The Sword Emperor Transmigrates-Chapter 257

Not long after that meeting, under Empress Laila’s command, the conquest of Nine Hells was brought up during the grand council. In response, the Three Noble Houses ceased all intelligence operations and redirected their resources to exploring the feasibility of the mission.

Though it wasn’t as preposterous as attempting to invade an entirely outer dimension, the theoretical possibility of success was almost nonexistent. Even defending the nine portals connecting the Middle Realm to the Demonic Realm required significant human sacrifices. Proposing an offensive campaign deep into enemy territory, which meant abandoning the defensive advantage, seemed like an invitation to disaster.

Audrey, the Black Dragon Commander, shook her head at the suggestion. As the individual most familiar with the Nine Hells and the ecology of the Demoniacs, she had no doubts. To truly eradicate the Demoniacs in the Nine Hells, the Empire would have to pour its entire national strength into the endeavor.

“Stopping the Demoniacs that come through the Hell Gates here in the Middle Realm and exterminating them in the Demonic Realm itself are two completely different matters,” she said, her tone calm but firm, her arm now completely rehabilitated.

“Demoniacs are individually powerful, but their sheer numbers are an equally significant threat. A thousand? Ten thousand? No, even if you killed millions of them, their forces would hardly falter. In defensive battles, where their numbers are restricted, we barely manage to stabilize the front lines. But an offensive campaign? That would only lead to the senseless death of countless soldiers.”

“Well, that’s true. Strictly speaking, Demoniacs can’t even be classified as living beings by conventional definitions. And as long as the divine energy that has seeped into the Nine Hells remains, they will keep spawning endlessly,” Declan replied, agreeing with her but unwilling to back down.

“Still, we have no choice,” he went on. “If the Nine Hells and the Demoniacs there serve as a conduit that draws the Outer Gods’ attention, we must minimize their numbers and influence.”

“Minimizing it might be slightly better than complete annihilation, but it’s still far from a solution. Reducing the Demonic Realm’s influence requires not only killing a vast number of Demoniacs but also purifying their territory. And can we even determine whether it’s possible for mortals to purify a world corrupted by the remnants of the gods that perished during the God-Slaying War?”

“The Wickeline family has presented three possible solutions,” Declan said, as if anticipating Audrey’s objections. He pulled out a report from his sleeve and handed it to her.

“The first involves using the ancient relics recovered by the Order of the White Dragon to neutralize the influence of that realm. The expedition team sent to the southern seas has recently found an ally, someone with the blessing of a Chief God who can manipulate such relics effectively.”

“Countering the gods with another god, is that it? What’s the second option?”

“The second option is more extreme—sealing or destroying the nine dimensional paths. By minimizing the points of connection between the Demonic Realm and the Middle Realm, we can cut off their means of crossing over and, ideally, isolate the Demonic Realm entirely, just as the Celestial Realm is detached from this world,” Declan elaborated.

“That’s too dangerous. We already know that destroying or sealing the Hell Gates will cause them to re-emerge elsewhere. The problem would persist even if we managed to destroy them completely. And if we were to tear apart the dimensional fabric again, after it was already shattered once during the God-Slaying War, the likelihood of a dimensional collapse is high.”

“Which is why I dismissed that option as well. Ultimately, the only viable path is a combination of the first and third method,” Declan concluded, ready to present the third option.

“Simon Magus, president of the Arcane Society, has proposed this final method. It’s the culmination of magical research aimed at either purifying lands corrupted into Corroded Realms or terraforming uninhabitable realms into places where life can thrive.”

Survival after the apocalypse didn’t just hinge on fighting. Like the Celestials, relocating to another dimension to ensure the survival of humanity was another path. However, what the mages had discovered during their search for alternate dimensions was grim.

Realms capable of sustaining human life were almost nonexistent. Some had no air, some lacked gravity, and others were devoid of water. In some realms, all flora and fauna were toxic to humans, while others were inhabited by monstrous creatures of unimaginable strength.

In retrospect, it was only natural. A properly formed world would likely already be under the rule of a god, while worlds left unclaimed or abandoned tended to have harsh, uninhabitable conditions.

Invading a realm already ruled by a divine being carried enormous risks, especially if that deity was malevolent. There was no point in avoiding the wolf only to stumble into a tiger’s den.

Thus, the mages were left with only one option.

“Terraforming.”

Transforming a world with almost no capacity to sustain human life into one that could provide at least minimal survival conditions. Even the Arcane Society, backed by Arcadia’s immense resources, couldn’t afford the overwhelming costs involved, leaving the project mostly theoretical.

Hearing the details, Audrey tilted her head in thought before her eyes suddenly widened as if struck by inspiration.

“...I think I know someone who could help with this.”

“Who?”

“Leonard. The sword techniques and aura cultivation method he passed down to the Order of the Black Dragon are naturally effective against Demoniacs. If we could adapt those principles, we might be able to repel not just the Demoniacs but even the influence of the Nine Hells itself.”

“Interesting.”

Declan’s eyes lit up, and he immediately halted the discussion to summon Leonard. Not a moment could be wasted in the face of impending doom.

* * *

“So, you’re asking if it’s possible to imbue demon-felling or demon-banishing powers into a magic array to dispel the influence of the Nine Hells?”

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“That’s correct. The Demon’s Bane, which you taught to the Order of the Black Dragon, might make it possible.”

Audrey’s sudden visit left Leonard blinking in surprise. Though he had heard whispers of the Nine Hells conquest during his audience with the empress, he hadn’t expected his martial knowledge and techniques to become a key element of the discussion.

Recalling the techniques he had taught the Order of the Black Dragon, Leonard became serious.

Cape Falling Demon Art

Skanda's Demon Felling Sword

Demon Felling Tiger Bowing Palm

While these techniques weren’t on the level of an ultimate martial art, they were more than effective against noble-class Demoniacs. But what about anti-demon techniques that reached the level of an ultimate martial art?

I’m no longer a mere Transcendence Tier knight. Now, at the Demigod Tier, I could probably restore most of the martial techniques stored deep in my memory. I could reproduce techniques like the Great Force Vajra Palm or the Arhat Divine Fist from the Shaolin Temple’s ultimate martial arts to about eighty percent.

Of course, it was unlikely he could do that with martial arts he had attempted or even seen before, like the Dharma Three Swords Art. However, if it was a martial art he had witnessed or fought against before, replicating it wouldn’t be too difficult.

The question was whether he could convey the profound principles of those techniques to the mages of the Arcane Society.

Generally, the people of the Central Plains felt a greater sense of distance from Taoism than from Buddhism. However, this was largely due to the differing roles and locations of Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries.

Mages and Taoists share some similarities, but mages and monks? They’re entirely different.

While Taoism, with its pursuit of immortality and ascension, was grounded in secular desires, the core teachings of Buddhism often revolved around transcending life, death, and worldly attachments. This fundamental difference presented a significant challenge.

The people of the Central Plains were closer to the pilgrims of the ancient era, and so, the modern practitioners of magic might have a hard time accepting their worldviews.

“This isn't something I can give a definitive answer to right away.”

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Leonard didn't hesitate to follow Audrey's lead.

“Please take me to the mages working on this research. I’ll cooperate as much as I can.”

“Thank you. I’m almost ashamed to have to rely so much on you and the Black Dragon Knights.”

“You flatter me.”

Without further delay, the two made their way to the Arcane Society, where the terraforming research was being conducted.

Awaiting them was none other than Cruella, already briefed by Declan. A necromancer and the Fourth Seat of the Pentagon, Cruella had famously raised the undead knights of the Cardenas’ knightly order, allowing them to fulfill missions they had left unfinished in life.

Riding her signature broomstick, she waved cheerfully upon spotting the duo.

“Oh, you’re already here? That was quick!”

“There's no time to waste,” Leonard replied firmly.

Smirking faintly, Cruella activated the magic circle she had prepared on the ground.

Fwoosh!

Unlike the teleportation Leonard had experienced with Calantha, this one barely caused a ripple—no dizziness, no nausea. Cruella’s mastery of spatial magic was on an entirely different level.

Leonard’s vision blurred and refocused several times before he found himself standing in an unfamiliar room. But just as he was about to take in his surroundings...

...Wait.

He froze, instinctively stiffening at the overwhelming presence in the room. If Declan’s aura was like an unyielding sword cutting across the heavens and earth, the being before Leonard felt like the night sky—so vast and distant it defied comprehension.

Despite having advanced two elements to Deification, Leonard felt utterly outclassed. Realizing why, he slowly released his grip on his sword.

“My apologies, Society President.”

“Just call me Simon,” the man replied with a casual air. “But what should I call you? Would you prefer Golden Dragon Commander or Divine Throne Candidate?”

“Leonard will suffice.”

He was standing inside the workshop of Simon Magus, the First Seat of the Pentagon. As Grand Magus at the pinnacle of Class 9, Simon’s laboratory was a realm unto itself, nearly indistinguishable from a Corroded Realm.

It was an environment where even beings on Leonard’s level were virtually powerless. Mages grew exponentially stronger in their own sanctuaries, and Simon, having spent centuries perfecting his space, was capable of overpowering multiple Demigod Tier beings simultaneously. He could overpower those like Declan and Leonard in a duel.

For that reason, entering Simon’s domain meant acknowledging his supremacy.

...I was just thinking about the similarities between mages and Taoists, and here I meet someone who solidifies that impression.

If Leonard were to describe Simon, he would use the phrase “sage-like.” Simon’s youthful complexion was taut, like that of a child. His hair and eyebrows were pristine white, resembling freshly fallen snow. His posture was impeccable, his chest and back straight, and everything about his demeanor—from his breathing to his gaze—exuded grace.

Were it not for the mask obscuring his face, one might mistake him for the head of a Taoist sect.

“Now then, Leonard,” Simon began. “I’ve analyzed the martial techniques and aura cultivation method you taught to the Black Dragon Knights. They derive their flow from entirely unique concepts, categorizing rightness and wrongness and normalizing them. A truly fascinating system.”

“You mean the Demon’s Bane?”

“The name doesn’t matter. Names often dilute the essence of such things. But since it’s a title you chose, I’ll respect it.”

Simon, looking more like a Taoist than a mage, turned his eyes, serene like a lake, to Leonard.

As his overwhelming presence ebbed slightly, the workshop’s features came into focus. The walls were covered in diagrams and charts depicting dimensions and worlds—illustrations that transcended two and three dimensions. Even Leonard, unfamiliar with terraforming, could sense the sheer dedication behind Simon’s work.

“It seems you’ve already been briefed, so I’ll skip the formalities. There’s no time for preamble,” Simon said. “Let’s discuss how we might purify the Nine Hells to its original state.”

With eyes shining like burning stars, the greatest Grand Magus of the age bared his teeth in a smile, eager to hear from the young man who had shown him a new path forward.