Reincarnation Sword God

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It was then.

Stagger

I felt as if my head were in a mess, and something other had settled in a corner of my mind. It felt as though a small tumor was curled up in the shadows of my brain, a disgusting sensation. As I stumbled slightly, attention turned toward me.

‘What… what is this?’

That feeling continued for a while, making my mind swirl. The strange dizziness felt as if a butterfly were flitting around in my brain, and as I swayed, Yong Junil asked,

“What’s wrong?”

But I couldn’t answer. At that moment, a sinister voice flowed into my head.

[Damn it… how did I end up in this predicament?]

The coarse and ominous voice was one I recognized all too well. As I widened my eyes in surprise, the voice continued,

[You fool! You ought to tell them! What are you planning to do by hiding the Seven Luminaries?]

Before I could even think of retorting, the voice sharply pierced my thoughts.

[Shut up and tell the Master of Twelve Principles about the existence of the Seven Luminaries! If you screw this up, neither of us will be fine, so just do as I say.]

[How can I trust you?]

I gritted my teeth.

[How can you, Zhuge Sa, expect me to trust you!]

Indeed. The fact that the mass of souls in my head was speaking meant it was none other than Zhuge Sa’s spirit and voice. Therefore, knowing his usual maniacal and sinister nature, I couldn’t just blindly follow his advice. It was unclear why he was in my head at all, but I had no clue what kind of mess I’d end up in if I followed his sudden instructions.

Zhuge Sa, seemingly exasperated, exclaimed,

[You incompetent fool! Do you think that idiot will improve until he dies nineteen times? Seriously, what a pain in the ass, you damn twit!]

[What…]

How did he know that?!

As I was taken aback, Zhuge Sa yelled in frustration.

[You need to obtain the Heavenly Spirit Pillar! You can’t even perform the Ritual of Blessing by yourself, and yet you cling to the Water Element?! If you’re just going to roll over and die, then focus on the Heavenly Spirit Pillar! Don’t be greedy and lose everything while trying stupid things; take the opportunity to earn the trust of the White Lotus Sect Master!]

You know everything!

[Huh… how do you know that…?]

[Time’s running out! I’ll explain in a bit, just follow my orders, you idiot!]

[What if the Sect Master kills me…?]

[Then die! Is it really that big of a deal?! Look at you, a reincarnator, scared of everything!]

Endless vulgarities spilled out, but I regained my composure. Zhuge Sa’s words clarified the confusion in my mind. If it weren’t for him, I would have floundered without knowing what to do and missed my chance.

Clearing my throat, I said,

“I have something to say to the Master of Twelve Principles!”

The Master of Twelve Principles tilted his head curiously.

“You’re quite an odd one. Why are you carrying another’s soul? It doesn’t seem like a shamanic ritual…”

I felt a chill. It seemed the Master of Twelve Principles had caught on to the fact that Zhuge Sa’s spirit was residing in my mind. But I chose not to respond to that question and instead focused on what was necessary.

“The Seven Luminaries you mentioned can be obtained right now. If I achieve this, would you be willing to accept our terms?”

“……”

The Master of Twelve Principles fell silent, staring at me. Yong Bi-cheon and Yong Junil, too, looked at me with surprise. After a heavy silence that felt as if my lungs were about to burst, the Master of Twelve Principles finally spoke.

“I keep my promises. If you bring me the Seven Luminaries, I’ll seriously consider the Non-aggression Pact.”

“Seriously consider? It’s only reasonable to seal the deal.”

“Oh? Was it? Then so be it.”

Seeing the Master of Twelve Principles trying to brush it off, I felt an urge to grind my teeth. Regardless of how one looks at it, the individual before me was a seasoned and shrewd raccoon. I gave them a polite bow and replied,

“Then please wait half a shichen. I’ll bring it within that time.”

“I’ll wait. But if you’re deceiving me, I won’t let it slide.”

“Of course.”

As soon as I finished speaking, I called upon the Spirit Beast Guardian. Instantly, the Guardian appeared before me, and before attention could pivot, I relayed my intentions to them.

[Take me to the main base of the White Lotus Sect, the Master’s Hall.]

[Understood.]

Whoosh!

Once I jumped onto the back of the Guardian, I arrived at the Master’s Hall of the White Lotus Sect. I sensed the presence of formidable masters around me; each one was a legendary expert among the elders. Realizing they were about to attack, I quickly shouted,

[I’m Baek Woong, the Dharma Protector of the Thunder God Lineage! I urgently wish to see the Sect Master!]

Swish

Before long, an elder appeared silently in front of me and spoke.

“Baek Woong. The Sect Master is not someone you can meet anytime.”

“It’s very urgent. Can you inform the Sect Master that I wish to have an audience?”

“You dare to barge in here so rudely without going through the official procedures? What were you thinking?”

“Please…”

As I looked at him desperately, the elders exchanged glances and, seemingly out of options, one of them left in a hurry. Moments later, he returned and said,

“Follow me.”

I followed the elder to the Sect Master’s audience chamber. As I stepped inside, the Sect Master looked at me with interest.

[Baek Woong. Didn’t you just come back from Liaoning Province? You’ve traveled thousands of miles in no time?]

I took a moment to regain my breath and responded calmly,

“I have the Spirit Beast Guardian, allowing me to travel quickly across the land.”

[Oh, I see… Then the others are still in Liaoning, right?]

“Yes.”

[Good. Now tell me why you’ve returned so suddenly.]

I swallowed hard and said,

“Master. The Master of Twelve Principles is demanding the Seven Luminaries in exchange for the Non-aggression Pact and is disregarding any other terms. Thus, I have come to retrieve the Seven Luminaries you possess.”

[You say I have the Seven Luminaries…?]

After a moment, realization dawned upon the Sect Master.

[Ah, I see. You obtained the Seven Luminaries. And you have one in your possession, correct?]

“Yes. The ancient sword you possess is the Water Element Divine Sword, which the Master of Twelve Principles desires.”

[Is that so?]

Whoosh!

As the Sect Master waved his hand, the Water Element Divine Sword floated before me, likely summoned by his incredible swordplay. I nodded.

“Yes, that’s the Water Element Divine Sword.”

After admiring the sword for a moment, the Sect Master continued,

[The Master of Twelve Principles… truly an arrogant character. To propose impossible terms without even knowing if we possess the legendary Seven Luminaries, does he wish to test my capabilities…?]

“……”

[But it can’t be helped. It’s still too early to clash with the Master of Twelve Principles. We have to cooperate.]

With that, the Sect Master rose from his seat and said to me,

[Baek Woong. Why didn’t you tell me the identity of the Water Element Divine Sword?]

Here we go.

If I answer wrong, I’m sure I’ll be torn apart instantly. I felt a wave of tension rushing through me as I slowly chose my words and eventually replied,

“I referred to it as an ancient sword because I still couldn’t trust you.”

[Oh…]

“I understand that you have taken all my treasures, yet you haven’t mentioned what they are for or how you intend to use them. In that situation, it felt reckless to admit that I possessed the Water Element Divine Sword.”

[……]

The Sect Master looked deep in thought. However, just because he didn’t immediately exhibit murderous intent didn’t mean I was out of the woods. The Sect Master could eliminate me with a simple snap of his fingers without any change in his demeanor.

After a moment, the Sect Master muttered,

[I can’t trust you. If the Master of Twelve Principles didn’t ask for the Seven Luminaries, you would never have revealed that fact to me. Because you’re someone who is always thinking about reclaiming my treasures.]

“That’s…”

[But despite that, you told me about the existence of the Seven Luminaries… which means your desire for the Heavenly Spirit Pillar must be strong.]

I felt as if I had been struck a nerve. I remained speechless as the Sect Master seemed to smile with satisfaction.

[Hehe… in other words, you’re proposing a trade: the Water Element Divine Sword for the Heavenly Spirit Pillar.]

“Are you going to kill me?”

[No. I wouldn’t easily kill someone as entertaining as you. I like your guts.]

Swipe!

The White Lotus Sect Master stepped back, donning his mask. Wearing the mask of the White Lotus Sect Master gave him a ghostly demeanor, sending chills down my spine.

[I won’t reprimand you for hiding the existence of the Water Element Divine Sword. It seems I need to talk directly with the Master of Twelve Principles now.]

Had I misanswered, I might have exploded on the spot for concealing the secret. Knowing the Sect Master’s temperament, this isn’t impossible. I felt cold sweat trickling down my spine as I barely managed to respond,

“Shall I summon the Spirit Beast Guardian?”

[Right away.]

The Sect Master indeed sensed that talking with Yong Bi-cheon wouldn’t work without moving in person.

Whoosh!

I rode the Spirit Beast Guardian alongside the Sect Master as we headed for the negotiation venue.

As soon as the White Lotus Sect Master and I appeared at the negotiation site, a different atmosphere began to form. All eyes in the room turned toward us.

Gooo…

Until now, the Master of Twelve Principles and the Three Masters had overwhelmingly overpowered the Wind Spirit Sect, but the very presence of the White Lotus Sect Master created an equal pressure as their forces began to clash. Specifically, the intensity of the White Lotus Sect Master and the Master of Twelve Principles created an even stalemate, pushing away all the other trivial energies.

An absurd vortex of intangible energy!

The Three Masters appeared surprised upon seeing the White Lotus Sect Master. Each of them said a word.

“It’s the Sect Master of the White Lotus!”

“It’s just as I heard.”

The Master of Twelve Principles, too, seemed to suspect the identity of the White Lotus Sect Master as he stared intently at him. No – from the moment the White Lotus Sect Master arrived, the Master of Twelve Principles and the Sect Master were staring at each other. Their gazes implied how the absolute beings of the current age would engage in combat.

It felt like a massive mandala was colliding.

Even I felt uneasy with the sheer pressure that made me flinch.

Eventually, the White Lotus Sect Master spoke first,

[Master of Twelve Principles. This is my first time seeing you directly.]

In response, the Master of Twelve Principles smiled.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Sect Master of the White Lotus. The fact that you interpreted the secrets of ancient beings was true.”

[……]

The White Lotus Sect Master’s expression momentarily soured from the remark. It could be that it struck too close to home or that the Master of Twelve Principles exceeded his expectations in skill. What was certain was that both the White Lotus Sect Master and the Master of Twelve Principles recognized each other as almost equals.

Before the White Lotus Sect Master could speak, the Master of Twelve Principles fixed his stare on me.

“You ride the Spirit Beast effortlessly… only a high-level immortal can achieve this feat. What exactly are you?”

“It’s just an opportunity I stumbled upon.”

“Is that so?”

Somehow, the Master of Twelve Principles looked at me with curiosity. I, too, turned away feeling uncomfortable when the White Lotus Sect Master pulled out the Water Element Divine Sword from his robe and presented it.

[Master, this must be the Divine Sword you mentioned.]

The Master of Twelve Principles’ eyes lit up with interest.

“Really?”

[While I can hand it over easily, I cannot be certain how you would determine its authenticity.]

The Sect Master was subtly testing the waters. It seemed the Master of Twelve Principles sensed and smiled wryly,

“I pledge upon the names of the Master of Twelve Principles and the Dangun. If this is genuine, I will accept it without further argument, and I will not deceive you.”

[Very well.]

Ping!

In an instant, the Water Element Divine Sword was thrown from the Sect Master to the Master of Twelve Principles at extraordinary speed. Though the speed was tremendous, the Master of Twelve Principles caught it effortlessly and examined it thoroughly for quite some time. After a close inspection, he gasped.

“Indeed, while still sealed, this is one of the Seven Luminaries. The essence of the Four Heavenly Kings can be felt… it’s genuine.”

[Then, as promised…]

“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”

The Master of Twelve Principles’ gaze sharpened.

“Do you know how to unseal it?”

Hoo…

Suddenly, I felt my whole body tighten. A chill swept over me, and goosebumps raced across my skin. It meant that the Master of Twelve Principles was emanating a terrifying pressure. I had doubts, yet I was convinced the Master of Twelve Principles had reached an absolute realm that surpassed the ordinary.

It was clearly apparent now; neither Yong Bi-cheon nor Yong Junil seemed unaffected. As the White Lotus Sect Master waved his hand softly, that peculiar pressure dissipated. The Sect Master emitted a slightly ominous energy as he replied,

[What reason do I have to share that with you?]

“Of course. You possess enough capability to interpret a Book of Demonic Arts to warrant suspicion, no? If I tamper with the seal improperly, it could be dangerous, so it’s only natural I’d need to ask.”

[That’s inconceivable. It’s not something I can discuss.]

“Hmm…”

The White Lotus Sect Master and the Master of Twelve Principles stared at each other in silence. I was able to clearly perceive how immense that pressure was in the midst of their silence.

So high!

The martial prowess of those two absolute beings was already beyond human realm. To catch up to even their toes would require unfathomable cultivation and effort. Just as I was shaken by that overwhelming power, the White Lotus Sect Master spoke.

[Master of Twelve Principles, I do hand over the Water Element Divine Sword, but we cannot end our negotiations here.]

“What do you mean?”

[As you well know, that is one of the rarest treasures in the world. To simply receive it in exchange for a Non-aggression Pact seems far too easy.]

The White Lotus Sect Master continued persuasively,

[I wish to receive goodwill that corresponds to the value of the Seven Luminaries.]

“……”

As expected, the White Lotus Sect Master was not someone who would be easily trifled with. He understood the significance of handing over the Water Element Divine Sword and recognized his demanding position, hence asking for additional terms.

The Master of Twelve Principles crossed his arms and responded nonchalantly,

“Are you telling me to shove it? What if I say so?”

[I will certainly make you regret that decision.]

Rumble!

Suddenly, a mandala formed around the White Lotus Sect Master. Seeing that, the Three Masters hastily produced their protective treasures, and the Master of Twelve Principles also took out his own heavenly weapon. It was only natural as the White Lotus Sect Master prepared to unleash his ultimate technique, the Heart Sky Limitless.

[You think I can be so disrespected, even after a thousand years as the Master of the White Lotus Sect?]

Had a massive microcosm flashed before my eyes, or was it an illusion?

The White Lotus Sect Master clearly seemed to want to settle this matter right away. Thus, the Master of Twelve Principles laughed and said,

“It’s clear that your petty tricks won’t work. Thus, I will refuse your proposal.”

[What could you possibly offer me?]

With the tension subsiding from the White Lotus Sect Master, the atmosphere shifted back to a balance. The Master of Twelve Principles tucked his heavenly weapon back as he replied,

“I believe this will be sufficient.”

Out of nowhere, the Master of Twelve Principles suddenly snatched a large halberd from the air and threw it at the White Lotus Sect Master. Knowing it was a throw and not an attack, the White Lotus Sect Master grabbed it without hesitation. The moment he glanced at the halberd, the Master of Twelve Principles added,

“This is the Purple Spirit Moon Blade. You should understand its value.”

[……]

The Sect Master examined the halberd for an extensive time before finally speaking,

[Is this magical equipment?]

“I believe it suits you far better than the Seven Luminaries.”

[Very well.]

The exchange proceeded without any issues, but I could feel a tumult within my heart.

The Purple Spirit Moon Blade!

‘That… that’s…!’

Past memories surged back. Su Mun-hye’s voice echoed in my head.

[He intended to obtain the Purple Spirit Moon Blade because he had acquired secret information that it harbored the ultimate martial arts of the world.]

[The current owner of the Purple Spirit Moon Blade is the former champion of the Demonic Martial Arts Conference, known as the greatest person beyond the borders.]

[Master of Twelve Principles. He possesses the Purple Spirit Moon Blade.]

Moreover, I recalled the information provided by the Sword Demon.

[There’s a rumor that the Purple Spirit Moon Blade can manipulate time and space.]

[They say that unbinding the black cloth wrapped around the blade will cause time and space to go wild. While someone might think it’s merely a trick of the Ten Thousand Mysteries, many consider it a martial art in itself. The rumor spread because it’s said to have the ability to control time and space, an ultimate martial art.]

When I heard the Sword Demon’s information, I deemed it merely a fascinating treasure. However, having encountered many treasures and magical items during my adventures, I recognized the profound implication of the fact that the Purple Spirit Moon Blade was indeed magical equipment.

Able to manipulate time and space!

If that is the case, the exchange now made perfect sense. By establishing the Non-aggression Pact and handing over the Water Element Divine Sword, receiving the Purple Spirit Moon Blade in return was highly advantageous. If the Master of Twelve Principles directly participated in the Demonic Martial Arts Conference to reclaim it, his power was undoubtedly phenomenal.

‘The Master of Twelve Principles is keen to have the Purple Spirit Moon Blade.’

This changed everything. It was no longer just about reclaiming my treasures from the Sect Master; there was now the need to understand the power of the Purple Spirit Moon Blade through the Sect Master.

After that, everything progressed smoothly. Yong Bi-cheon and Yong Junil fetched the writing tools they had prepared earlier and drafted the terms of the pact alongside the Master of Twelve Principles before sealing it with their seals. After both parties received their own copy, they each stored it in a scroll, officially establishing the Non-aggression Pact.

Before we headed back, however, the Master of Twelve Principles regarded me with a meaningful gaze and, suddenly turning toward the Sect Master, said,

“Master. I wish to have a word with Baek Woong.”

The Sect Master glanced at the Master of Twelve Principles before responding,

[What’s your intention?]

For a moment, their gazes met. I realized they exchanged high-level communications, discussing something I wouldn’t be able to comprehend.

After a short pause, the Sect Master replied,

[Just one day. After that, you will return them.]

“Understood.”

Huh?!

I was taken aback, exclaiming unexpectedly at the notion of spending a day with the Master of Twelve Principles.

“Master, what do you mean?”

[Come spend a day as a liaison. Don’t disrespect the Master.]

“But that’s…”

[Baek Woong, the Dharma Protector. Are you going to defy the Sect Master’s order?]

“……”

I felt like crying. What sort of ordeal would I have to endure with that utterly cunning Master of Twelve Principles? There was a chance I could end up in a state where life and death were no longer applicable due to his sorcery. However, I had no choice but to nod.

“Understood.”