Chapter 711

I rifled through my Daoist knowledge at Mangryang’s words and grasped the implication.

“...Emperor Ku!!”

[Exactly.]

Mangryang’s eyes gleamed.

[She is the daughter of Emperor Ku, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the High Xin Clan. A direct descendant of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors! In truth, her bloodline is even more noble and august than Pengzu or Changhil’s.]

“……!!”

Emperor Ku of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors!

He was known for commanding various deities like the Feather-Clad Maiden and ruling over birds while guarding the east. Though he hadn’t revealed himself much, as one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, his authority must be immense. Even Pengzu, a grandson of Emperor Zhuanxu, was at the level of a Great Luo Immortal—what must Heng’e, of even higher standing, be like?

Composing my shock, I said.

“Hmm... so you sent Cheon Woo-jin to find Heng’e of the Moon Palace and make her an ally?”

[No. At this point, with us clashing directly against the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, what good would recruiting someone like her do? Besides, as a blood relative, she’d undoubtedly side with them.]

“Then...”

[Think carefully... She’s Emperor Ku’s daughter.]

“……”

I racked my brain, but I couldn’t grasp what Mangryang was getting at. As I struggled, Seomun Hye, who had been listening beside me, seemed to realize something and spoke up.

“The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors wouldn’t abandon their blood kin anywhere, so the Guanghan Palace where she’s sealed must itself be connected to Emperor Ku.”

[Precisely.]

Mangryang nodded.

[The legendary Guanghan Palace is said to be on the moon. And from what we’ve gathered, each of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors possesses their own pocket dimension, like the Pantheon of Myriad Gods or the Pavilion of Myriad Ghosts. Therefore...]

I finally understood Mangryang’s point.

“You’re saying the moon itself is Emperor Ku’s Pantheon of Myriad Gods?”

[Uncle Master Zhuge believed that possibility was high. The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors artificially created their pantheons. By enveloping an entire star.]

“Hmm...!!”

[Emperor Ku’s pantheon is called the Panwang Hall. And among our allies, only my junior brother had the ability to scout it, so we assigned him the mission to explore the moon.]

It was a shocking revelation.

The moon is Emperor Ku’s Pantheon of Myriad Gods!

I couldn’t fathom how far ahead the strategists were thinking compared to me. I’d only gathered information, yet they saw so much further. It would’ve taken me dying at least ten more times to reach that conclusion alone.

‘Lucky me.’

I was truly grateful to have met Mangryang, Master Zhuge, and the others. Compared to moving solo, they had shortened the time by dozens of times. As I inwardly sighed in relief, Mangryang continued.

[We entered Zhuanxu’s Pavilion of Myriad Ghosts through the Five-Colored Heavenly Gate on Mount Penglai. Similarly, entering Emperor Ku’s Panwang Hall likely requires passing through a corresponding ‘gate.’ And that ‘gate’ is undoubtedly on the moon, which my junior brother is searching for.]

“Mangryang, do you have contact with Cheon Woo-jin?”

[Not yet. The place is too far, and if it truly is the Panwang Hall, it’s under the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors’ domain, beyond the reach of the Nether Mirror’s power.]

“Hmm.”

As I processed the situation, Mangryang said.

[Please come out now, Gucheon Maiden.]

Flash!

The moment Mangryang finished speaking, a spirit body appeared behind me—it was the Gucheon Maiden's spirit. She was currently traveling with me, usually hidden transparently within a dimensional pocket. Summoned here, she immediately addressed Mangryang.

[Impressive. For a mere human, you ventured to the deepest depths of the underworld on your own, obtained the Wheel-Turning Sage King's Nether Mirror, and uncovered the truths of the Panwang Hall and the underworld?]

Mangryang bowed politely and replied.

[It wasn't me alone; it's all thanks to Baek Woong and our comrades. And I believe from now on, you too will aid our cause, Gucheon Maiden.]

[......]

A flicker of passion crossed Mangryang's otherwise impassive face.

[Gucheon Maiden, you are a great deity who has witnessed all of Zhongyuan's divine history since the primordial era. You must already know every secret of the myths we seek. Why then have you stood by while the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors arbitrarily destroy this world's cycle of reincarnation? It's utterly irresponsible.]

[......]

[This world has long been a living hell without even a shred of hope for humanity. Do you feel no guilt?]

I stared at Mangryang in astonishment.

“M-Mangryang!”

To think Mangryang would openly criticize the Gucheon Maiden!

The old Mangryang, guardian of Daoist principles and seeker of justice, could never have dared rebuke a top-tier Daoist deity like her. But now, he seemed genuinely furious, his eyes burning with resolve. The miserable truths of mythology must have shaken his righteous heart to its core.

After a long pause, the Gucheon Maiden sighed and spoke.

[No matter how you humans berate me, I have no defense. As you say, I could only watch. Watch as the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors toyed with everything...]

[Did you submit to their overwhelming power?]

[...Not entirely. It was also because of 'that one's' promise.]

[What promise?]

[I cannot say yet.]

The Gucheon Maiden continued.

[I could only focus on restraining their atrocities as much as possible and preserving humanity's lineage. I've always found it agonizing that things came to this.]

Mangryang didn't respond much. He simply wore a cold expression.

He stared at her intently for a moment, then said firmly.

[Gucheon Maiden, do not betray Baek Woong. If you do, you will regret it.]

[Understood.]

Mangryang, having casually extracted a pledge from her, turned to me and said.

[Baek Woong. If my junior brother finds the entrance to the Panwang Hall and locates Heng'e of the Moon Palace within, we'll have uncovered two of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors' bases.]

“Hmm.”

[We must identify all their bases soon. Only then can we one day eradicate them completely.]

Eradicate them completely!

“It feels... a bit unrealistic.”

Hearing that, I felt a sense of unreality. Even gathering all our forces and multiplying them ten or twenty times over, we couldn't handle a single one of them—what good would knowing their bases do? As I showed my frustration, Mangryang chuckled softly.

[Baek Woong, you undervalue yourself too much. Your martial prowess may not have grown much, but you've consistently achieved remarkable results. I guarantee it—have confidence.]

“Thank you.”

[Surely, in this life, we'll accomplish something. Whatever it may be.]

Mangryang spoke with conviction and continued.

[With the Gucheon Maiden's help, we can reach the moon. Find my junior brother there, then return to the ground and contact me again.]

Flash!

Mangryang vanished after speaking. The surrounding dark void dissipated, returning to the ordinary lake in Yonan.

I turned to the summoned Gucheon Maiden beside me and said.

“Gucheon Maiden, is there a way to reach the moon?”

[Yes. I'll open the path with sorcery now.]

Whirr!

As the Gucheon Maiden cast her World-Crossing Spell, a silver passage appeared. One step into it, and I'd surely be on the moon. Thinking how versatile the World-Crossing Spell was, I suddenly paused.

“Once we arrive, could we use the World-Crossing Spell to find Cheon Woo-jin?”

To my question, the Gucheon Maiden replied.

[We could, but we must proceed cautiously. It's best to avoid using sorcery if possible.]

“Yes?”

[Your comrade Mangryang's speculation is correct.]

The Gucheon Maiden's gaze lingered on the distant moon in the sky.

The crescent moon overhead emitted a blue glow, as if infused with madness.

[That moon is Emperor Ku's Panwang Hall of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. There, he can wield power without regard for causality, so we must never let our presence be detected.]

“……”

Her words sent a chill down my spine.

I was stepping into a nightmarish otherworld where one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors could unleash his power freely.