NOVEL NEXT Chapter 675
Dark Heaven Village
“Oh no!”
I instinctively tried to activate the National Seal’s clairvoyance, only to realize it had been destroyed. Reluctantly, I attempted to use the Fire Eye Golden Spirit to see, but unfortunately, it couldn’t reach such a great distance. After all, a battle was raging hundreds of li away. Becoming increasingly anxious as I couldn’t observe the fight between Cheon Gong-pyo and the Eight Parts of the Divine, I murmured to myself, “What the hell… what should I do?”
If I could clearly see who was winning or losing, it would help me make a judgment. If things went wrong, I could always kill myself in advance and move on to my next life. But in a situation where it was uncertain whether Cheon Gong-pyo would win or lose, it was hard to decide my course of action.
After pondering for a while, I turned to the Fire Dragon Incarnate and said, “Fire Dragon Incarnate, please use the Sword Flying Technique to take me to where Cheon Gong-pyo is fighting.”
[That’s not possible.]
“Huh?”
[Even if you and I join forces, it’s a battle of too high a level. The odds are that we would only end up hindering Cheon Gong-pyo.]
“……”
It seemed like the Fire Dragon Incarnate harbored some dislike for Cheon Gong-pyo, but still, he was objectively comparing the powers. If he said it was useless to go, then it probably was. As I continued to think, the Fire Dragon Incarnate offered some advice.
[You didn’t ask while Cheon Gong-pyo was present, but there is another way for you to escape Dark Heaven Village.]
“Really?!”
I shouted in surprise at the unexpected words, and the spirit of the Fire Dragon Incarnate nodded.
[While that guy is fighting, you could offer the Seven Luminaries to the Ruler and simply leave Dark Heaven Village, but that would be a terrible waste of the Seven Luminaries. My method may or may not work, but it’s worth the attempt.]
“What’s the method?”
[Think carefully about the fragment of the Great Immortal that exists within you.]
After a moment of thought, I replied, “There’s a connection with Yeodong-bin and the Immortal.”
[There’s one more.]
“Are you talking about the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s Divine Sword Technique?”
[Exactly.]
Whoosh!
The Fire Dragon Incarnate conjured a dragon-shaped seal in his hand. As the seal glowed a crimson color and flickered, he continued.
[This is the power restored to me as the Dragon King… the Seal of Shenglong.]
“A new ability?”
[It’s a power I’ve had since birth. I only lost it after spending so long in the Celestial Realm.]
The Fire Dragon Incarnate explained lightly.
[This ability manipulates the Law of Cause and Effect. It can restore or strengthen the fragments of fate that exist within you and summon them without restrictions. If used offensively, I could mark the Great Immortal of the Celestial Realm with the seal of the Imperial Palace and eliminate them instantly.]
“Wait, really? That’s an incredible ability!”
[Perhaps Shenglong bestowed it upon me for the purpose of observing the Celestial Realm. However, it is limited to the Celestial Realm and cannot be used against divine beings like the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and once used, it cannot be employed again for ten years. That’s why I couldn’t use it against Cheon Gong-pyo.]
I couldn’t help but be genuinely surprised. The ability to restore fragments of fate itself! Moreover, being able to strengthen and remove restrictions was an extraordinary power based on my experiences in previous lives. Used wisely, it could potentially allow me to borrow the unlimited power of the Great Immortal.
Moreover, if I wished, the Fire Dragon Incarnate could instantaneously slay any Great Immortal of the Celestial Realm, truly showcasing the overwhelming power of the avatar of Shenglong.
‘Well, it’s probably because Cheon Gong-pyo isn’t affiliated with the Celestial Realm, so I can’t use it against him…’
The Fire Dragon Incarnate continued speaking.
[I believe that by using this ability to summon the Heavenly Mysterious Woman here and borrowing her power, you could escape from Dark Heaven Village.]
“You mean summon the Heavenly Mysterious Woman?!”
[She is one of the best sorcerers in the Celestial Realm, nearly on par with the Three Pure Ones. Even though Dark Heaven Village is part of the Demon Realm, there could still be a way.]
“Hmm…”
That made sense.
Summoning the Heavenly Mysterious Woman to Dark Heaven Village seemed nearly impossible due to the [Old Ruler] blocking the dimensional hole, but with the power of Shenglong, those restrictions could be overcome. And if summoned without restriction, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s sorcery might indeed work. The reason I accepted the Fire Dragon Incarnate’s words positively was that I had previously witnessed her divine status.
The Corpse Dissolution Technique!
The very Corpse Dissolution Technique utilized by the Heavenly Mysterious Woman was once powerful enough to shatter the defenses set by one of the Twelve Great Sages of Kunlun in a single strike, enabling her to withstand against hundreds of Great Immortals and their Overlay Techniques. She was clearly the best sorcerer in the Celestial Realm, excluding the highest-ranked Great Immortals like the Three Pure Ones and the Queen Mother of the West.
Offering to the [Old Ruler] was undoubtedly a better strategy than doing so to the past ruler. After some deep contemplation, I declared, “I understand. I’ll use that method…”
Boom!
At that moment, a massive explosion erupted from the eastern sky, instantly bathing the area before me in blinding white light. I realized in an instant that the scorching flames were spreading like liquid from hundreds of li away, with destructive waves crashing over this location moments later.
“AAAH!”
Utilizing my Peak Master senses, I swiftly fled from the area, feeling the chaotic remnants of destruction rushing over my back like a wave.
Boom!
As the sound waves broke through several barriers, I activated the Soul Removal Technique, yet the destructive light was closely following me. The aftershock of destruction was as swift as my Soul Removal Technique—a magnitude of explosion that was anything but ordinary. I only managed to escape the blast radius after a while, rolling across the ground.
Thud…
“What the heck!”
Could it be that a clash of such magnitude occurred that it could obliterate an area of several hundred li in a single blow? The Fire Dragon Incarnate crossed his arms and remarked, [It seems Cheon Gong-pyo clashed with the Eight Parts of the Divine using a Sabre Sword.]
As I turned back in astonishment, the sky was tinted with crimson flames, blending blue and red. Horrific screams and mournful cries suddenly erupted from all directions, and upon hearing those eerie screams, I understood.
GRRRR—
AaaAAAHHH—!!
The piercing screams of the Evil Spirits, laden with formidable magical power.
The [Old Rulers] of Dark Heaven Village were enraged!
Until now, it seemed like the Great Destruction I unleashed to traverse the mountain range was merely seen as a joke by them, but the current clash was a different story. After all, the destructive power of the Sabre Sword was enough to make the flames of Dalgi seem like nothing more than a child’s play, with the terrain already vastly wrecked to an extent that it was almost level.
Anticipating the calamity that was about to unfold, I trembled and muttered, “Damn it… things are getting harder.”
Cheon Gong-pyo and the Eight Parts of the Divine were about to get intertwined in a muddy brawl with the [Old Rulers].
Of course, if I got caught up in that, I would unavoidably meet a terrible demise.
[Baek Woong. There’s no time, Choose quickly.]
I gritted my teeth.
“Since it’s come to this, the option of offering the Seven Luminaries is out the window. There’s nothing I can do.”
With Cheon Gong-pyo attracting animosity from all around, there would be no opportunity to offer the Seven Luminaries to the angry [Old Rulers]. I’d be lucky if they didn’t beat me to death just for being a bug that dared to speak. After receiving the Seal of Shenglong from the Fire Dragon Incarnate, I awakened the divine sword within me.
“Come forth, Heavenly Mysterious Woman!!”
Whooooosh—!!
The divine sword resonated as it called forth a distant connection. The power of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman began to be transmitted to me, even crossing vast dimensional distances, and for a brief moment, a vision of a gigantic spider flashed before my eyes.
However, upon noticing the Seal of Shenglong floating above my hand, the spider spoke to me in a voice devoid of emotion.
[Pass.]
The vision of the spider soon faded, and I could feel the colossal barrier blocking Dark Heaven Village and reality was lifted. The connection with the Heavenly Mysterious Woman resumed, and I sensed her being summoned to this place.
Could the spider I just saw have been the [Old Ruler] blocking the entrance of Dark Heaven Village?
Boom!
Moments later, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman appeared before me. After her summoning, she glanced back and forth between me and the Fire Dragon Incarnate, then spoke to the Fire Dragon Incarnate.
[Fire Dragon Incarnate, how dare you use the Dragon King’s powers for a mere human?]
[Now isn’t the time for such conversation. You know this place is Dark Heaven Village, you must aid me and the Dharma Protector to return to reality.]
[… So you called me here to escape this place.]
The Heavenly Mysterious Woman sighed.
[It seems difficult. The [Old Rulers] here are preparing for battle, wrapping themselves in their unique barriers, and the magical energy is raging like a storm, making it hard for me to utilize any sorcery.]
[Is there no method?]
[Like you, my power has been declining since I fought Chi You. With my current strength, no matter how the Guardian of the Dimensional Barrier opens the way, I can’t deploy that level of sorcery.]
Even the Heavenly Mysterious Woman couldn’t manage it?
Instantly, I felt a wave of darkness engulf me.
‘Damn… Am I really going to have to commit suicide?’
It felt unsatisfactory to let go of all hope so easily and die like this. Moreover, I hadn’t even learned the secrets of the Absolute Teachings from Cheon Gong-pyo yet, so dying now would be too costly. I had already exhausted two rounds’ worth of Yin Spirit Power. As the prospect of suicide approached, my desire to survive grew stronger, and my thoughts began racing.
Suddenly, an alternative plan sprang to mind, and I shouted to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman.
“Heavenly Mysterious Woman! So if there’s enough power, you can utilize your sorcery?”
[… Who is this curious human? But yes, what are you trying to say?]
Upon hearing the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s response, I immediately took out the Water Element of the Seven Luminaries from my wooden armor and offered it to her.
“I shall offer you this Water Element! And with that power, please rescue Cheon Gong-pyo and repel the Eight Parts of the Divine!”
[……!!]
The Heavenly Mysterious Woman, as well as the Fire Dragon Incarnate beside her, looked shocked.
With a bewildered expression, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman spoke, [Are you serious? Are you truly willing to offer the Seven Luminaries to me?]
“Yes, I truly am. If I offer this Water Element, can your powers be restored to their prime?”
[… It’s possible, but to rescue Cheon Gong-pyo without returning to reality—wait, are you implying that Cheon Gong-pyo is here within Dark Heaven Village?]
Nervous at the original question, I nodded in response.
“Yes. You don’t have to use a return technique; just rescue Cheon Gong-pyo. The enemies are the six members of the Eight Parts of the Divine. Is that possible?”
[……]
Seeing the Heavenly Mysterious Woman hesitate, I felt the need to push her.
It seemed that the power gained from the offering was likely sufficient, but it was clear that it would be uneasy to rescue Cheon Gong-pyo, a past ruler who had been an enemy to the Celestial Realm. I reminded her of the knowledge and experiences I had gained from my previous lives.
“Heavenly Mysterious Woman. I know this fact.”
[What do you mean?]
“When Xiang Yu ascended to the Celestial Realm, all the seats of the Dark Deities were vacant, and it was the Queen Mother of the West who killed the Three Pure Ones.”
[……]
Silence.
The Heavenly Mysterious Woman froze at my words, and the Fire Dragon Incarnate, who had been listening beside me, wore an expression of amazement. Noticing their reactions, I confidently continued.
“Also, I know there’s a mysterious black mask who stripped the mask of Fuxi, the master of the Three Pure Ones.”
[How do you know this?]
“I liberated Cheon Gong-pyo from the Ruyi Staff and heard the dying wish of the Heavenly Ruler of Tai Xu.”
I recounted everything I knew about the suspicious goings-on in the Celestial Realm to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman. As she listened, her expression hardened further.
“Heavenly Mysterious Woman! The Heavenly Ruler of Tai Xu or the Primordial Celestial Venerable did not wish for Cheon Gong-pyo to die a meaningless death. Right now, while the Eight Parts of the Divine are pursuing him and forced to fight, we must both return to reality to rectify the inconsistencies of the Celestial Realm and confront the Queen Mother of the West. You know Cheon Gong-pyo has the potential to eliminate the Queen Mother of the West, right?”
[……]
“Please help me.”
[Understood.]
The expression of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman shifted. She reached out her hand towards me with a previously unseen combative look.
[Baek Woong, I shall accept your offering. And per your request, I will rescue Cheon Gong-pyo.]
“Thank you!”
Swish!
Moments later, as the Water Element I’d been holding in my hand was absorbed into the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, her spirit began to shine brightly. I could feel her consciousness rapidly taking control over my body.
With the Heavenly Mysterious Woman now infused in me, she held the Water Element and the Fire Dragon Sword in both hands, gazing at the edge of the sky before vanishing.
Boom!
Just as a colossal pressure descended upon me, I realized my viewpoint was floating somewhere in the void. This void was filled with crackling light streams, a clear indication that the energy had become excessively dense, warping dimensions itself.
No sooner had the Heavenly Mysterious Woman appeared than she pointed her hand toward the Eight Parts of the Divine and the Gang Leader of the Thief Gang.
Corpse Dissolution Technique!
Break!
The Gang Leader of the Thief Gang, whose body resembled that of a peculiar snake man, appeared to stiffen instantly as the Heavenly Mysterious Woman cast her Corpse Dissolution Technique. The Gang Leader, horrified, tried to muster his divine power to dispel the Corpse Dissolution Technique, but the Heavenly Mysterious Woman simply chuckled coldly.
Break!
[AHHHHHH!!!]
The Gang Leader screamed, but the next moment, his body burst apart due to her technique’s power. As the severely injured Gang Leader fell to the ground, Gin Nara rushed to support him. The Peak Master, Cheon In Sam-jang, facing the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, spoke.
[Heavenly Mysterious Woman! Are you so bold as to interfere with us?]
[Bold? Hehehe. Look who’s talking! You’re merely a lackey of Changhil!]
The Heavenly Mysterious Woman roared.
[You pathetic cowards who’ve been hiding under the Emperor’s protection while I fought to help him against Chi You!]
[Ugh.]
As her roar echoed, the Eight Parts of the Divine stepped back in unison, overwhelmed by her sheer presence. It was a display of power so formidable that even a simple aura could frighten the Eight Parts of the Divine.
The Heavenly Mysterious Woman then turned to Cheon Gong-pyo.
[Cheon Gong-pyo, you can use the Spirit Summoning Technique, can’t you?]
[… Why are you helping me?]
Cheon Gong-pyo appeared quite exhausted. Though only a brief time had passed, he seemed to have been pressured significantly in his confrontation with the Eight Parts of the Divine, showing injuries across his body. The Heavenly Mysterious Woman scrutinized Cheon Gong-pyo coldly.
[This is not the time to continue fighting to the bitter end. The other [Old Rulers] are rushing in; if we don’t settle this quickly, we’ll be overwhelmed.]
[Interesting. I’ve never thought of using the Corpse Dissolution Technique and Spirit Summoning Technique together.]
Murmuring to himself, Cheon Gong-pyo lifted his Sabre Sword with intention.
[Let’s do it.]
Whoooosh!
In that moment, grotesque black masses and monsters surged from below the ground. Most likely, some of them were [Old Rulers], and malevolent magic was flying about.
Then, in the next moment—Cheon Gong-pyo and the Heavenly Mysterious Woman activated their techniques simultaneously.
Void!
I realized my body was being hurled into a boundless void. As I struggled to remain aware, moving my eyes through the tumult of sensations, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, who was controlling my body, spoke.
[Stay alert!]
[What’s happening?]
[The Dimensional Barrier collapsed, and we’ve entered the Void. We need to maintain focus and find a way out.]
The Void?
Confused, I looked around only to see remnants of chaos and chunks of darkness floating all around.
[What is that?]
[Those are the Rulers who were just devoured by the sorcery.]
[Huh?]
Did I misunderstand something?
Dazed, I asked again, but the Heavenly Mysterious Woman calmly reiterated.
[The Spirit Summoning Technique and Corpse Dissolution Technique. Both represent the pinnacle of absolute techniques; when combined, even the [Old Rulers] would have no way to prepare.]
[……!!]
[Those beings below were low-tier Rulers and couldn’t withstand the onslaught. They will spend eons in this void before being revived thousands of years later.]
I could only stare agape, unable to process this unprecedented phenomenon.
They had torn the [Old Rulers] apart with sorcery!
‘N-no way…’
I recalled a past conversation with Cheon Woo-jin.
[Cheon Woo-jin, I have a question.]
[What is it?]
[Does sorcery reach the gods if taken to the extreme?]
[Hmm, that’s an interesting question. Yes, it does.]
[It really does?!]
[Sorcery is, after all, a form of divine power. Originating from the Eight Trigrams imparted by Fuxi, it’s one of the powers of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Thus, sorcerers can be considered, in a different form, divine priests.]
Cheon Woo-jin had clarified that to me back then.
[There are indeed known cases of capturing gods. Even Great Immortals use sorcery, and it’s said that the ancients gathered to seal powerful gods.]
[Really? Who was that?]
[It’s just folklore floating around the Celestial Realm, so I’m not sure. But when sorcery reaches its pinnacle, it can assuredly pierce through even the gods.]
At that time, I had merely thought there might be hope through sorcery.
But those words were not just mere rumors or legends. I was witnessing firsthand how the peak techniques of the ancient Corpse Dissolution Technique wielded by the Heavenly Mysterious Woman and the Spirit Summoning Technique of Cheon Gong-pyo could, when combined, capture even the [Old Rulers]!