Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Celestial Realm

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Paat!

The moment I arrived at the Prophet, I said to him,

“I've come to make a deal.”

[What is it? Have you already brought the Archon's grimoire?]

“No. But it's a treasure of equal value.”

Swwik

“It's the Nameless Sacrificial Scripture.”

[It's genuine... How did you acquire it...?]

“That doesn't matter. What's important is that I have the right to exchange it for compensation of equal value.”

[Hmm... I see... Then let me assess its worth...]

As the Prophet slyly extended a tentacle toward me, I waved my hand.

“There's no need to read my mind and adjust the compensation accordingly! Wouldn't it be more convenient for both of us if I make the first offer and you judge it?”

[Very well... If that's easier...]

This was all according to Zhuge Sa's instructions. He had judged it too risky to leave the bargaining power to the Prophet's conscience and advised leading the negotiation with preemptive offers and psychological tactics. I took a deep breath and said,

“Tell me everything you know about the whereabouts of the Seven Luminaries! The Nameless Sacrificial Scripture should be worth that much information, right?”

[The whereabouts of the Seven Luminaries... That's a tall order...]

The Prophet pondered for a moment before replying.

[I know the locations of six out of the Seven Luminaries... I don't know the seventh... But I can't tell you what I know.]

“Why not?”

[Because of the secrecy pact with the Celestial Realm... They shared as much as they could because I'm the leader of the moderate faction, but they absolutely do not want the seals on the Seven Luminaries broken... The pact prevents me from leaking classified information.]

Zhuge Sa snorted inwardly.

[Just as expected. Proceed like this.]

Soon, I said exactly what Zhuge Sa instructed.

“What are you talking about? The Nameless Sacrificial Scripture includes compensation for breaking that pact. Let me be clear: I believe its value far exceeds breaking the pact. After all, it's one of the highest-level grimoires in existence.”

[...]

The Prophet fell silent for a moment. Then he said,

[Urging me to break a promise... You're no saintly person...]

“It's a matter of efficiency beyond good and evil. Facts are made for mutual benefit, aren't they? I'm offering you greater gains.”

[Interesting... A bold proposal...]

The Prophet's tentacles quivered as he spoke.

[Fine... I accept... I'll tell you the whereabouts of the Seven Luminaries.]

Yes!

I cheered inwardly. Then the Prophet said,

[I know the locations of all Seven Luminaries except the Solar Luminary... Where should I start...?]

“Hmm, verbal descriptions might not be precise. It'd be great if you could mark coordinates, provide visualized data, or transmit it via obsidian spellcraft.”

[Very well...]

Wuuung

The Prophet summoned an obsidian from the air, infused it with his memories, and tossed it to me. The next moment, I absorbed the information on the six Luminaries he mentioned as fragmented memories.

“......!!”

But I furrowed my brow sharply and protested.

“Hold on! What is this? It's just fragmentary visual observations of the areas around the six Luminaries! You expect me to find them with clues this vague?”

The Prophet replied matter-of-factly.

[I can't completely break my promise to the Celestial Realm... I'm limiting the clues so you can find them with your own effort... This doesn't violate causality, so don't argue...]

“Ugh...”

I felt utterly bewildered. What had entered my mind through the obsidian was nothing more than visual records of the landscapes around the Luminaries' ruins. There was no background knowledge or additional information whatsoever. Considering obsidians could hold such details, this was clearly deliberate.

As I tried to press him, Zhuge Sa stopped me.

[Hey, let it go. Provoking a shrewd bargainer like that will only make things worse. You have to chip away at guys like him gradually.]

[Tch...]

I awkwardly lowered my raised hand, and the Prophet said,

[But that alone isn't sufficient compensation... So I'll explain how to reach each location...]

“Be honest. You just wanted to explain them anyway, right?”

I snapped irritably, but the Prophet ignored me and continued.

[First, the Lunar Luminary... It's in Gangdo County of Ganghwa in the eastern peninsula... More precisely, underground in Mani Mountain...]

“Hm.”

Accurate information. I already knew from past life memories that the Prophet's description was spot on for the Lunar Luminary's location. As I listened intently, he went on.

[Next, the Fiery Luminary... This is in the heart of the southernmost continent... Inside the crimson giant rock of Yurara, east of Kaltukajara...]

“Kaltukajara? Yurara?”

[Ask the locals and you'll find out...]

“I see.”

I'd gotten a solid lead on the Fiery Luminary. As I nodded, the Prophet continued.

[The Watery Luminary is in the deep mountains and valleys of Mount Huang in the Central Plains... The place where Emperor Yu of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors left his final evidence of flood control... You should have no trouble finding it...]

“Yes, next?”

[The place holding the Woody Luminary, the Sea Seal, is the Divine Altar of Changbai Mountain... The origin of the Twelve Tower Manha Spirit Gate...]

“......”

I focused even harder.

[Everything so far is what I already knew.]

The Metallic and Earthly Luminaries' locations were crucial!

[The Metallic Luminary is sealed in the deepest part of the holy site Pallas alongside the ancient gods...]

“......?”

The unfamiliar name made me tilt my head. I asked,

“Pallas...? Doesn't sound like Central Plains tongue. Is that in the West by any chance?”

[Indeed... The place where those in the West who approached closest to the source of mystery dwell... The guilds of alchemists and wizards hold the Metallic Luminary... It's the wizards' stronghold, home to bloodlines descended from myths...]

“......”

The West!

I was stunned to learn the Metallic Luminary's location led westward out of nowhere. The West meant traveling farther than any remote region I'd gone to before—at least thousands of li.

[Ah, but I could get there in one go using the Four-Faced Buddha.]

Even so, the fact that wizards' stronghold held it was unsettling. Just in case, I asked,

“So, what's the exact location?”

[Geopolitically... It's near the current Great British Empire in the West...]

“What? You don't know the precise spot?”

[Unlike the others, the Metallic Luminary originated in the East but moved West... I only know the initial placements of the Seven Luminaries... This info is just a conclusion drawn from later intelligence...]

“Hmm... So I have to investigate myself.”

I felt regret at not getting it handed to me. That meant heading to the Great British Empire area, gathering intel, finding the way to the holy site Pallas, and locating the Metallic Luminary's seal.

The Prophet said,

[The Earthly Luminary... The founder of Balhae danced upon it and founded an empire... But its power ran rampant, causing a volcanic eruption that destroyed the empire overnight... Later, it was recovered from the Demon Subduing Hall and is now in Amcheonhyang.]

“I knew that much. So where exactly in Amcheonhyang?”

[As far as I know, it was last offered as a tribute to Empress Wu Zetian... So the entity that deified her and made the pact likely holds it... It wouldn't pass up a Luminary...]

“Empress Wu Zetian!”

I flinched in shock. Why was Empress Wu Zetian involved in tracing the Earthly Luminary?

From what I knew, in her later years, Empress Wu Zetian used the Apotheosis Ritual to ascend as a lesser god of Amcheonhyang. I'd ignored her history as irrelevant to me, but now it turned out she held the Earthly Luminary's divination chart?

As I reacted in surprise, the Prophet continued.

[The Sleeper of Yin Kai, no doubt... Frankly, you might want to give up on this one...]

“The Sleeper of Yin Kai... You mean the one manipulating the imperial palace from the shadows?”

[Yes... It's essentially in the hands of the [Ancient Ruler]... Safe to assume you can't obtain the Earthly Luminary...]

“......”

I committed the Seven Luminaries' information to memory.

[I've made a step forward on the Fiery, Metallic, and Earthly Luminaries.]

Especially the Fiery Luminary felt within reach with some effort. As I organized my thoughts, a sudden question came to mind.

“Why no info on the Solar Luminary? Didn't the Celestial Realm cooperate with you?”

[I don't know much either... But to the Celestial Realm, the Solar Luminary seems quite special... It might not even be in the mortal world...]

“Not in the mortal world...?”

After a brief silence, the Prophet said,

[What I know is that there's a deep causal link between the Solar Luminary and Emperor Huang, the Yellow Emperor... And that its power is the strongest among all Seven Luminaries.]

“Emperor Huang...!!!”

[Who knows... Perhaps gathering the other six will reveal the Solar Luminary's location...?]

The Prophet's speculation made sense. As the symbol of the sun, the Solar Luminary could be the pinnacle of the Seven. And it being so due to Emperor Huang's involvement fit perfectly.

[Next life, during the oracle communion, I could ask about the Solar Luminary.]

Zhuge Sa chuckled.

[Idiot. If it's a secret not even shared with the leader of the Great Race, it's the Celestial Realm's utmost classified. No way oracle communion reveals it.]

[I suppose...]

[That's why the Earth Immortal advised you to uncover the Celestial Realm's secrets first. Without that, no amount of effort in the mortal world will gather all Seven Luminaries.]

With that, Zhuge Sa followed up.

[Hey, there's still compensation left. Ask this last one and wrap it up.]

His words rang true. I took a deep breath and said to the Prophet,

“Prophet. By my count, there's still some compensation owing.”

[Only a negligible amount...]

“Then consulting me should be fine, right?”

[What kind of consultation...]

“My innate martial talent and spellcasting aptitude are lacking. Any way to improve them?”

[...]

The Prophet's tentacles twitched as if caught off guard by the question. After thinking, he replied.

[Blessings that directly enhance talent itself are exceedingly rare... The methods are extremely limited...]

“Why? Is raising talent that difficult?”

[Shall we first define what talent is...?]

The Prophet slowly shifted to the side.

[Talent encompasses... the capacity for effort... intuition... flexibility... creativity... innate aptitude... potential for growth... all of it... But then... raising talent means... altering one's personality, doesn't it?]

“Personality?”

[Yes... personality...]

The Prophet's eyes rolled as he continued.

[Without changing personality... talent cannot rise... Because it requires restructuring the very framework of the mind... The reverse holds true as well... Thus, spells to enhance talent... are inevitably complex and finicky... They can leave severe aftereffects on the subject...]

“I see...”

[And crude methods like directly drugging the brain or inducing chemical reactions... are too primitive and cause even more side effects...]

I understood the Prophet's point. Talent was a holistic concept affecting every aspect of the mind, so mishandling it could shatter the delicate psyche, turning someone into a vegetable or a madman.

“Any methods at all?”

[Then prepare an offering and contract with a demon god...]

I shook my head.

[Getting tangled with the [Ancient Ruler] isn't appealing. Something more orthodox...]

[Hmm... If you're set on boosting martial prowess... Consult Zhongli Quan...]

“Zhongli Quan?”

[Li Dongbin the Sword Immortal's master is the Fire Dragon Immortal... Also known as Zhongli Quan... But it's said Zhongli Quan directly taught human Li Dongbin and led him to the immortal path... Yet Li Dongbin wasn't a once-in-a-millennium genius in life...]

“Hmm... Li Dongbin...”

[And yet he raised him to one of the Eight Immortals and a Fighting Immortal... Zhongli Quan must hold some secret...]

“......”

Zhongli Quan of the Eight Immortals!

I'd never considered any beyond Li Dongbin, but this was an unexpected lead. As the conversation wrapped up, the Prophet's form began to fade.

[Dealing with you was entertaining... I look forward to our next transaction.]

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