NOVEL NEXT Chapter 596
Chapter 1 – Dark Heaven Village
“That’s wilder than I expected.”
After hearing Zhuge Sa’s scheme, I rushed back to Gong Gong. He was still sitting on the Fire Dragon Seal, waiting, and when I scanned the area, I noticed a bunch of corpses of tentacle monsters scattered around. Gong Gong spoke with a glint of fire in his eyes.
[You’re fast.]
“Yes, but…”
I glanced at the monstrous bodies around us.
“What are these creatures?”
[They are the offspring of the Evil Spirit.]
“Oh!”
[They attack at all hours trying to nab Fire Dragon Spirit. They seem to be sent from the sleeping territory of the Evil Spirit.]
“Hmm… But you take them down easily. They are normally a very powerful race.”
I admired him in silence. Considering the power the Evil Spirit’s offspring showed when they donned the Nine Lotus Bishop title, these monsters could be classified as top-tier among the otherworldly races. Yet, Gong Gong appeared hardly scratched from the fights, capturing them with apparent ease. He retorted,
[They are half-breeds, so it wouldn’t be strange if I couldn’t catch them.]
“Half-breeds?”
[The Evil Spirit is sending half-demons through humans to hunt for the Seven Luminaries. True descendants of the Evil Spirit are of a higher class, and thus are rarely dispatched.]
“By ‘through humans’…”
[It’s one of the Evil Spirit’s vile tastes and a method that almost doesn’t consume the Law of Cause and Effect. They likely intend to gnaw at my strength like this.]
“……”
Listening to Gong Gong, I could guess what kind of living hell was unfolding. The Evil Spirit was sending out its subordinates across the world to search for the Seven Luminaries, but they didn’t dispatch their direct descendants, likely because even the Evil Spirit must ration its use of the Law of Cause and Effect. Instead, it seemed he was forcing abducted humans to bear the otherworldly race while scarcely using his own influence. As expected, having a human bear the offspring of the Evil Spirit was akin to pure living hell, and that madness was likely occurring indiscriminately everywhere right now.
‘What the heck… crafty.’
But more than anger, I felt quite baffled. The actions, though seemingly cruel, displayed the Evil Spirit’s prudence in plotting with extreme cold-bloodedness and cunning without being complacent about its immense strength. If such a methodical approach continued, toppling even the Celestial Realm would eventually be a breeze, leaving even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors at its mercy.
[Enough chitchat. Do you have what I want?]
When Gong Gong asked me, I nodded and held up the Fire Dragon Sword.
“I believe this is the only method.”
[What do you mean?]
“I intend to absorb the chaos flames into the Fire Dragon Sword.”
[……]
Gong Gong stood there momentarily in disbelief, then crossed his arms.
[What nonsense are you spouting… how could that sword possibly absorb the flames of the Flame Spirit?]
“The Great Immortal of the Celestial Realm resides within the Fire Dragon Sword.”
[What does that change?]
“She is the avatar of the responding dragon, Ying Long.”
[……!! Ying Long?!]
“Yes.”
Sensing Gong Gong’s surprise, I continued.
“She is a being far superior to the ordinary Great Immortal. Plus, being the avatar of a dragon, she is quite accustomed to subduing flames. Even if they are the flames of the Flame Spirit.”
[Hmm… Ying Long…]
Gong Gong muttered in contemplation.
[He was an incredible being. Even the Emperor trusted Ying Long, so… the avatar must be…]
After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
[I need proof that this sword is indeed the Fire Dragon Sword. Present me with evidence.]
I had anticipated this. Recalling Zhuge Sa’s scheme, I responded,
[What… did you say?!]
“I’ve proposed the most certain method I could think of. Given that I’m holding onto something definitive, I have no obligation to yield to your unreasonable demands. There’s simply no reason for me to free you from your current binding.”
[You…/]
I glared straight back at Gong Gong.
“The disadvantage lies on my side. I ask that you tone down your arrogance a bit. Only then can we engage in a proper deal.”
Seeing that Gonz Gong grew angry, he slowly began to reach for the giant sword. But he paused briefly, contemplating something, then steadied himself, saying,
[You seem to want something more.]
“That’s correct. Right now, this is overly advantageous for you.”
[What do you want?]
“In exchange for releasing your binding, I wish for you to join forces with us to find the Seven Luminaries. Moreover, I kindly ask that you sincerely assist us in future battles against our enemies. Naturally, betrayal must never be on the table.”
[You mean for me, a divine being, to aid you pathetic humans in battle?]
“Your indifference toward the life and death of humanity may not matter to you, but it’s a significant issue for us.”
[……]
“Even if you happen to find the Seven Luminaries, there’s nothing you can do about them right now, is there? Your goal is to grow powerful enough to exact revenge on the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, isn’t it? If you join hands with us, we’d be willing to share any intel we gather up to that point.”
Gong Gong seemed to be deep in thought. After a moment, he finally said,
[Alright, let’s do it.]
“A deal is struck.”
[If you deceive me, I will hunt you and your companions down to the ends of the world and tear you apart.]
Gong Gong threatened, exuding a murderous aura that could chill the skin, but I paid him no mind as I readied the Fire Dragon Sword.
“Bring it on.”
[……]
Having spoken boldly to the Three Sovereigns and [Old Ruler] and showing no fear, there was no reason to quail now from Gong Gong’s trivial threats. With a nonchalant shrug, I brushed aside his intimidation and focused my mind.
‘No unnecessary movements; just aim for the target.’
Activating the Palace Examination Technique
National Seal, show me the weakest part of Gong Gong’s seal!
Whiiiiiing
As I summoned the power of the National Seal’s Palace Examination Technique, I could clearly see how the flames of the Flame Spirit pierced through Gong Gong’s body like a dark thorny bush. Normally, such curses would be invisible to the naked eye, but the Palace Examination could visualize even conceptual curses. I found the thickest part of the thorns among the chaotic barriers and plunged straight in.
Thunder God Sword Dance
One Slash!
Swchack!
After delivering a powerful slash at the curse, I felt that the thorns’ pressing power on Gong Gong had weakened. He seemed to feel the direct effect, displaying a lighter expression and exclaiming in surprise,
[Ooooh…!!]
Not yet. To dispel the curse of flames, I ultimately needed to absorb that power!
With the thorns weakened, I stabbed the giant stem with the Fire Dragon Sword.
Gooooooo
The curse that had appeared as thorns suddenly transformed into a massive flame that surged, threatening to engulf my entire body in an instant.
“Gahhh!”
Is this the defensive system set by the Flame Spirit? However, while wielding the Fire Dragon Sword, I possessed resistance against all flames in this world, so even the chaos flames only stung my skin without causing actual harm. Gathering my strength into the Fire Dragon Sword, I shouted,
“Awaken now, Great Immortal of the Flames!”
The moment the blade of the Fire Dragon Sword began to glow white, it started to voraciously draw in the chaotic flames enveloping my body. In exchange, it felt as though my body was igniting, yet I realized that I wasn’t truly burning; the divine flames of the Fire Dragon Sword were purifying me from chaos.
Kugugugug!
A massive force exploded from within the Fire Dragon Sword, and I sensed that something was awakening! The previously dormant Great Immortal of the Flames was regaining consciousness as she consumed the intense flames!
A moment later, the Great Immortal of the Flames manifested as an apparition, proclaiming,
[I will vanquish this vile curse!]
As she clasped her hands together to concentrate her power, I felt the flow of energy being drawn into the Fire Dragon Sword intensely. The power of the Great Immortal of the Flames began to surge dramatically, yet after a moment, she muttered, sounding strained,
[Is this the extent of the amount…?]
[Not at all. Just give me a moment!]
Kugugugugu
Hooowoooo
[I have subdued it!]
After about a meal’s time had passed, the Great Immortal of the Flames had completely absorbed all the flames of the Flame Spirit and seemed to have been resurrected through the Fire Dragon Sword. At the same time, Gong Gong began to change as well.
[Kuhahahaha… at long last, this damned curse has been lifted…!!]
Crackle!
Gong Gong’s form began to grow exponentially. Until now, he had been merely the size of a regular human, but suddenly, he reverted to his original size and now appeared closer to a chilling yin spirit, exuding a cold aura. The aura of a yin spirit coiled with flames revealed that Gong Gong could handle all attributes of yin and yang!
The Fire Spirit seemed to be sucked into Gong Gong’s grasp. Suddenly, the size that had been fit for human hands grew massively, transforming into a weapon for the giant race. It appeared that the Seven Luminaries held the ability to alter size at will.
Holding the Fire Spirit high, Gong Gong bellowed,
[I’ve regained my true form! Kahaha!]
Snap!
With a single roar from Gong Gong, I felt my body crash down into the ground. It was clear: the moment he was unbound, he had become at least ten times stronger than before. Looking up at Gong Gong, I exclaimed,
“Gong Gong! Now about our promise…”
[Promise… of course, I shall keep it! But first, I have something to attend to; pardon my rudeness.]
“What do you mean?!”
[I must meet someone important.]
Bang!
Gong Gong leaped into the air, causing an explosive burst in the heavens.
[My King! Wait for me!]
Thud…
“……”
I stood there, dumbfounded as Gong Gong vanished from the venue. Then I thought,
‘Was this all according to Zhuge Sa’s plan?’
Certainly, absorbing the flames of the Flame Spirit using the Fire Dragon Sword while simultaneously restoring the Great Immortal of the Flames was a strategy that reaped double benefits. However, my doubts about Zhuge Sa’s scheme stemmed from the fact that there was no guarantee it would work—and I had a high chance of simply getting burned alive by the flames of the Flame Spirit. There was also the possibility of suffering endless torment if the Great Immortal of the Flames did not awaken. Moreover, as I saw moments ago, Gong Gong had even begun to suspect me.
I couldn’t shake off the unsettling feelings stirred by Zhuge Sa’s added words.
[If it doesn’t work, just pretend to release the seal and kill him. You would gain by absorbing Gong Gong’s soul into the Fire Dragon Sword anyway.]
[That would be betrayal.]
[What’s it to me?]
[……]
Regardless, I succeeded in the end. With a relieved sigh for surviving the gamble, I muttered,
‘If Jin So-cheong hadn’t infused me with determination, I’d never have attempted this…’
Having witnessed Jin So-cheong’s sacrifice and resolve, I could no longer live with a half-hearted attitude in this life. I had to secure something and grow as much as possible to yield the best results, and to that end, I had to clutch every gamble and adventure tightly.
At that moment, the Great Immortal of the Flames appeared as an apparition from the Fire Dragon Sword, speaking,
[You’ve awakened me. Who are you?]
“I am Baek Woong. And…”
I briefly explained the circumstances to her. The Great Immortal of the Flames seemed puzzled as she said,
[Divine Sword Technique? Yeodong-bin is the Great Immortal; can she truly transform into a divine sword?]
I was quite shocked by those words.
“What? You don’t know?”
[Correct. I was Yeodong-bin’s master and taught her various techniques, including the Heavenly Escape Sword Technique, but I never taught her that sort of art.]
“……!!”
What on earth is happening? As I panicked, the Great Immortal of the Flames continued,
[For now, try to summon this so-called divine sword.]
“Yes.”
Swoosh!
I concentrated my mind and summoned the divine sword into my left hand. As the Great Immortal of the Flames reached out to touch the sword’s blade, her expression turned to one of great shock.
[This cannot be…]
Looking up at the sky, she murmured,
[This is the art of the Battle God, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens!]