---

I was momentarily confused by Ha Eun-cheon’s words about the Master of the Twelve Joules.

“How did they know I was the master of the Fire Dragon?”

It’s not strange for that guy to want to take down the Sea God. Even in my previous life, he had repeatedly suggested we deal with the Sea God together. For Ha Eun-cheon, the Sea God is the sworn enemy that must be defeated.

But that’s not the important part. They summoned me as the incarnation of a dragon but decided I was the master of the Fire Element. Strictly speaking, the power of the Fire Dragon Incarnate and the Fire Element are separate entities, so it’s hard for a third party to make such a conclusion. Yet, Ha Eun-cheon spoke decisively.

I thought maybe they were testing me, so I decided to play along for now.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What’s this Fire Element all about?”

“Heh heh, well of course, you’d play dumb.”

The Master of the Twelve Joules chuckled and continued.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of snatching the Seven Luminaries right now. The important thing is that you, Baek Woong, possess power, and I want to use that power to achieve my goals.”

“You’re quite the chatterbox, aren’t you?”

I looked him straight in the eye and said.

“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of getting involved in this unknown situation. Please seek out another supporter.”

Even though I could die, I felt an instinct that it was important to assert my position strongly at this moment. Sure enough, the Master of the Twelve Joules wasn’t immediately resorting to force and seemed to be listening to my words.

“Another supporter, huh? What kind of supporter are you talking about?”

“How about seeking help from the Master of the White Lotus Sect or the immortals of the Celestial Realm? Their power would far exceed mine.”

“They’re useless.”

The Master of the Twelve Joules retorted resolutely. When I stared at him quietly, he added,

“You’re the only one who can help me now. I’m asking you to cooperate.”

“I said no, didn’t I? Why can’t the Master of the Twelve Joules receive help from the Celestial Realm?”

“……”

The Master of the Twelve Joules pondered for a moment before he spoke.

“That’s strange. I thought someone as the Master of the Seven Luminaries would know…”

What does that mean? His reaction seemed more like he was faced with an unexpected situation rather than underestimating me. After a brief moment of surprise, Ha Eun-cheon said,

“The Celestial Realm can’t interfere with us, the Twelve Joules, and the Manha Spiritual Gate. But in return, we also can’t receive direct protection from the Celestial Realm. It’s a sort of non-aggression pact.”

“……!!”

“So we have no choice but to protect this land with our own strength. Even if we wanted to summon the immortals of the Celestial Realm, there are greater restrictions compared to the Central Plains. That’s why I’m saying you have the power to defeat the Sea God, and that’s why I’m making this request for help.”

“No.”

“Of course, you’d refuse. I’m simply asking you to help me for free, who would be happy about that? So let’s propose a corresponding reward.”

Reward? My ears perked up. The Master of the Twelve Joules, Ha Eun-cheon, took a deep breath and said,

“If you defeat the Sea God, I promise to fully lend you the power of our Twelve Joules. If you want, I’ll even give you the position of Master of the Twelve Joules. You’ll be able to use the powers of the Three Masters and the Special Position, as well as all the sects.”

Giving me the title of Master of the Twelve Joules! But since it was conditional on defeating the Sea God, I felt hesitant. The Sea God, being an “Old Ruler,” certainly wouldn’t be an easy target to take down. Moreover, as long as Ha Eun-cheon remained as the master of the Fire Element, the position of Master of the Twelve Joules wouldn’t be that appealing either. I stared at him intently before speaking.

“I don’t like conditions. It wouldn’t benefit me at all right now.”

“Really?”

“Indeed. And…”

I glared at him.

“If we assume both of us are masters of the Seven Luminaries, you should understand what it means to take the Seven Luminaries and defeat the Sea God, an ‘Old Ruler.’ The Seven Luminaries symbolize the non-aggression pact with the Three Sovereigns and the Old Rulers, so striking down an Old Ruler suggests a war will resume.”

“……”

“Helping you out would only end up with me getting caught in the crossfire, so I refuse.”

The Master of the Twelve Joules seemed firm now. He eventually spoke with a tone of genuine surprise.

“Impressive… You truly are remarkable. How did you, as a mortal, come to grasp the secrets of the myth at such a young age…?”

I realized I may have overexposed my knowledge from my previous life in an attempt to convince the Master of the Twelve Joules to let me out of this situation. Maybe I had stunned him more than showing the power of the Fire Dragon Incarnate. After all, few beings in this world knew what the Seven Luminaries were, let alone the truth behind them.

It wasn’t just the Master of the Twelve Joules who was shocked. The Three Masters standing behind him couldn’t hide their astonished expressions. It seemed that Master Yun was mumbling in disbelief.

“A being beyond the heavenly secrets… Are you saying you’re disregarding celestial fate?”

After regaining his composure, the Master of the Twelve Joules said,

“It seems I underestimated you. I’m sorry.”

I glared at him.

“I don’t see a reason to accept your apology. I simply don’t want to get involved in all of this.”

“Isn’t that a bit too firm?”

“Considering the level of pressure you’re putting on me, I’d say it’s justified.”

“Hehe…”

The Master of the Twelve Joules wore a seemingly amused smile before he said,

“First, let me address the question you just asked about whether defeating the Sea God with the Seven Luminaries is an act of breaking the non-aggression pact. I would stake my name that it is not an act of offending the Three Sovereigns or the Old Rulers.”

“What do you mean?”

“You need to understand that the Sea God is quite a special being.”

He picked up some side dishes from the feast and continued.

“Unlike the other Old Rulers, he has made the entire oceans of the world his territory. A downright greedy fool. His vast territory means he doesn’t receive much kindness from the other Old Rulers, and also, he’s somewhat of a ‘gatekeeper,’ so there’s no one to bless him.”

“Why is that? Why can’t he receive blessings?”

“If the Sea God was taken down, it would create a better environment for the other Old Rulers to operate… Moreover, the maritime races, particularly the fishmen, are relatively strong, which has often offended the sensibilities of other beings.”

“……”

“Also, I’ve confirmed in my own way that there are no obstacles in defeating the Sea God with the Seven Luminaries, it only requires power.”

As I listened to the Master of the Twelve Joules’ explanation, the word “confirmed” bothered me. It gave the unsettling feeling that he might have done something outrageous. Moreover, I couldn’t fully believe that there were no restrictions on defeating the Sea God either.

Pondering, the Master of the Twelve Joules abruptly declared,

“…Alright, then tell me what you want. I’ll grant any request within my power. I’m not joking.”

I could sense his desperation. I felt it instinctively. Even if he could easily resort to force, not doing so meant that he was aware of my true strength with the Seven Luminaries and the Fire Dragon Sword. He also understood that if I unleashed my full power, the outcome was unpredictable. And if I didn’t help him, it would certainly be challenging for him going forward, so he was pulling out all stops to draw me in.

It was a crisis.

But at the same time, it was an opportunity.

Having gone through countless crises that an ordinary person might face in my lifetime, I sensed something. The Master of the Twelve Joules’ current proposal, albeit fraught with intense danger, carried a significant reward as well. The tone and urgency of this proposal felt entirely different from the one I’d heard before.

“Perhaps it’s because I’ve risen to a position of power sufficient to warrant this…”

Things were different now than before. I crossed my arms and contemplated for a while.

Then I spoke up.

“If you agree to three conditions, I will cooperate in taking down the Sea God as you wish.”

“Three conditions?”

“Yes. If you can agree to this, I’ll do my utmost to assist without a second thought.”

“How intriguing, go ahead.”

I took a bite of the tofu dish and said, mumbling,

“First, I want all information related to Peng Zuo and Emperor Changqie. Teach me everything you know without holding back. That’s the first.”

Ha Eun-cheon answered without much hesitation.

“Sure. What’s the second?”

“Second, please lend me Miyamoto Musashi. I need him to follow my commands. I require his martial power.”

“Hmm… Ten years! No more than that.”

“Understood.”

So far, it didn’t seem like too much of a burden for him. I anticipated he would be shocked by my final suggestion, but there was a mischievous feeling within me, so I stated it boldly.

“Lastly, grant me the position of Master of the Twelve Joules right now.”

“…What?”

Ha Eun-cheon froze in place, seemingly flustered. I smirked and said,

“Shall I repeat myself? Give me the position of Master of the Twelve Joules.”

“Hmm… uh…”

“I’m asking for the position that commands the Master of the Twelve Joules and asserts authority over the Northeast’s new Martial Arts World.”

With my experiences from my previous life, I understood the psychology and state of the Master of the Twelve Joules well. In the past, he had also proposed to give me this position, which seemed quite similar to this offer. Judging from that proposal, it was clear that for him, the position of Master of the Twelve Joules was flexible depending on the situation. Moreover, what really mattered to him was likely not the position of Master of the Twelve Joules but rather being the “leader of the Manha Spiritual Gate” and the “master of the Seven Luminaries.”

If that’s the case, then asking for the position of Master of the Twelve Joules outright rather than an ambiguous request after defeating the Sea God seemed more sensible. In fact, the position of the leader of the Manha Spiritual Gate might be even more attractive, but that would be like touching upon Ha Eun-cheon’s reverse scale.

“I’m certain.”

This proposal felt appropriate. With this, I could secure my own interests.

“Hah…”

Seeing the Greatest Master of the Twelve Joules flustered like this was a first in my previous life. Normally, he would laugh it off as a joke, but right now, it was a situation he couldn’t hastily reject my proposal. He rested his chin on the table and said,

“What if I refuse your proposal and decide to kill you?”

“I suppose I would have to do my utmost to fight back.”

As expected, he threatened me with killing, but I calmly replied. I had died enough times that I wasn’t particularly scared of it. Instead, I warned him.

“I believe I could engage in mutual destruction.”

This was a gamble. I could very well end up being cut down by Ha Eun-cheon’s Cosmic Fragment or the spells of the Three Masters in an instant, but if I fought while awakening the Fire Element and the Great Destruction, my combat power would skyrocket exponentially in that moment. The extent of that power I had yet to confirm, but undoubtedly, it would bring me close enough to Ha Eun-cheon’s life.

Feeling I was sincere, Ha Eun-cheon remained silent for a while. After some deliberation, he said,

“How about the title of King of Goryeo? I could make you a king.”

I shook my head.

“A position of mere Goryeo king is inferior to that of Master of the Twelve Joules.”

“You know quite well.”

“I’m not particularly keen on an emperor’s position, either. What can you do about that?”

After a moment, he replied irritably.

“Oh right, fine. However, the position of Master of the Twelve Joules will not be for one but two. You will hold equal authority with me within the Twelve Joules. However, the control over the Three Masters and the Manha Spiritual Gate cannot be relinquished. How does that sound?”

I casually replied.

“I can’t possibly have greater control over the Twelve Joules than you.”

“Isn’t that rather greedy? With the Master of the Twelve Joules and their forces, you’d not fall behind the White Lotus Sect in the Central Plains. I never thought I’d grant such authority to anyone.”

“Hmm…”

That’s true. Even becoming the Master of the Twelve Joules and gaining cooperation from the Special Position and the Masters of the Twelve Joules would be a huge achievement. I pondered for a moment before saying,

“Alright, fine…”

The Master of the Twelve Joules yelled in exasperation,

“Is there more?!”

“I would also like you to teach me why you can summon the Phoenix and the origins of your martial arts.”

“That’s not three but four requests.”

“Is it not possible to share such information for taking down the Sea God, an ‘Old Ruler’? After all, if I don’t go all out, I won’t be able to defeat such a formidable foe.”

The Master of the Twelve Joules crossed his arms. Then, with a troubled tone, he said,

“Fine~ I see you’re quite the glutton.”

“Thank you.”

“From this day forth, you are the Master of the Twelve Joules on par with me.”

I responded, momentarily shaking in disbelief.

“I did it!”

Even though it was under the premise of participating in taking down an Old Ruler, I had gained a remarkable achievement from him! From now on, I would be able to mobilize the forces of the Twelve Joules while having the martial power of Miyamoto Musashi at my disposal.

Standing up, the Master of the Twelve Joules, Ha Eun-cheon, said,

“Shall we take a quick look at the Sacred Altar Tree?”

“Huh?”

“As a Master of the Twelve Joules, you must be informed about the Sacred Altar Tree.”

I stumbled to follow him as we exited the divine city. We began to cross a vast valley via a small cloud bridge towards the Sacred Altar Tree. It was the Fortress of the Celestial Realm, and it felt like a single misstep could lead to a fatal fall.

After a long trek, the Master of the Twelve Joules arrived at a ridge and spoke.

“Isn’t it strange? Even after walking for a long time, it feels like we’ve barely gotten close to that giant tree.”

That’s true. Up until now, I had traveled nearly twenty li with Ha Eun-cheon and the Three Masters, yet the Sacred Altar Tree, which should be right before us, seemed no closer. From my sense of distance, the position of the Sacred Altar Tree seemed utterly odd.

“Is it an illusion technique?”

When I asked, the Master of the Twelve Joules replied,

“No. It definitely exists at that position. However, it exists yet doesn’t seem to exist, so there’s no way to reach the Sacred Altar Tree through physical means.”

“What do you mean?”

“That tree is the World Tree planted during the Mythological Age, spanning across nine realms. It protects humanity with its spirit energy while blocking the influence of the Evil God’s Clan. Of course, that’s not its only function…”

Snap!

As the Master of the Twelve Joules snapped his fingers, a circle suddenly opened in the air. It seemed to be a Transmission Technique of sorts, and the Master of the Twelve Joules displayed incredible skill in it. The Master of the Twelve Joules and the Three Masters stepped into the circle, and I followed suit.

Whoosh!

I arrived in a place where the world was pitch black in all directions. It seemed as though the stars were so close they could be touched, and the number of stars appeared endless. Enormous trunks sprawled beneath and around me, resembling the earth itself. Simultaneously, I noticed that the air and spirit energy here felt extraordinarily different from that of the ground.

The Master of the Twelve Joules joyfully exclaimed like a child,

“What do you think? Isn’t it magnificent? This is the first place I arrived in this world.”

“What?”

“The feeling of looking down at the ground from the top of the World Tree is exceptional.”

I peered down beyond the trunks. The blue seas and lands sprawled like a map, and the world appeared spherical. At that moment, I confirmed with my own eyes the hypothesis that Mangnyang had previously established: “the world is round.”

“Could you now explain the ‘Phoenix Summoning’ that you asked about earlier?”

Suddenly, the Master of the Twelve Joules placed his hand on the trunk of the World Tree. He then emitted a tremendous amount of spirit energy, making the surrounding air and wood resonate simultaneously.

Whoa…

The boundary world before the universe, at the precipice of the World Tree, the power of the Master of the Twelve Joules amplified to incomprehensible levels! As I witnessed the magnitude of this power, I felt as if my body had frozen. The amplification was on par with or surpassed the moment I summoned the National Seal.

The Master of the Twelve Joules enveloped his entire body in green spirit energy, showcasing a divine aura that transcended humanity, and spoke the sacred words,

“I can utilize the power of the Seven Luminaries as if it were my own. Moreover, I can summon the Phoenix by offering this power as compensation to the Celestial Realm.”

Whoosh!

The Master of the Twelve Joules withdrew his power. Yet even then, his body radiated an overwhelming energy that could easily rival that of the Dharma Guardian wielding the Heavenly Spirit Pill. The Master of the Twelve Joules smiled brightly.

“Now do you understand?”

“…Yes.”

The master of the Seven Luminaries. That meant being able to wield the power of the World Tree as well.

---