Heavenly Realm
My sixteenth life has begun.
“AAAAAAHHHHH!!”
I screamed in a frenzy.
This scream wasn’t born from pain. The agony was so intense that eventually, my senses would become numb from it, allowing me to recover quickly. The reason for my raw, wild outcry wasn’t just physical suffering.
I am weak!
And I have no one to trust!
The torment felt as if a sharp object was driving itself into my brain. While I could endure bodily pain with my Shindo-myeol-gak technique, this was an entirely different beast. Kneeling down, I grasped the straw in the stable tightly, tears streaming down my face.
“Damn it… 15 times… I’ve died 15 times…!!”
Yet nothing had improved.
While my personal power might have seen a slight increase, I had no way to challenge the colossal force known as the Imperial Palace. If I couldn’t finish things off early on, the Imperial Palace would only grow stronger over time. What on earth was I supposed to do? I couldn’t rely on the power of the White Lotus Sect, leaving me in a complete dilemma.
Moreover, now I could no longer trust the blessings and protection of the Heavenly Realm. I had discovered that the blessings of the Seven Luminaries and the Great Immortal couldn’t coexist peacefully.
When I released the Seven Luminaries from their seal, the [Former Ruler], who had been responsible for them, would inevitably infuse their soul into it. If I were to capture the Seven Luminaries while under the blessing of the Great Immortal, there would definitely be a backlash. Especially since Yeodongbin would act like a detonator for me, always lurking around and poised to descend at any moment.
What on earth should I do?
What went wrong?
I sat there, pulling at my hair, deep in thought for a long while. Then I murmured absentmindedly,
“… I don’t know. Should I just give up?”
It’s infuriating.
Why the hell am I fighting against the Imperial Palace? I don’t mind if no one appreciates it, but it feels like everyone—I mean, everyone—is desperate to nail me in the back of the head. Relying on Mangnyang and Miho as my patrons also doesn’t seem wise. Ultimately, if I end up dead, it’s obvious they will lead terribly unfortunate lives afterward.
But giving up right now would mean losing the encouraging words Mangnyang had instilled in me.
[ You’ve done very well so far, Baek Woong. You will do well from now on, too.]
“……”
I clenched my fists tightly. If not for those words from Mangnyang, I would have thrown in the towel right at this very moment.
‘Yes. It would be worse than death to leave without achieving anything after coming this far.’
At this point, even if I had to die not fifteen times but several times over, I had to witness the Imperial Palace reap what they sowed. I wanted them to feel every ounce of pain and anguish I had endured.
My eyes sparkled with determination.
“I must grow stronger.”
I need to get stronger. For that, time is essential.
Until now, I had attempted to grasp everything all at once, but with this fifteenth death, I realized that was an overreach. Struggling with external factors while also trying to focus on my training was pure greed, and with my less-than-stellar talent, I could manage only one thing at a time.
So then, what must I do to secure time?
After a brief pause, I murmured through gritted teeth,
“In this life… I will sever all ties!!”
It felt like the right answer for me now. Mangnyang and Miho are both incredibly capable allies, but they function as both my strength and my shackles. Mangnyang carries the spirit of a righteous hero who absolutely cannot turn a blind eye to the Imperial Palace’s misdeeds, and if I drag Miho into this, she wouldn’t be able to endure witnessing my life in jeopardy. To gain my freedom, I had to forsake the choice of keeping them as my allies.
Then what should I do after severing ties with Mangnyang and Miho?
After thinking it over, I murmured,
“First, I need to obtain a Vital Thought.”
It would not be too late to think afterward.
Once I set that as my absolute principle, I immediately began acting out the required steps from all my previous lives.
Let’s go!
First, I obtained the Heavenly Seal and rushed to Shandong to grab the Golden Lotus. Then I traveled to Naeok to defeat the toad and acquire the Mokgak and the other legacies, rescuing the prisoners including General Hwang Yeon. After that, I headed to Huangshan to gather the Black and White Lotus and Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, snatching away Makhya and even some gold bars.
Then, using the Golden Lotus, I went to Pirate Island to massacre the pirates and rescue the captured ones.
Swish!
“AAAH!”
Maybe it was because I was furious, but this time the pirates were torn to shreds. I felt pathetic letting my rage spill over onto these human trash, but this was something I couldn’t help. Someday, I would certainly repay Hannibal’s atrocities tenfold for the grievances I harbored.
After finishing this series of tasks, I ventured to Goryeo to free the prisoners there. Under normal circumstances, I would have freed the captives in Zhongyuan after Shandong, then swung by Shadowless Gate before heading for Mangnyang. However, since I had decided against visiting Mangnyang, I chose a different route this time.
I went to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School in Guangdong. There, in the deserted courtyard of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School at night, I released the prisoners from Daehaeok including General Hwang Yeon. When I suddenly appeared at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, they looked bewildered, but I escaped using the Golden Lotus before Lee Gwang or Jin So-cheong could show up.
There was no need for Mangnyang to back General Hwang Yeon. It would be interesting to see how the Thunder God Lineage handles that mess.
“Now that I’ve cleared up this matter, shall I try unsealing Makhya’s second seal next?”
I decided to head to unseal the second seal. The other prisoners, including Seomun Hye, were currently in the Mokgak, where time was halted, so I didn’t have many concerns.
“But before that…”
I took out the Black and White Lotus and Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, consuming them one by one.
Rumble rumble!
My energy surged dramatically as if a massive storm was brewing within me. The immense power I originally possessed swirled together with the effects of the Black and White Lotus and the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. Yet, perhaps because I was already near my limits, the actual increase in power wasn’t that significant.
‘Better than nothing, at least.’
The efficiency might be low, but I wanted to squeeze out whatever advantages I could. After finishing with the elixirs, I tidied up my energy and set off to the North Pole to unseal the second seal of Makhya.
Swish!
I fed Makhya my blood and plunged it into the ground. Just like before, night descended, and brilliant light surged forth as the ancient beast manifested. This time, the ancient beast would lead the way to the [Former Ruler], Itaka.
Upon arriving in the void of emptiness, Itaka spoke.
[Have you come to fulfill the contract?]
Seeing Itaka for the second time, oddly enough, I felt a reduced sense of pressure. Although Itaka’s power remained unchanged, I felt as if accepting its presence was becoming easier. Thanks to this relief, I could finally speak to Itaka.
“Yes, I have.”
Upon my response, Itaka looked at me with an expression of surprise. Then they replied,
[My name is Itaka. I will proceed with the contract.]
Bam!
A moment later, the second seal of Makhya was released, and Itaka’s spirit merged with Makhya.
“Done.”
I swung Makhya a few times and then, just to be sure, glanced around.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
[ Yeodongbin! How could you release such a cursed object? ]
It was a tone of reproach.
I realized that Yeodongbin had descended and was grumbling right near my soul. Perhaps it was because of all the times I’d experienced Yeodongbin’s descent, but I felt like I could somewhat understand his emotions now.
I chuckled bitterly.
“Yeodongbin, you say the Seven Luminaries are cursed? At least it’s better than an Immortal who stabs me in the back.”
[ Yeodongbin! I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I urge you to reconsider. If not, I will have no choice but to eliminate you with divine wrath.]
Frustrated by Yeodongbin’s earnest words, I shouted back.
“That’s exactly what I mean by a stab in the back! You act in accordance with the will of the Heavenly Realm, calling me “Yeonja,” but have you ever treated a descender with respect? All you prove is that you’re just a puppet and a slave to the Heavenly Realm!”
[……]
“I am neither a puppet nor anything else. I am human. A living human, you hear?”
I unleashed the fury that simmered within me.
“Go ahead and kill me if you dare! I will eradicate everything in the Heavenly Realm even if I have to repeat this a hundred or a thousand times!!”
Yeodongbin fell silent for a long time.
‘Great. Is this how I die for the sixteenth time?’
As I forced a smile while waiting for death by divine wrath, Yeodongbin finally spoke after a while.
[Yeonja! I will explain the reason the Seven Luminaries are dangerous.]
“……!!”
I was taken aback at that moment.
Yeodongbin suddenly offered important information. My surprise grew as I asked,
“Yeodongbin, are you alright? What you are about to say is the secret of the Heavenly Realm, isn’t it?”
[ Given that you’ve released the second seal of Makhya, it can be said that you have also become embroiled in a massive cosmic scheme. Even if I suffer punishment from the Heavenly Lord, it shouldn’t be severe.]
Yeodongbin, who spoke calmly, seemed to have made up his mind. He moved according to the Heavenly Realm’s commands, but he also retained his free will. I felt a twinge of that hatred I held for him begin to fade a little.
[ The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors who birthed the Seven Luminaries are certainly not good beings. They are an immense evil.
However, they had a considerable influence over the birth of the Heavenly Realm and still possess immense power. Therefore, we can only strive to seal the Seven Luminaries without touching the root cause, those Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. ]
“The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors are your superiors?”
[ It’s different. The relationship is worlds apart from what you might think.]
“……?”
After a long sigh, Yeodongbin continued.
[ The Seven Luminaries are an object created through a contract between the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and those called the [Former Ruler]. Each individual possesses incredible power and is meant to flourish during the so-called era of Malfate. Originally, they should never have been released during this era.]
“What does that mean? An era of Malfate?”
[ If the Seven Luminaries are released, a catastrophe beyond comparison to the rampage of otherworldly beings will ensue. We must prevent that at all costs.]
Having explained to that point, Yeodongbin earnestly urged me,
[Yeonja! Think again. If necessary, I would rather release the Great Evil of a Thousand Shrouded Beasts, but the Seven Luminaries must never be freed! There could still be a chance for re-sealing…!!]
“……”
I fell silent for a moment before replying.
“It doesn’t matter to me.”
[ What?…]
After a brief pause, I spoke firmly.
“Get lost, Yeodongbin! If you don’t, I’ll use the power of the Seven Luminaries to unleash calamity upon the world. It’s a vast world of difference whether I’m doing it intentionally or not.”
[ Before that, I will kill you with divine wrath.]
“Do as you please. Just know I have nothing to lose.”
Rumble rumble!
As I infused Makhya with my enormous energy, I felt something terrifying begin to stir within it. Yeodongbin hastily exclaimed,
[ Fine… then I will retreat! Calm yourself.]
“That alone won’t do. Cut all ties with me and completely leave.”
[ Understood.]
Bam!
After a brief moment, Yeodongbin severed the ties binding us and disappeared. He likely severed the connection established by magic and returned to the Heavenly Realm. I thought now I wouldn’t have to deal with any troublesome matters because of Yeodongbin.
‘Well, it’s a matter of losing a shield meant to protect me at the same time…’
I felt like it might become bothersome if things continued this way.
While it was fortunate that my threats worked on Yeodongbin this time, there was no guarantee that this would work every time.
In other words, I also needed to find a way to remove Yeodongbin whenever I wanted during this life.
After unsealing the second seal of Makhya, I headed for Astana’s seer.
Bam!
The seer of Astana seemed to have sensed my energy and appeared atop the altar in the Great Temple soon after. He stared at me for a moment before speaking.
[ … The master of Makhya has been born… Congratulations… ]
“Thank you.”
I responded lightly and then pulled out the Nine Stars Rebirth Coin from the Mokgak and presented it to him.
“Let’s make a trade. I have some questions.”
[ Oh…?]
“Is the price sufficient?”
[ Of course…]
The seer of Astana accepted the Nine Stars Rebirth Coin with pleasure. Then he asked,
[ What would you like to know… ]
“This Makhya is just an ancient sword right now. The second seal has been released, but what kind of powers can Makhya exhibit now? Also, tell me the activation method.”
[ Hmm… It’s simple.]
The seer extended an arm resembling a tentacle toward me.
[ Kill anything with Makhya… That’s all you need to do…]
“Kill you say?”
[ Be it a living being or a spiritual entity… as long as you kill it with Makhya, Makhya will grow with each instance… Once that growth completes, it will be capable of fully exhibiting Itaka’s power…]
“……!!”
I trembled at the essence of Makhya.
A weapon that grows stronger each time it kills an opponent!
And when completely developed, it would become the ultimate weapon capable of directly wielding the power of the [Former Ruler].
I urgently asked,
“Is there a chance that Itaka might seize my spirit or body?”
[ That should not be possible… because what resides there is Itaka’s reincarnation and not the main body… Contracts can never be violated…]
“Reincarnation?”
[ Most [Former Rulers] do not casually reveal their main form… Well… since it’s a contract, some portion of Itaka’s power will surely be present…]
“I see.”
With the seer providing such assurance, I didn’t need to worry about side effects.
‘But “killing”… what shall I kill?’
While I was pondering when the seer spoke up again.
[ It seems a lot of payment remains… What else do you want?]
At his words, an idea struck me, and I replied,
“It seems the Great Immortal left a terminal with me, using it to continue descending. Is there any way to sever that whenever I want?”
[ Hmm… Just use the Severance Spell. I will teach it.]
The seer instructed me on the method of the Severance Spell. Upon passing through Obsidian, I immediately realized that I could completely utilize this spell. Then as I grasped the true power hidden within the Severance Spell, I exclaimed,
“This spell can also exorcise evil spirits and spirits?”
[ Exactly… Severance is about severing ties with the world… It is a spell that removes the places where spirits can set their feet on earth… Since the Great Immortal is also a spirit, he’s bound to be weak against the Severance Spell…]
“Thank you!”
I felt like I now had more methods to attack spiritual entities.
“Oh, and what to do with the excess spirit energy flowing into Makhya?”
[ If you give it to me, I’ll put it to good use…]
“Eh? Is that possible?”
[ Of course… But handling it also requires effort, so I shall take no more.]
“Hmm, I suppose I have no choice.”
The seer of Astana regarded me with a curious gaze and said,
[ Strange…]
“What is it?”
[ You… aren’t you an otherworldly being…? No… You’re human, but…]
“I’m not.”
[ Hmm… Or maybe… Alright then, you may leave now…]
With that, the seer vanished.
“Phew, that’s done.”
I murmured, my eyes sparkling with hope.
“Now, shall I head to the Shadowless Gate?”
Upon arriving at the Shadowless Gate, just like before, I was able to release Seomun Hye and the other captives. And during my encounter with Sword Demon, I suddenly declared,
“I want to join the Shadowless Gate!”
“Join, you say? How amusing.”
The Sword Demon chuckled heartily.
“Your current skills are quite impressive for your age; do you truly wish to join our sect?”
“Age has nothing to do with learning.”
“That’s not a phrase to use in this context.”
“As long as we communicate well, is that not enough?”
“Quite a free-spirited friend, aren’t you?”
The Sword Demon deftly engaged with my banter, chuckling again.
“Very well. Then you shall live as a guardian of the Shadowless Gate henceforth.”
“Thank you.”
This worked out!!
I felt relieved that things had gone according to plan.
Now that I could remain in the Shadowless Gate, I intended to train hard over the years and aim for the level of Vital Thought.
‘From now on, I’ll leave worldly matters aside.’
Once I obtain Vital Thought, I’ll think then!
With this, I resolved to keep things simple this life.
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