Chapter 258: Chapter 258

Heavenly Realm

Watching the Sword Demon’s head roll away, my mind momentarily came to a halt.

What just happened?

What is going on?

But rather than going on a rampage out of anger, I found myself observing the situation with an unexpected calmness. It was as if my instincts, honed through years of experiencing countless battles as a master, kept my rationality in check. I slowly drew my sword while gazing at the headless form of the Sword Demon.

Dokgo Seong spoke up.

“The real Sword Demon wouldn’t fall prey to my quick attack.”

“Are you saying it was a fake?”

“It felt too different from the temperament I sensed during our first meeting. I was just testing it out.”

“……”

What did he mean by “different temperament”? I had felt no sense of unease at all when I had laid eyes on the Sword Demon earlier, which made Dokgo Seong’s words sound somewhat dubious. If the real Sword Demon truly had died before a sneak attack from Dokgo Seong, it would be quite the disaster.

Dokgo Seong continued,

“Trickery is not suitable for a sorcerer. I’ll destroy this place if it comes to that.”

“Wait a second—”

Before I could intervene, Dokgo Seong was someone who would follow through on his threats. Especially because he came from the Thunder God Lineage, his straightforward nature was particularly prominent.

“Oops, I guess my prank has been discovered.”

A voice flowed out from the severed head of the Sword Demon. In the blink of an eye, the body moved, attached the head back, and together they joined in a way that defied medical understanding. Seeing this, I let out a gasp.

“A Doll…”

The only thing in my repertoire of techniques that could explain that was puppet magic. It is said that an exceptional puppeteer could create dolls indistinguishable from humans. But this was the first time I had seen such an impeccably lifelike doll.

The Sword Demon’s form, now a [Doll], said,

“Why was I found out? I thought I perfectly imitated the Sword Demon.”

Dokgo Seong replied bluntly,

“The temperament of the Sword Demon is deeply cultivated with intent. A doll can’t replicate those subtle nuances.”

“Indeed… It would certainly be impossible to achieve that level of finesse with a doll. Unless, of course, I myself am a master capable of wielding intent freely. Heh heh.”

The Doll, who was chuckling and shaking its shoulders with laughter, said,

“Don’t worry, Lord of Sword Demon is just fine.”

“How can I trust what you’re saying?”

“It’s just that assassins have been trying to take the Lord’s head, so I set up this decoy. The real Lord is meditating in a nearby safe house.”

“I need to see him with my own eyes.”

“I’ve sent for him, so he should arrive soon.”

I had a hard time believing Zhuge Sha’s statement. Given his proficiency in both sorcery and law, that claim itself could also be a deceit. However, Dokgo Seong was just staring at the Doll without taking any action, so I decided to hold off for the time being.

Whoosh!

Shortly afterward, from the sky above, as if he were flying, the Sword Demon arrived through the Shadowless Gate. Upon spotting us and seeing the blood-soaked interior, he seemed to understand what had occurred and gave a sheepish smile.

“Ha ha. I wasn’t cautious enough.”

“Greetings, Lord of Sword Demon.”

“Did your journey go well?”

“Yes, how have you been, my Lord?”

“Not so well, as you can see there are assassins swarming around, leading me to set up a decoy.”

“……”

Dokgo Seong, who stood by, folded his arms and commented,

“Were they assassins sent by the Twelve Principles?”

“I suspect so. I’ve tried to investigate the background, but given their secrecy, these factions on the peninsula are indeed quite sinister.”

“You’ve had a tough time. Now that you’ve settled in the Central Plains, those smaller fries don’t dare to pounce on you anymore.”

“I just have to endure.”

Clang!!!

Just as the Sword Demon finished speaking, a sound of a sword echoed. Dokgo Seong had swiftly thrust his sword at the Sword Demon, who effortlessly parried it. It seemed the Sword Demon understood Dokgo Seong’s intentions, letting out a small chuckle.

“Without a doubt, I am the real one.”

“I see. My apologies.”

“Zhuge Sha’s puppet techniques are indeed impressive, leading to misunderstandings.”

Just then, Zhuge Sha’s Doll chimed in,

“I’d like to demonstrate my research findings to you three. Would you mind coming to my workshop?”

At this, Dokgo Seong chuckled, and hostility seeped from him.

“Stop the nonsense. If you show up before me, I will be tempted to sever your neck.”

“Oh dear, that’s unfortunate.”

“If you have something to say, you should bring your results to us. How dare you act so arrogantly for a mere soldier?”

“Fair enough. I’ll bring it myself.”

After saying that, Zhuge Sha’s Doll started to slump over, and its eyes lost their light. Outwardly, it was indistinguishable from the Sword Demon, making for an unsettling sight. However, the Sword Demon paid no mind to the Doll and sent me a telepathic message.

[ Zhuge Sha hasn’t displayed any major movements yet.]

[ Do you see his true colors?]

[ No. It’s too difficult. He’s very cautious and cunning—never revealing a weak spot. He does seem quite dedicated to his goals, though.]

[ His goal?]

[ He has ambitions to breed soldiers to oppose the Imperial Palace.]

As some telepathic exchanges transpired, Dokgo Seong brought up the topic.

“Sword Demon, I have something to discuss.”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s about this fellow’s achievements… As things stand, it’s impossible to learn the sword techniques of the Thunder God Lineage.”

“I had suspected as much. What specific difficulties are you encountering?”

Dokgo Seong explained the challenges I was currently facing. The Sword Demon, who was listening intently, responded,

“The solution is quite straightforward.”

“What kind of solution?”

“It would be too labor-intensive and inefficient to completely forget your previous sword forms and start fresh with the Thunder God Lineage’s sword technique. The issue at hand arises from the fact that your talents are lacking, making it difficult to control the blend of different sword schools.”

“That is a fair assessment.”

“Then it would be quicker to enhance your proficiency in the martial arts you have previously mastered until you thoroughly understand them. If you have a solid grasp, you won’t be swayed by them.”

Hearing this, Dokgo Seong looked baffled.

“Isn’t that even more difficult? Techniques like the Gulgong Sword or Cheonchuk Sword are formidable enough to be considered exceptional martial arts in the martial world.”

“Baek Ho-beob has already experienced the feeling of forgetting himself multiple times throughout life. If you continue training in forgetting oneself, it might only entangle your martial prowess further.”

“Hmm! I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”

“Anyway, let’s brainstorm for solutions together.”

As we were discussing this, a presence was sensed from the doorway. Zhuge Sha strode into the room.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you in person.”

Dokgo Seong glared at him with a disdainful look,

“Let me guess, you sent another doll. You’re despicable.”

“Can’t say I wish to die right now.”

Zhuge Sha shrugged.

“Anyway, Lord, may I proceed with the report I mentioned before?”

“Go ahead.”

“After investigating the Demon Soldiers and Dragon Soldiers in the Imperial Palace, I discovered that they had demons from alien races implanted in them. By merging the immense power held by these alien races with human bodies, they surpassed physical limits. While I pondered a method to counteract this, an idea struck me.”

“A good idea?”

Zhuge Sha smirked and replied,

“We can create something similar to counter it.”

“Are you suggesting we implant the powers of the alien race into humans?”

“Exactly.”

“That’s unacceptable!”

A cold aura flickered across the Sword Demon’s face.

“The gates of the Shadowless Gate are like my family. I cannot condone merging them with alien races.”

“I expected you would say that. If that’s the case, there are other methods.”

“What are they?”

“The process of recycling human trash that you wouldn’t mind seeing dead.”

We all stared at Zhuge Sha in disbelief. He took a couple of steps forward before continuing,

“If we negotiate with the powerful Lee family from Goryeo, we could procure death row inmates or the most vile criminals. No one would worry about them dying, wherever they may perish. Once we complete the preliminary experiments using them, we should be able to mass-produce them stably.”

“……”

Dokgo Seong frowned in disbelief, while the Sword Demon rested his chin in thought. I felt nauseated listening to Zhuge Sha.

‘That’s utterly despicable…’

His words were calm, but Zhuge Sha openly expressed his willingness to use hundreds or thousands of inmates for live experiments to achieve his own goals. Setting aside the moral implications, this was not something any sane human being would contemplate. Furthermore, it was a line of thinking that crossed over from the path of righteousness to the realm of evil sorcery.

The Sword Demon interjected,

“If it’s efficient, I would certainly consider that proposal. However, the current situation with the Shadowless Gate is precarious enough, with assassins continuing to come.”

Whoosh!

As he spoke, the Sword Demon unleashed a burst of wind, eliminating an assailant who had been hiding about twenty paces away. The lack of a scream implied it had been a one-hit kill aimed at the vital area. It appeared there had been assassins and spies lurking about.

“These lowlifes are everywhere. If we conduct inhumane biological experiments under the current circumstances, we’ll be buried alive.”

“It would be pretty easy in the Central Plains, though.”

“What do you expect me to say? Finding solutions is your job, Zhuge Sha.”

The Sword Demon replied lethargically, leading Zhuge Sha to chuckle.

“There’s another method.”

“Please, enlighten me.”

“We could borrow Baek Ho-beob’s strength.”

Me?

I looked baffled and stared at Zhuge Sha, who shifted his gaze towards me and said,

“Baek Ho-beob, you only need to assist with two things. This would be much faster, more efficient, and safer in gathering soldiers than previous methods.”

“What do you mean?”

“Using the essence of Makya and the Philosopher’s Stone!”

“……!!”

“You might not understand their value, but with just those two, turning the world upside down would be a simple task. You only need to give a little assistance.”

I glared at Zhuge Sha.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You can interpret the Philosopher’s Stone? This strange language?”

“Of course.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. That language, known as the strange tongue, cannot even be interpreted by the greatest sages. It has a structure fundamentally different from that of human speech. No matter how smart you are, it’s impossible for you to decipher it.”

Zhuge Sha stared wide-eyed and then laughed.

“Ha ha ha… That’s only the case within the human world. I’ve spent ages peering into other dimensions, acquiring knowledge from them. How else would I desire the Book of Demon Arts without being able to interpret the strange tongue? I could read most strange tongues.”

“……”

“Even the Twelve Principles are wary of the power of Makya. Simply using it for brawls would be a tremendous waste of its potential. To gain strong powers to oppose the Imperial Palace, the Makya is absolutely essential.”

Zhuge Sha’s persuasion bore a sense of urgency. Glancing at the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong, I noticed they appeared deep in thought. Finally, the Sword Demon said,

“Baek Ho-beob. Please assist him.”

“Wha—?!”

“But, there’s a premise that he doesn’t stray too far from the path of humanity. Should he show any signs of trying to take excessive advantage of Baek Ho-beob, he will have your permission to swiftly eliminate him.”

“……!!”

Swiftly eliminate!

Such a strong command could rarely be heard even within martial sects. No matter how much of an evil faction they were, a substantial process and justification would be necessary when cleansing a soldier. Granting the right of execution to a law enforcer over Baek Ho-beob was an unprecedented concession.

Yet Zhuge Sha, unfazed, smiled as if it were only natural.

“That’s fantastic. If the owner of the Makya cooperates, I will offer up my life if that’s what it takes.”

“Well, Baek Ho-beob.”

Surrendering to the pressure, I replied,

“I will do it.”

With that, I stepped back and followed Zhuge Sha to his workshop. Throughout the walk, I exuded a sense of hostility towards him, provoking Zhuge Sha into a bit of a jolly mood.

“Ooh, Baek Ho-beob’s martial prowess is indeed impressive. However, it’s not good for my heart, so please tone it down.”

“You… You haven’t plotted against the Lord, have you?”

“Plot against him?”

“If you’ve used poison or similar means, I won’t let you get away with it.”

As I growled, Zhuge Sha hesitated a moment, caught by my potent hostility. The intensity of my aura had struck him mid-thought, making him unable to jest. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Zhuge Sha let out a sigh.

“Hmph… I suppose it’s because of my killing Zhuge Xu. When he died, I used a rather precious poison known as the Yin-Yang Heaven Bug. It’s extremely rare, only made once every hundred years at best, and it’s nearly impossible to activate if you don’t have a few dozen doses.”

“I can’t guarantee that you didn’t just create more Yin-Yang Heaven Bugs to use on the Lord.”

“Heh heh… I can’t say much. Later, ask the sorcerers yourself to verify how esteemed the Yin-Yang Heaven Bug is. Once you learn that, you won’t make such claims.”

After that retort, Zhuge Sha remarked,

“And I found the Sword Demon to be rather interesting. Just being interesting enough to draw my interests warrants the loyalty I owe to my Lord.”

“……”

“Perhaps this is the fate of our clan.”

Clank!

Zhuge Sha opened the door to his workshop, revealing a space inside that was wider than expected. It was clear that Zhuge Sha had mastered such spatial sorcery as a skilled sorcerer. He glanced at seven Counterfeit Humans lying in a corner and said,

“I’ve encountered many successes while studying those over the past month. If you simply assist me a little, I’ll be able to actualize that success.”

“What exactly are you referring to?”

“I’ve found three key points.”

Zhuge Sha plopped down on the floor.

“First, the creators of the Counterfeit Humans were not just one individual.”

“What do you mean?”

“While the alchemist infused power into them, the ones who created the bodies were someone else. Most likely, a master of the Eight Trigrams Technique.”

“Hmm…”

“That creator is an absurdly powerful sorcerer. It would be wise to identify who they are.”

“Could it be Zhuge Xu? He’s quite renowned among sorcerers.”

“Not him. He specializes in Five Element techniques and Illusion Techniques. The Eight Trigrams Technique is highly unique, so even Zhuge Xu, no matter how much of a genius he is, wouldn’t have studied it to that extent.”

Surprised at this information, I acknowledged it.

An alchemist’s collaborator!

A master of the Eight Trigrams Technique!

This suggested that another formidable adversary existed in the Imperial Palace. However, based on my experience, the Imperial Palace was in a significant crisis, and the alchemist faced death—it was strange this being hadn’t appeared. There had to be a reason.

“Secondly, the purpose of creating Counterfeit Humans was primarily to breach the Barrier. The Philosopher’s Stone is more of a personal goal for the alchemist.”

“The Barrier? What barrier are you referring to?”

“I’m not certain, but reading the memories engraved in the Counterfeit Humans hinted that they were created as sacrifices to breach a powerful barrier. It must be an overwhelmingly powerful barrier.”

I shook my head in confusion.

“I can’t comprehend what barrier you’re talking about.”

Zhuge Sha smirked.

“Really? I think I have a pretty good idea…”

“Tell me.”

“I suspect it’s the grand barrier surrounding the capital city, Luoyang.”

“Isn’t that the barrier managed by Zhuge Xu’s Imperial Palace?”

“No, it’s something on an entirely different scale… I’m referring to a mythical barrier from the era of Great Yu.”

What did that mean?

I stared at him, and he continued,

“The era of Great Yu is the oldest documented record of water control in history. If you’ve studied, you should at least know the contents of Great Yu.”

“Of course. It tells of how Da Yu traveled the world managing waterways. Topics like the Flood, Mount Dan, the River Code, and the Twelve Principles of a dynasty are all included in the text, which also displays the concept of the first royal land.”

My answer drew a surprised glance from Zhuge Sha.

“You’re quite knowledgeable. Your literary education is commendable.”

“There’s no need to flatter me, so what does Great Yu have to do with this?”

“Great Yu delineated the Nine Provinces and introduced the concept of world division. Although not widely known, the Nine Provinces concept has profound significance in Daoism. This is because the royal land of the Nine Provinces represents the realms of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.”

“……!!”

Zhuge Sha continued,

“The fact that a powerful barrier from the mythical age surrounds Luoyang is something any capable sorcerer would be aware of. It’s just that it blends perfectly into the land, making it nearly impossible to sense.”

“What kind of barrier was created?”

“It’s simple. The alchemist is allied with the alien races. So why would the Counterfeit Humans aim to breach this barrier?”

“……”

“Something is sealed away in Luoyang. That’s what I mean.”

I swallowed hard.

“Could it be that…?”

I had a hunch. The mention of the Moon, along with the references to “Mangyang” (the celestial body), hinted that the Counterfeit Humans held a direct connection to the seal of the demon lying in Luoyang. But then Zhuge Sha waved his hands dismissively.

“No one knows. Unless you’re a true immortal or a celestial being, how would you possibly know? Let’s move on to the third point.”

“Please, enlighten me.”

“The third point is, I can create Counterfeit Humans myself. With the Philosopher’s Stone, the Book of Demon Arts, and the essence of Makya, it would be a piece of cake.”

I glared at him sharply.

“Again, I’ll say it—no human sacrifices or abductions will be tolerated.”

“Ha ha! There’s no need, you’re overthinking.”

Zhuge Sha laughed boisterously.

“Enough chit-chat, just hand over the Book of Demon Arts. I’ll show you something extraordinary.”

I hesitated for a moment before taking the Book of Demon Arts from my possession and handing it to him. I had already given him the Philosopher’s Stone, believing he needed it first. Grasping the Book of Demon Arts, Zhuge Sha began flipping through it, nodding approvingly.

“Good, I understand.”

Then, abruptly, he moved toward the Philosopher’s Stone and began casting a spell.

“#%&(@(%(@…!!”

The strange tongue!

Zhuge Sha truly could use the strange tongue!

That meant what he was doing was more akin to sorcery than magic.

I watched in astonishment as the most astonishing event unfolded before my eyes.

Crackle!

Lightning emanated from the Philosopher’s Stone, and a dark light appeared in the air like a cloud. That ominous and unpleasant light began to twist and meld chaotically before gradually forming into a shape.

A woman’s figure emerged. She appeared to be in her twenties, a breathtaking beauty with an appearance like that of a doll, clearly identifiable as a Counterfeit Human.

“Whoa!!”

I gasped in shock.

Is it truly possible for something to be created from nothing? This was unimaginable. Zhuge Sha seemed to relish my surprised reaction, chuckling to himself.

“The Philosopher’s Stone contains the secrets to creating the Philosopher’s Stone itself, while simultaneously interpreting the origins of life. I simply used it to create the essence of life, then realized it using the magic from the Book of Demon Arts. With just this, I can create artificial life forms.”

“But you claimed that to create Counterfeit Humans, you need the power of the Eight Trigrams, didn’t you?”

“Exactly, so I bypassed that part using the Philosopher’s Stone and the Book of Demon Arts.”

“……”

“Well, this is merely a vessel. To breathe life into it, I will require the essence of Makya.”

Zhuge Sha smiled and stated,

“Hey, the Philosopher’s Stone, the Book of Demon Arts, and the essence of Makya… each one of those treasures is an unparalleled god-like treasure, and with all three combined, it would be ridiculous to think I could not achieve this. There are even greater feats beyond this.”

It was then that I realized.

The treasures I had hoarded until now could tilt the balance of the world itself if they landed in the hands of a sorcerer.

I’ve made minor adjustments to the content!

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