Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
The fourteenth life has begun.
Thump!
As I awakened in the Barn, I clutched my neck. After waiting for the faint pain to subside and my Brain to finally recognize reality, I cautiously released my grip. It seemed that I had developed quite a tolerance for pain.
I leaned against the wall of the Barn, pondering.
‘Hmm… What on earth was that creature that tried to possess me at the end?’
I vividly remembered it. It was more than just a simple ill feeling; it was a cursed possession phenomenon. Some creature, like an Ancient Ruler, used my body to channel power into the Super Superior Being and didn’t stop there—it attempted to control me and summon me to its lair.
The amusing part is that I felt ‘favor’ from it, which sent chills down my spine. Had I lost both my body and mind to it, I would have soon used Boiling to move to the Ancient Ruler‘s abode.
I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen next. What on earth are these Ancient Rulers? Unlike Immortals, they seemed to act as they pleased.
But right now, there was no trace of that possession aura or spiritual domination, and I could maintain clear rationality. I murmured,
“Returning to the past with the Heavenly Secret Manual also nullifies the Ancient Ruler‘s power.”
The more I thought about it, the more miraculous the Heavenly Secret Manual seemed. It was a simple ability to turn back time, yet it transcended all the peculiar treasures I had obtained during my adventures. Just the fact that I could return to the past infinitely granted it immense power. I realized anew how incredible it was that I had come across the Heavenly Secret Manual.
I wanted to rush to get it right away, but I thought ahead. Acting impulsively had never been efficient, a lesson learned over decades of experience. I calmed down and contemplated what the most efficient course of action was.
‘Hmm. I see. It wouldn’t hurt to act a bit differently.’
Thud!
I dashed out of the Barn, speeding up my movements. I didn’t forget to practice the Soul Extinguishing Step technique on the go.
“Shall we go?”
Getting the Heavenly Secret Manual was still the priority. However, this time I turned towards Shandong instead of heading for Huangshan like last time.
Tat tat tat tat!
With a complete change in direction, my arrival time at Shandong drastically shifted. Just a few days after departing from my hometown, I crossed the outer wall of Shandong and entered the city at midnight. I then retraced my memories and headed for the storage where the goods of the Great Dragon Merchant Association were located.
Soon enough, I found the Golden Boiling and used it right away.
Fwoosh!
The next moment, I appeared in the Great Thunder Prison’s Abyss. Upon appearing in the Abyss, the gigantic tentacled Giant Toad was right there, glaring at me as if it hadn’t even taken a nap.
“Come forth, Lu Dong-bin!”
At the same time, Lu Dong-bin descended into my body.
[ I shall exterminate the evil!! ]
With a battle cry, Lu Dong-bin wielded the sword using my body. He always seemed to revel in the thrill of battle against evil.
Crash!
Meek! Kieeeem!
Soon after, Lu Dong-bin’s battle ended with the Giant Toad’s tentacles shattered into pieces. I went into the cave behind the toad and retrieved the Vault, Twin Broadsword, and Nine Stars Main Capital. Then I ascended from the Great Thunder Prison and cut down the prison bars, releasing the individuals inside.
“General Hwang Yeon, I’m sorry, but could you enter briefly?”
“Who exactly are you…?”
I convinced the people to get into the Vault and placed everyone, including General Hwang Yeon, inside. I then quickly teleported and headed to Huangshan.
Fwoosh!
“Let’s push forward…”
Upon reaching Huangshan, I dug up several Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng and Black and White Lotus flowers and roots, placing them in the Vault. I immediately accessed the Ruins of Demand and collected Gold Bars, then bled on the altar and fought the Giant Spider.
Crash!
The Giant Spider, unable to resist against my vastly improved skills, was swiftly defeated. I pinned it against the cliff and retrieved Magu to store in the Vault.
Suddenly, some curiosity struck me.
‘What might there be in the lair of the Giant Spider?’
There might just be a spider nest, but I was intrigued. So, I grabbed a nearby torch and slowly descended the cliff into the lair. Planting my feet firmly with my internal energy, I managed to climb down reasonably well.
Wriggle…
“That’s not a spider nest?”
To my surprise, there wasn’t a spider nest on the ground; instead, there was a smooth stone floor. The Giant Spider was living off the ground rather than making a nest, seemingly awakening only when it sensed an intruder. I found it fascinating that there were no traces of cobwebs except for where the spider might have lain.
‘The Giant Spider must’ve been artificially created from the start.’
I examined the area around the stone floor carefully. In one corner of the cliff, I discovered a cave that led somewhere and couldn’t help but scream,
“Wait, there’s another cave here?!”
I knew this was a place of great peril, sealing the Magu of the Seven Luminaries, yet I wondered how much left there was to unearth even in my fourteenth reincarnation. I was astounded and began to walk down the stone stairs of that cave slowly.
There was, unlike any place before, a small room. An eerie atmosphere filled with vague light lingered there. In the center of the room stood a statue. It depicted a middle-aged man’s likeness.
“Is that Oracle Script?”
Unexpectedly, the statue bore inscriptions, translating into Oracle Script rather than anything else. Of course, as ancient as it was, I found it hard to interpret.
‘This might be something for Mangnyang…’
I pondered whether to cut down the statue or bring Mangnyang here, and realizing that the latter was less burdensome, I chose to leave the statue untouched for now. After all, it was human-made, so Mangnyang could hopefully figure it out.
I scanned the small room further but found nothing else of significance besides the statue. It didn’t seem like the statue was erected to offer treasure, but rather a commemoration and respect for someone.
Though somewhat disappointing, I thought it was still worth discovering this new fact, and I proceeded with Boiling to relocate.
Fwoosh!
I transported to Taegyeong Village and obtained the Silver Phoenix statue from Hwa Si‘s collection. After getting the Silver Phoenix, I swiftly moved to Pirate Island.
Clack!
“Gahhh!”
It was dawn on Pirate Island. Upon arrival, I immediately moved to the pirate captain’s quarters and dispatched all the Pirate Chiefs. They tried to call for their subordinates, but since I surprised them in their sleep, taking them out all three was a breeze. After slaying all three, I looted the secrets from Blood Saber Group and stuffed everything into my Vault.
Swish!
“…..!!”
I then silently began to slit the throats of all the sleeping pirates. Though I wanted to make it a painful death, having done that several times already, I decided to keep it quiet this time. I also made sure to disable a dozen or so Pirate Executives to use as targets for revenge against my pirate captives.
After overpowering all the pirates on Pirate Island, I moved north, placing explosives inside, and collected Yodo Muramasa from the pirate executive’s chamber. Feeling like I had procured enough from the Pirate Island, I freed Seo Mun-hye from captivity and allowed my pirate captives some time for revenge.
After the thoroughly brutal revenge was completed, I placed all the captured pirates in the Vault again before teleporting to Gaegyeong. Upon arriving at Gaegyeong, dawn was breaking, and I decided to take a short break and grab a meal at an inn before visiting Hwa Seong-myeong.
As I unexpectedly instantaneously teleported into his medical facility early in the morning, Hwa Seong-myeong looked utterly astonished, as if struck by lightning.
“What, what, what’s happening?!”
“I am Baek Woong, from the Hwa family’s collateral line…”
I explained the entire situation to him and, like before, handed over the Golden Box to Hwa Seong-myeong, then brought in the head of Jeong Cheol-wook to deal with the captives from Goryeo. This didn’t take more than two hours.
Right before I was about to set off again, I decided to ask Hwa Seong-myeong a question for further clarity.
“Hwa Seong-myeong, do you happen to know Kang Jeon-gil, one of the Five Greats of the World?”
At that, Hwa Seong-myeong frowned.
“Hmm, of course I do. That guy is insufferably arrogant despite having no skills.”
“… Actually, he’s currently seeking refuge at Shadowless Gate, and I happen to have met him by chance.”
“Eh? Shadowless Gate?”
Hwa Seong-myeong sounded incredulous.
“Why would he go there? I thought for sure he’d go to Shaolin, being such a close buddy.”
“Seems he thought Shadowless Gate would suit him better.”
“Good gracious… He is so full of himself but is starkly self-preserving when it counts. Not that I have a place to judge.”
With a wry smile on his face, Hwa Seong-myeong continued,
“So what does he have to say for himself?”
“Actually, Kang Jeon-gil suspects that the Bane afflicting Baek Ryeon-kyo is due to a curse.”
“……!!”
Hwa Seong-myeong flinched in surprise, and his eyes sharpened.
“Hmm, please elaborate on that.”
I recounted Kang Jeon-gil’s speculations in detail. Hwa Seong-myeong listened attentively and seemed lost in thought for quite a while, spending almost a full meal’s time in silence. Finally, he spoke,
“Do you truly wish to understand the truth surrounding the plague afflicting the White Lotus succumbing?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then I think like Kang Jeon-gil. You need to visit Dongfang Mu-jue. As much as I dislike admitting it, I too acknowledge him as the best in the land.”
Dongfang Mu-jue!
Unlike other members of the Five Greats of the World, he was known by the peculiar title of Heavenly Divine Healer. He treated humans as he saw fit and set the price to whatever he felt was right. Sometimes, he even decided the price at the cost of someone’s life, making some individuals despise him. I didn’t know exactly what kind of person he was, but from the opinions of Hwa Seong-myeong and Kang Jeon-gil, it seemed he possessed remarkable medical skills.
“Where can I find Dongfang Mu-jue?”
Hwa Seong-myeong licked his lips.
“Well… Unlike us, that old man possesses exquisite martial arts. Interestingly, they say he showed up voluntarily instead of being cheated by the Guardian Beast, and even the Guardian Beast agrees with that probably being the case.”
“Exquisite martial arts? Are you saying a doctor can be skilled in battling?”
To my question, Hwa Seong-myeong nodded.
“Being the head of the Hwa family, I’ve mastered first-rate martial arts, but Old Dongfang is on another level. Even the Guardian Beasts seem to hesitate to approach him. I don’t know if it’s a unique martial art from the Dongfang family or what, but he is undoubtedly a transcendent expert.”
“……!!”
An expert even the Guardian Beasts hesitate to face!
If that’s true, he might really be one of the greatest. I couldn’t easily imagine a doctor cultivating martial arts at the same time; thus, I couldn’t help but click my tongue. Dongfang Mu-jue must be an extraordinary genius.
After a brief consideration, Hwa Seong-myeong continued,
“If you wish to find him, I suggest you check the Tang House located in Sichuan. That’s the last lead I’ve heard about Dongfang Mu-jue.”
“Thank you.”
“And he’s really, really a bit of a crazy… well, quite eccentric, so be careful when dealing with him.”
Hwa Seong-myeong coughed awkwardly.
“Hmm.”
For a moment, I couldn’t believe the coarse language that slipped from Hwa Seong-myeong‘s mouth. In other words, the Hwa family leader, who had cultivated and trained himself over the years, seemed to shudder at the very thought of Dongfang Mu-jue’s personality, hinting at his formidable disposition.
‘… I really don’t want to meet him.’
I shook my head briskly and handed over another Gold Bar for the revival effort of the Hwa family before bidding him farewell. I then teleported directly to Jinlang Valley.
Fwoosh!
I found myself before the Mangnyang’s thatched hut, a sight I’d seen multiple times before.
When I glanced at what Mangnyang was doing, I noticed he was lounging on a bench, leisurely browsing through a collection of spring flowers. I approached him and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Looks fun?”
“Gah!”
Mangnyang jumped in surprise, fumbling around.
“Who, who are you?”
“I’m just a wandering martial artist passing by.”
“……”
I let out a brief sigh. Now that I had executed my plans thoroughly, I felt like I had saved a hefty amount of time.
Indeed.
This time, I had managed to skip Huangshan and, after acquiring the Heavenly Secret Manual, took care of everything else in just two days. I had put off visiting Mangnyang until last.
Now, there was only the minor issue of when to free the hostages, but I didn’t see it as a significant concern. I thought it would be more convenient to handle everything before seeing Mangnyang, which is why I chose to act differently in this reincarnation.
I took my time explaining the events of my thirteen past lives to Mangnyang step by step. After finishing everything, I thought I had sufficiently persuaded him and asked the most pressing question.
“… Mangnyang, how can I defeat Zhuge Liang?”
“……”
Mangnyang looked at me with complete trust. Perhaps that’s why he appeared to be cautiously considering my out-of-the-blue question.
After a moment’s consideration, Mangnyang replied,
“Your thirteenth reincarnation was particularly fortunate. Had Zhuge Liang not intended to use you, you would have died from his Bane Sealing Spell earlier.”
“Bane Sealing Spell?”
“It’s a formidable spell that instantly kills you if even a single talisman touches you, causing your soul to escape. Furthermore, had Zhuge Liang revealed the White Talisman, it would have been a truly hopeless situation… that’s a spell used by Zhuge Liang himself.”
After reaching that point, Mangnyang’s eyes gleamed.
“But be warned, even if we attempt the same strategy again, we will ultimately lose due to insufficient strength. If it weren’t for the random blessings bestowed on you by the Ancient Ruler before, your death in the Imperial Palace would have been a 100% certainty. Keep that in mind.”
“Hmm.”
That was something I had also considered, causing me to click my tongue. Fighting normally wouldn’t allow me to defeat Zhuge Liang, who cast barriers in the Imperial Palace! That was the biggest issue at hand.
Mangnyang said,
“Of course, I have a few strategies in mind to defeat Zhuge Liang. However, all of them can only be attempted once we gather adequate strength and forces.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Don’t attempt to assassinate the emperor in the Seven Stars Village. Save that plan for later; instead, let’s build your power through forming a Fancheng Alliance while you assist me. Rushing to fell a giant tree will only lead to the axe handle snapping.”
“I understand.”
Mangnyang grinned.
“First, let’s handle the Magu incident.”
Mangnyang and I swiftly used Boiling to head toward the village where Cheon Woo-jin was located. Naturally, it had become a habit by now to bury the Heavenly Secret Manual in a pine forest. Convincing Cheon Woo-jin to come out became a routine task, and performing the offerings went as expected.
Woo woo woo!
Cheon Woo-jin’s eyes lit up, and soon Taehwa Cheongje descended. He gazed at me and said,
[ This is really strange… How come I feel your energy? ]
“Please pass the turn to me.”
[ Sure. ]
Once Taehwa Cheongje‘s turn was over, it was Queen Mother of the West’s turn. I asked her to spare Mihwa, and then I turned to her with a request.
“Please exclude the Southern Flower Road.”
[ Hmm. Understood. ]
Woo woo woo!
This time, I figured Lu Dong-bin would be the next, but interestingly, the turn was different.
The deity who would descend upon Cheon Woo-jin started trembling, then spoke in a blunt voice,
[ I am Peng Zuo. ]
Then he continued,
[ I am still alive, so I cannot bestow you any blessings… I shall pass my turn. ]
“Wait? You’re still alive?”
I exclaimed in shock.
“Isn’t Peng Zuo someone from the Yao Shun era?!”
Annoyed, Peng Zuo replied,
[ I’m still alive. So what? ]
“……”
I was dumbfounded.
Peng Zuo was a paragon of longevity, revered as an immortal being from the Yao Shun era to the late Shang Dynasty—in short, he was a symbol of long life, known to have lived for centuries. To still be alive after thousands of years is astonishing!
‘He must be at least 3000 years old…’
While I was lost in thought, the turn shifted.
Fwoosh…
[ I am the Yes(?). ]
I heard his self-introduction but couldn’t quite grasp it.
There was such a deity?
As I stood there in a daze, the one identifying as Yes let out a chuckle and bestowed upon me a blessing.
[ I award you the power of Inevitability. ]
“W-wait! What does that ability even do?”
[ Anything you shoot will undoubtedly hit… ]
In an instant, I looked back at Mangnyang. It seemed Mangnyang caught on to my look and quickly produced a fidgety expression as he shook his head. I then hastily called out to Yes.
“Excuse me, but that blessing doesn’t quite suit me. Is there anything else?”
[ Hmm… Every archer in this world wishes for that blessing… ]
“I’m not an archer; I’m a swordsman!”
Yes scowled a bit, seemingly displeased, and finally muttered.
[ Fine. If you enjoy sword fighting, let me introduce you to someone suitable for that. ]
Fwoosh!
‘Will Cheon Woo-jin be okay?’
I began to grow increasingly worried. This was the fourth turn I had gone without any trouble. Last time, I was utterly exhausted and nearly collapsed; if this new deity proved troublesome, I might need to brace myself for a fifth turn.
Moments later, the deity Yes called forth the deity.
[ Are you the insolent one who picks and chooses deities? ]
This felt ominous right from the start.
It seems that the news had spread through the ranks of these deities after four of them had already been filtered out.
Not answering Yes’s question, I stood there, frozen. The deity slowly revealed his form: an ancient figure clad in black armor and a helmet, radiating an overwhelming amount of fierce energy.
‘Is this what a deity is?’
I felt trepidation inside me. The fierceness radiating from the deity felt intimidating, almost as if I were facing a peerless expert. Such a powerful presence was unlike anything I had ever encountered from Immortals or Deities before. Rather, it gave off an air closer to a powerful demon than any divine being.
I managed to respond,
“I-I need strength!”
The deity’s eyes glimmered.
[ Strength? What kind of strength do you require? ]
“A powerful blessing strong enough to demolish the formidable foes blocking my path.”
I explained somewhat defensively, yet the deity somehow wore a satisfied smile.
He then chuckled and stated,
[ I like that… It’s precisely what I like most. ]
“Huh?”
Both Mangnyang and I recoiled in shock at his next statement.
[ I shall bestow upon you the blessing of Xiang Yu. ]
“Wha—?!”
“Xiang Yu!!”
Mangnyang quickly cast me a look to cancel. But by the time I could react, the Divine Ceremony was already complete.
Plonk!
As Cheon Woo-jin collapsed unconscious, a white light encircled me, and the blessing descended upon me.
‘Ugh! I don’t know what this is!’
I stood there in disbelief.
Xiang Yu of Western Chu!
The Destruction God and unbeaten Massacre Demon!
This figure destroyed the world with immense valor throughout the history of China but also wielded a reputation for chaos, and now he had bestowed a blessing upon me.
Slight modifications were made.
