Chapter 266: Chapter 266

Celestial Realm

Moments later, Cheon Woo-jin waved the flag and allowed the Heavenly Lord of Tai Xu to inhabit his body. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as Divine Possession, required not just knowledge or experience, but a fitting [vessel]. Cheon Woo-jin was the only one present with such magical prowess.

The descended Heavenly Lord of Tai Xu spoke with a voice that seemed otherworldly.

[ Your offerings were well received. I wish to bestow blessings upon you, but… ]

“No, that won’t work. I would prefer a different blessing.”

Mangnyang responded firmly, causing Cheon Woo-jin’s body to shudder. The Heavenly Lord of Tai Xu seemed a bit sulky as he replied,

[ I see… ]

Whoooosh

[ Have you already offered the sacrificial offerings for the Brocade of the Abyss? ]

Immediately after the Heavenly Lord spoke, the presence of the Queen Mother of the West enveloped Cheon Woo-jin. Knowing that the blessing would be skipped again, I thought for sure Mangnyang would brush it off this time as well. However, Mangnyang seized the opportunity to ask a different question.

“Queen Mother, may I verify whether my understanding of the order of Divine Possession is correct?”

[ What order are you referring to? ]

“It begins with the Heavenly Lord of Tai Xu, followed by you, and likely next will be the Southern Flower Immortal, or perhaps the Sword Immortal Yeodongbin, or Yuan Yuanzi. Am I correct?”

The Queen Mother seemed somewhat startled by his answer.

[ Correct. How did you know that? ]

It must have been due to the events Mangnyang had witnessed up to this point. I thought it was an obvious fact, but Mangnyang unexpectedly unfolded his Five Transformations of Fire and Metal and said,

“It stands to reason that the allocations of the Twenty-Eight Constellations would manifest in that order. This is the law governing the immortals bound to the Nine Provinces.”

[ You possess remarkable knowledge. That is indeed correct. ]

“You might recommend another presence, but it’s likely to follow that order.”

[ Do you wish to say something? ]

At the Queen Mother’s inquiry, Mangnyang responded nonchalantly,

“I do not need other blessings. Please grant me two rights.”

[ What are they? ]

“First, the right for Baek Woong and I to enter Mount Kunlun, and second, the right to conduct the Sacrificial Ceremony on Mount Tai.”

[ ……!! ]

I could sense the Queen Mother’s surprise. If someone as elevated as her, a Great Divine Immortal, was alarmed, it surely meant that the rights Mangnyang proposed were tied to enormous issues. The Queen Mother replied,

[ Your greed is excessive. I can grant the former right, but the latter cannot be decided by me.]

“But you are the leader of the celestial maidens who even have the likes of the Virgin Earth Goddess under your rule. Apart from that, you possess the highest authority. I cannot believe you lack such power.”

The Queen Mother sighed and said,

[ Mortal, do you realize what it means to possess the right to conduct the Sacrificial Ceremony? ]

“Yes, I do.”

[ You must understand that it possesses the potential to disrupt the balance of heaven and earth. ]

“However, the offerings made to the Brocade of the Abyss hold such value.”

Mangnyang retorted with a chilling smile,

“By gaining the life force of the offering, the wilted flowers of the Celestial Realm shall bloom, and the immortals shall regain their vitality. This represents unparalleled merit throughout the world.”

[ Hmm… Very well. If you believe you can take responsibility, I will grant you those two rights. ]

“I suspect that even after that, there will still be a cost due to the principles of causality.”

[ Do you wish to ask for something else? ]

Mangnyang stated firmly,

“Forgive the Nine-Tailed Fox that fell to earth and allow me to summon the Eight Immortals.”

[ What… ]

“I believe that will create a fitting exchange.”

The Queen Mother remained silent for a long while. Then, in a tone that sounded somewhat angry, she spoke,

[ Fine. You must have learned quite a lot about the heavens from somewhere. But if you ever attempt to mock the immortals with that knowledge, you will face divine retribution. ]

“Understood.”

[ You have received your price, now you may take your leave. ]

Hisss…

The Queen Mother’s form vanished. Meanwhile, Cheon Woo-jin regained vitality in his eyes. Since the Divine Possession lasted only twice, he looked slightly fatigued rather than completely exhausted as before. However, a worried expression crossed Cheon Woo-jin’s face as he addressed Mangnyang,

“Older Brother. Angering the Queen Mother won’t yield any benefits. She is indeed a high and mighty being.”

“I know. I’ve already had contact with the Three Sovereigns.”

“Then how did you manage to irritate her?”

“Because that’s the only way to uncover the truth.”

“……?”

Mangnyang chuckled softly and walked back towards the shrine. He bowed at the shrine seemingly unconcerned and said,

“Master, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I, disciple Mangnyang, shall now take my leave.”

There was no reply from the master.

‘As expected…’

I felt an overwhelming drowsiness. No matter how much martial arts and magical techniques I learned, I couldn’t resist sleep.

Soon, just like before, I found myself dreaming and encountered Mangnyang in my sleep. In the dream, Mangnyang, taking the form of a black cat, spoke,

[ I’m your master, yet don’t I seem impressive? A human who can negotiate with the Queen Mother hasn’t existed in history. ]

“……”

[ You’re wearing a curious expression. ]

I asked Mangnyang the question that had been bothering me the most,

“What exactly are you?”

It was the most fundamental yet realistic question. Upon hearing my question, Mangnyang wagged his black tail and responded,

[ Clearly, I’m Mangnyang. I’m not sure why you’re curious about that. ]

“No, you’re a bit different.”

[ How am I different? ]

“The reason you’re staying in this village is to seal the ‘Old Ruler’ that lies hidden in Luoyang, right? That being’s power must be incredibly strong, enough to sweep through the Celestial Realm all on its own.”

Mangnyang replied emotionally,

[ You seem to understand quite a bit. ]

I murmured to myself and then looked Mangnyang in the eye,

“What sort of being are you that can seal and monitor such a presence?!”

This was something I had previously let slide without much consideration. It was one thing to realize that Mangnyang was an immensely powerful being, but it didn’t strike me as exceptionally significant until encountering artifacts and sorceries from the Zhuge Clan which demonstrated their might. Additionally, the power of Ithaca that appeared when the Seven Luminaries’ Ritual was derailed was simply extraordinary.

It seemed peculiar that one singular Great Divine Immortal like Mangnyang could seal the ‘Old Ruler’, who could be comparable to or perhaps even exceed Ithaca. Even though he was a guardian appointed by the Jade Emperor, having the capability to seal such unmatched beings was unthinkable!

Mangnyang gazed at me with a piercing look,

[ I am the Guardian of the Watchful Boundary. And for now, I am known as Mangnyang. I neither possess a past nor a future, so such questions hold no meaning. ]

“What do you mean?”

[ Life and death do not exist; therefore, I feel no fear. ]

He spoke in a tone that almost mocked. Then he added,

[ You and I are still too early to discuss such matters. ]

“What nonsense!! I am more than enough…”

At that moment, he interrupted,

[ Is it not the end time? ]

When our eyes met, chills ran down my spine, and a wave of cold shivers coursed through me. It felt as if an overwhelming pressure was descending on every inch of my being. A sudden feeling of despair and frustration washed over me, akin to staring into the abyss of the vast universe. I hadn’t felt such a potency even in the presence of the Grandmaster of the Baekryun Sect.

Then I understood.

‘A god!’

Unlike the ‘gods’ or ‘immortals’ that exhibited some emotions or changes, the Mangnyang in front of me was an exceedingly passive, mechanical, and absolute being. Though he pretended to emulate possessing a personality, comprehending what such a genuine existence might be thinking was beyond human conjecture.

Flare

Light flooded in. A beam that felt warm, yet also threatened to consume existence itself. As I was enveloped in that light, I gradually drifted away from the dream, feeling the pulsating thrum of the darkness echoing behind me. That thrum felt hauntingly familiar.

[ You may return for today. ]

Wait! Don’t send me away like this!

I wanted to ask for a clue about the Seven Luminaries!

As I screamed silently in my head, Mangnyang said,

[ Pursue the Eight Trigrams of Fuxi. That will be the easiest way to amass power. ]

And then the dream ended.

“Ugh.”

When I regained consciousness, I found that Mangnyang was already awake. He reached out a hand to help me up, saying,

“Let’s be on our way.”

“Oh, right…”

I absentmindedly exited the village alongside Mangnyang. This was a process I had performed multiple times, so I knew it by heart. However, the moment I stepped beyond the village threshold, I sensed a strange unease and turned back.

“Are you here to bid farewell?”

As expected, there before me stood a youthful figure in his early twenties dressed as a farmer. Unsurprisingly, it was the Illusionist Cheon Woo-jin—the disciple of Mangnyang. He gazed at me quietly before saying,

“What do you mean? I am following my older brother.”

“Eh?!”

I exclaimed in surprise, and Mangnyang replied with a casual tone,

“It has come to pass.”

“What has come to pass?! What do you mean?!”

“My disciple is exceptionally talented, and I informed the master to bring him along. With his remarkable skills, it shall be a great help to us.”

“……”

I exchanged bewildered glances between Mangnyang and Cheon Woo-jin.

Bringing the Illusionist Cheon Woo-jin along!

I couldn’t fathom such a thing because it had never occurred before, but soon enough, Mangnyang smiled brightly and said,

“It shouldn’t be a problem. After all, my disciple seemed eager to observe the Sacrificial Ceremony.”

“Damn it… Older Brother, stop talking nonsense! What do you mean by ‘observe’?!”

Cheon Woo-jin grit his teeth and added,

“If the Sacrificial Ceremony goes awry, it could lead to significant disasters, hence my urge to keep an eye on it!”

“Your disciple seems quite devoted, considering you hold no outstanding favors from the Celestial Realm.”

“Surely you know what the Sacrificial Ceremony entails, don’t you?”

Mangnyang shrugged.

“I’m well aware, which is why I believe my disciple will be of great help.”

“Let’s just leave it at that, alright?”

Seeing Cheon Woo-jin sulking, it was evident he was dragged along half-heartedly. Mangnyang likely obtained rights for the Sacrificial Ceremony and wished to take Cheon Woo-jin along as a supervising assistant. Cheon Woo-jin had no choice but to fall prey to Mangnyang’s cleverness.

‘This was not anticipated.’

I never thought Cheon Woo-jin would become an ally. How on Earth would I coordinate strategies with that grumpy, irritable guy?

Moments later, we arrived at the inn. As usual, Mangnyang reserved a room and ordered a chicken dish to eat, using the time while enjoying the food to explain to us,

“Alright… I will outline the tasks we each need to undertake, so please listen closely.”

“I’m all ears.”

Mangnyang tore into a chicken leg and said,

“Baek Woong, you should head directly to the prophet for a technique. After that, bring the Nine-Tailed Fox to Jinrang Valley.”

“Understood.”

Mangnyang glanced at Cheon Woo-jin.

“I will prepare on my end, and my disciple should go smash the Zhuge Clan to bring Jinrang Valley here.”

“Who is the Zhuge Clan?”

“My uncle, but he’s a peculiar fellow. He has someone within their ranks who employs treachery and puppet arts, so be careful.”

“Hmph!”

Cheon Woo-jin huffed, sensing the unreliability, and suddenly vanished from sight.

Not a sound—as if he had vanished into thin air!

Surprised, I heard Mangnyang say while pouring drinks,

“There’s no need to be shocked. That is the real Spatial Manipulation.”

“Real Spatial Manipulation?”

“Ordinary Spatial Manipulation comes with numerous restrictions, but that technique allows one to manipulate space freely, achieving speeds that dwarf any other. In the human realm, there are barely one or two who can use Spatial Manipulation like my disciple.”

I voiced my concern,

“Even the Sword Demon took caution against him, can Cheon Woo-jin really capture him?”

“Treachery arts are excessively perilous for average martial artists. The Sword Demon was right to exercise caution. However, such treachery arts will work none at all against my disciple.”

Mangnyang grinned widely.

“I can state that with certainty; the Zhuge Clan will be dragged here in a state of not quite dead.”

“……”

Mangnyang’s regard for Cheon Woo-jin was exceptionally high. It made sense, considering he was the greatest prodigy in the realm of sorcery. I felt conflicted about Cheon Woo-jin getting beaten, yet Mangnyang spoke again.

“Baek Woong. For this life, you must focus on conducting the Sacrificial Ceremony. That is vital for achieving our goal.”

“I’ve been curious about that—is the Sacrificial Ceremony really that important?”

“You already possess the memories of Jiseon Mangnyang, so you should know, but there are two variations of the Sacrificial Ceremony conducted on Mount Tai. One is genuine, and the other is a false ritual. What we’ve secured is the right to the genuine Sacrificial Ceremony.”

Mangnyang slowly elaborated,

“The Sacrificial Ceremony was first practiced by Qin Shi Huang, who claimed to be the first Emperor, where he offered sacrifices to heaven and earth. Successful completion of this ceremony grants dominion over the Nine Provinces and the fortune of heaven.”

“I understand that, but it’s not something particularly vital for a ruler, is it? It doesn’t seem necessary for us to acquire it…”

Mangnyang sighed.

“Indeed, you haven’t fully assimilated the knowledge of Jiseon Mangnyang.”

I too sighed.

“It’s too complex and vast. There are countless parts I’m still unclear about.”

Indeed.

I had absorbed the knowledge of Jiseon Mangnyang through the memory transfer technique akin to obtaining obsidian but lacked the intellectual capacity to fully understand it. Without building a solid background of knowledge and comprehension, one could not wield even the sorcery or knowledge at the immortal level. Conversely, Mangnyang had a depth of knowledge, allowing him to grasp almost all that information.

Mangnyang continued,

“I will first explain the concept of ‘field’ (分野). The field represents how astrology is expressed in geography, with its true value being to [correlate stars in the sky with administrative divisions].”

“Correlate stars with administrative divisions?”

“Exactly. The movement of constellations is reflected in the vast terrestrial world known as the Nine Provinces.”

Mangnyang’s explanation of the meaning of fields progressed.

“In astrological theory, the stars are primarily categorized into the Twenty-Eight Constellations and the Twelve Branches. The heavens’ karma is essential in depicting the earthly territories; this is the peak ideology.” The names of the states during the Warring States period were also eternally derived from this celestial language.

“Hmm…”

“The common word we often refer to as ‘field’ actually stems from this origin.”

Mangnyang clenched his fist.

“The heavens cast omens (天垂象), and the earth takes shape (地成形). This was the most pivotal concept that has gripped the geographical understanding throughout the millennia of China.”

After pondering for a while, I asked,

“What does this have to do with obtaining dominion and fortune through the Sacrificial Ceremony?”

“It’s a bit complex, so I will explain it in detail.”

Mangnyang loosened his arms and picked up another chicken leg.

“As you saw earlier, even though the Divine Possession by the Great Divine Immortal may appear seemingly irregular, in fact, it follows the order of the celestial regulations that correlate with the stars, according to the field theory. Even immortals must conform to the principle that heaven corresponds with earth. The heavens represent a divine order that stands most evident.”

“Now, think about this. Why did ancient peoples assign their territories, encompassing not just the central states but also the outer tribes to the Nine Provinces in correlation with the constellations?”

“……”

Suddenly, a thought struck me. It stemmed from being provoked by the term ‘constellation’.

“Is it because of the ‘Old Ruler’?! ”

“Exactly! Present-day scholars may dismiss it as mere blind faith of the ancients, yet in reality, it was closely tied to godly entities. This secret lies hidden within the Celestial Realm, only shared amongst the most secretive of mystical sects.”

Mangnyang gulped down his drink, then continued,

“The fields defined by the Nine Provinces were territories and dominions assigned to the primordial ‘Old Rulers.’ Within that space, they reigned as true gods, casting dark legends over primitive humanity.”

“……!!”

“This is also a secret the Celestial Realm desperately wishes to keep from the mortal realm. An existence as hushed and pertinent as the ‘Old Ruler’ cannot possibly be revealed.”

Confronted with such a startling revelation, I gasped. My fragmented knowledge had not connected these pieces, yet unexpectedly, that ancient folklore existed.

Mangnyang stated,

“Obtaining dominion and fortune through the Sacrificial Ceremony signifies becoming the Lord of All under heaven, as well as the high priest connecting gods and mortals.”

“The high priest?”

“Yes, the high priest.”

He rarely donned a cynical smile as he said,

“By offering sacrifices of humans on a grand scale to the Old Rulers, ensuring peace under heaven, one would gain access to the magic and power of immortality… It’s no surprise that emperors like Qin Shi Huang or those of his lineage would’ve burned with greedy ambition.”

It was the moment when the truth of the Sacrificial Ceremony on Mount Tai was unfurled.