Heavenly Realm
Whoooosh!
I headed towards the pirate hideout with all the members of Shadowless Gate, using the Golden Eagle technique. Without hesitation, I released the entire Shadowless Gate from the containment device. The masters of Shadowless Gate, who poured out in a rush, looked quite bewildered, but it wasn’t long before the Sword Demon commanded them.
“Capture the higher-ups and kill the grunts.”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Leave not a single one to escape!”
Swish, swish, swish!
Before long, a dozen or so masters from Shadowless Gate scattered throughout the Pirate Island. Considering there were hundreds of pirates, it might seem small, but in reality, each of them was either a top-tier master or a peak master known in the martial world.
The Sword Demon glanced at me and said,
“Baek Woong will go save Hye-a,”
“Understood.”
Together with the Sword Demon, we rushed to the pirates’ underground prison, where it didn’t take long to wipe out the guards and break the Golden Seal technique that had been placed on Seo Mun-hye. It was the moment I was helping Seo Mun-hye out of the underground prison.
“Uwaaaah!!”
“Aaah!!”
As expected, horrifying screams echoed throughout the Pirate Island. The masters of Shadowless Gate were mercilessly slaughtering the pirates. After all, even with just one or two of them, wiping out the Pirate Island wouldn’t be a difficult task, let alone the entire force of Shadowless Gate.
Once the slaughter ended, three leaders and several higher-ups of the Blood Saber Group were swiftly bound and brought to their knees in less than half a joss stick’s time. Some of the higher-ups had their limbs severed in their attempts to resist.
Fear was etched on every one of their faces. This was due to Shadowless Gate’s masters hanging severed heads on poles, creating a terrifying atmosphere. Perhaps because they came from the martial world, the Shadowless Gate masters appeared unfazed even while witnessing such brutal scenes.
The Sword Demon, sitting and gazing at them silently, spoke,
“Are you the leaders?”
“T-th-that’s us.”
“Please spare us.”
The leaders of the Blood Saber Group trembled in fear. The Sword Demon seemed to understand their fish-like expressions and deliberately chose not to remove their hoods. Instead, leaning his chin upon his hand, he said,
“Tell me in detail who handed over Hye-a.”
“T-that was the Golden Eagle Guards,”
The Sword Demon appeared to expect that much. He followed up with a calm question.
“Where was the transaction area?”
“In the Jinggu area of Henan.”
“Quite close to Shadowless Gate’s main base. Did you know that Hye-a is the Young Master of the Past?”
“We had no idea! I swear! We were just asked by the Golden Eagle Guards to keep her for a year! They explicitly told us not to touch her!”
“……”
The Sword Demon showed a peculiar expression. Then he sent a mental message my way.
[You mentioned that Hye-a is guarding the Virgin Earth Goddess in your memories, correct? Are you certain about that?]
[Yes. I clearly saw that when I analyzed her vital energy with the Golden Seal Technique.]
[Please observe Hye-a’s condition again.]
I channeled my energy into Seo Mun-hye’s body and observed the flow of her meridians based on my medical knowledge. After a moment, I confidently replied,
[That’s right. The Young Master of the Past is undoubtedly the Virgin Earth Goddess. There aren’t any signs of abuse.]
[Hmm…]
As I answered, I tilted my head in confusion.
Was it really such a significant matter that pirates hadn’t touched Seo Mun-hye? Of course, from the perspective of a father with a daughter, it made sense, but it seemed that the Sword Demon was concerned about something else entirely.
Finally, the Sword Demon spoke.
“When is the next transaction with the Golden Eagle Guards?”
“Huh? W-well… we don’t have any plans for the next three months…”
“Set up the next transaction as soon as possible. If you cooperate, I might spare you.”
“Y-yes! I will do that!!”
Spare them?
I sensed something off about the Sword Demon’s response, but soon, things progressed smoothly. According to my memories, the Sword Demon swiftly obtained not just treasures from the island but also gunpowder and explosives, including the legendary Muramasa sword. He then instructed the leaders of the Blood Saber Group to contact the Golden Eagle Guards before rescuing the remaining pirate leaders and captives and returning to Shadowless Gate.
Once we returned, the Sword Demon said,
“I’ll handle the pirates and the captive liberation myself. You must hurry to meet Mangnyang.”
I was taken aback by his unexpected words.
“Is that okay?”
“You shouldn’t just finish things by tearing apart those Blood Saber fellows. I’ll now focus on tracing their origins to find the true masterminds. However, that task doesn’t require your strength, so worry about your own matters.”
The Sword Demon continued,
“I believe that in this life, you will achieve something remarkable. So go meet Mangnyang, perform the Seven Luminary’s Ritual, and have an in-depth conversation with him.”
“Understood.”
It was clear that if the Sword Demon handled the pirate mess, my burden would be significantly eased. Moreover, from the Sword Demon’s considerate demeanor, I realized he genuinely accepted the memories from my previous life.
I hurriedly used the Golden Eagle technique to head to Jinrang Valley. Upon entering, I noticed Mangnyang sleeping soundly in the room, and I cautiously approached to wake him.
“Wake up.”
Mangnyang waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah… let me be… I want to sleep…”
“Seriously.”
I sighed and then tickled his side.
“Heeek?!”
Suddenly, Mangnyang jerked up in surprise, realizing a strange uninvited guest was in the room, and panicked.
“W-who are you?!”
I calmly explained,
“I know this sounds unbelievable, but I’m a companion who’s gone on adventures with you more than a dozen times. My name is Baek Woong.”
“You’re crazy! Get out now!”
Mangnyang looked astonished and terrified. I patiently waited for him to regain his composure, then calmly sat down on the floor of the room to say,
“I need your help.”
“What for?”
As I brought forth the Seven Luminary parchments, Mangnyang’s eyes sparkled. Even amidst his confusion, it seemed he recognized that the Seven Luminaries were no ordinary items. Without hesitation, I handed the Seven Luminary ritual over to Mangnyang, saying,
“This is the Seven Luminary ritual. I died because of it last time.”
“This is the Seven Luminary? What do you mean you died?”
“It’s a long story, but first, please accept this piece of Obsidian.”
Swish!
“That’s enormous.”
As I presented the large piece of Obsidian, Mangnyang looked bewildered yet accepted it. I had intentionally brought the biggest one from the Obsidian mine. Seizing the opportunity, I channeled my energy into Mangnyang for the Obsidian technique.
Zzzzap!
“……!!”
Mangnyang had a bewildered expression, as though he were lost in a flood of memories. His complexion returned to normal, and he regained his senses after about half a joss stick. I sat patiently until then.
After a moment, Mangnyang sighed and said,
“Phew. Oh dear… it seems I’ve already been caught up in a colossal current.”
“I’m sorry for pulling you into this.”
“Don’t say that. After all, as I looked through my memories, it was all voluntary on my part. However, I admit I do feel hesitant about it.”
He seemed to deliberate for a moment before making a decision, saying,
“… Very well. Let’s go together in this life as well. It should be interesting.”
“Thank you.”
Hearing those words made me exhale a sigh of relief. It felt as if I’d obtained a tremendous force. I had been worried about what would happen if Mangnyang gave up under the weight of our previous life, but he had willingly agreed to follow me.
“Now, we must not waste any more time. Let’s quickly perform the Seven Luminary’s Ritual. But first, let’s have a discussion.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
Mangnyang intently clasped his hands, holding a serious expression.
“Having plunged into Mount Kunlun and become the disciple of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman, my life as [Mangnyang] has been conveyed to me through that Obsidian. It’s true that I’ve instantly acquired the techniques and experiences learned back then. However, that doesn’t mean I’ve immediately become a formidable practitioner like [Mangnyang].”
“What do you mean? You didn’t acquire knowledge and experience in sorcery?”
“Knowledge and cultivation power are different dimensions of matters.”
Sternly, Mangnyang continued,
“The Mangnyang who entered as a disciple of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman rapidly accumulated cultivation power at a phenomenal rate in the awe-inspiring Heavenly Realm. Moreover, he had the complete support and teachings of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman alongside training that could only be obtained in the Heavenly Realm. He even absorbed the energy of divine beasts. In terms of that, I can assert that it would take two hundred years of cultivation in the human realm to achieve such levels.”
Two hundred years!
That meant the prowess of Jiseon Mangnyang could only be obtained after two hundred years of hard cultivation. Mangnyang appeared to be troubled, saying,
“Unlike techniques such as that of treachery or puppet arts, the sorcery of Jiseon Mangnyang is based on orthodox Eight Trigrams. Thus, while I possess knowledge and experience, catching up to that level will indeed be a daunting task.”
“Hmm… So that was the issue, huh?”
It seemed that merely inheriting his memories wouldn’t make me as powerful as Jiseon Mangnyang. His strength was undoubtedly at the peak level among the formidable opponents I had encountered thus far. I suspected he could be compared to a Dharma Protector Lion level of existence.
“Well, that’s the basic issue, but there lies a more significant problem.”
“What’s that problem?”
Mangnyang, crossing his arms, said,
“Your goal is to strike at the Imperial Palace and ultimately aim for the Heavenly Realm. Once you offer the Seven Luminary’s Ritual, what blessings do you intend to receive?”
“……”
“Moreover, once the Seven Luminaries are liberated a second time, you will gain causal efficacy in the Heavenly Realm, allowing for even greater power to intervene in the human realm. In your sixteenth life, that manifested as Jiseon Mangnyang, but we have no idea what kind of variables will impact this life.”
Listening to those words deeply, I began to ponder before saying,
“I plan to receive the blessing of Xiang Yu.”
Mangnyang was startled by my answer.
“Xiang Yu! Why would you think of that?”
“The power of Xiang Yu is suppressive power. If the Heavenly Realm realizes that I have the power of Xiang Yu within me, they won’t dare to interfere haphazardly.”
“That’s a feasible strategy, but…”
Mangnyang pondered for a moment before saying,
“I feel there might be some other way.”
“Other way?”
“While the powers of Xiang Yu are grand, they ultimately activate after your death. That isn’t a true blessing. Relying on that wouldn’t be good.”
“Then what should I do?”
“I have an excellent method, so just trust me.”
Mangnyang had a playful smile on his face.
‘Impressive.’
I couldn’t help but honestly admire Mangnyang’s resolve. The memories I shared from my past sixteen lives were no small matter, yet he adapted and accepted reality with ease, allowing him to smile. Suddenly feeling guilt, I said to Mangnyang,
“… I’m sorry.”
“What else do you have to be sorry for?”
“If I hadn’t interfered in your life, you might have become an immortal…”
Then Mangnyang chuckled.
“That’s just one of the possibilities. In my past life, I had despaired over not having any sorcery talent and determined to either live or die by joining Mount Kunlun, only for it to align perfectly. Even that is somehow tied to your liberating the Seven Luminary’s Ritual, meaning I may not have become an immortal and could have died regardless.”
“Is that so?”
“All matters in this world are interconnected. And since you are at the center of that causality, I do not think following you would be a loss.”
Then we immediately set off to Mangnyang’s village using the Golden Eagle technique. After hiding the Heavenly Secret Book, we visited the village, and just like before, Cheon Woo-jin came out to greet us. Before he could speak with a grumbling voice, Mangnyang opened his mouth.
“Master! There’s a very crucial matter! Please let us through! Quickly!”
“Uh?”
“It’s about offering the Seven Luminary’s Ritual. My disciple may die… please!”
Cheon Woo-jin appeared taken aback.
“Why is your older brother suddenly doing this? Does he have any idea how busy your master is?”
“I know, but you must let us through.”
Just as Mangnyang boldly took a step forward…
Kablam!
Suddenly, the fog surrounding the area vanished, revealing the ordinary village. It was clearly Cheon Woo-jin’s illusion breaking, and I was astonished at Mangnyang apparently breaking through his spell. However, that didn’t seem to be the case as Cheon Woo-jin, looking bewildered, said,
“Wait, Master?! What’s happening…?”
Then he swiftly turned his head towards Mangnyang.
“How dare you pressure your master! I didn’t expect your older brother to be like this…”
Mangnyang replied bluntly,
“Master likes me, after all. There isn’t time to argue. I’ll ask for your forgiveness later.”
So it was that Mangnyang had successfully forced his way through with Cheon Woo-jin conceding. As Cheon Woo-jin stood there frozen, Mangnyang resolutely walked on towards the shrine. Placing the Seven Luminary ritual upon the altar, he began to chant the incantation.
“As a person meets the flow of the Five Elements or the Nine Stars in the proper order, or encounters the chaotic aspect of law or divine slashes or when moved or constantly in motion… If following and hiding cannot align with harmony, the heavens may harass, the earth may chide, the spirit may perish or the life may be endangered…”
Blue spiritual energy began to rise around Mangnyang.
Before long, Cheon Woo-jin, who had followed closely, watched in amazement as Mangnyang chanted the incantation.
“Older Brother!! What are you doing?! You want to borrow the power of the Celestial Lord while also neglecting the altar and formation techniques, just chanting?!”
I asked Cheon Woo-jin,
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Of course it’s dangerous! The Celestial Lord controls fortune and is one of the highest-ranked beings in Taoism! Their power is immense, and without properly establishing an altar and formation, you cannot call them. They’re completely different from the common gods or deities floating around!”
Cheon Woo-jin looked at Mangnyang with worry, saying,
“If you keep this up, Older Brother will be met with backlash and die.”
“……!!”
I realized the seriousness of the situation. After all, even Cheon Woo-jin, known as the Illusionist with tremendous sorcery levels, always meticulously prepared the formations and altars before offering the Seven Luminary’s Ritual. According to Cheon Woo-jin, doing this without necessary elements—just chanting to invoke the Celestial Lord—was a perilous endeavor!
Rumble!
A moment later, dark clouds began gathering above. Then a bright golden light emanated from the Seven Luminary ritual resting on the altar. Oracle inscriptions became vividly visible, and shortly after, the Seven Luminaries soared into the sky. The Seven Luminaries then spun around, creating a massive pillar of light in the center of the heavens.
Thunderclap!
Whooooosh!
A torrential rain of blessings started pouring down onto the ground. Cheon Woo-jin, gazing at this scene in utter disbelief, muttered.
“No way… Did you invoke the Celestial Lord through just an incantation? That can’t be possible…”
“It’s completely possible, Master.”
Having completed the ritual, Mangnyang walked over to us with a bright smile.
“Given sufficient knowledge and experience, it’s entirely feasible.”
He likely utilized the sorcery knowledge and experiences from his time as Jiseon Mangnyang to pull it off.
“……”
Regardless of everything, it was clear that Mangnyang, in his current state with all the knowledge of Jiseon, had achieved a far more advanced level of sorcery than before. That being said, the so-called ‘immortal realm’ of the higher beings was undoubtedly aimed at the top-level existences.
“By the way, would you be able to lend some power during the divine summoning? I fear my strength might not be enough…”
Cheon Woo-jin shook his head fervently.
“Older Brother, you truly are an unprecedented being. For now, I’ll lend my strength.”
“Thanks.”
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