Reincarnation Sword God

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00423 Celestial Realm (天界) ————————————————————————

I first stuffed the clone of Zhuge Yulong, which was being kept by the White Lotus Sect, into the wooden armor, then rode on the Four Great Spirits with the Sect Leader to the Heavenly Altar of Mount Tai. The Prophet, who was waiting at the altar, looked at the Sect Leader, and vice versa. The Prophet said,

[Is it time to start the Offering Ceremony…?]

Seeing the Prophet, the Sect Leader hesitated and said,

[The great race, huh.]

For some reason, he seemed to immediately realize that the Prophet was an otherworldly being despite the latter’s human form.

[Great Leader. Only with sufficient offerings can we persuade the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.]

[Don’t worry about that. I brought more than enough.]

The Sect Leader said confidently. A moment later, I showed the offerings we brought to the Prophet. The Prophet inspected each one and seemed to ponder deeply.

[… the Demon Book of the Impermanence. Quite abundant. It looks sufficient to me, but… the issue is logic. We must thoroughly convince them why the Heavenly Ladder should not be lowered.]

After saying this, the Prophet glanced at me and spoke.

[If two people carelessly shout their own claims, things will get tangled… One person should talk and ensure that their arguments are in sync.]

“Got it.”

[The Demon Beast Bracelet is mine, but let’s consider it as an offering.]

Every word of the Prophet made sense. I said to the Sect Leader,

“Leader. How about promising to completely withdraw from Luoyang?”

[…]

“Leader?”

[Let’s do that. But can we predict which of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors will be summoned?]

“Uh… that’s…”

That was a rather uncertain matter. In the past, when the statue of the Emperor Jeon Wook was used as a medium, he was summoned without hesitation. Similarly, when using the Moon Sovereign as a medium, the creator, Nüwa, descended. But now, I had no clue who might appear.

As I thought about this, the Prophet remarked,

[One thing is certain; Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen will not be summoned… judging by our current offerings…]

[Why are you so sure?]

[Throughout eons, the Emperor has shown the least presence among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors… that’s all…]

The Prophet mumbled and waved his hand.

[At this rate, it seems the chances of either Nüwa or Shao Hao Jin Tian being summoned are the highest…]

[Why?]

[Explaining it is too troublesome and exhausting… just take it for granted…]

[Hmm…]

The Sect Leader showed a somewhat displeased expression towards the Prophet’s words. But I noticed that the Prophet was carefully omitting some truths at this moment.

‘It’s because I possess the National Seal!’

The National Seal was created by the Three Sovereigns, Shao Hao Jin Tian. Because of that, even if I didn’t directly make the National Seal an offering, simply participating in the Offering Ceremony as its owner would significantly raise the probability of summoning Shao Hao Jin Tian. Of course, as I also possessed the Moon Sovereign, there was a chance Nüwa might be summoned, but since she currently had a negative view of the earthly realm, she might refuse to be summoned.

However, if the Prophet were to mention this fact, the Sect Leader would certainly inquire why I possessed the National Seal. Knowing this, the Prophet must have decided to gloss over it. I felt a sense of gratitude toward the Prophet, but soon Zhuge Sa began to jeer within me.

[The fact that I’ve just covered for you doesn’t mean I’m fond of you. I’m just repaying the value of the Sacred Relic. Don’t forget that everything is calculated.]

[Dammit. Who doesn’t know that?]

I grumbled inwardly.

The Sect Leader contemplated and then said,

[Nüwa would be preferable. If Shao Hao Jin Tian is summoned, would mere persuasion be enough for the entire Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to agree?]

The Prophet responded,

[Are you asking about the position that Shao Hao Jin Tian holds among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors…?]

[Correct. If I manage to persuade them, but his position is low among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, what’s the point of my effort?]

[Shao Hao was the Western Sovereign… and also the king of the birds… He’s ranked higher than Yao and Shun, but certainly lacks the authority to surpass the Three Sovereigns…]

[How troublesome…]

The Sect Leader pondered and said,

[Then is it impossible to aim for the Three Sovereigns? Whether it’s Nüwa, Fuxi, or the Yan Emperor…]

The Prophet then scoffed.

[If the Seven Luminaries were around, we could summon them for sure… though heaven knows if it would mean anything… especially given that the current Fuxi may not even be able to communicate normally with a being, and Nüwa is likely very angry with the earthly realm right now, so if she were summoned, we might all perish.]

[……?]

What does Fuxi have to do with this?

While the Sect Leader and I were taken aback, the Prophet continued speaking.

[You really don’t have to worry about that… after all, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors generally respect each other’s will… because they are all immensely powerful divine beings… If you manage to persuade even one of them with rational discussion, you could consider it a success…]

[I see.]

The Sect Leader seemed to grasp the Prophet’s words and turned to me.

[Baek Woong, let’s start. But I have a favor to ask…]

“Sure?”

[Could you offer the Moon Sovereign?]

Just as I expected, that question arose.

From the Sect Leader’s perspective, summoning the Three Sovereigns would increase the odds of success, so it was only natural to offer the Moon Sovereign for a guaranteed summoning. However, for me, that was an unacceptable proposal, so I calmly replied.

“I’m sorry. As the Prophet said, if Nüwa is summoned and attacks us, it would be the worst-case scenario. Also, if I were to offer the Moon Sovereign and end up with nothing, there would be no future for us, so I cannot agree to that.”

[What I mean is, let’s use it merely as a medium.]

I responded more firmly.

“Currently, Nüwa is the one who wants to erase the human world. No matter how I think about it, it’s too risky to stick my head into the tiger’s maw.”

[… understood.]

The Sect Leader spoke with a tone of resignation.

[Then I will handle the remaining variables smoothly.]

And thus commenced the third Offering Ceremony, a ceremony that would determine the fate of the earthly realm!

With determination, I glared at the Heavenly Altar, and the Sect Leader appeared to concentrate as well. Just as the atmosphere deepened, the Prophet interjected.

[I’m the one carrying it out, so why are you two becoming so serious…]

“……”

[……]

Wuuuuuuuuuuu

How long had it been since the Prophet offered the offerings at the altar?

Soon, blue spirit energy began to flow from the Heavenly Altar, and gradually, a sphere of darkness started to take shape. For a while, the sphere of darkness began to trace out the Eight Trigrams in the air.

As the Eight Trigrams slowly descended onto the Heavenly Altar, the black clouds in the sky thickened even more. It was as if the clouds were wrapping themselves around the heavens, swallowing all the sunlight without a trace. Just as the world was completely shrouded in darkness.

Saaaaaah

Suddenly, the sky was engulfed in radiant colors. The description of seven colors couldn’t possibly give justice to the brilliance of the light that broke through the clouds and illuminated the ground. The sun seemed as if it had never existed, and the rainbow’s hues floated in the ecstasy as the Heaven and Earth Sea swayed gently.

In the midst of that glamorous scene, something suddenly exploded from the sky. Looking closely, each one bore wings. However, these were not earthly birds, but rather bizarre creatures that wouldn’t normally exist in Earth’s ecosystem. Calling them birds seemed merely because ‘they’ had wings, yet they likely appeared quite different up close.

Biiiiiiy —

As the number of birds increased, surpassing about a hundred, they seemed to form shapes, clustering in the air, and from within that array, a rainbow began to descend slowly.

Watching this sequence, I felt a strange discomfort.

That holy scene seemed like a moment from a myth! However, within the frenzy of colors, rather than feeling sacred or magnificent, I sensed a sense of the bizarre. It was as if contradictions that should never have existed in this world were writhing and squirming to the surface, giving me goosebumps.

Why was I feeling this way?

A moment later, from beyond the rainbow, something white began to materialize, taking on a human form. Clad in the robes of ancient emperors and priests, just like when Jeon Wook appeared, there were only birds nearby. Moreover, lacking human flesh, this being had an inhuman appearance, resembling clouds adorned with garments.

Additionally, this being’s clothing fluttered about as if alive, with feathers floating in the air. Soon, around that being, over a hundred birds erupted with radiant colors, splitting off, and from within those flashes, even more birds were born as if they exploded.

After painting the air in a spectrum like a paradise of birds, that emperor fired his will down toward the earth.

[I am Shao Hao.]

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Shao Hao Jin Tian, spoke in a tone that seemed very weary.

[What brings you to summon me so far?]

So far?

That expression felt odd. Of course, one might say the Celestial Realm is dimensionally distant compared to the human realm, but that was merely a metaphor. A being of such stature as one of the Three Sovereigns could travel back and forth as casually as breathing. I had previously heard from Zhuge Sa that even a mere sorcerer or demon sorcerer could traverse dimensions with just a bit of dimensional knowledge.

‘Is Shao Hao Jin Tian saying he came from a distant world?’

As I tilted my head in confusion, the Prophet stepped forward, responding to Shao Hao Jin Tian.

[It’s been a while… I trust Her Majesty Huang E is well…]

Then, as if the cloud-like body of Shao Hao Jin Tian twitched, his entire form suddenly expanded several times.

Whirrrr

Then, Shao Hao Jin Tian cast an immense gaze, seeming to sweep over us, and I immediately felt a hideous sensation as if my entire body was being rummaged through. With divine power, Shao Hao Jin Tian peered through all of us and replied as if he understood.

[The king of the human race, huh… You are taking good care of the seal on Chiyou, I trust?]

‘What?!’

What does this mean?

Is the legendary being, Shao Hao Jin Tian, actually recognizing the Prophet! The tales of living in the same era as such a divine being were true? Moreover, upon mentioning the seal of Chiyou, I became highly sensitive to the implications.

The Prophet answered casually.

[Please do not concern yourself with that matter… We are managing it well…]

A very disrespectful tone to speak to a being of the Three Sovereigns!

[Proceed then.]

Yet Shao Hao Jin Tian seemed to brush it off. Hearing that made me realize that the Three Sovereigns recognized the Prophet as part of the royalty and had acknowledged him in some sense. The Prophet was, beyond my expectations, a major player.

Taking a moment to steady his breath, the Prophet said,

[I summoned you today to ask you to halt the plan to lower the Heavenly Ladder, receiving the request from the human who holds the Moon Sovereign… I hope you will make a wise decision…]

[The Heavenly Ladder, huh…]

Once the Prophet finished speaking, Shao Hao Jin Tian shrank back to his original size. Having created a throne-like form of clouds in the air, Shao Hao Jin Tian sat down and gently patted the head of one nearby bird. With a leisurely demeanor, he looked down at the earth and said,

[That can be discussed with Jeon Wook… What concern is it of mine, for I did not sever the ladder…]

He openly displayed his annoyance. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but recall how the previous Three Sovereign, Jeon Wook, had been summoned.

‘He’s so similar.’

So apathetic toward earthly matters!

Even the affairs of the Heavenly Ladder, which directly pertain to the rise and fall of human civilization, seemed to not give a care, bordering on laziness. Observing him made me worry that the Three Sovereigns might think that they had no connection to whether humans prosper or perish. But if they have such an attitude, wouldn’t any persuasion from our side be meaningless?

As I grew uneasy, the Sect Leader stepped forward and shouted,

[O Sovereign Shao Hao! I am Dok Go Woon Cheon, Leader of the White Lotus Sect.]

At that moment, Shao Hao seemed to gaze thoughtfully at the Sect Leader. The Sect Leader continued speaking.

[I believe that my residence in Luoyang could potentially destroy the battle ground. Therefore, I vow to withdraw all forces of the White Lotus Sect from Luoyang and never approach again. Additionally, we present our offerings and sincerity, so please consider them kindly.]

Shao Hao remained silent. Not even a flicker of movement.

That was not a silence borne of contemplation. It seemed more like a silence of incredulity.

‘Damn it. Let’s just…’

Pukong

“I offer the offerings!”

As an awkward silence persisted, I quickly took out the heart of the Divine Portrait and presented it, passing on the remaining treasures one by one to the Prophet. The Prophet then used his magic to present those treasures to Shao Hao.

Wuuuuuuuuuu –

As the precious treasures vanished, a moment of light erupted from Shao Hao Jin Tian’s body. It seemed as though he enjoyed the offerings. Remaining seated on his throne, he spoke in a tone that sounded oddly unbothered.

[I reluctantly accepted, but everything is a hassle…]

“……”

[Hang in there, mortals!]

Flash!

All of a sudden, radiant light poured down from the sky again. The colors sparkled extravagantly, unleashing hundreds of flashes.

Chililing –

[Hang in there!]

The brightness in the sky was so overwhelming that it overwhelmed any hint of darkness, almost blinding us. This splendid light continued for some time, and we stared blankly at the rush of light, wondering what was happening.

Could this possibly be the Three Sovereigns’ version of support? A gift for the heart?

Eventually, as the flashes began to fade, the Prophet said, seemingly incredulous,

[Couldn’t you lend a hand…]

Shao Hao Jin Tian extended an arm formed of clouds downward toward the earth.

[Nüwa has grown disillusioned with humans. Do I need to intrude upon her grace for the sake of mere mortals? But I have received offerings, so I will consider the treatment of humans as best as I can.]

In short, it wasn’t that it wouldn’t be effective, but from Shao Hao Jin Tian’s perspective, there was no reason to make an effort for humans. He acknowledged he would try, but judging by his lazy demeanor, it seemed he would likely do nothing.

‘What… what kind of guy is this?!’

I was astonished. How could he eat everything and then maintain such an attitude? If he hadn’t received anything, it could have been understood, but not saying anything until he’s full and turning a blind eye afterward?! I was furious and baffled to the point of blowing a fuse.

The legendary divine being, one of the Three Sovereigns, was such a piece of trash!

‘With such an attitude, any further offering would be meaningless…!!’

It was possible to try offering the Moon Sovereign or the National Seal to try and change Shao Hao Jin Tian’s mind. However, given that he looked down on mortals to such an extent and exhibited a sense of utter indifference, any gesture of goodwill would likely be dismissed. He seemed wholly incapable of being persuaded.

At that moment, I felt my sanity slipping away. So, I abruptly shouted.

“Shao Hao!!”

Instantly, all eyes in the room shifted toward me. I felt crushed by the pressure of their gazes, but my feelings of anger overpowered me, and I shouted out.

“… Please, help us! If this goes on, humanity will perish!”

Suu…

It felt as if Shao Hao Jin Tian’s divine gaze lingered on me. Shao Hao Jin Tian was a bizarre deity, as if nature itself, including clouds, formed his physical body. The sensation of chaos and darkness brushing past me was likely a sign that he was indeed watching me.

Shao Hao opened his mouth.

[If you perish, I will recreate you.]

“… Huh?”

[It’s not such a big deal, so don’t make a fuss…]

Shao Hao Jin Tian appeared to look down upon me. But I couldn’t continue speaking due to his inhuman perspective.

‘What a madman!’

Is it such a trivial thing to say that he’d recreate humanity after its destruction? He didn’t seem to regard humans as anything more than clay dolls and left me speechless.

At that moment, the Sect Leader interjected.

[Since you’ve received the offerings, wouldn’t it be okay to grant us one more small favor?]

[A favor?]

[I wish for the rapid restoration of the Heavenly Altar of Mount Tai.]

[I understand.]

Hooowww…

That was the end of it. In the blink of an eye, both Shao Hao Jin Tian and the dazzling light that had filled the sky disappeared as if washed away. The Sect Leader spoke with a bitter expression.

[It seems this is the limit…]

The Prophet, who had been observing the situation, got up and dusted himself off.

[I have completed the tasks I was asked… since nearly all the costs for the Sacred Relics have been exhausted, I shall take my leave.]

“Wait!”

[Why do you call me…]

“If Cheon Woo-jin speeds up the restoration of the Heavenly Altar, we could perform another Offering Ceremony within the remaining time, right?”

As it stood, this was our last hope. The Sect Leader had likely realized that Shao Hao Jin Tian was no good, so he had uttered such a wish at the end in order to benefit while keeping hope alive. If Cheon Woo-jin hastened the recovery, we could perform the Offering Ceremony again and request the Three Sovereigns once more.

However, the Prophet shook his head.

[It’s not possible…]

[Why?!]

[Can’t you feel that summoning the Three Sovereigns has significantly disturbed the celestial balance? The Offering Ceremony actually serves to stabilize the shattered reality with the overwhelming presence of the Three Sovereigns. While I presided over the ceremony, it was rudimentary at best, thus barely maintaining its execution, but the balance of the world has already begun to falter. Soon, the earth will suffer natural disasters and calamities.]

“……!!”

[To put it figuratively, it’s like a house of cards. I don’t know how capable Cheon Woo-jin is, but if an accident occurs during the ceremony, I cannot be held responsible…]

In that moment, I realized what kind of side effects might occur if the Prophet conducted another Offering Ceremony. While the Prophet could initiate the ceremony, he wasn’t as well-versed in the flow of magic as Cheon Woo-jin, leading to chaos in the world’s rules from merely conducting the Offering Ceremony. Of course, it made sense that an otherworldly being would awkwardly attempt to lead the Offering Ceremony.

‘Wait a second…’

I glared at the Prophet and shouted.

“You jerk! You should have told me that beforehand!! Because of you, all chances of conducting multiple Offering Ceremonies have been wasted!!”

Indeed. Rather, if we hadn’t conducted this Offering Ceremony!

After Cheon Woo-jin wasted a month before being freed, we could have performed the Offering Ceremony two or three times to have a chance at persuading the Three Sovereigns! But due to the Prophet pushing for the Offering Ceremony, the balance was wrecked, and our opportunity vanished!

[You hopeless fool…]

“What are you talking about!”

The Prophet showed a strangely smug expression.

[I didn’t ask, did I? I did what I was told, and now it’s over…]

Pa-at!

The Prophet vanished. Zhuge Sa mocked me internally.

[Looking at the situation, it’s clear he’ll try to go incognito at the Great Temple… you’ve really been through the wringer, huh?]

“……”

Having been blindsided by the Prophet was quite unexpected, and as I stood there dazed, the Sect Leader said bitterly.

[It’s done, Baek Woong. What is past is past.]

The Sect Leader gazed up at the sky.

[Now, we have no choice but to go to war…]