NOVEL NEXT Chapter 671
Chapter 671: Dark Heaven Village
I realized that Empress Wu Zetian was more amicable than I had anticipated. Despite the fact that Cheon Gong-pyo had invaded her palace using the Time Stop Technique, she subtly made a proposal without losing her royal dignity. The words themselves could be a deception or a trap, yet it was certain that she was a fitting figure to be a ruler.
Cheon Gong-pyo spoke.
[Empress Wu, where is the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram?]
Wasn’t that a bit too straightforward?!
I felt as though the chance to extract information had evaporated in an instant. It seemed like there was nothing left but combat. Then Empress Wu Zetian responded.
[So you came here with that goal in mind.]
[Answer me.]
[You wish to know what I intend to do with the Earth Star.]
Cheon Gong-pyo’s words provoked a response from Wu Zetian.
[I’m simply trying to take the pearl from the Pig’s Neck. After all, you don’t even know how to properly use the Eight Trigrams, right?]
[……]
[Only I can truly harness its power.]
Her arrogant tone made me realize that things were going south. Cheon Gong-pyo’s words were consistently aggressive and haughty, leaving little room for negotiation from the start. In fact, it was clear that he had no intention of collaborating or negotiating with anyone.
However, to my surprise, Empress Wu Zetian readily admitted to this.
[The pearl from the Pig’s Neck, that might be true.]
[I’ll ask again. Where is the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram?]
[It isn’t here at the moment.]
[What?]
Empress Wu Zetian slowly shifted her body and crossed her arms.
[Not long ago, a sorcerer offered a sacrifice to the divine and summoned the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram from the mortal realm. It was borrowed, so the Diagram does not exist in this palace right now.]
[……!!]
What does that mean?!
[What the…]
Even the great Cheon Gong-pyo looked somewhat flustered as a sign of agitation crossed his face. But I, who was listening, had figured it out.
‘Vermilion Bird Zhuge Yulong!’
No doubt about it!
The actual leader of the Imperial Palace’s Demon Subduing Hall was Zhuge Yulong, and he possessed the ability to borrow the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram. During the 17th death, when the divine descended upon the Imperial Palace, I had been chased all the way to the Heavenly Altar. At that time, I had witnessed with my own eyes Zhuge Yulong using the power of the Earth Star to seal the powers and all techniques of the Moon Sovereign.
I even remembered what that guy had said.
[As you can see, this is the power of the Trigrams. It’s the innate Eight Trigrams’ strength that comes from borrowing the power of the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram.]
[Don’t look at me like that. I wish I were the master of the Seven Luminaries, but this is just the power I borrowed from the Demon Subduing Hall. Should I say it’s a borrowed power for serving the divine?]
[The Trigrams are the source of heaven and earth. Also, the best magical system created by the Three Sovereigns, Fuxi. With the Earth Star Eight Trigrams, you can deploy the Eight Trigrams Formation and seal all sorcery.]
That was it.
Though he wasn’t the true master of the Earth Star, being a member of the Demon Subduing Hall and a priest allowed him to borrow that power to attack us. The abilities of the Earth Star Eight Trigrams were innate Trigrams, capable of sealing all sorcery and even the powers of the freed Moon Sovereign.
Perhaps Zhuge Yulong had offered divine sacrifices to borrow the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram as a trump card after his son, Zhuge Bu, was kidnapped and the situation on the ground became unstable.
‘If the Priest of the Imperial Palace Zhuge Yulong borrows it, then the Earth Star residing in Dark Heaven Village is fully transferred to the mortal realm.’
This was a new realization, but I also understood that things were getting bothersome.
‘Damn it! Does this mean that Zhuge Yulong came all the way to Dark Heaven Village to snatch the Earth Star Eight Trigrams Diagram before summoning it, or should I be focusing on robbing it after he summoned it?!’
What was even more annoying was whether taking the Eight Trigrams Diagram borrowed in the mortal realm would count as a win in acquiring the Seven Luminaries. After all, even if I took it, it was merely a borrowed item, and there was a high chance it would be recalled to Empress Wu’s palace.
While I was thinking about this, I felt an unusual sound echoing.
Wiiing —
Cheon Gong-pyo, looking flustered, seemed like he no longer wanted to continue speaking and was transforming his sabre sword. Once the four sharp blades commenced their assault, this palace would surely turn into a mess. I hurriedly shouted to Cheon Gong-pyo to stop him.
[Wait, wait!! Don’t rush into this.]
[Why? Now that I know the Earth Star is gone, there’s no reason to linger here. I’ll take care of this quickly and head to the mortal realm.]
[Just wait!! Enough with the reckless charges, hand the body back to me.]
[What?]
[I’m confident I can gather information from Empress Wu that you won’t be able to obtain. So give it to me.]
With my bravado, Cheon Gong-pyo suddenly fell silent.
She then spoke in a growling manner.
[I don’t know what you’re so cocky about. Are you really that confident?]
I was momentarily startled by her killing intent, but I managed to regain my confidence.
[Of course! What? Should I be lacking in capability?!]
[… I’ll be watching.]
Wooong
Cheon Gong-pyo’s soul returned to the Ruyi Staff, and I regained control of the body. The Time Stop Technique also dissipated, making the otherworldly beings around me begin to move again. Taking a step forward, I looked at Empress Wu Zetian, who gazed back at me with a strange glint in her eyes.
[Are you the true master of that body?]
Truly, gods are gods. It seemed she instantly grasped the situation of the body’s control being transferred.
I bowed deeply to Empress Wu Zetian.
“Your Majesty, I am Baek Woong. It is an honor to meet the master of the kingdom.”
And then Empress Wu Zetian chuckled lightly.
[Hehe… Considering the potential you possess, there is no reason for you to bow to me, yet you’re quite polite. I appreciate the greeting.]
“Since Your Majesty kindly allowed me to rest, how could I not be grateful?”
[There must be a reason for you to change your body with Cheon Gong-pyo. If you have something to say, you may speak.]
I nodded and addressed Empress Wu Zetian.
“Are the people in this place subjects of the Great Tang Empire whom Your Majesty gathered after becoming a deity?”
[You seem to know my situation quite well… How do you know this?]
I subtly drew the Fire Dragon Sword and held it forward. In response, the spirit of Fire Dragon Incarnate appeared from the sword, radiating a mighty flame.
Fwhoosh
Seeing this, Empress Wu Zetian expressed surprise.
[Could it be that sword belongs to the Sword Master Yeodong-bin?!]
Fire Dragon Incarnate, with arms crossed, responded.
[This maiden is Fire Dragon Incarnate. Yeodong-bin is my disciple.]
[Hmm…]
[It has been a thousand years, hasn’t it, Empress?]
They were acquaintances. Although I had never personally met this spirit before, the Fire Dragon Sword was always held by Yeodong-bin. Empress Wu Zetian, having been struck by the Fire Dragon Sword, wore a slightly uncomfortable expression, and her displeasure caused the palace to tremble slightly.
Kuwung…
I realized that Empress Wu Zetian’s magical power was no joke. Regardless of her divine status, the entity bound by contract was quite elevated, meaning she possessed power beyond the Overlay Technique.
‘Even Cheon Gong-pyo would have exhausted considerable strength or suffered injuries if he fought against her… let alone since this is her home ground.’
Avoiding conflict had been a wise choice.
Before her mood could worsen, I quickly interjected.
“I am the associate of Sword Master Yeodong-bin and Fire Dragon Incarnate. I am on a journey to gather the Seven Luminaries.”
[You’re an associate of Yeodong-bin…?]
As she looked at me with curious eyes, I continued speaking.
“Because I’m an associate, I was able to see Yeodong-bin’s memories. I learned about why Your Majesty partnered with the Eight Parts of the Divine Yacha, the background of the Otherworldly commotion, and the reason behind the Offering Ceremony. I witnessed the last conversation between Your Majesty and Yeodong-bin.”
[… I see.]
“I also know that Sang Gwanwna was actually a Yacha who deliberately approached Your Majesty and instigated chaos in the Great Tang Empire.”
[……]
Empress Wu Zetian remained silent for a long time. Then, she commanded the otherworldly beings near her.
[You all may step back.]
Her aides all left the hall at her command. As the grand hall fell into silence, Empress Wu Zetian finally spoke.
[Indeed, the people in this place were subjects of the Great Tang Empire whom I gathered based on the terms of the contract made when I performed the Offering Ceremony.]
“So that was true.”
“What I’m curious about is the extent of that range. How many human souls are reincarnated here?”
In response to my question, Empress Wu Zetian answered,
[Those who lived within thirty years before and after I held the ceremony.]
“Wha…?”
[All of them died and were revived here.]
“Could it be that thirty years refers to the entire Zhonghua region?”
[That is correct.]
“……”
If thirty years before and after Empress Wu Zetian’s life, how many souls must have reincarnated in this palace?!
It was an astounding number. An estimated hundreds of thousands, if not over a million. My jaw dropped in disbelief before I regained my composure.
“… I know this palace is immensely vast and several hundred floors high, but it cannot possibly accommodate that many souls.”
[That is true. Not even half could be accepted.]
Empress Wu Zetian turned her head slightly and continued.
[Therefore, the remaining souls among them are currently languishing in Purgatory.]
“What is Purgatory?”
[It is a dimension established on the boundary between the human realm and Dark Heaven Village… A place where even the Underworld cannot interfere.]
Such a place existed.
While I pondered this, Empress Wu Zetian spoke again.
[It seems you have many stories you wish to hear from me, but is it related to your goal of collecting the Seven Luminaries?]
“Indeed.”
[Why do you wish to gather the Seven Luminaries?]
“To save the world from its demise.”
[I would like to hear more about this.]
I explained to her the process of collecting the Seven Luminaries and my plan to acquire the Emperor’s Divine Palace. Empress Wu Zetian listened silently before responding.
[Quite remarkable. What other human could have approached the end of the world and devised an alternative like you have… You truly are a person of intent.]
She then said,
[However, I fear it may be in vain…]
“… Why is that?”
[I am not very knowledgeable about the Emperor’s Divine Palace or the Seven Luminaries… But your account has a significant element missing.]
A significant element?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Empress Wu Zetian leaned back slightly and continued.
[Even if Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen is summoned to save the world… he would need to expend considerable power himself. However, how would you explain to him the reason to save the world? Wouldn’t that be contradictory to the intentions of all the Three Sovereigns and the agreement with the [Old Ruler]?]
“……!!”
[He is of a special caliber among the Three Sovereigns… He is considered a true god among gods… A being that cannot be approached with mere human wisdom. At the very least, it is unimaginable what the cost would be for you to petition the Emperor to fulfill that desire…]
That made sense. Empress Wu Zetian was approaching this from a political perspective.
Even if the Emperor could save the world, how great a sacrifice and offerings would be needed to ask him for such a thing? As the gaps in my previously vague plan emerged, it left a biting feeling in my heart. I gritted my teeth and replied.
“I think offering all the Seven Luminaries would suffice.”
[… Is that so?]
“I have one more thing I would like to ask of Your Majesty, if that’s alright?”
[Speak.]
“About Changhil and the Eight Parts of the Divine, what is the relationship you have with them?”
[That’s a difficult question…]
Empress Wu Zetian let out a contemplative sound before speaking.
[The Eight Parts of the Divine… they assisted me in becoming a deity, and also… this palace is protected by two [Old Rulers]. They are inextricably linked. The two rulers established a mutual agreement.]
[What?]
It seemed she was smiling slightly.
[Originally, I intended to buy time with conversation, but since you are a hero of humankind, I should give you the opportunity…]
Two?
I had a feeling of disbelief, but Empress Wu Zetian’s ensuing words woke me up to reality.
[The Eight Parts of the Divine dispatched by Changhil will soon arrive in this palace to escort me. You would do well to flee this place before the summoning is complete.]