“How did you come to know that person?”
When Geom Mugeuk asked about the Heavenly Killing Star, the Dark Palace Master’s eyes darkened.
His gaze carried many unsaid thoughts, yet he remained silent.
Geom Mugeuk deliberately provoked him.
“You must be angry. It was the life you dreamed of for your entire life, and now the Heavenly Killing Star has taken it from you.”
The Dark Palace Master did not fall for the provocation. Instead, he answered calmly.
“And what about you? Aren’t you angry? If you had become the Cult Leader, the martial world could have been yours.”
Even while speaking, Geom Mugeuk carefully listened to every word. When it concerned Hwa Moogi, even the smallest detail mattered.
“You trust the Heavenly Killing Star quite a lot. How strong must he be for you to believe in him this much?”
The Dark Palace Master looked past him to Gaye standing behind.
“If you’re curious, why not ask that Priestess? The one who desperately fawns over you just to preserve her own life.”
Although the words mocked and belittled her, Gaye did not react with anger.
If anything, she seemed calmer.
That change irritated the Dark Palace Master.
Geom Mugeuk spoke for her.
“If you use someone and throw them away, you shouldn’t treat them like a traitor.”
“At the very least, you should apologize.”
“Why is it so hard for people to say they’re sorry?”
Gaye remembered the same words Geom Mugeuk had once spoken to her.
When they first met, he had said exactly this.
He had expected the Dark Palace Master to at least offer a single apology to the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress.
Now she realized something.
The Dark Palace Master had raised her exactly like this.
Without teaching her how to apologize.
I really did become that kind of person.
Suddenly she remembered another thing Geom Mugeuk once said.
Only when you sail out to sea will you see the true sky.
Lightning may strike, storms may rage, but go out anyway.
Even if you die, die in that sea.
Her gaze turned toward the Dark Palace Master.
“I am not on anyone’s side.”
“I stand here as the Palace Master of the Priestess Palace.”
The Dark Palace Master sneered.
“So the convictions of the Priestess Palace Master change this easily?”
He believed she had betrayed him.
“That’s right,” Gaye replied calmly.
“I have no right to act this way.”
“I became Palace Master when I was young. I spent my entire life helping you.”
“To suddenly talk about the will of heaven now, it sounds absurd.”
She met his eyes directly.
“Perhaps my convictions did change easily.”
“But the heart I hold now is sincere.”
She placed her hand over her chest.
Her ship had already left the harbor.
“I will not regret today’s choice.”
“Whether I die by your hand…”
“Or by the Young Cult Leader’s…”
“Or later by that person’s.”
Then she spoke with her final sincerity.
“Please give up.”
“And tell the Young Cult Leader how to kill that person.”
“This is my final Heavenly Will.”
But her Heavenly Will meant nothing to the Dark Palace Master.
Swaaak.
Boom.
A palm strike flew toward her.
Geom Mugeuk raised his hand and blocked it effortlessly.
It had not been meant to kill.
The Dark Palace Master had attacked, knowing Geom Mugeuk would stop it.
“This is my answer.”
The Dark Palace Master wanted to appear imposing.
Like the ultimate ruler at the end.
Stern.
Magnificent.
Mysterious.
Perhaps he could maintain such an image before the Demon Supremes.
But before Geom Mugeuk and Gaye,
It was impossible.
Just looking at them stirred primitive emotions within him.
“You should never have betrayed me!”
“After everything I did for you!”
His anger turned toward Geom Mugeuk.
“Do not be deceived,” Geom Mugeuk said to Gaye.
“If I had accepted you…”
“If my taciturn father had accepted you…”
“If the former Blood Heaven Blade Demon had accepted you…”
“We would have done far more for you than that man ever did.”
“Don’t be fooled by his boasting.”
“Ask him instead why he claims to have given you a dragon’s head…”
“When all he gave you was a rat’s tail.”
The Dark Palace Master nearly exploded with rage.
You damned brat…
He wanted to unleash a killing strike immediately and end it.
But he restrained himself.
There was something he still had to accomplish.
Meanwhile, Geom Mugeuk continued provoking him.
“You are unbelievably selfish.”
“If we unfolded all those wrinkles, they would be filled with selfishness.”
The Dark Palace Master scoffed.
“And you’re different?”
“You claim to care about others?”
“A demonic hero?”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
“You only indulge in your own amusement.”
Geom Mugeuk nodded easily.
“That’s true.”
“It’s my amusement.”
“But I hope my amusement becomes something others can enjoy too.”
“And you?”
“What has your amusement brought?”
“You killed everyone around you.”
The Dark Palace Master replied coldly.
“You’re the one who killed them.”
“To save everyone else.”
Their gazes clashed fiercely.
“Where is the Heavenly Killing Star?” Geom Mugeuk asked.
The Dark Palace Master refused to answer.
Then Gaye spoke from behind.
“The Heavenly Killing Star awakened on his own.”
“He broke the Seventy-Two Stars Forbidden Soul Formation himself.”
“I believe it happened because of you.”
Geom Mugeuk did not deny it.
His regression had changed the timeline.
“He has already escaped the seal?”
“I believe so,” Gaye said.
Geom Mugeuk turned to the Dark Palace Master.
“Where is he now?”
The Dark Palace Master smiled coldly.
“Where do you think?”
Only one answer came to mind.
“He went to the main cult?”
“Yes.”
The Dark Palace Master’s eyes gleamed with revenge.
“You killed everyone around me.”
“So everyone around you will die.”
“This is my final amusement.”
Yet Geom Mugeuk did not panic.
“You aren’t surprised?”
“I’m someone who worries about everything.”
He answered honestly.
“But I’ll think about it this way.”
“If my father cannot handle it…”
“Then neither can I.”
It was absolute faith in his father.
Before regression, his father reached Ten-Star Greatness.
Now he had reached Twelve-Star Greatness.
But Gaye still trembled.
“He is stronger than you can imagine.”
“If the Six-Origin Energies cannot control him…”
Her words implied even the Cult Leader might lose.
Geom Mugeuk finally understood something.
In his previous life, Hwa Moogi’s “seclusion” probably had not been seclusion at all.
After killing the leaders of the three alliances,
The Dark Palace Master likely used the Six-Origin Energies to control him.
“How do you use the Six-Origin Energies?” Geom Mugeuk asked.
The Dark Palace Master answered immediately.
“I will tell you.”
“As if you would tell me honestly.”
“We don’t know the method either.”
“Only this can reveal it.”
Srrrk.
The wall behind him opened.
Geom Mugeuk’s eyes widened.
Inside was the Secret Box.
The Dark Palace Master had brought the sacred relic for this final battle.
“You know what this is.”
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
“It’s the sacred relic passed down in your palace.”
Three hundred years ago, war had begun because of this very box.
“To unite the Six-Origin Energies inside your body…”
“You must borrow the power of this Secret Box.”
Geom Mugeuk immediately understood.
The Dark Palace Master did not know he had already unified the energies.
So that’s your plan.
The mysterious technique carved across his body,
He intended to use it to steal the Six-Origin Energies.
“May I take a closer look?”
The Dark Palace Master stepped aside.
Geom Mugeuk walked toward the Secret Box.
Then suddenly stopped.
“You’re letting me approach so easily.”
“No traps?”
“You asked to see it.”
“If you’re afraid, step back.”
“I can’t do that.”
Geom Mugeuk approached.
Secret Box… it’s good to see you again.
He never expected to encounter it again.
The smaller box had disappeared after absorbing the final power.
Only this one remained.
Geom Mugeuk placed his hand on it.
At that moment,
Srrrk.
His body began sinking into the box.
Like falling into a swamp.
“Uh?”
Geom Mugeuk immediately realized what was happening.
Not now!
The problem was everyone outside.
The Priestess Palace Master.
The Demon Supremes.
The Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress.
They would come searching for him here.
But half his body had already been absorbed.
He could not escape.
And even if he could,
He shouldn’t.
A moment later, Geom Mugeuk completely disappeared into the Secret Box.
The Dark Palace Master rushed forward in shock.
He had hoped for an opportunity,
But never imagined the box would swallow Geom Mugeuk.
He cautiously touched the surface.
The metal wall was cold and solid.
He tried to send energy inside.
Nothing.
No aura.
No presence.
Pressing his hand against it, he shouted desperately.
“O sacred relic of Heavenly Will Palace!”
“Grant me the power the Young Cult Leader obtained!”
No response.
“That power belongs to this palace!”
“Grant me strength!”
Still nothing.
His face twisted.
“If you abandon me…”
“I will destroy the Secret Box while he is still inside!”
He meant it.
If Geom Mugeuk died within,
He would at least win their battle.
Then he raised his hand.
“Grant me Heavenly Will!”
Just before he struck,
“Stop!”
Gaye shouted.
“The Secret Box is the sacred relic of Heavenly Will Palace!”
“You must not destroy it!”
The Dark Palace Master asked coldly,
“Are you worried about the relic?”
“Or the Young Cult Leader?”
Her answer stunned him.
“I’m worried about you.”
“…!”
“I am worried about you right now.”
“Why?”
“Because I am the Priestess Palace Master.”
“And you are the Dark Palace Master.”
She was fulfilling her final duty.
“Heavenly Will lies with the Young Cult Leader.”
“Not with you.”
The Dark Palace Master trembled with rage.
“Please…”
“Do not defy heaven.”
Once those words would have broken her heart.
Now they did not hurt at all.
Seeing her peaceful expression enraged him.
“I never believed in Heavenly Will anyway.”
Swaaaaaak!
His palm strike flew toward her.
Gaye closed her eyes.
In her mind, she stood on the deck of a ship.
A storm raged around her,
But she kept looking at the sky.
I’m sorry I could not uphold your will.
Boom.
Her body flew backward.
But she wasn’t dead.
Someone caught her.
She turned in shock.
The Drunken Demon stood behind her.
Beside him were the Demonic Buddha, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, and the Sky Flower Pavilion Mistress.
They had arrived just in time.
The ship had not sunk.
Do I still have something left to do?
Gaye looked at the Drunken Demon.
“Why did you save me?”
He replied drunkenly.
“If you walk with a drunkard, you become a drunkard.”
“If you walk with someone resentful, you become resentful.”
“If you walk with someone who loves books, you start loving books.”
Then he grinned.
“And if you walk with someone like our Young Cult Leader…”
“You save people first when you see them in danger.”
He looked around the hall.
“Where is our Young Cult Leader?”