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Chapter 277

Heavenly Realm

Upon arriving at the study of the Hua Clan in Taekyung Village, I easily located the silver phoenix sculpture within. Since it was the middle of the night and everyone was fast asleep, I encountered no resistance. I gazed at the silver phoenix sculpture, lost in thought.

‘Fuxi’s Eight Trigrams…’

Master Mangnyang had told me that if I wanted to grow stronger, I should seek out Fuxi’s Eight Trigrams. Fuxi, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, was also known as Taihao, a primordial divine being. He was known for creating the Eight Trigrams and passing them down to humanity.

As far as I knew, the original Eight Trigrams were contained within the Earth Star Trigram Chart, which existed in the ancient Baekha Empire’s Imperial Palace. However, it was said that due to the schemes of dark forces, the Trigram Chart had been stolen. This was the truth that Master Mangnyang had uncovered in a past life through this very phoenix sculpture.

Since then, I hadn’t really sought out the silver phoenix sculpture. I felt it was unnecessary to take a family heirloom, and besides, it felt a bit wrong. But I realized that in this current life, it was crucial to use this silver phoenix sculpture effectively.

Let’s use this silver phoenix sculpture to find the Earth Star Trigram Chart!

At the very least, if I know the details, my journey to gather the Seven Luminaries will be greatly shortened.

‘So, what exactly are the Eight Trigrams?’

Master Mangnyang often mentioned the ‘power’ of the Trigrams, and most of the magic or sorcery known today was directly or indirectly influenced by them. Under that logic, Fuxi could be viewed as the ancestor of all magical arts.

“……”

Speaking of which, the Master Hyuncheon lives around here.

‘He must know a lot about the Eight Trigrams.’

I possessed a wealth of knowledge from Zhi Xian Mangnyang, but it was so vast and complicated that I couldn’t grasp it fully. It felt like trying to break the blockage in a reservoir; if I didn’t calm down and understand it methodically, I wouldn’t be able to accept it. So, since I was already here, I decided to visit the Master Hyuncheon.

While Mangnyang could explain things to me, he was probably occupied absorbing Zhi Xian’s knowledge. I felt I should understand at least to some extent before I went to talk to him.

I made my way to the Taegyeong Hall. Upon reaching the door, a disciple who was sweeping with a broom noticed me and said,

“What does a child want here?”

“I have come seeking knowledge from Master Hyuncheon, who is renowned for his wisdom.”

As my words flowed smoothly, he looked slightly bewildered. Upon noticing my rather luxurious clothing, he appeared to mistake me for the child of a nobleman, and cautiously said,

“Master Hyuncheon doesn’t see just anyone, but I’ll make an exception. Who are you?”

“I am Baek Woong, studying sorcery. Please let him know.”

“Alright, wait here.”

A moment later, he returned and said,

“Mind your manners in front of the Master.”

“Yes.”

I found myself face to face with Master Hyuncheon again. It had been quite a while since I last saw the sage-like figure. The last time I had seen him was when we had parted after defeating the Green Horse Demon—it felt like a reunion with an old friend.

“Ah, to see a master with half-transcended energies.”

Upon sensing my aura, Master Hyuncheon seemed to think right away. In a sense, I really was a half-transcendent. I shook my head at his remark and took a seat.

“I’m not that great. It was merely a fortuitous opportunity.”

I roughly explained that I hadn’t truly achieved half-transcendence. The Master looked skeptical, but he seemed willing to let it slide after I insisted. He poured me a cup of warm tea and asked,

“Anyway, what brings such a supreme master to this place?”

“I have come for various reasons, but to put it simply, I want to study more about the Eight Trigrams.”

“The Eight Trigrams?”

“I have reached considerable heights in martial arts, but it seems the path I desire lies further ahead. Thus, while studying magic, I’ve been stumbling around, not grasping what the Eight Trigrams truly are. I heard of your renowned expertise in this area and came to learn from you.”

“Hmm… You don’t seem entirely clueless. Perhaps you can start by sharing what you know.”

When I explained the basic knowledge of the Eight Trigrams that I had learned long ago, Master Hyuncheon pondered for a moment and said,

“You possess a solid understanding worthy of being recognized as a beginner sorcerer. But what else do you wish to know?”

“Oh, this is unexpected.”

I was slightly taken aback, thinking Master Hyuncheon would critique my lack of knowledge. I gathered my thoughts and stated,

“I’ve heard that the original Eight Trigrams, bestowed upon the earth by Fuxi, exist as a higher realm of understanding.”

“Hmm…!!”

Master Hyuncheon made a thoughtful sound before responding,

“That must refer to the legendary treasure, the Seven Luminaries. Specifically, the Earth Star.”

“Do you know what the Seven Luminaries are?”

“It’s a tale passed down secretly within the lineage.”

Thinking for a moment, Master Hyuncheon continued,

“If we are talking about the Earth Star Trigram Chart depicting the Pre-Heavenly Trigrams, then it certainly differs from the Trigrams humans utilize.”

“Pre-Heavenly Trigrams?”

This wasn’t the first time I had heard that term. I was sure Zhi Xian Mangnyang’s knowledge contained related information. Upon hearing the phrase, I felt memories that had been dormant slowly begin to awaken.

“The one who created the Eight Trigrams, Fuxi, is said to have been the entity who bestowed ‘fire’ upon humanity. Furthermore, this fire was conveyed to humanity through the Celestial Ladder, formed from wood, implying that this fire originally came from the heavens.”

I was bewildered.

“Fire comes from the Celestial Realm? Something feels off about that…”

Fire or flames are natural phenomena. No matter how divine a being is, could they really create such natural occurrences at will? Although it’s within the realm of mythology, I couldn’t help but question it. Master Hyuncheon answered,

“Well… the Kunlun Sect has an interesting explanation regarding that.”

He chuckled heartily and said,

“What Fuxi imparted to humanity was not the fire of natural phenomena.”

“……?”

“When it says Fuxi bestowed fire to humanity, it is interpreted as him granting the Eight Trigrams.”

Hearing that, I was taken aback and asked,

“Are you saying the Eight Trigrams is as precious to humanity as fire?”

“As far as I know, no sorcery exists in this world that escapes the principles of the Eight Trigrams. Thus, sorcerers widely accept the Kunlun Sect’s teachings as fact.”

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Fuxi, did not merely bestow fire and the Trigrams but singularly gave humanity the Eight Trigrams.

However, even that was more than enough.

“……!!”

In that moment, I felt a part of my knowledge melting away. The Master’s words strongly stimulated my memory, unlocking associated knowledge. Yet, even so, I couldn’t completely grasp it logically or computationally.

‘Right… Zhi Xian Mangnyang was aware of this theory too… It was also regarded as a crucial principle in the immortal arts of the Nine Celestial Maidens…’

It seemed I had gained a significant insight. I felt ready to discuss it with Mangnyang now, so I thanked the Master.

“Thank you for your wise words.”

“Haha… Any sage of the lineage could share such stories.”

“No, truly, it was of immense help.”

Just to be safe, I asked him,

“Is there a band of robbers causing trouble around here?”

“Hmm? Not at all. It’s quite peaceful.”

“I understand.”

It seemed the chaos from the Green Horse Demon would begin troubling the world as it descended into deeper madness, especially after Dokgo Jun weakened the control of the Devil’s Eight Gates. The stampede of horses would commence only a few years from now. I bowed to Master Hyuncheon and departed the place.

Paaah!

Next, I headed to the Shadowless Gate, where the Sword Demon resided. It wasn’t long before I confronted the Sword Demon, who upon hearing my tale said,

“So you made quite the ruckus in Luoyang. Truly, Baek Ho-buk.”

I scratched my head sheepishly.

“Don’t tease me.”

“I’m serious. No one would have imagined upending the head of the Twin Gate Sect, haha.”

As the Sword Demon chuckled, his expression suddenly turned serious.

“That said, it was wise of you to escape the Han Clan for now. If you had stayed, lies would surely catch up with you.”

“What do you mean?”

“While others may be ignorant, the righteous monk, Dokgo Jun, is closely familiar with Dokgo Castle, owing to their cousin relations. Moreover, he is certainly aware of its refuge; he might directly visit Dokgo Castle to verify your words in the future.”

“……!!”

Though I had been aware of this, it wasn’t something I had considered.

‘I didn’t think of Dokgo Jun.’

The Sword Demon said firmly,

“You must make it a priority to visit Dokgo Castle now. Moreover, you should establish connections with him as soon as possible.”

I felt the Sword Demon’s words were right. This was something that absolutely couldn’t be exposed. I had to clean up the mess by stringing together lies to match the truth. After saying this, the Sword Demon crossed his arms.

“Teach me the Wudang Sect’s techniques for about three months, and then you can visit Dokgo Castle.”

“Is three months sufficient?”

“Once I receive the memories from you through the black obsidian, the fundamental understandings will already be in fragmented form. Thus, I believe I’ll grasp it far quicker than before.”

“I see.”

It seemed not only the superficial sensations but also bits and pieces of my memories were imprinted with the obsidian techniques. I nodded knowingly and then asked the Sword Demon,

“By the way, how’s Sasaki Kojiro doing?”

“I’ve been employing him well. Within a few years, he shall become an excellent protector of our sect—his skills are remarkable.”

“Hmm…”

“And after hearing your exploits in Luoyang, I have one concern.”

“What is it?”

The Sword Demon calmly said,

“It pertains to the Twelve Principles.”

“… Pardon?”

Why is the Twelve Principles being brought up here? As I appeared bewildered, he stroked his chin thoughtfully and said,

“You mentioned that aside from the Hua Clan, the cunning plays of the Three Houses are allied with the Twelve Principles. That strikes me as odd.”

“Why is that?”

“The Twelve Principles are undoubtedly a significant force. However, for the Twin Gate Sect in Luoyang to form an alliance with the Twelve Principles grounded in Liaodong is too far removed and seems implausible. Typically, forming such alliances would be near impossible, to the point where one might only meet them once in a lifetime.”

“……!!”

“Yet, despite that, the heads of the Three Houses opted to ally themselves with the Twelve Principles… That indicates their alliance was formed out of desperation, not mere eagerness.”

I pondered over the Sword Demon’s words for a moment before saying,

“Are you suggesting the Twelve Principles made the first move?”

“Most likely, yes. If they hadn’t, the heads of the Three Houses would normally seek the powers from the Central Plains.”

I thought the Sword Demon’s reasoning made sense. When I was listening to Han Jin-seong, I hadn’t considered this angle, but indeed, Luoyang to Liaodong was quite a distance. It would be logical to assume the Twelve Principles reached out to strengthen their influence in the Central Plains.

The Sword Demon continued,

“When you return to Luoyang, be mindful of your surroundings. There may exist a Special Position,”

“A Special Position? What’s that?”

“It’s information I recently uncovered while investigating the Twelve Principles.”

Having said that, the Sword Demon looked up at the ceiling and continued,

“There exists a unique entity within the Twelve Principles known as the Special Position. This Special Position operates exclusively on the directives of the leader of the Twelve Principles and seems to greatly concern the leaders of their group; some even appear to feel fear.”

“Hmm…”

Then why would the leaders of the Twelve Principles feel fear toward mere intelligence operatives?

I tilted my head in confusion but soon dismissed the thought. If such a Special Position did exist, I would inevitably confront it in due time, and I could think about it then. I stayed at the Shadowless Gate, teaching the Sword Demon Wudang techniques for three months.

“Such an incredible opportunity.”

The Sword Demon chuckled, clearly pleased. Indeed, he had always learned at an astonishing pace, perhaps due to being a martial genius. Now, it seemed he was absorbing the teachings at an even more remarkable speed, as if reviewing things he had already known. The Sword Demon’s claim that three months would suffice was no exaggeration at all.

Paaah!

After imparting my martial teachings to the Sword Demon, I made my way to Mangnyang. While it was essential to discuss going to Dokgo Castle, I felt it necessary to relay everything that had transpired thus far to Mangnyang.

“Mangnyang! Where are you?”

I looked for Mangnyang in the hut at Jinlang Valley, but he was nowhere to be found. Instead, a gruff voice echoed from within the Illusionary Dance.

“Your elder brother has gone to cultivate sorcery in the Joint Mountain.”

“Cheon Woo-jin!”

“You seem to have been quite busy running around.”

Receiving me with a rather unfriendly demeanor was Mangnyang’s disciple, Cheon Woo-jin. He lazily reclined on the hut’s bench and said,

“Your brother mentioned he wouldn’t be back for about a year, so you can do as you wish until then.”

“Really?”

“Why would I deceive you?”

Although Cheon Woo-jin had a somewhat cocky attitude, I felt he was too respectable to pull a deceitful trick. I contemplated for a moment and asked,

“What’s so special about Joint Mountain that Mangnyang went there?”

“Joint Mountain holds the relic of Guang Chengzi, a sage from the archaic era. Your brother seems intent on gaining strength from that relic.”

“Guang Chengzi!”

I was taken aback.

Guang Chengzi was said to have instructed Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen during the ancient times. It goes without saying; he held a very high position in the Heavenly Realm and was revered as a god by all Taoists beneath the heavens. Some even viewed him as equal to the Queen Mother of the West. Surely, his relic must be extraordinary.

But I didn’t quite understand and asked,

“Didn’t Mangnyang originally go to Kunlun Mountain for cultivation? Why isn’t he returning to Kunlun now?”

“I don’t fully know, but your brother mentioned that there’s no need to break through the Dragon Gate again, and that this is a faster, easier path. Perhaps he found clues in some texts.”

“……”

In that instant, I felt my memories begin to untangle.

‘Right. Mangnyang must have acquired insights by inheriting memories. He realized there was a hidden secret at Guang Chengzi’s relic in Joint Mountain that no one knew about…’

The secret was the unique treasure left behind by the Celestial Zifu Immortal, known as the Three Sovereigns Inner Text. Zhi Xian Mangnyang, after obtaining a position in the Heavenly Realm, learned about the treasure’s location and its power, but he couldn’t freely explore the Three Sovereigns Inner Text due to the mission assigned to him first. Mangnyang appeared to be skipping basic training to quickly accumulate strength through acquiring the Three Sovereigns Inner Text.

Mangnyang was putting in the effort to forge his path.

I nodded approvingly and said to Cheon Woo-jin,

“Understood. Please let Mangnyang know that I will train under Dokgo Castle.”

“Got it.”

“By the way, where has Jeong Gyeong gone?”

“Fed up with whining, I sealed him away.”

“What?”

As I looked at Cheon Woo-jin in disbelief, he shook his head and explained,

“He’s tried to flee to the hidden realm more times than I can count, and continuously attempted to transfer his soul into a vessel, so I, annoyed, sealed him with my illusionary arts. He won’t see the light of day until I choose to release him.”

“Is that even possible? He is the leader of the heretical sect.”

I found it hard to believe given Jeong Gyeong’s level in heretical sorcery. Of all, he had reached a realm of unmatched prowess. Cheon Woo-jin replied coolly,

“Regardless of being the heretical sect leader, he’s just one of the losers in history who sank alongside the church of demonic arts. Besides, someone who solely relies on the techniques of the Dark Clan can never threaten me.”

“……”

What an overwhelmingly bold confidence!

Once again, I realized that Cheon Woo-jin was an extraordinary powerhouse. Even when Mangnyang was surrounded by an army of a hundred thousand soldiers and gold-clad guards, he calmly relied on Cheon Woo-jin’s illusionary power to dash away freely, showing that Cheon Woo-jin’s arts had already transcended humanity in many aspects.

‘Can I control him?’

In some ways, I had gained a great ally, but I understood that a companion today could easily become an enemy tomorrow, depending upon the situation. I had no idea how I could restrain Cheon Woo-jin if he decided to move unpredictably.

He should have advanced to become a high-level celestial by now but chooses to stick to the earthly realm to follow his master—a genius of exceptional talent!

That was, without a doubt, Cheon Woo-jin.

I have corrected errors regarding the Special Position.


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