NOVEL NEXT Chapter 566
Chapter 1 – Dark Heaven Village
“Well, isn’t this a sight for sore eyes?”
It wasn’t every day I came across a Prophet who looked exactly the same after thousands of years. But then again, ancient clans were like that! He lifted his strange eyes to assess me, then spoke.
[ A transaction, huh…?]
“Exactly! First of all…”
I organized my thoughts in my head and declared,
“Loan me the weapon from the Tower of Muwang!”
The Prophet paused briefly at my request, then responded in a tone that suggested he had pieced something together.
[ So, you’re a Reborn Person… How much do you know about our weapons?]
“Honestly? Not much. I’ve never really used one. But I do know they’re powerful enough to likely withstand the Old Ruler.”
[ And what’re you planning to do with it…?]
I began explaining to the Prophet about the [Divine Portrait] that I intended to complete in the Imperial Palace soon. He waved his tentacles slightly, showing genuine interest as I laid out the situation.
“To acquire that portrait, I lack the strength. I need the weapon from the Tower of Muwang to untangle the mess involving the White Lotus Sect, the Twelve Joules, and the Imperial Palace.”
[ I see… Do you understand what that Divine Portrait truly is…?]
“Uh?”
What else could a Divine Portrait be if not just a Divine Portrait? But sensing he was pondering another answer, I summoned my alchemical knowledge.
“Well… I’ve heard that the Divine Portrait is also the ultimate artificial life known as Homunculus. It’s said to be completed using the prototypes created by some Hermes in the West and combining it with the Eight Trigrams of the East to offer the ultimate sacrifice to God.”
[ Your alchemical knowledge is quite impressive…]
The Prophet muttered before continuing,
[ This is a matter that directly touches the offerings to God… I could temporarily grant you weapon authority if the price is right, but it would come with significant risks for us. What will you offer us?]
“I’ll give you this!!”
With swift motion, I presented a Demon Book to him. The Prophet flinched in surprise.
[ Hoho… This is… the Nameless Ritual Book.]
“If that’s the case, I believe it holds enough one-time rental value?”
[ Hmph… Wait a moment…]
“What?”
Suddenly, the Prophet levitated a brilliant blue circle above his head. The circle buzzed lightly and pulsed for a moment before he spoke again.
[ After a clan meeting… we’ve decided to grant you temporary use of our weaponry.]
“And what is that circle for?”
[ No matter how far apart we are, it allows us to communicate instantly… even if we’re a hundred million light-years apart.]
Light-years? Whatever, it sounded important, so my curiosity piqued, I inquired.
“Could you sell that circle to me? I’d pay a hefty price.”
[ This is not an object but a magical phenomenon… It’s a power activated through the horns of a monster traveling at the speed of light… It can only be used by our clan, and there’s no teaching it to others…]
“Cheh…”
I grumbled momentarily before asserting,
“The deal isn’t done yet.”
[ Speak then…]
With a swift motion, I held an Obsidian in my palm before the Prophet and proclaimed,
“I obtained the spell for memory transmission via Obsidian through our previous trade.”
[ Did you now…? And?]
“However, Obsidian has very low storage capacity and is inefficient. So, either help me master this spell completely, or teach me the alchemical formula for a more effective foreign metal!”
[ ……]
The Prophet rolled his eyes and replied,
[ It seems you’re quite good at making requests that are tough to fulfill… You appear to have been trading with me for quite some time now…]
“Quite a while, yes.”
[ If I teach you the formula, do you have the confidence to produce it from earthly metals…?]
I nodded and responded,
[ Hoh… Is that your thought…?]
“Y-yeah, something like that.”
To be precise, it was Zhuge Sa’s hypothesis. Zhuge Sa found references to various transmission metals, including the Silver Phoenix of Balhae, and concluded it could also be cast using the alchemy of this land. The Prophet waved his tentacles and said,
[ Yes… it is possible… But at the human level… you likely wouldn’t succeed easily… If you want it, I can teach it.]
“Wouldn’t succeed easily, you say?”
[ Your level of alchemy is too low… Even if I taught you the formula, you’d be stuck interpreting it for a hundred years…]
“Ugh, still, I’ll take it. Bringing back memory-transmission metals from the home world is not allowed, right? So teach me the formula!”
[ Fine… Present your payment…]
I laid out the carefully prepared items: the skin of a Moon Beast, the Qi from a Landlord, and the Black and White Lotus. The Prophet examined the items thoroughly before nodding.
[ This just barely meets the requirements… I understand. Take this.]
With a flick, he tossed a round crystal my way. I caught the crystal in mid-air, and at that moment, it shone with a silvery light, transmitting a memory into me.
Paah!
“……!!”
The transmission speed was incredibly fast! I could only think of it in those terms. Compared to the sluggishness of using Obsidian, it was like comparing a horse to a turtle! What should have been a complex memory that couldn’t fit due to insufficient storage was comprehended in an instant. As the formula settled in my mind, the Prophet spoke.
[ Do you have any more trades to propose…?]
“Just a moment. Is this crystal also some foreign material you’re giving me?”
[ Yes… A kind gift because you are a good guest this rare time… Of course, it’s one-time use, so make it count…]
Wait, why is he being generous?
I had no choice but to regard him with suspicion instead of gratitude. It’s just that this guy only gave what was necessary! But questioning wouldn’t change anything, so I pressed on.
“Um… I have a curiosity about the Law of the Non-Birth Mother.”
Zhuge Sa had specifically told me to ask this. Even if all previous suggestions were dismissed, I had to ask this one.
The Prophet visibly flinched at my question. After a moment, he continued.
[ A Reborn Person is curious about the Law… Seems quite a bit has happened.]
“What are you talking about?”
[ What exactly are you curious about…?]
I nodded and elaborated,
“The Master of the White Lotus Sect is doing everything he can to gather the Laws. It’s believed that once gathered, it will bring about True Martial… but I’ve heard that not even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors can completely collect them.”
The Prophet lightly agreed.
[ … It’s undoubtedly impossible. Not just the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors but anyone…]
“What exactly is the Law? What about it makes it impossible to gather, and what happens when it’s finally all collected?”
[ ……]
The Prophet fell silent before replying.
[ A colossal wheel of fate flows in these matters…]
He began what felt like a lament as he continued,
[ The Law of the Non-Birth Mother is, to be precise, the only possibility of negating countless predetermined endings into nothingness.]
“What!!”
I let out a scream.
Could this be true? Was the goal pursued by the Master of the White Lotus Sect to reach that actual solution? I was astonished, having previously suspected it was nothing but an illusion.
“Then… Does achieving True Martial genuinely mean the Old Ruler would vanish, creating a peaceful world…?”
[ No. It’s not such a convenient concept… That is a glaring misunderstanding. You humans are foolish creatures that only see what you wish to see…]
The Prophet firmly denied.
[ However… I can say one thing for certain.]
“What is it?”
[ Currently, all the Old Rulers are aware of the existence of the Law… And in some aspects, they are even more concerned about it than the liberation of the Seven Luminaries… So if there were any Old Ruler in possession of that Law, it would never be a matter of trading…]
“……!!”
So all the Old Rulers know about the Law? And what does it mean that it couldn’t be traded?
I felt a moment of confusion but soon grasped the meaning behind the Prophet’s words.
‘The Seven Luminaries could be obtained by trading with the Old Rulers, but the Law simply isn’t possible for that!’
That meant it would truly be an extreme challenge. I was flabbergasted.
“Wait, so if the Law is held by an Old Ruler, to obtain it I’d…”
[ You must face the Old Ruler directly to defeat them. And not just some manifestation, but the true body in the realm of residence, making it an incredibly demanding battle.]
“……”
Of course, I had dreams of one day defeating an Old Ruler face-to-face. But hearing that obtaining the Law posed a challenge on par with my ultimate ideals was infuriating. What on earth was this Law that I’d have to square off against a god to obtain?
I asked calmly, “So then…”
At that moment, the Prophet’s tentacles swayed,
[ That’s all the preview you get…]
“Huh?”
[ If you want more information, you must pay the price…]
Gah! Playing with my curiosity just to demand payment!
I was fidgeting nervously as I rummaged through my possessions. A multitude of treasures appeared, but my mind was swirling in confusion.
‘If I have these treasures, I’d be at an advantage in the impending battle at Mount Ye.’
If I offered up treasures now, I’d gain a substantial clue right away – but then I’d be at a disadvantage in the battle at Mount Ye. Every remaining treasure was of practical use and precious, meaning they needed to equip my companions.
Especially the Muramasa, the White Feather Fan, Twin Broadswords, and the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate were not items I could easily part with. Just the thought of Mengnyang with the Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate, the Sword Demon using Muramasa, and Cheon Woo-jin with the White Feather Fan struck dread in my heart. A skilled user becomes immensely stronger with exceptional gear. Not to mention the Nameless Ritual Book, which greatly amplifies Zhuge Sa’s power; there’s no way I could let that go.
As I hesitated deeply, the Prophet thrummed his tentacles more vigorously.
[ Go for it…]
“What?”
Flick, flick!
[ Go for it… Where else can you hear this level of high-quality information…](
“……!!”
[ If I were you… I’d go for it…]
“B-Bullcrap!!”
I was caught in a significant dilemma. Is this bastard actually trying to egg me on?
I considered slipping away to brainstorm, but something told me he had the whole stage set up for a one-time opportunity. The Prophet was clearly focused on squeezing me for all I was worth, no regard for the world’s end!
‘That guy isn’t interested in whether the world perishes, just in squeezing everything he can out of me!’
There was no choice left. I pulled out the Suspicious Fishhook from my pocket to contact Zhuge Sa. After quickly conveying the trading situation, Zhuge Sa responded as though it were the most obvious thing.
[ There’s no need to hesitate. Just give everything away.]
[ What?]
[ Information about the Law is something you’ll have to obtain eventually, whether now or later. Your current strength alone is enough to survive against the Three Great Powers even without treasures, so don’t be greedy; just hand it all over.]
[ Urrgh… Fine.]
I felt a deep sense of regret but had no choice but to present the Muramasa and White Feather Fan to the Prophet.
“Here.”
[ This is insufficient…]
“Damn it. Here, take the Twin Broadswords too…”
[ Still insufficient…]
“… The Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate.”
[ A little… still lacking…]
Enraged, I shouted.
“Are you being overly greedy?! The Three Sovereigns’ Inner Gate and the White Feather Fan are treasures!”
[ The value of the information concerning the Law holds worth equal to that…]
“What the heck! I’m a regular customer, can’t you give me a discount?”
[ While you might consider yourself a regular, this is my first time seeing you today… Don’t act high and mighty.]
The Prophet retorted, squirming his tentacles as he continued.
[ Hmph… But still, I might let you off a little… Fine, let’s settle it here.]
“……”
Even if he seemed to be more lenient, I was essentially stripped of treasures I could practically use. At this point, I had barely the Life Sea left to my name. Feeling wretched, I trembled as the Prophet began to divulge the information about the Law.
[ The Law… is a miraculous result born from astronomical coincidences.]
“A miraculous result?”
[ I don’t know the entire story, but it is said that the Law was originally one single Demon Book… And it was shattered into six pieces, scattered across the heavens and earth… That was the grand incident that occurred a thousand years ago.]
I listened to his words, folding my arms and retorting,
“So, if all the pieces come together, it becomes a Demon Book? What’s the name of that book?”
[ I don’t know… Perhaps even the gods wouldn’t know. The only one who knows it is Dalma, the being who received the Law…]
Dalma.
The founder of the White Lotus Sect, and a Demon Sorcerer driven mad.
As I repeated his name in my mind, the Prophet spoke,
[ It was the Old Rulers who shattered the Law… It was a fear of the calamity that would befall the world if that Law appeared in its complete form for even a moment…]
“The what?”
The Prophet grinned slyly.
[ Yes… a thousand years ago… the Master of the White Lotus Sect, Dalma, was killed by the will of all the Old Rulers. I watched it unfold, and it was quite the spectacle.]