Chapter 930
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True Martial Home
Help me?
I felt a mix of confusion and surprise at Darma’s words.
‘Could it be that he would ask for my help…’
Of course, I couldn’t refuse his request. To put it bluntly, being face-to-face with Darma right now was no different than facing the true body of Jeon Wook, the Sovereign of the Three Sovereigns. Whether I refused or tried to escape, I would be caught and killed like a fly. That said, if I resolved to die, I could still find ways to throw a wrench in his plans.
Even so, the thought of a being with the powers of an [Old Ruler] asking for help from someone he suspected might be an [Anomaly] was utterly shocking! It was a suggestion I never even considered, leaving me bewildered.
After thinking it over, I asked, “What do you mean by you might return the Four Great Spirit Deities?”
[It’s just as I said.]
Darma pointed a finger at me.
[At first, I thought your existence was too weak; perhaps your wish to call upon the Four Great Spirit Deities was ignored because of that. I believed the [Anomaly] that appeared was weak because your wish was dismissed. But I think that’s impossible.]
“Why do you think that’s impossible?”
[The being I wished for is not one to be ignored. There’s no way my wish could have been dismissed by Him.]
“…You’re overly confident. The [Old Rulers] see humans as mere toys.”
I muttered, incredulous.
In reality, that’s true. Offering a sacrifice to the [Old Rulers] to gain power and favor was the most common method of becoming strong, but the success rate was dismally low. It wasn’t rare for a single whim of theirs to result in the annihilation of practitioners, and they often played games with those desperate enough to seek help.
For my part, the success rate was fairly high when I offered treasures of the highest value like the Seven Luminaries or the Treasure of the Three Sovereigns, so they didn’t readily dismiss human sacrifices. It would indeed be rare for the [Old Rulers], described as nightmares of the evil cosmos, to grant wishes in a normal manner.
In response to my statement, Darma said decisively, [That being is on a different level. Unlike the [Old Rulers], He embodies cosmic laws and is the very source of the world. There’s no way He would bother to toy with someone like me.]
“Could it be… you…”
Suddenly realizing something, I exclaimed, “Did you wish to an Outer God?!”
[Indeed. In fact, He is existence beyond comprehension.]
“Is that even… possible? It’s not supposed to be!”
I was left in utter shock.
Outer Gods!
The gods of gods, so magnificent that mere mortals, let alone rulers, revere them as divine entities.
Considering that the blessings and power obtained through sacrificial rites are proportional to divinity, it might seem that performing an offering for an Outer God would be far better than the usual [Old Rulers]. Imagine how strong one would become by receiving blessings from beings that warp the very laws of the universe! Just the blessings alone could potentially allow one to battle the Three Sovereigns.
However, that was nearly impossible. In reality, performing a sacrificial rite directly for an Outer God was considered one of the powerful taboos in the world of sorcerers. This is because, being such an exalted being, once you recognize the existence of the Outer God during a sacrificial rite, the sorcerer would instantly vaporize, unlike the ordinary [Rulers], who would at least respond to summons by name and ritual. I’ve heard tales of entire star systems disappearing while attempting such a rite.
Typically, under any protective magic circle or similar, it would be impossible to perform a rite for an Outer God. The only feasible alternative would be to indirectly offer sacrifices to a [Old Ruler] who serves that Outer God, essentially relaying the offerings in a secondary manner. Even in such cases, receiving blessings from an Outer God was virtually unheard of.
That’s why Simon Magus, a grandmaster of Zoroastrianism and the master of Zhuge Sa, might be regarded as an amazing figure. He succeeded in what was thought impossible: a rite for an Outer God, and as a result, he soared in rank from a human sorcerer to a [Demon King] in a snap. Of course, he sacrificed hundreds of sorcerers, dozens of kings and nobility, and millions of souls of Zoroastrian followers and underwent thousands of sacrificial rites and massacres to achieve that. He may have been a piece of human garbage and a rogue, but his capabilities were indeed remarkable.
While I was still shocked, Darma quietly spoke, [It was unavoidable. If I carry out my plan, there will be enormous interference. I needed a means of self-defense to protect myself until the rite is over, and I requested that means from the Outer God.]
“……”
[I desperately required a sacred artifact that could even slay a god. Only such a form of protection and blessing could ensure the safety of the rite.]
So that’s the reason for summoning the Four Great Spirit Deities.
However, as I listened, a strange thought occurred to me, and I asked Darma, “Isn’t it possible that, lacking offerings, you received an incomplete sacred artifact?”
[I considered that too. But in that case, the sacred artifact would not have come at all…]
“Why?”
[Crossing the boundaries of the universe, no matter how trivial the item, can alter the very laws of cause and effect. Considering the significance of that act, your wish could have either been granted or not from the very start.]
Darma had an air of unwavering certainty. I felt that questioning him would be like challenging a master who had gained the power of the [Old Rulers] simply from studying sorcery in this empty world, which is akin to being a mere caterpillar attempting to dance in front of butterflies.
I decided to accept Darma’s thoughts as far as possible and said, “So, what’s the conclusion? The sacred artifact that I saw had no power and was worthless.”
[One possibility came to mind… hence I asked for your help.]
“Possibility?”
[……]
After a moment of silence, Darma spoke, [I’ll propose this. Right before performing the rite, you will infuse power into the sacred artifact you call the Four Great Spirit Deities, forging it into a weapon with the power of Divine Killing. You will then use that sacred artifact to protect me during the rite as best as you can. Once everything is complete, I will ensure your return to your world.]
“……”
I was momentarily dumbfounded by Darma’s suggestion and then regained my senses to respond.
“What kind of ridiculous proposal is that? What if I escape with the forged Four Great Spirit Deities?”
[Where would you run to…?]
“Why, I would just go back to the boundary of the outer universe…”
As I spoke, I suddenly realized something.
No matter how extraordinary the Golden Lamp was as a sorcerer’s artifact, it had one drawback: it couldn’t bypass dimensional barriers surrounded by special barriers or blessings. Moreover, when I rode the helmet of the Giant God, it was clear that such [boundaries] were heavily fortified. The Suin burst through the barrier with his power, allowing me to slip in without issue.
Without the Golden Lamp, there was no way I could cross into the cosmic dimension. As I was now, I couldn’t make it even to the moon, let alone hundreds of thousands of light-years away. Trying to invoke Jeon Wook’s powers wouldn’t work since the Three Sovereigns didn’t even exist in this world, leaving me without any assistance…
As I ran out of words, Darma spoke up.
[Baek Woong, it would be wise to follow my advice… Although it’s not to my liking, there’s a certain intrigue in melting you down and forging you into a Divine Killing weapon.]
“……”
[I will grant you time to sort your thoughts… Feel free to wander between the White Lotus Sect and this world until you feel ready. When you have clarity, tell me.]
Pa-at!
Darma once again vanished.
I stared blankly at the stone box on the Altar of Heavenly Darkness, then turned my head away.
‘I should give up!
It would be a foolish act to steal the sorcery book right now. Instead, I sat down to think.
‘What should I do?’
A mission to protect Darma himself using the Four Great Spirit Deities until the rite was over.
I contemplated what would happen if I accepted that request.
It was clear that the rite was likely to establish a Dharma technique for the Non-Birth Mother. And the interference that would come…
If the God of All were to rage and attempt to eliminate Darma amidst a cosmic disaster!
In that scenario, I would have to guard Darma, who was in the midst of forming a Dharma technique, against hundreds or thousands of [Old Rulers].
As per the Prophet’s words, at that moment, I would be fighting against the entire universe filled with [Old Rulers] and Demon Kings. Just armed with the Four Great Spirit Deities meant for protection.
“……”
What a ridiculous idea. Is that even feasible?
Yet just moments before, I felt an inexplicable confidence from Darma. It seemed he truly believed that I was the only one suited for this mission. His lack of concern for failure confused me.
‘What could Darma be thinking?’
When I listened to the Prophet recounting the history of Dharma technique creation, I felt no special sentiment. Yet facing this reality clouded my mind entirely. The thought of Darma attempting such a ludicrous act made him seem utterly mad.
“Huh…”
I shook my head and resolved.
“First, I need to understand the state of the world.”
Darma had offered me a grace period to sort my thoughts, surely recognizing the gravity of his proposal. Therefore, I should thoroughly understand the state of the outer universe before deciding to accept his offer.
Tydaht!!
With immense internal power, I took off running toward the east, aiming for the continent.
Thud, thud, thud
In no time, I arrived at the peninsula where Goryeo (高麗) once stood. As soon as I got there, I headed straight for the place where the Divine City had once been.
When I reached the vicinity of where the Sacred Altar Tree had originally stood, I was engulfed by a sense of emptiness.
“…It’s gone.”
I expected this, but it was still disappointing. The being that once suppressed the otherworldly folk and preserved the survival of humanity, the World Tree, the Sacred Altar Tree, was nowhere to be found. It was just the ancient Mount Changbai with its vast pond. Nature was vibrant, and the spirit energy was intense, but that was all.
‘This world lacks any powers aside from sorcery. Clearly, the Master of the Twelve Joules isn’t here…’
Similarly, the Twelve Joules won’t be present either. To confirm one last thing, I began to hurry south from Mount Changbai.
Tydaht
When I arrived near Gaegyeong, the former capital of Goryeo, I spotted numerous soldiers lined up in the plains. Strangely, they didn’t seem to be troops of a single country; rather, they were an allied force, with soldiers donning different armors and weapons.
‘Looking at the banners… Looks like Silla (新羅) and Baekje (百濟).’
So, it’s the allied forces of Silla and Baekje.
They must be preparing to attack Goguryeo’s territory north of the river.
Having stayed in Goryeo for some time, I had learned its history. I knew there had been three kingdoms on the peninsula before Goryeo was established, with Silla and Baekje, two small nations, teaming up to attack the larger Goguryeo. The timing aligns with the era of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
However, I felt confusion at how precisely the timing matched.
‘This… is strange.’
This world is almost a carbon copy of ours. Even if history were nearly identical, it wouldn’t usually feel so odd.
However… there was a critical difference.
In our world, various superhuman powers, like martial arts and sorcery, exist. How could history unfold almost identically without such things? Considering human history is one of survival of the fittest, it seemed absurd to maintain such parallels. How could such a stark contrast lead to similar histories?
While I was lost in confusion, a chilling sensation suddenly struck.
“……!!”
Feeling a jolt of fear, I turned my gaze eastwards, and dark magical power lingered in the air. Recognizing the essence of that power, I swallowed hard.
“Sea God….!!”
Without a doubt, it was the power of the Sea God. From my direct experience, I could never forget his aura.
But I was left baffled by the potency of the Sea God’s energy resonating so vividly now.
‘Why is it so strong?’
Typically, the Sea God hardly exerts substantial influence inland. Just as there were guardians over Goguryeo and the Central Plains, his attacks are usually sporadic rather than full-on assaults. In other words, those guardians were suppressing his power.
But now, the energy of the Sea God felt just as clear as when I faced him directly, suggesting his strength was at least ten times more potent. I murmured in disbelief.
“This can’t be… how on earth do humans survive here?”
The influence of the [Old Rulers] doesn’t just instill dread. Humans exposed to that energy would immediately mutate or go insane and die. A madness so overwhelming gripped the world that civilization couldn’t exist. Using the Fire Eye Golden Spirit to scan the soldiers in the expansive plains, I found most had expressions reflecting an apparent deterioration due to the magical energy.
Screams! Screams!
Not long after, the allied forces of Silla and Goguryeo clashed in battle. During the chaos, monstrous beings resembling fish, the Sea God Clan, emerged and began devouring the soldiers.
Aaaaah!
Grrrrrr!
Simultaneously, commanders started transforming into otherworldly beings, turning the conflict into a chaotic brawl among the transformed. I realized that the command structure had already been overtaken by these otherworldly races. Gradually, I began to see the shadow of the Sea God looming over the distant horizon.
‘That Sea God is enjoying this war as an audience.’
Yes, this war was merely a masquerade; in reality, it was a power struggle among the otherworldly beings. Humanity was just a source of sustenance, mere meat. Watching the grieving humans being devoured alive in that nightmarish battlefield left me pondering whether I should intervene.
‘This is not a situation where I can interfere…’
How could I save the humans in such chaos?
Would I wipe out all the otherworldly beings?
Utterly meaningless.
If the Sea God’s power was indeed this strong, then even if several powerful figures from our world showed up, it would still be futile. Gradually more powerful Sea God Clan elites would appear, wielding magical commands and supernatural abilities, and eventually, the Sea God himself would come out and eliminate me in a single blow. Even if the Celestial Sage were here, there’d be no guarantee he could defeat the Sea God.
Calamity would continue to rain down.
After the massacre and cannibalism disguised as warfare, the next would be disasters striking towns and villages.
Women would bear children of otherworldly beings without knowing why, and men would gradually transform into members of the Sea God Clan. Once the mutations were complete, humans would begin to worship the Sea God, performing horrific human sacrifices.
Originally, such situations would have been kept in check by the Twelve Joules and the Master of the Twelve Joules. Powerful Peak Experts and Sorcerers would’ve clashed to stop the Sea God Clan.
However, such defenses are absent here. The otherworldly beings can exert their superhuman powers without restraint, rampaging through humanity.
In this terrifying scenario where even I, a Reborn Person, shivered, what on earth could ordinary humans do…?
Despair, purely despair.
“Gah.”
I gritted my teeth in frustration and turned away. I invoked the Golden Lamp and began making my way back to the White Lotus Sect.
Pa-at!
I walked briskly to the place where my disciples had gathered earlier. As soon as their gazes fixed on me, I shouted loudly.
“Darma! I will accept your proposal!”
Suddenly, as if he were smoke, Darma appeared in front of me. His dark gaze shimmered as he spoke.
[Seeing the Sea God’s rampage, have you decided to help with my endeavor…?]
Darma’s power had reached the level of the [Old Rulers]. He could oversee the entire planet with his sight and senses; observing my actions would be a piece of cake for him.
“Yes. This is too much! I had no idea it would be like this…”
[Too severe, you say? Heh… It’s just a commonplace event in our world…]
“Commonplace!?”
My astonishment broke free as I shouted, and Darma looked around the gathered crowd.
[Baek Woong, you claimed to not know how to save the world…]
“……”
[Born and raised in this world, I, Darma… and our White Lotus Sect’s disciples, who were tormented by the magical chaos until our last breath… We have already resolved how to save this world.]
With a swift motion, Darma joined his hands in a prayer.
Following his lead, the five disciples of the White Lotus sect joined their hands in prayer.
The numerous disciples who had gathered outside also bowed their heads in prayer.
In his eyes, I saw a profound resolve shining.
[To save this fallen world, we will have to bring about its destruction. Everything must return to nothingness, obliterating the vicious chaos! That is the ideal we seek in our White Lotus Sect, the True Martial Home.]
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