Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Heavenly Realm

Progenitor Goddess Nüwa!

She was one of the Three Sovereigns among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, revered alongside Fuxi as the creator of humanity. It was said she created humans after the great flood, and there was a legend that when Mount Buzhou collapsed during the battle between Zhurong and Gonggong, she held up the heavens with the legs of a giant turtle.

Because of this terrifying primordial legend of creating humanity, she was often treated as a being on a higher plane than the other Sovereigns and Emperors. There was no audacity whatsoever in Cheon Woo-jin's command to pay respects to the Progenitor Goddess.

But something was off. As a regressor, I could sense it immediately.

Jeon Wook, another of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, had only learned the purpose belatedly with a casual "Why did you summon me?" But Nüwa seemed to know everything and had responded to the summons accordingly. Otherwise, she couldn't have immediately questioned whether I intended to awaken the Seven Luminaries.

Drawing on past experience, I lifted my face and spoke.

"Nüwa! I, the human Baek Woong, have come here to request the liberation of the Moon Luminary. Will you accept the offering I have prepared?"

Nüwa hovered silently in the air for a long time, gazing down at the Heavenly Altar on Mount Tai. Then she replied.

I recalled Jeon Ga-sa's actions from before. It was something I truly didn't want to do, but to liberate the Seven Luminaries, I had no choice but to do it myself.

"May it please you!"

Stab!

I plunged the knife into Jeon Ga-ya's young's spare body and began carving out the heart. I placed the heart on the altar, knelt just as Jeon Ga-sa had done in the past, and soon the heart evaporated into powder, sucked into the abyss of the void.

Having received my offering, Nüwa spoke.

[Human Baek Woong. How dare you casually unseal the Moon Luminary?]

Did Nüwa already know I had undone the seal on Mani Mountain? Surprised inwardly, I hoped for Jeon Ga-sa's advice, but strangely, he had been silent since earlier. With no choice, I racked my brains and answered her myself.

"The power of the White Lotus Leader and the Twelve Laws Lords on earth surpasses even the Great Heavenly Immortals. If we do not check them, they will gather all the Seven Luminaries themselves, so I acted one step ahead."

[How do you know of the sealing ritual and liberation?]

"I pieced it together from the given clues and ancient records."

[How much do you know?]

"I know that if the Seven Luminaries are not liberated properly through the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, it will allow the [Ancient Dominators] to descend upon the Central Plains. And I know the sealing ritual is the only way."

As I answered Nüwa's rapid questions, I sensed something strange.

Why was Nüwa asking these things?

This was practically an interrogation.

A moment later, Nüwa spoke.

[Baek Woong.]

"Yes."

[I cannot permit the unsealing of the Moon Luminary at this time.]

"...!!"

What did she just say?!

Dumbfounded, I stared at Nüwa. Previously, when we had summoned Jeon Wook of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to perform the Water Luminary liberation ritual, he had accepted the offering and granted permission with hearty approval. If Nüwa suddenly refused to unseal it, things would get extremely complicated.

Forgetting entirely that I stood before a supreme deity counted among the creators of heaven and earth, I cried out urgently.

"Nüwa! Why not?"

In response, Nüwa let her serpentine tail droop as she said.

[The seal on the Wood Luminary among the Seven Luminaries has already been broken. The Water Luminary's seal will also be undone soon. If I grant your request, Baek Woong, that would mean four of the Seven Luminaries—the Four Luminaries—unsealed, creating an extremely dangerous situation. It risks breaking the pact with the [Ancient Dominators], so I cannot allow it.]

It seemed the Earth Luminary in the Dark Heaven Fragrance had already been unsealed.

"Hmm!"

I let out a groan. Unexpected information brought a sense of dismay.

'The Wood Luminary is already unsealed?'

Among the Seven Luminaries currently in the world, the Water and Wood Luminaries were in the hands of the Eastern Twelve Laws Lords. I had left them alone since I had no way to touch them at present, and I hadn't been too worried. No matter how terrifyingly powerful the Twelve Laws Lords were as humans, I didn't think they could freely liberate the Seven Luminaries.

But from what Nüwa said, the Wood Luminary was already unsealed, and the Water Luminary was fated to follow soon. That meant the Twelve Laws Lords clearly knew how to liberate the Seven Luminaries and were proficient enough to do it in short order.

At the same time, I realized one crucial fact.

'Snatching the Seven Luminaries from the Twelve Laws Lords will be dangerous from now on!!'

I had thought the Twelve Laws Lords were just as uneasy and watchful as I was, but in reality, weren't they keeping the Seven Luminaries within reach and eyeing them covetously? No, they might already possess absurdly immense power.

That was why she had asked if I knew about liberating the Seven Luminaries—because she knew I did! Hiding my panic, I said to Nüwa.

"Nüwa! That cannot be. I must obtain the Moon Luminary."

[Human Baek Woong. Do not covet the power of the gods.]

"..."

I felt frustrated by Nüwa's stubborn attitude.

'What the hell? These heavenly bastards... they don't make sense!'

Yeo Dong-bin had clearly said she granted me the right to perform the Moon Luminary sealing ritual and would have me act as Heaven's emissary henceforth. So shouldn't Nüwa normally approve the liberation during the ritual? But for some reason, even though Heaven granted the right, Nüwa could arbitrarily refuse the Seven Luminaries' liberation!

After thinking for a moment, I said.

"Nüwa. As you say, the Twelve Laws Lords already hold two of the Seven Luminaries' powers. As mortals doomed to perish, is there any being who can withstand that one's power?"

[Extremely rare.]

"That is why I seek the Moon Luminary's power to stop him. Does that not make sense?"

[It does not.]

Nüwa lightly rebutted and continued.

[The Twelve Laws Lords are not forces of the [Ancient Dominators]. Whatever he does with the Seven Luminaries is none of our concern. Even without your interference, he cannot escape the fate of a mortal doomed to perish. Why risk breaking the pact by liberating the Moon Luminary?]

"..."

It was an answer laden with hidden intentions. I didn't fully understand, but one thing was clear: Nüwa had no intention of permitting the Moon Luminary's liberation, even unto death. I gritted my teeth inwardly.

'Damn it... what now...'

If I couldn't obtain the Moon Luminary's power here, any chance of escaping the White Lotus Leader's influence in the future would vanish entirely. Of course, in this life, I had decided to follow the White Lotus Leader's moves while observing, but with the Heaven Spirit Pill as a time bomb, I couldn't just blindly tag along.

Nüwa spoke definitively.

[I cannot release the Moon Luminary. Then...]

"Wait!"

I cried out in desperation. I had no other plausible method, but I shouted anyway. Letting this ritual opportunity slip away so futilely was absurd. But as I floundered, unsure what to do...

[...Hey, idiot.]

Jeon Ga-sa regained his senses and spoke in my mind.

[Jeon Ga-sa!]

[Why panic? We've only confirmed each other's positions so far.]

[Then...]

[It's not over yet.]

Soon, Jeon Ga-sa spoke confidently.

[Let's do this right. We can persuade even Nüwa.]

Right. I couldn't give up here.

With a careful gaze, I listened to Jeon Ga-sa's advice in my head and organized my thoughts. Then, calmly choosing my words, I opened my mouth.

"Nüwa. There is one thing I wish to confirm."

I had already heard the direction from Jeon Ga-sa. But he couldn't speak for me entirely. I too had experience and gravitas accumulated over regressions, so I had to concentrate and steer the conversation with Nüwa to my advantage. I began focusing my mind.

[What is it?]

"I understand that the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors transcend ordinary divinities and have known the beginning and end of the universe since creation. If so, may I ask why you cling so obsessively to upholding the pact?"

[...]

"The rise and fall of humanity is merely the whim of emperors, not directly tied to the survival of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, after all."

Cheon Woo-jin beside me looked at me in surprise. He hadn't expected me to press Nüwa, the creator goddess, this hard over the Moon Luminary. Nüwa pondered my question for a moment before answering.

[It is a matter of administrative capacity.]

"Administrative capacity?"

[The pact forged with the Seven Luminaries is an inviolable treaty between the [Ancient Dominators] and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, with the Seven Luminaries as its tokens. As long as the Seven Luminaries remain unsealed, the [Ancient Dominators] cannot casually manifest in the earthly realm or extend their might to devour the human race. That is why your human civilization has been able to grow independently for thousands of years, free from the dominators' interference.]

"Inviolable pact?"

Nüwa continued.

[The term lasts until the promised day... The pact is vital not only for you humans but for the Heavenly Emperors as well. We must pay utmost attention to prevent needless conflicts among great beings.]

"Hmm..."

Having learned in detail what the Seven Luminaries' inviolable pact entailed, I groaned.

Indeed.

The Seven Luminaries were the tokens of the inviolable pact the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors created to protect humanity from the [Ancient Dominators]! As Nüwa said, fully liberating the Seven Luminaries would give the [Ancient Dominators] in the Dark Heaven Fragrance rightful pretext to devour humans. Following Jeon Ga-sa's lead, I pressed on.

"During the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' direct rule, you blocked the [Ancient Dominators] yourselves. But in Jeon Wook's era among them, communication between heaven and earth was severed, and the heavenly ladder was cut. Your influence gradually faded from history—can you teach me why?"

[You ask the reason heaven and earth were severed?]

"Yes."

I nodded and continued.

"If the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors had continued direct rule, there would have been no need for the complex Seven Luminaries pact. I want to know why heaven and earth were severed even while creating the Seven Luminaries."

[Simple.]

Nüwa answered dryly.

[It was due to the faction of Flame Emperor Shennong.]

"What did Shennong do?"

[Since the first war in Pangea where the Yellow Emperor clashed with the Flame Emperor, two massive factions continually collided through the mythic age. Gonggong, descendant of the Flame Emperor, waged war again with Jeon Wook, causing vast destruction, and in the end, Chiyou reached his peak.]

"...?"

[Chiyou, descendant of the Flame Emperor, advocated for human autonomy. The Yellow Emperor subdued Chiyou but underwent a great change of heart, desiring to withdraw from the human world all at once. He left humanity to develop on its own time until of his rain.]

Flame Emperor Shennong of the Three Sovereigns and his descendant Chiyou!

What Nüwa described was undoubtedly the legendary great war, the Battle of Zhuolu. It was a myth known to most historians, but Nüwa's tone was subtly different. The Battle of Zhuolu was actually a war fought over human autonomy.

After deep thought, I said.

"You mean heaven and earth were severed by the will of the Yellow Emperor Gongsun Xuanyuan? That Jeon Wook of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was merely executing the emperor's command?"

[You understand well.]

Now I roughly grasped the circumstances.

Even the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors weren't all on perfectly good terms; conflicts arose among them. Those conflicts were between the faction pledging with the Yellow Emperor and the faction of Flame Emperor Shennong. As a result of prolonged clashes, they decided to grant humanity autonomy and withdraw the gods from the human world. At the same time, to keep humans safe from the [Ancient Dominators], they forged the Seven Luminaries pact.

I said.

"Nüwa. That is all the more reason I must obtain the Moon Luminary's power."

[Human Baek Woong. Do you still not understand after all this explanation?]

"I can explain fully."

Nüwa's voice took on a slightly angered tone as she warned.

[Very well. If your reason is inadequate, you shall receive divine punishment.]

Gulp.

I swallowed hard. The curse of Nüwa, one of the Three Sovereigns—foremost among them, the creator goddess who created humans after the great flood, could easily erase a mortal like me! But if I lost this chance, could I really defeat the [Ancient Dominators]? One misstep could bring a terrifying price preventing even regression. Having experienced the night of a god's curse firsthand, my legs trembled.

"Screw it. What's the worst that can happen—death?"

Fully resolved, I calmly continued as Jeon Ga-sa instructed.

"...'The Seven Luminaries' inviolable pact doesn't apply worldwide, does it? Correct?"

To my question, Nüwa replied as if surprised.

[Correct.]

"How far exactly?"

[About seventy percent of this world.]

I heard Jeon Ga-sa cheering inwardly that it matched his prediction. My eyes gleamed as I said.

"In the regions beyond the inviolable pact's reach, the [Ancient Dominators] could infiltrate and cultivate cults at will. And in the present age, they have amassed tremendous power using the gods' strength."

[What are you saying?]

"The West is already a domain dominated by the [Ancient Dominators]. They possess a rate of civilization development far exceeding their growth period and will soon invade the East directly. When that happens, the Seven Luminaries' inviolable pact becomes meaningless."

Jeon Ga-sa's words had basis. The guns of the British Empire were already overwhelmingly superior to Eastern weapons. In a few decades, the military gap would render clashes pointless. Jeon Ga-sa had determined the [Ancient Dominators] lurked behind that civilization.

[...]

Nüwa fell silent. I didn't stop there and continued.

"The entities behind Western civilization's development aren't manipulating humans solely to obtain the Seven Luminaries! Would that not mock the will of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors before the promised day even arrives?"

[What is your point?]

"Humans will resolve human affairs among themselves."

I caught my breath and said.

"Whether the White Lotus Leader or the Twelve Laws Lords wins, the victor will gain control of civilization. But with foreign threats ever-present, they are necessary evils at this moment. Thus, I seek to become the Moon Luminary's master and check them from the shadows."

[Absurd.]

"Suspicious movements stir even within Heaven as the middle management. If you do not trust me, everything may crumble like a house of cards."

Nüwa floated silently in the air, emanating a quiet silver glow. I looked up at her anxiously, but as expected of a goddess, no emotional fluctuations were discernible. Moreover, she continuously exuded terrifying divine power far transcending the Great Heavenly Immortals.

After a long while, Nüwa spoke.

[Human Baek Woong. You seem a most unique existence.]

"Pardon?"

[In truth, from our first meeting, I felt considerable affinity toward you. It was an emotion akin to pity and longing for the origin. Yet you appear purely human, making you the most peculiar being I have witnessed since antiquity.]

Murmuring thus, Nüwa said.

[Very well. I shall trust you and unseal the Moon Luminary.]

Flash!!

Moments later, silver starlight poured down like a cascade from the center of the dark moon. Struck directly by the silver starlight alongside the three divine artifacts, my entire body felt as if it were aflame. But it wasn't pain—rather, it was akin to the ecstatic bliss of the soul ascending.

Wooooong—

When I came to, the sky over Mount Tai had returned to normal. Nüwa's figure was gone.

Cheon Woo-jin beside me sighed and said.

"Truly terrifying... Are you really human?"

"Huh?"

"To persuade the Progenitor Goddess Nüwa and liberate a Luminary of the Seven... There has never been one like you since antiquity."

Whirrr

I noticed silver divine auras undulating around my body. It was the same phenomenon I had experienced before. Moreover, even standing still, infinite power flowed from the Moon Luminary.

Indeed.

I had become the true master of the Moon Luminary among the Seven Luminaries.

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