Chapter 262: Chapter 262

Heavenly Realm

Paaah!

We all entered the Heart of the Great Dragon Hall, which had been partially destroyed by Mangnyang’s Treasure. Normally, no one would dare step into such a precarious space, but this very spot was where Zhuge Sa sought to target when attacking the Imperial Palace. Dokgo Seong glanced around and commented,

“It’s dark.”

“……”

Mangnyang, lost in thought, raised the Five Fire Seven Bird Fan and aimed it at a point in the air. Without delay, he unleashed a powerful flame.

Kwa-kwa-kwang!

“Hmm…!!”

We couldn’t help but be astonished. There were no walls or barriers, yet Mangnyang’s attack struck the air itself, shattering it, and suddenly the surroundings were engulfed in bright light! It felt as if the very space we stood in transformed entirely. The altered space morphed into a maze that led somewhere.

Mangnyang said,

“I had no time to break the barrier properly, so I forced it open. This won’t last long, so we must hurry to find Zhuge Sa.”

“What do you mean?”

“This is the seal of the National Seal, passed down since the Ancient Dynasty, and it’s the ultimate barrier. The National Seal lies at the end of that maze.”

I looked at Mangnyang with questioning eyes. If that was the case, then this barrier wasn’t created by contemporary sorcerers like the Alchemist or Zhuge Bu, but rather dates back to ancient times. Just what was the National Seal? Mangnyang sighed.

“Haah. I wish I could explain, but we don’t have time. Follow me closely.”

Chiriririing!

With a wave of his hand, a magnificent bird made of sparkling rainbow light was summoned. Mangnyang hopped on the bird, speeding into the maze, leaving behind a trail of rainbow feathers.

The Sword Demon instructed,

“Quickly follow! Just follow the feathers.”

“Understood.”

We used our lightness skills to chase after Mangnyang’s trail. The maze barrier was broader than it appeared, and even traveling at high speed, we had to follow for quite a while. Eventually, we reached a vast cavern where Mangnyang and Zhuge Sa faced off.

Zhuge Sa wore a rather irritated expression this time. He glared at Mangnyang and said,

“How annoying. I didn’t expect you to block my way…”

“It’s merely a coincidence. But your intent to bring destruction to the world is not coincidental.”

Mangnyang retorted softly and continued,

“Everyone knows you’ve turned to Evil Arts and Magic out of despair over the fate that decrees your life will end at thirty. My father could have killed you, but instead, he merely stripped you of your powers.”

“……”

“Stop this now. It will only lead to more misfortune for everyone involved.”

Zhuge Sa cackled in response.

“Heh, what do you even know? What makes you say such ridiculous things about ‘for the sake of the world’?”

“What—”

“Yes, I started practicing the Evil Arts out of despair over my life expected to end early at thirty. I only wanted to live longer.”

The golden box hovering before Zhuge Sa glowed even stronger.

“However, once I gained knowledge from the Evil God and learned the secrets of this world, my thoughts changed. I became disillusioned with humanity itself, which relies on the petty whims of minor gods, trading in the twisted mythology of this world…”

Zhuge Sa smiled bitterly.

“Disillusioned?”

“If we assume the long history of this world spans twelve hours, the concept of human civilization has existed for but a fleeting moment. There are countless races greater and stronger than humanity, and even they fear and serve the ancient gods.”

Zhuge Sa cast his gaze upon the empty space.

“When the constellations of the heavens find their rightful places in the near future, and the Luyue rises, humanity is doomed regardless. Before that, I plan to gain immense power, fulfilling my desires before I die. This is a wonderful opportunity.”

Mangnyang fumed with anger.

“The contracts between the Three Sovereigns and the [Ancient Ruler] can be extended. There is indeed a time of predetermined doom, but your descent into the Demon Path precipitates it! Are you truly summoning demons into this world simply due to your selfishness?”

“What do I care? If the outcome is the same, it’s all the same to me. And you Celestials are the very ones who exploit the guise of protecting humanity for your profit.”

Zhuge Sa retorted bluntly, glancing at us.

“Things have turned strange, but I’m still on the Sword Demon Sect Leader’s side. Let’s deal with that Mangnyang together.”

Dokgo Seong and I didn’t dare take a more active stance. While it seemed Mangnyang’s words held truth, we could not ignore that Zhuge Sa was also at our side. To simply trust Mangnyang and strike at Zhuge Sa would have been a gamble.

The Sword Demon stepped forward and addressed Zhuge Sa.

“Zhuge Sa. I’ve heard there’s something called the National Seal here. Why didn’t you explain why you’re attacking the Imperial Palace to obtain it?”

Zhuge Sa appeared struck where it hurt. After a long pause, he finally replied,

“The National Seal is just a side profit to me. What the Sect Leader originally desired from me was the destruction of the Imperial Palace, wasn’t it? Once I fulfill that mission, I thought I could take care of the rest myself.”

“You’re thinking far too much of yourself.”

The Sword Demon shot back coldly.

“I may not know much about sorcerers’ affairs, but if the National Seal belongs to the Imperial Palace, you ought to hand it over to me. That is the spoils of my sect.”

“Kehehehe… Impressive, indeed.”

“Why? Is there some reason you can’t give it?”

“Even if I did, you wouldn’t have any use for it. The National Seal is merely a seal.”

The Sword Demon let out a smirk.

“Really? If it were just a seal, you wouldn’t be trying to sneak it away so desperately. I know quite well that the National Seal served as proof of emperors from the Ancient Dynasty to the Warring States era. Not to mention, being sealed inside such a powerful barrier implies it definitely possesses some power.”

Zhuge Sa’s teeth audibly clenched. The Sword Demon leisurely continued,

“I’ll tell you this. If you give up the National Seal now and hand it over to me, I’ll go easy on you.”

“There’s no way I can do that.”

“I figured as much. Well, it seems we must part ways here.”

Shhik!

“Ku-uhk!!”

Zhuge Sa staggered, leaving blood behind before vanishing from the spot. The Sword Demon instantly unleashed the Great Ignition Sword, aiming for Zhuge Sa. I asked the Sword Demon,

“Did you get him?”

“No. His barrier is troublesome.”

Mangnyang warned,

“That one who possesses the golden box is immortal. He can use teleportation and barriers indefinitely, so be cautious!”

“Where has he gone?”

“He’s still in this space. He couldn’t take the National Seal out.”

Woo-whooo…

Suddenly, the cavern we stood in began to be drenched in divine white light. Until now, it had merely been a dark space enclosed by stone walls; now it felt like we were transitioning into a space of utter nothingness. Mangnyang noticed the phenomenon, and his expression darkened.

“The barrier is restoring itself. If this continues, we will all be trapped…”

At that moment, Zhuge Sa’s voice echoed through the cavern. It seemed he was hiding somewhere, waiting for an opportunity.

[That’s correct. This is a sealing barrier created by a god, not a mere human. If it continues like this, we’re all doomed, but let’s get the National Seal out first.]

“Madman!!”

Mangnyang shouted angrily.

“The National Seal is proof of dominion over the Nine Provinces! In this moment, when heaven and earth have been severed, it is the strongest treasure! Handing something like that over to a Demon Sorcerer like you will plunge the world into chaos!”

Zhuge Sa chuckled,

[Hahaha… Indeed, that’s true. The Zhuge clan’s plunge into the Imperial Palace was also due to the National Seal’s symbolism. It’s a concrete testament to being a conqueror of the world. But the Emperor and the Alchemist made no real use of it while leaving it sealed, so what does it matter if I take it out now?]

Mangnyang shouted back,

“Do not be deceived. Zhuge Sa is the current owner of the golden box. Using the power of that brilliant irregular polyhedron, he can activate the National Seal immediately.”

Curious, I asked Mangnyang,

“What happens if the National Seal activates?”

“With it, he’ll gain the ability to freely observe the territories of the Nine Provinces and obtain dominion over them, acquiring divine power instantaneously. Plus, he will gain immediate access to the rights to the [Gate] established by the purifying expedition throughout the world.”

“……!!”

“Do not be lured. Even if it costs us our lives here, we must not yield the National Seal.”

At that moment, Zhuge Sa whispered to me,

[Owner of the Demand, Baek Woong. I will continue to assist both you and the Sword Demon. If I possess the power of the National Seal, not only can I dominate the martial world, but I can also be incredibly helpful in locating the other Seven Luminaries. What Mangnyang says is merely the position of the Heavenly Realm; they have not considered our stance at all.]

“……”

[Let’s walk the path of conquest together. Seeking power is not a bad thing, and I know you understand this well.]

Zhuge Sa’s words had a certain legitimacy to them. If Zhuge Sa could acquire the National Seal and didn’t later betray us, he could become a significant ally. I glanced over at the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong, but it seemed they were engrossed in tracking down Zhuge Sa, oblivious to my internal conflict.

I pondered deeply.

And then, I made my decision.

Hah!

Jjeo-eeng!

With all my might, I swung the Demand Makya, causing the powers within to fracture space. Simultaneously, the expansion of the barrier that was being painted over with white light ceased, and Zhuge Sa was flung out of the air.

“Kurgh…”

Zhuge Sa hurriedly attempted to cloak himself again, but at that moment, the Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong charged in, subduing him. As Zhuge Sa knelt down with an empty expression, Mangnyang appeared genuinely relieved.

“Thank you. Had I been alone, I would have never captured Zhuge Sa.”

Zhuge Sa spoke,

“You foolishly made a choice… The Heavenly Realm will never side with you.”

“Stopping your rampage is certainly better.”

I replied quietly, and Zhuge Sa retorted irritably,

“You clearly do not understand what I mean. Well, you shall bear the consequences of your choice.”

“I’ve already been bearing them, so don’t worry.”

“……”

Zhuge Sa turned away, seemingly not wanting to argue further, and then spoke to the Sword Demon.

“Master, I will make my final counsel now. I won’t plead for my life, so you may strike down Mangnyang immediately.”

“Why?”

“If this continues, the Heavenly Realm will never leave Muyeongmun alone. If we do not kill Mangnyang, there will be complications later.”

“……”

“The Master seems to doubt me, but my intentions toward Muyeongmun are sincere. This is my last piece of advice as a soldier of Muyeongmun.”

The Sword Demon remained silent, arms crossed. I looked at Zhuge Sa in disbelief.

‘What nonsense is this? He wouldn’t truly strike down Mangnyang!’

It was obvious he was trying to lead Mangnyang to his doom out of self-preservation. It was indeed a play that everyone would think of. The Sword Demon stared at Zhuge Sa for a long moment and then said,

“Baek Ho-beop. Execute Zhuge Sa.”

“Excuse me?”

“There’s no gain in killing him now. Let’s dedicate you to the Demand Makya.”

“Understood.”

I stepped in front of Zhuge Sa with the Demand Makya in hand.

“I’ll do my best to ease your suffering.”

“Keeke… Foolish moron.”

Shhik!

As I smirked, Zhuge Sa’s head flew into the air. It was a quick and nearly painless execution, severed in a moment with my swift sword. Though Zhuge Sa was an irritating figure, he had indeed helped clear the Imperial Palace.

That was when it happened.

Wooowww…

“……!!”

The golden box once owned by Zhuge Sa began to tremble intensely, melting away like liquid. The liquid substance stuck to the sword’s body and absorbed it, and at that moment, an immense power surged from the Makya.

“Ughhhh…!!”

An unfathomable power!

However, it felt different from inner strength. It struck me as an otherworldly feeling that led me toward a realm of deep realization and enlightenment, a euphoric experience of achieving sudden awakening. I felt a remarkable surge of vitality filling me with cool spiritual energy, a sense far greater than when I had slain hundreds of monsters in Aokigahara. Could it be that defeating Zhuge Sa was this effective to strengthen my Demand?

‘Right now, I feel I can do anything.’

Mangnyang spoke.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Paaah!

We used the golden ascension to exit the Imperial Palace. Once the dragon people, demons, and summoned creatures swarming the Imperial Palace vanished, an eerie silence fell. There was no sign of life, and walking through the ruins and stillness left me with a peculiar feeling.

Then Mangnyang said to me,

“Baek Woong. Come to Kunlun Mountain.”

“What do you mean?”

“The threat of the Imperial Palace has ended. The dimensional beings will pose a lesser threat for some time, so we shall seal the Demand Makya in the Heavenly Realm.”

“……!!”

I was taken aback. I never anticipated Mangnyang would utter such words to me.

Then, the Sword Demon beside me spoke,

“We’ve complied with your demands, yet you choose to stab us in the back?”

“Not at all. Naturally, I will offer Baek Woong something commensurate with the Demand Makya.” Mangnyang stated calmly.

“Zhuge Sa may have said extreme things, but if you cooperate willingly, it needn’t be that way.”

Mangnyang continued,

“Baek Woong. I have now fulfilled my purpose from my past life, the destruction of the Imperial Palace. Now, what use is the Demand Makya to you? You can now just live a happy life as you desire.”

A happy life of one’s own.

I felt my heart leap at those words. It was true that I had accomplished my past life’s tasks, having destroyed the Imperial Palace and dealt with the dimensional beings as much as I wanted. There was nothing more significant to me, and I had no reason to cling to the Makya.

Dokgo Seong echoed Mangnyang’s sentiment.

“Right! What’s the point of holding onto the Demand Makya? Just get rid of that troublesome artifact.”

“Indeed.”

I readily agreed with Dokgo Seong, preparing to hand the Makya over to Mangnyang.

Just then.

Key-ring!

The Sword Demon’s intent sharply sliced through the air. I had been about to hand over the Makya when I had no choice but to quickly evade. The energy pressed against me was infused with sincerity and was powerful enough to be lethal upon impact.

“Master?!”

Seo Mun-dae-ryong glared at me intensely. He then said,

“Baek Woong. You’re mistaken.”

“Huh?”

“That Mangnyang is not the Mangnyang you once knew. He is a Celestial Apostle who endured trials and hardships over the past eight years, evolving into a divine immortal on Earth. He is an entirely different existence from the [human] Mangnyang you once knew.”

“That can’t be.”

“No matter how kindly you word it, theft is still theft. You have no reason to relinquish the Demand.”

With that, the Sword Demon sighed.

“I misjudged. Zhuge Sa should not have died.”

“What do you mean…”

The Sword Demon glared at Mangnyang, then suggested,

“Why don’t you introduce your friend who’s keeping my intent from reaching you?”

It seemed the Sword Demon had attempted to secretly kill Mangnyang multiple times using his intent. However, some force was protecting Mangnyang.

“…So that’s it. I hadn’t planned on going this far.”

Mangnyang spoke quietly, raising his hand.

“Reveal yourself.”

Swish!

At that moment, a figure clad in a ceremonial robe appeared behind Mangnyang. He had sharply defined features and carried a sword on his back. The Sword Demon and Dokgo Seong watched the figure with blank expressions, as it was their first time seeing him, but I was enveloped in shock at the sight.

Why on earth was he here?!

“Consider this your final warning. If you don’t hand over the Demand Makya, I will have no choice but to restrain you.”

Dokgo Seong scoffed.

“I don’t know who that guy is, but even if a guardian shows up, you can’t easily do anything to us. What’s with such bravado?”

I spoke with a trembling voice,

“N-No. It’s not like that.”

“What?”

“It’s dangerous.”

Mangnyang’s eyes gleamed as he said,

“You know who this person is.”

“……”

I had no retort.

For an extraordinary enemy to suddenly appear was nothing short of catastrophic.

“Who is he?” the Sword Demon asked, curious, and I had no choice but to oblige. The Sword Demon could read only the memories of my representation, so he wouldn’t recognize the direct form of this being. Only I knew.

“He’s the Sword Immortal, Yeodongbin!”

Praised as the strongest of the Eight Immortals, the Celestial of the Dragon Phoenix!

The being I had seen several times in my reincarnation now stood here, manifested as an enemy before me.