NOVEL NEXT Chapter 772
772 ———————————————-
Dark Heaven Village
I felt desolate about what to do in this situation. If the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens truly was the Guardian of the Sun and the King of Spirits, it would be impossible for us to win with the powers we currently possessed, no matter what we tried.
Perhaps it would be easier to just commit suicide.
… I wouldn’t even know how brutally I might die. I was tormented by the impulse to sever all my veins and die comfortably right now, since I had learned how to minimize the pain when cutting off my veins.
It wouldn’t be that painful. Nonetheless, I gritted my teeth.
‘I won’t commit suicide! I will endure just a moment longer.’
I refuse to die here without having done anything. I will take at least one more thing before I die! Otherwise, the deaths of my comrades who sacrificed themselves to get this far would be in vain.
Of course, dying without overcoming the Sun would also be regrettable, but at least I couldn’t be the first to give up. Even if my whole body were to be torn apart by thornbushes, I had to endure just a little longer and accumulate what I needed for my next life.
Just then.
Suuuuuu
The blue sky disappeared, giving way to a yellow sky in a remarkable scene. This was not merely due to the orange hue of the sun; the sky itself radiated an unfamiliar energy as it changed to yellow. At the same time, the constellations in the sky began to tremble, starting to create some kind of picture.
‘Dragon….’
That’s right.
That is a dragon.
From both ends of the horizon where Nahoo and the guide had vanished, the immense shape of a dragon was appearing, covering the entire sky. As the outline gradually became clearer, the dragon’s horns and claws began to stand out prominently, and the scales were engraved distinctly.
I instinctively felt that if the dragon’s picture was completed, it would spell disaster, so I clenched my teeth. It was no longer the time to hold back my methods. I immediately took Zhuge Bu out from the wooden armor and commanded him.
“Zhuge Bu. Use the Immortal Summoning Technique and share your life force with me.”
“…….”
However, Zhuge Bu hesitated and didn’t move. Thick beads of sweat poured down his forehead, revealing that he couldn’t move. I quickly understood what the problem was.
‘Damn it! Zhuge Sa may have transferred the command of the Soul Exchange Technique to me before he died, but it’s incomplete…. Furthermore, even as a puppet, he is still feeling the pressure from the Sun.’
The pressure from the Sun’s powers was still intact, and a mere human would die merely from that pressure. If it continued, Zhuge Bu wouldn’t be able to use his last resort, and we would perish together right here.
Desperately racking my brain for a solution, a good idea popped into my head.
‘Yes!’
I quickly took out the last Eight Trigrams Garment I had left from the wooden armor and put it on Zhuge Bu. Then I commanded him.
“Put on the Eight Trigrams Garment! The incantation is as follows….”
After donning the Eight Trigrams Garment, I also handed him the treasures, Flower Fire Grass and the Blue Cloud Sword. Earlier, I had offered most of the treasures as tributes during the trial of Tydaht but had kept these three because they appeared useful.
In reality, since I had confiscated more than a dozen treasures from Peng Zuo, I had the option to leave some behind. After hearing the mounting orders and usage methods for the three treasures, Zhuge Bu muttered absentmindedly before finally completing the attachment.
Chwaak!
The moment Zhuge Bu equipped the three treasures, I could feel an overwhelming surge of power. It seemed that he had learned how to utilize the power contained in the Eight Trigrams Garment and the Blue Cloud Sword properly.
Despite that, the usage of ancient treasures was quite intricate, and even I had trouble using them; yet now, Zhuge Bu had managed it in an instant—his talent in magical arts was indeed impressive. With the help of the Eight Trigrams Garment, Zhuge Bu began to slowly overcome the pressure and opened his mouth.
“Beginning life force sharing.”
Wuwu!!
The moment the energy from both Zhuge Bu and I amplified tremendously, I seized the opportunity and executed the Great Destruction’s sorcery technique. Reincarnation’s Ruin burst forth, and I felt my abilities at their strongest since the trial of the Seven Luminaries began.
I looked up at the sky and shouted.
“Zhuge Bu. This is our final battle.”
“…….”
“Let’s go!”
I attempted to charge towards the sky.
Since it was the final battle, I had to give it my all!
But—something felt off.
“……?”
My body wouldn’t move. I had already transcended the reflexes and physical limits of a human and could move with intent even before thinking about it.
And yet, my movement to leap towards the sky was completely blocked. Not only that, but I couldn’t even take a single step on my own accord.
I slowly turned around. The moment I met Zhuge Bu’s gaze, I was taken aback.
Clear.
And resolute emotions were firmly rooted in those eyes.
Such eyes could never belong to someone who had been brainwashed.
‘No way….’
As I was engulfed in bewilderment, Zhuge Bu slowly spoke.
“Foolish. When Zhuge Sa was barely holding on in the Underworld, the Soul Exchange Technique weakened. Though I occasionally regained consciousness, I continued to feign being brainwashed since Zhuge Sa was alive. I hid my true state even before you.”
After saying this, Zhuge Bu walked closer to me.
“And during the trial of the Seven Luminaries, I completely regained my senses. When the Moon Sovereign killed Zhuge Sa, I had already broken free from the Soul Exchange Technique. However, the moment Zhuge Sa came back to life, he once again cast the Soul Exchange Technique upon me, but no matter how powerful it may be, I wouldn’t fall for it twice.”
He smirked and continued.
“The Soul Exchange Technique is certainly a fearsome skill used by the strongest apostle, but while I was pretending to be brainwashed, I was continuously researching ways to counter it. Now, the Soul Exchange Technique no longer works on me.”
“……!!”
“Also, I’ve gained some tricks of my own.”
As he said this, Zhuge Bu slowly swung his left arm horizontally.
Whoosh
At that moment, my left arm moved in exactly the same way as his. Zhuge Bu seemed slightly displeased and frowned.
“Hmm. It seems there’s still a delay in the time it takes for commands to get through.”
“You, no way….”
“I haven’t exactly learned it, but now I can also use the Soul Exchange Technique.”
“…….”
It was purely shocking.
Not only had he freed himself from Zhuge Sa’s Soul Exchange Technique, but he could also use it without even having learned from it?! All this time, I had underestimated Zhuge Bu, but he truly was a phenomenal talents worthy of being called the Treasure of the Central Plains!
Simultaneously, I felt darkness creeping in before my eyes.
‘If I’ve fallen for the Soul Exchange Technique… then this is the end for me.’
Zhuge Bu must hold a significant grudge against me. Having made me his puppet up until now, he would want to kill the person behind the Soul Exchange Technique. I could sense that I would die here, tortured horrifically. Furthermore, I would lose the Heavenly Secret as well.
Zhuge Bu smiled brightly.
“You scum. Do you dare toy with me?”
He lifted the Blue Cloud Sword and placed it above my forehead. As a faint azure sword qi flowed forth from the Blue Cloud Sword, I flinched, unable to react. If I used my Protection Energy Technique, I might withstand the cut from the Blue Cloud Sword, but right now, I was under the influence of the Soul Exchange Technique, and Zhuge Bu was enhanced by the effects of Great Destruction.
Just a slight touch of the sword blade would result in my body splitting in half, splattering blood everywhere before I die. I contemplated desperately.
‘What should I do? Should I try to persuade Zhuge Bu somehow? Or should I just say what I want before I die…?’
Logically, I should find a way to persuade Zhuge Bu to work together to take down the Sun. That would be the right approach. However, I felt an instinctive aversion to doing so. I felt that, somehow, whatever I said at this point wouldn’t get through to him. So, giving up partway, I spoke to Zhuge Bu.
“… I’m sorry.”
Zhuge Bu’s eyes lit up with interest.
“Oh? Are you apologizing?”
“In this situation, saying anything would be pointless. But I am sorry.”
“Do you think you’ll find it easier to die saying that?”
Pook
Zhuge Bu pressed the Blue Cloud Sword down onto my shoulder. At that, blood began to spout from my shoulder, and I felt excruciating pain in my bones. A regular person would have screamed reflexively, but I held my ground with mental strength and said,
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“For using the Soul Exchange Technique and wielding you as I wished.”
“Haha… Hahaha!!”
Suddenly, Zhuge Bu burst into raucous laughter. After laughing for a time, he said,
“Is that all you’re sorry for? Don’t you think there’s something much more you should really apologize for?”
“What…?”
“You’re not just being swept away by your destiny this time. Reborn person, Baek Woong. You’ve already killed me several times.”
“…….”
Puhak!
In a blind rage, Zhuge Bu suddenly slapped my cheek with his fist. Two teeth flew out and hit the ground, and blood flowed from my mouth. It hurt, but I gritted my teeth and held back any sound of pain, while Zhuge Bu went on.
“If you die here, you will toy with me again. You will reincarnate and either kill me or make me your puppet again, time and again—dozens, hundreds of times!!”
I remained silent and nodded.
“That’s right. I plan to.”
I answered honestly. Saying otherwise would be pointless. However, I did have something to add.
“But that’s because you won’t abandon the Imperial Palace and the inhumane path. I have no confidence to persuade you or utilize you, so I can only oppose you in the future.”
“Why?”
“……?”
Suddenly, Zhuge Bu displayed a considerable inferiority complex on his face as he continued speaking.
“Why is it that you show such trust in Hyun and Zhuge Sa, and yet you can’t toward me? Am I less than those guys?”
I recognized that I was facing a crucial choice. If I responded poorly, I would face brutal suffering and be ripped apart, but I still felt compelled to voice my true thoughts. My belief couldn’t be broken by pain.
“I suppose you know it’s not about that. You may be more talented than they are, but I can’t join forces with you because of your character. You’re a selfish person who doesn’t care for the sacrifices made by the weak.”
“And Zhuge Sa? He’s dozens of times worse than me.”
“…….”
I was suddenly at a loss for words. When I glanced up, Zhuge Bu laughed bitterly.
“Ha… character! That’s just an excuse. You just dislike the hassle of dealing with me. You want to have fun with those who treat you comfortably.”
He spoke with an expression tinged with resentment.
“I’ll tell you now, I don’t particularly like the Otherworldly Race. I just selectively choose what benefits me… You claim to be the King of All Kings, but you can’t even tolerate those who flatter you?”
“……”
“Even a great villain like Tang San, or a madman like Zhuge Sa, you took in; yet you still reject me outright. That’s simply an excuse, and I have no memory that would merit suffering merely because I fell afoul of you once.”
“Ugh…”
It felt like he was hitting a nerve.
Zhuge Bu couldn’t suppress his emotions and began venting his frustrations.
“… So, you’re calling yourself a king? That’s hilarious! If you’re a king, then you’re just a foolish tyrant without equal in this world. You may think you’re good because you have a sense of conviction, but as someone who stood at the pinnacle of the Great Ming Empire’s inner court, I see you as nothing but a delusional dreamer entranced by your own words and ideals.”
“What did you say!!”
“Am I wrong? Hyun and Zhuge Sa are merely putting up with you. How many of your companions are still here? How many are left who recognize you as their king? Even if some have fallen due to misfortune, still, there aren’t any who follow you anymore. You’ve been reduced to such a miserable state—do you know why?”
“…….”
What’s this?
“You have sought only pure geniuses, forsaking worldly matters and pursuing nothing but ideals. You were so enchanted by this self-proclaimed chosen mentality that only you could save the world. As a result of this, the only companions who followed you were those who were reborn in purity.”
Puhak!
Mocking me, Zhuge Bu slapped my cheek again.
“Those who are impure and lack talent? None of them will recognize you as their king. Oh, great and mighty king!”
“Kuh…!”
“Who asked you to save humanity? Did anyone ask you for help? You’d be rebuked for your presumptiveness even if you defeated the Sun and saved mankind.”
“…….”
As blood dripped from my mouth, I lowered my head as he sneered.
“Nobodies would follow you out of self-interest, would they? You couldn’t even accept the notion that such followers could exist, your capacity is just too narrow. Those who follow the Master of the White Lotus or the Master of the Twelve Joules are not all pure; most of them just got swept along by crumbs and the tides of this world, yet the three supreme powers wield them expertly. Is it that you don’t realize that materialism and self-interest are also human nature?”
“……!!”
“Your inability to reconcile with Lee Kwang stems from the same reason. Though I cannot call him a good person, that isn’t all there is to it. You’re probably just too immature to hold a conversation with him. You’re a brat who can’t acknowledge the human arts of scheming and the filthy aspects of humanity.”
Zhuge Bu muttered and then said.
“If you truly consider yourself the King of Humanity, then try to convince someone like me to follow you. Only then will I help you grasp the Great Ming Empire with ease. I’ll make sure to deliver on what you have given me.”
This was strange.
Despite getting beaten and facing an imminent death, I felt clearer in my mind. It wasn’t that Zhuge Bu’s hits hurt—that much—but rather, his genuine words were stabbing deep into my chest.
And soon after, I was able to understand Zhuge Bu’s sincerity, as well as his real motives behind this outburst. I also realized the hidden deal he was surreptitiously offering me.
‘So that’s it….’
Not everything Zhuge Bu said was correct. He spoke as he pleased, and I wasn’t incapable of standing against criticism. However, I felt something in his words and saw no need to argue further.
With calm eyes, I gazed at Zhuge Bu and said.
“Then let’s make a deal. Help me to defeat the Sun, and I will forget the grudges I hold against you until now and do my utmost to recruit you going forward.”
“Fine. You’ve understood well, King of Humanity.”
Zhuge Bu’s mockery held little malice; he was calmly assessing the current situation, completely dismissing his past grudges against me and instead proposing to take part in my journey as an ally on this endeavor against the Sun. To clear our past grievances by using this trial of the Sun as bait!
It seemed like an incredibly calculating and emotionless deal, but I found it acceptable. It was vital for me to ascertain whether I could truly accept him, as Zhuge Bu put it.
Suuuuuu
Moments later, as Zhuge Bu murmured a brief spell, the wounds I had suffered healed in an instant. Zhuge Bu looked up at the sky.
“Let’s dive into the assault.”
“Wait. The duration of Great Destruction is running out….”
“Ha!”
Kwahh!!
Suddenly, Zhuge Bu summoned the formation of the Eight Trigrams into the air and began casting the spell. The Ruin of Rebirth flared up more intensely than before. As I was startled, Zhuge Bu spoke,
“When I was a puppet, I was too busy maintaining the spell to do anything else, but with Great Destruction, it also amplifies the power of a sorcerer. A sorcerer of my caliber can easily extend the duration of Great Destruction as long as they know the trick. Keeping it up for a brief moment is child’s play.”
“You… really?”
He gazed up at the sky.
“The target we need to strike right now is the Seven Luminaries’ planet.”
“The planet? We’re supposed to destroy a planet?”
“The massive dragon appearing in the golden sky around the sun is becoming clearer and clearer, gradually outlining its orbit around the sun. The Moon Sovereign is already illuminated, and in due time, all the Seven Luminaries will be revealed.”
I could tell Zhuge Bu was right.
“We need to hurry and break it.”
Zhuge Bu continued.
“That’s right. But what’s really important isn’t the Seven Luminaries’ planet.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look at those eyes. Aren’t they empty?”
It was true. The dragon’s two eyes were hollow. Yet, knowing the ancient tales, I sensed that the moment those two eyes filled with light, the nightmare would begin, and I shouted.
“Painting the Dragon’s Eyes!!”
“Exactly. The eyes of the dragon are always drawn last. The Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens is also the spirit of the Sun, and as the top immortal of the Celestial Realm, she has probably been heavily influenced by the earthly realm. Once Nahoo and the guide finish summoning the dragon….”
“The twin stars will become the dragon’s eyes.”
Zhuge Bu nodded, saying.
“Go. Once the dragon is completed, even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors won’t be able to defeat us.”
“Got it!”
Pa-at!!
I used Great Destruction to compress my space, raising the Fire Dragon Sword and charging toward the flickering planet of Water Element. However, as I leaped towards the Water Element constellation, I sensed something was off.
“……!!”
The vast cosmos!
From below, it appeared merely as a small model, but the moment I attacked, it felt as if I had leapt into the depths of a gigantic world’s darkness. Moreover, the size of the Water Element planet seemed totally real, and I suddenly felt like an exceedingly tiny existence.
Would an attack like this even make an impact against such colossal form?
As I began to lose confidence, Zhuge Bu spoke to me mentally.
[Just rush in! The current Great Destruction is at its peak. Nothing can withstand it.]
[But that’s a planet! You’re asking me to destroy a star right now?]
[That’s not my concern, just give it your best shot! You keep boasting endlessly when I help you, yet suddenly act all humble when it counts?]
[Urgh!!]
Unlike with other advisors, I felt annoyed by Zhuge Bu’s sharply mocking words. Above all, we couldn’t be fully allies yet. Still, he was right, so I decided to shut up and poured all my strength into charging toward the Water Element.
As I approached the blue planet and swung the Fire Dragon Sword.
Wiiing
As I gathered all my internal power into the Fire Dragon Sword, an incredible aura surged forth. In the vastness of space, numerous layers of sword strength manifested, and they continued to expand until they were refined to a tremendous size that seemed capable of cleaving continents apart.
‘Incredible!’
Is this the kind of power that Great Destruction can unleash when supported by an upper-class sorcerer? Even I could hardly believe its incredible momentum; I could see that the prowess of the Fire Dragon Incarnate had massively amplified the Great Destruction. With this, I felt I could strike a blow several hundred li strong.
“Haaaaaaap!!”
Kwahh!
Lightning God’s single slash!
Simultaneously, a massive scar formed on the surface as shadows from the universe emerged.
Kuwakoowak!!
With the technique of Cutting Slash, a long trail of destruction extended, covering a massive area of several thousand li. I could see the volcanoes erupting in the wake of the destruction, leaving red spots in their wake.
It seemed like the continent had been entirely torn apart, but I quickly recognized it wasn’t enough. If I did not destroy the planet, the Seven Luminaries would not count as destroyed. My current attack was mere damage to a fragile glass.
‘Damn it. Then once more….’
Just then, the Fire Dragon Incarnate spoke to me from within.
[Baek Woong! That’s your limit!]
[What?]
[Look! The light is beginning to appear.]
He spoke truly. The Water Element planet began to glow brightly after a brief moment. I attempted to unleash another attack, but unlike before, there was no way it could land. A third of the Seven Luminaries had already illuminated.
‘Urgh, then…’
I descended back toward the ground. Zhuge Bu spoke.
“Now, only the Golden Crow remains. Gather your comrades and gather every ounce of strength to target it.”
“Why?”
“The Wood Element and Earth Element are simply too huge. You were already worn out by Water Element; your only option left is to strike at the Golden Crow.”
“Hmm… you must mean.”
Realizing something, I spoke with caution, to which Zhuge Bu replied with a bitter smile.
“Exactly. That’s not just a model. Breaking it will affect the real world….”
To destroy one of the planets comprising the Heavenly Dragon—that means it would be akin to breaking a real planet!