ALL NOVEL Ch 87
Chapter 86
Why had he always been destined to lose in every Star Wars (Star Constellation War) up until now?
Amid the confusion brought on by the memories of all his reincarnations, Cho Hwi was constantly asking himself this question.
Was it because his strength was lacking?
No.
Especially in the first Star War, his side had a force that overwhelmingly outmatched the enemy.
At that time, his rank and reputation as the *King of Kings*, the *Lord of Lords*, were at their peak.
When he declared the start of the Star War alone, astonishingly, countless constellations followed him.
The number of high-ranking constellations, those above the thousandth rank in dimensional hierarchy, was overwhelmingly on his side.
And then came the second Star War.
The most puzzling defeat.
There had been no major strategic errors, and the choices made at each moment were not bad. The morale of his troops was high, and even luck seemed to be on his side.
Yet, despite everything, the final result was the most crushing and helpless defeat.
In the wars that followed, he used thorough preparations and meticulous strategies through countless reincarnations, but still, he could only continue to lose.
The reason for his defeats in all those wars could surprisingly be diagnosed simply.
Unlike him, the constellations had no weaknesses.
The constellations, beings inscribed with the new names granted by the universe onto the “Stone of Dimensions,” were fundamentally immortal.
Even if they exhausted a great deal of their power in battle, their existence would only temporarily weaken. But through their near-eternal lives, they would quickly recover their base and return to full strength.
Occasionally, some constellations received devastating blows that caused their existence to weaken to the point of nearing annihilation, and they would retreat to the corners of the universe.
But that was only *near* annihilation; actual annihilation, where their souls would completely disappear, did not happen.
After a long recovery period, those constellations would eventually return to the battlefield.
In contrast, Cho Hwi was a protector.
As long as there was the human race to protect, he could never truly win in this war, no matter what methods he used.
Even if his side were to achieve a dramatic victory in this war and the constellations were to receive blows that brought them to the brink of annihilation, they would eventually return to the battlefield at some point. This was an undeniable truth.
Thus, from the moment he turned against all the constellations, the Star Wars had begun—one that would never truly end.
In the end, the solution Cho Hwi had chosen was to forcibly evolve the entire human civilization into a higher-tier civilization, a higher species capable of standing against the power of the constellations.
Human civilization would have to gain the strength to contend with the constellations’ power.
In fact, some high-tier species in the universe had managed to protect themselves and sustain their civilizations without being manipulated or played with by the constellations.
The problem was whether humans had the ability to control such overwhelming power on their own.
Humans were a species that had constantly fought and bled throughout history—tribe against tribe, religion against religion, nation against nation.
Some believed that humans would eventually recognize their innate rights and the value of peace, but Cho Hwi, who had loved them so deeply, couldn’t easily conclude whether they could control the immense power they would suddenly gain.
This was the issue he had never been able to resolve, despite going through countless reincarnations.
If he wasn’t careful, the human race, a rare species in the universe, might end up causing its own extinction.
Would Namgung Jangho, who gained the power of the Giant God and defeated the constellations, be able to control that power?
He was undoubtedly a member of the Namgung family, a sword master.
It was obvious that he would use the tremendous power of the Giant God for his family.
He would inevitably try to project the power of the Giant God outside his family, which would lead to more division and conflict.
In that way, the Central Plains would become a battleground for all the true sages.
Cho Hwi, who knew humans better than anyone, loved them more than anyone, and yet understood their nature, still wanted to believe in them.
Because the “flame of humanity” he loved was not simply driven by desire.
Whether his gamble, whether humanity’s civilization would end in ruin or lead to prosperity, was still unknown.
Above all, winning this dreadful Star War was the immediate priority.
Late at night, Cho Hwi, deep in thought, was visited by Jeongal Un.
*Creek-*
Looking at Jeongal Un, who had returned to his male form after shedding his awakened body, Cho Hwi chuckled.
“You’re lucky. Do you still need to marry? If you ever miss a woman, you can always—”
“Shut up!”
Shivering all over, as though ready to kill him, Jeongal Un glared at Cho Hwi, then sighed deeply.
“*Hah…* I’m not in the mood for jokes.”
When Jeongal Un started speaking seriously, Cho Hwi’s expression also became more serious.
“Did you, the military strategist of the Cho family, come up with some great strategy?”
“No.”
“Then what is it that brings you here at this late hour?”
Jeongal Un’s gaze grew dark and intense.
“I want to fully understand the true nature of the constellations’ power.”
“Power?”
Cho Hwi immediately understood his intention as a military strategist. If he didn’t have a clear understanding of the enemy’s strength, all of his plans would be meaningless. This was why he had been unable to sleep until this late hour.
“Hmm…”
However, Cho Hwi hesitated to speak right away. Even though he wanted to explain, trying to describe the constellations’ abilities and nature in terms that humans—especially those from the Central Plains—could understand made him feel somewhat lost.
He took a moment to organize his thoughts in order to explain things to Jeongal Un in the simplest way possible. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“Let’s first divide them into two categories: physical and non-physical.”
“Physical?”
Cho Hwi nodded.
“Exactly. The constellations who project their existence physically. In simple terms, they are like the giantized Namgung Hyung. Naturally, most of them possess transcendent abilities, like being able to collapse mountains and create tsunamis with a single gesture. Over seventy percent of the constellations belong to this physical category. Some of them have overwhelming power, but they aren’t that difficult to deal with.”
“Not difficult?”
Only someone like this madman could say that controlling beings who could create tsunamis and destroy mountains with a gesture wouldn’t be that difficult.
“The problem lies with the non-physical constellations.”
For Jeongal Un, the term “non-physical” didn’t immediately resonate with him.
In the martial world, “physical” would refer to any warrior who has mastered martial arts.
If there were such a thing as a “non-physical” category, it might apply to merchants, scholars, or craftsmen?
“Do they have some kind of occupation or class depending on their abilities?” Jeongal Un asked.
Cho Hwi smiled faintly and replied.
“Not exactly. Let me give you an example.”
Cho Hwi gazed out the window, toward the distant expanse of space.
“Among the countless species in the universe, there are those who have evolved their civilization exclusively in terms of the mind.”
“Mental civilization?”
“Yes. For some species, telekinesis—the ability to manipulate objects with one’s mind, which we call *Yi-Nyeom*—is a basic ability they are born with. It’s as natural to them as speaking or walking is to humans.”
“Ha…”
To think that such extraordinary telekinesis, a level of ability that could only be achieved after immense training or by a rare stroke of enlightenment, was something they could do from birth!
“To them, the concept of language doesn’t even exist. It’s unnecessary. They can project their thoughts and will to others at any time.”
Project their thoughts to others?
In the martial world, there were indeed similar abilities. The highest level of the Buddhist teachings, *Hye-Gwang-Sim-Eo* (慧光心語), was a legendary state achieved after years of deep meditation and spiritual enlightenment, allowing one to communicate without words.
However, reaching this *Hye-Gwang* state was extremely difficult, and only the most legendary figures, like the ancient monks *Hye-Ga* and *Hye-Neung*, could do so.
“Now, imagine what it would be like for someone with such transcendent mental abilities, who can use telekinesis and *Hye-Gwang-Sim-Eo* from birth, to break through their limits and establish a *seat* (a position among the constellations)… What kind of power would that person possess?”
A being born with the ability to use telekinesis and *Hye-Gwang-Sim-Eo*, and who, through some miraculous chance, breaks through their limits to become a constellation—Jeongal Un couldn’t even begin to imagine the kind of power that person would have.
“There’s someone called the ‘Thinking Vortex.'”
A “Thinking Vortex”?
What kind of name was that?
“Is that their constellation name?”
Cho Hwi nodded silently in response to Jeongal Un’s question.
“Yes. This person controls a massive telekinetic storm. He can manipulate the wills of every mental entity within the vortex.”
“Mental entities?”
“Mental entities refer to any being with thoughts and consciousness.”
Jeongal Un focused on the phrase “every being with thoughts” that Cho Hwi mentioned.
“Does that include not only humans, but even the constellations themselves?”
“Of course. Because of that ability, he was able to become the leader of all the constellations in his galaxy.”
“How far does his telekinetic storm reach?”
Cho Hwi hesitated for a moment before answering.
The telekinetic storm that covered an entire star system.
Trying to explain such an enormous vortex of power left him momentarily speechless.
In the end, Cho Hwi could only describe it in terms that would make sense to someone from the Central Plains.
“The entire world.”
The entire world.
It was a term referring to everything beneath the heavens.
Jeongal Un was stunned and exclaimed in shock.
“Crazy! Then there’s no chance of winning!”
If the telekinetic storm reached the entire world, it meant that every human would be controlled by his will.
At that moment, Cho Hwi’s eyes darkened, as if they had sunk into an abyss.
“I can deny everything about him.”
Jeongal Un shuddered.
The simple statement that he could deny everything was filled with unimaginable power.
A transcendent being who could control all of humanity with their will.
Cho Hwi was someone who could deny the entire existence of such a being, someone who could nullify their very essence.
Even if one were to cultivate over countless years to gain an existence approaching that of the universe itself, in the face of Cho Hwi’s absolute ability, everything would become futile and meaningless.
To the constellations, Cho Hwi was an absolute opposite, a cosmic calamity.
Jeongal Un had to truly grasp just how great a being Cho Hwi was.
“Then, are there any constellations that could threaten you?”
“Hmm…”
After thinking for a while, Cho Hwi spoke again.
“I’m not sure about threats, but there are certainly some that are troublesome.”
“Troublesome?”
To think that even Cho Hwi, who could negate someone’s existence with a mere glance, could find some constellations troublesome? And that there were many of them?
Jeongal Un could hardly imagine the kind of power such constellations must have.
“Who are these constellations? What kind of abilities do they have?”
For a moment, Cho Hwi recalled one being.
Just thinking about it made him feel nauseous, to the point where he could almost gag.
How could one even describe such a being with human words?
Devious, cruel, cunning, petty, insidious…
No matter how many words he used, there was no fitting description for this being.
“There’s a constellation called ‘Gap.’ To me, it’s like an opposite force.”
“Gap? An opposite force?”
Was it even possible for there to be an opposite force to Cho Hwi, who could negate another’s existence?
“To be precise, it’s called ‘The Harvesting Gap.’ This being is…”
As Cho Hwi furrowed his brow and his face twisted in disgust, Jeongal Un’s curiosity only grew.
“Who is he?”
After much thought, Cho Hwi finally muttered through gritted teeth.
“That… bastard.”
The Harvesting Gap.
Just recalling that treacherous existence caused a torrent of emotions to surge through Cho Hwi.
This being could hide its entire essence within the gap.
Because of this, Cho Hwi had never truly been able to confront its nature directly.
The only one who could nullify Cho Hwi’s ability to deny existence, the one who could completely neutralize his power.
Among all the countless constellations that emerged in the universe, this one was the most secretive, cunning, and vile.
Even his species, the constellations he interacted with, and the exact nature of his abilities had never been fully understood.
The one advantage Cho Hwi had over him was that he had already faced this being’s treacherous strategies multiple times.
While the Harvesting Gap still positioned himself as a neutral constellation, observing the great constellation wars, Cho Hwi vividly remembered the petty acts he had orchestrated throughout the wars.
In fact, the Harvesting Gap had always moved quicker than anyone in every war so far.
Even now, he would undoubtedly be preparing for future wars, securing the high ground in meticulous preparation.
*Whew…*
There was one terrifying thing Cho Hwi could never forget.
Consumption.
Even as he lived with his reincarnated soul, without any memories, the mere mention of “consumption” would instantly bring forth a vague, overwhelming sense of fear.
During the great chaos of the Constellation Wars, that damn Harvesting Gap had harvested more than half of humanity’s souls, making his way into the ranks of the Creator.
Until the very end, no other constellation understood the true value hidden within human souls.
Only the Harvesting Gap had known the true secret of humanity, and his actions at the very end were truly shocking.
Now, Cho Hwi, who had been cursing loudly just moments before, was now deeply lost in thought, and Jeongal Un couldn’t help but be even more curious.
To Jeongal Un, this was strange.
This was the first time he had ever seen Cho Hwi so troubled and fearful of a single being.
Being a strategist, Jeongal Un quickly got to the heart of the matter.
“Even if he’s such a formidable being, you’ve already faced him countless times, haven’t you?”
Cho Hwi was, after all, a being who transcended time through countless reincarnations.
From everything Jeongal Un had gathered, no constellation had the ability to transcend time.
To manipulate time was to ascend to the level of the Creator.
The only being who could transcend time was Cho Hwi himself.
With his ability to manipulate time and negate existence, Cho Hwi was revered as the true god among constellations, the supreme of all constellations.
“Of course, I’ve faced all his strategies and powers.”
At Cho Hwi’s words, Jeongal Un was even more confused.
The Cho Hwi he knew had been a strategist who had reached the pinnacle of human wisdom, even before recovering his memories and powers.
Why, then, was he so afraid of a being he had faced countless times?
The Harvesting Gap, no matter how great his strategies, would be nothing but a pawn in Cho Hwi’s hands.
“If that’s the case, defending against him should be easy, right? You already know what his moves will be. Why are you so troubled?”
Cho Hwi let out a thin sigh.
“There’s no answer.”
“No answer?”
“Yes. That being can gather all of his existence into a gap. He can erase his entire essence from the universe in an instant.”
“Huh?”
“Any strategy or countermeasure is meaningless. The moment he senses my presence, he will disappear without hesitation. That bastard… there was once a time when he didn’t come out of the gap for over ten thousand years.”
The ability of Cho Hwi, who can deny the time of all beings by perceiving only their essence, could be compared to a spear that can pierce anything.
However, the ‘Harvesting Gap’ could be said to possess an invincible shield, capable of blocking anything. It could, in fact, seal its own ‘essence’ into the gap at any time.
“If I could have sensed that bastard even once, I would have abandoned all my subsequent reincarnations and endlessly denied his time.”
If this terrifying Cho Hwi is this afraid of someone, that being must truly be an unimaginable demon.
“So, does he have no weaknesses at all?”
“I don’t know.”
He had never even sensed the true form of that being, so how could he understand its weaknesses?
Suddenly, a question came to Je Gawon’s mind.
“But… if he’s just a being hiding and avoiding you, there shouldn’t be any reason to fear him, right?”
Cho Hwi sighed deeply.
“Hah… what does defeat in war mean to you?”
Je Gawon paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts, before responding.
“If the casualties are so severe that the army can no longer fight, that would be defeat. Or if the supply lines are completely cut off, making further advance meaningless, or when faced with misfortunes like natural disasters that make it impossible to continue fighting—there are many situations that would be considered defeat.”
“Right. That’s human standards. But according to those standards, I’ve never experienced defeat even once in all the wars of the Constellation Wars.”
“W-What are you talking about?”
Cho Hwi had always claimed that he had never won a single time.
“I’ve never experienced the loss of existence to the point of complete annihilation. If I had wanted to, I could have returned to the battlefield at any time. After all, my only enemy was myself. There was never any real loss of troops, because all who opposed me were denied, and I was always alive.”
Now Je Gawon understood the true meaning behind Cho Hwi’s words.
In human terms, the Constellation Wars were wars where no side could be defeated. Even if existence were temporarily lost, it could always be recovered and return to the battlefield through endless time. The war itself could never end.
But why did Cho Hwi keep saying he had lost?
“Human souls being consumed… No, being ‘harvested’ by that bastard. And because of that, the true value of human souls was revealed to all the constellations… In the end, even the remaining humans were consumed and killed by the constellations.”
“Ah…”
Je Gawon immediately grasped the nature of the Constellation Wars.
As long as that ‘Harvesting Gap’ existed, Cho Hwi would never be able to claim victory.
“Truly, there is no answer.”
Now, Je Gawon understood why Cho Hwi had struggled so much to awaken human civilization.
But could humans really stop that Harvesting Gap, the being Cho Hwi couldn’t even defeat?
Je Gawon’s face darkened severely.
“The problem is our people’s awakening.”
“Exactly. I don’t know how much time we have left. We need to awaken as many humans as possible before then, especially the martial artists of the Jianghu.”
“Mm…”
Je Gawon’s chest tightened.
His companions knew all the circumstances, so they would not reject it. But it was a different story with ordinary martial artists.
If their bodies suddenly transformed like giants, they would consider themselves monsters. It was obvious that those who witnessed it would flee, thinking it was some sort of evil magic.
The most troublesome part was that Cho Hwi had directly revealed that the Dalma Jin Gyeong was the technique of a being trying to destroy the world.
How could they persuade the martial artists in such a situation?
“Wait…”
Je Gawon’s face suddenly lit up with an expression as if he had thought of something, and Cho Hwi became curious.
“Have you thought of a good idea?”
“We’re the Great Assembly of the Family, right?”
“What about it?”
Je Gawon grinned meaningfully.
“We are a massive organization that can even move the generals of different regions.”
“Generals?”
“Order and obedience!”
“Oh?”
The only place where the curse of the Dalma Jin Gyeong, which causes one’s soul to be devoured by demons, would not reach was in the absolute order system of the military.
Currently, the only place where that could happen was the military system with strict command and obedience.
“Chun Choo, General Hahoo Myung; Minghwa, General Gajin Heon; Cheonho, General Yuk Ui Moon… and countless other generals are under our influence. Especially Yuk Ui Moon, who you made suffer, is now trembling whenever you speak, right?”
“Generals are not fools.”
“Of course, the generals must have heard the ominous rumors about the Dalma Jin Gyeong. But how much bribe money has been paid over the years? Even if not the entire army, each general’s division could certainly be transformed into a group of awakened ones. Wouldn’t that show considerable might?”
However, Cho Hwi thought that this solution had more drawbacks than advantages.
“The Central Plains will collapse before the constellations descend.”
Je Gawon was not unaware of Cho Hwi’s concerns.
The generals of various regions were deeply intertwined with the powers of the imperial court.
What the generals, having gained powerful awakened groups, might do by colluding with the authorities was as clear as day.
It was even possible that their plans to defy the heavens could succeed, and the emperor might be overthrown.
Of course, that was the best-case scenario.
In the worst case, the regional generals might each claim themselves as emperors, plunging the world into chaos. It could become something like the Three Kingdoms, or even the Ten Kingdoms era.
“If necessary, that might be fine.”
“What did you say?”
Je Gawon’s bold response startled Cho Hwi.
“Are you suggesting we bring chaos to the Central Plains ourselves before the constellations even descend?”
“I’m a strategist.”
Je Gawon’s eyes were as transparent as glass.
Looking at him, Cho Hwi felt a chill run down his spine.
“If the generals’ divisions each gain the unprecedented power of an awakened group, what do you think they’ll try to deal with first, before embarking on the path of warlords?”
“…What?”
“The true power in each region doesn’t lie in the imperial offices or powerful families. The martial sects that dominate the region’s trade are the true power. Securing military supplies? Ha! Do you think that can happen without the cooperation and tolerance of the martial sects?”
“….”
“General Gajin Heon will have to go to the Tang family and persuade the Tang family leader before even thinking of becoming a warlord. Of course, if the banner of General Gajin Heon doesn’t align with the Tang family leader’s ideas and interests, the path of becoming a warlord is over.”
*Swish!*
Je Gawon opened a golden fan shaped like a phoenix and smiled faintly.
“For them, the Jianghu is always a thorn in the side. When the balance of power tilts, the inviolability between the government and the martial world will inevitably break. This has been repeated in history whenever the power of the imperial government exceeds that of the Jianghu.”
Je Gawon smiled even more meaningfully.
“In my judgment, an awakened group cannot be stopped by the martial strength of the Jianghu.”
“So, what you’re saying is…?”
*Swish!*
With the folded phoenix fan, Je Gawon pointed towards the wide Poyang Lake in the distance.
“The Great Assembly of the Family will become the savior of the Jianghu. We will give them the power to face off against the imperial court. By then, the martial artists who were threatened by the government will no longer fear those ominous rumors.”
Cho Hwi couldn’t help but admire.
“Truly, Je Gal is Je Gal (諸葛) after all.”
Indeed, the title of “Little Zhuge” for Je Gawon, a descendant of the Zhuge family, was not a title earned by chance.
For the first time, Cho Hwi thought that Je Gawon might actually be greater than Jang Il-ryong.
With a grin, Cho Hwi stood up.
“I will follow the strategist’s orders.”
“You’re too kind.”
* * *
The situation in the Sichuan General’s Division was tougher than expected.
The heavy rain had lasted for over a month, causing the entire military camp to become a swamp, and the tired soldiers were wasting time wondering when their military service would end.
*Swishhh—*
The torrential downpour seemed endless.
General Gajin Heon, too, had a sour stomach since morning.
This stomach pain was a symptom caused by the Sichuan Tang Family granting the exclusive rights to iron ore sales to the Great Assembly of the Family from the Jianghu.
The Tang Family of Sichuan had been sending all their iron ore, excluding the taxes they owed to the imperial court, to the Great Assembly of the Family.
General Gajin Heon couldn’t understand the attitude of the Sichuan Tang Family.
No matter how far away the imperial capital was, all the mines in the Central Plains belonged to the empire by default.
The imperial court had temporarily allowed the Tang Family to manage the mining and operations in Sichuan due to the region’s difficult geography and terrain.
Thus, allowing the Tang Family to freely control the iron ore sales was tantamount to losing the emperor’s trust.
The Tang Family’s decision to take such a risk and give exclusive sales rights to a mere merchant guild was incomprehensible to him.
As a result, the foundries in Sichuan had suffered, with profits halved overnight.
They were forced to melt down existing steel to make products, which caused the prices of iron goods to double, and because sales became more difficult, the structure had become one where they could only survive with basic repairs.
The problem was that the consequences of this were being directly passed down to the general’s division.
The cost of maintaining and oiling military weapons had skyrocketed, and now even the small benefits of borrowing military funds had disappeared.
Even worse, there was no chance to introduce new weapons; they were only trying to repair outdated equipment, meaning they would soon be left with one of the weakest forces in the regional army.
What angered General Gajin Heon the most was that, despite bringing things to this point, the Tang Family’s power continued to grow.
In exchange for the exclusive sales rights, the Great Assembly of the Family had been purchasing iron ore at double the market price, which allowed the Tang Family to steadily earn enormous amounts of silver.
Moreover, the Tang Family had become the sole distributor of cultural items and other goods in Sichuan, earning vast profits.
“How dare they…!”
Gajin Heon gritted his teeth in anger.
Even though it was a regional army, it was still part of the imperial army.
How dare a group of Jianghu thugs, leading a merchant guild, treat him, the general of the imperial army, with such disrespect?
At that moment, the guard captain, Yuk Eung, came into the office, standing at attention.
“General! I bring word!”
Gajin Heon gave him a sideways glance, frowning.
It was obvious that some bad news was coming—perhaps some levee had collapsed or there was an outbreak of illness among the exhausted soldiers.
“Which levee has collapsed now? Has our camp been affected?”
“General! It’s not that. We have a visitor.”
“A visitor? To see me?”
Few people directly visited a general like this.
Most messages and orders from the imperial capital were delivered by messengers, and minor matters were handled by subordinate officers, not the general.
“Cho Hwi has come to see you.”
“Cho Hwi!”
Gajinhen’s complexion turned pale.
His anger toward the Tang clan had clouded his judgment, but the true instigator of all these problems was that person.
When he thought about how he had been swindled by that man’s silver-tongued words and lost so much, it made his chest ache even in his sleep.
Yu Eung silently observed Gajinhen with a bitter expression.
Zhou Hui.
He was the one who had brought gifts of ancient documents from the early days of the empire, and with his incredible skill and persuasive words, he had won Gajinhen’s favor.
In the end, General Gajinhen had started giving him regular bribes, which became the biggest mistake of his military career.
Yu Eung hesitantly spoke up.
“Still, it might be better to meet him. He’s no longer just a merchant’s clerk. He’s now one of the Eight Martial Seats, a disciple of the Sword Saint.”
Despite not being thrilled at the idea, Gajinhen knew that Zhou Hui had grown into a significant figure, so he decided to meet him.
“Bring him in.”
“Understood!”
Suddenly, amidst the torrential downpour, a voice rang out.
“You don’t need to come out to find me.”
“Huh!”
Outside the window, Zhou Hui, the sword saint, stood arrogantly with his sword mounted and his arms crossed.
Seeing him gaze into the office with half-closed eyes, Gajinhen felt a chill run down his spine.
The sight of a person defying the laws of nature and floating in mid-air was so shocking to him.
Unknowingly, his hands clenched into fists, and it felt awkward to him. He quickly adjusted his clothes and hurriedly composed himself.
Yu Eung shouted angrily.
“How dare you! Do you know where this is?”
“This is the Sichuan General’s Office,” Zhou Hui said lightly as he entered through the window and casually returned his sword to its scabbard.
“I’m just here to pay my respects to the general.”
Only then did Gajinhen seem to calm down a bit and chuckle nervously.
“You’ve really gotten better at startling people.”
“I was just trying to wrap things up as quickly as possible, no other disrespect intended.”
“Wrap things up?”
Gajinhen began to sweat, feeling a strange sense of foreboding, wondering if there was something new he had agreed to that he couldn’t recall.
“If this is another trick, stop it now. I’m done working with you.”
But Zhou Hui, as if expecting this response, took out a piece of parchment from his robe and placed it on the table with a serious expression.
Yu Eung, who was already familiar with these scenes, immediately blocked Gajinhen’s view with his heavy frame.
“Forgive my rudeness!”
The parchment that Zhou Hui pulled out was clearly something unusual.
It seemed to be one of the famous ancient scrolls from the early period of the empire.
Gajinhen became increasingly excited as he could guess what it was.
“Move aside!”
“No! I can’t let you see it!”
“Ah! Step aside!”
“General!”
Zhou Hui smiled softly and spread the parchment across the table.
“This is the *Six Star Chart of Heavenly Virtue*.”
“Six Star Chart of Heavenly Virtue!” Gajinhen gasped.
This was a legendary artifact from the early empire, said to have been received by the Emperor of Hara from a celestial being.
Because of the miraculous powers it was believed to hold, it was considered one of the two most revered artworks of the Hara empire, alongside the *Fuxi-Nüwa* painting.
To discuss its value was almost sacrilegious, as it was beyond the realm of simple treasures.
“I offer it to you, General.”
“What? What do you mean?”
Gajinhen was so excited that Yu Eung finally gave up trying to stop him.
Gajinhen, eyes full of tears, grabbed the table, overwhelmed by emotion.
“Ah!”
He couldn’t believe his eyes as he stared at the magnificence of the parchment spread out before him.
How could a mere piece of parchment convey such an expansive and beautiful galaxy?
The stars on the chart represented the *Six Principles* of the universe.
If he could only understand this, he believed he could control the myriad phenomena of the world.
However, his unrefined eyes could not even distinguish the elements of Heaven and Earth depicted on the chart.
After all, if a mere general could understand such profound wisdom, then it wouldn’t be a legendary artifact.
Zhou Hui understood Gajinhen’s excitement.
Although this artifact was now largely irrelevant, Zhou Hui had spent a great deal of time searching for it in pursuit of his own goals.
He had paid a high price to acquire it, mainly due to his desire to uncover the mysterious *Nine Heavens Mystical Woman’s Scripture*.
Of course, he had never succeeded in finding a clue.
Most treasures, even if lost, would still have some oral tradition about them, but this particular one had completely vanished from the Central Plains.
Then, unexpectedly, an artifact almost as valuable as the *Nine Heavens Mystical Woman’s Scripture* appeared on the black market—the *Six Star Chart of Heavenly Virtue*.
Although Zhou Hui did not want to part with it, he knew that material wealth meant nothing in the face of the impending collapse of civilization.
With a bitter heart, Zhou Hui looked at the chart as he mentally prepared himself.
“Are you really giving me this precious artifact?”
“Have I ever spoken falsely?”
“No, of course not! Yes!” Gajinhen hastily grabbed the *Six Star Chart of Heavenly Virtue* in a rush of excitement.
“However, I must ask: What is it that you want in return? Do you still have something left to take from me?”
Zhou Hui waved his hand dismissively.
“Take from you? I’ve brought this treasure to offer to you.”
“Treasure?” Gajinhen was startled.
After handing over the *Six Star Chart of Heavenly Virtue*, now Zhou Hui was offering something else?
Having experienced much in his life, Gajinhen didn’t take Zhou Hui’s words at face value.
“Are you trying to deceive me? What is your true intention?”
Zhou Hui didn’t hesitate and took out a Neuralink chip.
“This is the *Dalma Jin Gyeong*.”
“*Dalma Jin Gyeong*!”
Although the officers of the Sichuan General’s Office were highly educated, they were no strangers to the *Dalma Jin Gyeong*, the foundational text of the martial arts world.
Especially for Yu Eung, who was always alert to developments in the martial world, Zhou Hui’s intentions were immediately clear.
“Isn’t this the *Dalma Jin Gyeong* that the Martial Arts Alliance has been distributing to its leaders recently?”
“That’s correct.”
Yu Eung tilted his head, asking again.
“Isn’t this the very same text that you, the Sword Saint, called a demonic artifact in front of all the martial arts leaders?”
Zhou Hui’s expression became solemn.
“For the greater good, sometimes one must speak a falsehood. My actions are for the benefit of the world, so please understand.”
“For the greater good? What do you mean by that?”
“The *Dalma Jin Gyeong* is indeed a treasure that unlocks human potential to its limit, awakening immense power.”
Gajinhen’s eyes gleamed with an unusual light.
“Then?”
Zhou Hui’s gaze fixed on the Neuralink chip.
“What do you think would happen if all the Martial Arts Alliance’s leaders awakened incredible power and transformed into a formidable group?”
“Hmmm…”
Only then did Gajinhen grasp the true meaning behind Zhou Hui’s words.
Even without the *Martial Arts Alliance* becoming stronger, it already held the title of the most powerful faction in the world. Unless the Demonic Sect could somehow restore its former glory, there was no match for them.
If the *Martial Arts Alliance* were to become even more powerful, it would surely pose a significant burden to the imperial family.
However, Gajinhen was still suspicious of why a martial artist from the Jianghu would be speaking of such things.
“So, to prevent this, you’ve made the first move? You want me to believe this? You, who are also a martial artist in the Jianghu?”
“At the same time, I am a merchant,” Zhou Hui replied, smiling meaningfully.
“In a world where countless factions compete and their interests are tangled like a mess, only then can a merchant truly thrive. I do not wish for the Jianghu to be dominated by a single faction.”
At that moment, a loud commotion echoed from the vicinity of the camp.
“How could this be!”
“Oh my god!”
Soldiers near the military camp were in an uproar, and their voices boomed like thunder.
Gajinhen furrowed his brow and looked out the window.
“Hah!”
“What… what is that?”
The guardian deity, known for protecting the gates of heaven, was now revealed as none other than Nam Gung Jang Ho, showing the terrifying might of his awakened form, a monstrous giant.
“What on earth is that?”
Zhou Hui grinned and said, “Wouldn’t you want soldiers like those?”