Chapter 177: God Of Eternity (1)
The Divine King moved urgently.
When the two Demon Kings were rampaging in unison, he headed to the forefront of the boundary to prepare for any unforeseen threats.
There were guests present, so he casually dismissed the alarm as nothing significant, but the incident of two Demon Kings joining forces to breach the boundary…
It was a remarkably significant event.
The reason the boundary was maintained…
It was because the Demon Kings, as entities, did not cooperate with each other.
That's why it could be maintained.
Most of the rampaging ones were Demon Kings acting alone.
Even that caused quite significant damage.
'Two Demon Kings…'
This was bad.
He sensed it instinctively. The Demon Kings were joining forces.
The ones who only cared for themselves had united.
This was a very significant event.
Significant enough to overturn everything about the boundary.
So he rushed there immediately.
The presence of a guest was concerning.
But this issue was more urgent.
Just in case, he left a few of the gods behind.
Then, at the site, he carefully observed the Demon Kings.
He sensed an enormous wave of power.
He sensed an overwhelming wave of power.
'No, is it their main force?'
It wasn't just two Demon Kings combining, but three.
Their movements were so seamless it led him to think so.
A moment felt like eternity.
He arrived at the place where he sensed the presence.
And there he saw it.
Black robe with blue eyes. Long, flowing hair.
Even though the figure was at a distance, something suffocating bound him, as if constricting his breath.
Dangerous.
Instinctively, he felt it.
If that being decided to kill him, it might actually be possible.
An entity he must never fight.
His instincts screamed as much.
'Was there such a monster?'
A sigh escaped involuntarily.
An overwhelming presence. The Demon King lay at his feet, and the being's gaze was fixed on him.
-That thing.
A familiar man's voice. The one revered as the main god of Veda spoke in a wary tone.
-Can you win?
-I can win.
The Divine King concluded his calculations and spoke.
But it was something that must not happen.
All the gods stationed at the place called the front line of the boundary…
And the transcendents.
They would need to fight in collaboration with them.
'If there's something bothersome.'
The place where that blue-eyed man stood.
Near him were the Heavenly Demon and the Duke of Extermination.
Their eyes were filled with goodwill.
As if looking at something of their own.
'Was there such a being?'
If there were, it couldn't have been unknown.
The Heavenly Demon.
And the Duke of Extermination.
He had never seen those two show such expressions.
-I can win, but if I kill them…
He existed at the boundary.
And for the gods, it would turn into the most dreadful outcome.
The worst result.
Antagonizing that man here would cause the boundary to collapse.
That must not happen.
When considering all the resources and holy power invested here, the loss would be truly tremendous.
The Pantheon.
Even this place, where countless gods had gathered, would suffer astronomical damage to the point of being unable to recover.
-We must establish an agreement.
Said the God of Veda.
-The minimum is an agreement. A non-aggression pact where neither attacks the other must be made.
The two divine beings sensed that man's power.
The Divine King or the God of Veda.
Even if the two combined their strength and summoned other gods, it would be uncertain if they could win against him.
Han Seojin evaluated them as similar to the Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor, but the story of their strength was a bit different.
The Pantheon.
And Veda.
The two gods supplied them with power, and Han Seojin also used such divine power.
He equated them with the Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor.
But that was a huge misconception.
They did not wield divine power.
In Han Seojin's words, they were…
Swayed by divine power.
A husk unable to properly wield their own strength.
Though they possessed immense power, they were pathetic, reminding him of his students before meeting him.
Han Seojin could see through that.
'This…'
After killing the Necromancer King.
Han Seojin, who obtained the fragment of the Demon God from there, smiled.
'This could be quite useful, couldn't it?'
Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor, Han Seojin.
He looked at the Divine King and the God of Veda.
-You…
"I know your identities."
Divine King.
And the God of Veda.
Though it was his first time seeing the one called the God of Veda, the gaze and aura were unmistakable.
That guy was him.
Such a sensation.
-I see. Then who are you?
-Blue eyes, long hair. And the attire that transcendent beings from the martial world seem to wear. A black robe?
The Divine King began to deduce the identity based on a few visible clues.
-I've heard rumors about you.
"My rumors?"
Han Seojin frowned.
Rumors about himself.
They didn't feel very good.
Because most of the rumors heard in the martial world were filled with slander.
For example, a rumor spread by orthodox sect lackeys that he was a lecher who seduced all sorts of women.
Using the powers of Glacial Heavenly Moon and Brilliant Blazing Fire, they called him a dark arts master of the unorthodox sects.
When he participated in a martial competition only for the younger generation, older participants would question Han Seojin's age.
'Come to think of it, I've never been over thirty.'
Throughout his many lives, he had never lived past thirty.
Yet, those who had surpassed thirty were the ones who persecuted him.
Of course, it wasn't entirely a misunderstanding.
He admitted that he was reckless because his life was short.
However, most misunderstandings only begot more misunderstandings.
He faced all sorts of slander and persecution.
There were only those who failed to understand his true intentions.
"Rumors, as always, tend to be exaggerated or inflated."
-So it seems. Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor… you're far more overwhelmingly powerful than the rumors suggest.
The admiration of the Divine King was evident.
Beside him, the God of Veda nodded in agreement.
There was one more rumor circulating.
A strange rumor emerging from the martial world.
Bloodshed of Mount Hua.
Three transcendents of the orthodox sect led countless sword brigades to kill him.
There were rumors that he had died there…
'Nonsense.'
There's no way a man of his caliber could have died.
Not from something like that.
Truly formidable martial prowess. Even though the Necromancer King is among the top ranks of demon kings, to defeat him so easily…
"This guy is at the top?"
Yes. The so-called hero known as the Purple Tower Master, who faced the Insect Dragon King, and that guy who suddenly disappeared, the one called the Mighty King… those guys are lower-ranked demon kings.
"Those guys?"
…?
While they might not know about martial prowess, most of them were ignorant when it came to information.
Han Seojin slightly lowered his consideration of the God of Veda and the Divine King.
'No, it's actually better.'
A gap in information.
If such a gap existed, it gave him the advantage.
"…The Insect Dragon King is a formidable opponent. The Purple Tower Master who faced him must also have been an exceedingly strong man."
…?
The Divine King tilted his head in confusion.
Beside him, Elwen and Cheon Murin were coughing lightly, trying to manage their expressions.
"The power bestowed upon the Insect Dragon King by the Demon God is infinite… He can temporarily wield near-infinite magical power. Truly, a formidable adversary."
Yoo Eunchae emerged from hiding.
Concealing her noticeably bulging pockets.
The Divine King would have noticed under normal circumstances, but all his senses were focused on the Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor.
A terrifying adversary.
A being of monstrous power.
One could see how the Necromancer King had died.
Thus, it was necessary to be cautious and ever more cautious.
"Anyway, what is it you wish to discuss?"
-So, you want to get to the point. Fine. We wish to form an agreement.
"An agreement?"
-Yes, even if we don't join forces at the boundary, at the very least, we do not point our swords at each other.
-Also, we acknowledge each other's territories and do not infringe upon them.
"Simple enough."
-Does that mean you accept?
"I'll add a few more conditions."
-Additions?
The Divine King and the God of Veda were tense.
Tense about what conditions that being might add.
"There's no need to be so tense. I'm quite merciful."
Han Seojin smiled softly.
The terms of the negotiation were simple.
Neither side would attack the other.
And if the Demon King invaded, they would join forces.
If demons leaked from the boundaries, they would handle it themselves.
They would respect each other's territories.
And for someone like me, who has no territory, they would support with various supplies.
They would acknowledge the merit of handling the Demon King.
These were roughly the terms included in the agreement.
'To be honest.'
It was included at a somewhat shameless level.
Other things were fine, but for someone like me without a territory, I really asked for a lot of support in this part.
"I've thought about it before, but Master really has a lot of qualities worth emulating."
Yoo Eunchae said, leaning slightly against me.
I did have many qualities worth emulating for her, but in a place like this…
Just before I could finish that thought, I felt a murderous intent from both sides.
It wasn't directed at me.
It was aimed entirely at Yoo Eunchae.
Elwen and Cheon Murin.
The two of them, arms crossed, were glaring at Yoo Eunchae.
"Is this enough for the agreement then?"
I said with a bright smile.
Perhaps it was because my attitude changed too drastically. The being known as the Divine King and Veda's God looked puzzled.
"Then let's all pledge to this agreement."
-I understand.
-I pledge.
-I swear on my name as the Divine King of the Pantheon to uphold this pact.
-I swear on my name as the Trimurti of Vedas to uphold this pact.
"I swear on the name of Eternity to uphold this pact."
-The God of Eternity…!
-So you are the master of that divine name…!
The two were surprised at the mention of my divine name.
But there would be more to surprise them.
As our oaths intertwined, they began to bind our souls.
'It's been a while since I've had such satisfactory terms.'
I smiled.
Simultaneously.
A mirror began to appear behind me.
-A mirror?
Three pieces of a mirror.
All mirrors reflecting only shadows began to crack with a screech-!
And light began to flow from the body of the Heaven-Surrendering Martial Emperor.
"Hoo."
Returning to the fourth life, Han Seojin's body.
As the mirrors shattered with a clatter, they began to be absorbed into my body.
'Good…'
With this, my manifestation of thoughts was perfected.
To the point where there's nothing cumbersome anymore.
-…
-…
The two of them stared at me with blank eyes.
Th-this is…
I smiled brightly.
Because I didn't tell them,
"You guys got scammed."
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