Chapter 2574 – 2574. The Ascension To Light

Two years had passed.

The millennium celebration of the Empire’s founding was just around the corner. I had decided to attend the banquet with the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and the Sword King.

To be precise, the Sword King had butted in. Unlike the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, the Sword King was not easy to deal with. Moreover, he was an elder of my wife’s family. I couldn’t just ignore him.

“Hasn’t even the Supreme Clan Head been invited to the banquet?”

“Not only me, but the entire Namgung Clan hasn’t been invited. Perhaps, among the martial arts forces this time, you are the only one who has received the Emperor’s invitation. So, you can be proud of this. The Emperor is basically not interested in martial arts itself.”

“To be precise, it’s not me who was invited, but my master.”

“Yes. The Fallen Moon Goddess is indeed a great person.”

“Do you know my master well?”

I asked the Sword King, my eyes shining. Wi Yu didn’t talk much about herself. Perhaps I could get some information about Wi Yu through the Sword King.

“The Namgung Clan has maintained a good relationship with the Fallen Moon Goddess since ancient times. I know she is great… but I don’t know much else.”

The Sword King’s words were somewhat disappointing.

“Haha. You two. Let me tell you in advance… be careful at this Imperial banquet. The Emperor is not the problem. Those attending the banquet are all undoubtedly great figures. If you act carelessly, you will be in trouble.”

“Shut up, Baek Sung. Do you think I don’t know that much?”

“We’ll take care of it.”

The Sword King and I replied.

The Martial Arts Alliance Leader’s forehead was throbbing as he chuckled hollowly. It was nothing serious.

* * *

The capital of the Empire was indeed enormous.

The buildings were magnificent, and the people were swarming. There were so many people that I even felt the urge to detonate a nuclear bomb.

And the Imperial Palace.

It was larger and more splendid than any palace I had ever seen. The towering pavilions seemed to pierce the sky, and the soldiers guarding the palace were all elite. The entrance to the Imperial Palace was at least three times larger than Sungnyemun.

“Hmm.”

We groaned as we looked at the Imperial Palace. It wasn’t that we were overwhelmed by the splendor of the Imperial Palace. Buildings were just buildings. What we were overwhelmed by was the ley line beneath the Imperial Palace.

Dozens of ley lines were converging on the Imperial Palace. It was no exaggeration to say that it was the center of this continent.

“I knew about it, but… seeing it in person, the spiritual energy is enormous. If you train in a place like this, you wouldn’t need any spiritual elixirs.”

“If I had secluded myself for training in a place like this, I would have reached the realm of myriad forms.”

“Ahem. Training and ascension are different things.”

Leaving the two bickering, I headed towards the Imperial Palace. As if it were natural, a soldier blocked our path. I didn’t want to get into an argument, so I took out the imperial edict from my inventory. An invitation stamped with the Emperor’s jade seal.

The soldiers tensed up and straightened their posture.

“You are honored guests invited by His Majesty the Emperor. We have been waiting for you. We will guide you.”

We were guided into the Imperial Palace by the soldiers.

‘The interior of the Imperial Palace… it’s not just big and splendid. There are formations everywhere. If you move carelessly, you could easily get lost.’

We were guided to a palace where we would stay during the banquet. It was a small palace, but it was still a palace. What was even more absurd was that there were over 100 such palaces.

“This banquet will last for ten days, starting three days from now. If you need anything, please tell the palace staff.”

“When will His Majesty the Emperor attend the banquet? Surely he won’t be attending for all ten days.”

“How could we dare to know His Majesty the Emperor’s schedule? However, since you have His Majesty’s edict, you will be able to have an audience with His Majesty. If you wish, I will call a eunuch now.”

“Even if we can’t have an audience with the Emperor right away, we need to arrange a schedule. Call a eunuch.”

The soldier quietly withdrew. And 30 minutes later, a eunuch entered. He was a man with a smooth face, who looked to be in his early to mid-twenties.

“I am Ahn Juk (安竹), a eunuch from the Office of Ceremonies. His Majesty the Emperor has granted you an audience. Tomorrow at the hour of the sheep (未時), the eunuchs, including myself, will escort you to the audience hall.”

The eunuch spoke carefully. I liked that he was quick with his work.

“I understand. You may leave now.”

“…There are rules in the Imperial Palace. It seems you are not familiar with the palace etiquette, so I will teach you. It is necessary to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

I couldn’t just refuse by saying it wasn’t necessary. This was the Imperial Palace. Even a small mistake could cost us our lives.

We had to learn the palace etiquette until late at night.

* * *

The Emperor, sitting on the throne, wore a dragon robe and a crown. The Emperor, who had lived for over a thousand years, looked young. No matter how you looked at him, he seemed to be in his early to mid-thirties. He looked down at the people below the throne with indifferent eyes.

“We pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor!”

The Martial Arts Alliance Leader, the Sword King, and I prostrated ourselves before the Emperor. The Martial Arts Alliance Leader and the Sword King were trembling slightly. Their faces were covered in cold sweat, showing how nervous they were.

I quietly rolled my eyes, feeling bewildered.

‘The Emperor’s aura is indeed great, but it’s not that much, is it?’

Was it because of the dozens of soldiers guarding the Emperor? No, they were all at least generals. They were all wearing armor, and their cultivation was at least at the Third Stage. There were also four Incarnations who had reached the Harmony Realm.

‘It’s definitely a great pressure.’

But it wasn’t enough to make me tremble. Especially the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and the Sword King, who were proud warriors even in the face of death. I couldn’t understand why they were so completely intimidated by the Emperor.

‘The aura I feel from the Emperor is similar to Wi Yu’s. Is it because I’m used to it?’

If not, there was something I didn’t know.

‘The Martial Arts Alliance Leader wanted to have a private audience with the Emperor. At this rate, he won’t even be able to speak properly.’

It seemed like all they could do was breathe and endure.

I wondered if the Martial Arts Alliance Leader would suffer a qi deviation like the Heavenly Demon did when he saw the Emperor.

“The stars are protecting you. Indeed. So you are her disciple…”

Emperor Jin Hyun muttered as if to himself. It was just that, but there was a resonance that shook my heart.

‘Is this… the Wisdom Light Heart Language (慧光心語)?’

What was certain was that there was something about the Emperor.

“I feel like I’ve seen the future of this world. I feel good. Your name is Sung Yu-jin, right? Is there anything you want from me? Tell me. I will grant it.”

Suddenly, the Emperor showed favor.

The Emperor had the power and authority to grant anything. However, if I said the wrong thing here, I would incur the Emperor’s wrath.

‘Then things will get really annoying.’

I had to make a wish that was trivial but not trivial.

“I dare to ask Your Majesty the Emperor. Please eliminate all the beggars in the Empire!”

“An unexpected request. Hmm. Beggars. They are indeed useless people. Very well. Eliminate the beggars from my country. This is an imperial decree.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

At the Emperor’s command, the officials bowed their heads and responded. There were no objections. From this moment on, beggars would disappear from the Empire. The Beggars’ Sect, the sect of beggars? Of course, they would be annihilated.

I was inwardly impressed by the Emperor’s absolute power.

“I have prepared quite a lot for this banquet. Enjoy it until the last day of the banquet.”

He flicked his palm. It was a signal to leave. We bowed to the Emperor and quietly retreated.

‘I don’t know how strong the Emperor is. The difference is so great that I can’t even estimate it. Considering that he’s at least as strong as Wi Yu… there’s no way I can win right now.’

I neatly gave up on the scenario of killing the Emperor and becoming the new Emperor. Of course, I knew from the beginning that it wouldn’t work.

“Haa!”

“Ugh… What is this…!”

As soon as we left the audience hall, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and the Sword King gasped and staggered. Their entire bodies were soaked in sweat.

“This can’t be…! Is that what an Emperor is…!”

“A living god is there! Even if I lived dozens more lives, I wouldn’t even reach the Emperor’s feet…”

It seemed like the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and the Sword King’s mental states were shattered. I was bewildered. It was hard to understand why these old men were suddenly acting like this.

The eunuch next to us had a familiar look on his face.

“It is natural since it is your first time meeting the Emperor. Calm your minds and deeply admire the Emperor’s greatness. Also, be proud to be the Emperor’s people. As long as the Emperor guards the throne, we will enjoy a long glory under his reign.”

The eunuch’s praise of the Emperor continued until the end of the guidance.

As soon as they arrived at the palace, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and the Sword King sat cross-legged on the floor and began circulating their qi. It seemed like a struggle to shake off the inner demons in their hearts.

I sat in front of them and took out a can of cola to drink. What did they see in the Emperor? I couldn’t help but be curious.

It wasn’t until midnight that they were able to shake off their inner demons.

First, I asked the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, who seemed 30 years older.

“Alliance Leader. What did you see in the Emperor?”

“…I didn’t see the Emperor. The Emperor saw me. It felt like everything in my heart was being exposed. And I also saw the Emperor. …The Emperor is not human. How could anyone have such a mind unless they were an immortal?”

“So what did you see?”

“I don’t know. It was just vast. It was so vast that my world felt like it was forcibly collapsing and expanding. In front of him, I was just a mere insect.”

The Alliance Leader’s words were hard to understand. I frowned and looked at the Sword King.

“Supreme Clan Head, what did you see in the Emperor?”

“I saw a sword. A single sword. His sword cut through me, cut through the ground, and even cut through the sky. In front of his sword, my sword was just a twig. If he and I were to exchange blows… my sword wouldn’t last even one strike. I’ve held a sword for hundreds of years, but in front of the Emperor, those years scatter like clouds.”

The Sword King, who was a master of the sword, muttered with a look of despair. Even tears were streaming down his face. I was bewildered as I watched him.

‘Is it like, if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you?’

The Alliance Leader, who had regained his senses faster than the Sword King, asked me.

“What did you see in the Emperor?”

“I saw the Emperor.”

“…What did you feel from the Emperor?”

“I can’t beat him right now.”

“……What do you think the Emperor is?”

“The Emperor is just the Emperor.”

“……”

The Alliance Leader looked at me with a complicated expression.