and breaks the seals in Luoyang, the worst of demons will emerge! We must stop that, don’t you agree?”

[It’s fine. I don’t care.]

“It’s fine?!”

[This world has become bothersome to me. I plan to take my clan and move to another realm.]

“……”

[It’s no longer a concern of my Giant Race.]

I was flabbergasted by the Yan Emperor’s statements, but soon realized he hadn’t changed his attitude at all.

‘That… that was it.’

Even when I obtained the Sun entity during the trial of the Seven Luminaries, the Yan Emperor suggested I cross over to another world with him. At the time, it felt like a kind offer, but now it seemed he had a strong desire to leave this world rather than get entangled in its affairs. The Yan Emperor had little motivation to fight the Evil God at the cost of protecting this realm!

Is there really no way out?

Just then, I was desperately racking my brain.

“Great Yan Emperor, if that’s the case, I ask you to defeat just one being.”

Mangnyang stepped forward. The Yan Emperor responded to Mangnyang’s suggestion.

[You already know; I said not the Evil God.]

“Of course, I know. Just take down the King of Aokigahara Life Sea.”

[…Very well. Eliminating the Gatekeeper is a task I can easily accept.]

“Thank you.”

[Now leave.]

Swoosh!!

In the next moment, we all found ourselves back in the world from the Yan Emperor’s seal. There was no doubt he sent us off. Mangnyang sighed, saying.

“We’ve at least achieved our minimum goal…”

Minimum goal.

This meant that to overcome the singularity I needed to venture into the Outer Dimension, and the biggest obstacle blocking that path was indeed the King of Aokigahara Life Sea. I had been pondering how to take down that existence, and now I had managed it with the help of the Yan Emperor.

The only reason I called it a minimum goal was because, regrettably, we hadn’t been able to use the Yan Emperor’s power to fend off the Evil God or to break Chi You’s seal. I aimed for a trifecta but had settled for the bare minimum. I said to Mangnyang.

“Mangnyang, is there no way to stop the Evil God?”

“……”

After a moment of maintaining a firm expression, Mangnyang finally spoke up.

“There’s none.”

“There’s none?!”

He replied in a voice that sounded somewhat defeated.

“Baek Woong, you should focus solely on what you must do. We’ll bear the rest of our fate.”

In that moment, I understood the bleak reality.

The Evil God rampaging through the world was now inevitable.