Reincarnation Sword God

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I headed towards the Secret Place in Shenyang City, following the Master of Twelve Principles. He must have thought he was sufficient on his own, as he sent my three servants away, leaving me alone with him in what looked like a vacation home.

As we sat across from each other at the table laden with liquor, I felt the tension rise. The Master poured me a glass and said,

“Have a drink.”

I stiffly retorted,

“A martial artist must not carelessly consume food or drink offered by enemies.”

“Oh, this is expensive wine,” he said, dismissing my words and filling his own glass. As the liquid sloshed in his cup, he continued,

“Baek Woong, you seemed surprised to see the Self-Controlled Moon Blade earlier. Do you know what that is?”

Impressive! He managed to catch even the slightest shift in my emotions! I thought I had grown accustomed to hiding my feelings over time, but it left a bitter taste in my mouth. It seemed like everyone I met—whether the White Lotus Sect Master or Yong Junil—could read my inner thoughts.

But that was likely more due to their age-old cunning than my own inadequacy. I calmed myself and replied,

“I know about Demon Artifacts and the Seven Luminaries. I also know that you won the Dark Realm Martial Arts Tournament to recover the Self-Controlled Moon Blade.”

“Oh!”

Deciding not to hide anymore, I acknowledged that the Master of Twelve Principles before me was just as wicked and cunning as Zhuge Sa, likely to toy with me. It was best to attract his interest with small bits of information while concealing the larger truths. The Master propped his chin on his hand and mused,

“You’re quite a strange one. You possess two souls and can control a Spirit Beast of the Heavenly Realm—you seem knowledgeable about the Seven Luminaries and Demon Artifacts…”

“……”

“And yet you’re the Dharma Protector of the Thunder God Lineage?”

His curious gaze was palpable, but I managed to conceal my discomfort as I said,

“If that’s the case, how about we exchange information?”

“Hmm?”

“You called me here to learn from me, didn’t you? It would be better for both of us to finish our business quickly.”

“Alright… speak then.”

There was nobody around us. The White Lotus Sect Master, along with Feng Shin-ryu’s Yong Bi-cheon and Yong Junil, had quickly returned to their base after completing the treaty, and my three servants had also returned to Central City. So it was just me and the Master of Twelve Principles in this space. I stared at him intently and finally asked,

“Why is it that the Dharma Protector doesn’t help in defeating demons?”

The Master of Twelve Principles raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised by my question.

“Why the curiosity?”

“Because it’s vital! There are hardly any martial artists stronger than a Dharma Protector on Earth. I need to know what the issue is.”

“Hmm… if I tell you that, what will you offer me in return?”

“I’ll tell you what you were curious about earlier.”

After a moment of reflection, he responded,

“An enticing trade. I accept.”

“Thank you.”

I then recounted how I came to acquire the Demandless Moon Blade in the Yellow Mountains and eventually met the Sect Master, explaining that I had been robbed of all my treasures. I also clarified that I learned the identity of the Seven Luminaries through my companion Mangyang’s interpretation of the oracle bones.

I avoided bringing up the liberation of the Seven Luminaries, and the Master did not inquire further. After a moment, he exhaled in astonishment.

“This is real! Have you shared this story with the White Lotus Sect Master as well?”

Not exactly, but feeling rather uneasy about my answers, I loosely nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then I shall share something in return.”

The Master of Twelve Principles flopped back into his chair and stated,

“The being I wish to defeat is the [Ancient Ruler], the Sea God. What abilities do you attribute to the Sea God?”

“I don’t know.”

There were merely rumors, and I had never directly confronted such a being. Hence, hearing it mentioned directly by the Master was a first for me.

“He possesses the ability to control the followers of darkness, as well as the power to cast away the apostles and minions of the [Ancient Ruler]. While his rank is lower than that of the [Ancient Ruler], he dominates the oceans and wields great power. This ability prevents even the descendants of the Evil God from easily interfering with him.”

That was new information. I pondered his words and said,

“Does that mean the Dharma Protector, who holds the Heavenly Spirit Pillar, cannot confront the Sea God?”

“Pretty much. You catch on quickly. If a Dharma Protector tries to fight the Sea God, they’ll be engulfed by an indescribable fear and might flee or go mad. This is an inherent power of the Sea God.”

“……”

“It’s not just the Sea God. Most [Ancient Rulers] possess mental abilities or enchantments capable of repelling lower beings.”

I began to understand the implications. Since the Heavenly Spirit Pillar represents divine authority, its overwhelming power might actually be a hindrance in battle against divine beings. Suddenly, I realized the downside:

“Wait, does that mean if I obtain the Heavenly Spirit Pillar, I won’t be able to face the Sea God at all?”

Gaining infinite internal energy sounds great, but I wouldn’t be able to battle the [Ancient Ruler]!

I was caught off guard by this revelation; my ultimate goal was to defeat the [Ancient Ruler], so losing the ability to do so was not an option. Another question loomed in my mind: How did Yong Bi-cheon defeat Izanagi-no-Mikoto, the guardian of the Moon? Back then, I had thought that Yong Bi-cheon was able to defeat a being on par with the Dharma Protector. Could it be that some hidden secret existed in that event?

As I fell silent, the Master of Twelve Principles said,

“The reason I offered up the Self-Controlled Moon Blade was because it was a significant loss for me. Before the Sect Master learns how to use it, I plan to use the Demandless Moon Blade to strengthen my power even further. The next time we meet, I’ll be at least double my current strength.”

A chill ran down my spine at his words. Even now, the Master of Twelve Principles was nearly an equal match for the White Lotus Sect Master. If he were to grow stronger, what realm would he reach? It was a mind-boggling level of power! But I suppressed my unease and replied,

“What do you mean?”

“Who knows? Perhaps it’s advice that could help you.”

The sly Master, still masked, had an unsettling aura to him. I was at a loss for words, but he playfully commented,

“It seems your goal is also to gather the Seven Luminaries, isn’t it?”

Touché! I sidestepped his jab and responded,

“It would be nice if it were true.”

“Haha.”

“Master of Twelve Principles, I have a question for you as well.”

“Ask away.”

I cautiously inquired,

“What do you intend to do after defeating the Sea God?”

It was a reasonable question. Unlike someone unfamiliar with the Master of Twelve Principles, I already knew he possessed three out of the Seven Luminaries. Originally the owner of the Moon Luminary, he had just acquired the Demandless Moon Blade in the exchange and planned to bolster his strength, given that the Moon Luminary was located on Manisan.

With the Moon, Sun, and Water Luminaries, the Master of Twelve Principles would undoubtedly gain incredible power soon. Surely, he could defeat the Sea God then, right? But what would he do afterward?

When I asked, the Master of Twelve Principles smirked wryly.

“Haha… what will I do? That’s just the beginning.”

“Just the beginning?”

“My goals are so distant and treacherous that you could consider them a dream. Still, they say a good start is half the journey, so I’m glad.”

Something felt off with his response. I pressed on with my questions.

“So…?”

“Hold on.”

The Master raised a hand to stop me.

“I feel like I’ve been talking too much. You should share your thoughts too. Are you planning to remain the Dharma Protector of the Thunder God Lineage?”

“……”

“Or are you not? Will you seek to reclaim your treasures?”

I found myself at a loss for words in the face of his probing. Naturally, I needed to reclaim my treasures, including the Demandless Moon Blade and the others. But there was no way I could openly admit this motive to the Master of Twelve Principles. Reluctantly, I replied,

“As long as the Sect Master doesn’t betray me, I plan to keep still.”

While it might seem passive, it was the best course of action right now. If I were to betray them, I’d need at least a modicum of strength as a counter. And it would be impossible to gain such power in a short time, so for now, I had no choice but to tread carefully around the White Lotus Sect Master’s schemes.

Then the Master of Twelve Principles mischievously chimed in.

“What if the Sect Master is thinking the same? You might never reclaim your treasures.”

“…Well, that’s something we’ll have to see about when the time comes.”

“Haha. True enough.”

Laughing at something only he found amusing, the Master of Twelve Principles encouraged me to continue with my question.

“So… after you take down the Sea God, what do you gain from it?”

“What?”

“Even if you defeat the Sea God, he’s just one of the [Ancient Rulers]. What changes will occur from that…”

At my words, the Master of Twelve Principles ceased his responses and stared at me intently. This was not a look of curiosity, but rather one of cold analytical observation, and it made me freeze. Although I was tense, I didn’t register any anger coming from him, creating a bizarre sensation. After a prolonged silence, he stated,

“You know… more than I anticipated.”

“……”

“Yes, indeed. You understand the world’s end. Perhaps your goal and mine align…”

With that remark, the Master of Twelve Principles stood up.

“I had fun today. Use the Seven Luminaries wisely, Baek Woong.”

“Take care.”

“If you find the White Lotus Sect unsatisfactory, come to me.”

Swoosh!

In an instant, the Master of Twelve Principles disappeared without a trace. It seemed he had used sorcery rather than martial arts to move away.

‘Lucky me.’

If the Master of Twelve Principles had set his mind to harm me, this place would have become my grave, my torture chamber. It appeared that a silent negotiation had taken place between him and the White Lotus Sect Master, and that transaction had somehow ensured my safety.

I stared at the spot where he had vanished for a long time before letting out a sigh and saying,

“…It seems it’s finally time to converse, Zhuge Sa.”

Zhuge Sa, residing in my mind, could no longer be ignored. It was time to settle things with him.

[Let’s skip the formalities.] Zhuge Sa said irritably from my head.

[I tried to transfer my soul to you with the Marriage Technique, but for some reason, I failed to seize your soul. So, right now, I’m just cohabiting with your soul.]

I coldly said,

“That’s not the point. Did you see all my memories?”

Zhuge Sa erupted in maniacal laughter.

[Haha… what a funny occurrence. Who would’ve thought you’re a reincarnator who has gone through eighteen cycles? And that we’ve crossed paths multiple times. I wasn’t bored while reading your memories.]

“Dammit!”

I couldn’t help but feel justified in my irritation.

Zhuge Sa had been killed by the White Lotus Sect Master, but in that moment, he abandoned his body and tried to transfer his soul using the Marriage Technique! However, he had failed, and now he was in a state of forced coexistence with me, and as a side effect, he could share my memories.

With a somber tone, Zhuge Sa said,

[I’m the one getting mad here. Who would have thought I would coexist with someone like you?]

I growled back,

“So what now? The dominance of my body is with me, and I’ll do everything I can to drive you out.”

[Hehe… you think you can?]

He cackled.

[Only I possess the knowledge of the Marriage Technique. While you can share memories with me, this situation is unprecedented in the history of betrayal, impossible to comprehend. Normally, the Marriage Technique only varies by success or failure; the cohabitation of souls like this is unheard of.]

“Unless you try, how would you know?”

I snapped in frustration, but then Zhuge Sa said,

[Speaking of, I’m really curious about something.]

At his next statement, I froze in place.

[Why do you cling to life?]