Reincarnation Sword God

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Chapter 723: The Chaos Zone

“Is that what it means to be a Celestial Sage…?”

As Jecheon Daeseong decided to help me, Jang Sam-bong spoke with his arms hanging limply.

“Baek Woong, there’s no guarantee that everything you’ve said is true. Especially the claim that the Queen Mother of the West is Nüwa—it’s far too bizarre. Do you have any proof?”

I answered calmly, “The Heavenly Mysterious Woman has had doubts for thousands of years, and Jecheon Daeseong has also subtly questioned it. Isn’t that enough? Plus, there’s no legitimate way to prove it. And who in this world can punish Nüwa? Not even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors can do that. It would be a pointless endeavor.”

[……]

“If Nüwa declared the logic of power in the dark, then we must simply counter it. Won’t Great Immortal Yuan Yuanzi assist us?”

When I suggested this, Jang Sam-bong fell silent before responding.

“I… I would like to join you, but there’s something I need to investigate first.”

“What do you mean?”

“This matter, I shall not speak of to anyone. You and I will meet again.”

Swoosh!

Jang Sam-bong’s presence faded. Yet, even with him using a spell to vanish, no one in the hall could stop him. Confused, I looked at Cheon Woo-jin, who remarked, “Jang Sam-bong’s vow of silence means he won’t tell anyone. Stopping him would be a bothersome task.”

“Hm, really?”

“It seems he has his own secrets. Without building trust, one cannot hear his story.”

That might relate to the secret of the Tianjian Sword. Not long ago, after learning the location of the Tianjian Sword from Myeongryongja, I had tried to pull it but failed no matter how much strength I exerted. I had previously asked Jang Sam-bong how to extract it, but he had flatly refused.

“I sealed the Tianjian Sword with the understanding of all absolute realms before I ascended. Even if we excavate Wudang Mountain, no one will be able to wield the Tianjian Sword. Even if it means returning all the tributes you’ve given me, I won’t unseal the sword.”

“That sword is utterly useless. It’s proof of a false history and the sword of a false deity… Once it reveals its duality, no one can bear it. If you have the ability, I would recommend breaking the Tianjian Sword instead.”

“I can’t reveal anymore; it’s a heavenly secret. Take your offerings back.”

“……”

Until now, I believed Jang Sam-bong merely achieved the absolute realm through martial arts and became the absolute ruler of the martial world. However, judging by his words and actions concerning the Tianjian Sword, perhaps he has also encountered the “darkness” of this world. He was also the one who met with the Martial God alongside Yeodong-bin.

“I too faced the Martial God before ascending.”

“He was like an illusion…”

“However… the Martial God showed the extremes of Wu in an instant. Even witnessing that can ignite a passion to strive for the extremes of Wu over infinite years.”

“I provided my own answers to the Martial God’s questions…”

Yeodong-bin still keeps the Martial God’s secrets from me. If Jang Sam-bong had encountered the Martial God, he would likely know something as well.

‘Next time, should I delve into the powers of the Tianjian Sword?’

Doing so might strengthen my links with Jang Sam-bong even more. After pondering, I finally spoke.

“It seems we need to act according to Mangnyang’s plan.”

“What do you intend to do?”

In response to Jecheon Daeseong’s inquiry, I quietly replied, “Currently, I think the Twelve Joules possessing Moon Sovereign and Wood Essence have fled to the Underworld, and my companions are doing their best to search for them, but they haven’t found them yet. So, we won’t be able to locate those two for a while; currently, we have Water Element and Metal Element in our hands. That leaves the remaining ones as Fire Element and Earth Star.”

“Are you planning to obtain Fire Element and Earth Star?”

“Yes. Of course, it won’t be easy, but it’s something we must achieve. Having four of the Seven Luminaries in one faction means even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors won’t easily challenge us.”

At my words, Jecheon Daeseong tilted his head in confusion.

“Why? Please explain.”

“……”

I hesitated momentarily on whether to speak or remain silent. But since Jecheon Daeseong had accepted me as a companion, I decided to share this crucial information.

“The Queen Mother of the West, in other words, Nüwa, fears the liberation of the Seven Luminaries. The act of gathering them itself can be considered her weakness.”

“What?”

“Compared to the other Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, she fears it the most. If we use it as a threat, claiming we could release the Seven Luminaries simultaneously, she would comply with our demands. With the powers of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman and Jecheon Daeseong, it could even be forcibly liberated.”

“… is that true? I’ve never heard of such a thing in my life.”

[That’s also something I was unaware of.]

Jecheon Daeseong and the Heavenly Mysterious Woman exchanged astonished looks. But I replied resolutely, “It’s the truth. Nüwa will heed our words if we threaten her with the liberation of the Seven Luminaries. I’ve staked my life to uncover this.”

“Hm… what kind of adventure did you go on? In any case, I believe you.”

Despite scratching his ear, Jecheon Daeseong seemed convinced, perhaps because my expression was filled with sincerity.

“I witnessed it myself.”

No wonder, for I had once charged into the Celestial Realm where Nüwa resides and summoned Gong Gong. I had personally seen Gong Gong threaten Nüwa using the liberation of the Seven Luminaries. The method worked exceptionally well, to the point that Nüwa had harmed herself over it.

With that knowledge and experience, I’ve crafted a way to manage Nüwa this life.

“So, if we acquire those two remaining Seven Luminaries, we will have four here. Plus, if we can find and take the Seven Luminary from the Twelve Joules, that would allow us to gather all six Seven Luminaries.”

“Oh… I see.”

“Moreover, obtaining all six will open the gates to the Imperial Palace, as Shenglong descended to inform us directly.”

“… Are you really thinking of going to the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes. Ultimately, that’s what I wish for, but I’ll leave that decision to you later. I promised to offer the Seven Luminaries.”

“Hm…”

“Whether we seal the Seven Luminaries again or head to the Imperial Palace, please decide according to your wishes.”

While Jecheon Daeseong wore a contemplative expression, Cheon Woo-jin stepped forward and said, “I think Baek Woong is merely babbling about grand plans. Let’s discuss the concrete plans we need to execute immediately. You’re speaking as if you didn’t condense the information you got from your older brother.”

“What should we do?”

“The urgent matter is that the resurrected Dragon King from the Death Sea will arrive in a few days, attacking humans with millions of Sea God Clan troops. If Jecheon Daeseong is unaware, it will surely take time for the Celestial Realm to dispatch forces to counter this at the Heavenly Altar. Therefore, we need to provoke Changhil.”

“Provoking Changhil?”

At that moment, Cheon Woo-jin briefly explained Mangnyang’s strategy. Upon hearing it, Jecheon Daeseong frowned deeply.

“Do you think I’d agree to something like that?”

“There’s no other way. Changhil and the Eight Parts of the Divine would have sensed the southern disaster, yet they won’t act immediately. They’re likely hoping to see the Celestial Realm and Sea God weaken each other, which would allow them to strengthen their own dominance.”

“I understand.”

“Should we force him into action, we must light a fire under his feet. Their mutual destruction may be possible too.”

“But what if the villains join forces?”

“My older brother predicted that Changhil wouldn’t do such a thing. Because it’s an opportunity seized hundreds of years ago, he’ll ensure its success no matter what, and he wouldn’t easily invite others to his home.”

“Your older brother may be sharp, but that prediction could very well be incorrect.”

As Jecheon Daeseong muttered with dissatisfaction, Cheon Woo-jin folded his arms.

“If you cannot trust your older brother’s strategies, then any strategist’s ideas will mean nothing.”

“Baek Woong, do you agree?”

“Yes.”

“Ha, things are getting out of hand.”

Hearing such words from Jecheon Daeseong—the unpredictable one—implied that Mangnyang’s plan was indeed quite radical. He said, “Alright then. While they’re destroying each other, what are we doing? Just sitting back and eating rice cakes as spectators?”

“No. Next…”

As I proceeded to discuss Mangnyang’s strategies, Jecheon Daeseong wore an expression of half-hearted acceptance.

“Fine, let’s give it a go. But if you break your promise to provide the Seven Luminaries later, know that I’ll end you.”

“Yes, of course.”

After briefly configuring our strategy, we tossed a mirror into the lake to summon Mangnyang. When we recounted everything that had transpired, Mangnyang spoke to me.

“Baek Woong, about the whereabouts of the Twelve Joules, it seems he is not in the Underworld.”

“……? What do you mean?”

I asked incredulously at Mangnyang’s statement.

“He is dead. He must have taken his physical body and spirit to the Underworld, hiding somewhere there along with the Seven Luminaries. Isn’t there any other possibility?”

“I’m continuously searching the entire Underworld from the mirror chamber, but I feel no trace of the Seven Luminaries in any conditional space or secret place. Even if the Twelve Joules is an extraordinary existence, I doubt he could hide the Seven Luminaries for years without being discovered.”

“Then what…”

[Consider the possibility that he never went to the Underworld after his death.]

“Hmm…”

Is that even possible?

After all, is it not the case for living beings that when they die, they go to the Underworld?

Seeing my confusion, Mangnyang clarified, “Baek Woong, if you gather two or more of the Seven Luminaries and things stabilize, be sure to wipe out the remnants of the Twelve Joules. Among those remnants, their clan will surely know something.”

“Understood.”

Pah!

We all used Cheon Woo-jin and the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s arts to head toward the moon. On the lunar surface, a dark light began to seep out, and Jecheon Daeseong started to chant the seventy-two incantations while lifting Gold Element atop his hand.

Whoooooo!

Jecheon Daeseong’s spell was said to have been taught by the legendary sorcerer Su Borim, and he had surpassed the realm of Su Borim. He was also a practitioner; using Gold Element to channel his arts was a trivial matter. A moment later, the light of Gold Element grew significantly brighter, and Jecheon Daeseong yelled.

“HAH!”

Zaaang!

In that instant, it felt as if a massive door of chaos, capable of swallowing even the darkness of the universe, had opened. Jecheon Daeseong temporarily unsealed the binding on Gold Element to create a summoning portal. Simultaneously, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman and Cheon Woo-jin reached forward, activating additional grand spells.

Kugooong!

The door of chaos vanished moments later. As Cheon Woo-jin looked around, he quickly exclaimed, “We need to escape before Sa-bi-shin sees us!”

Swish!

We returned to the ground. Cheon Woo-jin gazed at the direction of Luoyang and remarked, “It’s connected well.”

“Is it still in the process of being summoned?”

“Yes. Originally, Jeogok permitted their passage; thus, the dark passage has formed above Luoyang.”

Using the celestial vision of Fire Eye Golden Spirit, Jecheon Daeseong added, “The Eight Parts of the Divine are trying to close the door.”

“It won’t close that easily. Ultimately, Changhil will have to take action and converse with Jeogok.”

“And the now-pressured Changhil will likely try to extinguish the flames below and the fires outside the door simultaneously…”

“That’s right. From the homeowner’s perspective, that’s only natural. They won’t be in a position to leisurely watch the Celestial Realm exhaust its power; the Celestial Realm itself will aim to attack Changhil.”

With unwavering confidence, he continued, “It’s likely Amatsukami has already set up a door for immediate passage from Venus to Earth in Luoyang, so Changhil will expend his energy just trying to resolve that. In the meantime, we can reclaim the remaining Seven Luminaries.”

Indeed.

Mangnyang’s strategy was to summon the Amatsukami, who would return to Earth in a year or so, to Luoyang—the stronghold of Changhil. While Changhil is capable of closing that door, the return of the Amatsukami is something the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors desire, making Jeogok’s pressure against them quite obvious.

Crackle!

The dimensional door opened above Luoyang showed no signs of closing. Even Changhil, who possessed power comparable to the Old Ruler, couldn’t close it easily. This indicated that Jeogok or the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were somehow ensuring the door’s maintenance. However, it seemed to be in a state of equilibrium, failing to initiate a proper summoning.

‘The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors are using Amatsukami to clean up the Earth because they want to take off their masks. They certainly won’t give up easily…’

Of course, Changhil wouldn’t be able to easily close the door, thus forcing him into negotiations with Jeogok, and he would have no choice but to respond early to the southern disaster he intended to witness leisurely.

As the situation now indicates, the Celestial Realm is likely to directly be under the command of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. The Queen Mother of the West, upon spotting the flaw, will move the Celestial Realm like a pawn to attack Changhil.

An entangled chaos of Amatsukami, Changhil, the Eight Parts of the Divine, the Celestial Realm, and Sea God!

In the midst of that, we would take advantage of the distraction to break the seal of Fire Element and acquire it, subsequently aiming to strike the weakened Changhil to seize Earth Star as well.

“Then let’s go, to acquire Fire Element!”

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